Patio Shed Spring Cleaning

We had a two car garage in the Midwest. We have streetparking in our Capitol Hill neighborhood. We also had a good sized patio, and luckily for us, we actually have a patio here in DC too. That is quite unusual for an 1800's building. So we take advantage of the space because you simply can't fit everything you own inside a tiny living place. Even though it takes up some square footage from the patio, we had a shed built to fit up snug against the fence. We use it for all the gardening equipment, and a place to store our luggage. It also houses the cushions from the outdoor chairs during the winter months. We did have covers for the seats, but decided it's easier to store in the shed especially when it rains during the rest of the year. So, as all things go, junk starts to accumulate and it was time to clear out the stuff that we didn't need anymore. Yesterday was a bright and sunny day to do the task so we unloaded all the contents on to the seats, threw a bunch of it away, and organized the rest all in the way it was intended. We do need to get a new pair of gardening gloves, and that's about it. Now we need to tackle the indoor closets for the same reason. Being in such a small place necessitates this cleansing activity at least every few years! Now we just need to find the energy to do it.

Tulips Replace the Orchids in the Wall Vase

In a tiny space it is still nice to have fresh flowers in the room. We used to have a vase of flowers on our kitchen island all the time when we lived in the Midwest. But since we moved to DC, that has not been the case. But in our tiny place we decided a wall vase would be the perfect solution for adding a bit of color year round, and experiment with different flowers and arrangements. It is the perfect spot at Christmas time to add just enough greeenry and even lights to the corner. In the summer I add my own garden flowers which makes it even more meaningful. A few weeks ago we added an orchid, and it actually bloomed all the way down to the last bud. Last week the remaining petals fell to the floor. So while we were grocery shopping I picked up a bunch of red tulips and some greens. So this week it is tulip week - just in time for spring and Persian new year - Nowruz. We really like living in this tiny space and don't miss the fuss and time it takes to keep a big house running. And this little bit of added color hits the spot!

Thank You Suzan Breaz, Twin Elms, and Tatiana

She was born February 13, 1996 and lived to a ripe old age of 13. We had searched for quite some time trying to find the perfect dog. We visited several dog shows and met breeders and talked about borzoi. We knew this would be the prefect pet for us...we preferred larger dogs, furrry dogs, and quiet dogs. When we walked through the Borzoi areas at the dog shows, we never heard a sound. What was cute and unexpected is that because they are so tall, they tend to lean on you for support. We miss this dog a lot, and have been tempted recently to consider getting another one. So, for that and whatever other reason I was searching "Tavaf Tataiana" the other day on the internet and came across Tatiana's pedigree, and it is quite impressive. Tatiana comes from a long line of Borzoi from Twin Elms. The breeder we knew was Suzan Breaz, from Indiana. She always promised if we ever wanted another Borzoi she would find one for us. We even stopped by the farm to visit a couple of years ago and brought a few bags of treats for the pups. But the saddest thing is that when I was searching, I also came across Suzan's obituary. This was completely unexpected and stung us to the core. We just want to thank Suzan, and Dave, for connecting us to this wonderful breed and offer our sincerest condolences to both the human and pooch family. We will miss you.

Clos du Bois Wine Deal at Safeway

We drink a half a glass of red wine every evening. It's a habit we have had for quite a while. We used to drink Clos du Bois Cabernet when we lived in the Midwest. Since we moved to DC ten years ago, it hardly mattered what brand or where we got the wine. Lately we had been going to the total wine store and looked for bottles in the ten dollar range. But since I've been going with my husband for grocery shopping, I've been noticing the prices of wine in Harris Teeter and Safeway. Plus it saves us from taking another trip to the wine store. Today when we were in Safeway in McLean to pick up some Tide high efficiency detergent for our LG washer/dryer combo, I noticed the Clos du Bois. It was originally marked at $19.99, reduced to $11.99 for a single bottle, and $9.99 if you get a set of six bottles. So we got the cardboard holder and filled it with six. At the register, we also got a 10 per cent discount for buying any six bottles. So what usually would be around $120 turned in to $60. And those six bottles will last a long time in our house. I asked my husband if he liked the taste, and he said yes. Me, on the other hand, can't really tell the difference. And the price was right.

Anacostia River and SE Waterfront Yards Park

When we first moved here ten years ago, the only new - and huge - building on the SE Waterfront was the department of transportation. After that, the Washington Nationals ball park became another major inhabitant. Following that were new "rowhouses," an ice skating rink, and restauarants. One of the nicest improvements is Yards Park. It's a lovely venue to walk along the waterfront, take in the scenery, and bring the family for water and music entertainment. It's been awhile since we walked that way, so we decided to take a turn. A lot of the ground breaking high rises are about ready to get occupied. The noise of construction persists. It's predominantly steel and glass all around. A pair of ducks were hanging around the canal, the seagulls were hanging around the docks, and the rowers were practicing along the Anacostia. A helicopter was flying overhead observing the very congested bridge leading in to town. The area and vibe is not my cup of tea, but we are glad the new developments are very much underway. How things have changed in such a short period of time. Wonder what the next ten years will bring?

DC Snow and Flowers

Every day gets a little better. Two days ago we were sliding along on our morning walk and getting clobbered with heavy drops of heavy snow - a very wet affair. It was rather treacherous waking about.  One of my husband's shoes sprung a leak so he ended up with wet feet. I wore nylons, wool socks and high top winter boots. Yesterday was worse with twenty mile per hour winds and freezing temps, but at least we didn't have to deal with the rain and snow flakes. I still wore nylons and winter socks, but with a pair of walking winter boots. We just had to head east and west to avoid the face freezing blasts of wind from the north. Today was at least somewhat sunny, and the wool socks and Merrell waterproof walking shoes were good enough. Finally! With a bit of sun shining on them, the poor suffocating flowers began to show through. It's hard to believe that February was so pleasant and March turned in to this! The cherry blossom crop is probably ruined for the first time in its history. I knew it was too good to be true - a winter without snow and ice. I really dislike it. Thank goodness some of the flowers can stand it. At least when we do go out in it, it's by choice and for exercise sake. I don't have to worry about having to get to and from work anymore. That is a wonderful feeling - even in the snow and ice.

Happy Anniversary!

It is hard to believe it is our anniversary today...not so much the anniversary, but the fact that we have been together for forty years! The first "official" trip we took was to Toronto for a medical meeting with a side visit to Niagara Falls. Most of our travel in those days had something to do with medical meetings because it was the only way my better half would take "time off." So today we celebrated the day by walking this morning in this frigid, cold, wind blustering weather and then stopped by Pete's for a late breakfast. We were never much in to making a big deal about holidays, birthdays, and special occasions. I like to think every day is a special occasion. And for the last forty years, each day  has been memorable.