"Payne" at Goodwill ...

I took some time off this week, while waiting for my brother to get out of an appointment, to do some "bin" shopping at the Portland Goodwill Outlet store.

As usual, I ended up spending more time than I anticipated, and was late picking up my brother. Sorry, Bro, but you just couldn't compete with the STUFF I found!

Scattered about one of the bins were bits and pieces of the life of one
"Bill Payne" - mostly surrounding Andrew Jackson High School (graduated 1981) and Ricks College (commencement announcement 1983 - Pre-Dentistry).

I couldn't help but pick up this wonderful memorabilia!

I looked up "William Payne Dentist Oregon" online ... and there is one ... in Salem.
I may try to contact him, if only to get the story of how this stuff (if it is indeed his!) ended up in an Outlet store in Portland! If I do, I will let you know!

This is my third entry to this month's "SUNDAY SCANS".
If you have scanned something, please join us for Scanning Fun!!!

Blue Swan Minikins - Sunday Scans

I found this unique advertisement in a bunch of old magazine clippings I picked up out of a dumpster at my storage unit years ago.

I don't know what amazes me more ... the style of the ad ... or the fact that the 'undies' are just 79 cents!!!

This is my first post to this month's "Sunday Scans"!!!

If you have scanned something, please link up to Al's monthly meme, and join the scanning fun!!!

Ppppplay Ballll!!!! - Found Photos for Sunday Scans

I found a package of slightly damaged photos in a bag of mostly garbage beside the road a while back.
I was dismayed to find someone's precious memories inside.

Someone who got to see a very special ball game ...

With players I don't recognize (sorry, I don't watch baseball).

Someone whose memories apparently included a photo op with at least one of the players!

It must have been a team much admired ... someone had a wonderful time!

It breaks my heart when I see photos like this thrown away.
That's why they end up in my "found photo" file ...

Now they will also end up being part of Al's "Sunday Scans"!!!

P.S. - Do you recognize any of these players? If you do, leave me a comment! These photos intrigue me!!! Also, if you have scanned something, be sure to join us over at "Sunday Scans" - it is a monthly meme now, and that gives you several more weeks to SCAN IT!!!

I Heart Gift Bags

I love gift bags. Some of them are so much prettier than any wrapping I could ever come up with - even if I had the time!

The only problem with gift bags is that sometimes they are just way too cute or pretty to give away! I guess I'm not alone ... I found a stash of brand new gift bags at a thrift store at one point, and bought a few of them.

Can you guess why I grabbed this one?
Um, could it be because of the HEARTS?
Of course!!!

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts" - and share YOUR heart on Guest Heart Thursday!

Grandma's Photo Journal - Found at Goodwill

I couldn't believe it when I found a small "Photo Journal" at the Goodwill Outlet Store - with pictures still inside!

The photos were taken in the spring and summer of 2006 ...

As the grandkids went about their summertime activities.

Like playing in the pool ...

Those who know me are not surprised that I had to save these wonderful photos, even though I have no idea who these people are, or where they live. I just can't stand seeing these beautiful memories shredded and sent to the dump!

1943 Found Photo

My friend Randy is helping a lady move out of an old farm house. Since he is a truck driver, she asked him to bring a load of garbage to the dump.

After dropping off the load, he looked in the back of the truck and found this photo that had fallen out of one of the bags (the back is stamped "1943").
When I showed it to Dad, he exclaimed "Oh! That looks just like one of the Army barracks I stayed at before I went overseas during WWII!"

He pointed out the bedrolls ("we ALL had to roll them just like that"), and the helmets at the ends of the cots ("where we hung our rucksacks"). He also pointed out the old stove ("boy did that stove pipe get hot") and the cots themselves ("they were the most uncomfortable beds I ever slept on - metal mesh stretched over frames. Sometimes the mesh would break, and you would get poked all night by the sharp ends")

I can't believe someone would throw away this bit of history, but I'm ecstatic that Randy found it and thought of me.

And I am even more in awe of those military veterans who endured so much and gave so much.
Thank you to ALL veterans.
Even though Thank You is not enough ...

Vintage Cigar Bands - Sunday Scans

Each year a small town just to the northwest of us hosts a large "yard" sale in front of their middle school. The object is to raise funds for their high school dance team.

I hadn't thought about the sale in years, but last Saturday I "accidentally" found it while on my way to our family reunion. I just HAD to stop.

One of the small treasures I found was a tiny plastic bag filled with 80+ cigar bands. I was intrigued, and dug to the bottom of my purse (AKA 'the black hole of the universe') to find two quarters.

I took my find home and did some research ... I had no idea there are people who collect cigar bands! And this must have been part of someone's collection - they are all quite old, and some of them have never been used to wrap a cigar!

As with most of my finds, I am intrigued by these beauties. Who used to collect them? Why did they get rid of them? Is this their whole collection or just duplicates?
How did they end up supporting a dance team?

Once again, I will never know. But they are now part of my ephemera collection, and this sampling is this week's addition to Al's "SUNDAY SCANS". If you have scanned something, please share it with us! Al has decided to make this a monthly theme, so you have plenty of time to join us each month!

Western Union - Sunday Scans

I snuck off by myself to Goodwill yesterday - I found a few treasures, but mostly I just had fun.
I was overjoyed to find this wonderful telegram, it sparked my curiosity completely!

Apparently "John" was in Germany when his wife experienced a life altering event, and he was unable to be there.

Did she graduate from college?
Did she have a baby?
I'll probably never know!

I am submitting this wonderfully tantalizing Western Union telegram to Al's "Sunday Scans" - and I encourage everyone to join us - and show us what YOU have scanned!

Another Found Family Photo

I found this adorable picture in the stuff my uncle brought over after Grammie went to heaven. This is my dear darling sister - back in the 1st grade!!! She would have been about 6 years old.
Isn't she cute? I was always jealous of her long flowing hair (still am!), while mine was dry, frizzy and short. Sigh.

And don't you just love the outfit she was wearing?

I missed last week's "Sunday Scans", but now I am back! I am so thankful to Al for hosting this wonderful meme! Like I said last time, it would probably have been years before I looked in the box that held so many wonderful family treasures and photos. Thank you, Al, Thank you!!!

P.S. Al, Sissie Beth's computer up and died, and she wanted you to know she will be back to Sunday Scans as soon as possible!

Found at Goodwill - Old Photo

I was browsing through the books at the Goodwill Outlet store on Friday (the next stop for this stuff is the shredder and/or shipment overseas).

I found a series of books of "classics" (maybe 15 of them) published in 1910. I wanted so badly to buy them, but even at $2 each, it was beyond my limited budget. Sigh.

As I flipped through one of them, this photo fell out, and I was entranced.
So many unanswered questions ... who took it? Where was it taken? When was it taken? How did it end up as a bookmark?

I will never know the answers to those questions. But I know that from now on, this beautiful old snapshot has a history - with me!

Join us over at Al's "Sunday Scans" - and show us what YOU'VE scanned recently!

Found Family Photos!

When I was growing up, I always thought my Uncle Lawrence was the most handsome man in the world - even better looking than Elvis!
I also thought my Aunt Barbara was a queen - she had such a regal aura!

The baby in their arms is my cousin David ... the picture would have been taken in 1957 or 1958.

I love this picture strip of Uncle Lawrence and baby David.

Thank you again, Al for hosting "Sunday Scans"!
Without you, it would probably have been YEARS before I looked in that box of papers my uncle brought me after Grammie passed away - and these wonderful family treasures would still be hidden!!!

Donnie and Marilynn - Sunday Scans

This is one of a group of old photos I found in a photo album at the Goodwill several years ago. Most of the photos had been removed from the album, but I found 2 pages that were stuck together - pictures intact between them!

The picture is titled "Donnie & Marilynn".

I love the look on Donnie's face, and how Marilynn is standing on the upended log, not even noticing that her photograph is being taken - she's more interested in playing with the dog!

Please join us over at Al's "Sunday Scans" to show us what you have scanned lately!

How Many Tires???

These are more pictures I found in Grampa and Grandma G's travel album from a trip they took to the US West back in the early 1980's. I wasn't sure why they took a picture of this heavy equipment truck ... maybe it was the stark shadows???

Then I realized their interest. The large truck was catching up to this convoy of vehicles moving what appears to be a massive tank of some kind. There are at least 3 people visible in the photo.

Look at all of those tires!

Join us over at Al's "Sunday Scans", as we share all things scanned ... we want to see YOUR old stuff!

To see shadows from around the world, visit "Hey Harriet" for Shadow Shot Sunday!

Grampa Lester

Grampa Lester was born in 1894 in St. Johns, Portland, Oregon.
This photo was taken in June of 1912, when he was 18.
The "small lad" is John McCormick (a cousin).

This picture was probably taken on a rare family trip to the Oregon coast - via horse and wagon, over non-paved roads up and over the Coast Range. The entire trip took 2 months, camping the entire time! The extended family would caravan together, and share chores. Once they took a milk cow with them!

Can you imagine taking that kind of "vacation" now?

Join us over at Al's "Sunday Scans", as we share all things scanned ... we want to see YOUR old stuff!

Germany photos, 1987

We lived for a year in a tiny town in Germany (1986-1987) ...
Cleeberg. Such a beautiful place!

The best part was the drive to work, where we passed sleepy little towns, and beautiful German countryside.

This is the house we lived in ... we rented a tiny apartment in the basement.

And frequented the "Gasthaus" just down the street.

Best of all was the castle in the middle of town ...
(A private residence, so we never got to go inside -- but that's okay, I could see a glimpse of it from my little kitchen window, and dream big dreams!)

To see scans from around the world, visit Al's "Sunday Scans" - and show us YOUR old stuff!

To see signs from around the world, be sure to join us over at Lesley's "Signs, Signs"!

Fire Lookout Tower - Snake River

Back in the early 1980's, my ex and my brother-in-law took a road trip to extreme Eastern Oregon.

One of the stops they made was a fire lookout tower (I believe it was Hat Point, but I'm not positive).

The pictures were taken by my ex.

View looking down from the tower.

View of the Snake River canyon far below ...
I like the shadow of the fire lookout tower - to give you an idea of how tall it is!

Another view from the top of the tower, looking over the parking lot to the valley beyond ...

The Snake River far below looks like a mere thread!

To see shadows from around the world, visit "Hey Harriet", and join us for Shadow Shot Sunday.

To see wonderful scanned items, join us over at Al's "Sunday Scans" - and show us YOUR old stuff!

Frankfurt (Germany) Zoo, 1980-something

A group of military family members decided to take a day trip to the Frankfurt Zoo ...
(we were stationed in Germany in the late 1980's)

I got a kick (not literally, of course!) out of this sign, which needed no translation.

And carefully watched for dangerous critters on the prowl ...

This is the only one I found!

In fact, most of the critters were down right lovable, right mom?

The End.

To see signs from around the world, join us over at Lesley's "Signs, Signs".

And if you scanned something to post, be sure to link it over at Al's "Sunday Scans".
Because we love to see YOUR old stuff!

Ahhh the memories ...

Who could this cute little kid be?
Yep, it's me!!!
1964 ... I would have been 3 years old.
I don't think I was reading that book, I must have been looking at the pictures.

I treasure this picture.
What joy on my face!
That cute little boy is my brother Dow.
He would have been about 5.
He is wrapped up in so many of my childhood memories ... we were best friends.
He died when I was 40.
I still miss him -- every day.

Ooh, I was such a ham!

Flash forward to me at age 11.
That's when my wonderful little sister Leola was born.
I call her "honey". She calls me "honey". Her daughter calls me "Auntie Honey".
I love her so much!

I have to stop here, I can't see the monitor anymore through my tears.
And I have to say "THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU"
to Al over at "Sunday Scans".
He's the reason I dug out my old photo albums ...
My wonderful old memories ...
Of times and people long gone.
Please join us at "Sunday Scans" - and show us YOUR old stuff!

And Tina over at "Goodies For a Pleasant Life" is hosting a month-long meme called "Memories". So post a memory, and join us as we share what has made us who we are today.

Grampa Hugs a Tree!

This is another of Grampa and Grandma G's photos from their early 1980's Western US Road Trip album.

I had to giggle to see Grampa being silly - hugging the only tree around!
And check out those desert shadows!

Please join us over at Al's "Sunday Scans" to show us YOUR old stuff (and new stuff, just as long as it is something scanned)!

And join us over at "Hey Harriet" to participate in Shadow Shot Sunday!

Heineken Brewery Photo

I swear I did NOT take this picture!
After all, we were on a tour bus in Amsterdam (back in the late 1980's) - we should be taking pictures of windmills and tulips, right? - Not a Heineken brewery!!!

Oh well, it was a fun trip with lots of good memories.
For me anyway ... the rest of the passengers I can't be certain of.

You see, I don't drink beer.
Heineken or otherwise ...
But I can't say the same for the rest of the group!

To see fun signs from around the world, visit Lesley's "Signs Signs".

And join us over at Al's "Sunday Scans" - a new meme for all things scanned!

Big Horn Restaurant

This is yet another wonderful Wild Wild West photo I found in Grampa and Grandma G's old photo album ... I believe it was from a road trip in the early 1980's.

The picture is a little blurry, but the sign on the restaurant reads
"Big Horn Restaurant".
Now I wonder why they named it that???

To see signs from around the world, visit Lesley at "Signs, Signs"!

And join us over at Al's "Sunday Scans" to link up anything you've scanned -- play along, and show us YOUR old stuff!!!

Grampa and Gramdma in the Wild Wild Wet

Wild

Wild

WET

These are some more photos I found in one of Grampa and Grandma G's old photo albums.
Location: Somewhere in the US Wild Wild Wet ... er, West!

If you have something you have scanned, come join us over at Al's "Sunday Scans" - and show us YOUR old stuff!!!

Trees of Mystery ...

This is another picture I found in Grampa and Granda G's travel album.
As before, I don't know the date this was taken ... sometime in the 1970's or 1980's.
But this time I do know WHERE it was taken -
Do you see the little sign peeking out between the legs of the statue?
"Trees of Mystery" - Northern California US.

To see signs from around the world, join the fun with Lesley over at "Signs, Signs".

To see old scans from around the world, visit Al's "Sunday Scans" - and show us YOUR old stuff!

Wedding Cake with Heart, 1983

This beautiful cake was made by a very special person - my Aunt Donna.
I had no idea, until she volunteered to make it, that she was so talented!

The beautiful heart-shaped glass topper was found at a little shop on the Oregon coast.

The marriage lasted 17 years ...
But the good memories will last forever.

To see old scans from around the world, visit Al's "Sunday Scans" - and show us YOUR old stuff!

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts" - and share YOUR heart on Guest Heart Thursday (links open through Sunday!)