How to Start Your Day

This morning, I woke up to a pile of cat yack filled with cricket carcasses! What a wonderful start to the week. Poor little party cat seems to have overdosed on HBCs...I can't say I'm not thrilled by her inner-killah spirit, but I think someone's learned her limits...

Meanwhile, I have spinach everywhere!!! 

(yes, this post has guaranteed my spot to early granny-hood. Cat + garden = 80-year old trapped in my body. Can't stop won't stop.)

On Saturday, I went to a local wine festival with my love Sara! Met another Sarah and had fun running into people of the past and tasting all the (mostly) delicious wine from around town. Note: Horton's fruit wine is a no-go. Blech.

And finally, the countdown is on. It's been almost two months since I've seen this fool and almost one year since our lives ended completely. SW 2011!!!! Who could forget?!? But not to dwell on these subjects, as we have much more pressing issues at the moment... : 

I would be fooling everyone to say I haven't been brainstorming this little photo shoot. It'll go down in the books! Besides, how could this little LL not create a magical holiday memory?!?

She's sfp.

Riding my bike to work tomorrow and nobody can stop me. I'm looking at you, rain.

Over and out,

hmc

"It's really sad to ride by there now and see all them trailers"

It's a miracle!! Bahahaa.

It's A Christmas Miracle

We had a wonderful Christmas holiday yesterday and ate our faces full of BBQ ribs, cheesy potatoes, brussel sprouts, and amazing chocolate cheesecake that one of Pete's aerobics ladies made him. It was sugar suicide and worth every bite. We had a record 4 dogs in Grandpa's house, ranging from 5 to 75lbs, and amazingly enough, no catastrophes occurred because of them.

Who, me??

On Christmas Eve, we toasted to my wonderful grandma who would have been 83 years old (I think). Truly one of the most amazing women I ever knew, and I think she would have appreciated our semi-flat, local champagne and complimentary bottle of beer toasted in her honor. 

Christmas is always a little weird at our house because we are a super low-maintenance family and rarely ever need anything. This might sound like a blessing, and it probably is, but when it comes to getting gifts for everyone it can be a challenge. We can always resort to the ole socks and underwear grab bag, but that can get old after a while. My mom always manages to find us the strangest, most awesome "treasures" from various thrift stores and estate sales throughout the year--one year we got a baby incubator, a chandelier, and a velvet rendering of the Last Supper. Classics, right??

This is what happens when Rudolph comes through The Lou...

This year's theme seemed driven by alcohol, as we had a more than 40 different beers accumulate under the tree, several bottles of wine that Pete bottled himself, and even fancy old-man whisky. This is particularly funny seeing that my parents aren't big drinkers, and I'm usually satisfied falling back on a light and airy PBR in a can. We fancy huh now, I guess. 

My little house is coming along slowly, and my tree and assortment of Christmas cards on the mantle managed to give it a pretty homey feel. Even the crickets laid low yesterday and gave me some peace...

I went to a killer pedal, kettle, bosu ball class this morning with a couple girls from work, and now I am ready to spend the rest of the day lounging, reading, and downloading music for a new mixed CD. Thank Jewus for week-long vacas! Can't wait to rage in DC with my lovers this weekend to bring in the New Year!

Countdown to VP PIC Pregame in the MPL!! Love it.

Happy early New Year!

xoxox,

Hannah

These Hoes Are Legit

I've been meaning to share this little gem for a while, so please peep this email from one of my best and most beautiful friends...long may she dream! Bahahaha

"...as a side note, I guess Hannah's email to all of us had me thinking of y'all because last night, I dreamed(/dreamt??) we all tried out for the "X Factor." And, I must have had Ashley on my mind too, because our song of choice was Katy Perry's "Firework." Bahahaha.

P.S. We got booed off stage in the first verse of the song even though we had a killer dance routine :( "

 

 

life is certainly beautiful...

The Hook

The weekend verdict? Stay in town with the 'rents and listen to some banjo-playin' fools while catching up with an old friend over spinach, artichoke, and asparagus pizza. Yumm. I haven't seem Tim in almost two years, which is crazy to me because he was one of my best friends in high school and we used to always run in the same circles (literally). I love bumping into people you haven't seen or talked to in forever and picking up exactly where you left off. It's so refreshing--I only I wish I'd brought my camera to catch a picture of Tim's stylish new grizzly man beard. It was v. impressive. 

Meanwhile, everything in the Lou is bursting in techno-color green. The fields are lush and delicious and ready for fall. My mom was on her typical mission: find something to paint, stat! So, she pulled out the new ladder she bought for her bathroom and started sanding. It began a sad, chipped blue color but ended with an awesome glossy black finish--the perfect addition to her room.

Also, it's walnut season like woah. Watch your head...

What's the story, morning glory? They've taken over the blackberry patch.

More exciting news at my parents' house: they planted two fig trees (and "they already have figs! See!?!'). Gettin' figgy with it. 

On one of her recent scavenger hunt adventures, my mom found this old medicine cabinet for $3 and decided it was something I needed to fix up and have. Umm, ok!!

So proud. 

I found this Anthropologie mug at Goodwill for a whopping $.35!! I'm gonna pretend the 'm' is for my middle name....

Boo lovin'.

So ladylike...

My parents are in the process of "renovating" their patio. In the meantime,  the front yard is a giant sand pit filled to the brim with walnuts and cats. Tiger especially loves to lie, play, roll, and frolic anywhere near the glorified, oversized litter box. Meow.

Saturday night, we went to Montpelier to watch fireworks for Constitution Day. It was awesome because we got to "sneak" in the back gate and drive to a secluded part of the steeplechase course to watch the show all by ourselves--how many people get to use James Madison's estate as their personal playground? Super lucky, and it was the perfect night for fireworks. 

Anyway. Don't have to work until 4:00pm today. Who knows when I'm leaving... midnight at the earliest...? Trying my best to keep the cranky pants at bay. We shall see. 

xxx, Hannah

The Walls Start Shaking, the Earth Was Quaking...

Nothing like a tiny natural disaster to put little ole Louisa on the map for good. Yes, it's true: The Lou took a lead role in Tuesday's festivities and shook, rattled, and rolled itself onto the national news. I had just gotten back to my office on the 11th floor when the building started swaying and the usual maniacal chaos that is my coworkers began running, true stampede-style, to the stairwell. People were crying, shoes were flying, and I was worried we might lose a few around floor 9 when bodies began to feel the toll of exercise for the first time in decades.

But, we made it out alive and even got to leave work early. Score! especially considering it was absolute perfection outside.

Poor Louisa, on the other hand, didn't fare as well. The high school is effed; chimneys have crumbled, and the Cuckoo House had some damage. Luckily, my parents' ancient farm house stood strong and they only lost a few pieces of glassware/trinkets. They've had several aftershocks since, but it looks like the Lou was pretty lucky. Even North Anna managed to lock it up and not spew its nuclear nasties all over town. Good job, team.

Now, with all this commotion there have obviously been some brilliant interviews featuring Louisa's finest, and let me just say--they have been making my life. I never realized how much of an accent Central Virginia has but dang durn tootin yall, it's bad. Perhaps my favorite comment came from a woman who described her house as, "doin' the hula!" Yes. We may be rural. We may be toothless. But you better gosh durn believe that we know an earthquake when we feel it!

The Epicenter of Doom.

Cuckoo. She's a brick house, but she ain't got nothin' on 5.8.

Thank God Eric Cantor, with his finely combed hair and perfectly white teeth, was there to offer comfort in a time of need. Barf.

NOT THE FOOD LION NOOOOOOO!

LCHS

School's out for-evah.

(PS. there's my old locker circa 2004, holla!).

Hate to see that.

Umm, wtf. Even the mannequin heads in LCHS's "beauty department" didn't stand a chance.

But, if I had to pick one headline that sums up the sheer terror of the day, it would have to be:

Thank god the housewives are ok. I was srsly stressed. Anyway, it's been a wild ride around these parts, but hopefully things will calm down soon. In the meantime, brace yourselves for Irene, because she looks pissed.

xxxx, Hannah

Harper 2009-2011

I'm not sure if there's something in the water or if it's just a bum year to be a Jack Russell at Windy Knowl Farm. Either way, I hope bad luck comes in threes and the latest events will put a cap on a sad 2011. Little Harper Lee, the JRT who could run the length of your body and curl up in a perfect ball on your lap, has raced off to join her sister under the Wedding Tree. Maybe they were never meant to be separated, anyway, but it's still a low week in the Lou... 

Dill 2009-2011

Today is a very sad day in the Lou and beyond. Little Dill, the most spoiled and beloved Jack Russell of all, had her last morning on the farm after a long walk through the woods with her mama and sisters. She lived a short life, but it was full of treats, kisses, car rides, and everyday lovin'. She is survived by her less-intelligent counterpart, Harper; her wise, old motherly figure, Boo; her auntie Uli; her Montpelier fan club; and her one and only human parents and siblings.

RIP Dilly Doo...your constant barking, vertical hopping, awkward sleeping positions, and ever-present tiny cuteness will be forever missed.

Learning the ropes from granny Boo.

Sneaking a peek through the clothes line.

Prepping for her puppy closeup.

Racing like a rockstar in the Montpelier Jack Russell Races! Go green!

Relaxing by the begonias.

Catching some zzzzzzs with her pops.

...and finally, in her favorite spot...taking a ride with her mama and soaking up the love.

So three cheers for Dill--I'm sure she's off frolicking with Rita, Scout, Lucy, Jackie, Jessie, Pumpkin, and Midnight as we speak.