Benjamin came to the District to spend some time with Julia after her GRE exam and before Thanksgiving. They visited the Newseum (closing its doors December 31!), took care of Leela, got out the holiday decorations, worked on the puzzle, and spent time with Meme!
As soon as I saw Trader Joe's advertising that their fresh turkeys were coming November 15--I knew what we would be having for dinner that night! I got a nearly 12-pound bird. It was delicious, but not quite as good as from Wagshal's local turkey farmer. For our Thanksgiving dinner, we will be getting an all-natural, heritage turkey from Wagshal's in the range of 14-16 lbs. Will it be enough??? I made beef liver jerky--so good! I went to the Dupont Farmer's Market and restocked from Smith Meadows Farms--this time lamb liver, chicken backs, beef short ribs, steak, pork sausage. Julia has been studying for the GRE exam and took care of Leela for a couple of days. Steven is almost done with his dissertation--super happy and excited that he has been able to work on this despite his migraines.
Julia and Caitlyn flew to Houston, Texas, and then drove to Texas A&M to see Maddie. They spent one day in Austin and ate at the famous Terry Black's BBQ. The brisket looked amazing!
Julia went to Philly for two nights and attended a concert with Jessie. Then she bussed it back to Annandale to watch Kathryn while Lisa and Tony were in San Diego. From there she headed to Texas A&M to see Maddie and Caitlyn. The girl gets around for sure.
Julia and Benjamin drove from Columbus, OH, to Traverse City, MI, and enjoyed time with his family. Julia drove a boat and a car--two things she hasn't done much of in her lifetime (she is her mother's daughter!). Major kudos to Benjamin for making keto chocolate chip cookies!
Here in DC, the weather has been hovering and dancing around fall. Steven is still battling his migraine and working on his dissertation. Peanut Butter got a new sweater and LOVES it.
Julia got a new hairdo--cute and sassy! Her American friends from the University of Leeds came to visit. It was so nice to meet Ryan, Allie, and Jacob, who were part of her core friend group over the last year in the UK. They saw the sites--monuments, memorials, Julia's Stoddert brick :) --and indulged in some DC delicacies like District Doughnut.
We were fortunate to have amazing, sunny low-50s weather every day in Bergen, Norway. The many hiking options to see incredible views are definitely worth the trip. There are many options based on your ability and how long you want to be hiking. The Norwegians are super fit, hardy, and know how to dress for the occasion. The Thon Hotel was a wonderful gem that Steven booked, located right in the city center next to Bryggen, the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The breakfast buffet was the best I've ever had overseas--tons of options and delicious. They also served a complimentary light supper that was good for an appetizer. ;) We ate whale sausage, reindeer, salmon, lamb sausage, and sushi. Julia and Steven liked the lingonberry jam with mustard and fried onions on their sausage. Although Steven was down with a migraine on the last day, Julia and I were able to visit the KODE museums and explore more of the city as well.
