Sad Day for Me, Sam, and LuLu

Our Bear passed on from this world to the next today. We have cherished every day of the 13 years Bear has lived with us. He was such a sweet boy. He collapsed when we arrived at the park for our walk. I rushed him to the nearest vet and they suspected something burst internally. After a test to confirm the worst they discouraged any heroic measures due to his age. I brought my boy home and waited for Sam to arrive from work. He died in my arms in 3o minutes. We all want to go that quick. Bear lived the good life up to the last minute. We love our Bear Bear!

Derby Hats with a Past

This year I have a good selection of hats with a past. Some are vintage. It is so fun this time of year to see all the hats. And Derby is all about the HAT!

Big Bear Does the Derby

Robbie in Pink Rose Vintage Hat

So Sad that it is raining on all Derby Plans today. But we are a hearty bunch and the celebration goes on with or without rain. My store will be open today 11-4.

Get Your Pink On this Friday for the Kentucky Oaks Pink Out. Churchill Downs will donate one dollar for every person who attends. This vintage hat would look perfect on someone else to "Think Pink"@ The Oaks.

Also that night Mellwood Arts Center has the FAT Friday Trolley Hop. Great thing to do with your out of town guests. I will be serving my famous wine spritzer. Known thruout the land.

Robbie in Pink Rose Vintage

Derby Week Begins...

Copy of a 1919 Racing Program found @ Crazy Daisy on Mellwood Avenue. This week will be action packed at Mellwood Art Center. Churchill Downs is hosting the International Press in one of our Ballrooms wednesday. Thursday brings another Derby Gala. Trolley Hop on Friday 6-? pm. Bring your Derby Guests to Mellwood after the Kentucky Oaks. Think Pink! Remember Celia's, LeReve, JanJoBe, Robbie Moriarty Art all feature Derby accessories and gifts.

One More Chance to See Jenny's Work

Jenny Elkins, Mixed Media Artist Extrodinare, will have her work in my store for a bit before she loads up this afternoon. Drop in and see this witty work.

Jenny Elkins Day in My Store

Green is the New Black by Jenny Elkins. Should have posted this yesterday for Earth Day. See Jenny and her new work at my store tonight. 5-8 Mellwood Art Center.

Jenny Elkins / Guest Artist

Jenny is a mixed media artist....she makes everything out of everything. Wall Art, Acessories, Jewelry, Pillows. etc... April 23rd she will drive from Indianapolis to Louisville to be the guest artist at Robbie Moriarty Art located @ The Mellwood Art Center. 1860 Mellwood Avenue. There will be refreshments and my world famous wine spritzer. 5-8 pm. This friday. Fun will be had by all!!!!

ZOZO Gallery / Pittsburg Airport

Whenever in Pittsburg I love shopping at the Airport. My favorite is the ZOZO Gallery. Love a store that carries hand crafted items along with cool finds. I always manage to find a few things I can't live without.

Shorty's / Washington, PA

It has become tradition that we go to Shorty's to get Hot Dogs and French Fries and Gravy (FF&G) Peggy and Marie have been regulars for most of Shorty's 50 years.

FF&G must be a PA treat because the first time I remember having this combo was on spring vacation visiting Marianne Crissy's home of Lehighten PA.

The Gas Incident

If you have just traveled 4 days across the country you know remote areas that do not have gas stations at every exit. In fact it could be miles and miles before an exit.

So we feared we would run out of gas. At first we filled it when we still had a half tank. However, as time goes by....

Just two hours from our final destination, Washington PA, the car acted funny... Marie pulled to the side of the road and looked at the fuel gage. After we quit laughing....we called AAA. It is somewhat difficult to have AAA find you when you don't know where you are. Important to know that it can be done. We counted on Bak to know our mile marker but he was asleep on the job.

Our man Jack came with gas.

Wind Power

The windmills were magical. They were across the land. We lost track of them in Northern IN. But felt the excitement of going green just the same. Hope harnessing the wind will be in our future. It sure was windy across the plains.

Hood River, OR

Traveling Companions Marie and Bak

Man on horse, Unknown. Marie standing. Bak sitting next to Marie

Bak is a Giant Schnauzer but everyone thought he was a Portuquese Water Dog.

Bak loved the dog friendly hotels and rest areas. Never met a stranger and thought the world wanted to pet him. Which most did.

The metal buffalo roam in Idaho. Who knew?

Spring Fling / Cross Country Road Trip

Spring has sprung in New Albany,IN where flowers grow tall. Kent stands next to the plant so you can see it's over size. Made of metal never needs watering. Perfect for my yard!

Tomorrow I embark on a Spring Fling. A cross country trip with my long lost Aunt Marie Day Moriarty. We lost eachother for 30 years but have caught up recently. I fly to Portland,OR and the road trip begins. We wind up in Pittsburg,PA. Looking forward to lots of fun and stories to tell. I just hope some of them are printable:) Happy Spring! Be back in a week!!

Bear Gets Ready for Derby

He is not sure that Periwinkle is the right choice. As you know by now everything looks so good on the Bear.

We are celebrating today. I managed to pay my Ohio Sales Tax online. My Tax Pro said it was too time consuming for them and said I would have to do it!!!! OMG they know how tecnology challenged I am.

Alas...after two days of getting part of the forms done I was able to talk to a human who said I was doing it right. I asked what senior citizens were doing now that it is mandantory to E-file. She said they are opting out. Damn didn't know that was an option.

Kentucky Derby

The Derby is 4 weeks away. It is all about the hat! The Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft on Main Street next to the Louisville Science Center have some wonderful one of a kind hats!


Acessories are the best part of the Derby for me. I have a good selection of "Hats with a Past" in my store. Last year we hat...oops... had lots of tourists at Mellwood and once they hit town.... hats and jewelry were mandantory. Mellwood Arts Center Courtyard Stores have all you need to "pimp out" your Derby Look.

Happy Easter @ Milburn/Epler Estate

The Boys hosted a lovely Easter dinner for the Milburn Clan. Sam and I consider ourselves honorary Milburns. We rode over on Sam's new Goldwing bike.

Sam gives Jackson a ride while Lisa and Matt (parents) and Rick watch.

Robbie and Mom @ The Wood

Shirley came to Mellwood to have a pic nic lunch for her belated B-day. We had delish pimento cheese from the Cafe. Not the best photo of either one of us. But the only one I could salvage from the day.

Nitty Gritty

Nitty Gritty located right by Lynn's Paradise Cafe. I am a fan of all these artisans. The store is filled with all sorts of cool retro stuff. I always leave with something. Can't wait for the opening!!!!