October Snow

We were fortunate to miss the worst part of Hurricane Sandy/Superstorm Sandy/Frankenstorm but we still had a significant snowfall. I don't ever remember this much snow this early. I remember the kids trick or treating in the snow once but that's it. It started snowing and sticking before we went to bed Monday night. I checked a couple of times during the night and it was piling up and this is what we woke up to.

 

I'm guessing eight or so inches. We didn't measure it and actually I took most of these pictures through my windows.

 

 It was a heavy wet snow that stuck to the trees but luckily it fell or melted off so we didn't have any tree damage. Thank goodness no power outages either!! At least not in Pound. It went off a couple of times at 6:30 a.m. but came back on and stayed on.

 

 

Tim didn't make it to work. They were still predicting more snow so he was concerned about getting back home. He did start out to work around noon but the traffic was backed up from Jenkins Mountain and it took him an hour to get over and saw other vehicles off the road so he decided to turn around and come back home. We were right outside the area of highest snowfall prediction. Even though Pound only got about 8-10 inches depending on where you lived Wise got a foot and High Knob got two feet!

 

So, we just stayed in and stayed warm. I made cavatini and homemade rustic Italian bread for dinner.

I saw the recipe on the back of the bread flour bag. It was easy to make and really good. We'll eat it again tonight with leftovers.

Thank goodness we didn't get anymore snow last night and it even melted a tremendous amount by this morning. Yea for melting snow!! It's supposed to be up in the 60's by the weekend.

The best part of Frankenstorm...the annoying political calls stopped!! I guess they were all from the areas hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy!! Thank goodness. I hope they don't get phone service until after next Tuesday!!

Eastern Market

When I went to Sarah's two years ago to wedding dress shop we went to Eastern Market in D.C. I loved it then and knew I wanted to go back. Luckily, Dan and Sarah live right next to a golf course so when Tim and Dan played Sarah and I headed to the city. We parked at the metro and rode in. It was a glorious October day. Love this view of the Capitol as we crossed from the metro toward Eastern Market.

 

On weekends there is a flea market and a good amount of outdoor vendors set up.

 

 

I had to get a picture of these metal pink flamingos because Jen bought Sarah a couple of plastic ones for her wedding shower last year. These metal ones are a huge improvement!!

 

 Something for everyone...even Tim.

 

We walked around the outside area and just browsed. I didn't see too much that really caught my eye except a $35 yellow painted night stand. I couldn't get over the cheap price. We saw several more for $100 each. If we had a vehicle it would have been worth buying but not to haul on the metro. I did pick up a couple of old cookie cutters because I liked them and mom has some like them. We grew up making cookies and now I have followed suit and bake sugar cookies. I bought them (well, actually Sarah paid for them because I didn't have any small bills...I owe you Sarah. ;)) and walked away, then I thought, "hmph, if I asked mom for her cookie cutters she would probably give them to me." I don't know why I had never thought of it.

 

 

 Then we went inside. I love the inside market. I love looking at the baked goods, pastas and even the meats. Sarah did buy two steaks for Tim and Dan's dinner. We checked the seafood but prices were a bit higher so we bought scallops at Harris Teeter later. I loved all the fresh flowers too!! How beautiful.

 

For lunch Sarah had the crab cake sandwich just like last time we went and I picked the oyster sandwich. They were on a fresh homemade bun and were delicious!! We each shared a couple of bites of each other's sandwiches.

 

Then before we left we headed to the bakery for a little sweet. We were going to share a cupcake but I spotted a cannoli which I had never eaten before. It was good but next time I think I would pick the cupcake.

We walked back to the metro as we finished off our cannoli.  We stopped by Harris Teeter to pick up a couple of things and then back home to relax.

Barn Sales

Back in the summer the Hogan's invited us to visit when Sarah and Dan were there in August. With Tim's new job the timing just wasn't ideal so we didn't go. Well, of course Sarah was all sad and played the "but when will I get to see you again?" card. ;) So, we told her we would come up to visit in the fall since she wouldn't be in until Christmas. We planned to leave Thursday morning and drive back Sunday but Tim found out a couple of days before he had three meetings Friday morning he couldn't miss. So, we changed our plans and left Friday afternoon and came back Monday. I am so glad I have learned to be more flexible and just go with the flow. We didn't end up leaving until about two thirty because his meetings ran long. No big deal though.

We had an uneventful trip and arrived in Falls Church 9ish. We watched the rest of the baseball game...yes, still watching and waiting for the Cardinals to lose!! Thank goodness they were finally eliminated so I can get on with my life now. ;) Haha. I kid...kinda. =/

Saturday morning we got up and showered and headed to Frederick, Maryland to two barn sales!! Yes...barn sales!! Sarah had seen a story in The Washington Post a few weeks ago and suggested we go because of course she knew I would love it! Instead of playing golf Tim came along with us (not to worry he played golf the next day.) After all, he is my spotter! First stop was to the Stylish Patina's barn sale. There was a lot of good stuff. We bought a small ironstone platter, a silver candle snuffer and old pair of binoculars.
 

 

 

Then on to Chartreuse & co. It had several buildings to go through, including a large barn and old farm house. It also had some great stuff. I loved all the industrial pieces and lights. We ended up buying a metronome (we thought it was a radio until we got it home) made by Seth Thomas. I was sold when I saw that it said Seth Thomas because when I was a teenager I had a dream I had a baby and named him Seth Thomas. Obviously, that is where I go Seth's name. My parent's sold that brand clock in their jewelry store at one time. We also bought a clock that I loved too. I love old clocks but hadn't ever bought one. I loved the shape and color. It was different than any I had seen before.

 

I left there happy with our purchases! The area where the barn sales were was so beautiful. It was all farmland and farms everywhere. We also drove through a couple of little communities called Buckeystown and Adamstown which were so quaint with beautiful old homes. We passed several pumpkin patches too.

 

 

 

Since we were out that way we also stopped at Lucketts which I have wanted to go to for over two years. It was a great place to browse through but we were hungry for lunch and I had spent over my self imposed spending limit so we walked through a little quicker than I normally would have.

I definitely would like to go back to all three places sometime while Sarah still lives in NoVa. We stopped in Leesburg and ate a late lunch at a little pizza place. Then Sarah drove us around the Dulles Toll Road so we could see her Deltek office in Herndon. We listened to the end of the Virginia football game as we drove back to Sarah's. Whew, wish we hadn't. Virginia is having a ROUGH year! Such is the life of a Virginia fan. At least Tech lost too. Dan didn't have anything on us. ;)

 

We went back to Sarah's and just relaxed. We cooked dinner later and of course watched the baseball game.

 

Here are my barn sale finds in place at home.

 

Next up: Eastern Market.