Sunday, January 1, 2012

* Nostalgic Sundays *

It's Time for Another Nostalgic Sunday

I can't believe it is January 2012. Where the heck did 2011 go? Oh well....no sense wondering. 'Tis a new year and a new day and a new ME!

BUT, although I'm evolving, discovering, and achieving new things, I still love to reminisce. And so on New Year's Day 2012, here is my last Christmasy post for the season.


This is my brother and me in front of our tiny house in Illinois. Since the date stamp says January 1956, I'm not sure if this was actually taken in December or January. The ones I've posted lately seem to have been developed the month following the event. Either way, here we are enjoying a bit of snow during Christmas time.


My brother, Mike again. Looks like he helped shovel the sidewalk!



I'll have to dig out the original photo and see if there's a date on this, but it's definitely around the same time. Were we adorable, or what?!


 

This is another old ornament hanging on our 2011 tree. My mother bought a "collection" of these in the mid 1960s, when she worked at a downtown St. Louis department store called Famous-Barr. I'm sure she got them after Christmas one year, to save even more money in addition to her employee discount. Famous-Barr at that time was our version of Macy's. Very nice clothing, shoes, and notions...my favorite part of the store! (I don't remember everything in that section, but I'm pretty sure the beautiful stationery was sold there.) The less expensive clothes were in the Bargain Basement! Do you remember those days? The "Pay Toilet" also was around at that time.

~~~~~~
That's it for Christmasy Nostalgic Sundays until November and December of 2012!


Welcome to my newest follower, Accidental Writer...... my 280th follower!! That number doesn't seem possible, but I know many bloggers have thousands of followers, and they haven't even been blogging nearly as long as I have. The numbers really don't mean anything to me. It's just fun to see them add up and meet new people! Anyway, I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

"We do not remember days; we remember moments." --Cesare Pavese


31 comments:

  1. Love those big department stores. One of my favorite places growing up was G. Fox and Company in Hartford. Eleven floors of fantasy to me. Wishing you a very happy and healthy new year!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for memories of the Bargain Basement! I grew up in corner of Kansas, not big big stores. When I got married and moved to Hazelwood, I thought I got to Paris when I found Famous Barr and then that BB!!! I would go down there and root through seconds of Levi jeans. So happy to get those tight, stiff, dark as night blue denims! Ah, and the days of a mare's fine flank instead of a raging rump!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yes I remember the bargain basement with fondness, but the pay toilet is another story...dancing around in front of the stall while mom dug in her purse for change...ugh!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I do remember Famous Barr downtown, especially the window displays around Christmas time, oh, and the French onion soup the restaurant served on the 6th floor. My first real job in high school was working at Woolworth's just down the street from Famous.

    Thanks for the memories.

    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yes, you two were totally adorable! It really is such fun to go back and look at old photos.

    I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and we had 3 great department stores there...Kauffmans, Gimbles, and Hornes. Sadly, they all have gone by the wayside, having been gobbled up by the big conglomerate stores. But I used to LOVE LOVE LOVE going to Kauffmans with my grandmother the day after Christmas. That is when she bought all her cards for the next Christmas. Such a precious memory...thanks for bringing it to my mind with your mention of the local department store where you grew up.

    Blessings and hugs,
    Patti

    ReplyDelete
  6. What great photos, Becky. I love black and white pictures.

    I hope 2012 brings you everything you desire...

    ReplyDelete
  7. In Ontario it was Eatons and Sears department stores right across the road from each other in Toronto.. I believe Eatons had the bargain basement and Sears had the pay toilets. That public restroom was so busy that only the first person of the day paid a dime and everyone else had the door held for them.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Famous and the bargain basement, I loved it. I do remember the pay toilets and the hoilday windows. It was a tradition when my kids were little. We would bundle up and go to the unveiling of the windows on Thanksgiving night.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Becky..Hope your new year is fabulous! Susan

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love the picture of you and Mike dancing! I have never seen that one before. I showed the pictures to Mike last night and he got a kick out of seeing them.
    Happy New Year.
    Alice

    ReplyDelete
  11. I really enjoy these old photos, Becky.

    =)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Okay, I'll have to pay Buttercup a visit because I shopped in G.Fox too!

    Happy New Year Becky, with wishes for an amazing year for you!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Such sweet pictures! May the memories you make in 2012 create the same smiles and feelings of warmth.

    ReplyDelete
  14. It's fun to see these old photos, Becky. They bring back such great memories. Happy New Year to you and yours. Wishing you all good things in 2012!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hey Becky! I love those photos. I have several of my own with the vintage date stamp. Those were the days... And yes, Bargain Basements. Sure could use some of those these days. At least layaway is making a comeback.

    Happy New Year!
    Katie

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love Mike's shoveling ensemble!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh, I see. You only keep posted the comments that pat you on the back. And, please, don't email me again so you can "honestly" address the responses I have left for you either here (those of which have conveniently "disappeared"), or on my blog page. That's what comment boxes are for.

    (Unfortunately, at least for me, the "Manage" setting on my blog is experiencing a glitch. As soon as blogspot can make it a "go" again, I will no longer be one of your Followers.)

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'll miss reading your Christmasy nostalgic Sundays, they were so much fun :)
    Happy New Year darling!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hey, Becky! Love your pics and the neat ornament and memories. What a neat store, it sounds like. Happy New Year, and God Bless you, the Mr. and Vern. I'll be MIA for a bit.

    Hugs,

    Kathy M.

    ReplyDelete
  20. You sure were adorable. Nice pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks, everyone! It's fun to hear about your memories, especially ones similar to mine.

    ReplyDelete
  22. ahhhh Becky, the Mr. Sandman song really took me back. Do you remember an after school special about a girl who gets pregnant? I remember them working that song into it somehow. Anyway...Loved the pictures and Happy, Happy New YEAR to you dear blissful blogging buddy!

    ReplyDelete
  23. That was lovely Becky. I haven't been by in awhile, your blog is looking great. Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love looking at pics from yesteryear. Brings back memories. And nothing says nostalgia quite like the Andy Griffith Show!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Green Monkey, Lizzie, and Stephen! Thank you all so much. So nice to know you like the old pics! And Ms. Monkey, I don't remember that exact after-school special, but I LOVE the part in Back to the Future, when they play Mr. Sandman!! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love the quote at the bottom of your post:) So true! I remember our old Newberry's and going there for everything.
    Thank you too for your encouraging words. I don't think I am ready to write memoir--still want to master fiction but I need to find that thing that is stopping me!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Best of the New Year to you, Becky P! And bravo for your writing goals and plans! I did a little "rearranging" in my blog world...hope you'll come visit the new me.

    (P.S. Great (musically-inclined)minds think alike!)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Cutest siblings ever!
    Have a wonderful 2012 :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hey Becky girlfriend. What a great new bloggy look! I've missed you and will be back when we get back home from meeting Rose Meredith.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hi Terri, Cathy, Mollye, and Lynn! Thanks so much for stopping by.

    ReplyDelete

I'm still getting quite a few spam comments that are Anonymous, so I'm trying "User with Google Accounts." If anyone tries to comment that I know, and it won't let you, send me an email, okay? Thanks so much.