January 2, 1964 – A Journal Memory

Throughout the years while I was raising my four kids (beginning in 1954), I kept a journal where I periodically made notes about holidays, school, vacations, etc.  As an occasion arises where I think one of my journal entries would be pertinent, I’m going to post it just as I wrote or typed it back in the day (except for an explanatory note or correction of a typo).  

The children will be known here by the nicknames their grandfather used when they were toddlers:  The oldest daughter will be Newsie (because she was as good as a newspaper for finding out the latest happenings), the oldest son is Bar (because he called Grandpa’s truck Bar and Grandpa called him Bar), the youngest son is Jackson, and the youngest daughter is Shanty (as in Shanty-Boat).

In January, 1964, we were a family of five: mother, father, 9-year-old daughter Newsie, 7-year-old son Bar, and 3-year-old son Jackson.  We lived in a 1922 two-story home in the Oakley suburb of Cincinnati with a nice backyard for the kids to play in.  Jackson was prone to the croup and didn’t get to go out and play in the big snow that greeted us on the first day of January, 1964.

Maple Drive greeted 1964 wearing a thick blanket of white as seven inches of snow covered Cincinnati early on New Year’s Day.  The street is rutted deeply with tread marks and the cars are all wearing top-pieces of snow which occasionally tilt rakishly on the side as the sun grows warmer.  Most of the walks are neatly shoveled and salted so the kids troop gleefully across lawns and up the middle of the roads.  Our kids got an extra two days of vacation due to the snow and showed their appreciation by wallowing in it all day.  As a surprise for Jackson and me, Newsie and Bar fashioned a plump snowman with all the trimmings—limb arms, rock eyes and buttons, plaid scarf and Bar’s green leather cap.  Jackson can look through the dining room window and see friend snowman staring back at him from the yard, which is pocked with footmarks of various sizes.”

L – January 2, 1964

Jackson had six more years to be the baby before another daughter came along and I love to read in my notes where the two older children went out of their way to surprise and please their little brother.  Happy memories of almost 50 years ago.

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A Fundraiser for Children in Haiti

My 13-year-old grandson is taking part in a fund drive by his French class to raise money for children in Haiti.  The following was copied from his guest post on his mother‘s blog:

“The purpose of this project is to raise money for children in Haiti so they’ll be able to go to school and buy the many things that we have but they do not.  In other words, it’s all about helping those less fortunate.  I feel that this project is important because it’s helping kids who really need it and it can have a positive impact because the children in Haiti will have a chance to go to school, get nutritious food, and have a future.

I care about this project because I think that children in Haiti deserve a better lifestyle than they currently have.  The life of these children right now is dreadful, they are forced to work like animals and are treated like slaves.  Kids are pretty much servants to a family.  They get up before everyone else, do the cooking, the cleaning, they’re often hungry because they don’t get good food, and it’s not unusual for them to be abused.  They don’t have a fraction of the stuff we have and without an education they don’t have a chance to make their lives better.  Please make a donation so that we can help provide these kids with clothing, blankets, school supplies, shoes, and, most important, an education.  Thank you!”

The French teacher has created the From Loveland to Haiti:  French Students Providing Hope blog.  There you’ll find information on the community service project, as well as regular updates.  If you’d like to help with a monetary donation, you can do so with a check made payable to Loveland City Schools with LMS French Class for Haiti in the memo line and mailed to:

Loveland Middle School
Attn:  French Class for Haiti Fundraiser
801 South Lebanon Road
Loveland, Ohio  45140

OR

Simply place a dollar in an envelope and mail to the above address.  Every little bit helps.

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Pause and Remember – 12/23/2011

On Friday, I pause and remember a single, wordless moment from the past week – inspired by The Warden’s Log.

Daughter and Grandchildren Bake Christmas Cookies

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The Manger Scene

Throughout the years while I was raising my four kids (beginning in 1954), I kept a journal where I periodically made notes about holidays, school, vacations, etc.  As an occasion arises where I think one of my journal entries would be pertinent, I’m going to post it just as I wrote or typed it back in the day (except for an explanatory note or correction of a typo).  

The children will be known here by the nicknames their grandfather used when they were toddlers:  The oldest daughter will be Newsie (because she was as good as a newspaper for finding out the latest happenings), the oldest son is Bar (because he called Grandpa’s truck Bar and Grandpa called him Bar), the youngest son is Jackson, and the youngest daughter is Shanty (as in Shanty-Boat).

In 1954, I had an 8-month-old baby girl and was looking forward to her first Christmas.

Newsie, 8 months old, 1954

One day in December, I carried Newsie on one arm, a folding Taylor Tot on the other, and boarded the bus to go to downtown Cincinnati.  My mother worked in the large Shillito’s department store and I liked to meet her at lunchtime to do a little shopping.  That year, for my first Christmas with a baby in the house, I really wanted what we called a manger scene – or creche or crib – with the little figures to set up on a table.  We found one with a cardboard stable complete with the Holy Family, angels, shepherds, wise men, sheep, a donkey and a cow.

I fell in love with it but didn’t have the $5 to purchase it.  My mother bought it for me on the spot and it has held a place of honor for all these years.

I arranged the set on a low table so that little ones could get a good view of it.  I don’t recall Newsie ever touching the figures, but the two brothers who soon came along were inclined to use the stable as a parking garage for their mini cars, with the figures scattered helter-skelter.

When little sister Shanty came along in 1970, she was just as fascinated with it:

“We are just about ready for Christmas, 1972.  The tree has been up for a couple of weeks now and Shanty continuously takes down ornaments, rearranges ornaments, breaks ornaments….She fools with the tree constantly and is almost as bad with the manger scene.  At any time we can find the whole set down on the floor where she has been ‘playing house’ with it.
December, 1972”

Shanty, 2 years of age, 1972

The stable has been replaced many times.  Some of the figures were broken – the wisemen seemed to be particularly hard-hit – and I was lucky to find vintage replacements for them in an antique store about 20 years ago.  Most of the figures are original with one headless sheep…

… and just a few chips here and there.  Now, the manger scene sets as it always did, low enough for small children to get a good look at the figures and maybe even switch them around a little.  I don’t mind the chips when I see little hands moving the angels forward a bit or repositioning the donkey.  This year, the great-grandson  arranged the figures as if they were on a stage with everyone facing the audience.

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Pause and Remember – 12/16/2011

On Friday, I pause and remember a single, wordless moment from the past week – inspired by The Warden’s Log.

Great-Grandson likes The Nutcracker ballet

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Visits to Santa Claus – 1956 to 1972

Throughout the years while I was raising my four kids (beginning in 1954), I kept a journal where I periodically made notes about holidays, school, vacations, etc.  As an occasion arises where I think one of my journal entries would be pertinent, I’m going to post it just as I wrote or typed it back in the day (except for an explanatory note or correction of a typo).  

The children will be known here by the nicknames their grandfather used when they were toddlers:  The oldest daughter will be Newsie (because she was as good as a newspaper for finding out the latest happenings), the oldest son is Bar (because he called Grandpa’s truck Bar and Grandpa called him Bar), the youngest son is Jackson, and the youngest daughter is Shanty (as in Shanty-Boat).

VISITS TO SANTA CLAUS

Soon after Thanksgiving, we got on a bus to downtown Cincinnati and the big Shillito’s department store to visit Santa Claus.   This one was taken of Newsy in 1956.  Newsy took one look at it and told everyone, “It is the most amazing picture I ever saw.”

Newsy, 2 years of age – 1956

Bar was shy around strangers and refused to have his picture taken with Santa.  Instead we have a snapshot of him where he was happiest – straddling his mama’s hip.

Bar, 2 years of age, 1958

By the time Jackson was visiting Santa, we found him in a mall and the pictures were in color.

Jackson, 2 years of age, 1962

“Newsy and I took Shanty to town on 12/20 to see the decorations and to visit Santa Claus.  She ate the two little candy canes almost immediately and pestered me to carry her the entire way through town.  12/20/72″

And now the great-grandchildren are having pictures taken with Santa.

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Thanksgiving, 1964

Throughout the years while I was raising my four kids (beginning in 1954), I kept a journal where I periodically made notes about holidays, school, vacations, etc.  As an occasion arises where I think one of my journal entries would be pertinent, I’m going to post it just as I wrote or typed it back in the day (except for an explanatory note or correction of a typo).  

The children will be known here by the nicknames their grandfather used when they were toddlers:  The oldest daughter will be Newsie (because she was as good as a newspaper for finding out the latest happenings), the oldest son is Bar (because he called Grandpa’s truck Bar and Grandpa called him Bar), the youngest son is Jackson, and the youngest daughter is Shanty (as in Shanty-Boat).

This journal entry was made 6 years before Shanty was born.  We were living in a 1922 house on Maple Drive in Oakley, a suburb of Cincinnati.  My mother and father lived at the other end of Maple Drive.

THANKSGIVING DAY, 1964

Bar, 8 years of age, and Newsie, age 10

Jackson, 4 years old

The afternoon sun is bright as it shines on the white birch in the backyard.  A gaudy red cardinal perches on the fence while his earth-brown mate pecks at the grass.  A great pile of leaves is heaped at the entrance to the hollow, waiting patiently for a push into the woods below.  The houses across the hollow are in clear view now that the leaves are gone and our forest of the summer has become an autumn canyon.

Dinner is over and the dishes washed and put away.  The turkey was golden brown and only lost its two wings in its transport from roasting pan to platter.  The potatoes were perfect, according to Newsie, and the rolls, light.  We all ate too much, as usual, while Penny (our dog) whined in the basement, eager to get her share of the feast.

When I look back on Thanksgiving, 1964, I’ll probably remember Newsie busily toasting bread and cutting it into cubes for the dressing; Jackson putting great slabs of turkey on a roll with radishes and making a sandwich; Bar, in his football helmet, either playing football in the street in front of the house or watching the game on television; Frank (husband) lounging on the floor in front of the television after consuming an enormous helping of everything on the dinner table; Grandpa coming through the back door into the kitchen carrying a bowl of half-beaten whipped cream for me to finish up after their mixer had broken; the parades in the morning on TV, the aroma of roast turkey filling the house, the frenzy of getting everything on the table at once, the feeling of gratitude for everything I have.

Lillian – Thanksgiving Day, 1964

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

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A Salad Buffet

My youngest son and his family (including their dog) come to visit every summer around the end of July.  He graduated from college, married his fiancee, moved to St. Louis and began his engineering career all within a month’s time in 1982.  This is my favorite picture of them taken quite a few years ago.  The girls have both graduated from college by now….

…and the dog, Brandy, passed away and has been replaced by Maggie.

Each year, there’s the decision of what to cook, particularly for the big family meal when everyone gets together.  It’s always blistering hot, of course, and I don’t want to spend all of my time in the kitchen.  This year, I decided to serve corn-on-the-cob from my local farm market and a Salad Buffet.  All but one of the salads have been posted previously on my blog and are old favorites:

• Broccoli-Bacon-Pecan Salad.  All of the women in the family especially like this salad.

• Chicken and Fruit Orzo Salad.  Another favorite of the women with chicken, orzo, pineapple, grapes, banana and almonds.

• Vegetable Pasta Salad.  This is an adaptation of the Tuna and Veggie Salad posted previously.  I omitted the tuna so I could have one plain pasta salad.

• Thai-Inspired Chicken and Noodle Salad.  This is a new salad this year and we all like it very much.  It’s good either room temperature or chilled.

THAI-INSPIRED CHICKEN AND NOODLE SALAD

• 8 oz. ( 4 cups) LoMein noodles (or thin spaghetti)
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1/3 cup Teriyaki sauce
• 1/3 cup rice vinegar
• 1 tsp. sesame oil
• 3 Tblsp. granulated sugar
• ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• few gratings of black pepper
• 2 chicken breast halves, baked and shredded
• 1/3 cup fresh cilantro leaves
• 1/4 cup toasted sunflower seeds

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  Add pasta and cook until al dente according to package directions.  Drain pasta and rinse with cold water.  Transfer pasta to a large bowl.

In a small bowl, combine canola oil, Teriyaki sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, peanut butter, ginger and pepper.   Mix well until smooth.  Pour dressing over pasta and toss to coat evenly.  Gently mix in chicken, cilantro and toasted sunflower seeds.

This makes a big bowl of salad – 6 to 8 servings.

For dessert we had a sundae bar and then went out on the patio to work off the calories.  My daughter-in-law brought water balloons and small fireworks and the visit ended with a flourish.

Already, I’m wondering – what can I cook next year?

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Tea at the American Girl Place, Chicago

Every year in June, my two daughters take the two grandchildren (known here as Dolphin and Jellyfish) on a special, kid-friendly trip.  This year, they chose Chicago and in addition to all the museums, shops and parks, they visited the American Girl Place.  Dolphin had just received her first American Girl doll, Kit from the 1930s era.  Her mother asked me to make a dress for each of them to wear for their visit.

I used Simplicity Pattern 2675 for Dolphin’s dress, and McCall’s M4336 for Kit’s.

At American Doll Place, they walked into an American Girl doll wonderland with all kinds of shops and displays.

There was an exhibit for each doll with vintage items.  Kit’s display included an old school desk, a pencil box and her pink sweater.

There was a beauty shop where Kit could get a pedicure and hair styling.

Kit looked beautiful after her visit to the beauty salon.

In the afternoon, they attended a tea in a beautiful dining room.

The selection of little sandwiches and pastries was wonderful.

Dolphin enjoyed the pink lemonade.

Everyone enjoyed the food.

Big brother Jellyfish was a good sport at a very “girly” affair.

Later, he took a nap in the lobby after American Girl Doll-overload.

For her 8th birthday on July 1, Dolphin chose another doll to join Kit.

It was a great visit to Chicago for all of them and OK with Jellyfish because he also got to see dinosaurs, dolphins and whales.

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Happy Thanksgiving

In the 1990s, my oldest daughter and I had a booth at a large craft mall which we kept supplied with a variety of handmade crafts.  My interest was in decorative painting.  I liked to scour antique malls and thrift shops to find old wooden or enamelware items to paint and sold hundreds of pieces over the years.

Fast forward to 2010 and a walk through the Ohio Valley Antique Mall in Fairfield, Ohio (near Cincinnati).  In one of their beautifully decorated booths, I saw a familiar object….an enamelware platter that I had painted in 1996.  I had adapted the design from a picture in a school textbook, simplifying it and adding a few items.

I had painted the design on several projects through the years but had never kept one for myself.   A week before Thanksgiving, this old platter seemed to call to me to take it back home, so I bought it and after 14 years, it’s on display in my living room.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYBODY.

Granddaughter at her First Grade Thanksgiving Dinner

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