Belle's Cave

Today when I got home from church I went out to call the dogs in. They've been spending a lot more time outside and don't really seem to mind, but with our heat wave (nothing compared to what they're getting in AZ - 117 yesterday I heard!) I've been keeping them in when I can.

Anyway, I went out to call them in an Max ran up right away. I kept calling for Belle and when I kept getting no response I walked into my grandparents adjoining yard. I couldn't see her there, but after I called a couple of more times, she came walking out of here - 

- the bushes that are in front of that railing. 

I'm not sure what all is back there, and I'm not sure I really want to know, but hopefully she's found a cool, safe place to while away the hot summer afternoons. 

Overheard

Jimmy: I think I'm going to wash my hands and play with the dogs. 

...

(He had been playing with ink and stamps - that's the only thing that could make that statement not sound crazy.)

Home Again

I managed to get the car returned to the right place, myself to the right place, and my seat on the plane in perfect time. This was after a short detour to find a gas station so I wouldn't be charged $8/gallon. I was a little worried about time at one point, but it worked out perfectly.

Still sad about not getting to the city, I caught a few great glimpses on my way out. 

Not the best picture, but it was an amazing sunrise. 

Signs like this were all over Baltimore and I heard they were also all over Arlington. Really annoying, but so glad I was able to make my right turn in the legal time slot (while dealing with Baltimore traffic I cheated and turned left before the sign allowed - I followed a car that cheated and was followed by another car that cheated). 

I saw the pentagon. Maybe I shouldn't admit this, but I've always pictured the pentagon as a star with five points. Thinking the penta was in reference to the points. It's way past time for me to realize that the pentagon is indeed shaped like a pentagon... Oops. 

I also flew over Arlington cemetery but didn't get a picture of it. Since I have been there in person, I wasn't heartbroken about it. 

Close to home I saw this river and thought it kind of looked like a dragon. So I took a picture. 

Now I'm home, on my bed, and it feels really good to be on my bed. (:

Until next time DC. 

Coming Home

I should be asleep. I have to get an early start tomorrow. My flight leaves at 7:30 tomorrow morning and before I can check in I have to figure out where to park my awesome rental car and still get to my terminal on time. The way my brain has been functioning - or not functioning - I should probably try to get to the airport by 3 to make sure I can successfully do those things.

Not going to happen. 

Hopefully I can manage to do that by leaving the house around 6 - yay for friends who live close to the airport and let me crash on the couch. 

Anyway... Here are pictures -

I love baby-holding time. Especially when they cuddle -

While two were swimming, one was sleeping -

After swimming I picked up my rental and headed up north to visit a friend who moved to Delaware a few months ago (no pictures of that). Then I headed west into The City (DC is 'The City'). (:

Here's where I get most of my religious instruction, the back of trucks -

My sweet little Mazda something with New York plates. I feel like that gave me permission to drive a little more aggressively than normal -

It had a USB port which was awesome since I used my phone to navigate from Delaware to Virginia. 

And it navigated me right into the middle of Baltimore rush hour. Not so awesome -

I tried to pretend I was sightseeing and told myself that this was the Baltimore Orioles stadium. (That's a thing, right?)

And I decided that freeway driving is much nicer with a canopy of trees. Wish my commute to work could be like that. 

It's been a fun trip, but it's been a little more than a week and it's time to go home. Saddest part about the trip - I never actually got into The City. I saw the Washington monument from across the river, and I think I kind of drove past it today, but I'll definitely have to come back to spend more time here. Maybe in the fall...

I'll be going straight into work from the airport which will give me about a 12.5 hr work day and I will be ready to go home and crash for the rest of the week (I won't be working Thursday or Friday).

It's been good, but tiring. I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed! And to going on walks with these two -

Today

Swimming Lessons.

I set foot in the ocean for the first time in... forever, and the Atlantic ocean for the first time in... ever.

I was reminded how literally awesome the ocean is. So powerful, so awe-inspiring, so beautiful, and so awesome.

Just find me a beach without sand somewhere and I will be one happy gal.

Cooper showed me how to be cool at all times - even when you're about to take a shower.

And I caught sight of a beautiful Delaware sky.

 

It was a good day.

Sunday Evening

I went on a walk with these two bozos 

and hung out with this little one. 

TV

I was just interviewed by a TV station. I'm not going to say which one because I don't want anyone to watch that channel tonight. 

In fact, I'm currently brainstorming ways to sabotage that channel - just for tonight - so no one can watch it. 

Do yourself a favor tonight, and don't watch TV - read a book. 

Yesterday's Mishap

Thursday I went to the store Cactus and Tropicals to buy a plant to go in a big pot we already had at home. I found a big leaf pothos which I kind of fell in love with. It has enormous leaves. Like, rainforest-sized leaves. It's big enough that it needs a name. Name is still pending.

I bought one of the two they had, took it home, repotted it and then took it in to work on Friday. We didn't make it past the first corner before it tipped over.

I pulled over and opened the back door to find this - 

Yes, that's my temple skirt that it spilled on. Twice I ignored promptings that would have saved the skirt - first to put my clothes in my temple bag, second to put my clothes in the front seat. Blast. 

Then I moved the plant and saw this -

After raving about - and fawning over - this plant the night before, the honeymoon was over. 

I scooped up what I could, then drove on. I've needed to vacuum out the car for a while, this just gave me a more urgent need for it. 

I realized too late that if it's big enough to need a name, it's big enough to need a seatbelt. 

Now it's in a happy home on my desk. 

All was forgiven. 

And it conveniently blocks me from the immediate view of people passing by. Which I love. 

Also Thursday evening I finally saw the first blossom that my peace lily created -

I love plants. 

Friday I returned to C&T and picked up the other big leaf pothos. Today I bought it a pot and it is happily residing in my room. 

Huge! And beautiful!