SUMMER at the Lake

Maybe it's just me, but I'm convinced there was a lake nearby. I'd like to think it was Tahoe or Donner because they're both very important in my life. The reality is that this could be anywhere pines grow. Vintage images travel long distances once released from their original owners. So if it makes you feel better to think they were in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York go for it. We each bring what we want to vintage snapshots.


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Tattered and Lost volumes 1 to 7 available at Amazon.

The PEOPLE GATHERED to see A BOAT

It's a boat. A nice looking boat. But what boat? Where was this boat? What is the story of this boat? I have not found anything about it online. No other photos looking like it. Hopefully someone has an idea of where we can search next.


Click on image to see it larger.

And the photo in its reconstructed completeness. A day in the park with the band and a boat.


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This is actually a very worn negative and no matter how much I enlarge it I can't bring in the boat details any clearer. It is what it is and we just have to enjoy it and wonder.

Nearing the END OF THE HOLIDAYS

Just in time, before we're all burned out, the holidays are coming to an end. How soon before Costco again has the aisles full of Barbie dolls and wrapping paper?

Until then, rest my friends, quiet rest.


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LEFT-OVERS

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The candy store and COCA-COLA

Imagine my surprise when searching through some negatives to find this image. I've had these negs for years and only went back to them last night while searching for a particular shot. The majority of the negs have never been scanned. Many of the images are already available in an old album bought at the same estate sale as the negs, others are waiting to be discovered.

Now, I'm not saying this is a category, but let's face it, there are people who collect Coca-Cola stuff and I think this would nicely fit that category.


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Oh for the days of the corner candy store and malt shop.

Three Kids with a FART FAIRY

I'm pleased to present another vernacular photograph in the fart fairy category. Don't know what a fart fairy is? Take a look here to get the whole picture.

Now, looking at these kids, I'm suspicious the one on the far left, who has been ostracized by the others, may be the one who invited the fart fairy to the gathering. Further evidence is the frown on the middle child. You be the judge.


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I'll tell you, this is a very challenging category!

Watermelon eating BEACH GALS

Okay, there's no evidence here of eating watermelon, but I have proof these woman did indeed eat watermelon on this beach. In this earlier post, BEACH PARTY with watermelon, we see them all chomping away on the juicy red fruit.

Click on image to see it larger.

This is from the infamous, in my mind, Big Bag of Negs. And dare I say that I found more photos of them eating watermelon. I've told you, it's a category. I must collect. Perhaps I will eventually corner the market. They'll all be mine. MINE I TELL YOU! ALL MINE!

Let's see, that's people eating watermelon, pigs eating watermelon, people on horses not real, looming shadows (far too commonly collected), did I mention watermelon? I say find a category and specialize. Specialization is where the money is.

Don't believe a word of what I'm saying. For cryin' out loud I know nothing! I mean, I have one photo of a pig eating watermelon and have decided to make it a category!

MOTHER AND SON

A few weeks ago I posted a photo from the Big Bag of Negs that I called Brothers in Arms. Well, from the same bag of negs I have now found this, Son and Mother. The same young man with his mother.

Click on image to see it larger.

These photos were bought at an estate sale. While others were busily scurrying around buying the acquired stuff of the deceased's life, I was buying the precious moments of their life. An old photo album, falling apart full of hundreds of photos and the Big Bag of Negs.

I have photos of this woman when she was very young with her sisters in Canada. Then photos of her living near Ukiah, California during the Depression. I have no idea whose home I was in at the sale. I stupidly never asked. That's always one of the dumbest things I do. I don't ask for names. It's always a mad dash to find the photos before someone else does. And I have to admit, I'm not comfortable asking personal questions about the deceased while I paw through their belongings. I just hope to give their memories a caring home.

This is my addition to today's Sepia Saturday.

BEACH PARTY with watermelon

From the Big Bag of Negs I give you Beach Party!

Click on image to see it larger.

Some negs should never see the light of day, let alone a flatbed scanner. Others just make me smile as the image appears on the screen. I have to wonder how many prints of this one exist. I own the negative. It is in the aforementioned Big Bag of Negs which continues to have losers and winners. This one is a complete winner! And may I say the fourth in my collection of people eating watermelon. Yes, I have 4 photos of people eating watermelon, one involved a pig. If you've followed this blog you'll remember the handsome pig. Then I have two other shots of watermelon eaters that have not been shown. Who knows what sort of watermelon eaters lurk within the Big Bag of Negs! It's a category. I must collect them.

I'd say this one is from the early to mid-50s. I know my mother had a purse exactly like the one in the foreground on the beach. It was white woven fabric with a pull cinch top. I wish I still had it.

As to the shadow in the lower left corner...isn't it a little strange? A clown with a big nose and a funny hat? A one eared fellow with a tiny sailor hat?

And as to the standing fella...well maybe I just remember too many Annette and Frankie Beach Party movies, but I keep waiting for that guy to dance. Shake his butt and do the frug. If you have to ask what the frug is you're already too young. Keep moving', nothin' to see here.

He stole all THE OLD LADY'S HEARTS

Another image from a negative.

The same cute little boy with his gang.

A rough and tumble gang...I think not.

All so cute.

All out of context.

It's what it is and it ain't goin' to be no more.

Enjoy them for their moment.

Summertime kidsters.

Click image below to see it larger, I think.

No really, IT'S THE CAMERA, not your eyes

They were so sure this was going to be the perfect little shot of this little fellow. He posed so sweetly in his little suit. And then the print came back. Oh no. Oh oh no! He's blurred! Completely blurred. The grass and trees are fine, but the little darling is blurred!

Click on the little fella to see him larger.

That's okay, we're only going to send it to Aunt Elsie and she never wears her glasses so she'll never know. In this case her vanity is to our advantage.

Another negative from the little envelope. Okay, yes, he looks like an ad for the movie The Omen but I'm sure he was as sweet as could be.