this is us

This is us down at the Mardi Gras
This is us in your daddy's car
You and the missing link
Yeah, I'd had a little too much to drink now


Too long in the sun
Having too much fun
You and me and our memories
This is us


Rocking at the barbecue
Yeah, when we said I do
Hand jiving on the ballroom floor
You in that wedding coat you wore
And you in that amazing dress
I was stoned on love I guess


You and me we were meant to be
This is us


This is us on our honeymoon
in our hotel room
Sitting by the wishing well
Checking out of the Love Motel


Making plans for the sunshine state
Waiting at the terminal gate
You and me making history
This is us


And our baby boy
with our pride and joy


You at the Sunday game
standing next to what's his name


On our anniversary
with the family
You and me and our memories
This us

33 years but who's counting
My apologies to Mark Knopfler and Emmy Lou Harris for stealing their lyrics which don't quite match up to my photos but I love the song and the thoughts it conveys.

handbags and gladrags

Leather Fish Purse

For a couple years now I've been buying books and patterns on how to make various purses and handbags. One of these days, maybe when I free up my Fridays again, I'm going to attempt to make some. In the meantime on my thrift store visits, I've been buying up various gladrags for handbag construction. It's no secret that a good portion of my clothing is gladrags from thrift stores, but now I'm buying old velvet, suede and leather skirts with handbag construction in mind. That doesn't stop me from buying an interesting looking already constructed bag when I see one. Like how could I pass up the fish purse? Even if I never carry it, I still like owning it.


And this patterned leather bag. OK, I don't think it is real leather but it's a good imitation and I just saw a real patterned leather bag in Marshall's that was priced well over $100 and Marshall's is a discount store.


This is one of my favorite kind of handbags - crocheted black cotton with little beads sewn all over and bead fringe. Love those beads. This one will get some use.


I actually went shopping in a real store with brand new things for this one. I needed an everyday handbag in a lighter color for spring and summer. I've been carrying this soft naked leather beauty for a week now and I love, love, love it. It cost more than I should have spent but I love, love, love it.


And while I was shopping in Marshall's for the above handbag, I saw this one that had been marked way down. It's a fun handbag that I couldn't pass up. And why do I need so many handbags you may ask? I don't, so don't ask.

leprechaun visit

A leprechaun came by and scattered gold coins and shamrocks around my pot of gold and white flowers. So I went ahead and celebrated early by cooking a traditional St. Patrick's Day dinner today.


Golden carrot ginger scones . I finally found a use for the sugar I bought a couple years ago at Ikea. It's sprinkled atop.


Boiled dinner platter


My plate


Whiskey raisin bread pudding with caramel whiskey sauce

flood warnings

Melting snow and lots of rain.....flood warnings in the news. I cross Ellicott Creek on my way home from work everyday just to the south of my house. Tonight it looked like it could spill over it's banks. Just several blocks from us the creek passes through the back yards of the houses on Lehn Springs, but our house is on top of a little hill and we have never had a drop of water in our basement. I took this photo of an angry, rushing Ellicott Creek from Main Street on Sunday when I went for my walk. It is the exact same view of the creek in an October post. That photo shows a very different personality of the creek - tranquil and calm, reflecting a crystal blue sky.

worry

I carry a page from an old Mary Engelbreit desk calendar in my wallet. It says......Worry does not rob tomorrow of it's sorrow, it saps today of it's strength. When tax season is wearing on me and my faith in humanity is shaken, I read it over again and try to follow the advise. I draw energy from it, so instead of laying on the couch for a nap, I exercise or straighten the house. Or indulge in my favorite calming pastime - thrift store browsing. Today on my way home from work, I stopped at Amvets and found these shoes waiting for me on the rack. Who could feel unhappy with these happy shoes in their closet? They are a European size 40 but I can't find anything on the Internet about this brand name. Never mind, whether they are $6 shoes or $60 shoes, I think they are worth every penny of the $4 that I paid for them.

thinking of dad

Today would have been my dad's 90th birthday. This cameo shot shows him as I remember him best. I'm sure there is a book in his lap and he is just pausing for a minute to gaze out the window before returning to it.

spring awakening