Well, we’re back in the D.C. area again! This time, we’re not here to shoot, and we’re not here for a holiday with family. We’re here for a few days playing tourists with some of our best friends. On Thursday, Danny and I road tripped up from Florida with Amanda, and of course George. On Friday, Julie came south to join us, and Rob flew north to join us. Now we’re in the middle of a few days of relaxing and adventuring, and it couldn’t have come at a better time: When we get home, we start another very busy stretch of weddings and shoots. So taking the opportunity to just have fun right now is wonderful!

Also wonderful: I’m hooked on Publix Greenwise organic ice cream. Both chocolate and vanilla have the best ice cream texture ever, and I’d forgotten how much I love the simplicity of the basic flavors. The only downside is that I’m having to limit myself to smaller bowls of ice cream than I want. I could eat the entire half gallon in one sitting. It is that good.

Speaking of that good . . . I’ve reignited my fawning adoration of the BBC. And British movies and television and literature in general. A & E’s 1995 Pride and Prejudice miniseries is my all-time favorite movie, which requires at least an annual viewing. But last week, while I was spending a day cleaning the house, I started zipping through Netflix to keep me company, and I landed on the 2004 BBC miniseries North & South. And proceeded to watch the entire 204-minute-long miniseries three times between Tuesday and Sunday. Yes, that’s 612 minutes. Because sometimes one or even two viewings isn’t enough to take in an incredible drama and digest the historical context. In fact, I would happily watch it again tonight. I’ve been kicking myself, wondering how I went ten years without knowing this miniseries existed! It also makes me wonder what other BBC gems I’m missing. Thankfully, BBC America is there to help me embrace my currently very serious Anglophile kick.

We’re off for some new adventures today! And if I’m lucky, some ice cream.

~ Laura