Rugby's spring festival was in mid-May. We thought of going, but didn't, because there were too many other places to go in May. Going to Rugby would have been especially appropriate for us, since I've been researching Rugby for the past six weeks, the historic houses at Rugby inspired us to… Read full post »

Our inspiration to buy a historic house came as a direct result of visiting the little English village Rugby in August 1988. Our wedding was nine months away, and we were thinking of where we might want to live. That trip to Rugby swung the decision toward an antique house, antique… Read full post »

I have always wanted to live in the past.

My house is full of old books, diaries, letters, pictures, recipes, clothes, quilts, lamps, and silver from my family—and also from other peoples' families via antique stores. When I need to cheer up or celebrate, I browse one of the local antique malls,… Read full post »

My elderly parents and my husband's departed parents have long been energetic travelers and organizers; they have been the ones who have helped grandparents and great-aunts and other elderly relatives sort through years of memorabilia, nursed them through their last years, planned their memorials, cl… Read full post »

I followed my friend and fellow writer Bardgirl to Salon when she began her  Salon blog. Recently she's been writing about sorting through family heirlooms at her parents' house, getting ready for an estate sale. Several of my friends, my age, have done that recently, as the eldest or only daugh… Read full post »