a 45 minute tour of the national gallery for my sister becky

In 2010 when my sister and parents came out for a visit, my sister's camera was giving her fits and she lost a lot of photos she had taken one day. It's rare that I see my sister cry, and she was super upset that day. So, when Mom was here we went back to the Smithsonian National Gallery of Art and re-traced Becky's tour using this guide for a 45 minute tour, which sends you to the highlights.

Fra Angelico and FraFilippo Lippi, The Adoration of the Magi

Leonardo da Vinci, Ginerva de' Benci

Raphael, The Niccolini-Cowper Maddona

Rogier van der Weyden, Portrait of a Lady

Rembrandt van Rijn, The Mill

Johannes Vermeer, Woman Holding a Balance

Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres,
Madame Moitessier

Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Shaw Memorial

Childe Hassam, Allies Day

Vincent Van Gogh, Self Portrait

Paul Cézanne, The Peppermint Bottle

Claude Monet, Rouen Cathedral, West Facade, Sunlight

And that, my dear sister, is the 45 minute tour.
Mom wanted to do this for you. I was more than happy to comply.
It was a fun afternoon with her in the museum. 

It brought back memories of London.

a day off

i had the day off last friday. 

i spent it exploring a new museum and just generally enjoying the spring weather.

i would seriously love to have dinner with this man.

granted, i probably wouldn't understand much of what he would say, but...

bloomin' daffs and magnolias.... sigh.

the national building museum is beautiful.

the lego room... you can build your own building.

all in all, a very good way to spend the day.

reasons i love dc: the national cathedral

This past weekend a spur of the moment trip to the National Cathedral provided the perfect amount of being outside in the beautiful sunshiny weather, time spent with friends and being a hometown tourist. 


I love the National Cathedral. Planning began in the 1890s, with construction beginning in 1901 and completion in 1990. I think it's remarkable that it was built entirely in the 20th century. The craftsmanship and architecture rivals any cathedral I have visited in Europe. It's a beautifully crafted building, and it makes me happy that even in our modern age we still take the time and have the inspired talent to create such a wonderful work of art. It's a favorite place to visit and it had been far too long since I visited.


We discovered that Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan are interred in the columbarium located in the downstairs of the cathedral. We also took the elevator up to the west tower's viewing galleries which provided beautiful views of the city. We could even see the distant white spires LDS Temple to the north. It was a beautiful day!

the west entrance

spires that fell during the earthquake in July 2011

the space window

a beautiful gate

close up of the gate

a chapel entrance

one of the hand made kneeling cushions in the Resurrection Chapel

mosaic detail in the Resurrection Chapel

the end of the rainbow... so cute. 

fishers of men

a little prayer corner

whale detail on an archway

looking out the window of the west towers

repairs are underway to fix the earthquake damage

looking south

all photos taken with my droid incredible 2 phone. love this camera!

things i love about dc

unexpected art. 18th & pennsylvania ave nw

scenes from my neighborhood

little buddha in a garden

more fall roses

squirrel!

just around the corner from my house

neighborhood thanksgiving decor

just wanted to share the last vestiges of fall from my neighborhood.

christmas decor is up all over the place now. yay!

the pirate king

This is dedicated to Mrs. Kelly, who once crossed the street just to tell Kevin Kline that he is an American treasure. I agree.





A few things that stick out from the Classic Conversation with Kevin Kline:


When asked what is the secret to a successful 25 year relationship with his wife, he said: "I said no to a lot of things I wanted to do. I did projects close to home. I planned projects away from home during the summer so I could take my family with me." In other words, he made his family a priority and for that indeed he is a treasure.

image via

He didn't start out loving Shakespeare. He thought it was boring, useless and didn't understand it. He had to grow into loving it.


He didn't know right away that he wanted to be an actor. It took him a while through school and trying out different things to figure it out. He was a musician and played the piano in a rock band, which had business cards printed with the band's name: 
The One-Eyed Jacks
   Jacks are wild!


He chooses projects because he thinks they will be fun and challenges are always fun. They are successful because the people involved are generous. 

as Cyrano de Bergerac

He originally turned down the role of the Pirate King and the movie Dave. He shook his head at himself and said he finds that he's done that a lot, turned down roles initially that are actually quite good for him.


When asked how do you play stupid people so brilliantly, he replied: Because I'm stupid and I know it. It's like that quote from Socrates: "I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing." So, I am a genius.


All in all a fun night and a great insight into being creative and fearless.

fall around the hill

there is so much color every where i look these days.

these were taken two weekends ago as i walked and drove around the hill.

love the fall roses still in bloom.

for your sunday viewing pleasure.

more roses.

on the drive home from my sunroof.

12th and independence ave se

tennesse ave between c and d st ne

15th and d st ne

yes, I do drive around taking random photos in my car.

(usually at stop signs)

the following photos are not in dc, but they're still one of the reasons i love dc.

some of the views at the naval academy in annapolis, maryland.

the color in the background caught my eye one evening.

the naval academy bridge at sunset.

looking towards the playing fields on the far end of campus.