Thursday 31 August 2017

August 2017 Photo Scavenger Hunt

I must say I found this selection quite challenging at first but eventually found relevant photographs. 

I am once again joining in with Hawthorn's photo treasure hunt - to see her blog and links to other people who are taking part click  here


1. Relaxed    



What can be more relaxed that a hot cat sleeping in front of a fan?  Our old cat Jak always lay this way in front of the fan and gas heater on cooler days.  I had so many pictures of him in this position I had a job to select one.  We would position the pouffe with his bedding on top in front of the fan for him.  







2. It begins with an M


In April this year I was horrified to find this leather handbag that had belonged to my mother absolutely covered in Mould. I hurriedly googled how to clean the bag and after following the instructions and then hanging it outside in the sun it was completely cleaned.  It is a lovely old bag from the 1950's  that I have kept but never used. It is beautifully lined in calf leather and I was so relieved when I managed to get it back to its normal look. No idea why this happened as it had been stored in the same cupboard for years.  I will keep a closer eye on it in future. 











3. Time for... Tea  (with a difference)


Last August we made a birthday tea for our daughter-in-law Jenn but instead of the usual scones and cake we covered the table with platters of fruit, all cut up and ready for eating and served it with two tubs of delicious icecream, one each end of the table. There was even a token cake candle in the centre of the arrangement on the cake stand in the foreground.

The sunny tablecloth had been painted by Jenn's mother whilst we were all in South Africa. Nice to use it in memory of Marian. 

It was a fun afternoon and although it looks a lot of work Jenn and I only spent time in the morning cutting and arranging it all.  It was a great success.  Last August was hot and sunny and this was a very suitable tea party not a cool month like this year.







4. Tangerine 


I must admit that when I first read this title I was immediately taken back to the music played by Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra from 1942 musical - The Fleet's In.  
My father played it on his piano in my youth and we would have heard it on the radio.  For those who may remember or curious hear it the link is here 

We have not adjusted to the English names for all the different 'easy peelers' in the supermarket as we have stuck to the Southern African name for the fruit - naartjie.  That is why fruit was not my immediate reaction to the word.  Anyway, I finally got it right and here is a bowl of lovely tangerine coloured Clementines. 








5. It begins with an O...  for overkill!


This is a picture taken of my paternal grandmother Annie Eliza.  Not only is she wearing the height of fashion of the times possibly 1920's but obviously flapper fashions had not reached her in Eastbourne. Then to crown it all she is wearing a fox skin cape, complete with head and tail.  Definitely Overkill.










6. Whiskery


Sorry to use dear Jak again but he had such a splendid set of whiskers that I had no option. He is sleeping on the apex of our garden shed, a favourite place of his.








7. Lace


This category gave me a lot of trouble. I don't own anything lacy, not clothing, table linen, nothing.  Then whilst searching for inspiration amongst our old photographs I found this. 

Again it is of Annie Eliza but this time looking younger and far more glamorous, holding my father and both her blouse and my father's dress (those were the days when all babies wore dresses) are covered in lace.  This I know was taken in l907 as my father is obviously a few months old.  Poor chap, that is a splendid curl on top of his head.  I love the way these old photographs are always mounted on embossed card, maybe because nobody owned cameras in those days and they were always professionally taken and as for that chair......it is gorgeous, obviously belonging to the photographic studio. 









8. Bridge 

This picture is of Abbot's Harbour Bridge, West Martin, Lancashire.  It is a favourite place of ours as it has a lovely old tea room/restaurant and lovely walks along the Leeds/Liverpool Canal.  I love the way the new bridge was just built over the old.  I see it was taken in 2011, when eldest was still only a little guy with long blonde hair.  He is walking with B, his proud grandfather.



9. Letters


This was another category that had me puzzled but then last week as I was walking through the village of Earby I saw this child's set of numbers and letters in the window of a second hand shop.  Eureka ....there were my letters.  Sorry about the reflection in the window - it was difficult to avoid.






10. My own choice


Last month I shared my secret garden which is down below on the left, between the flat and this upper garden.  We are lucky that we are the end flat so do not block anyone's access to their parking area and we have just added a few pots, then a few more, a greenhouse, trellis, a 'alittlement' (opposite of allotment, Hawthorn's description), trees in large pots, a couple of benches...like Topsy, it just growed!! (quote from Uncle Tom's Cabin) The picture below is a panorama picture I took but is rather small on this page so I have put it into a collage for more detail.  We get much pleasure out of our garden though it does take a lot of watering.....all 115 pots of varying sizes)






22 comments:

  1. Oh wow!!!! Love that lot & might have to send an email about two of them, but the old photos are great & make me realise that I too have some old ones of grandparents etc. Maybe I could use something in future hunts. A few of the words made me think hard also. Of course I love the cat photos & your garden looks super. The fruity birthday tea looks ever so scrumptious & very different. Well done & take care.

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    1. Thanks. I have loved sorting through all the old pictures but look with apprehension at a box of slides, hundreds of them, sitting next to me on my desk. They all need checking and putting onto the computer. May find some more useful ones in there, but it will be a huge job. xx

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  2. What a relief that you managed to restore your mum's mouldy handbag. The table laden with fruit is an absolute treat for the eyes...and stomach I imagine! Lovely photos of Annie Eliza and Jak on the roof.

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    1. Yes a big relief when I got the bag clean. That fruit tea was such a success and so easy to do. We all enjoyed it. I never knew my grandmother so it was wonderful finding these old photographs a while back.

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  3. Thank goodness you saved your mum's handbag! I loved your stories and the pictures but my favourite is most definitely overkill. Your story behind the photo had me chuckling :-)

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    1. Thank you but as I said to Fiona, I never knew my grandmother but those photographs and others are quite amazing in more ways than one!!

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  4. Love the photos, especially love the vintage ones

    Julie xxxxxxxx

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    1. Thank you. We have quite a few vintage ones from both sides of our family which is lovely.

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  5. Wonderful phots, especially the old ones of your grandmother and the ones of your lovely cat. The fruit tea looks great for a hot day:)

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    1. That fruit tea was so easy to do and such a change. I take my blog name from our old black cat. He was officially Blackjak but we all knew him as Jak. (Always said he couldn't spell)!!

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  6. I anticipate how good your photos and words will be and I'm never disappointed! Another excellent set. I challenge you to find a picture of Jak to suit all 10 words in some future hunt! What fun that would be. My favourite is the fruit tea; I love fruit. O for Overkill is hilarious! I bet (at the time) she thought she was the best dressed person around. So glad we don't dress like that these days!

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    1. Jak in every one! The only trouble is that they are nearly all of him lying on his back sleeping in the sun or in front of the fan fan or in front of the fire!! You could wear an outfit like that, just wear a onesie underneath to keep extra warm, just think how warm you would be!

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  7. Once again, a lovely selection and stories :) Some I know and some I didn't ! Poor Gran's bag, glad you were able to revive it. Nice to see Jak again, in fact, I love that so many cats appeared in this months photos - what good taste we all have >^.^< xx

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    1. Yes I too noticed that we all seem to have cats that are either relaxed or whiskery.

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  8. I love the photo of the bridge, quite different. And that fruit tea looks delicious. Great photos :)

    Diana

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    1. Thank you. Yes I love that bridge and never tire of looking at it.....fruit cake and bacon butties at the cafe are delicious too.

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  9. An interesting collection of photos and stories - great that you managed to get the bag cleaned up, I'm not sure I'd have even tried!

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    1. Thank you, I couldn't not try as it was special to me. I just hope I got it completely clean and the mould does not return this winter. Just have to keep an eye on it.

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  10. Such an interesting selection of photos and stories. My ears did prick up at the mention of Eastbourne because I'm from a little further along the coast there. Really special to have lovely old photographs especially when you have stories behind them too.

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    1. My parents were from that area too, my father from Eastbourne and my mother Bexhill. We always returned there from present day Zambia where we lived for our compulsory 6 months leave from 'unhealthy' Africa - I loved it there especially as I was able to ride on the downs.

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  11. Cats are always the most relaxed animals going aren't they. Old photographs are always interesting to look at. Your aunt is certainly well wrapped up in the photo. :)

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    1. Yes, it is amazing how many cats have been used in this latest list of photographs.

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