Time Traveler Caught in 2010 Picture

Did you read about the time traveler caught in a 1940 picture?

Imagine my delight when I caught this time traveler in my 2010 picture.

Good Grief Too

I suspect that this will be the most photographed wall by Ottawa bloggers in the next few hours.

My picture did not turn out, but Robin's did.

You see the person in the picture? We struck up a conversation.

I found out that he is new to Ottawa, and he has a blog. I welcomed him to the Ottawa blog scene, and asked where he is from.

He's from a small northern town. And, well, it turns out he knows my brother and grew up with my step-nephew.

Good grief, it's a small world.

Des Clips

When I was a single parent, Papa, who was a practical man, showed his concern and love by giving me useful gifts.

Sometimes it was tools, other times groceries, or cleaning supplies.

One time he brought me an old cedar picnic table that we'd had when I was growing up.

"It's funny," I said to him after setting it up in the yard, "I remember the table and seats as much wider."

He tilted his head to one side, his eyes narrowed slightly, "Well, it was. Damned thing wouldn't fit in the car, so I trimmed off the ends."

One of my favorite gifts was a plain, dark beige metal box that he gave me at arms length while smiling mischievously, "Guess what's in the box?"


"Clips?" I suggested.

"Yes! Open it." He never questioned how I knew he'd brought me (binder) clips. We called them by their french name, "Des clips."

Of course I still have them. I was pleasantly surprised to discover, when I started blogging, that I am not the only one out there who likes, uses, or creates with clips.

My favourite use for binder clips will always be the bed sheet forts that the boys and I would build using clips to secure the half dozen or more sheets to tables and chairs - hours of fun.