An Addition to My Collection

Last week, Small Notebook posted this question: "What Do You Collect?" which made me pause and consider what it is I collect. There are lots of things I have because I like them but not necessarily because I collect them. One thing I do collect is vintage cookbooks.



I don't think I started this collection intentionally. It evolved. I've enjoyed reading cookbooks for years. My reading of cookbooks started when I was 8 and received the Betty Crocker New Boys and Girls Cookbook as a gift from my mother. I remember looking at the photographs in it for hours and wanting to make every single recipe in it. I branched out and began reading other cookbooks that were in mom's pantry.



Fast forward 18 years when I was a new bride and I wanted to cook for Lawman. I started reading cookbooks and cooking magazines again. I started testing recipes. I found my love of cooking. My mom soon saw my love of cookbooks and she gave me some that had been in her collection as well as some from her mother. Now as I sit here writing, I can see, at a glance, 11 vintage cookbooks. The oldest copyright date that I can find in my collection is 1926. Most of them are from the 50's, 60's and 70's.



Alison surprised me with a new addition last week, The Split-Level Cookbook by LouAnn Gaeddert (photo above). I can't tell you how happy that made me. And, the fact that she found it at a thrift sotre made it even better. I love that she knows what I like; it makes me feel all warm & fuzzy inside.



As I read through this book last weekend, I had to smile. The copyright is 1967 which I believe is about the time that the suburbs became popular with American families. The introduction states, "The leisurely family dinner with Father presiding at the head of the table has, for millions of families in this country, become a sometime -even a rare - thing. Blame Father's commuter train, his business duties which often keep him at his desk long after his secretary has gone home, or his huge business lunches." Sadly, I'm not sure much has changed since then as the majority of families don't have dinner around the table together.

In a recipe for Beef Packages, the instructions read, "Bring the sides of the foil up and wrap loosely with druggist's folds." I know I've never seen that before.

One recipe title gave me the giggles...Smoked Butts with Crab Apples. I had this scene in my head of Lawman coming home and asking what was for dinner. My reply, "Smoked Butts, dear." Oh the hysteria. Surely you think it's funny, right? Please tell me it's not just me.

With each recipe is listed a suggested menu, including dessert. I don't make dessert every night,do you? I'm not a June Cleaver.

Preserving Art

Here's the scenario. It's the end of the school year and your child brings home their art work. All of it. Nine months worth.


According to your child, every piece is a master piece. It must be saved.


Now here's where you, the parent, comes in. What are you going to do with it?

My girls are 16 and 13 so you know I've seen my fair share of art projects. Several years ago I got these projects out and had them framed. They now grace our entry area as art.


I've loved these projects since the day they brought them home. In kindergarden, each child does this same project. They paint the Statue of Liberty (aka Lady Liberty).

They're darling. Plus, the fact that I have a matched set makes it even better.

I SPY ~ Homemade

My family will be gathering for our Christmas celebration on Saturday. Our family is quite large when we all get together so this year we have rented a community facility rather than gathering at someone's home.

I thought I'd try to come up with something that could keep the littlest ones busy for a while. Here's what I did with the help of my youngest.

We filled empty (and dry, that's important) water bottles with bird seed, about halfway. Then we added little treasures which could be searched for and added more bird seed so the bottle was about 3/4 full. We added a tag with this poem:

Some pirates got it all mixed up

And did things wrong way 'round.

They put the treasure in a bottle

And buried the map in the ground!

Their treasure was some silly stuff

Like needles, screws, and beads.

Then dear old Polly Parrot

Added all her extra seeds!

So find the items hidden here

No two are quite the same.

On the backside of the tag we listed the items to be found. Here's what we used:

• paper clip
• safety pin
• cup hook
• bird (miniature from Hobby Lobby)
• feather
• rubberband
• ribbon
• marble
• button
• shoe (miniature from Hobby Lobby)
• jingle bell
• gem
• rosette
• beads

For safety reasons, we hot-glued the lids on.

I think Madison and I had as much fun making these as the little ones will trying to spy all the treasures. These would make great party favors for a pirate themed birthday party.

Note: I don't know who to credit for the idea or the poem. I read this in an email several years ago and didn't think to write that information down.

Bright Spot

A few weeks ago I won something. A blog contest.

Amanda has a fabulous site. She shares many photos and each one of them speaks volumes. I wish she lived closer so she could take a photo of our family.

My winnings arrived yesterday. Aren't the packages just the cutest?

When I won, I received an email from Amanda which included several questions. The answers to these questions would reveal to her my favorites.....foods, flowers, scents, what I'd love to have for myself but never buy, what luxuries do I purchase for myself, a perfect day, etc.

She took those answers and used them to create a customized gift. See my pretties? A coffee scented candle (because I like the smell of a coffee shop), the cutest button magnets, a photo (which I'm sure she took) and then superimposed my answers to her questions on it and a ring. Isn't it lovely? I'm wearing it this morning. I smile each time I look at it.

Thanks so much Amanda! You were the bright spot in my day.

Saturday Treasures

Today is "City Wide Garage Sale" day in our town.

Our newspaper arrived Wednesday, complete with map and ads. Blonde 3 read through each ad and even high-lighted what she thought would be the "have to go to" sales.

She and I were out the door before 7:30 this morning. She didn't have much luck but I found a few treasures and spent a total of $2.25.

I purchased a corning ware pie plate to replace one that broke months ago. The holiday Debbie Mumm spreders will be a great little extra to give with a cheese ball and crackers to neighbors this Christmas. The wine charms will be a fun little extra to have when we entertain friends or family during the holidays. And what I consider to be the best bargain of all is the More Make A Mix Cookery book. I've checked this out from the library before and really enjoyed it. For a mere 25 cents, I'm now able to enjoy it anytime I want.