Found Thank You ...

I've been spending a lot of time trying to sort, organize and inventory the incredible volume of ephemera I have stashed in boxes around the house ...

This beautiful tribute to veterans of the (first) Gulf War was written back in 1991 by my cousin's daughter to my (ex) husband Guy to thank him for fighting for her freedom.

Now how precious is THAT?

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

Found Heart on Old Photo

Back in 1980 I took one of those pre-packaged trips to Hawaii with my friend Nadine. What a fun week it was!
The package included a "Luau", and we had a blast.

I recently found the photos from that trip, and as I scanned them, I noticed a random heart. Do you see it?

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

Somewhere in France?

I found a box of old negatives of pictures taken in Europe ... We were stationed in Germany from late 1986 until late 1989 ...

I have been converting the negatives to digital, and find that I sincerely wish I had labeled all of these negatives! I think this picture was taken on a trip to France, mostly because of the "sign" that reads "creche du soleil". If anyone recognizes where this was taken, please leave a comment - I would be overjoyed!

If you are wondering just HOW I am converting these negatives, check out my post HERE.
I've been having so much fun with this - and it's FREE (not to mention EASY)!

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

A Negative Experiment ...

So ... how many of us have negatives ...
I know I have a whole file folder full!
I've always wanted to have them developed, to replace so many of my pictures that were ruined when the roof leaked ...
The process is something I've had to put on hold, due to lack of funding for this project.

Then I had an inspiration!!!

I cut down an old soda box, cut a small square hole in the front, and taped on a small piece of cardboard to each side of the hole to hold the negative in place.

The negative slipped right in!
I set the gizmo in front of a lamp, but the lighting was too strong.
So I diffused the light with a piece of white paper taped to another box behind ...
I propped my camera up on a pile of books, set it on "Macro" about an inch from the negative, focused my camera ...
"Click"!

And took a picture of the negative!
(Sorry about the cat hairs, this is a re-take of the shot - the original didn't have the hairs).

I used "Gimp" (colors/invert) to make the negative a positive ...

Then played with the colors and levels.
It's not the best, but I will keep trying!

In the meantime, this is a photo of my mom, my brother and his wife ... that I haven't seen in years - and probably would never have seen again!

The Problem with Processed Photos ...

This is a photo from 1982 or so ...
I remember picking up the pictures, and realizing the negatives didn't look like this at all!

I brought them back to the store, and they re-processed the lot.

With much better luck!

The thing is ... I kind of like the weird one!

It is with a heavy heart that I am NOT linking this post with Al's "Sunday Scans".
Alas, Al has decided to devote his time to his main blog, "Al's Photography Blog", where he will continue to delight us with his wonderful photography, and an occasional scan.
Thank you, Al, for taking the time and effort to run this meme.
I will miss linking in!!!

Pear Avenue

This is another photo (Polaroid this time!) that I found in Grampa and Grandma G's old photo album from their Western US road trip back in the late early 1980's.

The tiny sign in the middle of this barren looking area reads ...

"Pear Ave".

I don't see any pear trees ...

But then it doesn't look much like an "avenue" to me either!

If you have scanned something, be sure to link it up to Al's "Sunday Scans"!

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

Misc. Gnomes???

I was out this morning, taking pictures of my cold world.
As I walked up our country road, I noticed a bit of paper curled up next to the ditch, and of course I had to see what it was.

Turns out it was one of the oddest notes I've found to date ...
Miscellaneous garden gnomes?
On MY street???

Be sure to link up YOUR scans to Al's "Sunday Scans"!!!

Ann Onymous Visits the Facilities ...

To kick off Al's December "Sunday Scan's" postings, I present to you "Ann Onymous".
I found this delightful photo tucked into a photo album at the Goodwill (I ALWAYS thumb through these, you'd be surprised how many people leave a page or two of memories!).

If you have scanned something, please join us!!!

Did He Make It Big???

I found this entry on a Facebook page ... Josh Wagner was coming to Portland for a book reading and signing ... Note the only person who commented saying he was going to be there was one "Draven Ames" (this is important!).

This is the cover of a book I found written by Josh.

Signed to "Draven".

I somehow think maybe Draven didn't "make it" after all.

I found this book at the Goodwill Outlet Store!!!

To see all things scanned, visit Al's "Sunday Scans" - you still have a week to enter YOUR November scans!!!

My Favorite Halloween Photo ...

This was taken around 12 years ago ... and is one of my all-time favorite photos.

Yep, that's me (boy was I young looking then) and my twins (all growed up now, sniff).

Georgia is the vampire about to bite my neck.
Victoria is the lovely princess about to swoon.

Wonderful, isn't it?

To see wonderful and evocative scans, visit Al's "Sunday Scans" - there is still time to submit your November scans!

Tiffi Shares Her Heart Art

I was visiting my nieces and nephews last week ...
As I was getting ready to leave, Tiffi pressed something into my hands ...
When I looked down, I found this beautiful artwork!

With a wonderful heart nose!

Thank you, Tiffi. I love you.

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

To see scanned stuff from around the world, visit Al's "Sunday Scans"!

To see beautiful art, visit Beth's "FATuesday Artist Spotlight"!

Cleeburg, Germany - Gasthous

I found this old picture of a sign in my Germany photo album.

I even remember why it was so important to me!
The first year my (ex) was stationed in Germany was spent in a downstairs apartment of a house in the tiny town of Cleeburg. The house was almost directly across the street from the local gasthaus!
This sign helped to guide me home in those first few months of driving in a strange country when I couldn't read the signs, and didn't know my way around (let alone knowing the language to stop and ask for directions)!

Have you scanned something lately? If so, be sure to link up with Al's "Sunday Scans" - there are still two more weeks to post your November scans!

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

Halloween Bash Game Card

Someone had a lot of fun at the Halloween Bash.
Too bad they donated their game card,
along with their cool 1970's style costume ... to the Goodwill!

Not TOO bad, though, because now it's MINE!!!

Happy Halloween!
Enjoy YOUR Bash!

Wild Wild West - Friday's Fences

I was entranced by this picture I found in Grandpa and Grandma G's photo album from their trip through the US Southwest in the early 1980's.

Don't you just love this fence and gate?

It's Friday's Fences time - join us over at "Life According to Jan and Jer" to see interesting fence pictures from around the world!

Church Library Builder With Hearts

Years ago the local Christian Supply Centers joined a program whereby people would "earn" a stamp worth 5 cents for every dollar they spent in the stores. They would save the stamps in a special "book" and, when it was full, their church could redeem it for free books for their libraries!

I found this partially filled out Savings Stamp Book in a drawer of clippings and miscellaneous papers that mom asked me to help clean out.

While this was a wonderful program, and an interesting piece of ephemera, my REAL thrill came when I realized I finally found some of mom's "41 heart" doodles!!!

Let me explain about the "41 heart" doodles ... ever since I can remember, my mom would draw the number 41 with a heart around it. On church bulletins, on little bits and pieces of paper ... while she was talking on the phone, while she was in the mood to doodle. I remember when I was maybe 10 years old I asked her "why". I remember her answer distinctly. She said, with all of her motherly authority "something very BIG and SPECIAL is going to happen on my 41st birthday."

Mom's 41st birthday fell on Sunday, May 18th, 1980.
Does that date sound vaguely familiar?
It is the day Mt. St. Helens in Washington state erupted.
We drove to the top of the hill behind our house and watched it - in stunned disbelief.

And told mom she was NEVER to doodle again!

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

To see other fun things found and scanned, visit Al's "Sunday Scans" - this monthly link is closed for October - but November will be here soon - and we want to see what you have scanned!!!

A Different Kind of Mad Hatter!

I found this wonderful drawing while doing a transfer from an old hard drive that I was getting rid of.

It is titled "Mad Hatter".

It was drawn by my daughter, but sssshhhhh please don't tell her! She doesn't know I found it!
And she doesn't think she's talented!!!!!!!!!
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT???

Kay Windsor Clothing

I am fascinated with old advertising ...
Like this fashion ad I found in a pile of magazine clippings in the recycle bin at my old storage unit - a long time ago ...

I had to laugh at the description ...
"Gay-as-a-musical clothes whirl you into fall and winter at the drop of a tiny (bank) note!"

Mickey Mouse - Found at Goodwill

I couldn't believe it when I found this wonderful comic book in one of the bins at the Goodwill Outlet Store (gosh how I LOVE that place!). It was in a plastic sheet protector, and I'm shocked that someone hadn't grabbed it before I got there.

It is dated August 1965, and is in perfect shape.
SCORE!!!!!

Found Art ...

Mom was at a writers conference last month at Camp Wainema along the Oregon coast ...

During her free time, she was free to wander along the beach ...

Something caught her eye - a piece of paper tucked under a rock.
It had been there a while ... it's ragged edges fluttering in the wind.

When she picked it up, she was surprised at what she found.
Not trash as she first assumed ...

But a beautiful pencil sketch.
Of mountains, trees, clouds, wind.

Who drew this scene?
Why did they leave it behind?
Who knows - I think it was meant for mom to find.
An inspiration.
A mystery.

Rag Doll Sheet Music

Look what I found at the Goodwill (LOVE that store!) just yesterday ...
Sheet music!
Rag Doll
by Nacio Herb Brown

Featured by
Constance Mering & Muriel Pollock
Recording Artists

Published by Sherman, Clay & Co.
San Francisco

copyright MCMXXIV (1924)

I was caught by the wonderful picture on the front - the rag doll on the wooden car being stopped by the toy policeman!
It's adorable!

And it's another delightful scan to add to Al's "SUNDAY SCANS"!!!
If you have scanned something, come join us for scanning fun!