70th Anniversary of VJ Day and the End of WWII

Today marks the 70th anniversary VJ Day, the day the treaty with Japan was signed marking an end to World War II.  I am proud to say the my dad's father, Frank, served in the army at the tail end of the war and the transition to peacetime (he was too young to serve before) and my mom had two aunts who served in the WACS. Norine served during the war and was stationed in the Philippines and Claire Estelle served during peacetime.

• This vintage wartime ad from Sunshine Books features a WAC and a WAVE.  Less well remembered than their army and navy counterparts, there were also WASPS who flew every type of aircraft in the Air Force as they ferried planes across the country.
• This patriotic rhinestone V for Victory pin is available from Small Town Vintage Shop.
• This sweet celluloid pin back V-J Day button is available from Brooklyn Antiques.
• This fun cute little army jeep and driver brooch is available in our own shop.  
• Finally, this iconic The Kiss print, which captured the effervescent relief of the end of the war, is available from Falstaff Trading. 

Hearth Warming Holidays Sneak Peek!

Here is a sneak peek at some of the fabulous vintage baubles we've been busy putting out for our Hearth Warming Holidays Open House which goes on through Sunday. Here we've assembled oodles of beautiful aqua and blue vintage glass ornaments. Don't you just love the old stencilled ones from Shiny Brite or made in Poland?

Here we've got some of our pink vintage ornaments, accented with some of our vintage jewels. We've put some of our pink champagne glasses to good use holding some "baubly"!


Here we've got some of our greens and golds...the old wire basket lends a nice contrast for display.

On our chippy white dresser, we've raided the shop's shelves for pretty compotes and dishes to hold some of our more spectacular ornaments. Those in the hobnail Fenton tidbit (front and center) are unsilvered WWII finds!

Terrific Timely Tips from WWII booklet

Mom and I were out and about collecting goodies for our store and boy did we find some wonderful goodies at the estate of a 95 year old woman who still had many of her mother's belongings. Many of these items will be added to our inventory soon but they are just so neat that I wanted to share some of them with you!

One of these goodies is a great promotional Swans Down cake flour booklet filled with wartime recipes called "How to bake by the Ration Book". This little booklet features recipes that make do with less. For example there are cakes with little or no eggs or sugar and biscuits with only a tablespoon of shortening. Not only is it interesting to see how creative people were with what they had but these are recipes that are just as good for us today helping both our waistlines and our wallets.

Here are a couple of recipes for you to try:

One-Egg Wonder Cake

2 cups sifted Swans Down Cake Flour
1 cup Sugar
2 tsp. Calumet Baking Powder
1 egg, unbeaten
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup milk
1/4 or 1/3 cup shortening
1 tsp. vanilla

Sift flour once, measure, add baking powder and salt, and sift together three times. Cream shortening, add sugar gradually, and cream together well. Add egg and beat very thoroughly. Add flour, alternately with milk, a small amount at a time, beating after each addition until smooth. Add vanilla. Bake in two greased 8 inch layer pans or in greased large cup-cake pan in moderate oven (375 degrees F.) 20-25 minutes. Spread with topping...


Wartime Drop Biscuits

2 cups sifted Swans Down Cake Flour
3/4 cup milk
2 1/2 tsp. Calumet Baking Powder
3/4 tsp. salt
1 tablespoon melted shortening or oil

Sift flour once, measure, add baking powder and salt, and sift again. Add milk and melted shortening. Then stir quickly and lightly until all flour is dampened. Drop from tip of teaspoon in small mounds on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake in hot oven (450 degrees F.) 15 minutes or until done. Makes about 18 biscuits.

Bon Appetit!
Kerry