A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE 1965: CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'

A CHANGE OF SEASONS

It's fall and time for a change...a welcomed change.

Along with the change of seasons comes cooler weather and the urge to nest and bake...to enjoy to the fullest the wonders of nature and God's creation.

Inside I've been doing some nesting.  

Here are some images of my fall and Halloween vignettes

.

BELLS ARE RINGING

This is the movie that started it all.

My very first romantic comedy and the first movie I saw at a movie theater.

I was about 9 years old and thought Dean Martin was dreamy.

It was my first love story and started my love affair with love stories.

Daddy usually chose what we watched and he liked westerns.

And prior to this movie all I'd ever been to was the drive in theater, which was a family outing.

After this movie, everything changed and I became a huge movie fan.

To this day I love nothing better than a good clean movie, especially a romantic comedy.

They still make them too--surprisingly.

And while I'm older and wiser and know real life rarely resembles those old feel good movies, I still like them.

See the USA in your Chevrolet

Remember this old commercial?

I remember it from The Dinah Shore Show.

I wonder whatever happened to her?

Just hearing her sing it takes me back, makes me remember the good times as a kid.

Mom and Dad, me and brother, all was well in our tiny little world.  We were as snug as a bug in a rug.

But we must grow up and become the adults.

Sure does change things doesn't it?

More Nostalgia

It's that time of the year.

Let's All Go to the Lobby

When I was a little kid our family used to go to the drive in theater. Boy did I love that. Mom gave us our baths early, dressed us in our pj's--that'd be me and my baby brother. The she'd pop corn--enough to fill up a giant brown paper grocery sack. Dad would grab a six pack and off we'd go--early enough to get a good spot--while it was still day light, and so we kids could play down front on the swing set provided by the theater.

When the movie began, into the car we'd go, with dad adjusting the speaker which hung on the partially opened window. The voices sounded like they were coming from a tin bucket..and it could sound a bit scratchy if you turned it up too loud.  But what a thrill--so exciting.  Brother and I always enjoyed the cartoon which came first. Then we'd eat popcorn until we fell asleep.

Most of the movies we saw were westerns. My first non-western movie experience was at an indoor theater and it was a romance to boot. I still recall it to this day. Forever after I was hooked on romantic comedies. We were living in Montana, in a very small town and it was the dead of winter.  I'm not sure how we ended up at a romantic movie, what with dad being a die hard western fan.  But we did, and it was the beginning of my 'romance' with the picture show. I still remember that cold gray day and the experience of falling in love with 'falling in love'.  I was smitten.

There's just something about sitting in a darkened theater, with the expectation of a special evening that beats watching a movie at home all to pieces.  For at least 2 solid hours there are no interruptions, and it's just you and the dark and another world--and an ice cold soda, popcorn and a little chocolate don't hurt.

A couple of years ago I came across the movie that initiated my love of the movie theater and romantic comedies and I snatched it up.   Every time I watch it, the larger than life  memory and thrill returns.  For a couple of hours I am 9 years old in my spirit.

The name of that movie? Well- that's a story for another day.

Wishbook

 image from Welcome to Wishbook

For a stroll down memory lane click on over to Welcome to Wishbook

At the site you'll find vintage Christmas catalogs you can peruse to your heart's delight.

**********************************************************

 Back in the day kids couldn't wait to get their hands on the Christmas Wishbook.  Ours were from Montgomery Ward, Sears, and Spiegel.

I used to wish for a magic Wishbook--one that allowed me to grab the image and have the item come off the page right into my real life.Instant gratification. Bliss.

The idea of having to fill out an order, mail it and then wait for it to be processed and sent by return mail was agony.  But agony turned to ecstasy when your order finally arrived.

Today we have the electronic catalog. To me it's no better than the old paper catalog. Yes, it saves a little time and allows me to shop the world....but it's not a whole lot different than what we had way back when.

Then There Was Chatty Cathy. Every Little Girls' Dream Gift for Christmas in 1960

First came Betsy Wetsy in 1938, followed by Tiny Tears in the 1950's. In 1959 Barbie was born and in the 1960's  Chatty Cathy. 

Betsy wet her pants, Tiny cried 'real' tears, and Barbie--well she was a sex pot--and Cathy yammered a lot.

I had Betsy, Tiny and Barbie, but no Chatty Cathy.  

If only I'd kept that Barbie I got in 1959.  She was in mint condition when I  finally parted with her--on an impulse.

In a brief moment of good will I gave her to a little neighbor girl.  I'd decided I was too big for dolls.

My loss, her gain.  Original Barbie would fetch a pretty good price today.

Classic Coke Christmas

Another fave Christmas commercial.

LSMFT: Another Great Classic Christmas TV Commercial

Not sure what to get someone for Christmas?

When I was growing up everyone smoked.

Everyone who was anyone on TV smoked. The old movies are rife with it. It was glamorized--like alcohol--so it's no wonder there were so many smokers back in the day.

My parents smoked. I hated it. And I determined in my young heart I would never smoke.

When mom and dad would light up after every meal it gagged me to watch them put their ash in their plate. GAG.

I had chronic earaches as a child and I feel sure it was related to constantly breathing smoke. I smoked vicariously.

Today I can't be anywhere near cigarette smoke. I immediately get a sore throat.

I'm so thankful that nowadays we have laws that limit where people can smoke in public places.

And I'm thankful for the education programs that have informed the public of the dangers of smoking which has led to its decline.  It's a shame we don't target the dangers of alcohol and drugs with the same gusto.

I make no moral judgment on those who do choose to smoke, though I do think it is an expensive, harmful, wasteful habit that increases your risk of lung cancer.

BTW--LSMFT is short for "Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco".

Robert Hall

Another favorite commercial here. I've remembered this one for decades.

Etched in my memory is Mom and Dad taking me to Robert Hall and buying me a dressy winter coat for school. I also got some new shoes that day. Red ones.

I was a 'fancy' girl'. But then, in those days girls were not permitted to wear pants to school. And most of the girls did dress up.  The boys were not allowed to wear jeans either.  And shirts had to have a collar and be tucked in.

When the winter weather was frightful you wore a snowsuit over your clothes. Many is the time I've been bound up so tightly in all those wrappings that I could barely put my arms down--think Randy, Ralphie's brother in A Christmas Story. 

Believe you me I ended up freezing all the more so. To stay warm you need 'loose' layers.

Suzy Snowflake

A cute song I enjoy this time of year and perfect for the weather we're having.

Christmas in the City

As a child Christmas trips to visit grandpa and his wife--my step grandma who was a fun person--were exciting  for me. They had pet parakeets that they treated like their babies. And an old retired gentleman friend of theirs always gave me--a chocoholic at a young age--white chocolate. I was fascinated with it. How could it be white I'd think?

But the best part of the visit in my memory was our trip to downtown Fort Wayne for shopping in the city. The cold crisp air, the swoosh of the bus doors opening to allow passengers to exit, the ladies with their Christmas corsages--the plastic ones which I'd love to find at a vintage shop or yard sale--the hustle and bustle in the air, the decorations, and best of all the music that floated on the air, supplied by the various stores speaker systems.

My favorite was Silver Bells. To this day it never fails to transport me back into that time, that era, those good memories. 

KISSES

Don't you just love this commercial? I do.

Weight Loss Update:

I lost the pound I gained at Thanksgiving, plus one more! Total loss to date: 27.

TV Dinner Anyone?

If you're rushing around and pressed for time this holiday season and there's barely time to eat let alone cook, Swanson has the answer to your dilemma.

Speedy Here

Need relief from too much holiday excess? This little guy offers a remedy.  

The lovable Speedy--isn't he cute? 

I grew up with him and never forgot him.

Slinky

The toy I never wanted.  The toy I never understood.

I received one of these in a gift exchange.  I'd seen them on television and they puzzled me.

What did you do with them?  How did you play with them?

There were no stairs in our home, and after you'd juggled them a bit--which took all of ten seconds--what was left?

I knew how to play with my doctor's kit, my dolls, my dishes, my chalkboard, my toy cash register and all my stuffed animals.

My play was elaborate.  Our living room was the waiting room to see the doctor--which was me.  The examining room for my patients was my parents bedroom.  I loved giving my patients shots and telling them it wouldn't hurt.

When my patients finished they could go to my restaurant in the kitchen, where I took their food orders on a real guest check pad.  I cooked the food, served it on my real china toy dishes, and when they finished they paid me with play money which I placed in my cash register.

And while they did all of this their kids were at school, located in my bedroom--complete with child size table and chairs, chalk board, red pencil, foil stars and my own old school papers which I graded while the 'kid's--my stuffed animals and dolls--did their seat work.

As I taught with my Lee press on nails I stood by the chalkboard at the front of the class.

So--how would a slinky fit into this elaborate play scheme?

I never figured it out and that is one of the few gifts--along with play dough, and marbles and kites in the spring--that I didn't welcome or really appreciate.

I could never get a kite to fly, marbles were pretty but the game made no sense--though jacks did--and play dough--it didn't spark any creativity in me.  If anything it limited it.  One can of play dough, one color like yellow.  What can you create with a lump of yellow play dough?

Give me a Mr. Potato Head.  At least he came with a variety of elements and I could create several persona's.

Shoot give me a new fancy dress with a 'can can' slip and a pair of black patent leather shoes plus a pair of ruffled lace top socks.  At least I could wear those and feel like a little princess.

But a slinky?  No thanks.

Rawhide and Pie

Another one of dad's favorite westerns. Just hearing the theme song brings back memories--good ones.

With the upcoming holidays everyone needs an easy to make delicious pie. Here is one of my favorites:

Hawaiian Pie

• 2 baked pie crusts (I buy the frozen 2 pack shallow shells--bake according to package.)
• 1 large can crushed pineapple (DO NOT DRAIN)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 2 large bananas sliced
• 1 cup of grated coconut--fresh or frozen (I have used the processed too with good results.)
• 1 cup of chopped nuts (I like pecans but walnuts are good too.)
• 1 large tub of Cool Whip or whipped cream if you prefer

 In a saucepan combine the sugar and flour.  Add the whole can of pineapple.  Stir together to mix well.  Heat/cook until thick.  Let cool.

Line your pie crusts with the sliced banana.  Sprinkle nuts over the bananas and coconut over the nuts.  Pour half of cooled pineapple filling over each pie.  Chill.  Cover each pie with half the whipped topping.
 

Laramie

Another favorite show of daddy's when I was a kid. He loved a good western. This brings back some good memories for me.

Wagon Train

Dad loved a good western. This is one in the lineup of weekly westerns we watched at night when I was a kid.