Come see me in Washington DC

Hi everyone!

If you happen to be in Washington DC, or the area, come see me! For 42 years, my aunt and uncle have hosted an open house to sell their wares. Mal is a potter and Judy does shibori silks. In recent years, they have invited other artists to join in, and I was able to participate about 5-6 years ago. Lucky for me, I get to go again this year.

I'll be selling prints and cards, and there will be other local artists there as well. Good time to Christmas shop!

So we are all driving to DC in the morning and will stay with our good friends in Frederick, MD. Wade and the kids will probably go to a couple museums on Saturday and Sunday while I'm at the show, and then back to NY on Sunday.

More from the show...

Dad's Fish Pond

I'm crazy, I just know it. I know I've talked about how I get attached to material things, but not just any material thing. It's usually a vintage item, something with an emotional connection, or it's part of a collection. I can't help it! I just get attached to stuff to the point of obsession. Honestly, I don't think it's a bad thing, but I need to be careful that I don't get carried away.

Case in point. Dad's fish pond. When Dad was a kid, he created a concrete fish pond in the backyard of this childhood house in D.C. His family moved into the Willow Street house when he was in second grade, and he lived there until he went to college at VT.

The last time I saw the house and pond, I think I was in high school and I went to D.C. with my Dad on a business trip. He drove me all around Takoma park and showed my his elementary school, high school, his church, and his house.

We walked around the property together, and he told me stories of growing up there, building the pond, and life in D.C. We found a kitchen sink in the back alley behind the house because the current owners were obviously doing a kitchen remodel. Well it turned out to be the kitchen sink that my Dad grew up with, so what did I convince him to do? We threw it in the back of the rental car trunk and took it to Aunt Judy's house. I think it sat in Aunt Judy's backyard for a while, and then eventually got tossed out.

So the kids I drove to the Willow Street house on Wednesday as we were leaving D.C. The kids were excited to see where Papa grew up as a boy, and when we pulled up, I could tell the landscaping had been re-done and updated, so I figured the little concrete fishing pond was gone.

But we found it!!! 50 years later, it's still there! I guess the City moved the property line further in away from the street, so the fish pond was on the outside of the fence and the current owner had a pot of flowers sitting in it.

So here is where my craziness comes in. There was a place in the pond where Dad carved his initials and date into the cement when he poured it, so the kids and I found sticks and started digging. Parts of the pond were covered in dirt and grass and it was half buried. I wanted to find his carving to show the kids, and possibly to dig it up.

No success. In the meantime, I had a really nice chat with the neighbors and the mailman. I left he current owner a nice note in her mailbox and she called me the next day! I explained to her who I was and that I was digging around outside her fence. She was interested to know what that little concrete pad was, and had previously requested the City to remove it. Luckily they haven't done it yet, and she said she would now request the City to not remove it, and that I was welcome to come back and dig it up anytime.

So here is where my obsession comes in. Next time we're in D.C., I want to have a shovel and do some digging! Wouldn't it be neat for my kids to have part of the fish pond their Papa built as a kid?? Am I crazy?

Please don't answer that.

In the meantime Dad, here are some pictures of your house, and your overgrown fishpond.


Dad's room was on the top floor in the back corner. Train tracks run directly behind their house...both the D.C. metro and the big freight trains!


A big new back deck.



The fish pond!!

The D.C. Sites

Tuesday was our big sightseeing day. I just wanted to show the kids the "big" sites, but honestly, you could spend 10 days or more in D.C. and never run out of things to do and see. Plus (unlike NY), the museums are free!!! Amazing.

We started out at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and Ava now knows where the President lives. I think we may have even "seen" him as the Presidential helicopter flew over later in the day. The kids asked all sorts of questions:

Why is there a big fence?
Why can't we go in?
Why does that policeman have lots of guns?
Is that Obama's car? (referring to a minivan inside the gate)
He has pretty fountains Mom.






Next stop was the World War II memorial. The kids wanted to get closer because of the fountains, of course, but as soon as we walked in, I started crying, and I was glad to have my huge sunglasses on because I'm sure my mascara was running down my cheeks.

There were 3 older gentlemen in wheelchairs and their families having their picture taken together in front of the memorial. They were obviously veterans and were having a reunion. Maybe it's because Wade and I are watching the HBO series "Band of Brothers", but my emotions just took over and I was overwhelmed with gratitude for these men.



Then on to Lincoln. I love Abe Lincoln. I always have. I remember learning about our Presidents in 3rd grade, and for some reason, Honest Abe always stuck out to me. Plus my Dad kind of looks like him, minus the hat and facial hair.

I tried to explain why he was such a great President to the kids, but I don't think they really got it. They were more fascinated with how big his feet were.

Tyson is really thrilled to sing his ABC's, so he stood at the bottom of the Gettysburg Address shouting out his ABC's. It was super cute.

We walked to the back of the Memorial and watched airplanes for a long time. They fly toward the Lincoln Memorial and then turn sharply to land at National Airport. Tyson was thrilled to see airplanes so close up!!!









And then, the Washington Monument.

Aunt Judy's House

My Dad grew up in Washington D.C., which I think is pretty cool. It's such a cool city, and I think it would be fun to spend some extended time there, although I think it would be fun to spend extended time in a LOT of places.

My aunt Judy and Uncle Mal still live there, and have lived in their house for the last 40 years or so. I have vague memories of being there when I was a kid and have been able to visit them only a couple time over the last 10 years. Every year, they host an open house for Mal's pottery and Judy's batik scarves, and I showed some photography a number of years ago (where I first met Stephanie Wingo...hi Steph!), and I was supposed to participate last Christmas, but it didn't work out. You can read about that here.

Aunt Judy, or AJ, has never met my kids, so we just HAD to see her this trip. The kids and I headed to her place near Dupont Circle and had a wonderful time. We played on a nearby playground, found treasures and picked up lots of leaves in her backyard, and had the most yummy take-out pizza from one of the local restaurants. Wade was able to join us after work, and we all enjoyed some amazing ice cream with fresh cherries.

Judy and I had some great chats about family history and the Tyson family on my Dad's side of the family (who Tyson was named after). Thanks AJ for a great visit, and we can't wait to see you again!

A Day in Georgetown

On Sunday afternoon, we piled in the car and drove to Washington D.C. to join Wade for a couple days while he was there on business. It's only a 5 hour drive, depending on traffic of course, and it took us about 5 1/2. Not too bad! It started well, but then half way through New Jersey, Wade turns to me and says quite calmly, as only Wade can do.... "Kristen, we forgot the stroller."

Ugh. I, of course, proceed to panic.

What in the world am I to do with two kids in Washington D.C. for two days without a stroller???!!! My plan was to do A LOT of walking!! I had put a bit of effort into making this trip!!

So I pout for a while and get really quiet because I am so furious with myself (tends to happen when you're somewhat of a perfectionist), and then I go into what Wade likes to call "commando mode".

I called the hotel, and talked to my now favorite Marriott concierge Joseph. I explain the situation and tell him I need a double stroller for the next two days. He, of course, is more than willing to help (unlike my friends at the Home Depot this morning), and he calls me back within 15 minutes. "Kristen", he says, "I have Mary on the line waiting to help you. They have a double B.O.B stroller reserved for you, and it will only be $50 for two days." I wanted to reach through the phone and kiss him. Literally!!!!!

I get our reservation made, and we pick up the stroller at the rental shop on the way to the hotel. Glory!!!!!!!!

Now I have to say that I love my Phil & Ted stroller (as you well know Katie Schilb), but having this HUGE double wide B.O.B stroller worked so well in D.C. for kids the size of mine. Both Ava and Tyson could fully recline individually, and the sun shade covered them both completely. God bless Joseph!!!!

So the trip was redeemed, and I couldn't be happier.

Monday morning the kids and I headed over to Georgetown, which was just a short 10 minute walk from the hotel, and we found a great playground, thanks to instructions received from a very nice lady we met at breakfast. We played at the playground for a few hours, and ate our packed lunch and snacks.

It turned out to be a great morning, and I must have looked like a local with my huge stroller, because I had about 3-4 people ask me for directions while we were out strolling around.





OK, now back to Georgetown. Gorgeous!! Historic!! Beautiful!! Cha Ching!!!!!! Oh my goodness. Every street is tree lined and ohhhhh the row houses. I can't even begin to describe, and the pictures do the area NO justice. Color, brick, history, black rod iron, red doors, turquoise doors, gas lamps, ivy, painted gates, cobblestone and brick, trolley tracks, and every other house seemed to have a "national historic site" plaque on it.

I must have walked up and down every street while the kids were napping in the stroller. We even made it to the Georgetown campus, but didn't explore there too much. I wanted to keep walking through the neighborhood and peeping into people's windows. I'm terrible, I know.
















And here it is. My new best friend on wheels....