On New Years Day we headed to the Capitol Museum...which was closed.  Then, we headed to the National Gallery of Art...which was closed.  Almost freezing to death, we RAN to the Botanical Gardens, which was OPEN!  So, who here didn’t realize the National Gallery of Art was NOT part of the Smithsonian?  Anyone?  Hallo?  Well, I didn’t.  So, we had a great time, but it wasn’t exactly as we had planned.  Yet, sometimes, those turn out to be the best times of all!! 

Finding out that all the restaurants were closed, we headed to the Native American museum for lunch.  Outside, we found some mallard ducks.  Oddly, it was the same configuration of ducks we released...three males, one female.  Audrey will tell you that when she called them—”DUCK DUCKS!” they came running and one cocked his head at her.  She said it was “Malena’s duck”.  The funny part was they came right up to us, and I grabbed one by its neck (Malena’s) and was holding it...behind us I heard a man exclaim “You can just pick those things up?”  LOL!  Well, not everyone—I am a professional duck whisperer you see.  Inside the Air and Space was next, where we were curious to see that Pluto had been removed from many of the planetary displays...but not all!  Poor Pluto

Most of these photos were taken by up and coming photographer Liza.  As for that boy running in short sleeves—well he is from MN, obviously.