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

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

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.

~Jim Rohn

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

Be blessed.

Hugs,

Susie Q

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