Saturday, March 31, 2007

woof woof

This critter seemed to have lost the rest of the herd this morning - he or she was out there barking and stood still till I could get my camera so you could see how ugly he or she is. Doesn't he know it is not November? Maybe not: the woods are still bare -- not even a teensy shoot of a leaf. So much for the groundhog's prediction of an early spring. Bah, humbug.

So I went around to the front, looking for seasonal encouragement. The crocus was gone and the little daffs are up - so that might be a good sign.
A little history...or mystery.On another subject, let me introduce you to Mr. and Mrs Yockenfloss.
That is not their real name: I don't know their real names. But I do know their photo was taken by Carl Lemke in Wausau, Wisconsin and they are probably younger than they look. I HATE not knowing anything about them. He is handsome under all that fuzz and he is wearing what looks like some kind of Maltese cross in his lapel. Blue eyes, I think. I guess around the turn of the century - but could be earlier. If these people look like any of your relatives, let me know.

Some years ago I posted a picture of my favorite couple on my blog and got an e-mail from a woman in Ohio who swore the man was her relative.(I had bought the picture in an Ohio antique market). She sent me a picture of the rest of her great-grand uncles or whoever the were and I swear, there was one in the picture who could have been the same guy or his twin. I sent her a scan of my photo but couldn't bear to part with it.

In the meantime, I googled the name of the photographer who took this picture and found that his wife's name was Ulrika and that his children had compiled a little family history, which consists mostly of pictures. Many were made by their father, a professional photographer or by their brother, Carl Jr. who became the family photographer. It is the story of their parents, youthful German immigrants. Carl landed on Ellis Island, unable to speak English and with only five dollars in his pocket, while the teenage Ulricka began life in the New World as a cook in a Wausau hotel at $4 a week. But I can't find any reference to WHEN, and of course, nothing to tell me who these people are. Sad.

Comments would be welcome; there is nothing more depressing than NO comments...whine, whine,whine.

13 comments:

Debra said...

Rayna,

Before AQC I am going to ask my spouse to scan a couple photos for you. Great photos that you will love and that will have some story to them.

Maybe I'll go get them for him now...

Rayna said...

Thanks, Debra. Can't wait to see you (with or without pix)

Joanie Gagnon San Chirico said...

The turkey is a riot! They bark? No turkeys in my woods, but I get deer and I even saw a coyote a week ago, chasing the deer!

How's that for a comment? I'm visiting my friends' blogs this afternoon.

xxoo

Anonymous said...

We used to have a lone turkey who hung out by herself in our neighbor's yard. She totally eschewed the advances from the male turkeys. Our neighbors decided she was lesbian. They named her Lucy.

Marie said...

Here in NE PA we have "flocks" of wild turkey. In NJ you have "herds" of turkey. Isn't life interesting? Just foolin'.

Enjoy your blog

Judy said...

I LOVE Gerrie's comment about Lucy the Lesbian Turkey!! LOL!!

I agree with you about how lonely it is when you receive no comments on your blog. Mark Lemke used to be a stellar Atlanta Braves player...but that wouldn't help you in finding the subjects of this photo. I am in search of my great uncle Carl Johan Anderson's son's family who settled somewhere in the Midwest in the 1920-30's. I guess that I should post about them on my blog.

xo

Rachel said...

Hi Rayna! I like your new profile pic. Good to see you in action.

I always find it interesting that old photos often have the photographer's name carefully printed on the front or back, but we often don't know who the photo is of. Good reminder to label our photos and sign our work.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Rayna! You are a city girl! Turkeys come in flocks, not herds. And it Spring. This is their mating season. That poor, lonely turkey is looking for a mate.

I love your old photographs. I have a drawer full that I've bought at estates sales, etc. Now, if I'd just do something creative with them. You've inspired me.

Quiltgranny said...

I have a hard enough time finding information about ancestors for whom I have pictures (and unsure of names), and here you are tracking down people you have no relation to, other than the emotional one of you like their faces! Wow, I hope someone takes that much time to find out who I was when they find a picture of ME in the antique shop! (Love the picture, too, BTW)

Joanie Gagnon San Chirico said...

GLASS BONGS??? !!!!

You wanted comments, someone listened to you!

Hee hee.. is there something I don't know about??

Judy Rys said...

No wild turkeys in CA, only Racoons, Opossum and Coyotee. Had a hissing Opossum trapped in our closest once. The trapper said he could come get it in two weeks!!! Talk about a problem . . .

Rayna said...

Ha ha - Emmie - I am a city girl at heart, although I have never lived in one. My husband, who grew up in Brooklyn, is the one who said "herd" but I think he's right - there are so many of them and they gallop.

We once had a raccoon come down our chimney and wander around on the kitchen counters. Eeewwww. Left sooty paw prints on everything.

Yes, Sharon,I am obsessed with these poor old couples. I should ask a shrink about it - LOL.

Frances said...

ok I'll be the thirteenth commenter, on photos I am like you Rayna I wonder about the people but I tend to make up my own little story about them, I also feel a little sadness as a photo once much loved has now been discarded no longer loved,

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