Yep, it’s me…uncertain of what to say. I’ll be better in future ones.
Jul28
Category Archives: Me stuff
Jul22
Poor Lil’ Ruby
Well it had to be done as I could not fix Lil’ Ruby’s issues with the low space in her recovery drive before it got used up completely. I called a guy named Fred who is almost a neighbor who also has a computer repair business (huge house-3xs bigger than ours). Said I should just clean her slate as when I installed Windows 7, I should have taken off Vista first. And one excellent thing he told me-all you Com*cast high speed internet users listen up-Norton Antivirus software is free on the Com*cast homepage! I won’t have to pay $89 bucks (or around that price) to renew the one we have. This is good as it’s costing more to get Ruby cleaned up! She’s the laptop I bought with jewelry stash as a gift to myself last year.
It’s wickedly hot around here. When I will go to my first Phillies game at the new ball park this Sunday, ( it will be 20 odd years since I’ve been to a game),we will be roasting in the mid 90s. I hope I can make it. I will be going in the concourse (is that what you call it?) a bunch. I have a few personal fans, but one is on a water bottle that makes mist-it is so great but they probably won’t let me bring it in.
Hoping to get Ruby back tomorrow.
Jul19
Blending
Sometimes the days just seems to run together. The last few weeks have been very tense with Bri dealing with his dad. I know he is worrying about him every waking moment and he’s stressed out enough about his job. Now tonight he was getting set to go over there (48 mile round trip) because his dad still can’t climb the 8 steps to the second floor. He had gone through all the Ensure that they brought up a few days ago. I would so get him a 24 pack at a warehouse! So I rushed to make a yummy broccoli pasta dish (I tossed tuna in too) and the heavens opened up. I was glad when his dad called and said to stay put. Bri would have risked flooded roads to carry up a few cans of drink to his dad! Bri needs to call an agency to get needed help for his dad. The one my uncle uses is good, but the lady only comes a few hours a week to clean, etc. I think Mr. C. needs someone there every other day. He is also getting a hospital bed for the den where he only has to climb 3-4 stairs. During these ‘twilight years’, the older generation needs to think what they are doing to their family. I worry about Bri burning the candle at both ends. My ‘step’ cousin took care of her sick husband for many years and he passed away. Didn’t she get diagnosed with late stage pancreatic cancer last summer and was gone by this January. Her husband was much older, yet she only outlived him 2 years. Like Dana*Reeve, wife of Christopher*Reeve got lung cancer within a few years of his passing and died herself. You wonder if they ignored symptoms as they were so worried about their husbands. At least Bri has been tested for many things. He still has smelling and tasting issues-it could be from stress. I am so happy when he does taste something!
I’m trying to downsize around here. Books, books everywhere! I don’t know what to do with them all. I am most definitely having a yard sale within the next few months, that’s if everything is okay with the family. I am also in some Art Trading Card swaps weekly which helps my nerves and lets me use the right side of my brain. Tomorrow, I am getting my hair done-it really needs it-just call me Cruella!
I’ll keep you posted on things.
Jul19
Ruby Daylily
I only have about 4 different Daylilies left in this area. After they stop blooming there are only a few things of interest in this massive bed-some ornamental grass, a few plants I added on the perimeter and a big pot of annuals.
Just Saturday night I added about a dozen nasturtium seeds in a few places in other gardens. The ones I planted earlier aren’t doing that great. It’s interesting to see what flowers like this kind of weather. The roses loved it and are just getting black spot from too much humidity.
Speaking of humidity, you could cut the air with a knife. You go outside for 5 minutes and your skin is glistening with sweat. I don’t sweat a lot, but I sure have this summer! It runs straight down the back of my head. I have taken to wearing little pig tails and a headband.
Still gathering stuff from the basement. I still think the dust is getting to me. I forget even though I have my nose covered, my eyes aren’t (I don’t wear my glasses much around the house) and the dust gets on my clothes.
We just got new hall runners from K*mart. They are by Jaclyn Smith and are brown and blue with brown swirls. I haven’t had new rugs there for many years.
I’m also doing some art projects in between.
Jul16
Photo Hunt-Triangle
Last September, I went to a stitch-along at the Chadds Ford Historic Society and got to meet some online pals. I haven’t been back yet, but I also haven’t stitched a whole lot this past year.
This is a birdhouse crafted to look like the building I was in! Look at all the triangles along the roof line. Beautiful craftsmanship!
Update
Today I received my letter that I was excused from the jury selection people-two women-perhaps they understood my dilemma at this time. I have a feeling I’ll be called again in the future.
Jul14
Jury duty?
Today I got a summons to appear for jury selection in a month. I know it’s a privilege to serve on a jury, but it’s a randomly selected thing and it’s a bad time right now. I was called when Sean was young and that’s the last time I remember. Brian couldn’t get excused a year or so ago and wasn’t selected. My brother had to go to Philadelphia-on the train for a week long trial-he couldn’t get excused either. A friend said 80% of the people called aren’t selected. I decided this was the worst time to be on a jury between my van having transmission issues and Brian’s dad not being well. I wrote a letter and asked to be excused. I mentioned this on Facebook and everyone acted like I was doing the wrong thing, even when I said my transportation wasn’t reliable. My van seems to act up the most in the heat too. I think since I went to the trouble to write a nice letter, that I may get my wish. If not, I’ll have to have Brian drop me off and pick me up which would be very inconvenient for him since he needs to be ‘on call’ for his dad. I would like to someday be on a jury, really I would. If you aren’t focused on the trial, you aren’t giving the person being tried a fair shot. Just my opinion.
Jul2
Memoirs of a great evening with two legends
A collage of the memorabilia I saved from the Troubadour concert I went to a few weeks ago with my friend Lorin. The program, the ticket and the excellent review from the Philly Inquirer.
Having a rough week here. Brian is over at his dad’s spending the night. I had to get mad at him to make him see that an 87 yr old who just got out of the hospital needs someone there the first night (after 5 days). Bri’s dad was ‘diagnosed’ with Crohn’s Disease, yet given no special diet to follow. He is weak on his feet and could hardly get up the stairs. What’s going to happen tomorrow night and the next night? This may be a wake up call for both of them.
Here’s Sean and his Pop-pop last July…
I’m also depressed as the procedure I had seems not to have worked. They say after 3 months you should know and although I seemed to have skipped a month, I am almost like I was three months ago. I had the worst headache most of the day to go along with it. Bummer. I’m taking it one month at a time now.
Jun25
Ocean City, Maryland 2010
Just a few snaps to share. The boat model and coins are ‘The Shipwreck Museum’ in Fenwick Island, DE. The restaurant on the wharf is a place we have eaten at off and on for the last 20 yrs.
Jun23
Dianne and Jennifer went cross stitch shopping
I finally meet Jennifer who is a Pennsylvania girl down in Ocean City, MD. The 6 of us (Brian, Sean, her husband and 8 month old son) had a nice lunch at an Irish pub place. Her little boy is so adorable and laid back and a total pleasure to spend time with as he laughs, makes fun vocalizations and smiles up a storm!
After lunch, Bri and Sean went to the beach and Jenn and family went 3 blocks up to the cross stitch shop Salty Yarns. We bought some charts and forgot about the fabric room! By time we looked in there, we were tuckered out from chart shopping. It was a great visit.
We had a pretty good time during the day in Ocean City, MD, but the nights were rough as the beds were so hard and flat. It was a great room we got for a great price right on the beach too. Sean had his own room and tv. I have some arthritis in my right shoulder blade area and by the second night, I had to pull out the sofa bed and try to catch a few winks. I even dozed on the way home and I never do that.
Off to bed. I’ll upload my photos to Flickr tomorrow.
Crossing something off the bucket list, sticking my toes in the Atlantic ocean at night!
May11
A change in the weather
We were enjoying the early summer like weather we had off and on until the dreaded wind decided to blow. And it blew and blew-for 3 days until it cooled it down here to 50s in the daytime and 30s and 40s at night. I held my breath in the morning when I checked what few annuals I had planted and a few looked shaky, but they seem to know it’s May and that this is just a fluke in the weather. On Saturday I was in the midst of changing out my winter to summer clothes (glad I saved a few sweaters and long pants)when I saw my patio umbrella take flight across the back yard. It was just given to us (not new) and I really like it. It was ok and I closed and tied it.
Sean had to work on Mother’s Day and Bri was feeling under the weather, so I made a yummy shrimp and roma tomato sauce for some bowtie pasta. Sean enjoyed it later. He picks out the best cards (as did his dad) and gave me a cute vase that I am using for my pencils and art supplies. Sean also took my mom and me out to dinner on Monday which was nice. I had to have terrible congestion all day into the night yesterday. I think the wind stirred up tons of pollen. Today was Bri’s terrible allergy day.
My brother is helping my mom get her bill paying in check after months of disagreements, etc. He sat down and found she wasn’t paying them at all. So now she will get them paid electronically and get an allowance. It’s a whole new world for her!
I couldn’t work outside again-I did only snip a few trees that seem to grown in my garden beds in the same exact place. I high tailed it back in as I never have a lack of anything to do here! Got my shoes changed out and most of the sweaters. It’s hard having a 50 yr old house with limited closets. I’m also going through cookbooks. Does anyone need any or have one on their wish list? Ask me and I’ll see if I have it! I am having fun trying recipes from my new Hungry Girl cookbook. Tonight we had chicken tenders dipped in a honey mustard egg mixture and then in crushed pretzels. Also made oven french fries. Both good!
We are having some cold rain fall now and tomorrow Sean is off and he may take me to Trader*Joes. May make an outing to Longwood*Gardens on Friday for their chocolate exhibit!
Collages & Creative Goodness 