Christmas in Connecticut - 1958

We lived in Connecticut for one year when I was young. My dad was working in New York City and commuted from our home. Our 'home' was actually a barn! So, I guess, if we ever left the door open and my mother inquired, "Were you raised in a barn?" we could honestly answer, "Yes!"

I loved the barn. It had been converted into a home by my great aunt. As I recall the rooms were spacious - probably because I was so much smaller then! There were balconies both inside and outside. There was one that looked over the living room. That is where our TV was located and we children would delight in throwing things down into the living room... like the poor, suffering hamster who would take trips down onto the feather pillowed chair! He survived. We claimed that he liked flying!

I unearthed some pictures of Christmas at the barn:

In the foreground, my brother and dad check out the Ballistic Missile my brother received. I remember this toy. The missile was launched with water pressure created by pumping the handle of the launcher. The coffee table just beyond my brother graces my living room today! Aunt Lynn, Grandma Ogren and my mother are looking on from the couch. It seems strange to see my grandmother smoking. I recall that the silver piece on the corner of the coffee table nearest my mother was used to hold cigarettes for formal gatherings. They were put out on the table just as dinner mints would be offered! Oh, and my mother did have two legs! She just liked sitting with one leg cocked under her... something I still do. Those shoes of mom's must have been uncomfortable! And look at that bottle of booze - I'm betting that was a gift for my father - even then people didn't know what to get the man!

This is my mother. She sure looks young! 

But then again, doing the math, she was 36 years old.

My sister opening a gift. 

She is 11 years old in this picture.

I'm wondering if the watch she is wearing was a gift.

The chair she is sitting in now resides in my kitchen.

and the ladderback chair to her right is in our bedroom!

The wall behind my sister is the wall of the telephone room.

When the barn was made into a home my great aunt

had a small room, probably 4' X 6', set up for the phone.

I remember talking on the phone in this room. 

There was a built-in shelf for taking messages,

and a small window for light.

And.... 

here is Dreaming as a little girl.

I am opening a small china tea set

while my paternal grandmother looks on.

Merry Christmas!