20 January 1956 “Come away with me, Lucille, in my Merry Oldsmobile”

The famous song of 1905 made that first statement that the auto had arrived and was to be ingrained into the culture, the very courting procedures, of the modern man. In fact, many treatise were written against the auto, as it now allowed young courting couples the ability to leave the drawing room with auntie overseeing their ‘courting’ to who knows what. And, without the fear and need of a pair of horses, a couple ‘going out for a drive’ could certainly lead to all sorts of ‘nefarious activity’. And, indeed, the young ladies of the last centuries turn were to know a freedom of which their mother’s could never conceive, as the lyrics tell us:

Verse 1

Young Johnny Steele has an Oldsmobile

He loves his dear little girl

She is the queen of his gas machine

She has his heart in a whirl

Now when they go for a spin, you know,

She tries to learn the auto, so

He lets her steer, while he gets her ear

And whispers soft and low...

Verse 2

They love to "spark" in the dark old park

As they go flying along

She says she knows why the motor goes

The "sparker" is awfully strong

Each day they "spoon" to the engine's tune

Their honeymoon will happen soon

He'll win Lucille with his Oldsmobile

And then he'll fondly croon...

Chorus

Come away with me, Lucille

In my merry Oldsmobile

Down the road of life we'll fly

Automobubbling, you and I

To the church we'll swiftly steal

Then our wedding bells will peal

You can go as far as you like with me

In my merry Oldsmobile.

Here is some early footage from 1909 and the famous song sung by Billy Murray:

A long way away from my day, here in 1956. Watch as Bing tells us the attributes of the modern car.

In one of my 1956 copies of The American Magazine, I found this rather interesting map. It shows how over 80% of what goes into our automobiles are produced here in this country with a breakdown of every state. Click on each picture to read it full size. Interesting stuff, indeed.

It’s an odd thing, the automobile. It is that old ‘two-edged sword’: it has given us a lot and equally cost us a lot. The ability to ship things quickly can be a boon, but did we not have the train? And, with the ‘truck farming’ of the post war years, did that not begin to lead to the eventual downfall of local farm? We didn’t NEED to rely on the farmers in our area. Yes, it made food cheaper overall, but at what cost to the majority of we the people? The cost to the environment and to the eventual misuse of the very animals we need to survive?

The speed to get one to the hospital, the ability to allow others to reach towns and schools. These seem obvious positives, and yet, with the age of the car firmly set decades past, we are probably the most physically unconnected we have ever been, though digitally we do well I suppose. And of course, as Lucille in the song knew, it gave us ample opportunity for ‘courting’.

I wonder the future of the car. I wonder at what we have given up for its convenience and of course to build up a few more ‘new moneyed’ families at the turn of the last century who, with their wealth and upgrade from their own class, only wanted to ‘buy their way into’ the old money world. The cheap affordable modet T for the common man put Ford and his heirs into the drawing rooms and families of the ‘old guard’ safely above the ‘common man’.

Imagine the world when cars did not exist, but we had the railroads. Transportation of goods and peoples was possible, yet the small towns and rural areas still depended upon their own neighbors.

I am not saying one way or the other: the car is good, the car is bad. The car, as it is, is merely an object devoid of any traits save what we have given it. But, how we have used it and where it has lead us? And in the strive for the wealth of those behind their production, the loss of jobs to our own country. Yet, even that coin has two sides. The unions in the beginning may have been asking for a ‘fair wage’ for their workers, but then in THEIR greed did they lead to so many benefits and such high wages that they helped to lead the way of overseas production? When was enough is enough for any of us. Do we, as humans, always follow the line of reason, “More more, I want and deserve more” and never, “Well, it is pretty good now, let’s maintain and grow with what we have?” I suppose, it is not human nature.

It all comes down, again, to personal responsibility and the simple act of just thinking and considering. If we can, we modern people, look about at what we do daily and the ‘tools’ we use and ask ourselves why? or Hmmm, what was it BEFORE this and what MAY COME AFTER? We might find ourselves making different choices, or in fact MAKING choices at all.

Yet, here snug in 1956 America, I can be happy for the car. I am sure after seeing this commercial, hubby would not deny me my own car for my committee meetings and such. After all, as the ad told me I was a ‘prisoner in my own home’ before.

Here in 1956 I can smile and look to the future knowing the following generations shall have it better than me. And, certainly, they shall make the right choices to allow ALL people to have a better life, right?

So, rather you are in 1956 or 2010, stop a moment during the day, and look at your ‘tools’. My Kirby vacuum, my modern electric range, my car, much faster and more comfortable than that old Model T I learned to drive in! The TV, why I can get news and have a show on in the evening to enjoy before they sign off air for the night. And look at those growing grocery stores! All that food, frozen for my convenience, and so many meals and desserts premade to give me more time for myself!

You there, in 2010, yes you! Look at the phone in your hand, the microwave at beck and call, the 2-3 cars in your drive, the TVs, computers, the iPod in your ears, entertainment for you, the machines that tell you where to drive and turn in your cars, the seats with their own video machines to keep little Johnny entertained while he is strapped in back there. Let’s all stop, just for a few minutes, and look around at our day. Are we better off? Is there a better or worse? Are we using our ‘better’ things the best way we can? And HOW will these ‘improvements’ help the future generations?

Have a lovely day, Apronites, and don’t forget to stop and think today. And remember the world before the ‘Merry Oldsmobile’.

18 January 1956 “Blue Suede Shoes, Baked Noodle and Cheese Casserole, and Desegregation”

On 1 January 1956, the song “Blue Suede Shoes” was released by Carl Perkins on the Sun Records label. Many consider Perkins the beginning or one of the leaders of the “Rockabilly” movement. Many today use the term ‘Rockabilly’ to denote a fashion sense that mixes 1950’s and modern urban sometimes incorporating tattoos and piercings as among its oeuvre. But, Rockabilly is, in fact, a genuine American Music Genre. Here is a description I found:

The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock (from rock 'n' roll) and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music (often called hillbilly music in the 1940s and 1950s) that contributed strongly to the style's development. Other important influences on rockabilly include western swing, boogie woogie, and rhythm and blues.

This form of music and dress has its own subculture today.

Here he is performing his 1956 hit:

It seems interesting to note that here, mid decade, we are beginning to see a pattern forming that will lead to our present day of such a varied list of musical styles. While, during the early 1900’s Ragtime (such as Scott Joplin) was really that first movement of ‘youth’ or ‘young peoples’ music that first made the older generation put their hand to their ears and suddenly a divide was born between what the young and old listened to.

Of course, not on the level of today, but there was a time, even in the 1950’s before Rock and Roll, where families might be at a dance together and all share in the joy of a similar kind of music.

Now various genres are beginning to form, rock and roll, rockabilly etc until today the varied ‘sections’ of music is almost staggering from Freak Folk, to Death metal. While hardly wanting to stimey nor restrict the creative act of new music styles and art, it seems the continual ‘separation’ of ‘what type of music you like’ just serves to further separate us into groups so we can know whom to hate and make it easier for the corporate world to sell to us. For example the Goth movement was a subculture which then became a marketing movement with such stores as Hot Topic. But, I digress. We shall always love and want music in our lives.

It is also important to state that here, in the early 20th century, the American movement of new music really begins to form and affect the whole world. Not until the “British” invasion of the 1960’s is there really a contender for the American style of popular music.

But, you can see how this early Joplin piece moves into the 1920’s Jazz then the 30’s Boogie Boogie and 1940’s Big band, and into 1950’s Rock and Roll.

Now, I thought I would throw in a fun recipe for Baked Noodle and Cheese Casserole. This recipe is even MORE homemade and fun if you make your own egg noodles, but of course you do not have to. But, let me tell you, once you make your own noodles you will DEFINITELY have an ‘ah-ha’ moment.

I recieved, as a gift from dear hubby (at my request of course) a hand crank pasta machine. I had wanted to ‘unravel’ the mystery of pasta. It can be eaten and used so many ways, I had dreams of various flavored pasta mixed with herbs and what have you. And, I have tried many varieties and even dried my own for ‘spaghetti’ type italian dishes. However, the indespensible egg noodle is such a versatile creature and is so yummy in homemade soups and casserroles.

Now, ladies, here is how EASY egg noodles are. You can take this recipe and double it as needed to feed more people. This is usally enough for me to do a hearty large pot of soup or I would double it for the following recipe.

You take one cup flour in a bowl. Now make a little hole in the center of the flour ( I always think of it as a little volcano!) next, take one egg and be careful to break the egg fairly evenly in half, and I will tell you why next. So you broke the egg into the flour volcano hole, now take half of your broken egg and fill it with milk (see you don’t have to dirty another measuring cup!) and drop that in the volcano. Now, with a fork, swirl that around in the flour volcano hole until it is blended and then start mixing it with the flour. It should eventually ‘chase itself around’ the bowl, as you do with other doughs. That is it!

Now, as I have a pasta machine, I make three little balls, roll it through the ‘smoothing’ side a few times to get it as thin as I like and then run it through the pasta side, and ta-dah! If you were making soup, you would already have your stock boiling and about an half an hour on a low boil will cook them up lovely.

Now, no pasta machine? No worry! Just roll it out like biscuit dough, get out your trusty pizza cutter ( I know you must have one!) and viola, cut the noodles to your hearts content. Sometimes the uneven quality makes them even prettier, I think.

So, see how that is it: flour, egg, milk mix and noodles. You can add spices to this dough, dried cheese whatever your little heart desires.

Now for the casserole recipe:

1 package (12 oz.) wide egg noodles (or make your own, gals!)

2 cups cottage cheese, large curd

3 cups sour cream

1 clove garlic, minced

6 TBS grated onion

1 TBS chopped pimento (the pimento was THE ingredient in 1950’s cooking. They could not use it enough as garnish, filling, or ingredient! The packaging today, as it happens, is still very similar the 1950’s. They even made Pimento spreads you could buy. See picture below.)

1/4 tsp Tabasco sauce

1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce (please don’t call this War-sest-er-shy-err. It offends our New England ears. It is Wor-shis-ter sauce as Worcester Massachusetts is ‘Wooster” Massachusetts.)

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese.

Cook noodles until tender in large amount of boiling salted water. (if homemade noodles about 1/2 an hour girls)Drain. Combine drained noodles, cottage cheese, sour cream, garlic, and seasonings. Turn into buttered 2-quart casserole and sprinkle grated cheese over the top. Bake in moderate oven (375 F) for 25 minutes or until heated thoroughly. Makes 12 servings (that is 1955 servings, most likely 6 modern servings.)

So, let me know if you like this recipe.

Now, as today (in 2010) is MLK day, I thought I would mention the race struggle. In my 1956 copy of American Magazine there is an article entitled, “School Crisis in Dixie” about the impending desegregation to take place in the south come this September (1956).

Again, many people seem to think the race issue was not around until 1960’s but in fact, as you might have seen in one of my earlier posts, as early as the 1940’s the issue was being addressed by the government.

And on 17 May 1954, the court declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional and all state segregation laws null and void. Then on 31 May 1955, the same court, without setting a specific deadline date, ruled that the states must act in ‘good faith’ in making prompt and reasonable start in putting desegregation into effect. This coming September (1956) is when many things will occur.

Here, again, I find that pivotal point in 1950’s when we were faced with a problem that has become a part of our modern world, that had the majority of reasonable people stood up, such a different path could have been taken. Yet, we let, as is our case usually, the loudest wheels speak for us and the 'whites’ soon became seen to be all racist idiots who cared little for anyone but themselves. I believe we really suffer, to this day, for out stepping aside in this manner.

Yet, one cannot go back and rewrite the past, but we can learn from our past mistakes. I hope when we see the outcome of the rational people keeping their voice silent we often are left looking the fool in the end. This is, again, the case today concerning such things as the MONSANTO corp. and their ilk. I hope our grandchildren will not look back upon us, while they sit in their world controlled by 2-3 corporations who hold the patent on the very cell structure of humankind, all plants and animals, and wonder, “Why did they do nothing?”

This video is an interesting compilation of the boycotts happening in 1955-56. It finishes up in 63 with MLK, which I thought appropriate today.

It does show our country, since it’s very beginning, has been hard won and hard fought. There are things that we, as most countries have to contend with as well, were not ‘fair’ to others. The misuse of the Native American,Slavery, the fight against the British for unfair taxation when we were just a fledgling colony.

+Yet, in all of the hate, war, and mistrust we are all still individuals. And, if we can only just see ourselves and then others as individual people with feelings, mothers and fathers, as brothers and sisters, then perhaps we can come to judge and treat one another with the shared respect of humanity not race, creed, class. I DO think we have come a long way. And I also think that we need now, more than ever, to have the reasonable people, those of us who would not have shouted in protest AGAINST equality or fair treatment, to finally raise our voice and let the world know that not only the severe people, the ‘squeaky wheel’ with their ill-mannered hate speak for the majority. It is ALL OUR country and I hope we can stand up, not only to ignorance but also to our own inability to think we cannot stop the march forward of the corporation or the buy out of our own government by the corporation. It is, truly all our country now, but for how long.

In the words of MLK, “Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.”

And, in a quote that seems pertinent to we homemakers, “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”

17 January 1956 “Am I a Working Girl Now or a Committee Woman? Welcome to our HOME TOWN!”

I have, of late, begun to wonder: am I a working girl in 1956 or is it that I now am so busy with my ‘committee work’?

What really got me thinking about this, was one of our dear reader’s comments:

It seems your role in the 50’s project has changed. Originally, I found your blog entries to be a running journal highlighting how your 1955 self made her way through the day to day life of a 1950’s homemaker. With the creation of your new website (Which is Really Swell!), I think you have become more of a “Working girl” in a Mid-Century context. I see you becoming more of a columnist a kin to Julia Child, Emily Post, or even at times “Dear Abby”. Providing us, your readers, with reflections, how-to’s and advise. I think that in a 50’s context you would be spending part of your time working at your typewriter (computer) providing your daily article for the newspaper (your website and Blog). I guess one of the advantages is that you don’t have an editor breathing down your neck or “revising” your column. keep up the good work!

So, I began to think, in the context of 1956 (which quite honestly is where I seem to be spending most of my time!) would I be a childless homemaker that would, indeed, be doing some secretarial work part time? Of course, I am not actually getting paid and I do not have to leave the house for this work.

While I would love to think myself akin to Julia Child, Emily Post, or “Dear Abby”, it is true I have no ‘editors’(though I sorely need them, I am sure!).

That got me thinking about a woman such as me, at my age, childless, firmly in the middle class in 1956. I most likely would be very ‘busy’ with committee work. Without a child to care for and my house under control (thanks to that entire year in 1955! Though it would have actually been an overall part of my education through my life, but I digress)I would most likely be very busy with unpaid committee work. So, my ramblings here at my ‘typewriter’, even my new site could very will be a ‘newsletter’ for the club or committees upon which I would most definitely sit.

I had wanted this year (1956) to be about community. I had originally seen that as going out into my own community and joining the historical society, garden club, etc (which may still happen) but now I see I am expanding on the community of the digital.

This has made me look again at my project. Though I have started with the premise that I could travel between 1956 and 2010, I have to say my little sojourns into the modern world instantly leave me feeling empty, sad, and rather depressed. No wonder Prozac was invented! And, yes, I know my 1956 is not REALLY 1956, but it is a world where the TV and modern ‘news’ does not exist. Modern books and magazines also are not around and my wardrobe, chores and concerns are rather 1956. Even my study and research, daily, for the site and blog is obviously 1956 and earlier.

One of the reasons I had wanted to include my ‘time machine’ scenario in this year’s project was so that I could see and hopefully show you that we can cherry pick the good from the past and make a better present and therefore affect the future. And, for all intents and purposes, I shall like to use the compare contrast of the two decades to help make points of change and awareness of what is happening in our modern world, but quite honestly 1956 is so much more comfortable.

This lead me to think again about Tasha Tudor. ( I know, I am really taking you down a road, but bear with me I do arrive somewhere.) She, disillusioned by her own time, chose to live in the 1840s, the early Victorian really pre-industrial world. She even had children and I don’t know if that was selfish of her. But, she did it. However, did it keep her from experiencing a true whole life? I don’t know. I don’t think so.

However, when she was living this way it was actually the 1950’s. It was probably easier to ‘disconnect’ yourself from the modern world then. For, you merely unplugged the phone, did not buy a refrigerator, and no TV and suddenly you were antiquated. Today, even for me to merely travel to 1955, there are so many things, microwaves, cell phones, computers (which I obviously did not do without!) endless TV channels, so much connected ‘plugged in’ media, it is not as simple a process. If Tasha Tudor went to the local market (which she would have had, we do not and really only have chains) she would not see people walking about with phones in their ears, iPod ear buds, blue tooth etc.

So, do I want to unplug myself? Not entirely, as I want to be a part of all of your lives (as long as you want me to be, that is) and to grow my site, which in all honesty is really just this blog expanded into a community with all the layers of living of which I can think. Yet, I don’t want to be OF the modern world. That is to say, I don’t want to watch modern TV. I have tried the first week to see what I could see to discuss here, but I just couldn’t do it. For selfish reasons it made me ill and sad. So, it is literally disconnected. Modern news: I just heard of the Haiti disaster and then hubby told me how all the people and organizations that are donating to help mostly are doing it digitally, obviously, so all those credit card/debit card transactions on line to aid them are giving a HUGE profit to the credit card companies. They could waive the fees in lieu of helping Haiti as well, but why, no one bothers to really understand how the economy or the world works, so they just sit back and take in more profits at the loss of others! (As a former business owner, not sure if any of you know this, but when someone buys something from you with a credit card , visa and MasterCard take a percentage of every sale from the business and American express takes an even higher percentage. So the small business is hurt even more by this as every thing he sells a percentage of it right away goes to the company from your money. Yet large corporations, such as Wal-Mart, have the clout to have almost no percentages and sometimes none, so as to be included in the corporate growth. Another way the middle class and new business is hurt by the corporate sector! So using cash makes another statement that you are HELPING the small business man to keep all the profit from the product and not just give a percentage away to a credit card company. That, in itself, is an entire post!)

Well, back to my original point: I don’t know where I fit, really. I want to stay in 1950’s. In fact, I may continue to make this year more about 1956 with the news and things I am learning, but by adding the ‘extra’ committee work of my website. And really, then it is as if all of you are a part of  my ‘club meetings’ that I am making the newsletter (website) for, or you are my local towns people who are reading my articles (blog) in the daily local newspaper.

That is when I start to feel better. As if, amongst the chaos and overt evil (for I know not how else to describe it!)of the world, to think in some way I am living in my own version of 1950’s with all of you in my ‘digital home town’ where we can meet for coffee, you can read my ramblings in the ‘local paper’ and we can discuss important issues as well as beauty tips and decorating and everything under the sun at our ‘club meetings’ (the website with its forum and now comments on each page so we can share and discuss the subject matter in it instead of it just being a dead page of information.)

This, too, makes me again feel I have some control over my life. I cannot stop Monsanto from owning seeds and living cell structures, nor stopping them from creating ‘Terminator Seeds’ that destroy themselves after the first harvest so local farmers cannot harvest their own seed but MUST buy seed again from them. I cannot walk in front of the construction of yet another Wal-Mart nor stop the hoards as they mindlessly flock to buy plastic cups emblazoned with WWF images or groceries and products that they don’t care why they are so cheap. I cannot go to the corporations that don’t care that they pay third world children 3 cents a shirt, as they work 17 hour days sewing logos of Football teams Or print Britney Spears logos across them. I cannot go down to the headquarters of FOX news and ask them how they can look at the world every day and lie and contort the truth for their own pockets while they watch their own country slowly evolve into one large corporate run dictator ship.

I am but one small little homemaker, here in a small town USA trying to keep her home clean and neat, make her family and friends happy and in the bargain myself. But, if I can, through my small efforts, make a place-this imaginary digital HOME TOWN that we can, all of us, belong to-then I feel like that is a valid life. That is a way to feel I am plugged into the world and yet not only selfishly  fulfilling my own needs to hide away in a time that protects me from the misery of my own present. It can be a way to find solace and comfort in the words and love and communication with all of you dear things in our HOME TOWN here, and know that we are, at least amongst ourselves, keeping some of the truth and beauty of simple life alive. And even if we only influence one or two young people, if they can continue on, as long as the world is free enough to voice our opinion and choose what we buy and how we live, then our little Revolution can live on. And that, I feel ,is a good project indeed.

So, I hope you all are happy enough to continue to follow me along into this crazy journey. I love what we have built thus far and know we can do more. It can be, really, a safe place for all of us to escape to. And, you never know, you may one day look around and see the TV is no longer there, the house is clean and de-cluttered, your family is happily chatting about happy things whilst eating your meal at the dining room table. And you will know, yes, this is life. This is joy and happiness. This is why it is important that I teach my children and care about the world I live in. And the silliness of the newest and latest clothes, what is going to be on the new ‘Fall Schedule’ on TV, and the latest celebrity or reality scandal is will seem a silly dream from which you have awoke.

  So, welcome to our TOWN and I hope you get a chance to stop by our committee meetings sometimes, or catch my ‘article’ in the local paper, or just stop by for a chat or drop a line. I am proud and happy, no matter what the date on the calendar says, to be amongst you all in this great town of ours.

14 January 1956/2010 “Cleaning Then and Now. Recipes. Hairdo”

I thought I would start today’s blog with a follow up question a fellow “Apronite” had. I think the answer would be good to do here on the blog.

Hi again 50s gal;
Just thought too - would you mind writing about the differences you see in the 1950s and now days re cleaning and cooking routines? I mean how different is it in both eras, what do you see as the advantages/disadvantages if any?
I don't want to give you more work so write what ever you think is suitable.
Thanks again!!
Mags

The actual amount of cleaning products were not available as they are now. It was, in fact, that the 1950’s post war America was the place where all the new gadgets and products were becoming available. All with the idea to free up the homemaker. But, in time, we can see that they are merely meant to make money for the seller and an unfortunate side affect is our inability to do without them.

I have come to find out that as a woman of my age in 1955, I would have learned to do without in the Depression and the war years, so many of my ‘homemade’ remedies would have been simply a part of my life. Now, as our income increased or my distaste for this or that chore, I may have begun to try the various products, but there were no where near as many as we have today. What is really sad is most of those products are simply the same thing relabeled several times to sell more and almost 90% water. That affect on the environment is immense and that is why I laugh when the come out with ‘green cleaning products’. The most green thing one could do would be to buy a few simple base concentrates and mix them up in a reusable container. I cannot see how simply producing MORE packaging to sell more chemicals good for the environment. But, another aspect of our modern world, which really got its foothold in the 50’s on Madison Avenue, was advertising! There is a need or we make a need, fill it, splash it all over the internet/TV/what have you and then we must buy it.

I remember when I first discovered Pin Sol in concentrate form there on the very bottom of the shelf in the cleaning aisle. I found out that the pine in it is a naturally occurring agent that disinfects. And that the modern version, in lemon, not concentrated in a spray bottle had the pine removed as customers did not like the smell! So , of course, I have the concentrate and one bottle was less than a smaller bottle premixed that would last maybe a month. I simply mix the strength I need for the job at hand in either a bucket or a spray bottle (followers of my blog will remember that I even make my own labels for ‘my’ products) and it’s cheaper, more effective and MUCH MORE GREEN. (on the website I am building a page of Homemade Vintage products from house cleaning to face lotions)

I also recall coming to realize on my own (though it was there in the manuals at the time for me to see) something as simple as: soon as the dishes and cutlery are cleared from the table, immediately soak or scrub any food left before it dries. Simple enough, I am sure, but to a modern girl like me, tossing them in the sink and then ‘getting to them’ was the normal practice.

In the beginning of 1955 I was not lucky enough to have a dishwasher. I did indeed have one in my kitchen, but it got covered over with a little gingham curtain until Valentine’s day when my hubby ‘gave me’ the gift of one. We felt, at such a time, such a new appliance (and yet many did have them by 1955) would have been available to a middle class family such as ours was.

So, before that occurrence, to arrive at the realization of immediately soaking and attacking the food gunk was even more providential. Even now, I will sometimes pile the dirty dishes and think, “Well, I do need to do this or that” and then stop myself and at least have the where with all to set them to soak in hot soapy water. It makes the later chore much easier.

I think that is also one of the main differences, at least for me, that I found to compare 1955 with today:Forethought and Prep work. The modern me was always ‘chasing’ the chores and rushing about last minute to get them done. Today, thanks to 1955, my routine allows me to feel there is more time in the day, because upkeep and forethought makes a lighter load of the housework.

But, where should I have learned such? Exactly, most modern people learn or are exposed to much in the way of running and planning a home/budget/savings. We are thrust out into the world willy-nilly with advanced abilities to use technology but unable to operate a toaster or do our own laundry. Some how the ‘idea’ for modern man was to free him of such burden, to level the playing field with the wealthy. Well, we cannot afford a staff nor to eat out and have dry clean all the time, so we are left to stumble about in our false sense of privilege in dirty homes, piled with far too many cheap items but to satisfy our shopping needs, I mean it is not as if during our FREE time we have to do any cleaning, right?

I think the tools of the trade, too, are probably more well made from the 1950s. I purchased a 1950s Kirby Vacuum cleaner for my project, and it has not left me. (this is not my actual kirby but it looks just like it. This is one now currently for sale on ebay and if anyone is interested here is the link ) It is so solid, my husband calls it the Jet. It certainly can take a beating. AND it does not have throw away bags, instead the dirt collects into a metal receptacle you empty and the interior cloth bag is machine washable! It has an attachment for everything from sharpening knives, to spray painting, to foaming your furniture! This tool has lasted since the actual 1950s. Even a modern plastic DYSON, I defy to be operable in 50 years. Of course, by then, we shall all have new Roomba’s and more time to not clean so there you go.

A reliable broom. A good sturdy cotton mop that can be removed and laundered. Homemade dusters of old towels or cheesecloth with lemon oil (also very cheap and nicer for dusting. No aerosol spray nor bad chemicals and a 5 dollar bottle will probably last your life! You can will it to your daughter!) A nice little metal or wooden caddy or bucket filled with these tools and a stiff brush etc that can be carried about is such an easy way to attack the housework and you can’t get any greener than buying something vintage that has already been made and then taking care of it so it need not be replaced. Plus, older items tend to have more style. I wouldn’t mind my old white enameled bucket and wooden handled mop to be seen in the corner of my kitchen, but the ugly plastic of a Swiffer mop or one of those silly spray versions look so wretched.

There seems to be a reason we are inherently drawn to old things, even old practical things such as cleaning tools and buckets. But, don’t stick flowers in them or hang them on the wall, use them for their intended purpose! Fill them with soapy sudsy water, get a new cotton mop head for that old cute wooden handled mop and get to scrubbing. And PLAN your week out and you won’t be rushing around.

I think that seems to be a major difference between the past and now. PLANNING. It seems no one has any idea at all how to plan anything. Their lives, their finances, anything, it is all willy nilly run about last minute for the modern person. But, if one lesson could be taught on just making a list, looking at your life a week then a month then a year at a time, so much more could be spent in enjoying it. Because the drudgery is put in its place on the list in your day where it belongs and then you will find you live in a clean organized home with free time. Now, don’t waste it watching TV, do something fun: learn to knit, go boating with your child, something!

Well, you know me, I could just go on and on like this forever, but I shall not. My main point is, for what I have discovered for myself, the past was far superior in prep and organized ways of cleaning as compared to today. The tools were fewer, but far superior and therefore can still be got today for less money and more satisfaction. The overall look of items used were prettier and therefore more enjoyable to use and display. I find it funny how many magazines and books there are on this way or that secret to a clean orderly organized life! As if it is some great secret that we must pay to have the privilege to obtain. Silly. First of all, get out of the bookstore, stop throwing your money away on magazines and books and things and get home and get to work. Donate and throw out what you don’t need. Clean and maintain what you do have.  There is no secret only it is hard work, but if organized, can actually be enjoyable or at least satisfying. I don’t want to sound harsh or glib, but I was a very lazy modern person and I wanted to have excuses and secret solutions, but when it came right down to it, I just had to organize my thoughts and life and grow up.  Just planning and most vintage homemaking manuals will give very good lists of what is needed to make a proper cleaning arsenal. I shall, in time, have such a list on the website and if you care to look at it, I will tell you when I upload it. (My I do sound the Pert little Miss, don’t I. Do forgive, but it honestly is true. I still falter and find myself maybe not getting it all done in the day, but having things prioritized makes a more forgiving schedule and makes one feel less ‘rushed about’.)

Now, for some recipes and cooking. I will also be listing these recipes on the website as well.

The other day we had friends from out of town and I decided to make some things from my Cordon Bleu French cookbook. I have this listed on the BOOKS pages of the website and I even have a link for one I found for sale for 5 dollars, so first one to get it wins, I suppose.

Now, I made as a starter salad:

Tomato and Dill Salad

5 skinned tomatoes

sugar

2 tbs chopped fresh dill (these little bunches will keep for a few weeks if kept in clean water in a cool place. I have mine on my window sill in my kitchen, which is a very cold spot indeed!)

1 egg yolk

salt

cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp dry mustard

grated rind 1 lemon

1 crushed clove garlic

1/2 cup oil (I used olive)

3tbs cream

1 stiffly beaten egg white

Cut tomatoes in thick slices, sprinkle with a very little sugar, let stand for a few minutes and add chopped dill. Pour over the following dressing:

Put into a bowl 1 egg yolk, salt, cayenne pepper, mustard, chili pepper, grated rind of lemon and garlic. Mix well and add oil slowly. Then min in cream, salt and beaten egg white. Mix lightly with tomatoes and serve.

POMMES DE TERRE MOUSSELINE (Potatoes Mousseline)

This is basically a form of mashed potato, but the egg gives it a nice finish.

2 pounds potatoes

2 egg yolks

2tbs butter

salt and pepper

1/2 cup hot milk.

Peel the potatoes and cut in half. Put in a pan of cold water with plenty of sale and bring to a boil. Simmer until soft, strain and return to the pan. Dry well over the fire. Rub through a fine strainer. Beat in thoroughly the egg yolks, butter, salt, pepper, and milk. The mixture should be of a fairly soft consistency.

I also made a wonderful Banana cake the other day. I had some ripe bananas in my fridge that had been begging to be baked up. I adore the smell and the kitchen was alive with the fragrance of cooking bananas. I mixed in maple syrup and the marriage was intoxicating. I think I might need a slice after writing this, as I have got myself so worked up over it! You can see, it is simply a single layer and rather sloppily iced, but I rather like the decadent look of it and it tastes wonderful.

BANANA NUT CAKE

  1/2 c. butter 
  1 1/2 c. sugar 
  4 tbsp. sour milk

1 tsp. soda 
Pinch of salt 
1 tsp. baking powder 
1 3/4 c. flour 
2 eggs, beaten separately 
1 c. ripe bananas 
1 c. chopped pecans

1/4 cup maple syrup

Cream butter and sugar. Sift flour, salt and baking powder. Add soda to milk. Add bananas and egg yolks to butter and sugar mixture. Add beaten egg whites and 1 cup nuts, rolled in flour. Pour into greased and floured cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. (Now, I did not whip the egg whites separately, as I forgot, and I noticed no difference in the cake.) I baked this in a spring form pan, that I use for my cheesecake, and then cooked it a little longer. I find a more moist cake from using such a pan. And my hubby raved over the moistness of it!

FROSTING FOR BANANA NUT CAKE: (This was a wonderful frosting and I will use it again. It would also be nice on a carrot cake I think)

   1/2 c. butter 
   1 egg 
   2 tbsp. cream 
   1 tsp. vanilla 
   2 tbsp. corn syrup 
   2 3/4 c. powdered sugar 
  1/4 tsp. salt

In mixing bowl, combine sugar, salt, egg, cream and vanilla. Beat till creamy. Add more milk if too thick. Frost between layers, top and sides.( I used only one layer, though, in my spring form and then frost the top and sides and sprinkle with walnuts.)

I also realize I have not shown my new haircut. Though I have had my hair like this for sometime. It is quite easy to set and care for now that it is shorter. I am afraid the picture is not very flattering, but it is for the hair that I wanted you to see it.

Oh, and I thought I would show my latest cartoon as well.(click on it to read)

13 January 1956/2010 “Busy Day”

This has been me the past few days.

As we finally have a proper internet connection, I have spent my non-housework/cooking time on the computer writing and uploading content for the website.

I don’t want to make excuses, but I spent quite a lot of time answering an Advice question on Scheduling and I have that posted to the website.

I also did quite a bit on the FASHION page of the website as a pictorial guide for we Vintage Ladies to use as a reference to build our own wardrobes, or just for fun! So, check that out.

I have started a Books link/page as well, where we can suggest books on the home, cooking, fiction, etc.

I am going to be doing more on the Vintage Lifestyle Lessons this week as well as some fun content on What Grandmother Knew.

So, I don’t want my blog to be an only a ‘what’s happening on the website’, but I have spend SO much time on it today, that I felt just a quick referral to it would be alright.

I think my next blog post will be another practical/cooking post.

I hope all of you are fine and happy and keeping up our little Revolution.

Until tomorrow the, or unless I see you on the Forums if I get a chance later tonight.

11 January 1956/2010 "Our Own Time Machines"

I was thinking of late, how I have begun to ‘return to the present’ while still holding very firmly to my past victories of 1955. And, in the last two posts, I touched on how that really one can use the modern world rather than be used by it. So, this has brought me to consider how we all, those who care to at least, have a sort of ‘time machine’ power in us. That is to say, we ‘vintage gals’, rather it be the love of old fashion, housework, the general feeling of community, have it in us to ‘time travel’ ourselves and our family to whatever decade and to whatever depth we choose.

The past, luckily for us, is right there for the taking. Unlike the present and the future, there is a certainty about it. It has gone by and been recorded. Surely, there are varying degrees of opinion on the accuracy of that record, but we can touch it, in a way, if you will. Old magazines, though hardly a true example of the average family (any more than our own modern magazines are!) at least show the level to which a homemaker or family aspired. It can be a sort of physical compass to give us something to shoot for.

We also have history books, fiction and non-fiction books and of course movies and early TV. With these sources at our disposal, add to that the growing information on the internet (to which I hope in time the Website will be a contributing factor, for I really want to get my ‘view’ in to counter all the ‘poodle skirt, Elvis, James Dean nonsense’). So, we have such a plethora of ‘fuel’ to run our Time Machines. We, then, have only to decide how far, how much, and to what extant will Vintage play in my life and that of my family?

As the end of 1955 approached I actually felt a little apprehension, as if when it was over I was somehow to be re-transformed into my uggs/shopping/take out modern girl I had once been. That is ridiculous, of course, because that person was no more the absolute me than was the 1955 me, yet what I admired about the 1955 me (if I may toot my own horn) was all I had learned and my desire, nay NEED to learn and do more. Did that stop when the Ball dropped and 2010 sprang forth? No! Here I am, writing this on my computer but sitting in my dress made by my hand, girdles and hosed, hair short, curled my every outward appearance more 1956 than 2010. This is the very reason I AM excited about this year.

Last year I wanted to get away from a present I began to loathe, to return to a time of manners and fashion and overall beauty that I longed for. Now, I realize, I haven’t any need to physically leave, for I can my my 2010 whatever I choose it to be. Perhaps, even in time, my wardrobe will begin to have more 1940 or 30’s outfits mixed in, it really is up to me (though I like the frugality and solidity of sticking with a decade in that realm, but more of that later on the website.)

I recently watched this film made in 1960. It was one of the first ‘modern’ films I have watched in awhile. Rather than it seeming silly in its special affects, it looked rather good coming form 1955. What I found particularly pertinent, is in this production of the film, at one point the main character, after having traveled to see WWI and WWII and the in 1966 (which had not happened at the making of this film) WWIII that ended the earth in nuclear destruction, he finds himself 10,000 years into the future. As he discovers the humans of that time (which luckily for him speak perfect English) are mindless children who eat and laze about all day. They have no concern for the future or one another only to eat, play and lounge about. He is disgusted by them and shouts that he would rather “die among the real men of his own time” who had the passions and proof of their convictions. I felt such a kindred spirit with him at that moment, for the young blond lazy future humans cared for little and had forgot about books and civilization. But, as we learn they are merely a part of the human race that stayed ‘up top’ after the destruction of the earth and were now being breed like cattle for the monstrous other version of humanity that had formed below the earth. He soon leads these humans to revolt and later returns to help them rebuild civilization.

These two worlds in this film were made up of the Eloi up top (or those closest to we modern humans) and the Morlocks, down below who controlled the Eloi. I saw a definite similarity in these two worlds to ours. We, the eloi, being groomed and prepared so when the siren calls us, as it does in the movie,(you should really rent it and watch it) the eloi (humans) stand and mindless walk towards the building run by the Morlocks. I thought, “Wow, the morlocks are the corporate run world of mass consumption and there we all are, we Eloi, wandering to our own demise smiling and empty headed to the mall”

I can’t tell you how akin I felt to the character in this movie. How, at first my growing disgust with our modern world turned to the hope and joy that we can REBUILD and remake a new way of living. To care again for individuals minds and intellect to choose to care for one another before ourselves and then with ourselves care enough to be mindful of our economy and to make our daily life special and wonderful not just endless tv watching, struggling at hateful jobs to lose ourselves in sloppy comfort clothes as we cram tasteless frozen food into our mouths waiting for our lives to end. To be finally driven, like cattle, from our peace and tranquility of our own homes to the consumerist world of the Morlock. Let’s stand up and not allow ourselves to be lead by the ‘siren of the instant gratification and the mall and consumer easy world’. Let’s take time to work harder but in the end be prettily dressed, smiling in clean organized homes eating fine meals with our happy families talking, reading, and being a part of our world. Don’t settle for a reality made up by the Morlocks where we wander aimless waiting for the siren to call us.

I am planning, on the website, to go more into depth about how we CAN begin to learn Vintage Lessons that we can apply to our daily life. So, check out the site periodically, as I am really attempting to upload more content as fast and best as I can. Thank you for bearing with me in that. The website has become, as I said before, a second home with its own to-do lists and allotted time in my day.

ADDENDUM to post: I don't want anyone to misunderstand my intent. I am really, for all intents and purposes, still very much in 1956, only I like and think it important to the 'revolution' that I take little sojurns into 2010 to help and make a new vintage possible for all of us. I hope that makes sense to any of you and fear not, I am not going to stop dressing vintage, nor stop cooking and cleaning and in fact am probably going to have even more skills in that realm by the end of this year. So, for those of you who like me to stay in the 1950's believe you me I am, only I want to peek out now and again so those of you who cannot travel back with me, might be able to introduce bits and bobs of 1950s into your own life.

9 January 1956/2010 “the siren song of technology; Who owns Whom?”

 

We had some interesting comments on my last post about technology and so I thought we could discuss it more today. We certainly live in a time where our day to day lives cannot really be untouched by it. The very fact I am able to sit here in my little corner of the world typing away and editing pictures for you to see and discuss, is part of that technology. But, what I think my fear is letting it get the better of us.

If we are wise, we will take the technology that is smart and makes sense and use it as a tool .It should have it’s place as Part of our lives not OUR LIVES. That is to say, my computer sits upon my desk and holds all the technology for me to do what I am now doing,but I want to treat it like a typewriter, a thesaurus, a photo album a printing press. I want it to be TOOLS for me to use to express and share my ideals. An improved version of what man has wanted since her first laid down marks and said, “this represents what I am thinking”. I don’t want it to be my ‘super awesome movie machine, my hour after hour music player mixed with endless movies and shopping and ads ads ads and more celebrity gossip than I can handle!” For me, that is not productive.

We CAN live a vintage life along side technology. Indeed, the 1950’s person loved the ‘new and improved’. But they had generations behind them of people of sense and ‘adults’ that knew you were not suppose to eat your dessert first, or sit for hours in ‘pleasure’ alone because then it is not special or taste wonderful, as you have overindulged.

When technology became part of lives in the past, we were not left to overindulge. We didn’t rush home and spend all day and night on our typewriters. The only real parallel seems to be the increase use of the telephone for the teens of the 1950s (the now older baby-boomer generation) who seemed not able to get enough of a good thing. There were many cartoons of teens talking on the phone for hours much to the chagrin of their parents.

Is this the beginning of our modern obsession with our technology? That it is not a help or aid to our lives but dictates and represents our lives? Is it just the level of ease in the technology itself, or is it that we have breed ourselves into the obsession with the new and better? I don’t honestly know. What I do know is that I am going to try my hardest to USE technology in my new vintage life, so that I have a life and not so that it becomes my life.

Over indulgence seems to be almost gone as a concept in the modern world, because it is commonplace to be constantly indulged. We can talk, text, sext, listen, watch, read, play, and be amused all the time anywhere. So, when will our pleasure centers overload? The special and unique is part of the litany of living. The beauty and pride of workmanship and achievement is gone when it is so easy and always there. We become lax and the wonderful becomes commonplace. WE have achieved the level of unhappy self indulged boredom that was once only the province of  kings. Those few over privileged whom were so  spoiled and agreed with that they found to be in the midst of everything anyone could want was the loneliest and saddest place to be.

So, the equality we have found ourselves working towards since the ease of technology is the pleasure to be as ‘bored as an over rich  person with no imagination nor accountability’. Certainly not what our 1950’s forebears had in mind.

I think we need to look about us and say, “how wonderful, look at all this technology, it can aide me to have a life I choose to make” then put the phone in your handbag until you NEED it. Talk to the person in front of you WITHOUT also texting someone else. Use your computer to research, write, and meet up in our digital community, but then shut it off and go cook, sew, bake, paint, read, hug your spouse or child. Take a walk or ride your bike. Have a life you WANT to express online on your blog. Really, can it be very interesting to read “I sat in front of my computer all day today. I talked and texted. Didn’t get anything done all day. So tired and frustrated with life, I wonder why?” because I can tell you why, Too much of a good thing is bad.

So, I don’t know if you agree with me or think me mad, but I honestly feel as if we should embrace the positive elements of the modern world to help us create and make a life we can be proud of, not just as a means to distract us, entertain us, and then express how bored, lazy, pointless we are. I really have felt since my 1955 journey that I am excited to use the technology, but to keep it in its proper place.

And on that note, here is my comic/drawing for today. (Click on it to read)

7 January 1956 “The Call of the Modern World”

I decided to answer this question from ZEBU as a blog post.

“So, as this first week of the new year comes to a close, do you find yourself at all chomping at the bit to do things that you didn’t allow yourself in 1955?” 

I thought this a very good question as now I am ‘allowed’ more modern things. I have to say, though, so far this has been more 1956 than 2010. But, there have been a few modern things done.

For starters, last night  we were having a dinner party and my guests were running late. I had scheduled the roast to come out and 'set' for it's 15 minute carving window and it took longer because they are in from out of town and they have a 2 year old child.

So, after they arrived, things had chilled a bit and I popped it all back in the oven, but I didn't want to overcook my lovely rare roast, so I took the pan drippings, poured them into a little jug and then, slowly turned to the 'silver beast' atop my icebox. THE MICROWAVE. I had just considered getting rid of it for good the other day and there it was, just taunting me, "Come on, I can toast up that jus in seconds, your guest are waiting, your roast is cooling" so, I gave in. Do I feel 'bad' or as if I 'cheated'. Not really. I KNOW a 50’s housewife would have a micro had they been around (well they were invented in 55 but were equal to about 10,000 dollars in today's money)

I have tried, on several occasions now, to watch TV. Not to sit and enjoy it, but to get 'fodder' for blogs. But, I find myself SO disgusted that I said to hubby, "I can't even watch it long enough to get enough info to blog about" he just shrugs and goes back to his books or piano (he couldn't care if the TV were gone for good).

I was appalled by some show about teen mothers, but couldn't watch it long enough to get info to blog about, I tried the 'news' which is a joke about what famous person slept with whomever. There is so much actual news and unrest going on in the middle east and they are talking about tiger woods and his bed sport, as if it could matter . Then it will be followed by a commercial  for a car or ice-cream and it will be so overtly sexual. How can they NOT see the mixed message? They take a sort of 'moral high ground' attitude to judge the 'famous' people, as if it mattered in the big picture, and then their sponsors overtly use sex to sell you products or tell you how fat or out of shape you are. So,  that was definitely an "I like 1955 more" moment.

I also, at my friends birthday party, joined in on their 'rock band' game. I just enjoyed it like a parlor game where, of course, you don't really talk to one another as you have to focus on the task at hand. But, it was fine and okay for when I am 'socializing' with her. I am sort of ambiguous about it. It is a fun game for a little while as long as we can shut it off and talk, play cards, that sort of thing. I think in 1955 they would have liked any ‘new’ thing, but I think the amount of time they would have spent on the leisure time would be much less than we do today. I think they would have had fun but in the context of a life in which you also socialize, raise a family, etc. Today we seem to live ONLY to be amused and passively so, so in that light I like 1955 more.

I still dress 'normal' for me which is vintage head to toe. Obviously I use the computer. Though, now with the website, I am still really using it as a typewriter, thesaurus, photo research tool. I have not had time to visit any of your wonderful blogs and I hope for now you will forgive me that, but when I am at the computer it is fun but it is work and then I need to care for my home, cook meals etc.

For the most part, I am not consciously trying to do anything 'modern' per se. I think I have just become so accustomed to the 'new normal' that it is just second nature. Which proves, of course, that we can change our perception of our lives and the way we live it.

I might try some modern books, but have not as yet. In fact I am now reading my 1885 copy of 'life in the garden' which is a wonderful book, as I am getting ready to start dreaming and planning out my new gardens for spring.

There is something I missed and will most likely enjoy again: period films. Though they depict the 19th century (such as pride and prejudice, sense and sensibility etc the BBC versions not those wretched 'Hollywood' versions that they film for a two hour movie) I think I might like to watch the Pallisers again, which I own. But, again, it will be a snippet here and there, as I am so busy and really love my busy work that I don’t always need a break from it, which I love. And now I am trying to draw a little each day and now starting to plan my garden for Spring that I am finding so much of my life is taken up with enjoyable living that passive entertainment seems the last thing on my mind. I would most likely feel fidgety and anxious as if I could be doing something better and more fun.

So, I hope that answers the question. As I have decided, this will be mainly a 1956 year, but I do want to keep finding and incorporating ways to enliven the present with the past and to pass it on to you so you may do the same. The Apron Revolution must happen in 2010, as I cannot fit ALL of you in my Time Machine!

I have included my next drawing challenge, which again is another cartoon. I feel a theme coming on. (you can click on it to enlarge it.)

Also I have a question: does anyone know how to make a button (well I can make and design it in Photoshop) but I need a way to link a button I design so that I can place it here and you can click it to go to the website and also one that I could offer on here and the website for any of you to place on your blog to bring others to our great community. If anyone can help me that would be great!

Until tomorrow then (unless my internet is out for few days) Keep those aprons tied and those faces smiling.

6 January 1956 “The Question of Normalcy, a Lady’s Jewel Box, and YOUR Style.”

The great Coco Chanel’s popular saying was look in the mirror before you go out and take something off.

For her time and social/economic class this held true (and might still hold true for for formal functions today) but for the masses, it should almost be the opposite. For we Apronites it should be: “Check in the mirror before you go out and put something on” that is a pin or scarf of hat or maybe, today, you try those gloves.

What is normal is relative.

This was once considered risqué and then became normal beach attire. If we wore it today we would look odd, but only by the context of those around us. But, if we chose to wear it and were proud of it, would it cease to be silly or odd? I think yes. Because, if it did not then we would have to say to ourselves, right now, “What others think DOES matter”. And really that should be true in our forms of conversation and habits, but if we are not dressing to specifically ‘offend’ (which by the way IS a valid form of dress in the modern world especially with the younger set)than there can be  no harm in wearing vintage or wearing ‘more’ on a daily basis, as it becomes YOUR normal. Then those bareheaded ladies, gloveless in jeans or pajama bottoms become odd to you. So, who is right? Exactly, you both have the RIGHT to dress as you choose, thus it goes both ways.

We presently live in a world where this is normal for a 10 year old girl. Yes, this might be a Halloween costume, but is it normal for a 10 year old to wear that and those boots? Exactly.

So, WEAR a full on vintage outfit and shun the stares as you smile in your own little world of YOUR NORMAL. Fill your jewel box with trinkets form the second hand store and then wear them. You will save them from the landfill and give yourself an entire world in which you CAN shop without feeling guilty. When one is living on a budget and can say, “I think I shall go out and get some jewels today” it feels as good as if they were rubies and diamonds. Those only have value because we, the human race, have assigned value to them. The same as gold or money. It is all a sham that we must all buy into, so therefore, it follows, we can make up our own rules in our own little worlds.

  So, grab grannies old clip ons encrusted with faux pearls and jade and put them on, smile you are now stylish. Walk with pride and beam in your own happy NORMAL world where a lady wears pearls when she vacuums and has a lovely bit of sparkle she can wear every day!

We can make our own rules and world. Don’t let others dictate style, fashion or the way to think or buy. It is your life and your ‘normal’. It is this very thought that  makes me okay living in the modern world. I have learned that we do not have to just “Yearn” for the ‘good ole days’ we can simply bring them back to our own realities. We don’t have to wear what is out there now, or watch what is on TV or think what they tell us. We have the power to make, choose, decide and create our own little worlds. So, we should do so and I say let’s do it in style.

I think those with children should almost feel even more obligation to this way of thinking, for to teach your child the power and confidence to live their life to the beat of their own drum and to care about others feelings and situation in life, but not care for the opinions or stares of the world at large, is very important.

Thoreau said, “Every generation laughs at the old fashions, but follows religiously the new.”

Coco Chanel ALSO said, “a girl should be two things: classy and fabulous” and she also said,

“Fashion fades, only Style remains the same”.

So, you choose your normal; your STYLE and as long as you are confident, kind, and considerate you might be surprised who shows up at your house the next time following ‘YOUR STYLE”.

5 January 1956 “Time Travel Cartoon and Busy Day”

I have a bit more content and information on the website. Everyday and evening I will do my best to continue to add more. Do let me know if there is anything in particular you would like to see or email me with what you would like to share.

I though I would share my day 2 drawing challenge (another cartoon, they keep coming to me) that I thought very fitting for this years ability to ‘time travel’ between 1956 and 2010.

You can click on the image to make it larger.

Well, I am rather busy these next two days, but will continue to readjust to my new fuller schedule. I hope all of you still enjoy our time together as I am still very excited to getting to know all of you more and to share in our new and growing community.

Let me know how you are doing today or I shall see you on the forums.