Yesterday at the Rosemont Flea Market I discovered a dusty photo album from the early 1960s (judging from the cars in a few of the pictures) that documents the beloved pets of an elderly couple. Upon opening the album to inspect its contents I was surprised to find row after row of Polaroids of one dog-- on the couch, eating, playing with a ball and generally hamming for the camera. Flipping through the pages I found more pets, two kitties, a parakeet and documentation of wildlife found both in a suburban backyard and in the woods.

Who was this couple? On one of the few non-Polaroid images I found the name 'Camille' scrolled across the back. Thus I've dubbed them Louis & Camille and named their dog Buddy and their kitties Marble and Coco. My theory is that A) They clearly loved animals B) Were probably empty nesters so lavished all their attention (and Polaroid film) on their pets rather than children/grandchildren.

I've only posted a few of the animal-centric pictures... I'll follow up with a post on some interior shots and holiday pics of the couple later this week.

[As per usual, click on each photo for a larger version]My favorite photo of the entire album, the pose of the dog makes the photo as does the fact that Camille is completely oblivious, she seems to be engrossed in making a list of some sort. Look at that cracked ice formica and metal kitchen table! The overly ripe bananas in the foreground and fruit are also fun.Marble the kitty... she looks like Lady, my childhood kitty. Aw! Isn't that double food dish bowl on LEGS amazing?? I never see vintage pet items, only metal cat/dog tags at estate sales.Action sequence of Coco the kitty frolicking on a groovy patterned bedspread. It looks like she's playing with a Tom & Jerry toy in the top image.One of my first pets was a parakeet, my grandma and I rescued the kindergarten class pet, Sweetie Pie. He was green.Two little birds nesting in the window ledge of the couple's home. They almost look fake!Grizzly (?) bears out in the wild. Louis & Camille must have gone on a camping trip, most likely to Wisconsin as that's where all Chicago people go to experience the wild, hehe.

Anyways, tons of stuff to post this week... including garage sale, thrift store & flea market finds. I'll have to get up early to take advantage of the morning light tomorrow.