We Survived...

Last night was amazing! One moment we are walking the dog then next we are watching 60+ mph winds rip through our neighborhood. As true Nebraskans we stood on the porch to watch the show. Transformers were blowing up, trees were coming down and the lightening was so sharp and clear. It was beautiful...until we lost power.

Our concierge told us it would be back on by morning...he lied. Our electric company is now saying it will be a multi-day outage.

As our 20+ years in Nebraska have taught us we have: filled the tub with water, filled bottles for our consumption and readied all flashlights.

And the cherry on this adventure is that it should reach 115* today!

So here's to summer storm adventures on the East Coast.

In Adventure

This American Life Live Show

Last night we went to the live show of This American Life, the radio show on NPR. Ira Glass does a live show broadcast to many movie theaters about once every three years. Since we are big fans of the show, we couldn't miss the opportunity.

We had a great night full of laughs and deep though. The show will be on this weekend, turn your dial to NPR and take a listen.

I grabbed a few photos of the screen when Ira was explaining the interactive musical performance from OKGO. The audience used phone apps to play sounds to keep the tune of the song.

In This American Life

Flower Mart

This past weekend the National Cathedral hosted a Flower Mart, assuming the event would be similar to a glorious Earl May we hopped over to check it out. The event was more of a town celebration/state fair/farmers market hybrid complete with mini parades and a carousel.

We had fun walking through more then 100 booths. The booths were full of homemade jewelry, clothing, baskets , trinkets and food. They even had a kettle corn stand, I was in heaven.

In Festive Fun

Weekend Fun

I am proud to announce that for the first time in what seems like ages, Scott and I went out on both Friday and Saturday nights.

Friday night was just out to eat at a nice restaurant in our neighborhood. It was a good meal and a nice way for us to wind down from the busy week. Scott likes to leave the waiter with a little parting gift (i.e. the drawing below)

Saturday night was the opening reception for the senior thesis show at The Corcoran. It was a pretty big deal with many people from the general public. The students work was shown in the exhibition space that normally houses traveling collections. It was pretty cool and got Scott excited for his show in a few years.

On Sunday I tried a new recipe for pork and broccoli stir fry. Scott liked it, I wasn't sold. I will try it again with less orange juice next time.

In The Dawn of a New Week

Friday's Photos

This week has been much like any other: a little stress, maybe too much indulgence and plenty of pep-talks. When did growing up become so hard?

On my way to work Wednesday I got a latte, a very rare treat. (Thanks mom and dad!)

Because of the exceptionally nice weather the magnolia trees have started to bloom. My morning bus drops off in front of the White House, and felt the beautiful pinks were so enchanting.

Jump For Joy

We have a habit of taking jumping photos almost every where we go. I have no idea where or really when this started, we just do it. Here are a few of the shots taking over New Years weekend.





Either I am remarkable good at taking jumping photos, Scott is remarkably bad at taking jumping photos OR I have a very strong gravitational pull. I think it is the later.

In Perpetual Silliness

New Years Weekend

Sorry for the 31-day delay!

New Years weekend brought some great weather (noticed the light jackets). With a three-day weekend, two people (and a dog) in a one-bedroom apartment can get a little cramped. We took a break from inside and headed outside one afternoon.

Dumbarton Oaks is a beautiful 50+ acre English garden complete with a little cottage and swimming pool. Here are a few photos from our afternoon in England.






This design is made out of little rocks!

Check out all the photos on Flicker!

In English Beauty

Squirrel

We thought this grey/white squirrel was pretty cute. He was digging up treasures by the White House a few weeks ago. I hope he found something yummy.

In Everyday Moments

Regis and His Booties

Needless to say, they didn't fit.
 
In Silly Dogs

Christmas Eve

Christmas just isn't Christmas without snow. We tried our best to get into the Christmas spirit but when you walk the dog in a light jacket, the lights inside are not twinkeling.

We put up a little tree this year, ever thankful for the space to allow such fun, gotten from road-side-stand about three blocks from our building. After Thanksgiving we leashed up the dog and headed out. It was a funny walk back with Regis scared of the 'thing' nestled on Scott's head and shoulders.


On Christmas Eve Day we baked a ham, made home-made cheesy scalloped potatoes, buttermilk biscuts and green beans. It was fantastic; we are leftover all weekend.


This Christmas I made sure we had tickets to the National Cathedral's Christmas Eve service. (They must be reserved online around the begingin of November!) The service was a tad too long for my United Methodist soul. One can only sing so many verses of Silent Night.



Merry Christmas from the O'Banion's!

In A Blessed But Snowless Christmas

A Tour of the National Tree

Last year we stopped by the National Tree, so we did it again this year (I love traditions!). Each state submits ornaments decorated by residents of the state. The ornaments must fit inside these 4" clear globes that are placed on each state tree.

The Nebraska State Tree for most of our family.


The Washington State Tree for mom and dad.


The Kansas State Tree for Christine and Paul. However they don't live in Kansas, they live in Missouri. I get confused with the whole Kansas City thing. This is not the first time I have made this mistake either. Epic Fail!


This first picture of the White House and both of us. Yes we have lived here for over a year, no we don't stop by everyday.


Poor Menorah was over by its self with no decoration or visitors. You couldn't even walk within 100 yards of it.


In Tradition

Latest Reads

I just finished this book; it was so good I couldn't put it down, fumbling through all 273 pages in less then two weeks (a record for this slow reader).

In the book Kristen reflects on the first year, as she and (then fiance, now husband) Mark started a 500 acre horse-powered farm from scratch. The author is soft and whimsically taking you on the journey and adventure. I found myself so enthralled with the slaughter of an animal, the potato planting or sugaring the sugarbush (which apparently is a grove of Maple trees that will produce many hundreds of gallons of raw syrup), reality would jerk me back in with the honk of a horn or the ding of the stop request on the city bus.

Mark, the husband, grew up farming and living on the land. He and his 'magic circle' could live off from nuts and berries found in the woods only to stumble upon a farmer offering him food and shelter. This is his 'magic circle'; he has faith that everything will work out for the greater good. He believes in not using plastic, using all of the animal and fixing/re-fixing/re-re-fixing machinery until it works well. He reminds me of my Grandpa Leonard; always thankful for what he had, content in not wanting.

Kristen is my kindred spirit, or at least I hope I can live up to her spirit. She knew little to nothing about farming and managing a CSA to support a family and farm; however her soul wanted the adventure. When her body said this is enough, her soul pushed on. I don't think Scott and I will be starting a full-diet CSA anytime soon, but her determination is admirable and can be applied to everyday life.

After reading the book, my soul is even more anxious to be without traffic and people. Settle down soul, be patient and wait for the plan.

So if you are looking for a book that inspires you to grow a garden or take a leap, this is the one! 

In Great Reading

Tweed Ride Post #2

Here are a few more pictures of the Tweed Ride. The original post was here.




Scott and his bike.


Me with Scott's bike. *Shh..I didn't ride because, well I haven't ridden in a while and thought the route looked too hard*




We took the metro home.

In Tweed #2

Temporary Blues

Does life ever feel temporary? Lately my daily routines have become mundane and life feels temporary. Not in the sense that I will not be on this Earth much longer; but in the idea that this city, this job, this apartment is temporary.

In the past four years we have lived in an equal amount of apartments between two cities worlds apart from each other, and had nine jobs combined. Life is constant. It's a journey at interchanging speeds.

I am not happy with the current speed of what seems to be a school crossing zone, I am more of an interstate driver. Slowing down to browse an antique store or chat with the fruit stand guy is fine and dandy, but I want to get back onto the road.

How do you propel life forward?

In Moving Still