Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Time capsule

   Going through my MIL's house is like going through a time capsule.   The deeper we get into the closets the older the items become.  Its like going back in time.  Check out his 78 albums.





     Upstairs on her stereo we listened to the 78's while we cleaned.  Big bands. Tommy Dorsey,  Nat King Cole, Perry Como.  Frank Sinatra.  How fun.   The postcards got older in the boxes also.  From the 80's down to the teens and from English to Danish.  

    Old Danish letters that mention Hitler and
Mussolini.    Letters from San Fransisco right after the big earth quake.   I sure wish I could read them.  The writing got fancier.  Even the men wrote lovely.   Then on to the cival war and letters from relatives along with civil war bullets.  The old photo's.  What a treasure.   There is something to be said about keeping everything.  Now what do we keep?

     I am keeping the really old letters.  I am looking for someone who can read Danish to read them to us.   I am going to end up with a large tub of things to keep no matter what I do but some of these things we just can't part with.   Many of it I am selling.  I was up until 2:30 last night looking for silver patterns.   Til my eyes crossed.  My goodness there must be a million.  My MIL had a nice Silverplate set that she keep the pattern number to.  She also had several single silver and silver plated items that needed to be cleaned, polished, ID'ed, photograph and eventually listed.

     Oh the wonderful cards from the early 1930's on down.  So fancy.  Great old postcards.  School work of my MIL's from 1930's.  When they learned to write well and you kept up, they didn't worry about leaving you behind, your parents made sure you kept up by God, LOL.

    This has been interesting to say the least.  I am just totally exhausted when I leave but it has been fun.

     My talk with my BIL that I thought was so fruitful was just a waste of hot air to a drunk.   Not one thing was done except the house is getting dirtier and dirtier.  I know that from my job.  You can't talk to someone when they are drunk, you can reason with, and you certainly can't rely on them.  I am such a sucker some days. 

     Well, I have a few hundred things to list and id.  Anyone looking for just about anything?  Drop me a line.  Its probably there somewhere, LOL.

    Look at this beautiful server.  I wish I could keep it all.

      

       And this cool old jewelry







        Just wait until I get to the postcards and greeting cards.
 
        Well, writing in here isn't getting my job done.  Have you all checked out the community Photo challenge yet?   I was honored to have come in 2nd place tying with Nancy,  Donna and Betty came out first place.  So get ready all.  Another is coming.  Divided into professional and amateur categories

  

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a treasure trove you have there.  I would keep just about everything, things you cannot keep there will be collectors for.  I love the jewellery.  Truly going back into history.  Wish I had discovered things like that when my relatives went.

http://journals.aol.co.uk/jeanno43/JeannettesJottings/

Anonymous said...

I've never seen records like that ever!  Wow...  Why can't you keep it all?!?  Julie

Anonymous said...

wow...some of those letters would be very interesting!!  i understand that you can't keep it all, but oh what some treasures to select from.  :)
gina

Anonymous said...

Being a packrat myself and a musician to boot, I love going through anything old. I'm sure the fun would wear off around day 103. Good luck !

Jimmy

Anonymous said...

Oh wow, that really is exciting stuff.  The records especially.  My grandfather has his basement full of vintage vinyl from the 20's and 30's along with some of the original clay presses.

Greg

Anonymous said...

I bet that stereo was old also that you played those records on. All this is sure interesting stuff. Congrats for coming in 2nd place in the photo challenge. I loved that deer. Sorry that your BIL hasn't done any better. Helen

Anonymous said...

I wish I were there to go through all of that old stuff with you. I LOVE old stuff!! Hey...if ya have an old civil war bullet you wanna sell let me know, ok?
Aren't you going to keep her old jewelry? I'm so sentimental I kept a LOT of my Mom's old stuff <sigh>.
Enjoy it...don't be in a huge rush so you can have fun with it.
Sorry BIL is such a problem. Good luck with that one. That would really try my patience.
Pam

Anonymous said...

I forgot to say congrats on your award!!!
Pam

Anonymous said...

Wonderful oddities from your MIL's house. Congrats on placing second with Nancy int the AOL picture challenge. As for your BIL why am I not surprised. I think the best thing to do is put him on the curb, with the excuse you have to be able to show the house and can't with him in it. Is your Son going to be able to purchase the house? (Hugs) Indigo

Anonymous said...

What wonders you are finding Julie.  Every one unwrapping another bit of Betty's interesting life.
I would hang onto the letters until you can get someone to decipher them.  It would be so intriguing to journey back through time and re-live it as she would have seen it as these letters might suggest.
Magical moments rewinding time by playing the contempory music of her earlier years.  So nostalgic....I wish I had been there just to experience the atmosphere.
What gifts from her you have experienced already!
Sending you a hug and much love  for more warm experiences such as these you have described above.
Jeanie xxxx

Anonymous said...

i think it's wonderful..got me to thinking that I had better have a clean out before i get too old..there are things i would rather not have the kids find ...LOL
hugs
Lyn