Found on the Ground

Fluttery Butterflies

One Cool Dude

This is one cool dude.

I wasn't able to find out who he is, but if I had to guess I would say Mr. T.

I know what you're saying- If that's Mr. T, where are all his gold necklaces? From Wikipedia: 

"During his stint as a doorman, he would take jewelry from disorderly people and wear it himself as a testament to how well he performed his job as a bouncer. At one point, his gold chains, rings, and bracelets were worth about $300,000. It took him about an hour to put it on, and most nights he cleaned it in an ultrasonic cleaner although some nights he slept in it "to see how my ancestors, who were slaves, felt."

In 2005, Mr. T announced he would never wear his chains again saying, "No, T, you can never wear your gold again. It's an insult to God." He came to this decision after seeing the effects of Hurricane Katrina."

Natch.

Confession:  The first time I read that, I thought it meant he would sleep in the ultrasonic cleaner so that his necklaces would be clean.  Considering that it's Mr. T, I don't feel that's too far out of line.

Found  November 2006, in my laundry room
[Click picture to enlarge]

Half a Firetruck

This wonderful piece of a toy I found in my own backyard!  I can hardly believe my luck.  Perhaps I live on the site of a former (some would say current) dump, which is happy for me.

From the white bloom on one side of this, I would say it is lead.  There is also seam down the front.  There is a similar, whole item on eBay that says it is from the 1930s.

And what wonderful detail... If you look closely, you can see a little decoration or maybe a headlamp on the front of his hat, which is flopping jauntily over a face with features and ears.  Even the underside of the steering wheel has detailing.

This guy has a hobby of "metal detectoring", as I guess they call it in England, and they have a whole page of old lead toys!

Found Fall, 2007, East Falls, Philadelphia
[Click photos to enlarge]

Baby's First Post-Apocalyptic Teething Toy

It looks like the earth is opening up underneath this teething toy!

Found by Vanessa, 11/15/06, New Hampshire & M Streets (Washington, D.C.)

[Click photo for larger view]

Playing Cards

We used to use playing cards as mini oriental rugs for our dollhouse.

Now that I'm grown up, I wish I had an area rug that had a playing card back design on it.  Wouldn't that be awesome?

Found 9/06, Art Museum Area

[Click photos for full view]

Mutant Pets

Awwwwwwwwwww!

Found 8/06, vending machine at Philadelphia Best Buy

[Click photo for full view]

Polly World

A weird little Polly Pocket container from a McDonald's giveaway. 

It looks like a coffin to me, but I guess it's supposed to be a dressing room.

The press release says:

"From PollyWorld™ to McDonald's - Polly Pocket™ is small in size, but big on fashion and is one of the top-selling miniature dolls worldwide. The McDonald's Happy Meal Polly Pocket™ collection features eight fashionable dolls with interchangeable accessories and colorful cases that are inspired by PollyWorld™, where the coolest amusement park meets the ultimate shopping promenade. Girls everywhere can mix and match this high-style collection for a stylin' summer filled with big-time fashion. "

Found 9/06, 20th St.

[Click photos for full view]

Creative Child Card Game

Ah, school is back in session, and so there is lots of schoolwork on the ground lately.

Over the course of a week, I found these cards on my street, all over the place!

Whoa there, Sally!  I think we should just be friends!

The back of each card.

Found 9/06, 20th St.

[Click photos for full view]

Pink Humvee

I really wish I had gotten more than one photo of this. 

This was a little garden someone had made around the base of a single tree growing along the street.  They had decorated it with seashells and fake ivy, and it is apparently a little off-road course for this toy Humvee.

I took one picture, and was about to take another, when a cute little toddler ran towards me, looking really concerned.  I think he was afraid I was going to take his Humvee.

This is probably from the recent McDonald's/Hummer Happy Meal promotion, but I love how it's been painted pink, looks like with nailpolish, but the words have been painstakingly spared. 

Found 9/3/06,

[Click photo for full view]

Sad Doll

A friend's mom asked us to go look through her childhood home before it was demolished.  I found a beaded bracelet with her name on it, and this.

The bracelet was the one she wore home from the hospital after being born.  She was very happy to get it back.  But she couldn't figure out who this doll belonged to, so she said I could keep it.

Found 1999, St. Louis, MO

[Double-click photos for full view]