Happy Birthday To Me

My birthday was this weekend. It was a fun time. On Friday, one of my wonderful co-workers baked me not one, but 2 cakes!!!! Plus ice cream and lemonade! We had a little party at the end of the day, and I ate a lot of cake.

On Saturday, which was my official birthday, I went to the National Zoo. I saw the pandas, and the red panda, a hippo (it was HUGE), rare reptiles, monkeys, elephants, zebras, and a really big anaconda. Also a lizard who fell asleep while eating lunch. It's a very pretty zoo. Most of the animal habitats are large and look comfortable. The grounds are shady and easy to walk. A lot of people from the neighborhood were there jogging (the weather was sunny and warm). It was a great way to spend the day. Then I went home and ate Harry & David chocolate mousse cake (thanks mom!).


Red Panda

Big Anaconda!!!!!

Pandas!!!!!!



Sleepy Lizard forgot to wash his face......



Today I went hiking at Lake Accotink. It's a nice park, with a trail that goes around the lake. Then I stayed to watch the cardboard boat regatta. Really. People build boats out of cardboard, then try to see whose boat goes the fastest and farthest before it sinks. There are themes, like Pirate boats, sofa-boats, Barbie boats (built by a troop of Girl Scouts), and family teams. It was really fun to watch. I didn't stay for the whole thing. I didn't bring my camera with me, and I wish I had.

In Which I Am on Radio

I was on the radio on Saturday night, broadcast around the nation, listened to by millions of people. Well, to be accurate, I was one of many. I went to hear Garrison Keillor and A Prairie Home Companion, live from Wolf Trap National Park. Wolf Trap is an outdoor theater, and it was a perfect night to sit out on the lawn. It was sunny, breezy, mid-80's. The lawn was packed with families and couples and friends and all kinds of people of all ages. People brought picnic baskets and ate dinner while waiting for the show to start. The show is even better in person than on the radio. If you ever get the chance to see it live, I recommend it!

On Friday night, I spent a Night at the Museum. Sort of. I went to Mount Vernon, which is George Washington's estate. When I retire with my billions, I'm going to buy one just like it (but in a state that makes sense). Mount Vernon usually closes to visitors at 5 pm, but this weekend, it was open from 6-9pm, so it was a Night at Mount Vernon. In the museum, real people stood in among he displays and "came to life" as tours went through. Mount Vernon is a stunning estate during the day, but it is truly lovely at twilight, with the walkways lit by lanterns.

My last exploration of the weekend was learning to cook a new dish. I learned to make onigiri, which is Japanese rice balls. Mine are a little uneven, but they taste ok!

In Which I Meet the Lees

I went hiking at Leesylvania State park today. It was pretty good weather: cool and cloudy, but good for walking. Leesylvania (which means "Lee's Woods") is an interesting place. It's on the land owned by the prominent Lee family of Virginia, way back in the late 1700's. If you've seen the musical 1776, Richard Henry Lee was a member of that family. The land is right on the Potomac River, hilly, green, and isolated. Well, not now. Now it's in the middle of new housing developments.

One of the trails, about 2 miles long, goes past 11 historic markers, including ruins of original houses. I will admit that Virginia has a lot of interesting history.