Reflections of an embassy

I was taking this picture of my family yesterday when I noticed the striking reflection of the Embassy of Sweden. It was a rather opportune obbservation because I just found out that the embassy is moving!
The embassy is reflected in the windows of National Housing Center which is home to the National Association of Home Building on the corner of 15th & M, NW DC.

Sleeping Monster

Last Thursday we were on our way to the dentist when I spotted this sleeping monster. She must have been very busy and was taking a well deserved rest. Evidence of her hard work was behind her in the form of a huge hole in the ground. I'm curious to see what else might take place there, as there were other species of monsters milling around the area. In the heat, none were busy.

This was on M street and 20th NW.

UPDATE UPDATE >>

Monsters have been spotted all over the world! They have been seen in Manila and Akida.

Are there monsters in you neighborhood???

Iron Vines

This structure is near the fountain from yesterday. I love the shadows and twists. The wall of green in the back has a completely different look in the winter. I always like to see how much it has changed each time we visit Alexandria.

cool and refreshing

Yesterday, we went to Alexandria, Virginia. It is an easy metro ride on the blue or yellow line to King Street Station. From there we took a very hot, humid, what-were-we-thinking-walk up King Street to lunch at the Asian Bistro. My husband met us for lunch, which was a treat! Unfortunately he had to return to work after we ate, but the kids and I like to hit a couple of thrift stores while we are there. Actually, my son's favorite hobby shop is in Alexandria. It is a lego lovers dream. There is a severe lack of toy stores in our neighborhood (or so I am told). Alexandria makes up for it. There is a Discovery Store, Old Town Theater, some great thrift stores, used book stores, as well as a wonderful children's book store called A Likely Story. It was at A Likely Story where we met one of our all time favorite children's book Author and Illustrator, Kevin Henkes a few months ago. Now that I think about it, I have some great pictures of that to post.
Anyway.. back to yesterday. It was extrememly hot, humid and miserable. Still we had a great time and brought home some neat finds. On our way back to the station I stopped to snap a few pictures of a little garden, I believe a memorial, but honestly, it was too hot to look. I just love this area. I'll post more pictures of it tomorrow, but to wet your whistle, I share this little gem. There was a drinking fountain that , when the button was pressed to get a drink, also poured the excess water down the pipe and out of these hands for any thirsty dogs that happen to be out and about. Yesterday the dogs were smarter than us. They stayed home!

pentagon city mall

One thing that is plentiful in America is the mall, a giant building with shops, shops and more shops.. and food, to satisfy ones hunger so that the shopping can resume! ;)

Pentagon City Mall is easily accessed by taking the blue or the yellow lines out of DC.

I think I shall get more pictures there next time. I like the light and the ceiling and the people watching.

Happy Shopping.

Santy has posted many pictures of malls in Indonesia in her Daily photo blog. It amazes me how much they look like the malls I've seen all over America. I guess it really is a small world after all!

;)

update... I'm adding more ... Malls across the world!
From Glasgow, Scotland

climb anyone?

This is an apartment or condo building on 16th street (I believe) around R street. Everytime I see it I just want to climb up the right side of the building.

=) anyone else get that feeling???

SpaceShipOne

For my hundredth post, I thought I would share a few shots from a truly DC moment. SpaceShipOne, the first privately funded human spaceflight, made history on June 21, 2004, which also happens to be my birthday.





On October 5, 2005 my family was there to witness the ceremony in which Paul Allen, the sole funder, and Burt Rutan, the designer, donated SpaceShipOne to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. After the ceremony, the kids while we were chatting amongst ourselves while the crowd dispersed. The kids and I hung out, but unfortunately my husband, David, had to get back to work. We got to hear Burt Rutan telling pretty much anyone who would listen what he hopes to see happen with space travel. To hear him talk of SpaceShipTwo reminded me of all the newsreels I have seen of early flight travel. He graciously agreed to be in the picture with us.

Many months later while we were visiting another museum, my son handed his museum guide to me and asked me to hold it for him. I glanced at it before stuffing it into my backpack, the very same backpack that I saw on the girl (me) in the lower right corner of the Smithsonian Museum Guide cover. My husband added the highlight and words. We were surprised and excited!

Thomas Circle open to the public...

I have mentioned Thomas Cirlce in previous posts. It has been under construction for well over a year and a half. I suppose it is 'officially open'...whatever that means...
the first shot I posted was from May 13, 2006.
I also posted a night picture taken from my rooftop on the Fourth of July.
The other pictures I took through a window in my husband's office.
The top photo was taken July 9th, 2006. It was very hot and I thought the dry barren circle reflected the heat.

The bottom picture was taken today. I suppose the presence of people actually walking through the circle indicates that it is, indeed, open! However, I'm still holding out for some green. Surely, they'll plant some grass, maybe flowers... some trees?? ... something...

Urban Art in the Street

There is construction going on in the space next to the Washington Post Building on 15th Street. We were walking and at a glance I saw this pile of construction material. The richness of the rust caught my eye. I thought it looked like a sculpture we might find at one of the museums.

more on the up and up

The building on 12th & I street.

pigeons beware!

I was drawn to this building by the red brick as well as the sun caught in the protective spikes.

stairway

This is a stairwell at the Phillips Gallery in NW Washington DC. This photo from April shows a different starwell.

purple door

We went to the Phillips Museum yesterday. We decided to get a membership. They have such a wonderful collection of art, and it is a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon. Right now they are showing their collection of work by artist, Paul Klee. There was also an interesting exhibit titled "When We Were Young: A new perspective on the art of the child". We enjoyed it all and will return to see more.
On the walk home we spotted this purple door. If you look closely you will also see something I've been waiting all month to see.

Do you know what it is?

go toward the light

if you want to get out of the Dupont Circle Metro. However, I should warn you ~ it's hot out there.

mellow yellow

When I was little, everytime we saw a VW bug all the kids in my family would yell "SLUG BUG" and someone would get slugged.
It was brutal.
My hubby and I decided to raise more peaceful, loving children. When we see a VW bug, like the mellow yellow one in this picture, we hear "HUG BUG!" and someone is on the receiving end of a hug. I'm usually the lucky recipient. I actually had to tell my daughter to give me some warning because many times we'd be out walking and she'd slam herself into me with the intent of being the first to spot the "HUG BUG!". It is brutal ;) but in a good way!

I saw this yellow VW in front of the yellow building today and grabbed my camera. I've been singing "Mellow Yellow" ever since.

swimming in the rain!

What a glorious feeling! Last night I took the kids up to the roof for a swim. My daughter (the negotiator!) said if it started to rain, we would just come back downstairs. Of course it started to rain ~ big fat drops falling ~ it was a great storm. The perfect storm for swimming! There wasn't any lightning or thunder, so while the rain fell for about twenty minutes or so, the kids happily continued swimming. This picture was taken after the rain fell, but looking at the sky, it sure seems more is coming!

missing the sky

We have not had enough blue skies in Washington DC lately.... and It is seriously starting to wear on me. That is why I picked this picture of the sky above the Smithsonian American Art Museum, taken about a week ago.
The kids and I got caught in one of those sudden downpours this afternoon. The rain felt good... but it was still too humid to be enjoyable. (I'm one of those odd people who enjoy getting soaked by a good storm.) I look out the window now and the sky is one big wall of white.

evolution continues

I would omit this picture all together, but fear the next time I pass this building it will be complete! And so, I post this as part of the promised continuation this glimps of evolution, taken July 6, 2006.

building a building

Little by little this building is being built. Perhaps it is best to go back to the first picture I posted of this structure back on May 18th, 2006. Then take a look at this one posted on June 11th as well as these. in which sky was far more cooperative with its color.
However, I did not want to withhold the gradual growth of this building from you all, simply because I disliked the hue of the sky. I took today's shot on June 23rd. I shall post the picture I took last Thursday shortly, so you can see even more windows. Any bets on when this building will actually be completed???

Inside out

This is taken from within the Smithsonian American Art Museum gift shop. The window is dirty but I liked it. I took a few other pictures looking out various windows and doors. I'm sure anyone who happened to see me thought I was odd, but I liked how this looked... a little "modern art".. or something. Although the museum is now open, there appears to be a lot of construction not yet finished.

outside the portrait gallery

The Smithsonian American Art Museum has recently re-opened. This statue will greet you at the entrance on G and 8th streets.

Thomas Circle Aglow

I took this picture up Massachusetts Ave NW in the direction of Thomas Circle last night after the fireworks. I love looking at the city from our rooftop.

Happy Fourth of July!

Every July Fourth we celebrate our nation's independence. This year rain threatened to spoil the evening's fireworks display. Tonight's downpour lasted a couple of hours but wrapped up nicely by 6:30. There was an odd haze in the air, blocking some of the fireworks, but we enjoyed the show. We saw it all safely from the rooftop, avoiding the hassle of crowds and travel.
Happy Independence Day!

In valor, there is hope.

This bronze lion sculpted by Raymond Kaskey is part of the National Law Enforcerment Officer's Memorial. The names of fallen officers are engraved along the "pathway of remembrance." An adult lion protecting its cubs is at each pathway entrance symbolizing the protective role of our law officers. This memorial is located outside of the Judiciary Square metro stop between E and F streets and 4th and 5th streets, across from the National Building Museum.

similiar vertical, roughly cylindrical things

These columns are inside the National Building Museum.

Pollination time!

I'm a sucker for daisy like flowers. And I love to see these guys hard at work.