Christmas 1967

Here we are, another Christmas

with David on the footstool, ever present tinsel .... 

and our traditional photo in front of the tree!

I'm not sure what David has in his hand, 

but judging from his expression, it's exciting! 

Cousins from Minnesota were here this year,

Mom's brother Rodney, JoAnn, Rick, Dan and Gary John.

The smile on these faces is so precious!

It was a mild December, we wore short sleeves and played at the park.

Rick was old enough to "supervise" all of us crossing "the big street"

to get there.  I was sad when they left, it had been such

fun having cousins around!

Hooping!

The hula hoop was patented 50 years ago, on March 5, 1963.

This was 1967, but I just had to include this photo...

check out the background, how very small the trees were in the neighborhood!

Hula Hoop was all the craze and we wanted to be, too!

They were a big thing, this little plastic tube

Alvin sings "Me, I want a Huuuula Hoooop" in his Christmas song

Some have had beads added inside for a swoosh-whoop sound as it spins

Another spin off is "Hooping" where they're used in dance,

or performances, sometimes lit on fire, and now, with LED lights!

They even created World Hoop Day, the first Saturday of October

Hoop on!

Joys of a Brother

In December, baby brother David arrived.

Us girls were thrilled with a new baby, of course!

On a side note, this blue jumper I'm wearing was made

of the softest corduroy, and I wore it until I outgrew it!

There's nothing like the smile on a new Dad's face

when he holds his son!

Probably isn't the first bath, 

but I love the expression on his face! 

And what's better than 

baby's first ice cream?

This looks suspiciously like a fudgsicle!!

At the same time, this is the era where Lori

went through having her shoulder out of joint.

But an arm in a sling didn't stop her from finding

her Easter Basket!

Shown here with a neighbor

and when we first moved it, Mike and Susie Wagner

lived next door.  This is probably Susie.

1967

1960s Christmas

Growing up, we always had a fresh Christmas Tree

As the years progressed,

our trees looked a little better than this one!

And, of course, the ever present tinsel!

Every year, we took a photo in front of the tree

(I'm thinking I'll cover these posts in groups by decade)

This is 1965

Each year, the pile of presents becomes better and better.

Check out that old TV!

You can see the beginnings of Mom's "Little Town"

that, too, gets better and better each year.

I'm betting a few of the ornaments on this tree

are still among mom's treasured ornaments now!

We had family to share this Christmas with us.

Mom's sister and her family came out.

Mom shared that us girls moved in their room

and Marge and Jim and the boys shared us girls' room.

Luckily, the bedrooms were very large on Maude Ave!

Ornaments with history became 'my thing' as an adult, and

each year I purchased and dated some.  With old dates

and stories, each year they're unwrapped and put on a tree ...

Sometimes, it's like seeing an old familiar friend!

Birthday Cakes

When it came to birthdays, Mom always went "all out" 

with a cake!  She was very creative and crafty!

There was always some kind of theme

from the cake to the decorating to the games played!

She had this little "book of tricks" on how to do these

sort of creations, and it was always a treat to be able to

look through the book and dream about next year's cake!

Baker's Coconut Cut Up cakes:

Life was a bit more formal "way back when."

We wore dresses all the time!

Even Moms who came to help with the party 

were dressed in dresses as well! 

How did us girls survive all those skinned knees

without pants to cover them?

And, of course, Mom's home made cakes

meant we got to lick the beaters!!

Summer of '65

One of the family traditions during my growing up years

was "the big vacation" we took to Minnesota

where my parents' were raised. 

We always drove, it took almost 4 days.

We would go in the summer and stay about 3 weeks

visiting family and taking part in family life, traditions.

This first one was Summer of '65

I come from a line of farmers

in the western part of Minnesota.

Here's Uncle Jim, just a part of his work day.

I've always felt that I should have been born in a different time,

or maybe lived in a different place.  I've always loved

being outdoors, enjoyed nature and the seasons.

And I've never been afraid of hard work!

I've always wondered if I could make it as a "farmer's wife". 

The daily chores that come with farm life, raising crops and animals,

and of course, your own family.

Here's my sister with cousin Jerry on the pony.

I sure don't remember it's name!

It evokes a different time, different culture

and in reality I know it could be harsh living,

dealing with snow and blowing cold,

the flooding that comes with spring after a hard winter,

and the humidity of summers.

But there's also a joy in watching the results

of all a person's hard work:  planting, harvesting.

Even the small joys of tulips and daffodils as they poke through

when spring arrives!

Bye Chevy, Hello Rambler!

Long long ago before DIY became what it is today,

my mom was a WHIZ at making things look fancy!

This simple table and stool was covered to match in pink checks!

In the center, there is a two drawer cedar jewelry box,

a gift from a trip to Minnesota, 

that still sits on my dresser today, 50+ years later.

 Not sure what this "sit in" was about ....

was I in some kind of time out?

or was I just being really grumpy?

They're towing our car away.....

Across the street, you can see the Armory

and such a little tow truck!

In the backseat of this Chevy

was my indian feather headdress I liked to wear.

I was sad about losing that for days.

We replaced the old Chevy with a new 1963 Rambler

by American Motors.  I remember it being fun to have

a brand new car!  Seat belts weren't installed in this car

until federally mandated in January 1968. 

Lori and I had the whole back seat to ourselves!

No AC, crank windows, AM radio, standard shift --- it was awesome!

When I was in grade school, I had to write something,

and I recall writing about hearing my Dad leave for work

early in the morning, with the "Roar of the Rambler" ....

It must have had a distinct sound!

New Baby Sister!

Oh. My. Goodness!  A new baby in the house -- to a four year old girl,

I'm sure it felt like she was going to be my own new baby doll!

Check out that smile!

(and the hat and gloves ... must be time for church!)

Through our growing up years, we stopped at this same spot

for a family picture along Camden Avenue

whenever we went to visit my Uncle Bob and Aunt Shirley.

I wonder if that grimace on my face is from

the sun?  or my hair bows are in too tight?

Strollers weren't what they are now, that's for sure!

This one definitely didn't fold, but maybe the handle part did.

So much fun pushing my sister around!

I was pretty young when we lived in the duplex on Maude

I remember wearing footie pajamas

Dad bringing cherry popsicles when we were sick

Lori learning to walk, pulled the cover off the arm of the chair,

broke the glass and cut her foot so bad she couldn't get in the tub!

My mom stepped on a thumbtack

Eating a lot of Bean with Bacon soup

and grilled cheese sandwhiches

It's odd how memories sneak in to be remembered 

when you least expect them!

I remember the street being tarred, piles of asphalt in front

of the house, picking up one heavy piece and dropping it on my foot.

I still have that scar.

Good neighbors

Odd neighbors

and neighbors I don't recall at all.

Fashion!

Fashion is no match for a woman with a sewing machine!

Growing up, I vividly remember the outfits my mother sewed for us girls.  She always wanted us to look nice, and now that I look back on it, I have to wonder the reasons behind it all.  As a young girl, she grew up on a farm, and did without a lot of things other girls who lived in town might have had when it comes to fashion.  It was the 1950s and that had a lot of influence on emerging fashion.  The war had ended, and people were coming into a better way of life.  And then there was Jackie O --- as Mrs. Kennedy she carried a lot of influence in ladies' fashions.  (Easter Sunday ca 1965)

Research on the old adage “no white before Memorial Day or after Labor Day” rule is said to have originated in the 1930’s when the very wealthy began wearing nothing but white during the summer. This represented leisure (think country homes and croquet) whereas dark colors were associated mostly with the working class.   And while that might have been the adage, for some reason, we always had new white shoes and matching purses for Easter!

And then there's gloves (and it's own set of rules!)

• A well-dressed woman wore gloves and a hat outside the home for all but the most casual occasions. 
• 
  
• Gloves should be worn on the streets of cities and large town, when going to church, to a luncheon, dinner or reception; a dance, a wedding or an official function. They are also worn to a restaurant and in the theater.
• 
  
• Gloves must always be removed before eating, drinking, smoking, playing cards or putting on makeup.

No matter for the inspiration, my sister and I were always well dressed -- and matched!  Mom enjoyed sewing, and she created many many outfits for my sister and I.  For the whole family, in fact!
Check out this lovely brown plaid for the entire family!   *giggles*  
I happen to know in this instance, the material was a very good price!

And this only covers 1965 and 1966 ....
there were many more memorable outfits, but that's for a later post!

Happy Memories :)