The informant is perched on the counter between the stove and the refrigerator.  She is clutching a mug of hot coffee with soy milk and some sugar.  She had told me earlier that this is her favorite mug and was a Christmas present from her sister several years ago.

Me: Tell me about the objects that are present in the kitchen.  Which stand out the most to you. 

(long pause, the informant scans the space around her and takes a long slip of coffee before answering)

Informant: Most of the objects in the kitchen have strong ties to other people.  For example, I inherited a lot of things from a friend before she moved back home.  So every time I use the salt container, refill the fruit bowl, or use the spoon rest I think about her.  She was also the one who gave me the purple Dutch oven that is the most adult thing I own and that gets a ton of use when I actually have my act together and am cooking.  My mom also bought me a lot of the things I use on a daily basis like the raccoon sugar bowl and my knives.  Or some of the mugs I have used to be my parents and I have very clear childhood memories of them.  So it’s like there are all of these tangible connections to people that all come together in this one space.