How did they survive?

 Fascinated by these devastating photos from the 1930s that capture the poverty and hopelessness of the decade. 

Can't believe this was the era when I was born.  We didn't have much but I never wanted for anything as a child.  Lived in a rental, no car but luckily lots of relatives and friends, enough food, and a roof over our heads.

These photos from Pinterest show the poorest of the poor after the market crashed in 1929.

silk purse/sow's ear

 Turns out smoky overcast skies are great for photography!

Years ago my son gifted me with a cedar planter box.  It has four legs, a deep bed and measures 3 ft x 4 ft.  Allows me to plant flowers standing up.  Last year ... nothing because of COVID.  Couldn't even get to the nurseries.  

But this year, OH MY, flowers galore!  The heat we've been experiencing has been a good thing for flower~growing.

 Never have I been able to grow sweet potato vine so lush and thick.

Summer Brunch at the Ds

 We got to spend a morning at Derek and Dawn's home and gardens.  Haven't photographed their amazing back yard for a long time.  It just keeps getting better and better.  Took 47 photos and tried to pare them down to a manageable few but it was almost impossible.  I decided to split them into two categories ~ bushes, trees and pond first.

Dawn (fabulous flower gardener) and Derek (pond, trees and bushes)

Derek had to criss~cross cords to keep hawks, herons, raccoons from getting to the koi

t.o.b. checking out the pond

boulders and river rocks not natural to the area!

Koi pond dug by hand by Derek. So proud of his accomplishments

Front of house

side yard

Yummy brunch was quiche (and gravy for topping), fruit (melons and strawberries), juice, hash browns, Danish and coffee.

Found a trading partner in Santa Fe

 So much fun (and motivating) to find someone to trade art pieces with.  This is my November trade with Carol.  A once-a-month greeting card.  No messages inside and free to create in any genre.

So happy to find a way to use the old 1940s photos from Ireland.  Isn't she adorable?  Wonder if she's still alive and would recognize herself.

Dorothy, Tommy & Margaret

 Here is the first newly added page to my old album. The photo is from a lot of tiny (1 1/4" x 2" and smaller) 1940's era pictures I picked up at the Thrift Store. I have plenty more to fill this "gem of an album" posted earlier.

I am leaving alone those frames that were already filled when I bought this album.

Pages are only about 4" x 5" so call for tiny photos

Found a little gem

 at the Thrift Store a couple months ago.  It's been sitting on my drafting table ever since waiting for some collage inspiration.

just 4" x 5 1/4"

some pages have old photos mounted in them

edges of all pages are gilded

inside flypage

sepia photos are faded but I will save them in their places

inserted was this pattern for cutting size to fit in frames

I love this little clasp

This is going to be FUN!  

 

Four Pin Friday ~ Just for laughs

Before Lady Ga Ga there was this

Foxgloves and other beauties

I made several attempts to grow foxgloves at my previous home, but after just my first planting  and some crazy weather here in Spokane this Spring ~~ VOILA!!

 I'm sure it is the better soil Derek gifted t.o.b. with last Father's Day.  Much more successful than the rocky tree rooted dirt in our old backyard.

I love how they poke above smaller flowers and make themselves known.  And they keep blooming up the ladder day by day.

The peonies came with our new home and produced abundant humongous blooms this Spring as well

Not to mention the day lilies we inherited from the previous owners.  Thank you very much!

Ahhhhh HAPPINESS for me.  The little things in life

It was a gully washer

On the way home from Idaho yesterday, we went through some big wet cloudbursts and lightning!

The rain was so heavy at times, visibility was almost nil.  Luckily t.o.b. is an excellent driver, and we made it home just as the deluge became a sprinkle.

After closing my craft studio window and cleaning up the sill and surroundings, I checked my flower plantings.

I saw the droplets on the fuchsia that has been blooming since my son gifted me with it on Mother's Day.  Camera in hand, I couldn't pass up the photo op ~ 

One great female photographer

I was sent these photos through my email account from a very good friend and want to share them with the world (well ... my little world anyway).  If you have Pinterest and love these pictures as much as I do, you will find more examples of her fabulous work there.

They were taken by a Russian photographer named

Elena Shumilova

Captivating!