Sea of Blue

Blue Bells at Bull Run Regional Park

Hiatus

Sunrise at the Tidal Basin

To my dear, faithful readers: I have decided to take a hiatus from blogging. Not because I haven't been enjoying the sweetest activities to blog about. Rather, my heart just doesn't feel into it these days. Hopefully I'll feel up to the task again soon. In the meantime, have fun creating your own sweet memories to share! xoxo, Anna

Spring Fever

This week I planted flowers in my window box. Sweet little purple pansies that are already blooming.I took the flannel sheets off my bed.

My spring break officially begins at 3:30 this afternoon.

March may typically come in "Like a Lion," but this year the lion hasn't had much bite. And to make me even happier, my mom is visiting for a whole week, starting this weekend!

Last Chance for Cozy

We've turned the corner, so to speak. Winter in Northern Virginia is basically over, and there are signs of spring everywhere. Looking back on the last few months, I feel like my least favorite season was just a blip in the year; a little bit of cold, a little bit of snow, and a little bit of ice. But absolutely nothing compared to the winters I'm used to back in Western New York. Frances and I kept up with our regular walks, I continued to jog outdoors, and my heating bill never reached the amount I'm used to paying. If this is winter in Virginia, I'll take it!

That being said, I know I'll miss those cozy, winter days when there's nothing on the agenda except a little bit of lounging, reading, movie watching, cooking and eating. Knowing those days are soon to be over, I decided to really take the 'cozy' up a notch on Sunday. With an armful of groceries and a little dog, I headed over to my friend Mason's for the better part of the day. Making the most of it, I opted to cook something completely new to my repertoire: beef short ribs. Not the simplest recipe, but definitely worth the effort. A lot of prep work was involved, then a 3 hour break in the action, during which the short ribs braised in the oven and I watched a movie I'd been wanting to see.
When it all came together in the end, it was nothing short of perfection. A fireside table set for two, candlelight and wine, Frances laying at our feet. Mason and I agreed it was one of the most delicious meals we've shared together, which is saying a lot! Not only did the flavors blend together splendidly, but we knew this would probably be the last of this kind of night in a long time. So we hunkered down, made the most of it, and were as cozy as could be. And now, I say, bring on the warm weather!

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.