On the road …
last update: 04/02 @ 16:25

… not us,Taylor and Tofu, her traveling companion cat.

After introducing skeptical Nanette and Taylor to Peep jousting last night (and finding the yellow Peeps had an unfair advantage), Taylor packed up her van and headed west for her next phase this morning.

We enjoyed her (and Tofu) hanging out with us and loved hearing about their trip.

And Nanette will be staying about a week more with us, so the fun continues.

Nanette held on to Tofu while Taylor packed up early this morning in order to get on the road before the rush hour craziness.

It may be a bit hard to tell with this oh-dark-thirty image, but the van has many more stickers now after their swing down to South Carolina then out to Utah and back. (They thought Canyonlands and Arches were their favorite spots.)

Van Changes
last update: 03/09 @ 17:35

Taylor and her mom had some good ideas about changing the bed platform in her van.

And today we had the time and perfect weather for those updates.

It was a very fun and very different project for me: no straight lines and no 90 degree corners.

But I think we did a good job on it.

It’s solidly attached (I even suggested the “seat belt” which would only come into play in an accident) and it fits the mattress well.

And leaves plenty of space for gear below it.

Taylor’s wide angle photo makes it look bigger than it is, but we used all the space available.

Aussie Visit
last update: 03/05 @ 09:13

Taylor is living the van life and we managed to get on her itinerary for a few days.

Her mom Nanette flew in Tuesday for a planned road trip together.

Life got a little complicated and they had to take off earlier than planned and the adventure is a bit different. But I expect it will still be entertaining.

We’re expecting to see them back this way before Nanette’s flight back in a few weeks.

And we’re looking forward to hearing all about where they have been this time.

Christmas photos
last update: 01/10 @ 14:08

We had a trip right after Christmas (more on that later) and so I’m a bit late in posting Christmas photos. It was a very nice, mellow, family-focused holiday in Alexandria. More photos in the trips section.

Quick Robert Visit
last update: 06/12 @ 15:35

Robert’s home!!!

With an internship lined up for the summer, in addition to working for the Tempest/Cascades and Lumen Field, we’re getting a Robert visit in while we can. He’s now a senior!!!

Crazy!

We took advantage of the visit for an early father’s day and I’m fortunate to have several cool gifts:

• new music: Colter Wall; I’m liking his Imaginary Appalachia
• Blazin’ Raisen hot sauce (I’ve not tried yet)
• Dilettante’s chocolate (always a tasty treat)
• A Bird Buddy bird feeder with camera (as you can see).

While he was here, Robert had chance to try his hand at a Metro Speedrun:

The goal is to see how fast you can get through every metro station.

His time (see below), just over 8 hours, is very respectable. The ways to get faster, 7:34 is the current record, involve starting at the ideal station (Greenbelt, in Maryland) at the idea time to catch an express transfer bus between the suburban Maryland stations.

If you have questions, he’ll gladly clue you in :)

Pocket joined him for the first leg on her way in to work. And I joined for the first few stations just because :) I can now say I’ve been to the Franconia / Springfield and Huntington stations.

Ask Robert for his Insta Story for more details.

Chilly day on the river
last update: 04/17 @ 18:04

Sally had a friend to go visit this morning so Hank and I dropped her off and headed to Angler’s Inn. Sadly, Sarah had a conflict.

It was about 3.75 on the gauge; the water is still pretty cold (I found out with direct experience) and the air was just barely 60.

So chilly.

But look at the blue sky!

And all the trees are starting to leaf out now (some more than others).

We had to say goodbye to Hank and Sally this afternoon. They are headed back up to Hull for the spring. But we’re talking more seriously about when we could head up that way for a visit.

Fun Day
last update: 04/15 @ 19:16

Hank and Sally are working their way up the east coast from their wintering grounds in Florida :)

And they stopped by our neck of the woods!

They gathered a mini-reunion of about half of the Galapagos trip folks for a day at Hillwood Estate.

We lucked out on the weather and spent the first part of the day outside (with a lunch under the tent) before touring the mansion as the little bit of rain passed through.

That’s David, Sarah, Penny, Hank, Neil, Sally and JD (photo by another visitor) outside the green house.

It’s really hard for me to say what was most impressive.

The flowers, orchids, gardens and grounds (including the Japanese Garden Sarah is showing off below.

Or the Faberge eggs, jewelry, paintings and historical collection.

It is well worth a visit (and with fun, interesting and beautiful things inside and out, the weather is not too important in planning a visit).

Sadly, Sarah had a couple of meetings, but was able to catch up and enjoy most of the grounds and tour.

And, of course, we took advantage of a quiet table to catch up and think about future trips.

Watch this space to see where we end up next :)

Christmas notes
last update: 01/04 @ 13:55

More photos and a few more details of our Christmas are in the Vacations Section (even though we stayed in Alexandria).

National Aquarium
last update: 12/30 @ 11:24

Robert had the great idea to check out the National Aquarium while he’s here.

We went up for the afternoon yesterday (carefully ensuring we’d be home in time to watch the Commanders host the Falcons on Sunday Night Football).

Of course, we needed a photo in front of the Domino Sugars sign across the harbor (trust me, that’s the sign). That’s in honor of Lee and her Texas sheet cake recipe which calls for a box of powdered sugar for the frosting.

After giving it some thought, we concluded Baltimore still has a better aquarium than Seattle (though Seattle’s is much improved based on our trip this past Thanksgiving).

Seattle’s new wing does have a fantastic viewing window. And it’s much lighter. And it has that cool bowmouth guitarfish we’ve never seen anywhere else.

But Baltimore seems to have more tanks and more variety. So maybe just a little bit better… maybe.

Robert asked a docent why Baltimore has a rain forest area as part of the aquarium. I think I overheard correctly that they are making the point about the connectedness of water. The rain falls in the rain forest, flows downstream and ends up in the ocean.

But that still doesn’t make this sloth an ocean-dweller :)

Consistency
last update: 12/26 @ 18:04

We renewed our memebership in the National Building Museum when we went by to check out the Brutalist exhibit.

Robert is big fan of much of DC’s Brutalist architecture, especially the metro stations.

And since we were there, and they have such a cool Lego space…

Check out this blast from past and compare the styles.

Old Stories
last update: 12/24 @ 23:17

We’ve often talked about that time when…

Robert was on the metro and kept taking he’s shoes off.

We didn’t want him losing his shoes.

Or walking around barefoot.

And, shoes were required at day care.

So I reached into my commuter bag and got out my duct tape…

Last night we all spent a lot of time looking for that photo on this blog.

But it looks like it predates posting everything. The photo is in an actual physical photo album that Sarah pulled out this morning.

Thus providing the photographic proof.

Enjoying the time hanging out
last update: 12/20 @ 23:07

Sarah gave us a great tour of her new office today. Her digs at the Library of Congress wins hands down for the coolest office in the family.

When we came home, we lit the fire and pulled out Scrabble.

A fun day all around.

What a difference a few years makes
last update: 12/18 @ 13:08

Last night Robert and I went to Zento for sushi.

In September 2017, I added this photo to GMaps for Zento. It was Robert’s first normal use of chopsticks (we’d used the rubber band trick before that).

We’ve been several times in the intervening years (usually without Sarah, who is not a sushi fan).

It was really fun to relive that memory last night.

Our orders have gotten a little more … expansive overtime.

Robert has found a couple places around UW for sushi, but it’s pretty expensive for a college student.

Maybe on one of our trips to visit, we’ll investigate options out there to compare with Zento.

First Day!
last update: 12/17 @ 10:22

If you follow Robert on Bluesky or Insta, you’ll know he’s occasionally making shepherd’s pies in his dorm’s kitchen.

Yesterday, in celebration of Sarah’s first day at Library of Congress, he made one for us.

The picture does not do justice to the LOC outline adorning the top: carefully laid out corn matches the building’s rectangular shape with dome, doors and windows.

And it was great (what of it we could eat yesterday — Robert made a double recipe)!

I know what I’m having for lunch today :)

It’s beginning to look a lot like…
last update: 12/15 @ 18:53

…Christmas!!! Of Course!

Tonight, with a bit of cold rain here and sleet and snow around us, we lit the first fire of the season.

Seems like a perfect evening for it.

We picked up a tree yesterday (always fun to say no thanks to the offer of help tying it on the car: “we’ll just carry it home”).

And then we decorated it during the Commanders football game.

It’s great to have Robert home for the holidays.

He flew back Friday evening (unfortunately with an ear infection).

We were all glad the local Christmas tree patch (benefiting the Alexandria City Police Youth Camp) still had plenty of nice trees yesterday.

It’s most fun if we all three get to pick out our tree.

And that ensures someone (Sarah) will be available to take a picture as we walk the tree home.

This time we met a family with a toddler on our walk back; it was fun to hear the “Are they carrying a Christmas tree?” as we walked by.

Now we’ll need to add some presents under the tree over the next few days of general relaxation.

Well… Relaxation for Robert and I, Sarah joins the Library of Congress Federal Research Division on Monday!

Fun day on the river
last update: 08/16 @ 22:41

Steve and Helen have landed in Alexandria on the tail end of their trip around Lake Superior.

And they brought boats.

So Sarah and I introduced them to Anglers to Lock 10.

We did paddle up to play in the chutes a bit before heading down to lock 10.

New to me (weekday paddling): we ran into a summer camp trip from Calleva. They had a fair number of kids in kayaks, on SUPs and in rafts. They all seemed to be having a good time and they were very nice to our four boat party at the take out.

Steve and Helen may have some Facebook posts later.

And Sarah is likely in the market for a longer padde after playing with theirs.

Back on the river with Pocket
last update: 07/28 @ 20:22

Pocket was good, she asked “When should I meet you to go to the river?” Not “Should I meet you?”

(Actually, that’s how it was relayed to me. Pocket said she was less forward when talking to SZap.)

It was hot but not horribly humid.

And certainly cooler on the water.

We paddled up from Angler’s Inn to Rocky Island — I don’t recall doing that when there was so little current in the gorge. It really is pretty low.

But there are smiles on everyone’s face.

He’s Back!!!
last update: 06/16 @ 12:25

Classes over, Robert came home to Alexandria.

Sadly, not for the summer.

But for a very nice week-long break.

We had fun hanging out together.

And it was great that his trip happened to coincide with Father’s day (thank you for the Bluetooth meat thermometer which I’m sure to start using soon).

We even had a rematch of the Catan game with Pocket; Robert won.

But he’s headed back to Seattle for the summer.

He has some more work with the Ultimate Frisbee teams there, and is hoping to line up another summer job as Frisbee still leaves most of his time free.

Sarah and I really enjoyed having Robert back in the house and were sorry to see him go. But he truly is adulting well.

Great Falls
last update: 06/08 @ 17:52

Sarah’s brother David happened to be in town this weekend (congratulations on the award).

And he had some time free so we picked him up and headed to the Billy Goat trail.

I know Hank and Sally and I did this as well, but it had to be 30 years ago.

It was a picture perfect day.

Perfect for us and the Heron!

I’ve forgotten the view of the Falls from the Maryland side. Really pretty impressive (even if the straight Virginia drop is hidden behind the rocks.

And the while we shared the trail with many other families and folks — we had the benefit of someone to take our picture for us.

There is a bit of a scramble up the rocks at one point on the trail, and I’ve often watched folks slip a bit there when I paddle up the gorge. Now I know why :)

It was great fun to see David and show off one of our favorite spots to him. In a way, returning the favor of the Eastern Washington hike he took us on earlier this year.

Now we just need to get him in boat…

Christmas photos
last update: 01/03 @ 15:05

Sadly for us, Robert had to go back to school. We had a lot of fun while he was here and I expect we’ll start plotting our next trip out that way soon.

There are some more photos in the vacations section.

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