First snow

The first snow of the season fell this week; early, apparently, according to locals.

Good morning snow (view from my apartment window in Arlington)

It was the lovely kind of snow that wafts down from the sky ever so gently.

On my way to work through a lovely courtyard in Arlington near my apartment

It has refused to melt in many places, even though the weather today was noticeably warmer. I think a lack of wind has helped with the warmer feel. That chill-factor is really a bear! For a California girl, I think my body is adjusting just fine, though my skin is perhaps the driest it has ever been.

Not quite enough to sled

With the beautiful weather today I thought I would go out and finally see the Norman Rockwell show at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. I was in for quite a treat! The paintings all derive from the collections of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, who for years have been influenced by Rockwell's talent and ability to tell an entire story in just a single frame. Unfortunately the show closes on January 2, so Brando will not be able to see it.

Marble Champion (1939 SEPS: Licensed by Curtis Publishing, Indpls, IN.)

I will admit I had never given much thought to Rockwell's work. Sure the Saturday Evening Post covers are iconic Americana, but since, from a distance at least, I never identified with those lives and era, I never really gave the paintings much attention.

Good Boy (Little Orphan at the Train) [Licensed by Norman Rockwell Licensing]

As usual for me, a trip to the museum to see artwork in person changed all that. Something about being able to get my nose up to the paintings, to see the brush strokes, to really take my time to look at each piece intently really changed my perceptions of the work and several of the paintings I really fell in love with. It is really difficult to choose a favorite, so these are my top 3. If you will be in the DC Metro area over the holidays, I highly recommend this show!

Forsaken

This last drawing (charcoal on paper) was incredibly powerful in person. The look in the girl's eyes is so intense; I felt my own eyes watering up. The power of art!

Life in the studio

When I first arrived in DC at the end of October, I was lucky enough to have already secured a furnished studio apartment in Arlington, VA that is close to Metro. It's also so close to the cemetery that I can hear the eerily magical recording of Taps at night and Reveille in the morning (6:30 am to be exact) reverberate off the high-rises. It reminds me of the adhan and then I pine once again for excavation and the Middle East.

The studio is pretty tiny, but suitable for what I have needed. I will say though I am exciting to be moving into our permanent digs in Fairfax at the end of the month. Here is a taste, strike that -- the entire dime tour of where I have been living. Warning: not stimulating video.

First!

As the title of this blog suggests, we (B and C) will be sharing updates from our east coast/mid-Atlantic/DC (northern Virginia to be exact) adventure as it unfolds. How long will it last? Who knows. But we are open to the exciting opportunities coming our way. And to our friends and family who have stopped by to read, you are always welcome for a real life visit, so come on out!

Our entries in the beginning might be a bit slow coming, as B has yet to get out here (he's in CA until January) and well, with my new job and house hunting, I just don't have any "adventures" to talk about just yet. In the meantime though, here are some recent photos from the past few weeks.

Washington Monument

Lincoln Memorial, on my lunch break 

One of my fav views

Caught red handed! (had to get my fingerprints taken for the job)

Down, down, down the Metro escalator

DC Metro, Courthouse station

On my way to work, a beautiful morning sky

Potomac River, as seen from port at Alexandria

Don't see that everyday: a parrot with sun glasses

Lunch time stroll on the Mall..the orange leaves are my favorite

Outside my apartment in Arlington - before the fall

Simply beautiful