Category Archives: flashback

Feb21

About 28 yrs old

Posted on by
Standard

This little guy was down the basement, covered with dust and grime! Even though he’s under glass, the fabric is showing signs of foxing. Though dirty, he made me smile. I probably stitched him back in 1980 when the Phillies won the World Series. I brought him up and cleaned him up, but I guess I should wash the fabric too. This is one of my earliest cross stitches.

Phillies player in XS

And the ‘what is the world was my mom thinking’ department:

Minigami

Jeepers! She bought this for herself-the squares of paper are only about 2″! I have trouble with the larger sheets of paper! I got ‘stuck’ with this, but I don’t know, I may pull my hair out if it’s too hard.

Did some cleaning as earlier mentioned (sorta), but my post nasal was miserable (I was wearing a dust mask). I also managed to disturb a large spider too! Not thrilled. I did stuff a bunch of stuff in the giveaway bag. I am finding I have too many plastic things for the kitchen (left over from the remodel almost 2 yrs ago!) like storage containers, cups with straws. Too many metal tins and Easter baskets.

Doing the above killed my back, but Tylenol, Icy Hot and finally the heating pad did their magic.

By the way, I tried to sell these on eBay, no takers-anyone need rubber stampers of animals skeletons?

Rubberstamps

These were Sean’s and he hardly used them. Let me know.

And for the ‘oh no, I thought I was through with the dentist for another 6 months’ dept-I chipped a tooth on the top right with a Necco wafer-darn! I hope I can get it fixed soon and it’s diagonal toward the gum like a sliver and I hope it won’t start to hurt.

Wish me luck. : )

Feb9

Photo Hunt-Heavy

Posted on by
Standard
PSHunt
Grab the Scavenger Hunt code.Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

Plymouth Rock

Wow that was a difficult hunt! I could show you a building or an elephant and say they are heavy, but I didn’t have an elephant photo. Instead, I present to you Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Mass (the links photo looks just like mine). I figured not a lot of people have seen it. It’s a big rock, much bigger than how it looks here, so I figure it’s heavy also. When my husband and I saw it back in 1984, it was on the beach and under a marble shelter. It’s probably the marker for the exact spot where the Pilgrims landed.

I am also reminded of the song (since I just saw it in a journal I wrote back in 1979) that ‘he ain’t heavy, he’s my brother’. I have 3 brothers.

Jan28

A few shares

Posted on by
Standard

First, I would like to thank Jennifer for her thoughtful comment. I do wish there were more things like the meat grinder, but mostly what she has are just ‘things’. A while ago, I brought home my grandparent’s marriage license to copy and still have it. When mom’s place gets cleaned up more, I’ll put it in a nice frame for her. : )

Here’s part of one of the two Mountain Zebras I am stitching for a quilt. I have to mark it off as I go or I’ll get the stripes mixed up! I like to backstitch as I go.

zebra

Brian brought home this photo of his parents (probably in the late 40s as he has his military shirt and tie on). The were engaged before the war and got married in 1950. Brian didn’t come along until 7 years later and was the only child. Don’t you love my late mom-in-law’s hair! She had pretty green eyes too. Brian’s dad will be 85 in June, but he won’t admit it!

m/mc
Tomorrow is my eye pressure recheck. I’ll do some deep breathing exercises!

Jan27

The old meat grinder

Posted on by
Standard

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.

Jan9

All American girl

Posted on by
Standard

Dorothy
How many of you remember Dorothy Hamill from the 1976 Winter Olympics? I surely do and loved watching every second of her performances on ice-that ‘Hamill camel’, well if you were around then, you know all about that. I even got a wedge haircut during my senior year of high school. I was sad to read that she is now (at age 51) being treated for breast cancer. She plans to undergo treatment and then return to the ice show later this month. I wish her well! By the way, I had no idea she was a heavy smoker in those early skating days (info from the internet).

She has a new book too! Dorothy in ‘76

Dorothy and Alex her daughter

With her daughter Alex (now age 19)

“I wasn’t particularly athletic or gifted, but I loved it. I’d be at the skating rink all day long, just skating around and around. I could be all alone and nobody could get near me and I didn’t have to talk to anybody. I was in my fantasy world.”

Please remember to click the link to give ladies free mammograms.

Dec21

Making this the quiet day

Posted on by
Standard

Now 6 kinds of cookies is a lot and I can’t believe I want to make 2 more kinds! I must have lemon bars. And then there is the one with those expensive macadamia nuts. I need a breather though. I just can’t do anymore standing on my feet for a day or so. I can’t forget I had that dang procedure only 3.2 weeks ago!

The cookies with the caramel sauce were really sticky and I had to let them set up in the frig. And then I used cheap-o aluminum foil-don’t use that. I have to sit down and make sure the cut bars don’t have tiny pieces stuck to them. I had some in my mouth-I was lucky I don’t have many metal fillings left in there! : )

<—Go check out Alexis Stewart’s cookies and candies on either her mom’s blog or her ‘Whatever’ blog! She really goes to town with some extraordinary treats and packaging! She obviously only makes them and doesn’t eat them-skinny! I sample mine to make sure they are good. That’s usually enough for me until I want a cup of cocoa or tea…and a cookie!

Sean is coming home in the afternoon. His big present came today. I can’t say what it is as I’m getting mom the same thing and hers didn’t come, though hers has an accessory. If you want to guess in my comments what these are, go ahead. Think Longwood Gardens…..or any neat place…..

I have a list here:

Christmas stuff in the bedroom-need to go through stuff I purchased last year at then JoAnn’s sale.

Tidy up near sofa, eBay box and bookcase area (yes, books are on the floor too). The sofa area is doable-not sure of the other places. See all these books? They are the ones I had to move back in September. I think I could have hurt myself doing this.

Full bookcase!

What’s sad is that one full shelf is all Christmas books-crafts, decorations, those lovely Southern Living ones, and I didn’t open one of them this year. Not to say I won’t during the next year when I want to do more crafting!

Next on the list:

Finish cookies (not today!)

Fudge-takes 5 minutes. I just read that someone makes it the way I do, on the stove, and they whip it before pouring it in the pan! I’ll have to find their post about that again.

Christmas card for a family from our church who was concerned about me and the procedure. I was really touched that they sent me a card.

Bows on gifts-I told you why.

And I forgot to put my mini Belsnickle Santas out! I have to see if their display case can be hung up. I don’t have a ton of table space.

Thanks to all who commented on my decorations. I looked at 100 blogs-no wonder my eyes are tired-and I didn’t see any other snowbabies-yet.

Check out my ‘board of fame’-family, friends, Make A Child Smile kids and their thank you notes, pictures I like, postcards, my 30th reunion name tag! Can you spot the first photo of Bri and me taken in one of those photo booths (on the boardwalk in Wildwood, NJ)?

Ribbon board

Try to take it easy!

Dec19

Guess who?

Posted on by
Standard

The early 1980s…
About 1982
My Princess Diana look!

Me at Longwood Gardens
Gee, to be that thin again! I was looking through some old albums and these caught my eye. I was at Longwood Gardens in the second shot. Who knew I’d live so close a few years later?
I managed to wrap almost all the gifts-it took me about 2.5 hours Monday night and then about 1/2 hour Tuesday. I am missing some big gifts that haven’t arrived yet-hurry up! LOL I don’t add bows and ribbons until the last minute as they fall off or get flattened. I’ll show you the pretty papers when they are nicely arranged under the tree.
I had to return a gift to TJ Maxx that was too small for my niece. I should stay away from that store. I got a new rug for under the computer desk, a new pillow and a few more ornaments. Naughty. I’m naughty for staying up so late as I have a baking schedule to adhere to. I am pretty zonked. I went through about 80 blogs in the Christmas tour of homes. I’m trying to catch up!

Update-Since I have that coupon printer installed, I did a search and found a few places where you can print out coupons! One is coupon.com. I like it because you don’t have to sign up, but if you add your zip code, you get more to choose from. Some coupons even come with recipe ideas! You can’t beat that!

Not sure if I’m fighting a sore throat, but it hurts in just one spot. I’m going to bake this afternoon and take it easy tonight.

Both our parents are causing us worry lately. My mom has been having some dizzy spells. She thinks from lack of eating, well that makes sense. She is also borderline diabetic. I suggested she have a small glass of orange juice in the morning when she first gets up. Brian’s dad fell down getting gas (at night) and felt like he had something stuck in his throat. He was eating on the bus coming home from Atlantic City and has no beverage. He’s had this happen before. I believe he gets panicky which makes his throat tighten up more. I think we’ve all done that.

Dec18

Christmas 1984

Posted on by
Standard

Norfolk pine

This was our first Christmas tree as a married couple 23 years ago. We lived in a second floor apartment and didn’t have any ornaments or that many decorations. I bought this little Norfolk pine and made the best of it. The teak tea cart was a wedding gift from my cousin who owned ‘Dane Decor’ (her children still do) and we still have it in our dining room. We also still have the framed house blessing (also a gift).I have little red hearts as some of the ornaments. Below is my grandfather’s creche. I see I have some Holly Hobbie paper ornaments strung under the window. I crocheted the little stocking when I was about 19 and it’s in a middle of a garland this year! I believe my in-laws gave me the nutcrackers. I haven’t had them out for a while. By the way, I made those iris curtains which went well with our cinnamon color sofa (that was one of the best sofas to nap on unlike the red monster we have now).

Dec16

12 Things about me Christmas Hoopla

Posted on by
Standard

Here are the golden rules:

1. List 12 random things about yourself that have to do with Christmas.
2. Please refer to it as a ‘hoopla’ and not the dreaded ‘m’-word…
3. You have to tag specific people when you’re done. No “if you’re reading this, consider yourself tagged” stuff is allowed…then nobody ends up actually doing it. The number of people who you tag is really up to you — but the more, the merrier to get this ‘hoopla’ circulating through the blogosphere.
4. Please try and do it as quickly as possible. The Christmas season will be over before we know it! Let’s involve as many people as possible!
5. Please give Andrea some link-love as the “Hoopla-Creator!

  1. I always have to get my Christmas cards filled out and mailed by the first week of December. To me, if you aren’t wishing your family or friends at least a yearly ‘hello’ you are missing out on the togetherness factor of the holiday.
  2. My grandparents planted evergreen trees in their backyard in the 50s. After my grandfather passed on, my grandmom and mom built the house mom lives in now. A few years when the budget was tight, selling those trees helped buy us gifts. There are still some left and they are really tall now!
  3. I love to think of themes for Christmas decorating as not to have the same thing every year. This year it’s red and white and cardinals and candy canes. In the past I have lined up the candy canes along the front; this year the candy canes are in my umbrella bucket on the front step!
  4. I really like a spotlight on the door, but I usually have different wreaths, many that I have fashioned, over the years.
  5. We started the tradition of getting dressed up and going to one of our favorite restaurants on Christmas Eve. It’s right up the street from my mom. Afterwards, we visit my brother and his family.
  6. My pets always get a stocking and gifts. : )
  7. Another thing we just started doing is going to midnight mass in a nearby town. They have a fabulous choir and attending this service really stirs my soul.
  8. Cookie baking is my thing. I go crazy! I try to bake all my cookies in about 2-3 days. I have to make chocolate chips first, just in case I run out of time, I have them!
  9. I usually make the Christmas dinner. I may have pot roast or ham or even lasagna. But not all in the same meal.
  10. Although I love real trees, the fear of fire is in the back of my mind since we have two heat ducts right where we usually put the tree. I am really happy with our artificial tree and will use different decorations to make it look different each year.
  11. As a child, my favorite Christmas book is ‘Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree’ and I own a copy now.

  12. If I miss ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’, I feel I’ve missed a little piece of Christmas.

I tag: Lee, Carol S. and Zoey.