…………………The shelves in the Green room, above the banquet, are filled with photos and more things we have collected….Right now I have decorated them with glass hand blown ornaments and pine cones for Christmas……One of my passions and sources of inspiration are antique boxes…..Most of them are English tea caddies made of intricate inlayed woods or TORTOISE.. I have to say I did go crazy for them, and many times Jac had to once again pull me away!…..but she was just as bad, because she bought quite a few for me as presents. When in doubt get me a box!!!!! Some of my absolute favorites are the GREEN TORTOISE boxes. There was a lovely woman, now retired, who had the most beautiful shop in New Canaan on the main street. It was a corner shop and she had the most magnificent antiques. She carried only the finest things. Her shop was like a drug for me!!!! On one of our trips to her shop she said, “Louis I have some wonderful tortoise boxes that just came in” She took us into the back room and there were eight boxes that just arrived from England…..three were green! They were extremely expensive, and Jac said no, and this time she meant it. I did pick up a beautiful box, but it wasn’t green. Since then, which was many years ago, the price of green tortoise has become astronomical! It’s very rare and of course it has been illegal for many years to kill tortoise for their shells.. I always regretted not getting another box or two…….but now it’s a different story….What am I going to do with all of these things!!!? Who will get them??? My nephews and nieces don’t really appreciate, nor do they understand the value, both financial and the sentiment of the things we have collected in our life time. I realize that I don’t truly own all of these things. I’m only the caretaker of them for their next owners…..whoever they may be.
Your talents, passions, and your love have led you to an extraordinary life. And your generosity has led you to share glimpses of it. Thank you for your posts.