Category Archives: Brian

Sep4

It ain’t easy

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We just got back from Bri’s dad’s house. Bri had to go over there twice today. His dad made an 8:15 doctor’s appt and Bri went with him and then went back to work. About 12:30, the phone rang here and ‘Pops’ had slipped off his bed and tried for ½ hour to get himself up to no avail. Bri came home to get his dad’s house keys and grab a sandwich. When we got there, Bri had to literally scrap his dad up off the floor. We had to locate a place that rented walkers. We also bought him a cane. This is fine and dandy, but Bri can’t be running back and forth to his house which takes 45 minutes to one hour to get there. He’s got to swallow his pride and accept help. He’s going to make Bri sick.

Sep3

Opps, I did it again…

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A few months ago, I drove into a water filled crater and put a bubble in my left rear tire. This happened as I was putting a package in the correct mailbox down the road to save the mailman from doing it. Bri had to jack up the car, take off the damaged tire and put on the ‘donut’-spare tire and reverse the process.  Well today, I was stopping at the bank to tap the MAC machine and misjudged a curb that is at the left as you turn in. The bank is off a busy road going through Kennett, and I am always afraid someone is going to rear end me there. Well I went over the curb like I was in the General Lee on the old Dukes of Hazzard show! Repeat above with Bri, but it’s the front left tire with the big bubble in it. My neck is complaining a little, but I managed to do the week’s food shopping, so think I’m ok-it wasn’t like I flew 10 feet in the air, just came down with a bump. The seat belt really went tight on the left side, where it happens to bother me anyway. And I was in that area to mail off all goodies for people too. Darnit!  So that’s my story, and I’m sticking with it.

Hoping for a peaceful night.

Sep1

A little daytrippin’

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I can’t believe it’s September already!

Bri and I went down to Dover, De today. It’s about 50 miles one way and takes an hour. Not much to see, just some marshy areas with egrets and I saw a whole family in one area. Every once in a while, there is a housing development. There are places I want to see and photograph like Lum’s Pond (about 20 miles away-we went there for a company picnic years ago) and Odessa (about 30, but they decorate the old homes for Christmas). I did take a photo of the St. George’s bridge:

This is over the Chesapeake and Delaware Canals (thus named) and taken at over 50 mph. The average speed limit on this stretch of road to Dover was 65 mph. That just seems to fast to us.

Hit a big sale at Atlantic Books warehouse-buy two, get one free. I shop the middle of the store where the bargain books are Bri tends to shop the perimeter where they aren’t on sale, but he was thinking the sale, though he picked out only two books that were over $20 each. Now I really have to love a book to pay that much. When we were checking out, I tossed one of my books in with his-got a $9.00 book for free. I guess we saved $25 on the total sale. I was very selective. I may sell a few of the ones I bought anyway.

We ate dinner at 3:30, having skipped lunch, at The Olive Garden-good parmesan crusted Talapia! Oh, I got a new postage scale at the Office Depot so I will know how much stuff over a pound will cost to ship. I can use click and ship now too!

It was nice to spend some time with Bri as he’s back to work tomorrow.

I’ve been going through links and adding some and taking some out. I think I have some awesome ones to share.

Aug31

Lazy Day

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I truly had one of those days on Saturday that I didn’t feel guilty about. I took my time watching some shows on Bravo that I had missed because of the Democratic Convention. I stitched and frogged some stitching on the sleeping kitty. I wish when designers did the black symbols, that they would make them nice and dark when they print them out. I have been penciling out as I go, still lost my place. When I went to erase, took a lot of the symbol away. Grrrrgh.

I also made a really neat item for a Wizard of Oz swap with a fellow crafty blogger. I had all I wanted to use, plus some and just didn’t sit down to assemble it right away. When I finally did, it took about 15 minutes to get the main area done. As a hint, I am using a collage I made for my desktop and adding to that.

Found a really cute idea on Flickr. I love that site-so many talented photographers and craftspeople. A young lady, Ruby, turned ‘Mini pops’ into a cross stitched project. They are famous little people, say Indiana Jones, that are really tiny. She said she opened a gif file in her paint program to print out the figures and then graphed them.

I tried my hand at it today. Can you guess who these guys are?

They may be a little larger than Ruby’s, but these are the Fab Four from the movie ‘Sergeant Pepper’.

Bri’s dad isn’t doing well on a mega dose of antibiotics. I suggested that if he goes over to his house and doesn’t like what he sees, that he should take him to the ER pronto. Pops says he is weak on his legs and isn’t eating a lot. I think he should be in assisted living until he feels better, but Bri swears that comes out of pocket. Not if the doctor wants him in there, I think the insurance would help. Anyone know? He could maybe get a visiting nurse to help him with his wounds.

If Bri’s dad is ok, we may take a daytrip tomorrow. And if my shoulder is better too. Seems it acts up once in a while. Bri suggested I sit sideways on the massager and it hit an area on my shoulder blade that made it tingle and hurt.

Two answers from my movie meme from a little while ago:
#1 Life and death. Space and time. Fate and chance. Theses are the forces of the universe. Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you a man who has unlocked these mysteries. From the furthest corners of the world where the dark arts still hold sway he returns to us to demonstrate how nature’s laws may be bent. I give you ……. The Illusionist!

#6 A scout has a certain look… Kit Carson, for example. You look like… a muleskinner!
Uh, General I don’t know anything about mules…
Lieutenant, it’s amazing how I can guess the profession of a man just by looking at him! Notice the bandy legs, the powerful arms. This man has spent years with mules. Isn’t that right?
Uh, yes sir!
Hire the muleskinner! –Little Man, Big Man-you must see this movie. : )

I made a desktop collage of this movie a few years ago:

Also did Joy Luck Club and Memoirs of a Geisha:

And of course I couldn’t forget Ferris Bueller’s Day Off:


Aug24

It’s all about Joe

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Since Senator Biden is fairly a ‘local boy’ (born in Scranton, PA), close to both Philly and Wilmington, the news is all about him and the people camping out at his home in Greenville, New Castle County, DE (there is also a Greenville in Kent Co., DE). I like to hear that people sit next to him in church, and see him out and about. He’s been teaching at Widener U law school p.t. since 1991. (My mom worked at the Widener campus in Chester, PA and I attended there a few months-hard school).

Here’s a map of how close the ‘maybe’ next VP lives from me. How cool (his birthday is the day after mine-Nov. 20th)!

Makes me want to take a drive down there to see where he lives! It’s not a very big town and you definitely would not miss it (you know the expression of if you sneeze, you’d miss it) as it has some lovely homes and scenery.

I think a lot of us locals feel we know Biden personally as he’s been a senator so long. He’s had some really down moments in his life-

His 1st wife and infant daughter died in a car accident shortly after he was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972. His two young sons, Beau and Hunter, were seriously injured in the accident, but both eventually made full recoveries. Biden was sworn into office from their bedside. Persuaded not to resign in order to care for them, Biden began the practice of commuting an hour and a half each day on the train from his home in the Wilmington suburbs to Washington, DC, which he continues to do.

In February 1988, after suffering from neck pains, Biden was hospitalized and underwent lifesaving surgery to correct two brain aneurysms, one of which began leaking.[6] The hospitalization and recovery kept him from the Senate for seven months.

From Wikipedia

Biden is a politician through and through!

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Sean is doing well, getting use to living in an apartment and buying his own groceries. Seems the only thing he forgot was a trash can and bags. He can walk a 20 minute walk to the campus or take a bus. Today he took his car to go to church. He’s been visiting with some old pals. Tomorrow classes start.

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I was a cleaning fool yesterday. I think it helped me not to think about Sean driving 160 miles. I even got Bri in the act! He got out the Murphy’s Oil soap and did some of the floors in the living room. Men have such great upper arm strength, that the floor shone! He failed to lift a few area rugs to get the dirt from under them. I worked so hard in the living room, I neglected the family room. Mom and friend dropped by to bring back my tote bag with my latest read and cross stitch project in it and they sat in the messy family room. You want to see my latest XS?

It sure doesn’t look clear here-rats! I think the camera focused on the chart. It’s called ‘Sleeping Kitty’ by Ellen Maurer Stroh. I’m doing it on fabric I think I bought from Carol S. I usually don’t start in the middle (at the top) and I’m finding it harder to keep my place, thus the pencil marks. I don’t think it will take long to finish.

Need to do some art one of these days. I’m stalling working on a Wizard of Oz swap. I have 3 weeks, but I really want to think of something neat for my partner. I have the main piece I will collage and most of the materials gathered. It’s just to sit down and get cracking!

Oh! I’ve been using the back massage chair cushion (Shiatsu by Homedics-my mom has one we bought her too) we have and I think it’s helping! Yeah! When the chiropractor made me lay on a table with the same principle of ‘faux’ massage, the lightbulb went off to start using mine again. Even Bri’s been using it.

Monday will be the first day I’ve been alone since the 15th!

Aug21

Adding insult to injury

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Today I am feeling that lighthouse climb even more. The front of my thighs hurt yesterday, but they are really complaining today. As is my back. Thank goodness for the heating pad, icy hot and massage pad! I went out last night and started to pull weeds. Then I was pulling grass out of the brick sidewalk. I even had Bri leaning over pulling grass out of it. Martha Stewart is pulling weeds (maybe), they are so bad this year. You can see why I’m so sore. It’s a good pain as I feel like I did something worthwhile. Sean bought me a weedwacker last year, but it’s so big, or I am so short (even after adjusting the handle part) I have trouble using it.

I will say the pond looks nice, despite the weeds. I have to get the fountain part to work again, more leaning over:

I have a few different kinds of water plants in there besides waterlilies (which didn’t bloom in either water container I have them in). I have water hyacinth and a Canna lily plus that plant that looks like little umbrellas. The waterfall has a piece of old tv glass in it.

Bri is with his dad today as he has a sore on his stomach that won’t heal-he’s at the wound center of the hospital over near where he lives. He was in the hospital about 4 yrs ago with one on his leg. Daddo is also having dental problems and can’t chew that well. It will take over a month for his bridge to be fixed. I think the time may be near for him to move into an assisted living place. He’s getting frail and I know he is probably lonesome. I bet he would be popular as he likes to tell jokes and talk about money. Bri would have to fix up the old homestead over there-like get a new roof and some cosmetic things. It’s in a nice area on the other side of Chester County.

Sean wants to go to Walmart soon and I need to get a few things too.

And thanks so much to Jennifer from Sweet Pea Stitches for this award:

I send it back to her:

I’m to pick 7 blogs altogether and tell the recipients they got the award.

Ok, this is difficult, but I pick:

Carole of Pea’s Corner

Barb of Mainely Stitching

Zoey of Perennial Passion

Lee of Lake Stitcher

Kelli of There is no place like home

Emily of The Floss Box.

Aug20

Atlantic City & attractions 2008

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Atlantic City & attractions 2008, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

Here’s a mosaic from our trip-view the large one at the above link or go to the slideshow of the set here. Unfortunately, some of the photos were cut off a bit. Sunday-we basically just stayed around the hotel and went to the mall for dinner. Monday we went to the beach after having the hotel’s breakfast buffet. While we were on the beach, we heard the roar of planes coming very close, almost like one was going to crash in the ocean! Here is was the USAF Thunderbirds flying team practicing for their show today. It was neat at first, but after 45 minutes, it was a bit loud. That night we went to the outlet shops near by and bought a few clothes items (that’s basically all there was). Sean bought me a candle as he was getting a bit short with me about things. I couldn’t help it if ‘Aunt Flo’ decided to visit me during the trip. To prove that I could do it, I climbed the Absecon lighthouse as described below-ouch! The front of my thighs are complaining! After we left there, we headed to Margate where Lucy the Elephant is located. It’s over 100 years and a mascot for the area. You can go up in her, but I just couldn’t do the climbing again. We found a excellent deli (Downbeach) and we all loved what we had-mom said it was the best pastrami she has had for a long time. We decided to stop at Smithville, a quaint little shopping area on the way home. We hadn’t been there for a while, and it doesn’t change much. I bought a tiny hummingbird feeder from a store that sold all bird related things (that’s what they basically were-all Ireland, all angels, etc). to put in the window where my craft table is.

I haven’t felt that tired for a long time when we got home and it took me a few hours to fall asleep, but I stayed asleep for a solid 4-5 hours which is good for me. Mom or I haven’t done that kind of walking for ages. I’m really happy that she did so well in that aspect. Sleeping there was another story.

Oh, and Cosmo was glad to see us and not too stand-offish. He seems really tired, I guess he was pining after me!

Aug11

Finally some rain

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Bri kept telling me it was going to rain-he must have known. I did go out and water my plants as it was so nice and cool for a change. I had more energy to do so as it wasn’t humid. I also picked a few flowers to photograph in these cute little vases I have. I’ll share on I photo shopped as a ‘sneak peek’ for Saturday’s Photo Hunt:

I love that Paint Shop Pro!

Ever have a pretzel from ‘The Pretzel Factory’? They are pretty good and we got 10 for $5 plus chocolate and cinnamon dipping sauces. I believe the yeast plays havoc with your digestive as we all took Rolaids. Or it was my homemade tomato sauce (?), but I added a pinch of baking soda to it to help with the acidity. The sauce was good (tasted so fresh) and while we ate, it poured outside. We needed the rain so badly.

My shoulder area is better, but I’ll still go see the chiropractor tomorrow. It’s not my only issue. My neck on the left has been hurting off and on and my knees aren’t that great. We’ll see what happens-never been to one before! My uncle was teasing me-saying that first he’ll use the little rubber hammer, then a metal hammer and I better watch out for the tongs! He had a good laugh, which was music to my ears.

I’m sorting out my papers and craft stuff, or I’d show you a photo of the desk. Bri couldn’t believe it was messed up already. I had to take a break. ; )

Was a bit teary-eyed to see the American male swimmers on the relay team (Michael Phelps was one of them) take the gold a little bit ago! They were hooting and hollering!

Aug10

A desk with a view

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This was all yesterday:

Since Bri and I were flying solo (Sean made a day trip to a Delaware Beach), we got moving on my craft area. I’m not saying everything is honky dorie yet, but things are in place. It has a great view of the overgrown butterfly bush and the butterflies that have been visiting there. Lots of dust and sorting. Uggha. So my ‘antique’ Shaker desk is now under my dining room window. It’s painted a funky blue-will have to do something with the paint. It’s ‘sister’ desk was stripped somewhat by me and use to hold the microwave in the kitchen. We made the switcher-roo between the blue and the wood (blue was in the guest room, the wood in the basement). We had to put our teak tea cart in the basement for now-hated to, no room up here. I may offer it to a family member, but it’s not in the best of shape. May end up getting rid of it in the long run. It served it’s purpose. Just taking all the crap stuff off the dining room table and moving it to the desk a big difference. That’s my plan. I really need a super cute storage unit with drawers. The plastic boxes look ugly. When I get it a bit more tidied up, I’ll post a photo.

Sean got home around 7-it was really crowded down in Delaware. They tried Rehoboth first, no parking whatsoever-ended up down the road in Dewey. I was glad to have found a coupon for buy one, get one free at a popular pizza place down there for $10. Mentally I’m taking the $10 of the price of the $35 coupon book. I usually get my money’s worth out of it. : ) Sean has sunburn only on one upper arm. It was probably the way he was sitting on the beach. We go to Atlantic City in a week. Just saw where a guy fell off the escalator where we will be staying (he was sitting on the arm and got killed-geez).

I hope you got to see the opening ceremony of the Olympics-what a techno fabulous show! My mom called me to see if I had it on as she was so impressed by it all. Terrible about the Americans hurt (killed) there.

Sorry to hear about the passing of Bernie Mac-just his facial expressions made you laugh.

Better go to bed soon as we need to go to church tomorrow. I hope my sinuses will forgive me for all the dust I inhaled today.

One of my latest creations-she’s eating glitter-opps:
Hope ATC

Don’t the jewels look real-they’re stickers! The lady is from a Victorian inspired catalog. The painting they offer of her is called a ‘yard long’ as she’s 36″ long. I wanted to try some new rubber stamps too.

Aug3

The Dark Knight

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Sean wanted to see The Dark Knight for a few weeks now. Seems most of his pals had seen it and raved about it (young 20s raving about a movie isn’t going to be a movie a late 40s is necessarily going to want to see). I was kinda hoping Brian would step up and go with him, but good ol’ ma with her bad back sat for 2 1/2 hours of gravelly voices, things exploding and moving too fast and watching Heath Ledger give the performance of his short lifetime. He probably had to dig really deep to pull out the scariness of The Joker. He scared me good! Christian Bale is a great Batman, but this really was Heath’s movie.

I could not believe a couple had their two little girls, I’d say 3 and 2 to see that movie! They walked around a lot, but it was way too graphic and loud for them. The scariest movie Sean saw as a 3 yr old was ‘The Little Mermaid’.

We ate at a Red Robin restaurant which was good. Sean said the burgers rivaled Ruby’s Diner. I had some fried shrimp and fries which were good.

I am still suffering off and on with my right back shoulder blade area. Certain seating bothers me more, and the computer chair is one of them. I have a little pillow behind me. I also broke down and took an Advil which tends to be rough on my tummy.

So that was my day.

Bri’s worked his tail off in the yard over the last few days. Yesterday he trimmed the forsythia and today he cut the grass and did a little weed whacking until the cord ran out. Not sure how to wind it back on as I never did on this newer one before. It looks nice out there.

Hopefully I’ll get the art table set up this week.