#54

He can’t refuse an estate auction.  As a result, he has way too many tools.  It’s probably not the same shovel, but I’m going to say it’s the one I watched him and Grandpa use to build my playhouse with.  That makes it more special. 

#52

It was the only room that we didn’t paint.  Not perfect, but good enough.  

#51

We got used to leaving his door open a crack.  It’s probably unnecessary now, but I can’t see stopping.

#50

The tree should be too short to cast a shadow on her shed.

#49

The cows are gone, but the fence remains.  It needed to stay.   

#48

I’ve seen identical sets in antique malls.  She keeps hers on the hutch.

#47

He let her keep the board books when he moved downstairs. 

#45

I don’t know why, but I wanted a floating clock.  Fishing line and screw eyes in hand, I drilled the first hole…directly into my finger.  After a good cry, I tried again. 

#44

I accidentally bought two Silver Surfers 14 years ago.  He’s still my copilot.

#43

They used to buy one every vacation, at least that’s what I’ve been told.  By the time I came around, the tiny racks were full and just a fixture of the décor.  

#41

She loves working with them and, believe it or not, we happened upon a going-out-of-business gourd farm auction.  Awesome. 

#40

It came from Arizona, complete with cactus skeletons and an antler.  It was just always there in the kitchen, so I never really considered how ugly it is until I saw it out of context, hanging in dad’s garage. 

#39

Every summer she grows the same variety of tomato plant.  The tiny yellow globes look so good.  They eat them like candy.  I hate tomatoes. 

#38

I always wanted one.  She gave it to me our first Christmas.  I never dreamed how much fun our friends would have when they visit, secretly leaving it in inappropriate poses.  Every time. 

#37

He preceded her years ago.  She still puts out both lawn chairs in their favorite place.  I’ve never seen her sit there.  

#35

The little tree produces every other year.  She’s still around as long as we use her recipe for pear honey. 

#34

We made a good team.  The pile was infested and had to be moved away from the house.  It was the first job he was big enough to really help me with.  Bittersweet.  

#33

He is named Matches.  I don’t know why his two-year old brain decided to name him that, but it stuck.  I’ll make a similar one for his sister soon.  I’m curious to see what she’ll name hers. 

#32

We had the best tea parties.

#31

A passion flower vine used to grow right beside it.  They have these strange spherical seedpods.  We would always throw them against the house, making them explode.  He would always jokingly accuse me of causing the crack to appear with my strong throws.