Christmas in Connecticut

Looking for a movie recommendation this weekend? Try one of my favorite Christmas movies,  "Christmas in Connecticut" starring Barbra Stanwyck. It has all the classic movie ingredients I love; a zany plot, delightful characters, a beautiful house, gorgeous costumes by Edith Head, wonderful Christmas decorations, and a couple of aprons!

(Don't you love that mammoth tree dripping with tinsel?!)

As the title implies, the plot revolves around a farmhouse in Connecticut.
Even though Elizabeth Lane (Barbra Stanwyck) doesn't own a farmhouse, she portrays herself as living on a Connecticut farm in her homemaking column. The publisher, unaware of Elizabeth's deception, invites himself and a returning war hero to her farmhouse for the holidays. Elizabeth and her editor hatch a plan to continue the charade. And you can imagine the hijinks that ensue.

"Christmas in Connecticut" was released in 1945, a time when everyone was weary of war and ready to return to pre-war homeyness. The movie abounds with old fashioned domesticity!  A cozy snow covered farmhouse, plenty of home cooked meals, a big cheerful kitchen, a crackling fire and a glittering Christmas tree. 

Nora, the housekeeper, is wearing an old fashioned white apron in this breakfast scene. 

There is even a comical flap-jack flipping scene! Don't you love the kitchen?

Even Barbra Stanwyck is wearing a gingham apron-esque dress, giving her a competent homemaker look.

One of my favorite scenes is when Elizabeth Lane and the war hero, Jefferson Jones, give the baby a bath. Isn't she wearing a fabulous apron?
And don't forget the charming bathroom! 

Have you seen "Christmas in Connecticut"? What is your favorite part of this fun holiday classic?

Vintage Find - Cottage Print

My newest vintage find- a little framed cottage print (top). These little prints can be hard to find, but are worth the wait!

So far my collection consists of two, but I am working on it! For now they both look lovely together in the book nook.

I am usually drawn to English countryside looking prints, but this one was too pretty to pass up. To me it looks very 1940's, but there isn't any identifying marks. 

Don't you love the flowering trees?

One of the reasons I am drawn to house pictures is home has always been a special place for me and my family. We have been blessed to have a safe place to be ourselves, discuss ideas and debate the latest crazy scheme. Home for us has always stood for Family.

Christmas Greetings from long ago....

This year the Book Nook is decked out in my grandmother's blue snowflakes. The blue didn't quite go with the living room decor as well as I was anticipating last year. When it came time to decide where to hang them this year, I immediately knew! The Book Nook!

 My Christmas card collection has grown a little since last year. I have been keeping an eye out at the antique shops and estate sales. Each one has a bit of a story to tell.

The bells card I found last year, it is one of my favorites! The house and sleigh cards reads "Do you remember me? I do you. Are you out yet? I received mine on 23 Sept. 1945."

This one came all the way from Sudbury, England! "From Goodie & Frank Merry Xmas"

This one brought a lump to my throat. Inside it reads:

Dear Chet, Here we are embarking on another adventure. This is our first "Peacetime" Christmas in many a year, may it be a happy one and may it be everything you have dreamed about for these past years when you had to be away from home. And may the pleasures of Christmas be enough to overflow into a glorious New Year of health, happiness and success. And may you enjoy many, many of these New Years so that you may live to a good old age and bask in the sunlight and happiness that you have so continuously brought to others. My best to a real friend, Sincerely Bob"

I left the snowflakes on the cardstock from last year and just hung them up with string and mini clothespins. Such a cute look, I might continue to use it after the holidays.

I also hung a few by the bedroom door.

Socks- Handknit by Beehive 1940

I picked up this sock booklet at an estate sale recently. Dated 1940, it is full of  socks for every age and type! And since the Fall is the perfect time to start stocking up on socks or working on Christmas presents, I decided to share it today.

"Beehive Sock Yarn is Distinguished for is neat footwork!" 

I love the lace topped sock in the right-hand corner. Hopefully, someday I will get around to making them! (The pattern is scanned at the bottom.) They are labeled as children's socks, but I am sure there is a way to adapt them.

Argyle socks look like they would take a bit more concentration. But I agree, they are "Perennially Smart"!

And what pattern book of this era would be complete without a Service Sock!

The pattern for the lace topped socks.

So, what type of socks do you love? Plain and simple? Something with a bit of dash? Or a smart argyle?

Summer + Books

 What can you say about August? We have been experiencing our usual weather, 90+ degrees and 98% humidity. It certainly doesn't make me want to go outside and work on any projects! 

I just want to lay in bed and read. Is anything nicer then a cool room and a good book on a hot day? (maybe a warm room and a good book on a cold day!?!)

 Several weeks ago my sister discovered Summer at Tiffany. It has been our summer favorite! The author, Marjorie Hart writes about the adventures she and her best friend have working at Tiffany's in the summer of 1945. It is a lovely story of friendship, life adventures and an exciting place at an exciting time. Woven through it is not only the awe and excitement two small town collage girls have for New York City, but the excitement of witnessing historical moments like VJ Day in Times Square.

After Summer at Tiffany, I was ready for more memoirs and found Our Hearts Were Young and Gay by Cordelia Otis Skinner, which I am about half way through. It is a romping tale of a European tour the summer of 1923. 

Next on the list is Here Come the Brides by Geraldine Napier. Though listed under fiction, it is told in memoir style and I am sure must be based on a true story. It is the hilarious accounts of the bridal salon in a large department store. 

More Favorite Memoirs; 

Living In State ~ Beatrice Russell

When We Went First Class ~ Ellen Williamson

Dearest Ones ~ Rosemary Norwalk

Cheaper By the Dozen ~ Frank Gilbreth

Bells on Their Toes ~ Frank Gilbreth

So what have you been reading lately?

Apron Patterns

 These are a few recent acquisitions to the pattern collection. This first one is a charmer! Early 1950's. A lovely apron that is flattering one for everyone with lots of coverage. Also included is a pot holder pattern. Love the polka dots of the one in the lower right hand corner.  

The first thing my sisters said when they saw it was, "I need one of those!". 

 This one is mid-50's. A hostess style apron. A little too many ruffles and bows for my taste, but the overall shape is very cute. 

I was very excited to see the applique transfers still in the pattern! I love all the options this pattern gives one. Late 1940's.

And how could a resist this elegant 1940's nightgown!?! (Even though I don't usually wear nightgowns, I am thinking maybe I need one)

I remember when old patterns were sold for a $.50 or a $1. The prices are crazy these days! So I was really excited to find these patterns for under $5 each. 

Vintage Kitchen Inspiration

Here are a few vintage kitchens from Antique Home. I think I have mentioned this website before, they have a fabulous collection of house plans and interiors from the 1900-1960. One of my favorite place to go for inspiration! 

I loved seeing how kitchens changed over the years. From simple and functional in the 20's to colorful, modern and efficient in the 50's.  

These two 1920's kitchens are mostly concerned with a functional and sanitary place to prepare meals. Not a lot of cupboard space, but massive sinks with hot and cold running water!

This 1934 kitchen is a little warmer. Still not much cabinetry and did you notice the ice box by the back entry? Easily accessible for the iceman. I love the breakfast nook, a favorite in the 20's and 30's.

The 1940's brought big changes to kitchens, lots of new materials like Formica and plastics. Color everywhere and modern appliances like the dishwasher!

I love how so many kitchens included places at the counter where you could pull up a stool and work. Something that would be nice in today's kitchens.

For the 1950's it was more of the same, more bright bold colors, efficient features like pull-out cutting boards, drying racks and a more compact work triangle.

This one was one of my favorites! 

I hope you enjoyed this inspiration, visit Antique Home for more!

Autumn Spice Cake

 The other night I was in the baking mood and after flipping through a few cookbooks I remembered this cake recipe, aptly named "Autumn Spice Cake", I have been meaning to try. (I posted about this little promotional cookbook here.) I am not sure the cake turned out the way it was suppose to. I didn't have anything to fill it with, so I added apples. It didn't turn out as fluffy as pictured either, but that might have had something to do with not having baking soda......

Do you get the sudden notion to bake like I do? I usually don't have baking planned, unless it is a special occasion. At the end of the day I suddenly decided something yummy sounds wonderful and take a look through cookbooks and the cupboards to see what will work. I don't want to make a trip to the store at that point, so whatever I can make work will do!

As this was another evening baking session, I decided I didn't want to mess with frosting and threw some chopped apples in the batter. Because this was a war time recipe, the sugar has been cut down to a minimum and after tasting the cake, it was decided frosting was a must! 

 So I whipped up a bit of Cream Cheese frosting and stuck in on top, much better! 

I am loving my vintage spring form pan I picked up at an estate sale this spring! It is the perfect pan for a cake like this.

The recipe calls for molasses, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Yum! The fig filling recipe intrigues me, I might need to bake another cake to try it out......