The Postcard Project

I may be crazy for starting another project, but this one is right up my alley.

On my first day of volunteering at the Food For Thought (FFT) Antique Store last week, I found all these vintage postcards (that need organizing, of course!). In looking through them, I found a number sent from Cape Cod in the 60's.

This one in particular had a great little correspondence on the back, and it was such a fun jumping off point for a short story (or novel, what the heck!). It's July of 1966, and Karen was working as a "mother's helper" for a doctor, his wife and their four children, two boys and two girls, ranging in age from 2-14, at the family's summer cottage in Dennis, MA.

Anyway, since she mentioned the family name and cottage address,  (I've blurred it out) on the card, I thought I'd do a little internet sleuthing to see if I could find someone in the original family. It was such a uncommon name that I found numerous hits right away. And, long story short, I am in contact with the boy who was 11 that summer, now a man of about 59, I guess. We'll be chatting later this week. His dad, the doctor is still around at age 90. (Hmmm, does this sound like a family we all know?)

I'm looking forward to where this takes me. It could be as simple as picking out a new card each week and writing a short story, finishing before my next shift the following week. Or maybe a fun project of looking up a card each week to see if I can contact anyone who has written a card or who is mentioned? A "where are they now" for 50 years later? We'll see!

 Oh, and a postcard stamp was only 4 cents! I wonder how much Karen made that summer? What are some things you would like to know? I'll get to ask John this week. (He said his dad would be thrilled to hear about this.)

2014 Update

Life has gotten busy or I have gotten lazy...not sure which or some of both.

A quick update...

Our latest vintage trailer is a 1962 Shasta Astrodome in need of a paint job. We were hoping the sale of the Lil' Loafer would finance that project, but (one new water heater and $2000 worth of car repairs later) that fund is dwindling! I haven't lost hope, just a little steam. We still need to take her in to get estimate on a paint job, and maybe we still have enough in reserve!

Her name is "Tweety" as in Tweety Bird since she is canary yellow and we will keep her original color scheme. And of course I've found tons of stuff in yellow and am amassing a, cough cough, hoard. This is just a tiny bit. More pics later. We haven't camped in her yet, although she's camp-able and very towable. (She made the trip from her other home in Susanville just fine. Seven hours!) Her interior is in really good condition and I think we got her for a pretty good price. Yes, there is a toilet room, but the previous owner had not used it, so we're not sure what the condition the plumbing is in.

I've started volunteering at Food For Thought's Antique Store here in Sebastopol once a week. Just one 3-hour shift each week amongst all that glorious vintage stuff! I've only worked once so far. Next week I learn the cash register!

The Girl has numerous day camps this summer. Two weeks at Coyote Camp as a Junior Mentor (helper), and two weeks of afternoon camps at Sonoma State. One was on Fashion Design and one will be a "Harry Potter Camp." She elected to not do the Humane Society Camp, she felt she'd aged out of it. And of course she had 9 days on the "East Coast Adventure" with her teacher and schoolmates in June. (Boston, Philly and NY) (Louisa May Alcott's home below.)

The Man is continuing to work and slave away, trying to get some three-day weekends to go camping. I make him work more at home, too since my birthday "present" was painting the kitchen cabinets and walls. (Going slowly, but it's coming along!) Finally got that awful "painting" off the range hood! Only 22 more cabinet doors and 12 drawers left! (The bottom cabinets on the stove area should be done shortly.) So far, it's just the island and the upper stove area that are done, and the trim on the pantry and laundry room doors and those walls (blue from yellow). Can't wait until it's all just blue and white! So far, I'm doing the walls, trim and bases and The Man does the doors and drawers with all the intricate sanding and caulking. I scraped down the range hood.

Allie is fundraising for her East Coast History Trip!

I'll be putting up pictures of the crafts we are making to earn her trip funds, and if you would like to order anything, just email me with what you'd like. I've even got a PayPal button on this site (look to the right) or you can just send me a check.

(Be sure to send me an email to tell us your order, the PayPal button is just for the payment.)

Or if you'd just like to donate straight to her trip account, here's the link:

http://www.efexploreamerica.com/secure/make-donation.aspx?poid=DB93D6FB&utm_medium=web&utm_source=paxsecure&utm_campaign=fundraising

(We have trip insurance, so if something happens and she can't go, we will get a refund of any money paid, and pay you back, too!)

Here's a sample of the Teddy Bear and the Owl ($5 each). Each item will be unique in colors (you can request colors if we have them!) and might be a little different from the last one we made!

More pictures to come this week as we get into full production!

Soon we'll have ornaments, gift bags, aromatherapy and whatever else we can come up with!

Easter Sunday Brunch

Some fun food and a fun "hunt." Vegan peeps, even!

RIP Davy Jones

 Davy Jones

1945-2012

I may write more about this later, but for now...we will miss you! I regret not getting to see you on a recent tour. You left us too early, but I thank you for your wonderful music and being a bright addition to my childhood.

My very first personal blog post on this site was about the Monkees. Click and scroll to the end to enjoy a video of the boys singing "Riu Chiu" a cappella for a TV Christmas special.

http://www.margaretismusing.blogspot.com/2008/03/musing-about-music.html

I miss the Wiggles

My daughter is 10 now. Actually, 10 and a half. It's been many years since we've watched Wiggles videos or listened to their CDs. But I just bought a new Wiggles CD because it's called "Ukulele Baby." My DD has been playing the uke since she was six, and I had to hear this CD.

I miss them. I realized I loved being a kid with my kid and I loved the Wiggles. Four (good-looking) grown men who loved to be silly for little kids. My little girl is in that pre-pre-teen stage, and while she still loves to be silly and playful, she is not a toddler.  She can compute a fraction once second and sing her own silly made up song (complete with dance) the next. I credit the Wiggles (and 9.5 years of Kindermusik classes and ukulele lessons) with her ability to do that.

I probably won't be attending any more Wiggles concerts. (Yes, I have attended two of them!) I can still love them from afar. And send this CD to my 4 year-old great-niece. I hope she and her mom can have the same love affair with the guys!

Superbowl Sunday Cupcakes

Allie made all these cupcakes and the "field." Totally cute!

 We called these the "spectator" cupcakes, since the other ones on the field were the "players."
Best comment of the night: When we told our friends they had to eat the spectators first,  ("the spectators go first!") one youngster commented "Unless you are an Italian cruise ship captain!"