Sonic boom

Have I mentioned lately how much I love Doctor Who?

Neither Momma nor I cared much for Peter Capaldi, the twelfth Doctor much ... until this season. 

Showrunner, writer and producer Steven Moffat made some wonderful changes this series - making the Doctor warmer and switching the sonic screwdriver for sonic sunglasses.

"As of now every kid with glasses is Doctor Who! Kid whose parents don't want to shell out for a Sonic Screwdriver toy, just put on a pair of sunglasses, you're Doctor Who! And best of all, every pin-brained celebrity walking into a party with shades on is now cosplaying Doctor Who!"

My secret is out.

Accessory after the fact

I was asked today what are my "must have" accessories.

Hmm, so many choices....

Well, my Unusually Stout Parasol, of course! I never leave home without it. Even if you don't see it in my photos, it is somewhere close by.

A tiny top hat since a lady never leaves the house without her hair covered. Besides, it looks fabulous! (I also use a headband and snood to keep my hair out of my face.)

My tinted glasses (or goggles) since they give me an inscrutable look.

My chatelaine - a chain belt with a padlock. The padlock keeps it safe upon my person while reminding me that NO ONE will EVER put ME in chains again. On it I have:

• Aether Pistol - in case my parasol fails me - which it never has.
• Flask (for medicinal purposes)
• Candle stubs
• Notebook and pencil
• Compass
• Scissors
• First-aid kit
• A coil of stout cord
• Magnifying glass
• Telescope

Boots - they protect my lower legs while making a grand sound while I stomp around. They help deliver sharp blows to villains, too.

Bling - It might not be sparkly (the enemy can spot sparkly a mile away) but I love to wear flowers, necklaces (especially my shell necklace), and lace mitts.

Unmentionables - I blush to mention them but you never know when corset stays might come in handy for picking a lock or filing bars. The same goes for my hoop skirt or crinoline.

The goggle ogle defense

gog·gle noun, verb, adjective

noun
1. goggles,

• large spectacles equipped with special lenses, protective rims, etc., to prevent injury to the eyes fromstrong wind, flying objects, blinding light, etc.
• spectacles designed for a special purpose, as night-vision or stereoscopic goggles.
• Informal . glasses, or eyeglasses: I can't see a thing withoutmy goggles. Synonyms: specs, shades.

2. a bulging or wide-open look of the eyes; stare.

verb (used without object)
3. to stare with bulging or wide-open eyes. Synonyms: gape, ogle, gawk, gawp, glare.
4. (of the eyes) to bulge and be wide open in a stare.
5. to roll the eyes.
6. (of the eyes) to roll.
7. Informal. to spearfish.

verb (used with object)
8. to roll (the eyes).

adjective
9. (of the eyes) rolling, bulging, or staring.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English gogelen to look aside; compare agog

Related forms
un·gog·gled, adjective

Can be confused: goggle, Google, googol.

Thanks Artificer Made!

It's tool time

It's taken awhile, but I am slowly assembling the items I need for my tool belt, inspired by both Amelia Peabody's belt and an old-fashioned (to you) chatelaine.

Amelia Peabody Emerson is the protagonist of the Amelia Peabody series, written by author Elizabeth Peters. Peabody is married to Egyptologist Radcliffe Emerson and has one biological child, Walter "Ramses" Peabody Emerson.

Peabody usually carries one of her stout parasols, which she uses as a weapon (including a sword-parasol). Her other famous accessory is her belt, later partially replaced with a vest with many pockets. It contains:

"Pistol and knife, canteen, bottle of brandy, candle and matches in a waterproof box, notebook and pencil, needle and thread, compass, scissors, first-aid kit and a coil of stout cord (useful for tying up captured enemies)."

He Shall Thunder in the Sky
Chapter 2

A chatelaine is a decorative belt hook or clasp worn at the waist with a series of chains suspended from it. Each chain is mounted with a useful household appendage such as scissors, thimble, watch, key, vinaigrette, household seal, etc.

Chatelaines were worn by many housekeepers in the 19th century. Originally the chatelaine was designed to have all the tools necessary for the woman of the household to sort out any problem she may encounter in her day.

However, with time, the chatelaine evolved from a purely utilitarian object into a decorative symbol that reflected the status of the wearer.

So far I have:

• Aether Pistol
• Flask (for medicinal purposes)
• Candle
• Notebook and pencil
• Compass
• Scissors
• First-aid kit
• A coil of stout cord

What else do I need?

The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades

I study aeronaut science
I love my classes
I got a crazy teacher, we wear dark glasses
Things are going great, and they're only getting better
I'm doing all right, getting good grades
The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades,
I gotta wear shades

I've got a job waiting for my graduation
Fifty bucks a year -- buys alotta (root) beer
Things are going great, and they're only getting better
I'm doing all right, getting good grades
The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades
I gotta wear shades

Well I'm heavenly blessed and worldly wise
I'm a steampunk Trekkie with X-ray eyes
Things are going great, and they're only getting better
I'm doing all right, getting good grades
The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades
I gotta wear shades 

With apologies to Timbuk3 

Meet Steampunk Addie

What can I say about myself? I was born a slave in North Carolina but Momma and I ran away after Poppa and my brother were sold. We went to Philadelphia where we could be free.

Once there I became involved in the Underground....

At least that's MY story.

Momma says I'm Pleasant Company and she found me somewhere called eBay. She wanted to fix my "weak" eyes. Ha! If she only knew what I could see with these eyes. But that's another story.

She says that once she saw me she knew I was destined for great things so she started to assemble a great wardrobe. (It's a good thing she can sew!) But we've also collected things from all over.

For my hair, she used hose clamps and ribbon roses.

Being steampunk, I had to have a corset. First she borrowed (eww!) one from a girl named Felicity, then got me my own in black. A red one is coming!

Momma then took an old tartan dress apart and attached the skirt to a sash and paired it with a nifty green jacket.

Finally, I got a shell necklace, a timepiece, binoculars, some major boots, a couple of hats (one of which she trimmed with a scrap of the tartan dress) and some tinted glasses for my "weak" eyes.

What do you think?

Oh, and my hero?

Abraham Lincoln of course!