Funky Friday: Walt Whitman and the National Portrait Gallery

Major parts of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC, is housed buildings built in the early 1800's. Part of it was a post office, and the part pictured above housed the Patent Office. At the end of this corridor is the delightful three story space with galleries that housed the library of patent models. 

In the early 1860's, the post office and patent office packed away into storage, and the space was converted to a hospital for soldiers and sailors injured in the US Civil War.  There were an estimated 1.5 million people injured or got sick during the War, with about half of those dying. Disease killed as many, or more, than wounds. Tens of thousands of men spent weeks, months or years requiring medical care. 

Walt Whitman, an American poet of the era, volunteered in this hospital.  He spent months at bedside talking with the patients, reading to them, and helping them write letters home. He wrote about it in his journals, many of the patients wrote or spoke of the experience. 

It is clear from the writings, that his affection for some of the patients went beyond that of a kindly old author. One of nature's batchelors made some special friends while helping them recover from the war.

When I walk those halls, I sometimes think of the compassion and passion of the past in that sacred space.    

 

The Thursday Ramble: Alexandria City Hall

This photo was taken a couple of years ago, of city hall in Alexandria. Market Square, home to my local Saturday Morning Farmers Market surrounds the fountain. There has been a market on that space for over 250 years, it claims to the be oldest continuously operated farmers market in the country.  Parts of city hall, predate the Civil War, the state government was temporarily housed in it, when Virginia rejoined the Union after the Civil War (Richmond had burned in the war.)

Built during a remodel about 50 years ago, there is a two story underground parking garage under market square.  One of the best garages in the area and it owned by the city so it has some of the best prices. 

City Hall, Market Square and the garage, are closing in January for a major remodel. The building is in need of major utility and structural updates, the cast concrete beams in the garage are cracking, and replacing those beams is essential to holding up the plaza on the square. Estimates are two to three years for the work. 

The Market will be moving across the street to the west, into a courtyard square. City offices will be moving into temporary spaces around the city.  The city owns another garage, under the Court House a block away.    

My World Of Wonders - December 17, 2025

Where have I been this week? Into the City for lunch with a dear friend and a nice cold walk across town, the grocery store, an Aldi run. The pool, the treadmill. The library, Safeway and CVS Drugstore. 

How has the weather been? Cold, cold, cold, cold, cold, a little snow, colder, and cold. 

What have I been up to in the kitchen? Beef and barley soup,  homemade chili with beans, roast pork tenderloin and a corn pudding, tortellini in broth - this is my spin on an Italian classic. I started by poaching a whole chicken, with onion, celery, carrots and spices. Then boned out the chicken and simmered the bones for two hours, strained the broth. I added back in some of the cooked chicken and a package of fresh (pre-made) tortellini to cook. I have about a liter of chicken stock and the two poached chicken breasts in the refrigerator to make something with later this week. 

What did I do that was unusual? I decided on Saturday I didn't want to do anything, and I did slightly less than that. 

Who have a talked to this week? My sweet bear. The gang at Water Aerobics, a board meeting from my old office, Erica, 

What is the exciting family news? My oldest nephew and his wife welcomed a baby boy to the family this week. I am now a great uncle times two. 

What is on the easel this week? I finished a self portrait, it is interesting, and I am nearly finished with a nighttime cityscape. 

What was the best thing I read this week? In a book titled "Think Like A Rocket Scientist",  a child asked to bricklayers what they were doing, the first one answered, "what a silly question, I am laying bricks one after another, after another." The second one responded, "I am building a magnificent cathedral that will bring awe and wonder for centuries." Frame your acts as a part of the big picture, be a part of something greater than the work at the moment. 

What is playing in the background? Michael Buble Christmas music on YouTube, in 8 days, I will be ready to change the channel for 11.5 months. 

Travel Tuesday: The Folger Shakespeare Library

Located behind the main building of the Library of Congress, is the Folger Shakespeare Library. In a nutshell, the Folger's were wealthy collectors, who started the collection and museum. It is independent, ie: not a part of the Smithsonian. I had never been there until a couple of weeks ago. Admission is free, a voluntary donation of $15 is encouraged. The reading room, is open for non-researchers on weekends,  I will be going back to see that.  

One of the worlds largest collections of the original bound folios of the works of William Shakespeare 

A delightful Elizabethan Theater 

The restaurant and coffee shop, they now serve afternoon tea. 

 

Monday Mood: What made me smile last week

What is going on here, a fisheye specialty lens bending reality at Mt Vernon.

It is a good life, I have lived well, and hope to live until I don't. 

Something I read: A young child asked two bricklayers what they were doing. The first one responded, "what a silly question, I am laying bricks." The second one answered, "I am building a magnificent cathedral that will inspire people for ages."  Be like the second mason.  

I was exercising in the deep end of the pool one afternoon. I could see down the long hallway of the art gallery space.  Twice in the 35 minutes I was in the water (I time myself) people walking down the corridor, suddenly stopped, turned and examined one of the works of art hanging on the wall.  I struggle with how to describe it, but that is why we create art, that is why we curate or organize shows, that is why we do this. The show is huge, 52 works by 22 artists, putting it together was a lot of work, but if it touches people who are passing by, it is worth it. Building something bigger than the bricks. 

A friend posted on social media this week, that she is in a new relationship with someone very special. It made me smile that she has found love and happiness. When you know, you know. Something bigger than the bricks. 

The Sunday Five: Holiday Plans

1: Are you planning anything special for the end of the year holidays? 

2: Are you traveling anyplace for the end of the year holidays? 

3: Is your gift shopping finished? 

4: Who will be cooking for your end of the year holidays? 

5: Have you thought about your goals for 2026? 

My answers: 

1: Are you planning anything special for the end of the year holidays? Quiet time with my sweet bear, here in our comfy nest. 

2: Are you traveling anyplace for the end of the year holidays? Thankfully, no. For years, family obligations turned the holidays into travel days. It is relaxing to stay home.  If my siblings want to join us for the holidays, I will be glad to cook.  US Highway 1 runs in both directions, from near my brother's front door, and our front gate. 

3: Is your gift shopping finished? By the time this posts, Yes. 

4: Who will be cooking for your end of the year holidays? I will. The plan is roast beef and Yorkshires for Christmas, and probably ham for New Year's. 

5: Have you thought about your goals for 2026? I have a couple of ideas floating around, it is time for me to start putting things on the screen. Near the end of the year, my results from 2025 and goals for 2026 will be a post. 

Please share your answers in the comments. 

The Saturday Morning Post - 50 States in 52 Weeks - Wyoming

Wyoming is one of the very large, almost rectangular states, north of Colorado and Utah, touching on the southern border of Idaho, with Montana above it. 

In August of 2023, I drove north from Denver to Cheyenne, spent the night and drove west nearly all the way across the state, turning north to go to Idaho and complete my pilgrimage to visit all 50 states. In an ideal world Wyoming would have been the last state for me to visit, because alphabetically it is the last state, but the routing just didn't work out. Wyoming was an add on to a work trip, meetings in Denver that I needed to attend. 

The Interstate Highway runs east to west in a nearly straight line, with a gentle roll in the landscape for well over 200 miles.  Going west I got off the main roads and drove the back roads to the south, through more mountains, climbing to over 10,000 feet in elevation.  It was spectacular. 

In a very desolate way, this is a very pretty part of the world. 

Glad I have been there, though I would be happy to return, I very much doubt that I will ever return. 

And that is 50 states, but there are 52 weeks, onto a territory and district to round out the year.