The Weirdest Things You Could Only Find at Your Grandparents House

Doily Decor

Traditionally, a crocheted doily was a symbol of wealth, but once paper doilies hit the market, even impoverished families were able to participate. Originally doilies were designed to protect wooden furniture from scratches and spills, but the doily proved extremely versatile and was then used for an array of functions. Likely to be found beneath a tray of cakes or a vase of flowers, these lacy mats were a staple feature of any grandparents' home.

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The More You Know

  • You can survive being in outer space without permanent damage for about half a minute.
  • Mount Rushmore cost less than $1 million.
  • The Canary Islands are named after dogs, not birds.
  • The first American woman to go to medical school was admitted as a joke. Geneva Medical School thought it was joke when Elizabeth Blackwell applied to attend 1847. She graduated in 1849, started her own practice, and opened an infirmary for the poor.
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