Sepia Saturday 246 : 20 September 2014

Brebner Children (Circa 1900) : From the Provincial Archives of Alberta - Via Flickr

Things are slowly but steadily improving here in Sepia Towers and a couple more weeks and a little time in the sun might see me back in circulation. When we do venture into the recuperative sun I doubt whether we will be staying under canvas, but I hope we are as happy as this trio of happy campers. For the themers in the sepia tent, there are lots of possibilities - children, tents, fences, fields, poppies, smocks, or even sailor-suits again. And, as always, you can pitch your tent in the non-theming section of the campsite and go with any old photograph you like. Just post your post on or around the 20th September 2014 and link it to the list below.

Before you hammer those Sepia tent poles into the ground take a look at what is to come during the next couple of weeks.

247 : Motorbikes, pillions, uniforms, couriers, turban, tents (again), towels

248 : The little guy, package from home, magazine covers

So there we go. It's time to open the picnic basket in the great Sepia Tent of Memories. It's time for Sepia Saturday 246.

Sepia Saturday 245 : 13 September 2014

WHISKEY TIME : Provincial Archives of Alberta. Circa 1916 : Flickr Commons

Three men. One bottle of whiskey. A friendly argument. A woman watching from the sidelines. The photograph was taken in Alberta back in 1916. 100 years later, the discussions still go on and all too often - at our house at least - a decent bottle of single malt will help the participants underline a point or emphasise an argument. The difference is, I am pleased to say, that women no longer hide in the background. There are a bottle full of potential themes for Sepia Saturday participants - drinking, sharing, posing and lurking have been suggested. Whatever you decide, just post your post on or around Saturday 13th September 2014 and link your post to the list below.

Before you pour yourself a glass of nostalgia, take a look forward at the next couple of Sepia themes.

246 : Children, tents, fences, fields, poppies, smocks, sailor-suits (again)

247 : Motorbikes, pillions, uniforms, couriers, turban, tents (again), towels

Things have been a bit complicated for the last couple of weeks (I will put a post up on my blog to explain) so I am going in search of a glass of malt. Cheers.

Sepia Saturday 244 : 6 September 2014

Man With Monkey and Child. Tasmanian Archives on Flickr Commons  

I'm not actually here. This call has been generated by the Sepia Electronic Publishing Initiating Apparatus of the Selected Automatic Transcontinental Utility Rationalising Department At Yorkshire (we are generally known by our acronym). Now, you may think that I am monkeying around, but I have taken my very unusual pet off on holiday. In my absence, you might find all sorts in our theme picture this week - whatever you find, put it in a post and post it on or around Saturday 6th September 2014. Then add a link to the list below and take time out of the hurdy-gurdy of everyday life and visit some Sepia friends. Before the music starts, take a look at what lies ahead in the weeks to come. P.S. It’s worth clicking on the link to the original photo to see the rest of the crowd. (Marilyn) 

Drinking, sharing, posing, lurking

Children, tents, fences, fields, poppies, smocks, sailor-suits (again)

So, there we go. Give the monkey any spare coins you may have and I'll turn the handle and start the music off. It's that familiar Sepia Saturday tune again.

Sepia Saturday 243 : 30 August 2014

Glass Negative from the Collection of the Powerhouse Museum on Flickr Commons

I am running away this weekend. Escaping the crowds. Off to a beach. The beach in question might be in Cornwall rather than in Australia, but it all fits in fairly well with our theme image this week. So I will not be posting a Sepia image, but I will do my best to take one and share it with you on my return. For the rest of you who are not able to escape to the seaside, you can submit your Sepia Saturday posts on or around Saturday 30th August and then link the post to the list below.

Before you catch the train and head for the coast, take a look at what is around the Sepia Saturday corner.

Itinerant entertainers, hurdy gurdy man, unusual pets, monkeying around

Drinking, sharing, posing, lurking

I'm off to find my bucket and spade. Off to pack my bags. Of to the sun (or, according to the latest weather forecast), off to heavy showers and strong westerly winds. See you soon.

Sepia Saturday 242 : 23 August 2014

JoséOrtiz Echagüe (1940) Europeana Collection

I have never been a fan of fans. Whether they are slats of painted paper or those large metallic jobs that whirr around and threaten to lift your hairpiece into space, I would never volunteer to act as secretary of their fan club. I come from Yorkshire and there are few occasions in life where you are in need of an artificial breeze in these parts. I am not into national costumes either other that the flat cap which is a compulsory part of the uniform in these parts. But this is not about me. It is about all those generations of people captured in our sepia archives. So for Sepia Saturday 242 - post your posts on or around Saturday 23 August 2014 - we are asking you to trawl those archives for fans, faces, national costumes and hidden meanings. So post your post, add a link to the list below, and show what a fan you are of Sepia Saturday by visiting your fellow Sepians.

Before you go off wafting around, you might want to take a look at the next couple of Sepia Saturday theme images.

243 : Running away, escaping the crowds, beaches, steam train, aquarium (domed)

244 : Itinerant entertainers, hurdy gurdy man, unusual pets, monkeying around

Back to the fans (that tends to make you a bit cold). Time to look out your old photos for Sepia Saturday 242.

Sepia Saturday 241 : 16 August 2014

SOLDIERS WRITING HOME 1918 : SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION FLICKR COMMONS STREAM

"And don't forget to write" was a phrase lobbed at the back of many a departing relative in years gone by. Whether it was husbands marching off to war, kids skipping off to college, or Auntie Mary returning to her cottage in the next town, writing letters home was once as common as a quick text message to say "home safe and sound". But unlike texts, letters home were once  far richer sources of history, packed as they were with thoughts, impressions, memories and gossip. Our theme this week revolves around letters home and you can interpret it as widely as you want. It might be letters, it might be cards, it might be writing, it might be people far away from home. All you need to do is to feature an old photograph and tell us a little about it. Post your posts on or around Saturday 16 August 2014 and then link your post to the list below. And then celebrate the theme by keeping in touch with all your fellow Sepians by a quick visit and a few well chosen words home. 

Before you put digital pen to paper, take a look at what is coming over the next few weeks.

242 : Fans, faces, national costumes, hidden meanings

243 : Running away, escaping the crowds, beaches, steam train, aquarium (domed)

Back to this week - it is time to say what should be said. Clean sheet of paper. Address at the top. Dear Sepians, .......

Sepia Saturday 240 : 9th August 2014

I suspect I am about to be arrested. The charge? False pretences. Pretending to be a sober, reliable, competent, Sepia Saturday administrator when, in truth, I can't even get the weekly call up on time. And when I am arrested, I will be taken away and one of those photographs will be taken, just like the one of Sylvester Hurlbert which comes from the Flickr Commons stream of Tyne and Wear Archives. If you have any criminals in your family background and have photographs of them, then you could post those.  Equally, any official photograph would fit this theme and allow you to avoid the charge of posting under false pretences. Indeed any portrait will do and, don't forget, you won't be charged with treason if you ignore the theme and post any old photograph you choose. All you do is to post your post on or around Saturday 9th August and link to the list below.

Before you are led away into the prison cell of sepia contemplation, perhaps you would like to read the charge sheet for the coming weeks.

241 : Writing and Letters

242 : Fans, Faces, national Costumes, Hidden Meanings

Right, that's your exercise time all gone. It's back to your cell. Time to do your time. Time to put your post together for Sepia Saturday 240.