After brunch with Dianne, our family three drove to Ellicott City, Maryland to see the new house my wife's former business partner just bought (top row). It's a major fixer-upper project with an interior that's in rough shape, but the high wide vista of the Patapsco River Valley and Old Town Ellicott City is spectacular.

Just up the road are the restored ruins of the Patapsco Female Institute, a school for girls that operated in the 1800s (second row of photos). The grounds don't open until April 1st, but I sneaked in to make a few photos. It's said that the place is haunted by the ghost of a former student.

These old places will be great to visit for photo expeditions later this year.

After a short burst of rain, an intense rainbow graced the sky just before sunset. Now we're on my way to dinner at my mom's house. We'll all sleep good tonight.

- mike lee - baltimore