At walden's pond Thoreau had a bed, table, desk, wash bowl, once cup, one spoon, and three chairs "One for solitude, two for friendship, three for society" and only a few other things in his little cottage. If I had that cottage one of those chairs would be for Shanda We try to get together at least once a year, last year we went to an antique store. A wonderful disorganized place that made it almost believable that nothing had been touched for a few generations. 
Did I already blog about the book that is called The Quilts of Gee's Bend? Even if you don't like to quilt, the color combinations will just blow your mind. It weighs as much as Coco but is just so delicious to look through. Anyway I thought of that book while seeing these ones in person. 
Just a few images I took at the antique store 
When you bring the purchases up to the counter the tags are taken off and placed on the pages of this large book. The ones that are full are tied down with twine. If they were selling this book I would take it, look at what is at the top of the page "A Gauge of greatness" . 
Shanda and I have been mailing our Christmas presents to each other in January for years. It is easier and gives us something to look forward to after the holidays are over. Last year among other things, she sent me this book, and a bee hive, which cracked me up, Shanda understands that I would love that best! Under that wrapping paper was a signed print by Tasha Tudor, the author/painter we have been fans of for ever and ever. The book, Steve has said over and over is "So Joanna", the author is a Quaker who collected lists of other people's belongings. In the book he wrote a small description of the character and then their list. It is fascinating really, and full of some of my favorite people, Annie Dillard, Emma "Grandma" Gatewood (who hiked the Appalachian trail a few times after raising eleven children) Basho, William Least Heat Moon, Oh, and John Muir my Favorite Naturalist, here is his list: Comb Brush Towel Soap Change of underclothing Copy of Burn's poems Milton's Paradise Lost Wood's Botany small New Testament Journal Map A plant press I stuck my father's packing list between the pages of the book. When we hike on the Appalachian trail together he always packs about 70 pounds of survival gear and emails me his list in case I want to do the same.  I have a few inspiration books, I use them like some people use "Mood boards" where you can tack up everything that speaks to you. Instead of hanging things up I glue/tape/staple/paper clip everything that catches my eye, inside of one of my books. I have filled two large ones just on decoration ideas and am now on my third. I also have some idea books on photography and one that is just a mess and looks like what the inside of my head must look like, with thoughts going all over the place, everything goes into that one. It is so true, to find out what your style is, cut out every image in a magazine that you like, if you can't cut it out write about it in the margins, once you have a big fat collection you can flip through it and see what the recurring themes are, what colors keep coming back. It helps me discover my tastes but also inspires me when I feel unmotivated. Shanda Keeps one as well and let me borrow hers (she even let me write in it). We mail each other quotes, photos, and notes on decorating and sewing and so I have little treasures from her in my inspiration book and she has things from me. Below are a few images from her book that I took before mailing it back to her. 
This year she gave me a Moleskine, I am never without one, they are the absolute perfect journal/notebooks. She also gave me the above photo cards from hallmark, they reminded me of Moo cards. They are the size of business cards and have quotes on the back like: "How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." -Annie Dillard She also got me oven mitts from Anthropology which is MY store, and a book I have wanted for a while by Kelly Rae Roberts full of art techniques. 
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