Tuesday, December 22, 2020

70 years ago............


 70 years ago this was my Christmas present.  I was 10 years old and my dad was an amateur photographer.  My older brother got a camera like this too but I don't think my younger brother got one.



I took the camera to school with me occasionally.  My dad developed his own films and sometimes he would develop mine too but usually I took my exposed film to the drugstore and picked up prints a week later.



I have had many different cameras since the early 1960s as cameras became smaller and easier to carry around.

I don't have many other things from my childhood because we shared everything with younger members of the family and even neighbor kids.


I made the chocolate spritz yesterday but had lots of them already packed and ready to mail to family across the country before I remembered to take a photo.  Last night I made 2 more batches of Chex mix to use up all of the cereal.

I might be done baking or I might make one more different kind of cookies.  


18 comments:

Lesley Gilbert said...

How wonderful to still have something from your childhood, especially your first camera. I got mine when I was 14 but I didn't have flash. Moving around in my late teens I lost all my childhood treasures, I like the look of your pink hearts and although I love chocolate (Cadburys Milk and some white's) I'm not a big fan of chocolate cake or biscuits. Must be a nice change for you to create something else besides quilts. Your cactus have been busy as well the past few weeks :)

Cheryl said...

Your spritz cookies are beautiful. I stopped making them because I couldn't figure out how to get them to stick to the pan. Do you share your spritz baking secrets?

Julierose said...

I had a Brownie camera also--they were such fun--mine is long gone though.
Your cookies look great--I may make some fudge (finally) today...
hugs, Julierose

Roxanne said...

You still have your Brownie! It sounds like you enjoyed it from the beginning. Your professional results now go way back to something your dad shared with you. Love that!

Tami Von Zalez said...

I have never made chocolate spritz cookies. I am thinking of making some of the regular ones though.
Such a unique post for you. Thank you for sharing that.

Linda Swanekamp said...

I never had a camera until college, always wanted one and I guess I take so many pictures now to make up for it. Kodak headquarters was about an hour away in Rochester, NY and when it folded, so many people were affected. The George Eastman House, in Rochester, houses the camera history and important historical photos. Great cookies.

sue s said...

I haven't used those spritz dies before; I'll have to give them a try. I had a Brownie for a while as a girl and have no idea what happened to it. What a treasure!

Sylvia Anderson said...

Good morning Wanda. Years ago, when our children were young, I bought one of the cookie guns and made the spritz cookies, and did so, until it no longer worked. Can't remember why I never bought another one though. I have cookies to wrap and send to relatives, so I better get busy and get them to the post office. This year I made 14 different kinds of cookies to give to 17 different people, and when I went to the Dollar Tree, they were all sold out of the containers I normally use, which had red lids, so had to settle for the ones with orange lids. Maybe if I stick a big green bow on it, it might look more festive.

Quiltdivajulie said...

We started out with Brownie cameras - oh the days of taking film to the drugstore and waiting with baited breath to see if any of the photos were good ones. Digital has surely changed that level of suspense! Merry Christmas, Wanda!

Nann said...

Your camera is a treasure, Wanda. Of course Brownie cameras and their Kodak relatives were such a convenience compared to the 19th century studio cameras -- but even for us we thought twice or three times before snapping the shutter so we didn't "waste" the film. Now I always think, "They're cheap, their digital," as I press the camera button to get another picture.

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

What a treasure!!! And so cool that you still have it - do you still take photos with it?

JJM said...

Brownie Hawkeye Flash and in its original box yet ! Manual included too. All in supreme condition. Thsnks for sharing your Christmas camera along with the memories, from many Christmas's gone by.

Your spritz cookie I know are as delicious as they look. Is your cookie press electric ? That's really a workout if not.

JJM

patty a. said...

That is so cool you have that camera. I have nothing from my childhood. The one thing I miss the most is the box that had my girl scout sash and my 4-H ribbons. The must have gotten lost in a move.

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Ah yes, the old brownie camera. So special. I remember my dad using one! I have my old teddy bear from my childhood days (missing one eye, much to the grandchildren's worry) and a book Dad had from Sunday School, 'the little mermaid' which I treasure. Lovely post.

Mabpear said...

I, too, had a Brownie Hawkeye camera. I may still have a couple of flashbulbs! Those black and white prints were so tiny - hard for old eyes to see clearly. Neither of my parents were photographers so the photos I took are precious reminders of childhood.

Kerry said...

My aunt gave me her Brownie box camera when I was 10! I also took it to school when we had our last class outing at the seaside. It took terrific photos and I used it a lot - so clear! I still have the photos and they haven't faded at all - the colours are vivid. Not so with later film that seem to have turned every day into a misty one.
What a lovely present for you and to share the fun with your father.

Dorothy said...

I had one too and I carried it where ever I went. How strange that my phone with a camera in it, now sits mostly on the kitchen counter

Lovay said...

I must be the same age ~ and similar memory! I had the same camera when I was young and took a lot of photos. Didn't keep it as I upgraded, and now only use my iPhone for photos. Thanks for the memory!