When my parents visited in October, they brought with them a huge stash of loot to unload on me. Last year they retired to North Carolina and moved to a smaller house in the process. Leading up to the move — and ever since — I have been benefiting from their constant purging. I thought it would be fun to put together everything they gave me in one place. It all goes together so nicely and reminds me of the house I grew up in. In the back right is the metal kindling box that stood by the fireplace that my brothers and I had to keep filled. The brass kerosene lamp hung over our dining room table. The iron was always a doorstop somewhere in the house. You can see I also hit the mason jar jackpot and a stack of absolutely gorgeous books I really want to read. Included in that pile are the Man in the Iron Mask, The Scarlet Letter and A Tale of Two Cities which has especially gorgeous gold embossed design on its cover and spine. There is also a meat grinder I'm pretty sure my dad thought I would actually use, though it is coated in so much rust, I'm not sure I would ever be comfortable. And, last but not least, a canning jar lifter and old wooden crate for Remington ammunition. Score!
