Fat Cat's Corner

I visited my sister a few weeks ago.  She lives in the D.C. area.   We’ve done the Monuments and Memorials before so this was a good ole, sit down and relax kinda visit.  She baked scones.  I ate scones & drank coffee.  She loves to cook and I love to eat:)  We talked and did a little shopping.   Historic Old Occoquan (http://historicoccoquan.com/) is a quaint little area with coffee shops and outdoor dining.  We had sandwiches at the  Blue Arbor Cafe, really good.  It wasn’t too hot so we sat outside and enjoyed the bird songs.  (http://www.bluearborcafe.com/).

We went to the pistol range one afternoon.  My niece is a crack shot with her .22 Henry Lever Action Rifle. Girl can shoot!  I rented a Glock 26  .9mm.  I’m still looking for a carry gun.  I fired one hundred rounds and it didn’t kill my hand/wrist.  I shot pretty well for never having fired that particular weapon before.  I liked the gun but the barrel still seemed too long for carrying in a purse or holster.

We ate dinner one night at Minh’s Vietnamese Restaurant. Love that place!  Food is so good.

My Niece just got her drivers license and took me for a spin in her Jeep.  She drives just like her Mom!  She is a very good/safe driver :D  All in all it was a very enjoyable visit.

After my visit with my sister, niece & nephew I stayed a few days with a friend up in Leesburg.  What a pretty area.  There was knitting (and drinking) in the screen porch in her peaceful, private backyard.   Did a bit of shopping and wine tasting in Old Town Leesburg.  (http://www.leesburgva.gov/index.aspx?page=518) Grabbed a Real Chicago Style Hotdog at Windy City Red Hots.  Mmmm, it was so good and the menu looked just like Jr’s back home.

When we weren’t knitting, eating or drinking we managed to take in the sights at Oatlands Plantation (http://www.oatlands.org/).  We took an hour long guided tour of the house.

Wonderful architecture!  All the stone and timber are original to the property.  Lots of one function rooms: sitting room, smoking room, music room, library. No closets.  Not a one!  The front door had to have been 5 feet wide.  Guess if you’re going to bring in gigantic furniture you have to make the door big enough to get the stuff in the house:) It was blazing hot that day.  I can’t imagine living in that house without air-conditioning.  It still doesn’t have any and the tour guide didn’t even accompany us upstairs to see the bedrooms and the indoor bathrooms.  There is no kitchen in the house.  It’s located a few hundred yards away.

After the exhausting tasks of shopping, eating, & drinking we went for some pampering…

the red tipped sausages are mine:)

I had a wonderful week with family and friends and I hope it isn’t too long before I see them again.

Don’t put off visiting for the perfect time and definitely go explore what’s right out your own back door :D