DH and I spent a wonderful December weekend in DC this past week. It was unusually cold there, and they had the snow that we'd been lacking - the city had a charming feel, but I guess it always does, at least for me.

On Saturday we did some Christmas shopping at Kramerbooks and Afterwords and Filene's Basement and then headed down to the White House. There was a group protesting, in call and response to President Obama, about the U.S.'s support for Laurent Gbagbo who lost the presidential election in the Côte d'Ivorie.

We went to the American Art Museum, both the main building and the Renwick Gallery. It was my first visit to the Renwick Gallery, which was saved from destruction through the efforts of President and Mrs. Kennedy and is now a National Historic Landmark. We toured the The Art of Gaman exhibit - arts and crafts made by Japanese Americans interred in the U.S. during World War II,  beautiful objects made from modest materials. The main building was exhibiting Telling Stories, a collection of Norman Rockwell’s images of American life; Jo Seated on the Old Sofa, Little Girl Observing Lovers on a Train, Going and Coming and The Jury were particular favorites.  An elegant dinner at The Bombay Club rounded off the day.

We had to leave on the early side on Sunday, but I was able to make a quick trip up to the Freshfarm Market at DuPont Circle for luscious Harmony Creek Farm soap and some fantastically soft undyed yarn. We spent a couple of hours at the Newseum - you could spend a couple of days there, but a few hours was all that we had. There was an exhibit on Covering Katrina and one on Elvis - the King.

After a yummy lunch in the cafeteria (musuem food has gotten really good!) we got in the car for the long ride home - I can't wait to go back.