Enjoying the time hanging out
last update: 12/20 @ 23:07

Sarah gave us a great tour of her new office today. Her digs at the Library of Congress wins hands down for the coolest office in the family.

When we came home, we lit the fire and pulled out Scrabble.

A fun day all around.

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What a difference a few years makes
last update: 12/18 @ 13:08

Last night Robert and I went to Zento for sushi.

In September 2017, I added this photo to GMaps for Zento. It was Robert’s first normal use of chopsticks (we’d used the rubber band trick before that).

We’ve been several times in the intervening years (usually without Sarah, who is not a sushi fan).

It was really fun to relive that memory last night.

Our orders have gotten a little more … expansive overtime.

Robert has found a couple places around UW for sushi, but it’s pretty expensive for a college student.

Maybe on one of our trips to visit, we’ll investigate options out there to compare with Zento.

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First Day!
last update: 12/17 @ 10:22

If you follow Robert on Bluesky or Insta, you’ll know he’s occasionally making shepherd’s pies in his dorm’s kitchen.

Yesterday, in celebration of Sarah’s first day at Library of Congress, he made one for us.

The picture does not do justice to the LOC outline adorning the top: carefully laid out corn matches the building’s rectangular shape with dome, doors and windows.

And it was great (what of it we could eat yesterday — Robert made a double recipe)!

I know what I’m having for lunch today :)

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It’s beginning to look a lot like…
last update: 12/15 @ 18:53

…Christmas!!! Of Course!

Tonight, with a bit of cold rain here and sleet and snow around us, we lit the first fire of the season.

Seems like a perfect evening for it.

We picked up a tree yesterday (always fun to say no thanks to the offer of help tying it on the car: “we’ll just carry it home”).

And then we decorated it during the Commanders football game.

It’s great to have Robert home for the holidays.

He flew back Friday evening (unfortunately with an ear infection).

We were all glad the local Christmas tree patch (benefiting the Alexandria City Police Youth Camp) still had plenty of nice trees yesterday.

It’s most fun if we all three get to pick out our tree.

And that ensures someone (Sarah) will be available to take a picture as we walk the tree home.

This time we met a family with a toddler on our walk back; it was fun to hear the “Are they carrying a Christmas tree?” as we walked by.

Now we’ll need to add some presents under the tree over the next few days of general relaxation.

Well… Relaxation for Robert and I, Sarah joins the Library of Congress Federal Research Division on Monday!

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It’s a cultural? thing
last update: 12/11 @ 17:36

It’s like this see:

Steve went to WSU to study Physical Chemistry. While there, he found out they also have a good Ag program. And the Ag program has a very good dairy program.

In addition to making really good ice cream, they make cheese.

And, oddly (perhaps uniquely) package it in cans.

You can order those cans directly from The Creamery. But if you order in the summer, you’ll pay an arm and a leg for expedited shipping in a cold pack.

By fall, you pay regular shipping.

I don’t think this will become a tradition, but it is a fun reminder of personal history. I expect there are a few others who can fondly remember cans of cheese, but not many others.

(It’s a very nice, well aged cheddar that I will be happy to enjoy.)

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Happy Birthday to me
last update: 12/10 @ 17:42

Back from unusually sunny Seattle to…

…Foggy DC.

But not a bad day to be on the river. It’s about 2.8 and I had Angler’s Inn all to myself this afternoon.

I really liked how still it looked at the beach.

And the (low) water was plenty clear to see through, but I didn’t see any fish today.

And surprisingly few birds as well.

It was a bit cool. And there was a bit of rain yesterday and the forecast is for more tonight. So maybe the birds were all curled in warm in their nests.

Speaking of warm, thank you PTO: I used part of the NRS gift certificate for Endurance pants which made the enviable splashes much less shocking.

I even decided to treat myself to new wetsuit booties — my toes are sticking through the ones I have now. It’s likely the first time I’ve worn them this fall or winter.

I’m looking forward to getting out more with my new cold weather gear.

I bet I can even find a pretty, blue-sky day (even if cold) in the next few weeks.

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Thanksgiving in Seattle
last update: 12/03 @ 20:48

We had a great time; thank you again David Z. and Lynn for hosting. I can’t imagine how it could have been any better! Lots more photos in the vacations section.

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Good reminder…
last update: 11/21 @ 11:57

I know our NC family and friends learned this with hurricane Helene: running water is modern luxury that is way too easy to take for granted.

Our water company is working on lead pipe remediation; it sounds like it will be a long term project. Our service line was scheduled for today.

I’m guessing having a ditch across the road may impact leaf, trash and recycling collection. More modern luxuries it’s good to remember to be thankful for.

Bonus points: I think the digging is complete and no impact the recently installed fiber line!

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Jamestown history lesson
last update: 11/12 @ 12:47

We took a quick trip back in time to learn more about Jamestown and the earliest days of the English arrival and history of the US. It was a very nice way to spend a couple days and surprising to learn how relatively recently Jamestown has been rediscovered.

There are more photos in the vacations section.

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Very specialized
last update: 11/09 @ 23:13

We stopped by the adult book fair (compared to elementary school, Scholastic book fair) today and ran across this very specialized offering :)

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