the first day of spring!

Since today was the 'official' first day of spring (even though it was chillier today than the last couple days) I decided to plant some flowers. This is part of my attempt to make my house more like a home, and less sad. Our neighborhood is filled with cute, pleasant houses that are well landscaped. Most of our neighbors own their homes, making us different, and I feel like you can tell. We shall see if these flowers actually survive... when I bought them this morning I thought our yard was partial to full sun. After staying home today and paying attention, it looks like we might be more partial to shady. 

I want to plant a raised bed against this fence. It is definitely full sun. Got any good ideas about raised beds? I don't really want to build one myself, but I am considering it. Also, its right next to where my neighbor parks. Taboo for a veggie garden?

don't fence me in

These girls - these sweet, sweet puppies - have been terrorizing the neighborhood. Well more they want to play with everyone who walks by and people do not want to play with them. After a complaint last week, we decided we need to keep them in the backyard, away from pedestrians using our sidewalk (and there are a lot of people who walk by). 
The space between the front and back yard. There is a cobble path from the patio to this arbor. I decided to use the arbor as support on one side of the fence. Unfortunately we couldn't put the garbage can behind the fence - I can't afford (and don't really want) to put in a gate. 
Scooter knew something big was going on. I decided to buy post hole diggers this morning after looking at our high-clay content. 

Annnd... finished. It looks good and is pretty sturdy. The dogs can't really dig under it because there are pavers under the majority of it. We will have to watch whether they dig under the chain-link. luckily my neighbor also has a fenced yard and likes the girls.

And now that I don't have to worry about Ruby eating my plants, I can garden in the front yard and make our house look a little less sad.

Train conductor the other day:

"Please remember that when you hear the train door ding it does NOT mean 'run for the door.' It means 'Please step away, this door is shutting.' DO NOT jump into the closing doors. It's rude and dangerous. And there is no running in the train station anyway."

REAL snow

not like that fake snow we had earlier this year.

train of thought

I find I talk to my self while I commute (it's not that wierd. Really!). Here are some random thoughts that I find pop into my head often

hmm why is the train making that noise?

which door opens at this stop?

am I on the right train? (note: i haven't gotten on the wrong train. yet.)

ooooh boot envy! (this is a very regular occurance as I often covet other girls' boots/coats/scarves/bags/whatever)

I wonder if his wife helped him pick out his clothes?

geeze. I wore too much/too little clothing today. I'm hot/cold!

I wonder if I can make it across the street in 5 seconds. oops, no. sorry mr. truck driver!

Is it icy or just wet?

That is a really cute dog. That rides the escalator (back story: there is a blind woman who commutes from my metro stop. She has a german shepherd seeing-eye dog. they are amazing).

Everybody in this neighborhood is a running fool.

I wonder if he is a spy.

What is she reading? can't...quite...read...the...title.

I wonder where they are traveling to/from? (I live on the line that goes through Reagan Airport, so I see lots of people with suitcases, before or after their flight).

I hope that family had a good time touring the capitol, the mom sure is enthusiastic.

What's in a name?

 My full name is Allison, but ever since they brought me home from the hospital my family has called me Alli. I can clearly remember my mother asking me what I wanted to be called in school when she registered me for pre-kindergarten. For some reason, I told her Allison. Maybe it sounded more grown up to me. So for my grade school career I was known as Allison in class, but Alli to close friends and family. Erin is the only one in my family who consistently calls my by my full name, a result of her going to the same school as me. When I went to college, more and more people started calling me Alli. I think the major reason for this was Emily, my oldest sister, was around more, and people adopted it from her. I've always used Allison as my professional name, so I'm Allison on paper but Alli out loud. I never thought that I cared that much what people called me. I always gave them the choice.

Well, now that I've moved away from my friends and family, very few people call me Alli. I didn't realize how much I missed it until Sam came to visit this weekend, calling me (and introducing me as) Alli. It was a little piece of home.

Sam and my angry faces. I think we were cold.

Cotton in the big City

This past weekend Sam was in DC for the Cotton Council Meeting with her family. They are from a small town and are good "salt of the earth" people. I got to hang out and be a tourist with them. They really made it a fun weekend. 

We got to tour the Capitol - something I didn't put on my list, but now I'm adding it so I can cross it off.

Tyler came out to the Old Ebitt Grill for a drink and oysters with us. The Old Ebitt, est. in 1856, is the oldest dining saloon in DC.

We had Mojtos at the Round Robin Bar, a super classy joint right next to the White House.

The Mural inside the Capitol.

The whole herd on the Capitol steps.