Our little dog Leia died on Thursday January 5th. She was 16 years old. That’s quite elderly in dog years and an old lady she was.

We found her at the pound in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1996 when she was 9 months old. She was an energetic little dog back then, running around the yard on her zip-line leash. I remember watching Hank play hide and seek with her in our mansion on Hamilton Ave. He would run and find a hiding spot and Leia would follow, sniffing him out.

After Cincinnati, she moved to Bainbridge Island, Washington, which were truly her glory days. She ran free with the dogs of the neighborhood.

After the family moved to Baltimore, Leia became an apartment dog. Her days consisted of lying around the house, sniffing the wind off of the porch and basking in the sun. Her favorite spot was the corner of the big green couch. Her days were punctuated by walks and interactions with the dogs of Ivymount, some of whom loved her and all of whom she held at arm’s length.

She was a true lover of food (especially chocolate), with a puppy countenance her whole life, a quiet but ever present member of the Purcell household. Our sweet little puppy will be missed.

Doesn’t this feel like the 70′s?

This feels like fall to me.

I’ve been watching The Wire lately, and that show has so many great shots of Baltimore. Row houses really define this city.

This stretch is from my parents’ beloved cat. Everything this cat does they love. She can do nothing wrong.

This is a great pier on the Hudson that Mary and I were admiring. This was taken from a bridge, but I wish I could’ve gotten closer to those great pilings on the end. There’s something magical feeling about this whole thing.

Another shot of the Mt. Washington Mill. I love these transformed old mills. I remember visiting an old mill in Massachusetts that had been restored into artists studios. There was a great little restaurant and various studios with tiny shops attached. Wouldn’t it be great if Baltimore could cultivate that kind of thing? Clipper Mill is a great Baltimore example, but I’d love to see something a little less expensive and elite.

Will these dreary days never end? Here I am, at Mt. Washington mill.

This little kitters hanging out on a street in Baltimore, checking out the scene.

This little man, patiently waiting for the bus. He is so very very tiny!