M+R Granate Plus Pencil Sharpener
Body is brass, blades are replaceable yet last years. Made in Germany. This is about the size of a big clove of garlic, and, like garlic, sharpens everything it touches. It fits nicely into any stationary kit and is absolutely the right weight. They'll run you $6-10 at an import store, and I like to keep a couple stashed throughout the house.
A Field Guide to American Houses (Virginia Savage McAlester)
I go house-snooping the way others go birding. This is such a lovely way to start seeing the hidden beauty of the buildings around you, and to figure out how your neighborhood pieces together. This particular edition is a nice update to the 1984 original.
Thrift with your eyes closed
I am stubborn about natural fibers, love thrifting, and also prone to sensory overload. A very efficient (and entertaining) way to separate the wheat from the polyester chaff is to run your fingers along a row of clothes with your eyes shut to feel what the fiber composition is. Practice in your own closet first, if you want. Once you come across a piece with a good handfeel, pull it out and check for fabric, color, and fit. There's not much point in wearing something that feels awful anyway, so narrowing it down to clothes that pass the touch test helps make more sound thrifting decisions. Plus, it's fun to guess and get the feel for it (literally). I could see this turning into a good party trick, but I try to avoid parties...
Local Flour Mills
Lots of local grain mills are still around! We always try for local honey, beer, cider, soap, etc, wherever we end up, and this is a great extension of that. They can be a great source for heritage grains, support the local economy, and have the added benefit of being really, really fascinating. p.s. - The mill depicted is now a West Virginia state park. Free, gorgeous, and worth a visit on its own merits.
