We’ve grabbed our Easter bonnets and are heading up North to wish a little lass a happy birthday, though ski masks and boots will likely be more practical on Easter morn.
Do you remember a time when women wore hats as part of their “ensemble”? Even as a little girl, I always wore a hat to church, my thick, brown hair swirling around like little sausages from the rag curls my grandmother, Yia Yia, had created. Penny and Dottie, in matching outfits, skinned knees and anklets. Nice memories for me. I hope you have a few such memories as well, whether you are celebrating Passover, Easter, or the beginning a of new season. Whether it be spring here in the northern hemisphere, or autumn in the southern hemisphere, I wish you peace and hope this weekend, and leave you with Judy Garland and Fred Astaire.
I didn’t wear a bonnet or a hat, but I well remember the new clothes for easter, incl. the ankle socks and black patent leather shoes, which always pinched.
Happy Easter, Penny.
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Thank you, Friko. It was. Now, I do remember black patent leather shoes – and they did pinch!
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Oh I DO love Judy Garland and Fred Astaire! And yes, we always wore hats to Sunday School and chapel when we were girls. 🙂
I wish you safe travelling and a peaceful and very happy Easter with your loved ones, dear Penny.
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Thank you, Perpetua. We are safely home again after good traveling weather and great family time. There was a little girl at church wearing a spring bonnet, which looked so cute, even in the snow.
I love Judy Garland and Fred Astaire too and have had the song playing through my head.
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My favourite Easter bonnet was white with red polka dots…. how I’d love to see it again. have a lovely Easter Penny. Enjoy your trip north.Jx
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Oh, that sounds so lovely, Janice; red polka dots! Thank you. We did have a lovely Easter, and are now home again.
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Ah, I see it’s cold everywhere. Enjoy your Easter weekend.
By the way, I never wore hats when I was growing up; however, I’m a big fan of hats now in adulthood. I like to wear hats to keep the sun off my face and the hair out of my lipstick. :)))
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It was quite cold and still snow further north of here. Brrrrr! Still, we had a lovely Easter weekend. Thank you.
Isn’t it fun to wear them now, Nerima? I use wear them to keep the sun off my face as well and am giggling. Yes. Hair and lipstick often get “stuck”.
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I remember Easter Bonnets. I especially remember a navy blue straw hat that fit tightly on my head and had a brim that framed the face.It had a little bundle of straw flowers on one side. I also remember the kind that were sort of like a thick headband covered with flowers. They would have a little netting that would cover the fore head. I didn’t usually get a new outfit unless it was my sister’s out grown one. White gloves always would complete the outfit and patend leather Mary Jane shoes. Sometimes the shoes might even be white for spring.
I have a favorite book about bonnets, Easter and otherwise. It is called Miss Fannie’s Hat by Jan Karon. (Yes, the Mitford Jan Karon.) You would love it! The book reminds me so much of my Aunt Wanda and my Grandmother that it brings a tear to my eye every time I read it.
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That sounds sweet, Janet, and I remember the headband type. I think I looked better in that kind, with my very round face. We didn’t always have a new dress, either, and I’m sure my sister didn’t appreciate my hand-me-downs; though there were several outfits we both wore that were look-a-likes, giving her an extra year’s worth of wear. Don’t tell anyone, but, I still like to wear Mary Janes.
I know Miss Fannie’s Hat and I do love it. How touching that it reminds you of your Aunt Wanda and Grandmother. It’s so wonderful when a story can bring that sort of gentle tug to our hearts. Now I need to find it and read it again and think of you.
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Happy Easter, Penny. Hats are something of a thing with me, even today. I have numerous hats, and I love wearing them. Winter and summer. I hope you have a safe trip up (further) north, and happy, happy birthday to your granddaughter.
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Thank you, Andra. We did, enjoyed the weekend and all it brought to us and are now safely back home. Aren’t hats fun? and especially needed in the south.
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Those Easter bonnets were so much fun weren’t they? I felt very grown up in mine. My daddy always took pictures of Mother and me. He also sent us a corsage. I would keep mine and play dress-up with it until summer and the flowers were gone leaving nothing but the ribbons. My dresses were sewed by my Mother so no one ever had one like mine!
I hope you have one of the best Easter holidays ever and make lots of memories. Stay safe.
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They were, Marilyn. Sometimes I wish we still wore them as we did “back then”. Oh, how sweet your daddy was to give your both corsages and what tender memories those are. I can just imagine how special those dresses were, so lovingly made.
It was a wonderful Easter and the memories were made. I hope to share a few pictures soon. We are safely home now. Thank you.
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I do remember the hats, and have lots of old photos as evidence! 🙂 I have some lovely memories of Easter all dressed up! Enjoy every moment with your beautiful family, and i particular, that precious birthday girl! 🙂
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We had a lovely time, Debra, with a birthday celebration as well. Miss them already, now we are home. Aren’t those old photos fun to look at? I hope you had a nice holiday with your family and those two darling girls.
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Dear Penny, have a wonderful time with your grandchildren, being their beloved Yia-Yia. Will they get Easter baskets from their peripatetic bunny? And yes, I do so remember our Easter bonnets–straw with flowers and ribbons. And the new shoes and clothes. Mom seldom had the money for new clothes for herself or Dad but she would add a ribbon or flower to her old hats and “refurbish” them. That’s what Moms did when money got tight. I suspect that’s what they still do. Peace.
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They did get Easter buckets with a few things and Kezzie participated in an Easter egg hunt at church, Dee. It was so cold they had to hold it inside, but, the children didn’t seem to care.
Wasn’t it amazing how women could “refurbish” their hats and dresses and such? I think it is those simple adornments that makes life a bit sweeter at times, in spite of the hardships. I still enjoy sprucing up an old outfit with a pin or belt, though I’m sure not as inventive as your mom sounds.
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There was usually a new outfit and at least once a bonnet. I still have it, squashed flat but all the pink and white doodads intact. How that has survived over 50 years I have no idea, but it has. Have a wonderful Easter!
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How fabulous that the bonnet survived, Teresa! Isn’t it amazing what bits of our childhood come along with us in boxes and bags? Thank you. I did, in spite of the cold of MN. Saw a few sand hill cranes on the way down that should be coming your way soon.
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what memories, Penny. We have a mammoth Easter with impressive church services! Enjoy yours. (ps I don’t wear aan Easter bonnet)
John
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Ha! I’m sure you don’t, John; perhaps a top hat? It sounds like your Easter is quite moving and I imagine filled with family as well.
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Happy Easter to you and the whole family, Penny. We were post-bonnets but Mum always made us new clothes for Easter. So looking forward to hearing tales of Easter with the little ones.
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I hope to post some pictures soon, Kate (and catch up on your fine writing). How wonderful those new clothes must have been that your mum made. It seems like much of life disappeared in the mid-sixties, including bonnets.
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Thank you Penny, for this lovely Easter message. I never really had a hat, although we were meant to cover our heads in church. My Easter bonnet was a sunhat this weekend! – and even so I picked up a bit of sunburn on my face. Wishing you a safe journey and a heart-warming time with your special family, and a happy birthday for the little birthday girl. I smiled at the video clip – so very elegant.
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Thank you, Juliet. We did have a “heart-warming time” and I must tell you that Kezzie and I made the paper flower your posted; she colored, I cut and folded the petals, and we watched it “bloom” is a dish of water, which sat on the Easter dinner table. I am so glad you shared it on your post, with the link. It will be a fun project to do again.
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What a thrill to think of you and Kezzie sharing this magic; I’m so pleased!
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My mother told me that when she was young a woman would never dream of going downtown without wearing a hat and gloves. That hasn’t been my experience but I do remember that when I was a child, Easter always meant an Easter bonnet, along with a matching hat and coat. I hope you had a lovely Easter Penny! By the way, it was sure nice to type this comment with Fred Astaire and Judy Garland singing in the background!
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Neither would my mom, Janet. I don’t remember wearing white gloves myself, but, we always dressed up to go downtown and, as I got older, heals. Oh, those heals and those metal grates! It was a lovely Easter, Janet. It had been awhile since we spent time up there and with the grandchildren. I hope yours was nice as well.
I’m so pleased that you found it nice to type away listening to Fred and Judy. I’ll see what else I can “dig up”.
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