Thursday, August 20, 2009

Something You Might Find in a Nancy Drew Book

I lived a year and a half in Gretna, Louisiana, which is just outside New Orleans, when I was three years old until I was four and a half. I was actually in Hurricane Camille. Just a little known fact about me for you.

When we lived there my mom had a friend named Pat, short for Patricia, and whose initials were also PAT. I always thought that was kind of cool.

The summer between my fourth and fifth grade years we went down to visit Pat, and one night while we were there we went to have dinner at her mom's house. Her mom had a cook/housekeeper, which was really fancy to someone like me. My sister and I got warned more than once about our behavior that night, and we had to wear dresses. This is the one I had to wear. I still remember it.

It's the putrid green color I can't wear without looking that color. Back then I suppose it wasn't an issue, but now, forget it. Don't you just love the macrame belt?

Well, I guess we were on our best behavior, because the next day Pat's mom took us down to the French Quarter and got us a gift. This was mine.

It confounded my childhood friends, my family, my Hubby, and now my children. Check out these pictures.






I did a post over a year ago about how I still want to be Nancy Drew when I grow up. This little house makes me think of something you might find in a Nancy Drew book with the secret hiding place for the key. I mean, who didn't want an attic so they could knock on the walls and find a secret door? I think this is the closest I'm going to get.

I've had this little house for 33 years, and it has actually 'lived' in eight states with me. In all that time I've never seen anything even remotely like it in a catalog or store.

This post is linked to Show and Tell Friday hosted by Kelli at There is no place like home.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

That would make an awesome Geocache container!!

And a cook/housekeeper...french quarter...these words all sound too rich for me.

I've never known of anyone to have either a cook or housekeeper...actually scratch that, my Mom was someone's housekeeper when I was a kid...that's when she had multiple jobs and brought us along with her to stay and wait in her van! oh the joys of being a Single parent's kid...to a parent who's got split personalities...at least that's what I always thought it ways! She's never been diagnosed yet.

I love Nancy Drew! And read almost all her books. I use to collect them from Second-Hand stores.

fitty's pinky rose cottage said...

what a great gift! wooden mini house with secret compartment.. super cool!.. and I love Nancy Drew too! have a great weekend!

Hootin Anni said...

This is absolutely AMAZING!!! I love it!!!!

My Show n Tell is now posted. It's all about another collection and how I've decided to display them for now.

Have a great weekend, and a wonderful new week ahead.

Cindy said...

How cool is that! Are you still friends? A housekeeper would be neat, just like the Brady Bunch. Have a blessed weekend.
Cindy

Rochelle said...

wow, that is nifty! definitely Nancy Drew style.

you always crack me up and delight me with your blog... i love it!!! :)

Kayren said...

Cindy ~ Pat passed away years ago. She had a lot of unusual health issues and died what we would consider relatively young. She also never married or had children of her own. When we lived in Baton Rouge in the mid-90s I called to try and find her mom, but she had passed away also. She would have been very elderly though. Makes the little house all that more special though.

Dawn said...

What a unique piece. And you are right it could be the centerpiece to a great mystery novel.

Jessica said...

I enjoyed reading your post today. My mother had a jewelry box that had a secret opening like yours. I think I was the last to know just how it opened and I always loved the mystery around it.

Love Bears All Things said...

This is so unique. I'e never seen anything like it before. I had some relatives who had household help come in. Not to cook, though. I thought that would be wonderful. I was married about 20 years before I could afford someone to help clean and only twice a month.
Sounds like these people dressed for dinner, too, like you see in the movies.
About the dress, green is my least favorite color. I can imagine how you enjoyed wearing the dress.
Thanks for sharing this story.
That is what makes Show&Tell special.
Mama Bear

anythinggoeshere said...

What a cute little house with the secret compartment!

The Old Parsonage said...

Some photo:) We've all had those pictures!! I love the houes it yes, it seems like something out of a Nancy Drew Novel.

Please stop by The Old Parsonage anytime, I love company.

Enjoy!
Leann

Controlling My Chaos said...

What a cool little house. I'm a Nancy Drew fan myself. I used to spend hours laying on my bed reading them. They were my first mysteries. I mean before boys.

arkie said...

Neat house! Reminds me of a puzzle box.

Kari said...

My sister has a box that I have tried to open for the last 30 years! If only she would show me. =) The house is beautiful, though; I've never seen anything like it, either.

 
Designed by Blogs by Sneaky Momma