Living our history. and the Interesting things we come across.

Suffice it to say that i am a living historian.. I didn't always call myself that, you understand - previously i "just re-enacted civil war" and i didnt really consider every other aspect of things other than being there, in what i still considered costume, & that was that.
But then i started studying, & I started Learning about what i was doing and then even THAT started branching out more and more.. Now i have research materials, access to experts on their specialties for reference and support and a LOT of people i can ask questions of.. even on such mundane & interesting  various things like gloves, china ware, fabrics, dresses of other periods. have finally made my first corset, I am even participating with a costuming guild :),  and the list goes on..
So now i feel i am LIVING the hobby, rather than just showing up for it. To me this is how one becomes a Living historian.. you dont have to Be an expert, just Truly participate in what you are doing........... 

Did I mention I collect vintage cookbooks..- while most are of the late 1930s to mid 1960s, a few are much older. but i dont JUST collect them, I am now starting to COOK from them, now they too are part of my living history :) 
 One of the pleasures of this collection is the odds and ends that one often FINDS in such books. the one i am referring to today is from a 1944 book, and inside it I found a partial Newspaper clipping..

the DETAILS are amazing The clipping is dated Friday April 5, 1946 San Antonio Evening News. and suddenly we have a glimpse in the life of an every day newpaper reader & grocery shopper!.

To give you an Idea
in the bottom right corner is "Tomorrow's Menu" :)
Breakfast: Stewed dried prunes and apricots, cooked cereal, enriched toast butter or fortified margerine, jam or marmalade, coffee, milk
Luncheon: Sausage apple betty, soft rolls butter or fortified margerine, haw celery, citrus fruit gelatin, tea, milk.
Dinner: Beef stew with vegetables, boiled potatoes, lettuce & grapefruit salad, hard rolls butter or fortified margerine, gingerbread with whipped cream, coffee, milk.

 in the lower right corner a store advertises 
Live or Dressed Poultry!
Young ducks at 33cents a pound
New Zealand Rabbits (cleaned) at 49cents a pound
Baby beef(??) Turkey Hens at 39cents a pound
Baking Hens at 39cents a pound 
Fryers at 41cents a pound
and Fresh Gulf Trout at 39cents a pound
**************************
what I also find Delightful on the back side are sales items and many of the brands are ones we recognize even today (even if the product might not be still around)

Armour's Star Tamales 10.5 oz glass for 15cents
Cudahy's 3oz can Deviled Ham 12.5cents
Armour's 16oz can Chili con Carne at 24cents
Gerbers baby food can at 6.5cents
Welch's Orange Marmalade 16oz glass 19cents
RealLemon Juice 8oz bottle at 19cents
Heinz White Vinegar one gallon at 49cents
and my favorite Sunshine  CHEEZITS  6.75 oz for 10cents!!!! 

I love these glimpses into my recent ancestors lives  - dont you??