Odd instructional accordion brochure found a long time ago, and then forgotten for even longer.

I have no idea where this compulsion comes from. But it’s undeniably bad. For years now, probably since I was seven, I’ve been collecting labels and tags of all kinds. This is but a sampling of my arsenal. Once, when I was in Paris, I confess to having ripped three pages of stationery store listings out of the phone book in my hotel room. And the thing is, I am definitely not alone in this pursuit. That said, I’ve promised myself that if this stockpile ever threatens to outgrow the confines of its designated box…out it goes.

I’ve been meaning for ages now to take pictures of my paper farm. I don’t have all the outbuildings anymore, but I still have the silo, the cow and a single bale of hay. I think these are meant to be colored in, but I love them just the way they are.

I was in France not that long ago, and this is what I brought home. Well, I did escort some chocolate and caramels back to NY, but those are long since gone. And they were gifts anyway.

This photograph is of my brother Doug’s to-do list. Please keep in mind that this is just “this” week’s list…so, one of hundreds, if not thousands. I first saw one of his lists a couple of years ago when he and his partner John were staying with us, probably en-route to some country no one had ever heard of. You see, he and John own a high-end travel company and are, understandably, quite busy. However, my first thought was that he might need some counseling, as this takes list-making to an entirely new level. Either way, I pounced on it, and practically pleaded with him to hand it over on the spot. Yes, it betrays a kind of obsession, but on its own is a unique and unintentional work of beauty.