Somebody Went to the Portland Swap Meet!

These beautiful cars from the 2007/2008 Portland Swap Meet caught my eye ...
At the Goodwill Outlet Store.

Aren't they gorgeous?

It's Love, Love, Love!

When I saw this sheet music cover in a bin at the Goodwill Outlet Store, I grabbed it - FAST.

Don't you just LOVE the artwork???

Words and Music by: Mack David, Joan Whitney and Alex Kramer ...

Copyright 1943 by Santly-Joy Inc.

Even the lyrics are delightful!

I wonder if anybody sent in their lyrics with this coupon?

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

Did He Make It Big? - UPDATE!

Back in November I posted about this book by Josh Wagner I found at the Goodwill Outlet Store ...

It had been signed by the author ... to "Draven".
I found a Facebook entry that led me to Draven's full name ...

This morning, to my surprise, I got a comment from Draven on the post!

"You found my book? I lost it at a doctor's appointment and thought it was lost for good. Josh became a friend of mine, and is a wonderfully talented comic book writer, as well as author. I admire his drive very much. Did you like the book?

I still write a lot and have been published a few times, but it will take time before I 'make it.' College is next on the horizon, along with a fantasy series I am currently writing.

Draven Ames"

How exciting is THAT???
This is what I envisioned happening when I started this blog of obscure stuff I have "found"!

Note to Draven: I read the book and thought it was very good!
Now my question ... would you like your book back?
I found your e-mail address, so I will be in touch!!!

Clytie ... Her Mythology

Someone gave me this clipping when I was in high school ...
I've kept it all these years.
I thought it was lost, but I was going through my "stuff" ... and found it again!

Poor Clytie.

Margarine Ad Heart

Sunset magazine, January 1978

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

I'd Rather Hold It, Thank You!

Of all things to find at the "abandoned" church ... this is one of the strangest!

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!