Why I'm Going Back To Bed ...

It's my cats' fault.

I woke up to Junsu in my face. Literally. Inches from my nose. Just staring at me. Wow.

Then I noticed several more sets of eyeballs nearby and I knew ... it was breakfast time ... and the cats' food dishes were empty ... our six hungry cats seemed to be using their mental powers collectively to make me behave!

So I got up and opened the new bag of cat food I got yesterday. I knew if I didn't, the next step would have something to do with being fileted!

That's when I found what seemed to confirm my feline companions' opinion ...

Which is why I'm going back to bed.

Maybe when I get up again, I will be a winner!!!

Found Photo Fun

I have a hard time leaving other peoples photos in the bin at the thrift store. I know the next step for these one-time treasures is the shredder ... and recycle bin.

So what do I do with the photos I can't resist bringing home?

Well ... some stories are just begging to be told!!!

Snicker.

I'm having waaaay too much fun with these!

Remembering "Fido"

I found several small "Remembrance" cards scattered in a bin at the local thrift outlet store ... I was curious, and opened one up to read it. The other shoppers surrounding me must have wondered at the strange laughter that consumed me ...

The card apparently came from a canine memorial service ...

But it's what was written inside that made me smile.

"I remember"

Oh the things I find at the thrift store!

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a time for Americans to remember and appreciate the heroes who paid the ultimate price for freedom.

I was going through Dad's photos after he died, and happened across an old photo album filled with pictures from the 1940's ... among them were 3 pictures of a man named "Tiny".

I remember Dad talking about Tiny - he was his cousin and best friend. They were closer than brothers ... and in fact were born just 2 days apart! But Tiny was "killed in the war" (WWII). While Dad was being held as a prisoner of war.

Tiny was known by many names ...

Tiny Martin

Percy Martin

Percy O. Martin

Percy Orson Martin

Percy Orcin Martin

Brother

Cousin

Friend

Son

Marine

This is Tiny's headstone, courtesy of "Find-A-Grave".

It doesn't tell much.

Like his nickname "Tiny". I'm sorry I never asked Dad about that one! "Tiny" was, by all accounts, a fairly large man!!!

Or the fact that he died on Iwo Jima during WWII ... only 2 days into the brutal and bloody battle there.

The headstone doesn't show how handsome he was!

How full of fun and life he was.

Or how he loved being a Marine. He even sent Dad a letter teasing him for joining the Army instead.

I never met Tiny - he was killed long before I was born.

But I still sit here with tears in my eyes.

He is a hero to me.

And I'm so glad to have made his acquaintance through the memories of my father.

Found Photos - WWII

Whenever I see them at the thrift store outlet, I pick up old photos, negatives and slides.

I found these (negatives) a couple of months ago, and was shocked that they had ended up being thrown out.

These appear to be WWII era photos, taken in Europe (?).

The first clue as to the identity of these photos is the insignia on the equipment (26th Infantry Regiment).

The second clue is this scoreboard, which reads "Blue Spader Field". 

I have had no luck in finding out the location of this field.

The grandstands of the game were filled with servicemen in uniform (complete with weapons!), and a couple of guys dressed in white selling refreshments in the stands.

This photo made me chuckle. It appears to be a rifle inspection. Out of the 5 weapons on display, only 2 are displayed uniformly. Two of the others are on their sides, while one is upside down! No wonder the poor guy looks to be rubbing his eyes.

There are more photos in the set, and I will attempt to post them in the next few days.

I am linking this to "Vintage Weekly" ... for the first time in a while (sorry Jane!)

Found Note ... With Hearts

It made me sad to find this cute little handmade note in a bin at the thrift store.

To me, it's a treasure!

But I felt good rescuing it ...

And enjoying the hearts!

Share the hearts you find in your world on "Guest Heart Thursday"!

Brother Blowing Bubbles

I found a bunch of old family photos and negatives I had never seen before ... they appear to be from the mid-1970's. This one is one of my favorites ... my brother blowing bubbles into a mud puddle.

I am linking this with "Vintage Weekly"!

Be Careful What You Wish For

I found this delightful note in Grammie's papers. It was written by her nephew when he was a child.

"Dorothy has a baby its name is Roger and Roger has a tooth. He is so cute when he pounds the piano. I wish I had a piano and a baby."

A wish only a child would make, eh?

Love Note Hearts

I haven't posted for a long time ... but figured what better way to celebrate my "comeback" than to share this delightful "puppy love" note I found on the road a while back.

I think it is absolutely adorable!

"Guest Heart Thursday"

Shipyard Contrast

I found this old photo tucked into an old photo album at the thrift store, and felt it would be an appropriate "find" for today - Veterans Day!

I was intrigued by the two ships - a brilliant white cruise ship docked next to a dark gray military ship of some kind. I'm not sure when the photo was taken, but it seems to me both cruise ships and military ships are all much, much larger now.

I am linking this with "Vintage Weekly" ... for the first time in a long time!

More Found Photos ...

These are more of the pictures I found in the beat-up photo album at Goodwill. A couple of photos were dated between 1918 and 1929.

I think this shot must have been taken outside a school, although I'm not sure why this guy is holding a doll.

 I think this girl is holding the same doll.

That poor little toy sure got around!

This pretty girl appears in a lot of shots.

I think her brother is the guy with the rad hair-do from last week.

The girls must be best friends ... they appear to be having a lot of fun!

It still makes me sad to think someone threw away these precious family mementos of days gone by. Especially since there is no way to identify who is in these photos. Sigh.

Be sure to join us for "Vintage Weekly"!

Found Family Photos ...

I found these old photos tucked into a battered old photo album at the Goodwill outlet store just a couple of weeks ago.

There were 19 photos in all. A few have dates, which range from 1918 to 1929. Several of them have first names, but not enough to identify where they came from.

I love the outfits of these girls - and the photographer's shadow as well!

"Shadow Shot Sunday"

"Vintage Weekly"

What a wonderful studio shot ... so glamorous!

This looks to be a four-generation family shot. I love how all of the ladies are looking at the baby instead of at the camera.

There is a date on the corner of 1926 (the same year my dad was born), and there is a scratchy name on the back that looks like "Mrilla"

1934-35 Motion Picture Almanac

Those who know me know I love our local thrift store's surplus store.

I can spend hours perusing the bins, then pay for the treasures I find "by the pound".

 (It's only been recently that this wonderful store discovered that people love books - and started charging for them separately. $2 for hardbacks; $1 for paperbacks.)

But back to the story ... as a special birthday treat to myself, I spent several hours a couple of days ago at the local bin store.

 As the workers rolled in a couple of bins filled with books, the "vultures" descended ... at least 6 people, electronic gadgets in hand, scanning barcodes ... unwanted books flying in their wake. (I'm assuming these people have an app from our local bookstore that buys certain used books).

After the vultures moved on, leaving chaos in their wake, I moved in; and found an old-looking book without a cover. I love to take these broken books (already destined for the shredder) apart to use for arts and crafts.

Then, 2 bins down, I found the cover.

The name "Darryl Zanuck" embossed in silver on the bottom, and a handwritten note "this page 50" captured my curiosity.

On the flyleaf was a signature - "Marguerite Doss - Patricia Archer"

This is Page 50, bookmarked with an address label for Marguerite.

And under the listing for "Archer, Patricia", is the notation "ME".

Of course I bought this amazing book ... $2 seemed like a small price for such a treasure!

Dad and His Little Sister ...

Tears filled her eyes when she handed me this stained and tattered old photo ... the only one she could find of her beloved older brother.

I know she misses him too.

 

This photo is probably from mid- to late 1930's - and is this week's contribution to  "Vintage Weekly"