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.
May3

Historic Route One

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I travel down Rt 1 everytime I go see my mom. A lot has changed in the 18 plus years that we have lived 20 miles down the road. For one thing, it sure feels like more than 23 miles now. There are more traffic lights, more shopping centers, etc. It use to take about 30-35 minutes when Sean was little. Now it takes 45 min to 1 hour.
It is a historic area. The first very old town I pass through is Kennett Square. My maternal great grandfather lived here in the late 1800s for a year. Even though his stay was brief, he always talked about how much he liked it around here. Great gf did buy some land in Delaware at one time in his life that included a farmhouse and a short drive to the beaches down there.
Then I go past Longwood Gardens, founded by Pierre DuPont. The gardens are one of the most beautiful in this area. A few miles down, I drive through Chadds Ford where ‘The Village’ was just filmed a year and a half ago. Stop at the Chadds Ford Winery for a wine tasting. I go over the Brandywine River where the Brandywine River Museum is (I have the calendar shown on this webpage). A little ways down is the Brandywine Battlefield. We went there when I was little and my brother and I got yelled at for floating styrofoam coffee cups down a stream there. Sean’s been there for a school trip plus all the other neat museums nearby like Winterthur, Hagley and the Delaware Museum of Natural History. (I’ve never been to Winterthur myself).
If you are ever near this area, definitely the above places are worth a visit. Even down the road in Delaware County more (we live in Chester County) you will see the Wawa diary building across the street from the Franklin Mint. A little before this is the Newlin Grist Mill. In the nearby park, my brother and his wife had their wedding photos taken.
For your amusement check out Banjo the fence sitting horse and the beautiful Brandywine Valley countryside.
A little Brandywine Valley trivia:
The origin of the name Brandywine is unclear. Some say it comes from a story recounting the wreck of a Dutch ship at the mouth of the stream carrying “brandywine” – a potent Dutch spirit. Most historians, however, believe it comes from an early settler, Andreas Brainwende (or Brantwyn), who established one of the first grain mills on the lower river.

May2

May stitching goals

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Thanks to Mindy for reminding me!
So I have to finish Sean’s graduation present.
I am almost done the mortar board and need to make the tassel and do the lettering. I found a frame at the thrift shop, but was waiting to buy it as it was too expensive. I’ll probably end up buying one at Michaels or AC Moore because it won’t be there next time I go.
Love Quilts square- Robin Fledgings
Need to get the fabric out and put a few stitches in it though it’s not due until September.
Walk in the Woods-
I am loving this. I’ve done about three of the fancy letters and am on my second motif.
Smaller projects-
PS Santa (taking on trip): Swan(fixed it and am working on it a little at a time); herb garden on linen-that is a bugger, but I am almost half way finished it.
My mom wanted to draw a picture of an English Sheepdog for a friend, but I happen to have a cross stitch pattern for a doggie tag and will start that and maybe she can finish it up.

May2

Inkblots

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I took a rather long test where I had to examine ‘inkblots’.
Here are the results:
You are driven by a higher purpose than most people. You have a deeply-rooted desire to facilitate peacefulness in the world. Whether through subtle interactions with love ones, or through getting involved in social causes, it is important to you to influence the world.

You are driven by a desire to encourage others to think about the positive side of things instead of focusing on the negative. The reason your unconscious is consumed by this might stem from an innate fear of war and turmoil. Thus, to avoid that uncomfortable place for you, your unconscious seeks out the peace in your environment.

Usually, the thing that underlies this unconscious drive is a deep respect for humankind. You care about the future of the world, even beyond your own involvement in it. As a result, your personal integrity acts as a surrogate for your deeper drive toward peace and guides you in daily life towards decisions that are respectful toward yourself and others.

Though your unconscious mind is driven most strongly by Peace, there is much more to who you are at your core.
I have this in my email siggie:
To think bad thoughts is really the easiest thing in the world. If
you leave your mind to itself it will spiral down into ever
increasing unhappiness. To think good thoughts, however, requires
effort. This is one of the things that discipline – training – is
about.– James Clavell, in his novel “Shogun”
And I had this in the signature before I took the test. Interesting.

May2

Laura Leno Bush

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So everyone is talking about how the first lady was the highlight of a dinner on Saturday night for the White House Correspondents’ Association. She ‘interrupted’ the President and proceeded to charm the crowd. Her timing was great-telling how ‘Mr Excitement’ was in bed by 9pm so she watched ‘Desperate Housewives’.
I like Laura a lot. She reminds me of the Donna Reed character Mary in ‘What a Wonderful Life’ who was also a librarian at one time. And did you know she comes from a family of Democrats? This is so interesting to me for some reason. I know I would never change my political views for anyone. Some women vote exactly the same way as their husbands do. I think deep down Laura is a ‘leaner’ toward ‘the other party’.
Anyway here’s another blurp from the article I was reading:
Mrs. Bush took another jab at the president as he announced a preservation award being given to Bolduc Historic Properties, which maintains three houses in a French Colonial settlement in St. Genevieve, Mo., along the Mississippi River.

“The restoration of the 18th Bolduc House has attracted visitors from around the country …” Bush said.

“Eighteenth century,” Mrs. Bush said, correcting the president.

“You’ve become a comedian and an editor,” Bush deadpanned.


Apr30

Taught him well…at least at some things…

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What a dreary day here! I did a little flower planting late yesterday-some snapdragons, the mini-marigolds and some chamomile in the fairy garden. It looks colorful and sweet.
Sean went to the ‘after prom’ event from 11 pm-5 am last night. He didn’t attend the prom, but the after prom event is open to all juniors and seniors. They started this about 6+ yrs ago so the kids had something ‘fun’ to do after the prom. They have door prizes, including a car. Sean didn’t win the car. I had trouble sleeping as I was wondering how he was holding up. No problem-he came right home and crashed until lunchtime.
So in my subject line I am talking about Sean-he is so neat and tidy with his clothes. His father is the opposite! I asked Brian to come back in the bedroom to pick out some shirts, etc for our trip. I dumped about 40+ shirts on the bed. He said he didn’t have that many clothes before I did this! He forgets what he has! They were stinky, like they needed a good airing out. So I washed half of them today though I wasn’t really up to it. He just wants to wear t-shirts and shorts. Surprise-he’s taking a couple of polo shirts to wear out to dinner. I folded all the shirts ‘just so’ and separated them (I am a perfectionist to some degree) by color and design. I can guarantee you that they will be all messed up in a month’s time. This is what happens when you marry someone whose mom was still washing his undies at age 27! I just inherited all the stuff she use to do for him. And he doesn’t really care if he looks clean and polished at all. Sean does. I found a steamer that gets the wrinkles out of clothes and he used it today. At least one cares, and the other is a lost cause.

Apr29

The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies

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The above exhibit is coming to the Franklin Institute in the fall. The reporter for Action news went to Chicago to preview this unusual display of real bodies. They are preserved with a special plastic. Not sure if the squeamish could handle it. I was ok looking at it on the tv, but wonder what it would be like to see a pregnant lady with an 8 month old fetus dissected in half. This is such an 20th century exhibit! They even have a ‘store’ with mousepads, watches, etc. displaying the bodies. Maybe that is kinda overdoing it. All the bodies used were from people who donated their bodies to science. There are over 200 of them in the exhibit. Be sure to check out the ‘body facts’ page.


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Apr29

Seems like I’m blogging alot, I know…

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Actually I’m getting it out of my system as I probably won’t be near a computer for 4 days from the 6th-9th because of our Florida trip. We can’t wait! Brian is a bit anxious as he hasn’t been on a plane since 1989. I am praying my sinuses will be clear and I won’t have to use the bathroom too much on the plane. And damn that ‘Lost’ show! Funny how you worry about dumb things. Hey John Travolta, come get us! (he’s a pilot too). I was just suffering so much with my nose and throat today. My nose feels like it’s closing up and it’s burning. Flonase is helping, but I bet I’ll have to take a dose of Sudafed tomorrow. Crossing fingers.
Watched one of the best contestants get the boot tonight on ‘Survivor’. Here she’s a local girl from Glenolden, PA. Brian just happen to work in the same town for 13 yrs. Bet she knows the company he worked for too! She’s a ‘Prendy’ girl, went to the burb Catholic girl’s high school. I know other grads from that school (one was in my wedding party). Pretty neat. I usually pick up a local accent, but she didn’t seem as ‘Philly’ as Paul from Extreme Makeover:Home Edition.
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I didn’t plant outside, too windy. I got hung up repotting indoor plants. I did about 10 plants from Prayer Plants to Christmas cacti before I ran out of potting soil. I have another bag outside though. I’d like to combine the leftover cacti into one big pretty pot. They are one of my favorite plants. I also have a windowsill full of African violets. I do have a green thumb, don’t I? Wish me well with my sinuses. : )