Author Archives: Dianne

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About Dianne

Domestic goddess, wife, mom, gardener, paper and collage artist, geocacher, local traveler, cross stitcher, baker, crafter, Facebooker, blogger, decorator and photographer.
Sep28

Designing cross stitch patterns

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I was playing around with my cross stitch software and I came up with this, all free handed:

I didn’t center it or put in the correct size, but this is something I think I will pursue in the colder months when I don’t have to worry about doing anything outside. You can tell it’s a mushroom, right? : ) Remember it’s a fantasy mushroom. I, of course, didn’t have time to cross stitch it. Brian got all excited (he bought me the software last year) and asked if I was going to stitch it up. I told him to think of a funny thing to do with mushrooms. I’m still waiting….
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Sep27

Amazing Race 8 runs around Pennsylvania!

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I missed the first 15 minutes of the new season of ‘The Amazing Race’ because it was usually on Wednesdays and we had ‘My Name is Earl’ on (this is rather quirky, but a little funny). I asked Sean to flip the channel and sure enough the family edition of TAR was on. They were in New York City looking for a hot dog cart that was being guarded by the 2 bald guys from Season 1.
So they find out they have to go to Washington Crossing, PA. Yes, where our founding father crossed the Delaware River. My college pal lived in near by Morrisville. Sesame Place is nearby too! So I think that most of them got lost. I just love our highways here in PA. I really liked the Black family who happened to be black. They had trouble crossing the river because of the current.
Next they went to camp out in Fairmount Park near Philly. They could see the ‘Filthydelphia’ skyline. I hope they had lots of police around. ; ) It’s near the Philly Zoo. Been to Fairmount at the Mann Music Center (several times) and my 10th high school reunion there at Memorial Hall.
Next they went to Mount Joy, PA. That’s near Lancaster and about 50 miles from here. I am bummed because we never heard anything about the show being in this area. They either had to pull a buggy with two people inside or build a shed with a water wheel. The first family crashed the buggy and disabled it and they had to then build the shed. The others who pulled the buggy had a heck of a time. 1.5 miles is further than you think.
This one family was awful. The mother is a heavy set woman who yelled at her husband and two teen sons all the time. I was hoping the Blacks would beat them to Lancaster for the pit stop, but no! So the nice family was out and that left the big mouths in!
They are headed for Gettysburg next week. I am wondering if they will go on to Ohio or DC next? Looks like an interesting race!
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Sep27

When my brothers were nice

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I tend to complain about my brothers. Some of the things they do have not been ‘right’ in the eyes of their only sister. So last night, when my brain wouldn’t shut down (I had bad knee pain), I thought about each guy and something they did that was unconditionally nice.
Dave-when I had my gallbladder out in 1987, I was in the hospital for several days. Sean was 9 months old and I missed him so! The doctor figured out it was a bum gallbladder when I started to turn yellow (lots of tests too). Anyway, Dave brought down his music cassette collection for me to listen to. I was deeply touched by him offering these to me. I also liked the way he gets all ‘dreamy-eyed’ when I use to talk about Sean when he was little. He does this now when Colleen or Ken talk about Kenny and Tori, their kids.
Don-I was really depressed as a high school junior. Deep down, I really wanted someone to care about me. I literally stopped eating for a month and went from 128 to 110 pounds. (I would love to be at 128 again). Don said that a boy I really liked was looking for me one day. (I missed almost 2 months of school that year-not all at once, but that’s a heck of a lot of time). That brought me out of my depression. I thank him for that. Thanks for your goodie packages too-he knows I love to get mail.
Ken-My little brother. I just think about him and feel mushy. He was always so cute. I thank him for helping out with our cars over the years, mom’s too. I thank him for the occassional kiss on the cheek. (Sniff).

Sep26

On the run again

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There was another flea market this week near mom’s. I love going to them this time of year before the foul weather envelopes us. I had just made that trip on Friday, but something had come in the mail for mom (jewelry), so I decided to go down. Mom wanted to actually walk around a flea market! This is the first time in a long time the two of us have been out together. The flea market wasn’t as big as the one we went to a few weeks ago. The first thing I bought was a small Penn State banner for Sean for a big ol’ $1. I was happy to get it for him. We each bought some things that caught our eye, my most expensive things were two Cherished Teddies figurines. The lady had so many cute ones it was hard to chose.
I want to make some Halloween items, so we headed to A.C. Moore. As I went in the door, a woman and I met eyes and I knew who she was right away. She looked away and went inside. So Cathy Simms from Penncrest HS, I remembered you!
We were in there a little while and then I asked if we could try JoAnns for the little fake pumpkins I needed since ACM didn’t have them. The JoAnns moved into this huge, beautiful store just this past Friday and they had everything I needed, plus some! I am getting that crafting bug again.
Mom and I went to McDonalds (I am going to blow up) and I watched a mentally challenged lady my age lick her fingers after every bite of food. I swear, I will be making ‘Sunday pot roast’ soon, after the sales. We saw another woman in there, dressed in a Henry Fonda outfit like from ‘In Golden Pond’ with the puffy vest and fisherman’s hat (it was in the high 70s today). Mom recognized her from the hospital thrift shop where she had cornered mom to talk politics-mumbo jumbo. I would have said, ‘get lost you crazy you know what’. You see all kinds.
Well my son made a face over the PSU banner asking where he would put it. I could have said ‘someplace’, but I refrained to use that language. Later, I gave him the only birthday gift I had bought him so far, a PSU license plate. I told him since he made such a stink over the little banner, no way was I saving the license plate for October. He commented, I shouldn’t spend the money and that he may not be going to the school in a few years. He isn’t taking to college life that well yet. He’s in the newspaper club (a good start), but he doesn’t stick around to meet people. Good luck son.

Sep24

Happy 75th Mom

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September 23, 2005
Dear Mom,
Today is a special day and I am delighted I am here to share the occasion of your 75th birthday. I am happy that most of us are here for you. Remember the others are here in spirit.
I wanted to write a cheery-remember when letter to you. Good stuff with lots of warm fuzzies to make you smile or even laugh a little. Where can I start?
How about the little performances that Don and I use to do for you and Mom-mom? He definitely outshone his big sister more than once. I like to say I made up for it by later being in the church choir and singing in front of the Cardinal of Philadelphia.
One time you and I were sitting on the sofa and I was drawing a lady who was in the TV Guide, I think she was on Little House on the Prairie. Anyway, we started to pass the drawing between the two of us and it turned out pretty good, maybe a little exaggerated, but good. I still have that drawing. And I am glad that you still draw.
The countless daytrips we made to places like The King of Prussia mall where we always got something to remember the day. Then there was the Downingtown Market-who can forget the sights and smells of that place-dust and cinnamon buns? How many paperbacks did you buy there and from Booth Corners?
Speaking of daytrips, why on earth would we take daytrips to places like Gettysburg and the Poconos? I remember the trip to Gettysburg seemed endless and it was really hot. We mainly walked around a shopping village that day. The trip to the Poconos had us tramping in the woods with Mom-mom.
Going to the shore was always an interesting experience. The time we stayed at Brownies cottage and spent the entire time driving the Rambler around looking for Monkees trading cards is a stand-out. And the 3rd floor apartment we rented in Wildwood was fun and interesting. Don dropping clothes to the open back trunk was a time saver. And then you and Mom-mom playing Bingo in your fancy dresses- well that memory will never fade.
And you made sure we all had gifts a plenty for birthdays and Christmas. We know you loved a good bargain. I know you passed that gene on to Sean and me.
Your creativity shows in so many ways, from your singing voice to the way you embellish gifts. Thanks for passing on those genes to the four of us in varying degrees. You always made due with what you had, making birthday parties and Halloween extra special.
I hope you enjoy today. Feel stronger and better.
Love always,
Dianne

Sep22

For my mom

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Mom and I always give flowers to each other on our birthdays.

Brian suggested that I give her a sampling of the flowers I grew.

It makes it a little more personal for sure. I hope they look good

in the morning for her birthday. I love the flowers that look

like orchids. I was trying to find the tag, but it’s gone. The

little statue is one she gave me and I thought it looked pretty

next to the flowers.

Sep22

A neat shot of my old classmate

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Thanks to my pal Julie out in California who actually got to see a filming of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in the L.A., CA. area. She is actually in this photo but she cut herself out. : (

What is neat about this photo-Paul is wearing a t-shirt from our old school-Penncrest. I think the casting agents who were at the local mall (behind Penncrest) probably were given this to give to Paul.

Julie says he and the rest of the cast were really nice and spoke to her and the other people watching quite a bit.

EM:HE may be in this area as mentioned above, so I’d love to meet them too. Crossing fingers.

Sep21

You know you are a lovely lady…

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….your skin is so nice!
Ok, back track. I’m standing in line at the post office like I do every week. A 30- something lady is a head of me in her black jeans covered with tiny white polka dots, causing a bit of a commotion over goodness knows what. I was still waiting my turn and she approached me and said the above. Huh? Oh thanks. (Ok, nice meeting you, be off!!) Hey you with the nice skin, have you heard of Mary Kay? (OMG) I have over 60 contacts and blah, blah and are you interested? I looked at her square in the eyes and said ‘Not really’. Ha. It was as though I had slapped her. Honestly, I just bought Sheer Cover from Leeza Gibbons and Melissa ‘half pint’ Gilbert from an infomercial and I like the stuff-hence the ‘nice skin’. I told her that her little girl was sweet and by then she was peeved and just waved me off as she left the post office. She didn’t know she was dealing with a saleslady with almost 3,000 transactions (so there!). Sean said she probably fed all prospective clients with the ‘nice skin’ line. I said, ‘Well thanks a lot Sean’. I felt all glowing and 30- something for a brief moment. Oh pooh!

Sep21

In the World of Nature…

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Ok gang,
I have a little paperback book from Barron’s Whiz Quiz called The World of Nature. Let’s see if you know the answers to a few of the questions. I had to think a bit, so you do the same. Write down your answers. No goggling!! Answers will be in the comment section of this post.
What mammal has the longest life expectancy?

how about another?

How old are the giant Sequioa trees in California?

and finally…

If a plant was to be described as sanative, what power will it have?