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    • Dec 29thBirthdays, Thanksgiving, and Etc.

      We’ve been busy.  I cut a bunch out, but this will still be a long post.

      Fancy rum and Cubans with Dave in Gtown
      Fancy rum and Cubans with Dave in Gtown
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      Getting decorations and goody bags ready
      Getting decorations and goody bags ready
      Two!
      Two!
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      OMG nom
      OMG nom
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      4MR
      4MR
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      Sticky Basalmic Rabbit
      Sticky Basalmic Rabbit
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      OMG
      OMG
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      fam
      fam

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      Brisket
      Brisket
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      Suffering Bastards at Peking Gourmet Inn
      Suffering Bastards at Peking Gourmet Inn

      FJ's bday
      FJ’s bday
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      laid back
      laid back

      Xmas tree shopping
      Xmas tree shopping
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      patrons of the theater
      patrons of the theater
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      CK's thesis reading
      CK’s thesis reading


      by rsiv with no comments yet
    • Apr 17thWonder at The Renwick Gallery

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      Dude in the background had an awful job.  Constantly asking people to step away.
      Dude in the background had an awful job. Constantly asking people to step away.

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      This installation by Patrick Dougherty was my favorite
      This installation by Patrick Dougherty was my favorite
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      EF's fav, she kept walking up the strangers and frantically pointing at the ceiling
      EF’s fav, she kept walking up the strangers and frantically pointing at the ceiling
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      This one was really cool too
      This one was really cool too
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      The paint behind the bugs is tinted by bugs
      The paint behind the bugs is tinted by bugs

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      we celebrated with
      we celebrated with
      I saw a rocket pop in DC.  Had to have one.
      I saw a rocket pop in DC. Had to have one.
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      Video:


      by rsiv with no comments yet
    • Mar 29thEaster ’16

      This easter the Lil Butt is walking, so we did a lot more than last year.  We saw Grandma and Grandpa, did the FCC Easter Egg hunt, ate at Nana’s and Papaw’s, and went to a decadent brunch at Sequoia.

      Lil Girl and her GrandDaddy Caddy
      Lil Girl and her GrandDaddy Caddy
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      She made the putt
      She made the putt
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      Thunderdome
      Thunderdome

      Shopping for Easter prezzies
      Shopping for Easter prezzies
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      Farmer's Market Dark Chocolate Bunnies
      Farmer’s Market Dark Chocolate Bunnies
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      Garden and Gun's Moravian Sugar Cake for Easter.  HB doubled the topping and spices and it was delicious.
      Garden and Gun’s Moravian Sugar Cake for Easter. HB doubled the topping and spices and it was delicious.

      FJ's Easter Prezzie
      FJ’s Easter Prezzie
      Sequoia.  OMG.  Nom.
      Sequoia. OMG. Nom.

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      The white peach mimosas were amazing
      The white peach mimosas were amazing

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      Not a huge fan of the Easter Bunny
      Not a huge fan of the Easter Bunny

      But she loves rocks.
      But she loves rocks.
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      Cheers!
      Cheers!
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      Is somebody jelly in his belly of LeBeef's buffet skills?
      Is somebody jelly in his belly of LeBeef’s buffet skills?
      Jes he is.
      Jes he is.

      Cheers again!
      Cheers again!
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      CHOCOLATES!!!
      CHOCOLATES!!!

      Some videos of LB’s first putt, the egg hunt, and shopping for prezzies:


      by rsiv with no comments yet
    • Dec 1stEF’s First Birthday, Fiola Mare, Taste by Katie

      Dressed up in her Paris dress for a night on the town.  LeBeef got this for her before she was born.
      Dressed up in her Paris dress for a night on the town. LeBeef got this for her before she was born.
      Jazzed up.
      Jazzed up.

      It was a beautiful and foggy night
      It was a beautiful and foggy night
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      I joked that we should get EF Lobster Ravioli for her birthday.  It didn't go over as a joke.
      I joked that we should get EF Lobster Ravioli for her birthday. It didn’t go over as a joke.

      But she loved it.
      But she loved it.
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      I had a barrel aged cocktail.  I didn't get a picture, but it was served to much fanfare
      I had a barrel aged cocktail. I didn’t get a picture, but it was served to much fanfare
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      HB and I split the Under the Sea entree.  Jes.
      HB and I split the Under the Sea entree. Jes.
      Someone got cranky, so we went for a walk.
      Someone got cranky, so we went for a walk.

      HB knew our waitress from High School
      HB knew our waitress from High School
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      They didn't have the Maderia I ordered so they brought this.  Sweet, but delicious.
      They didn’t have the Maderia I ordered so they brought this. Sweet, but delicious.

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      We got about four desserts, and EF tried them all.
      We got about four desserts, and EF tried them all.

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      Then they found the Maderia.
      Then they found the Maderia.

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      EF really had a great time.  Lobster ravioli, four desserts, and a selfie with a senator.  What a birthday.
      EF really had a great time. Lobster ravioli, four desserts, and a selfie with a senator. What a birthday.

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      On the day of EF’s birth, we went out to Fiola Mare.  Even though EF is a very well-behaved diner, the choice in venue was really more for us.  HB has done an amazing job parenting and pumping, and deserved a night out at one of the top 5 restaurants in DC.  It did not disappoint.  On Saturday, we had EF’s party.  Taste by Katie catered, and did an absolutely amazing job.  Katie worked with us to get the menu just right, and then executed it beyond my high expectations.  I couldn’t recommend Taste by Katie more.  The fried chicken was spicy and moist.  The sweet potato biscuits were delicious.  The okra and sausage tarts were the first to run out.  The Sally Lunn bread parfaits went over great.  EF enjoyed a little of everything, but loved the slaw and mac and cheese.  Check out my yelp review of Taste by Katie.  Thanks again to our incredibly generous friends.  EF loves her new books and toys.  Thanks again to FJ and LeBeef for hosting.  Thanks to Chelsea for making the cake.  Thanks to HB for planning everything!

      Getting ready
      Getting ready
      Taste by Katie really hooked us up.  The food was amazing.
      Taste by Katie really hooked us up. The food was amazing.

      The Modern Father.
      The Modern Father.
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      OMG.  Wish I had these fried chicken and sweet potato biscuits now
      OMG. Wish I had these fried chicken and sweet potato biscuits now
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      smash cake
      smash cake

      My Birthday prezzie to LB
      My Birthday prezzie to LB
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      by rsiv with no comments yet
    • Sep 23rdWV Road Trip Part I: The Greenbrier

      We had a family reunion and grounds (not a typo) breaking ceremony to attend in WV.  Since that’s a fairly long trip for LB, we decided to break it up a little.  On the way down, we’d stop at The Greenbrier.  On the way back, we’d see Lemuel in Hinton.

      My Happy Place
      My Happy Place

      Cheers
      Cheers

      LB in her first Greenbrier outfit
      LB in her first Greenbrier outfit

      PawPaw - Granddaughter piano lesson
      PawPaw – Granddaughter piano lesson

      Boozy milkshakes before chicken and waffles
      Boozy milkshakes before chicken and waffles

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      Fly Fishing Lesson
      Fly Fishing Lesson

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      This is my biggest, FJ caught a 17 incher
      This is my biggest, FJ caught a 17 incher

      Dressed for dinner in the main dining room
      Dressed for dinner in the main dining room

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      1808 Julep...Maybe they read my julep post...
      1808 Julep…Maybe they read my julep post…

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      Peaches and cream
      Peaches and cream

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      Dancing
      Dancing

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      snuggles
      snuggles

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      nightcap
      nightcap

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      The Sportsman, trout for breakfast
      The Sportsman, trout for breakfast


      by rsiv with no comments yet
    • Aug 17thBrammer Beach

      This post was a little picture heavy, so I tried something new.  HB, LB, and I headed down to Tidewater on Friday.  After a long drive, a playdate, and a couple beers, we called it an early night.  The next day we had some delicious biscuits (LB had her first taste of sweet potato biscuit), and then enjoyed a beach all to ourselves.  Lil Steve dropped by with Jess, and then Thom came by as well.  The weather, company, and location were perfect.  It could not have been a better day.  Sunday morning we enjoyed a hearty brunch at No Frill.  We watched the highlights of Bobby Light’s Canaries spanking my Black Cats.  The girls said their goodbyes, and then we hit the road.  Thanks again to the Brammers’ for their hospitality.  It was a great weekend.  Jess made a great first impression and felt like an old friend right off the bat.  And as for Thom, see if you can spot his first vista pic below, and also, the glare from his body in his little draws.  The gauntlet has been thrown down HW…

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      by rsiv with no comments yet
    • Aug 4thSavannah’s 1st birthday

      After a long drive, we made it to Savannah’s first bday.

      In a lot of ways, its still like old times.

      It was a little hot, so I was worried about LB, but she had a great time.

      Rob helped CW stayed hydrated.

      Hey EF, you know how I know you’re a redneck…

       


      by rsiv with no comments yet
    • Aug 4thParenting ain’t easy

      The other weekend Pam-ela, Ryry, and WinnDixie had us over for a day at the pool.  We enjoyed good weather, great company, and lots of delicious food.  WinnDixie hooked me up with a 45 minute smoke…

      


      by rsiv with no comments yet
    • Jun 10thAnniversary Celebration at Brine

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      We thought about going to The Homestead or The Greenbrier for our anniversary but we just got back from WV and we’re about to leave for the OBX, and Fathers’ Day is coming up, so we decided on an easy dinner out.  I made a reservation at Brine, a fairly new restaurant with a good raw bar.  Then I thought I should pick somewhere HB might prefer instead.  But I realized that we really do like the same things, and Brine would probably be plenty fancy enough.  As it turns out, it was a great decision.  We started with cocktails.  HB got an awesome take on the Old Fashioned with Four Roses and chocolate bitters.  I got the margarita that won Margarita Wars in DC.  For food, we ordered the honey hole (12 oysters, 12 clams, 12 shrimp, and some awesome ceviche).  We also got an order of voodoo fries.

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      The local Rappahannock oysters were great, but surprisingly, not my favorite part of the assortment.  I enjoyed the oysters with Brine’s really delicious mignonette and a squeeze of lemon.  For the clams, I poured some Tabasco sauce and added a pinch of real horseradish.  The clams, enjoyed in this way, were amazing.  I don’t know if I enjoyed them, or the ceviche, more.  Everything was amazing, including the fries, which came with a great cajun mustard but were even better with the house-made barrel aged hot sauce.

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      After our cocktails we ordered a bottle of cava which was reasonably priced and delicious.  We ordered one dessert, but our waiter, Mike, brought out three since it was our anniversary.  Everyone we encountered at Brine was very welcoming and helpful, which is rare for a restaurant which as been open only so long, but even so, Mike was exceptionally helpful and friendly.  We were generous with our tip, and he earned every cent.

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      We had an amazing anniversary at Brine, and we’ll definitely be back.

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      by rsiv with no comments yet
    • May 26thMemorial Day ’15: Golf, Pool, Fly Fishing

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      Friday I loaded a literal truckload of baby stuff and we headed to Fredrock.  My pictures from the weekend got a little out of order, and I used a lot of HB’s pictures, so my bad.  We played a round at Gauntlet.

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      C-Note had a couple of amazing drives.

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      I ended up breaking 100 again!  And Gauntlet is no easy course.  Special thanks to my caddie, WinnDixie.

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      EF loved the water.  She kicked like crazy under her float and loved splashing around.

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      This diamond crown (figurado no. 6 maduro) was insanely good.

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      Every meal we had was delicious, as always.

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      Savanna had a photoshoot.  Cameras on cameras.

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      There were bebes everywhere this year.  The times have changed.

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      Thom and Marteen enjoyed a romantic twilight paddleboat ride.

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      The sky was beautiful.  Marteen pulled out his long lens (pun intended) so we could see the planets.

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      This was the first time I had my new fly rod out.  I managed to catch four fish.  I got a couple large mouth bass, a blue gill, and either another blue gill or a crappie (I couldn’t tell which).

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      EF had her first lil taste of homemade biscuit.

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      Thom boated out to where I was fishing to bring me a refreshment.

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      Daddys don’t let your babies grow up to be cowgirls.

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      EF LOVED Bentley.  She was giggling and so excited when he came around.

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      Everybody was able to catch a fish.  After Thom snagged one, I commented that I was in the wrong line of work, and should have been an adventure guide.  I’ve helped/taught my buddies to fly fish, squirrel hunt, upland hunt, etc.  The guys on the shore said they’d just been talking about how I’ll make a good scoutmaster.  Thats probably the best compliment I’ve ever received.

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      As always, HB and I had a great time.  Pam-ela and WinnDixie were amazing hosts as always.  Our hosts, RyRy, and all our friends really made it possible for EF to have a great time too.  HB did a really amazing job, and EF took like a fish to the water.  I can’t wait to take EF to the beach, and then back to the pool.

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      by rsiv with no comments yet
    • ‹ Older Posts

      Good Old Fashioned Hand Written Code by Eric J. Schwarz

        Bon Vivant VAA blog about living the good life in and around the Commonwealth of Virginia

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