Fantastic day

..This morning Rachel announced that she wanted to do "experiments" in the backyard and asked me to get her a bunch of things: three cups, three mints and red food dye. She asked me to fill one cup with water and another with ice, and she left the third one empty. Then she took them outside, dropped some of the mints and dye into one cup, and then shared the "results" with me. I had absolutely no idea what she was trying to test, but it's pretty obvious we'll need to get her a science kit soon before she figures out a way to blow up the house.

Had a great lunch and visit with Dan and Beryle today; I have to keep reminding myself that Rachel is their great-niece! Then we got home and it was such a beautiful, warm-ish, sunny day that I couldn't resist hopping on my bicycle (although I had lots of work to keep me busy) and going for a ride along the W&OD bike trail. After I'd ridden about 30 minutes, I found a lovely surprise: A guy selling homemade bbq along the trail! He was almost out of meat but very generously gave me a free smoked lamb chop, and thus commenced a long story about barbecue judging, good bbq restaurants in Arlington (apparently there are none, alas), and whether this guy has ever been written about (no, it turns out, so I'll probably pitch him to a local magazine).

I got back later than I intended, only to find out the sad news that Carol, our neighbor the FBI agent, is moving to Chicago within a month. That makes two houses for sale on our street. I will miss her and her kids; she is such a sensible person and has given me excellent advice. Oh, well, I told Rachel, maybe a nice family with kids will move into the house after Carol and her two kids leave.

Also found out that Rachel apparently marched up to Carol and announced that if she and Luz (her au pair) ever want to go out for the evening, she will happily babysit their 3-year-old and 2-year-old. Like, now. I find this hilarious, except that she did such a nice job of making sure the 3-year-old and 2-year-old didn't run out into the street while Carol and I were talking on her front stoop that I think Rachel would make a really fine babysitter. Unfortunately she doesn't know CPR or how to the dial the cell phone in case of an emergency, but I am sure she could figure that out.