Category Archives: holiday

Mar24

The day after Easter and Happy Birthday Brian!

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What I made for dinner Gramma’s Pineapple side dish:

Gramma’s Pineapple Side
This is similar to what my late mother-in-law use to make. I believe she used bread cubes, I cut up Pepperidge Farm white bread. Can you see the butter oozing on the top there? It’s like a stuffing for ham.
Scalloped potatoes
I haven’t made scalloped potatoes for a while. They were pretty good, I like them a little crisper on the top. I used fresh dill and dried parsley. I kept having to ‘zap’ them in the microwave because my mom was ‘hogging’ the oven with a 12 pd ham! So this presented a problem as we couldn’t wait until 6-6:30 to eat as Brian was taking food to his dad. So we sliced some off and stuck it back in the oven for a bit. I found a meat thermometer about as old as me and it said the meat was at the right temp to eat. I thought it was ok, a little salty. Mom didn’t care for hers and said she wasn’t crazy about scalloped potatoes. Spending Easter with people over 75 is interesting. We got to the point where my uncle looked up Bentyl (the med the dr prescribed for me last week that I didn’t take) in a ‘bad pill’ book. Said not to take it! And my uncle has a habit of lighting his pipe all the time and by the time we went home, I was really stuffed up. I’m not saying I don’t like to be with mom and uncle, but old habits sure die hard. I was glad to see him chow down. Mom hardly ate anything. We did sing ‘happy birthday’ to Brian and had some cake. We will go out to dinner later. Bri’s been in a funk, not sure what’s up-work, his car, his dad? He complains about holidays being a money making thing and didn’t want anyone singing to his when it wasn’t his birthday (before went to my uncle’s house).
Back to Easter-I spent an hour or so downloading mostly Sean’s photos to a keychain for Bri’s dad:
Slideshow on a keychain

I guess he liked it (I didn’t go to his house), but his 1989 Lincoln is probably on it’s last legs and he was worried about that.

On the home front, I picked up an African Violet sampler last night to work on for a change. I was also looking at the real violets in the window and they need repotting and trimming. Many have flowers! A few are on their last legs and I moved them to the kitchen to see if I could maybe root any of their leaves. Also on the stitching front, I was looking at my neighborhood round robin from last year and I need to add another house, so that will be fun. I do want to get it framed, so need to save up for that huge frame.

Both mom and I have goodies for Brian, mostly things he needs. Something he asked for hasn’t arrived from Amazon yet-rats! I didn’t really wrap things but may do a bit of a quick tissue paper thing in a bit. I think he threw out all my saved gift boxes anyway.

A fragrant lily Bri gave me:

Easter lily

Mar23

Birthday boys and Easter

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Nephew and Brian 12/24, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

This was taken in late December, but my nephew turns 12 today and Brian has a birthday on Monday!

Here’s the cake I made for Brian, it’s devil’s food with vanilla icing and I think a festive Easter look. : ) I used colored sugars (they sell them in a little set) and malted milk eggs.

Brian’s birthday cake

We went to church last night for their 2 hour vigil mass with candles, darkness, let their be light, baptism and confirmation! I needed some ice cream afterwards.

Off in a few to my uncle’s house. I am making scalloped potatoes and a pineapple/bread side my late mother-in-law use to make. I never made it before, but found the recipe on the internet.

Happy Easter to all!

Mar19

Easter already?

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When I got up this morning I decided to eat pancakes and clean off the coffee table, but not in that particular order! In fact my house was half decorated for Easter/spring, so I decided to try and finish that up. I haven’t taken any photos yet as it’s so gloomy and I still have to do the dining room table (which is also my craft table). I told Sean his room may be my craft/guest room in the near future. He was not amused. I’d have to lose that mossy green he painted it and do some bright and cheerful color.

I’m doing a better, hence the pancake breakfast. I’m not totally 100%, but I am trying to hold back taking the medicine, but I think I will have to try one sooner or later. I was going to mix up an aloe vera juice ‘cocktail’-it’s only the concentrate and you add a swig to some kind of drink, but my frig tends to freeze stuff if you put it too close to the top vent inside. I could have indulged in a aloe vera icy, but waited until it thawed. My tummy is wondering what that stuff is, but I swear it helps!

So that’s my day so far. I have Easter candy to ship up to State College, but I keep checking to see if I can dodge the raindrops and it is pouring every time I look out the door.

I’ll have to share an awesome gift I received from Mary Beth from http://www.mbshaw.com. It was a thank you for linking to her blog which is over on the right under ‘Art Pub studios’.

Mar17

Happy St. Paddy’s Day

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Carnations

I wore green yesterday and may have to again today as I go looking for some corned beef. : ) The above faux carnations were about 29¢ each at Michaels. Pretty aren’t they? Irish heritage is rich on Brian’s side of the family. He is Brian Patrick! I have a drop of Irish blood in my veins from my maternal great grandmom Lillian Deere whose people were from County Cork.

Sean made it back to State College fine. The days he is coming or going set us on edge until we know he’s where he is suppose to be. We know the roads up there and you would worry too.

I didn’t realize how busy I was last week when Sean was home. I was on the go for 3 straight days and just pooped out on the weekend. I could have gone to bed at 7 last night. Mom just said I maybe shouldn’t be doing all that raking because of the procedure I had 3.5 months ago, but it needs to be done. Mom’s yard needs cleaning up too.

I pulled out this project yesterday, the DMC linen thread project Butterfly Heart :

Butterfly Heart
The main butterfly is almost complete. Mom had given me the complete box of threads. It’s different from the regular DMC, coarser for one thing. I am liking it more as the colors fill in.

Speaking of stitching, please visit Stitch Pink for a chance to win these awesome prizes. (thanks for the link Barbara)

Lizzie Kate

I asked Brian to trim a few bushes on Saturday (to get him moving a bit too) and why not use the new electric saw that Sean and I bought him last year for Father’s Day. To make a long story short, the chain came off and he was trying to put it back on and sliced into one of his fingernails, about half way down. Ugh. He is using that liquid bandage, but is keeping a close watch of it. I feel so guilty, but since it’s a Kraftsman, he could have taken it to Sears to get it fixed or wear gloves. Makes me think back when Sean cut into one of his fingers with the hedge clippers-not wearing gloves-but he went to the ER.
I need to do a bunch of things around here and hope my soreness from raking and hauling simmers down. There seems to be leaves from every yard within a 1 mile radius in our yard this year!
Oh, the forsythia may be blooming for Easter.

Feb28

It’s too darn cold!

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I was just telling Barbara on her blog that I faced the cold today-26 degrees and colder with the windchill factored in. Carole in Ontario probably thinks that’s balmy. I had to get some groceries in here and take a blouse back. And mail bills off. It’s hard buying food for two instead of three. I make too much and it’s not a pleasant task unless I’m going to Trader Joe’s, but that’s not often. Too far away. We have an empty grocery store here now as the Acme closed down the road. They built a new one near the hub of my town. Come on Trader Joe’s!

Brian just got his blood test results back and his cholesterol is high. His blood sugar was 106. He immediately says he’s not taking meds for it. The doctor didn’t call him or anything. The first thing he needs to do is some kind of exercise. He has a few pieces of equipment in the basement to use, but they are gathering dust. He has bad knees, but his extra weight isn’t helping. I have extra weight too, so now I’m nervous to get bloodwork checked out. I cook with olive oil, we eat a lot of ground turkey, hardly any red meat. Today my back is bothering me from sitting on the living room floor and bending down to put the snowbaby decorations away. I am pleased to say that nests and eggs, and a paper mache  bunny or two are making there way into the living room to welcome spring!
I got a used electronic postage scale for a good price from eBay and it’s not working. Won’t weigh a darn thing! The seller is going to see if the part she thinks she needs (called company) is cheaper than what I paid for it. If I had known it was 4 years old, I would have passed on it, good price and all. She’s telling me I should have purchased insurance, but in the paypal check out, she didn’t have it as an add on-option. The box she used barely fit the postal scale box! That surely didn’t help. Hope I’m not out almost $20. : (

Off to watch my Thursday shows and do a little stitching on-you guessed it-the zebra!

Feb15

The day after

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Thought you’d like to see a photo of me and Valentino:

Me and my froggie

It’s a Webkinz ‘Love Frog’ from Brian! LOL Some of my tribe friends and my niece (big age difference there) collect these adorable critters. I bought one-the lion I named Lil’King as pictured below. You can adopt them online and give them rooms and earn webkinz cash to buy fun things. It’s a nice distraction from housework and the bleakness of winter (see my baggy eyes above)! Yeah, I know, I’m that old and playing on a website. I love Solitaire and Quizzy’s quizzes. : )

We also like to snap photos of them doing stuff around the house. : )

Here’s Lil’King checking out my yearbook:

Penncrest Lions

‘Listening’ to James Taylor

Lil’King and JT

And finally-for you cross stitch enthusiasts :
Lil’King and DMC
Checking out the DMC colors!!
I hope I made you smile. : )
Brian gave me a lovely card, a small box of Dove chocolates (never enough), and a Commodores greatest hits CD as I heard ‘Brickhouse’ on the radio a few months ago and thought it would be a great song to exercise too.: ) We went out to dinner and I had NY strip steak and Bri had lasagna.
Have a great weekend.

Feb14

Happy Valentine’s Day and Winners!!!

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Meet my only Webkinz…

My Webkinz

I did a random drawing of numbers from an online generator and the following 3 numbers were chosen: 42, 27, 106!
All winners have been contacted and they are:
Robyn
Constance
and Lolly!
Congrats ladies!!! I have heard back from everyone. What an awesome event. The talent out there in blogland is truly amazing and wonderful. You all inspire me. : )

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Here’s one of my presents that I picked out and purchased for $10 off from Fragrance.net. If you want a code for a discount, let me know. And it has a delicately sweet marshmallow scent!

Mariah Carey’s M

Doesn’t it sound yummy? The first thing you smell is marshmallow and then it fades to the wonderful earthy musk.

 M by Mariah Carey Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.3 oz.

“For me, creating this scent was like creating a song – it takes many notes to compose a fragrance. It’s like a beautiful melody.” – Mariah Carey

Mariah’s signature scent opens with an indulgent, creamy accord and blooms into an opulent floral heart as a rich base reveals darker, sensual facets.

  • A warm and inviting marshmallow is woven throughout the fragrance, evoking a sense of comfort. This indulgent accord captures Mariah’s fondest childhood memories of being in the kitchen with her father.
  • The lush floral heart of the fragrance combines a feminine veil of Living Tahitian Tiare flower wrapped in the aura of wet Gardenia petals. This beautiful blend is reminiscent of the fragrant breezes of Hawaii and the Isle of Capri, Mariah’s favorite getaway.
  • The soul of the fragrance reveals a sexier dimension. Sheer amber, infused with spicy, woody accents of Moroccan incense forms a seductive accord that embodies Mariah’s sensuality, beauty and glamor.

There’s a bag sitting here for me too! I didn’t get Bri anything yet, but I just don’t know what to get him. I did make some peanut butter cookies last night. : )
My friend Lisa sent me a ‘find your soulmate’ card:

Take the Quiz

I can totally see this if I was taller-lol, but look how tiny his wife Jada is. : )

I won a prize too! A beautiful book with a photograph on the cover from Jo Anne at Paper Cats Page. I’m thrilled!!

Feb3

Ground hog day times 2

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I’m about to go to bed, but I wanted to stop by and say yes, I did almost finish the cross stitched Ground hog Day freebie-he just needs some beads around his head and I also watched ‘Groundhog Day‘ on VHS-wow, seems so different watching it that way (and it’s taking forever to rewind-urgh).

Ground hog Day

I haven’t watched it for ages-it’s different, weird and funny! Definitely one of Bill Murray’s best. I remember the bed and breakfast where Phil Conners (Bill in the movie and Brian had a teacher by that name who came to my high school-ha!) was really in the Chicago area. Brian asked if Bill was about 70, he’s only 57-ha!

One of my favorite scenes and quotes:

Bill and Phil

Rita: [Phil has described several people in the diner] What about me, Phil? Do you know me too?
Phil: I know all about you. You like producing, but you hope for more than Channel 9 Pittsburgh.
Rita: Well, everyone knows that!
Phil: You like boats, but not the ocean. You go to a lake in the summer with your family up in the mountains. There’s a long wooden dock and a boathouse with boards missing from the roof, and a place you used to crawl underneath to be alone. You’re a sucker for French poetry and rhinestones. You’re very generous. You’re kind to strangers and children, and when you stand in the snow you look like an angel.
Rita: [in wonder] How are you doing this?
Phil: I told you. I wake up every day, right here, right in Punxsutawney, and it’s always February 2nd, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

I’m thrilled with all the comments I’m getting for the giveaway. I love new visitors and hope my friends will comment too.

Feb1

One World, One Heart Blog event

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One world-one heart
Let’s start off February with a fun event thanks to Lisa/Oceandreamer’s 2nd time around hosting it! It’s for bloggers around the world with active blogs. It’s Lisa’s way to introduce us to each other and help to build new friendships. Below are my groupings of 3 giveaways! Yes, that’s right! I decided the more the merrier and I have fun making some of the goodies. I’ll be picking winners on the 13th and announce them on the 14th.
The grand prize:
Grand prize

Here is an Art trading card I made, a little book with blank pages that I decorated the front of, A little ‘cake’ with a few Dove chocolate hearts inside and a little box of Russell Stover chocolates!

Prize 2:

Prize two
A Valentine I made, Conversation hearts and very fragrant rose potpourri.

Prize 3:

Prize Three

Some pretty heart stickers, a bracelet that you can add a photo to and a box of Conversation hearts!

All you have to do is leave me a comment about your favorite Valentine’s Day treat-chocolate, dinner or anything yummy you enjoy on this day. Visit the other participates by clicking on the link under the event sign above.

Remember-winners will be announced on Valentine’s Day! Good luck!