Vintage Inspiration Friday #61 Halloween Nostalgia

As a child Halloween was always special, as it was my paternal grandmother's birthday. She always had homemade caramel corn balls (anyone still make these?) and a chocolate cake. Funny the things that are embedded in our minds and hearts from our childhood. I remember spending hours in my grandparents' "walk-in" attic; full of books, games, and Holiday decorations from when my dad was young in the 30's. 

After all these years, the 20's and 30's are my favorite era for graphics.

Here are some vintage Halloween postcard images found on Google.

They are so hard to find now, and go for more than a few dollars.

And some great vintage photos of Halloween revelers.

I remember the year that I was probably in 3rd. grade that my mom and dad thought it would be funny to dress me up like the "Frito Bandito". Anyone out there remember that piece of history? Mom drew a skinny mustache on me with eyebrow pencil. A serape and sombrero from a trip to Mexico finished the ensemble. I was humiliated but they laughed their socks off. Ha ha, I wanted to be a princess!

(Update!!! OK, I went back to Wikipedia, and it seems that the Frito Bandito didn't make it on the scene until 1967. I was older than 3rd grade in 1967. Clearly my sick parents were ahead of their time with this sad incident. I suppose in hindsight it was referred to as the FB Outfit!!)

 I've shared this before; My Grandfather was a printer and a practical joker. He loved surprise parties and hosted a secret get together for my Grandmother's birthday.

Wish I had photos from that party!

I know most of us have wonderful memories from our childhood about Halloween. So I celebrate the nostalgia and memories. Laura from Decor to Adore wrote a wonderful post that so resonates with my thoughts on Halloween. Hope you'll read it when you leave here. 

So let's see what was going on last week.

Sorry I didn't get by to visit, but as you probably know,

we were visiting our kids in St. Louis.

Theresa "Easy Peasy" Hein from 612 Riverside

really inspired me with her great Jack-O-Lantern scarecrows.

My sweet friend Julie from Idyllhours

adorned an old rake for her porch decor.

(she wanted a broom, but settled for the rake!)

Sue from Sullivan and Murphy put together a wonderful Fall display

with a demijohn that is fantastic.

Rita from MayDays creates a gorgeous buffet display

with her silver and natural elements.

My good friend Rebecca Ersfeld invites us in to visit,

and see all her creations for the upcoming Holidays.

Try to visit her online shop for some wonderful goodies.

And Aimee from It's Overflowing

transformed her rancher chandy into a thing of blingy beauty!

Thanks everyone, hope you'll link up to the party,

"Anything vintage or vintage inspired"

and all your Fall Decor.

I'm linking with these party gals:

Please have a link within your post,

so others will know where to party!

xoxo,

www.laurieannas.blogspot.com

www.frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com

www.thecharmofhome.blogspot.com

www.stuff-and-nonsense.net

www.romantichome.blogspot.com

www.atthepicketfence.com

www.twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com 

St. Louis Visit

Fall is my favorite time of the year to visit the kids in St. Louis. They live in an historic community, close to Washington University. Their home was built in 1904, just after the St. Louis World's Fair. The trees in their neighborhood are so gorgeous and the town is decorated for Fall Harvest and Halloween. 

We did a little antique shopping at Cherokee Street on Sunday afternoon. The architecture of the storefronts and homes is amazing. St. Louis is an old city, first founded by the French in the 1760's. This was a booming antique center for years, but it's been hit hard by the economy. There are still several great stores here, enough for me to find some things of course!

Sunday morning we had a wonderful brunch at the Lemp Mansion.

This was the family home of one of the early large breweries in St. Louis, and is well known for it's history of ghosts and hauntings. They hold ghost tours, events, and parties throughout the Fall, but today we were just interested in the delicious homestyle fried chicken dinner. 

Our daughter Erin and I out front.

(sorry, I take the worst photos, I actually DO have eyes!)

They were renovating the ceilings, and this was in the Dining Room where we ate. Do you see the one black raven at the edge? ...very creepy.

Dining Room

Gardens 

Keith and Erin in the Lemp Mansion Garden.

They've lived in their home for several years and have mostly done cosmetic updates. But they are starting a bath reno upstairs and a kitchen makeover soon. They want to bring back the authenticity of the kitchen that a makeover in the 80's had taken.

She had a cute pumpkin display on the porch, but I never got a photo of it.

I just took a few photos inside, but this was the one I was interested in; their new Restoration Hardware Entry Lighting. The photo doesn't do it justice, as the reflection of light was wonderful.

RH website

Dining Room

The house has 10 foot ceilings throughout, and Erin's mother-in-law made wonderful draperies for not only the Dining Room, but the Master Bedroom and Living Room. (so glad that wasn't my job!)

I did a post two years ago, but this was also 3 cameras ago, so the photos are less than good. We don't get to see them as much as we would like. Springfield is only 3 hours away, 4 if you have to eat and potty. Erin is a sales manager with a real estate developer so her getting weekends free is hard, and Keith is in sales with IBM so they both have demanding jobs. We love them to pieces and they are the best hosts anyone could ask for! 

Hope you'll be able to join in tomorrow for 

Vintage Inspiration Friday

"anything vintage or vintage inspired"

and all your Fall Decor!

xoxo,

p.s. I'm about caught up with the laundry!