Hint of Spring

It's 59 degrees now, and going on 5. Still light out. So glad spring is coming.

To DC, too. Mary writes:

I just took a short walk in the neighborhood on this beautiful day. Now I'm sitting on my deck looking at the sky.  And it isn't getting dark yet!

More on Abe

Jeffrey Goldberg, who writes for The Atlantic, has tweeted today:
                         

Am in Springfield today and decided to visit Lincoln's grave. Somewhat surprised I didn't hear spinning.

 

 

Field Trip Report

Mary says:

Fran and I enjoyed our visit to President Lincoln's cottage today. It's on the grounds of the Old Soldier's Home, not far from Children's Hospital and the VA Hospital.  It's a big campus with quite a few buildings of the Home, a cemetery, and the cottage. I could easily live in the "cottage" which was originally owned by some rich person. My only complaint of the visit is that it was COLD and windy as you can see from our pictures with the statue of Lincoln.  The building to the right of the cottage was a lovely gazebo.  The house had beautiful views of the city - and the graveyard and battles during the war.

 

What? No gift shop? No souvenirs?

 

Is Abe life sized?

Fran and Abe both look annoyed... but maybe Fran is just cold.

A few hours later... Post Script --- Mary did *too* buy souvenirs -- she says one serious and one not so. I had seen the Lincoln coffee quote before and always liked it:

 

Mary and Fran's field trip

Today Mary and Fran went to see Lincoln's cottage which is (I believe) the place where Abe often went in the summer to cool off. Fran says Mary is sending more photos but here's one of Abe and his horse that Fran sent.

Mary's Celebratory Lunch

As some of you know, Mary's sister (and my good old friend) Judy has been facing a serious medical situation. On Monday, Judy was scheduled to receive a status report of whether the treatment was working. We all held our breath for the verdict on February 22. It turns out that it was very good news, the situation is improving, and the doctors were all pleased.

So a number of family members who had accompanied Judy went out for a celebratory lunch, and here's Mary's.

Mary says: This was what we had in Philly celebrating Judy's good news. It's brisket with a little mozzarella, grilled onions, and a horseradish cream sauce. It was delicious.

What I'm Reading

I've been reading this for a few days now, and it's an odd combination. It was a New York Times bestseller so I expected a bit of sophistication, but it's really just a soap opera... and, as most soap operas, fairly addictive. It's a novel about an American heiress who goes to England with her mother in search of a titled person to marry for prestige and she finds a duke and now she's married and pregnant... that's what's happened so far.

I bought this used from Amazon for a penny (plus $3.99 shipping) so I'm definitely getting my money's worth.

Nurse Angelina

Fran is feeling under the weather so Angelina is taking care...