Growing 'Shrooms

The theme for my family's holiday prez xchange was "Things that live in the dark." I got a mushroom growing kit.

I started the kit on January 23rd. On top of the kitchen cabinets is the only place I could put it to keep it away from the cats:Here's what it looked like:The first little 'shrooms started appearing a few days later:You can see one now:Dilly is very interested in what's in the box:They've grown significantly in just a few days:Ready to pick the first one on Feb 12th:
For size reference...that's a dime:Only got three this round, but the 2nd round is already starting to pop through the surface.

I said I'd never run another 1/2 marathon again...

...until last week when I signed up for the Suntrust National 1/2 Marathon in March! Been training with friends in the DC Capital Striders running club. Here's the almost 10 mile loop my friend Heather and I ran on Saturday. Thx David for letting us borrow your cool GPS watch:)

Great Falls

Went hiking at Great Falls, VA last Sunday since it was so B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L out! Highs in the 50's (it had been 25 the day before). Even though I grew up in nearby Maryland, I had never been to the Virginia side of the falls!You can see the people at the overlook on the MD side:Dam for the Washington Aqueduct intake (where DC gets its drinking water):Yup, that's a picnic table in the tree...remnants of the last flood?(in the background, you can see how much of the river was frozen over)