Thursday, August 27, 2009

A Moment in Time



Besides old tintypes and cabinet cards... collecting old photographs, looking for them at yard sales, flea markets, etc. has been a habit of mine for many years...For some reason, I feel as if I am "rescuing" these old discarded images or even the remnants of someone's life and story when I take them home with me....
Recently my sister Lynn generously spent her time and scanned dozens of old family photographs so that all my siblings could share and each have copies of these treasured momentos of our family....I couldn't bear to think of them discarded one day...



While sifting through some old collected photos this weekend....I came upon this picture of a young boy and a gentleman, who I am imagining, is the boy's grandfather....



It sure looks to me as if they are thoroughly enjoying each others company and sharing a loving chuckle over the little boy's modeling of grandpa's hat.

I love the way their hands look and the little fellow's coveralls and grandpa's suspenders....Although not related to me, these two souls warm my heart with their sweetness and their obvious pleasure in sharing a simple moment in time...

It reminds me of my own grandfathers who so loved us and enjoyed us when we were little...

24 comments:

Room Service ~ Decorating 101 said...

I never had a grandpa, but I like the ideal of one. I started my guest room today and used some of your photos for inspiration...thanks

The Green Pea said...

The little boy wearing his grandpa's hat is so sweet. I enjoy old pictures also I do not find them very often. I need to flea more often. Sandi

Theresa said...

Neat look into that day for little guy and his Grandpa:) Sweet!

Mindy said...

I LOVE this picture! Thanks for sharing the smiles! ~Mindy

Lisa said...

Really great pics! I wish I had a scanner. There are tons of pics I'd love to put on the computer. Thanks for sharing. I'm still over the moon with my treasure box! It is all sitting in the box out in my room where I can see it all. I feel like I had Christmas. Thanks again.
Hugs, Lisa

Wildflowerhouse said...

It really does warm one's soul. Are those days gone? I hope not. People need to slow down and treasure the moments, don't you think. Left you a little message on my blog Laura! Sharon

Wildflowerhouse said...

It really warms one's soul to see pictures like that. People need to slow down and treasure such moments. Laura I left a little message on my blog for you! Sharon

Julie Marie said...

Oooh Laura, I love that photo of the little boy and his grandpa! I too rescue old photos, they were someones family once... I take them home and they become part of mine, I treasure them... Julie Marie

Julie@beingRUBY said...

Gorgeous Laura
I too have an obsession with vintage photos. Those that belong to the unknown and my recent garage finds of fabulous family photos I had forgotten I had. Will post some of my grandfather too sometime in the future!
xx Julie

Chemin des Muguets said...

Oh Laura,

Such a touching scene. I was fortunate to know both my grandfathers, and owe them so much.

Marjorie

jade said...

Dear Laura,
what a loveley picture - i think this old treasure has found the best place at your home!

Have a wonderful weekend, Hugs Jade

peet said...

I love old pictures , and the story behind .
I have some from my grandparents .

But somethimes i buy them on fleymarkets , when i like the face from the person on it .( somethimes they look so scary !)

Have a nice day and thank you for sharing the pictures .
Peet

Magdalena said...

Lovely picture with so many emotions...its shure reminds me of my childhood, but also of a good frien of my grandfather...maybe him...
Big hug,
Magdalena/Color Sepia

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

A moment in time captured forever.....photography sure was a great invention, wasn't it?We have got boxes and boxes of old photographs of long gone relatives, as well as us when we were young and I have always been facinated by them.As a child, I would often get the boxes out(not many reached the dizzy heights of being put in an album!!) and go through them all, and some of them are teeny, tiny black and white shots....this wonderful picture has captured a split second of a happy moment shared. XXXX

Les Cotrions said...

I like old photos so much and this one is very tender!
I can't wait to meet you!!!!
Have a nice week end!
Hugs
Vale

Gigi Thibodeau said...

Like you, I have been collecting old photos for 20 years for exactly the reasons you describe. In the old days, I'd be the crazy girl at auctions & flea markets buying the box lots of photos for just pennies. Not anymore! But that's fine with me. I'm glad so many folks want to save these treasures. I love the photo you've shared here!
I just bought one of my favorite albums ever this past week at Spitalfields. It's a handmade album from France with watercolor roses on the cover, and it's loaded with gorgeous photos of women in dresses near the seaside from 1904-1908. The beautiful script is all in French, and the images make my heart melt. Even the dealer from whom I bought it had a hard time parting with it. I love imagining the care that someone took to sew the book together and paint those lovely roses.

cheryl kuhn said...

As you know, old photos have a special place in my heart. I always wonder what kind of person were they, were they kind or were they not so nice? Did they live a good life? Were they loved?

Hill Country House Girl said...

Sweet post. I love the old pictures of my grandparents and am so thankful that I rescued them before they were tossed or dropped off at the thrift store with other stuff.I, too, often wonder about all the old photos we see at flea markets, antique shows, etc. Love 'em.

Rostrose said...

And you, dear Laura, are warming my heart, with this post!!! Thanks again, Love, Traude

Sammy Girl said...

Laura --
LOVE the pics ... old photos grab my heart, too! Thinking of scanning my own after return from vacay and posting some every week. Thanks for sharing and so much inspiration.
BTW, how do you create your 5 section pic/collages? I'm still pretty new (just over 50 posts) and wanting to learn more. THANKS!
Betty :)

Carole said...

Makes you realize that our lives are made up of a series of special moments.
Lovely post Laura,
Carole

AkH said...

Hello, nice blog you got. This picture was really nice to see. I like old photos! It´s so fun to get inspiration from other countries (I live in Sweden). (If you visit my blog you can translate it, there is a button on left hand side.)
Have a nice weekend!
Anna-Karin

Alicia said...

I do the same thing!!! I can never imagine people selling their history but I do find them usually at sales run by those horrid estate companies for children after a parent dies. I've rescued old albums filled with photos & my fav also had postcards, Valentines...it made me sick so I got them for a few dollars. The photos are so wonderful.
I'm glad your family embraces what others care nothing for.

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage said...

The more of your posts I read, Laura, the more similarities I find between you and I. You struck a cord with me, when you said you feel as though you are "rescuing...the remnants of someone's life and story" - by taking these photos home with you. I feel the same way. It's like taking home a stray animal that was once loved, and, at one time, had a home but no longer does.

I often wonder if old photos have found their way to shows and markets because there are no heirs to be passed on to, or, worse still, no one who cares about carrying on the family history.

It's the history - the stories told and untold - that have created such a passion in me to collect the remnants of days of old. ;)

Blessings,
Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/