Tuesday, August 11, 2009

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

Two years ago we took a wonderful, 2 week, family road trip, east to Delaware (Rehoboth Beach) for a mini family reunion (my family) and wisely, I started a travel journal. Not so wisely, I gave up after 4 pages (Tennessee) and even worst, the places I left blank for photos were never filled. The pictures were lost before I could print them out (how many times has that happened to you?)
Instead of ripping out the pages, as was my first impulse to do, I decided to salvage the journal. And add to it. This past weekend, we took 4 days to go camping down at Lake Ozark as our last hurrah before the kids started school. I took along my sorry journal, a photo album trash picked from a neighbor down the street, a couple of slide frames, some vintage photo corners, glue sticks and scissors. Oh, and my favorite portable typewriter, "just in case". Cuz you gotta have a portable typewriter while camping.

Down at the lake I found a free tourist magazine that gave me lettering and inspiration.
I like my vacation better illustrated with my neighbors photos!
hee hee!

I never thought the 1970s would be nostalgic, having grown up then, but they look pretty good in my journal. :)
And it was amazing how well a stranger's photographs "fit".
Weird even.
Very weird.

What did you do this summer?



8 comments:

Linda Jo said...

I love your journal.... great use of found ephemera. And you know I love that you took your typewriter!

gunnelsvensson said...

Yes, what a lovely journal!

Jeanie said...

That's a great journal! What I did this summer? Well, if you visit the Gypsy you know I went to France! What I haven't done this summer? Make my France journal yet! I really need to -- I even bought the book, lovely thick watercolor paper strong enough to hold photos, ephemera, or to paint on. You inspire me!

femminismo said...

What a great idea. I love this! Hey, I have a book I stopped filling in when I was in Paris. Maybe it's time to go back again and fill it with stranger's photos or even some I took - another Jeanne

carole brungar said...

I'm thinking ....."ROLL ON SUMMER!" I'm makin a list, I'm makin a list!
lol

Margaret said...

looks very cool and great idea to use your half finished journal, I would also have been tempted to rip and restart, fab!

~*~Patty S said...

Brilliant not to give up on your journal, even more brill to rescue your neighbors album...you clever gull you!!!
Lake Ozark sounds so nice, I like lakes....used to live near Lake Erie in Toledo OH, that was so long ago!
I am still trying to figure out where the summer has gone and what DID I do??? We may slip away to the beach next month...fingers crossed! I am still smiling about your traveling typewriter :) :) :)

daysease said...

What a fun and enjoyably interesting journal!!! great ideas!