This is a little different, but it's the same idea. We like to do this over cocktails before the meal at dinner parties. Note that we try to have a group of 8-10 people who do not know each other well (or at all), mixing ages, marital status, careers, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc. -- you'd be amazed at how different the conversation is from when it is a group of friends. (Both are good). Anyway, this is a game I learned from college students who did it as an orientation ice-breaker. You may have heard of it: "Two truths and a lie." Everyone has to tell 3 things about him/herself, one of which is not true. Then everyone guesses which is the lie, and then on to the next person. Wow, what fun and fascinating conversations this leads to! People seem a bit weirded out at first that we are making them play a game, but they always get into it fast (it's not really a "game," anyway -- you don't keep score or anything). By the way, a popular "truth" for kids coming from here in central Ohio is, "I used to work for Victoria's Secret." Limited Brands (including VS) is based here, and working on the phones at the VS catalog center is a popular part-time/summer job for students!

The dinner went off very well. Everyone seemed to have a great time. The dining rooms were all very loud We had three rooms full of people to serve and 4 hearth fires (for the coals needed to cook at the main hearth) going so we were running around quite a bit. We had enough food for everyone with just a small amount left over on the meat. I was told one fellow went up for 2nds and 3rds for the Indian Pudding and vanilla ice cream!:) There was a young girl with a violin playing while the guests had their dinner and a soldier and traveler that stopped by and sat with the guests in each room. I stayed mostly in the back modern kitchen and barn keeping things warm in the ovens and watching the coal fires, washing dishes that could not go into the dishwasher. Wayne was out front more than I helping at the hearth and carving the roast. We only had one accident. There was a realitivly new person tending the hearth cooking. The cod cakes were cooked in a cast iron pan. She would put the hot pan on the table for me to take the cakes out and plate and serve. The cloth on the handle of the cast iron flatpan fell off. She, not even thinking grabbed the hot handle and burned her hand. Not badly, but enough to give out a yell. She was a trooper though and continued on through out the night cooking. Her hand was a bit red still at the end of the night but she said it was ok. I do have some pictures but have not downloaded them yet. Hope to have them shortly. It was a busy, tiring night but also lots of fun. We may volunteer in April again. NancyLouise

Thanks for the feedback on the curtains. It sure is easier for me to do....nothing! Of course my dog has already managed to get tangled up in one and pull the entire thing (including rod) off the wall. And in less than 48 hours since hanging too! Thats gotta be some sort of record. Hopefully that doesn't happen again. Geokid, I wanted it your way too, and when we moved in tried to get it set up this way. I was vetoed and since I got to pick placement of every other room, I didn't argue too much. I can't recall the problem....maybe the dresser didn't fit on that wall? Some weird feng shui thing? nosoccormom - that light will likely be replaced with the oh so functional but not always attractive ceiling fan when we get around to it. It's close to a 100 year old house. It's been remodeled/rehabbed but not quite sure of how well it was insulated and how HOT it will get up there. We have lots of pretty windows, but they probably won't help much. Thoughts on a chair? It will obviously have to be small. I would love a pop of color over in that corner (I like color) but am not confident that I will find one that matches the rug. So how would another color like coral look? Too much?

I have boxes and boxes but no scanner. I guess I may need to get one. unfortunately there are a lot of photos that have no names and I have a lot of others that need to go to parts of my family that we have lost touch with and have no way of ever finding them. I LOVE the photos that you all have posted. The sepia tones and as was said the dressy clothes. Oh my, Bottom left photo is my brother with a past president of the US...also bottom shelf the 8x10 right middle side is my Mom when she married. I bought this piece of furniture just for my family photos. It was from a tear down in the NH or Boston area. A built in cabinet. I refurbished it with glass shelves. Stripped all the thick white pain off and then stopped as it goes well with my chocolate walls in the morning room. I wish I had a scanner,,,,sigh...