Another mystery book

Oh Dear, has it really been since Easter that I have written in this blog? For shame on me.
That just means I get to do double time on it now.

So. . .I did it again. I bought an item on auction. A leather valise, I wanted to use it for my Steampunk costume.
When it arrived I unpacked it and realized it needed some TLC. Put it in the corner till I could get to it. That was about 6 months ago.

It came from a local Goodwill so when it arrived and I saw the UofO sticker on the side (almost completely gone) I knew it was from someone in Oregon.
Yesterday I started cleaning it off with Saddle soap. Making sure I didn't disturb the sticker. It is getting cleaner but it is going to need some mink oil or something cause the leather is cracked and breaking off in the folds.

As I was cleaning it I looked inside, dusty, dead spider. Then I checked the side pockets. And that is where I found this notebook.
Or rather notepad.
It is only 4inch.

Inside are a few pages with minute handwriting. It takes me a while to figure out what it is saying. Then the lighbulb goes on.

Here we have a notepad that was purchased in France, approx. 1945. Owned by Winton J. Hunt. His notes are military notes. He is recording an accident with explosives and who was killed, Italians and Germans and US. Seems they were unloading armaments (B betty bombs) and it slipped and exploded. He lists which men died. Like the POW's that are Italian or German.

There are also notes for arranging the Christmas party with children. He talks about which units and how many children will be from that unit. Also how the bus/truck will come to areas in the city to pick up the children.

Knowing the war ended in May 1945 and these notes are from August and November 1945 it tells me that Winton Hunt was helping move units out and heal things with the citizens of France.

I have googled the names of some of the men mentioned. Most of them are dead now. Winton J. Hunt is also deceased. But he left quite a legacy. Here is his obituary in the Salem Statesman.
Winton J. Hunt August 13, 1911 - May 21, 2009 SALEM - A loving husband and great Oregonian, Winton J. Hunt, age 97, died of natural causes at his home in Salem, Ore. He was born in Woodburn, Ore. to Jno and Molly (Meiring) Hunt. He attended U of O and Willamette Law School. After WWII, he took over the family insurance business (Jno Hunt & Son Insurance). In 1975, Winton married Dona Battig and became a loving stepfather to three children. He loved reading, history, fishing, golf, boating, and played baseball for U of O and the Salem Senators. He served his country as an Army Major, participating in the WWII Normandy Invasion and the Battle of the Bulge, receiving the Bronze Star in 1944. He was elected Oregon State Rep. 1957-1963, Chief Clerk 1965-1982, and served 30 years on the State Fair Board. Survived by wife,

Ready for this. . . a You Tube video of him.

I'm currently trying to track down family members so hang on, there will be more I hope.

Easter 2013

A day full of color, sunshine, smiles and youthful excitement.

What'sa Quarius Nana?

Joy was helping me yesterday clean up from the Easter festivities. She loves to sing. And does it all the time.
She makes up songs or sings real songs. And it always amazes me how quickly she picks up a song and sings ON KEY and LOUD!

While singing something (I wasn't paying attention to what the tune was) she stopped and asked me what a "quarius" was. HUH? "quarius" like in the song. . ."when the moon is in the 7th house". oh oh oh. that is Aquarius!

So I told her Aquarius is a man pouring water out of a jug. Then I took her to the computer and we did a Youtube search and I found the 5th Dimension version of the song. She said she had never seen it. So I was trying to figure out how she knew the song.


Click on the picture







She asked me if I know the movie where the guy goes "No No No " (while shaking her head back and forth) when they are going to cut his hair. Again I didn't understand what she was asking me. But on the Youtube page along the side are those clips and she pointed to one of them and said, "That one".




OOOOHHHHHHH

Click on this picture



She has been watching HAIR the musical.


I had to crack up. When I was in 6th grade I was in the school choir. At our spring concert we sang Aquarius & Let the Sun Shine. The year was 1969 so the song was very popular. Certain parents had a Kaniption (fit) because the song was about unholy worship (zodiac). And now my 5 year old granddaughter sings it and not only that. . . .watches the movie it was made famous in, another very controvertial performance.


The world is different.


Yes that is Tommy Lee Jones in a musical. BWAHHHHH

New Year Omen

And I thought my New Year's Day would be gloriously sunny and a great omen for the coming months.
But a Shadow was cast upon this golden morning.
With the sun comes the birds. With the birds comes a meal. . . .for the cat (Shadow)
Sitting at the dining room table enjoying some reading I hear her meow in a strange muffled voice. She won’t shut up. I can barely see her in the family room. I get up and follow her meow.

I have not moved one single thing in this photo. Yes there is a dish of un-eaten cat food in the corner. Behind it is a furry play mouse.
But there in front of Shadow is the real thing. She brought me a finch.
Sigh. Happy New Year MOM!