I mentioned before in this post about bookshelf stalking that I have a trove of my Grandmother Lay's National Geographic magazines alongside our 1950s Encyclopedia Brittanica collection. As much as I work to follow my muse Bea Johnson's "zero waste" philosophy of holding onto fewer things, I also have a penchant for interesting vintage mementos. Forty eight of the National Geographics date from 1930 to 1978, but it is this 49th that is my favorite. Published November 1929, it ... View Post
On Ducks, Bonnets & Gingham Dresses
I love this framed print reminiscent of Holly Hobbie illustrations (which I, of course, searched to find official history and links - the character debuted in 1967 - and found very little, meaning I'm now curious and likely to rant more about this in the future). It was a gift from my Mom when Ainsley was born, and it reminds us both of photos of Sophie when she was little and we had backyard ducks. Here's a little piece about that time in our lives: The Short Tails of Two Ducks. Around ... View Post
On Portuguese Port Boxes
One man's trash is, indeed, another (wo)man's treasure! One chilly Monday morning as we were drinking coffee on the front porch, a friend pulled up in our alley. Their family had been cleaning out the garage over the weekend, and his wife "encouraged" him to get rid of some things that had been lying around. So, he brought this vintage 1905 (same year The Good House was built) port box by (along with another item I'll share later) - and did I want it? Um, yes. Very ... View Post
