In Search of Ice Skates

What do ice skates have to do with this pile of boxes and bins on the guest room bed?

You are going to be so sorry you asked.

Our front door is painted black. I know it sounds funereal, but it is actually rawther handsome. And it is set about 18 inches in from the full-glass storm door, so on top of being black, it is also mostly in shadow. I really love to showcase our 1920s Lannon-stone home, so I’m always looking for door decorations that pop off the black. And I just saw a cute idea that involves vintage white figure skates, holly, and evergreens. White skates will totally pop off my black front door, right? And so, the hunt begins. My figure skates are in a box somewhere. If mine are not, Ginger’s are. With Thanksgiving closing in, I am obsessed with finding our skates for my Christmas door decoration.

So, on Sunday, I climbed up into the garage attic, to find skates. I did not find skates, but I did ask Bill to bring down these boxes and bins. Up in the attic, I’d had a quick peep inside most of the boxes, to see just enough to make me want to explore a little more. Saw some old friends, and said, “Oh! I wondered where you were!” And found some things that were mistakenly stored, because the box was mislabeled.

Little by little, I’m going to open these treasure chests with you. I’m going to share some stuff that dates back to Early America, some stuff from Mid-Century America, some souvenirs from Not America, and some Junk with a capital J.

This is my 100th ginnygram, so I’m going to show you my first treasure — which is sweet because it relates to my very first ginnygram.

 Let’s open this box labeled “Ginny — Tull Children’s Books.” Meaning, it should be full of books from my grandmother’s childhood in Kinston, North Carolina.

 Oh, yeah. We’ll sort through these in another ginnygram! But may I just say how wonderful they smell? Truly. I’m not being smart.

    Best book in the box? My grandfather’s 1926 Transylvania University yearbook.

 William Kingsley Miller, Burkesville, Ky. My handsome granddaddy.

What ice skates?