From FOH Fashion Friday

Here again is one of the best dressed chicks in Peoria sometime around 1915-20. Mom seemed to just love posing in her pretty outfits. This one features such a lovely hat with a gorgeous feather and a chic fur stole. According to the times, she wore leather gloves and high button shoes and her suit was probably wool. How times have changed. Most people rarely dress up to such an extent - at least the ones that I know. I do like the casual approach better.  (Click to enlarge)

When I was Young

Ah, each generation has it's music - and, being in my 80's, I don't understand some of the strange music of today's youth.  It was so simple and melodic when I was a girl.  I thought I might share some of it with some of you younger folks to let you know what you missed out on in the 30's and 40's.  Let's start with this one -




Now wasn't that fun?  If you like it, I will hunt for some more gems from the past!

Postcard Friendship Friday

Two old cards that I found on the internet some time ago when I was looking for Santa Fe memorabilia.  As you know if you have followed my blog, my husband worked 41 years for ATSF and we did a lot of moving over the years.  From Chillicothe, IL, to Ft. Madison, IA, to Topeka, KS, to Newton, KS, to Kansas City, KS then back to Illinois upon retirement.  This card shows the big office building in Topeka that was headquarters for Santa Fe.  When we moved there, it meant he was not on the road like he had been before so that was really nice - for a few years.  Then they sent him back to Ft. Madison on a long job but he was not transferred there.  So again, he would be gone from Monday morning until Friday night.  You get used to it but never really like the idea.  When we finally moved to KC area, he was home all the time - that was good.

Above is the Santa Fe Hospital in Topeka that serviced the system's employees.  I can't remember if it was still being used when we were there or not since, thankfully, we had no need for hospitalization when we were living there.   I will have to do some searching one day and find out more about it.  Thanks, Beth, at 
http://thebestheartsarecrunchy.blogspot.com/ for hosting  -  and Happy PFF.

Oh, Baby

A very old picture of me at probably under a year old sitting in a fancy old rocking chair. I may have been older than that since it looks as if I would have been walking because of the hard soled shoes and the bottoms of them that appear to have been wallked on . 

This is one of the photos that is taken in a little booth in a dime store.  Probably two to three years old in this one.  Kinda cute little girl!    (Click to enlarge)

From Funoldhag's Fashion Friday

There are quite a few pictures of my mother in her younger years that just fascinate me. At one time, my grandparents, although not wealthy, led a very comfortable life and some of the old pictures reflect that. My grandfather worked for Thomas and Clark Cracker Company and was active in politics in Peoria. He was city treasurer when I was born despite having only an elementary school education. Mom and her sisters, especially Nelle, the older one, wore such pretty clothes for the time. The Pearces also had a cottage up the river in Rome, Illinois, a wide place in the road  where I grew up some years later.

 This picture, I am almost 100% sure, would have been taken at the conservatory in Glen Oak Park in Peoria. Nan and her friend (I think she was a girl Nan worked with at Powers Camera Shop) are admiring the lovely blooms. Nan is holding her hat which looks as if it were trimmed with a lovely flower and she is wearing a pretty summer dress with three-quarter sleeves trimmed with lace and a big sash. I would guess the dress is white and sash blue. Her friend has a lovely plaid skirt and white blouse and straw hat with a halo of flowers around the brim. This most likely was a lovely summer afternoon and the girls had been for a walk in the park.  (Click to enlarge)

BOO!!!!!!!!!!!

 More square dancing pictures!  It really was a big part of our lives and an enjoyable one.  The Star Promenaders had a Halloween party in 1961 - here we are as a horse of some kind or other.  Ray is the front and I am the rear end!  Just a quick sew thing with a separate hood featuring red yarn down the back for a mane.  Really a dopey costume but one that got lots of mileage over the years since the kids wore it at times. 

In this picture, you can see Kenny, our caller, at the far right.  He was such a good caller and such a great guy.

Some of the other dancers with really cute costumes.  Wonder what was supposed to be in this girls jug and who the dickens was she?  I can't remember.  Too long ago.

Getting the hall ready for the party.  On the left is my Ray and the other two kooks (I can call them that since they were very good friend and they really were kookie and lots of fun) are Bob and Harold.  I don't recognize the fellow reaching in for a baloon.  More lovely memories of days gone by.  Happy Halloween.  (Click to enlarge)

Happy PFF and Happy Halloween

Here's a great postcard I found on Flickr that belongs to riptheskull's photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/vintagehalloweencollector/sets/.  I think it is just great for this last Friday in October and almost Halloween.   Such a beautiful couple and their pet cat.  Enjoy -- and I send my wish to you for Happy Halloween and Happy PFF!   And, as usual,  a big thanks to Beth, over at http://thebestheartsarecrunchy.blogspot.com/  for hosting.    (Click to enlarge)