Sweet Day(s)

Love was in the air these last few days around my place...

love for Frances, who turned 3 on Valentine's Day. [happy birthday, little girl!]

love for the beginning of spring-like weather! [sixties and sunny]

love for a muddy hike with friends. [the friends, not the mud]

love for a sweet brunch date in Georgetown, complete with my very first taste of Georgetown Cupcake! [30+ minutes waiting in line was so worth it]

love for not one, but two Valentine's Day dinners. [on different nights, of course]

love for pretty bouquets of pink tulips and yellow daffodils, chocolates, and rosy pajamas!

I hope your weekend and Valentine's Day celebrations were equally lovely!

New Co-Worker

My move to Virginia [almost] six months ago has been great for me, but little Frances hasn't had as easy a time adjusting. Although the weather is so much better, and we do so much more walking, she lost her fenced-in yard, house to roam around in, and frequent visits to Buffalo. She never exhibited separation anxiety until we moved here, and her anxiety increased after her month-long trip to my parents' house in December.

At the same time, I've been struggling to balance dog ownership responsibilities with new social opportunities. After a carefree December, January was a rude awakening, with Frances being especially needy and me being especially exasperated. I must have vented about my frustration with Frances one too many times at work, because my boss offered me the chance to try bringing Frances to work!

And I have! She spends the workday in a little crate underneath my desk, right next to her mommy. When she needs a break, I take her for a quick walk and she usually gets a few pets in the process. She's been making friends with my co-workers and students, and has quickly become a welcome addition to the workplace. When we return home after our eight hour day, she's happily tired, and I'm happily off the hook. It is a dream!

Great Falls = Great Fun

There seems to be an abundance of nature either within, or just outside Washington, DC, and my friend Mason and I have had a lot of fun taking advantage of these nearby hiking opportunities. Whenever we're in the middle of a forest, we always have a hard time imagining that the nation's Capital is so close. This is definitely one of the reasons I've come to really enjoy living here: the best of the city is as accessible as the best of nature.

Recently Mason and I ventured to Great Falls, Virginia, just slightly northwest of DC, to enjoy a brisk winter hike. It was four days after a 'significant' amount of snow fell in the area, leaving the landscape looking very January-like. The trail we were on eventually led us to the actual Great Falls, which were great, indeed!

Niagara Falls of the South!

In the summertime, Great Falls National Park is overrun with tourists, families, hikers, strollers, and the like, (or at least it was when I was there in late August). But on a cold, January day, it felt like the view was all ours.

And we both tried to capture what we were seeing.

Amazing to think that all this is less than twenty miles from the White House. And followed-up by a hearty lunch at an Irish pub, hiking in Great Falls is a great way to enjoy a day away from the hustle and bustle of the metro area.

Comfort Food

Look at what I got for Christmas! My very own dutch oven, an enviable beauty! I have been wanting this very one for some time now, and am so pleased to finally have it to call my own.
This weekend was the perfect time to break it in: with temps in the teens, I had nothing but cravings for warm, hearty fare. Wanting to try a new tomato sauce recipe, I gathered together the ingredients and spent Sunday afternoon watching football and watching the sauce simmer on the stove. The dutch oven is perfect for sauce making, and now I have a whole pot full.
I even made meatballs for the first time! I taste tested the sauce last night, and think it's good enough for company tonight. On the menu? Salad, spaghetti with meatballs and garlic bread. The perfect antidote to a cold, January night.

Habits

One would think that by now, over a year into writing this blog, I would be in the habit of carrying my camera around in order to capture all the sweet moments I've been experiencing. But alas, I've completely fallen out of the habit. So rather than show you what I've been doing, I will tell you.

Last weekend I tried a new restaurant for lunch before heading to the National Building Museum with Mason. Lunch was delicious, (although I still haven't found pizza that I truly love) and playing tourist in the city for the afternoon was a very enjoyable experience. I also attempted Ina's Perfect Roast Chicken, and am sorry to say that mine fell far short of perfect. It could have been the chicken -- mine came from a farm in Maryland -- or it could have been the way it was cooked. I used a rotisserie instead of a roasting pan, hence the flavors didn't come together in quite the same way. Lesson learned? Don't mess with perfection and always follow the recipe!

This morning I met my friend Nancy for breakfast at a cute French cafe in Old Town Alexandria. After our croissants and coffee, we headed to the Holocaust Museum for a somber couple of hours. I was happy to go, and even happier to have a friend to go with. It was not an easy thing to do, but something I have been meaning to do.

On tonight's agenda? Heading back to the city for cocktails at a speakeasy! I'm not really sure what to expect, but it sounds fun and mysterious. And who doesn't love fun and mysterious, especially when cocktails are involved?

I've also recently gone here and seen some fabulous artwork.

I've watched all the football playoff games and can't wait for tomorrow's championships.

I've brought Frances to work with me, (more on that later).

I've acquired a really, really awesome new cooking pot and will be breaking it in tomorrow.

Stay tuned...

Sunrise over Virginia

The view from my library's front steps, the morning after the "big" snow. Luckily it mostly bypassed the DC -metro area. There was just enough to make for a very pretty view.

Cozy Sunday

Now that the holidays are over, and Frances is back in Virginia, I've been wanting and needing to enjoy some wintertime coziness. And that's just what we did this past Sunday, after a pleasant walk in the park with my friend, Mason. Taking a cue from some of my favorite bloggers, I settled into Sunday afternoon by starting the process of Martha Stewart's Chicken Chili. While I worked on dinner, Mason built a fire in his fireplace. Frances curled up on the couch. The football playoffs were on the TV.
The chili simmered and the aroma filled the house. The cornbread was baked. Inevitably, I joined Frances on the couch. Time slowed down and there was nothing to think about except the warmth from the fire, the puppy snuggled up next to me, and the soon-to-be enjoyed comforting meal. It was the perfect antidote to post-holiday doldrums and my craving for some coziness. When it was finally time, Mason and I set our plates on the coffee table, and couldn't resist eating our chili directly in front of the fire. It was the perfect way to spend a January Sunday in Virginia: cozy, warm and with good company.