3 March 1957 “The Queen, Thinking of War Times, and Preparing for the Worse?”

On 13 October 1940 young Princess Elizabeth ( the Future Queen) and her young sister Princess Margaret Rose gave a speech on the wireless during Children’s Hour.
It is a very sweet little speech. And it is amazing that by then, in 1940, many of Briton’s children were being sent out of the danger zone of London and its environs to the safety of the English countryside, Europe and overseas.

Here they are three years later in their Girl Guides uniforms.

This year, 1957, the young princess is Queen. And this year is the very first of her now yearly Christmas Television Broadcasts. That media now becoming more commonplace in homes ‘across the pond’ while in America, it has been quite a part of our lives this passing decade.
It was filmed at Sandringham House in Norfolk. A bit early but still nice, none the less.  It demonstrates the vast change in her life and all of those of the time in under 20 years.

In her talk she mentions the import of ‘modern inventions’ but also warns of people ‘carelessly throwing away old and ageless ideals as if outdated machinery’.
This really has hit home with me and my thinking of this past month. I have been ever haunted by the modern times. They keep poking their head through the vale of my 1957 seclusion. Perhaps the very great changes happening in the past few months are greater than when I started two years ago. Or merely it is my own ever increasing asking and questioning and therefore daily study of how things were and how they are that has lead me to feel this way.
The latest issue of the increasing oil per barrel prices have leaked into my little 1957 Eden. I cannot ignore them and find myself wanting to find out where it might lead us.
I have also come to realize it matters little why we are there. War, Middle East unrest, failing or peaking oil, the ability to drill or not drill for MORE oil, it all really matters very little. Because those decisions are really out of our hands, you and I. And the endless debate as to ‘why’ it is happening or whom to blame seems less important than how do we, the little people, prepare.
I have begun to think more and more about the future. I may very easily,now, slip into a false past but will the increasing costs of food and all that is connected with oil allow me such lax pleasure? I don’t know. I do know that the more I consider what I might want or like to do to prepare FOR such a future as left me with a dichotomy of feeling: Both fear and Hope.
The fear of increasing oil leads to any endless horrid scenarios: Extreme food costs and shortages, the economy failing, Increased unemployment mingled with recession (or Stagflation as it is referred) and the list goes on.
The Hope, then, comes in what I begin to think of when I consider ‘solutions’. I begin to see the things one had to do once during the Depression and the war years. And to even go back further, to before the industrial revolution existed. And in its scary scenario I also see some wonderful outcomes: an increased need for community, the very NEED to grow and manufacture at home in a very small mile radius community. The joy and return to we as individuals within a group and a community, not merely numbers to be advertised to, to become Citizens and NOT Consumers.
Now, surely there could be no worry at all. Oil could drop back down to 40 dollars a barrel and we could go on and on as we are. But, there is a part of me that wonders, why does it MATTER if any of it is true or if we ARE headed for bad times. Because if the preparedness and the outcome of planning for such a future would  be, in many ways, an enjoyable life, why not just go for it anyway! Prepare for the worse but enjoy the good if you have it.
Much of what I have learned from the 1950’s over the past two years has already put me on that path. But lately I have been looking in my 1957 magazines with all the plastic glow and bright promise of things and it begins to feel rather weak or almost false.  I am striving for more war time ideas of gardening and food on a shortage and a budget. I am curious and hungry for Victorian farming (though industrial still very animal or steam powered). I don’t know. It has left me wondering if 1957 is going to make it to the end of this year, or if I need to go back further?
I think, over all, that if bleak and bad times are coming then preparing for them may only make me a better person and in some ways improve my life. If there are no real bad times, then will I really miss being more disconnected to what the modern world really is? I don’t know. I know having got rid of modern TV/mags/advertising has done so much good for me. Perhaps I should continue back with my eyes fixed on the ‘news’ of the day leaving the ‘entertainment’ of it behind as I have done.
What do any of you think? Not rather or not Bad times ARE coming, but rather or night it might be a good idea to prepare for them even if they don’t? Is that too odd of a concept in the modern, instantaneous, now me me world?

 

Can we change? Do we want to? Should we regardless of the futures outcome?

1 March 1957 “Cleaning the Bathroom and Tomato Seedlings”

With a continuation of the Daily Lists, I have included today the Bathroom as well as the bit on Halls and Stairs. I hope these help. And, as with any list, they are merely suggestions. One may not need to do all listed or possibly some may even do more. Whatever works for your schedule and time is the ‘perfect list’. I have found, though, that a list of any sort and a routine far outweighs not having one. You will find more time in your day by making a list and getting through it. It will also make the rest of your day almost feel more special somehow. An elation, of sorts, of your ‘free time’.

I have started some tomato seeds early this year. Two weeks ago I started these tomatoes. It is a bit early for some things, but tomatoes can take a good 8 weeks before they are transplanted.

I always like to try some new “old” varieties. This year Black Krim is what I have started. I am excited to try this variety as it says it has a “hint of smokiness”. I also like that it is said to be “Reliable and very productive” which is always a good trait in any plant.

Here are the little darlings as of today. I loved that these two were “holding hands”, as it were. There is something wonderful about those first few sprouts as they peak their little verdant leaves forth. Spring can be dreamed of, despite cold weather. Though, today, we have mid 40’s and sun. I shall be out this afternoon working on the yard a bit.

The chicks are now a month old and doing well with mother. I cannot believe I forgot to get a picture of their little downy heads peeking out from mum’s wings. But, I shall get some shots of them now with her. She is still happily caring for them, and if I make a loud unexpected noise, she clucks frantically and they race to her hiding under her.

I have never had a hen raise chicks yet, so this is all new to me. I haven’t any idea how long she will care for them before she merely sees them as her flock mates, at which point she will peck her way through them, so they know their place. I am hoping the rest of the flock will be more accepting of them, as they see them all the time, though protected by chicken wire from their inquisitive beaks.

It has been so lovely out today that I let the chickens out and they were so happy to be raking through the leaves and following me about. They are such a  joy to have around. I am lucky in their friendliness and my rooster is the friendliest I have ever had, such a darling and so proud of his ‘ladies’.

Well, I had hoped to reveal my finished kids book today, but I don’t want to share it until it is done exactly as I like it to be. So I am giving myself the rest of this week to really work on it. I shall, though, of course share it all with you.

Speaking of children’s books, this month (on the 12th) in 1957, Dr. Suess first book, “The Cat in the Hat” is published.

“Theodor Geisel, writing as Dr. Seuss, created The Cat in the Hat in response to the May 25, 1954 Life magazine article by John Hersey, titled "Why Do Students Bog Down on First R? A Local Committee Sheds Light on a National Problem: Reading."

The first “R” is of course, Reading in the big Three “R’s” (Reading, Righting, and ‘Rithmatic) obviously with that old saying, spelling was a consideration.

Since then, more than 11 million copies of The Cat in the Hat have been printed. It has been translated into more than 12 different languages.

I hope all have a lovely day and that you are getting excited about Spring (unless you are my Southern Hemisphere readers of course, then I suppose Autumn is on your mind).

Happy Homemaking.

26 February 1957 “Cleaning the Living Room, Biscuits and Scones”

In my last post I shared the basic list of daily/weekly cleaning from my 1947 America’s Housekeeping Book. It has a breakdown of the separate rooms in more detail so I shall share these with you over the next few posts, as many of you mentioned you would like to see them.

Today is the detailed Living Room lists, enjoy.

Today I wanted to make an easy ‘breakfast in bed’ for hubby and I. I am an early riser so on Hubby’s day off, I am always up with the dogs early and about my day. This morning, as I have much work to do still plugging away on my book, I thought I’d throw together an easy to eat in bed breakfast.

I made my simple biscuit recipe to make bacon egg breakfast sandwiches and fresh chocolate chip scones. Both easy to eat in bed as really no utensils are needed. I simply put some butter on top of the scones, poured out a thermos of coffee and brought it up on a tray. We really enjoyed it.

Hubby is always appreciative of such morning breakfast surprises. It works wonders for me, because then he is feed and can lounge about in bed with his coffee and books and I can get back to work in my little office. He says I spoil him, but I always remind him that my getting to be home while he has to deal with traffic and work certainly a fair trade. At least, I think so.

Here is my recipe:

50’s Gal Easy Biscuit/Scone recipe

2 cups flour

2tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

7 TBS butter or lard

[3 TBS sugar for scones, none for biscuit]

1/2 cup buttermilk (If you haven’t butter milk add 1 TBS vinegar to 1/2 cup milk let sit one minute)

1 egg

1 TBS cream

(To this add choc chips, fruit, candied ginger, whatever you like about 1/2 cup for ‘flavored’ scone. Leave plain for Biscuit)

Preheat oven to 425 F

Mix dry ingredients and then cut in butter/lard. A pasty cutter is helpful, if you haven’t one two knives work wonders. For the final mix I use my hands to quickly crumble. But do not play with pastry dough as the heat of your hands stops it from rising (This is oppositely true for breads). Those chunks of butter you see through the dough is what gives it a lovely rise. Add fruit/add ins now.

Make a well in the center and pour in your milk/egg mixture which you can mix together with a whisk. I prefer to mix the wet ingredients in a 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup, as it is easy to whip it then.

Roll out on a floured surface. I mostly push it into a circular shape and give a quick one or two rolls with the rolling pin, don’t overwork it. If you haven’t a biscuit cutter, an upturned glass works as does measuring cups. Then you can cut the the size you like. You can also roll out a circle and cut into pie shapes.

For Scones, brush top with cream and sprinkle with sugar, for biscuits, leave as is. Bake for 10 –12 minutes. You want them to look a little undone but just the hint of brown on top. Things continue to cook when removed from the oven.

Enjoy!

 

As I was making this batch to be both a savory biscuit as well as a sweet scone, I mixed it up without the sugar, rolled it out and cut two biscuits. Then returned to the bowl and added chocolate chips and sugar.

   Here is the lovely biscuit up close. You can see how nicely this recipes rises.Though this may not look that lovely, it tasted  like heaven. I like to crisp up the edges of the eggs for a sandwich like this. I cooked the bacon first and then cooked the mushrooms and egg in the bacon fat. It is wonderful this way and needs no condiments in my opinion. I did add cheese to the add as it was cooking to melt.  Here is the Chocolate Chip Scone result from the same batch. They are so good warm with clotted cream and jam. They also are lovely just as is and cold in hubby’s lunchbox.

The continued interest I find in these terms “Biscuit” “Scone” “Cookie” that differ for American’s and English always fascinate me. Obviously Biscuits in England are our cookies, so the idea of a bacon egg sandwich on a ‘biscuit’ must sound upsurd. Yet, our Biscuits are in every way simply a savory scone, or sans sugar.

I had begun to wonder if these were simply an American invention, but recently found out that during the Victorian times there was a from of unsweetened scone made and rolled out and cut (rather like store bought biscuits that you tear apart and break). I cannot find the article now, so I don’t recall what they are called. They were mainly used among the working classes as an easy bread to take along or serve with stews and such. This obviously are our biscuits and probably came over with the onslaught of Irish and English Immigrants during the Victorian time. And, for whatever reason, died out in England. At least I don’t think they are still used there, but any English reader can correct me.

Now, why do American’s call them Cookies? (Which I believe they use the term in Canada as well). Interestingly enough  the name derives from the Dutch word koekje or (informal) koekie which means little cake. The Dutch settled much of the New York and various New England areas here in America so there you go.

I believe a Scottish Cookie is somewhat more similar to our biscuit, but not quite exactly. Any Scottish followers want to chime in on this one?

I am always fascinated by the differences in terminology of the English languages in different nations. Theodore Roosevelt in his time as president around 1906 also had his hand in changing our American spelling by dropping “U” from words like Colour: Color. Prior to that American and English spelling was the same. He even had dictionaries change the spelling and there was a debate in congress over it. It was ruled against this change, but it was too late and here we are, with no HUMOUR only HUMOR.

I have noticed, however, that here in New England I often see English spellings used such as Theatre instead of the American Theater. Another interesting thing I see often is the ‘quaint’ spelling of Shop as “SHOPPEE” . This is often used on antique or old soda fountains. This is actually middle English, which could have been part of the vocabulary of the early British Settlers to Massachusetts in the 1600’s. It is all so very interesting, at least to me. But, I digress…

I am bound and determined to keep plugging away with my little book. I certainly knew it would be a lot of work, but I am so amazed at how much these past two years of my Homemakers career has influenced not only my style, but my ability to work. I can say without any doubt that prior to my sojourn to 1955 two years ago, I was colossally lazy, at least comparative to my present abilities. And certainly, if I can change, anyone can.

I could spend house watching TV or wasting time online. I could sit in cafe’s for hours and linger uselessly in my studio. Now I find a real joy and excitement in working. Though many days I face my little deadlines with dread, I always tell myself, “Well, just get started, achieve this much and then have your tea break”. This usually gives me the motivation to go forward. Then, of course, I have my home duties to attend, so that always lights a fire under me to ‘get to work’ as I will still have dinner to prepare and the various chores for that day depending on what that day is (Laundry day and so on).

I feel, even if my first attempt is rather amateurish or even seen as silly, I will feel I have made a step in the right direction. And then my next book in that vein can only improve, at least I hope so.

I hope all are having a great day and Happy Homemaking.

23 February 1957 “Housecleaning Blues”

This 1937 Betty Boop Cartoon is rather sweet. It also does a nice job of showing the sort of ideal of the middle class home of the 1937’s. The way the camera sweeps through it almost feels rather real.

One can see you scandalous Betty’s tight fitting skirt must have been at the time,when you consider it was only 20 years earlier women were still in corsets.

In many ways Grampy (whom you will see when you watch this little short) sort of represents the increase of the production of ‘home making machines’. The homemaker of 1937 had a much easier time of it than her 1907 counterpart. Though she may, being middle class, have been more likely to have a maid than her 57 compatriot, the Depression in America certainly aided the eventual end of household staff. As well did the continued automation of the chores of Homemaking.

Now, have a look.

Obviously none of us will admit today, “Oh, housecleaning is a breeze, no problem what so ever”. But, it is quite true that machines have helped us immensely. Add to that the modern feeling of guilt of the stigma of a ‘messy house’ seems almost not to exist. At one point, particularly in the 1950’s, one would not wish to be seen in an untidy home. Today, it seems, with both members of a couple and easily 10 times the amount of cheap and easily acquired and gifted toys for children, mess and clutter is the norm. And with that there are more of us with the clutter and less stigma attached.

For me, however,  the joy of no clutter and a clean home is worth the daily effort. There are many days I have no visitors and the house is mainly mine and I still want and try to make it clean for me. I also have no children, so that makes a HUGE difference. When I think of all the little things that must accumulate today for children. There are just SO MANY CHEAP toys and cutesy things that people just pick up or gift. Now, in 1930 you would have had limited amount of toys. If you were middle class your child would most likely have a few dolls, some blocks, some metal cars, a dollhouse and some hand me down toys. If you were poor, most likely your child had hand me down toys and whatever mother could make for you with scraps in the rag bag. This probably made housecleaning a bit easier, but then there were no dishwashers etc. However add to that fewer dishes as they were expensive.

One didn’t hop down to Ikea or Target and buy an entire set of dishes for a pittance like today.

SO, it really seems to me that by having more things less expensive: rather than having a similar life of ease of cleaning with the same amount of things we may have had in the 1930’s but with better machines to clean them. What happens is BECAUSE we have machines to clean them, why not have TONS of dishes? Washing machine easy to use and clothes are cheap:a tidy closet of enough items for a weeks wear without repeats and a few special dresses? NO: we have MORE clothes, piled high some not worn and more washing to do.

SO, I think in many ways one could make an argument for how much the machine has aided in lessening the time we use to clean. NOW of course the machine is better to have than hand washing, only sweeping and so on. BUT, here is the lesson. If we acted as if clothing was more expensive and that toys were a limited and dear item for our child, we COULD have less, enjoy it more, find it easier to care for and clean them up and live in less chaos and more organized cleanliness. This is sort of the reality that has set into me over the past few years.

It lead me to think that if hubby and I were to have a child, it would be hard for me with the toys. Many well meaning people would happily give things, as they are cheap and easy to get. But, I would probably hurt feelings, because I would want a rather limited amount for my child. I think too much is just a way to teach them to live in clutter and to have far too  many choices. There is also not as much imagination when every conceivable situation can just be played out in a plastic play edition of everything they see on TV. Another thing I would most likely not let my child even know existed until he was a bit older. This, of course, would probably be seen as child abuse. But, we have no working TV in our home, so that would just be the way it is.

By 1957 the homemaker now has an increased lure away from cleaning: the TV. By this time more daytime shows are showing up. In TV’s beginning time most shows were an evening event shared by the family. But, now we have ‘soap operas’ (so named as they were aimed at the homemaker and their sponsors were often cleaners and soaps). We also have the arrival of daytime game shows, such as the Price is Right. Here is a commercial break from that show this year 1957.

See how easy the cleaning can be when  you BUY this product?

So, here in 1957, I am much more likely to wash my clothes much as we do in the 21st century while my 30’s counterpart would still be using this. And while many rural women by 1957 would be more likely to have a washing machine, in the 1930’s she was most likely still washing much like her mother did in the 1900’s.

I would most certainly have a dishwasher at this stage in 1957 where my 30’s counterpart would not really have that option. I am also having the ability to get more dishes affordably. The very vintage dishes (Temporama) we now use as everyday dishes were in fact such a cheap dish. They were offered as a lure to come to a particular grocery store and each week they would offer a different piece so you could collect up the whole set. While not Ikea cheap, they certainly offered a chance for a homemaker to obtain a set of extra dishes at an affordable price.

So, I think the jury is still out on rather or not more and easier means better or less stressful. I know I am thankful for my dishwasher, washer/dryer, vacuum (my 1956 Kirby), and my electric sewing machine (My 1960 Singer Rocketeer).Yet, because of my project, I have been reducing my ‘stuff’ and it makes it easier to clean. Every year, this year especially, I am on the continual mission to remove all the unwanted and unneeded ‘stuff’ that often accumulates in a modern homemakers life. More is definitely not always better.

Do you feel that your modern conveniences are an aid to your life? How would your life and your family’s change if cheap clothes/toys/house wares didn’t exist and one had to save up for what we had? Do you think your cleaning would be easier or harder?

I will close with the daily cleaning checklist offered up in my America’s Housekeeping Book from 1947. The additional checklists I can include in another post if you are interested.

21 February 1957 “Kitchen Decor”

I just thought I would share this interesting ad for Kentile vinyl tiles.

  Here is a larger view you can see the commitment to the ‘outdoorsy’ look. The floor design has included the placement of pictorial tiles, here bunking broncos.

I like that they exterior siding that looks like a cross between Cedar shake and clapboard is used here. It gives a very indoor/outdoor look. The open grill which mother is cooking on while daughter watches continues the Barbeque indoors.

That tufted orange breakfast nook looks very inviting. And look how the drawers are part of the exterior siding look, so when closed they appear as a continuous outside wall.

The use of copper in the hood and the pans brings the warm hues of the breakfast nook. The yellow cafe curtains tie in the use of yellow in the tiles.

Sadly many of these early vinyl tiles included asbestos. So, I am not sure that they are dangerous unless you were to break them open and breath them? I wonder if they would still be safe to use if you had these already. Though, I am certain the 1980’s saw most of these floors into the dumpster and landfills.

What do you think of this color scheme and layout? It seems the concept of design was very theatrical in the 1950’s probably heavily influenced by the larger than life Technicolor sets in Hollywood films.

It seems Doris Day was always in some lovely buttercup kitchen or white and pink bedroom, doesn’t it?

19 February 1957 “The Lunchbox: White Collar or Blue? And Pic-Nic Anyone?”

Though many may have the image of the vintage metal lunch box as a ‘blue-collar’ tradition. Many a white collared middle class fellow subscribed to the ‘take it with you’ approach to lunch.

Even a President enjoyed a good lunchbox.

Here is hubby off to work with lunchbox.

 Here is his lunchbox closed up and read to go. And what lurks inside?

  A sandwich wrapped in waxed paper, tupperware full of homemade cookies and a thermos of fresh coffee. Often I pack another version of the previous nights dinner for him. It is actually rare for him to have a sandwich. Some of his co-workers can’t wait to see what he has packed. Once a co-worker was surprised by my having packed him cheese and crackers as a starter.

The amount we save on his taking lunch as opposed to his buying it is really immense. I would say it cost more that double, more like triple the amount to buy rather than take his packed lunch. And what style, I think!

This is another version of a lunch bag, though this would be more for picnics. I actually had this same set up, but later found a picnic basket I liked better so I sold it.

This lunchbox was fabricated by a working man. Read about it HERE on this flickr page. The loving father who made this also made a miniature version for his little daughter.

Of course, we often think of school children when we think of lunchboxes.

This barn lunch box from the 1950’s would have been my choice had I been a child then. I loved and adored all things  farm or agricultural as a child. And, in fact, I still do to this day.

Once the Industrial Revolution was well under way, taking lunch with you often became a necessity. In the mid to late 19th century, hampers or pails were used. Certainly, at that stage, a take along lunch was a sign of  the ‘working class’. Unless one had a lovely hamper attended by footman or other servants  for the upper classes, or the afternoon picnic of the middle classes , the need to ‘take it with you’ then was a matter of necessity.

Before actual lunch tins/boxes/pails were thought of as a manufactured product, young children often made over tobacco or cookie/biscuit tins.

In 1935, Geuder, Paeschke and Frey produced the first licensed character lunch box with Mickey Mouse. Though it had no sealed coffee/milk thermos, just a pull out tray.

It wasn’t until 1950 that the first official mass produced character  kid’s lunch box was made. “The Hopalong Cassidy lunch kit, or "Hoppy," quickly became Aladdin’s cash cow. Debuting in time for back-to-school 1950, it would go on to sell 600,000 units in its first year alone, each at a modest $2.39 USD.” That would make it roughly about $20 dollars in today’s money.

So Alladin, an American company, that still exists but is very much downsized today, was the major creater of metal character themed lunch boxes for children. That is until

“In 1971-72, a concerned group of parents decided that metal lunch boxes could actually be used as weapons in school-yard brawls. With petitions signed, they marched to the Florida State Legislature, and demanded safety legislation be passed. It eventually was passed, and other counties in Florida adopted this legislation, which eventually was accepted in other states.”

Though plastic was set to replace steel lunchboxes at some point, it was this legislation that helped bring the plastic forward. Despite this, however, metal lunchboxes were still made into the 1980s.

Recently (in the 21st century) most lunchboxes are more bags made out of vinyl with foam insulation. These, as are many things, are mass produced in China and in 2002 the Center for Environmental Health discovered that many popular vinyl lunch boxes contained dangerously high levels of lead.

The metal lunch pail also blossomed to replaced the usual wicker or wood picnic basket in the 1950’s. Many had the lovely plaids popular then. S0me even were printed to appear to be wicker like or wood grain.

Here is the checklist and picnic ideas from my General Foods Cookbook from the 1950’s.

Any way you slice it, or dice it for that matter, food on the go, made by you, just makes sense: both fiscal and flavor. If you are intimidated by bring you own, try just replacing one of your or a loved one’s eat out lunch a week with a packed one. And with so many fun vintage containers out there, some rather affordable, go in style.

Though there may be much to be said for the ease and speed of the modern world, I think style and flavor has a lot to be recommended. Give it a try, you might get hooked.

Happy Homemaking.