National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic minor basilica and national shrine located in Washington, D.C., United States of America.

The shrine is the largest Catholic church in the United States and in North America[1], and the tallest habitable building in Washington, D.C. Its construction of Neo-Byzantine architecture began in 1920 with renowned contractor John McShain while the Trinity Dome mosaic marked its completion on December 8, 2017.

The basilica is the national and patronal Catholic Church of the United States, honoring the Immaculate Conception as Patroness, accorded by Pope Pius IX in 1847. Pope Pius XI donated a mosaic rendition of the image in 1923. The shrine has merited several Papal visits namely the following:

• Pope John Paul II raised the National Shrine to the status of Minor Basilica on 12 October 1990.
• Pope Benedict XVI bestowed a Golden Rose on 16 April 2008.
• Pope Francis who canonized Saint Junípero Serra, O.F.M. on 23 September 2015.

Source: Wikipedia

I took this photo during a trip with my family to Washington DC in late December 2018.

New York City Hall

New York City Hall, the seat of New York City government, is located at the center of City Hall Park in the Civic Center area of Lower Manhattan, between Broadway, Park Row, and Chambers Street. The building is the oldest city hall in the United States that still houses its original governmental functions, such as the office of the Mayor of New York City and the chambers of the New York City Council. While the Mayor's Office is in the building, the staff of thirteen municipal agencies under mayoral control are located in the nearby Manhattan Municipal Building, one of the largest government buildings in the world.

Constructed from 1803 to 1812, New York City Hall is a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Both its exterior (1966) and interior (1976) are designated New York City landmarks.

Source: Wikipedia

I took this photo during my December 2017 trip to New York.

First Snow of 2019

This is not only the first snow of 2019 but also, the first for my family who just moved to the states late summer of 2018. 

First Snow - Winter 2017

Then the first snow came, she went out to brush the snow away...

- Bobby Goldsboro, Honey.

Nice Fall View

I took this photo, one morning while on my way to work.

Fall 2017

While we enjoy the beautiful colors of Fall and all the summer memories we recall, it's inevitable that these things won't last, at least until the next season. Seasons come and go. So does the old things. We need to let go of the past. To give way to a new, and hopefully better future. This is the view that I wake up to, during fall. Winter is coming and hopefully, I'll capture a winter version of this view. Stay tuned.

Alone

You may feel alone

So many things on your own

So, why not, come home?

Late bloomer?

Took this photo on the week before the Sakura Festival 2017. The irregular weather pattern took toll on the blooming of delicate sakura flowers.

Squirrel at Lafayette Park

A photo of a gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis pennsylvanicus) I took today at Lafayette Square. Gray squirrels are typically 12 - 21 inches long and weigh 1 - 1.5 lbs. Body color ranges form grayiish to yellow brown with light underbelly, hind legs and chin. They usually have 1 to 2 litters a year and 2 - 4 young per litter. They are usually active from dawn up to late afternoon.

 

Squirrels do not hibernate but become less active during cold seasons using leaf nests and tree cavities for protection. We have one nest on a tree near the porch :-)

They dig shallow holes to store nuts and other foods for winter. They are primarily herbivores, with a diet that can include nuts, seeds, insects eggs, fruits and baby birds.

They are typically docile animals and mind their own business, but can become aggressive when protecting their young.

Mr. Bunny Rabbit

Hello! Mr. Bunny Rabbit, will you have some tea?

No, no! Thank you, not for me.

I like to eat carrots

I don't like tea!

Here's a photo of a rabbit running around near the house, wary of the sometimes presence of a fox (who's quite loud when gets frustrated when unable to catch a rabbit).

The Things You Are To Me

If I held in my hand, every grain of sand
Since time first began to be
Still I could never count, measure the amount
Of all the things you are to me

If I could paint the sky, hang it out to dry
I would want the sky to be
Oh, such a grand design, an everlasting sign
Of all the things you are to me

You are the sun, that comes on summer winds
You are the falling year, that autumn brings
You are the wonder and the mystery
In everything I see, The things you are to me

Sometimes I wake at night, and suddenly take fright
You might be just fantasy
But then you reach for me, and once again I see
All the things you are to me

You are the sun, That comes on summer winds
You are the falling year, that autumn brings
You are the wonder and the mystery
In everything I see, the things you are to me

All the things you are… to me

The song just came to mind while looking at this picture. I took this some time ago during our visit at Skyline Drive in Virginia.

Beautiful morning at Brightwood Neighborhood

During my early morning walk at this historic place in Northwest quadrant of Washington DC.

Few Days Before Spring 2015

Few days before spring of 2015, I took this picture. This is near the old location of Washington Post at 15th St. Somehow this picture I took invokes a feeling of emptiness.