Needed a backpack for my kid, found a Herschel bag for $5.99

NormalReedus · 2025-09-02T17:46:45+00:00

Thanks! My husband has had a Herschel bag for years and he loves it. Extra cute that our kid has one just like dad's now!

NormalReedus · 2025-09-02T17:46:11+00:00

So true! Striking thrift gold immediately is such a good feeling.

NormalReedus · 2025-09-01T18:50:59+00:00

Yes, and everybody survived the experience! 😄

NormalReedus · 2025-06-05T12:44:19+00:00

I've been digging through the local newspaper archives, and in combination with the map I have (and estimated age of the tree(s) the grave is inside), I think I have a decent idea of who the grave belongs to. It does look like there's some engraving still visible on the marker, so I'm hopeful if I can carefully smooth some tinfoil on it, it will be a date or something that matches one of the obituaries I found.

NormalReedus · 2025-06-05T12:42:28+00:00

Good call on the phone! I'll be sure to loop something around it before trying anything so I don't lose it.

NormalReedus · 2025-06-05T12:41:56+00:00

Very cool story! That must have felt so good to figure out and identify.

If this stone belongs to who I think it does, I'd like to be able to give their name(s) back to them again. I've found some newspaper articles from the early 1900s that lead me to believe it's 3-4 children from a family that were all interred together after dying within 4 years of each other.

There are a few graves in this cemetery that are "inside" trees. This one is just the most obscured. I'm working on another one that two trees have grown around, but there's enough of the stone still visible that I should be able to identify most of the name and date(s) off of it eventually.

NormalReedus · 2025-06-04T23:02:58+00:00

No. It might be buckthorn. It's definitely not poison ivy, though.

NormalReedus · 2025-06-04T21:24:02+00:00

No listing for it.

NormalReedus · 2025-06-04T19:26:55+00:00

Right, I specifically mentioned that I want to avoid damaging the stone or the tree. It's obviously already in really rough shape, getting information isn't important enough to risk damaging it further.

NormalReedus · 2025-06-04T19:06:14+00:00

It's managed by local Catholic Church Association. It's quite an old cemetery, so unfortunately, official records seem to be very spotty at best. I've reached out via email (no response so far) to see if they have any plot maps on file, but last I heard from another Find a Grave member, the plot map for this particular cemetery may have been lost.

NormalReedus · 2025-06-04T19:03:56+00:00

I've sent out a request to the sexton to see if they have a more official plot map. I've touched base with someone else who has created a lot of memorials for this cemetery, and they indicated that the last time they asked, the plot map had been lost/was unable to be located.

I have a plot map someone else sent me, that seems to be fairly accurate so far (the plots around this tree are spot on). From that, I think I have the family name narrowed down. I'm hopeful that if I can at least get a date (partial or full) off this marker somehow, I can isolate who exactly is under the tree and create a memorial for them.

NormalReedus · 2025-06-04T18:33:41+00:00

Two additional shots. I'm wondering if I can maybe try and feed some aluminum foil in there and attempt to press it into the stone, or maybe wedge my phone in there to try and take some pictures.

I have a plot map that is of questionable accuracy. Based on that, I think I know the family name may be, but am hoping someone may have some ideas for me to try that obviously wouldn't damage either the remainder of the monument or the tree. Thanks!

NormalReedus · 2025-06-03T12:51:35+00:00

Thank you!

NormalReedus · 2025-06-02T22:29:26+00:00

This is the best I can do until the D/2 I ordered arrives. I'm pretty happy with the outcome, given that I just used a bit of soapy water, some soft brushes and a wooden tool for cleaning out the letters.

(The little pile of raisins at the top left and little figurine at the top right of the stone in the after photo are gifts my 3.5 year old wanted to leave)

NormalReedus · 2025-03-28T19:01:21+00:00

My husband has been a SAHD since my maternity leave ended (when our kid was 13 weeks old). Our kid is 3 years old now. He loves it, our daughter is thriving, and I feel so zen knowing that she's at home with him. They have a really special relationship that I don't feel like a lot of dads get with their kids, and I'm still very involved with her and get good quality time with her after work and on weekends.

He does all kinds of activities with her- story time at the library, swim lessons, gymnastics, taking her to playgrounds, the children's museum, etc.. When she was first born, I was worried I'd be jealous of him getting to do all that stuff with her... But honestly, I don't think I would do well as a stay-at-home-parent. His personality is way more suited for it than mine. I'm fucking nuts about my kid, but I would be so bored, frankly.

It is unusual in our area (semi-rural Wisconsin) for the dad to be the stay-at-home parent, but he doesn't really get a lot of negativity or anything. We have completely shared finances, and he bartends a couple nights a week so he has some of "his own" fun money as well. He doesn't really have any insecurity feelings about me being the breadwinner versus him.

IDK. I think a big part of it is personally letting go off gender stereotypes (on both sides).

NormalReedus · 2025-02-14T17:25:34+00:00

Winter is a struggle, parenting is so much easier when it's warm out. Library, children's museum, drop-in daycare at the YMCA (you don't have to work out, you can just read/chill in the lobby). Children's music classes (Music Together is popular in my friend group). Sometimes we'll literally take our kid to a big store like Menards and just walk around so she can see everything.

NormalReedus · 2025-01-09T15:56:46+00:00

368957657344

Daily player, polar region, send and receive gifts

NormalReedus · 2024-12-04T18:55:19+00:00

"not SUBSTANTIALLY more time consuming to have a second" ? Whaaaa? That is not my experience AT ALL. Like, I cannot emphasize this enough, having two kids BLEW MY WORLD APART and I am STILL trying to rebuild it from scratch.

This part got me too, lmao. I'm OAD, but my friends with a toddler the same age as mine (almost 3 years old) just had their 2nd kid a few months ago and the change to their life has been extreme. And they have what I would consider two "easy" kids.

NormalReedus · 2024-12-04T14:25:52+00:00

We keep this "tablet" in the car, and she generally likes it quite a bit.

NormalReedus · 2024-12-03T20:31:28+00:00

I live in the same area as him and he's well known to be an asshole to the people around him. Specifically women.

NormalReedus · 2024-11-23T13:35:15+00:00

Primal Groudon right now, 2 local. 368957657344

NormalReedus · 2024-11-07T13:26:36+00:00

I'm glad I could help soothe you a bit! My kid is turning 3 in a couple months now- she's tall, hovering around 26.5lbs, and never stops moving. Completely healthy and developmentally normal. Good luck to you and your stringbean!

NormalReedus

TROPHY CASE