Falls.

We went to Great Falls in Virginia today. My lovely in-laws and my cousin John who rolled into the district via MegaBus at 4 AM today are with us and my brother-in-law joined us. It was a beautiful and sunny, though slightly cool, day and there were tons of families there who were obviously taking their holiday-greeting-card pictures.

Then I came home and slept for five hours. I was tired. Lets hope I can even fall asleep now that it's actually bed time!

Maybe tomorrow or the next day I'll pull up our pictures from when Mike and I went to Great Falls in September {or was it August?!} so that we can see how the leaves and trees have changed.

xoxo, natty ♥

Onions.

We had our work retreat today; it was SO weird going on a work retreat that wasn't at my old job. Our retreats at the school I taught at always occurred the day before our back-to-school meetings. I loved this ritual of beginning the busy school year with a day of reacquainting and fellowship.
I missed my old coworkers and friends but thoroughly enjoyed today's experience.
It was at a living farm and involved an experiential component meant to be like a day of a slave on an 1800s plantation. It's a really impactful and fascinating lesson as well as a super cool organization that runs the place.
We learned and gardened and shucked chicken poop {literally!} and then did some team-building activities.
Potbelly's provided lunch {delish!} and the weather held out; a lovely day! The only drawback was the profound amount of STINKBUGS gracing us with their buzzing, crawling, and prolific presence. We don't see these guys too often in the Bay Area so I had a learning experience!
I titled this post as I did because the farm's garden has produced award winning onions!
There were other vegetables but the knobs were prominently displayed and looked as pretty as onions can.
Happy weekend to you!

Deer in the city!

September brings beauty to Washington DC. Yesterday it heated up again but today was back to breezy, warm, cool breezes, and bright sunshine. I ventured into Rock Creek Park during my run this morning. This is a beautiful creek {obvi} and trails that run through the middle of the city. I am a nervous sort and don't often explore trails like this when I'm on my own but it was a normal hour {9-ish} on a weekend and, as I deduced, there were beaucoup pedestrians so I felt comfortable.
I trundled along and enjoyed Radiolab and people watching while I got in my miles. And then I saw a deer.
In the middle of Washington DC? I'm new here so I don't know if this is normal; I'm guessing it is? Otherwise people around me would have been freaking out too but as it was, only I stood there mouth agog at this pastoral creature hanging out in an underpass on an urban creek trail.
I obviously didn't get in a picture, I didn't want to scare the guy!

This blurry visage, however, is representative of my excursion this morning. Pretty {when it's in focus}!

Did you have a lovely weekend? Becs, I ADORE that painting.
May your Monday bring you peace and joy!
xoxo, natty ♥

Back-lit.

I've been browsing through my photo library and admiring my faux-tography. 
This was on a hike in Costa Rica.

In Boston.

This is most definitely not Boston. Or Costa Rica.

This is also Southwest but not so obviously-so.
Do you pretend to dabble in scenic photography? If I were patient and made time I could probably punch up the color better or even get that Big Girl Camera that I would eventually like to invest in but for now, point and shoot and iphone pictures keep me happy.
On an unrelated note but one that deserves mentioning {in my own opinion}, we're watching Frozen Planet right now {much later than the rest of the world I realize} and it's FASCINATING but I certainly did not enjoy seeing a pack of Orcas bully a little seal and eventually use their teeth to drag it off of an ice floe. 
xoxo, natty ♥