Tuesday, June 18, 2013

MILITARY BARBOUR

ALL THIS SHITTY RAINY WEATHER IN NY HAS HAD ME A BIT BARBOUR NUTTY. I JUST RECENTLY CAME ACROSS THESE BEAUTIES BELOW DOING SOME RESEARCH.

BOTH OF THESE JACKETS WERE CUSTOMIZED BY MILITARY PERSONNEL TO MEET THEIR NEEDS "IN THE THEATER OF WAR". ALL THE RETRO MODIFICATIONS WERE DONE ON SITE AT THE BARBOUR REPROOFING DEPARTMENT PER EACH OFFICER'S SPECS. THE ONE ABOVE IS A  MODIFIED GAMEFAIR AND THE ONE BELOW IS A DURHAM. BOTH WERE USED IN THE FALKLANDS WAR BY BRITISH PARATROOPERS. BOTH ARE IN THE BARBOUR ARCHIVE. 





Sunday, June 16, 2013

BARBOUR DIY

THERE IS NOTHING QUITE LIKE FINDING AN OLD, WELL USED BARBOUR. THE PATINA AND WEAR IS HALF THE CHARM OF THESE OLD GIRLS. THAT BEING SAID THEY CAN ALSO BE THE STINKIEST, FUNKIEST, MOLDIEST THINGS EVER. I HAVE BEEN KICKED OUT OF THE HOUSE ON A FEW OCCASIONS WEARING ONE AND TOLD TO HANG IT OUTDOORS. THIS LATEST FIND WAS EXACTLY THAT (STINKY) AND I COULD NOT BEAR TO SEE ALL THE LIFE (GREAT GREASY-LEATHERY FINISH) BE TAKEN OUT OF IT BY SENDING IT OFF FOR ODOR REMOVAL AND REPROOFING. (THIS WOULD USUALLY BE DONE BY NEW ENGLAND REPROOFERS WHO ALWAYS REWAX THE JACKET AFTER-MAKING IT LOOK LIKE NEW) SO, I DECIDED TO GIVE IT A TRY REMOVING THE MOLD AND MILDEW MYSELF.

 WHITE MOLDY SPOTS

I USED A 1/2 CUP OF BORAX  DILUTED IN ABOUT 2 QUARTS OF WARM WATER AND SPONGED THE INTERIOR (JACKET WAS INSIDE OUT) UNTIL DAMP. THEN I MIXED ABOUT A LITER OF WHITE DISTILLED VINEGAR WITH A 1/2 LITER OF COLD WATER (DILUTED VINEGAR WILL KILL AT LEAST 83% OF MOLD AND I HAVE USED IT STRAIGHT TO SUCCESSFULLY CLEAN MOLD OFF MY DRYING PANCETTA) I THEN SPONGED THE SOLUTION OVER THE ENTIRE EXTERIOR OF THE JACKET AND LEFT  IT ON A LINE TO DRY. THE JACKET HUNG ALL DAY IN THE SUN. AS YOU CAN SEE BELOW IT WAS A COMPLETE SUCCESS. ALL THE MOLD CLEANED OFF AND A GOOD 85% OF THE TOTAL FUNK SMELL DISAPPEARED. AFTER ALL AN OLD BARBOUR NEEDS TO SMELL A BIT LIKE AN OLD BARBOUR.

BEFORE
AFTER





Friday, June 14, 2013

LAST MINUTE FATHER'S DAY GIFTING


I'D VISIT THE OWEN AND FRED WEBSITE FOR ANY LAST MINUTE FATHER'S DAY GIFTS AND IF YOU LIVE ON THE EAST COAST YOU JUST MAY GET IT IN TIME!

SOME OF MY FAVORITES:


Thursday, June 13, 2013

BEDALE OBSESSION

THE ORIGINAL BEDALE WAS DESIGNED BY CHAIRMAN DAME MARGARET BARBOUR AS AN EQUESTRIAN JACKET IN 1980. I LOVE THIS MODEL. IT HAS TWO FLAP CHEST POCKETS (INSTEAD OF THE LATER HAND WARMERS) AND TWO ROYAL WARRANTS, ONE FROM QUEEN ELIZABETH AND THE OTHER FROM THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH. (PRINCE CHARLES DID NOT APPLY HIS UNTIL 1987). THERE ARE SOME SUBTLETIES I LOOK FOR WHEN DECIDING ON A VINTAGE ONE FOR THE COLLECTION. (YES, IT SEEMS IT IS BECOMING A COLLECTION) PATINA AND WEAR ARE THE FIRST THINGS I LOOK AT AND FOR. I LIKE A BIT OF WEATHERING AND FUNK. A GREASY - LEATHERY FINISH IS A MUST. SOME EARLY ONES HAVE YKK ZIPPERS AND OTHERS HAVE THE BARBOUR PULL. I ALSO LOOK AT THE CORDUROY COLLAR, THE LIGHTER IN COLOR THE BETTER. I ALSO CHECK OUT BUTTON WEAR AND LOOK FOR BRASSY FINISHES.
(NUTTY I KNOW) 
I OWN TOO MANY TO MENTION AND MY FAVORITES ARE IN GREEN BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE BLUE ONES FOR GOOD MEASURE. IT SEEMS THAT BARBOUR HAS VARIED THEIR SIZING OVER TIME AND SOMETIMES A 36 FITS LIKE A 38 AND VICE VERSA. THE REALITY IS YOU HAVE TO TRY THEM ON. THE LARGER 38/40'S I USE IN THE COLDER MONTHS, LAYERED WITH BIG SWEATERS OR HARRIS TWEEDS. WHEN I DO REPROOF THE VINTAGE ONES I ONLY USE NEW ENGLAND REPROOFERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. THEY CAN FIX, (GET OUT THE FUNK THAT WON'T BUDGE) REPAIR, AND TAILOR ANY BARBOUR-TALK TO AL.
1.
2.
3.
(MY FAVE)






Tuesday, June 11, 2013

BAXTER OF CALI

THERE ARE TONS OF SKIN, HAIR AND GROOMING PRODUCTS ROLLING THROUGH THE HRANEK HOUSEHOLD AT ANY GIVEN TIME, BUT A REAL STANDOUT RECENTLY IS PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING MADE BY BAXTER OF CALIFORNIA. THERE IS NOT A DOG IN THE BUNCH. SMELLS GREAT, FEELS GREAT AND LOOKS GREAT ON THE SHOWER SHELF. KILLER PRODUCT ALL AROUND.



Thursday, June 6, 2013

TOP GUN MUG

MY BUDDY SENT ME THIS AMAZING OBJECT A WHILE BACK. IT IS A BRASS MUG (ABOUT 10"HIGH) THAT MAY HAVE BEEN FASHIONED FROM A SHELL CASING. THE COOL THING IS THE HANDLE, WHICH IS CAST FROM AN APPARENT FIGHTER PILOT JOY STICK. MAKES BEER DRINKIN' FUN.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

KINDLING

CHECK OUT KINDLING.
RIGHT ON TIME FOR FATHER'S DAY
SEE MY FEATURE.
COOK MY DUCK RAGU.




Monday, June 3, 2013

PROHIBITION DISTILLERY:ROSCOE NY

PROHIBITION DISTILLERY, (NEAR MY UPSTATE FARM) IN ROSCOE NY IS UP AND RUNNING. THEY HAVE TAKEN OVER THE OLD FIRE HOUSE AND FIRED UP THIER STILL MAKING BOOTLEGGER 21. THE VODKA IS SIX TIMES DISTILLED AND CHARCOAL FILTERED. IT REALLY TASTES DELICIOUS WITH GREAT MOUTH FEEL. IT IS DEFINITELY WORTH A TRY OR EVEN A VISIT TO THE DISTILLERY AFTER YOUR NEXT COUNTRY DRIVE OR FISHING TRIP.  I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THEIR GIN AND WHISKEY - COMING SOON.
LOCAL CORN
FORMER VFW HALL SOON TO BE BARREL ROOM