Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket

In this Great Recession, as it has been called, many have taken this hen's advice to heart. Mother used to tell her children something she learned from her mother: "Don't put all your eggs in one basket", a lesson we have all learned well. Diversification is a cardinal rule of portfolio management if you are to protect your nest egg. Sadly, many forgot that simple lesson and are now scratching around in business for themselves. May they sell eggs and prosper.

The Would-Be Sport

The Would-Be Sport, artist signed, Katharine Gassaway for the Rotograph Co. circa 1906.

The Artist

The Artist

The artist starts out with a high hope,

For "the higher ideals" he will grope:

But before very long

He changes his song,

And draws pictures to advertise soap!

Reading Both Sides of the Postcard

Cheer Up, The Worst Is Yet to Come

Reading both sides of a postcard can be an object lesson in putting life - and death - into perspective. The above picture view on this postcard in a rather cute and humorous way tells us to cheer up because the worst is yet to come.

The message on the reverse of the card, brings us back to earth, jarringly:

click on image for larger view

postmarked Chicago, Illinois, USA, August 2, 1916

"Dear Sister,  We all pulled through the fearful heat all right, but it killed hundreds up here. Have had two days of delightfully cool breezes and the survivors are perking up. Hope you all managed to slip through. Last two days of it about knocked the ambition out of me."  Edw.

Subsequent heat waves in Chicago, in 1936 and 1995, resulted in high death tolls, 297 and 525 respectively.

Dog Days At the Beach

I once knew a little dog exactly like this one. Funnily enough, he was smarter than his human...

Boyz Will Be Boyz

Strutting his stuff at the Seville Peacock Farm, 15 miles north of St Petersburg, Florida in this 1950s linen postcard. Boys will be boys...

Stop Monkeying Around!

Monkeys In Pedal Car Monkey Jungle Florida 1950s postcard

In the 1950s, you could make fun of the backseat driving advice given by the Princess pictured above. No more monkey business! Times have changed for the better. Pedal power is still cheaper than gas.

Happy New Year 2010!

May you have a safe, healthy, engaging, fun and prosperous New Year, 2010!