Ceilings, rooftops, doorways and walls of Jerusalem

Dreaming of the past.

A visit to a district, in pictures

I was very lucky on my recent trip to Washington D.C. that I got to hear Justice Stephen Breyer give a speech.  I sat in the front right near the podium, he was charismatic, interesting, and fair, I will remember his speech for a very long time.    

The building of the Renwick Gallery, it is impossible to read from this photograph but the top of the building reads: Dedicated to Art.  I saw a beautiful show at the Renwick called "Ornament as Art: Avant-Garde Jewelry from the Helen Williams Druitt Collection."  If you love jewelry I encourage you to visit this inspiring exhibition.
Two sweet lions outside of the Corcoran School and Gallery.

The grounds around the Capitol building are beautiful.  Here were some people doing something, I don't know what.

I'm not sure what this structure is.  
This beautiful brick structure reminded me of a hobbit house.  When I went inside there was a fountain in the middle and four drinking fountains.  
Here is the gate that lets you into the drinking fountain hobbit house
One of the four windows.

 Here is a flowering magnolia tree

The steps of the Capitol building reminded me of this song.
beautiful wrought iron lamp post

tulips
There are many beautiful flowering dogwood trees
And of course, cherry blossoms



Ceiling of the infamous Mayflower Hotel...
A peaceful protest outside the White House a day before the arrival of the Pope.  The signs read: "celibacy has failed," and "catholic priests are predators."

flowering  trees along the reflecting pool

Interesting ceilings of D.C.

Exterior doric, ionic column and lion head, Lincoln Memorial

Statuary chamber; bronze, marble ceiling, Lincoln Memorial.

The marble ceiling is translucent, light shines through it giving the effect of stained glass.

Metro

Waking up

Etsy Front Page

This is (for the Etsy uninitiated) a screen shot of the Etsy front page today.  It is quite exciting for those of us lucky enough to be featured.  

 

olive leaf, olive silver

sterling silver scatter pins

test run

Lyla tests out the new dining table.

"It's acceptable."

Spring in the City

It is springtime here at the Urban Hacienda.

Baby apricots grew quickly from those beautiful white blossoms.
Springtime means that I will soon and often need to cut the grass with the weed-wacker.
A view of the new stone steps being installed and of the neighbors car.  Soon a trumpet vine will obscure this view.
Baby pomegranate tree and a new garden.
Of course, the Urban Hacienda always has it's fun mix of the purposefully planted garden and mystery plants.  Maybe somebody planted them long before I lived here or maybe they were seeds from the old chicken coop.   They spring up and create their own form of beauty.