50s times

1 February 1933 “Chancellor Hitler, Pretty Kitchens and Soap Riddle Solved”

2012-02-01T08:34:00.001-08:00

Two days ago, 30 January 1933, Adolf Hitler is appointed Chancellor of Germany by President of Germany Paul von Hindenburg. The chancellor is the head of the German Government (today’s current head is Angela Merkel).

President von Hindenburg did not like nor really support Hitler, but after dissolving the government twice with the hard times of the Weimar republic and economic hardships, he was coerced into it by various industrialist giants who ‘encouraged’ him to do so in various letters.

Hitler was actually of Austrian descent which he gave up on 7 April 1925. He was essentially without a country for seven years until he was appointed as administrator for the state's delegation to the Reichstag in Berlin, making Hitler a citizen of Brunswick and Germany.

Tonight, 1 February 1933, Chancellor Hitler will give his “Proclamation to the German People”. This is a film of that speech. I am not certain why it was labeled as being done on the 10th, as it did happen on the first.

When viewing this I had to hit an ‘accept’ button as it said the material was ‘sensitive’. What I find odd is that such a speech as this is important in our own understanding of how things lead to the great second World War. Yet, one can easily click on endless links of sexy material or inane pointless content without such a warning, like “attention content may be pointless and eat up your day with pointless viewing”. One would think it better to know and understand history, especially the bad bits, so as not to find oneself again in such dire straights.

The modern notion that what was bad must now be ignored seems a dangerous pattern that could lead to an innocent ignorance becoming a handicap to decisions better made. But, I digress. If you find it horrifying to watch a Hitler speech, than do not watch. But, there is no harm, and in fact much good, in understanding how the past was formed. I shall leave that decision up to you, but would feel remiss in not including all information I find pertinent to the formation of this very important year (as I am finding out) 1933.

Now, onto some lighter fare. Though the War rumblings are beginning in Europe, it is still just a soft drumbeat. Back at home in the USA, the ongoing Depression is beginning to hit harder, but one must still keep dreams and economy alive.

Here we see two lovely views of ‘New’ kitchens. I find just as many illustrations in my 1930’s magazines as photos, and more so than will be in my 1950’s variety. These kitchens, I think, are rather darling. And I had no idea one could get the old refrigerators in colors to match sinks. I think this is when we are first seeing that idea of matching appliances/sinks.

Now, the first photo the color is a bit off as there was a stain on my old magazine. Though for a magazine almost 80 years old, it is rather in good shape. The colors are the lovely yellow often seen in 30’s era kitchens. The fresh white cabinets and the little eating area is darling and you can just see the electric percolator plugged in. You may also notice in the first picture that the refrigerator is just off to the left in a separate room. I wish we had a shot of that room as well, but I have a feeling it is the pantry. Which rather makes sense, as it too stores food.

There are so many things to appreciate in the second photo! The lovely built in aspect of the sink are is wonderful, with two utility closets. Though one could serve as a pantry, while the second houses the broom and various cleaning apparatus. And, who can complain about the darling Hoosier cabinet next the refrigerator? I would love to add one of these all in one helpers, with their flour bin dispenser and easy to clean pull out enameled countertop. I think I am rather falling in love with the unfitted or free-standing kitchens of old. And these 30’s kitchens have a sort of mix of the old with what will become more ‘built-in’ once we reach the 1950’s.

This Chipso ad (click to enlarge) I found very interesting on many points. First, that young men’s shirts were often called blouses. I have seen them referred to this in a few ads in my 30’s magazines. I wonder when this became soley descriptive of ladies only?

Second, that little sons under most likely 5 or so, had little lord Fauntleroy haircuts that are the same as little girls at the time. Of course, in the past and previous centuries young boys often had long hair and even wore dresses before they graduated to ‘short pants’ in the nursery. This may be the last vestiges of that old tradition.

Third, I love how fresh and really modern the daughters haircuts are and I see more evidence that not everyone had the finger waves often associated with the decade.

Fourth, the eldest daughter’s shoes, in the red dress, are so modern in a way. The straps look like a ‘new trend’ one might find today.

Fifth and final, of course, was that this answers the question I keep having about soaps in the Depression that was the same soap used for clothes and cleaning and dishes. It appears that even those who buy their soap would still use it for many purposes. This leads me to now wish to try my dry laundry soap recipe as also my dish soap. I think I might make a darling little container out of an old glass tin lidded jar (say a peanut butter jar) to hold a smaller amount of it for my dishes. Something that would look pretty on my counter and be easy reach to toss into the warm dish water.

For those of you who would like to try homemade dry soap for your laundry (and now apparently for our dishes too!) Here is the basic recipe I use. This site does a wonderful photo tutorial for you and it is basically what I use. Click HERE to see tutorial. (sorry that the links now appear to be grey and may not show up, but are clickable)

If you do try the above on dishes let me know how it works for you.

Happy Homemaking.

Addendum: Commenter Carrie made a good point about the context of the pictured kitchens into the actual time. I think by 1933 many workers/laborers and farmers may still have had a kitchen much like this one, though simply substitute the Gibson girl hair and long skirts for bobs and bared ankles.

Or more like this early 1920’s kitchens which might even still contain an ice box rather than a refrigerator or both working in tandem (throwing away was not as en vogue back then).

Again, the variation in geographic location from the East, West, Mid-West or South as well as rural versus urban played many factors into how one lived and cooked. But, still all of these women, even the poorest factory worker, would still have access to view the ‘dream kitchens’ so I think it important to show.

I rather like a free-standing kitchen as it seems to make cleaning easier and feels more homey.

30 January 1933 “Come with me Lucille, in my Merry Oldsmobile. The Family Car and the Electric Car.”

2012-01-30T11:00:00.001-08:00

I have been away from you all for these past three days. I haven’t any other excuse save that it is rather easy to slip into the past full tilt and enjoy a walk, books and catching up on chores to sitting prostrate before the glowing beast of a computer. But, duties call and needs must, and I thought I would share today some of the fun things I have found about automobiles.

Innocently enough, as most of my discoveries start, I came across some fun facts. I wondered, here in 1933, what is the concept of the family car? In 1950’s it was rather clear cut and the vast production machine that was set into motion by WWII simply made for cars for all. It was becoming even normal for middle class families to have two cars and for teen Johnny to have his ‘old jalopy’ (which ironically would be an old car from the 20’s or 30’s cheap and easy to maintain at the time)

Before we start, let’s have a listen to this 1909 hit put out by the Oldsmobile auto company (to become GM some day) and sung by Billy Murray. This is an original recording from that time, so enjoy the scratches and life such an old 78 record imparts!

Here is a 1931 Fleishcer cartoon promoting the Oldsmobile. This cartoon uses the song as a basis for a love story with villain and hero and of course, the love of the automobile. At this point the U.S. auto companies are going full tilt, have been through the Great War and mass producing many such vehicles. The evil villain and slightly funny heroine can still be seen to hold the action and sway of the old silent movies, easily in the memories of those who created such cartoons.

My first thought was cost. Let’s look and see where we are here in 1933.

This advert caught my eye in my 1933 Better Homes and Gardens. Let me state here, as well, that my new stacks of 1930’s magazines are as refreshing to me as once were my 1950’s compared to modern magazines. And now I am finding the 1930’s similar in comparison to the 1950’s. The number of ads are easily half. There are far more articles and it is as if the articles are even written at a level of higher understanding, if that makes any sense, but I digress. That is another post all together.

So, if we take this ad here (the only car ad in the entire issue I might add) as a standard. We see the ‘deluxe’ version at $575. Now, when we adjust for inflation to present time, $575 in 1933 dollars is around $9577.80 in modern day dollars. This does not seem that high for a brand new car. But, as usual, one cannot simply look at cost differences.

I next imagined one should know what average per year earnings were for a U.S. family in 1933 comparative to today as well. My first discovery was that, obviously this is the Depression and wages must be less than the 1920’s. That was true and Between 1929 and 1932, the average American's income drops 40 percent to about $1,500 per year.

Next, then, we must look at current average family earnings. I found that in 2010 (the latest data I could find) that American wages fell for the second year in a row (meaning they also fell in 2009) to $26, 364 a year. Another interesting point I found was that it has not been this low since 1999! So, I know some people seem oddly angry when I compare things from today to the Depression, but here we go again. Incomes falling from the previous decade. That is simply stated by fact a link to the Depression. One must understand that does not mean we are standing in bread lines and starving as they did. But one must also admit that facts in comparison are there and that in this way there are similarities.

However, here is where the differences between then and now seem rather vast:

In 1933 we have an average income of $1500 with an average car cost of $575 (though cheaper were available). That is simply one third of a families yearly income to purchase said car.

Today average income is $23,364 and according to a few articles (Business Week, NYTimes etc) the average car cost seems to be $29,602. We already see the flaw here. That means the cost of a new car is already greater than 100% of a families yearly earnings.

Now, we must also remember that such things as inspections, insurance, state and tax registrations are all but non existent in 1933 and therefore the upkeep and fuel costs are also much higher today than they would have been for a family during the Depression.

I found these interesting facts from a AAA car magazine article entitled ““Driving costs climb to $8,776 for car owners”. I found that interesting and here is the data they provide.

Breakdown of Car Ownership Costs in 2011 for the Average Car

Variable Costs:
Gas: 12.34¢ per mile
Maintenance: 4.44¢ per mile
Tires: 0.96¢ per mile

Fixed Costs:
Insurance: $968 per year
License, Taxes, etc.: $595 per year
Depreciation: $3,728 per year
Finance Charges: $823 per year

Cost per mile (total) based on 15,000 miles per year: 58.5¢

These costs, too, are before tax and are also higher if one drives an SUV. It is per car as well so must be factored in for each car a family owns.

If we first look at Gas, we see that in 1933 a gallon of gas was .10 cents or in today’s money $1.67 a gallon. We see that cost much higher today.

(as an aside I found the average earnings for a laborer in 1933 was $20 a week. We might think, oh my how little, until we actually calculate for inflation to today’s earnings that means a general laborer would earn in today’s money $$333.14. This is much higher than what laborers in many states at minimum age earn after tax. Just food for thought.)

I haven’t any data on average repair costs to a 1933 car, but I do know that there was less involved in the car. There were no computer chips, nor as many wiring systems to break down, so I think it safe to assume one’s repair in 1933 of a basic car would be no where near the $4.44 a mile found by the AAA article.

Now, for insurance costs. I found that other than my own state of Massachusetts, which required insurance as early as 1925 to car owners, it wasn’t until 1956 that NY state passed such a law and over the years the other states followed suit. Therefore, for the vast majority of car owners in 1933, insurance costs need not be factored.

Therefore, many may cry out, “How dare you compare the hard times of 1930’s to the ease of today” I am now beginning to wonder how many things are worse for us today than those hard hit in the Depression? I am not saying so to put down or belittle the hard times of the day, but we must also remember that not everyone in the Depression was hard hit as dustbowl migrant farmers and those who lost everything in the Stock Market Crash.

And for normal day to day life I now have found that the simple act of car ownership (to which a family would have one) the costs overall are much less than today.

And, down the rabbit hole I continued. And came upon the electric car.

100 Years ago, in 1912, we did indeed have electric cars. This post card depicting the Woods Electric shows to lovely ladies of fashion with just such a car. This car company also had its own Prius version as well when, “in 1915 they produced the Dual Power (U.S. Patent # 1244045) with both electric and internal combustion engines and this continued until 1918.”

I found this quote rather interesting:

The New York Times stated that the electric car has long been recognized as "ideal" because it was cleaner, quieter and much more economical than gasoline-powered cars.

-1911

Yes, that’s right, that was said in 1911.

Here is an old photo an a Detroit Electric Car being charged. You can see the line running to it.

The electric car was also considered a better car for women than the gasoline car, as it was cleaner and easier to run. There was no need for the hand crank of the gasoline cars and the gears that needed constant changing in the gasoline cars do not exist in an electric car. Many liked the quiet, smoother ride, and lack of smell the electric car afforded.

There was even a recharge service where in as early as 1896 an exchangeable battery service was provided by Hartford Electric Light Company. The automobile or truck (for transport and shipping) was purchased without a batter and the electricity was purchased the company with an exchangeable battery. So rather than a gas/petrol station, one would go and exchange batteries and pay, as you do your electric bill, once a month. You paid a variable rate per mile. Imagine the amount of waste saved if one simply was able to continually change out the batteries as others were brought back to be recharged!

It almost makes me angry when I think of how much nicer the world might smell and look (With so much less trash, gas, throw away etc) from just the simply act of keeping electric transportation in the first place.

Even in NYC in 1897 a fleet of electric taxis were built by the Electric Carriage and Wagon Company of Philadelphia and put into use. Imagine, if even can, what a city such as NYC would smell like if it were simply devoid of internal combustion cars.

By the 1930’s the electric car had all but been done away with. A car in the 1910’s may have cost 1500 dollars at the time, but by the 30’s car prices for gas cars had gone down to $400’s. This, however, seems to have been more to do with the increase in Gas production and power of Rockefeller than any real advantage the gas car had over the electric. And, as I said, the electric car was actually easier to operate and repair. One wonders what really went on.

My innocent forays into the past often leave a bad taste in my mouth when I discover odd little facts such as these. I hope, though, that what I often take away from such discoveries as that we, the little people, the middle and working class homemakers, may not have much power in policy or major decisions. But, what we do have is our mind, our wits and the ability to implement change and rationale in our own families and daily lives. Many may think the idea of one car for a family unthinkable, but then we could think what do we use the car for? Are there endless practices and play dates that could simply be avoided therefore saving money and creating more family time? Are there wasted trips for ‘shop therapy’ or to just ‘take a drive’ that could be deleted from our life and replaced with lower costs creating less stress. And finding new joy in one’s home sipping tea with a good book by the fire rather than fighting traffic or swiping the card for one more ‘great deal that was almost cheaper to just buy it then”?

I think the more I have learned of the past, despite how one wishes to take it, there is lesson there. And when we are often fed either that the past was horrid and wretched only or that it was all starlight and sunshine through rose-colored glass we are also being cheated of the lesson of the past. We can see that with each decade we peel back, like the layers of an onion, there is always one aspect the remains: simplicity. Each decade has improvements surely, but as we go back one we also see a simpler way of doing things. And in some cases that simpler way need not be tossed out. It might be harder but only at first when one realizes the savings in cost of repair, and money lost.

I hope when I do such posts as these with numbers there in our face showing us the hard to fight high costs of today, that we can see we DO have choices and we CAN make change in our own life.

I hope all have a lovely day and as always Happy Homemaking.

26 January 1933 “Hairstyles, Shoes, & Conveyor Belt Lives.”

2012-01-26T09:35:00.001-08:00

I really didn’t get a very good picture of how I have been wearing my hair curled, but the one I did manage to get, I messed about with to give it an antiquated look. It is hardly flattering but I wanted to show the general shape and style of my hair now curled. I have still not done the finger waves, but shall. I want to get some proper metal clips, which seems to be a better bet than bobby pins.

Overall, I love my shorter hair. As my curl was fading the other day, I realized it was basically the shorter 1950’s cut I had wanted as well. And I really saw a similarity between the short close cut and style of the mid 50’s and mid 30’s, fashion does repeat itself.

The 1940’s sported much longer hair and this was due not only to the usual change we women look to in our styles, but also the war years left little time or money to mess about with hair. Longer hair was easier to roll into “victory rolls” or tie up out of the way with scarves and kerchiefs. A few twists and bobby pins gave a busy war working gal a lift and style on the go.

This wonderful color film shows fashions from this year, 1933, and you can see there is still quite a bit of the 1920’s still here in the clothing. The waist has returned, but the cloche hat is still prevalent and occasionally a dropped waist shows up. We must remember, as well, that clothes styles finally hitting the average women by the end of the 1920’s would of course continue a bit. I always find the beginning of a decade fascinating in fashion as it always has the flavor of the previous decade but then you see hints of the trends that will become the ‘look’ of the later decade.

I know I have shared this video before, but I think it very fitting here. What we imagined the future to be from the 20’s to the 40’s outlook of the future 21st century. I have to say some things had an eerie image of reality. Though the gentleman's tool belt looks old and cumbersome, the fact that he has a phone and other items with him is very telling. And the view of the city in 2000 has a very real feel of the dense traffic and large scale freeways that we certainly have today.

One joy of vintage dressing or living in a particular decade is that one can grow a wardrobe and feel it can last forever. Therefore, with my travel back to the 1930’s I didn’t want to just toss out my 50’s wardrobe (especially as I may end up there again at the years end!) But, I found that some of my straighter skirts are very fitting for the 1930’s particularly the longer versions. Skirts became their shortest in 1925 and then gradually went longer again. By the early to mid 1930’s skirts were more mid calf, much like the length of the New Look in the late 40s' early 50’s that caused such a stir. Again, fashion repeats itself quite often.

Living in the Depression, one wants to make sure to conserve their pin money, but I did splurge on a pair of vintage styled shoes. I have already two pair of lace up heeled oxfords I showed before, but I wanted to add one Mary-Jane style heeled shoe that could be dressed up or down. What I have found is that the heel width is quite comfortable and would also be appropriate for early 1950’s dressing. What do you think of these. I think they look quite lovely with the darker opaque stockings of the 20’s early 30’s. And my 50’s wool skirt becomes rather 30’s I think. The color was also very 1930’s to me and though ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ doesn’t have the same meaning it will come to have in the 1950’s when Elvis sings about them, a gal can still feel happy with a bright shoe and cutaway class in her step.

Some may think it silly to so immerse onself into a decade. But, I have always loved history, all aspects of it. And so there is a certain joy, perhaps only experienced by the true historyophile, to reading a vintage magazine or novel while one is adorned in the clothe and hairstyles of the day, with the proper underpinnings. Perhaps it is merely self-indulgence, but I do feel more akin to things and as if I am somehow giving my proper respect to the past, when I try to, quite literally, walk in their shoes.

But, I think a healthy dose of curiosity and a questioning mind are all is really needed for one to become a happy and contented arm-chair time traveler. Either way, I do like to mix my serious findings of politics and laws of the day with fun meals, interesting desserts and hairstyles and shoes to enjoy them all the more.

One cannot be only happy or sad. The complexity of life simply makes it more interesting and also makes one a more complete person. I believe the main aspect of the modern age which often irks me is the hyper-specific groups one feels the need to belong to: Oh, I am a nerd, A techno-geek, a preppy, a fashionista, Green, hippy, conservative.

Even in the university system with so much focus on single educational goals that we become, much like Ford had thought of with his automobile production, an assembly line of people. In production, sure it makes for a faster and more equally created mass produced product if every person simply learns that one special part and does it over and over again. However, the individual never sees above their part in that line. They cannot make or understand the whole item produced and therefore their focus becomes narrow. I think that a very good view of modern man. We have allowed our education and culture to become one great conveyer belt mass produced life. We need to peek our heads about our little specialties and see what else is going on. The more we learn and try to understand the more we see we don’t and that leads us to understanding and better education. Mass production might be fine for our products, but shouldn’t be the pattern for our lives.

Well, I shall step down from my soap box now, gingerly mind, with my lovely blue suede shoes and head off to my day. There are so many recipes and news articles to get to. I hope all have a lovely day and Happy Homemaking.

23 January 1933 “1930’s, Here I Come…again. Yummy Spiced Coffee Cake, Breakfast Cereal, Twentieth Amendment to U.S. Constitution and our President Roosevelt talks about Foreclosures.”

2012-01-23T09:46:00.001-08:00

Well, as usual, all your lovely thoughts put things into perspective. And I find myself again thankful for our little community. Though we are not actual neighbors, as virtual neighbors you are all gems. You sat me down and made me feel good, as if we were gabbing over a cuppa and some coffee cake in the kitchen or over the fence. I thank you.

I see by the poll that a large majority are happy for me to continue onwards in the 1930’s. And to those few of you who have voted for my return to 1950’s know that I shall, in time, return there. In many ways it is a sort of normal living for me. And, at the year’s end, may happily move to simply a state of 1950’s stasis. I do think, however, that the 1950’s fans will find some fun and excitement in the 1930’s as well. Remember, this is living history to those 50’s homemakers, either in their own childhood or simply lessons learned from Mother. It would have played a major role in their development. And so, in true deeper investigative form that I so love, find it really adds to my understanding of the 1950’s. And, how much more will I appreciate my 1950’s things after my sojourn through the 30’s and into the beginning of the War in Europe?

Therefore, I shall get back to it, as it were, and focus more on what I am doing and learning and worrying less about comments. But, do know it was for you and because I do care about who reads my little scribblings. You have all come to mean so much to me, even those who merely read and don’t comment, in your well wishing or even casual interest, it spurs a gal onward to try harder and to be truer to herself and her project. I also think I may include more polls in the future as they are sort of fun. Most likely dealing with things pertaining to the 1930’s of course.

Now, how about a lovely 1930’s recipe.

This morning I made hubby and I a lovely coffee cake from my 1930’s Better Home’s and Gardens Cookbook. I checked again in my 1950’s version and could not find a coffee cake recipe in there. I have a few I used in the 1950’s, my favorite being the Fanny Farmer version. But, wanting to compare the 30’s recipe with the same book in the 50’s could not find the recipe at all, odd. If I have simply overlooked it, do let me know readers and tell us page number and such if you have a copy of the 1950’s version of the cook book. Here it is fresh from the oven, I wish I could impart the smell to you! It was heavenly. And our having had snow recently made the warm spicy aroma even more enticing as one wants to simply curl up with a slice and a warm cup of tea or coffee in front of the fire.

I served it with hot coffee for our breakfast. Hubby loved it. I was worried it would be too spicy, as I find many modern palates do not appreciate the more deeper spices I find in older recipes. I often peruse Victorian recipes and see such things as candied fruits and heavily spiced foods were more normal, mainly due to their lack of refrigeration as well as taste.

I am finding, thus far, that the recipes I have encountered do have a bit more chemistry or work in them than some of the 1950’s versions. I am glad to have done the 1950’s earlier. I also noted that this cookbook has, as does the 1950’s variety, much use of shortening over butter. I have since found out that this was mainly part of the push to get homemakers to switch to it, but in fact many would be using butter or lard in lieu of shortening as I did. I chose butter as the recipe begins with your mixing the flours and spices with the fat as you would a pastry. I always use ice cold butter for pastry so did so here.

If you would like to follow this recipe here are some things you can do. If you do not have cake flour, as I never do, simply make it by replaces 2 tablespoons of flour with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch in each cup used in a recipe. And if you do not have buttermilk, I usually do when I make my own butter, you simply add one tsp white vinegar to your one cup measuring cup, then fill to full with milk (at least 2% milkfat or higher) and let stand 15 minutes. I did that today and it worked fine.

This cake is so dense and rich. It rises a treat and has such warm and hearty fragrances. When I was making it I thought, “my this is quite a bit of butter for that little 8 x 8 pan” but it is so dense and rich that one small piece and hubby and I were more than full. It has an almost softer note of a gingerbread but a bit lighter overall. I highly recommend it and it really gives one a taste of what was considered a treat in 1930’s.

I thought for fun, I would share this wheaties ad from one of my 1933 magazines. It is interesting as it involves the use of a sports here, Babe Ruth, as a means to lure one into buying the product. One is also able to collect a prize by mailing in a box top. I thought the drawing also fun to see the 1930’s women and the look of the children as well. Certainly eggs and bacon and oatmeal are more likely to be found on that breakfast table, but the move towards prepared cereals are growing.

Now, for some news:

Today, 23 January 1933, the 2oth Amendment to our U.S. Constitution is ratified, changing Inauguration Day from March 4 to January 20, starting in 1937.

This process was meant to put an end to lame duck congress or government. That is to say, with the length of time to March, an outgoing President and his administration may not have the ability or support to act quickly enough to various circumstances. It also dealt with the situation were there no president elect. If the president were to be killed or die and there were no vice president in line of succession, that line was now laid out. This same instance of who is next in line was dealt with again in the Succession Act of 1947.

Many felt that during Lincolns election, this stalemate of waiting until March affected greatly his dealing with the Civil War and was used as the argument for the 20th Amendment.

Here we see the new President Roosevelt discussing the current plans to recover from the Depression. His talk about halting foreclosures of farms and homes until solutions are found would be greatly appreciated today, as well, I am certain. I know many seem to think it odd for me to compare today with the Depression, but in so doing I am not belittling the struggles of those who suffered through it, but only drawing parallels so that we might, today, not repeat such history.

We are not currently as bad off as those in the 1930’s, but we must remember MANY now are being saved by policies invented during that time. Unemployment, Healthcare, Social Security and the like are readily available today, but were only being created then. Were we not to have them I am certain we would feel it much harder. I know, as someone who gets no government money, has to pay very high prices for healthcare and property and income taxes, that with the rise in grocery bills and the relative inflation in our current dollar, we personally have had a pay loss. Just the increase in fuel and food costs over the past three years (the last time hubby received a raise) has made it seem as if he has lost at least a $2 an hour pay cut.

Our current unemployment rate of 8% would also be closer to 20% if we used the same system as they did in the Depression rather than our new system. Also our current inflationary figures do NOT count food or fuel costs, which seems rather odd when those are the greatest factors affecting the poor and middle classes.

We do need to respect those who have gone, but let us not, for one instance, think that we might not ever find ourselves in dire straights again. As I always say, “Forewarned is Forearmed”.

Happy Homemaking.

Now, to our President:

21 January 1933 “30’s Gal or 50’s Gal: A Time Traveler Confused and Open to Suggestions”

2012-01-21T10:35:00.001-08:00

I am sorry that this post is going to be, sad to say, another response to a readers comment. Surely I am bad in not merely posting more 1930’s findings today, but I often consider thoughtfully what readers comment or write to me. I try, as best I can, to be both true to what I see my project being and also to consider my readers as well.

Here was the comment:

50s Gal,
I have followed and enjoyed your blog for the past couple of years and now I am wondering "what happened?" From the tone of our 1950s blog it seemed that you had embraced the 1950s lifestyle and mindset ans were living an authentic 1950s life. Was it all a game? Why have you suddenly changed decades in the way you live? I guess you want to stay current in the trendy way of switching lifestyles and tastes, but you really had me fooled into believing that you were truly a 1950s gal. I guess in our modern world we can just flip the channel and restructure our min and life to project whatever image we want. I was duped into thinking your blog was real.

No man (or woman) is an island until them self. Were I still to be in the 1950’s or had I truly been in the 1950’s I should have come from somewhere and that would have been the past. I would not have magically dropped down into a decade to stagnate and remain. I am also finding many things I did in the 1950’s to have been founded in the 1930’s and many housework things seem similar but simpler. And there is the rub or should I say the LURE. What made 1955 so wonderful for me at the end that I couldn’t leave? It was Simplifying one’s life.

Perhaps, being a modern person, I have merely ‘switched the channel’ who can say. It is possible to live outside of one’s time to an extent but again, I am not an island. I truly and honestly feel a responsibility to my readers and such notions do take me to heart. I should not like to seem disingenuous to anyone or to seem to be acting contrary to my words. I don’t like the “do as I say not as I do” form of dictatorship.

But, I also keep going back to what is expected of me. I must remember this is simply a blog documenting my own project for my own sake. I receive no pay nor dictum from a higher source and do not, honestly, answer to anyone for my choices nor decisions. I have, of course, come to truly feel you the readers make it all worth the while and I love sharing with you. However, much work goes into that sharing and were it to become a place where I must constantly explain or try to appeal to you why I do this or that, it would begin to feel rather stressful. I know this is simply one commenter, but for all I know there may be many who feel this way.

One of the reasons I ran my poll was to see how you, my readers, felt and a vast majority were quite thrilled about my idea. And that idea, I thought, had validity within my 1955 project in that the same impetus that drove me to understand the 1950’s was there to help me consider the time before that. I am willing, however, to restructure my blog as may be helpful and beneficial for all. I could attempt to split my week between the 50’s and the 30’s but might be dizzy at the attempt.

My future plans with the Depression and the 1930’s was to really dig in deep to that time and I even considered an opportunity to move towards the late decade as the year ended and approach our UK sisters and their struggles in 1939 at the onset of WWII.

Therefore, today I shall post another poll up to the left for you to vote. I shall not, I promise, waste this year constantly addressing comments but in many ways such discourse helps me to look at and dissect my next move within the project and my life. Also, I feel the Forum, which I have even left decorated in 1950’s style, is very much mid-century still.

I can’t help, though, feel odd that my wish to study another decade somehow makes me unreal or fake? I also know one cannot please all the people. And, if such a person is truly unhappy, why would they not just click away, what purpose for their hurtful remark? Was it to merely be mean? I don’t know.

I feel people’s meanness or lashing out often is a camouflage for some deeper hurt. Therefore, rather than dismissing their action as ‘mean’ it makes me think: Did my previous blog provide to them some shelter or happy harbor from a sad life? Did they enjoy my little oasis so as better to live in their own unhappy world? And if so, have I , like perhaps the modern world has done to them, merely turned my back on them? I should hate to think myself a brute in that way. Perhaps, in my decision, I am merely being a modern gad about flitting from one thing to the next? I certainly am always willing to look at my own faults when others point them out. We are, unfortunately, always the last to see them. And I could very well be making a mistake or being callous, I don’t know. It is food for thought.

I should like, in my life and these writings, to feel I am providing, not only for myself, but for my readers something. Rather it is an oasis, or even a platform to disagree but to better discuss their own life and choices. But, I should not like to seem to be disingenuous or hurtful or, as the commenter pointed out, not being ‘real’.

I cannot help but look at and dissect such comments and I hope those who have enjoyed my foray thus far into the 1930’s don’t fell I am not being fair to them by merely addressing such a comment. But, I truly would like to know how many of you feel. I honestly was rather excited about my year in the 1930’s figuring, most likely, to return to the 1950’s at year’s end. But, if I have somehow failed you all in my further time travel, I am elastic and can restructure my ways. We are only a few weeks in.

Or, as considered, be a sort of Time-Traveling commuter, taking my train mid-week on a journey betwixt the 1950’s and 1930’s: addressing 1958 and the Depression. I shall let you help me to decide. Therefore the poll is in the upper right and I will appreciate your comments and polling. Thank you all for being a part of my lovely project so far.

Happy Homemaking.

20 January 1933 “Haircuts and Words”

2012-01-20T13:59:00.001-08:00

I thought it’d be fun to post a quick rebuttal today concerning an anon comment about hair and girth. First off, I think a woman my age would most certainly, by 1933, have had bobbed hair. I will be wearing it more curled, as I learn, but being in my late 20’s and 30’s in the 20’s would have certainly seen my have already bobbed my hair. In fact, being young during WWI, may have even lead to it happening a bit earlier.

Here we see various shots of middle aged women in the 1930’s proudly sporting short hair and they are far from ‘Socialites’.

I love these shots of Granny’s proudly sporting their bobs, free of finger waves and curls I might add, despite it being the 1930’s.

I also had to laugh at the comment about my non-waifish or ‘matronly’ comment. Some of you certainly thought I should see it as a put down or an insult. On the contrary, Matronly, by definition means:

adjective

1.

of, pertaining to, or having the characteristics of a matron; maturely dignified; stately.

And of course the definition of Matron:

noun

1.

a married woman, especially one who is mature and staid or dignified and has an established social position.

Hardly a put down in my book. And I certainly suffer under no delusions that I am a thin waifish socialite. In fact it rather made me think of how the use of words and the attitudes towards those who are older (today really anyone over 21 as far as I can discern) or anyone of normal or heavy weight (above 100 lbs if we are to use the Super Model index). Such things seem not offensive but rather a compliment. I should like very much to be seen as matronly, particularly when compared to the actual definition. Or if one were to consider it more a definition of one’s own mother, I also like the comparison as my own mother was a kind and dignified and gentle-woman and I very much aspire to her ways, though often falling rather short of them.

It made me recall an incident awhile ago when I and some ladies were smelling scents and I was asked about one scent. I replied, ‘Hmmm, smells like grandmothers’. To which the immediate response was ‘Oh, God, No” as if I had meant it in a bad way. “No,” said I, “It smells wonderful, like more spice or stronger musk scents of the 20’s. Like my Grandmother’s Chanel no. 5. I like the smell of Grandmothers” I proudly stated.

It also brought to mind a commercial my hubby had told me about he saw online for audible books. In their selling point to show how good audible books are they first have the ‘critics’ exclaim why they would at first be put off by such things. A woman looks at the camera with disgust and says, “My GRANDMOTHER listens to books on tape” as if her Grandmother were the devil incarnate and to imitate her in any way would be the very epitome of bad choice.

I think there has always been a divide somewhat between the young and old, for sure, but the continual ‘youth worship’ (which I even covered an article about in my 1955 year) has been raging onward post WWI. I often see today mothers who are older than I happily bleached blond hair, ponytail gum, low rise track pants with writing where it ought not to be, cell phone in hand and wearing Uggs in an exact replica of their 16 year old daughter. Once, young girls couldn’t wait to be like mummy and dress as an adult. Today it seems rather the other way around. It is just another way the modern world sets unrealistic expectations upon us so that we try, feel bad at the failure (Which is inevitable as we most certainly get older rather than younger) and then need reasons to feel better. I know, they may think, some ‘shop-therapy, Depression drugs, or how about a face lift’?

I have been quite thin in the past and even sometimes called glamorous, but do I aspire to look young now? I hope to look my best, but today I am where and who I am. I may lose weight in the future but even if so, I am currently who I am today and therefore still want to look the best I can as I am. And, with that look, I am proud of my often grandmotherly ways. Hat, gloves, lipstick and hose might make me look older than I am or perhaps just my age, but for me I believe sometimes those ladies dressed as 16 year old girls might be more in ‘costume’ than I in my vintage outfit.

So, lets bring back the positivity to age and terms like matronly and Grandmother. And when you smell something that has an old fashioned scent or a look of the past that you like proudly proclaim, “Oh, how lovely and matronly that is.” Or “My goodness, what a fine Grandmotherly air it has”. Any way you slice it being happy with yourself and caring more about what is in your head than what is on your head will always make one happier.

Happy Homemaking.

19 January 1933 “New Hair Cut and Possible Styles.”

2012-01-19T14:09:00.001-08:00

I spent yesterday getting my hair cut finally. Getting it bobbed after letting it grow so long was rather a similar feeling I am certain to that first bob a woman received in the 1920’s.

I cut my hair for the 1950’s project with bangs/fringe and a longer bob or ‘page boy’. After that first year I let it continue to grow out and wore various “up do’s”. By the end of the past three years it was well down my back. (This picture was taken before I was off to the salon so do excuse the look of my hair. I was just about to simply brush it and French knot it until the hairdresser could address it.

My actual cut right now has a more 1920’s look, but that is only because it is a bob without curls or finger waves. Thus, making the transition from the 20’s onward. Here it is last night. I put a barrette in and thought it looked rather vintage. My next attempt will be with pin curls. Then I shall attempt finger waves.

Here are some of the images I brought with me to the salon as a guide for how I would like to style it.

As you can see, these are a bit longer, a more grown out bob, which was the basis of the 1930’s style. Which is quite logical as one moves towards a new trend the bangs/fringe grows out the bob increases in length and one plays about with different curls and waves. The early part of the 1930’s, where I am, would have still be very peopled with 20’s style bobs, which had a tighter wave or was left straight. There was more closefitting pomaded highly sleek looks like the second photo. But, as the decade progresses towards the 1940’s, the hair becomes looser and has more movement. Thus, my more severe bob will be a great way to move out of the late 20’s and into the mid 30’s. My hair grows rather fast so the shape will evolve rather quickly.

Getting back to that feeling of the ‘first bob’, I rather felt that. Having had my longer hair over the past few years and before that it had been long for quite a few years, to suddenly have that weight removed felt rather liberating. It was long enough and not color treated so that I could donate it to locks of love, a charity that makes human hair wigs for those going through chemotherapy. That made me feel even better about having it bobbed.

Because of that, the hairdresser put in a tight elastic and then just cut off that ponytail, so that it could be bagged and sent to the charity. Thus, the liberation of that long hair was simply a cut snip. My head actually felt five pounds lighter! And this morning I reached for my braid/plait to undo and brush out and was happy to find my neck and short hand in its stead. I think this will make some of the harder aspects of this year a bit easier as shorter hair equals less work in maintenance and even use of shampoo (though it will mostly be bar soap for me, I believe.) I am still trying to discern what shampoo was available

This ad is from 1937 but am still looking for earlier 30’s shampoo advertising. And many, simply out of habit or economy, may simply used bar soap such as ivory soap, which was available in the 1930’s. This ivory soap ad from the mid 30’s exclaims it has been making its soap for over 50 years, so that may have been readily available. I have spoken with many older ladies who said that they often used bar soap on their hair, which was usually washed once a week. And as an aside, how adorable is that gentleman’s bathroom? So masculine with the lovely black time and the shower curtain depicting golf and tennis rackets. Truly a wonderful look for a man’s private bath, if one were lucky enough to have such a thing.

I will close with this clip from the 1935 movie screwball comedy, “Hands across the Table” staring Carole Lombard and Fred McMurray. It is about a manicurist looking for a wealthy husband. This clip shows a woman at a salon getting her hair washed with shampoo.

This is a darling film, though two years away from 1933. Here is part one of it:

And iff you would like to watch the rest of this movie in its entirety i have it HERE on APRONTV.

I also apologize for not posting yesterday, but stayed off the computer all day in my own little black out protest for the current PIPA laws, which luckily seemed to have had a turn about. The internet is really the one aspect of small, grassroots and community we have left in this world. In many ways, despite it being cutting edge technology, it is probably the most really ‘old fashioned’ thing we have in this modern world. By that I mean, it allows a local singer, or an artist, or movie maker or yes, even a blogger (the new local journalist) a chance to share their ideas and views. Despite it being a mash of good and bad it is, for now, all of ours and has a sort of democracy missing in many countries actual political policy. So, hear hear to the reversal of Pipa/Sopa and I hope we can, all of us, hold onto our little bit of self expressive freedom. Even I, with many of the materials I share and scan, could have been taken down. And what good is it to let all that information molder away unshared with others? No good, as far as I can see.

Happy Homemaking.

16 January 1933 “Cleaning and Old Household Hints”

2012-01-16T11:34:00.001-08:00

First, I wanted to start today with this darling little picture I found in a 32 magazine. I thought it went well with our talk last post about children-sized adult toys. The little washing machines and irons were adorable and practical. And, I might add, that one need not only hope a role of homemaking for their little child to want to instill these skills in them. Even the bachelor engineer has a need to keep his clothes clean, his floors swept, food on the table, and a balanced bank account. Such play, I think, should be encouraged in both sexes because they, the homemakers skills, are a basic skill for all mankind to get a handle on.

This photo shows little Donald with his own wheelbarrow. And while he is having fun and getting to get dirty, he is also learning about the importance of composting and keeping the soil for growing food. Another element to our living is food and surely now it is easily got at local stores. But, as I have been saying, one never knows with our current economy.

And learning to grow correctly is a skill we should all wish to acquire. Pesticides, chemicals and ill planned growing is certainly a bad road. Even the dustbowls of the Depression were largely due to the sudden cessation of old fashioned growing techniques. The hedgerow as windbreak and environment for animals that create waste to fertilize the grown and help carry seed was wiped out. The changing of garden sections to lie fallow and to plant up with winter wheat an the like was abandoned with the new modern means of plowing it all over and knocking down great expanses of land to plant larger same crops. This, when drought arrived and the wind was allowed free reign across the plain, simply took up all the topsoil layers of rich nutrients plant need to grow. And, because of that, many people were homeless and starved.

We need to realize it is a serious business, understanding planting and the earth. If we think to always rely on the store or the large Monsanto breed genetically altered plants we may find ourselves in sore need of some good old fashioned planting and soil maintenance know how. But, I digress. I think it a quaint and wonderful little task for Donald to understand digging in the dirt isn’t just a fun pastime (though surely it is) but is a means to an end to feed oneself. Even if one were lavishly rich and had servants at hand, one should still possess the knowledge of how to care for oneself. The one certainty of the future is its Uncertainty.

Now, to the home cleaning. I have reduced my already small cleaning arsenal from 1950’s. Though, there were many cleaners available, I felt my older homemaker self having lived through the WWII years would have held fast to my vinegar and water, Borax, baking soda and other simple solutions. I did get a push sponge mop that wrings out as I saw them readily advertised in the late 1950s. I often would return to the old reliable cotton mop, though ,as I could toss it in a bucket of bleach and then wash it with my whites.

Now, here in 1933, I am getting confusing and contrasting notions of what one did use to clean the floors of the house. I see vacuums available similar to my 1950s vacuum, so that has remained in my arsenal. I have even added a lovely old wooden push Bissel Sweeper carpet floor cleaner. This is not a picture of my exact one but it is very close. Lovely old varnished wood and it really does a treat of attacking the carpets and floors. I now find myself going for that before I drag out the vacuum. That is reserved for vacuuming day, while my bissel is for everyday. I rather sound like a commercial.

Look at these adds for the Bissel and you can see how much they were prized.

Just for fun: HERE is a great site of a UK collector of early vacuums fun to look at his items.

Now, this ad here from 1930 shows the push scrub brush as an innovative notion. I don’t know if that is true or not. I would love to see how that wax spreader worked, wouldn’t you? So, I am assuming the norm was the old hands and knees approach to cleaning the kitchen floor, so here is what has replaced my mop and by sponge spic n span 1950’s push mop.Though, I saw something similar to thisat our local hardware store. Certainly meant for outdoor cleaning, I believe this might very well be the wonder advertised in my 1930 magazine. It is around $5 today and I think on my next shopping trip it might find its way into my basket.

As I keep doing the math for my own age today in 1933 to when I would have been a young housekeeper, I marvel at how differently I would have done things in the the mid 19teens! With that in mind, I was lucky enough to find this book free online. I am including the link so you can peruse it at your own leisure, but be assured, I shall most likely refer to it again in the future. As it is from 1913 I most likely would have had a copy in my library as my early Homemaker life started out.

Household Helps, Hints and receipts

Here are some tips in using soap. Right now, for my floor scrubbing, I am using fels-naptha in water as it seems an old-fashioned soap to make into floor cleaner. I slice a piece off, pour boiling water into the bucket and to it add a bit of Borax cleaning powder and mix it all up. This is essentially what I use to make my laundry soap and see no reason to not use it as a general scrubbing soap on floors and counters. I do wipe and rinse well with warm water afterwards.

How to economically use the different soaps available are outlined here . I wonder if this would have been a norm for me in the 19teens. I do, however, strongly believe that I would have had, at the very least, a day girl or one young live in servant, probably a young girl. She may have been a great help on soap making days. I have to say, that I shall indeed try to make these soaps and will share my results with you. I found caustic soda for sale around $6 and put it HERE in the corner store if anyone else would like to try along when I make some soap. I will let you know, as I will need to keep more of my fats from cooking. I do so now, but want to have a separate jar for such fat for soaps as opposed to cooking. I also added a modern Bissell (which is metal) to the shop as well. They run around $20. HERE is the link to the Home Care Products in the corner store. I make very little (sometimes a penny or two sometimes nothing) but I have kept the store open as a resource for any of my followers if they would like to have a go at the ‘old time’ products still available.

Enjoying perusing the online book from 1913. I had planned on sharing the last recipe for Meat Pot Pie but I will be making that tonight for dinner, so shall share the results and photos of that next post. Happy Homemaking.

14 January 1933 “Our Little Princesses: Cleaning as Play, Some Vintage Newspaper Recipes and Hopes for an Old Washing Machine”

2012-01-14T11:58:00.001-08:00

I thought this ad for Bon Ami was not only darling but rather telling. Today I see so many ‘Princess’ items for little girls. Certainly, playing make believe and dress up is fun, but I am not sure if one needs to buy endless synthetic kits to allow our child’s imaginations to go there. However, playing house was once not only a norm but also a way for a little girl, or boy, to have a go at being an adult. And surely, there are but a handful of us in this world we can grow up to be a princess or a king. But, we must all know how to cook and clean and care for ourselves, even when we are simply University students.

Now, I am not saying to not let children have fun and play whatever their imagination can dream up, but I feel like a lit of the fantasy and Princess world is really being fed to children with books, videos, cartoons and so on. It isn’t as if there is suddenly en masse a movement among children to want to go down that lane. But, I also think the counter of playing at real life can be fun. I remember playing house when I was little and I loved it. I loved the chance to have a go at being an ‘adult’.

As I have no children myself, I don’t know. Perhaps there are just as many kits and toys and games out there for children to learn basic things like cleaning and caring for ones self. I know there used to be little irons and sewing machines even washing machines.

Here is a toy sewing machine from the 1930’s, which of course actually works. A toy washing machine and ringer.

And a little toy cleaning kit like mothers. Now this is a REALISTIC Princess a young lady could hope to be. Hardly a bad type, I think, considering learning to do and care for oneself and others is a very good skill and can be fun to boot.

Many of you have children, so do set me straight. Is there as much ‘playing house’ as there once was? Are there toys and things on the market that encourage children to play house. I don’t even know if I see play money and coin any longer, like I remember having when we would play store and bank, practicing making change and saving. Now, I wonder, do they just have toy credit cards? I know they have toy cell phones, but today I see very young children with the real thing, so no toy even needed there.

I wanted to share some lovely finds from my 30s Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. In the back, tucked away in the little section for cut recipes, are some wonderful old 1930’s receipts and cutouts from newspapers of the day.

Here are some of the delightful finds from the two above. They are from a September 1931 Cinncinati Ohio newspaper. This meat pie sounds a God send to me and I am going to try it tonight and share the results on next post:

What a great way to use leftover meats and even veg and stuffing would be good tossed in. I say this recipe is really a great aid for any leftovers. And even the timid homemaker or cook can manage a simply wet batter poured over her leftovers and baked! And imagine the ways to spice it up. A dusting of cheese on top. Maybe some garlic and fresh herbs in the batter? Endless and this would also be a great breakfast bake with ham and eggs and syrup or cinnamon in the batter.

I love this storage for raw rhubarb. I used to store it in my freezer, but since downsizing fridge and having almost no freezer space (very 1933 too I might add) I am always trying to find ways to store things that don’t require electricity and appliances. This sounds a very good way to do so. I wonder what other fruits or veg could be stored this way? If anyone knows, please share.

This recipe not only gets me excited for Spring but is also helpful in getting a jump on canning. Late Spring Early Summer, when those tomatoes and apples are still to unripe to eat! Get some now or take those that fell off the tree early and or any tomatoes that might be getting attacked by the bugs, save the green ones and make this lovely mincemeat for future pies and tarts. I also think this type of conserve would be lovely brushed on a pork roast for the last 30 minutes of its cooking. Or simply serve in a darling dish at dinner and would be lovely with pork chops. And a great spread for toast at tea time.

I am excited to see that many recipes and tips will be coming this year that can help us all to plan more, prepare more, and spend less and use less. A great pattern to get into in our changing times.

This vacuum advert from my 1930 Better Homes magazine shows the ‘new’ vacuum. Again, this model looks almost identical to my 1950s Kirby so I feel very little need to hunt down a 1930s version. I am sure it was quite similar and here this version is only $14.50. In today’s money that would only be $187.51. For some reason I thought they would be more dear to the purse strings, but in comparison, that is cheaper than an ill made plastic vacuum today from a big box store.

This ad for a new Maytag washer is also from 1930. I am still using my modern washing machines, but am on a lookout for something along these lines. I am putting my feelers out to see if there is an old operational one around that is free or very cheap. I really want to know how it felt to use this machine. And, as part of the experiment, do a weeks’ laundry by hand and a hand ringer. Then use this and see how magical it may have felt. Somtimes I find that the older ways, though may seeming to take longer, often put you in a different frame of mind, such as: It is harder to do the laundry. Therefore I need to own LESS things to launder and to take better care of what I do have. This is not always a bad mindset to get into. I am sure it will not be wonderful by any means, but I do want to move towards this.

This got me thinking about soap again. And the types of detergent even available to a homemaker in the 1930s. I found this, which I will share here as a quote:

“In the 1920s, Americans used soap flakes to clean their laundry. The flakes performed poorly in hard water, leaving a ring in the washing machine, dulling colors, and turning whites gray. Procter & Gamble began an ambitious mission to change the way Americans washed their clothes. Researchers discovered two-part molecules which they called synthetic surfactants. Each part of the "miracle molecules" executed a specific function--one pulled grease and dirt from the clothes, while the other suspended dirt until it could be rinsed away. In 1933, this discovery was introduced in a detergent called "Dreft," but it could only handle lightly soiled jobs. The next goal was to create a detergent that could clean heavily soiled clothes. That detergent was Tide®.

Created in 1943, Tide detergent was the combination of synthetic surfactants and "builders." The builders helped the synthetic surfactants penetrate the clothes more deeply to attack greasy, difficult stains. Tide was introduced to test markets in October 1946 as the world’s first heavy-duty detergent. Consumer response was immediate and intense. Tide detergent outsold every other brand within weeks. It became so popular that store owners were forced to limit the quantity purchased per customer.

Tide detergent was improved 22 times during its first 21 years on the market, and Procter & Gable still strives for perfection. Each year, researchers duplicate the mineral content of water from all parts of the United States and wash 50,000 loads of laundry to test Tide detergent’s consistency and performance.”

So, it is this year that Dreft became available. I think you will recall the Dreft ad I shared that would have been seen at the picture show. Therefore, graying whites and soap film would be a part of my life today, despite Dreft being invented this year. I believe they had bluing even back in the early 1900’s to help counter this graying in whites. I would like to, of course, get some versions of the old soap flakes to use on an old machine. I hope I can find such a machine because I really think it would be fun and I am sure hilarious, what the results would be.

Well, off to more housework and trying to get a handle on how to continue to lay out my 1933 life this year. I hope all have a lovely day and Happy Homemaking.

12 January 1933 “More on the Home and Old Words that Ring True Today.”

2012-01-12T12:23:00.001-08:00

My quick post on prefab housing and some of your comments got me thinking more on homes and houses in the 1930’s. The 1950’s, though the prices were much cheaper than today and one got quite a bit for their money, for the most part had similarities to some of today’s mortgages. Though it was just the building blocks to the current crisis, the home and getting one became the ‘American Dream’ then.

Really, prior to that, getting a home was not very easy for the lower and working middle classes. Here in 1933 most home mortgages are very short term, three to five years. There were really no such things as amortization loans (with percentage time tables and interest being paid in large part while little principal is paid over a longer period of time), or balloon mortgages.

Now in the Beginning of the Depression, much like our current Recession, there was a banking crisis that resulted in many lenders needing to retrieve due mortgages. There was no refinancing as such, and many borrowers, now unemployed, were unable to make mortgage payments. Thus many homes were foreclosed upon causing the market to plummet. Now, the collected homes by the bank have almost now asset as the housing market plummeted. So, really very few homes were built or being purchased. Prior to that, in the boom of the 1920’s, homes much like into 1933 would have been paid for outright or a very short term loan would have been issued.

Now, in 1934, the National Housing Act was passed. This formed the Federal Housing Administration, or FDA and was part of the New Deal program. It was created to regulate the rate of interest and the terms of mortgages that it insured. This now allowed many more people who before could never had even considered home ownership a possibility. It put to work many people in construction and my magazines after 1934 do seem to be fraught with more home construction adverts.

By 1938, only four years after the beginning of the Federal Housing Association, a house could be purchased for a down payment of only ten percent of the purchase price. The remaining ninety percent was financed by a twenty-five year, self amortizing, FHA-insured mortgage loan.

Thus mortgages begin to look a bit more familiar, though not until after the War in the 1950’s do we see the move to longer loans. And it is interesting to note that up until the 2008 crisis, FHA and HUD was a self-supporting government agency. But, after the increased lending put out (70% to he 40% of the later Depression) the FHA/HUD had to go to the government for help. And eventually government losses from the FHA could reach $100 billion.

The similarities of the Failing Banking and the increase in housing, as was done in 2006 to ‘recover’ from the failing Markets, are rather similar. However, what scares me a bit is that those in the Depression were quite different than we were in many ways. Many people in 1930’s still lived an agricultural life. 30% of all Americans were living on rural and farm homesteads. Though we are familiar with the dustbowl saga of the Grapes of Wrath, this was particular to a specific region and also greatly affect the migrant farmer. There were many coastal families who did better than their urban neighbors by growing their own food. And those on the fringe of such agriculture also had the potential to barter and trade with farmers. For, back then, Farm families grew and raised a variety of crops and animals. Today, many farms are large and grow one crop and are often own and subsidized by large corporations that hold the purse strings and the rights to the crops, such as Monsanto corp.

I worry about us today, as most families think of food as the stuff available at grocery stores or cheap at restaurants. I am not sure, were we ever to be hit by high prices or even a sudden stop in food imports (alas much of the food we eat is grown outside the U.S.) we would fare well. We are no where near the hardships those faced during that time, yet we are also only at the beginning of a great move downwards I feel. And we are less prepared.

Another aspect that rather scares me is the competition for jobs. In the job loss of the 1930’s Americans did not have to compete with outsourcing. Jobs were lost for a variety of reason, but none of them were due to their simply being moved overseas. Such things, as Boeing in Kansas which has provided jobs for over 80 years, is not closing plants there. Though it is said to be more competitive, what it really means is that its new plants opening in China simply offer cheaper labor. Such a divisive act as production leaving the country, but still continuing to happen, was not a problem faced by the jobless of the Depression years.

And finally, we were much more a contained country in 1930. The global world of exports and imports were only just gaining real steam during the Depression. And the affect of European markets and countries did not hinge as intrinsically on our own economy as they do today. We have much to lose when nations like Japan are facing bankruptcy and the European Union is dealing with its countries facing their own financial stress.

Much of the bad moves that began in the speculations of the 1920’s were meant to be dealt with in the Depression and indeed the banking and Wall street were begun to be restructured then. However, since then such safe gaps put in place have long since been reversed or simply new laws made to replace during the 80’s to today. I get worried when I think of what a Depression in our own century could look like.

I recall, as my 1955 project moved forward I began to see it as the real entrance, an almost portal, to our modern world. Endless invention, advertising, media and the increase in house buying and general consumerism. Now, only a few weeks in, I am beginning to see the 1930’s laying the groundwork for the inevitable fall we are currently heading to.

Those heady days of happy post WWII 1950’s seemed to but able to be maintained but a decade. Perhaps, it was our own desire to turn blind eyes at the changing world and to not ask or question. I am wondering how I am going to feel and what I am to discover after this year of 1930’s. In many ways I am frightened and want to turn away. I want to focus on the home and recipes, and surely I shall do as that is important at any point in life. We must eat, we must have homes and we must have a warm hearth to rest our fevered brows, even when that hearth is sometimes a shack, car, or tarpaper house.

I remember as I delved deeper into the 1950’s and how we got there I began to feel rather Alice in Wonderland and that I had fallen into the rabbit hole and followed the instructions on the little bottle, “Drink Me” and there was no going back. However, I cannot, for it is simply my personality, only look at the good. I must and will understand all that was happening then because even a quiet little middle class homemaker would have heard the world creeping into her haven of the home on the kitchen wireless. Or saw, on her way to marketing, the bread lines and the families looking empty eyed and lost as their possessions were loaded into trucks bound for no where. A home full of furnishings and dreams headed for uncertainty.

I shall, though, much as they did keep my chin up and my purse strings tight. I will continue to scour the pages of my ‘new’ 1930’s Better Homes cookbook. And collect up my tips and recipes of how to stretch our food budget. I will, I promise you, not be sadness or doom-sayer. But, I shall not, as well, feel I have done justice nor reverence to those who have gone before us and lived in the Depression without sharing what was happening in their world. To me, History serves no purpose if we cannot learn from it. And to do so we must make comparisons for in many ways the past can be a sort of crystal ball for us. And as they say, “Forewarned is Forearmed”

We shall take this journey together, but I am afraid I must have some of the bad in order to better appreciate much of the good. I will close with this quote from Benjamin Roth’s Depression Era Diaries and let you ponder if it does indeed sound familiar.

“Everybody is living a hand to mouth existence and struggling under a burden of debt.”

-Benjamin Roth Great Depression: A Diary

10 January 1933 “Mail Order Homes: House & Home”

2012-01-10T13:33:00.001-08:00

Just a short post today. I received a few key books in the mail today and am now going through and outlining some points for future posts concerning making and keeping the Home.

This made me think more about the home as the House or the building in which we dwell. And while looking through my various ‘new’ magazines from the 1930’s, I continually see advertising for mail order homes. I am finding it amazing the prices these houses are able to be sold. They often include delivery and fittings as well. Some are more expensive, as this one here which is from the late 1930’s early 1940’s I believe. But this one here from my 1932 Better Homes and Gardens shows this darling little starter home at $1420. Adjusted for inflation (and boy do we have inflation) this type of home would still only be $23,653.00. That is a very low cost for a completely constructed new home. Of course this does not include the cost of the lot, but land, as we will look into later, was not as expensive as today either.

Later, in the 1950’s, homes will become even less expensive and of course will be built in subdivisions created for that purpose. We do not really have the exodus of the Suburbs here in 1933. And pre WWII construction costs and manufacturing is actually a bit higher, having not kicked into high gear nor being subsidized by the Government as it will be in WWII and 1950s. Therefore, even considering that, these are rather good prices for darling little homes with quality wood detailing and fine craftsmanship (in fact much better than we will see in the 1950’s).

This simply leaves me a bit sad at the current state of affairs. Even during the Depression years, though of course there were many who could not afford a home , those who could, could do so with much less than today. And certainly a SAHW or SAHM would be easier to come by with hubby’s paycheck. I do know, of course, that with increasing job loss many reversed roles existed where father was at home jobless, while mother earned a living say sewing out or doing odd jobs to help support the family. But, we did still have a middle class, much less so perhaps than in the 1950’s, but still very much there.

My main point and contemplation for today, then, is housing. And of course the Home. One cannot make a home without a house. And one of the main Needs we have, besides food and clothing, is shelter. Where we lay our heads, laugh, cry and make our family is rather important. How it is made and its costs say a lot about a society. I think we need to begin really considering this and our world at large as a modern society. And looking back to how it was once considered will help us to better understand and plan for our future in this country and the world at large.

Are we happy with outrageous prices and housing bubbles? Are we pleased that those who caused such problems got a ‘bail out’ while many homeowners struggle to keep their overpriced and over valued homes alive? Are we glad to struggle onward with two incomes to pay for homes that sit empty and uncared for with all pooled money going into simply paying the mortgage? Have we become slaves to the new type of house and home? And what will and should House and Home become to mean in the 21st century? I believe we all have some considering to do.

And I hope, in the coming year, that 1933 will reveal to me where we came from and what is worth bringing back from those days gone by. And what House and Home meant and what it can mean again.

Happy Homemaking.

9 January 1933 “ Don’t Try This at Home and Other Cleaning Tips.”

2012-01-09T11:06:00.001-08:00

I am still waiting for a few books to arrive by post as well as working my way through many dry picture less books to find items pertaining to cleaning in the 1930’s.

I see by this ad that my 1955 Kirby is basically the same as this 1930’s Hoover and most likely works about the same. It is a loud behemoth but works great.

I also see advertising shows various ‘store bought’ cleaning items but am sure I would still use an arsenal of homemade remedies such as these:

Polishing Brass and Copper Pieces
Either household ammonia and water or soap and lemon juice will restore brightness to the metal. If the latter method is used, dip a cloth in lemon juice, rub it on soap and scrub the article vigorously. After it dries, shine with soft cloth, rinse in hot water and dry.

Cleaning Piano Keys
Rather than using soap and water, clean the piano keyboard with milk. This will keep the keys from yellowing.

Removing Paint from Windows
Scrape with a safety razor blade

Removing Chewing Gum from Hair
Either butter or the white of an egg will take out chewing gum from hair. The white of an egg will also prove effective in removing gum from other places.

Removing Rust Marks from the Sink
A little lemon juice or vinegar rubbed on the sink will remove rust stains. Be sure to rinse away when the spot is dissolved.

Removing Tough Marks from Dishware
Marks can be removed from polished plates with lemon rinds.

When Washing Delicates
Put your delicate fabrics such as doilies, thin baby dresses, under garments, etc. in a pillowcase; tie and put in the washing machine. This protects them, yet they will come out just as clean as if they had been put in the washing machine individually.

Cleaning Scorched Pans
Sprinkle some dry baking soda on the scorched pans. Let them stand a while, and then they will clean readily.

How to Remove Blood
On washable articles, soak in cold water first; then wash with soap and water. On non-washable articles apply a paste made of starch and water and let dry. Brush off. Repeat if necessary. A safe method for the most delicate fabrics.

How to Remove Grass Stains
Soap and water will usually remove fresh stains from washable materials. Ammonia and water is another good solution; likewise alcohol.

I have mentioned before in my 1900’s homemakers manual there is the use of gasoline for various cleaning aspects. This film from the 1930’s shows this was still being used on a normal basis in the 1930’s much to peoples peril.

I feel I have been running about more than is my norm so far, here in 1933, and thus have still to get more settled into my 30’s routine. My hair is still to be bobbed, so I have been twisting and rolling it into a lower more tight to the head 30’s look (Will get picture before bobbed hair) and sticking with longer pencil skirts and new lace up oxfords. I love the heels of these shoes and find myself wearing them all day long unlike some of the more thin heeled shoes of the later 50’s. I still miss my dishwasher but getting adjusted. Cooking has been the same so far and I even made homemade doughnuts yesterday as part of our breakfast.

I have made may varieties of doughnuts before but these were a 30’s recipe. Here is what is left after we devoured most of them. Here is the recipe (of which I halved and they turned out more dense than my other recipes but very crunchy and so good)

Buttermilk Donut Recipe

3 cups buttermilk; 1 teaspoon soda; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 2 eggs; 2 level tablespoons butter; 1 grated nutmeg; teaspoon salt; 2 quarts flour; 1 teaspoon cream tartar. Sift soda, cream of tartar, and flour 7 times, and sift in mixture a little at a time. Butter should be warm but not oily. --Mrs. W. J. Lawlor (Recipe from HERE)

They were, of course, fried in oil. I use the end of a wooden spoon to push them over in the hot oil, as this is easier than trying to flip them.

For the icing I melted chocolate chips and butter in a double boiler until melted. (about 3 TBS butter and 1/4 cup chips) then added about one cup powdered confectioners sugar and one TBS warm water and a dash of vanilla. Then dipped the doughnuts into it. It was very good.

Afterwards I pondered, “Oh bother, I think I made my first faux pas of 1933.” I recalled the microwave debacle back in 1955’s early days. I wasn’t sure if chocolate chips were available in 1933 or not.

Then I found this out: “The chocolate chip cookie was accidentally developed by Ruth Graves Wakefield in 1930. She owned the Toll House Inn, in Whitman, Massachusetts, a very popular restaurant that featured home cooking in the 1930s. Her cookbook, Toll House Tried and True Recipes, was published in 1936 by M. Barrows & Company, New York. It included the recipe "Toll House Chocolate Crunch Cookie", which rapidly became a favorite to be baked in American homes.”

But, she won’t have chips until 1937 and in 1930 she used broken bits of Nestle semi-sweet chocolate. Well, I had the semi-sweet right, but I did use chips. Oh, well. I often used baking chocolate powder and sweeten myself, I just happen to have some chips in the house, so using those up was very 30’s, but having them was not. So, no more chips just bar and powdered chocolate for my kitchen from now on.

I hope all have a lovely day and Happy Homemaking.

7 January 1933 “Saying Good-Bye to an Old Friend”

2012-01-07T09:26:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I was away from my home duties as well as my blog because an old friend was passing. My Sister-in-laws faithful old dog, Uno. Those who are not dog lovers or owners may think such reverence silly for just an ‘animal’. But, those who share their lives with “man’s best friend” will no such a passing really does touch one.

It also felt the passing of a phase of my life as well. I recall going with my Sister and Mother in law to pick up Uno as a puppy. That was 14 years ago. Yet, it seems only yesterday.
I can remember him running in the snow with one of my Italian Greyhound puppies back then and she, too, is gone now. Two Christmases ago we had a lovely white holiday and went ‘coasting’ and he followed along. Being half husky he loved the snow and was chasing and nipping at our voyages down the snow laden paths, licking us happily as we collapsed in snow drifts at the bottom, racked with laughter.

I was glad I was there for my sister in law. It felt fitting that we two, who first rescued the unwanted runt of a litter, should be the last to lay the farewell kiss upon his brow as he took his final sleep.
In our family we have dogs. We are simply a dog family, always have been always will be. There have been dogs there by our sides for generations. There are pictures and portraits of ancestors happily accompanied by some four legged companion. They have been an integral part of who we are, in so many ways.
We have very few children in our immediate family and so one can imagine a family so childless but so filled with dogs have endless photos of their furry children at every event. Puppies smiling from the decks of sailboats in the summer, lounging on beaches with us, even hidden in bags under tables at restaurants for birthdays and celebrations. They form a large part of our life and so to see one pass can be hard.

Today I am off to a friends birthday party and so will be cheered and happy again. I shall return tomorrow with more fun things to discuss but today I shall close today with a link to a post I made in 1955 saying good bye to another old family four-legged friend, Gilbert. HERE is the post, enjoy.

Happy Homemaking.

5 January 1933 “Under things and Dainties: What to Wear Under There and The Beginning of Youth Worship”

2012-01-05T10:54:00.001-08:00

I took time yesterday to go to a few of our local bookshops hunting down some vintage cooking and other 1930’s era books. I found a few lovely little books which I will share with you as well as awaiting some things in the mail.

Here I am already five days in and I feel a bit behind in all I want to do and share. I still feel, myself, a bit 1950’s. I would like to get my hair bobbed soon and get a few dresses sewn in more Art Deco/1930’s fashion and print. This lead me to think about my girdle.

My old friend has been with me now these past three years. I actually have a few, one that is legged and two open bottomed. I actually prefer the legged for winter and also when I rode my bike in the cooler weather (my bathing suit often being the undergarment for my summer dress when my bike ride was destined for the beach. Which, this Summer, was often the case.)

I recall how odd it felt, that first time and even an hilarious situation with one of my more cinching girdles, when some vintage gals and I headed to a local 50’s Diner after shopping and I had to retreat to the little gal’s room to alleviate myself of it, discreetly rolling it into the arm of my coat, thank goodness it had been winter! But, overall, she and I have had some fun and glamorous times. Though she often followed me into some of the daily drudgery of my chores, sometimes forgetting to take her off for the ease of cleaning. It is a funny thing how quickly we become accustomed to things, we humans, and much as the ladies of the Victorian age with their corsets, I often just forget about it.

Now, the looser look of the 1920’s, quite liberating from previous decades, has lead to a more streamline higher waist-ed look. The ‘return of the waist’ it was touted in the early 1930’s. Yet, in the drawings of the time we see almost modern model thin bodies being portrayed with no hips at all. Nary a hip is to be seen and the rail thin boyish figure is still the desirable one, though not often attainable. And many of the stars of the day were a bit fuller with the exception of Katherine Hepburn who was the epitome of the natural lanky easy glamour of the thirties with just a bit of rugged cheeked Yankee stoicism thrown in.

Well, back to my old faithful girdle. I thought, “Well, old gal, do we continue on or do we part ways for a year?” I wasn’t sure. Did women wear girdles in the 1930’s. I know there was a sort of flattening corset sometimes worn in the 20’s for we fuller figured gals to press us into the straight tube required for the lower waist.

So, I found this interesting little film from 1929. And the the ‘bra’ and full bloomers look so loose and, well, comfortable. In fact one pair look considerably a lot like my husband’s boxers! Let’s watch:

I get the feeling I will be a bit freer in the waist line this year. Of course, I must remember I am an ‘older’ homemaker and would certainly remember corsets. In fact, in doing the math I realized that at my age in 1933 I would have been a young woman in the 19teens. I would most certainly have worn corsets, had long hair most likely in a Gibson style before the lower styles, but still long, came into fashion. That got me thinking about 1912 fashions.

Though here we see some newer haute couture looks of 1912 here (including a hint at hat and low waist styles to come in Vogue in the 1920’s) these would have most likely been worn by the upper classes who could afford a yearly trip to Paris and the House of Worth and their ilk. For an upstanding middle class gal, one would still have kept a bit of the early 1900’s in her wardrobe, even a bit Gibson girl, like these pictured here also in 1912.

And I certainly would recall such fun winter sports as skating and hockey with my friends in long skirts and certainly corsets, as these rugged girls in 1912 are sporting. So, again, putting myself into the context of the time with age considerations really throws in more to think about. Would I still be wearing a corset type garment? Yet, being younger in WWI, perhaps getting rid of them would have seemed normal as well?

An interesting and rather tongue and cheek look at this parallel of the old corset wearing aged and the free spirited youth is portrayed in this ironic and a bit risqué little film here, entitled how to undress. Though made at the time as a funny comedy, there is much in it for the historical recreationist or time traveler as myself. What goes under the clothes is as important as what goes over them.

Certainly the worship of youth and veneration for the young over the old took off like blazes in the 1920’s. The Bright young things and the new youth had access to cars and booze and cigarettes, things never done nor imagines in their parents generation. The Great War was a liberator in many senses, but it also liberated a bit of sense from the common psyche in my opinion. Of course, this might just be me becoming ever more the old Yankee curmudgeon, but I do think the youth worship and almost complete ignoring and invisibility of the old in our culture leads many young people to feel they know more than they might and for middle aged people to fear, every day, the drawing times of humiliation in aging.

In this farce film from we can see this. Thus, I wanted to share it first for the great display of 1930’s undergarments and evening clothes, but also to show the growing worship of youth coming of age in these changing times.

We see the older woman, ostensibly the ‘wrong way to undress’ had that shape we often see portrayed in old 30’s films of the older stout woman. They always showed a great sweeping bosom rather low a tucked in lower waist area. This, actually, is simply the aging physique and the continued look once thought all the fashion of the Gibson Girl era.

Here we see the full sweep of the breast set low to a tightened corset below the bosom and also jutting the backside out. This was called the “S” curve and the older actress in this film in 1937 would have been this lovely lady in her 20’ in 1900. The last of the corset crew, really, and we can see, as would have been the norm. the older ladies would have held onto their corsets in many ways. In early 1930’s films we often see the 1930’s slim line natural waist-ed look simply built over this 1900 S curve corset in the larger older woman. But that older stout matronly woman was once the vibrant young Gibson Girl of her era:

I find it fascinating how ones youth fashion often carries over to the present. This, today, may no longer be the case as the actual ‘style or shared look’ of the time seems to have sort of left us in the middle 1970’s. Certainly we can see a film and identify it as 70’s 80’s or 90’s by the fashion, but the idea of a shared look all women strive for and a foundation to build that look on really left us after the 60’s, I think. There wasn’t, per say, a foundation look of the 70’s or 80’s most women shared.

So, the jury is still out, but I might find simply I wear a girdle some of the time, but I am determined to make a pattern to make some of these under things for myself.

Now, all this talk of clothing has made me feel a bad homemaker. Here we are five days in and I haven't even shared a recipe yet. Well, so many things to do and so much to write about, I do promise we shall get into the kitchen to talk about more than just decorating it. But, a gal likes to do a job thoroughly. While I am still on the topic of one’s appearance however, I have also been contemplating my hairstyle. And thinks something along the lines of this picture of Joan Bennet in 1935 would be lovely. I will, of course, share my hair cut/style with you which I am sure may be a first time mess, but I shall get the hang of it in time.

Just so I don’t feel a total lout of a homemaker, I will share one of the more exotic or actually really basic foods I am beginning to see in my older cookbooks. This is not canned, cheese whiz cooking of the 1950’s that is for sure. This recipe, Swedish in origin, is from one of my ‘new’ late 20’s cookbooks. It was put out by the First Swedish Lutheran Church of Brockton, Mass.

Despite its rather unfortunate sounding name, it actually sounds quite good and I will try it. I adore liver, but I suppose one could substitute another meat. But I think offal is so rich that it often imparts flavors not quite achieved with muscle meat.

Soon we can begin delving into more cooking and cleaning 1930’s style. And do excuse my initial days here in the hard hit Depression with flights of fancy concerning kitchen decor and fashion. But, I think, even the most hard hit had to have some joy and this often was simply dreaming for an hour in the pictures. It isn’t a surprise most of the films of the Golden Era of Hollywood dealt with the fun and frivolity of the upper class and elegantly rich. An hour of cooled or heated air and no worries must have been a much need balm to the fevered brows of many during these hard times.

And, in the news, today in 1933, the Golden Gate bridge begins its construction in San Francisco CA. That must have been a sight to behold, I am sure. I want to begin recording more of the news and happenings of the day as well. Now, I must get back to work, there is much to do.

Happy Homemaking.

3 January 1933 “ More on the Kitchen and Reader Comments”

2012-01-03T10:31:00.001-08:00

I thought I’d answer some of the comment questions to start today’s post off. It seems such a whirlwind of a year already that I have not quite felt to have donned my 30’s persona as yet. I have still to get my hair bobbed and a few books are in the mail currently to help aid my life and our reference for this year. But, I feel more prepared than I did on that first innocent day of 1 January 1955, that is for sure.

One commenter asked about the Dreft advert we watched yesterday. She had mentioned it is still sold in stores today under the guise of being for ‘baby’s clothes’. She had noticed the box in the ad had a picture of a slip and asked if back then the same soap was used for all things. It is quite true that commercial soap, still a really new thing since the turn of the 20th century, was certainly an all in one use. One may easily use the soap for clothes, floor, dishes and even one’s hair.

Dreft was actually the first ever synthetic soap and it was invented and first marketed in 1933 by Proctor & Gamble. It was an improvement in such things as dishwashing as it left no spotty residue. This was due to the fact that it was synthetic and did not leave the lime scum deposit that natural soap does. However, the synthetic soap really proved to be only good at treating lightly soiled items or dishes and today is marketed to mother’s for children’s washables. It is considered quite good for delicates as it is less harsh than a natural soap. But, in 1933 as a new product, many homemakers would have most likely continued to use good ole fashioned soap and Fels-Naptha. Today’s Fels- Naptha no longer contains the Stoddard Solvent once found in it. HERE is more about the Stoddard Solvent and its toxicity. (Naptha is a by product of the Stoddard Solvent it once did. This is most likely because Naphtha is actually a component of natural gas. It contained the same elements today used in things such as lighter fluids and camp stoves.

This might sound odd or even dangerous, but my 1907 homemakers manual has the homemaker using the new product Gasoline as a means to clean and get rid of tough stains.

But back to the original question, yes indeed today many of the ‘variety’ of cleaners are simply similar items packaged and sold so that we do indeed by more. Soap and water with Fels Naptha thrown in was the basic booty for the homemaker. Things, which we have discussed before, such as vinegar and baking soda also being in the homemakers arsenal.
As we enter the 1930’s we begin to see a sampling of the marketing moving towards the post WWII years when it really gets into full swing.

Our lovely Danish follower Sanne, pointed out how lucky many were in the US even in the Depression era of the 1930s. She pointed out that Denmark and much of Europe than had no dishwashers nor even such stoves as I presented. There was outdoor pumps for water and hand washing for clothes. And in fact, even in the US, many very poor families would have continued to live this way. It isn’t until Roosevelt’s New Deal starts taking affect with the Works program, that much of rural USA will begin to get power. That was one of the main jobs created at the time to bring electricity to all. So in 1933 there very likely was a hard working farm wife cooking over her wood stove, washing her clothes in a tin a pumping her water by hand.

What we are beginning to see presented as the norm here in the 1930 is simply the wish to create that goal of the homemaker. The need to get more. Certainly we do appreciate the easier way of living, as the older mother in this short from the late 1930’s will tout, “Unless you have cooked over a wood stove and pumped water outdoors, you cant really appreciate these modern kitchens.” But, in reality, many people in the US were not living in these modern homes and that great equalizer of mass production and consumerism will not really take affect en mass until after the coming World War II which most have not even considered here in 1933.

Let’s watch this short clip of these ladies, obviously in the late 30s (notice the shoulder pads starting and the hair styles becoming a bit longer).

But, in point of fact many kitchens in the 1930’s may have resembled this one here in the well made cartoon by Max Fleischer Dreamland. I will talk more about Fleischer in a future posts.It is worth a watch and at about minute 2:05 we see a kitchen most likely viewed by the working and lower classes even in the 1930s.

Now, another example of the dream kitchen can be seen in this 1934 commercial to be shown at the ‘pictures’ for None Such coffee. Honestly, there is a lot of mid 50’s in the early 1930’s hair. Though, we must remember, most kitchens would not be this up to date and would be, as many of you asked, still quite 1920’s or even 1900’s depending on ones budget or needs.

If I do manage to make over my kitchen for this year’s project it would be,I think, more a mix of 1900’s-1920’s as that would most likely be what I would have here in 1933. Perhaps a ‘new range’ would be budgeted, but my Hoosier cabinet or old sink would still stand me well. And for the whole my kitchen would most likely be a more freestanding variety rather than the built ins the Steel companies and their ilk are touting as the New and Best style kitchen of Tomorrow. To me, one can see the relative ease of mopping and keeping clean the floor of this kitchen to one with fitted cabinets where one might even trap vermin and be unable to access it.

This type of image makes me feel more homey and want to be in the kitchen then some of the more cold and mass produced looks of the fitted kitchen of the 1950’s or today. And this variety of a more fitted kitchen, as seen in these wonderful flicr photos, are quite lovely and practical, I feel. (click image to visit the flikr stream where I found this photo.)

Part of the challenge this year will be how best to represent all aspects of the 1930’s. The vast differences between a young working mother whose husband is without work, the farmers, the middle class woman who can still manage to have a ‘day girl’ and the literal homeless in breadlines is staggering. It seems to me that in the 1950’s post WWII years, the economy was just set to do better. Our manufacturing was amped up, we had no actual damage to our own country (save Pearl Harbor) and there was money to be made, houses to be built and more from the bottom had a chance to rise to the middle. Easy well paying jobs were beginning to increase with all the manufacturing and increasing technologies. While, the 1930’s sat an entire decade post war. It is almost as if that one decade following such great war is the only opportunity to go full tilt into a sort of monetary ecstasy. And certainly the continued speculation on Wall street and the general feeling in the 1920’s seemed like Shangri-La compared to the Great War Years.

So, I shall try my best to address situations of a ‘typical’ homemaker of the lower to middle, middle class. I will try to include other aspects as well. For example, there were still families with a maid, though not as many but certainly more middle class domestic help was around than would be in the 1950s. The increasing taxation would continue to put out of reach the hope of domestic help for the middle class as well as more job opportunities for those seeking work as a domestic.

Here we are only three days in and I feel like there is so much to learn and I am so excited to do so. Yet, I truly want to both reveal all the apsects of the home and society and politics and the news and the growing unrest in Europe and the ensuing Depression. Oh, my, but it is a lot. I hope you will enjoy the way I try to unfold it all for you and am so excited to discuss more with all of you. I wonder if I should make a separate section in our forum for the 1930’s? Though possibly simply prefacing any new forum posts or topics with “1930s” may be a good way to keep it all together. Because I already begin to see some of what becomes of the 1950s forming her in the 1930’s.

Well, much to do and I have a home to run as well. I look forward to all your comments and as always, Happy Homemaking.

2 January 1933 “God is in the Details: The Wish List”

2012-01-02T08:20:00.001-08:00

Here I am second day in 1933 and my head is swimming with wishful thoughts of ‘new’ vintage kitchen wear and appliances while my pocket book and 30’s thrift is reminding me much of that may have to remain a dream.

When I began 1955 I was very much a 21st century girl. I was no stranger to spending and to throw away money without thought was as easy as watching TV, just click a button and there you guy you bought something.

As 1955 progressed and I began to see much of the popularized notions of homes crammed with the latest thing was more advertising than reality. I began to look at my own life. And, for those who have followed along, here that introspection on consumption has brought me 1933; trying to become even thriftier and to better understand our needs versus wants.

However, I am not an island unto myself and even simple research into old china patterns and appliances leaves a gal full of dreams. I can see myself swirling through my kitchen with my lovely 1930’s range daintily set upon her cabriole legs, a new art deco Electric coffee pot in my hand and the lovely full pinafore almost dress like apron picked out in floral and trimmed in lovely yellow and green, (the des rigueur colors of the 1930s). There are lovely pink glass candy dishes loaded with dainty sugared deadlies and my “modern” Electric refrigerator churns away happily in the corner, I laugh to myself recalling the ice-man deliveries of my childhood.

I am sure many a homemaker in the 1930’s dreamed such dreams but the harsh reality of the times certainly left those dreams as they were, puffs of candy floss air. For example I already have a 1950’s vintage electric percolator that works fine. It is not, true, accurate 1930’s, but it works exactly the same. I never got around to (see increasing thrift) redoing my kitchen into a more 1950’s accuracy with all matching appliances. Many of my items are 1950’s but I kept my 1970’s Jenn Air stove out of cost and necessity. Never finding that perfect 1950’s stove worth the money and trouble to buy. That makes one tempted to go at it now, with the 1930’s in mind.

But, now I am faced stirring up old desires of Want and keeping them tempered with need. I really do Want to make my 1933 year as accurate as possible. And, despite what time period I may do next, they would still be valid in the 1940s and 1950s. That, however, is the sort of argument one would use to convince themselves that their Wants are actual Needs when I know that is not so.

But, I do WANT to slowly add to my 1930’s recreated home, but economically. That is to say what I can get very cheap or free. As some have asked about appliances, I would love an old stove from the 1930’s and actually like the look of them more than some of the 1950’s variety. My Mother in law has a lovely kitchen with a vintage 1930’s cabriolet leg stove and oven that you have to light the pilot light. It is a beauty but I don’t even want to type what the reconditioned model cost her. She can afford it, I cannot.

Again, this move to a new decade shall challenge my Needs vs Wants, which is always a good thing when one is working on a budget. We sometimes need to challenge those notions before we find ourselve quietly slipping back into spending more than we have for some goal that most likely will not bring the happiness we so desire. It is a hard thing for we modern people to separate fulfillment and happiness with buying, collecting and owning. We are so bombarded with it in the 21st century that it is almost religion. I must often call upon my new 30’s gal for guidance as she forms and grows to understand the uncertain future her in the early years of the Depression.

And there shall be many ways, I am hoping, to make over my kitchen with craft, inventiveness and gumption. We shall see and I shall, of course share it with you. Many a homemaker collected her drinking glasses by carefully washing and preserving her fancy store bought jelly jars she may have received as a gift or took the notion to buy one trip to both provide food and dishes for her family. But, I digress.

Therefore for the fun of it I thought I’d make a running Wish list of 1930’s items to share with you. As their compilation will also be part of my study of the times, it will be stretched out over many posts I am sure. It is a good way to see what was being manufactured at the time and available, though not many could afford them as they could in the 1950’s. But, in this decade, we do see the beginning of the consumer credit movement with ‘buy on credit’ for everything from appliances to toys.

Today, let’s Wish list some of the Kitchen:

First and foremost I shall miss my dishwasher. I did not always use it but back in 1955 I chose to start using it again as I decided it was a gift from my hubby. Certainly in 1955 many more dishwashers were showing up in average homes all across America. Though they are available here in 1933, I most likely would not have offered one. Even had a wealthier relative thought fit to give me such a purchase, I most likely would have opted for an update in range or refrigeration and may not have even thought of a dishwasher, as hand washing would have been as normal as breathing.

Believe it or not, this is an image of the latest in a 1930’s kitchen. Look how 1950’s it actually looks with the metal cabinetry. The stove, more boxy, would be the latest design and that stainless steel cover next to the sink is the cover to the dishwasher.

Here we see the Happy Homemaker happily lifting the lid to such a dishwasher. If anyone had one they would give to me, on my local excursions, I might take them up on it as I would love to see how it works. But for now it shall be dishes by hand. I know many of you prefer dishes by hand, but some of the various chores I do, the dishwasher just seemed the appliance I loved as my little luxury. But, honestly, I hardly Need it.

Here is a 1937 commercial (seen in theatres of course, no TV) for Dreft soap showing a woman in her kitchen. No dishwasher here, of course.

As I mentioned, I never gave in to buying that 1950’s range and so now have considered a 1930’s. This, too, would need to be quite cheap or something easily repaired. Here we see, at the top, the “Imperial” the grand design. This more closed in boxy shape, as we all now, will go to become the standard, even today. I prefer the Hostess (upper left) and the Lenox (lower left) as I love the look of the raised leg. As I mentioned my mother in law has such a range in her kitchen and under it sits lovely old things like an old handcrank ice cream maker. It leaves room for storage as well as display and a dream to mop under! Dream on, I suppose.

I also found it interesting that both models existed for refrigerators as well. We are all familiar with the upper left or ‘Monitor Top’ on legs as an image from the 1930’s kitchen. But, we see here too that the ‘Flat Top’ is also available. And will, of course, become the standard shape we are still familiar with today. I suppose the need to hold more eventually pushed out the style of teh cabriolet legs, but if I were given the choice today I would choose the upper left, the Monitor top. Again, to mop underneath would be a dream. And I have recently learned how little icebox space I need, when we gave our fridge to our tenants to save money and I bought a dorm sized fridge. I have learned to live with almost no freezer space (more 1930’s for sure) and less cold space in general. Also taking advantage of my cold New England ell kitchen built to take advantage of the cold of the winter to keep food better.

These ‘Monitor Top’ refrigerators were the first ‘affordable’ refrigeration for the common man. They retailed around $300 dollars and would be sold on credit for about $10 a month. Adjusting for inflation $300 1933 dollars would be $4997.11 today.

In an article I found that these old monitor tops were built to last and here is a quote that says it all:

Hermetically sealed and permanently lubricated, the GE Monitor Top refrigerator remains the most recognized and most dependable refrigerator ever built. Hundreds, if not thousands, of these units remain in service today, offering their owners “quiet”, “dependable” and “service free” refrigeration.

In many cases they really did build to last and they are even suppose to be more energy efficient due to their tight seal.

Here we see a dream kitchen ad from the mid 1930’s. The Deco linoleum is lovely and the cream yellow and pistacio green are the “ 1950’s Pink and Turqoise” of the 1930’s. Such a soothing palette. And though I love such a kitchen as this, I actually would rather have one more like this. A more free standing space to me makes cleaning easier and I love the old Hoosier cabinets that became popular in the pre-fitted kitchen years of the 1910’s. These would still have been used in kitchens into the 1930s.

Really, the wish list of Kitchen could go on and on, so I may save more for another day. I just want to start getting my feet wet by getting the lay of the land and seeing what a 1930’s average life looked like. Though there was no real average as the vast divides between what someone had in the 1930’s was far greater than the great equilizer of the suburbs of the 1950’s. I will talk more about that tomorrow and discuss “dish night” a fun promotion for the Depression Era homemaker.

Happy Homemaking to all, now I have to get back to my housework and sorting through the flotsam and jetsam of how to best create this 1933 life.

Happy Homemaking.

1 January 1933 “Here I am: a New Decade but an Old Challenge”

2012-01-01T10:47:00.001-08:00

As you may now see I have chosen to focus on the 1930’s this year. I want to first say that this in no way means I have left behind the 1950’s. In fact, after the experiment, or perhaps part of the way through, one never knows, I may happily return to My present which would be 1958. As I have said many times before the changes in my general outlook on life as well as how I choose to live could never go back completely to the 21st century. I happily use its technology and positive means but for the most part the over consumption and general attitude of the modern world can often leave me cold.

One of the main reasons for my trip to 1930’s was our own current economy and world. I have felt increasingly guilty about living happily in the glory days of the 1950s. In a sense a feeling, as many may have felt in war time or other eras that needed people to stand up, band together and get to work, I feel this is my own contribution to our modern Recession and hard times. That I might live as well and best as I can in the old Depression so that, were it to hit us again, we might be prepared. And hope among hope it does not, then we have had a good laugh at my foibles and relished our enjoyment of more homemaking skills. For surely, the 1930’s homemaker, needed even more skills without her automatic electric kitchen and instant cake mixes and two cars in every driveway.

I have to say I was still on the fence last night about my decision. Having really thought about it. Then, checking my last post, I received this comment which rather hurt me and made me peevish and moody for the rest of the night.

I am crushed the you are leaving the 1950s. Throughout the past few years when ever anyone has posted comments about you "playing dress-up" or "pretending" to live in the past your retorts gave the impression that this was more than just a game for you, that it was a lifestyle. To now find out that you are going to have a go at a different decade was a real blow to those of us who thought you were really committed to the 1950s way of life. Good luck with your next production.
The real '50s Gals.

Of course, as is often the case, the comment was anonymous. It hurt me in a way that made me think more and more about our current times and even the later 1950s. In a way it cemented my choice this year. I began to think of that modern mind set, or feeling of entitlement. We as modern people are trained to expect and want this instantly, without fail, and to our own personal standards. The idea of personalized and Now seems to permeate all the consumer goods. And the fact that we can, without much cost (save the internet fees), have access to many blogs and information that people take time and effort without pay to do is a wonderful thing. Yet, even with this offered to us we may often expect such things to be as we like it. And not finding it so we can often become angry or even hostile. Now, I am not saying this comment is hostile and in so many ways I am lucky with my comments. Many people have told me how lucky I am to have so many good comments and such considerate and well behaved people, for the internet is a place filled with crass rudeness. But, I did feel a bit of the spoilt baby who wants her her way or no way in the comment.

So, to my point. This sort of ‘give me what I want or I don’t like it’ attitude really made me want even more to go into the past even further. And it also made reflect on the ending of the 1950s. I would, this year, be in 1958. I see the writing on the wall, the increased consumerism, the ever creeping towards the 60’s that begins to feel more like the 21st century that I wanted to address. I am not saying that 1958 was not a wonderful year and certainly so much better in many ways than 2012 may be, but it was this sort of tantrum response that made me want to have another little sojourn into unknown territory and see what I am made of. Am I to come screaming back to 1958 in a month because I miss it or think I cannot do it? One never knows, but I feel it is worth a try.

I also really, for my own purpose, want to see the news and various aspects of the 1930s and what it was like in the “Between The War” years.

I chose 1933 as my base year, though I intend to discuss things prior, obviously, but also to go into as far as 1939. I have a few inexpensive cookbooks and magazines on the way, though the sheer amount of things made and published in the 1950’s is easily three times that of the 1930’s. There was no TV and talkies had only started in 1927 and there was of course the phonograph and radio. So, the advertising to the people to get them to buy more and also the availability of money was such that there are just not as many publications nor homemaker type manuals. In 1933 one was more likely to have learned at mothers knee than in a book.

Another aspect would be my own 50s gal persona would have been a War bride and a young girl in the 1930’s. I would have learned from a mother who was herself a young homemaker in the 1930’s and to see and experience that as best or realistically as I can shall certainly be interesting to me.

I hope I have not made any of the pure 1950’s followers too upset. I will still reference the 1950’s quite often because in many ways they have been my point of reference for the past three years. I could but not help to compare things I do and find in 1933 with those I found in 1955 and of course with 2012, whatever that may yet turn out to be.

Now, on the practical side, I am not going to throw way my 1950’s clothes, jewelry etc. That would not be very 1930’s at all. In fact many things, such as my straighter longer skirts, are actually quite 1930’s. Simply wear a sweater (jumper) over that with a thin belt at the waist and one of my berets and I shall be quite 1930’s.

have bought two pair of shoes that are much more 30’s and I have to say a bit more comfortable than some of my 1950’s shoes because they have a wider heel and are lace up. They are similar to these pictured here. And part of the fun will be finding a few things here and there at old shops for little money to augment my already homemade wardrobe.

My hair, which I have let grow past my shoulders, will get bobbed. I am going to twist and wear it lower until I do that but am looking forward to a shorter style. I certainly could have had a shorter style in 1957, but was growing it as would have been happening as we approached the 1960’s for the fuller hair. The the early 1960’s bubble cut was rather short it was also the beginning of a bouffant approach. I rather like the looks of the 1933 hair in comparrison. Early 1960s and 1933 Yet the size and close shape of the 1930’s hair is not that different from the 1950s. These young girls in 1955 look to have rather similar hair to the 1930s, as not all hair was tightly fingerwaved as demonstrated here by Myrna Low in the 1930s. Certainly the fingerwave was a popular look many also sported looser curls, as this photo of Marlene Dietrich shows, but the hair, over all, was definitely short, just not as severe and boyish as it had been in the 1920s. I will share my hair results and, I am sure, mess ups with you.

The music I am rather excited about as I love many late 30’s early 40’s such as Ella and Louis. But to learn more of other artists it rather exciting and will happily fill my kitchen as I struggle with various things, I am sure. Here is Ruth Etting, a very popular singing and movie star of the late 20’s and early 30’s.

And Annette Henshaw

I also want my readers to know that for the most part I shall look for the bright and happy side and try to counter any sadness with a good dose of ‘how to’ Depression style to shake the blues away. But, just as today, there are hard times a coming and I think it would be a false way to represent the times if I did not also mention some of the bad. For without the bad, how good shall we know we have it when the sun shines?

And, on that note, with the coming hardships and rising job loss and further economic Depression, this song, for many reasons, become a great hit. Many sang and hummed this tune as it was known by all. If one follows the lyrics we can see the sad progress of the proud Great War Veteran now down on his luck. Many needed a spare dime.

I hope all are excited for me to try and discover and live the best way I can 1930’s style. And don’t worry the 1950’s are still there, we are, after all, time travelers are we not? We can, with a click of a button, travel to anytime we imagine and can easily enjoy the good of any past we wish.

Happy Homemaking , Happy New Year and wish me luck!

29 December 1957 “More on the Coming Year, Schrödinger's Homemaker in Many Worlds and Elvis Gets Drafted”

2011-12-29T09:47:00.001-08:00

First off I have to say it has been SO wonderful with so many comments. It felt quite good to see so many responses to my query for decisions for the new year.

I see many are leaning towards the 1930’s. I was surprised to see a few votes for 1912 (which I would love to do the early 19th century and maybe one day if we move or find ourselves in a different setting that might be a goal). A few wish me to simply segue into 1958, a rather easy move I might add.

There have been a few comments that have suggested combining the time periods in some way. That got my wheels turning concerning the coming year’s decision. However, no matter what I choose all old posts will remain and my new project. The site will continue to keep and add to the previous years findings. I don’t want to throw away all my hard work and in so many ways it would be impossible to shake ‘50’s Gal’ completely.

That brings me to the few who have answered, “I don’t care you’re nutz”, which of course I might be. Myself and my 50’s persona have become inseparable. We two are so often together that sometimes I cannot tell where she ends and I begin. Often I am very much one person yet sometimes we separate and I have to think, “Hmm what would 50’s gal do in this situation?”

Many times she has been my sound and responsible parent tsk tsk-ing and tapping her foot at a decision I was about to make. Either way, I am sure it would be great fodder for a psychoanalyst. And those are becoming des rigueur here in the late 1950’s. By the mid 1960’s we’ll all have analysts.

Any decision I made, however, I simply will have as a dramatic reveal come 1 January, only we won’t know what year I tack onto the end of that date until that day. In fact, I still don’t know. One year, a decade, a mixture of all, any could happen. One smart commenter suggested a sort of ‘time hopping’ from decade to year as my post deemed fit. I like that idea as well and it makes me think of another thing that occurred this year, 1957: The is the “Many Worlds Theory of Quantum Mechanics” published and this year by American Physicist Hugh Everett III. This is quite involved but in a really bad interpretive nutshell, there can be multiple realties or lines of history. For example if one were to actually time travel and kill Hitler there would be both a line of history containing Hitler’s survival as well as his death running in tandem. Many ways, I feel very much that way, in my multiple world.

This also touches on another parallel for me in 1930’s and 1950s. Part of the idea of the 1957 Many Worlds Theory is derivative of the 1930’s theory or paradox called Schrödinger's cat. This was a thought experiment dreamt up by Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger in 1935. It basically (and again very simple is my interpretation) that if one were to put a cat in a box with a bottle of poison and a radioactive substance and sealed. If a Geiger counter reads the radiation it breaks the bottle and the cat dies of the poison. But, the second probability is that it doesn't get broken and therefore the cat IS alive. So the paradox is that Schrödinger's cat is both alive and dead. This was of course a hypothetical experiment and no actual cat was placed in a box. But, it does run the course with me sometimes. I am both in 1957 and in 2011. One can open my box and find me in either state, 1950’s homemaker happily humming away in her kitchen using her old appliances and dressed vintage or slumped at my modern computer using modern technology to write my nonsense to all of you. Therefore, I present to you Schrödinger's Homemaker. I rather like that, it gives a certain caveat to my experiment. One can imagine the proposed notion of a quantum physics PHD on the relative location of a time-travelling homemaker. Perhaps I should contact M.I.T. straight away!

If any are interested to learn more about Schrodinger’s Cat there is quite a bit of information out there. An interesting modern alternative which will apply actual items (and not a living animal) to this experiment has been proposed and HERE is an interesting article about it.

Now, to close today’s post I thought I would share the interesting news about our ever growing super star Elvis Presley. When we first met Elvis, back in 1955, he was just starting to appear at local venues often with his name misspelled. Now, by the end of 1957, he is a bonafide super star, and in many ways one of the first. Concerning that idea of Super Star, John Lennon of the Beatles once said of Elvis, "Before Elvis, there was nothing."

On 20 December this year, 1957, Elvis was spending Christmas at his new Manse, Graceland, when he received his draft notice to the U.S. Army. Ten’s of thousands of fans wrote the Army begging them to let Elvis out of it, but he wouldn’t hear of it. He wanted to do his Patriotic duty. Though accepting a deferment to finish his movie, King Creole, he was sworn in as an army private in Memphis on March 24, 1958.

Another interesting outcome of Elvis’ military stint was the rise in people going to get their vaccines. Elvis was viewed as a model for all young Americans, so when he got his polio shot from an army doctor on national TV, vaccine rates among the American population shot from 2 percent to 85 percent by the time of his discharge on March 2, 1960.

I’ll close with Elvis’ interview at Fort Dix enjoy. And Happy Homemaking and keep voting for my next year’s choice, its such fun to see what you think.

26 December 1957 “Back with Decisions for the Coming New Year: You Help Me Decide”

2011-12-26T10:08:00.001-08:00

I hope all of you have had a wonderful Christmas and Holiday season. I had a lovely Christmas Day and our Christmas eve party was really fun as usual. Here is my Christmas pudding from this year. I made it ‘vegetarian’ in that I used butter rather than suet and lard. It was quite good and my homemade hard sauce was lovely. But with Brandy, butter and sugar, how can you go wrong?

The week leading up to Christmas found me fighting a cold. I realized going through my blog I have not been ill too much over the past three years of my project and often found myself nursing hubby with something he picked up out in the big bad world, only to find I was staying strong against it. Much better, as I prefer to be nurse to patient any day.

However, part of my ‘break’ this past week has not been entirely due to illness nor even due to the hectic rush of the Christmas Season. It was, rather, my contemplative nature getting the better of me. I have been, now, three long years in the 1950s. And I cannot believe how much our present has changed in these past years nor, I am afraid, how much we seem to be set on a road of even more change. And not for the better, I might add. This has left me contemplating my own project.

In many ways I have been thinking about the Depression years of the 1930s. Though, I like that era, it has not ever normally been one I have ever been infatuated with or intrigued as I have been with other past eras, such as the Edwardian and Victorian and so on. Though in many ways I feel our current time is becoming much more akin to the Depression, it also has much of the Edwardian in it. That brief span of time from 1901 to 1909 that saw Kid Edward on the Throne in England, that long awaited spot by Queen Victoria’s eldest son, was one of excess and vast disparaging gap between the haves and have not's. The older nobles and upper-class of the time had been increasingly wondering at this ‘younger generation’ and its rampant spending, speculating, promiscuousness and blatant debauchery. Once, a person of the upper classes felt a duty to the land and his tenants, and the poor in general. There was wealth to be sure, but those who had it felt it was an honor and a duty to have it and that meant giving back and also acting in certain ways to represent that to the lower classes. By Edwards time, the early 20th century, it had simply become a playground of spend and live how you like and whichever way you liked. In many ways it was set on a road of its own destruction.

Of course, much of what lead to the ensuing wars of the 20th century were social unrest, much of it was actually monetary and in the hands of the few who were increasingly controlling things with wealth. The old land owners found their power dwarfed by the new money and insane amounts of wealth created overnight by American and other Industrial and Banking Barons. IN many ways, much as we have today, instant money was available, money in general had less value and social position was a sign of how much money you had not history, tradition, or duty to those below you. The hereditary lords whose ancestors had won honor and land through battle had been slowly ebbing. Speculation was born. This sort of money for nothing was greatly portrayed in Anthony Trollope's satirical work of 1872 :“The Way We Live Now” which was also made into a wonderful screen adaptation by the BBC and is well worth a watch. Trollope returned from abroad in the 1870’s to be appalled at the rampant green and money lust now popular in his country. Yes, it is true that the desire and urge for the almighty dollar was not always a part of the human psyche as it has become in the modern world. It is odd to see the main character creating money on ideas and speculations and to see family fortunes and ancient homes go to those who simply dare to create and give into this new scheme of money. But, I digress.

Back to my lax posting and contemplation. I had even begun to contemplate my love of history. Have I, living in the 1950’s, become to so it as so commonplace that it no longer seemed history? Perhaps that is the reason to wish to move on to a new time period? But, really I believe that our current economy has made me think more and more upon those troubled times of the 1930s. Higher prices, inflated currency, increasing unemployment, troubles and droughts in the farm world, talk of war, government attempts to aid the country all seem to be things we modern people can begin to relate to. Things that have happened before and we know to what they lead.

Therefore it has been rather hard to focus on the glory days of the 1950’s lately because of my own feeling of frustration and fear of our current times. Much, I am sure, as it must have begun to feel to those in the early 1930’s after the hey day of the 1920’s. Now, I am not saying in anyway we have it as bad as they did, but I also wonder that we might not see it just as bad or even worse in the coming years. We cannot know, as they themselves back then did not know. I am sure many never thought to see another World War after the Great War was meant to ‘end all wars’. A very good advertising ploy, I suppose, to make nations feel more at ease at sending their young men to fight and die in foreign fields.

Any way you slice it, I have been contemplating two major points in my life as this year and third year of my project ends: 1)general economy and fascinating moments in our current history as well as their connection to the Great Depression. 2)worries about money and the Housewifery need to work on making my pin money jar grow. Therefore, I really am contemplating start January first in a year in the 1930s. I might not be as complete in dress and such as I was in my 1955 year, but would very much like to see magazines as well as radio (no TV yet) and news of the time and really delve into it to share with all of you. And, of course, the fun bits of trying 1930’s recipes and some tips at housework as my social history is just as important to me. With that I would like to start focusing on a cottage industry, perhaps my jewelry, to see if I could make a bit of pin money here and there.

My question to all of you, or any of you who have stuck around this long!, is what decade or time period would you like me to approach next year? Or do you care at all? So, to do that I am going to put a ‘quiz’ applet in the sidebar of this site with the question for you to choose. I think it would be fun to see if any of you (again those of you who are still around for all I know I simply have two readers? One can never tell) want to chime in or have an opinion on it. I am running Poll until 30 December.

So vote and let me know what you think. Again, Happy Christmas and Happy New Year and as always Happy Homemaking.

sorry absent under the weather

2011-12-22T21:12:00.000-08:00

I am sorry to be absent these past days rather ill. Will be back by Christmas or day after. Hope all are well.
Happy Homemaking
50sgal

18 December 1957 “On the Fourth Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me: 4 and More Birds in My Kitchen. On the Fifth Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me: 5 Secret Decoder Rings and Homemade Silver Jewelry?”

2011-12-18T10:13:00.001-08:00

Well, if you look closely you can see more than four birds in this kitchen, but it was adorable and made me smile. I like the bird theme and what a fun way to simply cut out with your skill saw some fun birds and ‘redo’ the kitchen. I think this could also be really fun in a powder room, where one is more apt to try something over the top as it is a smaller space. How many ways could four birds brighten your Christmas?

Though technically this is commercial is not for a ring, but a badge, and certainly not five nor golden, I just had to share this video. It makes me think of the much loved, though modern, Christmas Film: A Christmas Story, when Ralphie rushes to the bathroom to decode his secret ‘message’ from the Little Orphan Annie Program. It, of course for those who know the movie, turns out to be an ad for, you guessed it, Ovaltine.

More Ovaltine’s Sweet Rich Chocolaty Flavor:

Now on the subject of Jewelry I thought I would share my latest adventure. Having, as you know, wanting to supplement my own pin money, I have toyed with various ideas. I have of late begun to think it would be nice to make jewelry. I like silver and the price has been steadily rising over the past years, so it is a good way to keep some quality precious metals in your life. I have begun making silver jewelry. I shall be making copper and other metals as well and also some fun costume jewelry.

Of course, I can’t help but be inspired by the past and will share a few pieces I have tried. The first is a pair of earrings I made by first making a cast of a vintage cameo pin I have. It is older and have always thought they would make lovely earrings.

Here is how bright and shiny they are when freshly made.The details can really be brought out and the contrast of low and high areas by using liver of Sulpher. A wretched smelling rock that smells, you guessed it, of sulpher or rotten eggs. But it does wonders to silver and depending upon how long you keep it in the bath of sulpher you get various stages of color. The longer the more black or tarnished it becomes. I did that we these earrings and then polished up the high points of the face with my metal brush and soapy water. I rather like the results, don't you? And they are small and delicate and quite pretty.

I have quite a collection of vintage buttons and this one was always a favorite. Again, I made a mold of the button and then cast it in silver. Here you see the result after the tarnishing. I also cut a bit of the pattern out and this will be a pendant. Here I experimented with a leaf imprint and some patterning. Though this piece is a bit more natural and modern, I think it also has a delicate almost Georgian look to it. This I colored with a few quick baths in the sulpher and quick wiping with a rag. Though you cannot see it here, it has a peacock bluish/green shade about the leaf with touches of pink coming through. I also dipped the hand twisted ring I made that holds it to the necklace.

As many of us know, the economy is getting worse and one worries about money. This has lead me to consider a small ‘at home’ business that can supplement my Stay at Home status. I haven’t any intention of leaving my at home job, nor does my hubby wish me to do so. But, it is quite fitting and rather vintage to have a hobby for pin money sort of job. I shall keep you abreast of my attempts at jewelry and the vintage inspiration behind it as I learn and grow. I may even, if I get what I feel is talented enough at it, set up a little shop online to sell. A sort of ‘craft fair’ on the internet to share in our virtual community.

I hope all are having fun leading up to the Holiday season and Happy Homemaking.

16 December 1957 “On the Third Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me, Three French Hens: The Joy of Keeping Chickens”

2011-12-16T09:26:00.001-08:00

Another fun manipulation of vintage images by me to make this. I think this would be a cute gift tag. Mostly, however, I would love to receive three French hens under my Christmas tree.

First off let me start by saying I am breaking the rule of 12 days of Christmas already by running down the list prior to Christmas. The 12 days start ON Christmas. Then, yesterday, I realized I also counted wrong and started to early. Therefore, Today is the right slot for me to put my 3rd day to allow the 12th day to actually fall on Christmas, but I digress.

The funny thing is that I actually own exactly three French hens. They are a breed called French Marans. They are known for their dark chocolate egg color and are much sought after by chefs and Gourmands alike. I had no idea how popular they were until on decided, on my own with no help from modern media to which I have very little contact save the internet, to get some of these birds. They are SO popular that the chicks are as expensive as $25 and a dozen fertile eggs as much as $50. Well, I decided to do some research and found an eBay seller who had the fertilized eggs somewhat cheaper. I ordered a dozen, put some under my broody hen and some in my incubator. Nature won out and all three under my good ole hen hatched while the incubator resulted in naught.

Here are the eggs when they arrived. And a close up of their dark color and lovely flecks. At the beginning of the hens laying cycle they are quite dark and then they fade as the year passes. However, they are still noticeably darker than a standard brown egg. Here is one of my Maran eggs, next to a blue Ameracauna egg and a brown Orpington egg. Quite a lovely trio, if I do say so myself.

I have always loved chickens and really farm animals in general. When I was younger, I was homeschooled, I finagled part of my biology learning to incorporate a homemade incubator to write about and record the cycle of development. This was really a ploy for me to get pet chickens. The funny thing was we bought fertilized eggs at our local farmers market and only one hatched out of the dozen. This was later known as a miracle chicken as when we told the farmer he said, “Had I known you wanted to hatch eggs, I would have got you some. Those you bought had been refrigerated. What you have there is a miracle chicken” and we all laughed.

He was a miracle chicken for me because I managed to end up with a pet chicken. A rooster, of course, and he loved me and followed me about but attacked anyone or anything that came near me. I suppose I was his hen.

Since then, I have always made it a point, no matter where I lived or what little space I have had, to keep some chickens. They are wonderful pets or providers or both. They are amazing in that they can give you nourishment from their eggs and their meat and their feathers, if one were to try a complete Little House on the Prairie lifestyle, would also serve to make pillows or stuff a nice comforter to keep warm.

Here are two of my lovely three ladies. They are a wonderful black with a green cast to them, and a beautiful copper coler on the neck. (Though one is All black for some reason). They are actually called Copper Black Marans. They are feather footed which is good for colder climates and their combs are adorable and lay to the side, much as one would think of a Frenchman (or woman) wearing their classic beret.

There is another variety of Marans called Cuckoo Marans which have a lovely checkerboard coloring. Here is a mother and her hens. I do not have this variety.

But, despite the breed you choose, and there are MANY breeds to choose from, chickens are increasingly becoming more and more popular. Many cities are beginning to reverse their anti-chicken laws allowing urban residents to keep hens (no roosters but one doesn’t need a rooster for eggs).

If you have not ever kept them I would consider it. With our increasing food scares and also rising grocery prices, it can be economical to keep chickens. If one allows them food scraps and to free range a bit, their food costs can be lowered. I have increasingly been reducing my bought feed and giving them more range time. I also sell my surplus eggs to our local feed store at $2 a dozen keeping a tally to pay for my bought grain.

One lady who works there was impressed with my Maran eggs and took some. The next time I went there she said my eggs were the best she had ever had and that another customer had commented on mine as well. They sell all eggs from local chicken keepers and in comparison mine won. I believe this is due to the foraging. Chickens are omnivores and love grubs and worms and insects as well as grass and various plants. They will not eat my flowers and somehow manage to go into my herb or flower garden, eat the pests and weeds and leave the herbs and flowers behind. This is not true, however, for my veg patch and one day a wayward hen found her way into my veg garden and helped herself to tomatoes on the vine, the little dickens.

Another joy, for me, is hatching your own first batch. A simple incubator can be purchased online or at a local feed or pet store. And I can attest to eggs be delivered in the mail from ebay as having a pretty good hatch rate. You will never know if you are getting hens or roosters of course, so buying chicks that are guaranteed to be hens (pullets) is probably a surer bet.

And they do not need tons of space. I wanted to share this easy and cute little Instructable for a chicken house/coop.

Instructions for this easy coop is HERE. And really any variation could be made. And if you have a fenced yard, let them out sometimes, as they will always know to get back to where they roost.

During the War years, chicken keeping was another way that many survived rationing and the hard times. And with times getting harder now it doesn't’ hurt to be a little more self sufficient. And there is nothing as satisfying as baking or cooking with eggs you raised yourself. Part of my morning delight before I get breakfast on, is my trip out to the chicken house to see what my little darlings have left for me. They are a joy and rather easy and if you find you tire of them, there is always someone looking for a good laying hen.

So, why not give 3 French hens this Christmas or maybe an incubator a book on chicken keeping and a dozen fertile eggs. IF they hatch them in January, they’d have laying hens by July! It truly is a joy.

And extra feathers can add a wonderful fashion statement to any ladies or gents hat. So, because I cannot but help share these free patterns, here is a darling hat and bag crochet pattern that would look a treat with some added free feathers from you lovely birds. Maybe even choose a Chicken breed’s whose feathers are in a shade or style you would covet having as accessories to your wardrobe. Chickens are truly the pets that earn their keep. Happy Chicken Keeping and as always Happy Homemaking.

Materials Required: AMERICAN THREAD COMPANY "AUNT LYDIA'S" STAR SPUN, Article 235
6 skeins #2 Silver (White with Silver Metallic) for Bag.
3 skeins for Hat.
or
"AUNT LYDIA'S" HEAVY RUG YARN, Article 235
5 skeins Natural or color of your choice for Bag.
2 skeins for Hat.
Aluminum crochet hook size G.

BAG

Ch 46, s c in 2nd st from hook, 1 s c in each remaining st of ch, ch 1, turn.
2nd Row. 1 s c in each of the next 4 s c, * d tr c (3 times over hook) in next s c, keeping the d tr c to front of work, 1 s c in each of the next 5 s c, repeat from * 5 times, d tr c in next s c, 1 s c in each of the next 4 s c, ch 1, turn.
3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th Rows. 1 s c in each st, ch 1, turn.
4th Row. * 1 s c in each of the next 4 s c, d tr c in next s c, 1 s c in each of the next 4 s c, d tr c in next s c, s c in next s c, d tr c in next s c, repeat from * twice, 1 s c in each of the next 4 s c, d tr c in next s c, 1 s c in each of the next 4 s c, ch 1, turn.
6th Row. 1 s c in each of the next 4 s c, d tr c in next s c, ** 1 s c in each of the next 3 s c, d tr c in next s c, * s c in next s c, d tr c in next s c, repeat from * once, 1 s c in each of the next 3 s c, d tr c in next s c, repeat from ** twice, 1 s c in each of the next 4 s c, ch 1, turn.
8th Row. Same as 4th row.
10th Row. Same as 2nd row. Repeat from 3rd through 10th rows twice.
27th Row. 1 s c in each s c, ch 1, turn. Repeat the last row twice but ch 5 to turn last row.
30th Row. 1 d tr c in each of the next 2 s c, * ch 1, skip 1 s c, d tr c in next s c, ch 1, skip 1 s c, 1 d tr c in each of the next 3 s c, repeat from * across row, ch 1, turn.
31st Row. 1 s c in each d tr c and 1 s c in each ch 1 space (45 s c), ch 1, turn.
32nd Row. 1 s c in each s c, ch 1, turn. Repeat the last row 3 times.

Next Row. 1 s c in 1st s c, * d tr c in next s c, 1 s c in each of the next 2 s c, repeat from * across row, cut yarn. With wrong side of work toward you attach yarn in 1st st of starting ch and work 1 s c in each of the 45 sts, ch 1, turn. Repeat from 2nd row for opposite side. Fold in half and sew side seams.

DRAW STRING: Cut 12 strands 45 inches long. Using 6 strands make a braid. Tie each end about 2 inches in for tassel. Make another braid in same manner with remaining 6 strands. Lace through beading starting each braid at opposite side and lacing over the single d tr c and under each 3 d tr c group. Tie the 2 ends together.

HAT

Ch 2, 6 s c in 2nd st from hook, do not join this or the following rounds. Place a marker at beginning of each round.
2nd Round. 2 s c in each s c.
3rd Round. * 1 s c in next s c, 2 s c in next s c, repeat from * all around.
4th Round. * 1 s c in each of the next 2 s c, 2 s c in next s c, repeat from * all around. Work 6 more rounds in same manner increasing 1 s c at each of the 6 increasing points and having 1 more s c between increasing points in each round (6 increases in each round).
11th Round. 1 s c in each s c.
12th Round. * S c in next s c, d tr c in next s c, keeping the d tr c in front of work, repeat from * all around.
13th Round. 1 s c in each st.
14th Round. Same as 12th round but having the d tr c between d tr c of previous round. Repeat the last 2 rounds once.
17th Round. 1 s c in each st.
18th Round. Start Brim. Working in s c increase in every 5th s c.
19th Round. Same as 18th round to within last 7 s c, 1 s c in each of the last 7 s c.
20th Round. 1 sl st in each of the next 3 s c, 1 s c in each s c to within last 3 s c, 1 sl st in each of the last 3 s c.
21st Round. 1 sl st in each of the next 4 sts, 1 s c in each s c to within last 4 sts, 1 sl st in each of the last 4 sts.
22nd Round. 1 sl st in each of the next 5 sts, 1 s c in each s c to within last 5 sts, 1 sl st in each of the last 5 sts.
23rd Round. 1 sl st in each of the next 5 sl sts, 1 s c in each s c to within last 5 sts, sl st in next st, ch 1, turn.
24th Row. Skip the sl st and working through front loop of sts, work 1 s c in each s c to within last 6 sts, sl st in next st, ch 1, turn.
25th Row. Skip the sl st and working through both loops of sts, work 1 s c in each s c working a sl st in next to last st, do not work across back of hat, ch 1, turn.
26th and 27th Rows. Same as 25th row, cut yarn.
Turn under last 4 rows and sew to inside of brim.

13 December 1957 “On the Second Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me: Two Turtle Doves or was it Turtle Necks?”

2011-12-13T12:20:00.001-08:00

Well, in this case let’s say we gave two turtle necks. I thought turtle necks would be a fun thing to look at. Many of us might think of a turtle neck more as an 80’s fashion statement, as they were, but the sleeker less ‘necky’ version of the turtle neck has been around for years.

This was such a fun image I couldn’t help but play around with it and make this fun doubles version of the lovely lady in the turquoise clam diggers, flats and wonderful turtleneck decorating her stylish modern Christmas ‘tree

In some ways I feel the current unrest in the global financial markets require so much notice, but as we are approaching Christmas, perhaps some fun and frivoloity and simple looks at images and ideas are warranted. That is one of my main reasons to have fun with these 12 days leading up to Christmas (I know I know they gifts are meant to START on Christmas Day, but I think we just need some fun casual posts to Christmas)

Now, I know it is too late to knit a sweater as a gift for Christmas, but these patterns are free online. So, why not print them out with the image, make a cute little envelope and give them with a skein of yarn to your favorite knitter. It is inexpensive but definitely thoughtful. And what adorable patterns as well. There are more available at the link. I love when I find free items like this to share.

This lovely Free pattern for this vintage sweater thanks to Free Vintage Knitting.

Directions are for Size 12. Changes for Sizes 14, 16 and 18 are in parentheses.

MATERIALS REQUIRED:
Columbia-Minerva Calibar (2 oz skein) - 15(18-20-22) skeins
OR
Columbia-Minerva Nylon and Wool Calibrette (2 oz skein) - 14(16-18-19) skeins

Knitting Needles: 1 pair each "Boye" Sizes 6 and 10½, 1 set "Boye" double point needles Size 6 and 1 "Boye" cable needle

Gauge: Pattern Stitch on Size 10½ needles - 4 sts to 1 inch; 5 rows to 1 inch

BACK: With Size 6 needles cast on 72(76-80-84) sts. Work in K 1, P 1 ribbing for 2 inches. Change to Size 10½ needles and work in pat as follows: Row 1 - Right side: P 5(7-9-11), * K 4, P 3, K 8, P 3, K 4 * P 3, K 12, P 3, repeat from * to * once, then P 5(7-9-11). Row 2: K 5(7-9-11), * P 4, K 3, P 8, K 3, P 4 *, K 3, P 12, K 3, repeat from * to * once, then K 5(7-9-11). Rows 3 and 4: Same as Rows 1 and 2. Row 5: P 5(7-9-11), * sl next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold in back of work, K next 2 sts, then K the 2 sts from cable needle for small cable twist, P 3, sl next 4 sts onto cable needle and hold in back of work, K next 4 sts, then K the 4 sts from cable needle for medium cable twist, P 3, twist small cable on next 4 sts P 3, sl next 3 sts onto cable needle and hold in front of work, K next 3 sts, then K the 3 sts from cable needle, sl next 3 sts to cable needle and hold in front of work, K next 3 sts, then K the 3 sts from cable needle for double cable twist, P 3, repeat from * to * once, then P 5(7-9-11). Rows 6 through 8: Repeat Rows 2, 1 and 2. Row 9: P 5(7- 9-11), * twist small cable, P 3, K 8, P 3, twist small cable *, P 3, K 12, P 3, repeat from * to * once, then P 5(7-9-11). Repeat Rows 2 through 9 for pat. Continue in pat until back measures 14 inches or desired length, ending on wrong side. Raglan Armholes: Bind off 2 sts at beg of next 2 rows. Next row K 1, sl 1, K 1, psso, work to last 3 sts, K 2 tog, K 1. Work 1 row. Repeat last 2 rows until 18(20-22-22) sts rem. Sl sts onto st holder.

FRONT: Work same as Back until 34(36-38-40) sts rem, ending on right side of work. Next row work 11(12-13-14) sts and sl them onto st holder, work next 12 sts and sl them onto another st holder for neck, work to end of row. Dec 1 st at neck edge every row 3(4-5-5) times AND AT THE SAME TIME continue to dec 1 st at armhole until 1 st rem. Bind off. Work other side to correspond.

SLEEVES: With Size 6 needles cast on 32(34-36-38) sts. Work in K 1, P 1 ribbing for 2½ inches, inc'ing 2(2-2-4) sts on last row - 34(36-38-42) sts on needle. Change to Size 10½ needles and work in reverse St St, inc'ing 1 st each side every 1 inch 12 times - 58(60-62-66) sts on needle. Work until sleeve measures 16(16-16½-16½) inches or desired length from start. Raglan Cap of Sleeve: Bind off 2 sts at beg of next 2 rows. Dec 1 st each side every other row as on back until 4 sts rem. Sl sts onto st holder.

Sew sleeves to back and front, then sew underarm and sleeve seams.

TURTLE NECK: With double point needles, on right side of work, pick up and K 70(72-74-74) sts around neck including sts on holders. Divide sts onto 3 needles and work in K 1, P 1 ribbing for 4½ inches. Bind off loosely in ribbing.

Be Sure Your Stitch Gauge Is Correct

SIZE 14 to 16

MATERIALS:
1 Pr. Champion Standard Knitting Needles #8
1 Bone Crochet Hook #3
3-4 oz. pull skeins, Jack Frost Wintuk Knitting Worsted type

Scale — 4 sts. to 1 inch.

BACK:

Cast on 69 sts. work in pattern as follows:

Row 1 — (Right side) purl across the row.

Row 2 — K1, P1 across the row, ending K1.

Repeat these 2 rows for pattern, work to underarm 13 inches. Bind off 4 sts. each side then work until armhole measures 7 ½ inches. Bind off 10 sts at the beginning of each row twice each side, then start pattern on row 2, this reverses pattern. Work for 6 inches. Bind off.

FRONT:

Work the same as back to underarm. Bind off 4 sts. each side. Work until armhole measures 5 ½ inches, slip the center 15 sts. on st. holder. Work 1 side at a time K2 tog. at neck edge every other row 3 times. Work even until armhole measures the same as back. Bind off 10 sts. from shoulder edge every other row twice. Work other side the same.

FRONT TURTLE COLLAR:

On wrong side of work pick up 47 sts. from shoulder to shoulder. Work in pattern for 6 inches. Bind off.

FINISHING:

Sew sides and shoulders, sew side of collar with a slip st. Work 2 rows of single crochet around armhole. Bind off.

Block with a damp cloth.

This one is later than the 1950’s but I think they are adorable and a great way to save on heating bills sleeping in a full sweater set! And that top would like quite 1950’s with a pleated skirt and heels, don’t you think?

Directions are for Size 10. Changes for Sizes 12, 14, 16 and 18 are in parentheses.

MATERIALS REQUIRED: Columbia-Minerva
REFLECTION (1 oz pull skein)
AND
CAMELOT (1 oz ball)

Color shown
In photo

Amount Required

Blouse

Reflection

Color A-5833

Camelot

Color B-225

Color C-226

Pants

Reflection

Color A-5833

Camelot

Color B-225

Color C-226

Knitting Needles: One pair each "Boye" Sizes 3 and 5 and one crochet hook Size E

Gauge: Stockinette Stitch on Size 5 - 6 sts to 1 inch; 8 rows to 1 inch

BLOUSE

Back: With Size 5 needles and A - cast on 102(106-112-118-124). K 1 row and P 1 row for 5 rows, inc'ing 1 each side on last row. K next row for turn. Work in St St on the 104(108-114-120-126) sts to 12½ inches or desired length from turn, end on wrong side. Width across back is 17¼(18-19-20-21) inches.

Armholes: Bind off 4(4-4-5-6) at beg of next 2 rows. Dec 1 each side every row 5 times then every other row 2(3-4-5-6) times, end on wrong side - 82(84-88-90-92) sts rem. Width across is 13½(14-14¾-15-15¼) inches.

Divide for Neck Opening:
K 41(42-44-45-46) and sl them to a holder, K to end. Work on the 41(42-44-45-46) sts to 6½(6¾-7-7¼-7½) inches above underarm, end on right side.

Shoulder: Starting on next row bind off 8(8-8-9-9) sts at armhole 3(2-1-3-3) times then on Sizes 12(14) Only bind off 9 at same edge 1(2) times. Bind off rem'ing 17(17-18-18-19) for neck. Work other side to correspond.

Front: Omitting opening, work same as back to 4¼(4½-4¾-5-5¼) inches above underarm, end on right side.

Neck: P 33(34-35-36-36) and sl them to a holder, bind off center 16(16-18-18-20), P to end. Bind off 3 at neck edge 3 times. Work on the 24(25-26-27-27) sts to match back armhole.

Shoulder: Bind off 8(8-8-9-9) at side edge 3(2-1-3-3) times, then on Sizes 12(14) Only, bind off 9 sts at same edge 1(2) times. Starting at neck work other side.

Sleeves: With Size 5 needles and A - cast on 81(83-85-87-89) sts. K 1 row and P 1 row for 18 rows. Starting with a K row, work in stripes as follows: * 4 rows of C, 6 rows of A, 8 rows of B, 6 rows of A *. Repeat from * to * once more then work 4 rows of C. With A - work in St St, dec'ing 1 st each side on next row then every 1½ inches 3 times more. Work on the 73(75-77-79-81) sts to 15 inches or 1 inch more than desired length to underarm, end on wrong side. Width across sleeve is 12¼(12½-12¾-13¼-13½) inches.

Sleeve Cap: Bind off 4 at beg of next 2 rows. Dec 1 each side every other row until 35 rem. Bind off 3 at beg of next 6 rows. Bind off.

Collar: With Size 5 needles and A - cast on 102(104-106-108-110). K 1 row and P 1 row for 18 rows. Work from * to * of sleeve once, changing to Size 3 needles for last A stripe. Work 4 more rows. Bind off. Sew shoulder seams. Turn up a 1 inch hem on collar and sew in place. Sew collar to neck. With A - crochet 1 row of sc around back opening and collar. Fold collar on Color B stripe and tack down at opening. Insert zipper. Sew sleeves in place. Seam underarms and sleeves. Turn up a 1 inch hem on sleeves. Sew up hem on lower edge.

PANTS

Right Leg: Starting at lower edge with Size 5 needles and A - cast on 116(118-120-122-124). K 1 row and P 1 row for 2½ inches, end with a P row. Work stripes same as on sleeves.

Note: Directions are for 39½(40-40¼-40¾-41) inch pants from hemline to waist plus 1½ inches for hem at lower edge, based on in-seam length of 28½(28¾-28¾-29-29) inches. To lengthen or shorten make adjustment before first inc. With A - work in St St to 18(17-16-15-14) inches from start. Inc 1 each side on next row then every inch 11(12-12-12-12) times more then On Sizes 14(16-18) Only inc 1 each side every 4th row 2(4-6) times. Work on the 140(144-150-156-162) sts to 30(30¼-30¼-30½-30½) inches, end on wrong side - this includes unturned hem. Width across leg under crotch is 23¼(24-24¼-24¾-25) inches. Mark start of K row for start of front crotch.

Crotch: Bind off 3, then K to end.

Row 2: Bind off 6, then P to end. Dec 1 each side every row 6 times, then every other row 6 times. Dec 1 at front edge onlyevery other row 3 times - 104(108-114-120-126) sts rem. Width across at hipline is 17¼(18-19-20-21) inches. Dec 1 at back edge only every 6th row 7(8-5-7-7) times then every 4th(4th-4th-2nd-2nd) row until 94(98-102-104-108) rem. Work to 11(11¼-11½-11¾-12) inches above marker, end on right side. K next P row for turn. K 1 row and P 1 row for 6 rows. Bind off.

Left Leg: Marking end of K row for front edge, work to correspond to right leg. Sew leg seams to crotch. Sew back and front seams. Turn up a 1½ inch hem on each leg. Turn in hem at waistline leaving an opening to insert elastic cut to fit.

Be Sure Your Stitch Gauge Is Correct

Have a wonderful day, think happy thoughts about Christmas and as always, Happy Homemaking.

12 December 1957 “12 Days of Christmas: A Partridge and a Pear Tree”

2011-12-12T11:36:00.001-08:00

I thought it might be fun to attempt in some way to use the 12 days of Christmas as a guide for the next 12 days and therefore the next 12 posts. Now, as a rule, the old ways, as this song is very ancient, the first day of Christmas gifts would have been on the 25th and into January. However, I think counting down from today until Christmas Day (12 days from now) might be more fun.

First lets hear this lovely rendition of the song from 1954 played by guitar and danced quite wonderfully.

Day 1: The Partridge in a Pear Tree.

I considered two great ways to represent this first gift to our sensibilites would be the context of homemaking and hearth and home. I happen to love game and though it is not easy to come by will first share a recipe for cooking partridge.

The common American Partridge is closer to a quail. The Grey Hungarian Partridge or English Partridge or “Hun” is another variety more often shot.

Brined Roast Chukar or Partridge

Here is a lovely recipe and a great site in with a recipe for partridge. This photo makes my mouth water. I love various game to eat and in fact have never encountered any I did not like. I even like a good squab (pigeon) and had I ever a farm would love to keep a dovecote to raise such birds for consumption. Though, it isn't a pigeon in a pear tree, but I rather like the sound of that, d0n’t you?

The pear is probably more accessible both in acquisition as well as more peoples palette than the partridge. I thought I would share this WWII wartime recipe for Pear crumble, as it is conservative in ingredients due to rationing and therefore more appropriate for our tightening budgets in our recession.

Pear Crumble

* 6-8 cored pears (ripe for eating). Leave skins on
* 1/2 cup of brown sugar
* handful of sultanas
* lemon juice/zest if available
* 1/2 cup of wholewheat flour
* 1/2 cup of rolled oats
* 1/2 teaspoon all spice/mixed spice
* 2 tablespoons margarine
* custard powder, sugar and milk (for custard)
Method
Take the 8 ripe to eat pears and core them and chop them up (leaving the skins on)
Squirt a little lemon juice in and zest if available
Mix together with sultanas and place in a greased 7 inch cooking pan for teh oven
Mix the sugar and the all spice together and sprinkle evenly over the top of the pears in the pan
Mix 1/2 cup wholewheat flour and 1/2 cup of rolled oats together in a bowl
Rub in the margarine until mixture resembles bread crumbs
Sprinkle this over the top evenly
Place in pre-heated over at 200 C for about 40 mins
Make a nice thick custard as per instructions on the can and serve hot crumble on top of hot custard
YUM!
Serves 4
Submitted by Carolyn Ekins

I hope you are happily preparing for the coming Christmas Holiday and now I must consider how to address tomorrows gifts: 2 turtle doves.

Happy Homemaking.

11 December 1957 “ A little under the weather”

2011-12-11T12:33:00.001-08:00

I had intended a post today but began feeling a cold coming on last night. I have been rather proud of myself as I have not been ill in quite sometime and even managed to avoid the cold and flu when hubby came down with it last year. I think I have been running about and doing more social things of late and therefore been more in the company of germs rather than the safety and germ-free environment of my home; another boon to being a Homemaker.

I hope all are having a lovely day and I had wanted and will try to come up with a way that I could do the 12 days of Christmas. That would mean starting tomorrow. That will depend upon how I feel and if I have the mental capacity right now to think of a fun way to express those twelve days over twelve posts. We shall see.

Happy Homemaking.

9 December 1957 “Some Home Movies, 1930’s 1950’s & 1960’s”

2011-12-09T12:05:00.001-08:00

I always love finding other’s home movies on YouTube. To think, those bashful or show offs, the unsuspecting and those who loved the spotlight, that they might be fodder one day for strangers dreams and imaginings. I ma sure at the time that father or uncle or even Mother had the camera pointing at them they thought at most the resulting film would be for the enjoyment of their own family. Or that at the very least be simply an annoyance Grandfather drug out once a year forcing the youngsters to marvel at their previous gatherings. Yet, such films are an important part of our history. This history of the common man set down on celluloid, made possible by the modern machine age to now be digital fodder for our imaginings and study.

There is much in these wordless images. We can garner the fashions worn, see how one celebrated, even glimpse how homes were really decorated compared to what the glossy magazines of the day show us how they should have been. Even, sometimes, they can give us a glimpse or a repreive from the modern shopping, traffic headache of a modern holiday. Consider times when stores were open until 5, closed on Sundays and no endless lines of people trampling to get the latest electronic toy while having forgot, already, about what it was they wanted so bad the previous Christmas.

Along these lines, you will notice in the first film from 1939, two of the coveted and most likely expensive gifts shown on the table. The typewriter and the pressure cooker. The camera returns to them often, both alone and being used (well the typewriter at least). What is something to think about is that these items may very well be around today and still working. My husband collects antique typewriters and uses them almost every day. And my own pressure cooker is actually from the late 1930’s as is my waffle iron. They are both going strong. What can we say about gifts we received over the years. I know old computers will simply be land fill fodder today.

The later films are 1950’s and you can see more gifts are apparent and with the use of color and the more casual form of dress of the younger set. While Grandfather and Grandmother are dressed up fine, the younger generation parents are tie less and one even wears dungaree bib overalls. Times they are a changing as the young ins here will soon see when the 1960’s and 70’s hit.

I hope you enjoy, as do I , perusing these old clips of lives past but lived in happiness with less. I hope all are having a lovely Christmas season and as always, Happy Homemaking.

7 December 1957 “Failed Rocket Attempt, Britain Train Crash, and A Gas Explosion in Georgia”

2011-12-07T09:35:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, 6 December 1957, the U.S. attempted and failed to launch its first satellite Vanguard. It was viewed on television and the result of our need to ‘catch up’ to Russia. Our country had been surprised by the sudden launch of Sputnik by the Russians on 4 October of this year. This was referred to as the Sputnik Crisis and was a key event during the Cold War.

“On 6 December the US Navy launched a Vanguard rocket, carrying a 1.3 kg (2.9 lbs) satellite, from Cape Canaveral. It only reached an altitude of 1.2 meters (4 ft), fell and exploded. The satellite was thrown clear, bleeping pathetically as it rolled away. The American press called it Kaputnik”

This newsreel of the time shows the explosion and then three other stories as well. One is the sad train disaster in the UK and another is a horrible explosion here in the US in Georgia.

When I consider our need to ‘rush off’ to catch up or beat the Russians, I cannot help but think that sometimes there is a bit of the schoolyard in a country’s diplomacy tactics. A sort of “You did that, look what I can do” attitude which often seems associated with the male.

Not to be sexist to men, but there does seem to be a bit more of the ‘tougher than you’ in politics and government which, lets face it, are chiefly run by men. Many may laugh and say if women ran it all we’d squabbled and gossip, but I bet we would have a lot less war and much more discussion. We, as a sex, often prefer to ‘talk it out’ and even when we are mean we tend to do so with words and subtle games rather than striking out. Though, thanks to modern media and shows such as Teen Mom and the like, we see the TV teaching girls, ‘Hey, you too can punch and beat up one another just like men’. I am not sure why the ratings increase always needs to be tied to negative behavior. Might not a group of people be awed or wish to tune in to suddenly see over the top kindness or people going out of their way to learn and do rather than fight and text? But, I digress, I have gone off on a tangent and I do apologize.

Now, the unfortunate aspect of the Georgia explosion is that it could have been prevented. In 1937 the New London School in Texas was blown up by a natural gas leak. It resulted in almost 300 dead children and teachers.

It is the largest school related explosion in US history, yet I had never heard of it until I stumbled upon it the other day. At the time natural gas, which is odorless and colorless, had been leaking into the school due to faulty plumbing. At the time natural gas was simply burnt off (it still is in many cases today) as it was considered a waste product of the oil production. Due to a faulty line, the burn off was running into the pipe work of the school and fill the crawl spaces and walls of the school.

After this horrific explosion, which resulted in so many dead, it was attempted to require to have an odor added to natural gas, so one could detect it. The children of the school had been having headaches because of the gas, but these were ignored. After this, the oil companies were brought to court to make additives a requirement, but little was done. The Texas oil companies got off on ‘failure of evidence’, though one would think so many dead children would prove a case. Therefore, in 1957, there still was no mandated or required odor additive and the town of Villa Rica paid a price that should have been dealt with twenty years earlier.

Here is what is written today on a plaque of the site in Villa Rica GA:

Around 11:00 a.m. on December 5, 1957, a natural gas leak under Berry's Pharmacy caused an explosion that destroyed four buildings and damaged several others in Villa Rica's downtown. The explosion killed twelve and injured twenty. The tragedy highlighted the need for both an organized local emergency response unit and the use of odor in the natural gas supply.
The civil defense unit that resulted became a model for west Georgia. Ensuing litigation placed a considerable financial burden on the city, suppressing economic development for years. In terms of injury and loss of life, the explosion remains the most catastrophic event in Carroll County history.

It makes me worried about the towns where natural gas fracking is beginning to really take off. I feel for the local people who may have little or no say to what happens to their land, their town, and their way of life. What sort of explosions may await these towns today or what other silent way will the natural gas kill? It is odd that we have so long relied on such a volatile form of power to our world. I understand we need electricity and transportation, but sometimes it does seem we muddle up our lives with complexities that we do little to control in any real way and just deal with the negative results when they arise. I hope we won’t have to learn another lesson in children’s lives.

It brings me back to the point of we women. The nature to make home and work in groups seems to be our province. Many may deny it, but over centuries we have naturally taken this role. It is to bad that this very role couldn't’ be used to run our countries. That that states and unions couldn’t be organized families who have to do their chores and get their dessert when they finish their dinner. I know this sounds a silly simplistic idea, but it does make one think that so much of the disaster, death, and sadness of our world is often the result of that playground game, “I am better than you, or I can have more than you”. I wish we could evolve to become better beings but sometimes wonder if we are slipping back into a sort of tribal lifestyle where we have replaced our clubs and fire with electronics and digital money scams and the large investment banks of the world have the biggest clubs and want it all for themselves.

I hope one gift we all give ourselves and our families this year is the gift of thought. To contemplate our world and to promise to look into it in detail and not to just accept what we are fed by various news media. That we have minds and great tools (the internet) at our disposal and therefore no excuse to be lazy enough to simply accept life as it. We need to make a difference and that can only come with knowledge and understanding. So, I hope our Christmas wish for all shall be simple knowledge and understanding of our world. It only takes a few minutes to follow down a line of thought to various facts to which conclusions can be made by us and not made FOR us. I still contend that a homemaker’s greatest asset is her mind and it needs as much practice and exercise as her cooking skills and budgeting.

I hope these sad news stories make you stop and consider, be thankful for what we have today, but also to realize we are not necessarily ‘better off’ than those who have gone before and that there is much to learn from the past. We cannot look forward with any true vision without knowledge of the past.

Happy Homemaking.

Today’s addition to the Forum is a new Heading Vintage News & History. I added a newsreel from 1957 covering the Lewisham UK Train accident there. We can discuss and share old news stories of interest and to learn or contemplate our past.

4 December 1957 “A Christmas Angel and Flower Gift to Make: New Life For Old Handkerchiefs”

2011-12-04T09:48:00.001-08:00

A quick little hello this fine Sunday morning here in 1957. Having found so many lovely little hand-made gift ideas in my magazines, I can’t but help share them. I think these two handkerchief gifts are adorable and would be a wonderful way to present some vintage handkerchiefs to a vintage loving friend.

The angel is more complicated, but well worth the effort, while the little ‘flower pot’ couldn’t be easier or sweeter. I think repurposing old and cherished items as new gifts for friends and family is a great way to reign in the Christmas spending and keep a tight grip on one’s pin money.

Here are the angel instructions, which I think aren’t too bad. I may make one for our Christmas tree this year and will share the result. That way I can show if it truly is easy or not; the proof, they do say, is in the pudding.

And here is the flowerpot, which couldn’t be easier. I think I may make one with vintage wallpaper as the pot. I shall share this result with you as well.

I hope all are having a wonderful Sunday and today on the Forum I posted a new heading under Books Reading, and the Arts is a new topic “Vintage Daily and Sunday Cartoons” Check it out and add some of your favorites.

Happy Homemaking.

2 December 1957 “Homemade Christmas Gifts”

2011-12-02T11:46:00.001-08:00

I thought as we lead up to Christmas day I might share some fun make yourself crafts and gifts for the holiday season. As none of us have too much too spend and we vintage minded folk like the spirit of Christmas more so than the gifts, it could be fun.

These darling kitchen helpers would warm any homemaker or chef’s heart. A clever rooster and watermelon make for an interesting pot holder. And the Duck is Devine as is the well manicured hand of the oven mitt.

We must understand that in the 1950’s a certain level of free handed or craftiness was left to the reader. These ‘instructions’ are not like today’s with easy download templates and patterns. But what I like is it allows, with a good pictorial guide, to let the reader make them the size they would like.

Here are the instructions for the rooster pot holder.

Here are the duck and watermelon instructions.

And finally the clever hand oven mitt. These could easily be made form scrap fabric or even if you bought remnants in the pre cut bins of your local craft or fabric store.

I realize this is a rather short post and I have been rather lax of late, but I have been extra busy lately. I do hope you will allow as this is a busy season. Let’s talk and chat about Christmas, as it is such a fun time of the year. As I said before, as these past three 1950’s years have passed for me I get more excited about the joy of simple things like decorating the tree, listening to Christmas records, making homemade ornaments, cookies and getting together to sing carols. The stress and rush of the old Christmas with a list too long and too much money spent and the anger and frustration of other shoppers are not fodder for a fun Christmas. The more we can simplify and do with less stuff but make MORE traditions and activities the better we shall all be, especially our wallets and county.

Lets talk Christmas Crafts. Let’s talk today more about it on the Forum under Homemaking, Crafts, Christmas Crafts. Share your ideas or ask questions or give answers or heck, just drop by.

Happy Homemaking.

28 November 1957 “Pies: Sheppard’s and Apple or How to Use Less Butter or No Crust at All”

2011-11-28T09:52:00.001-08:00

Is this a lovely golden mountain to climb to reach the pinnacle of mid century kitchenware? No, it’s simply my Thanksgiving apple pie.

I recently posted a how to on making your own butter. As many mentioned, which was true for me as well, it used to be more expensive to make your own butter. Now, however, with the rising prices at the market, I get a pound of butter and two cups of butter milk for about 9 cents more than just pre made butter. And it tastes more wonderful and I can flavor or give it an essence as I so choose.

This Thanksgiving was very low key for us. It was simply Hubby and I and Gussie and Hubby’s sister. It turned out to be such fun, just the four of us. The perfect number for cards and scrabble and just enough to make intimate table talk over roasted turkey and all the fixings a joy.

Since I had less to impress, if you will, I made sure to stay within my usual shopping budget. I allocated all the meat money to the Turkey and the dessert was possible, or rather decided upon, because I had a bowl of apples a month old that I had not touched. I went against my better judgment and bought them at our local Stop and Shop because they were a ‘bargain’. Well the bargain turned out to be a false economy when we found them all but inedible as an eating apple. I quickly returned to our local Farm where they grow their own apples and thought the higher price worth the value and simply cut back on supply, as I am continually learning to do more and more.

So, since the apples were available and I had my usual amount of butter, I was in a quandary. I could simply go out and buy more butter for the holiday or I could be a good future 30’s era Depression Homemaker and make do with what I had. So, when I looked at some of the various recipes for pie dough I realized the difference in quantity of the fat in old vs. new recipes. A quick look online showed the basic recipe I use for my pie dough when using butter, but the modern version used a cup or more (thats two or more ‘sticks’). My own recipe, from my Fannie Farmer from the 1950s (my go to butter based pie dough recipe) used only 2/3 of a cup.

Here is the plain pastry recipe I used from my Fannie Farmer. You will see that it calls for shortening, but I no longer use shortening. It’s all butter and lard or pan drippings for me.

                                              Plain Pastry

makes enough for a 9-inch two crust pie, or a 1-crust pie and several tarts.

1 teaspoon salt                                          1/3 cup shortening

2 cups sifted flour                                    1/4 to 1/3 cup ice water

Mix salt with flour in a mixing bowl. Cut shortening (or butter) into flour until mixture is in even bits no longer than peas. To do this use a pastry blender or two knives, one in each hand. You may use your finger tips if you work quickly, so that the heat of your hands does not melt the shortening. Sprinkle water over flour by tablespoonfuls, stirring it in with fork until just enough has been added so that you can pat the dough lightly together to form a ball. Handle as little as possible and do not knead. Wrap in wax paper and chill. (For two crust pie make two equal size balls and chill) When chilled (an hour or over night) roll out and line 9 inch pie plate.

This book is funny in that it has very little in the way of oven temps and cooking times. I think one was expected to have a certain knowledge of basic cooking that we simply have no access to today. If mother or grandmama were not there to teach you, one learned in Home Economics.

So, bake this at 425 F (220 C) for about 40 minutes. It can take up to 50 minutes depending on your oven. I like a brown crust but not overdone, so I cook about 25 minutes and then check it, if it is brown enough simply foil for remainder of baking.

When you do a two crust pie you need to put slits in the crust, but you can also use this as an opportunity to get creative. I just used some little fall cookie cutters ( a leaf and an acorn) and cut out shapes before putting on the top crust and the ‘cut outs’ were also put back on. Here you can see one of the little leaves all browned and yummy. I also egg wash the top and use the whole egg, not just the white, because I find it browns it nicer and imparts a more rich flavor than just the white. And of course a dash of cinnamon and sugar.

Here is mine before going into the over.

And here it is lovely warm and brown out.

The filling of any pie is simply whatever you want it to be. When it is a fruit pie, it is simply fruit and sugar and spices. Here I used 8 apples cut and pared (I did not peel my apples. Normally I don’t as the local apples skins are so good, but these store bought would have been better peeled.) I cut them up in a bowl added about 1/2 to 3/4 cups white sugar and about one teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 tsp nutmeg. I turned and coated the apples, placed in the shell and used a bit more of my precious butter to dot the top of the fruit before I placed the top crust over it. You can invent and make up any pie to your hearts delight, which is what I love about baking and cooking; the creativity of it.

Now, were I trying to save more on my weekly budget I could have easily made a one crust pie and made a crumble for the top, thus leaving me another crust for meat dish for the week. But, as it was Thanksgiving I thought it worth it.

Speaking of pies and watching one’s weekly budgets, a great ‘pie’ for dinner is a Sheppard’s or cottage pie. The distinction between the two is that Sheppard’s pie is made with lamb (as a sheppard herds sheep) while a cottage pie can be beef, pork. Although, I usually call such a pie with game a Game Pie, but I suppose they could be interchangeable. In many ways, for me, this is often simply a ‘leftover’ pie as one can simply take their leftover meat and veg and make this. If you have a meat grinder it is even better as your leftover beef or lamp chops can be ground quite easily the next day to fry up in meat broth and veg to make this pie.

This is the easiest dinner pie ever and certainly one can see the farmers wife or cottager inventing this to make their few staples hearty and tempting on a cold winters night in a little stone cottage on a heath.

Now, as many of you know, this is not a pastry pie. There is no dough involved. It also easily converts to a vegetarian pie, simply simmer your protein source and veg broth rather then meat broth and you will be just as happy with the result.

Here is my last Sheppard's pie before it baked. I forgot to get a picture afterwards, but it was all brown and lovely. I used ground lamb, as I find if I cut off the lamb from the bone, I can grind it to spread father and then the bones and fat go into water and simmer with onions and garlic for a good soup stock. We really can stretch our food budget if we try.

All you do is brown your meat (or skip this if you are usually already cooked leftover meat) with some onions. Add your veg of choice (or leftover) I like turnips in mine when I have them, which I often do as they last forever in a dark space like potatoes no need to refrigerate root veg. Add some meat broth or gravy and simmer for about 10 minutes then pour into a pie plate. Cover with a layer of baked potatoes, mark with a form to get nice brown peaks, and bake at 425 F until browned. Usually about 30 minutes or so. It is SO good and only improves upon the flavor the next day. Have fun with this one you can make it from anything. And using sweet potatoes or yams on top to make it more interesting maybe with some syrup for a sweet and savory mix with some cinnamon in the meat. This is surely an easy dinner pie that is needed in our failing economy. Perhaps we should dub it for the new millennium Economic Failure Pie? Whatever you call it, have fun with it.

Happy Homemaking.

Today on the Forum I linked a wonderful Flickr stream of pop-up 1950’s Christmas cards that are great. They are a wonderful inspiration so check them out. Go to the Forum and it is under Homemaking and Crafts, enjoy!

26 December 1957 “Put on a Happy Face”

2011-11-26T07:20:00.001-08:00

I would like to start today’s post by apologizing for being absent so long. We have had a fine low key Thanksgiving and beautiful weather, but I have felt out of sorts lately.

Maybe it is the approach of the year’s end which heralds my third year into my project living. I think due to my more analytical living, due to my project, I am feeling rather out of sorts concerning our actual time. The future and 2012 has some fear in it for me.

When I innocently began my project three years ago I was excited to uncover the truth of how a middle class homemaker lived. The thoughts, hopes, fears, and dreams she might have had by reading her magazines, watching her TV, and looking at her political world. As the layers peeled back by the end of 1955 I began to see a United States I wasn’t prepared for.

In some ways I have been able, as I am sure many homemakers during hard times were, to try and focus on hearth and home. I wanted to be in the know, certainly, but also to not let it color me too greatly. To ‘put on a happy face’ as they say. Keep the ‘red badge of courage’ lipsticked on my smile. But, in so many ways, the current state of our world leaks through and takes the silver lining out of the best made chin’s up cloud.

The economy is of course something is unable to avoid feeling. And for me to see the various laws and regulations changed so drastically over the past decade to lead us into our current financial state makes me angry. I see the banks and financial institutions simply fraught with greed not unlike a spoilt baby who will not be too told, ‘Too much sugar will make you sick’ but eats and eats in anyway and when it makes a mess we are left to clean it up at our peril. I long for the adults of the past.

In no uncertain terms many things that are wrong today were in some ways begun in the post war USA, but then we had adults. There was a generation of people who had seen and been in hard times. They wanted to make a better world and in so doing their offspring are now running ours.

I don’t like to seem to point a finger at a generation, but it is odd to me that the same generation that had to have rock and roll then practice their freedom of speech have become the very people who now have created the banking world that clutches all of us about the neck and stops any attempts at ones own expression of freedom of speech.

I want the grown ups back. I want the ‘Greatest Generation’ to rise up from their graves and wheel chaired loneliness in nursing homes and make everything right again. To slap their babies who will go on eating too much sugar and let us all know, “We have to have responsibility and be more cautious and put money in our piggy bank and eat our vegetables BEFORE we get dessert and to turn off the TV and go outside and play or read a book instead of play with that toy”. In so many ways its as if the grownups have really left us all to be looked after by the fat bullies on the playground. They want it ALL for themselves and don’t care what happens to us, but if we try and take a piece of their pie they slap us down.

Well, what does all this gibberish and mixed metaphor mean, you might ask? Honestly, nothing really. It has simply left me pondering too much to even handle looking at the computer and following a story from 1957 to today. I have had a good Thanksgiving and a fine visit with friends over coffee and apple pie and then really felt the need to simply percolate. Therefore, this post won’t be looking at any of those particular points, but rather just a timid, “I am sorry” that I have not posted and that I shall indeed get back to it starting today. We do need positive goals and hopes and dreams. We do need to focus on the good while still being aware of the bad. WE need to begin to become the grownups more as others have not done. As our money tightens, the prices rise, the jobs fail, the house equity dissipates, and inflation continues we need to be even more adult. We have to tell ourselves to turn off that TV and do our homework and learn and make do and mend. That is where the homemaker comes in. That has always been her strength caring the family spirit and hope in the hard times. Putting a smile on their face and others as they patch another patch in the threadbare clothes. A cheery tune cooking up a new fun breakfast made from what she can now afford stretched out with filler to make her decreasing pantry not seem so empty. Doing without more fore herself so she can sneak an extra penny in her pin money for the rainy days ahead. We are these things, we homemakers, rather we are full time homemakers or not. Even if we live alone we have to put that smile on our life by keeping our home a safe place a refuge from the increasingly dark world outside. We deserve to feel at home and to feel safe as possible and homemaking skills are important to that morale.

I hope all of you had a lovely thanksgiving, those of you in the USA, and that you were not too tempted by Black Friday to overspend or to support too much the big guys who have taken away much of what we love about small town life from the 1950s. I hope you think more about local or the ‘small guy’ when gift buying this year and put away the “Candy for the spoilt baby” as I believe they have had enough, don’t you think?

So, I shall continue to try and learn more and understand more of my world from then to now but I shall try harder to not let it color me too grey. That I shall continue to see the good with the bad and to learn more so as to be better prepared as the times get harder, if indeed they do. If they do not then I shall not be upset that I am wiser and more experienced. I shall indeed put on my happy face!

Happy Homemaking and Put on a Happy Face, I know I shall try:

I am going to try and post here what new item I put on the forum. Today I have added a fun tutorial on making a vintage Christmas bulb wreath I found online. It is in the Forum under Homemaking, Crafts, Christmas Crafts, enjoy!

21 November 1957 “Carving a Turkey and Fun Clothespin Doll Place Settings”

2011-11-21T11:09:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving is on its way here in 1957. Last year I hosted a rather large gathering and posted about my menu and my homemade place cards. If you search Thanksgiving in the search bar above that reads “Search the Apron Revolution” many of my Thanksgiving posts will come up. There are too many to link to here.

This year it is a very small Thanksgiving for us with Hubby, myself, Gussie, and Hubby’s Sister. It will be more informal but still with all the fixings. We will wind down the day playing cards by the fire, sipping eggnog and discussing our coming Christmas party.

I hope all in the U.S. are excited about ‘Turkey Day’ and look forward to hearing about how you celebrate. For those of you outside of the U.S. for fun why not have turkey dinner this Thursday and toast a cheer to your American cousins, “Chin Chin”.

Let’s look at carving basics. I thought these were rather good instructions and so have put them on this card. You could easily print it out to the size of an index card and keep it in your recipe box or folder.

I was also taken by the idea of homemade crafts for the table. Those with children would really enjoy such a project. But even those childless couples can have a blast with clothespin art. There are many ways you could make these little wooden objects into fun Holiday decorations for any holiday. I propose for this project Pilgrim Place Settings. Little Clothespin dolls made to resemble pilgrims or Native Americans made with old fashioned pins. Then hot glue a traditional clip clothespin to its back to hold a name card or the menu for the Thanksgiving Dinner.

Now this is simply a mock up I made with various images on the computer, so it looks a bit odd, but you get the general idea. You could easily paint the face rather than use googly eyes. One could also make them into turkeys with feathery tails.

These little dolls and the instructions are from a vintage magazine. And these images are thanks to Blue Prairie Photo Stream who hopefully won’t mind our sharing her lovely find. I think it a good starting off point to make our Thanksgiving craft, don’t you?

I will post more Thanksgiving tips and ideas tomorrow and look forward to your sharing your ideas with me. There is also a section under Homemaking on Holidays in the Forum. Join up and share your tips and treats by clicking the forum button up top.

I hope all have a lovely day and Happy Homemaking.

19 November 1957 “1950’s ‘On-line Christmas Shopping: The Magazine & Buttermilk Bread Recipe”

2011-11-19T09:12:00.001-08:00

This little advert made me laugh so much, I had to share it. And so I thought I would share many of the little ‘gift ideas’ in some of my November issues of 1950’s magazines. The idea’s for Christmas gifts being bought in a magazine was there version of “online shopping”. Remember a basic conversion for the Inflation of the dollar is to multiply it by around $7 which was the rate from 1955. You will begin to see first that things were more expensive, but that in reality our dollar today buys very little in comparison.

Now I know it isn’t even Thanksgiving yet here in America, but with ‘Black Friday’ looming this coming Friday, its all I can do to not see everything Christmas when I went out on my errands and marketing yesterday. So with the Christmas spirit comes, I suppose, the Christmas buying. Why not enjoy the fun and odd gift ideas available back then in magazines: The online shopping of its day.

For the man who has everything? Couldn’t you just see this hung on 1950’s paneling?

Some lovely items. I adore the ‘knotty pine’ spice box. It’d be a gem in an Early American Kitchen motif with rooster wallpaper. I like the little bedroom door knocker as well. It would again go well with a colonial or Early American theme. And it be a fun way to announce your entrance to a bedroom.

I happen to love fruit cake. Well, homemade fruitcake that it. It is a wonderful treat, but one can see where the running joke that once existed of the ‘traveling fruitcake’ given as a gift over and over. So preserved and so full of candied fruit there was little cake in it. This appears to possibly be of that variety, one can never know. But, I wonder how many grannies (having her tastes from the 19th century when sugar was more scarce and such a treat a joy) happily ordered this for the young suburban 1950’s family, only to have them groan upon opening it?

I think this is a brilliant idea. I like the idea of such a sturdy magazine rack. I have tried, in the past (well the future really) various magazine racks bought at Home stores only to find they are bad at display and make it impossible to have more than one or two magazines yet the holder takes up So much wall or floor space. These look clever and would look darling in a home library a study or even the living room. I like the idea of the double sided version on legs for $29.95. I might have to make a set of plans from this and see if I couldn’t make one up myself out of simple pine.

I wonder if this was one of the first dry/paint and wipe artist set ups for children? The precursor to the etch-a-sketch? Which came first this or the dry erase board for Father’s office? A chicken and egg situation I suppose.

This ad has some fun items and treasures that have been bought up and saved, I am sure, for many Christmas. These type of items can often be found on eBay or in antique stores. But now, due to their nostalgia, can sometimes be too pricey for what they are. But often yard sales and estate sales give up such fun little treasures that some auntie ordered with excitement to decorate for the holidays.

Some more Christmas items and some fun stocking stuffers. I would love to have known what type of plant came out of that shell you place in water. Was it a real plant that grew over time? Or was it a plastic treat that was exposed when touched by the water? Does anyone know?

Was the nativity snow globe the first of its kind? Did the Ticky Tacky grandfather watch suggested as a stocking stuffer really work? Did little Timmy ever find Papa’s ‘striptease’ knife in share it with his pals up in the Tree house? I actually recall the wooden apple/tea set. I had one when I was a child and now I see it must have been one of my older Sisters who were children in the 1950’s.

Do you see anything you like?

I promised the buttermilk bread recipe I use in tandem with my home-made butter. With one quart of whipping I cream I get one pound of butter and two cups of buttermilk. Those two cups go into these two loaves of bread. The recipe came from allrecipes.com

Buttermilk Bread

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

1/2 cup margarine

1/4 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast

2 teaspoons salt

5 1/2 cups bread flour

Directions

Proof yeast in warm water.

Place the butter or margarine and buttermilk in a small saucepan. Heat slowly until butter or margarine has melted. Cool to lukewarm.

Place sugar, salt, baking soda, buttermilk mixture, and yeast in large mixing bowl. Add 3 cups flour one cup at a time, and mix with the dough hook attachment of an electric mixer. Gradually add the remaining flour while continuing to mix. When dough is not sticky, turn out on a lightly floured surface. Knead for several minutes, until the dough is soft and smooth. Place in a greased bowl, and turn once. Allow to rise until doubled in size.

Punch down the dough. Divide, and shape into 2 loaves. Place in two well greased 8 x 4 inch bread pans. Allow to rise until dough has risen one inch above pans.

Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) oven for 30 to 35 minutes. Loaves are done when nicely brown and hollow sounding when thumped.

Well, happy day dream shopping in the past and Happy Homemaking.

16 November 1957 “The Adaptable Cafe Curtain”

2011-11-16T09:37:00.001-08:00

I thought I would share this great article on the use of cafe curtains. As many of you know, cafe curtains are straight hung curtains that usually cover half a window, allowing light in, but can also be hung in tandem with multiple layers of cafe curtains.

These are great ideas no matter what age or style your house may be and also a great source for those vintage purist.

Formal to bath to

Hall And kitchen. I love this idea, too, using the colored clothes pins. I have two sizes, a standard and a smaller, HERE and HERE in the Corner store for sale. They are around $4. You could also have a lovely matching or contrasting look by painting plain wooden pins, as well. I like this idea, as if you don’t sew you could use darling vintage or vintage look towels, tea towels, small tablecloth or runners. Even if it is larger, you could double it up and hang it up to show the area of the tablecloth you like and it would still have the look and feel of a curtain.

Enjoy these images and have fun dreaming of how to use them. I am off today with Hubby and Gussie to my MIL. It is her birthday and we are celebrating before she leaves this weekend for Florida until Spring. I made a lovely Custard rice pudding I will share with you later as well as a ground lamb Sheppard’s pie that is easy and so delicious.

Happy Homemaking.

13 November 1957 “Recession Butter: A Churner’s Tale”

2011-11-13T09:52:00.001-08:00

Often Butter is tied in a comical way to the 1950’s.

There have even been really bad modern commercials that somehow seem to represent a past that never was, spreading sticks of the stuff everywhere. Meet the Buttertons:

The irony of this situation, is of course that butter is actually better for you than margarine, yet this myth still exists today. In fact, at the turn of the last century heart disease was rare. By the end of the 1960’s it was one of our number one killers. The irony being that it was during the 1950’s that advertising told mother’s that margarine was better for you and it saw a large increase in use.

A researcher named Ancel Keys was the first to propose that saturated fat and cholesterol in the diet were to blame for coronary heart disease. Though this has still yet to actually be backed up or shown to be true, though countless millions have been spent to check this fact, we are still largely in belief that butter is bad for you and a diet in lower saturated fats is better for you. Ironically, however, “As a result, since the early 1970's, Americans' average saturated fat intake has dropped considerably, while rates of obesity, diabetes, and consequently, heart disease, have surged.”

Here is a great list of reasons butter is actually good for you:

Butter is rich in the most easily absorbable form of Vitamin A necessary for thyroid and adrenal health.

Contains lauric acid, important in treating fungal infections and candida.

Contains lecithin, essential for cholesterol metabolism.

Contains anti-oxidants that protect against free radical damage.

Has anti-oxidants that protect against weakening arteries.

Is a great source of Vitamins E and K.

Is a very rich source of the vital mineral selenium.

Saturated fats in butter have strong anti-tumor and anti-cancer properties.

Butter contains conjugated linoleic acid, which is a potent anti-cancer agent, muscle builder, and immunity booster

Vitamin D found in butter is essential to absorption of calcium.

Protects against tooth decay.

Is your only source of an anti-stiffness factor, which protects against calcification of the joints.

Anti-stiffness factor in butter also prevents hardening of the arteries, cataracts, and calcification of the pineal gland.

Is a source of Activator X, which helps your body absorb minerals.

Is a source of iodine in highly absorbable form.

May promote fertility in women.⁹

Is a source of quick energy, and is not stored in our bodies adipose tissue.

Cholesterol found in butterfat is essential to children's brain and nervous system development.

Contains Arachidonic Acid (AA) which plays a role in brain function and is a vital component of cell membranes.

Protects against gastrointestinal infections in the very young or the elderly.

Now, despite its good or bad qualities, butter has been around forever. It is, in its simplest terms, the fat solids removed from the heavy cream of the milk. Agitating such cream separates the butter from the milk, leaving you with buttermilk.

Butter churns have been made from everything from ceramic and stoneware, to wood and glass. Any means necessary to creating a motion that results in the butter and milk to separate.

Now, there are different types of butters depending on the cream used. Before factory made butters were introduced first in America in the 1860’s, the cream used to make butter was fermented. One collected the milk from the cow or goat or sheep and it would sit and ferment.

“During fermentation, the cream naturally sours as bacteria convert milk sugars into lactic acid. The fermentation process produces additional aroma compounds, including diacetyl, which makes for a fuller-flavored and more "buttery" tasting product. Today, cultured butter is usually made from pasteurized cream whose fermentation is produced by the introduction of Lactococcus and Leuconostoc bacteria.”

In the 1970s cultured butter was made by incorporating bacterial cultures and lactic acid. “Using this method, the cultured butter flavor grows as the butter is aged in cold storage.”

Today, however, pasteurization is the norm and butter made from pasteurized cream is called Sweet Cream Butter. This is often what is available from the store.

Ghee, is an Indian clarified butter made by “bringing the butter to a high temperatures of around 120 °C (250 °F) once the water has cooked off, allowing the milk solids to brown. This process flavors the ghee, and also produces antioxidants which help protect it longer from rancidity. Because of this, ghee can keep for six to eight months under normal conditions.”

Now, my main reason for discussing butter today was to show you how easy one can make it at home. This was not something I have always done, but necessity is the mother of invention, or at least in my case, the Mother of Need. As all of you know, grocery prices continue to rise. Butter, at least in my area, is literally twice as costly as when I began my experiment of 1955 in 2009. Then I could buy one pound of butter around $2. Today that same butter costs $4 and that is the cheaper store brand. This lead me even to consider the very cheap margarine. I saw a one pound package of a store brand for only 75 cents. This is a HUGE savings and almost lured me into is wretched quality with that low price. But, I realized it is better for me to trim the fat (pun intended) in other ways, such as reducing meat purchased and adding more beans and other protein sources.

Now, making butter at home is not hard and can be quite fun. It can take really only about half an hour total and then you have your butter for the week.

This tutorial I used the pasteurized store brand heavy whipping cream. Obviously, if one can get organic raw cream, a more wonderful tasting butter can be derived, but I wanted this to be an easy ‘anyone can try it’ exercise.

So, you can use your mixer or your blender. I have used both, but actually prefer the mixer. You can see here I am just using a Stop & Shop brand Heavy Whipping Cream. I like to not buy from larger chains too often, but I wanted this to be a good easy access tutorial. One can do it with basic whipping cream from a local convenient store.

However, if you enjoy it and would like to make your own butter more often, it is true that Butter from grass-fed cows contains higher levels of vitamin E and beta-carotene (which is responsible for the yellow color in butter). And it not being pasteurized would also allow you to ferment and get a truer old better quality butter. But for this purpose, what you get from heavy whipping cream is still a better product than the butter for sale at the store. And you can flavor it and mold it however you like.

Now why I first decided to make my butter as part of my weekly savings in my shopping was this:

one pound of butter costs $4
one quart of cream costs $4.29 From this you get one pound of butter and 1 1/2 –2 cups of buttermilk

So, really I am paying 29 cents more but getting the same amount of butter, better quality and the buttermilk adds to my milk allotment for the week going into various things. How I am currently looking at it is I have a buttermilk Bread recipe that requires 2 cups butter milk and makes two loaves. So, for that 4.29 plus a bit more for the flour and yeast, I am getting

one pound butter
2 loaves buttermilk bread

So, to me, it is worth it both for economy and taste/quality.

So, as I said, one quart of cream makes one pound of butter. So in other terms one US quart is =

0.946 liter or
0.833 British quart

Pour your quart of heavy whipping cream into your mixer and set it on med. It is best to have the milk at about room temperature or around 55 degrees. If you do this straight from the ice box (fridge) it takes longer. I did it once and it took 35 minutes as opposed to about 15. Though some sites claim it can take only 10 minutes, but my mixer is very old from the early 1950’s, so perhaps it is not up to a modern version.

At first, of course, you get whipped cream. That is, after all, what whipped cream is.

Then it begins to form stiffer peaks until it starts to form thicker chunks. And you can see it becoming more butter yellow. Though it is true that it is not as yellow as butter made from organic unpasteurized butter which is allowed to ferment, it still begins to take on that lighter yellow we are familiar with from commercial grocery store cream butter.

At this point, as well, you are just watching and enjoying. It isn’t as if it is hard work to pour in cream and turn on our mixer. Think of our ancestors churning away. Although, I have to admit, that seems also a way to have a sort of relaxing zen afternoon, churning away. But, for busy modern people this is a very realistic process, just pour and turn on mixer.

So, now depending on cream temp when you begin and your room temp and speed of mixer, anywhere from 10 –30 minutes you will begin to see it hit this phase where it suddenly goes quite wet and sounds as if you have added water or are mixing up a runny cake. You can really see the liquid now separating from the butter.

Once you have reached this state, you simply pour off the butter milk. The first time I did it I put a cheese cloth over a funnel into the container I was pouring to catch any little clumps. Now, I can’t be bothered and I just use my fingers to hold most of it back, as some of the chunks into the buttermilk just makes a nicer product to cook with. You can see the butter chunks on the side after I just drained my butter milk into my bottle. Pancakes, biscuits, and bread made with this butter milk is heaven!

So, simply drain out the excess water. At this point add a bit more water back to the drained butter, say about a 1/2-1 cup or so, and run the mixer again. Be careful not to splatter, I put a towel around the mixer to help with that. Then drain this water down the sink. I don’t add this rinse water to my butter milk. You are meant to rinse it until it runs clear, but honestly that is only if you want to have a lot of butter stored longer. Some liquid left in your butter does not hurt if you are going to use it up in a week or so. Which I do. Therefore sometimes I don’t even rinse it, just drain the butter milk and go to the next step.

Now, with your strained butter, put it on a plate. This works best in a wooden bowl and spoon, but again, I wanted this for anyone to do. So here a spatula and plate work fine. You are simply going to work the excess liquid out at this state to make your final product.

You can use a towel or paper towel. I prefer an actual towel, but that is up to you, I think paper towel or paper napkins would work fine. You are just sopping up the moister. I just press down and then turn over and press down again to get most of the moisture out. You can see the pattern from my towel in it. This shows you the possibilities for molding and patterns. Homemade butter lends itself to such beautiful presentations. And there are many butter molds available, but you could use anything that has a pattern or shape you like.

Now, it is at this point that I usually add sea salt. Sometimes I make unsalted butter to bake with or you can add anything you like. Chopped nuts and maple syrup is wonderful. Or cinnamon and honey. Or chives, garlic, lavender, you name it. Mix it in after you have removed the excess water and work it into the butter. You could break it up into a four varieties easy enough.

You could easily enough just spread you new butter into a container to use, like soft butter from the store. Or you can shape it into any shape.

Here I shaped it roughly into a block, then cut that in half. This makes two 1/2 pound sections.

I like to take 1/2 pound of it and make a stick out of it wrapped in waxed paper and the other half loose in one of my Pyrex dishes. I leave the Pyrex dish on my counter for toast and other spreadable needs and the 1/2 pound goes into my fridge for baking.

It is Very easy and cost effective and worth a try. You simply turn on mixer, wait, pour, dab with towel and put in container and you have butter and buttermilk. You should try it.

I thought I would shared these easy flavored butters from my 1950’s Dionne Lucas Cordon Bleu Cook Book. You could really add anything to make a good butter.

I hope you enjoyed this and would like to give it a try. As homemakers we have to look to what is the smartest way to deal with higher prices and buying less. It should not mean we sacrifice taste and joy in cooking.

Happy Homemaking.

10 November 1957 “Blue Green Color Scheme with Clever Wall Storage, and Scones”

2011-11-10T08:53:00.001-08:00

Although this article was concerning acoustical tiles that allow for a more soundproof home, I was taken by its vibrant color scheme and clever storage. This home is quite small but really a normal size for the burgeoning suburbs of the mid century. Sound was an issue due to the proximity of close neighbors as well as room to room and more open floor plans. Many new home owners of the growing middle class were either old apartment dwellers, who would have found the ‘small’ home quite spacious particularly with their own garden space. While many more established middle class families fractured away from the bigger family homes where grandmother and unmarried aunts people the many bedrooms and multiple floors.

So, the need for sound barrier was enough that it could support a product line. This same sound proofing would continue on as families made ‘rumpus rooms’ in basements and made over screen porches where Father or teens could listen to their new louder Hi-Fi systems without driving mother or neighbor nuts.

I was really taken by the color scheme. We have talked about blue green as a color scheme before. This use of almost navy on the wall with a pistachio on the steel cabinet and hints of robins egg are all married in the fabric of the curtain which slides to make various ‘rooms’.

This is my favorite bit. You can see here that these very shallow built ins were part of the acoustical wallboard makeover. but, these very same ideas could easily be done by any homemaker or hubby with a more traditional drywall and stud wall. Simply finding the studs and marking out the size you would need, you could either work in the 16’ width framework or open up a section by removing a bit of one of the studs and shoring it up with a 2x4 bracer at top and bottom. It it is an interior wall, even easier as there will be no insulation in the way. This is the perfect place to use vintage or expensive wall paper as a backdrop where you could only afford a piece. Even a collage of Wallpapers from a free sample book being tossed by your local paint and paper store.

I have yet to redo my own kitchen. It began with more glorious ideas of add on to include a mudroom and separate laundry room and pantry. Every time I reconsider and think of the waste and money, I get more clever and downsize my plans. This built in ‘laundry room’ would be a clever way to do so. I am considering buying a used stackable washer dryer and selling our current normal sized pair that take up much of my kitchen space. This I would build into a corner and with the built in wall I could add these assets here. The more we think of what we do and how we can be more efficient, the less space we can do with when we use that space to its fullest.

So, again my kitchen plans shrink, but with smaller appliances hidden or below new counter space, I may even find room for my breakfast room I always wanted. And it might not need its own room, but simply another corner of my very small kitchen.

What do you think of the colors? Do you like the idea of combining a few working rooms into one, like laundry/kitchen?

And what does one love to do most in ones kitchen? Cook and Bake, of course and so here is a simple but yummy raison scone recipe. It is quite basic and if you don’t like raisons, chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruits can easily be used alone or in combination. This is just a good basic all round scone recipe.

Raisin Scone

2 cups flour
1 Tbs baking powder
3 Tbs sugar
1/4 tsp salt
5 Tbs chilled butter cut into chunks
1/2 cup raisons (or similar)
1 cup cream or canned evaporate milk (use full strength don’t dilute)

Preheat oven to 425 F

Mix flour, baking powder, sugar and salt and add chilled butter cubes. Using a pastry cutter or two knives, cut butter into flour mixture until it is crumbly. You want little butter chunks as that adds flakiness.

Add raisins and cream stirring to combine. Then sprinkle lightly with more flour and flour a surface to roll dough out upon. Flour hands and place dough on floured surface. Knead one or twice, don’t over work it! Press down to about 1 inch thickness and cut with biscuit cutter or inverted glass. Place on greased cookie sheet and brush on cream/milk and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake about 12 minutes, but check as you want them to just have the slightest hint of brown. Remember food continues to cook after you take it out of the oven, so take them out a bit before they look brown enough.

Here they are before oven. And here they are after baking and setting. Look at that lovely texture and I love a good raisin scone. I had these as part of my tea break yesterday.

I hope you enjoy these and will consider using space you already have if you are planning any remodels. With our tightening belts we don’t have to do without, we just have to do with MORE brain and planning to most likely better results.

Happy Homemaking.

7 November 1957 “A Frugal State of Mind: Prepare for Harder Times so They Won’t Surprise You”

2011-11-07T09:54:00.001-08:00

After my last post comparing our current economy’s direction towards similarities with the Great Depression of the 1930’s, I though I’d follow up with some happier talk. There may be little we can do at present to change the world (though every little bit of knowledge followed by smarter action leads to a greater change world wide) we can still become use to frugality in our daily life.

I thought of this the other day when I had a friend over. We were chatting in my kitchen and she laughed and said I reminded her of her Grandmother.

“Why?” I asked, “Because of my clothes?”

“No,” said she, because of that. And she pointed at my dish drain rack which was currently drying three upside down zip-lock bags and a drying paper towel. She said her Grandmother was always doing things like that.

I had to laugh, because for me it happened organically. In many of my Vintage choices since my project began back in 1955 (2009) they were decisive moves to “try out” and old fashion way. To put on and get used to the actions or clothes of that era. What I have found interesting now, is, that after walking in those shoes as best as one can living in the modern world, I have found myself coming to similar choices just by the nature of my way of life.

To me, I never buy things like zip lock bags, as my waxed paper works for me to wrap hubbies sandwiches (when he has those for lunch) or my washable glass covered Pyrex dishes serve as ice box (refrigerator) storage. Today I thought of this because we recently had a group of us together and ordered take out Chinese food. We rarely get take out so after it was all done, I saved up all the plastic lidded containers as they are very good storage.

The idea that we have easy to buy and toss storage would never have occurred to me odd in my old life. But, my doppelganger 50’s personality sees too much waste. A zip lock bag that simply held dry or veg matter is easily enough washed out with warm soapy water, rinsed in cool and let dry. It can be used again and again. When it finally gives out, then it can get tossed. A paper towel, which I don’t use to clean normally, is easily enough rung out and let dry for a second go around or a quick hand wipe while cooking.

The amount of garbage we create since my project has easily been reduced to more than half. This less garbage also means less money, because if you are throwing it away, then you are tossing away your hard earned money as well.

This really got me thinking about how we humans, creatures of habit surely, can change. We don’t have to have a drastic change as I put myself and hubby through for our experiment. It can be little things like re-using zip lock bags, buying a few ingredients to make the things you normally buy, such as tortilla ( so simple to make) or bread. HERE is a post I did with tortilla and Bread recipes.

Even the way we live with heat is greatly changed. We once though nothing of just turning on the heat, setting it to what felt good and heating an entire house or apartment. Now, though we have an auxiliary heat of propane in our fireplace and wall unit heater, we even have reduced that. We originally added propane heat as a means to not have to use the electric heat which was expensive. We simply heated the area we were and left the other rooms cold. Now, with oil and propane prices rising, what was once a cheaper choice is now forcing us to look even closer at how we live. We now have two little plug in heaters that are quite economical. We can move them about. We do not heat rooms we are not in and mainly don’t use the larger rooms as time gets cold. Hubby and I each have our own little offices. My little sitting room/office is off my kitchen and dining room and is command central to me. Luckily, though I might have once thought it a hindrance, the room is Very tiny only about 9 x 9. But, with clever planning, I have a sofa and old trunk as a coffee table, my computer on a smaller but efficient desk and one wall of shelves that hold my books, magazines, decorative items to please the eye and my files for running our home and budgets. This room is closed off with a door and can be heated up in a jiffy with our little plug in and I simply turn it off and keep the door shut. It would be so much more to heat the whole house.

I have even come to enjoy that brisk cool feeling of the rest of the house. In many ways I think of our Victorian or even Colonial ancestors and what they felt was ‘normal’ for inside temperatures.

So, though electric heat can be expensive, if one uses a unit that plugs in (There are even darling little ones that look like real fireplaces) and only heat the room you are in, then you save. And, as a family, if you heat a shared room that mum and dad and kids can all share, you not only save, but you have more together time and chances to share with one another. There are myriad of reasons why we once were more a community based culture and one of those was the simple need to share resources and heat. Bodies in one room shared can increase the heat and have a better chance of enjoying their time there than a house of separate rooms holding one person and big areas empty in between heated for no one. Another place money can slip out the window.

I know I have talked about leftovers before and once you cook more for yourself and family, you will be happy for the leftover. A frugal homemaker’s best friend can be the meat grinder. These are still made today and are fairly inexpensive. I have a version in the Corner Store HERE. You can get simply hand crank versions that use no electricity and are easy to use. Leftover meats stored in the ice box (fridge) even ground together, poultry, beef, are easily converted to a meat pie for dinner and leftovers again for lunch. A simple attachment even allows you to make your own sausage with leftover meats, add some apples and spices or even the bottom of that jam jar you might just toss away. Give it a good scoop and add that and you will be amazed how wonderful leftovers can taste.

You recently saw a spooky cake a friend made for our Halloween party. As she was leaving she said, “Oh it wasn’t that good, you can just toss it out” and I was shocked. “No way, is that going in the trash” I said.

I divvied up a few pieces into slices into a container to save for hubby’s lunches as is. Then I cut up the remainder and put in a buttered crockery deep baking dish. whipped some eggs and milk some sugar and cinnamon and simply poured it over the old cake. Cover that and bake for 40 minutes on 350F then another 10-15 uncovered and you have wonderful bread pudding. The rest of the fondant covering and the crumbs went out to the chicken yard and they loved it. They of course will convert it to eggs for us to enjoy. Waste not Want not is truly an adage I have come to live by.

Even the use of the car can be altered. I am able to live now with one car as I work at home. So, I plan my marketing and errands in such a way that I try to do them all in one day and as local as possible to save on gas and wear and tear on the car. The old me would have felt ‘trapped’, “What do you mean I can’t just hop in my car and drive off somewhere to a shop or lunch with friends”. Well, now I prefer to walk or bike, don’t have to stress about traffic as much and we use easily half the gas. Unfortunately, as gas has risen since 1955 (2009) for us, we are spending close to what we did with two cars. So there was an example of preparedness that paid off. Had we stayed with two cars, insurance, gas and upkeep it would have been a greater burden when gas prices rose, as well as repair costs just to general inflation.

Learning to do with less or to live frugally does not have to seem like a prison sentence and in many ways is the reverse and quite freeing. And with the outlook of our future seeming more bleak than bright, it is better to get on board right away with a few things here and there. When one really just tries to think of it like this: Every trip to the garbage can, stop, think of what you are tossing and why? Did you need it? Could you still use it again? Was it a waste because you didn’t have the time or make the time to use it? Try to change that behavior or action so next week that same trip to the Garbage doesn’t happen again. It sounds simply and silly but it makes you think. And really, thinking and considering is a lost art in the modern world.

The sounds and constant noise and distraction of the modern world makes for an easy place to simply live without thinking. It is easy to grab that credit card and go or just use and toss away, why not? Its so easy and there are so many distractions. We can, however, very happily live in the modern world with cell phones and i-pads and i-pods and computers AND still be thoughtful of our use and waste on a day to day basis. Even simple things like what we spend as a nation on coffee and muffins. Coffee, though going up in price at the store, is still MUCH cheaper to make at home and take with you as is making your own ‘treats’. So, still sit on that park bench or relax with friends outside at a cafe, but let them pay $10 for a cup of coffee and muffin, you slip your little thermos out and your waxed paper wrapped treat and enjoy their company while still keeping your money. They may laugh at you or you even become the ‘quaint little old lady’ of the group, but you still enjoy the experience and have your pin money to spare.

I know these may seem like simple or silly ideas, but I thought it would be fun to start a dialogue about easy ways to simplify ones life to both save money and to make it easier. I love learning from one another and I honestly KNOW that one CAN change bad behaviors. If we want a new or better life we can work towards by being mindful and paying attention to how we live and spend. The homemakers number one tool is her Mind and Intelligence. Let’s keep exercising that muscle and see what clever and mindful things we can achieve.

Happy Homemaking.

4 November 1957 “1957 or 1937: The Modern World Encroaches into the Past”

2011-11-04T09:28:00.001-07:00

First of all, let me thank all of you for such wonderful birthday wishes. It felt so wonderful to get such warm wishes from so many. Thank you again, all of you.

Today I wonder if I am thinking more of the 1950’s family of plenty or the 1930’s family of want?

For the most part, I only access current information online through various sources. We don’t watch TV and don’t have access to modern cable. Which is fine for me, because whenever I see any ‘news’ programs on at friends homes I just have to laugh. It is more entertainment and speculation and heresy than news. I suppose when one has to keep up a 24 hour news cycle anything can be news and even speculation or what ‘he said’ gets air time. Something Walter Cronkite would have never stood for, but I digress.

What I have noticed when I research various things for future posts is more and more similarities showing up that pin the modern day more to 1937 than my usual research into 1957. Before I go on, let me just say to anyone that I am NOT saying today is as bad as the Depression. But, we must also remember that it has not yet got as bad as the Depressions years because the Social reforms which we now have came OUT of the Depression. So we are going into our current bad state with many things in place, such as unemployment, food stamps, various welfare, Social Security and so on. What is frightening to me, of course, is with these schemes firmly in place we still see a bumpy road ahead.

I also cannot help but see parallels in images such as these.with these of today.Surely today we see less “I want a job” sign (though we do see those as well) because our government reforms of the 1930’s are still in place as of now. But, we see that while we once were upset by the financial world into no jobs and lost homes and farms, we see now that the financial ruin of 2008 has left us wondering why so much went to those with so much who were indeed the cause of the current melt down.

Even this image of a modern day farmer in the South West here on his farm with the dustbowl storm stirring up. It certainly has its twin in the Depression Dust Bowl Days.In both situations we act as if there is a variety of reasons for the storms. When the simple fact was after the land was given out during the 1860’s, you farm five acres you keep it, the very nature of the land changed. What was once endless grassland prairies became increasingly large farms from 1900 through 1920s. The land had been set up to keep its top soil by the very nature of the densely planted wild grasses and wind breaks of hedgerows and forest interspersed. As these were cleared more and more and more area with no wind breaks and loosened top soil were formed, the same wind we always had simply gained speed and swept through taking with it the topsoil needed for both growing and holding down the substrate of sand!

then and now

What is amazing to me is, we may not have known then to not farm that way (Though if we simply recalled our ancestry farming in England and Europe, we would have kept hedgerows and multi-crop rotations, as it wasn’t a ‘new’ idea.) However, after the Depression we DID know why it had happened. Even simple things as plowing a certain type of furrow helps maintain topsoil, but after WWII we were inundated with chemicals from the wartime. These industry wanted to find new ways to sell their product. And today we are again faced with dust bowls. This time, again, we have cleared TOO much to form TOO LARGE vast areas of farming. And today that same topsoil problem is solved with endless chemicals. Chemicals that require farmers to wear masks when spreading, so now this gets mixed in with the ‘dust bowl storms’ and who knows where it shall spread?

Even the drought aren’t simply an ‘act of God’, but as wetlands were removed to make more land to plant less water is available to go up into the atmosphere and make rain and then collect up to do it again. It is simple land science one would have learned in their McGuffey reader, yet we act as if we can’t understand why these things are happening. When really we are simply TOLD a variety of things so as not to try and figure the real problem and then we can argue amongst ourselves rather than fix the problem. Leaving, of course, the solution to large corporate farms and new chemical products to ‘save’ us.

Once, even farms were more part of the ‘small mans’ domain. A local farmer grew a variety of crops and could make a business for his sons or daughters to inherit.

What is interesting is as the farms grew larger, and smaller farmers were forced out until we have what we have today: a very small percentage compared with the 1930s, we were told it was because it allowed the greater populace as a whole to spend less of their income on food. We are seeing that today, that is no longer in the case. If one wants to buy cheap fast food, perhaps it is cheaper, but much of what we consume is not even grown in our country anymore. And those jobs of farm laborers and helpers to farmers are now mainly done by cheap labor from other countries. Thus, we can see how the increase in farm size and decrease in farm labor adds greatly to more job and career loss for the population at large. As well as less actual control over the environment to grow food ourselves if we so chose as a business model.

Today, many small farmers have to have off-farm jobs to supplement their income. We can see here that in 1930 only 30 % of farmers worked off farm, while today 93 percent do.

Another interesting point is that during the Depression many farm subsidizes started. It was to help sustain the dying land and farmers. Today, however, many such ‘farmers’ are simply corporations run by a few hard pressed farmers. These farms still receive money for over growing products such as corn for corn syrup which, as a food crop, is inedible unless processed into that sugar substitute.

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture distributes between $10 billion and $30 billion in cash subsidies to farmers and owners of farmland each year.

More than 800,000 farmers and landowners receive subsidies, but the payments are heavily tilted toward the largest producers.” INFO HERE.

Another parallel I found was the odd scenes of people standing in line at banks to close out accounts. Here we see people this July in line at the closing of Indymac Bank:

The closing of IndyMac in July, the third-biggest U.S. bank failure, may cost the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s fund $4 billion to $8 billion, in addition to an estimated $1.16 billion for seven closures through Aug. 1. Premiums for insuring deposits will likely rise, FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair said in a July 30 interview.

The major difference being that today the FDIC exists because of what happened in the 1930s. However, because the FDIC exists to back up the accounts of individuals in failing banks still means that money has to come from our tax payer money rather than from the bank itself as its failure to handle our money give to them.

``It's going to be a bloody, expensive mess for the banking industry,'' said Bert Ely, president of Ely & Co. Inc., a bank consulting firm based in Alexandria, Virginia. ``Healthy banks are paying for the mistakes made by failed banks.''

The potential $9.16 billion in withdrawals would be the highest since the insurance account was created in 1933, said Diane Ellis, the FDIC's associate director of financial-risk management.”

A situation more akin to the 1930’s was the recent lines at Bank of America, when customers wanted to close their accounts due to a hike in monthly debit card holder fees. One can understand such anger by their customers when we consider that Bank of America received 50 billion of the bailout money as well as 118 billion in Federal guarantees against futures financial woes. And, many customers were literally barred at the door by police from closing out their own accounts, despite the fact that the Bank is a healthy solvent bank which had no claim to stop individuals from claiming their own money.

And a similar situation happened in NY when customers in Citibank were locked into the building and refused to be allowed to close their accounts. One woman on the street waiting to get in for regular Banking business was arrested. Today, however, with the easy access to video phones we are more aware of such injustice, so it begs to see what sort of result such protests and militant actions on the part of the big banks will result in.

I am immediately drawn to the scene in “Its a Wonderful Life” when Jimmy Stewart’s character has to stop a run on his families small lending organization. When he explains the money is lent out to the neighbors of those trying to get their money and he willingly gives up his own honeymoon money to tide people over, it warms our hearts.

I watched that movie recently with a friend. We had not seen it in years and we felt ‘Christmassy’. I was taken by how differently I now view that ‘evil character’ Mr. Potter. At once I thought he was simply a Plot device to embody the evil of the time, but now watching it, in our current climate, he seems almost mild in comparison to the various people and ‘corporate people’ in the guise of Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers and so on. It made we wish, even more, that our TRUE Capitalism could be in the hands of the free people. Small business in small communities helping one another for profit for THAT community and its inhabitants.

Today, how can we say we have a ‘free market’ when a bank far too large to have failed was indeed GOING to fail and therefore got money from the government to help it. What small mom and pop, when Wal-Mart rolled into town, received Government money from the ‘Free’ market to save it? I fear that we have found ourselves in the world that Jimmy Stewart found after his guardian angel made him never been born. His small town became Potters-ville and was owned by one man, one corporation. And with that, very fittingly, we see more seedy areas such as the old bar owned by the character Martini turned into a dive to survive.

I have been a small business owner and I can tell you there was no one there to bail me out as the larger ‘too big too fail’ multi chains rolled in offering everything super cheap. Why have we let it all get out of our hands? I heard a quote from some woman, I can’t recall her name, but she said in defense of ‘millionaires’ that we need them for jobs. “Who” asked she, “Has ever been hired by someone who isn’t a millionaire”.

I found that such a scary lie to spread. There were once MANY people hired by simple middle class people. A few years back, when I owned a shop, I hired people and had three designers and two drivers on my payroll of my little shop. I was NOT a millionaire. In fact I struggled to keep my little business afloat but I paid people OVER minimum wage and I was simply ‘one of them’. Towns and even cities were once filled with employers who were not millionaires providing jobs for others in their community. Such a concept only shows the sickness of our times. That Advertising seems to be the utmost import to any political or news movement. It is very scary. I am frightened for many people who simply have to be lead by whichever ‘side’ they choose. Because, in all honesty, they are both the same side. One has only to look and see that Democrats Big Government and Republicans Big Business are two sides of the same coin. They work in tandem to continue to warp and change our world into one further and further our of the hands of the majority. Small towns are all but gone, there is little chance for individuals to start small business or small manufacturing to provide jobs for their own area as most manufacturing was made huge by a few and priced out of our country by moving overseas. I don’t know why we allowed it all except that we were simply to passive. We were allowed to become to ‘relaxed’ in all the wonder of our ‘retail therapy’.

And there is another glaring difference from the Depression to our Recession. At the time people did not have guaranteed money coming in to tide them over and to then use to go buy i-pods or the latest cell phone to text their friends. There were not endless knit tops on sale racks for 3$ at local big box stores to make one feel they ‘have things’, while their credit card debt piles up and one more local clothing shop has to shut down to compete and one more future homemaker can’t even fathom sewing their own clothes.

The levels to which our current world has infiltrated our abilities to truly live is immense. There are MANY things in the modern world that I am glad of. Medicine being one of the main and even the technology that allows us to communicate like this. But, I wonder have we even the power to go against any of it? I am scared that even those who now protest will simply get co-opted somehow by some talking head or some political party or some corporate power to shift the tides to simply lead us to another level of less freedom in our country. MORE regulations in our daily lives?

Even when we begin to see that it is the banks and the money that controls the world and that the Government is simply made up of and appointed by those same financial institutions and kept interest in by their lobbyists, one is frozen. What can we, the little people, really do?

All I can do, as a homemaker, is to plan. Being a homemaker, that very career path, is based in planning, preparation and lists. Therefore I feel it the duty of any homemaker to be up on what ‘may’ be coming and to plan for it. I know already that my food bill is such that when I shopped two weeks ago using an old 1955 list I had which cost me then $40 (this was 2009 now remember) cost me $72 today! In three years that is the increase in foods for me in my area. So, all along I have been altering my shopping list.

Recently to get back to $40, which is quite a challenge, I have an even more early 1950’s menu in that we don’t eat big cuts of meat all week long. I can’t afford it, so it is spread out through the week in casseroles and various bakes while the big meal dinner of chicken or beef happens on a Sunday. We are fine with that, but it does beg the question, what will it be in the next three years? Will $40 not buy me even enough to get by? Now, I am able to have hubby’s lunch be carved out of the weekly food and my own at home luncheon has become much more crumbs of this or that to keep the flour and sugar supplies down. It might help my waistline in the end!

I know this has been a rather lengthy post and I don’t want it to be political but merely to point out where we are. Because as a homemaker knowing what you have to work with is the cornerstone of successfully running your home. When we have to work with less (Such as ingredients such as flour which has doubled in price for me since three years ago) you learn to stretch what you do have. However, along with the prices rising, incomes seem to be stagnant.

This has often left me wondering should I try and return to the outside the home job market? Am I foolish to not begin to gather up as much extra cash as we can? I have gone back and forth with this with myself and with hubby. It is a tough decision. First off, there are less jobs available, so there is no guarantee that I could even get one. But, thus far, I have decided against it. We feel if we continue to make adjustments and live with what we currently have, we can still plan for the future. My skill set keeps improving our ability to live with less as the bad times continue.

I think I am going to do a few posts about the 1930’s and today and begin to look at more frugal ways to live now. I think our role as homemaker, rather it is our full time job or not, is even more important at a time like this. Prices rise, income stays the same or simply goes away due to layoffs, we need to know how to feed, clothe and shelter ourselves. I only hope we aren’t heading down a road to any great war. But, if that does happen, as many homemakers before us did, we shall persevere and we shall overcome.

Happy Homemaking.

2 November 1957 “Happy Birthday to Me”

2011-11-02T08:54:00.001-07:00

Today is my birthday. Though we are not celebrating it officially today, as we have a party planned this Friday, I was surprised with this at Breakfast.

I had set the table as usual for Hubby and I to have breakfast and when I came back in, there it was. It is just a simple little gift, as my presents shall be this Friday, but he didn’t want my actual birthday to not involve a gift.

I love that he even made the little box out of paper himself. As you can see he used one of my favorite colors, as it matches my dishes. It contained two darling little vintage pins. He purchased them from our local shop where I often go to get antique/vintage finds. The ladies who run it love him. Every time I shop there, one of the ladies always says to the others she is working with, “She has the best husband” (referring to me) “He came in last Christmas and just bought the most wonderful things. He just walked right up and new what to get”. So, I am sure they were happy when he walked in the door.

What I cannot fathom is that here we are at another birthday already! As my birthday is at the end of the year, when it arrives I often wonder, ‘Where has the year gone’? This year it seems to have arrived even sooner. I cannot believe that this is my Third birthday in the 1950’s! How has it been three years (well in January it will be) since I started my project?

When I think back to my ‘before 50’s life’ it seems ages ago. Almost as far away as the actual 1950’s and I wasn’t even there. Though the time has speed by I am so happy and grateful to have had these past years with all of you. I have made so many wonderful friends in our virtual community. I am honored and happy that so many of you have come along with me this far on my crazy ride. Though my 1950’s or really ‘old timey’ parts of my life seem completely normal now, they are everyday improved or brightened by my sharing them with all of you. I thank you all for your support and interest and friendship. I am truly blessed and surely happy on this birthday. Thank you all.

Happy Homemaking and Happy Birthday to me!

31 October 1957 “The Halloween Party”

2011-10-31T08:18:00.001-07:00

Well, it is Halloween today. Though we celebrated with our Halloween Cocktail party four days ago. I hope you enjoy today’s spooky treats and treasures.

I am sorry it took me these three days to get this post about our party up. The tail end of October has just got away from me for some reason. Maybe it is my day-dreaming of the up coming Christmas season, which I always love and greatly anticipate.

I was a bad blogger and did not get as many photos as I planned of our guests. There were many wonderful costumes. Here is hubby and myself as the “Spirits of the Jazz Age”

Hubby in his coattail tuxedo and I in an early 1920’s rendition of a Jazz baby. Though you can’t see it very well in these pics, the beads hanging from my headpiece are actual vintage beads from my husbands great Grandmother. I am lucky to have a few such treasures saved from old clothing from the Edwardian and into the 1920’s from various family who thought it wise to clip and save bits of old beads and trim from outmoded and worn out dresses.

Here we are at the piano. My fan is also vintage 1920’s black silk.

Here my good friend took our theme of ‘fancy dress’ costuming and went as an ‘owl’. I like costumes that are themes but more ‘evening wear’ with a nod to an idea. Such as this Victorian fancy dress costume of a butterfly. One still wears evening clothes but with a nod to the costume, here butterfly wings and insert panels into the dress similar to the patterns on a butterfly wing.

Though we had a fair share of other such costumes. Here a friend came as her interpretation of a Starbuck’s Latte and another friend with her as a Gypsy. I unfortunately did not get photos of all our guests. I am always faced with the conundrum of very meticulously documenting my life verses simply living and enjoying it. I am rather apt to choose the latter and forget the camera all together.

Here is a photo of the table. Not everything was set up at this shot, but you can see the general feel. My lovely punch bowl in the middle was a gift this year from Gussie for my birthday. My birthday is in November but she said she couldn’t wait as it was so perfect for our party. She was right.

My friend brought these darling little bag rings which we placed as favors on the cups and I think they look simply darling.

Everyone loves a good brownie. And I as I was making candy anyway, I found these darling skeleton molds. The brownies become little graves with delicate peppermint scented white chocolate deadlies sneaking out. I thought they looked ‘haunted house’ sinister presented on my old Victorian Transferware Severn Platter.

This recipe HERE for brownies is what I often use and find it really easy and good. I always sprinkle a bit of chocolate pieces into the mix before baking. And as I was making candy that day, I had scrapings leftover and into the mix they went.

I adore old fashioned cake doughnuts. And this time of year, cider and cinnamon doughnuts are a sort of tradition. It always makes me feel such a part of a New England Autumn. This is the recipe I used for these and they are very easy to make and wonderful warm from the fryer or even two days later! I always find that a cake doughnut ages better than a yeast raised.

1 cup sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground cloves

2 eggs

1/4 cup melted butter

1 cup milk or 1/2 milk and 1/2 cup cream

4 cups flour and a touch more to handle dough

oil or lard for frying

cinnamon sugar

Mix all dry ingredients with a whisk to blend. Add wet ingredients (melted butter, eggs, milk/cream) and mix well

Next add the flour and mix with wooden spoon or flour covered hands. If the dough feels too sticky, add up to another 1/2 cup or so of flour.

Roll into ball (don’t over handle) cover and but in ice box for at least an hour. I prefer to make it the day before. And any leftover dough can be refrigerated for up to a week. Or keep some made up in the freezer for a few months at a time.

Let stand for 20 minutes out of ice box, roll out on floured or marble surface and cut with doughnut cutter.

Your hot oil should be about 360F. I always test with a donut hole first. Let it brown and turn a few times if you need to. When it is done inside in under 3 minutes, it is the right temperature.

Drain and shake in a bag of cinnamon sugar mixture or confectioners sugar. Delicious!

These darling little candies were simply made by melting chocolates and using a little mold. The mold was designed to hold an Oreo sized cookie. I put a Christmas themed one HERE in the corner store. They are around $5 and are rather fun. I used white chocolate for the white and green and regular chocolate (milk) for the darker. I flavored the chocolate with peppermint, as I really love mint and chocolate. Though that would probably be better for a Christmas party, there were no complaints and the plate was soon emptied!

One of our guests makes incredible cakes. She delighted us all with this scary confection. It was home-made red velvet cake and homemade raspberry jam ‘blood’. He was rather scary but Very tasty.

We had many beverages and cocktails, but in the center was our 'spooky punch’. It was made with strawberry daiquiri fixings (smashed up strawberries and sugar) and orange juice and ginger ale to make it bubble away. The scary ‘Goblin skin’ is simply scoops of lime sorbet. It was made without alcohol so those quests who don’t drink could enjoy it and those who wanted to could spike it with some white rum. You can also see a delicious bowl of peanut butter caramel corn home-made by one of my guests. I am lucky that my guests always see fit to bring such wonderfully made things to my parties, I am lucky in that.

I am going to close with these fun Halloween ideas from the vintage cookbook Holiday Cookbook.

Enjoy and Happy Homemaking.

30 October 1957 "A Quick Note"

2011-10-30T14:52:00.000-07:00

I find myself a bit busy today and want to apologize for no post. I shall return, but rather lost track of time.

I hope all are well and becoming excited for the approaching holiday seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Happy Homemaking.

27 October 1957 “A Halloween Cocktail Party”

2011-10-27T09:47:00.001-07:00

I am hosting a Halloween cocktail party this evening. We will have cocktail punch, finger foods and nibbles. It is, of course, a fancy dress or costume party. Hubby and I are going as “The Spirit of Jazz”. I will try to get at least one photograph of us and other guests.

I thought I would share these fun vintage Halloween treats from the Betty Crocker Boys n Girls cookbook. The Fun pumpkin Cake up top is so simple yet so fun.

Here are the instructions for the Jack-O-lantern Cake. And some simply ‘Black Cat Cookies’.

I have always love the early 20th century Halloween images, such as this postcard. And have been equally as fascinated by the ‘Vegetable Man’ one oft sees depicted. Such as this Halloween clockwork vegetable man, painted papier mache. He is 16 inches tall and valued at $16,520. These menacing pumpkin men have zucchini and squash for appendages. Another early Papier Mache’ Vegetable man figurine, this time with a potato body and a Bobby’s cap. His head is removable and is meant to hold candy. This veggie man stands 9 1/2 inches tall and is valued between $3,000-$5,000.

Here is a carved Irish turnip from the early 20th century.

“Throughout Ireland and Britain, there is a long tradition of carving lanterns from vegetables, particularly the turnip, mangelwurzel, or rutabaga. The turnip has traditionally been used in Ireland and Scotland at Halloween, but immigrants to North America used the larger native pumpkin, which are both readily available and much larger – making them easier to carve than turnips.

While turnips have always been used in Ireland, lanterns in Scotland were originally fashioned from the thick stem of a cabbage plant, and were called "kail-runt torches". It was not until 1837 that jack-o'-lantern appeared as a term for a carved vegetable lantern, and the carved pumpkin lantern association with Halloween is recorded in 1866.

In the United States, the carved pumpkin was first associated with the harvest season in general, long before it became an emblem of Halloween. In 1900, an article on Thanksgiving entertaining recommended a lit jack-o'-lantern as part of the festivities.The poet John Greenleaf Whittier, who was born in 1807, wrote "The Pumpkin" (1850):

“Oh!—fruit loved of boyhood!—the old days recalling,

When wood-grapes were purpling and brown nuts were falling!

When wild, ugly faces we carved in its skin,
Glaring out through the dark with a candle within!”

The carved vegetable man has many variations to its story. He is often referred to as ‘Jack’. An Irish tale tells that Jack (usually a smart farmer or land worker) tricked the Devil into climbing an apple tree, and once he was up there Jack quickly placed crosses around the trunk or carved a cross into the bark, so that the Devil couldn't get down.

“Another version of the story says that Jack was getting chased by some villagers from whom he had stolen, when he met the Devil, who claimed it was time for him to die. However, the thief stalled his death by tempting the Devil with a chance to bedevil the church-going villagers chasing him. Jack told the Devil to turn into a coin with which he would pay for the stolen goods (the Devil could take on any shape he wanted); later, when the coin/Devil disappeared, the Christian villagers would fight over who had stolen it. The Devil agreed to this plan. He turned himself into a silver coin and jumped into Jack's wallet, only to find himself next to a cross Jack had also picked up in the village. Jack had closed the wallet tight, and the cross stripped the Devil of his powers; and so he was trapped.”

“The term jack-o'-lantern originally meant a night watchman, or man with a lantern, with the earliest known use in the 1660s in East Anglia; and later, meaning an ignis fatuus or will-o'-the-wisp. In Newfoundland and Labrador, both names "Jacky Lantern" and "Jack the Lantern" refer to the will-o'-the-wisp concept rather than the pumpkin carving aspect.”

Any way you slice it ( pun intended), late season vegetables played a major role in the lives of early people. Often with the idea of chasing away bad or celebrating good harvest.

I hope you have fun carving your pumpkins or setting up your own Vegetable Man. Halloween is a fun time to dress up, celebrate friends and eat far too many treats.

Happy Homemaking.

24 October 1957 “12 Personal Diets for Better Health from 1954”

2011-10-24T10:54:00.001-07:00

I thought today I would share with you these interesting diet plans from one of my vintage magazines. This outlines the proper amount of calories and what type of food for those calories as well as sex and age in considering the diets provided.

Here are the four crucial things this article claims will result from these diet outlines.

They lower the total number of calories that should be consumed by healthy normally active Americans.
They give physicians a new basis for regulating your food intake.
If you are overweight they will shed your excess poundage surely and sagely.
If you are underweight, they will help you gain the missing pounds you need.

“Once you have made up your mind that good nutrition is worth while, there is only one dieting secret to learn: Food is the fuel your body burns. If you take in more fuel than your body needs, you will store it it the form of fat. If you take in less, you burn stored-up fat.”

I love that last paragraph. So simple and straightforward. None of this modern ‘Diet Secrets” and “Hollywood Secret Diet Plans”. Simply stated, eating more than you burn results in fat storage. Burning excess comes from exercise and eating less than you need drops the pounds. Though, even with this knowledge, it can be hard. I still struggle with my weight and would love to shed some pounds.

Here are the plans which are outlined by Sex and age. To add, the substitutions to this are the following.

small serving meat is 2-3 ounces
Medium serving meat is 4 ounces
Large serving Meat is 6 ounces
Fish, fowl, cheese or eggs may be substituted for meat.
Spaghetti, grist, potato, rice, starchy beans (Lima, Kidney and Navy beans), Noodles and Macaroni may be substituted for Bread and Are interchangeable with one another.

Enjoy these and let me know what you think of them. Obviously never start a diet plan without consulting a doctor, but such guides as these are really a boon to the Homemaker, as they help in planning meals and shopping for the ingredients and list making.

Happy Homemaking.

21 October 1957 “Dressing Vintage & an Easy Skirt”

2011-10-21T14:28:00.001-07:00

I recently received to fun comments that I thought I would address in this post. Fellow Apronites asked:

“50s Gal,
I adore your blog, it's such a kick! I am wondering if you & your husband still dress in 50s costume, on a daily basis, as you did as you did when you began this blog? Do you still roll play the 1950s at home? Or do you now just post about the way that you wish things were?
It must be such fun to have so much time to devote toward your project. What fun!

Mrs. Walter Sinclair”

“I was wondering the same thing. I imagine that it is challenging to be dressed in character all day; you must thrive on the attention. Wish I had the nerve to do it. Maybe on Halloween.

–KLM”

Well, first off Yes, we do both dress 1950’s. Though to us, it is no longer costume. It is simply our way of dressing. Hubby doesn’t wear vintage pieces only (though some of his trousers were 1950’s pieces I found so those are ‘authentic). But, he wears trousers, button down oxford shirts over under shirts. He wears his pants at his natural waist (not the low rise of today) with a belt. He has many vintage styled socks, such as argyle, and his shoes are a variety of brogues, wingtips, loafers, and bucks. He has one pair of dungarees which he will sometimes where on a work in the yard day.

My wardrobe is made up of some vintage pieces and many handmade pieces made by myself. As I am tall and fuller figured, to buy a vintage dress is often not an option. My wardrobe is still mainly skirts and dresses. And my shoes are vintage inspired as well. I often wear vintage hats.

We recently biked with a new friend and she commented on how ‘dressed up’ we seemed and that I was riding my bike in a skirt. I didn’t notice until she pointed it out, but it is simply are ‘casual’ clothes. That is not to say we are in a tux and evening gown, but I have a good high calf length serviceable wool gored skirt and a cardigan on. Hubby was wearing khaki trousers, button down oxford, loafers and a pork pie hat. We have no ‘insignia imprinted’ T-shirts or sweatshirts. This is simply ‘our normal’.

To answer the second comment, I do not actually like attention. Luckily, for me, my little town is used to me. I ride my vintage bike in my skirt and the people I encounter at the tea shop, cafe, grocery store, antique store and other various town shops are used to me. I often will get, ‘You look lovely today, as usual’. Which makes me feel good, but I hardly look for attention.

In fact, I recently was in contact with someone from a production company who produces reality shows. They were wanting to put together a show about people who live vintage, a reality show following people about. This is the farthest thing from what I would want. I would love to promote the lifestyle but to be on TV in any capacity is never anything I aspire to. It is too bad, as it could really be an almost fun move, but it is simply not what I want.

Now, I often get many letters from ladies saying they wished they had the nerve to wear vintage clothes. Or that they would like to, but think they would not be comfortable. I counter by saying, as far as never goes, start small.

Wear a vintage or vintage inspired skirt with a modern top and shoes. Another day wear a modern outfit but with a vintage hat and say scarf tied to your handbag. Another day, a vintage/vintage inspired top with modern trousers and vintage/or inspired shoes. After awhile, in this fashion, those around you will begin to see and probably comment, “oh she has such style”. This now gives you leave to dress as you like. Go full on vintage one day and they might be heard to say, “Oh, she can pull that off, she has such style anyway, I would be to afraid to try it.” And you can smile knowing how easily it was to slowly become that woman of style.

To me, dressing vintage is no longer about complete period accuracy. I have always loved various time periods, Victorian, Edwardian, 1930/40s, and will often mix such styles now. I figure, were I a frugal gal of the 1950’s I would most likely still have serviceable pieces from the 1940’s anyway. And to have style is really just to have the basic drive to say, “Well, there is no specific look anymore, so why not just wear what I want”. We don’t want too many “I wish I had done that” at the end of the day, and our clothing is such a simple way to become more empowered.

As someone who enjoys fashion and dressing now, it feels good and I honestly feel better when I am dressed. It is easy now, as anything I grab is vintage inspired, as I have bought no new clothes in three years unless they fit into the look I like. You can really build up a nice wardrobe with very little and with some very BASIC sewing skills.

Today, then, I am going to share my latest creation. An elastic waist skirt. I feel this is very non-vintage specific. It can look anything from Victorian inspired right down to modern depending on how you wear it. And I wanted something easy to make that was as comfortable as modern clothes (i.e. track suits)

Here it is:

This skirt is very wearable. By wearing a comfortable cardigan that buttons tight to my waist, the elastic waist is not even visible, but what comfort. Though I am still wearing my girdle, it is my comfortable stretch girdle, no lacing or boning. This would work wither with a vintage foundation or not, depending on how you feel that day.

As I forgot to photograph the easy step by step process, I thought I would just draw/Photoshop a basic diagram to make this skirt. It couldn’t be easier as the ruffle is put on BEFORE it becomes a tube, so easy pinning and sewing. And as the ruffle is doubled and sewn into a tube first, you are left with a nice finished hem BEFORE you sew it together.

YOU WILL NEED:

3 yards of fabric (I used cotton)
a length of elastic longer than your waist
sewing machine or needle and thread
an iron

I took two yards (72 inches) for my width. I am a ‘fuller figured’ gal, so if one were a smaller size 60 inches might suffice. If you use more and you are thinner you will just have a fuller skirt, which is also quite nice. At this point the width of the fabric is just whatever it came as 45/60 in seems to be the standard here.

Now depending how large you want the ruffle to be will determine the next step. I chose to cut my fabric just above my knee. Knowing, of course, that the final length would be greater than my knee with ruffle added.

Now keep this excess and what I did was to take this excess and with my remainder fabric (One yard from the original 3 yard piece) I used it as a template for the Ruffle.

Taking the left over yard, layout the strip cut off the bottom of the skirt piece. Cut as many of the same sized strips as you can get from the left over yard.

Stitch this into one long piece. Then fold that piece over and sew. I forgot to sew with right sides together, but it didn’t matter as when you pin it to skirt the rough edge is hidden in the skirt. IF you do sew it right sides together (pattern facing itself) simply turn right side out when done and then press flat.

Next, take this long strip of pressed fabric and pin a basic pleat along the bottom of the skirt piece. Remember to keep the outside or right side of the fabric facing it. To be sure, after you pin, hold up and make sure you are pinning on the right side. The pins should be on the inside of skirt. You could also do a gather stitch along the long piece and attach as a gathered ruffle, but I wanted a pleated version this time.

After pinning stitch to skirt. This is all done while fabric is flat so it couldn’t be easier to work with.

Now take your elastic and wrap around your natural waist and pull it about 2 inches tighter (you don’t want it too loose). Remember this is going to hold the skirt up so make it tighter than you think you want it as it gives once it is on. Cut and that is the waist of your skirt.

Now fold the top of your flat skirt piece over about 3” (wide enough to easily allow the elastic to pass through) and stitch close. Then take a safety pin and attach to your elastic and slide through that sewn waist line tube. Pin BOTH ends securely so it does not slip out.

Next, pin skirt together (forming the tube shape of a skirt) starting with ruffled bottom, so skirt meets nicely at bottom. Now sew this up ending at the waistline, being sure to really backstitch elastic ends for security. Now you are done and no hemming needed.

This skirt could easily be made in under an hour. And you could also gather the bottom ruffle piece rather than pleats for a different look. Very easy indeed.

I am going to try a few varieties of elastic waist skirts such as gored and full and so on. I think it is an easy way to sew, get a vintage look and still have the comfort a modern gal (who is used to looser clothes) could still feel comfortable. I am determined to help all you gals who write to me saying you wish you could dress vintage but are afraid or worried it wont be comfortable. We can take more control of our lives and we can also infuse our daily lives, even when we are home alone seeing no one all day, with style. Remember we do it first for ourselves and let the worry of what others slide off our back. You will be surprised how quickly the fear of jibes turns to the joy of compliments.

Happy Homemaking.

19 October 1957 “The Adaptability of the Homemaker or Making Lemons into Lemonade”

2011-10-19T08:14:00.001-07:00

Ever since I began this project almost three years ago, I am still amazed at how one adapts. Just when you think, “How on earth is that going to work?” or “Well, that seems really inconvenient” you suddenly realize how you didn’t need as much or what you felt was ‘normal’ before.

I often think of the Homemakers in the 1930’s Depression era or of the women and men of Wartime who suddenly saw their larders empty and their tummy grumbling. You simply had to deal with it and as you got on, by the end, when plenty returned you looked at it as almost a bit much at first. But, again, we are adaptable, so as easily as we go from plenty to naught and learn to scrimp and get by, when the market is flooded and cheap and ready is at our disposal we become fat and over extended in our bank accounts.

For me, this latest adventure in ‘Seeing what you are made of and make do with what you have’ was in the case of my ice box. Let me first clarify, that I mean my refrigerator. I had a comment that seemed to wonder if I was indeed using an ice box which uses ice rather than electricity. I began in 1955 to refer to my refrigerator as an ice box. This was because I thought that was a term that hung around even in the 1950’s. My own mother, a true 1950’s homemaker, always called it the ice box as she recalled in her girlhood in the 1930’s that they did still indeed have an ice box. And the ice man would deliver to the door. They also had a modern refrigerator at the time in tandem with this but both were called the ice box and when the old model vanished with the ice man, the name stuck. That is my aside about my terminology on that.

No, back to business. About two weeks ago my new tenants found that they could not use the ice box (refrigerator) at the house. Rather than spend more money for another appliance for the tenants while we settled for the leftovers from previous tenant purchases, I decided to give them our old fridge. It was bought for this house when we rented this house out one summer, as our old one had finally given way. It was the cheapest available model and so was happy to see it go. I had planned to make room for my 1950’s model, which has still been waiting for its new home. However, what I decided to do instead was to free up more space in my already tiny kitchen.

I have made plans over and over again about how to add onto my kitchen. Then I always decide I want to save money and that I don’t need all that space and scale it back. This time I looked around my kitchen and considered what it would feel like without a fridge jutting up into the vertical space. So, I purchased a small dorm size fridge which is 4.5 cubic feet. It has only a small space to hold two ice cube trays and no freezer other than that. I condensed and reconsidered what I had on hand to make it work so the old fridge could go to the tenants.

After I was all done I realized how large the kitchen felt having it open like that. The new fridge is shorter than counter height. So my plan is to build it into a cabinet with more counter space on top. It will look old but when you open the doors below my fridge shall be inside. And the vertical space now open since the fridge is gone can be more cabinetry for storage and display.

Currently the small amount of freezer items I have were put in Gussies little freezer in her cottage. I have found I can buy just a freezer that is about half the size of the dorm fridge and that will also live under the counter with my little mini fridge.

Adaptability. We no longer need a large bucket of ice at the ready in the freezer, instead I fill glasses and immediately refill the two tiny trays and back into their little slot. Bottles and jars which often seem to litter all the door space were condensed and reconsidered. I even saved a few containers that held product to serve as future stores for small amounts of leftovers that can fit in our tiny space.

This, of course, is also going to save on electric bills. And every place one can have an economy there, it is a good thing. The amount of electricity required to keep a larger fridge cool is easily doubled comparative to this size. And the large freezer compartment too. Even large freezers that many have I have come to see that we are paying the cost to give room and board to food that could easily wait for us at the store at their electric cost to keep cool, until we need it. I am looking more to canning as well rather than putting away fruit in the freezer. Then my fruits and veg I buy and grow will be handled as they may have been in 1907 rather than 1957 and I am alright with that. Rather excited by it really.

Now, I feel like I have had an addition put on with the extra space and it has left me to dream about simply moving things about to accommodate the new space to make my kitchen work better. I promise to share photos of the progress.

While we are on the subject of refrigerator, I will share the cleaning tips provided in my “America’s Housekeeping Book”

Refrigerator

Daily : Wipe up any spilled food at once.

Wipe top of refrigerator with a cloth wrung out in soapy water. Rinse with a cloth wrung out in clear water. Dry.
Remove any fingerprints around the handle of the door with mild soap and water. Rinse and dray as above.

Weekly : (This cleaning is usually done after defrosting. Unless your refrigerator is equipped with an automatic defrosting device, it should be defrosted whenever the accumulation of frost is 1/4 inch thick.)

Empty the pan under t5he freezing unit, wash in warm suds, rinse thoroughly and dry.
Remove freezing trays, empty and was in hot soapsuds. Rinse with scalding water and dry. Remove racks or shelves and wash in the same way. Wash interior and exterior the same way as for an ice refrigerator (Below).
Follow the manufacturer's directions for oiling the motor at regular intervals. (With most new models no oiling is necessary.)

Ice Refrigerators or Ice Box

Daily : Same as for automatic refrigerators.

Weekly : Remove racks or shelves and wash them in hot soapsuds. Rinse with scalding water and dry thoroughly.

Wash interior with a cloth wrung out of cool water in which borax or baking soda has been dissolved. (1 tablespoon of borax or soda to 1 pint water.)
Pour a strong solution of washing soda and water down the drain pipe and use a long brush to remove any accumulation of dirt or slime. {this is also good for kitchen drains}
Remove drain pipe for cleaning if necessary.
Wash exterior with mild soapsuds. Rinse with a cloth wrung out of clean water, dry thoroughly.

When I began my project, the possibilities of such vast change seemed so exciting. And they really, for the most part, still are. Yet, I cannot believe how much our present modern world has changed in the past three years. It has made me sit up and take notice more often, peering from my safe haven of 1957. The other day we were discussing how we suddenly feel as if we are now currently living in a time that will be in history books as we feel a vast change coming to the world really. My biggest fears, of course, are: will there be rumblings of more war in all our futures? I hope not, but I wonder what it felt like in those years in Europe before the world wars began. Things went on along as usual with odd little changes or rumblings heard in the paper.

I do know that in looking to the past I found myself and my self sufficiency. There is so much I still need to learn, but the same lady who began this project with her head full of pretty dresses and crinolines, big 1950’s American cars and buying wonderful retro things, has become one of equal excitement but how to live better. How to save money so that I can afford the time to contemplate life and not be in the hectic rat race world. The ways to persevere as the times grow harder and to be ready, if the time ever comes (and let us hope it does not) that we ever find ourselves in a Depression or Wartime shortage situation. We can see the loss of jobs and the increased unhappiness of the masses against the few who hold all the power. It is, then, I think that it is the homemakers job and duty to begin to think and practice acting as if the hard times are harder so as to better prepare. And if they don’t come you will be surprised how easily you adapt and how much you like that lemonade you made from those sour lemons.

Why not take a day this week and consider some aspect of your current Homemaking cycle and think about how it could be done smaller or less or in an older way that was more economical. The dryer being used once less a month and clothes line dried (even indoors in the winter while the kitchen is being used for cooking). Consider some of your freezer foods and wonder if the same sort of ‘putting away for a rainy day’ could be done with canning which only costs at the point of making it and storing is free in a cupboard or cellar. Or think of some wonderful new one and please share it with us here or in the Forum.

Happy Homemaking.

16 October 1957 “Halloween Magazine Ads & A Sunny Sunday”

2011-10-16T12:04:00.001-07:00

It is a lovely sunny Sunday here in New England and we are going to be biking into town with friends today. We will have our meander along the canal and the boardwalk. We will putter about town, stopping at the Mill Pond, feeding swans or watching fish. It is a good day for it and we will end, no doubt, with some spiked apple cider by the outdoor fire pit on the terrace. A good day all round, I hope.

So, to continue yesterday’s Halloween theme, I thought I would share some fun Halloween Candy adverts from Life magazines through the 1950s.

I remember double bubble even in the 1970’s and 80’s and also getting Pal gum in my Halloween sack.

Of course everyone loves candy bars:

Even Father got in on the act, as shown in this Dutch Masters Cigar ad.

And why not a cold glass of Hawaiian Punch before you head out for tricks n treats.

And here is what Halloween candy would cost in 1951.

I hope all have a lovely day and Happy Homemaking.

14 October 1957 “Halloween Songs”

2011-10-14T12:26:00.001-07:00

This probably won’t be my only Halloween post, as I think it such a fun and kitschy holiday. It is definitely one of the times, as well as Christmas, that I wish I had a little one to dress up and entertain.

Though there are many Christmas songs, there are actually a few vintage Halloween songs as well. I love this number from the 1950 movie My Blue Heaven starring Betty Grable, Dan Dailey, Jane Wyatt, David Wayne and Mitzi Gaynor and directed by Henry Koster. Though it is not a Halloween movie, there is a wonderful Halloween number and song. It it is at minute 2:15 in the following clip.

If you would like to watch this move entirely you can watch it HERE at the Apron TV. (If it doesn’t load, go to Classic Movies, click load more and it is the last move listed in 13 parts. Enjoy it!)

Here is a great number from 1965 from the King Sisters. I love how the opening is a play on Alfred Hitchcock.

Here is something rather fun. Someone owns a vintage 1949 children’s filmstrip on Halloween that would have been shown in school. It is read by the owner so might be enjoyable for a child to watch.

Here is a fun song, Punky Pumpkin, sung here by Fran Allison with some fun images of vintage Halloween decorations and ephemera.

Here is a little ditty called “ Trick ‘r Treat”

Here is “Midnight Stroll” by the Re-vels

And I will close here with this wonderful 1922 Betty Boop cartoon about Halloween.

How many of you decorate for Halloween? Do you make homemade costumes or buy traditional costumes such a ghost, witch, hobo, for your children or do they dress up like modern cartoon or TV characters?

Happy Homemaking.