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!

A Lazy Friday Afternoon Down Independence Avenue

My husband was reading an article somewhere about a guy who lives in DC and can't understand the need to travel - particularly If you live in a city like this. DC has everything, so there was no need to look any further. With that in mind, I thought about it as we were coming home along the George Washington Parkway and crossing over Memorial Bridge by Arlington Cemetery. Our usual route is down Independence Avenue. Looking out on the Potomac was a tourist boat streaming down the river. The Washington Monument stands out against the crisp blue sky with all the earthquake damage scaffolding removed. I'm always looking for a wedding party at the WWI Memorial, and sure enough there was an event taking place there. The ever changing floral Library was just planted for the summer season. The newest addition to the grand Smithsonian Museums is making progress up on Constitution - four stories above ground are now visible. The 1879 National Museum restoration project is now complete, but unfortunately there is nothing going on inside. Imagine what did go on in 1879! The familiar street vendors are lined up all along the Avenue, and the hop on and hop off tour buses are everywhere. Since we moved here a lot of this feels all too familiar, and even annoying depending on the time of the year. But you really have to agree somewhat with what the man was saying about not needing to travel. All this activity and known national landmarks were seen on just one street in the city. Who needs a suitcase? Just step outside.