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

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”

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”

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”

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

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?”

  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”

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?”

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

10

12

14

16

18

Blouse   

Reflection

Color A-5833

9

10

10

11

11

Camelot

Color B-225

1

1

1

1

1

Color C-226

1

1

1

1

1

Pants

Reflection

Color A-5833

10

11

12

13

14

Camelot

Color B-225

1

1

1

1

1

Color C-226

1

1

1

1

1

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”

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”

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.