Birthday Today

"Happy Birthday, mommy"

Chocolate Hazelnut Cake

It's Mrs T's birthday today: we started with waffles and presents, just had cake, and Mr T is taking Mrs T out for dinner tonight.  Miss C loved the candles, the singing, and dancing.  This birthday means I've been a mom for 37 years!  Wow, kinda makes you feel old!

I'm still partly in WA DC; I watch the news with new eyes, I talk to people I may not have talked to before, I feel a new sense of connectedness to our country.  

My feelings, exactly

I just found this on CNN, and it says what I was feeling:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/o1/22/inauguration.peter.turnley/index.html

More Reflections

Looking across the Tidal Basin from the Jefferson Memorial

to the Washington Monument

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

The Jefferson Memorial with a frozen Tidal Basin and low hanging cherry branches

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial contains many bronzes, niches, and water features.

Frozen water features of the FDR Memorial

FDR's wisdom is etched into the stone of the memorial

Eleanor Roosevelt was the first delegate to the United Nations from the United States

The Original Smithsonian Building: porta-potties getting ready for the big day

We enjoyed the National Museum of the American Indian 

with a Fritz Scholder exibit.

And the restaurant is a treat: food from all of the Americas.

Gma La La, S, J & L outside the museum. 

We all look about 40 pounds heavier due to the layers and layers of clothes.  I wore every day: silk long johns (top and bottom), a cashmere sweater, a down vest, cashmere socks, and new cashmere gloves (Thanks, C & D) my warmest scarf, and jeans.  Once you put your hat on, it's over for the hair do.  But warmth is everything!

Inside the Indian Museum, looking up 

Our hotel connected to the Crystal City metro stop: very convenient!

The shopping was everywhere, and the crowds were taking full advantage of it: everyone was covered in "Obama"-wear, from hats and scarves, buttons, shirts, jackets.  You could also find calendars, framed and unframed posters, mugs, key chains, every possible souvenir.  I got the prize for the most shopping, but the next item always looked better than the last. 

HISTORY

Historic

Magical

Friendly and warm

Freezing cold

Smiles

United

"We are One"

Unforgettable

Witnessing

January 20, 2009

My view of the "Jumbo-Tron" via my camera being held over my head with the telephoto lens.

This is what it looked like, really!  I watched from the "blue standing" area. . . near the capitol, but off to the side.  You probably had a better view on your television at home, but it was a huge thrill to be present, to be a witness to this marvelous historical moment.

Just a few of the 1,800,000 estimated people who were present for 

our 44th President's Inauguration.  Everyone is waiting in some kind of a line, 

or looking for the line for their gate.

L and I are waiting for the ceremony to begin.  44 is a good number!

If you look closer on the button on my hat, every president is listed;  

I may learn American History whether I like it or not.

Sunday afternoon's "We Are One" Concert celebration at the Lincoln Memorial.

S, Gma La La, President Obama, J & L enjoying Washington, DC

BIG WEEKEND COMING UP

Well, what should a left hand coaster do when her pick for President of the United States of America actually wins the election and is to be inaugurated?  Why go to the Inauguration, of course.  So, I'm off to the "Other Washington."  I have every item of clothing that could possibly keep me warm packed, and chemical hand and foot warmers.  I did a trip to REI to stock up on new show-boarder mittens, and extra layers of wool and polar fleece.  If you see news coverage of four crazy grandmothers getting into trouble, that will be my little group of adventurers: L & J & S & Gma LaLa.  Whoo-Hoo!  Life is meant to be LIVED!

Just Regular

I took a walk as the sun was setting the other day to photograph some of the buildings in G Town.  This is the old G Town city hall when G Town was a separate city.  The building is all boarded up now, but I can imagine it restored and made into a place for a coffee shop, a theater, and a bookstore. . . . who knows.  I wish I could do something about it.  

There are lots of churches in G Town, and this one is close by.  Some afternoons all the bells ring.  I haven't figured out the schedule, but it's nice. . . . when the windows are closed, and you just get a bit of the chiming coming inside.  In the hot times, it can be too loud.  I'm enjoying the sunny cold days.  And the days are getting longer.  My little suite on the third floor is very cozy with the sun coming in.  

Another church dome: this one is a Catholic church that I can actually see from my window.

Miss C is enjoying exploring play dough.  I thought I'd make new play dough when I made bread the other day.  We both got to knead a bit. Miss C loves the play dough, and she enjoys grandma's home baked bread.  Today it was "Leonard's Special" with a little oatmeal and raisins.  

Miss C loves apples, so when I saw this fabric with apples, I couldn't resist.  I made a little skirt for her.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!  This poem from "Inspiration Peak" says it all:

May peace fill all the empty spaces around you

And in you, may contentment answer all your wishes.

May comfort be yours, warm and soft like a sigh, 

And may the coming year show you that every day

is really a first day, a new year.

Let abundance be your constant companion,

so that you have much to share.

May mirth be near you always,

like a lamp shining brightly

on the many paths you travel.

May you be true love.