Sunday, March 4, 2012

Return to Warehouse 13...

This evening I've been back down in Warehouse 13 (the basement storage room), continuing my stroll down Memory Lane ~ going through my Keep Boxes. Each child had their own; I have already given the three oldest children theirs (I fear they have been culled mercilessly, too...;). What's left in the basement are Jonathan's and mine (I have several), which are a combination of things from my Mom and Dad, myself, and various items from the "big kids" that somehow found their way into my boxes instead of the rightful owner's.
Why am I doing this, you ask?  Honestly, though I said I was "going through" them (giving the impression that I was paring them down), I am actually just seeing what all is in them; some of it I have brought upstairs to photograph for this post and possibly a couple more, a few things I may use in some art projects, and still a few more I want to eventually frame. Aside from that, however, I'm actually just looking at them and carefully putting them back in the boxes...for my children to go through and agonize about what they should keep ~ or not ~ someday! (Hee, hee...)

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Tonight my assistant is ~ (surprise!) ~ Leo. Here he is on the dining room table examining my Old Maid and "Tail" the Donkey card games from the early 60s...

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Some books that belonged to my Mom (Shirley Temple in "Dimples", and "How the Chattery Chipmunks Came to Dinner"), and Dad ("One Hundred Best Poems for Boys and Girls" (1930)). See the poem it's opened to? ..."Little Orphant Annie" by James Whitcomb Riley...I love him! Very Victorian and often maudlin poems (and I'm sure some are quite politically incorrect) ~ but, my very favorite teacher, Mrs. Grace Schuchart (second grade) read them to the class every Friday afternoon; I can still remember how we squealed when she read "An the Gobble-uns'll git YOU ef you Don't Watch Out!" ~ ♥

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The illustrations above and below are from "How the Chattery Chipmunks Came to Dinner"; there is no author or illustrator listed, just "Copyright C.R. Gibson & Company, New York City". They are beautifully done watercolors, though...I've always loved looking at all the detail.  And, look how the book is whip-stitched together; I can't imagine that it came this way ~ the binding must have come loose, and my Grandmother, or someone, put it back together this way. So frugal... I guess this will remain a mystery. The only clue to a possible author is on the back; a listing for four other "Aunt Martha's Squirrel Stories" ~ I'm going to see if I can find out more ~ :)...I love children's books ~ old and new ~ mainly for the illustrations!


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Here Leo checks out my green Captain Kangaroo cup from about 1960. Kind of creepy, actually...did you ever wonder about the "moving" eyes (as well as other little moving pictures) on things from this era?  When I started writing this post, I didn't really know how to describe them, so after a few failed attempts at "Googling" them (how apt!), I found it....take a look...
In the late 1930's, the first multiple image lenticular image was formed and this was the seed that started the VariVue company. During this time, Vari-Vue coined the name "lenticular", to describe their linear lenses, "Winkies", to describe the ever popular blinking eyes and "Magic-Motion" to describe any "lenticular" image containing motion.  By the late 1940's, VariVue had become a household name by producing millions of animated and stereographic lenticular images which were available everywhere.  These images included everything from wall hangings to record album covers, CrackerJack prizes, greeting cards, post cards, political buttons and more. By the 1950's, VariVue's lenticular images had become a craze and many, if not most, famous personalities of the time wanted to be featured in VariVue advertisements. 
Wow. Not exactly a "household name" for me (maybe because I was little...) still, you learn something new every day!

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Some of my favorite books..loved "Little Audrey and the Moon Lady" ~ (turns out the moon really is made of green cheese...:)


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Babalooey! Quick Draw McGraw's sidekick...here he is as a bank, and if I remember correctly, he came holding bubblebath (lots of things came holding bubblebath, come to think of it...) I've gone on way too long with this post...time for me to get a bubblebath and go to bed! Have a great week, everyone!
♥ ♥ ♥
Anne

14 comments:

  1. Returning you follow! Love the name of your blog! There is always fur in my paint . . . well, let's face it, there is fur in everything in my life! I have two dogs, and lots of extended family cats and dogs in my life.

    Glad to find your blog!
    Tera
    http://www.EccentricLeopard.com

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  2. Thanks so much for following my blog and I am now a happy follower of yours. I love pulling out old boxes and looking through them. Well, it is what I do for a living now so it's a good thing I like it. You have some amazing finds. I love your books.
    Laura

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  3. Wow! So glad you found my blog otherwise I might never have found yours and I love it. Gorgeous pictures and the name, wish I had thought of it. Describes my home. Following back.
    Lisa

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  4. Oh my, what a beautiful blog you have!
    I think I remember "Little Audrey".
    My love for Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Green Jeans remains today.
    And Quick Draw McGraw and Babaloo, oh I LOVED that show. (Do you remember "Fractured Fairytales", was that from that show?)
    How nice to have books from your parents and in such good condition!
    :-)
    Love,Kay

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  5. And I see on the side photo that you were born in 1957, me too!
    Like the Chevy, we are classics!

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  6. Anne- We have saved several similar things. I think that book binding might be original though because I have a few of those old "sewn" books. I think they may have done that before the glue process was as refined as it is now.

    Captain Kangeroo IS kinda creepy but he was such a nice man in real life.

    What a fun post! I went through all my saved items several years ago and gave each of my kids the things I had saved for them from their childhood. I hope they kept it all but am afraid to ask~ xo Diana

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  7. Hello, the illustrations on the books are just great. Thanks so much for stopping by. Hope you have a great week, Theresa

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  8. The wonderful Leo helps out again!
    The illustrations in the Chipmunks book is fab!
    June

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  9. Hello my new Missouri Blogger friend. Thanks for coming by my blog, My Old Historic House. I is so fun to meet a new blogger especially one from Missouri. I have not spent much time down your way. Wish I could and will put it on my bucket list. I also see you like Magnolia Manor, It is on my list as well. I am your newest follower. I hope we can become good blogger friends. Richard

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  10. Captain Kangaroo was one of my favs! What a wonderful post and brought back so many memories. I am passing an award to you... If you'll go to: http://inspiremedesigns.blogspot.com/ you will see the reward.

    Hugs*

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  11. You have an adorable blog!! Thanks for stopping by mine and becoming a new follower - I am happily following back. Like yourself, I sometimes go through all the things I've saved over the years (my children are now in their mid-twenties) and can't part with. The problem is they take up so much space in our attic! I also love children's books and occasionally buy them when at second-hand shops. I definitely remember Baba Looey bubble bath :)

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  12. wow..fun post with fun "stuff"...enjoy those treasures!!

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  13. I love those beautiful children's books! What a fun re-discovery!

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  14. Love that you have Leo to assist. He is such a pretty/handsome kitty! And I love your illustrations...so vintage!

    ♥charlotte

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I love your thoughts and comments, and I read each and every one! Sometimes life gets in the way, though, and it takes me a while to respond...Thank you for understanding! ♥...Time is precious, and the time you have taken here is truly appreciated!