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The first thing I noticed about the American Profile magazine article (July ‘08) was the vintage glider and porch furniture in the pictures. The article is entitled “The Front Porch” and is available online at  www.americanprofile.com/article/27639.  If you love porches the way I do, this article’s for you. It covers a lot of territory, but the thing I enjoyed most is the part about the Professional Porch Sitters Union, an organization (I use the word loosely) started by Claude Stephens of Louisville, Kentucky.  Since Claude thought of it, the Union has taken on a life of its own, surprising especially to Claude himself. The motto is “Sit down a spell. That can wait”. Continue reading →

A few years ago, I purchased and restored my first vintage glider. As a child I had a lot of experience with gliders on my parents’ and grandparents’ porches. I have known for years the comfort and pleasure that vintage outdoor furniture brings to people. As I have found and restored these beautiful gems from America’s past, it seems that just about everyone has had some sort of emotional connection to this type of furniture, either personally or through family members. I am also finding that young people who have no direct experience with it are touched by its beauty and design. Continue reading →

I was invited to have breakfast this week at the Duke Mansion. Usually this is a pleasure reserved for the Bed and Breakfast guests, but I was fortunate enough to be an exception. There are some things worth getting up early for and breakfast at the Duke Mansion is one of them. Owned by James Buchanan Duke, father of Doris, this property is an oasis of peace and beauty only minutes from downtown Charlotte, North Carolina. It is the birthplace of the Duke Endowment which has been a tremendous charitable asset to the region. The house, the rooms (some with sleeping porches!) and the gardens all speak of an elegant time that is a joy to revisit. Continue reading →