A DAY FOR ROYALTY...

We spent part of the afternoon watching the "recorded earlier" news coverage of the Royal Day... our brunch included "scones" in honor of William & Catherine's wedding.

What did you enjoy most about the Royal Wedding?

BOOK-MAKER (WEEKWORD)

handmade book

Sorry - this is a LATE post for WEEKWORD! No internet access for the past few days!!

 

Last Friday's WEEKWORD was B-O-O-K!!

destination = Washington DC

"OUR GREAT ADVENTURE" (Washington DC)

three generations = author, SLE & Mom/Nana

In March 2009, my mom & I flew to Washington DC... SLE was receiving a disability leadership award, and that was an excellent excuse to do some sightseeing. 

The following pictures are some pages of the book I made to commemorate our travels!

map of Smithsonian Mall

during our trip, I collected paper ephemera from museums, tourist stands, etc... you know, the throw-away sort of information you pick up when traveling (NO COST!!)

added purchased travel stickers...

National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI)

personal pictures of favorite exhibits... we loved the National Museum of the America Indian!!! as some of you know, my dad was a California Mission Indian, so this museum really resonated with us in a spiritual way!

more pictures...

and hand-lettered "narrative" to remind us what we learned at the American Indian Museum!

 

I also included information from our hotel & it's location on the map...

Loved this quote, "Never go on trips with anyone you do not love." I traveled with my mom & we met SLE in Washington DC.

National Museum of American Indian prism & door

...the view of the prisms glistening on the wall of the main floor of the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI)... The Mitsum Cafe is the best of the Smithsonian Museum cafes!!! don't miss the fry bread! excellent food!! (lower floor of the NMAI).
More info can be found HERE!
 
We also visited the American History Museum, Library of Congress, went to a play at Ford's Theater... there's so much to SEE in Washington DC!

Ford's Theater + play memorabilia

AND....

...it SNOWED during our visit ~ view of snow from hotel!

I LOVE making books to preserve memories!! another favorite book - Lydia's FIRST camping experience... perhaps I'll post pics of that book another time?

To see other WEEKWORD participants, check SALLY'S BLOG!!

AN EMPTY SPACE!!

JPE'S first roses ~ 4.26.11

"You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know 

how soon it will be too late."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson, author

We live in a condo... which suits us fine since it's just the two of us! & we like to be able to "lock up the house" & travel.

Several weeks ago, our dear, sweet neighbor, passed away! We loved comparing stories of travel, things we heard on NPR, talking about local concerts, plays & events... She had been a traveler & as she got older, I think her "traveling bug" was supported with our over-the-fence conversations. 

She was a private person, but we enjoyed hearing her bustle around her condo, cooking, tidying her place, caring for her cats, entertaining (her daughter lives 20 minutes away), and the muffled sound of her phone conversations. 

She was a "treasured" neighbor. For the past year, we always let her know when we were "taking off" on an trip for work or pleasure... and she started collecting our newspapers & mail, depositing them on our doorstep as soon as she heard us return. 

The Saturday after her passing, we sat on the patio sipping tea & sharing a scone... it was much too quiet! her presence is missed!! It's sad coming home from a vacation, not being able to share a conversation about the places we visited! A conversation about our Washington DC trip is not to be shared with our dear, sweet friend, Jean.

JPE cut these roses from our garden this morning! 

they are gloriously fragrant, beautiful, tight buds... our across-the-street neighbor graciously offered to collect our mail & newspapers! and for this, we are THANK-FUL!! I hope "BB" will enjoy the roses as much as Jean had, in the past!

Condo-living = close neighbors (of a good kind)!!!

WEEKWORD = BOOK

not home yet!! so pulled these out of my suitcase...

SALLY @ SOW & SEW has taken it upon herself to post this week's WEEKWORD!

Anyone can participate - just contact the host know by leaving a message on HER BLOG! 

SALLY will link everyone up on Friday, April 29th. Then, you visit the other participants to see exactly what they think of the WEEKWORD.

From my blurry picture post, 

you might have guessed that this week's word is: 

"B-O-O-K"

Sally must have been peeking in my suitcase??? we're headed home tonight, so I'm sitting in a San Francisco hotel room checking out the three books I got during my trip to Washington DC.

The World of Eric Carle - Deluxe Scrapbooking: Simple 1-2-3 (purchased at the Arlington COSTCO) - great scrapbook pages - which can be used in creating some of the "kid stuff" I'm planning. Cute stuff for ACE's classroom. Too inexpensive to pass up!

Lawyers, Lead On - Lawyers with Disabilities Share Their Insights 

(my daughter, SLE, is one of the editors of this book). This book is just one of her major accomplishments, as she moves toward her passion for disability rights, advocating for policy change & representing clients with disabilities. 

Hopefully the :: stars :: will align & she will be taking the California Bar Exam at the end of July. Will keep you posted.

The Pocket Paper Engineer: How to Make Pop-Ups Step by Step: Vol 1: Basic Forms (Carol Barton, Popular Kinetics Press)

I LOVE making pop-ups... and they are not as difficult as you might imagine! Of course, they aren't as exciting as Robert Sabuda's - you can check out ROBERT'S WORLD here!

The Smithsonian Museum of American History had an exhibit of POP-UP BOOKS, that is closing next month... saw this "HOW-TO" book in the museum gift shop & had to buy it! I wish I had also purchased The Pocket Paper Engineer: How to Make Pop-Ups Step-by-Step Vol 2: Platforms & Props (by the same author).

If you have any questions about how to participate in WEEKWORD, click on THIS LINK!!!

Come on - everyone has something to say about the word, "B-O-O-K"

LEAVE THE LIGHT ON!!

Guest bedroom looking into the ATRIUM!

THANK YOU 

SLE, MB & SEA-BASS!!!

We loved our visit to Washington DC 

& staying at your place in Arlington!

I'll miss my cozy corner in your guest room --- it was great for blogging, watching the weather

and sipping a cuppa tea!

CHOCOLATE'S GONE!!

HAPPY EASTER!! 

air conditioning is not working!!
...off to see this 
Sundance movie!

WIN WIN w/Paul Giomatti

Thunder & lightening storms are predicted 

for the late evening!!

GEORGE'S RICHES...

Mount Vernon ~ all pics taken 4.23.11

Rain showers were predicted for Saturday... gathering our rain gear (umbrellas & coats), JPE drove the four of us + Sea-Bass (MB's guide dog) to visit Mount Vernon ~ the 200 acre estate of the first president, George Washington.

Upper Garden w/Fleur-de-lis-design

Taking a pleasant walk up the hill to the main building (for  the 4:15 entry to the Mansion), we were showered ~ not with the wet stuff, but with petals blowing from the trees along the graveled paths!

  

lovely tulips

The Upper Garden was still wet, with puddles of water pooling around some of the flowers & the newly sprouting lettuce. 

Luckily, we missed the rain showers... having only to dodge the mud puddles and low areas of the pathways.

While SLE, MB, & JPE explored the Slave Quarters, the Blacksmith Shop, the Spinning House & the Gardeners House, I wandered the gardens (actually, I was trying to give JPE a break from pushing the wheelchair & MOI!!!)...

Looking across the Bowling Green, you see the Kitchen! On large estates, the kitchens were detached from the main living quarters to keep the smells of the food away from areas where people congregated to chat.

the "NECESSARY"

Washington was ahead of his time!! although these buildings don't appear on the map of the estate, we noticed several of them just off the path leading to the Mansion! the sign called them the "Necessary" or "Privy"... Washington had all human waste collected, which was then recycled as fertilizer for the gardens. In addition to having a convenient way to centralize the waste, Washington understood the importance of sanitation....  JPE jokingly stated, "...these were the original porta-potties!!"

Timmy + George

Of course, Timmy was part of the adventure (see him sitting on George's hand??). We took a moment to "record" him meeting our first president, George Washington, for ACE's kindergarten class. If you missed the first episode of Timmy's Washington DC Adventure, please click HERE. 

delicate, lilac colored flowers

Our trip to Mount Vernon started a bit late (due to impending rains), so we missed walking over to Washington's Tomb (YES, he's buried at Mount Vernon, along with his wife Martha, and some other family members), the Whiskey Distillery, and the Potomac River Wharf. 

George Washington wanted to create an estate that could be visited, and that displayed an aristocratic view of life in the 1800's.

A visit to Mount Vernon could be a full-day event... kids activities are available in the Hands-on-History Room (Education Center) - and they can solve the PUZZLE by completing an Adventure Maps (best for 8 year olds & older)... CLICK HERE for more information about Mount Vernon...

BAD, BAD OMO!!!

Timmy LOVES Virgin America...

CONFESSION!!!

I'm a bad, bad OMO (mom)!!

Timmy jumped in my suitcase for a 

Washington DC Adventure!

(do you believe me?)

Timmy is a small Cabbage Patch doll - that belongs to ACE!

(she's had him since she was 3 years old)

STRONG Timmy!! he's holding up the Washington Monument!!

... AND checking out Amelia Earhart's airplane!!

JPE shared his fries with Timmy!

Look who's hiding in the Smithsonian flower beds??

Watch for MORE Timmy Adventures!

Does LOLA miss me, ACE??

SAD, SAD LOLA...

HOME OF THE RUBY SLIPPERS!!!

The Museum of American History has loads of memorabilia:

:: Helen Keller's Watch ::

:: Dorothy's Ruby, Red Slippers from The Wizard of Oz ::

:: R2D2 ::

but here are some of my favorites...

late 1700's WOMAN'S POCKET ~ used to carry her needle, thread, thimble & keys

FLUTING IRON ~ made ironing pleats & tucks easier

Lace making BOBBINS on a pillow

JULIA COOKS...

Thursday travels...

SENSE-ABLE WALK...

WALKING THROUGH THE SMITHSONIAN GARDEN

"The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration 

of the five senses."

~ Hanna Rion, English authoress

hear: rustling of the wind through the purple pansies

touch: soft, silky petals

smell: sweet hyacinth

see: blue-violet vs against red-orange

HIGH CLASS READING!

Library of Congress ~ 4.19.11

"A library is the most enduring of memorials, 

the trustiest monument for the preservation of an event or a name or an affection; for it , and it only, is respected by wars and revolutions, and survives them."

~ Mark Twain, American humorist, author & lecturer (1835-1910)

Library of Congress ceiling

We visited the Library of Congress - getting there in time for a FREE docent-led tour. Each docent provides basic info about the Library of Congress, and then shares tidbits of trivia that they have a passion for! This was my second tour & our guide was particularly interested in the hall "themes" that told the story of the ornate, colorful ceiling & wall paintings. 

Minerva ~ Goddess of Knowledge

A tiled mosaic of Minerva, Goddess of Knowledge, is located at the head of the marble staircase that leads to the LOC Reading Room. 

BTW, pictures can only be taken of the architecture (Italian Renaissance style) and it's a NO-NO!! in the special exhibits & collections halls.

wall art & quote

If you don't see yourself calendaring a visit to Wash DC in the near future, the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS website will provide an amazing peek at this public facility. 

dedicated to SLE & MB

 

AND - I don't imagine your library has statues like this... 

 flowers that remind you of Easter eggs...

...or a view of the Capitol Building. 

What an incredible day!