Cape May

Last weekend Tim and I visited Cape May, New Jersey. It was the perfect DC getaway. We ate some fabulous food including lunch at the Blue Pig Tavern. Our lunch was absolutely heavenly! We started with asparagous soup or clam chowder and then moved on to a gorgeous pear and gorgonzola salad or mozzerella, tomato, basil salad. All of these starters paired nicely with either a glass of champagne or the signature Blue Pig Ale.



That evening we went rustic and grabbed two steamer pots (topped full with 2 lobsters, littlenecks, mussels, and from the Lobster House. After adding a beer and cooking on the stovetop for only 25 minutes, the seafood was ready. The pots were incredibly satisfying.

Pippin and Biergit don't quite know what to do with the lobster.

The rest of the weekend, if we weren't eating, was spent on the beach chasing our dogs, or walking around town. There were some much needed nap time snuck in there as well.

Oh, and Pippin had his first dunk in the ocean.

Capitol Hill Roses- our front yard

I think I was about 11 years old when I received my first gardening book. It has always been my dream to own a little plot of land that I could sow. My mom used to give me a small piece of grass and dry dirt on the far side of our house where I could do whatever I wanted. It is kind of funny to look back on it, because I don't really remember ever planting anything. I just remember clearing the area of weeds and staring at it, scheming up what I would plant and where if I had the money and the means to drive to the nursery and buy flowers. I only had to wait 15 more years to have it all come true.
And once again, I find myself staring at our front and back yard and staring at the plants at the nursery. I have been furiously reading my stack of gardening books, and they make every plant sound brilliant and unique. But when I get to the nursery it all becomes muddled.

So my plan is to go slow: buy a few plants at a time, figure out what works aesthetically with our house, figure out what can grow in this awful rocky DC soil, and keep reminding myself that gardening is a process and a means to a beautiful end.

Eastern Market Ashes

* Photo taken from DCist

For those of you who have visited us in DC, I am sure that you went to Eastern Market. Unfortunately earlier this week Eastern Market caught fire, destroying the inside and roof but not the structure. This is very sad news for those of us who often splurged to buy the pricey meats and veggies from the vendors. Furthermore, the fire has once again sparked conversation over the controversial ownership and use of the Eastern Market building. Mayor Fenty has vowed to have Eastern Market rebuilt in 24 months. We shall see...