Chinese Birthday Lunch

My good friend Barbara took me to the House of Dynasty  for my birthday lunch. We had good food and good conversation!

Annual Virginia Birthday Lunch

This tradition started when my friend Virginia Richards and I discovered that we had the same birthday. After Virginia died, her daughter Eleanor took her place. And Birthday Girls Pam and Indra joined when I discovered that their birthdays are very close to mine. This year and last we invited May to join us even though she is a September baby.

We had a delightful lunch at Yindee Thai, the same location as last year.

Enchanted Gardens

The weather was absolutely perfect - sunny and warm. It was a perfect day for the Garden Tour at Hillwood, Marjorie Merriweather Post's estate in the heart of the nation's capital.

Our garden tour guide was excellent - very enthusiastic and very knowledgeable.

We also took the mansion tour and the mansion guide was also excellent.

After the tours, we had a lovely lunch in the Hillwood Cafe.

Here is one photo. More to follow.

Christine, Verna, May, Barbara, Marie, Jo

Lunch with Lauro

My former student Lauro invited me to lunch at the World Bank with him and his wife Glaura. It was very special to see them again after so many years.

Christine and Lauro

My lunch was delicious - miso soup and vegetarian sushi!

(More photos to follow)

Chinese Lunch

Dona came down to Springfield and we went to the House of Dynasty for a delicious Chinese lunch. I forgot to take photos at the restaurant but I took some at home. I will post them soon.

We always have so many memories to talk about, going back to 1966. We especially remembered our husbands today.

Norwegian Picnic

Today we celebrated Norway's Constitution Day at Carderock Park.

                Christine and Marie Singing the Norwegian National Anthem

More photos to follow

My Roman Son

Adriano has been extremely busy since his appointment to the Cabinet of the Mayor of Rome. He is the Commissioner for Rome's Tourism, Economic Development, and Labor. (See more photos of Adriano in the December 1, 2016, entry.)

As Commissioner for Tourism, he went to Venice to meet with his counterpart there. Here they are together on the Canal Grande.

He received the plaque he is holding in this photo from the Via Veneto Association, thanking him for his hard work to revitalize and insure the beauty of Via Veneto. This magnificent avenue is, of course, one of the great treasures of the city of Rome. (Ah! Memories of Marcello Mastroianni in "La Dolce Vita!")





It reads:

Assessore Adriano Gilbert Meloni
per l'impegno
per la valorizzazione e la sostenibilita'
della grande bellezza di Via Veneto.

Roma, 9 maggio 2017      Assoc. Via Veneto

Our beloved Andrea, who so loved the city of Rome, would have been so proud of his son. Unfortunately, he did not live to see this amazing chapter in Adriano's life.

Adriano's sons Arthur and Paul enjoy hanging out with him in the Eternal City.

Arthur and Paul

 Arthur on the Tiber

Studying Art Abroad

Gertraud and I went to the Italian Embassy for a program about American students studying art in Italy. It was not very well organized and we were disappointed. But it was fun being together!

The refreshments after the program were, of course, very nice - four different kinds of cheeses, crackers, bread, pizzelle, madeleines, and fruit. And wine, of course.

Here we are posing in front of the project posters.

 Gertraud

Christine

A very special breakfast

I was honored with an invitation to the Norwegian ambassador's Syttende Mai champagne breakfast at his residence on May 17. The photos below tell the story!

                                                           Ambassador Aas and Christine

Bill and Christine with the special guest, Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide, Norway's Minister of Defense

                              The Defense Minister delivers the speech during the program                                          

Linda Priebe, who sang both national anthems to begin the program, with Inger and Christine 


Leif and Anne Grethe from Oslo in their national dress 

                     There was even a Swede at the celebratory event, the very likeable Mr. Persson

               Christine with Friends John and Bill in front of the Ambassador's Residence on Mass Av

[More photos will follow]

Theater Outing

May, Verna, and I went to the French restaurant in DC Central and had a delicious meal.

May and Verna 

 Corn and Farro Salad

 Mushrooms

We then went to the Ford's Theater to see a spectacular performance of "Ragtime."

Lincoln's Box 

Friends Together on a Special Sunday

I had celebrated Mother's Day the day before but I didn't want to spend this Sunday alone. Neither did May so she suggested a wonderful outing.

We went to historic Occoquan for lunch. It was a glorious sunny day and we ate outside at the Wine Bar right on the river.

May

 Christine and May

Delicious flatbread with cheese, arugula, and something else (!) and also a cheese board with Wisconsin White Cheddar, Drunken Goat (goat cheese soaked in wine), and Brie.

We looked at the lovely houses. Marvelous colors!

Then we went into a fudge shop. May resisted (just barely!) but I tasted free samples of Penuche and Belgium chocolate. Delicious!

Then we went into an art store. I loved the beautiful earrings (I resisted purchasing any although I know that Andrea would have insisted that I buy two pairs) and May liked the lovely crosses.

Then we went for a stroll along the river.


(I hate the way my hair sticks out when I wear a baseball cap!)

It was a perfect day!

A Happy Outing for La Festa della Mamma

My American son and grandsons gave me the royal treatment for Mother's Day on the Saturday before. It was an excellent idea because the restaurants are not overcrowded and noisy then.

First of all, Marcello, Christian, and Colin arrived at my home with a gorgeous bouquet of roses and a box of Whitman Reserve chocolates.

Then they took me out to the restaurant of my choice. It was Sfoglina, a very nice Italian restaurant on Connecticut Avenue in the District.

 Colin enjoying his raspberry mocktail while Christian grins

 One needs to take Italian food seriously

The Happy Mother with Marcello who is beginning to look more like his father all of time

The Birthday Boy enjoying his surprise birthday cake

A good time was had by all!

Lunch at the Hamilton

Old friend (since first grade) John Crouch and his wife Bonnie (relatively new friend) came to town to honor John's great-grandfather, a police officer killed in the line of duty. We met for lunch at the Hamilton Hotel in the District and had a most enjoyable chat. The food was good, too!

  John

Chris and Bonnie

Visiting Anne in Michigan

 I flew out to Ann Arbor to spend a few days with Shlee, my Wells College roommate. I had a fabulous time! She was a very caring, thoughtful, and energetic host!!

Anne in a rare tranquil moment!

 A view of Anne's backyard

Ann Arbor

God's Doors are Open to All

 Sign in front of a church

Anne 

Modern art on the University of Michigan campus

 Entrance to a wing of the U of M Art Museum (above)

Photos of Museum Works of Art (below)

                                                             Ganesh, the Elephant Deity

                                                    Anti-Violence - Destroy All Weapons

 House in historic German part of Ann Arbor

Love the colors of these houses! 

The Gerald Ford Presidential Library

 Adriano's friend Oscar surprised me one  day and showed up unexpected on our doorstep. Turnabout's fair play. Anne and I surprised his wife and sons in the same way! Great Fun! We were very well received! 

 Anne, Judy, and the Wu Twins

Their backyard lake

Oscar came to visit us at Anne's house the following evening. Happy Birthday, Oscar!

HOLLAND

Anne very kindly agreed to take me to Holland so that I could see where Frederik Walters, my great-grandfather, settled when he emigrated to the US in 1860. He was German but, for some unknown reason, opted to settle among the Dutch!

A monument to all of Holland's veterans - Frederik was a veteran of the Civil War

 The Dutch pastor who founded Holland

He and his followers were searching for religious freedom.

                                    Anne and Chris in the main park in the center of Holland

Tulips, of course, everywhere!