Welcome to my blog!

I used to blog here mostly using local photos about my neighborhood or Washington DC or other places I visited. But over time I found myself blogging about crafts or sewing projects or my activities as a seller of collectibles on Ebay (look my stuff up under Mugsim7) or other topics, such as selling my beautiful old Victorian townhouse. Occasionally, I take a break from blogging so you won't see anything regularly. But I'm still have fun writing it. May your days be blessed with miracles, and creativity too!

Monday, October 29, 2012

24 Photos of An October Day in McMillan Park #BloomingdaleDC


View toward Bryant St NW
those lovely tanks
Some work underway
Inside the work area
View to Bryant St NW
View to Childrens Hospital

Ivy covered tower
Chimney vents
Derelict doors

Filtration system
Work area
Blue plastic trash barrels under filter system
Chichenitza type steps
Workman weeding
Dereliction

Ladder up Ivy Tower
View to Bryant St NW
Walking down from some appointments at National Rehabilitation Hospital recently, I saw the gates open at McMillan Park and since I had my camera with me of course I had to start snapping away on that beautiful sunny October day. There were some workmen cutting the weeds back and some others doing something else but I really wasn't sure what was going on. Nobody bothered me except a young man walking through asked me if I had walked through from North Capitol street which was a pretty strange inquiry as I don't think there's any gates over there.  Anyway, as usual I noticed the lovely chichinitza steps, the wonderful weatherbeaten doors, and the orange and green ivy climbing up the sides of the water towers.  I decided to take some long view shots towards the hospital and the Catholic cathedral to show how open is this space.

Filter system

Water towers



View toward Shrine
Underground sand filter tank
Path with view to Bryant St NW



View to North Capitol Streeet


View to Veterans Hospital









Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Bragging About the Rhubarb

It's not often I brag about my plants but the rhubarb is one I am proud of growing. I had ordered a small rhubarb root a couple of years ago and just threw it in the ground in the middle of the yard not really sure of what I was doing but having some vague idea that it would grow okay without too much attention. My favorite plants are those that don't require too much attention all the time as who needs gardening to be a chore? The only exception is roses for which I am compelled to prune and fertilize and deadhead and feed and water and adjust the soil near them or whatever as they are just plain needy plants --  and I do love their flowers. But back to the rhubarb, each summer it grows bigger and bigger with lovely thick stems that I can pick and cook and put into desserts. I've made sure it got some water if there was a heat spell and if I'm adding plant food to anything else (like those greedy roses) I'd throw some near the rhubarb too.  This summer I've made Rhubarb Betty, Rhubarb Crumble and also put diced rhubarb in a meat dish and rhubarb puree in muffins.  My favorite way to cook them is to slice them up and let them cook slowly in a crock pot with some lemon juice, butter and water and hey presto, an hour or so later, there's dessert!   I recently discovered that the leaves are noxious with oxalic acid so you can't eat that part of the plant. There's nothing like growing your own food in the back yard!