This is what getting ready for a conference looks like, especially as I’m still working to put together appropriate academic “costumes” for myself.

The conference I attended just after New Year’s was back in DC, which meant plenty of time to see dear friends. And admire bike racks outside coffee shops.

No trip to DC is complete for me without Teaism. Its proximity to the museum I was working at last winter helped solidify it as the place for comfort food: really good chai, restorative spicy chicken noodle soup, amazing salty oat cookies. The polar vortex extended my DC trip, which mostly meant I ate more of all of the things at Teaism.

I’ve been borrowing this sweatshirt for more than a decade. How crazy/wonderful is that? (Just when I’m visiting and cold.)

A beautiful latte at the Tryst inside the Phillips Collection.

And my lovely workspace inside Champ and N.’s fantastic apartment.

The hat for P. wasn’t quite right (he tried it on in DC) so I ripped back and reknit it.

I think it turned out even prettier the second time around, and I’m hoping it fits perfectly. I’m in between knitting projects right now — I need to find something simple and soothing to balance everything else going on in this week before the semester begins. So much to do!