Meridian Hill

Today we went to Meridian Hill Park. The weather was fantastic.. none of the horrendous humidity that is sure to come in the near future. We had just the perfect weather for kicking a ball around and for being outside.
This park has an interesting history. The hill gained it's name from and idea of the "Earth's prime meridian running directly north of the white house" (16th st) promoted by Thomas Jefferson.
This area was well traveled by Native Americans, home to five U.S. Presidents, a Civil War Hospital, and early African American Seminary. It became an official park in 1936. From what I've read, the construction was never officially completed. The park was quite a crime spot in the 60s. In the 90s local citizens decided to take back the park, forming the "friends of Meridian Hill."

I'm quite glad they did. Although it's been 17 years, and I'm sure the park could use more friendly involvement~ (note to self to look into this group). We quite enjoyed the fact that it was there today, when we had our soccer ball pumped, and the sun smiling down upon us. Today was quite an enjoyable day.

revolutionary revelation

Today was a beautiful day. We went walking and found ourselves in Georgetown. We love the Georgetown recreation center which is quite a contrast to the one in our own neighborhood. (We live in a great part of town, it's just that the rec center is outdated.)
The Georgetown Recreation Center has a rec room, basketball hoops, tennis courts, a rec center that actually offers recreational activities, a nice little playground, baseball diamond and a pool. We looked at the pool and it looks really promising with summer looming in the horizon. It hasn't opened yet, but soon.. soon!

We were standing in front of some bushes, looking up at the pool, behind us there were a few basketball games going on, to the left , the rec building and playground... we glance down, and almost missed the plaque honoring soldiers of the American Revolution buried right on that spot.

It was quite a surprise. I know everything has a history. Still, it was really unexpected to see this plaque. I've been to this park quite a few times and never ever have I stopped to think of any soldiers buried there. I just hadn't really thought about it! That is one of the things I love about this city. History unfolds itself if you happen to be looking.

sky blue graffiti

Our neighborhood recreation center is not much of a center at all. There are three basketball hoops, some picnic tables, and a small (very small) playground. I have not been able to figure out the original signifigance behind this painted wall, I believe it has been added to over the years. (is it considered volunteer work if one paints graffiti over graffiti in the local parks and rec center?) It is rumored that this playground is to be renovated. I've also heard that some living in the neighborhood surrounding it do not support such renovations. This is the second time I've heard of people living near a park wanting it to remain in it's dilapidated condition. I don't understand this kind of thinking.

I like that the church in the background is a contrast to the wall, and that the blue on the wall matches that of the sky.

The wall near the basketball hoops has a mural/graffiti wall with a wizard of oz theme. I'll post that one another day.

fleeting flowers

I walked by this house many many times and finally, on a Tuesday I pulled out my camera. I wasn't feeling great when I took this shot, and I intended to go back to reframe it. Four days later we were out walking and we passed by this corner. I can only imagine it was the storms from the night before which deflowered the lawn. I was so accustomed to seeing all the color that I almost didn't realize that it was the same house. The lawn was full of tulip stems just sticking out of the ground, petals strewn around.

pretty purple and prickly

Today I saw the perfect shot, but unfortunately forgot to bring my camera. No worries, I can return another day.
It was much cooler today, in the lower fifties. It was mid seventies yesterday. For today's picture I grabbed a shot from my files. It was taken on my birthday, last year, June 21. This is just a picture of some flowers, or perhaps even weeds, that I saw before we headed into Rock Creek Park.

city sunrise... well, sort of

There are a lot of really neat old houses here in DC. They look completely different than the houses in the southwestern US neighborhood in which I lived as a child. This house had been renovated with these modern, yet burglar resistant bars on the basement window.

Baird Basket

About a month ago, the Environmental Film Festival graced the city of DC. While sitting in the Baird Auditorium in the Smithsonian National History Museum, I glanced up at the ceiling. I immediately felt as if I were sitting in an enormous basket.

Colossal Columns

Many months ago we visited the National Arboretum with some friends. We wandered the grounds and only saw a tiny portion of all that there was to see. The Arboretum is the perfect place for the nature lover, or for a group of kids just hankering to run free.
It was a cool day with ominous clouds looming over us for most of the time we spent there. We decided not to press our luck and to head back to our cars, having spent a good couple of ours walking the grounds already. These columns just sort of appeard. Well, they didn't really just appear, but it sure felt that way. We had been looking at plants, bugs, trees, flowers and any number of natural wonders and then we come upon these. It was pretty cool. The kids ran toward the columns in what seemed like the opening of a really great music video.

seraphic stone

I took this picture through a fence. I'm not sure if it was from the Oak Hill Cemetery or a seperate, perhaps private, cemetery.

pagentry in pink

This tree stopped me in my tracks.

Rocket Sky

Here is another shot from the Air & Space museum with a clear blue Washington DC sky.

a picture of a picture of the people in my neighborhood

The Studio Theatre is located on 14th & P street NW. My ten year old son thinks I should call this picture "the kissing-squished-nose people" ... (how romantic)

We've lived here for almost a year. Today my daughter told me that she loved walking around here when we first moved into our apartment. We would explore the neighborhoods. Everyday was an adventure to "see what we could see." She told me that now it's all familiar. I'll have to start showing her things. I think she'll be surprised at how much there is yet to see.

Wright Brothers' Bicycle

I took this photo at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. It is the Wright Brothers Bicycle with Kitty Hawk in the background. We've spent a great deal of time in the museums and almost always end up at this exhibit while browsing the many flying contraptions at the Air & Space museum. I like to sit on the benches and watch the people, many coming for the first and possibly once in a life time visit. I like to listen to the comments. So many cameras, from the disposable variety to the top of the line photographer's dream camera click away in this room.
Next time I'll get a better shot.

this is why I love digital pics

I've been waiting for this plant to bloom.
wondering if it would.

It's a rescued plant from outside... my building was taking out all the potted plants and replacing them.. a seasonal thing. I hate to see plants discarded.

A couple of weeks ago I spotted a few buds on this plant.

Today, although outside was April Showers... inside I saw signs of spring.

Renoir on the sidewalk

This morning we decided to walk back to the Phillips Collection to see if the sidewalk chalk artist had finished her copy of Renoir's painting. Dana Ellyn was busy working on this yesterday, but apparently did not finish. I like this unfinished version.
Today was the perfect example of spring weather. It was cool, but not cold. The city is green. I've been waiting for weather like this. I hope it lasts!

today at the Phillips

We went to The Phillips Museum today. It was a family free day with a Renoir theme. They had actors dressed as different characters in Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party, crafts for the kids, and of course the art!

Actually, I enjoy the Phillips Museum. It is a cozy place to go when not completely packed, and it has a pretty nice collection. We plan to go back to see the current show as it was simply to croweded for full appreciation today.

glass forest

The setting sun shone through my window casting this amber light upon the glassware. I feel like I'm sort of cheating on the whole city photo blog with this one.. but , heck, it's my blog, and the photo was taken IN my city, and I like it.... so there you have it.

happy friday to all.

R & 30thst NW

At the end of the street, where R meets 30th, is this fantastically old cemetery.

Red

We were walking down 15th street NW when I spotted these tulips... not that I could have missed them!

AH spring!

glistening

This was taken shortly after a very heavy rainfall that seemed to have refreshed this little blossom!

Saturday's Rainy day rooftop shot.

We didn't get out at all on Saturday, unless you count going to the roof to see what we could see. I wish we had thought to take my dad back up there today, when the view was much clearer. Saturday it was just rainy and cold.

This is a picture of Scott Circle in NW Washington DC taken April 8, 2006.

well deserved recognition... or just a good drink?

Today we walked the mall, hit many a monument, made it to the Natural History Museum... walked and walked and walked...
...finally ending up on the receiving end of a rather frosty and delicious hefeweizen that really hit the spot.

I think it's high time SAHMs everywhere raise a glass and enjoy!

;)
I did.

The Washington Monument 3.18.06

Today's photograph of the Washington Monument was taking March 18. That was a day of clear blues skies and spring weather. Today the temperature has plummeted to the mid forties and the rain has yet to stop all day. I feel bad for my Dad visiting during the one weekend where we've been rained out pretty consistently.

I am posting the Washington Monument because one it is one of the pictures that my brother-in-law asked my Dad to take. We live here and no one in our family has ever requested to see any of the sites photographed, yet my Dad comes for a weekend and he gets requests.

We were just out walking when we passed the spot where I took this picture. I love how the light makes the monument look flat... as if it could be a cardboard cutout in front of bright blue paper!

And I love the trees... always will.

reflection

This sculpture is located outside the west end of the Smithsonian Air and Space museum. My dad is visiting from Arizona and one of the places the kids have been wanting to take him since our very first trip to DC is the Air & Space Museum. Today they finally got their wish. We waited to head out until the rain stopped, but we didn't quite wait long enough. We ducked into the metro to escape the torrential downpour that snuck up on us. We had our rain gear, but it was raining so hard that our shoes and the bottoms of our jeans were pretty wet... we figured they'd be a lot more than pretty wet had we walked all the way... I love the metro.. especially when it is right there when you need it!

By the time we made it to the National Air and Space Museum, the rain had subsided and the sun was playng peek-a-boo. I was much more appreciative of the rain when I saw it provided enough water under this sculpture for the reflection. Thankfully the sun also took that moment to shine.

All in all the day was a good one. The kids enjoyed showing their Grandpa around the museum... we all agreed to take the metro home, and now, as I type, my dad is dozing on the couch as the kids watch the movie he helped them pick... a Howard Hughes documentary. ;) Some things never change.


photo taken 4.7.06

something I saw

One thing I really like about taking pictures, and something I have in the past taken for granted, is that when I snap a picture, I am preserving something that I see. Sometimes this same thing would go unnoticed by others. I like to wonder about what others see that I don't.

This picture was taken on a Thursday. The kids and I were on the way to the library to play some games with friends. We were walking, talking, commenting on the world arounds us. I stopped to take this shot... it was a tree on the corner of one of the many squares that I wish were better suited for basking in the sun on a beautiful day, but unfortunately ...more on that another day..

The point I was making was about photography, not the homeless in this nation's capital.

Today we walked by the tree from which this blossom sprang forth and there are no more blossoms on it. I captured something that is no longer there.

I like that feeling. It is almost like having a secret or a special memory. It makes me smile.

photo taken 3.28.06

pastel row 6.19.05

DC and row houses go hand in hand. I took this one last June while out on a walk with my family. Perhaps I'll go back this June and reshoot it, just to see if there has been any change.

My hubby has a large copy of this hanging in his office. I love that people are surprised to find out that I took it, and that it is just down the street! Sometimes it seems like people must walk around with their eyes closed.

frozen blossoms NW DC 2.12.06

I enjoy watching the various stages of growth in all living things. I'm constantly pointing out buds, and new growth on trees... (possibly to the annoyance of those around me) This particular tree chose to blossom early. I spotted it the Tuesday prior to taking this picture. The kids and I walked by it on the way home from ballet class, or the park. It was unseasonably warm (although it seems unseasonable describes all of DC's weather, at least as long as we've lived here) . This blossom bloomed early, only to find itself stuck in a 'blizzard' the following weekend.

>>Now for a little history >> In 1912, Japan, as a gesture of friendship, gifted the district 3000 of these flowering trees. The city is blessed with an explosion of blossoms every April, hopefully to coincide with the National Cherry Blossom festival. The Japanese culture in the district has a chance to bloom then as well.

Cherry Blossoms taken 3.20.06 ~ georgetown, DC

I figured these blossoms were a good place to start. I took this picture in Georgetown, March 19, 2006. It was a blustery day on the waterfront. I have many more pictures of blossoms... The actual cherry blossom festival is in full swing right now... not being one for crowds, I've managed to avoid it thus far. I figured the family and I will brave the crowds and the blossoms next weekend, for the big parade...