Sunday, December 12, 2010

Eskimo Coats


Millie is posing for you. She's clad in her Christmas dress and she's making a face just for you! Her mama is sleepy so Grampy and I entertained her sisters yesterday. We went to a different park than we usually do and Birdie and Miss Bug had a jolly time sliding. However, it was COLD! My face burned for the rest of the day!



Watching their antics and their freezing little faces grow red, reminded me of my sister Karol and I when we played outside in the Pacific Northwest winter. We didn't have snow, but the damp climate of the Puget Sound offered up chilly temperatures. Once while shopping in the neighboring town, my mother found two green Eskimo coats. They were plush with pretty braid trim and face framing hoods. I have revisited those coats over and over again in my storehouse of childhood memories. I remember trying them out, running around the yard, twins again. Now, I think of how close we were, just fifteen months apart. Watching Kelli order her three, I can't imagine how my mother managed. Later, Karol and I fought a lot but we had endless hours of outdoor fun, too. When I read Larkrise to Candleford, I felt a kinship with my English ancestors, sending the children out to play while Mother did the morning housework. That was Karol and I. Mother zipped us into our Eskimo coats and sent us outside to play. At school, I was always cold when we'd have our three recesses per day. Here in Colorado, a coat isn't always necessary. Jeff says he hasn't worn a coat yet and he's the Hawaiian college boy! It rarely gets so cold that we need to bundle up here and one day may be chilly, but the next day will be warm enough. I thought I'd offer you a few Eskimo coats to look at. If I found one that fit me, I would buy it. I may be able to capture that childhood "play outside" feeling and THAT would be a happy thing.









I found all these on what Jeff calls "the Interwebs" and even though I searched I didn't find a vintage coat for children. Have you seen an image of one?

We're off to Ft. Collins today! We'll see three more grands and enjoy church with Pastor Brad. When I come home I shall have a Sunday nap. Oh, and grade papers. I hope your weekend has been festive, fun, and WARM. Love. Love. Love.

13 comments:

Sue McPeak said...

What a neat memory...Eskimo Sister Coats! I do remember being sent out to play while Mom had her HomeTime! Your Little SisterGals look warm in their coats and look what memories they are making!!! Their BabySis is sure a cutie in her Christmas Dress!

We are having cold mornings and warm days....so far! Makes for layer dressing with no Eskimo coat necessary! Hope your Holidays are Merry!

Anonymous said...

What lovely memories! And what sweetie pie grandbabies you have! xxx

Gumbo Lily said...

Millie Dear looks a bit unhappy about her Christmas dress situation. Perhaps she prefers her jammies.

Love the Eskimo coats! My brother & sister and I had to always play outdoors while Mom was cleaning house. When it was cold, we sometimes built little fires in my friend's garage -- I think they were candles, but I can't remember.

Have a lovely Sunday. I am hoping for an afternoon nap too, but we're expecting visitors who will look at bulls. Maybe a morning nap instead!

Jody

Gigi said...

Oh what a sweet story of you and your eskimo coats. Now I want one too!
xoxox,
GG

Scrappy quilter said...

Look at those little munchkins..so cute. I think the coats are called parkas here and you could probably find them at any Hudson Bay store. Hugs

magsmcc said...

Hello! I feel I have been out of contact for a quarter of an eternity- expression borrowed from the Christmas Mystery! Keeping up with it and stoking items of an increasing list of lists has kept me away from virtual friends whom I miss enormously! I have been keeping a lointain watch over this new child who has come at such a seasonal time! You are a respite for all, Pom Pom- and such gorgeous good looks of in times of frustration must surely be in the genes! I have looking nostagically at all the babies in our frozen streets in their all-in-one puffa suits- not unlike some of these images and remembering a babe I carried through a Christmas season and swaddled in bright red all through the next winter! Lovely thoughts!

Kristi Burns said...

You two were so cute in your green, fuzzy, Eskimo coats. I remember them well and the rosy noses and little cheeks from my adorable little sisters who played with imaginary friends and to this day claim each other's memories. I love you both.
Big sister,
Kristi

Leslie said...

I saw a little baby today in World Market with a fur lined Eskimo hat on! It was too cute! It is finally cold and windy in Texas and I am having a hard time getting warm I also have not turned on the heat...Texans are stubborn like that. :)

Gill - That British Woman said...

what a lovely post and beautiful photos...

Gill in Canada

Kerri said...

Isn't Millie gorgeous?! I loved reading about your childhood memories. I can just imagine you in one of those red Eskimo coats x

A garden just outside Venice said...

What a cutie your Millie!!!
Hope you have a great week!
Sending you a warm hug from Italy :-) (-2°C)
xxx

Bradley W. Maston said...

It was so wonderful to see you on Sunday, mamasita! It is always so lovely passing an afternoon with Granny and Pa-pa. You guys are the best. Love you tons!

The dB family said...

Ah Miss Millie and her sisters are such sweeties. I had a friend in grade school who moved here from Newfoundland. She had an Eskimo coat. I was in love with it -- especially the fur around the hood. I wonder if she still has it...

Blessings!
Deborah

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