The Ghost of Christmas Past

Me, flanked by my cousin and sister,  c. Christmas 1953 

In keeping with the travel theme on Fridays, I decided to travel... back in time....waaaaaay back.

I know what you're thinking: I stole a few frames from an old movie, right?  Well, you're close. Our son-in-law John says this picture looks like it's right out of 'It's a Wonderful Life.' That's me in the center, with my cousin Bobby on the left and my sister Gini on the right.  It must have been about 1953 (when the world was young) and it was Christmas time. I think that Gini got the tea set and the Ginny Doll which she's holding. My new doll was Dodie, but I have no idea where the name came from, unless she was named that when I got her.

 My brothers and cousin, c. Christmas 1954

And in the kitchen, my two brothers (left) and cousin are playing with their new Monopoly game. I suspect that my mother made that cowboy shirt for my brother. That's probably a vinyl checked tablecloth, and note the grease shield on the wall next to the stove. These are like artifacts, kids, take note!! Those rooster plates may actually be worth something today.

Judy and Gini, c. Christmas 1954?

I think this was from Christmas 1954 - at our house. My mom made Gini and me the most amazing Roy Rogers and Dale Evans vests and skirt or chaps. I got to be Roy cuz he was much cooler, and I got the chaps. Gini was stuck with being Dale Evans cuz she was...younger. I think the vests and chaps were brown suede cloth or flannel with red fringe. AND, the hats and guns and holsters were made of way better stuff than they are now. They shot real bullets!! (kidding - just seeing if you were paying attention.) Note the tinsel on the tree, which I love! My kids do not like tinsel on the tree, and these days I don't put it on because of the cats (not because of the whiney kids.) 

I wanted to post this today so you all can see what life was like for those of us who experienced childhood in black and white.

Have a great weekend!

Real Life

As much as I enjoy posting those pastoral photos of the Wisconsin countryside, there is also the 'real life' that goes on inside this house.

Note the photo above.

1. My laptop sitting on the counter, easily accessible. How else would I keep up with what you all are doing??

2. The external speakers. These are a must if we're watching a British mystery from Netflix, for example. With the low sound emitted from my built-in speakers and the various British accents, my husband sometimes looks at me and says,'I didn't understand a word he said. Did you?' It helps to have external speakers to increase the volume - so we can at least hear what we're not understanding. ;-)

3. The notebook: Here is where I write my daily lists - whether it's the start-and-stop calorie counting, especially around a holiday, always trying to keep a grip but sometimes failing...then picking up and starting again. It's also where I write shopping lists, menus, etc. Frankly, I don't know how anyone lives life without a notebook! and a pen is helpful.

4. The buns sitting out on the counter cuz there's not one square inch of space left in the freezer. These are the buns that turned out more like weapons - or as dear Becky said, 'cobblestones.' What a perceptive girl. Now they don't seem quite as repulsive. The natives are actually are eating them, however. Maybe my husband's just being kind...or maybe he's simply using them for a vehicle to transport my homemade raspberry jam to his mouth.

5. Butter dish. The orange Fiesta Ware covered dish that I use for a butter dish belonged to my mom. I have two of them and they're SO cute and handy. I like them way better than the newer Fiesta Ware. Funny how that old stuff used to look just...old. But now it's 'vintage' and SO COOL! I wonder if I can convince my family that I'm vintage?

6. Pans sitting out on the counter. Okay, that's not typical. I promise. I hate to have pans out on the counter, but the pan drawer fell apart and the new glue is drying. Soon...

7. Fish oil. If I don't have it sitting out, I won't think to take it...and also give it to the dogs. Don't even ask. And especially, don't ask my husband.

8. My coffee mug. In case anyone's counting, this one holds about 2 cups of coffee...at a time. It's perfect. And of course it has a pic of General Longstreet at Gettysburg, looking across the field to Cemetery Ridge, trying to dissuade General Lee from attacking the Yankees. I can hear his heavy Georgia accent, 'Let us take a position and hold it, and let them attack us!' or something like that. Wouldn't that have been smart?? But did Lee listen? Huh? Huh?

9. Rudolph. I pull this cheery little guy out each Christmas season and set him here and there, because anywhere he is, is much improved. On this particular day, it's my kitchen counter that needs improvement. Look how much better it looks with Rudolph sitting there. He's the first thing you noticed in the photo, isn't he!

I think I need to move Rudolph to my closet.