A Different Kind of Hunter Gatherer

In what now seems a lifetime ago, yours truly was a theater rat. A prop mistress to be exact, handing off various items to the likes of Alec Baldwin and Dana Delaney long before they were ever Jack Donaghy and a Desperate Housewife. While that part of my life has faded into legendary memories one habit just won't die. Chasing down your prop prey. Currently that means haunting antique malls and poking through thrift stores, always on the lookout for kitchen gadgets, distinctive dishes and colorful bowls. I seem to have a bowl itch that will never stay sufficiently scratched. I have enough bowls to serve the Waltons Christmas dinner on Walton's Mountain. One of the items on the search list stashed in my cranial memory stick was a cookbook. A Betty Crocker cookbook. Normally I don't plunk down cash for vintage Betty Crocker stuff, just not my style. But the Dinner for Two cookbook (circa 1958) was one I always had my eye out for. Why? Certainly not for the recipes but for the illustrator.

The great Charley Harper. His artwork is amazing and beautiful. With a few simple shapes and color he immediately captures the nature of a sparrow. He never shied away from life's brutal nature as illustrated in his portrayal of an owl at night from the perspective of the about to be dinner mouse or the incredibly sad statement he reveals in Backhoeasaurus. So when I saw the metal spiral spine in the pile of books at the estate sale I was rummaging through, I held my breath.

Really? I had it in my hands? In great condition for being fifty three years old, sitting there just waiting for Karma to steer me towards this little tucked away condo?

Even better? It was half priced day at the estate sale. My discovery cost me exactly one dollar. BWHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH.

These are just a few of the fantastic illustrations. There are some food photos. They are classic mid-century food presentation style images. Elaborate table settings with brass candle sticks, copper salt and pepper shakers and visually busy tablecloths. But it's one of the few cookbooks I didn't buy for the photos. If you'd like to see more of the artwork of Charley Harper, check out Charley Harper Prints.