Ladew Topiary Gardens

It feels like I’ve been cooped up for weeks.  First in airports and hotels then in bed with a terrible cold (hmm, hard not to think there is a casual relationship there).  Oh for the cool days of spring when I could hear out of both of my ears and didn’t punctuate every sentence with a hacking cough.

The last time I was out and about was at the beginning of May for the Ladew Topiary Garden’s Rare Plants and Garden Ornaments Sale. The sale was fun  and fruitful.  I came home with more herbs,  two honeysuckle plants and a fantastic antique firefly engraving from Dongan Antiques, Ltd.

Scottish Christmas Walk Parade

Bagpipes, dogs, old houses and kilts, put them all together and you have the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade — the official kickoff of the Christmas season in Old Town Alexandria.  More than 100 clans and pipe and drum bands march in this annual tradition accompanied by their faithful hounds and terriers.

For Your Consideration: Chef’s Best

Rows and rows of yummy.

On Tuesday I was lucky enough to attend the 20th anniversary of Food & Friend’s annual fundraising gala, Chef’s Best Dinner & Auction.  A delicious event with over 55 local chefs tempting the crowd with bite size — and sometimes more than bite size –samples of their best.  Food & Friends commitment is to provide sound nutrition for children and adults living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses throughout the greater DC metro area.  This year, Food & Friends will deliver more than one million specialized meals to more than 2,800 individuals (that number does not include feeding those who attended Tuesday’s event).