Vacation Glow

One month later, I realized that I never got around to posting photos from our Baltimore trip. The D.C. day trip was awesome, as always, but Baltimore - and specifically, Amelia and Basil's real neighborhood tour of Baltimore - is highly memorable. I am in a strangely nostalgic mood today, so you're getting holiday-themed vacation photos in the middle of January. Lucky you.

This particular one-block section of row houses is my new memory of Christmas, Baltimore-style. Every single house on the block was decked out for the holidays. My personal favorite celebrated with a robot-themed Nativity scene. (Runner-up? The Christmas flamingos.) Amelia informed us that the utility companies give the homeowners a break on their electric bills, in the spirit of the holidays and/or tourism, I guess. Because of this amazing light show, we get to park about 8 blocks away from home. Totally worth it.

We began our mornings with a trip to the "progressive American coffee" shop, which is just one of the many unique restaurants and stores located within a few blocks of Amelia and Basil's home. The neighborhood is home to an amazing diversity of young folks. (And maybe older ones, too, but they weren't at the haunts I frequented.)

Home, Sweet Home!

Baltimore is the only place I've encountered that has speed hump signs instead of speed bumps. I'm not quite sure why this was so funny, but it cracked me up every single day.

Someone has got to do something about this poor tree - no more room for the roots. 

 Yoga. Love it.

Knitters and crafty types on the loose! So many creative activities that I decided to learn to knit. Seriously, this is my year. I got the basic instructions from Alison, so watch out, winter! I'm making my own scarves now!

We also toured Baltimore's Inner Harbor, which is the only part of Baltimore I (and most visitors) had previously visited. (Side note: I apologize for the crazy edits, but Picasa recently got a few new buttons, and I had a blast trying them out. I'll get over it soon, I promise.)

Ye Olde Wharf. I like that no one bothered to connect the two piers.

Merry Christmas, tree!
I'm saving this idea for next year. 

We took a break for sushi and tea, followed by amazing homemade gelato, then happy hour with rosemary fries and local beers, and ended it all with drinks on the town. You have to love a vacation as delicious as that! FYI, I have a new favorite drink - anything with St-Germain elderflower liqueur - followed closely by Alison's sparkly pop rocks drink concoction, which was the loudest drink I've ever tasted. 

Santa convergence outside the gelato shop.
I wonder what all the kiddos thought about this?

Our final excursion was a lovely hike along the river. Don't let the hats and scarves fool you: the winter weather in Baltimore - much like Minnesota lately - was downright tropical.

This is the game face of a serious hiker.

Pre-hike warm-ups

The English major giving the Biology major a remedial lesson in mosses vs lichens.

Alison!!!

Gotcha, newlyweds!

Thanks for a wonderful, relaxing, amazing weekend, Amelia, Basil, and Alison! The memories will carry me throughout winter and into season two of The Wire.

Peaceful January

Thankfully, our new year is off to a slow and peaceful start. I'm very grateful to put 2011 behind us, and 2012 already promises better days ahead. We've been spending our days much like Pickles and TJ, primarily hibernating, but with limited bursts of frenetic activity. Here are some sleepy-time photos to prepare for a Sunday afternoon pre-game nap.

Pickles has been transitioning her bird-watching abilities to the indoors for now, as she has recently rediscovered the power of the PBS nature documentary. One day last week, she was so excited to catch a bird that she leapt behind the television and nearly threw herself over the stairwell. Sometimes I think we need to invest in a small video camera. She's one of a kind.

Christmas Dogs

Christmas was for the dogs this year, although it was also our nieces' first Christmas and the first Christmas at my parents' new home in Mitchell. Kennedy and Raleigh spent the better part of Christmas following the dogs around the house, and vice versa. Added to the mix was my parents' new puppy, Cricket, a mini goldendoodle that absolutely adored Macy, Christopher and Amanda's goldendoodle. TJ and Kaci, Tyler and Courtney's keeshond, basically did their own thing.

Macy, keeping an eye on her charges.

Macy and Cricket, taking a quick break.

Cricket also has a fondness for shoes.

Sharing a stocking with Macy and TJ.

Cricket also adores my dad.

Courtney holds the power of the squeaky toy over Macy, TJ, and Kaci.

Baby present!

TJ is finally out for the count. It was a very long day for an old dog.