Category Archives: family

Sep23

Happy Birthday Mom!

Posted on Sunday, September 23, 2007 by Dianne

Mom (Jeanne) and I are very close. I hope this turns out to be a lovely day for her. I spent at least 1.5 hours wrapping her gifts and they look pretty in their fuchsias, pinks and raspberry papers.

And the cupcakes I made and decorated:

My brother is having us all at his place for dinner. There is also a flea market doing on-hmmm…maybe we can hit that first! ; )

We had a nice evening as you can see. Colleen and Ken outdid themselves (mostly C) with the grub-steak, shrimp, chicken and the works! Ken did his good deed of the day by going out to see Uncle Don.

We played movie trivia which I won twice-yahoo! : ) And we played the DVD of Deal or No Deal and we won money twice, but the first time we could have had $400k and walked away with $115k! ; )

My bros with mom-one is missing

The grandkids and mom-Sean is missing!

Two daughter-in-law and one son in-law

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DON’T FORGET TO TAKE A GUESS ON THE CONTEST PAGE AT THE LINK ABOVE!

Sep7

Fungus among us!

Posted on Friday, September 7, 2007 by Dianne

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Tomorrow and Sunday is the 22nd annual Mushroom Festival over in Kennett Square. It’s become a big ‘to do’ over the years. I think I mention it here every year too. I may or may not go. I kind of want to go to Chadds Ford Days which is a little down the road. My mom decided to come over from my uncle’s house and spend the night. She can walk around only so much. The festival is usually jammed packed and parking is rough. The CFD are in a big meadow near the Brandywine River. Both are going on for two days, so we could go on Sunday. The winning chef, Ilan Hall from Bravo’s ‘Top Chef’ is going to be a guest at the festival. I’d like to see him.

Bri heard through the grapevine that actor Mark Wahlberg was in Unionville, a few towns away doing a movie. Not sure if he’s still in the area.
If I go to either event, I’ll take some photos!

Sep6

Getting stuff rolling again

Posted on Thursday, September 6, 2007 by Dianne

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Just to let you know, I’ve been selling a little on eBay since last week and sold a few items! That always gives me the incentive to list more, which I did today. If my posts are short, it’s because I am busy doing something-think moola making!

I found through a search the top video over in my side bar that my estranged brother Don made of our niece Tori (he didn’t spell her name correctly in the credits) singing about her ‘Smelly brother Kenny’ when he was here last year. My brother Ken is doing some excellent guitar playing there. She really can’t think of some stinky things, but I think she’s going to be a good singer (here she was only 7).

Sep1

Pooped pups

Posted on Saturday, September 1, 2007 by Dianne

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Bri and I decided to go to my uncle’s house and do the yardwork today as it was suppose to be the coolest of Bri’s three off. Uncle Don has a very steep yard and dragging branches and clippings up to the back yard was a workout! His front hedges along the also steep front steps were so overgrown, no one could get up them. To make matters worse, in the garden at the bottom, some kind of viney weed with prickers had taken over a rock garden. Bri even used the hedge clippers to try and cut through it. We did the best that we could, I think it needs some Round Up weed killer to finish the job and the garden needs to redone. He also had a million and one sticks and branches of all sizes all over the backyard. We did the best we could with those. A lot of them were right near the neighbor who brings my uncle milk and bread. His yard was immaculate. I think if I knew my neighbor was in a home for 8 months, I would have cleaned up the area of yard near my house just to be a little helpful. My mom was trying to rake, but she suffers from what yard work she does. Needless to say, we are achy and very exhausted. UD did treat us to some Chinese food, but I wanted a large raspberry iced tea from McD’s, I was way more thirsty.

Even though we were dirty and a little rumbled, we went to a neat book store a few miles down the road. We got a little lost, but found our way there. It’s so big-they must carry 300+ magazines. I bought a few-a Cloth, Paper and Scissors magazine and a Better H&G Halloween issue. Bri bought a book and a few magazines but is too tired to look at them.

Sean enjoyed his first college football game at PSU! He’s in row 10 in the student’s section, so I guess that’s good. The home team won 50 something to nothing! Sean didn’t apply enough sunscreen and got a little burnt on his neck-bad boy!

; )

No photo hunt this week-but about 3 o’clock we were both dirty, but no one took our picture!

So I think the rest of the extended weekend will be more relaxing. Our own yard and bushes need a trim too.Yikes!

Some pals and I are playing with our Windows Movie Maker and I threw together the Fenwick Island one on the top of my Vod Pod list. I need to find a longer song, but it’s not bad for a first try.

Aug30

Almost 9 months

Posted on Thursday, August 30, 2007 by Dianne

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Well I finally went to see my Uncle Don at his house after all that time. He definitely is more frail and uses his walker all the time. But in the time I was there, he got up several times and I offered to get his glasses for him or whatever, and he wouldn’t let me! My mom came right before I left to spend the night. I brought him some Beach Plum Jam from Fenwick Island, DE and some Dunkin Donuts. His housekeeper was there and was busy most of the time, but left about a half hour before she should have. I suggested that he have her run to the store or wash bedspreads, etc. to keep her busy for the $22 an hour she gets.

Not much new. I did make the 7 layer squares-(not cookies-opps) so I could ship them to Sean tomorrow. I couldn’t get the ground up graham cracker crumbs as they are usually available over the holidays. I ground up some in the Cuisinart. That was the hardest part. I am taking photos and will post them. Here is the recipe from a previous post. I noticed they call them ‘cookies’ and this isn’t the recipe I use. I bake them at 325 for 30 minutes. 6 of one, half dozen of another!

The main ingredients-not shown- the 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon of butter

Ready to bake-the final ingredient-sweet condensed milk!

An essential tool, my Graham Kerr cutter. Did anyone else love to watch ‘The Galloping Gourmet’ in the ’70s?

The finished bars, packed and ready to add to Sean’s first goodie box from home. : ) I’ll add the original shot to Flickr so you can see the recipe there. I made enough to freeze a small container for another time.

Before I went to my uncle’s house, I listed a few items on eBay, the first since May! I’m trying to get earn a little pocket money. I plan to go through craft books to find Halloween things to make and sell on etsy.

Aug23

So this is it…

Posted on Thursday, August 23, 2007 by Dianne

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…Sean’s last day here until Thanksgiving! Wow! I remember when he was looking into dorms back in February and August seemed so far away. Sean got to see his grandmom, uncle, aunt and cousins yesterday. My mom got all weepy when we left which lead me to get weepy in the van. I usually have to be provoked into tears. I want to be cool up at the dorm when the actual separation occurs. Give we strength! Sean’s car is already almost jammed packed. He has a few more things to put in there and he needs to leave room for me. Bri will be following us on the 3+ hour trip. We’ll stay a night in a hotel about 12 miles further away and his move in is 12-8 on Saturday and Bri and I turn around to come home.

This had to be the week when the sun never came out and my sinuses have been awful. I’ve had congestion and post nasal drip. I can’t sneeze I’m so stuffed up! I did a Google search ‘how to sneeze’ and people had tips, even a little English boy on youtube.com who stuck a rolled up piece of tissue up his nose-I think so high it made him cough and then sneeze. I came close last night, but I just can’t sneeze. Today I’ll have to take Claritin or Sudafed which I try to hold off doing as long as possible. ~Update-as I proofread this post, I finally sneezed after 3 days! Yippee!!

Here’s a video about my hometown (my high school pal sent me the link) as a company entered them in a contest sponsored by Ikea which they are currently in 2nd place-they won’t announce the winner for a few weeks. You can see the old Media High School where I went one year to junior high and that my niece and nephew attend/attended as an elementary school. You’ll also see Media Theatre where we use to attend $1 movies.

I received some prints from my friend Karin’s wedding that I personally got to chose. I never had anyone offer to do that with their wedding photos, but she and Michael bought the proofs and set them up online at Kodak-a great idea. I bought a special album for them last night at JoAnn’s (plus a few other goodies). Keep Michael in your thoughts as he needs to get an injection in his back from pain that wakes him up several times a night.

My friend Terri had good news that her mom was still in remission after a bout with cancer and then her mom’s sister passed on a few days ago from a heart attack. The thing that bothered me is that the poor woman went to the ER for terrible indigestion, a red flag for women as it is sometimes means heart problems.

My other friend Joy lost her 51 yr old male cousin from a heart attack too. He had a special title, I’ll have to look up the email again, but he was working to preserve waterways if I remember correctly. The cousins set up a nice slideshow in memory of him on Flickr.

If I don’t post again, I’ll see you in a few days. I also have to tidy up as the parish priest is coming on Monday.

By the way, added some new videos and yes I know, two are James Taylor singing ‘Only a Dream in Rio’ one of my favorite JT songs.

Aug21

Happy Birthday Colleen

Posted on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 by Dianne

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My sister-in-law celebrates her birthday today. She is the mom to my nephew Kenny and only niece Tori. And of course she is married to my lovable baby brother Ken. Colleen’s had a rough year with the loss of her dad and her mom pulling roots to move in with Colleen’s sister. She is always busy, first with her kiddos and the lovely home that she helped redo with Ken, but also as a talented hairstylist. I wish I could send her some sunshine for her special day. We’ve had 3 days of gloom, chill and rain now. Sean and I are probably going to see Colleen and the gang tomorrow so he can see them before he goes away.

Aug20

Tomato explosion

Posted on Monday, August 20, 2007 by Dianne

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I’ve got dozens of red monsters sitting out in the kitchen. The longer they sit, the stinkier they get. I need to get my act together and turn them into salsa and spaghetti sauce today! I’ve been giving some away to family, but didn’t get to see my uncle last night, so his bag is sitting there and I have to use them too. Not to worry, there are still some on the vine. I think Bri over plants because he doesn’t think he’ll get anything. This year was different because we mulched around the tomatoes-apparently they love mulch (like what you put in your flowerbeds). It was pretty easy to apply-we used three bags. He did plant one row in a nice straight line, so I did a ‘line tie’ ran the string all the way down and looping it around the individual stakes as I went. Made a big difference! Some of the plants that stood alone fell over.

I’ve been vegging out myself since the trip. I have been tidying up as I get motivated. We are having company next Monday, Father from church for his bi-annual visitation. He doesn’t stay long, says a prayer and goes to the next house. This will be a few days after that trip to central PA.

We have a dreary day here anyway. Something stinks and it’s not in Denmark-must be an overripe Tom. Ugh.

Aug13

Lefty day

Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 by Dianne

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Thanks to my pal Wendy for sending me this card from American Greeting online:

Last year I made this digital collage of famous left-handed people. My mom, older brother and I are in good company:
(clickable)

I just picked a ton of tomatoes and two more squash! The number is growing in a small way. Bri used the buzz saw to take down the rest of the apple tree. At first he didn’t think the cord would reach. Too bad he didn’t try it days ago instead of using a hand saw. Men can be so stubborn.
I woke up yesterday with a red left eye. I know I’ve been rubbing it, but it’s been getting red a lot lately. Also, my lashes on the top seem to bend down instead of curl up like the other eye. I may have a sty or just a bit of a saggy eye lid. I’m going to the eye doctor tomorrow afternoon to see what he says. I don’t like to not get my eyes checked out since my mom has had eye problems (and her mom too). Wish me well.
Getting ready for the two day trip to the beach. We vowed not to pack too much. I hope the van will do okay on this trip.

My mom (and Jim her boarder) went out to see my uncle yesterday and he’s doing well and even ate the entire steak meal she cooked for him. She said he’s thin, but his color is good. He’s really glad to be home.

Aug7

Crash!

Posted on Tuesday, August 7, 2007 by Dianne

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It’s so darn muggy! When I got up it was 80 degrees outside already. I wanted to mail off a birthday card to a pal in Ireland and was filling it out when the UPS guy brought my new flip phone! It’s pretty cool and Sean has one almost just like it. With a rebate of $50 it will be a freebie. It pays to call up your provider and see if they have any specials. They would not have accepted the rebate if I had bought the phone at Wally World and some other places. Yes, it’s magenta!

So what’s the title up there about? I happen to look in the direction of the vegetable garden and the fairly good size apple tree there had fallen over directly in the green beans and yellow squash part of the garden, the area I take care of! Bri may have a hard time cleaning it all up, but maybe we’ll be able to save the garden. I don’t know if my ‘count the squash’ contest is still on as it literally got squashed last night! The tomatoes are fine. The tomatoes are visible in the foreground and the my part of the garden is under the tree. We only have a chicken wire mesh fence. I kinda know why it fell over. This and the two pear trees next to it are suppose to be dwarf trees and were not kept trimmed back correctly. It’s not like I didn’t remind ‘someone’. The pears are hardly producing anymore and he won’t cut them down.

My uncle needs someone to put his a/c units back in the windows of his house. If he can’t find anyone, Bri and Sean will have to go over and help him. I’m hoping someone will do it today.

Update late Tuesday-Bri and Sean went out after dinner to clear away some of the tree. Sean couldn’t stand the horrible humidity and Bri wouldn’t give the trimming up until over an hour later! He came in looking like he had been in a downpour-he was drenched to the bone from perspiration. The veggies are pretty well squashed. I reached in and got 1 MORE SQUASH! ; ) I think one in the far corner didn’t get ruined. I came in and made strawberry smoothies. Thanks again to Carole for the idea of freezing the berries on a tray first. It took a while with ice and strawberries (live and learn-like put a few in at a time instead of dumping them all and making the motor run weird). I think I need a new smoothie maker as the one we have is letting off an electrical burn smell. Sean can pick me up one at Big Lots.

We watched a movie called Disturbia. It was really scary at the end! One of the characters was played by David Morse, a resident of Penna. I still think he was the best in St. Elsewhere (doctor show from the 80s).

The lady who came to help my uncle today put in the a/c units (they are small ones) for him and cleaned like crazy too! I hope she comes several times a week.

Please check out my new link to a cool art e-zine. I’ve been visiting there a lot lately!

Watch out for spammers who use your old blog entries to comment. I wrote to word press about it and finally just ended up taking off this particular entry they were using all the time. I deleted about 10 comments today and some were a bit obscene. I just removed my archives from this blog to see if that helps.