3 Months Until Christmas...and 91 Degrees in the Shade

Another hot, humid Saturday in the DC area so this Job Acquisition Specialist is always on the lookout for low-cost, interesting things to do. For several years I have wanted to visit the Kreeger Museum in northwest Washington, an architectural gem, designed by Phillip Johnson, filled with 19th and 20th century art, including impressionist paintings, sculptures, African masks, and modern art.

I had read that Saturday, September 25 is Free Museum Day at designated museums around the country, so I registered for tickets to the Kreeger (it's normally only $10). Love saving money!

Our informative tour guide provided information on the design and construction of the house/museum as well as about certain paintings. From his insights, one could really glean a sense of the couple who collected these pieces of art and the passion they felt for their collection.

This was a great diversion on a hot Autumn day when I started feeling the year rushing by much too quickly. I'm looking forward to visiting the Kreeger again since the work on display is switched out periodically.

Opera in the Outfield

Thanks Washington National Opera and Washington Nationals for opening up Nationals Park last Sunday for a wonderful event featuring the opera Un Ballo in Maschera (A Masked Ball) by Giuseppe Verdi. This story of royal love, murder and betrayal, set in Sweden, offered fabulous music and singing from a live presentation simulcast from the Kennedy Center.

My photos, taken with my iPhone from the stadium seats, certainly do not do justice to the spectacle on the screen.

This was the third annual Opera in the Outfield event that Washington National Opera has sponsored. A not-to-be-missed event next year!

Art=tranquility=refreshing the mind

House Boat by Claude Monet

How does art stimulate your thinking?

I adore visiting museums, art galleries, historical sites, gardens, and old homes. I almost always learn something and am entranced by the beauty of the surroundings. I also find that the art calms my soul and stimulates the brain cells. It fuels my thinking.

Recently, I finally visited the magnificent Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, home of one of the largest collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings in the world. The artwork is spectacular, from the Renoirs and Matisses to the Van Goghs, Rousseaus, Modiglianas, to African masks and more. The artwork is hung in striking visual arrangements to draw attention to different aspects of the art or lines, shapes and color. The paintings are interspersed with beautiful, old iron fragments such as hinges, doorknobs, and more to further illustrate aspects of the art.

I could barely force myself to move on to the next room since there is so much art in each gallery. The Barnes Foundation is an easy day trip from the Washington area and is a must-see for any art lover.

It was the perfect creative re-energizer for this Job Acquisition Specialist.

Summer's End

I love summer but this year was unusually hot in the mid-Atlantic region, so an end of summer trip to New England was the absolutely perfect way to get re-energized for Autumn. Yes, I know the official end of summer is still 10 days away, however with Labor Day weekend and the neighborhood kids back in school, it feels like the seasons are a-changing. I love these blue skies, cooler mornings, open windows and fresh air. Just like I saw in New England.

The tranquility and beauty of New England...aaaahhhh.

Covered bridge at Shelburne Museum, Vermont

Relaxing spot on Orr's Island, Maine

Boats on Lake Champlain, Burlington, Vermont

Vermont countryside

Beautiful goats at Fat Toad Farm, Vermont

White Mountains, New Hampshire

Presidential Range of the White Mountains, New Hampshire

Cog Railway chugging up Mount Washington, NH

Church in Bennington, Vermont