On Friday I went to visit Jessica and Peter and we had a great summery day together. We made a giant fruit salad at their house and enjoyed lunch on their porch, and then headed over to Peddler's Village. I keep discovering places that I wish I had known about longer, and that's one of them! It was a really nice area to shop and walk around because all the stores are small and independent and there are nice flowers, goldfish ponds and other fun landscaping all around. Such an aesthetically pleasing place to do your shopping, and there are things for everyone on your list. It feels like a little Hogsmeade. :) I think I'll go back there for one or two of their fall festivals (like the apple festival and scarecrow festival!) and do my Christmas shopping there. I especially enjoyed the coffee and tea shop, where I got some awesome chocolate raspberry tea, the bookstore, and one of the shops filled with home decor and jewelry. It was a great day just to relax, window shop and get some gelato with great friends.
Yesterday Carm and I went over to Abma's to get some eggs and produce and afterward she told me about a small grocery store called Market Basket that is close to Abma's. We decided to go and I'm so glad I know about it now! They had the best meats I think I've ever seen, a great cheese counter, and tons of things imported from Italy. Another place I'll have to visit a lot.
I am off to Connecticut for a few days to teach some sectionals, and then I'll have 3 days at home before summer ends. Looking forward to a beach day with Jess, Pete and Warren on the last day. Time flies when you're having fun!
24 August 2010
09 August 2010
Visiting Melissa
This past weekend, Warren and I made the trip down to Washington, D.C. to visit Melissa in her new apartment. She now lives in Dupont Circle, which is an even prettier, livelier and friendlier neighborhood than her prior residence. D.C. is so full of flowers, pretty architecture, fun fountains, cool restaurants and most importantly, lots of dogs. :)
We drove down early on Saturday morning and the first thing Melissa wanted to show us was a very lovely park up the street from her apartment building. It had a really cool tiered waterfall and lots of shady spots to sit in. In the fall or spring it would be a great place to read a book with a cup of tea. After taking some photos there we visited the neighborhood dog park to watch the doggies romp and to pet some of them. Their owners or dog sitters were very friendly and willing to chat and let their dogs socialize with new people. My favorites were a puppy Beagle mix, a pair of friendly Scotties and a dog that looked like a yellow Lab but with a longer, almost white coat. After making friends with the doggies, we stopped for lunch at Firehook Bakery in Dupont Circle, where we had yummy sandwiches, salads and a giant smoothie which we shared 3 ways. I forgot how delicious smoothies are- and it was a welcome treat on a very hot day.
We then took the Metro to the Mall and enjoyed walking around seeing some sights that I hadn't seen last time; the Vietnam and Korean war memorials in particular. I was a huge fan of the little fountains spaced along the Mall that you could cool your feet in. In my humble opinion, every city should have numerous foot fountains! Then we walked to the Tidal Basin where we rented a paddleboat and were able to get up pretty close to the Jefferson Memorial. After that we were ready to go take a cool shower and get ready for dinner. I had been greatly anticipating my return to Bangkok Joe's on the Georgetown waterfront! It was as tasty as expected and after dinner we walked along the water and enjoyed the sights. On the way home we stopped at Baked & Wired to pick up a few cupcakes for the next day. It's a new bakery in D.C. that is even more popular now than the bakery from the show DC Cupcakes...I forget what that one is called though. Anyway, I tried the Elvis cupcake- banana cake with peanut butter frosting and a drizzle of chocolate. Yum.
All told we walked 5 miles or more on Saturday and I was about ready to die! On Sunday morning I went for another short walk with Melissa before it was time to head out. We had a blast and can't wait to go back and see some of the Smithsonian museums. There's always something else to go back for!
We drove down early on Saturday morning and the first thing Melissa wanted to show us was a very lovely park up the street from her apartment building. It had a really cool tiered waterfall and lots of shady spots to sit in. In the fall or spring it would be a great place to read a book with a cup of tea. After taking some photos there we visited the neighborhood dog park to watch the doggies romp and to pet some of them. Their owners or dog sitters were very friendly and willing to chat and let their dogs socialize with new people. My favorites were a puppy Beagle mix, a pair of friendly Scotties and a dog that looked like a yellow Lab but with a longer, almost white coat. After making friends with the doggies, we stopped for lunch at Firehook Bakery in Dupont Circle, where we had yummy sandwiches, salads and a giant smoothie which we shared 3 ways. I forgot how delicious smoothies are- and it was a welcome treat on a very hot day.
We then took the Metro to the Mall and enjoyed walking around seeing some sights that I hadn't seen last time; the Vietnam and Korean war memorials in particular. I was a huge fan of the little fountains spaced along the Mall that you could cool your feet in. In my humble opinion, every city should have numerous foot fountains! Then we walked to the Tidal Basin where we rented a paddleboat and were able to get up pretty close to the Jefferson Memorial. After that we were ready to go take a cool shower and get ready for dinner. I had been greatly anticipating my return to Bangkok Joe's on the Georgetown waterfront! It was as tasty as expected and after dinner we walked along the water and enjoyed the sights. On the way home we stopped at Baked & Wired to pick up a few cupcakes for the next day. It's a new bakery in D.C. that is even more popular now than the bakery from the show DC Cupcakes...I forget what that one is called though. Anyway, I tried the Elvis cupcake- banana cake with peanut butter frosting and a drizzle of chocolate. Yum.
All told we walked 5 miles or more on Saturday and I was about ready to die! On Sunday morning I went for another short walk with Melissa before it was time to head out. We had a blast and can't wait to go back and see some of the Smithsonian museums. There's always something else to go back for!
Nature Therapy
My friend Carmelina and I decided to spend a day kayaking on the D&R Canal in Princeton last week. Warren and I went there last summer and I've been wanting to go back ever since. The water is almost glass-like and on either side of the canal there are big shady trees hanging over the water. Everything is so green and fresh and the only noises come from birds, bugs or other wildlife. We drifted down the river dragging our feet in the water, admiring the scenery and looking at all the little turtles sunning themselves. We got a decent workout on the way back since we were going against a small current. Along the way we suddenly saw a mother doe and her two baby deer right on the edge of the bank, and it seemed like time was suspended as they watched us and we watched them. It was such a cool moment of human-animal interaction. They decided we weren't anything dangerous- they were probably wondering what kind of strange floating animal we were- and grazed and bounded around for quite some time before disappearing into the forest. We had a picnic in a nearby field and before going home we stopped in Princeton for some frozen yogurt & fruit. It was such a serene and carefree day! We should all have more like that.
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