QM's Blog

Orlando

2012-02-05T18:05:00.000-05:00

Tom and I had a great time in Orlando. Enjoy the photos!

St*ff Groundhogs Say

2012-01-27T19:40:00.001-05:00

Here's my latest NWF blog post about groundhogs. In other news, Tom and I are flying to Florida on Sunday for our Harry Potter World vacation!

Let me in!

2012-01-22T19:51:00.005-05:00

Sweet Pea's former housemate, Trouble, went to great lengths to visit her yesterday. She didn't come around today so we're hoping that her owners kept her inside. Sweet Pea went outside but not for very long as it was very icy. We might have to get her little kitty skates!

Meet Winkelhimer

2012-01-18T21:42:00.004-05:00

I've been posting a bunch of odd animal videos for NWF. The latest is a painting squirrel whose abstract art is auctioned off for charity.

It's time to play the music. It's time to light the lights.

2012-01-08T17:40:00.004-05:00

I went to see the new Muppets Movie today (yay!) I also bought my first pair of reading glasses (boo!) Yesterday, we took advantage of the 65 degree weather by going for a lovely walk in the woods. I also made banana-flavored monkey bread. Yum!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T20:38:00.003-05:00

For New Year's Eve, Tom and I had a lovely dinner at Il Fornaio, an authentic Italian restaurant. (Nom, nom, nom.) Then, we came home and watched the comedy, Bridesmaids, while eating chocolate covered strawberries. And, because we're lame, we went to bed before midnight.

Anne's Loot

2011-12-22T21:25:00.002-05:00

I received an adorable kitty tea pot and tea from Teavana, kitty necklace, streaming player, Nike SportWatch GPS, heating pad and monkey shirt.

Tom's Loot

2011-12-22T21:18:00.001-05:00

Tom received a photo book of our trip to Hawaii, drinking glasses with funny cats, cold cups and fake ice cubes, the last Harry Potter movie and a Kindle Fire.

Cape May Photos

2011-12-19T07:00:00.001-05:00

Cape May

Click on the photo to see more!

Christmas time is here...

2011-12-18T19:16:00.008-05:00

I attended several parties this week including a lovely luncheon at my boss' house. In related news, Tom won a $100 gift card at his office party!

Yesterday, we saw the latest Sherlock Holmes movie which was pretty good although I prefer the first one. We also went to one of those drive-through holiday light displays (see video) which was crowded but well done. Today, I made two batches of Christmas cookies: holiday fruit drops and bonbon cookies. And, to wrap up the weekend, I'm watching "It's a Wonderful Life".

Light Blizzard

2011-12-18T08:05:00.002-05:00

Click on the photo to watch the short video (sound included).

Kitty gave me a present

2011-12-16T08:11:00.004-05:00

Tom installed a pet door on the first floor so Sweet Pea can come and go as she pleases. So, yesterday morning, I was getting ready for work and the kitty came into the bedroom with something in her mouth. I was hoping that it was a cat toy but quickly realized that it wasn't. No, it was a live bird! As I walked toward her, she dropped the bird in front of me like she was giving me a present. (Granted, I do like juncos but I strongly prefer them when they're not at the brink of death.) The bird fluttered desperately around the bedroom floor spreading white and black feathers all over the place. And, of course, kitty kept playing with her victim until it had passed into birdie heaven.

Needless to say, I was mortified as this was all unfolding. I scooped up the bird and brought it outside and then vacuumed up the sea of feathers. Here is the sheriff's report of the incident:

LCSO Investigates Felony Bird Killing in Sterling; Seeks Gray Feline with Alias of "Sweet Pea"

Loudoun County, VA: Loudoun Sheriff’s Investigators have released additional information regarding the slaying of a bird overwintering in the area in an attack that occurred the morning of December 15, 2011. Evidence collected at the scene determined the suspected feline to be gray. Initial neighborhood canvassing produced information that a local miscreant known as "Sweet Pea" may be involved in the incident.

If you have any information regarding this incident or the suspect, you are asked to contact DFC J.M. McClintic of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office at 703-771-5798. If the caller wishes to remain anonymous they are asked to call Loudoun Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919. If the information leads to an arrest and indictment, the caller could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1000 or the equivalent in Pet Smart gift cards.

TV Top Display

2011-12-11T20:32:00.001-05:00

I'm mostly finished with Christmas shopping and present wrapping. I have a little bit more baking to do though.

Cape May Lighthouse

2011-12-07T22:14:00.002-05:00

Took this photo with my iphone, believe it or not.

Turn around bright eyes

2011-12-04T22:03:00.001-05:00

Sweet Pea apparently acquired the ability to glow-in-the-dark in our two-night absence. I'll post more photos of our trip after I sort through them all.

Carriage Ride

2011-12-02T19:26:00.001-05:00

After eating lunch at Mad Batters, checking into our lovely B&B and napping, we went on a festive carriage ride through historic Cape May.

B&B in Cape May

2011-12-02T14:59:00.001-05:00

Tom and I are in Cape May, NJ for a Victorian Christmas weekend. This is our B&B, The Queen Victoria. I can't wait to see it lit up at night!

My latest NWF blog

2011-11-26T18:09:00.003-05:00

5 Gifts Birds are “Tweeting” about this Holiday Season

Thank-a-thon

2011-11-21T17:10:00.006-05:00

I spearheaded NWF's first ever "Thank-a-thon" through which over 100 employees and board members have volunteered to call donors and simply thank them for their support. Click here to read a blog about it. I did my calls last week and most people were stunned that I wasn't asking for money!

My blog smells yummy

2011-11-20T18:11:00.004-05:00

I gave a big presentation this week that went well. So, that's a load off my mind. Spent the weekend Christmas shopping and baking. Made a nice brunch today consisting of spinach quiche and buttermilk biscuits (from scratch). Also, made some oatmeal scotchies for my co-workers.

Peak

2011-11-13T17:24:00.002-05:00

The fall colors peaked this past week in our area. And, now the leaves are falling at a pretty good clip. Tom and I went for a two mile hike at Balls Bluff yesterday to take advantage of the sunny weather. I was very busy the rest of the weekend catching up on chores, errands and getting ready for the holidays. Tom was nice enough to make pancakes for breakfast (he was even planning to bring them to me in bed!) and pump up my car tires. He's a keeper!

I'm quoted on Yahoo News

2011-11-11T10:09:00.002-05:00

"Choose Your Cause" is a five-month project I've been leading at work. The site launched this week. Here's the story on Yahoo! News.

Thanksgiving on the brain

2011-11-06T16:39:00.007-05:00

I'm starting to plan the Thanksgiving dinner. After being a pescetarian for 1 1/2 years, I've learned that I can live without turkey. But, I must have stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T20:10:00.001-04:00

Getting a lot of mileage out of this dress today.

Tom and Me at the Anderson Show

2011-10-31T15:00:00.003-04:00

They took this photo before the taping began. The show airs today.

I won!

2011-10-31T14:06:00.004-04:00

I won top prize in the "NWF Mission" category in this year's costume contest. I dressed up as the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline. I got cheered AND booed. I received a trophy and a Magellan Explorist GPS for all of my geocaching needs.

Sad Kitty

2011-10-29T14:28:00.003-04:00

Snow, snow, go away.

Come again another day.
Little kitty wants to play.

Fall in a bowl

2011-10-23T14:54:00.006-04:00

In case you haven't noticed, I love to bake in the fall! Today, I made some yummy apple crisp II, substituting 3/4 of the sugar for Splenda and using light butter. I also used three types of apples for a more complex flavor. I love that my house now smells like apples and cinnamon!

Earlier in the week, I made a pumpkin pie from a Paula Dean recipe. It was good but I prefer the Libby's recipe which tastes more pumpkiny.

Me and Ranger Rick

2011-10-22T17:00:00.001-04:00

This morning, I volunteered at the registration station for NWF's 2nd Annual Hike & Seek. It was a tad chilly outside but we still had a tremendous turnout - more than twice the number of participants as last year. Oh, and the monkey hat I wore was a big hit!

Big Trip to the Big Apple

2011-10-21T08:39:00.005-04:00

Tom and I just got back from a whirlwind trip to NYC to see the taping of Anderson Cooper's Halloween-themed show. They originally lead us right to the front row and then later moved us to the second row. Even so, we were only a few feet away from the stage, which looked smaller in person than on TV.

AC started the show by walking down through the audience toward the stage dressed as Phil Donahue. Then, the ACTUAL Phil Donahue joined him and they bantered for a bit only a few feet from where we were sitting. The rest of the show was mostly about the paranormal.

In the audience, there were a couple of folks who work at Sesame Street dressed like Oscar the Grouch and The Count. AC mentioned that he had visited Sesame Street so, of course, I had to dig up the video.

In general, the trip went smoothly except *someone* left his costume at home and went on an early morning mad dash through NYC to find one. He didn't. Fortunately, the studio had extra costume accessories on hand so Tom ended up wearing a gorilla mask for the show.

Also, the cab ride home from Union Station was dreadful due to an accident and a truly clueless cabbie. He had to stop and ask another cabbie for directions and Tom said his engine light was on the whole time (good thing I couldn't see that from where I was sitting!) We actually ended up switching cabs midway during the trip. But, we did make it home safe and sound with our show goodies: three bags each of Hershey's chocolate and a book of pumpkin carvings.

Overall, it was an amazing experience for me. And, even Tom admitted that the whole trip was better than he had expected. The show will air on Halloween but we're pretty sure we didn't make it on camera. But, maybe you'll hear me laughing. :)

Keeping them honest...and in costume

2011-10-16T13:20:00.007-04:00

Tom and I are traveling this week to New York City for a taping of the new daytime Anderson Cooper show. We received the following (abridged) email.

Dear Anderson Audience Member,

We look forward to welcoming you to our show on October 20 at 9:00 AM.
This is a special taping, as it will be our very first Halloween show!

Due to our Halloween theme for this specific taping, we are requiring
all audience members to dress in your Halloween best! There will be some
prizes awarded for the best costumes.

Thank you for your participation. We look forward to seeing your
costumes this coming Thursday!

Best,
Anderson Audience Department

Needless to say, we went costume shopping today. Look for an adult Harry Potter and a
classic witch when the show airs on October 31st!

Sweet Pea and Howie???

2011-10-14T13:55:00.001-04:00

(Insert clever caption here)

Cheesy

2011-10-09T19:26:00.002-04:00

Thanks to a Groupon, I started doing bikram yoga again today after 2 1/2 years. The room is still as ridiculously hot as I remember, but I found the poses easier than before. That's probably because I've taken a few hatha yoga classes since then.

After a quick nap, I made mac n cheese from Cooking Light for dinner. I was a little skeptical about using butternut squash but it totally works! I didn't have bread crumbs so I used crackers instead.

In other news, Tom has new glasses. Stay tuned for photos!

Sky's the limit!

2011-10-08T14:03:00.002-04:00

My 3-day weekend started with a glorious hike at Sky Meadows State Park. The weather was sunny and around 70F, perfect hiking weather. The trail was moderate to difficult so we got a solid workout even though we only hiked 3 to 3 1/2 miles in total.

Afterwards, we had lunch in the small, fancy-pants town of Middleburg, the "Nation's Horse and Hunt Capital" according to their website.

Sick Kitty

2011-10-07T07:33:00.005-04:00

On Monday, we took Sweat Pea to the vet because she wasn't feeling well. After over two hours of tests, they determined she had a bacterial infection. They sent us home with some meds which we hid in Greenies pill pockets. These were working fine until today. I think she's on to our subterfuge! Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the infection has completely gone away as evidenced by a liquidy surprise she left for us this morning. On the bright side, she is less lethargic than she was last weekend. Today she's taking it easy while helping me work from home on some non-profit "strategery".

Oh when the ants...come marching in

2011-09-30T17:00:00.004-04:00

Sweet Pea and I teleworked today. This involved meeting a friend for lunch at Whole Foods and welcoming the pest control guy this afternoon. Apparently, the recent heavy rains have brought the ants out in full force. They managed to reach the third floor. Those are some tough ants! The guy put down some traps and sprayed outside. Hope it works!

2011-09-25T17:29:00.006-04:00

I spent most of the week in Shepherdstown, WV for a Senior Staff Retreat. I took Friday off as I'm bumping up against my vacation limit (use it or lose it!) It was nice to get out of the office for an entire week.

Unfortunately, the rainy weather has severely limited my outdoor fun this weekend. Today, Tom and I went to see MoneyBall which I felt was better than the book. We also watched Ghost Writer via Netflix which was very good as well.

An apple a day...

2011-09-17T16:50:00.005-04:00

Tom and I drove north to the Frederick, MD area this morning to visit a new ciderworks. In addition to making regular and hard cider, they also carry a variety of apples you won't find at a grocery store or even a farmers market. We took home a peck that included Gravenstein (used in the pie I baked -- pictured above), Jeffries (lunch box eating) and "Summer Rambo" (pies, applesauce).

Since we were the only customers at first, we got an interesting tour of the operation and saw our cider being made. Fresh cider has a milder taste. Tom said he preferred it over aged cider. It is quite tasty. We took home a gallon.

While in the area, we went for a hike at Gambrill State Park where they have an honor system for payment. We also had lunch in downtown Frederick at The Orchard thanks to high marks on Yelp and consistent with today's apple theme. Very vegetarian friendly and yummy.

After lunch, we walked down to Zoe's, a chocolatier. We've already eaten most of the chocolate so I didn't bother posting a photo. As it turns out, Zoes was selected to be the official chocolatier at this year's Emmy's. The salted caramel chocolates were my favorite.

What a fun day!

I can see clearly now...the rain is gone

2011-09-11T16:19:00.001-04:00

After breakfast at Eggspectations, Tom and I went to Eleanor C. Lawrence Park (pictured above) for an easy hike. Unfortunately, the path had severe flood damage so we had to cut our walk short.

Afterwards, we went over to the Capital Cat Show. It was cool to see all of the fancy cats that were competing, some of which were ginormous. But, it was also sad to see all the cats and kitties needing adoption.

Just down the street

2011-09-08T19:20:00.007-04:00

This is the park and ride lot located 1/3 of a mile from NWF. I got home fine by taking major thoroughfares but others weren't so lucky. There are road closings, including part of the beltway, as well as flash flood warnings across the region. What a mess!

Rain, rain, go away...

2011-09-06T17:00:00.005-04:00

I'm just wrapping up a 5-day weekend. Unfortunately, the weather has been pretty dreary so we didn't get to spend much time outside.

As a reward for losing 3 pounds on my "Anne-kins" diet, I went clothes shopping at TJ Maxx. I guess that makes me a "Maxxinista".

Although we are incredibly spoiled by the number of restaurants in our area, I'm on a mission to expand our culinary horizons. To this end, we tried Paris Prestige, a new French restaurant in Ashburn that I found on Yelp. It was delicious!

Speaking of food, I made pumpkin ice cream that turned out well but wasn't quite as good as Ben & Jerry's pumpkin cheesecake ice cream which is always hard to find. I also made low-fat zucchini muffins which were surprisingly tasty.

I saw some decent movies including "The Debt" (Theater), "The Boys are Back" (DVD) and "Forks Over Knives" (Netflix via Wii). The latter is essentially a long commercial for veganism but it was still quite interesting.

Lastly, I booked our winter vacation. Yay! We're going to spend five fabulous nights in Orlando, FL, so we can visit the relatively new Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Since we are staying at a Universal hotel, we get early entrance to the park as well as express lane treatment at the rides. Can't wait!

Team Kayaking

2011-09-01T14:19:00.001-04:00

We lucked out with the weather for our fun day. Sunny and pleasant. Many great blue herons were spotted. A good time was had by all!

Avoiding Irene's Wrath

2011-08-26T16:25:00.003-04:00

As it stands right now, it looks like we are going to avoid the worst of Hurricane Irene. We live just west of the main storm path so we'll get rain and wind but nothing too destructive. Folks who live east of I-95 might not be so lucky. Stay safe everyone!

MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE!

2011-08-23T15:21:00.004-04:00

As you can see, we had a massive earthquake here in Virginia today. Unlike my colleagues, I worked right through it wondering why somebody was rocking my desk chair. At one point, I looked up and noticed that the trees behind my building were shaking quite violently. And, then it dawned on me that we were having an earthquake. Pretty cool...

Our building was temporarily evacuated as were many buildings in the DC area plus parks and monuments. The tip of a spire fell off the National Cathedral. So far, no life-threatening injuries have been reported.

Not so funny, meow, is it?

2011-08-21T18:34:00.006-04:00

Today, I finished my 15th Preston-Child book, Cold Vengeance. It wasn't my favorite Pendergast novel but it was an enjoyable read. I thought it was better than the last book I read which was James Rollins' The Devil's Colony. I also got a lovely pedicure thanks to a gift card Tom had given me earlier this year.

In other news, there was a half-eaten cherry pie on our backstairs yesterday. We suspect it was thrown from our neighbor's balcony after some late-night drinking. I guess that's better than the animal poop that often adorns our deck.

Also yesterday, J. Kitty Bling Bling took down a finch and then decided to bring it over to our neighbor's house (perhaps in response to the pie-throwing incident). She played with it for awhile and then left it on their welcome mat once she was sure it was dead. Poor birdie...

Oh yeah, and I got pulled over by an unmarked police car for driving 39 in a 25 mph zone. The speed limit seemed really low for the type of road but what can you do? Unfortunately, the officer wasn't dared to use the word "meow" like the guy in Supertroopers.

Ms. Senft Goes to Washington

2011-08-13T19:15:00.003-04:00

I went to an invitation-only executive summit this week at the luxurious Hay-Adams in DC. The sponsoring vendor comped everything including a 2-night stay at the hotel which saved me what would have been a terrible commute each day.

The top photo is the view from the "Top of the Hay" where most of the summit took place. During one of our breaks, I walked through the park to the White House to get the second photo. The third photo is a poken device that everyone wore to exchange their contact information. You had to "high-five" the other person's animal for it to work.

The presentations and break-out sessions were quite helpful as were the networking opportunities. I met executivies from a variety of charities including CARE, American Diabetes and Boy Scouts of America. We were also treated to a lovely dinner cruise on the Potomac which included live entertainment.

All-in-all, it was one of the best summits I've attended in years!

My latest blog

2011-08-08T21:35:00.001-04:00

Let Nature Calm Your Economic Fears

Congratulations Tom!

2011-08-07T15:52:00.005-04:00

Tom finished his 2-year landscape design program this week. I took him out to dinner to celebrate. Last night, we went to a graduation party for one of his classmates, Karyn, where I met some nice people.

Seattle Slideshow

2011-07-31T18:21:00.002-04:00

Click on Amanda to see more photos from my recent trip to Seattle.

Purrrrrfect Bill of Health

2011-07-31T17:15:00.002-04:00

We've been extra focused on Sweet Pea this weekend. First, we FINALLY found a cat toy that she actively uses: The Frolicat Bolt, an interactive laser toy. It's fun to watch her chase the laser beam all over the room and it's good exercise for her.

We also took her to the vet for her last shot (Leukemia) and check-up. She went more willingly this time but didn't stop meowing. She's gaining weight which is good because she was pretty skinny when we got her. She received an excellent bill of health.

Most importantly, we gave Sweat Pea a nickname: J. Kitty "Bling Bling" (she jingles due to her rabies and ID tags). We figured this name was necessary if she was going to survive the mean streets of Sterling, VA.

Green Morning

2011-07-24T18:11:00.002-04:00

2011-07-24T18:01:00.002-04:00

Went to a yummy vegetarian restaurant in the city for brunch. This was followed by a mud-licious walk through the arboretum.

Tonight, I fly to Denver for business then back home Monday night. Sad to leave Seattle so soon as I had such a lovely visit!

Leavenworth

2011-07-23T23:56:00.000-04:00

2011-07-23T20:33:00.002-04:00

Today, Adam and Amanda took me to Leavenworth, WA, a Bavarian-themed town. We started our adventure at Munchen Haus, a grill and beer garden. I tried the vegetarian wurst which was actually quite tasty, especially with the sweet relish and honey mustard.

After lunch, we did a goodly amount of sampling including cheese, wine, chocolate and apple strudel. Amanda and Adam also tried some cured meats. We all brought treats home to enjoy. What a great day!

Rattlesnake Ledge

2011-07-22T21:01:00.001-04:00

Today, Amanda and I did an awesome 4-mile hike. At Rattlesnake Ledge, there were some tiny critters scurrying around like this not-so-shy squirrel.

Healthy Weekend

2011-07-17T17:35:00.004-04:00

To get out of my spinach rut, I bought kale this week. I made a kale smoothie which wasn't half-bad (needed more blending). And, through a Facebook friend, I found out that you can make kale chips. While certainly not the same as potato chips, they were pretty decent (watch the salt - it concentrates during baking). I also made a blueberry crisp with pecans mixed in which was a nice change of pace.

Yesterday, we went to see the last Harry Potter movie which was awesome. We also tried a cool new restaurant, Seasons52, where all the entrees are less than 475 calories. I had yummy fish tacos!

I only have to work three days this week and then I'm off to Seattle where I'll probably need to wear pants. :)

Mario and Toonces

2011-07-10T16:33:00.004-04:00

Friday night, we went to Wolf Trap to see PLAY! A Video Game Symphony amidst a young, lively crowd. It was my birthday gift to Tom. Although I hadn't played any of the games featured, it was cool to see how the animation has improved over the years.

We also took Sweet Pea to the vet this morning for a more thorough check-up and additional shots. I met Tom at Petsmart as I was coming from the gym and farmers market (awesome peaches!) As I saw his car pull up, I couldn't help but think of Toonces from SNL. During the last leg of the trip, she had escaped her carrier and was leaning against the dashboard. We had a heck of a time getting her back in the carrier and once we did, she didn't stop meowing. But, the good news is that she's super healthy!

Solid numbers

2011-07-07T17:25:00.004-04:00

Yes, it's the time of year you've all been waiting for! Time for the riveting report of my annual bloodwork!!! Woo-hoo!

Overall cholesterol: 129 (137 in 2010, 152 in 2009)
HDL: 56 (50 in 2010, 55 in 2009)
LDL: 59 (71 in 2010, 78 in 2009)
Triglycerides: 69 (82 in 2010, 93 in 2009)
Sugar - Consistently at 83
Thyroid, hemoglobin - Both normal

And, the best news of all is that my vitamin D level (a sign of bone health) is a solid 51! Last year, it was below normal. Thank goodness for supplements.

Not to be hard on myself, but I wouldn't mind seeing my HDL a little higher. But, given that the other numbers are solid, I guess I should cut myself some slack.

A "Smurphy" Bench

2011-06-26T18:43:00.001-04:00

Before

After

It took me nearly 4 hours, but I cleaned, sanded and painted our Adirondack bench today. I've never used an electric sander before and found it a little difficult to control at first. But, I eventually got the hang of it. Now, I hope it doesn't rain tonight!

In other news, we bought a Charbroil Infrared Grill at Lowes this morning. I picked up corn and kabobs at the farmers market so we could try it out. Food cooks fast and even!

I'm under kitty's spell

2011-06-26T18:24:00.000-04:00

Apparently, Sweet Pea is a cat wizard (look at those eyes!) She somehow convinced me to let her sleep on the bed.

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T18:40:00.012-04:00

Spent a 3-day weekend at my Dad's house. My brother, George, arrived shortly after I did on Friday as my flight was delayed twice.

Friday night, we saw "Anything Goes" at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse. I thought it was decent. On Saturday, our aunt joined us for BBQ (bison burgers, homemade potato salad, fresh strawberries with ice cream) and a viewing of the "True Grit" remake. I had seen it previously and liked it.

Today, we went to the Sherwood Inn in Skaneateles after church. Food was good but the service was slow. Following lunch, we took advantage of the sunny weather by walking on the lake pier. A couple of hours later, Dad treated us to ice cream at Tom Thumb's.

Not surprisingly, my flight back to VA was delayed. I didn't get home until around midnight.

Oh Sweet Pea

2011-06-12T18:22:00.003-04:00

"Oh Sweet Pea, come on and dance with me..." (watch video of song)

We officially adopted a stray cat today after she received a clean bill of health from the vet. She also got some vaccinations and a microchip. For a stray, she was very well behaved and popular with the staff. She weighed about 8 pounds and they estimated that she's probably between 2 and 3 years old.

So far, she seems to gravitate toward the sunroom where she can watch the birds at the feeder . She's also very interested in getting into the master bedroom which is off-limits (I don't want her fur all over the bed.) Unfortunately, she hasn't gotten the hang of the scratching pad yet but hopefully that will come with time. She's eating well but we're being careful not to overfeed her.

In other news, we went to a wedding yesterday at Landsdowne Resort. One of the interns at Tom's office got married. It was nice but I knew no one so I didn't mind making an early exit.

I'm reading your mind

2011-06-05T20:48:00.002-04:00

We saw X-Men, First Class this weekend which was better than recent X-Men movies. Yesterday, I went for a short hike (3 1/2 miles) on National Trails Day. I also got my hair done. Tom played in an online Magic tournament.

Today, I slashed my finger making rhubarb crisp. Good times. We also planted some tomatoes and peppers in the EarthBox. Let's hope they survive.

Sanibel

2011-06-05T20:05:00.005-04:00

Sanibel

We had a lovely time in laid-back Sanibel, Florida. The weather cooperated quite nicely so we were able to spend a goodly amount of time outside:

Enjoyed a couple of tours of the wildlife refuge - by tram and by pontoon boat. Saw lots of birds, an alligator and one manatee.

Spent a morning exploring the island via the paved bike trails.

Tried stand-up paddling which was easier than I expected.

Swam in the hotel pool and Gulf. The water was nice and warm.

Gathered more shells than I know what to do with!

QM Tip: Natural Glow

2011-05-25T21:56:00.003-04:00

Friday is "Don't Fry Day", a day set aside to remind people to protect their skin while enjoying the great outdoors.

Remember to Slip! Slop! Slap!...and Wrap when you’re outdoors — slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, slap on a hat, and wrap on sunglasses.

And, now for the much anticipated QM Tip: Try Jergens Natural Glow! I wear it every day and it does give my skin a very faint natural-looking tint (until exfoliation). We'll see how it holds up in tomorrow's trip to Florida!

It's Greek to Me

2011-05-22T15:27:00.004-04:00

You can blame the title of this post on Tom. We went to a small Greek festival yesterday. The food was decent, especially the desserts (baklava and galaktoboureko). They had giant inflatables for the kids, including ginormous slides and a velcro wall (watch video).

I also got a pedicure so my feet will be beach ready for our trip this Thursday to Sanibel Island, FL. I rounded out the beautiful day with a 10-mile bike ride and a viewing of Invictus.

Today, we went to see the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie (meh) and went to lunch at Cafe Deluxe.

I biked to work today

2011-05-20T13:58:00.003-04:00

Read about the benefits of biking to work in my latest NWF blog post.

The ride this morning was wonderful. Not too cold or hot. I may be facing some rain on the way home though. We'll see.

Connecting with nature

2011-05-15T18:21:00.004-04:00

Tom and I went kayaking on the Potomac yesterday. Although it was overcast all morning, we were very lucky that it didn't rain as predicted. But, that didn't stop us from getting soaked (I could have used some Huggies Swimmers!) Great upper-body workout, though, especially if you do it for four hours like we did.

Spring has sprung!

2011-05-08T20:18:00.003-04:00

Tom and I made a goodly amount of gardening progress this weekend. We bought and planted all of the annuals for the hanging baskets as well as the container garden on our deck. Plus, we cleared out a lot of debris from the backyard. Tom planted a few new perennials to fill in some of the gaps.

The fun-loving neighborhood cat hung out with us the whole time seemingly thrilled to have someone to play with for a change. At one point she stepped from the railing onto my head (I was wearing a hat) when I bent over to water some plants.

We also went to see THOR which didn't disappoint as the first summer blockbuster of the season. On DVD, we watched Tangled (visually stunning) and 127 Hours (gross).

Oh yeah, and I made some strawberry scones which are almost gone already.

Budget Presentation

2011-05-02T19:42:00.000-04:00

Today, we presented our FY12 budget to the CFO. We are dressed up like a queen's court. Jessie (seated) is our Budget Queen. From left to right, there's a knight, minstrel, lady in waiting, jester and wizrd. I made the hat myself.

Beans, beans, they're good for your heart...

2011-05-01T12:50:00.005-04:00

Made a light lunch of Tuscan Bean Soup after eating way too much yesterday. I think it's one of the tastier soups I've made. And, it was super easy.

I modified the recipe slightly, substituting one of the cans of cannellini beans with garbanzo beans, which I prefer. And, I didn't skimp on the Italian seasonings which I believe was a key reason for its overall yumminess. Oh, and I added a box of Wegmans golden jewel blend to give it some extra heartiness.

This afternoon, I made a rhubarb-strawberry crisp. Tom described it as "excellent"!

8-Year Anniversary

2011-04-19T08:11:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was our wedding anniversary. On Sunday, we had brunch at Patowmack Farms out in the country as we did last year. Fancy organic food served in a converted greenhouse. Tom gave me a generous spa gift card. I gave him....a card.

I've been cheating on this blog

2011-04-17T20:49:00.002-04:00

It's true! I've been seeing another blog. In fact, I've submitted two blog posts so far this month. The second one mentions my brother, George!

Pseudo Brush with Fame

2011-04-16T17:26:00.001-04:00

Here I am right before the NWF Conservation Awards on Wednesday. As promised, we saw Robert Redford as well as Chevy Chase who played the piano for his wife, an award recipient. The event was written up in the Washington Post. Tom and I had seen Robert Redford before at a movie premier but he was upstaged by Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.

The only brush with fame I got was the next day when Gloria Reuben of ER fame chatted with me briefly about the presentation I gave to the NWF board; she's a board member. The presentation was very well received.

Also this week, I attended NWF's annual meeting. Friday morning, I sat through speeches from muckety-mucks at the Department of the Interior, the EPA and the USDA. Now, I'm all fired up to save the world. But, first I need a snack.

Cat Wars

2011-04-10T19:36:00.006-04:00

These days, it's not uncommon for Tom and me to be awoken by angry cats. There are two neighborhood cats that frequent our deck -- or as they see it -- our "all-you-can-catch" bird buffet. Pictured is the smaller of the two gray cats. Since she runs to the door when you open it, we're pretty sure she either belongs to somebody or was recently abandoned. She seems healthy enough.

In other news, we went to Meadowlark Gardens today as it was partly sunny and in the mid 60's. I also did a bunch of work as this week will be crazy due to budget season and our annual meeting.

On Wednesday, Tom and I will be going to our Conservation Awards ("The Connies") where NWF will be recognizing Robert Redford. But, we aren't allowed to take photos of him so you'll have to take my word for it.

R&R

2011-04-02T20:18:00.003-04:00

After a stressful week at work, I went to the spa this morning for a European facial. Then I headed over to Nordstrom Rack to buy a sparkly necklace for an awards ceremony Tom and I are attending next week. The afternoon consisted of napping, reading and yoga.

In other news, we are playing host to an entire ant community in our kitchen.

Busy Week

2011-03-20T14:46:00.002-04:00

I gave a big presentation on Monday to my peers on NWF's executive committee. It went so well that the CEO asked me to present it to the Board of Directors next month.

The next three days were spent at part two of the Leadership program. I didn't find it as useful as the first session but it wasn't a waste of time. Plus, it was nice to hang out with many of my co-workers from across the country.

Yesterday, we went hiking at Ball's Bluff followed by a little outlet mall shopping and lunch at Clydes. Today, we're spending the day at home doing chores (ex. cleaning up the army of ants that have invaded our house) and just chilling out.

Mmmmmm....maduros

2011-03-13T17:18:00.002-04:00

Tom had to go into DC to set up for a convention today. On the way back, we stopped in Arlington to eat at Caribbean Breeze. They have an extensive ($$$) brunch and $1 mimosas. I got my money's worth by piling on the maduros. Plus, the grouper was to die for!

From one extreme to the other

2011-03-06T20:53:00.003-05:00

After spending a few quiet vacation days visiting my dad and brother, I was thrown into a maelstrom at work this past week. But, I won't bore you with the details. Suffice it to say, I survived and am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

In other news, I am attempting to break my mild sugar addiction with an "Anne-kins" diet. I don't cut carbs down to an uncomfortable level like Atkins. But, I have not eaten any sweets in a week!

Not a bad showing

2011-02-19T08:56:00.002-05:00

There are few things I fear more than public speaking. But, I had one of my better showings at the DMA Non-Profit Conference on Friday at the Capitol Hilton. I, along with two of my colleagues gave a presentation about the Gulf Oil Spill which was well received. Glad that's over!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T06:44:00.000-05:00

Tom will be making me squash and pear soup for dinner. And, I'm sure we'll be eating some of the sugar cookies I baked on Sunday.

Hoping for a quick recovery

2011-02-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

I'm sending "quick recovery" vibes to my sister today. Pictured are foodstuffs that she will not be able to eat right away after her surgery. But, she's well fortified with soups and teas.

Agricola

2011-02-06T20:04:00.005-05:00

This week, I spent three days at a seminar honing my mad leadership skills. It was more useful than I anticipated. I should be able to save twice as many animals now. :)

Also, this weekend, Tom and I played a board game called Agricola for the first time. I had to watch a 30-minute video just so I would have some clue as to how to play. Tom kicked my butt but it was still fun.

Today, we finally saw The King's Speech which was good as expected.

Thundersnow!

2011-01-26T22:39:00.009-05:00

A big sloppy snowstorm hit the DC area during rush hour today. The roads are a complete mess; hundreds of cars have been abandoned. It took me nearly five hours to get home!

Read more at www.washingtonpost.com

NWF's 75th Anniversary

2011-01-13T08:24:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, we had a little party for NWF's 75th anniversary. We had live animals! The cutest was the cougar cub who kept staring at herself on the monitor during the presentation. So adorable!

Senft Christmas

2010-12-31T22:02:00.002-05:00

Christmas 2010

Enjoy these unedited iPhone4 photos.

Pre-Christmas Celebration

2010-12-23T21:42:00.006-05:00

I had a lovely day off. While Tom went into the office this morning, I worked out at the gym. Then, we went to Clyde's for lunch (photo above) during which Tom surprised me with a very generous gift card to the Apple store. So, we drove to Reston to buy an iPhone 4. The lady who helped me said that she had never upgraded anyone from the "vintage" iphone (first generation released 3 1/2 years ago!) She asked if it had a camera. It did, but my NEW phone not only takes photos, it also takes video. Sweet!

Back home, Tom opened his presents: XBox Kinect, Kinect Sports, Dangerous Hunts 2011, Rubik's Cube Slide and a sherpa-lined hoodie. (See Tom "Kinecting" in the video below.) In addition to the new phone, Tom got me monkey-picked tea, tea pot and monkey earrings.

Tomorrow, we head to Auburn for Christmas with my family.

Guess what Tom got for Christmas?

2010-12-23T17:41:00.000-05:00

White House Tour

2010-12-12T20:37:00.001-05:00

White House

On Wednesday, Tom and I visited the White House for the lovely holiday tour. Many of the decorations were "repurposed" from last year according to the booklet we received.

The photos aren't great because I forgot to put a battery in the camera I brought. These were taken with my iphone.

Fruitcake Fiasco Averted

2010-12-12T19:59:00.007-05:00

Inspired by an episode of "Good Eats" called "It's a Wonderful Cake", I made fruitcake today. But, it isn't your traditional fruitcake pictured above. Mine features a variety of dried fruits including blueberries, cherries and cranberries. I omitted the ginger pieces and apricots based on reviewer comments and personal taste. I also cut back a little on the rum because, well, I only had so much on hand.

Everything was going along smoothly until I looked in the microwave and noticed that I had forgotten to mix in the melted butter! Fortunately, the cakes had only been in the oven about 5 minutes. So, I emptied all the batter back into the bowl with the butter before returning it to the various pans. Then, I kept my fingers crossed.

Well, except for a little difficulty in getting the cakes ouf of the pans, they all turned out well. Now, I'm supposed to spritz the loafs over the next couple of weeks to keep them moist. In theory, they're supposed to reach their optimal taste after two weeks. Only time will tell.

Puttin' on the Ritz

2010-12-05T16:11:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, Tom and I enjoyed Afternoon Tea at the Ritz Carlton in Tysons Corner. The above photo was taken in their fancy-pants lobby. The tea was yummy as were the Hobbit-sized food items. A piano player provided lovely Christmas music.

Today, we went on a fruitless search for Peppermint Bark ice cream. The rest of the weekend was spent making cookies and decorating.

On Wednesday, we're going to the White House for their holiday tour.

This is NOT a stock photo of cookies

2010-11-27T17:06:00.003-05:00

These are fresh-from-the oven cinnamon jumbles. According to my Betty Crocker cookie book, they were popular during the "gay nineties" (1890's). I halved the margarine and added a comparable amount of unsweetened applesauce. I also cut back a smidge on the sugar. Turned out well.

In other news, Christmas has exploded in my living room. I'm excited to put up the pre-lighted tree my dad gave us last year!

Baking Bonanza!

2010-11-21T16:30:00.003-05:00

Today, I went on a bit of a baking binge. I made cranberry muffins, cocoa fudge cookies and a chocolate-pumpkin cake. The latter -- pictured above -- is for my sister's birthday on Wednesday.

Yesterday, we went to see the new Harry Potter movie which was decent but not my favorite. Friday night, we watched the Jim Carrey version of "A Christmas Carol" which I didn't think was very good but Tom thought it was ok.

Another nice day off

2010-11-12T18:09:00.003-05:00

I took today off so I could enjoy a 4-day weekend. Spent the morning at Bubbles getting my hair done. Had lunch with Tom at Sweetwater Tavern (my favorite!) Did some more Christmas shopping in the afternoon and made an apple tart for dessert.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Nice Day Off

2010-11-11T17:50:00.003-05:00

Started my Christmas shopping this morning. After lunch, I did a short hike at Ball's Bluff Regional Park and then drove out to the country to get some apples (sorry Wegmans, your apples just aren't cutting it this year). Made whole wheat bread and hearty pumpkin soup for dinner.

Halloween

2010-11-01T12:29:00.004-04:00

For Halloween, I made pumpkin soup. And, inspired by my sister, I scrubbed the kitchen floor for the first time in years. Good times.

We had an average number of trick-or-treaters (around 25-30) but they started late. Only one kid showed up before 7:00 pm and we had two girls stop by just before 9:00 pm.

BTW - We didn't attend the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear but watched some of it on TV. I loved that Anderson Cooper's tight black T-shirt, a symbol of cable news fear-mongering, won a fear award. I also liked many of the signs including:

"My wife is a Muslim. She is not a terrorist. But, I'm still scared of her."

Some of my co-workers attended the rally and said they couldn't hear most of the show. And, as you might imagine, getting down to the mall created a lot of traffic and metro problems. So, I'm glad I stayed home.

A Very "Autumny" Day

2010-10-30T20:38:00.003-04:00

Baked an Oatmeal-Nut Crunch Apple Pie from Eating Well magazine. It turned out well but it wasn't super sweet.

Went for a lovely fall hike with Tom at Claude Moore Park.

Carved pumpkins (stay tuned for photos!) I roasted some of the seeds after seasoning them with salt and sugar. Yum!

I'm gleeful!

2010-10-28T20:04:00.003-04:00

I dressed up as Sue Sylvester from "Glee" for our Halloween party. I came in second in the costume contest. I lost to a dog dressed up like a sundae. I was robbed!

Catching up

2010-10-17T19:36:00.007-04:00

Yesterday, we took a nice sunny drive out to the country to buy some pumpkins and apples. I made chunky applesauce which was quite yummy, if I do say so myself. Today, I bought the key elements to my Halloween costume (stay tuned....)

Last week, I had a fun-filled 4-day weekend. The first day was spent hiking and outlet mall shopping (I needed sweaters for work.) Saturday through Monday, we stayed at The Williamsburg Inn for a mini-vacation. We enjoyed beautiful weather as we wandered through Colonial Williamsburg by day and did a guided ghost walk by night. But, I think the highlight of the trip was a horse-drawn carriage ride through town. I only wish it was longer!

Hungry for more...

2010-10-04T21:31:00.003-04:00

So, I finished "The Hunger Games" trilogy on the Kindle. Apparently, they're going to make a movie about these NY Times best sellers. I enjoyed reading the books but didn't like how the love triangle was resolved. But, that was a minor part of this young adult series.

At any rate, I now need something new to read. Tom recommended something Halloween themed. I had been thinking about trying "The Southern Vampire Mysteries" upon which True Blood is based. I've also never read Stephen King. Any suggestions?