Brown Bread and more..............

My guy and I were having a discussion about food.  We actually do this a lot, because he is a real foodie, and a great cook.  I mentioned to him about brown bread, and he thought I was talking about pumpernickel. Nope, I said, brown bread.  In a can.  He thought I was nuts, but I was sure I remembered it being served by my grandmother, when we would visit her in New York.  I was six or seven, and gotta say, I was not a fan of brown bread in a can.  I asked my mom, and she said yep, brown bread in a can, and it was delicious.  And that she hadnt' thought of it in years.

So I went looking online, and found it, at the Vermont Country Store.  Bought two cans of it for Jim for Christmas, and I don't think he's had it yet.  I also bought some for Mom and Dad, and tasted it when I was visiting and hey -- I love the stuff now.  Like a fine wine...............

But The Vermont Country Store, I've found, has lots of other cool stuff that hearkens from the past.  Like LemonUp shampoo, with the cool lemon shaped bottle top.  And Max Factor's Pan-Stick makeup, from the 40s and 50s.  And Evening in Paris perfume -- straight out of the 1920s.  And the real kicker?  Longcils Boncza liquid eyeliner -- used to give Miss Audrey Hepburn her beautiful cat eyes.  How cool is that?

They have lots of food, and housewares (including a selection of chenille bedspreads), and even some clothing brands like Lanz.  You can even find Necco wafers there.  Browse around, cause it really is a blast from the past.  And don't forget the brown bread in a can.

British Eye Candy

Gotta say, I'm a bit obsessed with this youtube channel.

Dearest Abby, May You Rest In Peace

We lost an icon of cultural history yesterday, with the passing of Abigail Van Buren, aka Dear Abby.  Pauline Esther Philips started her column in 1956, and quickly became known all around for her sage advice, often embellished with a bit of humor.  Her twin sister, Esther Pauline, aka Ann Landers, wrote a similar column.  I was honored to have a letter published by Ann Landers about 15 years ago.  I have a copy of it around here somewhere, and will always keep it, because it was my little 15 minutes of fame.  But it was Dear Abby who I grew up reading with my breakfast cereal every day, and whose style I preferred.

She grew up as "Popo," but took her pen name as her personal one, going by Abby to everyone who knew her.  Esther grew up as Eppie, and never used her pen name to friends and family.  Just hearing that the twins' names were Eppie and Popo makes me smile.

Rest in peace, girls.

I'm not sure of the year on this one, but I'm better late 50s.  And how about that early IBM Selectric typewriter?  That was some pretty fancy typing, for those days.

The Un-Bumpifier

You know, I generally don't understand these clingy maternity clothes women are wearing these days.  Maybe I'm old fashioned, or maybe I just don't like constricting clothing.  It's quite possible that I reject them solely on the basis of the occasional hot flash that creeps into my world, but one thing I do know:  I would never wear a maternity corset

I found one some time back at an antique store.  It was complete with the box and instructions, which clearly told the purchaser how to tie it for each month of pregnancy.  This concept is very foreign to me.

From 1915.

Kitschy on your head

I love this video.  And is the model at 1:39 Dovima?

I Dream of Gorgeous.

Leopard, yes?  And no, I'm not a an of fur, but this photo is about as close to perfection as anything I've seen.

Drool.....

Over these 1930s shoes.  I'm not sure of the specific date, however.