Apollo Moon Stuff at the Air and Space Museum

We hadn’t been to the National Air and Space Museum for a while. It’s been under a major renovation over the last couple of years. Half of it is complete. So we thought we would get a timed pass and visit before the hoards of spring visitors arrive. The Wright Brothers exhibit is always interesting. The huge aircraft hanging above in the main gallery and elsewhere are mesmerizing. The uniforms of flight crews over the years are fun. But the main exhibit is the moon stuff. The huge rocket boosters are extraordinary. And the journey of space flight is phenomenal. Imagine being stuck in that tiny capsule of Alan Shepard and John Glenn. We finally had the chance to see Neil Armstrong’s space suit mixed in with Star Trek footage playing in the background. None of the huge items are here and the Spirit of St Louis must be in storage. The moon shoes were quite interesting. It used to be when we went to museums things were of a very distant past before we were born. Now, everything looks and sounds so familiar because we lived through all of this. We have slides that my dad took of the tv when the moon landing occurred back in the seventies. You can see how the products of the space program - like Velcro - revolutionized how we live. It’s good to be reminded of all of these accomplishments. But it’s scary to witness how fast time flies. 

52frames_music

I used to play the organ, but that was a long time ago and we don’t have that or any other musical instrument in our house. I looked around for my old charm bracelet that I knew had an organ charm, but the photos didn’t look good. My husband likes to drum his fingers so I thought about a pan and some chopsticks. But he isn’t much for posing for photos like this. He was listening to music with his earphones and iPad, but I wasn’t impressed with the result. So for last week’s 52Frames photo challenge we decided to drive down to the national mall and see if anything would pop up - in my head. I was relegated to thinking about a song that inspires a scene. And there is was - the national air and space museum. It has been closed and under construction for the last many months, but the signage and tarps that surround the outside of the building are still in place. There were caricature rockets and aircraft on the fencing that hides the construction behind it. Then it hit me - a favorite Elton John song “Rocket Man.” So we walked to the front of the building on independence Avenue where I knew there was a portrait of the Apollo 11 astronauts. With the leaves hiding and the sun partially shining on the ever so young faces of 1969 I found a reasonably decent image to portray the sentiment. With a bit of enhancements the green and orange colors balanced out the black and white space suits. The real thing would have been better but this option would have to do. I love that song and remember listening to it while driving home for Thanksgiving from college. It’s a little better than a photograph, but it means a lot more. 

A Walk Along the Mall and the Hirschhorn, Smithsonian Garden

Last week we took the metro in to town for the first time since we moved to northern Virginia five months ago. The weather was good and the timing was right to check out an exhibit at the Freer/Sackler Gallery. So we exited at Capitol South in our old Capitol Hill neighborhood. Then we walked along the old familiar path past the US Botanical Garden, and then on to the National Mall. We passed by the American Indian Museum - the pond was covered with algae, the plants were overgrown and the pigeons were sitting atop the museum sign above the fountain. My old friends the squirrels were out and about - one was posing for us. There are more squirrels on the mall than our neighborhood. The Air and Space Museum was under renovation - half of the building has been exposed for this long haul project. The street out front was also being repaired. There is always construction or repair work going on here - it’s never ending. Then we passed through the Hirshhorn Garden where the succulents were on display. In front of the Smithsonian Castle was an interesting “underwater” scene in the fountain and the lovely flowers that surround the area were in full bloom. In one of the pools was a butterfly sculpture. This used to be our daily walk path. Now it’s every few months and seems so much more interesting. 

A Saturday Afternoon in Washington DC

Every Saturday we drive along the George Washington Parkway to McLean for brunch. On our way home we take Memorial Bridge to the Lincoln Memorial, then head down Independence Avenue. This time of year there is always a good chance of a wedding taking place at the WWI Memorial - and there was - sort of. Not quite a whole wedding party and guests, but a bride and groom quickly getting photos by the monument and dashing in to their Florida License plated car. Sporting events are everywhere with the Washington Monument as a backdrop. Picnickers sit along the Potomac River under the cooler shade of the once blooming cherry blossoms. Tour buses are everywhere with advertisements about TV shows to city landmarks. The MLK Memorial is quite busy, and the Mall is filled to the brim with tourists and graduates and families, and large groups of high school students. The Air and Space Museum has really long lines in front of it - another sure sign that summer is almost here. The Capitol is being prepped for the annual Memorial Day Concert. Closing in on our neighborhood, St. Peter's usually has a wedding taking place too - and there was. The groomsmen in their light colored suits were trying to figure out which way to go as the neighbors meander by. It hardly matters what time of year, or time of day. Anytime we leave the house, we always see something interesting. Just keep your eyes open and you can't miss it. 

Rain Rain Go Away - Where Are the Cherry Blossoms?

I don't think it's ever been this lousy outside since our Milwaukee friends have come to visit in Spring and Fall since we moved to DC. Our plan was to take a walk through Dyke Marsh yesterday but it was raining so hard we decided to drive to Quantico to see the NCIS building. The traffic on 495 was even worse than the weather and what was to have been an hour ride there turned in to an hour ride in just a couple miles. So we turned back and got on Route 1 which was at least more scenic and much less crowded. Rather than come home too early in the day we drove by the Tidal Basin. The cherry blossoms are a full week behind schedule. At least the raindrops appeared to be painting a picture along the tops of the Hirshhorn and Air and Space Museums. You really need to use your imagination. When dinner time rolled around the clouds peeled back just for a minute to reveal an interesting sky over Alexandria. There were threats of even a tornado last evening. Today it is so windy it's hard to walk. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a better tomorrow. I need some sunshine!