Seeing something awesome today makes for our nostalgia tomorrow

I can remember watching birds as a kid. Of course they were everywhere so I could hardly miss their presence, but I took a deeper interest in their activities as well as their physical features.

I was never a “bird watcher”, so to speak, but I did watch birds, if that makes any sense. I would never qualify for the Audubon Society, but I have always been a fan. Perhaps it was their ability to fly or maybe a majestic quality that caught my attention way back then. Not sure. However, my interest in watching birds has always stayed with me.

I had a book of birds by Audubon. It was the bird bible and had amazing pictures of birds from all over the world. Eagles, hawks and falcons were my favorite birds to read about. I remember one of the Hardy Boys Mystery books was about falcons, and I was a big Hardy Boy series reader.

Today I am still fascinated with those majestic birds of prey, but I find myself loving those really colorful birds in places far, far away. Modern photography is rich with color and clarity, and it really captures the radiance of these colorful creatures.

The photographic clarity in the above shot is an example of the richness that can be found all over the internet. As a marketer for small businesses, I spend quite a bit of time staring at words on a screen, and taking a “bird break” every so often takes the eye strain away and gives me a moment of quiet appreciation for this part of nature. Taking a minute to really look at this bird, quietly, with no distraction, drops my stress level immensely. I not only become more relaxed, but I also find my creative senses become rejuvenated and I become more productive… with a little smile on my face. I actually catch myself grinning while I work. It feels stupid, but really good! So, I stop grinning, but it always creeps back.

Create your own imagination

Learning About the Subject of Birds

Having a reference book has been useful to me in order to learn a bit about the birds I see. I recently found a new one by Audubon that I feel is done right. To check it out just click on the picture here:

The description of the guide is as attractive as its contents:

“Unrivaled in scope for a single-volume reference work, this visual guide to every bird order and family profiles more than 1,400 species, photographed in their native environment by photographers around the globe. Authoritative, comprehensive, and completely up to date, this is a must-have reference for anyone with even a passing interest in the world’s birds. Illustrates the full range of birds, bird behavior, and bird-watching locations. Organized in taxonomic order with detailed introductions to every bird order. Special double-page features on the most spectacular birds. Breathtaking images of the bird world.”

So, take a few minutes throughout your day to appreciate what Nature has given us. Do a little something nice every day for our environment. You may think that you efforts won’t help much, but if that is correct, it will do something for you! And that is a guaranty!

No matter how you spell it, Sno Cones are fantastic!

They were a summer treat that my friends and I always looked forward to. With all the real snow on the ground today here in the northeast, it may not be the exact time to reminisce about Snow Cones, but it sort of makes me forget about winter and look forward to some hotter weather, in a shivery sort of way.

For the uninitiated, Sno Cones are delightful servings of shaved or crushed ice covered with a flavored syrup, which are served in a cone-shaped cup which rests oh, so comfortably in one’s hand. I remember cherry as being my favorite. Other choices were root beer, cherry, grape, blueberry and I think lemon. I may have missed a few.

Strawberry Sno Cones were my favorite!

A Little History

In the 1850’s the American Industrial Revolution made ice commercially available. Ice houses in New York would commonly sell ice to places like Florida. To transport the ice to Florida, the ice houses would send a wagon with a huge block of ice south. The route to Florida would pass right through Baltimore. In Baltimore, children would run up to the wagon and ask for a small scraping of ice. Before long, mothers started to make flavoring in anticipation of their child receiving some ice. The first flavor these mothers made was a current Baltimore favorite: egg custard. Egg custard was an easy flavor to make as all that was in it was eggs, vanilla and sugar. – Credit: Wikipedia

Because of the Snow Cone craze stemming from Baltimore, Snow Cone machines began to be developed in the 1890’s, so you can see that this piece of Americana is not new by any means. These machines crush ice, eliminating the need to shave it off a larger block of ice. This enabled anyone to make the frozen delicacy.

Combinations of flavors began to pop up, usually in a rainbow-type display of color which made the snow Cone even more appealing.

Rainbow Sno Cone

I Can Make My Own Sno Cones?

Home Sno Cone machines are available today at a modest price. It is fairly easy to set up your own Snow Cone home factory! It will be loved by us kids of all ages on a hot summer day, or even during a blizzard. Considering that the treat consists only of ice and a little flavoring, it is another one of the healthier sweets available. You can even juice some strawberries, blueberries or other favorite fruit and make an all-natural Sno Kone! Watermellons, cantelope and honeydew melons would also fit the bill.

I found some great machines currently available here, if you would like to look. I see Snow Cone machines from $29, but this one looks like a rugged machine for a reasonable price. Once on the site, just search for Snow Cone machines and you will find cones and flavorings, too!

If Snow Cones are a part of your historical past, as they are of mine, you should be able to remember that great taste and perhaps a brain freeze or two!

Enjoy, and come on summer!

Necco Wafers – A Nostalgic Delight

Wow! Necco Wafers! A true childhood memory. These delightful discs were one of my favorite candies when I was a kid. The unique, simple packaging is every bit as memorable as the candy itself. When I see that familiar Necco Wafers roll, my mouth waters like a human Pavlov reaction.. excluding the canine drool, of course. As a kid growing up in Yonkers, NY, they were a staple for my sweet tooth.

Necco Wafers

A Little Necco History

Necco Wafers date back to 1847. Oliver Chase, an English immigrant, invented a lozenge cutting machine with which he produced the wafers. At the time of the Civil War, these were called “hub wafers” and were carried by Union soldiers. In 1901, Chase and Company merged with two other companies to incorporate the New England Confectionery Company. By 1912 the wafers were being advertised as “Necco Wafers”, a name they still carry today.

The company “modernized” the Necco Wafer formula in 2009 in order to become known for a more natural flavor. The masses quickly spoke with many letters and emails as well as a 35% drop in sales, and the original Necco Wafer formula was re-instituted in 2011 and remains true today today.

Today’s Necco Wafer?

The current assortment of Necco Wafers includes orange, lemon, clove, lime, chocolate, cinnamon, licorice and wintergreen.

This delicious candy is actually fat free, gluten free and does not contain high-fructose corn syrup. Compared to many candies on the market, Necco is a reasonably healthy choice.

Necco currently offers four products:

• Necco Original Wafers,
• Necco Chocolate Wafers
• Necco Tropical Wafers
• Necco Original Wafers in a tub.

Get Some Necco Wafers!

I found Necco Wafers available on a great site!

Grab some here:

Necco Wafers – assorted – 2.02 oz roll – box of 24

You can access all sized and flavors fro this page, but I recommend the box. The price is great and you can introduce others to your nostalgia!

Nostalgia – A Product of Our Mind!

Nostalgia is not limited to people in the third trimester of their lives. I simplify “nostalgia” as “fond memories” and anyone can have them!

Webster defines nostalgia as “A bittersweet yearning for things of the past.”

Anyone can have those yearnings. A 6-yr old can remember the feeling of sitting by last year’s Christmas tree.

I do think things from the past become more important as we age, but I can still recall hearing a song in my late teens that reminded me of a girlfriend from a year or two prior. That girl has stayed pretty in my memory right through today. Perhaps prettier! Now, would I like to “go back” to those earlier moments in my life? That is certainly a question to ponder. Maybe yes; maybe no, but the memories are special enough to visit anytime. Nostalgia. I suffer from it…. please give me some more!

The Good Old Days! Fond Memories

I recall baseball games, complete with trips to Yankee Stadium to watch Mickey Mantle play. Hitting a home run while a Yankee scout was watching me, as well as fun fishing trips with my old friend, Jimmy when we were 12. I remember my trip to Miami Beach when I was 10 and several excursions to the New York Worlds Fair in the 60’s. My memory is full of nostalgia. And I enjoy it.

Sometimes I can remember those old memories better than I can recall yesterday’s lunch.

I remember 5-cent Coca Cola and Nickle-Nips, Mr. Frostee and the Good Humor trucks. Grandma’s cooking and my pet parakeet. Tuning in the TV channel was always a pain, as was adjusting the antenna. I have thousands of them.

Credit: dougjenkinsgarage.com

How is your nostalgic memory? What do you remember from the “good old days”?

We will be posting some of my favorite memories on this site, as well as ideas from my readers. Guest bloggers are welcome here. We will “review” some old time favorites and perhaps some not-so-old favs, as nostalgia can be 70 years ago, or from last week.

We hope you have fun here, and feel free to leave a comment below… if you can remember!