sprite writes
broodings from the burrow

November 10, 2019


potomac sunset
posted by soe 1:20 am

I had to be at National Harbor, a Disney-esque (in its plasticness, not in being entertaining) resort and conference center just south of D.C., for work yesterday.

There were several breaks in my day, and, while I was trying to do office work during some of them, I did succeed in getting outside for the last light of the day. Here is the sun setting over the Potomac River.:

Sunset at National Harbor

I hope you’re having a nice weekend!

Category: life -- uncategorized. There is/are Comments Off on potomac sunset.

November 9, 2019


all on my own weekend plans
posted by soe 1:14 am

Rudi is away for the weekend, so I’m flying solo for the next couple of days. Here’s what I’m hoping to get done:

  • Take part in the Garden Work Day and Social tomorrow morning.
  • Sleep in on Sunday morning.
  • Sign up for the Broke and the Bookish Secret Santa Swap.
  • Check out the Christmas Market tomorrow at the Czech embassy.
  • Complete a coffeeneuring ride or two.
  • Attend a “pop-up reading room” on the other side of town tomorrow afternoon. There will be fire pits and s’mores and a used book sale!
  • Cook quince.
  • Hang the fairy lights around the living room. (I never tracked down Halloween lights, so I’m just going to get started with the Christmas ones.)
  • Switch out my summer clothes for winter ones. I need access to warmer sweaters!
  • Find a new pair of jeans. And try to get a little more wear out of my current pair via an iron-on patch.

How about you? What’s on tap for your weekend?

Category: life -- uncategorized. There is/are 1 Comment.

November 8, 2019


harvest, red cups, and new clothes
posted by soe 1:01 am

Three beautiful things from my past week:

1. Rudi went to the garden for me today to harvest before the temperature drops tomorrow. I’m hopeful my peppers might survive, but I knew the bush of the basil I’d left behind last weekend would not.

2. Despite not getting up at the crack of dawn, Rudi and I both managed to track down free reusable holiday cups at a national purveyor of hot beverages’ one-day promo event.

3. After several unsuccessful shopping trips attempting to boost my cooler weather professional wardrobe, I found several items at TJ Maxx that I think will now allow me to get through an entire week without stressing about outfits.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?

Category: three beautiful things. There is/are Comments Off on harvest, red cups, and new clothes.

November 7, 2019


october unraveling, just 11 months early
posted by soe 1:44 am

Unraveling

We could look at this photo as a complete failure, having failed to complete sock or book, by the end of October.

Or…

We could look at it as getting a really nice jump start on the 2020 Halloween season. I know which perspective I’m going with.

Head over to As Kat Knits for what other folks are knitting and reading this week.

Category: books,knitting. There is/are 2 Comments.

November 6, 2019


midweek music pick-me-up: ‘my life would suck without you’
posted by soe 1:48 am

I had a day this morning at work. I decided midday that getting out of the office and going outside was key to turning things around. I took my sandwich to a nearby park and tried to read away my frustration, but it wasn’t working. Then some guy sat down nearby and started watching videos on his phone. Fair enough, but it was definitely not going to help me shake off the morning’s frustrations.

But, I thought, some music might help.

My go-to Google Play channel came through with this early Kelly Clarkson hit, which, played at full-blast on my headphones, started the reboot:

Adele was also a good choice from the streaming service, but then I opted to switch to YouTube to pull up two songs from my personal dance party playlist (since I didn’t have my iPod with me): “Accidentally in Love” and “The World Ain’t Slowing Down.”

And that was what it took. Upbeat music at warning-level volume and — ultimately — dancing my way back to the office in the autumn sunshine.

What do you do to turn around a (work)day?

Category: arts. There is/are 1 Comment.

November 5, 2019


coffeeneuring 2019 #4: fresh baguette
posted by soe 1:35 am

Ride #4: Sunday, Nov. 3, evening
Fresh Baguette (1737 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.)

Fresh Baguette

After spending some time at the garden Sunday afternoon, I biked over to upper Georgetown to take care of some errands, with the hopes that Fresh Baguette might be a destination for coffeeneuring.

Fresh Baguette's Wares

It was and they had a full selection of tasty things to try, including their namesake item — freshly baked baguettes, which are produced every two hours. While I did buy and tear into a baguette before I left, I also opted for a hot cocoa and pumpkin croissant. Look how pretty that croissant is.

Coffeeneuring Stop #4

As this was the first day of the return to Standard Time, sunset came awfully early, so I opted to eat at one of their handful of tables, rather than taking my snack outside. As Fresh Baguette doesn’t have any outdoor seating, I would have had to walk over to the nearby rec center, so it seemed reasonable to stay.

Everything I had was delicious.

Because this is in Georgetown, bike parking is horrible. There are definitely no racks outside and even skinny street signs are decidedly lacking in the immediate vicinity. There is bike parking at Safeway up a block, and also probably at the rec center, and back down a block at the library. And there’s a Cabi rack another block past Safeway, so that’s not an unreasonable walk for those of us who use that option.

I consumed my tasty treat, walked over to do my grocery shopping, and then took bike share home, arriving back in Dupont by 6, but still totally in the dark.

Total mileage: 2.48 miles.

Category: dc life,sports. There is/are 2 Comments.