Thursday, July 31, 2008

Then And Now # 5 - Minute Tapioca

A Minute Tapioca recipe booklet from 1934. "Recipes with glad news in them" -who could ask for more than that?

And then, shown here in a magazine advertisement from 1956:
And here is how it looks today:
I actually really like tapioca pudding, and I have very fond memories of Mother making it for us when we were little, but I can't even remember the last time I made it from scratch. Some of the store-bought ones available now in the dairy case are pretty good! These days, I would be more likely to just use it in a recipe for cherry pie, or something like that. I'm glad it's still around, though.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

From My Linen Closet

I have found some really neat things inside our linen closet over the years. For example, these cute embroidered vintage dish cloths. A happy pitcher for your summer lemonade:
Cute tumblers -one is smiling, the other looks - maybe surprised?
Teacups in blue:
And a red bowl ready for mixing up your pie dough:
I say they are dish towels, because I truly believe they were meant for drying dishes. They are quite large, with the embroidered portion being just in one corner. More of these cuties at a later date.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Vintage Tick Tock

A few of my favorite vintage clocks. I just love them - I only wish they all worked properly! This cutie by Sessions:
Lovely "Little Tel" by Telechron:
And my little General Electric:
I just couldn't get good pictures, so I had to settle for these scans, which aren't so hot, either. But I guess you get the idea; I love the style of vintage clocks like these.
Oh - and they showed a close up of another old clock I have on a desk in an episode of Mad Men. I get such a kick out of seeing something I have on a set like that!

Monday, July 28, 2008

My Favorite Framed Prints #14

I'm sorry I couldn't fit the entire frame completely on my scanner. This is a very nice pair, though.
I like the style of the flowers on these, and the colors.
This pair is different than my others in that they are prints from original watercolors. I like them a lot.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Black And White And Read All Over

Nope - not a newspaper this time. It's a magazine, specifically an issue of Better Homes And Gardens from 1969. I noticed so many black and white patterns inside that I felt compelled to show them to you. First up: Patterns by Avon. Paisley in black and white! If this was available today, I'd buy it. Pretty!
Cute and cool dress in this ad for Lady Scott Tissues:
I couldn't help being reminded of this great vintage Alfred Shaheen fabric (below) I sold on Ebay a few years ago. I was so tickled when I found out the buyer was his daughter! Nothing feels better than knowing your auction item went to the perfect person!
Wild! Marvalon adhesive to cover everything in sight!
Large black and white graphic floral on this pair of armchairs:
Groovy flower power on your outdoor seating by Samsonite:
And one more pretty pattern on this comfy chair and ottoman:
That's it - hope you enjoyed your TRIP down Black And White Memory Lane. I think any of these would feel right at home still today.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Some Of My Swanky Swigs

Just a couple of pictures today of two of my sets - Here's Bustlin' Betsy:
And the cornflower Posy Pattern:
I love these little glasses that were sold with Kraft spreadable cheese inside.
(Sorry my pictures are not the best!) Some day I will get pictures of my other sets to share with you.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Ferdinand And A Purple Cow

I do love cute little vintage china figurines. I'm always on the lookout for them, especially when they're priced reasonably.
I can't seem to resist them, despite my attempts to cut back.
Aren't these cute little guys? The purple one was my mother-in-law's, and I found the little black and white one at a yard sale.
I've always loved the little poem by Gelett Burgess:
I never saw a purple cow,
I never hope to see one;
But I can tell you, anyhow,
I'd rather see than be one.
But did you know that he later became annoyed by the fact that he was most well-known for that poem, and followed it up by writing the following?
Ah, Yes! I wrote the "Purple Cow"-
I'm sorry, now, I wrote it!
But I can tell you anyhow,
I'll kill you if you quote it!
Quite the sense of humor, that one!
I like to think my other little figurine is Ferdinand The Bull: A Disney animated short released in 1938, it was based on the book written by Munro Leaf and illustrated by Robert Lawson. I love the song Ferdinand The Bull - my favorite version is on Michael Feinstein's album Pure Imagination. If you have kids, and you enjoy listening to music with them, you should get this album. I don't have kids, and I love it. I can listen to it over and over. I have been one of Michael's biggest fan for about 20 years- and I will have to write an entire post about him another day.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Then And Now #4 - SOS Pads

Good old S.O.S. steel wool soap pads. Here in an ad from 1941:

And then also pictured here in this magazine advertisement from 50 years ago - "teen-agers quickly learn the trick of breezing through the pans" with the help of S.O.S. pads. I wouldn't mind having their PINK dish drainer! Or those pink Melmac dishes.
I'm calling the package pictured below "Now", but in reality it's about 15 years old. I know. Well, it was up on a shelf in the garage. I picked up a box at the store to buy it, and my husband said we didn't need it. Who knew? The current packaging now has all of the text in both English and Spanish.
When I actually READ (what a novel idea!) the recommended uses on the package, it suggested using them on glass shower doors. Where have I been? I tried it, and they worked very well. Like I said, good old S.O.S. pads!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Mad Men On AMC


I must confess that I spent the better part of this past Sunday watching the marathon on AMC of the first season of Mad Men. Now, when I first heard about this show, I knew it sounded like something I would like, and yet I never watched a single episode. Partly I forgot, partly because it wasn't on 'til 10pm, partly because once I miss the first episode or two of a new show I say forget it, and partly because I sometimes feel I cannot allow myself to start watching anything new because I already watch too much television anyway! Well- it's summer, and most shows are repeats, and I couldn't resist. After the first seven minutes, I knew I really liked it. It's a great show - well-written, well-acted, well-directed, well-produced - I could go on and on. And I just might. The show is set (for now) in 1960. The set designers might be happy to know that I notice every detail - it must be wonderful to go to work every day and set the scenes for such a great period show! I've seen some things I have in my own home, and others I'd love to own.
So - that's it, I'm hooked. When I couldn't watch, I recorded it. From noon on Sunday until 1am Monday morning. I finished watching the recorded portion last night. It is a fabulous show. I have such a fascination with the whole advertising "game". From way back when Darrin Stephens worked for Larry Tate on Bewitched. I find all of it fascinating. I especially liked the scene in the last episode with the sales pitch to the Eastman-Kodak execs for their newest slide projector. I watched that scene four times. Wow. Really great. Now that's what I call fantastic television. And like I said - I'm lovin' the details. It must be a delight to be a part of the costume design team, as well. What a beautiful blue coat, worn here by January Jones as Betty Draper:
I can hardly wait for the second season premiere on Sunday the 27th!
I borrowed these pictures from their official website at http://www.amctv.com/originals/madmen. I hope they don't mind - since all I am offering here is praise! Thank you, AMC, for a job VERY well done- and thank you for the marathon. I am so glad I had the opportunity to get season one under my belt just in time for the next round!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Hot Fudge Sundae

After I posted last Tuesday about the Kraft mini marshmallows, I was inspired by the picture in the advertisement to concoct for myself a really fabulous hot fudge sundae. And boy, did I ever! I used a recipe from Martha Stewart for the hot fudge sauce, and since I didn't have the lovely delphite blue dish, I used my own pretty green depression glass dish.
Hot Fudge Sauce (altered just a bit - I used the microwave):
1 c. heavy cream
1/2 c. light corn syrup
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate (I used Toll House Morsels)
Combine cream and corn syrup (I used a 4 cup Pyrex measuring pitcher.) Microwave on high, watching closely, and when it JUST begins to bubble and start boiling, take it out and add the 12 oz. of chocolate. Stir until chocolate is melted. I put it back in the microwave for short little spurts of time (30 seconds?) while stirring in between as the choc. melts.
Oh, my. This recipe made 2 cups of the stuff, and all I can say is a person such as myself who needs to lose weight should not be allowed to have this stuff anywhere in their vicinity. I'm just sayin'....
But, man, it's good!
I did use Dreyer's Slow Churned (lighter) Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and Fat-Free ReddiWip, if that helps. (It really doesn't.)

Monday, July 21, 2008

My Favorite Framed Prints #13

This is a pair that I sold.
I found the frames at a thrift store with some kind of ugly prints inside, and replaced them with two botanical prints I had already. I really liked the way this pair turned out!

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Teapot Tale

I have had this green Bauer teapot for many years. (It may look sort of turquoise in my photos, but it's not. It's green.) So long that I don't even remember where or when I found it.Last Thursday when I went down to the shop to check on my stuff, I found a lid for it!
Yes, the lid is yellow, but I don't care. Call me a rebel. It is the correct lid for this style of teapot. And I would rather have a "marriage" lid - A Lid Of A Different Color, if you will, than to have no lid at all!

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Betty Crocker's Cookbooks 1950's/60's

There are lots of other Betty Crocker cookbooks, of course - but this post is specifically about this series of smaller format spiral bound books. The Cook Book For Boys and Girls was first printed in 1957 - we grew up with this little book! We even used ideas out of this book for some of our 4-H demonstrations. It's my favorite. Good And Easy is from 1954.
Guide To Easy Entertaining, 1959, and Dinner For Two, 1958:
Betty Crocker's Party Cookbook, 1960, and Outdoor Cook Book, 1961:
And also the Cooking Calendar from 1962:
I think I have all of the ones in this series. The larger format spiral books were printed later - they're great too. These little books are just full of simple and practical recipes- and they're GOOD! I also like the illustrations and the color photos. There's a reason why Betty Crocker has been around so long!

Friday, July 18, 2008

Do You Have Prince Albert In A Can?

Well- you'd better let him out....
Okay - I am just in a silly mood. I am not advocating tobacco in any form. But I found this ad in a magazine from 1934:
And realized we had this tin that I'd found in a box of old stuff that belonged to my mother-in-law's younger brother. It appears to be the very same one pictured in the advertisement.
Just felt like posting it- I'm a nut for old ads and old stuff!

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Happy Birthday Disneyland!!

Just another quick post today - because I wanted to wish my Happiest Place a happy 53rd birthday!
The photograph above is from a 1960's calendar with artwork by Millard Sheets. I love his rendition of Sleeping Beauty Castle!

Vintage Potholders In Crochet

Some of my collection:
in different color combinations:
I truly admire the handiwork that went into these ...
So colorful and pretty:
What's not to like?

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Vintage Bathing Beauties

Just thought I'd share some ads, etc, that I came across. This one from Esquire Magazine, 1936 (Sorry it's so small! Click on it.):

From Life Magazine 1940; I don't believe I had ever heard of Skol. Hmmm, I think we all know by now what damage the sun can do!
Jantzen from 1950:
I like her pretty little swim dress on this old toffee tin - 40's or 50's?
Or perhaps you want to crochet your own plaid bikini and cover-up, like the ones modeled here by the lovely Shelley Hack and friend in 1975:
Or perhaps not.