The Jefferson Memorial Wedding Portrait

Driving home from a short trip to Antietam, Maryland we took our usual route down Independence Avenue. I always have my Iphone camera ready for whatever interesting scene may appear, and it helps to support and generate ideas from my blog. The weather was unusually nice and the shadows and lighting were exceptional. The monuments always take on a very different look depending in the time of the day and season of the year. The contrasting light and shadows on the Jefferson Memorial caught my attention. Right after I snapped it though, an even more interesting image appeared. There they were, standing against a column on the ledge of the Tidal Basin barrier fence bridge, a bride and groom. He was holding the bouquet; she was leaning in towards him; her shoes were sitting on the ledge in between her and one of two photographers holding a camera with a very long lens, who was also capturing the moment. You never know what is going to appear on the ride home, and this random scene was totally unexpected. The lighting, the background, the placement of people and things, and the occasion all collided in to the perfect shot. I didn't even see it coming, but was ready all the same.

Pry House Field Hospital and General McClellan's Headquarters

I belonged to the Milwaukee Civil War Round Table for many years. Since we moved to DC, we haven't been to many Civil War sites. Before we moved to DC, I think we saw just about every one of them. I was most interested in the social aspects of the time, and the nursing and medical care. So it was with interest that we visit the Pry House at Antietam. It was used as General McClellan's Headquarters, a field hospital, Clara Barton contributed much to this effort, and it was time for a leisurely country drive. Photographs from the Alexander Gardner collection would also be on display from the Library of Congress in a special exhibit. The second floor of the house was transformed in to an 1862 gallery similar to the one that was set up by Mr. Gardener in New York studio to show the horrors of the war to the general public, entitled "Bringing the Story of War To Our Doorstep." We didn't stay long, but enjoyed the ride to and from. It's only 70 miles away. There was something about the day, and the lighting, and the season today. It's hard to believe what must have happened at that place, but it is good to be reminded.

City Center DC

It was a mistake to run some errands this afternoon after 2 PM. It is Friday, and it is downtown. It did however, give us an opportunity to see the progress of the City Center DC construction project that is billed as another progressive urban development due to be completed in 2013. It is located between 9th and 11th Streets NW, and New York Avenue and H St. It is ten acres, roughly 10 times the size of our one acre lot in Milwaukee. The difference is the height! There will be condos, apartments, business, retail, and restaurants. It is close to, if not in, Chinatown. We never really made it to our destination this afternoon because of the mess, and luckily, it was not essential. Coming home, the streets around our neighborhood are also extremely congested. Independence Avenue is ripped up again, and the parking is more than usually difficult of late, even on a Friday afternoon. I'm not sure why that is. We did finally find a spot along the area that was recently identified as pay only, but not for zone 6 permits. I'm also seeing a lot of visitor pass parking on out of state cars. Something is happening, and I'm not sure I like it! When we got home, we thought it was time to WD40 the window in the bedroom. Bad idea. It is now broken and can't open. Thank goodness winter is on the way.

Clara Barton Comcast Mail

A couple weeks ago we ventured to the Clara Barton National Historic Site in Glen Echo. It is a short ride through Georgetown and the Palisades, along McArthur Boulevard. While we were waiting on the front steps for the hourly tour, the mailbox had an item of interest. I know Clara Barton was a woman of many talents, and she was interested in all the gadgets of her time while she was running the Red Cross. I like to think we had a lot in common. I'm from Massachusetts, am a nurse, a Federal employee, love animals, and like to draw. However, she was considerably shorter! Anyway, I have two digital art renderings on exhibit at the site through October, which is both a privilege and an honor! Regardless, it just seemed funny to see an envelope addressed to Ms. Barton. I know she would have appreciated it, but would have definitely preferred email.

The Subaru Royal Treatment

To make sure it doesn't conk out on us, it was time again to have the Subaru checked for everything. We have had this car for seven years, which is the longest we ever owned any car. It was very versatile in Wisconsin, given the predominant winter and snow season, and great for carting around a 100 pound Borzoi named Tatiana. As for here in DC, it works well because it gets parked on the street, and we really don't mind that much if it gets dinged and hit. So, after spending a huge chuck of change on some new brakes, the car had a wash and a vacuuming. My husband said the service at this place is phenomenal... It is the Beyer Subaru dealer on Richmond Highway in Alexandria. This time, we got an added bonus of an air freshener attached to a thank you note. This is the first car place we ever went to that told us we would probably have this car for several more years before needing to get another one. No sales pitch and no pressure. I would recommend this place to anyone interested in a Subaru, even if I really want a mini.

Teddy at Bullfeathers

It is no surprise that Bullfeathers is taking advantage of the Nationals Division win, and there is no better way than to invite Teddy to meet and greet. On my way home for lunch there was a sign out in front of Bullfeathers that Teddy would be at the restaurant this afternoon for an hour. Too bad it was a rainy day, not a lot of notice, and Congress is out for recess. In spite of that, when I went back to work, the crowd was starting to form, and folks were in line for the photo op. There were also a couple news crews on hand to capture the event. It seemed odd that Teddy was jumping up and down and not a squeak emerged from this very large animated puppet. Our grandson, who loves baseball, was at the game last night and has on his arm the wristband (that gets him in to one of the stadium clubs) that will remain on until the World Series ends. I have a feeling my brother will be doing the same thing. He played baseball, was drafted by the Orioles, and goes to every Nationals game. There is something to be said about it all of this. I can only observe it from the sidelines, and enjoy their enthusiasm. It's a special time for these two fans. And Teddy adds a special touch.

Nationals Stadium Rear

The Anacostia River walk was extended further along to reach the Nationals Stadium. There is some sort of conservancy at the end point, so there must have been access to this area before the new walkway/bike trail was installed. It is an interesting view from behind the stadium. The water is muddy and trash is abundant in the river. There are an occasional pair of ducks and a few herons spotting the landscape. On one end is South Capitol Street flanked by the U Haul storage building with the various sized trucks available for rental sitting on the roof. In the opposite direction is the Navy Yard, with a battleship clearly visible. In between is a lovely park and dog run. It's been awhile since we walked this way. There are many more apartments and condos built, and more to come. The Department of Transportation is a major anchor along M Street. There are temporary restaurants installed until the permanent shops arrive, and the scene is very different on the off season. But this area of DC changes dramatically when the Nationals are in town. And they will be in town a little longer this year. I've been to one game this season, and that is enough for me. But for the fans of the game, what could be a better place to live?