This whole "celebrating the fifties" list has inspired me to do things I might not do otherwise.  But I hardly needed the list as motivation for swinging. Rarely do I pass up a swing without stopping for a little fun. All 3 of these swings were surprises in the last 6 months. The tire swing was along the banks of Cypress Creek in Comfort, Texas. The white swing was at a pier side restaurant in Aruba.  The red swing was hanging from the most lovely tree near the Menil Art Museum in Houston.  

Obviously there were no digital options in the fifties, so that makes these old black and whites, more precious.  When groups gathered to smile for a camera, there was usually just one click. And when you finally used up a roll of film and had it developed, you were surprised to find photos taken over a year's time.  

​Drive-In Adventure

I talked Don into driving 45 minutes to go to a drive-in, to see Disney's Cinderella! What husband of 35 years does that? Thanks, Don! 

The last time we went to a drive in, it was a Disney movie and we had a station wagon with kids!  So glad we had no kiddos this time since the woman who sold us tickets was  rude and foul mouthed.  I will save my rant for Trip Advisor and keep it positive here. ​

​Pre-Movie People Watching
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Luckily I was able to growl, then laugh and then absorb the totally delightful evening. The weather was heavenly and the whole scene was a hoot.  The grassy playground was scattered with puddles and giddy kids.  There were families gathering with lawn chairs and blankets. There were chatty dog walkers, sloppy ball tossers, and a generous windshield washer, eager to share his Windex.  We chatted with the family in the van next to ours.  "Grandma" remembered when admission was a dollar.  "Mom" laughed and asked if we could help keep an eye on her teen daughter, who had brought her boyfriend for the first time!  

Staying awake through the movie was no problem, since we had occasional horns and car lights surprising the crowds.  No this was not an attempt to keep the young teens from getting frisky.  Today's cars just get a little confused when radios are left on.  We found the whole thing pretty amusing and luckily the car did start up when it was time to leave! 

What a nice surprise when my friend Margit, invited Sigi and me on a spur of the moment Ballet Outing! It's ridiculous that I haven't gone in years, since I adore any kind of dance!

When I dashed to get dressed last night, I didn't have time to fuss over an outfit. But I did pause to imagine the crowds who would have attended the ballet in the fifties.   The lady patrons seated in velvet theatre seats, would have been covered in furs and white gloves and topped with plenty of hats and hairdos. I had no time for such elegance, but I snatched a strand of pearls and tossed them awkwardly over my corduroy collar and then I remembered the vintage "pocketbook" that sits on some old luggage in my guest room.  I tossed my keys and cell phone into the dandy purse and gave it a snap!  I had 2 intermissions to strut my stuff, with that silly alligator purse dangling on my arm!  

Hey, the purse was fun.  I've never thought to use it.  But the ballet was a total delight!  I was mesmerized by one contemporary piece and I smiled and sighed over the traditional pirouettes and tutus. 

What a treat, Margit!  Can't thank you enough!

A Morning with Friends

​I love the idea of inviting friends over for coffee, but who does that anymore?  Lucy never had to invite Ethel, she just showed up. But I tried to keep it just that simple. I served coffee cake and we sipped our coffee out of cups with saucers.

Since these "ladies" happen to be my book club friends, I decided it was a fine idea to pull out some reading material...vintage magazines! Our group is used to laughing into the wee hours as we discuss books. Instead of wine, we sipped coffee and laughed over bathing suit ads and creepy looking recipes. 
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​Easter is coming and I must get a hat!

A woman should never need an excuse to go out and buy a hat!  But I recall at least one episode when Lucy needed a little "pick me up" and hat shopping with Ethel was the answer.  

When I was small, hats were required in church.  "Why?" I grumbled to my dad and he said something about modesty and keeping the men's eyes off the ladies' hair.  Dad also chuckled about  how the ladies got it figured out and their hats got so outlandish, that no one could keep their eyes off the ladies in church.  ​

Well, I don't know about any of that, but I know those women in mid-century movies and TV, got a big kick out of hat shopping.  So, I gave it a try (at an antique store) and I did have a heck of a good time.  I'm sure a few of the pillbox and veiled hats I tried on were from the fifties.  But there were so many doozies from different eras, I just had to try them all!

I heard that the hat market slowed down towards the end of the fifties. Women started spending more time at the hair salon and didn't want to hide or mess their fancy hair-do! But Easter is still a pretty powerful motivation for buying a hat.  I didn't find the perfect one yesterday... but I still have a month!!
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But I have a good excuse.  I'm trying to reach my goal of celebrating the 1950's in 57 ways... before April 9!  And Barbie was born in 1959, so why not have a little fun. Actually my ponytailed Barbie disappeared over the years, but I was able to find the old suitcase holding my (less glam) Midge Doll.  She doesn't have Barbie's sexy pout, but she fits Barbie's swimsuit just fine.  I'm glad to say I am also the keeper of my sister's Ken Doll. He may be losing his felt hair, but he still looks fine in his red trunks, terrycloth coverup and green swim flippers!   

Mom, thanks for never throwing anything away.  I had a mighty fun time!

I love celebrating Chinese New Year's in Houston, because there are so many authentic options for food!  Our "Asia Town" as many call it, covers 6 square miles and offers every kind of Asian market, restaurant and business you could imagine. 

After a search, Don and I found Chang's Chinese, which offered the safe and boring dishes that our families would have ordered 50+ years ago. We called in a carry out order of Chicken Chow Mein, Shrimp Chop Suey, Pork Lo Mein and Egg Drop Soup.  We enjoyed our own tea and tried to ignore the lottery numbers that are now included on fortune cookies.  After our meal we sat back and watched a YouTube clip of Rogers and Hammerstein's musical, Flower Drum Song.  Holy cow. The song and dance number titled "Chop Suey" is a pretty whacky (and rather unrealistic) peek into the world of San Francisco's Chinatown in the fifites!
 
CHOP SUEY SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPwiqmv6Xeo