Most of the photos here at Rabbit Run Cottage
can be enlarged just by clicking on each one!
There you go...see? Easy!

Saturday, June 16, 2012

How Did We Survive?

No cable television, no video games and no CD players. 
But we did have transistor radios and AM radio! 
 Medicine did not have child proof lids.
 There were no, or little used, seat belts in cars.
Parents smoked right in front of us...and 
even while *expecting* us! 
 Our sodas were loaded with sugar,
 we ate white bread slathered in real butter and drank
 full fat milk. We rode our bikes 
with no helmets...yet we survived. How did we do it? 
 We had fun. Uh huh. We did. 
And there was nothing unsafe about any of these toys right?
Right?
Here are some of the things that I enjoyed in the 1960s.
 Do any of them look familiar to you?


 Toys in those days didn’t come with warnings

 about small parts or sharp edges or  fumes.

Between toxic fumes,


 fire hazards,

the potential for losing a 

limb (or an eye) and even poisoning 
I am surprised we survived!

Who would have thought that just by


 the sheer fact that you

 are reading this you are


 (hopefully) a survivior... 



Okay, so a few kids impaled themselves 
with these things...
does that mean that none of us can play
 with them? Come on now...



Let's experiment with atomic energy 
and "blow things up real good"!

It came with three "very low-level"
 radioactive sources,

 four samples of Uranium-bearing ores,

 and an Electroscope 

to measure radioactivity. 

The neighbor kids must have been

 positively glowing with envy.



Nothing unsafe about a hot metal unit that 
could reach 3,000 degrees to heat up the Plasti-Goop
or the toxic fumes it produced. 
Nope.
Imagine the hours of fun that 

could have been had if you 

had this toy and the atom lab...wow. Good Times.



Loved the sound they made...but never mind
cousin  Bobby's front teeth. 
Or that kid up the
street who has to wear
 the eye patch for a month...



Yeah...and you can always chew on the stuff too...

I am sure there was nothing dangerous about it!





We made our OWN zip lines back then...
ever try it from the house's roof top? 
My friend Andy did. I sure miss that boy.



Learning tool and gun all in one!



Flies a whole 4 feet or more! 
The better to put the eye out of the nasty kid 
up the block!



Just don't burn your retinas too...



Maybe not dangerous but wrong on so many levels...



Came with the coolest cutting tool...
...my next door neighbor,
 3 Fingered Sally,
LOVED this toy!

And when we tired of these toys there were always

M-80s, BB Guns, Swiss Army Pocket Knives 

and Cherry Bombs to play with...

I mean, you HAD to have the Cherry Bombs 

and M-80s to blow up 

your GI Joe didn't you?


Uh huh...life was simpler back then. 
Cheaper too obviously!

Stay safe now...

Hugs,
Susie Q





Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Poor Mom...What To Do, What To Do!


Poor Mom! What is she to do with those wild, playful kids?

When all else fails, let 'em swig a nice sugary drink! That'll calm 'em right down!
Yes weak men...read this...
Then take a puff and and blow...your dream girl will be yours!
And you be sure to keep that dream girl in line now...


Then you and your dream girl can get matching outfits and go out dancing...



But only after she loses a few unwanted inches...


Because we all know what a drag women are...

...due to this unspeakable fact. Sad really.

Now go and talk amongst yourselves!

Hugs,
Susie Q




Monday, June 11, 2012

Doors

I must admit I have a thing for old doors. I love to think about how many people
have used them, turned their handles/knobs and passed through their
shadows to "come home".

I have one on my back deck that I found on the side of the road.
Grace and I hauled it home and gave it a place of honor complete
with a wreath of pretty red geraniums.

I have yet to do something with it as creative as these folk did...
but what wonderful ideas!

Re-purposing, re using, giving new life to time worn objects!




God enters by a private door 
into every individual.
 ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson


If a door slams shut it means that God is 
pointing to an open door further on down. 
Anna Delaney Peale



Happiness is something that comes into our
 lives through doors we don’t even
 remember leaving open.
 ~ Rose Wilder Lane



When one door closes, another opens;
 but we often look so long and so 
regretfully upon the closed door that 
we do not see the one which has opened for us.
~Alexander Graham Bell





Let everyone sweep in front of
 his own door, and the whole 
world will be clean.
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe





Ideas can be life-changing. 
Sometimes all you need to open 
the door is just one more good idea.



Love to you all...hoping your Summer is treating you well!

Be blessed.

Hugs,
Susie Q

Wednesday, June 06, 2012

How About a Photo Shoot?



As someone who is just starting 
out shooting family, graduation and
 wedding photos, I am always looking for inspiration. 
But, well...let's just say that these are NOT
the photographers to emulate. 


Try to put your subjects in flattering surroundings...


...uh huh.


The family that makes calls together stays together?


Try to have your families a wee bit more comfortable than these
poor folks. They look like they just had a tussle...is that
 when Mom lost her left shoe?


Okay now. Can we at least try NOT to shoot the kids
while they are picking their noses?


It helps not to snap while the groom is bored...


Did she forget deodorant?


Even the dog looks depressed.


Oh my.


Um...well...props work but maybe not THIS one.


Let's see how many people we can squeeze into a small
camera frame! Grandpa does NOT look happy.


If any of you can come up with one good reason why
someone would wish to be photographed like this...please send it to me!


Now I love a good sepia or black and white photo but this is
not. Good that is. These people need meds. Lots of meds.


Okay. Consider your background yes but how about 
the FOREground as well!


BACKground people...BACKGROUND!


Well, it's a look.


Aw come on Fred. You are going to have to pay the photographer
whether you smile or not...might as well...oh never mind.


No. This is wrong on so many levels.


Once again...BACKGROUNDS can make or break a photo!


I get what they were going for but this just creeps me out.
 And for the love of all things proper, please wear
clothing in wedding photos! PLEASE!



Do they know he is there? Do they? Do they care?


Just anther family photo shoot that includes a opossum.


Matching clothing can look cute...I said CAN.


I said OPEN your eyes darn it! OPEN!


I have started doing prom shoots but have yet to do any with
feathers.


I get arty...I get it. This I do NOT get.


She got to it in the big chair. 


When I told you you COULD wear costumes I thought you would all 
be in the SAME sort of dress...pick a theme people!


Well, they ARE patriotic.


Your guess is as good as mine.


Your Aunt Edna expects her living room slipcovers back by 7pm pronto.

My. Oh my.

Love to you all and happy photo taking!

Hugs,
Susie Q