Yesterday was a nasty wet, windy and gray day. Instead of doing all the things I should have been doing, I sat and looked at old pictures. It sure got me to thinking back to the 'good old days'! SO many memories - so many people gone - so many fun times. Then I got to thinking about things that I remembered from back in the day that you just don't hear about today.
ENJOY the trip back in time!
My outfit (had shorts underneath) and of course mom's dress were homemade. Oh my -what a snapshot of our life. I laugh every time I see this picture! This was our life!!!!!!
I am the only one left from this pic.
Gosh short dresses and long legs! No lack of either - LOL!
THINGS:
Hula hoops
Chatty Cathy
Hot pants and go-go boots
Transistor radios
Troll dolls
Fish fries at the school
Huge backyard family picnics
No such thing as charge cards!
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Things:
3 channel black & white TV
.35/gallon gas
Yo-Yo's
Lincoln Logs
Fishnet stockings and platform shoes
Pick Up Stix
Jacks
New cars for under $5,000
No AC
Paint by number sets
Gosh, we played simple. Slides, swings, hide n seek, red rover, bicycles, etc.
We lived simple - gardens, sewing, making our own entertainment - very seldom watched TV (we didn't have one till I was like 6), doors unlocked and never had a worry, much front porch sitting, Sunday school and Sunday family dinners.
We worked hard. Push mowers (not gas), gardened, canned, sewed, wringer washer and line dried laundry.
For me - these were good days - hard yes - but good and what seemed SIMPLE.
I miss those times. Thank goodness for memories.
Life sure has flown by and things sure have changed. Thanks for coming along on my little walk in the past! Hope it brings to mind some fun memories for you as well!
Paper dressing dolls! - Loved them.
ReplyDeleteAnd new clothes for Easter with a hat for Sunday church -yes same here
Love the paper dolls. Such fun.
DeleteNow people wear jeans to church. Sure could never have imagined that back in the day. Always had to be dressed up!
Awww, Cheryl, I LOVE this post! Yes, so many memories. In spite of so much turbulence when I was a child (of the 60s and 70s), I was a happy little girl overall. Swing sets. Bicycles with banana seats (if you remember those). Making dandelion chain necklaces in spring and summer. The sweet smell of honeysuckle hanging in the air. Helping a local, old farmer harvest his crops, then getting in trouble when he delivered a bushel basket of produce, because I wasn't supposed to stray out of our neighborhood. LOL!
ReplyDeleteTo bring a smile for you today (in thanks), my sister started singing the Green Acres theme song over the phone when she found out about the mini-farm that's next door to where we'll soon be. I'm a small town/suburban kind of girl about to become a country bumpkin in my old age. --Elise
P.S. LOVE those homemade dresses, and yes I remember them well! You look beautiful in yours!
Oh yes - you gave me more memories. Yes I remember banana seats. I didn't have one - but I sure remember. Dandelion chains!!! Honeysuckle and sweet peas!!!
DeleteOh that is funny about the farmer and the free produce. I bet mom was still happy to get the produce, even though you strayed!
Great minds!!!!! That song is just so funny, and it sure sticks in one's head! How cool, to have a small farm so close - maybe some barter at some point!!!!
You will love being a 'bumpkin'!!!!!
I've already thought about a kind of co-op, which won't surprise you in the least. We have a large, cleared area over the septic leach field. The contractor suggested grass. Nope. Although arthritis has twisted my feet and ankles (making gardening nearly impossible w/o surgery), discovering there's a young family next door gave me the idea that we could use the area for shared crops. Maybe arranging a barter for fresh eggs from their chickens, too? :-)
DeleteYou go girl! Great idea. I bet you will find a whole network of great deals there. It would be nice to not have to go to the grocery for much of anything and get it all local.
DeleteHey, maybe they might like to put a hoop house or something in that area - extending the growing time. Oh, but you will probably have a long growing season any way. But yes, so many ways to co-op. Love it. What a great new adventure this will be.
I chuckled at the family pic - your dad had the farmer's tan my dad sported too. Your homemade outfits were lovely! And goodness your sister was tall.
ReplyDeleteMy memories are a few years later than yours. Though we did play red rover with my dad, dodge ball at school, and went ice skating in the winter. Our television had three channels but one was in French so we never watched it. I remember my mom was excited when colour television was introduced but none of us realized we needed an actual colour television to see it. Were we ever disappointed when Disney wasn't in the colour as promised on our old set.
I grew up without running water until I was in my teens...we used we had running water, we ran and got it. From the well for drinking water, and from the water tanks for washing water. I really wouldn't want to go back to that time! :p
But it is fun to think back to how things were when we were young and our parents were the responsible ones.
Maebeme, at this particular moment in my life, involved in a complicated, protracted move at age 60, I've said openly that it would be wonderful (for me) to have someone else in charge!
Delete--Elise
Maebeme it was nice not having a care in the world. Just what were we going to play next. Sure there were chores - but gosh none of the big responsibilities.
DeleteI wouldn't want to get water either - that would have been a heavy chore. We had water and a toilet indoors - but no tub until I was about 9/10. That was huge!
We sure did have some fun.
Elise I don't blame you - that is huge and not fun. The end result will be worth it!!!!!!
DeleteIt was such a wonderful life back then. You were the tall girl with long legs this short fire hydrant always wanted to be!
ReplyDeleteIt was a neat time.
DeleteLOL - Yep, I was as tall in the 6th grade as I am now! All legs. I hated it then, because the boys were all shorter.
We all wish for something different, don't we?
Cheryl, what a fun trip on Memory Lane. I am maybe 4-5 yrs older than you. But when you said pantyhose, made me think back. They were just coming about in my high school years. First we either wore a garter belt or a girdle....like we needed it then! Ha! But in PE we had to change among an open room. Some of the girls had the fanciest girdles and bras and quite the side selection.I laugh thinking of it now. You were and are a gorgeous gal! I remember the handcrafted clothes...how special! My mom didn't see but my 4-H leader taught me and I had fun making several things as we did have our own machine at home. Mom used it to mend. I remember was day...filling up that old wringer washer and rinse tub. Then dumping it all by hand afterwards. Of course, clothes were hung on the line and oh gracious...all that ironing. But that wasn't a chore I minded. You ironed all clothes, dishy towels...they were either feedbacks or embroidered fancy ones, cotton bras,pillowcases, etc. I loved paper dolls. Remember McCall's magazine had a small sheet each issue... couldn't wait. We had badminton in the yard. Played when the family gathered....which we usually did weekly. I had such fun playing outdoors with my cousins. Do you remember push up ice cream...yummy! I could go on and on. You sure made me smile today!
ReplyDeleteI hear ya, I could go on and on too. You brought up some things I forgot about. We had badminton and croquet - mom got both with green stamps.
DeleteMom used to sew for the neighbors so I would watch and she taught me and then I did 4-H too.
I hated ironing then and still do! I think it WAS because they ironed everything - even daddies undies were ironed! I remember my ex asking me after we got married, why I ironed his t-shirts. I had no idea not everyone did that. That soon stopped!!!! LOL
My nylons were with a garter belt for a long time. I didn't get to ware nylons often, just special occasions, but sure thought I was something.
I loved push-up ice cream!
Glad you got a smile!!!!!
What fun. I remember all of these things. You were a beautiful girl, and you still are beautiful. I so remember the Easter gloves, and hat. The white anklets and white shoes.
ReplyDeleteOh how sweet you are. I was sure a gangly long drink of water when I was a kid.
DeleteEaster was a special time. All dressed up and everyone did it!
What fun.
I'm in my 50s, but still remember lots of this. I grew up in Los Angeles so no green acres for me!! I was an official "Valley Girl" so that comes with a whole extra group of silly memories in my teens.
ReplyDeleteThere was an episode of "The Middle" where Frankie the mom was trying to teach her kids about her own childhood memories and it was so sad, but funny. Running through the sprinklers and drive in movies. Nearly everyone had a pool, but we still loved running through the sprinklers on a hot day. We'd play follow the leader through them and do somersaults, cartwheels, etc. Jump rope and hopscotch. I still remember all those jump rope chants!! "Not last night but the night before, 25 robbers came knocking on my door...". And remember the hand clapping playground games like "Oh playmate, come out and play with me and bring your dollies three..."?? Such simple entertainment. Or someone getting in trouble for taking off their shoelaces at recess to play Cat's Cradle!!
Now Velcro ruins the fun! I think I can still do a Chicken Foot with yarn!
Cheryl, you were a gorgeous babe with those legs!! I never had to deal with garter belts or those feminine products that used belts, thank goodness! I went from white tights right into nylons and adhesive strips. However, I did have some shiny black go-go boots in 4th grade. I thought I was the bomb hahaha!! I wore wedgies and Vans in junior high and clogs by Mia in high school..and my formals were Gunne Sax.
Fun Throwback Thursday!!
Valley girl- oh my. I remember that whole time period. It was never me, but I do remember - lots of big hair!!!!
DeleteJump rope and hopscotch - yes quite fun. Sprinklers were a must on a hot day - we didn't have home pools much here in the midwest - unless you went to the public pool. My girlfriend and I used to walk a ways to a new apartment complex not far away, and use their pool to get wet and sun at!
I guess at some point we all thought we were the hot momma! I pretty much became "hippy chic" in junior and senior year. I did clean up well and could look nice in fancy clothes - but preferred my bellbottom jeans and tank tops and barefoot of course! Of course, we couldn't dress like that at school - it was dresses until senior year and then no jeans or t-shirts for girls.
Oh the good fun of it all.
Enjoyed your post, always do. It's funny, I've been thinking lately of all the things we used to do outside as children. Outside was a magical place when I was a child and it was always hard to tear myself away and go inside when my mother called. I remember the clover necklaces and crowns and endless blowing of those dandelions into the air, never got old. I also remember getting small flower petals, wetting them and putting them on our fingernails, nail polish for those too young to wear nail polish. What wonderful memories of endless summers!
ReplyDeleteOutside was such a magical place. Your imagination was the only thing limiting you! So unlike kids today, who start watching a computer screen as a baby!!!
DeleteLove the petals on the nails - I don't think I ever did that. Quite ingenious!
Thanks!
You look so pretty in your dance outfit! My mother (one of your fellow Hoosiers) always wore a dress like your mother. I made all my clothes back then too and loved them. Thank you for sharing. You made me smile. Have a Happy Easter. Lynn Ewing
ReplyDeleteLynn - those house dresses were the thing back in the day. I guess if was called a shift dress - maybe! Loose and comfortable.
DeleteIt was fun making clothes - we could get so creative. Now it almost costs too much.
I smiled at your memories. My sister and I loved the paper dolls. I'm from the UK so I had a Sindy Doll, my sister's younger so she had Barbies and Ken. We used to play out and roam through the fields during school holidays and yes it was best clothes for church. You look glamorous in your dance dress. I wish I still had the legs for short dresses, lol. I read your post earlier and had ' Green Acres' in my head for some time afterwards.
ReplyDeleteLOL - I knew that song would be in someone's head all day!!!!
DeleteThank you for the compliment. I don't do short today - wouldn't think of it. It sure was a thing back then!
We all have so much in common no matter where we live. It is truly amazing.
Loved your walk down memory lane. Many of the same things here to.
ReplyDeleteYou were very pretty in your home made dresses. Sylvia x
Aaahhh shucks - thank you mam!
DeleteThanks - I figure many of us remember the same things.
Such good memories! Sprinklers, sheets hanging on the line, summer forts built out of an old blanket, sheet, or tablecloth draped over the picnic table, bikes with playing cards clipped so that they chattered in the spokes ... paper dolls, and then came the ones with vinyl clothes that affixed with static cling. And matching dresses for us girls, made by mom and grams, for Easter Sunday, complete with a fancy bonnet (saved and handed down, maybe with a changed ribbon or new flowers) and white gloves. And when it was warmer, kool-aid, and home made freezer pops from juice or kool-aid to help keep us cool. Such a simple time, but one that taught me so many lessons.
ReplyDeleteOh, and daisy chains made from folded gum wrappers!
DeleteYes, yes and yes!!!! I remember all those things. Mom often made her and I a dress alike. Easter was always fancy.
DeleteI loved sitting on the front porch swing with my glass of Kool-aid watching the cars go by or petting my kitty.
So many fun memories.
Cheryl, the picture of you with your family is next to your profile picture and you haven't changed a bit! Your dresses were handmade, not homemade, and very nice. I heard a seamstress say that there is a big difference in the skill set. Dresses and skirts seem to be making a comeback and lots of gals wear them for everyday chores. I loved dolls of all sorts and paper dolls were some of my favorites. Didn't we have tissues in colors also? I did a quick search and the colored TP started in the '50's and was phased out in the late 80's for various reasons, one of which was the dyes used were not healthy for a sensitive area of the body. I know, TMI!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend!
Yes handmade! I know a lot of people who only wear dresses again.
DeleteYes we had colored tissues too. They were all so pretty. Lots of fancy paper towels too! All kinds of prints.
Thank you and you have a wonderful weekend as well.
What a fun memory seeing that colored toilet paper. My grandma always and I mean always had the pink toilet paper in her bathroom. That'll always remind me of her. I miss her so much. She was the best grandma and we didn't deserve her. And of course pick up sticks, paint by numbers and lincoln logs my brothers played with. What about click clacks? We loved those. We had so much fun and now looking back we didn't realize how much fun we were having. You were beautiful in your junior dance picture. I bet you have good memories of that night. That Green Acres comment cracked me up. I thought you all looked pretty nice in that picture.
ReplyDeleteWhat a blessing memories are. Sounds like grandma was a treasure in your life.
DeleteOh those clackers were fun and darn they were dangerous!! So many things back then were fun, but looking back, not the smartest. How about Jarts?? LOL
Actually I only remember who I went with and not much about the dance. I went to 2 dances and they were both with the same person (my first boyfriend).
I didn't do prom - as by then, I was dating someone out of school already (my ex).
Thank you so much.
I guess it must be daddies pose that makes me think green acres! LOL
Love your photos!! I remember the colored toilet paper. And I remember getting white gloves to wear for Easter. Good ole days!
ReplyDeleteIndeed the gold old days. Such fond memories!
DeleteI was born in the 40's, so memories go way back! Always sprinklers in the summer, and skating on the sidewalk---don't lose your skate key! My (used and painted) bike was my freedom. Summer nights with the cicada's buzzing...then we would collect all the exoskeletons when they left them! Maple trees in the front "tree lawn" (city property) and they would send those helicopter seeds flying...if you put them in your mouth just so,you could make a noise with them. My Dad built our first television when I was about 6 or so. Huge cabinet---tiny screen! Riding bikes in the street in the evening, with moms sitting on porch stoops watching us. Always belonged to the summer reading club at the library--I devoured books! Great post, Cheryl!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, skating - forgot that. I wasn't good at it and had a lot of skinned knees - but I sure had fun trying. I remember collecting lightening bugs in jars and those maple whirlies!! I have those now and despise them! LOL
DeleteLife was sure grand then. Such lovely memories!
Oh I just love all the photos Cheryl! Love your Mom's dresses, your sister's big hair, Your beautiful Easter dress, and your Dad the farmer is just perfect!
ReplyDeleteThanks - things sure have changed over the years. Daddy looked like that any time he was home! He was always in the garden.
DeleteBorn in 1939. Playing outside in the summer till the street lights came on. Jumping rope, playing jacks, paper dolls, riding bikes, roller skating (still have the key)going to the cities swimming pool, cost was 15 cents. Saturday afternoon movies, that started with a cartoon. I too, cherish those memories. What a wonderful post today!!!
ReplyDeleteFunny, I don't remember streetlights at all - but we know by dark! I never got to do the Saturday movies, but did love cartoons in the morning. My siblings all did the movie thing. I got kind of protected (as a sickly child).
DeleteGlad you enjoyed it and thanks for posting your own memories.
Oh, and marbles, we always traded them, and comic books were traded too. Kool Aid, was the drink of the day, with soda crackers, sitting under the back yard maple tree.
ReplyDeleteLoved comic books. Always Kool-Aid and tea at our house. I remember sitting out under the apple tree and eating green apples for ages at a time. Many belly aches.
DeleteWhat a fun walk down Memory Lane! As a child of the 60s and early 70s, I remember all of the above.
ReplyDeleteWasn't allowed Barbie (too risque!), but had Skipper and Penny Brite and made them clothes. Rag dolls that I named for the girls in the "Little House on the Prairie" books. Made them clothes, too. Playing with my brother's blocks, Lincoln Logs, erector set and Tonka trucks. Archeological excavations (digging with an old trowel) in the back yard for Indian relics (never found any). Reading library books from the Bookmobile on an old quilt under the elm tree in the front yard. The lilac bush outside our bedroom window. Always associated that with my grandma who used Avon lilac dusting powder. The Avon lady stopping by to see my mother. Pink Avon bubble bath. Skating in the driveway with strap-on roller skates. Had a purple bike with a banana seat. Look, Mom! No hands!! Running through the sprinkler. Hanging out laundry, bringing in laundry, especially when a sudden rain shower came up and it was all hands on deck to get the laundry in. Digging dandelions for pocket change. Penny candy. Bought my first transistor radio for $7 (birthday money from my grandparents) at the Ben Franklin store. I still have that radio, and it still works. Cutting out paper dolls from old pattern books the local fabric store had discarded. Visiting my grandparents on the farm and finding Indian arrowheads and beads. Finding old bottles in the farm's midden. Riding in the back of the old pickup truck on the farm. Feeding calves from a big baby bottle. Picking strawberries with my grandma and eating more than we saved. Grandma's strawberry shortcake. On rainy visits, playing with Grandma's big jar of old buttons. Fishing with a cane pole. Using the outhouse. Sitting in their driveway in the chat (mining waste) and looking for fossils. Sneakers with rubber on the toe. I always wanted a pair of plaid ones, but they didn't come in a narrow width. Practically living at the school playground. Wearing shorts under my school dresses so I could hang upside down on the monkey bars. "I see London, I see France, I see someone's underpants!" Homemade ice cream, hand-cranked. Playing jacks. Climbing trees. Croquet. A red wagon. My brother had a pedal tractor. Practicing the piano. Talking into the breeze box fan so it made our voices sound funny. Three channels on the B&W TV, we kids were the 'remote control'. Sitting in the crawl space under the house when the tornado siren sounded. Always wore a dress and some sort of hat (or chapel veil) to Mass on Sunday. Confession on Saturday (what's an 8-yo got to confess, anyway?) Girl Scout day camp. Kook-aid. Crush pop was a big treat, as were the 5/$1 hamburgers from Mr. Swiss. Sewing a dress for myself every summer starting when I was 7 years old.
Cheryl, I made myself a dress very similar to your dance dress for my 9th grade graduation. May have even been the same pattern. It had the high waistline and leg-of-mutton sleeves, but mine had a high neckline with a mock-neck collar and was a maxi dress made out of blue polyester knit.
Oh girl, I was picturing all the things you mentioned. What great times. I loved grape Nehi - grape is still a favorite. Never had pop much as a child - it was sure a treat.
DeleteDigging - I would go out back in the corner of the garden and dig and dig and did find stuff. I think it was probably the trash area for whoever lived there before.
Boys were always running around the girls on the playground and pulling their dresses up. "dress up day" they would exclaim. Boy would they be in big trouble today!!!
It may have been the same pattern - usually pattens have several variations.
I have mom's button jar. I wish I had memories from grandparents - that is something I feel I missed out on.
I have truly enjoyed reading all these things. We have helped each other go back a little!
I so remember looking forward to an new bonnet, purse and gloves every Easter.
ReplyDeleteIt has been a long time since coloured toilet paper that I had almost forgotten. Loved matching the colour to the decor.
I remember hot pants, and tiny shorts under dresses as well.
God bless.
Everyone always looked so pretty at Easter. Oh yes, hot pants! Girls wear some pretty short ones today as well. I had several little dresses with shorts underneath.
DeleteTaking turns sitting on the ice cream during the cranking by Dad. The kids wanting chocolate or vanilla but most often was peach with the fruit from our tree. Skating was done at the so called rink. It was an open air rink, with roll up flaps/tarps to let the cool air in. I have never seen one any where else or heard any stories from other people. It was called Bucky's and was the most wonderful thing. Did anyone else have this in their small town?
ReplyDeleteOf course, we had new Sunday Easter clothes and patent leather shoes. One year we were given easter chicks. Two lived, past easter and grew into one mean rooster and one sweet hen. Gosh, how I wish we could go back to those days. Nothing is simple anymore. I try to keep it simple, people just freak out. How can I live without this that and the other? Easy, I have been there and done that. Simple is the right way, there is no one I need to impress. I just do the things that make me happy. People make such a big deal of all new things and have no appreciation of all the so called old things. You should live the best of both worlds!!
I have never seen an open air roller rink. The one here was inside. That is interesting.
DeleteGoodness, I forgot about getting a chick for Easter. Mine turned out to be a Rooster and boy was that thing mean. For some reason only mean to me!!! It would chase me all around the house - then one day it disappeared! Hmmmmm - never figured I got the honest story on that. LOL
I so agree - simple just makes since. Could not care any less what others think. Everything today is different - especially the people - just no common sense.
A lovely trip down memory lane Cheryl. I have to say I love that pink and floral toilet paper! We used to get boxes of tissues that were softest pink, blue and lemon. As you pulled them out you got a different colour. I loved them. Even today I would love them! There is something about the little morning things in life being pretty! I am a homely person. I am thrilled over things like a pretty tea cup. All the beautiful things we did as kids. They really were the days! xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks. Our bathrooms were always color coordinated! I thought all the paper products were so pretty too. Little pretties can just make you smile - and that is wonderful.
DeleteIt seems the simplest things bring the most joy!
I remember all this. Before I read your post, I started thinking about the colored toilet paper. I wish we still had that. But, I do understand why it was discontinued.
ReplyDeleteIt sure was pretty. Paper towels were even pretty back in the day - all kinds of designs. Now we settle for white!
DeleteI remember the colored toilet paper too. Such fond memories can be found when looking at old photos. I like walking down memory lane.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. Just like walking back in time.
Delete