Tuesday, May 31, 2011

ABC Wednesday

The letter this week is the noble T


T is for Toadstools


Here is a Toad, sitting on a Toadstool


The Toadstool is an amanita muscaria variety

This is the type of Toadstool the Brownies used to dance around, and the one
chosen by many human Brownie Packs as an emblem
and a seat for the Brown Owl

I don't remember the Toadstool in my Brownie Pack being polka dotted, - I'm sure
it was of the plain brown variety, but that was long ago, and some of my memories
may be a little vague.

A long, long time ago in the far distant past, when I was too young to join Brownies I was allowed to go as an Elf and sit under the Toadstool and feel tremendously important to be there with the BIG kids.

After I got old enough to graduate from being a Toadstool sitter I got to be a full fledged Brownie.

Brownies was a serious organization, - it involved getting badges and learning to tie knots.

I don't think Brownies learn those things any more, but they do learn to be good citizens, and luckily for them they wear some pretty nice casual clothes, that gives them the distinction of being a Brownie but not the itchiness of those long stockings!

Here I am, with them bunched around my knees, circa 1933......


That's me on the right!!

For more great interpretations of the letter T skip on over to ABC Wednesday, here, with many thanks to Mrs. Nesbitt and her kind helpers.

16 comments:

MERYL JAFFE, PhD - parent, psychologist, teacher, author... said...

Great post and great shots!

Sylvia K said...

What a fun post for the T Day, Hildred! I can always use a smile early in the morning! Hope you have a great week!

Sylvia
ABC Team

photowannabe said...

Delightful picture of you as a brownie.
I was one too but don't remember anything about the toadstools. I had an ugly brown dress uniform and a brown felt beanie type hat. I guess I thought I was pretty important.
My memory is a little dull on the details of what we did but I'm sure it was all for the good.

Roger Owen Green said...

I never could tell mushrooms and toadstools apart, alas.
you were cute!
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Jane and Chris said...

I was a Brownie too, we had our toadstool in the middle of the room and I remember having to shout 'twit twhoo'...like an owl.
Glad I didn't have to wear the itchy stockings though!!
Jane x

Leslie: said...

I was a Brownie and "flew" up to Girl Guides when I was 10. I remember knitting an 8-inch square, making toast, and doing some sewing. That was in the mid-50s, so I know how things have changed, too.

Dimple said...

I was in Brownies and Girl Scouts for many year, but I don't remember anything about mushrooms, er toadstools.

The variety you show used to be used by hippies seeking highs...

Maryhocam said...

Great photos. I love the old black and white of you in your Brownie uniform

Tumblewords: said...

Oh, what a fun post this is - reminds me of many things while I enjoy those events that you so vividly portray. Terrific!

Kay L. Davies said...

I remember wanting to be a Brownie and a Girl Guide but for some reason I couldn't. I don't remember why, although it might have had to do with my health at the time.
Anyway, I had no idea toadstools were associated with Brownies. What a surprise. I must ask my youngest niece about it when I visit BC next month, because she is in Brownies now.
I love the photo of you. You look so sweet and pretty, with wonderful hair. I had to enlarge the photo to see any sign of wrinkling around the knees. LOL
— K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Gigi Ann said...

That picture is precious, I love the stockings bunched around the knees. Mine still do that sometimes. hehe

nonizamboni said...

What a fascinating history of a 'fellow' Brownie! Thanks for sharing the photo as well--your uniform was a bit different than mine in the 1950's [with a beanie no less!!]

Wanda said...

Oh how cute are your toads and toadstools.

And your picture is also adorable, cute knees. HaHa

Carver said...

I love the shot of the toadstool and great one of you as a brownie.

Oakland Daily Photo said...

A charming post with an even more charming photo.

Joy said...

Red toadstools are so photogenic, but I don't remember one from my brownie days. No hats like those either, we had berets, what a shame, those hats look as though you can get them into all types of shapes, I suspect as a child I would have enjoyed that.