I believed it will be good to begin with simply plain gorgeousness from our journey final week to Washington DC for the eightieth birthday of an expensive good friend. These subsequent two images are from the other-wordly gardens at Hillwood Property and Gardens.
Strolling by the gardens felt like falling into some Alice-in-Wonderland-like exuberance of shade and good design. Shockingly, our backyard doesn’t seem like this. (However I did lean over to Jim and say “That is what I would like our backyard to seem like.” All I would like is one other 24 acres and a bazillion {dollars}.)
The mansion, now a museum, was created by Marjorie Merriweather Put up (suppose Common Meals and Put up cereal, in addition to bushels and bushels of cash) and opened to the general public in 1977. The mansion–you simply can’t name it a home–has “probably the most complete assortment of Russian imperial artwork outdoors of Russia,” in addition to a “distinguished” 18th century Frenchdecorate artwork assortment. I’m guessing the china beneath is an instance. So lovely.
I’m positive you’re shocked that I selected to take images of the china with birds painted on it, out of the handfuls and dozens displayed.
In addition to celebrating outdated and new friendships, (and consuming and consuming and consuming), Jim and I took a pedicab across the mall space and visited lots of the well-known monuments. We extremely suggest it the pedicab! Parking is, no shock, a nightmare, strolling to every thing we needed to go to might be exhausting, so taking a two-hour pedicab journey was supreme. Our information/bicyclist, Robert, was a fount of data, and made your entire expertise pleasant. Some of the impactful monuments, for me, was the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. We knew lots concerning the controversy when it was first constructed–folks, particularly veterans, hated that’s only a lengthy black wall, sunk down on the base of a hill. It was designed by Maya Lin, an structure pupil on the time, who submitted it as a part of a design task. (She obtained a C.) However viewpoints modified radically as soon as folks started to stroll alongside it and expertise the affect of strolling by the names of all 58,318 veterans who died there.
I’ve to confess, the primary take a look at it isn’t inspiring. From a distance, it’s only a black wall. Meh. However then, you begin strolling at one finish, the place the “wall” is simply inches excessive, and there is only one identify. The primary soldier who died in Nam. After which, as you proceed, the wall expands upward, and there are three names, after which 5, after which twenty, after which fifty and finally, as you stroll, your mind and your soul absorbs the affect of over 58,000 troopers, every one named, dying in that horrible battle in what (we have been all advised, although many disagreed) was the protection of democracy.
Credit score Nationwide Parks Service
Each battle memorial, with statues of generals on some noble horse, seems to be pale by comparability. Whereas we have been there, many veterans have been there, and a few have been wanting up particular person names. For those who’ve by no means been, go in the event you can; it feels tragic and galvanizing and vital and proper to take action.
We additionally hung out on the Nationwide Museum of African American Historical past and Tradition, and it’s brilliantly carried out. It accommodates seven flooring, three underground–the metaphor couldn’t be extra clear–and 4 above, shifting from earlier than the slave commerce into the current. I used to be hesitant to begin on the bottom flooring, the place I knew there could be lots concerning the horrors of slavery. I do know from expertise {that a} graphic description of among the worst of the worst would lead to no good to anybody, however numerous nightmares for me. However, I’ve to let you know–begin firstly! The complete museum is not only brilliantly carried out, it’s additionally designed for everybody, together with kids, and it’s trustworthy however under no circumstances graphic. You might spend days there, however we moved by comparatively shortly, partly due to our schedule, and partly, as a result of it was very, very crowded. Heaps and plenty of kids, which was great. I doubt I’ll ever overlook a younger man, possibly 9?, who, whereas a map of slave versus non-slave states within the 1800’s, checked out his mother, his eyes large, and stated “Wait. You imply Maryland was a slave state?” I’d guess the farm that Maryland is his house now.
The final flooring is a celebration of African American contributions to artwork, music, and literature. It was so so so good. Go, in the event you can, earlier than it will get “white washed” (actually) by our President, who has said it’s “simply too adverse,” or some such blasphemy.
One very last thing! I teamed up with Dogwise and we supplied a restricted variety of autographed The Different Finish of the Leash books on my Be a part of the Pack checklist, with the concept that I’d let you know all about it on this put up. However, wow, the copies bought out in two days, lengthy earlier than I may put up the weblog. However, right here’s the excellent news: I scrounged up 9 extra copies that I can signal! The books will return on sale early tomorrow morning: go to The Different Finish of the Leash early on Tuesday 4/29, the place you’ll be capable of click on on a hyperlink that sends you to a web page the place you’ll be able to order the autographed model. If it’s not up but, strive once more in a couple of minutes. BUT, there are solely 9 copies obtainable, so if you need one, soar in asap. (And a very good cause to Be a part of the Pack, an inventory totally different than the weblog checklist, that sends notifications of enjoyable issues like this, gross sales, and so forth.) I’m soooo sorry that there aren’t extra, and that we underestimated the demand, however my hand is so drained and the books needed to journey across the nation thrice to make this occur! If there’s sufficient curiosity, I’m positive we’ll do one thing like this sooner or later.)
MEANWHILE, again on the farm. We obtained house on Saturday, the place I’m able to take pleasure in our little gardens, glowing with daffodils, who all the time seem like somebody clicked on “yellow” and boosted the saturation stage to excessive.
It is vitally, very, very springy right here, and it’s just about a porn film outdoors, with male Robins going all ninja on one another whereas combating for females, male Cardinals adorably seducing females by feeding them seeds, and rabbits, uh, f’g like rabbits. Right here’s a beautiful end result–a Mourning Dove has already made a nest beside our entrance door. She doesn’t fly away after we come or go, which suggests to me she is the one who nested there final 12 months, however she’s sinks down in order that her head if barely seen.
For perspective, right here is the pergola (that Jim constructed–sure, I’ve advised you he’s wonderful, proper?). Can you discover her? Her head is seen if you understand the place to look.
That’s it for at present, the remainder of life calls, however please soar in about your experiences in our nation’s capitol, or the X-rated animal exercise at your home. Be properly.
