Exotic and Interesting Goods in Adams Morgan

We had dinner out last Saturday in Adams Morgan, up on 18th street. The restaurant was The Diner and we got our usual diner food, chicken salad sandwiches, which were pretty good and might make it to my Yelp list. After eating, we decided to wander around a bit, despite the winter cold. There were some stores we just had to go in as they had amazing and exotic items hanging in the doorways. One store (Bazaar Atlas) really caught our attention as it was jam packed with African masks, statuettes, dishes, fabrics, leather bags, ornamental plates, leather lampshades, silver pots, carved chairs, lamps and mirrors all looking wonderfully handmade and different than say, IKea, or the typical household goods items you see in House Beautiful type magazines and stores.  Of course, they were burning incense too and we had to get out pretty quickly as our bronchial tubes really don't do well with dusky perfumes and dusty rooms.  Nevertheless, it was a lovely experience and the kind of place that stays in my memory in case I ever get a yen to get something totally interesting looking. I finally did recall the name of this store so have added it nto this blog, which really, you know is just a memory cache for me that you get to share. ;-)

Striped Amaryllis Just in Time for Christmas

Each year while doing some Christmas shopping in November, I usually pick up an amaryllis bulb and plant it in the kitchen hoping, God willing, it will bloom in time. Well, I planted this one and forgot it was called a Candy Stripe and so was very pleasantly surprised when this started blooming with four lovely heads in bright red with white stripes.  Candy stripes! Christ stripes! I think this is why I like this type of bulb so much.  Of course I've put in some hyacinth and tulip bulbs for next spring, but it's these stunning giant bulbs that come out at Christmas time that I just marvel at every year. This year it stands almost two feet tall and the four flowers each are as big as saucers This one's been blazing away for almost a week now and it's such a delight to have on the kitchen table sharing breakfasts and suppers with us!