National Polar Bear Plunge 2009

On Saturday, the hike I was due to go on was cancelled because of icy rain expected early afternoon. Undaunted, I changed to Plan B and headed for Chesapeake Bay where the 4th Polar Bear Plunge in Chesapeake was taking place.
As I stepped from my car, the wind grabbed my scarf and my hands automatically plunged deep into my pockets. I headed for the sandy beach with my chin tucked in and came across a large group of cheerful people who were smiling and chatting away as though at a summer party. Edging past these mad characters, I spotted a large steaming urn and helped myself to a mugful of organic coffee and a homemade cookie which were both delicious.

Sipping and munching happily, I started to study these strange people more closely. There were some weird outfits and I also noticed an air of excitement about the place. These people were here to draw public and media attention to the issue of global warming and most had got sponsors to donate to the cause while others were here to be part of a powerful photo opportunity promoting a national event, www.keepwintercold.org .

Before the plunge, we listened to speeches from the organizer, a clean energy representative and Annapolis Senator Paul Pinsky. A small band played fitting songs but how they played their instruments was beyond me. I was standing with a thermal t-shirt, a fleece top and a ski jacket with a scarf and I was still frozen to the core. If I brought my hands out from my warm pockets, they actually started hurting after 2 minutes exposed to the icy winds. I'd started chatting to Barbara, who was there for the 2nd year and even though she was visibily cold, I didn't sense any apprehension or regret at turning out for a second year to plunge into icy water. She firmly believed in the message she was putting out there, as did every other person present.
The band sang a final song, 'Let's Go Swimming', and then once everyone had quickly shucked their clothing, they grouped on the beach. A countdown from 10 and then they dashed by to jump, leap, plunge, plop, saunter, totter or simply stand in the freezing waves.




Bloody mad, all of them, but what a noble throng. Not one person changed their mind and nearly everyone spent long arduous minutes making their point by staying in the water and splashing around. Balls were tossed and frisbees were skimmed and slowly they emerged back out to the beach and the cocoons of warm fluffy towels.

Barbara let her guard down for a fleeting second as I snapped her cold but glowing countenance.

This guy was the last one out and I was simply amazed that everyone emerged with smiles on their faces. Apparently, once the body gets over the shock of the cold, a numbness sets in, allowing people to smile and even laugh about their jaunt.
Laughs aside, these people got on local news and their numbers have been growing steadily each year. They wanted to make people aware of our planet's plight, and they wanted to make people listen. I heard, and who knows, maybe I'll join them next year.

Days with my Father Essay

I've just been perusing some blogs of artists whose work I like and came across this amazing work of art. It needs to be shared:
http://www.dayswithmyfather.com/default.aspx
Use your scroll button to travel to each page.

Workhouse Arts Center

Today, MJ and I went back to the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton which had reopened after the holidays. Our first view as we turned the corner was their fallen over Christmas tree. Note the sign sticking up halway down the tree. You can see two of the studio buildings in the background.

This used to be Lorton prison and is still being renovated. Coming soon will be more studios, a cafe and also an art supplies store which I will be very interested in.

There is a gallery as well as studios and this housed a collection of work from students as well as the studio artists.

We were able to see some of the artists at work as well as their art. Nearly all of the works were for sale and included glass and clay as well as paintings and photography. There weren't any metal artists yet. MJ did like this rather fetching hat which went nicely with her handbag.


I liked the two paintings above but not enough to pay the hundreds of dollars that they were each asking.

We found a window towards the back of the complex and peering through found that parts of the old prison still existed. There will be a museum opening later showing aspects of the Lorton Prison.

This is my piece of art for the day and if I'd had a frame in my pocket, I would've quickly printed it off and slapped it on one of the walls with a $300 price tag. Alas, I could not see an Epson around nor did I have a frame. This was the sun shining through a glass door onto the wall creating a spectrum.

Patrick O'Brien was the only woodturner present today and his studio was awesome with lots of fascinating tools and gadgets. He's polishing a wooden bowl in this image.

I was very pleased to see the art center has retained the prison watchtowers. I've always liked looking at these as I've driven by in the past and have often daydreamed about buying one for the backyard and sitting up on top reading a book while my butler passed up cold drinks or wine in a crate with a rope and pulley.

I took this on the way home of a local haulage yard's antique truck. I've passed it a few times over the holidays wanting to take a photo and tonight the natural light was perfect to capture the lights as well as the old truck and trailer.

New Years Day 2008

The first day of the year had me bouncing out of bed and rushing to get ready for a trip down to D.C. I had decided that today would be a day of first visits for me so I wanted to see places I'd not been to before. D.C. is a fabulous city and has so much to offer so I was a little surprised to find it not as busy as I had thought.

My first stop was the National Aquarium where I met these handsome fellows who were happy to pose for their photos. I was quite surprised to see an alligator there but a little sad to see the poor chap was all on his own with no other alligators for company. I hope he gets a roommate soon.

These beautiful lamps and masonry were the front of the Department of Commerce Building. I then walked across the Mall to the Smithsonian museums where I visited the Freer Gallery of Art.

These beautiful screens, The Four Sylvan Sounds, were painted by Thomas Wilmer Dewing based on the four forest notes, the Hermit thrush, the sound of running water, the woodpecker, and the sound of the wind through the pine trees.
The above photo is the Peacock Room which has to be seen to be appreciated fully. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be taking photos so I snapped a couple quickly. Whistler was asked to make minor alterations to a client's room housing one of Whistler's paintings and a collection of china. He added imitation gold leaf peacocks to the walls and gilded shelving and wooden shutters while the owner was absent. Not a minor alteration but absolutely stunning.
I took this photo in the Sackler Gallery; it's a funky mirror which gave a cool fish-eye effect. I was told off for taking these photos as apparently the artist hadn't given permission, but the attendant was very gracious and allowed me to take four before she stopped me from taking more.

This is the Smithsonian Information Center which held a cafe and an eclectic collection of interesting artifacts. The Christmas decorations were sumptuous inside and out.

This mocking bird actually made me jump as I passed underneath so I paid my respects and stopped for a while listening to him herald in the New Year.

This was an old pen shop which I would've loved to look around if it had been open. The sign really stood out on the street. I did find a Filene's Basement that was open and was another first for me. I bought a $109 pair of designer jeans for $35 with tiny shiny sequins and bleached streaks, very different, and a pair of casual shoes which were really unusual. I rounded off the day with a delicious salad with fruit and a coffee before I ended up back at my car. I'd walked about 4-5 miles and had experienced a variety of 'firsts'. A very satisfying day and a wonderful start to the new year.

Christmas in Occoquan

My friend MJ and I decided to go out for a day after Christmas and see some arts & crafts at a center near Occoquan. Unfortunately, the center was closed so we decided to visit the small town and walk around instead. I'd spent a lovely Christmas Eve with MJ and Martin with fabulous food and company and we both wanted to walk off some of the calories we'd consumed over the two festive days.
The decorations in the town were beautiful and this little park looked like we'd stepped back in time with its tree and old fashioned lanterns.

These townhomes were not built the last time we were here, so we decided to have a nose around the model home. They were very nice and well finished but only had two bedrooms with a possible third and little privacy from the neighbors across the way. I don't think I'd be willing to pay the $900K that they were asking!

This window of a contemporary gift shop won second prize in the best dressed window competition. It failed to get first prize because the ruling was that the windows should be dressed in a period Christmas theme in keeping with the town, but I had to agree with the owner that a period look would not have suited her shop's merchandise. I thought she had done a splendid job and wasted no time in telling her so. The window itself incidentally is nearly a hundred years old and came from an old ship. We later saw the first prize recipient which I actually walked past until MJ alerted me to the ribbon in the doorway. Say no more...

The store above amazed me as it was an Aladdin's cave of furniture, paintings and home furnishings which spilled out on to the balcony at the front of the store. Apparently, this merchandise is left outside at all times and subject to the elements, so I had little interest in purchasing anything from there.

The store above is my favoritist shop in the town and I could quite happily just move a bed and tea kettle inside and take up residence. I never bore of walking around this store and would love to have a home decorated as abundantly as this. Not sure about the dusting, though. But whatever the season or holiday, this shop never fails to capture the atmosphere or drag a few dollars from my purse.

Christmas Day 2008

On Christmas morning, I opened the blinds and greeted the day with utter disgust. It was a beautiful sunny and warm day with blue skies and not what I like for Christmas day weather! I wanted it to be at least overcast or raining, if not snowy, and my pretty Christmas lights throughout the house were having a hard time trying to outshine the brilliant rays of sunlight pouring in through the windows. Nevertheless, I made a large mug of tea and snuggled in bed reading my Rupert Bear annual with the blinds half closed so the tree lights in my bedroom could sparkle.
Mid morning, I arrived at Debbie & Jim's home and stepped into a lounge knee deep with wrapping paper from the gifts ripped open by the family. It was a wonderful atmosphere and the boys were loud and excited. With my arrival, more paper started flying round the room and the piles of opened presents were added to. I was ecstatic to receive the complete set of Seinfeld and it took all of my willpower to not retreat to a quiet corner and read the coffee table book that came with the set.
After a couple of hours we sat down to a fabulous lunch of turkey with Paxo stuffing, chipolatas wrapped in bacon, roast potatoes, parsnips, brussels, carrots, peas and gravy, and of course we pulled our English crackers and compared the gifts inside.

This is Debbie after lunch carving up the rest of the turkey with the two resident woofers, Brice and Lucky, in keen attendance.

While we were sitting down, we decided to play some music so Max played guitar while I beat the drum and Debbie thrashed a tambourine (which she broke with her excessive enthusiasm).

After a while, once our tummies were less distended, we were able to move to the family room and play Jim's new Wi. Jim and Heather had a bowling match providing lots of amusement for those of us observing. Note Jim's fancy footwork!
Debbie, Aston and I took it in turns to play tennis which was equally amusing and surprisingly involved a lot of physical effort.

After a couple of hours of intense activity, Debbie and I felt we had made enough room for dessert so we shared a whole Christmas pudding with English cream. I had to concede defeat halfway through, but did manage to polish the rest off after another break. By midnight, our stomachs and laughter muscles had had enough so we had to reluctantly end the day. After a final cup of tea, I wearily left for home and tumbled into a bed that thankfully, but surprisingly, didn't capsize.

Christmas 2008

I may have had a very busy few weeks but nothing was going to stop me from putting up my Christmas decorations. I have always gone overboard with them and maybe this year, I haven't excelled in that department, but the place certainly looks festive.

After the hike I mentioned just previously, I had left the safe warm atmosphere of the restaurant to walk along some woodland pathways looking for fallen branches that I could decorate. I only grabbed a couple because it was so cold and windy and managed to force them into my small two door car without breaking off too much.

The tree takes pride of place by the back door and I have to confess I spent more than I should on baubles for it. I never suffer from guilt when it comes to buying Christmas decorations and have spent countless hours cooing and aahing over anything sparkly and glittery in the shops. I'm one of those people who starts stashing away bits and pieces for the tree in August as soon as the shops stock them.
And then of course, once the decs are up, it's time for the portraits.

This was Kota last year, obviously not too happy with his outfit.

This is Kota in this year's outfit, looking a lot more relaxed and taking it in his stride. I think he liked the hat of his Christmas Elf outfit. He was actually purring as he strolled around and didn't once try to knock the hat off. Below, he was happy to lay still and actually look as though he was pleased to be in the photo. Merry Christmas to you all!