The Slugmobile in Her Early Days

The Slugmobile in Her Early Days, originally uploaded by confections.

More nostalgia from the archives: our 1978 Ford E-150 van, the Slugmobile, parked outside our new house in 1981. The blue in the far background is San Diego Bay.

The Slugmobile served us well for over twenty-five years--through one flood, many surf trips, one cross-country move of our own (and several local moves for friends). At the end, in September of 2004, she went to a local charity. Who knows, she could still be cruising the highways.

Couple at an Amusement Park (Vernacular Photo)

Couple at an Amusement Park (Vernacular Photo), originally uploaded by confections.

I found this photo at one of my favorite antique haunts and happily added it to my growing collection of vernacular photos.

It reminds me of the "good old days" and stories that my mother and grandmother told me about visiting our local amusement park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Kennywood Park, which was recently sold to a Spanish company, but that's another story....).

I especially love that hat on the woman's knee; it is so emblematic of a warm summer afternoon with its wide brim and riot of silk flowers. It inspires me to embellish one of mine with wild abandon!