Treasure Hunt

Our DIL Kristi is working on clearing out our barn.  So, I am going through things to see what is a keeper and what gets thrown into the dumpster.  In one of the old wooden crates I found this folded up paper and when I opened it up it was this photo of the Earth taken from space.  

On the reverse was this amazing painting of all the astronauts with a list of all the space ships and a chart with all the names.  I don't remember this at all but I think it's neat.  Keep.

I was amazed I still had this.  It was a lampshade pattern that I made when I was going to do a stained glass lampshade.  Apparently I had re-used the card-stock from some calligraphy projects I did.  Which were wedding invitations that I did for Dayle's sister Lorna and also for my best friend from 7th grade - Shirley's marriage.  :-) I guess I was a re-cycler way back when.  :-)  

In my old letters box I found a wallet photo holder stuffed with pictures of my 7th and 8th grade friends and buried in the back was this FABULOUS photo of my father and his horse's colt!  Isn't he adorable?  I'm thinking he was like 15 or so?  This was taken on their farm in Oklahoma.  Grandpa and Grandma had a "section" of land, a square mile.  

I had written this on the back, so I assume Dad had told me the name of the colt.

I also came across some things from when I was the executive director of the Friends of Vista House.  I did the cover for this in my own calligraphy, this was before computers and I used a typewriter for my duties.  :-)

Here is the "before" - the things I've selected to bring in to the house.  I have to bring things into the kitchen and wash them.

Some of my pottery, a cute little wooden keg of my mom's, copper utensils that I bought, handmade, years ago and much more.  Bring in, wash and put away safely in my kitchen.

I've loved that little keg but don't know what it's original use was - any ideas?  And this cane wrapped dark brown bottle.. my mother was a lover of old and unusual things.. so my friends.. I come by this naturally!  Does anyone know what this bottle might have been used for?

Two of the rescued items are planter pots that I threw on a kick wheel while taking Ceramics class at Mt. Hood Community College.. can you believe 42 years ago?  I had taken Sumi Ink Painting at the college so as to be able to decorate my pottery.  It was taught by Sumi ink master, Wing K. Leong.  These had to be scrubbed clean and I will plant some flowers in them.

I also found my mom's scrapbook from her trips to China and Thailand.  This is her cuddling with a lemur! 

And here she is with her traveling companion, Mr. B.  We actually called him that.  Still in Thailand.  He also took her to China and on a cruise through the Panama Canal and to several places in Mexico and South America.  

I also re-discovered my great grandfather's special implement that me made himself.  What do you think this was used for?

The handle is made of oak, and I had to scrub this well!

OK.. I'll tell you what it is.  It's an apple butter stirrer!  He would cook down apples in a big cauldron over a fire and used this to stir and mash the apples as they cooked.  He was a blacksmith.  :-)

And I found these cute little vintage sewing items in a bag of mom's buttons.  Have you ever heard of pins that hold buttons on?  I have two big containers of mom's things yet to go through.  I have no idea what is in them.

I'm off to swim today.  I hope you're enjoying your summer!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)