A Walk on the Mall

If I didn't say where these photos are from I don't think even I could guess. But this year is all about capturing images that have a different twist, or textures, or surprises. Since I will be retiring next week I will have even more time to do what I really like to do, when I want, and as often as I want! I'm still trying to get adjusted to that whole notion. So in the mean time when my husband and I meander about the neighborhood I'm hoping to enjoy every minute of it. I've never run in to anyone who is sorry they retired. I can't wait to get in to that mindset! Oh- the photos are from the national mall. Don't you recognize the American Indian museum? The air and space museum? The Smithsonian castle gardens? The US Botanic garden?

All Sides of the Snowy Capitol

Another day off from work! That makes two in a row and only four more days left before I retire on Wednesday. Rather than wander around the neighborhood today, we decided to head towards the government buildings because the sidewalks would be less treacherous - and they were. So we walked around the Capitol Building and things looked a bit different at each turn. There still wasn't much pedestrian traffic, and the mounds of snow were quite high just about everywhere. The reflecting pond had a couple seagull visitors and a squirrel romped about. A few snowmen were erected here and there - one with elaborate red buttons. The famous sledding hill on the southeast side was much less busy than in days past. I suppose some people probably had to get back to work. I am still not a fan of winter or snow, which was a reason to leave the Midwest. But it's been wonderful not to have to work either. But soon, I won't have to do that either! The weather becomes less important when you don't have to be anywhere. Can't wait to see how that feels! 

A Breath of Fresh Air?

After breaking off the key to the patio door and putting sandbags near the entrance to avoid a rush of melting snow, we decided to venture outside - against my better judgment. I'm off from work today, and it's obvious why. The roads are dreadful and the sidewalks are worse. Walking Is not the thing to be doing if you want to keep all your bones intact. So we carefully made our way around the neighborhood. The clearest paths sent us in whatever direction. Luckily for us, our car hardly had any snow on it at all - the winds were in our favor this time. Others were not so lucky! There is a law that sidewalks need to be cleared within twenty four hours. A lot of people just didn't think that rule applied to them while others did, but at some points not even a foot wide, while others were a bit mischevious creating winding rather than straight paths. The birds found little pools of water to splash around in, and the icicles were really forming depending on the direction. Large chunks of snow and ice were already battering our patio garden. One of the little trees was literally broken apart. Along the paths, the greenery was trying to poke out of the snow searching for sanity - like we were. I can't wait for this all to go away. There is simply nothing good about any of it! 

Snow and Ice Art

I hate snow and ice. It is one of the main reasons we moved from the all winter seasons of the Midwest to DC. I disliked driving in it all over town for work, and almost lost three fingers in a snow blower accident. Surgery and six months of physical therapy were not fun. So to get something out of this awful blizzard that is still keeping us inside, I searched for the few pleasantries regarding a situation like this. So I kept my phone and camera in hand, and tried to capture the artistic side of this mess. Living on the first floor has constraints - one needs to look beyond the bars on the windows, although there is a decorative element to them. As day turned to night, the glow of the street lights and front porch cast an eerie yellow hue on the ice and snow. We are trying to figure out how we will clear off the patio before the melting slush creeps in under the door in to the kitchen. It's so ironic that now that the worst has passed, the sun is shining brightly with blue skies all around. I feel a little cheated that we lost a few days of life...and will be glad to get back at the mundane day to day of it all. I really miss it!