Carolyn’s House of Wonders

I had the honor to spend a night at the home of my friend Carolyn King, of Grand Rapids Minnesota back in September of 2022. Carolyn’s home is wonder of enchanting knickknacks, and she gave me permission to photograph to my hears content. So here we go:

Crystals

In the kitchen window.
The back hallway window.
The hallway to the basement.

At night.
The main room.

These are just a few of the photos I took of the many chrystals.

The Christmas Houses

Carolyn collects Christmas houses, and the collection represents at least one small village!

Some in the kitchen.
Further to the left in the kitchen.
A close up of kitchen houses.
These are in the main/living room.
The far wall in the main room.

Swimsuits

Carolyn developed a habit of swimming in pits left behind by the abandonment of various mines across her small stretch of Minnesota. She also travels the world to swim in destinations near and far, such as Greece, Turkey, and so on. And for all this swimming, she needs many swimsuits!

The Swimsuit room! Also the room in which I slept!
Another sampling.

The telephones!

This is the first glance of the many old phones Carolyn curates at her home.

This one had the potential to drive me down rabbit holes! Carolyn and I share a fascination with “Old Stuff”, for our own reasons. https://telephonecollecting.org/Bobs%20phones/Pages/Automatic%20Electric/Automatic%20Electric.html

All the phones together.

On the left, the AE34, a 1934 improvement on the older phone to the right. Next to and slightly behind, is the AE2 desk phone, built from 1925 to 1933. The middle phone is a “Type 18”, from around 1910. to the right and slightly behind appears to be another AE34.

Close up of the AE34, the AE2 desk phone and the “Type 18”.
A close up of the other AE35 – here’s where I find myself slipping down into rabbit holes!

The Porch

Flamingos

A separate section for “Flamingos” is like categorizing “air” since it’s everywhere!

The living room.
The dining room.
Flamingo mugs in the main room.
Barbie Flamingo!
Me and Carolyn.

And outside!

License plate collection. Some from C’s own car, some gifts from friends to represent states Carolyn has visited.
Pink Petunias in the back yard.
In Honor of Carolyn’s father.

Paying respect to the mines

Images of the various mines Carolyn swims in are posed along the back fence.
Conceived and constructed in the summer of 1997.
Below the image of the mine are rocks/stones sourced from the mine.

Two of Carolyn’s favorite things

Carolyn’s original Dodge Dart and her dog Rocky.

By Jenny

I live in somewhat rural Montana, north of Yellowstone National Park. I love to tell "tales", I end up on many "trails", and am fascinated by "transformations", which happen around me and in me, which is the best part!