Itchy Noses, Two Ways

While the boy is away, the girls will play. Scott had to take a trip to Oxford to, ah, I can't remember what it is called right now and he has stepped out for the evening, but the gist of it was he had to prove he was good enough to move on in the PhD process. He did fine, in fact his assessors were very complimentary, but he did get stuck in the UK for an extra six days because of Iceland's Ehjafjallajokull Volcano, but that is another story for another post. My mom came to visit and keep Pav and I company while he was gone and we had fun once Pav got over the stomach flu she conveniently came down with the day after he left. The man has good timing, I say. I also say buy dye-free children's pain reliever to avoid colorful carpet stains that may cause one to lose one's renter's deposit, but that is also another story, probably not for another post.

Two of the highlights of Gammy's visit were the Azalea's at the National Arboretum and Stone Ridge girls' school's annual used book sale, both of which left Pav and I more than a little sniffly. Darn allergies! The high pollen count plaguing the east coast this spring hadn't bothered us until this day, but both of us were sneezing up a storm and I'll admit that Pav wasn't the only one wiping her nose on her sleeve. (I have carried kleenexes around in my purse since becoming a mom because my mom always had one when I needed it, so I just figured that was what moms did. This was the day I didn't. Funny how that happens.)

On our way home from the Arboretum we got stuck in the most awful Friday-night-rush-hour-traffic and decided to take a pretty detour through Rock Creek Park to get home. By happy coincidence this took us past Stone Ridge, which, by another happy coincidence, we noticed was having their book sale. First thing the next morning we returned, shopping bags in hand to raid the tables of books. This is the most amazing used book sale, taking up three large gymnasiums and encompassing everything from, well, just everything! If you live in the DC area, or anywhere nearby, I highly recommend checking it out. However, if you suffer from dust mite allergies you should load up on antihistimines first. Perhaps my nose was still irritated from the day before, but there was an upside: sneezing repeatedly keeps the crowds of vicious used-book-saleaholics at bay! Also be forewarned that in the three years I've been I've never spent less than $75, but always left happy, with about two Xerox boxes of books. (My husband keeps pointing out that I haven't finished last years books before the new sale comes around again on the calendar, but I say you can never have too many books! Just makes you look smarter.)

Here was a whole bush full of blossoms that were just starting to unfurl. Only the very tips of the petals were still twisted shut. Every one was ready to pop! And that is how they open, like little upside down umbrellas. Last year we were there on a much warmer, late Spring day and everywhere you looked at a bush there would be this almost invisible (because it happened so fast, you see) flick! Or poof! And another blossom had popped open, right before your eyes. That whole area of the bush would shimmy for a second, then settle back into stillness. In some areas so many blossoms were opening and t

he azaleas are so thickly planted

that all of the bushes were shimmying. The whole garden seemed more than usually alive.

This bush had already popped and was so full of blossoms it was like a float in the Rose Bowl Parade. Not that I've even been, just seen floats on TV, of course.

An unusual orange blossomed variety.

An unusual lavender variety with frondsy petals. Thats a botanical term, there. Yes it is.

The best part of taking my mom with you to any sort of park or botanical garden is that she knows what all the plants are. (And yes, we complain endlessly about how slow she is on a hike because she has to stop and identify all the wildflowers with her little book, but the upshot is you learn a lot when you're with her.)

Here we have some delightful Mayapples. Each has just one blossom that hides under one or two large leaves. Wikipedia mentions that the leaves and rhizomes of mayapples contain podophyllotoxin, which is useful in the treatment of genital warts and that the "apple" that ripens in the summer is edible, but toxic in large amounts. Also, if the plant has just one leaf it is sterile. Just thought you might like to know.

Pavlina had a ball searching for them and began calling them "blumen" for some reason. I remember telling her sometime ago that the German word for "flower" was "blumen" but why she remembered that and decided to use it then, I have no idea. Funny how she can remember some little tidbit I told her just once for fun, but she can't remember to keep her feet off the back of the seat in the car, or to eat over her plate, which we tell her everyday!

A rare picture, both because I am usually the one behind the camera, and because Pavlina rarely sits when we are taking a rest. She asks to take a break when we pass a bench, but then stands until the rest of us are ready to go. We get up to move on and she complains she's not done resting yet! (Here is where the observant reader notices that I wasn't wearing sleeves and realizes I was really wiping snot on my arm. Ew, gross! Nah, skin's washable, I say.)

Couldn't resist the cheesy "child smelling flowers" shot since it is made all the more cheesy because her dress matches them so well.

Imagine two more rooms as large as this one and you get the scope of the sale. We were in and out in a speedy three-and-a-half hours and just under $150 worth of books in four very full grocery sacks. Pav's current favorite is A Summertime Song by Irene Haas. I have never seen this book before and admit to buying without reading it just for the beautiful illustrations, but turns out the story is wonderful too in a magical, perfect for a little girl who's very into birthday parties and animals sort of way, which describes Pav perfectly right now. My favorite find is A World of Plants, The Missouri Botanical Garden because flipping through its pages takes me to one of my favorite places in all the world. This may be one that, despite it's size, I insist on taking to Oxford with us to remind me of home.

Visistors from Iowa

More than a month late, but better than never posting about it at all, I suppose:

We finally got some of Scott's family to come visit us! Mom Marlys, younger brother David (aka Kuncle David) and sister, Bridget spent Bridget's spring break exploring DC. We were cozy as bugs in a rug with the three of them joining the three (four if you count our cat, Bella) of us in our one bedroom apartment. Luckily we got along fine and the weather cooperated so no one felt too cooped up.

Unfortunately an untimely flare-up of my colitis kept me from being much of a hostess and completely nixed my plans to play tour guide. So Pav filled in, showing them around museums and monuments. They were able to catch the very start of the cherry blossoms and I think were pleasantly surprised to see green grass. (We are so spoiled here, even with two blizzards this winter the grass never turned brown!) I did manage to take the girls shopping one afternoon where J Crew was a big hit with Bridget. Scott was able to take a day off work which we spent at Great Falls National Park enjoying some beautiful weather with a hike and picnic.

The Tharps (and Steward-Tharps) in front of the C&O Canal.

Doing their best to look nothing like one another. Amazing reallyc considering the family resemblance is so strong it fools small Tharp children into crying "You're not my Daddy!" after latching onto the wrong Tharp brother at family gatherings.

A selfless Daddy protecting his munchkin from the oh-so-bright sun and looking good in the process!

Well, Bridget, if you won't let me take your picture, this is what you get. I have too many pictures of your blocked face to not post one at least.

Poor Scott had to piggy back me the last quarter mile back to the car but Auntie Bridget stepped up and rode Pav out on her shoulders. This must be Scott celebrating his new power over me with an evil cackle. Otherwise, I really have no explanation...