Christmas 2016

Our first Christmas in Eugene! Nicole (Ngo) invited us over to her mother in law's (Rena) place for Christmas 'dinner'. Rena has a 52 acre farm in Pleasant Hill. She lives in a lovely blue home on the farm that begins at the end of the road. As you turn right to enter her drive way, the view of the corn flower blue house against the blue skies and open farmland that seems to stretch out to the mountains is grand. We rolled up to the house, parked, and Nicole came out to meet us and show us around the land a little. 

After that we went in, and were greeted by a friendly, warm family. We hung around the kitchen, talking, drinking, snacking, and getting the meal ready. Rena has made almost everything at home - turkey, stuffing (that was actually in the turkey), mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, steamed broccoli, sweet pepper jelly, rolls, and finally pumpkin and pecan pies. We ate this delicious meal in the sun room that looked out to the fields. 

After the meal, we went with April and Tony and their boys (Quinn, Colin and Kiki[Keaton]), along with Nicole and Alex and their dogs River and Spencer, to the next farm to feed their horses and goat. It seemed like a Christmas out of a book :)

Ice Storm 2016 in Eugene

On Wednesday it rained. It was the cold, freezing kind of rain. Which meant, icicles! Lots and lots of them! We have seen ice storms in DC. We have seen icicles in DC. But, we have not seen these many icicles, and they definitely did not last 5 days! 

Every morning, I woke up in utter wonder, that the trees outside our windows still bore these beautiful icicles! I know in Eugene we won't get the blizzards and the snow we did in DC. But, for the prettiness of the ice for these few days will take me through a lot of the winter. Ice storms aren't usual here - it's been decades since Eugene has had one like this. Maybe it was a Welcome to Eugene winter gift to me? 

Living in downtown, and living in an apartment, brought with it huge benefits. We didn't lose power. Tree limbs didn't come crashing down on our home. We got the beauty without any of the negative. More and more, as time passes, I become less convinced to want to live in or own a house.

Wednesday - I left work and enjoyed myself on my way home!

Thursday, surprised that the ice was still around, we took our cameras out and went romping.

Friday, we headed up to our terrace, because it seemed like Eugene had been transformed to Narnia.

View from our Terrace

Saturday, sun!

On Saturday, the sun came out, and look what it did with the ice

Sunday, we had to go for a walk. Get out of the house. We walked to the river.

Saturday's sun didn't do much to melt the ice. Sunday, these fences remain frozen.

Starting A Tradition - Birch Boxes

Sohini and I started a Birch Box Tradition this year. We will exchange gifts in 2 birch boxes, writing something on the box each time we send something. Hopefully, in time, these boxes will become some sort of time capsule. :)

Notes and ornaments - December, 2016

Our Christmas Packages :)

Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center

On our trip back to DC, on our last day in DC before we were going to spend the weekend with the kids, we were walking around our hotel and we saw this!!! All my years in DC and I never came here. I think I had vaguely heard about this opening, and looked into it then, but seem to have forgotten about it after that. 

It was closed when we saw it, but I stuck my face and phone to the window to see what they have inside and to take some photos :)

I miss stumbling upon things like this in Eugene. Sigh. 

DC Wanderings...

I miss architecture like this sprinkling the city I live in.

On my last morning in DC this trip, while Saurabh was at his conference, I got dressed, looked for a latte and walked around. There weren't many people out at that hour, but it is DC and there were people. In the lull of the morning hours on a Saturday in DC, I strolled, sipping, reading, taking photos, and just simply soaking in the city. I miss DC every day in Eugene. 

Soon after leaving the hotel, there is this sculpture of Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy. The panels on either side of Hahnemann are interesting. 

After I got my coffee from Dolcezza (I don't recommend their coffee, the gelato on the other hand - Winner!) and walked to Logan Circle. I have been to Logan Circle so many times, but never read John Logan's story that is written on the information stand near the Logan House. It especially hit a chord because I had visited the African American Museum this trip too. And all of this, right after the fuckness of the 2016 election results. 

Logan Home

From Logan circle, I just wandered the streets. The streets here are very DC-esque, and lined with trees in fall hues, they were beautiful to look at.

Today was the first time I realised that Church Street in DC has at least 3 churches! It is literally, Church Street. 

This dog was going nuts! He went around in circles at least 20 times. He was circling while I took this photo! :D

I finally walked back to the hotel and noticed this statue of Daniel Webster right behind out hotel! 

July Date with Kristina and the Exorcist Steps

Typical. We forgot to take a photo when we were together, so we took selfies after we parted. Sigh

Kristina and I went to Pie Sisters for our July date. Both of us got the chicken potpie pie slice. So so delicious! 

Chicken Pot Pie. mmmmm

After dinner, we went to see the Exorcist steps in Georgetown. I have been wanting to go see that for 10-11 years now! Finally! 

This guy kept running up and down these insanely steep steps! Annoying, because I couldn't get a photo without him! But, man, some stamina! 

After the steps, we picked up pies to take home and then ended the evening with frozen yogurt at Pinkberry - I LOVE the chocolate caviar topping they have. mmmmm