sandr018

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure to leave the summer heat of DC to spend a few days with friends in Maine (photo of landing into Portland above and leaving DC below, I never tire of a window seat). Our host was one of my best friends, the talented interior designer Michael Hampton, at his beautiful cottage in Rockport. Rockport is a charming village just south of Camden with a small 'downtown' looking over a beautiful harbor below (with some great restaurants!) .  Every house was more beautiful than the last.  A true old house lover paradise (as is most of Maine). What Maine lacks weather-wise in winter is more than made up for during their gorgeous summers where everything is in bloom; a gardener's paradise  The town is rather hilly so nearly everyone gets a view.  One of my favorite houses was this old farm house that was added onto over time; just the right size. Love the picket fence and bay window on the side of the main house.  Others had char...

One of the best parts of living in Washington is playing tourist in your own backyard. When the local chapter of the ICAA planned a tour into the Washington Monument last month I was quick to sign up! I visited a number of years ago (see that post HERE ) but as the view is unparalleled in our city of no views due to height restrictions I had to go.  FTR, I think our height restriction is admirable as it makes our city unique; you know where you are; DC!  Begun in 1848 it still stands as the world's tallest stone structure.  Construction was halted in 1854  due to a lack of funds but when construction picked up 23 years later the original quarry had been destroyed in the civil war! This gives the Obelisk a distinctive waist 152 feet high where a different stone material picks up (or so the story goes). Originally the monument was designed with a colonnade around the base by architect Robert Mills which was left out due to budget constraints much to his chagrin. ...