Saturday 6 February 2016

Wild Water at Great Falls


This afternoon, in watery winter sunshine, we visited Great Falls National Park.


We anticipated that water levels in the Potomac River would be high due to heavy rain and melting snow across the watershed during last week.


Although we learned in the Visitor Center that the water level had dropped by two feet over the last twenty four hours, it was still much higher than we had seen it before.


Full size tree trunks were floating down the river, bobbing like corks and getting stuck in strong swirling currents.


At the Mather Gorge and beyond the water was rushing through, but away from the river's edge the park was quiet with still pools under the trees.

Friday 5 February 2016

Back in the US


Ready to fly this morning - and as usual we are travelling light!


Breakfast at Heathrow and the offering on the menu of a 'Fruit salad of local and far-fetched fruits' always raises a smile!


An eight and a half hour flight today - when we were eventually flying down the east coast of the US it was obvious that there is still quite a bit of snow on the ground around Philadelphia and New York.


Back in Reston it was sunny and even though the snow fell three weeks ago and most of it has now gone, there are still some substantial piles left at the sides of the road by the snow plough!

Thursday 4 February 2016

At Heathrow


More sad goodbyes today and tonight we are at Heathrow, ready to fly back to Washington tomorrow.


Our room is suitably themed, as above.


Our attempt at taking a 'selfie' quickly degenerated into giggles!!


Wednesday 3 February 2016

Best of Friends


Today we had lunch at Maggie and Brian's and a lovely day.

Monty and the three grey cats kept a watchful eye on us at lunchtime in case anything interesting should fall or be coaxed out of us from the table.

After lunch Monty settled down for a rest and Tiggy decided to join him, climbing gently into place and then showing his contentment by 'making dough' on Monty's back.

Tiggy has quite sharp claws but Monty seemed prepared to tolerate the acu-massage treatment!

Tuesday 2 February 2016

Milestones


It is less than a week since I was with Lauren and Theo but he has celebrated two important milestones.  Lauren keeps us up to date with regular photos and messages.


On Sunday Theo was 8 months old - the time is flying!


Also on Sunday he came up with his first recognizable 'word' - as commemorated above.  

Hopefully he will learn to say Ma-Ma quite soon too to cheer up his Mum!

Monday 1 February 2016

Anyone for Ice-Cream?


A lovely catch-up evening with Jeanette over supper at the Wheelwrights Arms, Monkton Combe.

No room for dessert - which is a shame, really, given the ice-cream and sorbet options..fennel anyone? parsnip?

Just a G&T sorbet for me!!

Sunday 31 January 2016

Let's go fly a kite!...


Yesterday Lauren, James, Theo and David took advantage of the bright and blustery day to fly the new (and very large) Star Wars themed kite that they recently bought for him.


The shots that they sent me show lovely blue skies and a successful flight..