For the last couple of weeks I've been on the American road. Jonathan and I were celebrating my graduation by rolling from state to state in a rental car, eating our combined body weight in cheeseburgers, and visiting lots of friends and family. I'll blog the rest of the trip soon, but in the meantime, I wanted to get my red door groove started again by sharing something pretty neat.


At a giant antiques store in Bellefonte, PA, I uncovered this little treasure:

gingerrogers_andtheriddleofthescarletcloak.jpg

Ginger Rogers and the Riddle of the Scarlet Cloak
Authored by the starlet's mother, Lela Rogers
Copyright 1942

The best 39 cents I've ever spent. It takes me back to all those childhood hours, flopped down on my stomach on a bed, a couch, a floor, or a grassy field, making time with Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, or the Bobbsey Twins. Now I'll know to keep my eyes open for Betty Grable and the House With the Iron Shutters and Judy Garland and the Hoodoo Castle ! (Unfortunately, the guarantee that those titles "may be purchased from the same store where you purchased this book" is unlikely to hold up after 70 years.)