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.

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

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”

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”

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”

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”

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”

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”

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.