In like a Lion...out like a lamb?

Hey everyone...

Well here it is the 2nd of March and well, we finally have winter here in VA!!

This is the view of my front porch. We have about 4 inches on the porch alone! :)











This is the view from my front door to the street! I love the way snow looks and how pretty it is. I hate to drive in it but it sure is pretty to watch.








This is female Cardinal in one of my trees. She was chirping and making all kinds of noise, probably yelling at her kids to come inside! :)

My office is closed today so I will be taking full advantage of the extra knitting time. I have been busy working on several projects and am in the process of finishing up some other projects.

If you are in the I-95 corridor, take care and keep warm, this storm was supposed to hit the majority of the area.

Until later,

Hugs
Debi :)

2009.....

Hey everyone,

Wow, I, along with everyone else, can hardly believe that 2008 is over and 2009 has come...in retrospect 2008 was a year to be remembered in many ways, new beginnings, endings, starting over...just to name a few...

Since I was negligent in posting during the holidays, I will catch everyone up now...Here is our tree, it was very full and wonderful. All the kids loved our Christmas. No one complained, and even the dogs got presents and Christmas dinner.

For our office, we went to a very nice steak house for dinner and we had "shrimp" appetizers...does this look like an appetizer to you?? This was definitely the biggest shrimp I had ever seen...!!

(sorry the picture is blurry)

Then, driving home on Tuesday before Christmas, the traffic was HORRIBLE!!! Everyone was in such a bad mood. I wasn't I had Christmas music blaring on my radio and yes, I was taking pictures of the traffic... in it's own way, it was rather pretty......what do you think?
This picture was taken in my car as I sat in traffic. That night, it took me over 2.5 hours to get home. Not great thing, but it's ok.

So, now we are at the first day of 2009....what will this year bring to us? We have a chance for more changes in this year..we can always look to each new year as a new beginning...I hope that whatever your goals, dreams or ambitions, that 2009 treats you well...may the new year bring you all peace and good well.

Hugs,
Debi :)

Thoughts on the election of 2008....

So, how many of you voted on Tuesday??? I did a few weeks ago absentee..but boy, the lines were long at the polls all day here in the DC Metro area! Can you believe how wonderful the turnout was? I am so excited to have seen all the younger and first time voters take part in this election. This was an historic election! I did manage to get the Washington Post for Wednesday, the day after, and I have put it away for my children and their children, etc to record that day in history.

As you can imagine, Washington is all a buzz with excitement of the Inauguration. Hotels have already raised their rates and some have even sold out! I am planning on sending a note to my congressman to see if I can get a ticket to the parade or even the actual Inauguration. That would be something to see....I am so close to the city...if only I could get there.....

Well, here's to the new President and his family..may they be blessed with good times and not so many bad....no matter who you voted for, we all need to be one in this new era...I will support my new president...

Take care,
hugs,
Debi :)

It's that time of year

Hey all and welcome to fall!! :) I can hardly believe it is already November 2! This year has flown by....

Tuesday is Election Day and I hope that all who are eligible to vote will do so...I took advantage of Virginia's early voter plan and sent in my vote a week ago! Since my work day is about 12 hours including commute to and from work, I was eligible to vote absentee and so I did! The polls here close at 7pm and I didn't think there was any way I was going to be able to get there in time to cast my vote.

Friday was Halloween and my family was in all different directions. DH, DS2 and I stayed home to pass out candy.....Dh loves Halloween, he loves to do the "scary" part of it. I, of course, love the "cute" part of it...guess who won this year?????

DH is very proud of his graveyard. He and the kids cut the wood, painted it to look like cement and even wrote some "interesting" items on the stones...He has plans to make it bigger and better next year! :)

I would like you all to meet Charlie.....He became part of our family last weekend. We rescued him from a local rescue and he is such a great dog! He is so much fun. He is very loving and all the kids really like him alot...he loves to play so Belle and Buddy have a new friend..The cats don't really seem to mind him too much and he loves to cuddle! He is about 1 year old and is a wonderful addition to our family.

Knitting wise, I have been busy...I have about 5 pairs of socks on needles now as we speak, a scarf and planning a few other things as well. I am trying to get alot done in a short amount of time...not always a good thing. I have a pair of socks almost done for a friend of mine back in California. They are done in her favorite colors, but are a bit too heavy for shoes, so she can wear them around the house...I will post pictures when they are done...

For most of my gifts this year, I am focusing on scarves. I am planning on getting some nice yarn and making some wonderful scarves for gifts. I know we can use them here in Virginia and even in California they can be used on those chilly "winter" mornings.

That's about all for now. More to come soon....Don't forget to vote on Tuesday...have a great week.

Hugs,
Debi :)

I'm Backkkkkkkkkkkk..........................

Hey I am back!!! Things here have been moving at a rapid rate and I have been so busy that I haven't had a chance to catch up on all the happenings!! I have been working at my job for about a month and I really enjoy it! The practice is great, the patient's are for the most past really nice and even the traffic doesn't bother me! I totally enjoy this job and am grateful that I am able to work and do something that I really enjoy.

The kids have all made the transition to their respective new schools and so far seem to be making the change well. DD1 has jointed the marching band...and after many nights of "I HATE THIS"... she has finally decided that marching band is pretty cool and has actually been enjoying it!!! They had a competition last weekend, and they took first place in their division!!!

DD2 has decided that she wants to knit a scarf for one of her BFFs! Such a proud moment in momma history!! Last night she picked out some yarn from Michaels, and then when we got home, I cast on and showed her a quick refresher on how to do the knit stitch...I am so, sniff, proud!! :)

DS2 has been doing great in school. He has been working hard and keeping up the great job that he began last year! I am really thankful for that!!

DD3 has begun 8th grade this year. Can't believe next year all of them will be in high school!! She has been making friends and having a good time. It doesn't hurt that the mall is only 5 minutes from my house!!!

As far as knitting is concerned, I have been busy!!

These are just one of the pairs of socks that I have been working on! They are my In-Decision socks as I just can't seem to make up my mind as to who I am voting for this year! :)

These are yet again, another pair of summery socks...The yarn is Knit Picks Coney Island. I love these colors!!!

Last night we were shopping with the family and went to Circut City and I got a new camera!! I LOVE this camera...I had had my older one for about 8 years and it was time to upgrade! DH ended up buying it for me, I had picked out the one I wanted and and was getting ready to pay for it and he ended up paying for it instead!! What a sweetheart!!!! :) I got a Nikon Coolpix S550. Awesome camera!! I have been playing with it all night and alot so far this morning. My animals are getting tired of seeing me with the camera in my hands and have begun running away from "mom's photo shoots!!!" :) I will post some pictures soon. (the socks are from the older camera)

Other things happening around the house are DH is out and about on several business trips...a few days each week for the next month or so. This is not always a good thing, though I do get alot of knitting done when he is gone, as there is no one to really talk to. Have I mentioned lately that I really LOVE my house??? Well, I really really do...it is just the most fabulous feeling to walk into the door after a day at work and know that it's my house...we went to Lowe's today and got some stones for a bedding wall along one side of the front of the house. ( I will post pictures soon) and it was a hot day. The wall looks great but tomorrow we need to get more soil for the bed and then the stones for the other bed on the other side of the front of the house. Confused? You won't be soon....I promise.

I am so excited that the new TV season starts this week. Some of my favorite shows are CSI Miami and Gray's Anatomy. Another one of my new favs wasn't renewed this fall, that was Stark. I am hoping there is a chance that it will come back in the mid season, but I have no clue. I really enjoyed that show alot.

Well, that's about all for now. I am off to the shower and then to bed. It's been a busy weekend and I have another busy week at the office.

Take care and hugs to all!
Debi :)

Updates....

Hey there,

Bet you all thought I was down for the count and not coming back up for air.....well you would be wrong... I have been out of touch with the real world for a bit due to many happenings in my house....it's time to bring you all up to speed.

First and foremost, my children who were in Tennessee visiting their Mom, are coming home tomorrow!! I am very excited. It has been 6 long weeks since I have seen them and I really do miss them!!! School starts for them in 2 weeks..so I am glad they will be home so we can go shopping and get them ready for school!!

Second, as I just mentioned, school starts in 2 weeks!!! I am excited for the kids, due to the fact that they are bored and really need to go back to school. I know when I was younger, back before there was fire, I missed school alot and was always glad to get back into the routine of going to school and seeing my friends again. This year, all my kids will be starting new schools due to the move but I am sure they will all adjust.

Next, I have a JOB!!! I know, you are all shocked and need to pick yourselves up off the floor, but I really have an honest to goodness job!! I am going to work for an Internist Dr. practice in Fairfax, about 45 minutes away and I am excited!! I start tomorrow!!! :)

Finally, and sadly, I must say the Princess, my beloved Sheltie and faithful companion of 9 years has gone. She had cancer and it had progressed so much that when I took her to the vet on the 14th, it was decided to let her rest. She was a great friend and went through alot with me. It just isn't the same without her. I think my other two dogs, especially Belle, realize that she is gone. I really miss her. The vet's office sent me to condolence cards and that means alot. I will be able to pick up her ashes in about a week. I am going to keep her with me. She made the move and I know it was hard for her. The last few weeks were tough as well, but she was a trooper. She will always remain in my heart. She was my baby.

That's about all for now.

Hugs,
Debi

Welcome Home

Well, we are finally in Virginia! We got here on the 27th but didn't get our computer internet up until today! Long story. Anyway, we are here. I love my house, I love the area, it is so pretty, and I am slowly, very slowly learning my way around here.

No pictures today, will post some when I get some taken. We have spent the last week unloading the truck, unpacking boxes and putting together all the new furnature we are buying!! (I LOVE IKEA). So, internet time is low but hey I am getting some knitting done. That is a good thing.

Many projects we are working on in the house, and will post pictures as we get them. For now, I just wanted to say, Hi, I am here!!

Take care.
Hugs,
Debi :)