Two Taxidermied Birds

A wonky duck & I think the guy at the Market said the other one is a pheasant or partridge?

Bought at a very good price, as the man said,
"Two birds going cheap cheap".

Genuine Taxidermy Piranha Fish

This scary monster arrived from Malta today. The teeth are fake I think, and the eyes most certainly are, but the rest is real.

I love taxidermy, although I acknowledge it's not to everyone's taste. This again was a legal piece which came with it's EU import papers.
It would be quite the conversation starter if my house wasn't already so bizarre.

Anthropomorphic taxidermy Boxing Squirrels

Delighted to see this set in real life today at Castle Ward, Northern Ireland.

Wildlife Collage Stag Print Vest

It's not often I post clothing, but I love this deer print vest I bought from Very.co.uk
They are a mainstream fashion online retailer, but this quirky number caught my eye from their new collection.

Creepily Small, Creepy Children Coasters by Dallas Simpson

Dallas Simpson is a pretty mysterious lady or fella. I've had several people contact me through the blog asking did I have information on Dallas, but all I know is they seem to specialise in gypsy children with big, haunting eyes. Over the years I've amounted a little Dallas Simpson print collection. There's an urban legend about this style of artwork being responsible for spooky housefires, maybe my lucky taxidermied fox head cancels all the bad vibes out!

Today's kitsch find is a pair of Dallas Simpson coasters. I got them from eBay, and they are delightfully gross. They are also rimmed in such a way that all you could fit onto each would be a tiny glass.
Maybe Dallas was a sherry drinker.

The Sickeningly Twee Trend of Grow-Your-Own

About five years back all the posh periodicals decided that growing your own veg wasn't just for grannies & muddy outdoor types. Suddenly weekend magazines included tips on carrots & marrows a few pages after the latest on high street Botox.

I think the whole fad was deeply effected by article writers' memories of the completely fictional world of the British sitcom The Good Life.

With the recession yet another wave of grow-your-ownism hit the media, when in actual fact the time you have to put into the pastime is not economic at all. That's why we have farmers & Tescos, right?

Looking after vegetables requires work & that's why it's little old ladies who potter in their gardens, and not stockbrokers with a patch of broad beans on the go.

Anyway, it's a fun hobby to try out & this year I have grown from seed tomato (green pots with flamingoes) pea (not pictured) and courgettes (yellow flowered plants).
I've spent about 50 hours in total over the months potting, repotting, watering, tying them, and so far not ONE vegetable or fruit.

Anyway, in my little Poundstretcher greenhouse I've just planted corn, lettuce, watermelon & strawberry. Late in the season for planting, but wanted to give them a go anyway.

Sickeningly twee.

American Food... From Germany

My inbuilt need to be weird even stretches to the kitchen, I'm afraid.

I'm the kind of shopper if I see something remotely foreign or new on the market, I'll buy it before I buy a pack of Cookstown Sausages.

My husband despaired as I raided the Polish Food Shop in Belfast last week, but if you don't look you might miss out on something amazing. Also Kraft & Nestle still sell some old products abroad that they discontinued here, for example I got Cheetos in that shop.

I also love imported American junk food. I bought a haul from Candy Pirate two years back, but for whatever reason UK food importers charge insanely high postage to Northern Ireland, despite us being under Royal Mail. Shipping for half a dozen items cost £30 from England to NIreland.

Anyway, the next American snackfest was during our trip to London. There's a fabulous shop in Covent Garden that stocks all that stuff.

I stumbled on www.americanfood4u.de last week however. A German site that charges in Euros, and only charged €9.90 to ship this lot.

Mountain Dew Voltage, Poptarts in Cherry, Cookies&Creme, Hot Fudge Sundae & Chocolate Fudge. 3 bags of killingly hot crisps & Cookies&Creme Jello.

Kitsch Suburbia 3

Now this is true kitsch. Yes it's a big house, but not huge enough & way too Northern Ireland located to warrant a host of full-sized Grecian statues.

In the tradition of kitsch being the overdressing and fussiness of the ordinary, this home in Armagh City has been given a rather bizarre Greek God makeover, with half a dozen white robed figures dotted around the very Northern Irish garden.
True accidental kitsch, and worth me pulling over the car at the side of the road for a sneaky snap.