I am a native of Northern Virginia, and a current resident of Loudoun County; as well as a real estate consultant.
Whether you currently live in Loudoun (affectionately referred to in my family as LoCo), or if you're considering moving to the area, I hope you'll enjoy the information you get here! For information on our local real estate market go to http://therealestatewhisperer.blogspot.com/
Showing posts with label living in loudoun county. Show all posts
Showing posts with label living in loudoun county. Show all posts
The Dulles Association of REALTORS wants you to know about the upcoming vote regarding the Limestone Overlay District!!
This is copied straight from their web site:
Contact the Supervisors and say "No" to the
Limestone Overlay District!
To address a perceived problem concerning limestone sensitive features, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors (LCBOS) is expected to vote on a proposed ordinance imposing unnecessary restrictions on property owners living within the so-called Limestone Overlay District on Wednesday, February 17th, 2010. If the LCBOS votes to adopt the LOD, property and home owners within the 14,000-acre district are likely to see their property values take a hit. And if they want to sell the description of their property on all land and tax records will include a unique warning-style notice which may further depress values.
How serious is the limestone problem? Not very. Leesburg is built on top of limestone. So is the new high school on Route 15. And County Planning Commissioners have provided no examples of structural problems as a result of underlying geology anywhere in the LOD. Not one.
The over-reaching, burdensome and potentially unconstitutional LOD proposal is really an anti-development initiative disguised as a public health and safety issue. And homeowners in the LOD are the big losers. Don't get played. Contact the LCBOS and say "No" to the Limestone Overlay District.
Affected property owners in the LOD concerned with the restrictions and potential stigma on their property are encouraged to voice their concerns by emailing the LCBOS at bos@loudoun.gov or calling 703/777-0204.
As always, your local state and national REALTOR associations are working to protect your interests as property owners and fellow citizens. I'd like to be your personal link to these associations. Just email me and ask that I add you to my "notify" database when there are important issues that might be affecting YOU.
Snowmagedon 2010 has come and gone in the form of 2 blizzards (or near blizzards) within days of one another.
Here in Leesburg, we've gotten almost 60 inches of snow in 4 weather "events" in an 11 day stretch.
Say it with me: "snOMG"!
* * * * *
All around us....
Trees have fallen....
Driveways and sidewalks remain untouched.....
Icicles are pulling on gutters, while the weight of the snow pushes down from above.....and gutters are falling (or will)....
Roofs and windows that haven't been cleared are collapsing and leaking....
and so are basements (or they will be soon)....
Have no fear, LoCo! This, too, shall pass. If you're in need of a licensed, insured contractor to help with these types of storm damage issues or others, I have a recommendation for you.....
The Washington DC Metro area has been hit with what many are calling "Snowmagedon"... our second blizzard this year. Friends from upstate New York are wondering aloud 'When did I move back to Buffalo?' I want to assure you that we DO have winters like this, but not often. And, we do have winters where it is ice storm after ice storm, but that's not common either. Or, we can have winters where we are lucky to geta few inches of snow enough to take a nice photo. To be honest, the beauty of living here is that you never really know kind of winter you're going to have.
This storm, I believe, hits the #1 spot for most snowfall in just about all areas in our region. Here in Loudoun, the 'official' snowfall count is 34.5 inches. That seems about right for what I found at my home in Leesburg, the county seat. We had mounds yesterday shoulder height from drifting and snow blowing. Except for the fact that my husband is working when we get snow like this, I actually didn't mind (after my dad fixed my snowblower - thanks, Dad!!). It's rather fun.
Follow this link and enjoy the pics (CLICK HERE) - I love the one with the white dog jumping, and the one with the snowplow/sand truck on it's side in a ditch. There are photos of the organized snowball fight in DuPont Circle (DC), of the historic church collapse, and the downed power lines; grown ups working trying to clear a path to.. well, nowhere in many cases.....and kids, dogs and grown ups playing everywhere. The Mighty Midget - that's here in Leesburg. Enjoy. I will post again later with my own pics and some from friends.
The moral of this story, my friends, is that you should NOT be like my son and get rid of your winter coat - even if you think you won't need it any time soon. Here in Northern Virginia, you need all kinds of clothes. You'd think my son would have known that.
Some days you wake up and this is what you see from your front door. Within minutes, the kids are bouncing off the walls and you haven't even finished your coffee. Oh, Joy! Another day in paradise.
Okay, so do what you can. Pick a house project (clean up the family room) altered with a fun project (snowball fight). You are more likely to get a few things done and keep the kids from driving you crazy if you give them NO UNSTRUCTURED TIME, and rewards for what they don't like to do and you are thankful for.
Indoor Activities:
Of course, there are always the good old fall backs...
* Board Games * Cooking Projects * Watching Movies * Reading Books * Make S'mores (if you don't have a fireplace to roast marshmallows, use the microwave! * Make hot chocolate *
But, Snow Days should be special. Do something special!
* Watch Home Movies * Start A Scrap Book * Organize A Photo Album * Go online and start Ancestry Research * Play dress up w/the kids (you can do this and secretly be having them try on clothes so you know what needs to go to charity) * Have an 'At Home Spa Day' * Have a Video Game Competition with the WHOLE family * Blast the stereo and have a dance party * Make sock puppets and do a puppet show * Do a puppet show (stuffed animals are great for this), a home version of your favorite game show, a play, a dance show, a shadow show, a stand up comedy show (Favorite childrens book make great screen plays, older kids can enhance the story a bit; for the comedy show, look up jokes on line) * Bird watch - cardinals and blue jays are usually seen in our neighborhood on snow days and they look particularly beautiful with fluffy feathers and against the white background. * Make snow Ice Cream or edible snowflakes or snowmen (Click HERE for recipes)* Bring the snow indoors and do experiments - melting, freezing, coloring it, build a mini snowman indoors - and keep it in the freezer for a hot summer day! *
Outdoor activities:
Again, there are the oldies but goodies:
* Build a snowman * Have a Snowball Fight * Make a Family of Snow Angels * Make an igloo * Go sledding *
Since the oldies but goodies can't be done everyday, don't skimp on them! But, throw in some new stuff:
* Get out the sandbox toys and make snow castles and such * Get out squirt bottles and water guns, add food coloring to the water and have the kids decorate the snow (finally! yellow snow that doesn't stink) * Decorate a tree with strings of popcorn, or make a bird feeder (take a disposable cup from the trash, smear peanut butter on it, add stuff birds and squirrels eat - bread crumbs, bird seed, raisins, popcorn, nuts (we always end up with extra crushed walnuts and stuff after the holidays, then hang it from a tree or something you can see from inside). * Go for a nature hike and see whoever you see - and take photos *
For mommies and daddies that might have trouble getting in the mood, face it, you're going no where. What's wrong with skipping the coffee and having a mamosa for breakfast... or heating some red wine and adding mulling spices for a tasty afternoon treat? You might find you have a little more fun being silly with the kids when you really don't care if there are dishes in the sink.
I have given you several ideas for fun today, and every snow day. But, whatever you do, promise me you'll do two things:
* Take pics and record video clips - put it on a DVD entitled Snow Days - and add to it EVERY snow day.
In the future, start each snow day with watching the videos from the previous show days - this gets more special once there are multiple years of clips, especially when they are back to back and you can see the progression of their growth in such rapid succession. Then, when the kids move out of the house, have the clips put together with a sound track and a real movie made of it - and give them a copy to keep. I bet they will continue to watch it on the morning of EVERY snow day all of their lives, and even show it to their children....thinking how much they love you every second.
I bet you watch it even more often, snow day or not. It will be an always treasured video, I PROMISE.
So, today I was on Facebook (according to a recent quiz, I am 66% addicted).
We were all chatting about the woodchucks and groundhogs (what's the difference?) that did or did not see their shadows (most did).
One REALTOR friend in Michigan said that the spectators that went to see Woody the Woodchuck were all dressed in bikinis and bermuda shorts, trying to fake Woody out. It didn't work - he, too, was scared when he saw his shadow, and predicted 6 more weeks of winter. Those woodchucks are smarter than you'd think. Smarter than the spectators, anyway. It's cold in Michigan.
When I told this to my husband he simply commented that all the news reports this morning were focusing on the fact that the spectators of every city that does this had been up drinking all night. Hmmm... now it's all starting to make sense.
Then, they announced that most of Northern Virginia would be getting 3 to 6 inches of snow tonight... and to make matters worse (or better), they are now predicting maybe another foot of snow this weekend.... that's on top of the 6-ish inches of snow we got 3 days ago.... and this is not our first snow. Heck, our first snow of the season came before Christmas and was about 18-26 inches here in our area.
One of my clients said "I thought when we moved to Virginia we'd have mild winters"..NOT! (Sorry, Jodi.) Not this year, anyway. It's only like this about every 5 years, it's just that we're overdue - we've been spoiled since 1996. To average things out, we'll have to have 3 winters in a row with lots of wintery precipitation. (Maybe that's a warning to you.)
Another REALTOR friend posted this: "Here Mr. Groundhog, Mr.Tony Soprano has some concrete shoes he wants you to try on. Can you say Anacostia?" (The Anacostia is a river in DC.) NOT NICE! I like Phil! (Phil is in Punxsutawney, PA- a place I MUST be next year...it's on my bucket list). Phil is just calling it like he sees it.. and apparently YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH, Steve!
Anyway... I was leaving to go pick up my kids, just as the flurries started to come down. One of the little girls was outside in her front lawn, arms spread open, looking toward the sky, mouth wide open and tongue hanging out.
Ahh... I remember tasting snowflakes, fresh ones, falling from the sky. It's been too long.
Then, I picked up my kids at daycare. We walked out to the car. They both, instinctively, stuck out their tongues to get a taste. The kids are all on the same page. What is wrong with us?
This time of year there aren't many Roses to 'Stop and Smell'. So, I am going to encourage you ALL to 'Stop and Taste the Snowflakes'. When I did that tonight, I suddenly felt excited about the falling snow. Thrilled that we'd have six more weeks of this possible miracle.
A new perspective changes everything.
Stay tuned to http://www.livinginloco.blogspot.com/. In the morning, I will be posting some ideas on how to prevent cabin fever. Crafts, games and special snacks...for kids and parents alike.
Juliette Gordan Low established the Girl Scouts in 1912. By 1917 cookie sales were being used as a fundraiser for troop activities. In July 1922, American Girl magazine, published by Girl Scout national headquarters, included the following recipe for shortbread cookies, suggesting to the girls that they could produce these cookies for 26 to 36 cents for 6 to 7 dozen cookies and to sell the cookies for 25 to 30 cents per dozen as a fundraising activity. The recipe was supplied by Florence E Neil, a council director in Chicago.
The "First" Girl Scout Cookies:
Trefoils
1c butter
1c sugar (plus additional for optional topping)
2 eggs
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 c flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
Cream the butter and cup of sugar, add well-beaten eggs, then milk, vanilla, flour, salt and baking powder. Refrigerate for at least an hour. Roll dough, cut into trefoil shapes, and spring suger on top if desired. Bake in a quick oven (375 degrees) for approximately 8 to 10 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Makes 6 to 7 dozen cookies.
I laugh when I read this, and wonder what a "quick" oven is - I am pretty sure it's not a microwave - it must be time for a call to my grandma.
If you are "Jonsing" and need a quick GS cookie fix, this might do it, so try out the recipe. But the true fix for craving GS cookies - especially our more modern Samoas, Thin Mints, and Tagalongs - is to order some of your very own through your local Girl Scouts.
Since my daughter entered 1st grade last year, I've been blown away by how much is handled by our PTA and what a service it is to our school and our community. Roughly once a month there is an event at school for families. In this school year, SO FAR, we've had:
A Dads and Kids Pizza Party - getting dads more involved
Ice Cream Social - because everyone loves ice cream sundaes!
All of the events are free, and all of them are very much enjoyed. In these social opportunities, the kids and parents and teachers get to meet and interact in a fun and casual way. Very little true "school business" is discussed, as the focus is on fun. However, these casual interactions make more serious business later go much more smoothly. Parents meet the parents of their children's friends and before you know it, parents are picking up each others kids and doing all kids of stuff to help each other.
Why is this important? You know the saying "It Takes A Village To Raise A Child"? Well, the village WILL raise your child. The village includes the kids' friends and their families, teachers, scout and club leaders, coaches, ministers and church leaders. With a little help from the PTA, you'll be meeting and interacting with many members of this village. So you'll know where to encourage your child to spend more time (or less), and how to "frame" certain issues for them when discussed at home. You can better apply your values when you are able to intelligently discuss commonalities and differences between your family and the families of your child's friends.
As your child grows, so will his or her village.... Getting involved and staying involved takes a lot of work, but it's worth it. Consider joining and being active in the PTA at your child's school. It will benefit you more than you know.
Much can be accomplished when determined and creative parents work together for the good of their collective children.
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For more information on Loudoun County Schools, Check out These Posts:
If you've been caught doing a dance like this, you just might have the "Winter Itch"....
In this case, I am referring to the itch caused by dry skin. Some people are affected more than others, but every winter about this time I get such dry skin. This year, it seems everyone's got the "Winter Itch".
If you're moving here from another area with a different climate, you may be shocked to learn that this negative literally comes with the territory. So, you may as well develop a plan.
Here are some tips to hopefully provide you with some relief:
* Add Humidity: The "Winter Itch" is caused by cold, dry air - so if you're moving into a new house, recognize the value of one that has a whole house humidifer. If you can't find a house with a whole house humidifier, and you can't afford to purchase one, consider visiting your local drug store and buying one or two small humidifiers for your bedrooms and areas where you spend the most time. Not only will this help with the dry skin condition, but it will moisturize your sinus passages and can help keep you healthier by helping your epidermis plump up and do it's job - to protect all your body parts from the evil germs trying to get inside to attack you and make you miserable.
* Stop using soaps! Harsh cleansers, antibacterial and deoderant soaps are the worst, but most soaps(even so called "moisturizing soaps") will have a drying affect on the skin, so skip them entirely or use them sparingly, avoiding areas where your skin is the driest.
* Choose your bathing routine knowingly: Baths are better for your skin than showers, Tepid water better than hot, and Shorter better than longer. Then, apply your life. I am a mom of 4, I have no time for baths, but in the winter there is nothing that makes me feel more relaxed on a daily basis than a LONG, HOT, shower, and you have to balance the health of your skin with the health of your mind.
* Add oil! Add oil (non perfumed) to your bath, or do like I do and apply baby oil while in the shower. I used to put it on after I showered, but it felt too greasy and drove me crazy. So, now I apply it with a bath sponge, which both removes dead skin and applies the baby oil. By removing dead skin, it feels less "itchy" to me, although experts do not recommend scrubbing your skin while wet or dry. Other suggestions I've not tried include milk or oatmeal baths.
* REapply... people are often surprised to learn that most lotions only temporarily relieve dry skin, and when it wears off in a few hours, your skin is likely drier than it was before you applied the lotion... so skip it. Creams are better for your skin, and oils like petroleum jelly are actually very good for rebuilding that outer layer of skin. The thing about petroleum jelly is that it FEELS heavy on your skin, so I reserve using that for the very worst areas of dry skin; and I use creams everywhere else. Both wear off far too fast, so REAPPLY them every few hours. Claritan and Benedryl both make creams that provide quick relief to itchy skin.
* Protect! Protect your skin, especially your face and lips (areas where your skin is thinest, and yet most exposed). Cover your face using scarfs, hats, face masks and eye glasses as much as possible when you will be out in the elements. Use chapsticks and creams daily, and reapply often if you are outside in winds, sunshine or especially blistering cold.... and DON'T lick your lips or allow your toddler's dripping nose to run - this skin will get very, very sore, very, very quickly and can bring a child to tears, and even some adults....which by the way causes your eyes, nose and mouth to "leak" taking even more of a toll on your red, burning, chapped skin.
*Try an inside attack: Drink extra water (double your regular intake), which will help produce more moisture in your skin. Other suggestions include drinking camomile, dandelion or peppermint teas. Eat more yellow and orange vegetables and fruits, as these contain nutrients known to improve skin health, and eating them raw is best. Follow general "healthy living" advise, like avoiding eating fried foods, drinking alcohol, coffee or sodas, consuming caffeine, or smoking, all of which rob your skin of moisture and nutrients, among having other detrimental affects; and be sure you're getting the right balance of vitamins by taking a multivitamin supplement.
If you've tried "everything" or your dry skin doesn't have obvious causes (like a weather change) or it seems red, infected or severe, go see your doctor. Dry skin can also be a symptom of many other issues that might need to be evaluated by a professional... and serious cases of dry skin may warrant a prescription intervention.
Remember, your epidermis (aka your skin) is the largest organ in your body and has a critical function - keeping your parts inside and the germs outside. So, when it's suffering, you soon will be, too. Take care of your skin and it will take care of you.
Girl Scouts have been selling shortbread cookies for more than 60 years, and this classic (called "Trefoils" by Little Brownie Bakers), remains a favorite. An online opinion poll found at GirlScoutCookies.org reports that 5% of us claim it is our favorite GS cookie (a 3 way tie for 4th place); but the GS organization reports that the shortbread cookies account for 9% of sales, rating 5th.
Personally, I think these are refreshingly simple and I love eating them (for breakfast) after dipping them in my coffee. PLEASE do not tell my children I eat cookies for breakfast - it would shatter their image of me...or shatter the image I wish my children would have of me.
ABC Bakers, one of the commercial bakers producing GS cookies, offers a serving suggestion of sandwiching ice cream or sherbert between the cookies.
I suspect you could make a really good pie crust by using crushed shortbread cookies & butter; and I bet that would be wonderful for a pudding pie, ice cream pie or even cheesecake.
Remember, you can only buy Girl Scout cookies once a year... but they freeze well, and there are so many things you can do with these American classics!
GirlScoutCookies.org has an ongoing poll, and as of today, THIN MINTS are the second favorite GS cookie. But, the Girl Scout organization reports Thin Mints are #1. Last year, our troop sold exactly as many Thin Mints as Samoas, so how can we really know?
In any case, here are some Thin Mint Recipes to get your creative juices stirring...
THIN MINT BROWNIES - suggested by Little Brownie Bakers (the bakers that make Thin Mints)
For a simple option, add crushed Thin Mints to your already made milkshakes - made of Mint Chocolate Chip, Chocolate or even Vanilla Ice Cream. As Dairy Queen found out last year, this is a sure fire crowd pleaser!
And, be sure to stay tuned to learn more about GS cookies, and sales in Loudoun County!
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This message brought to you by Vicky Chrisner, a Loudoun/Dulles area real estate agent, wife, mom, Girl Scout Leader and long time community member of the Dulles area who currently makes her home in Leesburg, VA. Managing blogs and community resources like this is a labor of love.
They are created and maintained for the benefit of friends, neighbors, and clients as a community resource. Please enjoy! And, whenever you need real estate services, please think of her first...after all, now you have a friend in the business.
Stay tuned for more information about LIVING IN LOUDOUN COUNTY.
Samoan Cheesecake: Someone on uses the basic recipe for "Philadelphia Cheesecake" and crumbles up Samoas to add to the filling, and garnishes with a few extra for a nice presentation. I LOVE cheesecake, and this sounds wonderful.
ABC Bakers (the "other" company who makes "Caramel deLites"-a similar cookie also sold in some regions by GS) offers a recipe for a Chocolate Caramel Coconut Dessert which sounds scrumptious! Click here to see this recipe.
As part of the Childrens Performance Series, Kaleidoscope Theatre at Ida Lee, Rufus was our special guest this morning! Once a month, there is a different performer. My son and I try to go each month - it's special "Mommy-Devon" time; but this month, our friend Zavion joined us.
Rufus is a brown dog with a red nose. He's been homeless, hungry, cold and in the rain, for some time. He was looking for some food to eat and a place to stay when we met him. Then, out of the blue, SANTA arrived! But, Santa did not believe he was a dog, as Santa had never seen a dog with a red nose.
You see, Santa's dog is hot pink and has a purple nose, and so that is what Santa thinks ALL dogs should look like. To prove he is a dog, Rufus had to go to dog school, taught by a Banana! There, he learned important vocabulary like "ARF" "GRRR" and other such common dog language.
In the process, we had some fun with letter sounds, and rymthing words. In the end, Santa learned an important lesson... things that make us different make us special, and we're all different. Santa offered Rufus some food and a permanent home, and dubbed Rufus the "Red Nosed Rain Dog" telling him to go find other special dogs that are out in the cold and rain with no food and no home... and to bring them all to the North Pole to live with them as one big happy family!
It was a great story and we didn't feel bad about skipping preschool to go, since there were several good lessons in the story. The most important lesson of all: Our differences make us special.
A very special THANK YOU to the Leesburg Church of the Nazarene for the Live Nativity event my family enjoyed tonight! This is our first time attending it, but, I hope it becomes an annual tradition.
The outdoor event is a drive through "theatre" of sorts, with eleven separate scenes depicting the biblical story of the birth of Jesus in a manger. The scenes are acted out by more than 100 actors, and live animals including donkeys, sheep and camels.
There is no cost for the event, although as you exit, they will accept donations (not ask for them, and not "suggest" donations, accept them, should you feel inclined to offer something).
It is a very nice event, tons of effort goes into this, and I know they have significant costs.... and I am happy to support it. We simply didn't have much cash on us tonight (and no one made us feel bad about it), so I plan to send a check.
Not only is the event truly free, but they handed out programs and CDs to each car. I haven't investigated what they gave us, but it is the thought that counts, and so I appreciate it.
Again, thank you to the Leesburg Church of the Nazarene. The community clearly appreciates your efforts! What a wonderful event!
****
If you missed it tonight, it's not too late, it will be offered again tomorrow evening,
5:00 to 8:30pm.
A few tips:
* The address (for your GPS) is 17667 Roxbury Hall Road, Leesburg, VA; but if you are on Rte 7 about 1/2 mile west of Leesburg, you can't miss it - look for the traffic signs, cones and police directing cars.
* Expect traffic. Under normal circumstances it would be 5 minutes from the heart of Leesburg, but this is a very popular event. It took us 30-45 minutes before we got into the event. (It's worth it.)
* To avoid frustrations, plan as if you'll be on a trip for a while. Put little ones in their PJs and bring blankets, pillows and entertainment (DVD, snuggle buddies, whatever works). We brought fresh baked cookies and hot cocoa and listened to Christmas music on the radio (thanks WASH FM - 97.1) while we waited.
* I gathered from the signs they allow you to line up beginning at 4:30, we left Leesburg at about 5:30 and returned home shortly after 7.
* You can only get in the line from the East bound lanes on Route 7 (and trust me, you can't miss it). If you are coming from Leesburg, all the left turn options are blocked. You'll need to take the exit for Route 9 (on the right), and then make a left off the exit, cross the bridge and make another left onto Route 7 East before you can get into the line. Then, relax, turn up the tunes and enjoy the cocoa, you'll be seeing angels soon!
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Again, despite my warnings about the traffic, don't let it deter you. It is a wonderful event, and I hope to be back next year.
Merry Christmas to all... and to all a good night!
I am copying this from the LoudounWater.org site... keep it in mind this week:
*******************************************
'Twas the week before turkey...
and everyone’s stirring
Their bowls of goodies...
but it’s not occurring
To anyone yet of the trouble a-brewing
The downright disaster in the drain that is stewing.
For if you let fat, grease and oil drip in
to the drain I’m afraid you will not begin
Your holiday season with loved ones and laughter,
But a plumber or two and a sewer disaster!
A sewer backup happens when drains become clogged
With the fat and the grease and the oil that’s sogged
Our delightful delectable holiday pans
So be sure your grease, oil, and fat are in cans!
Just a friendly (and hopefully amusing) way to remember to collect all grease, oil and fat in a can during the holiday season. If you let any of this stuff get into your drain, the result could be more than a nuisance – it could be a costly nightmare before Christmas.
