A list of 10 Random Collections with accompanying photos

I didn't have any random thoughts. Okay, I did but I'm getting old and if I don't write them down immediately I will forget them.
Then I usually forget where I put the paper down that I wrote them on.
Then I pull out my wallet to pay for a kolache and
then the small slip of paper falls out.
Then I remember what I wanted to tell you that was sooooo interesting that I had to write it down. I don't really buy kolaches. I don't think I've ever had a kolache. I'm not really sure what kolaches are but if kolaches are anything like beignets then I NEED one now!

So because I can't remember anything interesting to tell you and I don't have a kolache and I have a ton of crap that I should be documenting, for insurance purposes (Ha! Like I own anything worth insuring. Gotcha!), I'll show you 10 collections of old stuff I have hanging around my house. I dusted off the cobwebs so they are safe to touch.

Here are 10 interesting collections of stuff with accompanying photos that I kept from my Mother-in-laws house. Please ignore the crumbs on the placemats. It was the housekeepers day off. It seems to always be her day off. Gawd, she's lazy. All I can say is she's cheap. Toss her a fridge full of veggies and she's good to go. Go off and do nothing that is.


1. Two pendant watches, a tie pin made from some of the gold that JR's grandfather brought down from the Yukon in 1910, and my mother-in-laws' baby locket that her father gave her when she was one week old. Which would have been the first week of November 1912.




2. Old pin cushion shaped like a shoe. I'm not really a shoe kind of gal but this appealed to me. I have no idea why. Maybe I make some sort of connection between sharp pointy things and shoes. It is a complete waste of time trying to figure why I do keep something.



3. Two shoe button hooks. Why I kept these is anyone's guess. I personally like shoes that slip on. All that nasty tying of laces is just exhausting. Buttoning my shoes? Out-of-the-question!




4. A lock of my husband's baby curls and the bracelet his mother was given to wear at the hospital. Isn't that the sweetest thing? I have the bracelet that the nurses put on him in his baby book.



5. Gypsy witch cards. Probably one of the oddest things I ever found. No that's not true. The oddest thing would be the sex manual but this rates right up there.



6. Art deco playing cards. Pretty, no? I plan to frame a few of these. I love love love the box.



7. Salt and/or sugar cutter and tongs. I'm not really sure if these were for salt or sugar. Anyone? Doesn't matter, I think they are terrific. I think I'll hang them on the wall.


8. Silk stocking mending kit. Yeah, because I'll ever be wearing silk stockings. I barely wear socks and I never wear pantyhose. Nasty things...pantyhose.


9. Razor. I kept it because....I liked the peacock? I don't know but I won't be shaving my legs with this thing.



10. Pocket comb, pill box, and compact. The little round thing flips open to reveal a mirror and a place to put face powder. Pretty sweet. I kept these because they could be useful in a totally never going to be way. Wouldn't they be great in a shadowbox?


There you have it. Ten random collections of stuff that I kept for probably 10 random reasons that I can't remember now but I'll never get rid of any of them. (do you think a grammar class is in order? Me too.)

Go visit Keely and the gang over at The Unmom for more random posts.


Love,
M

Child with wagon - history

We don't know very much about this photograph. It is one of 764 photographs that we will be posting on our digital library soon. All the photos were taken by a name named Harry Walker and were in a bunch that were given to us by a gentleman named Keeland. The photographs span from 1900 to 1940 and capture a moment in time in the Houston, Texas area.

In honor of Black history month I've culled out some of the photos that feature Black Americans during that time. Grandparents and parents of these children would have been slaves. When these photos were taken in the early 20th century they would have been share croppers, laborers, and house servants.

Slices of life during Jim Crow.

Just like many areas in the southern United States the history of Black Americans is sad and violent. Knowing a little bit about the history makes these photos very meaningful. Racism knew no age limits.

What do you think these photos tell us about the lives of these children's families?
Isn't he a cutie pie? Wearing his little suit and saluting. I've totally fallen in love with him.

Of the over 700 photos in the collection there are only about a dozen that feature African Americans. Which is really not surprising since most of the photos are family photos from a prominent white family.
And these two. Couldn't you just eat them up?

I've just titled the next set of photographs. Like I said we know virtually nothing about them.

Couple watching child.




Woman in field.




The picnic.
People had great hats back then. I want their hats. I'm a bit of a hat whore.





Men siting.
More great hats.

Have a happy Valentines day.
Love
M