Category Archives: brother(s)

Mar1

Photo Hunt-Party/Wooden

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PSHunt
Grab the Scavenger Hunt code.Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.


This is my mom’s birthday last year and my youngest brother is giving her the cupcakes that I made to blow out the candles. I like the way he is looking at her here.

My brother is a master mechanic and has permanently stained arms, not really dirty ones. ; )

and for the 23rds hunt Wooden (I am late, didn’t feel much like doing it as I heard my estranged father had passed on).
Sean’s clipboard

This is my son’s clipboard with beautiful inlaid wood that he doesn’t use. I was looking through papers in his room and came across this a few weeks ago. He had received it as a gift.

Feb23

Mom got a phone call

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Last night, my estranged brother called up my mom! He hadn’t talked to her since November of ’06. Said he wants to come back to PA to live. His family is up here and he’s alone and getting older. I know it had to do with what happened over the last day and I guess it got him thinking. He said he wants to sit and talk to me face to face-oh joy. He’s the one who basically only listens to his own opinions. This should be an interesting year ahead.

I’m not sure if my father turned Catholic. I found the info that my cousin’s friend must have saw-that he is having a memorial mass in his name, which isn’t the same as the religious mass. Maybe a priest or someone felt bad for him. It feels weird and all, but I lost him a long time ago, especially when he decided to be physically abusive to me and my family. I don’t share this with everyone, but when I was little, around 2-4, I slept on a cot at the top of the stairs in our first home. I would sneak in my grandmom’s room and snuggle with her until my father pulled me out of my safe haven and tossed me on the cot again, under the light that was on all night. I didn’t have a real bed until I was about 5 or 6. He also took my beloved pacifier and threw it down that same hallway and I never cared for him after that. I absolutely loved my grandmom’s brother-in-law, Uncle Al and he had to hold me all the time. When my father tried to hold me, I’d cry. My father did buy me a Barbie I begged for and got me a pink and green dress with a matching shoulder bag one time. That’s all the nice I remember. When my parents divorced in 1972, we all went to court and he wouldn’t even look at us. I can remember what I was wearing- a white knit top with the outline of a sequin star on the front.  That’s the last time I saw him except for a photo he sent my older brother about 1985.

Once he took off with my little brother in the car for hours and my mom and grandmom started to get worried. I don’t think Ken was more than 2. He did bring him back, of course.

He loved Oregon so much and missed it. My mom lived out west in San Francisco for a year but she missed PA and was about to have my older brother, so they came back.

My father’s relatives are really nice people. I have some interesting family history through them too-my great grandfather was one of the first forest rangers and my gr-grandmom wrote a book about her life called ‘Honeymoon on Horseback’. I have a copy! And there’s a park and maybe a stream (or water source) named after my great gf. 

My cousin compiled that great book on our family and sent me a copy a few years ago. I didn’t know that my paternal family arrived through Maine until I received that book!

So although I had a black sheep for a father, the people around him (though not my paternal grandfather) were always nice to us, especially my cousin and her mother and sister-who I met with her husband when I was little.

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I was going to do the Photo Hunt, but I didn’t get around to taking my wooden photo item yet.

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I’m so proud of Sean! He donated blood to help kids with cancer. He never did this before and felt a little woozy, but he’s pretty psyched too. He got a free t-shirt out of it too!

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I got the jewelry shown below-love the necklace! The  earrings are much bigger than pictured and too big for me. If anyone wants them, they are about 2″ long and still in their packaging. They are suppose to be red, but are more brown.

Feb22

A passing

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I opened my email a few hours ago to see a note from my cousin in Oregon entitled Dad. I had a feeling what it was going to be about and I was correct, my father had passed away on February 16th, a little over a month past his 77th birthday. He was a sad man who lived alone and bothered with none of his four children and had never met his 5 grandchildren. I hadn’t seen him since about 1972-in divorce court. I had spoken to him a few times on the phone over the years, nothing memorable. Ann only found out as a friend of hers who read about his passing in the paper. Said he had a Catholic mass said for him. That was a surprise to us! So if he had just turned Catholic, maybe it helped him pass away in peace at the end. I called my mom and she did cry. She said it was so sad that his life turned out the way it did. He was her only spouse. I then called my two brothers and they were not too surprised. I have another brother who is acting just like our dad, so I will not be phoning him, I’ll let my younger brother take care of that.

CAK at Longwood Gardens 1950s

I see him in Sean, but Sean can look like him, just don’t act like him.

Feb11

Great Grammy program

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It seemed like it was more of 3.5 hours of a musical extravaganza than an awards show this year. It was the 50th anniversary, and they did a wonderful job of entertaining us for all that time. The View just showed the highlight of the evening-Herbie Hancock, Lang Lang and a full orchestra doing their rendition of ‘Rhapsody in Blue’. Loved seeing Beyonce booging with 68 yr old Tina Turner. And the opening number with Alicia Keyes singing along with old film footage of Frank Sinatra was awesome too.
Keyes sings with ol’Blue eyes

I spent the time stitching the zebra, who seems ok now, not a stitch off or anything. I am also clipping magazines-and being really selective about what I am clipping. I am looking for images for my art cards/collages and some recipes and craft ideas. I happened upon an article about thyroid issues. I was told I didn’t have a problem, but one of the woman had ‘normal’ readings and had 3 or 4 different opinions before a specialist said she had a thyroid problem. I think mine gets wonky maybe? I plan to have a physical after Brian gets his bloodwork results back. Frankly, I am nervous as my nerves have been tested a bit these last few months.

My brother had a meltdown about my mom’s house yesterday. I knew he would sooner or later as he is trying to do too much in too short a time. I was angry to hear he threw an nice tall boy kind of desk away. I had spent a long time scrapping paint off it years ago. It’s made out of an unusual wood too. I am so glad I got my great aunt’s hutch out of there years ago! I love antiques. I wish I could help more, but I can’t lift. I can sort, I can take stuff to the Goodwill. I can certainly dust and clean. I think he needs to take a break and do something he likes.

I’m probably going out later to mail some books. I got a half.com sale too-probably a book I had listed for over two years-I need to find it!

And it was about 10 degrees out this morning and around 2 where Sean is. Speaking of Sean, he needs to get his housing issue settled soon. I need to proof a paper for him too.

Jan27

The old meat grinder

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I just got back from my mom’s a little bit ago. It is starting to look a lot different in there. My brother was working in my mom’s room (along with his son), Colleen in the kitchen (God bless her for doing that room) and I took down the Christmas tree (with the help of my sweet niece) and was going through things in the living room. I had to have allergy problems today of all days, but I persevered-look what they all had tackled before I even got there! I went out in the kitchen and saw the old meat grinder that my grandmom used to make those last few pieces of turkey, ham or roast beef stretch into croquettes or ‘deviled’ sandwiches. I asked what was going to happen to it and Colleen said Ken wanted it. Of course he did as he remembers being a little tyke and turning the handle to help our grandmom. He loved her so much.

I told my brother not to throw out books as I would take them to the Goodwill. I have to make a trip there sometime this week. I don’t believe in throwing out literature unless it is musty or soiled.

I’m having some tea and trying to ease my achy back a bit. I had to console my mom a few times, but I think she is now seeing the big picture. It couldn’t stay like that.

Jan22

Brrrrr

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It’s so cold around a lot of the country these last few days. I really bundle up when I have to go out. My newest coat with the down is super warm. It helped me in my ice cold van on the way to the eye doctor in Wally World this afternoon. I didn’t think I’d be able to go as I had some tummy upset in the morning, but I was ok by the afternoon. I only needed a slight adjustment to my lens, so I have the option to get new specs or not. The only ‘problem’- the pressure in my eyes was high normal-over 20. I am going back next Monday for a quick check of that and may pick out new glasses. If she feels I need to go to my regular ophthalmologist, then I will. I told her I had my eyes checked in August for dryness, they did the same test and didn’t say anything. She replied you can’t get glaucoma in 5 months. Brian joined me and his eyes are good. He can swing by with his drugstore glasses for reading.

My brother is getting a dumpster at my mom’s and is really going to toss a bunch of stuff. She seems ok with it. I volunteered to go through boxes, but I can’t lift stuff. He said he’s not going to do it all at once. I hope it helps her a lot. I know she worries about it a bunch. Now to keep her out of the stores. Brian doesn’t think it’s solving the problem as she’s a hoarder through and through. I applaud my brother for taking action.

More tomorrow.

Jan8

Happy birthday Ken!

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My youngest brother Ken is blowing out 41 candles today! So I wanted him to be a girl so badly all those years ago. The first time I saw him, well I wanted to be his 3rd mommy (he had my mom and grandmom living under the same roof too) and forgot the sister wish. I think he’s come a long way over the years. He’s a great family man and can build just about anything! He’s a nice and funny guy who is in some ways like Elvis (who would have had a birthday today too). He can sing and play guitar and looks a wee bit like Elvis too. Hope he has a great evening.

Ken and family
Ken and family-this past Halloween!  See the lovely crown moulding and pillars-he put them in himself!

Dec14

Still here!

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Yes I am! Just trying to get things tidied up and the way that looks best. I don’t know where to store some of my art supplies as I am using my living room, where the tree is, as my art studio! What would be ideal is a long, open up bench in front of my bay window to store all the goodies in. Maybe someday.

I did get my snowbabies in the above mentioned window and will photograph it for the 17th. I think I’ll be making a slide show for the Christmas house tour. : ) My family room isn’t finished yet though. I also want Bri to help me deep clean the berber in there as I can see soiled areas (this drives me batty).

My poor sinuses are bothering me from handling the dusty boxes and just stirring dust up in general. Yesterday morning I sat up in bed and had a coughing attack, not to pleasant. I used my BioAllers before bed last night (which made me have slight post nasal) and I am somewhat better today.

My poor mom is having all kinds of things start to break on her-the dishwasher won’t pump in water and two of her burners on the stove don’t work. I called my brother Ken last night to see if he could look at these and he asked why our mom didn’t call and I said she was afraid he’d get mad if she did! He’s the son for goodness sakes. I said Bri has his dad to worry about and doesn’t even get to his house that often, so it would be hard for him to help mom too. My brother lives minutes away from her house as it is. I know he gets frustrated when he goes in there as it’s so disorganized. But you’ve gotta do, what ya gotta do. I am crazy about Ken, my little brother. He can do anything, is funny and handsome all rolled into one package.

I was hoping to get to mom’s today, not sure if she is up to company, but I think today would be better than tomorrow.

By the way, Mark Wahlberg and Susan Sarandon were shooting scenes for their upcoming movie ‘The Lovely Bones’ in a Delaware County mall near where I worked in a daycare center. I thought that was pretty interesting and would love to be nosy to see, but they aren’t mingling with the public.
From My Big Fat, Friggin Head:

There is a major motion picture being filmed in my hometown of Glenolden this week. And the set that they are using is the Mac Dade Mall, which is the shopping mall that my mother managed for nearly 30 years. It is quite literally the mall that I grew up in.

Today, the mall is practically abandoned, the victim of much bigger area malls and the local Walmart which drove most of the remaining business away. But this made it perfect for a movie set. They remodeled the empty stores inside to look like a mall from the 70’s. It’s quite beautiful. I saw the inside last week. First time in my life I ever got to walk around a movie set as they were building it. I did not get pics of the inside, but others did and they are floating around on the web.

My local stitcher pal Mindy got to meet Michael Nutter the newly elected mayor of Philly a few days ago. Awesome!

Have a great weekend and make some ‘me’ time for yourself.

Dec6

Winter wonderland

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We got about 3″ or so of snow and the temps dropped drastically. Bri had to go down a steep side street and was sliding as he went. I could tell he was shook up when he came in, but he was nice enough to go through McDs and get their yummy chicken strips and a salad for me. I made baked potatoes too. I just am not doing well with cooking. We also need to go to the store as I think of something to have and we don’t have the meat or whatever. I made a Rachael Ray 30 minute recipe a few nights ago and over salted what would have been tasty turkey burgers. I used ‘Italian’ flavored turkey, so I should have left that alone.  Bri ate some for lunch yesterday too, I don’t like over spicy stuff.

I did find a cute new Gund Piglet and receiving blankets that Brian gave the lady at work.  Receiving blankets may turn into the child’s lovies when he gets older.

Today I’m kinda of ‘going through the motions’ as I am thinking about tomorrow. My brother left me a comment here that wasn’t suppose to be public about how he was still angry about last year. My mom had sent him a birthday card and ‘stirred the pot’. I get emails of my comments and when I saw his name, I called Bri in before I opened it as I haven’t heard a word from him in over a year. I was hoping he would say he’s sorry about what’s going on his me, etc. but no, it was all about him. So I feel like he divorced me! I am trying to get my mind off things. My Christmas cards are almost filled out and then decorating more is next. In my family we never really did Christmas decorating until we were all home for Christmas break. Bri’s parents (use to) and my brother (still) put up their trees on Christmas eve. I don’t plan to bake until the 19th or later as I give cookies as gifts and want them to be fresh. So although I am going through stuff, I feel I’m on schedule. ; ) I applaud my pals who have everything ready.

Jul4

Happy Independence Day

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Fireworks!

And Happy Birthday to Dave!

We’re planning on grilling ‘something’. My mom was suppose to come here yet again but it fell through (and she was bringing steaks!!). Sean went to get the oil changed in his car and sat and sat waiting. He never did get it changed and by the time he left it was 4:45 and Mom was a bit peeved about it and said to forget about him picking her up. I hope Sean will be making better decisions at the main campus as he should have left after an hour of waiting, especially if some sale was going on. Not sure if Mom will come out tomorrow or if someone, probably me will have to get her. Sean is working all day. I am making the food. I doubt Brian will go down for her as he drives so much during the week. She wants to drive herself, but that makes me nervous as she is wearing old glasses as she never found her newer ones.

I fiddled around here, cut down weeds, planted some yard long beans, zinnias and teddy bear sunflowers (seeds from last year) and realized I needed to get a few picnic necessities at the market. My father-in-law is coming over and he hasn’t been here since Easter. He usually eats and leaves. Right now the yard with the shade is a mess because of the chestnut tree fuzzies called catkins (I finally looked it up and they are the male part of the chestnut). We do have a nice table with an umbrella on the back patio.
I hope everyone has a nice day-and try to relax!

Check out this cool night blooming waterlily video

Red Flare from konapete and Vimeo.

Taken minutes ago right before the rain hit. It’s been a rainy evening here in Philly. You should see the people on the Parkway in the city!

From our driveway!