Thursday, March 12, 2009

Spring Stroll

We are taking a small break from the museum overload I've instigated.  If you were just getting into it, though, the next in the series will be the Museum of Natural History.

Yesterday before this cool front blew in, it was overcast, slightly humid, and warm (about 63F/17C).  The birds were singing everywhere, tiny buds had made a show on the branches, and a couple of sheltered trees were already sporting nascent blossoms.

So because I'd stayed in all day I thought I'd go for a walk before the weather changed, run a couple of tiny errands, and explore some side streets off the Avenue.  I am still falling in love with this area.









Seriously, can houses get any cuter than this??


19 comments:

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Selba said...

Nice houses :)

Glo said...

Hi Liv ~ thanks for the stroll through your lovely neighbourhood. Those houses has such character ~ each one unique. I would have a hard time choosing the one I like best! Wouldn't you love it if you were invited in for tea so you could have a look inside as well :)

The Moody Minstrel said...

What's with all the spam on this thread?

Now all my preconceived notions of what DC looks like have been completely shattered, and I'd say that's a very good thing.

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Anonymous said...

They're all fine looking houses!
I like Glo's suggestion, and would like to have a stroll round the gardens as well! xx

Olivia said...

Selby - and these small photos don't do them justice.


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Glo and Flighty - I did have little imaginations of befriending the owners by chatting with any who were out gardening, and of then going in for tea and hanging out for summer BBQs thereby seeing the back garden!


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Minstrel - ugh, I know, 3 spams! I went so long without spam so I don't know what's going on. I don't like the word verification but it may have to go back up for a while, since I like the comment moderation even less (because you can't see what you've written).

I keep shattering your preconceived notions about cities.

So, what did you think DC looked like?

If you think my neighborhood is pretty, you should have seen the ones bordering Rock Creek Park - my landlady took me for a drive along there where her daughter lives, and the landscape was dramatic to suit the park, the houses were at every level high and low, and there was much more space between them.

I prefer my cuter neighborhood though.

Anonymous said...

Lovely little bits of spring blooms I see in some of the tree branches. Thanks for taking us along on your stroll, though in CA, 63 would be considered cool! We're heading towards the high 70s this weekend. Hope you have a good one!

Anonymous said...

Just loved the walk around your neighbourhood. Those houses are soo cute! My favourite are the ones in the bottom row =)

Christopher said...

Gorgeous pretty and fun things you are showing us...when you get a job working for a travel guide, don't forget us little folks! You have such zest and excitement seeing all these wonderful and new things, I need to use my camera more to show everyone my world...you inspire me Liv!

The houses you're showing are similar to the styles we have here in my neighbourhood (I live in a vintage hotel converted into studio and one bedroom apartments)so since I can feel spring in the air (and I smell an abundance of crocus flowers warning me that warm weather is coming soon though not soon enough) I am going to go bananas and take lots of pictures of the city and of the neighbourhoods since I know you guys all like that stuff.

Glad to know you are getting settled my dear, and I am glad to see you so happy. I thought of you today when a lady that runs a little shop down the street from me came back from Nepal (her homeland) and she brought me a Vogue India magazine, not just because of the smart and elegant fashions that inhabited the pages, but the delicious ideas for cooking which I intend on trying out. She also brought me a jar of curry from India too and I am thinking that to make the sauce I would mix that with yogurt, because I usually make Thai curry using the paste mixed with coconut milk...any tips or pointers?

xoxo

Olivia said...

Nikki - after months in the 30s and 40s (can you even imagine that from So Ca?) 63 felt properly balmy :)
No, I mean I needed a sweater, but it was great not to wear a coat, scarf, and gloves.


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MJ - I think I agree. My fave may just be the one in the bottom left, which is particularly striking due to its windows, landscaping, and position.


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Kissy - I always think of you guys first. Every photo is taken with love for my dear readers :)

So I look forward to seeing your world through your eyes. Make sure the pics are big!

Ooh, so much to address here. I have never seen Indian Vogue, it must be an eyeful.

As for the curry sauce, there are hundreds of different kinds in India, and I am no specialist. But if you want to lighten your spicy sauce it's more common in Indian cuisine to use yogurt, which is actually healthier than coconut milk.

Coconut milk is much more common in Southeast Asian dishes from savory to sweet.

CafeMark said...

Some very nice pictures there. As mentioned above, it's destroyed misconceptions I may have had about US housing (still less Washington homes). Looks a very luxurious area.

Rick Rockhill said...

These are lovely! Made me pine for a trip back East. There is something special about that type of architecture that I find comforting.

Olivia said...

Mark - oh now I am curious to know what people think Washington looks like!
From what I hear, everyone who visits loves it, and it is known to be a beautiful town.


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Rick - it's in your blood, that type of architecture.

Thanks for catching up with the last post and I'm glad you liked the marbles. Hope you didn't lose any!

The Moody Minstrel said...

So, what did you think DC looked like?

The image I always had in my mind was something much more urban and much less friendly-looking, i.e. lots of brick apartment blocks.

Some of those pictures you took actually remind me of the area where I grew up. As Christopher said, there are neighborhoods in the greater Portland area that have that sort of look.

I'm sure I have a lot of preconceived notions that are in desperate need of shattering. I'm sure that holds true for most people, too.

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

Yes, you're shattering pre-conceived notions about cities. Here I was thinking the 'awfullest' about New York. And that Washington is full of concrete and very foreboding.

There's urban art too, another blogger lives in Washington, Stephen Bess, and he's shown some.

I'd walk too, the place is so pretty and inviting.

Olivia said...

Minstrel and GG -

I think I get it now.

It has its hard urban areas, which are mostly in the NE and SE of the city. But even there, you'll find more houses in poor southern style rather than NY tenement block style.

There are blocks - even in my area on the main road (for retirees and young professionals).

Everything is on a much smaller scale than New York City. And what most people think of as "urban" is an image that came out of NYC.

Anonymous said...

ooh noes, my comment was deleted.

sucky...

I just wanted to say I enjoyed the post, those houses are too cute.

-Michelle G