My family toured the Library of Congress last weekend, with alumni from Juniata College, our daughter's alma mater. The Library of Congress is in downtown DC, just behind the Capitol building (next to the Supreme Court). The LOC spans multiple buildings, but the one open for free tours is the … [Read more...] about “I Cannot Live Without Books” Touring the Library of Congress
An Artist’s Date
If you've read "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron, you may recognize the phrase "Artist's Date." It's basically a block of time you spend by yourself to fill up your senses and restore your creativity. Her website puts it like this: Artist Dates fire up the?imagination. They spark whimsy. They … [Read more...] about An Artist’s Date
Easter Sunrise Service at the Lincoln Memorial
We sat on folding chairs before dawn, in the still-dark. Abe Lincoln towered behind us. I felt the cold wind on my cheeks while I kept my arm around my grown-up daughter, to help keep her warm. In the distance, the early light silhouetted the obelisk of the Washington Monument with pink. We listened … [Read more...] about Easter Sunrise Service at the Lincoln Memorial
A Stone of Hope
President's Day dawned unseasonably warm, here in the land of presidents. So Doug and I decided we should do something 1) presidential, and 2) outdoors. We drove into the District of Columbia to walk the monuments. As they say, whenever you have a good idea, you can be sure a lot of other people … [Read more...] about A Stone of Hope
We Are Family: Delivering Food to Seniors
Our daughter texted us, tweeted us, left phone messages, and emailed. I think she wanted to get our attention. She's been volunteering once a month to deliver groceries to seniors, and didn't we want to help? Really, how could we say, "Quit bugging me about your needy seniors when I have water … [Read more...] about We Are Family: Delivering Food to Seniors
Reasons I Love DC
Yesterday evening my husband and I went for a walk around the tidal basin, stopping for a while at the Jefferson Memorial. I loved seeing: ~ The cherry blossoms in the early stages. They are not only iconic, but also beautiful. ~ Groups of high schoolers in their spirit-wear, walking along in … [Read more...] about Reasons I Love DC
Let Freedom Ring: the Newseum
Today we went to the Newseum, a museum run by the Freedom Forum. We: ~ checked out a good-sized stretch of the Berlin wall, complete with guard tower (had never noticed the "back side" devoid of grafitti, mute testimony to the death watch kept on that side) ~ could hardly tear ourselves away from … [Read more...] about Let Freedom Ring: the Newseum
Bike DC
Imagine riding your bicycle in circles down the middle of Pennsylvania Ave, no-handed! The course for Bike DC was seventeen miles, and we never once stopped for a traffic light. Truly amazing. The route began at the Ronald Reagan Building, and went northwest to the very edge of Rock Creek Park … [Read more...] about Bike DC