Snap!

I've become obsessed with those old snap closure coin purses that no one seems to have anymore. Nowadays, most purses are the size of small cars and no one carries cash. I find myself searching through the old vintage ones posted on Etsy but I always hold off on buying them. I always worry they will smell. I bought these instead...

I bought this one from LL Bean first. I was shocked to see them displayed in the store right next to their tote bags. This color and design were not my first choice but it's what was left. When I got it, the kids were confused about how to open it. It took them some practice.
Then, I saw this one on Esty and I had to have it. I bought it for myself on my birthday. It's so cute and retro and I love it.
The other side is just as cute. I don't know which side I like more.
Even the lining is cute. I probably won't use it very much because I don't want it to get messed up. Actually, what I want is a bolt of the fabric and the talent to make other things out of it.

First Day Of Spring In Maine

Today is the first full day of Spring in Maine. We celebrated with 3-4 inches of new snow. No one gave this message to the flowers.
I planted bulbs last fall that I forgot about. Yesterday I dug them out of the dead leaves that were smothering them. I think that explains the yellow color of a couple of them. The snow isn't going to help. I wish I could remember what I planted. I guess I'll find out soon. As long as we don't have an ice storm.
Someone was happy though. She had a bad day. I took her for a bath and then she was without her bed while I washed the stink and hair off that too. The snow was the thing that cheered her up. She smelled like wet dog all day long. She's still cute though. We hope to see green grass or any grass for that matter by April.

My 29th Birthday

My birthday was a week ago but I'm just getting around to writing about it. I don't know how the days pass so quickly. It was a good day but it was the day I discovered my phones camera is not up to par.

Tim told me we were getting a babysitter and going out to dinner but he wouldn't tell me anything else. He actually did mention bringing my camera along but I thought he was kidding. He wasn't. He was taking us out to Peaks Island on the ferry and I was kicking myself for not bringing it.
He had made reservations at the Inn on Peaks Island and I had taken off my Uggs for the first time this winter and put on heels so it was a big night for us.
Turns out, the reservation wasn't necessary because we were the only ones in the place. I guess the island isn't as busy in March as it is in July. It was the first day of Daylight Savings Time so we sat by the window and enjoyed the sun.
I enjoyed this Long Island Ice Tea too. I should have enjoyed a few more but I am a real lightweight in my old age. I had shrimp and Tim had steak and we both had Irish creme cheesecake for desert.
It was weird to be out after dark so far away from the kids. The ferry ride back was a little colder than on the way over but no less cool. Tim and I decided we could easily live on an island. We're going to bring the kids back over for dinner before the tourists hit in full force.

The Wearing Of The Green

***All photos of the parade courtesy of Declan Patrick Charles McMahon-age 7.

Declan and I made our annual trip to the Portland St. Patrick's Day Parade. He and I are the only ones usually interested in going so it's become our thing. They held it on Sunday since the actual day isn't until Thursday and it's hard to get people out for a parade on a Thursday. Well, Declan and I would have shown up at least.

There was a bit of a wait while the parade made it to our end of Commercial St. I gave Declan the camera to keep him occupied and he did such a good job that I let him take most of the pictures.
Here are the Portland firefighters. I told him it was important to take their pictures because of our family history of Irish firefighters. Maybe I should have been a firefighter? I did like to set fires when I was little. Luckily, the firefighters living in my house knew how to put them out quickly.
The first bagpipers. I love a good bagpipe.... and I love the outfits.
The second bagpipe band. It was really cold out so I hope the men were wearing something under their kilts.
The Portland Hurling team. I know nothing about it except its sort of like lacrosse or Quidditch. It mostly looks like an excuse to beat the hell out of each other and then go to the pub. I'll still look into it for Declan.
All good parades end with a fire truck... with a cute firefighter waving to us.
Roscommon is the county in Ireland that most of my family came from. This street sign was in the window of an Irish bar but I need to get one for myself. I found one on Ebay but it was $50. I think I'll just go to Ireland myself and steal one.
It was a short parade but we liked it. Declan and I even went to the ceremony afterwards on the Maine State Pier where we watched the Riverdancers and heard some Irish accents. Declan didn't want to go get a Guinness so we packed it up and went home.

Bookmark Sale

If anyone is in need of some bookmarks, then Declan's Bookmark Shop is having a sale all this week. He rearranged his room this weekend and set up this shop space in the corner.

Please ignore the flowery wallpaper-it went up went Grace was born and this was her room. Declan hasn't complained about it yet and I'm not doing anything about it until he does.
This is his bookmark counter. They are all different prices and Declan keeps all that info to himself. He did have a special pile that was only 1 cent apiece (if you knew to ask about it).
In the end, I got these six bookmarks for only 10 cents. They have an Easter theme.
So, like I said, the sale goes on all week so just let me know if anyone wants any. Declan is waiting patiently behind his counter. This kid is going to be a millionaire by age 25 (I hope).

Waiting For Lilacs

The other day, I was at the store buying groceries and I walked past a new display of milk in glass bottles. I stopped dead because I didn't just see the milk-I saw a new vase so I put out the $3.00 for it which is a lot for milk but not for a new vase. It was blueberry milk too and really good. Who knew? I've had a Smiling Hill Farm bottle for years but this one was bigger and I could see it holding much bigger lilac bouquets.
Problem is, this is my lilac tree right now. It's hard to see but there are tiny little buds growing on the ends of those dead bare branches.
It's also trapped in about 2 feet of snow. Hopefully, this will disappear in the next 6 weeks or so. Whatever happened to the Groundhogs early spring?
I know this is still ahead of us and now I have more vases so I can bring it inside. Until then, I'll just try to remember that there are things growing under all that snow and ice.