World Book Wednesday

Volume H

Hairdressing-  "In the 1970s, men and women wore a variety of styles. In some cases they wore the same styles. For example, the Afro, a bushy, curly hairdo, was fashionable, especially among black men and women."

There is something very artistic about the placement of these two photos. On the rest of the page, a single sculpture or painting demonstrates a popular hairstyle of a particular century from 3000 B.C. to the 1800s. But the 1970s gets this interesting juxtaposition of black on white and white on black. There's a deeper message here folks, but I'm too fascinated with the perfect roundness of that afro to go into it.

Heating- "Home heating systems keep people comfortable during cold weather. Good insulation, especially around doors and windows, reduces heat loss and helps conserve energy."

I suspect the insulation around this giant aluminum sliding glass door isn't what's keeping these kids warm.  Playing board games indoors while Dad is outside shoveling snow is what keeps them warm. Side note: remember accidentally stepping on the feet of 70s furniture like the TV stand or the bottom of the footstool? Ouch!

Hobby- "People take up hobbies because these activities offer enjoyment, friendships, knowledge, and relaxation."

Its unclear to me wether this guy looks like that because he has a dorky
hobby, or if stamp collecting seems dorky because of guys like this.

The World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago: World Book-Childcraft International, 1979. Includes all photos and quotations.

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather:::

A nice, clear day. The weather has been great.

On my reading pile:::  
Otherwise Known As Sheila The Great. I read it when I was 10 (and 11 and 12 and...) Anthony just discovered it in his bookcase and we have been reading it together.

On my TV:::
Since everyone is home today, we will watch Super Why with Bobby.

On the menu for this week:::

Monday- Ham and Broccoli Chowder

Tuesday- Meatloaf

Wednesday- Roasted Chicken and Potatoes

Thursday- Hamburger Helper

Friday- Fish Sticks and Tater Tots

Saturday- Chinese Chicken Salad

Sunday- Chicken Cacciatore

On my to do list:::

Grocery shopping

A little heavy cleaning since Hubby is home to help

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::
I finished coloring the panels of my shrinky-dink lampshade, but one of them curled up during shrinking. I've begun assembling the shade, but I need to buy more plastic for the piece that didn't make it. I should also probably figure out how to get the shade on a lamp.

Looking around the house:::

Its quiet this morning because everyone is sleeping in. My kitty is curled up and purring loudly on the floor next to me. Bobby obviously played in the living room this weekend because there are things I didn't even know we owned scattered all over.

From the camera:::

Once again, no pictures because I put my camera away. I guess its okay for the camera to live someplace out in the open.

Something fun to share::: 

I'm having so much fun with my Shrinky Dinks. You can make it a simple afternoon project or get creative and make something much more complex. You don't have to buy a Shrinky Dink set either. The plastic is available in sheets at craft stores, and you can color them with markers, colored pencils, or even paint.

World Book Wednesday

Volume G

Game- "There are three basic types of games- those that involve (1) luck, (2) physical endurance, or (3) skill." Electronic games in the 70s were pure luck: you had to be lucky enough to have parents that would buy such an expensive toy. As time went on, electronic games began to include skill and especially physical endurance. You must be in top physical form to play a video game for 20 hours straight fueled only by Chee-tos and Mountain Dew.

In those days, parents weren't concerned about their children becoming
overweight and lazy. How long could a small moving square possibly keep
their attention before they would decide to go outside and play?

Girl Scouts- A wonderful organization to which I belonged as a girl and that helped shape the woman I am today. Although uniforms change over the years (thank goodness!), the goals of Scouting remain the same: to help girls develop as creative, responsible individuals.

The Brownie and Junior are very cute in their jumpers, and the Seniors look neat and ready to face the challenges of adulthood. What about the poor Cadette? Cadettes are 12 to 14 years old, the most awkward and painful ages of childhood. Let's put them in elastic waisted polyester pants to make the chubby ones self conscious, and light yellow turtlenecks that accentuate the fact that you're either a flat chested baby, or a well endowed one of those girls.

The World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago: World Book-Childcraft International, 1979. Includes all photos and quotations.

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather:::

So far its a beautiful day. Its clear with a gentle breeze and the perfect temperature. Just the kind of weather that promises to turn the house into a pressure cooker by 3 PM.

On my reading pile:::  
No reading lately.

On my TV:::
The TV is on during the evenings, but I don't pay any attention to it.

On the menu for this week:::

Monday- The store didn't have a ham steak when I went this morning, so I have no idea what's for dinner. There was also no ground beef with less than 15% fat. The store I go to is known for its meat department. FAIL.

Tuesday- Cheeseburger Pie

Wednesday- Cabbage and Sausage

Thursday- Spaghetti

Friday- Chicken Cacciatore

Saturday- Shrimp Towers

Sunday- BBQ Pork Sandwiches

On my to do list:::

Prenatal appointments seem to fill up my days. That and trying to stay awake.

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::
Still working on my lampshade. I'm almost done coloring and should be able to shrink by the end of the week. But then there's putting it all together...

Looking around the house:::

Anthony's doing his morning exercises even though he is officially done with school. He just assumed that we would keep the same schedule and I don't think I will tell him any different. The house is decorated in Usual Monday Style- dishes in the sink, Hot Wheels on the floor. Notice that cleaning up is not on my to do list. I'm going to nap instead.

From the camera:::

I finally cleaned off the dining room table and put the camera away where it belongs. Now I forget to use it. I need to find it a new home where its out of the way but still accessible.

Something fun to share::: 

I stumbled across a blog called Awfullibrarybooks.net. I had a good time there and it made me think of my own World Book Wednesday.

World Book Wednesday

Volume F

Facsimile- 

This was a big and expensive machine used by only the most important big rich companies.
The important people who are lucky enough to use this type of machine call it a fax for short.

Fallout Shelter- This article gives very detailed instructions on building a home fallout shelter. I would be willing to bet that the 1992 World Book article on the subject was shortened dramatically. No more U.S.S.R., no more nukes, after all. But stay tuned: North Korea might learn how to launch a "satellite" one day. If they do, you'd better stock up on cinder blocks, concrete, and sand.

I scoured the internet looking for my local public fallout shelter. The best information I got
was that some exist, but no public agency seems to know (or is willing to divulge) where.

Flashbulb- In the '70s, phones were for making phone calls, so if you wanted to take a picture you had to have a camera, film, and sometimes a flashcube or flashbar. Even though a flashbar could contain up to ten flashbulbs, you still had to be choosy about the images you wanted to capture. How many photos do you want to take on your two week tour of Europe? And how many of those shots will be indoors or at night? Make sure you have room in your suitcase to hold enough flashbars because you how hard it is to find the right kind if you run out in Antwerp.

What do you do when you use up your flashcube? Throw it away.
Hey, there's plenty of glass, plastic, and tungsten on earth to last forever, right?

Flight Attendant- "A candidate must be between 19 and 27 years old and meet normal height and weight standards. Weight must be proportional to height [...] Airlines prefer single applicants, but they accept married, widowed, or divorced persons." I guess this was before employment discrimination laws. If a potential employer ever asked me how much I weigh, you'd better believe I'd tell them I weigh enough to knock their block off!

That caption is a lie. It should say, 'Attendants must be able to hand you a plate of
something that passes for food.'  Really, have you ever had a fresh tossed salad on a flight?

The World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago: World Book-Childcraft International, 1979. Includes all photos and quotations.

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather:::

Looks like its going to be a clear and warm day.

On my reading pile:::  
I guess reading isn't a priority right now. I haven't picked up my book in days.

On my TV:::
Same thing with television. No time, no time.

On the menu for this week:::

My husband and I were on a weekend getaway so I didn't do any menu planning or shopping. It should be and interesting week!

On my to do list:::

Menu plan

Grocery shopping

Reorganize my entire life (I suppose I should break that down into more manageable pieces, but it is something I would like to get done as we count down to the arrival of the new baby.)

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::
A Shrinky Dink lampshade. It's hard to describe, but I took along some art supplies to keep my husband and I busy on our long train ride. When I finish the project I'll post some pix. I don't know how it will turn out, but it kept us occupied on the trip.

Looking around the house:::

Anthony and Bobby are both watching Cars. Anthony is on a short break from studying and Bobby is home from preschool with a fever. With both kids at home today I don't think I'll get much done (which explains why this post is about four hours later than usual).

From the camera:::

I took my camera on vacation and I didn't take a single picture!

Something fun to share::: 

Take a train trip somewhere. It takes forever but it gives you time to spend with the family without everyday distractions like dishes and laundry. Nobody has to concentrate on driving, and you can move around and be comfortable unlike a car trip.