Wow, did I luck out.

[90LX_Notch]

So, I went to the Jacktown antique engine show in Bangor, Pa this weekend and displayed my engines.  The Tiny Gasoline engine was big a hit with those who stopped by.  At the swap meet portion, I was able to pickup some .007 diameter music wire.  This will now allow me to experiment with a lighter intake valve spring which I made two of. 

During testing I dropped the keeper while changing springs. (See photo below.  It is the circular part that is the size of the “m” on the m&m candy.) It subsequently rolled across the back deck and dropped through a gap in the boards.  Under the deck is a mixture of rocks and leaves but, luckily, below where I was sitting was a tarp covering some junk.  I figured what are the chances of ever finding it.   Well, I found it sitting on top of the tarp.

-Bob

[Dave Otto]

You are lucky. One of those parts that would take less time to re-create than the time spend looking for it. 

Dave

[RReid]

Might be a good day to buy a lottery ticket!

[crueby]

You got there quicker than the local shop gnomes looking for shiny bits to make off with!

[propforward]

Might be a good day to buy a lottery ticket!

Too late. Used the luck up - should have bought the lottery ticket BEFORE this event. That's the trouble with luck - by the time you realise you are having some good luck, you've used it up. It's a lot like good beer in that regard.

[cnr6400]

Having seen blue tarps perform all kinds of crazy stunts in various situations, it could be that yours channeled a space wormhole or tapped the fifth dimension to catch your retainer part!

(or the horseshoe over the shop door worked)   

[GWRdriver]

You did INDEED luck out. 
However most aren't so lucky, your humble servant frequently among the victims, so a years-long study was launched and the results were published some years ago.
See my scientific treatise "PILAFBS", just now posted here in a new thread.

Cheers,
Harry