11.   Bone-breaking handshakes, humor with the lightness of a large dumpling, and lace curtains guarding the coy privacy of every home.

12.   Across the street stand three prim row houses with gray facades and white lace curtains drawn across the windows.

13.   Entry to the deck is via French doors draped with country lace curtains.

14.   I call him the lace curtain Irishman.

15.   Inside, they are clean, freshly painted and decorated with lace curtains.

16.   It has tiled floors and lace curtains and a matching living room set protected with plastic.

17.   Ms. Garcia presides over the truck counting from a tattered storefront with yellowed lace curtains on Courtlandt Avenue.

18.   Nothing torments purists more than an Eichler decked out with Victorian cut-glass doors, lace curtains and picket fences.

19.   On another visit, there is sun coming through her lace curtains.

20.   Only Mama, however, can touch the lace curtains in the living room.