Celebrate

2010 was another good year and I'm looking forward to seeing what exciting things 2011 has to offer! Happy New Year's Eve to my blog friends!

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

The Money Factory

My nephew and I had a special day yesterday. He only had a half day of school so I took him downtown for a tour of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. We had such a fun time. It was a very cold sunny day but there were few tourists on the Mall (highly unusual!) We saw millions of dollars being printed during our tour. The tour featured the various steps of currency production, beginning with large, blank sheets of paper, and ending with wallet-ready bills! They would not let us take pictures during the tour (for obvious reasons) but I did get a few at the beginning and at the end in display rooms!

a $5,000 bill! They don't make these anymore. The largest bill they make is $100. They stopped making bigger bills in 1969.

The glass tube on the left is filled with shredded $100 bills and based on his height he is worth over $1 Million! I could have told you that!!!!

Sheets of money before being cut and wallet ready!

A gorgeous view of the Washington Monument on our walk back to the car!

Poinsettia

Look at what arrived at my house! One of my wonderful friends sent me this gorgeous holiday poinsettia. I love the color, especially the splash of white throughout! Thanks so much Barb!

The Scottish Walk

Alexandria Virginia is a city rich in Scottish heritage and once again served as the gathering site for more than 100 clans and pipe and drum bands from far and near with their faithful companions, the terriers and hounds. The city of Alexandria partners with The Scottish Government to celebrate and sponsor the annual parade. It was a mighty cold day but it did not seem to stop 30,000 from lining the streets of Old Town Alexandria to watch the parade and partake in the weekend long festivities around town. Mary Deane, Dee and I met at a coffee shop and Jeeves, dressed in his Scottish coat and leash, led us to the parade route!

Happy Birthday Rudy's

When I started this blog at the beginning of this year I was spending the winter with my friends Julie and Sally on Anna Maria Island and helping them out at Rudy's. Today they are enjoying their 2nd birthday and have been blessed with great customers. I'll be heading back down this winter to help them out again this winter. Here is a link to Rudy's website so you can really check it out!

http://www.rudyssubsandmore.com/

A Peter White Christmas

To officially kick off the holiday season, I went with some friends to a dinner show featuring a jazz ensemble of Peter White, a smooth jazz guitarist; Mindi Abair, a saxophonist; and Rick Braun, a trumpeter.

Here we are before the show started
Dee and Jackie

Me and Mary Deane

Rick Braun killing it on the trumpet

Rick Braun, Mindi Abair and Peter White

Mindi Abair stealing the show. Not only is she a great saxophone player but she has an incredible voice