Proving Lunch

Marie, Barbara, and I met for lunch at Proof, one of my favorite restaurants in DC. We had a lovely time. The highlight was Marie's account of her wonderful trip to Scotland with Henry. I came away with two memorable images - droves of baby lambs and the wall of the great Roman emperor Hadrian (Adriano in italiano). And their adventure driving on the wrong side of the road - bing, ding!

I ordered the grilled gnocchi with vegetables (corn, peas, and asparagus) and parmesan frico (in the photo on the right). Very nice! Marie was not happy with her initial order (in the photo on the left) and was given the opportunity for a second chance.

Much to our surprise, Marie noted a traditional Scottish dessert on the menu, Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake, so we ordered one and shared it. It was delicious!!

After lunch we went our separate ways. I went across the street to the Portrait Gallery to see the portraits of my two heroes, Barack and Michelle. I also saw the portraits of more of my heroes, Toni Morrison and Bill and Melinda Gates.

       Toni Morrison, author of Beloved, one of the greatest books ever written.

                                   Two great philanthropists making this world a better place

I also saw this Japanese take on George Washington crossing the Delaware. Quite lovely!

Matching Lunch

Nancy, Kim, and I met for lunch at Matchbox in Pentagon City. We discussed many interesting topics but the most interesting was the Seventeenth Street Band, the group Kim and her husband organized for the children in their neighborhood.

  

Kim                                                                  Nancy

Nancy and I plan to go to their summer concert on July 15 in Potomac Overlook Park! We can't wait!

Chinese Farewell

May and I went to lunch at our favorite local Chinese restaurant, House of Dynasty. It was hard saying good-bye because I am certainly going to miss her. However, we plan to meet again in her new locale in the not too-distant future. And there is always texting to keep au courant!

May and Christine

Conversation with a Cappuccino

I met my Italian friend Marisa at the Swiss Bakery in Annandale (or is it Springfield?).

We enjoyed a wonderful chat while we sipped our cappuccini and munched on delicious pastries (apple strudel for her and a cornetto for me). I hope we can do this often since we are now close neighbors!

Museum Hopping with Mary

I met my friend Mary at the Hirshhorn this morning. We wanted to check out the remodeled first floor of the museum. We were impressed with the new cafe and the comfortable places to sit. A very warm, inviting environment has been created.

The cafe is called Dolcezza at the Hirshhorn. You can find coffee and the popular Dolcezza gelato here.

http://dolcezzagelato.com/locations/hirshhorn/

You can listen to a video in which Hiroshi Sugimoto, the designer of the new environment, explains his plan. His tables and chairs are circular and therefore fit in nicely with the building's cylindrical shape.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJlrLI9ptJI

I forgot to take a photo of Mary, unfortunately.

After the Hirshhorn, we walked down to the National Museum of the American Indian and had lunch. I had my usual Wild Rice Salad. Yes, I am a Minnesotan at times and long for wild rice!

On the way home I stopped at GW - a visit to the library and a stop at Starbuck's.

My view of the Academic Center, site of my former office, from Starbuck's

My table at the Gelman Library's Starbuck's 

Discussing Less

Janet, Liz, Chas, Rosemary, Indra, Bill, Ginnie, Judy, Christine 

(not included in the photo two friends of Christine, Marie and the photographer Linda)

Our May selection was Andrew Sean Greer's Less, winner of the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. We met at Judy's home, our usual summer location, with many bringing delicious goodies to eat. 

Andrew's father, Bill, was our special guest. We had a very enthusiastic discussion, interspersed throughout with questions directed at Bill about his son. The opinion of the book was favorable with high praise in particular for Andrew's impressive use of language. Many clever descriptions were noted as well as clever allusions to works of literature and of art. His attention to detail was considered masterful. 

Marvelous Son

A very special Mother's Day

Marcello, Christian, and Colin took me to the House of Dynasty, a very nice Chinese restaurant in Springfield, for a special Mother's Day lunch celebration.

The day before a lovely surprise arrived at my house - a gorgeous gardenia plant with a special pin.

 One flower bloomed the next day and three more have bloomed since. And what a heavenly fragrance!

A very special pin came with the plant. 

Here was the accompanying message:

Bloom. Grow. Blossom.

is a line of thoughtfully designed gifts that celebrate those who have made a difference in someone's life. Whether you're a mom, mentor, teacher, sister, or friend, you have helped to make someone who they are today.. and they thank YOU. Wear this pin as a reminder that you've made an impact.

Thank you, Marcello!

A Parade and A Picnic

The Norwegian organizations in the nation's capital came together to celebrate Norway's Constitution Day (Syttende Mai) in Carderock Park in Maryland.

Bill and I marching in the parade

Kathy and I as Lakselaget Hospitality greeters

Andrea always enjoyed this special occasion. Here he is proudly marching with the Norwegian flag in 2014. One of his buttons reads, "Norwegian by Marriage."

Trip to Philly

Marcello drove me and his sons to Philly to visit my sister Kate.

More Farewells

Indra, Judy, and I took May to lunch at her favorite place, Eleni's. Everyone had the BLT Salad (with meat) except me and I had a Feta cheese, spinach, black olive omelette).

 Judy, Indra, Chris, and May

We shared a delicious Greek dessert! It was definitely enough for four people!!

Chanters

May invited me to join her at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church for a concert of the Navy Sea Chanters. They were amazing! Chas, Rosemary, and Diane O were there as well.

May Farewell

Our dear friend May will be leaving soon to begin a new and exciting chapter in her life in Tennessee. We had a party for her tonight.

The charming host was John O and we enjoyed his gracious hospitality in his lovely home. He served tasty Dubliner cheddar cheese and pretzel crackers and various drinks. Janet provided the main dish, delicious manicotti. May supplied a wide variety of Mideastern delicacies including birds' nests. Christine made a party jello salad (lime jello with cottage cheese, cool whip, and pineapple juice). Rosemarie made a scrumptious flan for dessert.

 John Q,  May, Rosemarie

John, Chas

                                               

                                                                                                                                                             Christine and Janet

Flan

After dinner we repaired into the living room for "speeches," music, and scintillating and amusing conversation.

Rosemarie and Chas

                                                                                            Janet

John and May

John presented May with a going-away card signed by those present. He included a photo that served as the prelude for the Shutterfly photo book that she will receive in the near future.
Christine expressed her appreciation to our host with a set of six coasters, each with a reproduction of a Van Gogh painting (including "Starry Night"). John Q performed on his guitar an original song he had written for May, using the tune from the hit Broadway musical  "Auntie Mame."

Guitarist John Q

Christian 16 and Mother

We first celebrated Mother's Day with a lovely lunch at House of Dynasty. Thank you, Marcello!

[photo]

Marcello also gave me a beautiful gardenia plant that I will nurture with great care. It also came with an impact pin.

Next we celebrated Christian's 16th birthday. Yes! Now he will soon be able to drive!

We came back to the house and had chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream.

[photos]

Marcello and Christian also managed to fit in some work. They set up my gazebo and the Roku connection on my TV.

It was a wonderful Mother's Day/Grandson Birthday spent happily with two of my very favorite men, Marcello and Christian. Unfortunately, Colin was under the weather and was unable to join us.

Today I met my two GW friends at the National Gallery of Art to see the exhibit of Cezanne Portraits followed by lunch in the museum's Cafe.

George (l) and Liz (r)

We are standing in front of the Cezanne shop. We all liked the portrait of the young Italian model in the background. It was nice having Liz join us, not only because of her sparkling personality but also because she is an art historian and always has interesting insights to share.

Nancy on stage

I had a wonderful afternoon with Patricia and Susan. We went to the Vienna Community Center to see their very talented sister Nancy star in Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit. It was an excellent production.

 

Note Nancy who starred as the medium, Madame Arcati, on the program above.

 Before the performance I snapped a photo of Patricia (l) and Susan (r) in front of the children's statue. Then a kind theater-goer snapped a photo of the three of us with me in the middle. (It was very windy. It was not my new hair style.)

 The stage setting

 With Nancy after the performance (Susan, Nancy, Patricia)

 Nancy's car - Can you guess her political persuasion? Yes!!! Go, Nancy!

(In case you didn't understand the numbers, they mean Deep Six President #45.)

On the way home Susan plied us with delicious bars of Godiva chocolate!

Greek Lunch with John and May

After church, we went to Eleni's for brunch. We all ordered omelettes and had a very nice time together.

 Christine and May

John O