Discover the sweet story behind my vintage oak mirror — from a riverboat day trip to Rabbit Hash, KY to its place in our Florida home. A treasure with heart.
Sometimes the stories behind the treasures we find are more meaningful than the treasures themselves. This oak‑framed mirror is one of those pieces — a simple object with a sweet little history woven through my adult life.
Thyme for a Change
In my mid‑20s, newly divorced and ready for a fresh start, I moved from Central Illinois to Cincinnati, Ohio. I spent my first year in an apartment, and then finally bought my first home — an older house in an up‑and‑coming neighborhood that I could actually afford.
It had everything I loved: wood floors, gorgeous woodwork, pocket doors, and three fireplaces. They couldn’t be used because they needed to be relined, but the tile fronts and mantels were beautiful. It felt like the kind of house I grew up in.
This is how my house looks now. The current owners have given it a Painted Lady makeover — the porch is different, the colors are brighter, and they added the brick parking area. It wasn’t nearly this cute when I owned it, but I still drive past whenever I go “home” to Cincinnati.
The two wrought‑iron gates from the property came back to Illinois with me. My mom leaned one against some trees, and the trees eventually grew around it, so that one stayed behind. The other gate made the trip to Florida and now sits behind a grouping of color pots.
My Mom had propped one of the gates against some trees. Unfortunately, the trees grew into the gate so I had to leave it behind in Illinois. I did bring the other one to Florida . It is currently acting as a backdrop for some color pots.
Weekends are for Exploring!
My parents loved visiting me for long weekends. One Labor Day, during an unusually cool stretch of weather, we decided to take a day trip on BB Riverboats out of Newport, Kentucky. I worked in the travel industry at the time, so naturally the entire office went — all three of us and our families. Apparently, we thought we needed a bonding experience.
We boarded mid‑morning for a trip to Rabbit Hash, Kentucky, a tiny hamlet on the banks of the Ohio River. Population: 315. Slightly smaller than Ivesdale, Illinois, where I grew up. Rabbit Hash is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and when I Googled it this morning, the General Store looks exactly the same. It suffered a fire in 2016, but they salvaged much of the original wood and rebuilt using materials from the same era, allowing it to keep its historic designation.
After disembarking the riverboat, we took a trolley from the dock into the town. I am pretty sure we could have walked it, but who wants to pass up a ride on a trolley! We had time to explore the town . The main attraction is the General Store which is a combination general store and antique store.
And that’s where my mother found the mirror.
A large oak‑framed rectangle, 22″ wide by 40″ high. Heavy, awkward, and absolutely coming home with her. We carried it onto the trolley and then back onto the riverboat, laughing the whole way.
Rabbit Hash General Store
The Mirror At The Farmhouse
The mirror lived in my parents’ farmhouse for about fifteen years. I honestly don’t remember exactly where she hung it — maybe the hallway by the stairs. When they moved into the modular home on the same property and we moved into the farmhouse, she didn’t take it with her. She left it for me.
I moved it into the gathering room, and it stayed there until we decided to move full‑time to Florida. During the downsizing process, I wasn’t sure I was going to keep it. It didn’t sell at the estate sale, which felt like a sign. So it came with us — shipped down with the third set of professional movers we used.
The Mirror In Florida
One night, I finally unpacked it and did a quick styling in the entryway. It added such warmth to the space. Seeing it there gave me a connection to both my mother and to that Cincinnati chapter of my life.
Was I completely satisfied with the styling? Of course not. Are we creatives ever satisfied?
But I loved the feeling it brought into the room.
I’ve always loved decorating with antiques. To me, they’re more than objects — they’re connections to the past, to people, to places, to stories.
If You Want to Explore More
To learn more about Rabbit Hash, Ky
To learn more about BB Riverboats:
See more ways I’ve styled the mirror in the entryway:
Decorated For Christmas –
St Patrick’s Day-
Summer Decorating Idea –
Celadon Green & Cream for Autumn-
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I think the miser is beautiful and more importantly the story and the memories will last forever.
Thank you , Elizabeth!
Love this trip down memory lane!
Thank you, Marie!
I so much enjoyed this trip down memory lane!
Thank you for taking the time to read the post, Paula!
I love stories and pieces with memories. It truly makes a house a home!
Thank you, Cindy!
I love this story. And this Kentucky girl has never heard of this place! I may have to head that direction when travel becomes easier. Thanks for sharing!
You definitely should! It is an adorable little place!
What a beautiful story! I love having things that offer so much to us in our home.
Thank you , Melba!
Enjoyed reading this story. I love that old photo of you..
Thank you, Tammy!
What a lovely story. I love when a piece has a history rich in memories!
Thank you, Libbie!
It’s so fun when you have a piece in your home that has this kind of meaning and story behind it. Thanks for sharing this, I really enjoyed reading it.
Thank you so much, Carol! Your comments mean a lot to me!
There’s nothing I enjoy more than a good story about family memories and decor!
Thank you so much, Kim! I love writing the stories! I wish I had taken better notes along the way!
Nothing warms the heart like these family memories. Beautiful written, Kimberly. xo
Thank you, Juliet!
You have some treasured memories with that mirror! I think you are meant to keep it 🙂
Thank you , Cindy! I really should get it hung up on the wall instead of leaning against the wall to that it will be more secure. It does have a lot of memories attached to it!
Kim, this is the most beautiful story! Thanks for sharing this. My home also is filled with treasures attached to incredible memories!
Thank you, Sue! I think pieces of furniture or even smalls with stories are so important! That is one reason it was so hard for me to downsize! Almost everything had a story….. that I wanted to remember! Thanks for reading!