So many of you loved the May 1949 issue of Australian Home Journal, which I prepared in June for you to download, that I thought you'd like another issue to read. This time I have the August 1949 magazine, and I have to say those fashions on the cover are gorgeous, exactly what I'd wear today if my waist was tiny!
Use the link below to download your free copy.
Reading through the pages of this issue, I decided it would be fun to try a few of the potato recipes on pages 35-36, especially the Lemon Pudding and Ginger Cake, sometime before the end of August, and I'll be sure to show you my results. I've only ever added potato to a cake once before and that was about 35 years ago when I baked a German Streusel Cake (which was delicious by the way), so I'm looking forward to giving these 'new to me' recipes a go. What about you?? Have you added mashed potato to cakes or puddings before? Want to join me in experimenting with a few of these 1949 recipes?
There's also a very simple "Princess" dress pattern to sew on page 38, suitable for a little girl aged 3-5 years. I'm going to try that, and may need some assistance with the instructions from Blossom as though it's only made with two pieces of fabric and no pattern tracing, I'm a bit confused by the shoulders and sleeve steps.
The nightly beauty treatment advice offered on page 39 was exactly what Nana followed. I've never had acne and even at age 62 my skin is really good, and for this I credit Nana as she taught me from the age of 5 to cleanse and moisturise my face each night with Pond's Cold Cream. It was part of our after-bath routine and instilled in me the life-long habit of caring for my skin every day.
Page 41...housework. I saw this lived out as a child by my Nana. The wireless (radio) playing while she went about her daily chores, a smile on her face, and definitely deserving of an afternoon tea with me each afternoon. She was very fit, but not thin by any stroke of the imagination, and could walk and walk and walk for miles, scrub floors on her hands and knees, beat the rugs after hanging them over the fence or the clothesline with a large broom...I feel weary just thinking about all she did in an ordinary day!
On page 50 there's a lacy bed cape to knit, and though they are not seen around anymore, I can't help thinking just how practical they are for autumn evenings, or winter nights huddled in bed with a good book and a mug of hot chocolate.
Do you love the film, "Little Women"? I've seen them all but had totally forgotten about the 1949 version starring June Allyson and Elizabeth Taylor - until I read the film reviews on pages 26-27. Now I want to find that one and watch it again. It was already an old film when I was a child, but I loved watching it on television in the 70's.
Well, I'd best not natter on because I'm sure you'll enjoy reading through the magazine yourself, and will certainly find some gems in its pages.
I'm really enjoying looking at post-war life through the eyes of women in the late 1940's. It makes me appreciate all the more what I have today, but also inspires me to simplify life in general and care more about maintaining what we own rather than replacing things; it brings back lovely memories of how Nana did things and explains why they made such a impact on my young mind at the time and even now so many decades later.
I wonder what you think about the life portrayed by an ordinary homemaker of 1949?
I'd love to hear your thoughts and memories if you're willing to share in the comments below.
Now, I shall plan some baking tomorrow. Ginger Cake first I think!
Blessings and hugs,
20 comments:
Oh I love these, Jennifer!!! Thank you! What cracks me up are the adverts - both the names and the descriptions - hysterical. I sure wish I could wear those dresses, but I have no waist anymore, lol!!!!
I can’t wait to read this magazine....It’s from the month and year I was born! What a great opportunity to see what my mom was up to at that time. She was an amazing homemaker and seamstress. Thank you for this look into the past. 😊
Thank you very much for the new block for the magazine. I wish everyone in your family is safe and well. I admire your new rhythm of life. That is what I want and I ask God to grant it to me. Although I know well that for the moment my life must go in another way. I put myself in his wise hands and pray that his plan for me is not too arduous.
Kisses and hugs for you and your whole family. God bless you all.
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for taking the time to scan all these pages and documenting them for us !
BBC had a series " Back in time for Dinner" https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL72jhKwankOhaPF5LdXGb7_67pfSrPhto
Maybe you can watch it there ?
hugs,take care,
Joanne
Thank you so much for the magazine, Jennifer! What a treat!
What a treat, Jennifer!!! Thank you for the peek at the world before I was born! Love the dresses and I may have to try the dress made from two pieces of fabric as I have 4 granddaughters 3 or under! I'm off to check out the magazine!
Thanks for taking the time to scan the magazine for us Jennifer! What a wonderful look back into the past. I love the section showing dress patterns for little girls. It reminds me of the dresses my mother used to make for me. Everything buttoned down the back and my dresses always had little puffed sleeves. We never had zippers until much later. LOL!!
Thank you SO much for scanning the magazine. It's so fun to see and fun to see products still being used today - BonAmi, Corn flakes!
Thanks for sharing. I have a cinnamon roll recipe that has boiled potato in it. Helps keep the rolls moist.
I have made pastry with mash potato, it is really lovely and used up left overs. I'll look forward to reading the magazine.
I was born in August of 1949! My mom was tall and slender (5'10" and 125 pounds) and looked just like the models pictured. I love seeing and reading about those years. Such different times. My dad was a veteran of WWII (paratrooper in the 101st Airborne, surviving D-Day and Battle of the Bulge) and seeing this magazine makes me think of them. Young and making a life for themselves after weathering the war. Thank you so much for sharing!
I absolutely adore that version of Little Women. If I could find a copy to own Id purchase it in a heartbeat. I've seen all of the versions except the last one made in 2019 but I come right back to this one with June Allyson each and every time as my favorite.
I am 62 as well and have good skin if I do say so. Like you, I took my Granny's advice who told me to get a good 'cream' and use it faithfully and I have done so. To date, I haven't a wrinkle or fine line to show on my face and I credit with following Granny's advice. She was an Oil of Olay woman but my sensitive skin demands a Cetaphil cream moisturizer.
I too have a collection of older women's magazines and I routinely try recipes from them and read them cover to cover. I rotate mine by month. It's time to pull out the September issues (following the modern day publication dates)...
That version of Little Women has always been my favourite! My Mum found a copy of the Australian Home Journal that had belonged to her mum and we were looking at it when you shared the previous one. I can't remember which year or month it was from though.
Thank you Jennifer for your posts.
Your outlook on life is refreshing. I have been sitting here for 1/2 an hour reflecting on the 'good old days' of the fifties. Without all the fancy time-savers life was simpler and less stressful. The people were nicer, too.
I could write pages of my feelings on life today but I wont. I am 87 yo and my son lives with me. We have three cats and a nice backyard where we enjoy the birds and other wildlife. We also find much to laugh about and that keeps us sane.
Best wishes to you,
Darlene
The best recipe for making homemade raised donuts includes mashed potatoes! I worked as a music teacher and once a quarter they would make the donuts in the kitchen, and the entire school had a fantastic aroma!
Thank you Jennifer. We have some travelling coming up so I shall download this to my tablet and save it to while away the hours. xx
Lovely to receive you blog post and the magazine is a gift for sure.. What lovely dress's they wore back then. Wish some of these vintage fashions were back in style for sale in shops these days. Oh how pretty the ladies would all look... Interesting recipes. Todays world is crazy...I try not to dwell on it and try to prepare for the uncertain times that lie ahead for us all. Have a beautiful and blessed weekend
My first thought was how lovely my mother would have looked in those dresses on the cover, and then that I was 20 months old that August! The little princess dress would have been a tad bit big for me. What a great look back at what we think of as simpler times.
I remember that Ponds Cold Cream in our bathroom. Mum always used it and I think I did too at some point. I love watching Little Women. I've seen both versions and loved them both. Have a lovely weekend. xx
Thank you so much for this! I was born in 1945 and love reading magazines from that decade. I know we can't dwell too much on the past, but I sure wish I could go back to the 40s and 50s. Problems then for sure, but in general, life was so much simpler and more gracious.
Post a Comment