✨ A Little Piece of Me: Vintage
We all have things — or little pieces of life — that we love.
The kind that stick with someone after they get to know us.
So I said I was going to start sharing a little piece of me each week…
and somehow that got away from me (imagine that 
So I figured it was about time.
Because honestly, this feels like the best way for people to get to know who they’re really connecting with—like a little peek behind the scenes.
We just got back from a wonderful camping trip, and there’s a bit of a backstory to it.
We started camping when my son was small, and let’s just say… the tent wasn’t cutting it. It wasn’t safe for him because he could wander easily, and honestly he didn’t like it.
My partner had an old Shasta Compact sitting out back that he was using as a storage shed. So, being the Mr. Fix-It that he is, he tore it down and brought it back to life.
We named her Bessy.
1966 Shasta Compact
And oh, the fun we had with her. We have taken her on many adventures in the south and up into the mountains.
About a year into camping, we met some folks who introduced us to Tin Can Tourists — a camping club that’s been around for over 100 years.
That’s when something clicked.
We realized this wasn’t just about camping.
We both had a deep love for vintage… for nostalgic things… for pieces that carry a story.
I’ve always loved old things — I’m sentimental by nature — but I didn’t realize just how much until we stepped into that world.
It’s not just the look of vintage pieces…
it’s the feeling.
Warm. Cozy. Familiar in a way you can’t quite explain.
There’s something about vintage that just feels… real.
Not rushed. Not mass-produced. Not trying to keep up with trends that change every five minutes.
They carry stories. History. Character.
(And let’s be honest… they were built to last — which feels like a lost art these days.)
Maybe that’s why I connect with it so much.
Because life as a caregiver isn’t fast or polished either.
It’s layered. It’s meaningful. It’s built over time…
in ways most people don’t always see.
Some of my favorite pieces?
Well, of course… my campers.
We still have that 1966 Shasta Compact, but we also have a 1966 Kenskill.
Her name is Penelope Bob.
1966 Kenskill Camper Decorated For Christmas
She’s got the personality of a Penelope…
but she tows like a big ol’ blob — aka Bob
I also have a 1954 Douglas kitchenette set that is one of my babies,
and my 1944 Lane Bryant cedar chest… along with so many other pieces — from china to furniture.
1954 Douglas Kitchenette set, with 1970s Liberty Blue China
And our Christmas obsession?
Don’t even get me started. That’s a whole story for another time.
What’s funny is, without even trying, vintage shows up in my photography more than people probably realize.
The textures. The tones. The quiet moments…
Deer Point Lake, Florida Copyright Forand Photography
I’m always chasing that feeling —
not just what something looks like… but what it holds.
This is one piece of me.
A love for things that last…
things that mean something…
things that don’t rush through life.
I’m learning to share these pieces more —
not perfectly, not on schedule… just honestly.
So tell me…
Do you have something you’ve always loved
that just feels like you?
If you’d like to see the world through my lens (and all those little moments I’m always chasing), you can explore my photography here:
I’m building a space slowly and with intention over on Substack. If you’d like to follow along or support it, you can subscribe here. Either way, I’m really glad you’re here.
If you’d like to support what I’m building
(or just keep my coffee from going cold 😅), you can do that here:☕
