The Vivian/Webster Family Album

This gallery is a look at where Bruce and I lived during our almost six years in "the District"--Washington, DC. When we first moved there we still had three kids living with us, Wes, Jon, and Crys, but by the time we moved from the house on Huntington Street to the one on Quebec Street, both Wes and Jon had moved back to Utah and California. Emily spent time with us after we moved to Quebec Street, and that's where we were living when we got two more dogs, Laverne and Shirley, so we still had a houseful.

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Sandra Webster > Here's a view of our quiet little Quebec Street, taken in the spring before all the outrageous colors bloom.

Sandra Webster > And now you get to look up the street. Notice the bent fence post. It was straight when we moved in, but someone ran into it almost immediately. A longtime resident down the street later told us that the bent post was a memorable feature of the street; no one could remember it being straight for thirty years.

Sandra Webster > Here are Laverne ("Lovey") and Shirley ("The Entitled One"), looking uncharacteristically calm with the front door open. They're usually barking frantically and trying to find a way to run out the door and onto the street to see if they can get themselves killed.

Sandra Webster > Here's the view of the entryway and front door from the top of the stairs. These are the stairs that Lovey and Shirley race down whenever they hear the slightest noise at the front door. Lovey has been known to tumble down the last third or so in her hurry to mame or kill whoever is invading.

Sandra Webster > Here's the entryway, leading into the dining room. One might be tempted to assume that the child gate means there are children here, but that's not the case. This is a DOGGY gate, and it's to keep the dogs from burrowing into the dresses in chest there, or burying their loot in the chest, or, well, the list goes on and on. Shirley once got into the chest and somehow managed to get a hook from one of the dresses caught on her lower eyelid. She then pulled back frantically, trying to get loose, which just made the hook pull harder on her eyelid.

Children were actually easier to keep an eye on.

Sandra Webster > Here's the dining room. With all the kids but Crys and Em grown and gone, we finally had the money for an actual grown-up dining table and chairs. And then when we had all the kids, spouses, and grandkids come for Christmas of 2003, the table, in all its glory, was used to set up a race car set. Go figure.

Sandra Webster > Here's one view of my playroom (I've given up thinking of it as an "office"). A couple of years ago I upgraded my digital piano, but getting the midi hardware and software to really be functional has been spotty, at best. I think I'm getting close, and when Bruce finally gets the components together for me, I hope to again have those great all-night sessions with my headphones. At four in the morning, everything I play sounds great. If I listen again at noon, my reaction is usually, "What the hell was I thinking!" But it's so fun.

Sandra Webster > This is a broader view of the playroom, where I've thought up more projects than I've had energy, time, talent or expertise to finish--or sometimes to even start. This room was pretty much co-opted by Em and Crys the last year or so they were here, which was fine with me.

Now when I walk into my little room I see images of Crys trying to eat fruit or steamed vegies, read her email, and do her nails--all at the same time. Or I see Em leaning intently over the keyboard, doing some mystical, magical geek stuff. I'll have their shadows surrounding me, keeping me company while I get used to taking over the room again.

Sandra Webster > And now we move on to the Great Room--family room and kitchen combined. It really is a great room, for lounging with a cozy fire, or for cooking for a family or a crowd, or for entertaining a crowd of people from church.

Here are Laverne ("Lovey") and Shirley ("The Entitled One"), looking uncharacteristically calm with the front door open. They're usually barking frantically and trying to find a way to run out the door and onto the street to see if they can get themselves killed.