History of Levi's 501

When I retired I treated myself to the lifestyle choice of only wearing Levi's 501 Original Shrink-to-Fit. 

For really dressy occasions I have a black pair. 

Sure saves on closet space & time getting ready in the morning. The last time I bought a pair, they were still made in the USA. Not all Levis, just the good old kind I've been wearing all my life.

Here's a bit of history.....
 

In 1853, the California gold rush was in full swing, and everyday items were in short supply. Levi Strauss, a 24-year-old German immigrant, left New York for San Francisco with a small supply of dry goods with the intention of opening a branch of his brother's New York dry goods business. Shortly after his arrival, a prospector wanted to know what Mr. Levi Strauss was selling. When Strauss told him he had rough canvas to use for tents and wagon covers, the prospector said, "You should have brought pants!," saying he couldn’t find a pair of pants strong enough to last.

 

Denim Blue Jeans

Levi Strauss had the canvas made into waist overalls. Miners liked the pants, but complained that they tended to chafe. Levi Strauss substituted a twilled cotton cloth from France called "serge de Nimes." The fabric later became known as denim and the pants were nicknamed blue jeans.

 

Levi Strauss & Company

In 1873, Levi Strauss & Company began using the pocket stitch design. Levi Strauss and a Reno Nevada-based Latvian tailor by the name of Jacob Davis co-patented the process of putting rivets in pants for strength. On May 20, 1873, they received U.S.Patent No.139,121. This date is now considered the official birthday of "blue jeans."Levi Strauss asked Jacob Davis to come to San Francisco to oversee the first manufacturing facility for "waist overalls," as the original jeans were known as.

The two-horse brand design was first used in 1886. The red tab attached to the left rear pocket was created in 1936 as a means of identifying Levi’s jeans at a distance. All are registered trademarks that are still in use.
 

By Mary Bellis, About.com Guide

 

 

 

 

Poultry Keeping in 1867

I think we're going to be adding a couple of hens this summer on behalf of our close neighbors who can't keep their own due to work/travel schedules.  It seems kind of cruel to keep just one bird when chickens are such social creatures., ven though Lucy, the Rhode Island Red, gets lot's of free range time in the garden. I'd like to add a heritage breed that would be appropriate for Northern Arizona and also learn about poultry keeping practices from the previous century.  Discovered this book (from the bloglink below) and ordered it -- it's been digitalized. 

Poultry Keeping in 1867 in England

The illustrations of different popular chicken breeds are wonderful.

Discovered a New Size of Cedar Plank for Nativity Base

Here in Homer, AK, there is a unique grocery store called “Save U More.”  It reminds me very much of shopping in Asia.  An odd assortment of unusual items…but lot’s of good stuff.  I like this new size of cedar plank that I’ve used in the past for my Oregon nativities – seems to fit especially well for the ones I donate to the annual Arctic Museum (located on the Western Oregon University campus) Salmon Bake fundraiser auction.
For the Alaskan crèche I’m currently creating I think I’ll need three boards…

Ash Creek Nativities - Alaska Creche Prototypes - Walrus

Brought some air dry clay with me to work on prototypes for the Ash Creek Nativities Alaskan creche that has been floating around in my head since last year when I was in Anchorage...
We're staying in a house near the head of Kachemak Bay until mid-May.  The house happens to be FULL of charming animal folk art...I'm trying this guy out as my version of  walrus...amazing how small their heads really are compared to that big lumpy body.  Love the whiskers!

Great Informative Book on How to Combine Chickens and Gardens on Your Urban Homestead

Talked with hubby Steve in Prescott yesterday.  He said the Rhode Island Red hen, Lucy, is loving her daily free-range time in the front garden on South Cortez Street.  He WAS wondering why our pink-blooming flox groundcover along the front path seemed so sparse this spring.  Then he caught Lucy happily devouring the flower buds. 

A timely challenge as I had just checked out this book from the Homer, Alaska, public library.  Seems like alot of things you read about keeping chickens these days are so general -- "it's fun to keep chickens."  This is the kind of book where the photos give you ideas -- "Oooh, THAT's what I could do with the side fence" and I've started reading with a pencil and notebook...tomato leaves are toxic to chickens, along with sweet peas...I already knew to not feed potatoes, especially the green parts.  Those go in the compost bin to feed the red worm, Bob and his hundreds of friends.

This is definitely a Northwest garden book and it'll be fun to see how it translates to the high country of the Southwest.  Right off-hand, I think we would need to address the issue of protective coverage from predators in a different way...my garden is much more open that the jumble of plants I had for 20 years in the Willamette Valley, Oregon.  Even though we live just over a block from the Courthouse Square in downtown Prescott, we get visited by javelina, hawks and the occasional coyote.  I make sure I have a recycled door as a shallow lean-to that the hen can dart under.


Free-Range Chicken Gardens - How to Create a Beautiful, Chicken-Friendly Yard by Jessie Bloom

Homesteading in Homer, AK

We're settled in our new rental house....out towards the head of Kachemak Bay.  Has a woodstove, but it seems a little finicky.  After burning wood in the winter for 20 years in Oregon and the woodstove on my folks ranch in New River, it just seems like it should be easier than this. 

Had snow today and it was cold in a.m.  Real cold.  Keeping a wary eye on the moose munching in the bushes I went out for something to use as kindling.  I would give alot for my cord of pinon in Prescott.  Can't really tell if they firewood is green, the chimney maybe needs to be cleaned, or what would help. 

Actually locating the fireplace tools would help...:)

 

A photo of "kindling"...first time I've used a potato masher & spatula to tend a fire....