On Sunday afternoon while channel surfing I stumbled across the 1950's black and white movie, Father of the Bride, staring Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, and Elizabeth Taylor, who was 18 years old at the time.

In 1991, a remake of this same movie was made starring, Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, and of course, Martin Short who played Franck.

1950 Father of the Bride

1991 Father of the Bride

I liked both of these movies, and enjoy watching them over and over. After watching the movie on Sunday, the 1951 version, I started thinking about wedding photos, so I thought I would share a few of my families wedding photos.

My father is on the left, my Uncle Jim groom, and Uncle Beam 

The little girl on the bench became a nun that was loved by all.

This is the wedding photo of my Aunt Violet (bride)

from the blog post My Aunt's Cook Book.

The sleeves on this gown reminds me of Kate Middleton's dress.

I love wedding photos vintage or modern. 

Where is my wedding photo? 

I eloped, but that is another story that I will tell at a later time.

Thrift Share

My youngest daughter has eclectic taste when it comes to decorating her home. She tends to like modern lines, sleek leather couches, pen and ink art, glass object with clean, simple lines.

She of course has a few vintage items that I have purchased during my thrift shopping trips, for example, a complete set of Johnson Bros. snow white Regency china made in England, picked up at an estate sale for $15.00. 

When she got married, her mother-in-law gave her a few vintage pieces that belonged to her parents, a coat tree, a table that sits in her living room, and a tea set. The tea set is not her taste at all, and when she was moving it was offered to me. I declined the offer until Friday, when I found this gorgeous tea set sitting in a plastic bin unwrapped, I decided it was coming home with me. 

So this weeks thrift share comes from my daughter's basement.

Inside of a small wash tub, was twenty pieces of Eggshell Nautilus, 

iridescent tea set with 22 karat gold trim in the flower pattern.

The set consists  5 - 8 inch plates, 5 tea cups and saucers,
salt and pepper shakers, creamer, sugar bowl and tea pot.

This is a beautiful tea set.

Looking forward to see what everyone else found this week.

I am linking up:

 with Her Library Adventures, Flea Market Finds

Apron Thrift Girl, Thrift Share Monday

Cap Creations, Thrifty Goodness

Me and My Shadow, Magpie Monday

and Hey, What's for Dinner Mom?, The Penny Worth Project

The Aunt's Salt Box

I was pleasantly surprised when my sister presented me with the salt box that sat on the pantry shelf in my grandparents house. Both of my grandparents were gone before I was born, so I never had the pleasure of knowing them. My aunts continued living in the house after my grandparents were gone. One aunt, my favorite, Aunt Vic was a spinster, and my other aunt Aunt Stella was a widow. My parents home and my grandparents/aunts home sat on three lots, with the middle lot being shared by both houses.

What a lucky little girl I was to have my aunties so close by. If my mother cooked something horrid for dinner, like liver and onions, I'd go next door to see what the aunts were going to eat. I had the best of both worlds. My Aunt Stella was the cook while my Aunt Vic worked outside of the home. Aunt Stella made homemade soup every other day, chicken noodle, beet soup with boiled potatoes, and ox tail soup were among my favorites.

Off the kitchen was a narrow pantry with two shelves on one wall, while the opposite wall housed one higher shelf and a row of hooks that kitchen towels, and aprons stood waiting to be used at the next meal.

On the lowest shelf right in the middle stood the salt box, I have such vivid memories of licking my finger sticking it in the salt box and placing my salt encrusted finger in my mouth. I loved salt! I still  really like salt.

The salt box from my aunts house.

Aunt Vic (left) and Aunt Stella (right) always wore aprons while cooking.

So thank you sweet sister for giving me the salt box. Aunt Vic and Aunt Stella thank you for rescuing me from some awful meals at my house I loved these two ladies and miss them immensely.

Dziękuję za posiłek (thank you for the meal- in Polish)

Recycled Grocery Bags

Knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting, embroidery, blog land is full of finished, or on going projects that are just amazingly beautiful. I am in awe daily at the projects and materials that crafter's use. I, unfortunately, seem to be missing a creative gene, so I have become an esty shopper for crafted items.

This bag was made from a VHS tape by The Peasant Housewife 

My Recycled Bags made coaster from plastic grocery bags

A 1950's inspired dress crocheted from plastic bags

and a sewn plastic bag dress - both on Craft

Rugs, placemats, purses, shopping bags, and even

plastic grocery bag shoes!

I had no idea you could use plastic grocery bags to make this many

items. Silly me - I use them to carry my grocery's and for garbage.

Light Bulbs become Sculptures

With so many talented crafters, and designers, mundane items are now being repurposed into fabulous items that can decorate our homes. Case in point the light bulb.

Camilla from Family Chic has designed some light bulb decore

burned out light bulbs

 hot glue gun

imagination, and design sense

light bulb sculpture

 this is my favorite

Visit Family Chic for her tutorial

Giveaway Winner

My Aunt's Cook Book

This is a photo of my Aunt Violet holding me with her nasty Boston Terrier, Dutchie, and an unknown dog. I shutter when I see a photo of Dutchie or even hear her name. Where are my parents? They should be protecting me from Dutchie! 

Aunt Vi and Uncle Stanley did not have any children, they just had Dutchie, after her death I became the recipient of her cook book.

A 1950, First Edition, Sixth Printing, 

Betty Crocker's Picture Cook Book.

I was looking for something in the basement and came across the cookbook, so I sat down and had a look. I found several handwritten recipes, and newspaper recipes, placed inside the pages of the cook book. I found a common thread with all of the recipes. 

This just sounds horrible to me. 

Why would a reader request the recipe for Tuna Lasagne?

I never heard of Tuna Lasagne, have you?

Two pounds of beef for $3.63, those were the days!

Did she get a deal at the A & P where my 

cousin George was the butcher?

I'm of Polish decent, and can't figure out if I would like this or not.

I like the notation, "you can add salt pork on meat days."

Our whole family is Catholic so no meat on Friday's back then.

 The notation on this one has me perplexed.

Why would she care if the recipe was handwritten by my

Aunt Vic? Perhaps if, the recipe produced a terrible tasting

cake she could blame my cousin Martha and my Aunt Vic.

Have you figured out the common thread? On every recipe, that Aunt Vi placed in the cook book she wrote a date. I find this unusual, my mother didn't write dates on hers. I wonder why she wrote dates on them. Recipes don't have expiration dates, do they? 

Year of the Water Dragon

Today starts the Chinese New Year, the year of the Water Dragon.

Gong Xi Fa Cai (Mandarin) ~ Gong Hey Fat Choy (Cantonese)

恭禧發財

While vacationing in Las Vegas last week, the first thing I noticed were the decorations being hung in all the casinos in preparation of the Chinese New Year. Everywhere I went firecrackers, lanterns, and dragons were on display. We visited the Bellagio gardens and enjoyed the spectacular and colorful gardens.

 The dragon symbolizes power and good fortune.

 These dragons represent earth and fire.

I-Ching coins decorate the dancing water 

pond that is filled with 200 Koi fish.

Standing on the balcony at the Palazzo (I believe) 

this red and gold dragon decorates the foyer.  

Good Luck Foods to Celebrate the Chinese New Year

Dumplings ~ wealth

Noodles ~ longevity

Mandarins, Tangerines, Oranges ~ happiness and good luck

Spring Rolls ~ wealth and good fortune

Fish ~ abundance

Chinese New Year Top 10 Superstitions

No Cleaning ~ cleaning is done the day before to 

                                     sweep away bad luck

No Washing Hair ~ don't want to wash away good luck

No Crying ~ children are not spanked or disciplined on this day

No Sharp Objects ~ don't want to cut off good luck

Red is Good ~ good luck and good fortune

I believe I will order some Chinese food, wear red, not clean my house, refrain from crying, and keep away from sharp objects. It couldn't hurt. Are you planning on celebrating the Chinese New Year?

Thrift Share

I arrived home from Las Vegas Thursday night tired, with less money, but so glad I got away for five fun filled days and nights.

On Friday morning, the news talked about the snow storm that was to hit within a few hours, I hurried to the grocery store, than paid a visit to my favorite store that is right across the street. Yep, you guessed it, Goodwill.

Here, is what I found,

A West Bend Penguin Hot Cold Server -  priced $4.99.

Made in West Bend, Wisconsin, the Penguin was used during the 1950's and early 1960's as an ice bucket. The Penguin can also be used to keep food hot. The handles are made of brown Bakelite and slop down to resemble the wings of a penguin. I will have to invite people over, so I can use my vintage Penguin server.

Looking forward to see what everyone else found this week.

I am linking up:

 with Her Library Adventures, Flea Market Finds

Apron Thrift Girl, Thrift Share Monday

Cap Creations, Thrifty Goodness

Me and My Shadow, Magpie Monday

and Hey, What's for Dinner Mom?, The Penny Worth Project

RIP ~ Etta James

RIP

Etta James 

1938 - 2012

Etta James music included a variety of styles, 

my favorite song that Ettat sang was  At Last. 

Eye of the Camera 1943~Ruth Orkin

I stopped at an Estate sale for a specific item and came away with a book titled "The Family of Man" the photographic exhibition created by Edward Steichen for the Museum of Modern Art, printed in 1955. This book has the most marvelous photographs, today I am sharing one of my favorites series of photos.

Ruth Orkin was an award-winning photojournalist and filmmaker. Ruth was the only child of Mary Ruby, a silent-film actress, and Samuel Orkin, a manufacturer of toy boats called Orkin Craft.  She grew up in Hollywood in the heyday of the 1920s and 1930s. At the age of 10, she received her first camera, a 39 cent Univex. She began by photographing her friends and teachers at school. At 17 years old she took a monumental bicycle trip across the United States from LosAngeles to New York City to see the 1939 World's Fair. 

Biography :: Ruth Orkin Photo Archive. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.orkinphoto.com/biography/

Ruth Orkin on her bike trip to New York

One of the first jobs Ruth had when she moved to New York City in 1943, was shooting portraits of children, which became a favorite subject throughout her life.  While living in the West Village she photographed many of the neighborhood kids, and immortalized a brother and sister in "The Cardplayers."

The little ones leaped, and shouted, and laugh'd 

And all the hills echoed. . .

                                                                       William Blake

Photos from "The Family of Man"  page 40

How True...

Giveaway

My blog has received over 20,000 visitors! To show my appreciation for stopping by and visiting the Cheerful Thrifty Door I am hosting a giveaway.


Sagaform White Herb Pot
Keep fresh herbs on hand for use in every meal with the Herb Pot. In a modern design, the Herb Pot is a simple idea with great benefits. Two-piece stoneware construction, the Herb Pot, is designed to hold bunches of herbs straight supported by the walls of the top portion while their tips immerse in cool water to preserve freshness for longer than if they were stored in the refrigerator. The wide base of the Her Pot has a cut out for poring water, and is shaped to allow the stems of herbs to receive enough water and air to prevent wilting or water logging. Just add water and have fresh flowers, or  herbs in the kitchen and on display in the Herb Pot.

Anne Taintor Mug 

This mug has the caption of;  more medication, please, displayed on the handle and on the side of the mug.

Both of these items were purchased from my favorite store, the GW Boutique (Goodwill).

   Here's how to enter...

* Become a follower of  Cheerful Thrifty Door and leave me a comment. 

* If you are already a follower leave me a comment.

* Mention my giveaway in one of your blogs with a link back to this page and leave a comment.

Last day to enter is January 24th. 

Winners will be notified by email on January 25th.