Sunday, March 31, 2019

Cherry Blossoms in the Neighborhood

You don’t have to go to the tidal basin to see the cherry blossoms. It’s very crowded this time of year - and it’s probably the busiest time of the year in DC with all the tourists, spring break students, and locals. So rather than head that way we decided to just walk about our neighborhood on Capitol Hill. Starting at the Supreme Court it already looked like a fairy land. You could see signs of spring in some if the most unexpected places. Heading towards Union Station through the park the squirrels were scurrying about amid the pleasant blooms. The daffodils were everywhere and the magnolias looked really pretty against the row houses. There was a fairy garden and ultimately several cherry blossoms along the way - some right in the Park by our house. For a lot of reasons we didn’t get to do our usual drive through Potomac park and the tidal basin this year. But we were not disappointed to look right in our back yard. 































Saturday, March 30, 2019

Gunk on the Windshield

It’s bad enough to have to park on the street. It’s even worse when someone sprays gunk on your windshield. We noticed many areas of dripping white paint or something like it on the window while driving last week. You know it’s bad when the windshield wiper spray can’t get it off. We decided that it must have happened when we were parked next to the building and five stories up they were tuck pointing and painting on two very windy days. So yesterday we got out the windex and the Goo Gone cleaner and tried our luck at cleaning the mess off. It didn’t work. So we got the razor edge and tried scraping it off. It helped somewhat, but we weren’t able to do a 100% job. There are still many tiny white dots splattered on the glass. Hopefully it will wear off in time. I really miss our garage and personal driveway. Street parking is a real pain. Hopefully it will come to an end soon. 












Friday, March 29, 2019

Budweiser Clydesdales

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Yesterday on our morning walk we decided to visit Nationals Stadium on opening day. As we were making our way around the perimeter we stopped at the Budweiser wagon that was parked on the east side. Next to the wagon were at least six huge trucks with “Clydesdales” written all over them. Some of the doors were open and we saw the faces (and behinds) of the beautiful horses inside. We got there just in time to see the animals dressed in their red blankets escorted down the plank to be spruced up and prepared for the work and show ahead. One by one they were brought to the front of the wagon and harnessed to each other all the while as the narrator told the crowd about each horse and how they manage the whole operation. So we hung around long enough to see the last passenger - the Dalmatian - climb aboard the rig and then watch as the eight horse hitch moved out on to the Main Street. I have never been on a horse and am amazed at how gentle these huge animals are. It was a sight to see. 

























Thursday, March 28, 2019

Washington Nationals Opening Day

Rather than going our usual route to the National Mall for our morning walk, we headed to Yards Park to see what was going on for the Nationals Opening Day. The game was scheduled for 1 PM, but the crowds were already en route to the stadium from every direction. We walked to the waterfront and looped around to South Capitol and across. The rear entrance was quiet but fans were gathering at the west entrance. The cherry blossoms looked outstanding next to the baseball great iron statues. Of course we took a selfie in the large mirrored baseballs hanging high from the structure. The lines were getting longer and longer by the front gate and there was a sea of red everywhere. On the east side of the park the Budweiser Clydesdales trucks were parked and the beautiful horses were napping inside. But soon they were brought out and hitched to the wagon. The eagle mascot was also roaming around and a bunch of sailors must have gotten free passes to the event. The Dalmatian pup was the last occupant to get on board the wagon before it rolled out. It was a great diversion for our typical morning walk. Play ball! 































Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Magnolias at the Smithsonian Castle Gardens

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BlogTouch Pro is back up and ruining! Now all the photos show as photos instead of white boxes. And the timing is great - the magnolias at the Smithsonian Castle gardens are just about at peak bloom. It was a brilliant sunshine on our walk this morning. The cherry blossoms in front of the Capitol were also looking pretty as well as those on the way to the Air and Space Museum. Either a new or moved art installation was taking place at the Hirshhorn sculpture garden. Crocus and other bulb flowers were blooming all about the garden paths. But the show stopper was the Smithsonian garden magnolias. Luckily this year they haven’t been frozen out by unusually harsh conditions. It was like a fairyland wandering through the very familiar place. And of course spring in DC is not complete without the duck boats. And speaking of ducks - a momma duck was sitting on her nest at the US Botanical Gardens. My husband and I looked great in the daffodil bed at the Bartholdi fountain. Finally -  a beautiful day with sunshine and springtime.