The One Where We Had Piles of Snow

My eighteenth birthday - the Seattle area was hit with a snowstorm that week.  It was not very typical for us to miss more than a day or so of school due to snow.  Snow might fall but due to our marine layer, it warms up, turns to rain and we get our "Seattle Cement" (heavy, heavy slush).  I guess a lot of kids would LOVE to have a snow day and no school for their birthday.  But I remember feeling pretty disappointed  not to "get" to go to school on my eighteenth birthday.  It was a Wednesday and at least the second day in a row school was cancelled.  And it just kept coming!  It was beautiful but I wanted to be with my friends.  At the last moment that night, my Dad drove our ginormous red 1967 Chevy Bel-Air and picked up a few of my friends for a slumber party!  I remember sledding at midnight - the snow being perfectly packed.  It was a fun, spur of the moment party and I had a blast.

L-R standing: Karla, Me, Eileen, Suzie. Kneeling L-R Mimi, Heidi and Tina.

The Seattle Times that evening (courtesy Seattle Public Library)


We must have missed several more days of school due to snow and the situation affected my high school's graduation. Our class did not have enough days of attendance to graduate. They let us walk our commencement as previously scheduled but we had to attend a day-long workshop at Bellevue Community College to earn our diploma.

So what I remember about the birthday where I was officially an adult old enough to vote was playing like kids in the snow.

The One Where My Dog Ate The Treat Baskets

I had a dress-up tea party for my ninth birthday.  To this day I remember how amazing I thought Sheila Morrison's dress was!  I'm not even 100% sure that I recall her name correctly or really anything else about her.  But I remember that dress!

Randi(?) also had an awesome hat, wig, "fur" jacket and full skirt ensemble. I'm on the right wearing a glittery gold number.






Tea party!


Little ladies

or not . . .


Twister fun


My dog, Charcoal was a beagle/lab mix (he's in the above photo "little ladies"). I don't recall that we ever really had to worry about him stealing food. However, he decided to sample the treat baskets that my  mom made and set aside on her dresser. It was so disappointing not to have a goodies to send home with my friends. Bad dog!

The One Where Grandma Dropped My Cake

My fourth birthday was a party at my Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's apartment across from Woodland Park Zoo.  It was both sets of grandparents, my parents, my two year old sister and me.  I don't know that I actually remember it happening (but I think I do!) but Grandma Johnson dropped my cake in the kitchen.  My memory is that it was while she was carrying it from the kitchen into the dining room singing but I look at this picture and notice her finger all bandaged up and a towel under her hand like something had just happened so now I don't remember the circumstances.  This is one of those events that she was reminded of for years.  I'm not sure I actually remember the cake-tastrophe or just the reminders she always got.
The missing frosting and decorations are evidence.  I'm sure we ate it. And lived to tell the tale. My sister looks a little concerned.





Grandpa Johnson showing us a Polaroid while we play with "Mr. Potato Head" and "Pete the Pepper"

A new slinky and I see "Cooky the Cucumber" behind me - I really don't have any recollection of Mr. Potato Head's friends!




My sister got a bulldozer! (We always both got a little something on each other's birthday)


New gigantic piggy banks for both of us!




My mom and more Polaroids


Grandpa Hawes


Grandma Hawes blowing out a candle - My Grandparent's wedding anniversary was in January so Grandma Johnson had a cake for them, too!  (I think all the frosting got used on my cake so theirs is a little lacking on the side - I really don't think Grandma Johnson dropped two cakes!)

Grandma and Grandpa Johnson (I wish the exposure was a little better)


Thank you for sharing with me my birthday of yesteryear on my birthday week!

My Fifth Birthday
My Eleventh Birthday

Vintage New Year's Greetings

I'm having a hard time believing 2013 is over!  That's the thing about the calendar . . . there is no pause button.  I feel pretty certain that those who originally sent these beautiful and charming New Year's greetings would not have any inkling that they would be "sent" again as wishes a century later. 

"1 January - A happy New Year" mailed December 1907. Message on back reads

"Dear Friend. We all wish you a Happy New Year. Mama is sick in bed with the grip. Family Goetz"

(Hope Mama got better.  I've noticed in my growing postcard collection that illness was frequently reported this way.)


"A happy New Year"

"Best New Years Wishes.

To you dear friend

Sincere Greetings

I fondly send

This New Years Day"

 
"This card brings our best wishes for the New Year"
 
"A happy New Year" copyrighted 1908
 
"A happy New Year" mailed January 1911

"I send this New Year greeting
Just to speak a word of cheer,
And assure you my good wishes
Will go with you through the year."

"A Happy New Year" mailed January 1909

"A Happy New Year. 
In friendship true, 
for auld lang syne, 
Accept this greeting wish of mine."

"New Year Greetings 
And love sin-
cere. May our friendship 
grow with 
each passing 
year." 
(kind of an awkward second line . . . I would have designed it so it didn't appear to promote loving sin!  :-) )

"Right hearty Greeting for the New Year" mailed December 1910

"My New Year Gift to You. 
My New Year gift will not be brought 
By an expressman's cart. 
It is neither tied nor wrapped 
But comes straight from a loving heart." mailed December 1929

"Best Wishes for a Happy New Year" mailed December 1912

"A happy New Year - 
Time to be good to thee 
And added years bring 
only added pleasures." mailed January 1915

"Here's to Today
Write it on your heart 
that every day is the best 
day of the year." mailed December 21, 1912.

Message on back reads in part ". . . I am sorry to say we won't get (?) before Christmas J?erry cut his foot right at the ankle with the axe. We will try and come in between (?) and New year."

How awful!  I hope Jerry wasn't crippled for the rest of his life!

Glad tidings for a healthy, prosperous, grippe-free and axe-to-the-ankle-free 2014!!!!

Christmas Coca-Cola

Coke ads from the late 1950s to the early 1960s.  Santa and "The Pause that Refreshes".
I believe all the artwork for these Coca Cola ads are attributed to Haddon Sundblom.  From their website, this artist's artwork was used between 1931-1964. 


Holiday Issue 1956 Life Magazine

Holiday Issue 1957

Holiday Issue 1958 Life Magazine

Holiday Issue 1959 Life Magazine

Holiday Issue 1960 Life Magazine

Holiday Issue 1961 Life Magazine

Holiday Issue 1962 Life Magazine


Merry Christmas! 

Vintage Thanksgiving Postcards

I'd love to know if it was common to send Thanksgiving postcard greetings a century ago.  I have never sent Thanksgiving cards but I sure love to see what was mailed 100 years ago.


"Thanksgiving Greetings" Mailed November 1909


"Best Thanksgiving Greetings"


"Best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving"


Thanksgiving Greetings - Mailed November 1916

Be sure to enjoy the vintage Thanksgiving postcards I posted last year!

We Gather Together

Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving 1967. My Dad's Mom, Stella Frederickson Hawes, on the left is holding the hand of my Mom's Dad, Howard Johnson. On the right, My Dad's Dad, Bill Hawes is holding the hand of my Mom's Mom, Lucy Andrew Johnson. My Mom, my (middle) sister and I are in the photo as well - my Dad took the photo.

Looking back I realize how special it was to have us all gathered around the same table. My youngest sister was born more than 10 years after this photo and after Howard had died. But this was my entire family at the time.

A favorite traditional hymn at Thanksgiving "We Gather Together"

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known.
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our Defender will be.
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

I hope you will be able to gather together and spend Thanksgiving with your loved ones.