Before I head out to see the new Indiana Jones movie at the Uptown, I wanted to post my Three Beautiful Things from the past week:

1. Monday night we went to see the Nationals beat the Phillies. While I was wandering the stadium looking for food (I eventually found where they hid the knish stand), I got the chance to see some of the views Taxation without Representation Park was supposed to offer — and at sunset. If you’re on the fifth floor, you can see the Capitol out over the outfield. And if you’re walking up the ramps in left field, you get a great shot of the Washington Monument — in this case, against a gorgeously deep pink sky.

2. It’s been chilly here this week, which means more time wearing the winter clothes I haven’t yet put away. On Tuesday, I wore my Every Day Cardigan — possibly for the last time this spring. I ate lunch with a bunch of coworkers I don’t see too often and one of them, knowing I was a knitter, asked, “Do you know the person who knit your sweater?” “Why, yes, I do!”

3. On Sunday, we attended a memorial service for Mike Shor, an older member of D.C. for Dean, the political group we all helped run. It was a touching afternoon, as his daughter and sister shared personal memories of his love of food, family, and the outdoors; his childhood pal talked of rainy hikes and animated discussions; and two fellow DC4D members offered insights into his political character. It was a touching and fitting send-off of a fine man.

ETA on Friday: Oops. I started my post on Tuesday and then forgot to adjust the time stamp when I published it. Thanks for pointing out the error, Mum.

Folks, this is my thousandth post. [Huh. Apparently WordPress doesn’t care to document that event and has skipped ahead to 1001.] I can’t believe I’ve written that much — and that you’ve kept reading! Thank you! And here’s to a thousand more (just not all at once)!

But you didn’t come here for accolades. It’s Thursday, so you must have come for the three beautiful things:

1. May 9-16 is the busiest birthday week of the year in our household. Happy birthday to all these beautiful friends: Rudi’s Penny, Eri, Jenn, Kim, and Rudi.

2. On Sunday, I visited the National Geographic Society’s museum for the very first time. (It’s a really cool museum and I foresee it being the subject of a My D.C. in the near future.) But, people, the reason it was so beautiful? Frogs. Hundreds of frogs. I took photographic evidence, but to whet your appetite, they ranged from giant bull frogs to these tiny peach-colored frogs that were the size of my pinkie nail. Amazing!

3. Sunday also offered us delights at the farmers’ market including the first strawberries of the season. We snapped up two quarts and have been parceling them out with dessert each night. Tonight we had them on ice cream sundaes.

As a note, I’ve been documenting three beautiful things every Thursday for more than three years now. Think that’s impressive? Clare has been doing it every day for four years. Please stop by to wish her a happy blogiversary.

The yarn fumes are starting to wear off from this weekend’s adventure, but there’s still lots to rejoice over. Here are three beautiful things from the past week:

1. I’m doing well in fantasy baseball — 3rd place. I’ve never done well in fantasy baseball. And I’ve discovered the secret to success — laziness. Fiddle with your roster as little as possible, and you will climb the charts. On other competition fronts, half of our pub trivia team from last month reunited last night to test our prowess again. We finished in second place, which was enough to land us in the money again. Hooray!

2. Monday morning was so lovely I thought it time I pull my bike out for the season and bike to work. Unfortunately, this has been a week of working late prior to a deadline, so I hadn”t been able to bike home (I’m pretty sure the battery on my headlight is dead. Something for this weekend’s to-do list.) until tonight. But still, that’s two short bike rides this week.

3. Rudi sent this to me over IM and it made me laugh out loud at my desk at work.

Happy May Day! Blessed Beltane! What better time to post three beautiful things than today?

1. Julia does not have cancer.

2. When I stopped by the garden on Sunday (I waited to go until after the rain, Mia, just for you.), peas and beans were just sending up their first tiny, tender shoots. I can’t wait to see what they’ve done this week with all the lovely rain and sun we’ve had.

3. Wednesday, I had a scoop of Coconut Seven Layer Bar ice cream as part of Free Cone Day and then for supper Rudi made me a coconut curry.

Three beautiful things from the past week:

1. I’ve spent the past two nights up through the wee hours working on some editing/proofreading. At 3 a.m. or thereabouts, certain birds wake up and start calling to one another.

2. I arrive home from today’s farmers’ market (fewer veggies left when you arrive at the end, but I still brought home cake and gelato, as well as some healthier items) tired and crabby (probably from #1 above). I lie down in bed with the cats and sleep for an hour and awake feeling sooooo much better.

3. Charles arrives at the pub on Sunday more than 90 minutes after his wedding shower was due to start. (Apparently his fiancée had a tough time keeping him on a schedule without giving away why she was hurrying him along and wisely opted for surprise over punctuality.) You can tell from the adorable look on his face when he crests the stairs that he totally was not expecting to find a room full of his friends awaiting him.

I’m sniffly and a little grumpy tonight, but thinking about beautiful things always makes me feel better.

Here are three from my last week:

1. Good news for three friends. John’s bid on a condo was accepted and he is going to be a homeowner. The ad copy for his Cap Hill condo described it as “geeked out” with “killer rooftop views.” Elspeth got the new job she’d been hoping for which will take her back to the former Soviet nations. [E, is the job in Ukraine or Azerbaijan?] And Sarah’s boyfriend’s job is almost certainly taking them to Peru for three months at the end of May. Such good news for everyone! (But I will miss you all!)

2. Gramma and I sit. We talk some, but there isn’t a need for it. We’re comfortable in our own skins and with each other. We read, we watch the birds, I knit, she does crossword puzzles. We drink tea and eat cookies. But mostly we’re just together and that’s enough.

3. Karen and I had a late lunch in Sturbridge and ended up at the East Brimfield Dam. We explored the dam and marveled at the lofty black clouds overhead before hurrying back to the car to avoid being caught in a downpour. When I pointed out the neat way the evergreens stood out against the deciduous trees in that light, Karen realized we were getting an even better show — a double rainbow!

(Click to enlarge the shot.)

What’s beautiful in your world?