Old Photo - electrical hearts!

In January of 1980 ... several years before they welcomed me into their family ... Grampa and Grandma G took a trip from Oregon to Arizona, with many stops in between.

At one of the campgrounds, they took pictures of this electrical box ...
Probably because it scared them!

But guess what ... up in the corner of the photo ... I spied a pair of ...
Electrical Hearts! Do you see them?

To see hearts old and new, from all over the world, visit Random Hearts and participate in this week's Guest Heart Thursday!

Old Photo - Shadow Shot Sunday

I found this shadowy picture in an old photo album packed away ...
Grampa and Grandma G.
They must have been fascinated with this bird - there were several shots of it.

January, 1980 - Two years before they came into my life, they went on a trip - from their home in Oregon to Arizona - with many stops along the way.

They loved to travel. I miss them so much.

To see amazing shadows captured around the world, visit Hey Harriet - and join us for Shadow Shot Sunday!

Something Mailed ...

I found this in Ivor's papers (rescued from dumpster some years ago) and decided it was worth keeping. What originally caught my attention was the phone number.
167.
That's it. No area code, no prefix number ...
I think the world was smaller when this was mailed.

I'm not sure why Ivor kept it, except that he kept EVERYTHING.
I'm glad he did!

I like that it was postmarked
Independence, Oregon -
where my sister Beth lives!

What are the odds???

Caution - Thistles!!!

One of those things that make you go Hmmmmm???!!!
Maybe too many people have hit the sign.
Or maybe we're being protected from the thistles peeking out from the cone ...

Keep Portland Weird! - Weekend Reflections

I took this picture because I LOVE these Keep Portland WEIRD bumper stickers I keep seeing around town.

I didn't realize until later just how many reflections I caught in the shot!

To see reflections from around the world, please visit James at Newton Area Photo - and join us for Weekend Reflections!

Depreciation

I was walking around the abandoned church when I saw something in the grass. I picked it up, and found this $1 bill. It was crinkly from the rain, and tattered from both weather and insects.

How long had it sat there? Who dropped it? I'll never know.

My silly side tells me ... maybe someone dropped a $10 bill, and it shrank in all that rain we had this Spring!

What stories do YOU think this $1 would tell?

Four Leaf Clover!

A truly random find - I happened to look down and find this four leaf clover!

Maybe it's time to go buy a lottery ticket!
NOT! (Can't push my 'luck' too far, eh?)

Old postcard, Long Beach, California

The Municipal Auditorium and Rainbow Pier, Long Beach, California

Another of the Goodwill finds I made a while back ...
I just don't understand how someone could
Give these beauties away!

I'm just glad they found their way to my collection.

Where Were You When The Mountain Blew???

I came across this brochure a while back ...
It brought back so many memories ...

Of that day in 1980, May 18th, 1980 to be precise ... when the beautiful and pristine Mt. St. Helens in Washington exploded ...

30 years. That's a long time. But I still clearly remember the day - a Sunday morning. My drive home from church included a hill overlooking the Willamette Valley. Usually I could see Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Jefferson - and a good portion of the Cascade Range.

On that day I stopped at the top of the hill in awe - as I watched this once-perfect mountain blow her top.

It was my mom's 41st birthday.
What an interesting way to celebrate!!!

Remember that Old Laptop???

Rescued from the garbage, the old laptop has become ...
altered ART! A work in progress, because it will probably NEVER be finished.

Above is the cover -

Page 2

Page 3 -

Pages 2 and 3 together -
(With Mika's approval)

And the back cover!

My daughters and I had so much fun altering this book, er, "notebook".
Now we are looking for other things to embellish ... to beautify ... to save from the garbage for art!

Old Laptop ...

Look at what I found in the garbage.
It doesn't work - its guts are gone,
it's glory days have passed.

OR HAVE THEY???

Stay tuned ...

Recipe - Oatmeal cookies ... I think

I got a kick out of this recipe I found in some paperwork at the Goodwill Surplus Store.

1 c sortening (shortening?)
1 c white S (white sugar?)
1 c brown S (brown sugar?)
Cream till fluffy.
1 Egg
1 teasp vanilla
Stir well.
Add
1 1/2 c white flour
in which you have mixed
1 teaspoon soda
dash of salt
3 c oatmeal
Mix well
350% drop

I think they end up as cookies - don't know how long they are supposed to bake.

Memaloose Airport ...

One of my favorite pictures of all time ...
My wonderful B-I-L Alan ...
And the Memaloose Airport sign ...

A Classic!
(So is the sign!) :=)

Tree Identification Tags Gone Wrong

The city sent out a crew to the property across the street - 42 acres - of which half is covered with green space and wetlands - lots and lots of trees. It took a 2-man crew 3 weeks to find, reach, tag and catalog (complete with GPS for each tree!) all of the trees on the property of a certain "age and size".

If I were a tree, and had to be 'labeled', though, this would NOT be the label I chose!!!

Dark Smooth Ale

So this is what appeals to the young people now ...
They must be very brave!
I'm not sure I would drinking something ...
With a skull and cross bones on the front!!!

Jeep Smiley Face

He was next to me in the parking lot,
This cute little smiley face dude.
I drove off as soon as I saw him -
I could tell he was up to no good!

My Steve Morse Autograph and How It Happened

I've always thought Steve Morse was the best guitarist of all time. We were stationed in Kirchgoens, Germany in the late 80's, and heard that Kansas (the group) was to be performing there while on a USO sponsored tour. Steve Morse was the lead guitarist!!! They were going to spend the night at one of the guest houses on post.

The morning of the concert dawned cold and wet, yet I was determined to get the autograph of Steve Morse! I stood outside the guest house just after light, drenched in the freezing rain, holding my precious album and CD. Time passed. The door opened! It wasn't Steve Morse. It was a guy with really long hair in a pony tail, dressed in running gear. We talked for a moment, I told him the most scenic run around post ... he loped away. I waited. More time passed. Finally, the door opened again. STEVE MORSE!!!!! Would you please sign my CD and my album? He was most gracious and friendly. And he signed. Then he left. I went home to change my cold drenched clothing.

That evening, at a sparsely attended concert (seriously, there were only like a hundred people there!) - we had front row dancing seats. As the band came onstage ... remember that guy with the long hair? The one that wanted to know about jogging trails? The one I ignored so I could get to STEVE MORSE??? He was the lead singer. Yep, and I didn't even get his autograph! Silly me. Of course my teenage sister Leigh (she lived with us in Germany for a time) jumped on stage and got hugs from the entire band.

The only song I remember clearly is when we all held lighters and swayed with "Dust in the Wind" - which is still one of my favorite songs of all time.

Tag/Tag-Back #6

Oh yes, Jeff Rules indeed!

Or maybe Jeff Drules.

Either way, he's a wiener! Er, winner!

Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my (Goodness)!

Be afraid.
Be VERY afraid.
Tiger Car is on the loose!
Prowling the streets of Salem,
Seeking fresh prey!

Fortunately, I was safe,
In my (very dirty and pollen coated) cage ...

I don't think it saw me.
I must sneak away slowly,
Always on the lookout.
For the Tiger Car.

Skateboard Art

Look at what I found at the Goodwill surplus store ...
Not to ride, I have enough issues, thank you very much!

I just liked the dragon on the bottom
Scratched and worn,
A life well lived.

Now it will be ART!
Once I find a way to hang it on the shed.

It will remind me that a life well lived,
Is a thing of beauty.