Throwback Thursday. This tiny China box was a gift from a friend in 1981.
Inside I have some old earrings and my HS class ring from 1970.
Don’t open it often but did today.




Throwback Thursday. This tiny China box was a gift from a friend in 1981.
Inside I have some old earrings and my HS class ring from 1970.
Don’t open it often but did today.




They were banned in schools in the 1970s after parents complained they were used as weapons and caused serious head injuries. Their history is here from the first Hopalong Cassidy box, to the the last of Rambo Sylvester Stallone model.
I had a red Stewart plaid one in third grade that I remember, complete with a thermos. There were no ice packs included, ever.
The Antique Trader attributes the popularity of metal lunchboxes to television.

Take a tour of the museum with this YouTube video if you can’t get to Columbus Georgia.
Mr Woodall has written an encyclopedia shown below


The other day I took a bus downtown (Senior Citizen perk= free bus pass) and went to S.W, Randall Toys Store on Smithfield Street. I climbed to the the doll floor on three, looking for a fresh doll outfit for a 14 year old doll when I came upon a two sided display of a variety of paper dolls.
I remember cutting out paper dolls when I was young. So careful not to ruin them and cut off the little white tabs you needed to fold over to hold the clothes onto the doll. Sometimes tape was involved.
A looooong time ago. I had no idea all these different paper dolls were available in 20I asked the sales clerk if I could photograph them and she said sure but now I’m wishing I opened them up and peeked inside and photographed the dolls and clothes. Going to have to plan a return trip downtown.
I considered buying a book of them- many choices. Wondered who is playing with paperdolls nowadays.
Do kids even know about paper dolls? I talked with a friend today and she said she cut out magazine fashion and made up clothes out of the magazines. I relied on the printed and dotted lines to cut around. I can picture a little doll with a full white slip on- waiting to be dressed. Modest!
Photographed by Herr Spahn in 1985
Grafenwoehr, Germany
I smocked the frame (and Laura’s dress)

Mark Matthew and Laura
-are at my sister’s in NYC and they’re on top of our grandmother’s mirror. Nostalgia post 2
Worn such a long time ago.

Roy Joseph Hendricks
Born in Farmersville, Illinois February 26,1912
(Different shoes in the photo)
In February, I’ll be filled with Nostalgia for a vine ripened summer tomato. You can taste the sun. A little salt and freshly ground pepper bring out the flavor.
My sister bought this one at the Union Square market today. Booths were filled with pumpkins, gourds and jugs of apple cider.
There’s no replacement for a summer tomato.

Heinz History Center- downtown Pittsburgh
A sampling of the exhibit. I went with the Retired Teachers after a luncheon at Lidia’s.
Memories of childhood in America.
Here are a few-Erector sets and Tinker Toys. Lincoln Logs. Slinky and Etch-a-Sketch, Pac Man and Star Wars. Barbie dolls and GI Joe. Mr. Potato Head and trolls. Spirograph and Cootie. Howdy Doody, Hopalong Cassidy and Roy Rogers.
Maybe you’ll recognize one of your toys from your childhood.
Laura asked me if I could find Ned. That wasn’t his name when he was purchased in 1987.
She received this Cabbage Patch Premie for her fourth birthday.
I dug around in a closet and found him, a little soiled on his feet and hands. I washed him and then his little outfit.
When I was soaking the doll hands in the suds, it looked as if he was washing his own clothes and diaper.
I’ll take him out to Laura when I visit.
Comfort food.
A topic I study and explore from time to time. Take a poll.
In fact, i asked this question just last December.
I was with a friend on Saturday and we were talking about eating in response to stress.
His choice? a pint of Ben and Jerry’s (i forget which flavor)
It’s a new school year.
Grilled cheese on stove and plate below.
“Comfort food is traditionally eaten food which often provides a nostalgic or sentimental feeling to the person eating it,[1] frequently with a high carbohydrate level and a simple preparation.[2] The nostalgic element most comfort food has, may be specific to either the individual or a specific culture.[3]” Wikipedia
Yes, that is a slice of summer tomato on Laura’s Birthday grilled cheese dinner. I asked her what she would like me to make for her birthday (they were in town for Celeste and Shawn’s wedding weekend)
My father went to JFK’s inauguration- took a train to DC in the bitter, cold weather. This button is one of the souvenirs he brought back home.
In 1963 I was in sixth grade. I remember it like yesterday .
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5:30 AM edit
My son Mark just sent me the following photos of my father’s memorabilia he has at his home in Ohio. I am adding them to the post now.
He is looking for the photos he has of the grandchildren at the Arlington gravesite.
Mark had all of his grandfather’s JFK memorabilia
put into a frame.