Spring Blooms!

It is a rainy morning in Washington.  We are expecting up to an inch of rain by the time this system moves out of the area.  I took this picture this morning of an ornamental pear tree that is in bloom at Washington Harbour.

Blooming Pear Tree

I got a couple more shots of these trees during lunch.  Really beautiful

I don't think I've ever seen these trees in bloom on the last day of February.  Spring is a mere 22 days away.  I cannot wait.  Next Saturday (March 10) before bedtime, we "spring ahead" which is always a welcome time.  I'll gladly lose an hour of sleep to have more light in the evening.  Oh happy day!!

Spring Blooms!

It is a rainy morning in Washington.  We are expecting up to an inch of rain by the time this system moves out of the area.  I took this picture this morning of an ornamental pear tree that is in bloom at Washington Harbour.

Blooming Pear Tree

I got a couple more shots of these trees during lunch.  Really beautiful

I don't think I've ever seen these trees in bloom on the last day of February.  Spring is a mere 22 days away.  I cannot wait.  Next Saturday (March 10) before bedtime, we "spring ahead" which is always a welcome time.  I'll gladly lose an hour of sleep to have more light in the evening.  Oh happy day!!

Anybody for Cheese Souffle?

When we got back from the party at Bob's I threw together a cheese souffle which I had started preparing before we left.

Fresh from the Oven

It turned out perfectly.  Check out the Food and Recipe page for the recipe.  This recipe is extremely easy to make.  I have one word for how this turned out.  DEE-licious!!

Anybody for Cheese Souffle?

When we got back from the party at Bob's I threw together a cheese souffle which I had started preparing before we left.

Fresh from the Oven

It turned out perfectly.  Check out the Food and Recipe page for the recipe.  This recipe is extremely easy to make.  I have one word for how this turned out.  DEE-licious!!

Party at Bob's

Bob had a gathering at his house last night.  Just an impromptu gathering of the group for a glass of wine, martini, beer; whatever your pleasure.  We took an apple brown betty.

I have to be honest and admit I did not make this.  We were shopping at IKEA yesterday morning and picked this up from their grocery corner, which by the way is spectacular.  This wasn't all we pick up there, but more on that later.

This was one of those deals where time is getting away from you, so you pick up something delicious and then jazz it up before you show up at the party.  Arranging the slices on this plate and giving it a generous sprinkling of powdered sugar just upped the presentation.  Much nicer than showing up with whatever you have chosen to bring still in the wrapper from the store.

Party at Bob's

Bob had a gathering at his house last night.  Just an impromptu gathering of the group for a glass of wine, martini, beer; whatever your pleasure.  We took an apple brown betty.

I have to be honest and admit I did not make this.  We were shopping at IKEA yesterday morning and picked this up from their grocery corner, which by the way is spectacular.  This wasn't all we pick up there, but more on that later.

This was one of those deals where time is getting away from you, so you pick up something delicious and then jazz it up before you show up at the party.  Arranging the slices on this plate and giving it a generous sprinkling of powdered sugar just upped the presentation.  Much nicer than showing up with whatever you have chosen to bring still in the wrapper from the store.

Winter Beauty

There are plants that not only bring beauty and appeal to the landscape during the warm months of the year, but also bring their own unique look during the cold, winter months.  Such is the case with asparagus fern.  Ferns are not cold hardy, so you must bring them inside for the winter.  Even then, with humidity levels usually very low, it is difficult to keep them going until spring.  As in years past, I leave the asparagus fern in pots and hanging baskets, as you see here, so that they can be enjoyed until spring arrives.

I find this as beautiful to look at as when the fern was newly planted.  It's like the trees in the wintertime.  How interesting it is to see them bare of their foilage, exposing the bones of the tree.

You see here that I have two of these hanging baskets and I left the asparagus ferns in both of them.  The same goes for any of the ornamental grasses you may have in your landscape.  When they turn brown from the winter cold, they bring a whole new look.  I would much rather see these ferns during the winter months than to come home to two empty baskets or to have taken down the baskets all together for the season.

Winter Beauty

There are plants that not only bring beauty and appeal to the landscape during the warm months of the year, but also bring their own unique look during the cold, winter months.  Such is the case with asparagus fern.  Ferns are not cold hardy, so you must bring them inside for the winter.  Even then, with humidity levels usually very low, it is difficult to keep them going until spring.  As in years past, I leave the asparagus fern in pots and hanging baskets, as you see here, so that they can be enjoyed until spring arrives.

I find this as beautiful to look at as when the fern was newly planted.  It's like the trees in the wintertime.  How interesting it is to see them bare of their foilage, exposing the bones of the tree.

You see here that I have two of these hanging baskets and I left the asparagus ferns in both of them.  The same goes for any of the ornamental grasses you may have in your landscape.  When they turn brown from the winter cold, they bring a whole new look.  I would much rather see these ferns during the winter months than to come home to two empty baskets or to have taken down the baskets all together for the season.

Bob's Birthday

I was invited to a birthday celebration on Sunday evening for my friend Bob.  What to do for Bob?  What does Bob want?  Don't know.  What does Bob need?  Nothing.  Hmmmm.  What can I do for Bob.  Let's see.  Bob likes to grill/barbecue/cook outside.  Spring is just around the corner.  I bet Bob could use some things for the grill.  I think I'll go to Lowe's and see if they have their grills and accessories out for the season and stop by the grocery and pick up some marinades and glazes and various things he could use when the weather warms up.

So that's what I did.  I was thinking how am I going to wrap all of this.  I found this really neat box at Lowe's.  I put a new grill lighter, Liquid Smoke bottles, Texas Pete, a couple Smokey Joe's marinades, a couple Jack Daniel's Marinade bags, a container of Old Bay and some spice rubs in there with some raffia in the bottom to keep it all from rolling around and tied it up with some ribbon I picked up somewhere many moons ago.  And voila!!  The perfect package and the perfect gift from Bob.

Now I'm just waiting for an invitation when the weather breaks.  He usually sends a message saying something like "dinner on the patio at Bob's.  Bring your favorite picnic food."  My favorite picnic food is a pitcher of apple martinis (which are Bob's favorite too).  I've already got the apple martini mix, so as far as I'm concerned, we are ready for spring to arrive.

Bob's Birthday

I was invited to a birthday celebration on Sunday evening for my friend Bob.  What to do for Bob?  What does Bob want?  Don't know.  What does Bob need?  Nothing.  Hmmmm.  What can I do for Bob.  Let's see.  Bob likes to grill/barbecue/cook outside.  Spring is just around the corner.  I bet Bob could use some things for the grill.  I think I'll go to Lowe's and see if they have their grills and accessories out for the season and stop by the grocery and pick up some marinades and glazes and various things he could use when the weather warms up.

So that's what I did.  I was thinking how am I going to wrap all of this.  I found this really neat box at Lowe's.  I put a new grill lighter, Liquid Smoke bottles, Texas Pete, a couple Smokey Joe's marinades, a couple Jack Daniel's Marinade bags, a container of Old Bay and some spice rubs in there with some raffia in the bottom to keep it all from rolling around and tied it up with some ribbon I picked up somewhere many moons ago.  And voila!!  The perfect package and the perfect gift from Bob.

Now I'm just waiting for an invitation when the weather breaks.  He usually sends a message saying something like "dinner on the patio at Bob's.  Bring your favorite picnic food."  My favorite picnic food is a pitcher of apple martinis (which are Bob's favorite too).  I've already got the apple martini mix, so as far as I'm concerned, we are ready for spring to arrive.

Our visit to Eastern Market in D.C.

We spent some time at Eastern Market yesterday morning.  This is one place you definitely do not want to miss if you are visiting Washington or if you are a resident.

Eastern Market is Washington's oldest continually operated fresh food public market. It is located in the heart of historic Capitol Hill and is DC's destination for fresh food, community events, and on weekends, local farmfresh produce and handmade arts and crafts.


A stroll though the maze of vendors that line the sidewalks is a feast for the eyes.  Take a look.

Upon entering the marketing you see the end result of many creative minds in the displays of their craft.

A little further down, we started seeing all of this wonderful, fresh produce.

An endless array of most anything you could possibly want.  And very reasonably priced.

As you can see, we were not the only people there.  A bustling crowd.  And this was rather early in the morning.  We dropped Baxter off at the spa, which is right around the corner, at 8:30.  So this picture was taken around 9:00 AM and you can see that people were already out and ready to start their day at the Market.

You really had to be there to enjoy this floral display.  Simply magnificent.

A walk down the main aisle continued to produce more of what the Market is so well known for and that is their extensive collections of fresh food and bakery items.  This meat case was by far the best I've seen anywhere in DC and surrounding suburbs.

Rotisserie chickens that looked positively delicious.

Freshly made breads of most any description.  We bought a Farmhouse loaf that will be used to make garlic bread this evening with homemade lasagna.  Yes, I am making lasagna this evening.  More on that later.

Lunch was a chicken crepe from one of the vendor stands just outside the main building.  I simply cannot describe how delicious this was.  Each order is made fresh as you watch the guys expertly prepare the crepe and then add the toppings of your choice.  This was the "Winner Winner Chicken" crepe.  I highly recommend it.

And last, but certainly not least, was the artist I stopped and talked to.  I absolutely love these paintings.  He had a large display.  I didn't want to offend him by taking too many pictures, but you can get the idea from this photo of his work.  If you are interested in more information on his work, you can visit http://www.kesslerart.com/.  I was so impressed with these.  I did not make a purchase from him yesterday, but I will definitely be going back.  I need to check out where I might have space for at least one of his prints.

So that was our trip to Eastern Market.  Time well spent visiting some of  the most creative minds in the area.  Check it out sometime.

Our visit to Eastern Market in D.C.

We spent some time at Eastern Market yesterday morning.  This is one place you definitely do not want to miss if you are visiting Washington or if you are a resident.

Eastern Market is Washington's oldest continually operated fresh food public market. It is located in the heart of historic Capitol Hill and is DC's destination for fresh food, community events, and on weekends, local farmfresh produce and handmade arts and crafts.


A stroll though the maze of vendors that line the sidewalks is a feast for the eyes.  Take a look.

Upon entering the marketing you see the end result of many creative minds in the displays of their craft.

A little further down, we started seeing all of this wonderful, fresh produce.

An endless array of most anything you could possibly want.  And very reasonably priced.

As you can see, we were not the only people there.  A bustling crowd.  And this was rather early in the morning.  We dropped Baxter off at the spa, which is right around the corner, at 8:30.  So this picture was taken around 9:00 AM and you can see that people were already out and ready to start their day at the Market.

You really had to be there to enjoy this floral display.  Simply magnificent.

A walk down the main aisle continued to produce more of what the Market is so well known for and that is their extensive collections of fresh food and bakery items.  This meat case was by far the best I've seen anywhere in DC and surrounding suburbs.

Rotisserie chickens that looked positively delicious.

Freshly made breads of most any description.  We bought a Farmhouse loaf that will be used to make garlic bread this evening with homemade lasagna.  Yes, I am making lasagna this evening.  More on that later.

Lunch was a chicken crepe from one of the vendor stands just outside the main building.  I simply cannot describe how delicious this was.  Each order is made fresh as you watch the guys expertly prepare the crepe and then add the toppings of your choice.  This was the "Winner Winner Chicken" crepe.  I highly recommend it.

And last, but certainly not least, was the artist I stopped and talked to.  I absolutely love these paintings.  He had a large display.  I didn't want to offend him by taking too many pictures, but you can get the idea from this photo of his work.  If you are interested in more information on his work, you can visit http://www.kesslerart.com/.  I was so impressed with these.  I did not make a purchase from him yesterday, but I will definitely be going back.  I need to check out where I might have space for at least one of his prints.

So that was our trip to Eastern Market.  Time well spent visiting some of  the most creative minds in the area.  Check it out sometime.

Baxter Emails

Baxter is looking very smart after his haircut yesterday.  He told me he wanted to spend some time on the computer emailing everyone and thanking them for their well wishes on his recovery.  So, while I was making coffee and spending some time returning phone calls this morning, he decided to have some computer time.

We would like to thank Bonnie's Dog and Cat Grooming www.healthydogstore.com for taking such good care of him yesterday and doing a superb job on the cut and nail trimming.

While Baxter was having his spa day, we spent some time at nearby Eastern Market.  Be sure and come back later today for updates on that visit.  We found a wonderful artist there who graciously agreed to let us post some information about his paintings which I think you will enjoy.  We will have information for you to contact him if you are interested in any of his works.

Baxter Emails

Baxter is looking very smart after his haircut yesterday.  He told me he wanted to spend some time on the computer emailing everyone and thanking them for their well wishes on his recovery.  So, while I was making coffee and spending some time returning phone calls this morning, he decided to have some computer time.

We would like to thank Bonnie's Dog and Cat Grooming www.healthydogstore.com for taking such good care of him yesterday and doing a superb job on the cut and nail trimming.

While Baxter was having his spa day, we spent some time at nearby Eastern Market.  Be sure and come back later today for updates on that visit.  We found a wonderful artist there who graciously agreed to let us post some information about his paintings which I think you will enjoy.  We will have information for you to contact him if you are interested in any of his works.

Baxter's Visit with Dr. Freed this Morning

We had an 8:00 AM appointment this morning.  As you can see from the waiting room at Lynn Animal Hospital, we were the first appointment of the day.

An apprehensive patient waiting to be called to the examining room.

Looks like Baxter has made a full recovery from back surgery.  He passed his neurological tests and all systems are up and running as they should be.  We couldn't be happier.  He is taking a rest right now and asked not to be disturbed by the paparazzi.

For those in the area who might be looking for wonderful veterinarian, we highly recommend Lynn Animal Hospital http://www.lynnanimalhospital.com/ in Riverdale, MD.  We usually see Dr. Freed.

Now the day starts.  Today we will be working on installing the new tray ceiling in the dining room.  A separate post with pictures will follow later.

Baxter's Visit with Dr. Freed this Morning

We had an 8:00 AM appointment this morning.  As you can see from the waiting room at Lynn Animal Hospital, we were the first appointment of the day.

An apprehensive patient waiting to be called to the examining room.

Looks like Baxter has made a full recovery from back surgery.  He passed his neurological tests and all systems are up and running as they should be.  We couldn't be happier.  He is taking a rest right now and asked not to be disturbed by the paparazzi.

For those in the area who might be looking for wonderful veterinarian, we highly recommend Lynn Animal Hospital http://www.lynnanimalhospital.com/ in Riverdale, MD.  We usually see Dr. Freed.

Now the day starts.  Today we will be working on installing the new tray ceiling in the dining room.  A separate post with pictures will follow later.

More Valentine Treats

I would be remiss if I did not report on ALL the gifts received on this Valentine's Day 2012.  I received a box on my front porch today from my dear friend Bev.  When I opened the box, it was filled with ample packing material so I started retrieving items from within.  The experience was sort of one like those little clown cars where the clowns start getting out and just when you think another clown couldn't possibly appear, he does.  Boxes and bags and jars of all kinds of goodies.

 Another wonderful gift.  We started doing this sort of thing a few years ago.  All of us having reached an age where we wonder at each holiday or birthday, "what do I get him or her", we started putting together little boxes or bags of small items we saw that we thought the other person might like.  Bev was a wedding coordinator a few years ago and knowing what wedding coordinators go through, I put together a box for her that contained things like a bottle of nerve tonic, Advil, airline size bottles of wine and vodka, mini tonic waters, cosmo mixes - things that I'm sure many wedding planners/coordinators would love to receive as the wedding day grows closer and the pressure is on.  As you can see in this picture, she chose the perfect items for me to experiment with in the kitchen.  All of this will be put to good use in the near future.

Thank you honey.  Happy Valentine's Day.

More Valentine Treats

I would be remiss if I did not report on ALL the gifts received on this Valentine's Day 2012.  I received a box on my front porch today from my dear friend Bev.  When I opened the box, it was filled with ample packing material so I started retrieving items from within.  The experience was sort of one like those little clown cars where the clowns start getting out and just when you think another clown couldn't possibly appear, he does.  Boxes and bags and jars of all kinds of goodies.

 Another wonderful gift.  We started doing this sort of thing a few years ago.  All of us having reached an age where we wonder at each holiday or birthday, "what do I get him or her", we started putting together little boxes or bags of small items we saw that we thought the other person might like.  Bev was a wedding coordinator a few years ago and knowing what wedding coordinators go through, I put together a box for her that contained things like a bottle of nerve tonic, Advil, airline size bottles of wine and vodka, mini tonic waters, cosmo mixes - things that I'm sure many wedding planners/coordinators would love to receive as the wedding day grows closer and the pressure is on.  As you can see in this picture, she chose the perfect items for me to experiment with in the kitchen.  All of this will be put to good use in the near future.

Thank you honey.  Happy Valentine's Day.

Tulip Mania

It looks like at least one of my readers saw my post last week about tulips being my favorite flower.

I received three bunches of the most beautiful red tulips this evening!?!?!!  What a wonderful surprise.

Thank you mystery reader.  Now the house is really looking and feeling like spring is just around the corner.

And so, we close out Valentine's Day 2012 with these wonderful flowers and Pekingnese winning Best in Show at the 137th Annual Westminster Dog Show in New York.  Of course we were rooting for Wire-Haired Dachshund, but we send our congratulations to the winner.

Coming up later this week, we will go with Baxter on his follow-up visit with Dr. Freed and we will visit historic Eastern Market in Northeast D.C.  Stay tuned for these stories and more suggestions on how to "Live in Comfortable Elegance."