First breakfast 1955!

Well, first off, thank you for all your comments. I think I shall do my own computer posting. It does make sense, as I can just pretend I am writing in my journal for the day. But, I am going to try and NOT use the computer for any other purposes. Even with the old tv and commercials, my husband has seen fit to copy many onto dvds for me, so I will stick with that and then when I begin to run low, defer to him. See, I am already becoming a 1950's wife in that I first think, "well, I shall ask my husband".

I have to confess, tho I am only really two days in, that there is a secret part of me that sort of likes the idea of being 'taken care of'. I mean, certainly I am going to be providing food, clean clothes and house, nice environment for my husband, but I LIKE being home and do not relish driving to go to work for 8 hours a day. Perhaps this will change, we shall see.

Now, this morning I got up at 7:00 am with my alarm. Padding downstairs to prepare breakfast. I have to say, I do this already, but usually, if I am making bacon, I use the micro as it always comes out perfect. But, alas, there is no microwave. I mean it is hidden away in the bowels of the basement with other items that have yet to be invented (except for the dvd player. I do hope u will forgive me that, but I am ONLY using it for shows and commercials of the time). So, it was pan fried bacon and then eggs fried in that lovely bacon grease. I am sure this will elicit gasps of horror and clutching of the heart from all of you, but you know what? It was GOOD! There is alot to be said for animal fats for cooking. YUM!
So, it went off without a hitch. Freshly squeezed oj from my electric juicer (it is vintage photos to follow I PROMISE) eggs, toast, jam. I even decided to use more dishes for the morning. Rather than have a jug of milk on the counter, I put it in a creamer. I am also 'decanting' my milk in some repro milk bottles in the fridge for accuracy, plus it looks nicer. It felt quite 'real' this morning. The table set with actual dishes and my 50's cups and saucers (they hold much less coffee than we are used too!) the fresh perculated coffee pot on the table. I even had the toaster on the table, as I have seen this in varioius photos and magazines, and u know I made the toast as we sat to eat. It did mean having to wait for it to finish to have with our eggs, but it seemed authentic. I wonder, would they have had the toast made before sitting down, but then why the toaster on the table? You see, these are the things that will be occupying my time, so don't hold your breath for too much excitement readers! (As an aside, I was just about to make a smiley face with the colon and the paranthesis button, but realized this concept has not been invented. I thought u would like to know the sort of modern thought processes that will pop up and how I will slowly let them slip aside)

I am determined to NOT be only mindful of what to wear and what to cook. This, I am sure, was an important factor in a 1950's housewives life, but many of these things would have been second nature to her. I need to also keep up on 'current' events, read magazines (so I can see what to 'ask' my husband for, hint hint come June I would like it to be the dishwasher!)and fiction. Right now I am just starting "The Genius and the Goddess" by Aldous Huxley. This came out in 1955, so I don't know if I would have it by 2 january, but it is the right year anyway. I think I will use brackets to insert any moment when I would have done a modern thing in my blogging. So [ After I typed in the title of the book I am reading, my first initial response was to add a link to a page that would describe the book, maybe a pic of the cover, etc. But, I did not. I think it is these little moments of modernity that really bring home the project. I like to think of what I take for granted today that would have been unthinkable in the 1950s. If this becomes annoying, dear readers, do let me know and I will stop. I do become enamored of the simplest things!]

Oh, so back to my day, yes. I am, today, laying out a plan for the week. This will include what days the bed linens are to be changed. I hope not everyday, tho it would be nice, I don't think I can stand ironing bed sheets everyday! How many days to clean bathrooms etc etc. I will have a time in the evening, where my hubby and I will watch a 50's show together, then probably talk about 'current' events. He is also a history nerd, so this will be of interest to him. My first "50's night" is planned for next wednesday. This gives me time to practice making petite fors and brushing up on my bridge. OOOH and I can use the new cocktail shaker set I got for christmas! By the way, ALL of my christmas gifts were geared to this being 1955. I asked for only things appropriate to this project. It actually has quite helped me, as it has given me a good reserve to start off with. Magazines, dvds, old appliances, dishes, skirts, crinoline etc.

Well, I suppose this is a good start for me. This morning I kissed my husband good by at the door in my penoir (it is actually a 1950's nightgown and dressing gown and horror of horrors it is nylon. I guess it was the new wonder fabric as it needed no ironing. Tho I am slightly disgusted today, I am sure a month down the road, when I have ironing piling up, I will be begging for all things made of nylon. Good ole petroleum industry. See, this is where it all began folks, the good ole days.)

Let me know if there is anything that any of u would like to know as I do this project. Back to the happy quiet day of january 2 1955.

Happy New Year! 1955!

Well, here I am, January 1 1955. Well, at least that is what I am going to tell myself.

I am not sure if it is a good idea to choose a particular year. In fact, I may find I need to use things up to 1959, merely due to the quanity of items I can find. But, for all intents and purposes it is 1955. I think by trying to ground myself into that year, it will allow me to have a sort of solid framework to each day. I can read magazines up to that time and anything from that year I can imagine they are now just happening, the news if u will.

I see from some research that this month in 1955 will result some of the following: Scrabble will be introduced this month. We will see our president, Eisenhower, for the first time televised. Russia will end it's 'state of war' with Germany. The submarine Nautilus will begin its first nuclea- powered voyage. The "Ballad of Davy Crockett" becomes the number one hit in march. Churchill resigns as British Prime Minister to be replaced by ANthony Eden. Ray Kroc starts McDOnald's chain this year in Illinois in April. In May Micky Mantel will hit three consecutive home runs. The list goes on. Perhaps with this research I can mention what is of 'note' for a day that I am blogging to coincide with 1955. IF that would be of interest to anyone?

I also have a quandry. I, obviously have to use the computer to blog, but am wondering if I might not be wiser to have my husband type it in for me. Oh, yes, someone asked if my husband was on board, and yes he is. He is quite supportive in all things. He currently works while I stay home, so that will be the same. I will be preparing ALL meals and doing all laundry and housework, unless he wants to pitch in, but honestly I am going to probably only have him help occasionally with drying dishes. I often saw this done on 'leave it to beaver', not that that is a very accurate portrayal of the 1950's, but in my magazines I have also seen that a husband would have helped to be nice. Many men were around the home more in the 1950's. Another cultural phenomena. I am going to watch any relevant 'tv' on a dvd player on our small tv. I have burned copies and also bought copies of various shows. I have also burned copies of old commercials from tv, as I think the advertising of the time was rather important. It was really the beginning of such propaganda that still exists into today.

I want to share photos as well, but not sure how much I should do that. I do realize it will be more interesting with such things, so I think I will again, defer to my husband. He can take a photo of anything I want and then insert it into the blog for me. I will type up my blogs on an old 1950's manual. I have an electric typewriter as well, but I am not sure if it is from 59 or not, so I will stick with the manual. That will help with the technology part of it. I think not being able to browse online will affect me more than tv, which I rarely watch. As far as magazines, I will keep with the mags I have at present and my husband has said he will buy more for me on ebay as I need. (He is a sweetheart if u haven't guessed.)

All my cooking will be done with old appliances. I think my next blog will be pix of the various appliances I will be using. I am torn on my dishwasher. I think I will leave off for now, tho I know that dishwashers were available, and then I think mid-year enjoy the novelty of having one. It would be as if my husband has surprised me with the new appliance and I will appreciate in a way that a 1950
s wife would have. Let me see, Oh, I even have a vintage iron, and tho I NEVER iron now, it will become part of my routine.

My clothes will also be as vintage as I can afford. Mostly new things made with vintage patterns, tho I can sew new thigs with these patterns as the year progresses, as sewing was an affordable source for a middle class housewife. No Old Navy to pop down to with 10 dollar skirts for me!

Wow, this seems all over the place. I should enjoy this as this is the (hopefully) only post I will be doing on the computer.

Oh, yes, I also do not want to feel that I am alone in an unpeopled world of 1955, so I have a couple friends who are into the 1950s. We have been wanting to have 50's nights for awhile and now they have promised me to TRY to do one night a week that is 1950's. We will gather, dressed appropriately (of course I would be anyway) and play bridge or any board games relevant, listen to old records, drink (of course) etc. This will allow me to still feel relevant as an indivual.

Well, I seem to be all over with this blog, do let me know if u would like me to try or to explain any paritcular aspect of this project. I am off to plan my weeks menu and have my husband take some photos of my 1950's appliances.

Happy new year, Tomorrow is the first night of the 'new' Bob cummings show. I will let you know what I think of this new television program.

Ready for the new year

I have to come realize this blog I registered actually had belonged to someone else. I was also surprised to see that she was going to do the same thing I am going to do starting jan 1, that is live a year as a 1950's housewife.
I hope any who find me will stick around, as I see, poor thing, it kind of got to her after a while. I hope I can handle it, but we shall see. I really like her blog and hope I can make one as intersting for any of you who want to follow me along on my project.
It is a very busy time right now and I have to enjoy my 21st. century a little more. As, come Jan 1 it will be 1955. At least, I think that is a good time to start and then allow myself any new things to come up until 1960 as the year progresses. We shall see.
I hope u come back and check it out.
Thanks and merry christmas!