Dancing With the 60s

I am all about contributing important retro information to cyberspace.  Without me, for example, would you have at your fingertips, er, toes, the dance steps for classics like The Hully Gully and The Mashed Potato?  My 1963 issue of Life provided several dance moves in a Westinghouse ad which I've faithfully uploaded below.

I remember a reference book of just about everything that my parents had when I was growing up.  In one section it showed the patterns for the waltz and the tango.  I would practice them like it was serious business when I was about 10yo.  Now I have NEW (old) steps to add to my repertoire in my 40s! 

So, go and practice these so that you can be "groovy," too!

Vintage Thirst Quenchers

Is it hot enough for you? (Insert annoying laugh track.)

Actually, today has been in the 70s after a week of nearly 100. I kind of loved it during the hot days, though, knowing that it wouldn't last too long here "up north." (I know what's waiting for me in just a few short months!)

It was FINALLY Official Pool Weather to this Florida native, but I am glad that we're not set on Scorch any longer.

Other parts of the country, however, are definitely still at that level. Since that is the case, I thought I'd look through my old magazines to see how those folks cooled off in pre-air conditioning times. I found some recipes for "Coolers" in my July, 1946 issue of Woman's Day. We still have some hot days in our future before the leaves begin to turn, so I plan on trying a couple of these recipes. Each recipe makes one serving.

(The pictures are from THIS Etsy shop. The lemon glasses have already sold, but the other sets are still available as of this posting. Click on the picture for each sale page.)



Minted Pink Pineapple Crush

1/4 cup crushed pineapple, fresh or canned
1/2 cup loganberry juice
1-2 tablespoons finely chopped mint
Plain or sparkling water

Mix pineapple, loganberry juice, and chopped mint. Serve over cracked ice in glass, adding plain or sparkling water to fill glass.

Apple-Prune-Orangeade

1/3 cup apple juice
1/3 cup prune juice
1/3 cup orange juice
Mint

Blend juices. Pour over cracked ice in glass. Serve topped with fresh mint.

Cool Buttermilk Fizz

1/2 cup buttermilk
Sparkling water

Pour buttermilk over cracked ice in glass. Fill remainder of glass with sparkling water. Stir well and serve.



Ginger Iced Tea (3 servings)

2 cups chilled tea
1 cup gingerale

Add gingerale just before serving.


Stay cool!

Good Housekeeping, 1955: Centerpieces

Last night I was wondering around in the back of my 1955 copy of the Good Housekeeping Cook Book (aka "A Gem of a Cookbook") because it is just solid good reading. Practical, still useful tips are found there and I'm gleaning as fast as I can!

One page caught my eye with its title and explanation:

Have a Pretty Centerpiece

"The way your table looks is just as important as the way the meal tastes. So set a pretty table, have a pretty centerpiece. It's worth the extra minute or two."

When I read that paragraph, I cringed a bit inside. IF I have a centerpiece at all, it's the one that sits on the table, day after day, collecting dust. It never occurred to me to change it up a bit, except for special occasions. I wanted to share some of the suggestions. I plan to change out my centerpiece a bit more often because it's "just as important as the way the meal tastes!"

Row on Row: Arrange long narrow rows of green or autumn leaves. Top with tangerines, green grapes, nuts, etc.

Potted Plant: Set plant on brass tray. Group oranges and green grapes around it.

Basket: Set basket on its side, with apples, cranberries, or other fruit (or vegetables--see pic above) tumbling out.

Pansies: Arrange pansies in several individual casseroles.

Garnet Roses: Arrange roses in champagne or other goblets, teacups, or egg cups.

For Small Fry: Fill basket with green leaves; insert large lollipops.

Pie in Center: Surround pie on tray with green or autumn leaves. Nestle cheese wedges or cheese pumpkins among leaves.

Candles: Use silver, glass, brass, or pewter candlesticks, with white, ivory, or colored candles. Be sure candle flame is above eye level.

Vacation Budget--50s Style

(The picture above comes from a post about vintage picnic baskets. Click on the picture to read the post.)

Tonight my husband and son wanted to look at the stars. It's clear and cold--perfect viewing. I stayed inside. I'm not crazy--it's NEGATIVE SIX degrees Fahrenheit out there!

Inside my nice cozy house (where sane people are), I was reading more of my January 1953 issue of Woman's Day. A reader (lovely Mona from Kansas) wrote in to talk about how her family budgets for their summer vacation. It seemed appropriate to be thinking ahead and planning for those summer months in January. Saving up takes time!

Here's the wisdom that Mona shared (my notes are in italics):

I'm wondering how many of the neighbors are already looking forward to and dreaming of a wonderful vacation next summer. I'm also wondering just how many of them are giving up the idea as "much too expensive" for their tight family budgets. (Sound familiar in 2011?) That was our first sad impression. It wasn't just the money for the gas and oil and lodgings, although those did have their place in our thinking, of course. What really worried us was the eating out on the trip. (Mona, you don't EVEN know about how expensive eating out will become!) We considered the problem and decided on a plan of action.

We buy our groceries by the week; so each week we buy something and put it away in our "July Picnic Basket." One week it is canned luncheon meat, (Mona, honey, Underwood Deviled Ham is for rich people now.), another week canned fruit, or pork and beans, or shoestring potatoes. (Does she mean those crunchy, greasy shoestring potatoes in a can? Anyone know what I'm talking about?) We plan to add pickles and jar cheeses (Mmmm--Cheez Whiz. Now there's some tasty fake food!) toward the last, also paper plates and cups and some plastic spoons. We try to keep our purchases around the fifty-cent bracket. (Wonder what the equivalent would be today?)

We also have a "Fun Bank" started. Each week when we come home from shopping, we put all our change in this bank. We also allow an estimated amount in our budget for utilities. When the utilities run under the amount allowed, we add the difference to the bank. We feel that by July we will have enough in our Fun Bank, along with our regular budget amounts for our milk, groceries, and gas for two weeks, for traveling expenses. We feel sure our Picnic Basket will be just bursting with goodies to be used. And if our trip should have to be cancelled, we will still have something that will help the family larder in the months ahead. Meanwhile, we are planning our best vacation ever! (And I'm sure it was!)

- Mona C., Merriam, Kansas

It's intriguing to think of slowly stockpiling non-perishable foods over the months in preparation for a vacation. We use our camper, so I know just where to store everything. I'll have to tweak those food choices a bit, though . . .

Winter Driving--50s Style

Guess what our high will be tomorrow? No, go ahead . . . guess . . .


ZERO.


That got me thinking about winter in general. Though that really is pretty cold and we get a large amount of snow throughout the winter, we DEFINITELY have it easier than in the past. In this area, I'm GLAD to be "modern" and not "vintage"!

For example, my 1953 issue of Woman's Day had some helpful hints about dealing with snow and ice. First up--tire chains. May we just have a moment of silence in appreciation of 4WD and AWD. Amen



Stuck in a snowdrift? Rock that baby! Actually, this is probably still good advice.

And this. If you need more traction, let a little air out. Hmm. Also still a possibly useful idea.

Here's the old standby, still used when needed. In the article they also mention ashes (though that would be horribly messy!) and, my favorite: Carpet pieces! Keep a couple of old carpet pieces in a plastic bag in the trunk. If you can't get traction, nudge them up under the wheels and you're good to go! Just don't forget to retrieve them.

For those of you in the areas where it is currently 81 degrees today, well, enjoy it. I have fond memories of those days myself!