Today I tried to do as many inside things as possible because it’s bitter cold and the wind is just whistling down the Mall.  So I visited the Botanic Garden, The National Art Museum and The Natural History Museum.  The warm gardens were wonderful and made my cold feel lots better.  At the art museum I got lost among the Dutch masters.  I hadn’t thought I liked Dutch art, but I was wrong.  Especially the portraits which really caught my imagination.  And there was a marble bust of a little boy done in 1460 that looked just like my brothers did when they were young 500 years later.   Made me realize (again) how little has really changed over time.  This is titled “Ill Matched Lovers” by Quentin Massys and was done in 1520.  Who knew they had this kind of sense of humor way back then!

And the Natural History Museum brought back lots of memories from when I visited it as a kid.  Especially the big elephant that greats everyone in the rotunda.  My favorite part of the museum was the section of it that dwells on the ocean.  Made me remember that as a kid I wanted to be an oceanographer.  Wonder what happened to that dream?

Though I really have enjoyed my time in DC I’m getting tired of traipsing all over the city in the cold and wind.  And I miss my own home, my husband and of course my Katie girl.  Tomorrow I’m going to Arlington unless the weather is too horrible.  Sunday I fly home.  Can’t wait to get there.