Friday's Letters

Dear Blog: I'm happy to be back. Writing for you helps de-clutter my often haphazard brain. You guide things into perspective and allow me to re-live things in life that I enjoy most.

Dear To-Do List: You're pretty good for organizing my brain functioning too, but I feel like these days you only grow longer and never shorter. We need to work on that.

Dear Sabrina, You're the greatest pup ever, and we love you lots, but this trying-to-eat-the-cat-phase that you're going through has really got to stop. Yes, your mouth fits around her head; that's not a good reason to put it there. And while we're at it, can we also work on the awful high-pitched shrieking bark you do out of frustration when the cat refuses to be eaten?

Dear Eliza: I'm sorry. I promise the puppy is not a punishment... or she at least wasn't supposed to be.

Dear Law School Friends Who Invited Us to the Beach: THANK YOU! We are pretty much packed up and will be heading your way soon. I still can't explain how excited I am for some sun and lounging and food and friends.  Also, CONGRATULATIONS! You're finished!

Dear Husband: You are also finished! I am so very proud of you and all of your diligent, hard work for the past 3 years of law school. I'm not sure how you managed to be an amazing student, pet-parent, loving husband, and still have a social life, but you did. AND NOW YOU NEVER HAVE TO TAKE ANOTHER LAW SCHOOL EXAM AGAIN! There is still the Bar.. but you're not allowed to think about that until after graduation. K?! 

Oh, and one more thing, husband. Thanks for being the best travel planning partner! I cannot  wait to traipse through Europe with you. I have a feeling we are never going to want to come home.

Hope y'all are having a fantastic Friday!

Love,

DD

How long is TOO long?

Blogging Community: how long is too long to be gone from the blogging world then come back? Say it's been a year-and-a-half since one posted... it's okay to pick up there, right?

I'm going to pretend like everyone just said yes, because I want to come back! My time in Virginia is coming to an end all too quickly and this blog has covered so many great parts of the first half of our journey here. I'd like to round it out...., and then probably cry every time I look at old posts because I'M GOING TO MISS IT HERE SO MUCH!

It's impossible to cover a year-and-a-half in one post (and just sounds awful), so here are some of the highlights.

First of all, we got a puppy!

Sorry for the weird digitized eyes. I promise she's a real dog.

 This was baby Sabrina a few days after we got her from Adopt a Stray Rescue back in February.  She came from a wonderful rescue organization, and we are so thankful for all the hard work they are doing to get in-need animals into loving homes.

Now she's a big 40 lb, 6 month old, energetic, cuddly, somewhat fraidy, water-loving pup. She keeps us and Eliza on our toes, but she's the most perfect pup we could ever hope to have!

Oh, and we had another giant snow... just 16 or so inches. Noooottt something us Mississippians are very good at dealing with, and apparently neither are puppies.

Also in the last 2 years, I've gotten very involved as a member of the Junior League of Charlottesville. It's an organization of amazing women doing amazing things, and I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of it. (Cue my tearing up and anxiety every time I talk about leaving...)

 

 

 Most recently, we spent our last Charlottesville Easter Sunday at Christ Church and then had lunch with our law school fam (again, cue tears). These people are wonderful friends and we are all going to have children who come to UVA so we have an excuse to be back in C'ville as often as possible.  

 Some of us even already have a head start on the kids. This little angel is about to be a big sis!

 Oh yeah, and I made this roast. Pears, rosemary, cipollini onions, oh yes. Happy Belated Easter!
 

And speaking of sisters and babies... MY LITTLE SISTER IS HAVING A BABY! I'm still a little in shock, but could not be more excited for her and her hubs, and guess what that means?! I get to be an Aunt! I seriously cannot wait to spoil that child.

So there's the very quick, very abbreviated summary of what this blog has missed. Even if all family, friends, and readers are lost to the rest of cyberspace, I'm excited to be back documenting our last days in Thomas Jefferson's great city.

XO,
Dianna

What I'm Loving Wednesday - Comedy

Hello Friends! I know it has been a few days, but I am back in blogging action and today is going to be a doozy! Well maybe not for everyone, but for a husband and I who are sometimes very childish and can be quickly amused, these kept us giggling for a while (not Joe though, of course. He was chuckling, manly) On Monday night, it became clear that husband and I really needed some down time when we found ourselves on the couch after dinner scouring Pinterest for funny memes. I have no idea how it happened, but it did and we were delirious with laughter. SO, if you are in need of spirit lifting this Wednesday, check out some of our/MY favorite funnies below. I apologize in advance if you are at work and must stifle laughter with coughs. If you are not a pet owner and hate children, then you should be okay...

 

 Happy Humpday!
DD

A Little Recap

I never remember to take pictures.. I'm getting better (as you will soon see) but usually I'm terrible.  Soooo I thought maybe in lieu of Friday's Letters today I would post pictures of our last two terrific weekends full of excitement and adventure!!... but really it's because I took pictures and now I need to do something with them.

It all started out with a sick husband, sick wife, and cuddly cat who is always doing cute things...

We quickly got over our sickness, however, with the help of some very legitimate Oktoberfest provisions.

And after being completely cured of our ailments, we headed out to the Foxfield Horse Races for some fun in the sun...



Annnd... that's where we saw this guy. And, for a little while I was not having so much fun anymore.

But then sweet friends came along and saved the day (for me at least... I'm pretty sure my dear husband partook in that pig)

And along the way our cat continued to do cute things... yoga is her favorite.

The next week we took off on a road trip through West Virginia and into Kentucky. We could not have asked for a more beautiful drive.

We made it to Lexington, KY where my husband promptly found the largest burbon bar around and declared he was in heaven.... I'm not the only one not getting this, right?

Hubby tried his first HotBrown... and based on the reaction, I think perhaps his last...

And my MIL got artsy with her picture taking....

And a man brought his cowbell and Mississippi State became 5-0 and all was well.

Finally, we finished off the weekend with a freezing cold, but completely-worth-it hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

 I cannot advocate this place enough.  If you are ever this way, you MUST MUST MUST experience these mountains. I know there are much bigger and better, but there's nothing like driving through rolling farmland and into tree canopied mountain roads then hiking up to views of those blue ridges and valleys as far as the eye can see to make a girl think she could have been a farmer's wife. : )  I guess its too bad I get home to the greatest husband ever and remember how much I love walking across the street to the grocery store.

I hope everyone has a wonderful wonderful weeekend!

Love,
DD

Summer Change-Up

Happy Friday blog friends!

I come to you with a new idea and a request for input and favors. 

As a new season is hurrying closer, I deicded it was time to shake things up a bit via le blog du Davises to kick off the summer.  Sooo I'm proposing a series of blog posts based on all the promised posts of aparment renovations, crafts, and recipes that I still haven't gotten around to uploading.

Here's where I could use your expert advice.  I have set aside some blog pages for recipes and the like, but I wonder if it wouldn't just be better to post each on my home page then later reference them within each of the categorized tabs.... hmm... If any of you lovlies have achieved separating out your blog, I would love to hear how you did it! Also, do you think it's aesthically pleasing and more accessible to post this way?

Finally, I have a favor to ask.  I love blogging and I don't think I just post for the sake of attention, but, let's be real, it is nice to know that there are friends in cyberspace enjoying your joys and gaining inspiration as I KNOW I've gained lots of inspiration, ideas, recipes, perspectives, etc. from fellow bloggers such as yourselves.  SO, if you do exist as a reader and are not currently a "follower" of Virginia is for Lovers, be a pal and let me know you are out there by subscribing to the Davises!

Thanks for the help friends, and as a reward, I leave you with a few snapshots of my summer roommate (he will probably be featured in plenty of posts over the next few months)

Thor-Dog of Thunder.

Have a Fantastic Weekend!

XOXO,

DD

Marvelous Monday!

So this morning I woke up struggling with the 3rd Marvelous Monday installment.  It was, afterall, another gray, cold, wet, blah morning that caused moans and groans and covers being pulled over my head when the alarm went off 3-4 times...

But, folks, I've got to say, I feel like the blogs gods were with me today when my inspirational post for the week was basically handed to me at 9:00 AM.

Want to know what could possibly be sooo marvelous that it is unquestionably blog worry?

How about this bundle of joy?!

Everyone, I'd like you to meet puppy (name still unknown).  Puppy will be my housemate this summer!
The photo of this little guy was sent to me along with a proposition from our friend Ian.  Wanting a dog himself, and knowing of my husband's not so friendly leanings towards dogs, he offered to share this precious guy with me for the summer while he was away then reclaim him when he (and husband) come back for school in the fall.  Could the situation be more perfect?! I think not.

Soooo, ever since finding out I would be foster parenting a pup for the next few months (hello dream come true!) I've been a bit distracted thinking about what to do to get ready for the little guy.  I've come up with a little puppy wishlist that I'm hoping my local PetCo will help me fulfill.

I think I've got some pretty great stuff on my list, but I PROMISE to try and avoid a marriage mishap and go TOO overboard like these guys did....

but Oh Man! Shopping for a dog is going to be so fun!

Any advice on good doggie products? I'd love to hear your suggestions for my shopping list!

I'll update with pictures of our new house guest soon!

Love,
DD