Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods

This weekend, B and I drove up to the Arctic tundra known as Oxford, Mississippi to visit with friends. The farther north we got, the grayer and colder it got....good thing I picked up a Van Holten's Hot Mama pickle to keep myself cozy!

We've officially been gone long enough now that I felt like a visitor to Oxford instead of just a displaced resident. But of course, my friends treated me no differently, and I was so happy to see some of the people who made my ten years in Oxford so very excellent!

In addition to those folks and more, I saw some less welcome, though highly amusing people, places, and, well, mostly things!

I'm not sure who THESE belong to, but, really?

And, this girl was trying to kill this guy, why? Who cares?!?!?! This is the hands-down best photo of the weekend!

Oh, Oxford "fashion."...In addition to the usual mini skirt/ugg boot/diamond earring ensemble, the youth of Oxford have many overly priced boutiques where they can purchase expensive items made of flimsy fabrics...and they think it looks good. I'm calling this one "Little House on the Prairie Meets Foxy Brown while Trippin' on Shrooms at the Gay Bar."

Yesterday morning, we went to my favorite Oxford breakfast spot! Bottletree Bakery!
A Bowl of Soul, an Uptown (salmon cream cheese, tomatoes, onions, and capers on a sesame seed bagel), and a Ginger Scooooooooonnne (I really need to just start making these on a daily basis)!

And then, full of delicious foods and still slightly bleary-eyed from two crazy days of funness, we hit the road to head home. Home, sweet home. On the way back, I did make this gas station discovery, which would have made my friend, Pickle Freak, smile!

After work today, I needed a quick crafting fix, so I made up this pleated skirt made from a super fun circus print cotton! I'm calling it the "Greatest Show on Earth" skirt, and it's a tribute to Holly's (Betty Hutton) stupidly daring trapeze tricks in the classic film.

The skirt is soft and sweet like Holly, but one of these days I'll have to make something inspired by Gloria Grahame's slightly sluttier, grittier, elephant rider Angel (the true heroine of the film as far as I'm concerned)!

I have one more day dress and skirt to finish up this week, and then the next three weeks will be devoted to Mardi Gras crafts! Hoorah! I'd better get started, with guests coming in in only a few days, I've got a lot to do!