Another festival is upon us and it is only fitting to follow the Suburban post as it took place Downtown. The Rib and Chicken Festival was on this weekend and we headed down for lunch and a walk around Downtown. One of my favorite things to do. The weather was threatening all day, but we got a little cloud, a little sun and a few drops of water.

Every June the best of the best in BBQ Ribs and Chicken arrive on Sparks Street Mall. The BBQ can be detected all around Downtown depending on the wind, if you weren’t hungry when you parked your car, you would be hungry by the time you reached the Mall.

I made it Downtown and remembered to ask Hubby to take a photo. I also forgot my makeup this morning, so please excuse how tired I look. I mean, I am tired, but with a little mascara and eye liner I don’t look as tired as I feel.

The two of them were laughing themselves silly, which was great because sometimes they fight, yes they fight, can you believe it? We walked all around downtown and got some yummy gelato for dessert, then headed home. Such a contrast from last weekend, but it was great. I got to take some photos too because Hubby was there to push the stroller and watch J. I will have to take a solo trip without kids so I can really get some good shots.

Thank you all for your comments on my up coming Blogiversary.  I will do the draw on Wednesday and post the Winner then.

I often think about how blessed I am to live in our Nation’s Capital and to live so close to nature and farms while still living in suburbia. The problem is.  I rarely get a chance to enjoy the nature I live so close to.  We are always whizzing by it in the car.  So many times I want to just get out and take pictures or walk along the paths that skirt the edge, but there never seems to be enough time in the day.

When Hubby started running a couple of years ago, I kept asking him why he didn’t take the route along the farm.  We drive by it almost every day, it is beautiful and you feel like you aren’t running through the community.  He figured it would be too boring.  So for a whole summer he ran on sidewalks, dodging garbage cans, going up and down curbs, waiting for cars to go through the stop signs.

Then one day he needed to go for a long run.  The ones that I wouldn’t be going along with the stroller and rollerblades.  He decided to pass by the farm.  And what joy he found in watching the beautiful horses and the calmness of the fields.  Part of the path goes through a forest and all sorts of animals come out to see you (including the wolves, only once so far).  And of course, I was jealous.  By that time I was pregnant with Apple and could barely walk, let alone rollerblade through nature.  And all winter long I longed to go and see the horses and on foggy mornings, I wish I could take photos of them, but so far all the foggy mornings have happened during the week.

Then Father’s Day happened.  And Hubby wanted us all to come along for his run.  I didn’t mind, it was only an hour and although running for an hour still scares me, rollerblading for an hour is nothing.  All I wanted was to bring my camera though.  Well, I got off a few shots before J was yelling to keep up with Daddy and Apple was getting antsy thinking we were done. J finally got out and ran for a while and I caught up to everyone after taking my shots.  I will have to go back though.  Alone.  But, it was finally wonderful to enjoy some of the nature that is so close to me.  And the best part?  We were home by 9:30am and swimming in the pool.

Along our little route this is what we passed (nature wise): two strawberry farms that are almost ready to open, the corn fields, the horseback riding farm (I have no idea the name of it or how to find them other than to knock on their door, but they have a riding school), a local veggie stand, a local nursery and the forest where we saw bunnies and chipmonks. There were other not so natural things we passed like the grocery store and the gas stations, but those are all but forgotten when you see such natural beauty.  Now how to get Hubby to run along the boardwalk by the river, which again, is only five minutes away.