Mrs. I’ll-Try-Anything

Somebody didn’t have her Kaffee Hag, I see. Or perhaps old Mrs. Anal-Retentive-Washerwoman needs something a wee bit stronger. We’d better see if there’s any Vapex left, that’ll improve her mood.

This looks like another fun social occasion, doesn’t it? Is this a mother-in-law/ daughter-in-law showdown? Or are we at a Levittown coffee morning? Good to be here, getting into a little rumble about – the wash. There’s always someone who’s the self-appointed expert, “I’ve been doing wash for twenty years, young lady!”

Yes, we don’t doubt that. That is why you are so cranky. And doing your bluing separately has really been fulfilling.

And then there’s the rebel belle, the voice of modern efficiency.  James Dean in ruffles and gingham! She uses La France (cue the Maurice Chevalier music) – which is pretty damn good fun, what with the little bluing flakes mixing right in the soapsuds and…yeah, that sounds like almost too much fun for me. Dryer sheets are about as hedonistic as I get around here.

Still, I like Mrs. I’ll-Try-Anything and her “wouldn’t I be a sap not to try it?” Touché, Mrs. Crabapple, you old sap! 

This is for Vintage Thingies Thursday over at Confessions of an Apron Queen, courtesy of Ladies’ Home Journal circa 1945 – both of which are vertiable cornucopias of retro fun!

Coffee Hag

Another day, another comic-strip domestic drama. This time the culprit is Auntie, who insists on swilling lots of coffee after dinner. And then, of course, the caffeine keeps her up all night. It’s Mr. Caffein Nerves playing havoc with family harmony again! What a varmint he is!

Mind you, Auntie is a bit of a stubborn old thing. She just won’t try the decaff. Says it’s no good. Gets mad at anyone who says otherwise. Auntie thinks the rest of her family is pretty daft, really.

Her nephew is dressed in a clown suit though, up at the top, so maybe she has a point.

Or maybe she just wants to stay up snooping around the house. Though from the look of things, all she’s managed to find are some books with elephant bookends. Auntie, you can do way better than that! (Check the rolltop desk in the study, there’s got to be some good stuff in there).

In the middle section they are actually taking the old dear out for a meal. The wily waiter suggests Kaffee Hag – he knows exactly what the deal is there. (And oh how I love the name Kaffee Hag! I am a bit of one myself early in the morning actually).

Dénouement: Auntie has (mercifully) conked out. And it only took three cups to knock her out, apparently. So the whole family’s sold on it. Hey, why not – it’s “real coffee- fine coffee – a blend of the richest coffees” – OK, we get it! It’s really, really good! And the caffeine was just sneaked out of it “so subtly that not a atom of flavor is lost.”

I guess that means we won’t be needing the Burnett’s Flavor then.