Where are my pictures?

Oooh nooo, I installed some new software and I can't find my photos! Thousands of photos... Hmmm, maybe some kind of software surgery is in order? I'll be back.

Six Months Later...

Yes, it has been a while, hasn't it? I must have been distracted!

We're still here in DC and I'll try to catch up with a few events. This week, we have pictures from the beautiful Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. We visited in April and the gardens were bursting with tulips! A lovely place, with gargoyles, statuary, a winery... we plant to return in the Fall.

Here are a few images, I still can't figure out how to make them line up! There are a few more photos as always, accessible via the title link above.

And still more snow...

Well, I think we're about to break some snowfall records here in DC. The official measurement is only 16", but that's at Reagan National Airport, along the Potomac. Some of us had more - around here it was 24 - 27 inches, a lot for this area! John's been off work since Friday afternoon, and probably won't go back until Thursday at the soonest. The buses aren't running, and many roads are difficult if not impossible. We dug out our car on Sunday and made a quick run to the store this morning. They were getting a little low on some things, but we found plenty of food to get us through the next couple of days. We're supposed to get another 10 - 20 inches tonight & tomorrow. Yikes!

So, we've spent some fun times getting together with the neighbors, sharing food and playing games, it's nice to have some forced relaxation. As long as our power stays on it's okay...

more pictures of snowy things.... click on the title link above...

Snow, and more to come!

Happy February! Mr. Groundhog saw his shadow so we're going to have six more weeks of winter. We hope you west coasters don't get too much more rain!

Here are a few pictures of our wintery view from earlier this week, it's so pretty when it's new and fresh.

The weatherman says we're expecting a much larger storm to hit tomorrow with lots of snow!

They're calling for 12 to 24 inches - somewhat unusual for this part of the country where a couple of inches is standard, but we've stocked up on groceries (& wine!) and we're planning an indoor weekend. This is all new for me, I've never lived in snow country so it's still enough of a novelty to be fun. At least for now.

Hope you all stay warm and cozy 'til Spring arrives...

Christmas 2009

So, after a 10 day delay due to colds/flu/bronchitis, we finally made it to California, just in time for Christmas. It was wonderful to see as many friends & family as we did, considering the short time, but we missed a few friends and hope to catch up when we return in the spring. We also drove to Phoenix to visit Sara, Coy, Brooklyn & Mason, then flew back to DC on New Years Eve.

Want to see more pictures? Just click on the Christmas 2009 title above.

Best wishes to everyone for a safe, healthy & happy New Year!

Phoenix & Long Beach

After our Tucson adventures we stopped in Phoenix (Surprise, AZ) to see Sara, Coy and family. We had a wonderful but too short visit then we were off to Irvine for a friend's wedding. We stayed that night on the Queen Mary in Long Beach - a fun thing to do once, maybe.

Just a few pictures (in the title link above) from Wildlife World Park in Arizona, where we spent a few hours with Brooklyn and Mason before our flight to California. The others are from the Long Beach area and the Queen Mary.

It was a quick trip, but fun at every stop!

Next post will be our northeast road trip -

Arizona & So Cal

We spent a few days in late September in Tucson/Phoenix while John attended a conference. The hotel was great - set in the west Tucson hills, with views of the city and acres of surrounding desert.

I drove up to Phoenix to see Sara and family for a night, then came back and spent a morning hiking in Tucson Mountain Park with my brother Tom. We arrived back at the hotel just before it got impossibly hot (my opinion), but the scenery was worth every step, and the cold beer that followed helped immensely.

Here are a few pictures from that morning walk, if you want to see additional pictures click the title link above. Next up, Long Beach...

Fallingwater - peace and tranquility in the woods

We took a weekend to explore western Pennsylvania last month. After driving through miles of green rolling hills (they call them mountains) we arrived at the historic Summit Inn in Farmington, PA. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and located on a mountaintop, this comfortable old (1907) lodging has panoramic views of the surrounding area - lovely with the leaves just beginning to turn color.

The real reason for our trip came the following morning when we drove a short 1/2 hour to Fallingwater, the beautiful home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright - and probably one of his best known. Built on the rocks and partly over a river, this place defines the word "cantilever"!

We took the short guided tour of the house and wandered the forest paths, but would love to go back and be able to do a more in-depth tour, it's a uniquely lovely and fascinating place.

Check the Fallingwater link in the paragraph above for more info, and don't forget to click on the title of this post for more pictures.

St. Michaels, Maryland

We spent my birthday weekend in St. Michaels, Maryland. Less than a two hour drive but it feels like worlds away. Sailboats, rivers, soft breezes, great food and a wonderful B&B to make it perfect! It almost makes getting older worth it!

For more photos, click on the title (St. Michaels, Maryland) above.

Shenandoah National Park

We spent a recent Saturday exploring Shenandoah National Park. I foresee more trips to this beautiful place, so green and peaceful.

This is Dark Hollow Falls, about 70 feet high, and the easiest of several waterfalls to hike to. It's downhill all the way! Unfortunately, the return is a little more work, but not so bad, and definitely worth the trip.

We found wildflowers along the way. The Lady's Slipper Orchids were at the end of their bloom, we were happy just to find this one.

I couldn't find the name of this pretty plant, but I will...

There were multitudes of violets and other similar little flowers... this may be a Dogtooth Violet, but I'm not sure...

There are more pictures, but I've discovered my link to them isn't working - will post when I've figured out the problem...

Visit to Gaia and Grandpa!

Sara, Coy, Brooklyn and Mason arrived just before Memorial Day weekend, and we made the most of the 5 days we had!  Trips to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, the Aquarium, Great Falls (on the Potomac), movies and the Zoo provided entertainment and wonderful time spent together. 

We enjoyed every minute of their stay, can't wait to see them again!

As usual, for more pictures, click on the title above. 

Lainie & Jason in DC!

Better late than never, I think.  Finally, here are some pictures from Lainie and Jason's visit here in late April.  We had a great time, walked miles every day - museums, monuments, Mt. Vernon, etc... we also went to Philadelphia to see Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. (and taste the Philly cheese steaks!)  Here are a couple of pictures taken while they were here. For more, please click on the title "Lainie & Jason in DC!" above..

Sara, Coy, Brooklyn and Mason were here this last week - will post those pictures in a day or two.

DC in Bloom

We survived the amazing Cherry Blossom dinner, and here are a few pictures of the beautiful trees that are blooming everywhere right now.  I didn't know there were so many varieties of flowering cherries, the profusion of blossoms in some areas is absolutely breathtaking.

If you'd like to see more, click on the "DC in Bloom" text above.

Cherry Blossom Feast

Tonight Deb & I cooked the quintessential Cherry Blossom Feast!   

Brie in Puff Pastry with homemade Cherry Marmalade

Cherry Blossom Martinis

Spinach Salad with Dried Cherries and Cipollini Onions in Cherry Vinaigrette

Pan-seared Coho Salmon with Cherry-Port reduction

Cherry Blossom Fried Rice with Dried Cherries, Carrote and Pea Shoots

served with a Livermore Valley Petite Sirah

Cherry Clafouti with Vanilla Ice Cream

Cherry Heering Liqueur

Sorry everone wasn't here to enjoy the meal, however recipes are available upon request.... :-)

Cherry Blossom Time

 
 

Deb's here for a visit and we've been running around seeing the sights.  The entire city looks new and fresh, all dressed in beautiful pink and white blossoms.  The cherry trees and tulip magnolias are everywhere!  

The orchids are some of the many varieties we saw while visiting the Hillwood Estate and Garden.  The mansion is absolutely stunning, filled with French and Russian antiques, and I can't wait to go back a little later in the year to see the roses and other summer blooms.

On Friday, we're cooking a cherry blossom celebration meal.. more on that soon...