Monday, March 13, 2023

Retail Therapy In Action

Rattlesnake beans, ready to plant.


Quite a day. I knew I wanted to go back to town today because- okay, well. It's a long story. I'll try to keep it short. 
I have a purse obsession. Not as bad as it used to be by any means. In fact, I have not bought a new purse since before Covid. So, you know- it's under control. And in fact, I've been quite happy with that purse. After all these years of usage, there are no rips or tears and the zippers still work. It's a backpack bag which I do love because I always know where my purse is which is on my back.
But at Christmas, Jessie picked out a new purse for herself and asked me if I'd get it for her, which I gladly did, and it was so much like mine that I have accidentally picked it up by mistake. But then yesterday I told her that I was thinking of buying a new purse and she just happened to go to TJ Maxx yesterday afternoon and started sending me pictures of the purses there and there were quite lovely. So fuck it- I decided to go there today and I did. My Target experience had sucked but I decided to give recreational shopping another try. 

I immediately found two purses that set my heart beating a little faster. One was a backpack bag, the other was not, but it was SO my sort of bag. I thought about it and thought about it and could not make a choice so...I BOUGHT BOTH OF THEM! 
Plus, it was Senior Discount Day and you know that 10% off made a big difference. Right? 

So now I have all the purses I need for the rest of my life. This is comforting. 


Here's the not-a-backpack one. Very soft leather, very pouchy with limited structure. Hardware not obnoxious. These are all part of my criteria. I suppose you could describe my taste as "hippie." 

So that felt crazy and also fun and I walked around the whole store feeling like Alice in Wonderland. TJ Maxx has some very cool shit. I didn't buy anything else though besides a hat which I didn't even try on in front of a mirror. Will the madness never end?
It's straw-ish, lightweight, and who cares what it looks like? It fits. 

And THEN I went to Trader Joe's which was right next door and that felt like another sort of Wonderland because I only ever go to Publix and Costco. I bought two giant artichokes, some Roquefort cheese and a can of dolmades. Something else too, but I can't remember what. 

I took myself out to lunch at a place that specializes in chicken salad. Here was the fun I'd been looking for! I love chicken salad almost as much as I love purses.

Of course I also had to go to Publix but that wasn't so bad. And somehow this took me all day long. I have got to get serious about the garden now and also about working in the yard. And taking walks! Jesus. It's going to be lovely, lovely cool for the next week or so and I have no excuses. I am feeling better every day. 

When I took the trash this morning the old man who was tending the place wanted to discuss weather and I was fine with that. He said, "Turnin' out to be a real pretty day!" I agreed that it was. 
"But it's gonna get cold again this week!" he said. 
"I know! In the thirties!" I answered. 
"It's always got to get cold once in March," he told me with all of the wisdom of his years. "And then, it'll be done."
"That's right," I said, with all of the wisdom of my years. 

One last chance to put the duck on the bed, to wear cashmere. At least for this year. I am going to enjoy every moment of that. 

Love...Ms. Moon




32 comments:

  1. The connoisseur of purses! You sound so happy, definitely recovered from the Txxxet experience. It all sounds like fun, even to the chicken salad. I notice you had an enabler sending pictures..

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  2. It's snowing here now, and going down to the twenties tonight. I not only must say, it snows in March and once in April.

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  3. "So now I have all the purses I need for the rest of my life" .. famous last words! :)

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  4. You can never ever have too many or enough bags/purses...I just bought two more thinking about travel and the best options. but then I look around and discover that there may be better purses out there...It will never end. I have a couple that I have never used but too late to send them back. I love your little leather bag!

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    1. It's a good size. A nice hippie bag for an old hippie.

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  5. I loooove purses too! (I love a lot of things, which is getting to be a little crazy 😜)Rigmor

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    1. I don't really collect anything. So, okay, I have more than a few of some things and purses is one of them even though I did cull a bunch a year or so ago.

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  6. I have just bought myself my first backpack style bag and it's revolutionary!

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  7. One can NEVER have too many bags. Even if you only use the same one over and over again. Or is that just me?!
    I have always wanted a body cross over bag but my girls are big enough and don't need to be accented any more.
    Chicken salad - please explain. Isn't it just some bbq chook on a bed of lettuce?

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    1. Well, maybe you should try a backpack style. They're quite handy.
      No! No! Chicken salad is chicken that's been chopped into small pieces (the size varies from recipe to recipe) and then mixed with mayonnaise, usually, salt and pepper, sometimes celery and onions. There are many variations. It is so good! There are also curry variations that can have apples and raisins in them. I love them all!

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  8. I love the purse! I used to have a thing for purses, still do, but refuse to buy. I still miss several of the ones I gave away to thrift stores. Maybe one day I will find them again in thrift stores.
    That's a LOT of bean seeds. You could collect your own by letting just one pod ripen and dry on the vine, then store them in paper bags for next season.

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    1. You're right about saving seeds and I plan to do that next year. I don't think one pod would do it though. I would need lots!
      I found a skirt I gave to a thrift store in the thrift store once!

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    2. One pod per vine is what I meant.

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  9. I like a backpack purse too. Always carried one when I was working (I bought a beautiful leather one in Morocco!!!) as it's so nice to have your hands free. And you really picked out a lovely purse!

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    1. Ooh. I bet your Moroccan bag was gorgeous! Do you still have it?

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  10. I've fallen in love with your new purse too. It looks like divinely soft leather and the styling is adorable. I agree the hardware is key to a good purse. Not too flashy but serviceable. AND I see the tell tale sign of the TJ Maxx sale sticker. No one could refuse such a bag--it was meant to be yours. Woo hoo!

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    1. It is very soft. Which I love. I don't like structured bags. And I don't like flashy hardware. Get that stuff away from me!
      Yep. It was on sale! I have a feeling someone returned it but it looks pristine to me.

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  11. I think that we should have an intervention. And just to save you from yourself, we might have to take the purse. You have a noble lot of commenters here.

    I am trying to wrap my head around the fact that you can say, with all the wisdom of your years that you have a cold night coming, and then it will be done. So sure that you can savor one last night with the 'duck'. I'd sure love to know what that is like. It is snowing here.

    But hey. I got wool socks, so it is all good.

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    1. Haha! I have said before that I might need an intervention to deal with my purse problem but like I said, it is nothing like it used to be. It did last for a good long time though.
      Oh, we're going to have more than one chilly night. Probably three or four but maybe not in a row. It's cool today and I am wearing socks. Although they are not wool!

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  12. cold here too. and it feels wonderful staving off the heat of summer for another week or two. I do not have a thing for purses, in fact I don't carry one which is why my pants and skirts must have usable pockets. I could just never remember to keep up with them. as long as my wallet and keys are in my pocket, I won't lose them.

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    1. This is where we definitely differ, Ellen. I have to have my "stuff" with me. Don't ask me why. But I do. Not a whole lot of stuff but some. Like a fan and an emory board and chapstick and a little notebook, pens, etc. Also, my wallet is sort of big.

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  13. I pretty much use one purse until it gets so worn out and then I get another one. I like a simple purse where I can find my shit easily.
    You purse is lovely, tho, and I would like that style when my current one is finished.

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    1. One of my favorite bags I ever had I did indeed wear it out. I got it at a Goodwill and it was a backpack bag. I wore that thing to death.

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  14. Hope it makes its way further south, it’s been record breaking heat with sone 90s already! The purse I’ve had for five or six years finally started splitting at the straps . I just couldn’t find one with the right number of pockets, zippers and such. I finally searched for and found a new purse exactly the same as my old. It made me so happy it was still being made. Purse shopping is hard! Happy belated birthday to May, that clock is a wonder!
    Xoxo
    Barbara

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    1. Oh, Barbara! I'm so glad you found a replacement purse just like your old one! That is lovely.
      I, too, hope it gets a little cooler for you.

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  15. *and now I have all the purses I need for the rest of my life*.......famous last words ROFL! That is a lovely soft looking purse/bag, though. But likely not the last!
    Susan M........from a waterlogged and yet raining AGAIN Calif. Ugh

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  16. We're having a last cold snap here, too. I did not buy a purse to commemorate the occasion, though. :(

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