Nature and Nostalgia
Being that nostalgic time of year, I thought I’d look back on the Christmas shows I watched all those decades ago. So many catchy songs, heartfelt messages, and lovable animated characters, some drawn, some clay, some puppets — are all still alive digitally. And some of the terms embedded in American culture have their origins... Continue Reading →
1. What Were the Costumes in the 1970s like Compared to Now? From 1970s plastic masks and plastic clothes to 2023's inflatable and maskless costumes. Black & white picture: "FRANKENSTEIN - Costume - Halloween - 1970's" by monstersforsale is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0. Color picture: "Spooktacular Creations Inflatable Costume Dragon Riding a Fire... Continue Reading →
Every October the national TV news announces the heaviest American-grown pumpkin. This year, an 1161-kilogram (2,560 lb.) pumpkin named Maverick and grown by Travis Gienger of Anoka, Minnesota won the North American record. But this continental winner was no match for the world’s heaviest pumpkin weighing 1,226 kilograms (2,702 lb., 13.9 oz.) and grown by... Continue Reading →
After learning today was National Kitchen Klutzes of America Day, I thought I should share some stories for my fellow klutzes. Too many of us work in silence and embarrassment trying to hide our natural tendencies. Whether due to inattention, physical awkwardness or lack of know-how, I’ve done some damage to food, property and myself.... Continue Reading →
Christmas polka-dot outfit on December 25, 1972 It’s hard not to be noticed when you wear polka dots. Being shy, I didn’t want anyone’s eyes fixed on me or what I wore. The uninhibited joyfulness of those dots made me uncomfortable. They wanted to be a star. My mother made a lot of my outfits... Continue Reading →
Photo by Element5 Digital on Pexels.com Our family memorialized food through photography. And Mom was our amateur food photographer. While the usual subject was birthday cakes, sometimes whole meals were photographed, specifically Thanksgiving dinner. The holiday with the most food and family around. While some shots were exclusively food, others had family in the background.... Continue Reading →
Photo by olia danilevich on Pexels.com Curious about the greatest dangers of Halloween in the 70s? I was. So, to find out more, I reviewed the archives of my local newspaper. A few of the recommendations I found were a little unusual. Safety recommendations were about preventing injuries from the following causes: 1. Burns: Fire... Continue Reading →
Photo by Toni Cuenca on Pexels.com Sure life seemed simple. We had thin, cheap, store-bought outfits and flimsy, plastic masks with small eye holes that blocked your vision. The mask usually snapped off your head before you left home due to elastic band fastener failure. We had a society free from any sensitivities about whether... Continue Reading →
Karen M. Free 