Category Archives: Me stuff

May9

Stinkin’ chilly

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Don’t ya hate when the temps go from 72 to 52? We ended up getting the rain and got a good dose, not as much as was forecasted. It was enough to ‘uproot’ two of my metal plants stands causing the newly planted pots to go spilling out. I didn’t do any gardening, just investigating different things. Lots of seeds are coming up-Rose Campion (yeah Zoey), lettuce, zinnias and marigolds. I did get a Canna lily for my in ground little pond. I didn’t know they could be used as such.

Sean was kind enough to drive me to a book sale in a barn (I was kind enough to make him a big spaghetti dinner) and I got a small selection of mostly cookbooks (like I need them). I have to get serious about my book collection-I got a book on decluttering too! ; )

BTW, decided to save up for an Amazon.com contraption-the Kindle! I do a little selling on eBay and have a little toward it. I like that you can take it anywhere and have something that only weighs 10 oz too!

We finished watching Juno, which was a cute movie. I can see why both Ellen Page (Juno) was nominated for an Oscar and the screenwriter Diablo Cody winning it.

Stripper turned award winning screenwriter

I have to switch my winter clothes to summer. Sean tossed a few Space Bags out of the attic. I don’t think he gave me all of them. I usually have a bag for Goodwill in the room as I need to downsize clothes too.

Bro #2 is bothering my mom again. He had calmed down, and then he started rummaging through another bedroom again and just not being nice to her. She had calmed down, now she’s upset again. The word ‘bipolar’ comes to mind.

Have a great weekend!

May8

Nice to have my pal back

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Sean asked what I wanted for Mother’s Day and I said we could go over to Walmart and look around their garden center. They do have a ton of nice plants, even perennials at a good price. I happen to spot yellow flowers, my favorite color in blooms, and it was a Hibiscus! He said he’d get it for me. I looked around a little more and only bought a few other plants. I think I have enough. Now I will wait for some clearances! So I got a few more things in the store and when we checked out, the hibiscus was only like $5.44, so I got two! Not sure what the other color is, but it will be a surprise when the flowers start to open.

He headed over to Blockbuster and one of his choices is ‘Juno’, which I thought was interesting. I asked if we could run down to Lowes to see if they had any more decent hanging baskets and he agreed. They didn’t have any that I liked, but I bought another pond plant and a few other plants that I didn’t have. (what did I just say above about buying more plants?) We stopped at Wawa to gas up the van-$35 only brought it a bit over half full. We went in and got hoagies and ate them as soon as we got home as we were starving! And to think I was happy I had lost 3 pounds. ; )

Bird Alert!!!! Brian has spotted (and I have seen for a second) a hummingbird twice now! I’m so jealous! The first time was on one of the new hanging baskets that has the big flowered Dianthus in it.

They just showed a story on the news about a place in Vineland, NJ that was getting renovated. When the guy went to tear down the tin ceiling, 100s of vintage photos came tumbling down, all in relatively good shape, but unmarked-so they don’t know who the brides and grooms, etc. are. It use to be a photography studio (of course). What I could tell, they looked like they were from the 30s to 50s.

Here’s a Mother’s Day Quiz. I got 6 out of 10, so see how you do!

May5

Spending the day

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…with someone you love and someone you are weary of, sorta sums it all up for me. Brother #2 was at my mom’s when I got there today. Ended up going to see his new apartment on the second floor of a 1908 house in our hometown. The steps to the place almost go straight up and then curve-typical old house, very dangerous. The place on the outside needs fixing up. The apartment has big rooms-he fit his king size bed in there! The kitty was hiding, but I made up with the dog. That Dalmation has a white face and black ears. He looks like a mime and his name should be Marcel Marceau!


I did talk to the cat and he closed his eyes a few times, he’s really a true scaredy cat. We went out to dinner and then walked around stores! And he told me not to take mom shopping a few weeks ago! He was buying things though. I’m pretty sure he has a job about 30 minutes away. I am trying to warm up to him, but all that sadness and hurt has made me a bit numb to him. He has a photo of the two of us, in bad shape-and it’s so cute-he’s about 2 and I’m 3, hanging on the wall with other old photos.

The last place we went (I was doing all the driving) was Home Goods. He bought a big red glass jar for his dog’s cookies. Mom bought two perfume bottles. I bought a mosaic candle holder that looks like it is a beehive, plus a mini covered clear glass cake dish with hand-painted bees and flowers. Will show you soon!

May4

A May day in PA

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Just took some photos a bit ago. Sometimes I fix them in Flickr after I post here, so you can look at all of them there if you wish also.

It was simply gorgeous, around 70 with a slight breeze. Who could ask for anything more? I decided to continue gardening.

Here’s an ATC I made a week ago. I used an image form a catalog for the background. I call it Seeds of Friendship:

I was wearing overalls today, but shorts kind. Gotta feel like a real gardener!

See how high up the lilacs are? We need to do some serious topping on this shrub!

Look at the dear Dogwood flower!

I potted these up a few nights ago. The African Daisies are near the pond.

This is the shady side of the house! Now, who can tell me what is happening here with this azalea bush?

Here’s where I planted a bunch of wildflower seeds. I hope they come up!

It is behind where my lilies and grass garden is.

Here’s a garden that is a bit more prolific growing! Mom gave me the pansies around the perimeter. The Bleeding Hearts are just starting to drop, but the Barrenwort is going strong (heart-shaped leaves). The hanging pots were purchased at Loew’s last night. One is Dianthus, the other is a variety.

Had to show you an iris! It’s Raspberry Blush.

And my new water plant. Will have to go look at the name of it. See the baby waterlilies there?

My friend the catbird (or child of catbird) came back yesterday. He (or she) was serenading me the entire day and most of today. The only thing I don’t like are the droppings all over the chairs. Speaking of chairs, I bought two cans of green spray paint to spruce up my plastic furniture. I may need more!

May4

Seed lady

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Not to say I wasn’t zonked from all the flower planting the day before, but I still went out Saturday and did more strenuous yard work while Bri mowed the lawn.

I raked the weeds out of two areas where Bri had rototilled for me. I planted wildflowers in one bed and mostly zinnias in another bed. All that raking really hurts my arms and tummy, but I am hoping to tone up too! : )

I need to stay away from places that sell plants. I go crazy! There is a new Loew’s right outside our town that we checked out last night. I wasn’t too impressed until I saw water plants and some fairly nice hanging baskets for under $7. I bought two, so that saved me planting two. I did buy a water plant for my second water garden. : ) I think I’ll go back and get a few others for the in ground pond.

I also moved (Bri helped with one) two hydrangeas that weren’t doing a thing except taking up space where they were. Mom has a lovely one. It is in a shady area and the soil is fairly wet, so I moved mine to a shady area. I also saved two ‘sucker’ Spirea bushes and may give one to mom is it amounts to anything.

I’m getting somewhere, but am not finished hanging baskets, planting flowers in the ground, weeding and mulching. I have a June 1st deadline-wish me well!

I’ll take some photos later if it’s not raining.

May2

Rudeness

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Today I had to mail off a few things and decided to go look for Marigold Gem and Polka plants for my fairy/gnome garden. I went back to my ‘count on them’ nursery and they did have the Marigolds (I got orange and tangerine). They have feathery leaves and produce mini flower heads, perfect for my little gardening gnomes. They didn’t have the Polka dot plant, but a lady who overheard me ask told me to go to the place around the corner. I decided I would and they wanted $4.99 for a 4″ pot! I bought one (they had a dark and light variety) and also a magenta with a yellow center Wave petunia. I then decided to go to a nursery in my town. I was now looking for Pineapple sage that I like to put near my pond. I started up a nice conversation with another customer (around my age) while we looked through the herbs. I bought a few things there (no Pineapple sage) and headed for the checkout. I said I was so glad I found ‘Nicotiana’ (I said it nick-o-teen- e- ah). She said, no it’s not pronounced that way, but is part on the nicotine family and told me the correct way to say it, as she was a tour guide for Longwood for many years. So why did she feel she had to insult me in front of the owner of the greenhouse? So what if I said it incorrectly. She said ‘Nih-ko-she-Ah-nuh’.
She also said ‘people who know plants would find my pronunciation unusual’. At least I knew what I wanted, you know. Heck, I’ve been gardening over 30 years! So none of us have to feel like asses, I found this site!

In the google search, the plant they mention that people have trouble pronouncing-yep-Nicotiana. Isn’t is easier to say ‘Tobacco flower’?

Anyway, I went to one more place and got flower and veggie seeds. I now have 6 different unusual colors of zinnia to plant. My lettuce looks like it is coming up, but I don’t see the wildflowers or Rose Campion yet.

I planted about 12 pots of assorted annuals, lots of purple petunias in different hues. You’ll be seeing them. I didn’t want to sit on my wheeled seat tonight to plant things in the ground. Thank goodness for the cheesesteak pizza Bri picked up on the way home-really yummy!

May2

Friday!

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I can’t believe this week has gone by somewhat quickly. I had fun with the childhood toy post yesterday! My mom didn’t take a ton of photos of us as there were four of us. There’s more of my older brother because my maternal grandfather was still alive and he enjoyed photography. He had a ‘Brownie’ (or other make) camera and I remember getting to use it as a kid. It was the kind you lined up the shot through looking at a piece of glass in the top, similar to how some digital cameras work now.

Similar to the above and it looked like this (thanks to this blog):

The digital I mainly use, the Canon Rebel doesn’t work that way. I have to look through the viewfinder like an ‘old fashioned’ hand held camera.

Not much new. I put down some mulch in a few gardens on Wednesday, didn’t have enough. I figure I will need 8 bags for where I want to put it. I weeded out the herb garden, whew that was bad! The Creeping Charlie weed is such a pain. All that bending over hasn’t helped my problem I mentioned at the beginning of the week, but I really think I have a pulled muscle pressing on my bladder.

Dragged in many bags of groceries yesterday. Sean will be home on Wednesday and he’ll hungry! ; ) He is still trying to find an internship.

I’m trying to figure out if I want to go to my mom’s. She’s still in the middle of going through things. I could help her with that, but I do miss going shopping with her! She’s been in a few thrift shops lately though. She confessed to me. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

Happy 23rd to my nephew David tomorrow!

Have a great weekend!

May1

It’s a favorite childhood toy party!

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Thanks to Scrappy Jessi for hosting this fun event.

Ok, when I was really little I loved my Thumbelina baby doll. Here I am with her and my mom (with the funky 60s do with the faux braid and me still parting my hair on the left!)

And here she is about 41 years later, a little worse for wear:

The poor thing needs a good scrub, which I will try to do if I think about it, but I should ‘honor’ her presence, since I have had her this long. I had cut her hair and chewed on her fingers back then. She’s been through a lot with me.

Here is a photo of my brother and I at Christmas playing with our Flintstone building blocks. We use to fight over them:

When I was a little older, I started to love Barbie and her friends:

They could also do with a little sprucing up. Poor Barbie’s fanny is peeking out of the lace in the back! I also have my original case and a few others dolls (somewhere). And I do have some newer collector’s Barbies in the guest room. I was wise and kept most of them in their boxes. My favorite-the Van Gogh Sunflower Barbie and the Vera Wang bride.

I also loved my coloring books, crayons, markers, drawing pads, chalk boards, books, Silly Putty, Fuzzy Wuzzy soap, Lite Brite, Spirograph, play dough, two wheeler bike with the banana seat and monkey bars, board games like Mouse Trap and Monopoly and even checkers! I could go on!

I wanted to add a few of my son (21.5 yrs old now) :

Here he is with his dad using his magna doodle board.

And here he is showing us his creation (he’s about 3 here):

And last but not least, his favorite bears Snuggle and Boo (very well loved):

Apr29

A bit of a chill in the air

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So long to the balmy 70s! It is suppose to dip in the 30s tonight! I covered up most of my plants with an old shower curtain and brought in the tomatoes and coleus.

I haven’t been sleeping well, lots of bathroom trips. I used the heating pad and Bri got me some cranberry juice. I don’t have pain, so I’m thinking I may have injured myself outside lifting something, using the hoe or leaning over too much. I am seeing the word ‘prolapse’ a little too often when looking on boards. The old adage ‘it’s always something’ seems to apply to me all the time. I had a little afternoon snooze with the cat today. I hardly ever do that. Hopefully I will work that problem out, but I will say I was grumpy for a few days. I did start a gift to get me out of my cross stitch pit, but I cut the fabric just big enough’. Don’t cut fabric when you are tired.

I just proof read about 6-7 pages of Sean’s research paper on climate. It took me 2 hours today and 2 hours for the first 7-8 pages. He will be home next Wednesday and needs to get a job or his internship settled. He was turned down for the Delaware one as the lady thought a reference from high school wasn’t appropriate for a college student. I did question Sean about that too. Listen to your mama!

I see that Emily from The Floss Box received the postcard that I made for her (sent to Sweden), so I’ll share it here (as she did on her blog-thanks!):

and here’s an old one I found of Longwood Gardens from the internet

These appear to be the Italian Water Gardens that I didn’t photograph the other day.

Hoping for a warmer and heat pad-less day tomorrow!

Apr27

Chasing my tail!

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Yep, what to do, what to do? Do I continue outside because that’s what I really want to do or clean my house? There’s so much to do in both locations. I did sort through a huge pile of junk mail, but I should have done that Thursday as Friday is recycling day. Now it will be sitting around all week.

My gardens are getting there. We had a cooler day and a little rain last night, so I was able to get to the lilies. There are so many weeds in there, I chopped off a few lilies by mistake. I do that every year!

I got my first iris today! It’s a pretty all white one! A few dianthus are blooming too. We went to Walmart and I must say their flowers and veggies are pretty decent this year and I bought a bunch last night. I planted more dianthus (Sweet William) that are named ‘Diana’ something. The ones from last year are coming along nicely.

Heard brother #2 has been planting a bunch of things at mom’s. This is good, but I use to help her with that. He also found her a nice used bed set (with a double bed) on Craig’s List and they went and looked at it and bought it! She has been sleeping on a twin bed and couldn’t stretch out right. I hope she is sleeping now as she was exhausted getting the room tidied up for the new additions. She is suppose to have a cat scan tomorrow and wants me to go along (I went with her when she had an MRI a few years back and waiting freaked me out a bit as I knew she was in that closed machine all that time). The weather is suppose to be rainy too.

That’s about all the news. I did sit after dinner and make one ATC! I haven’t made one for weeks. Speaking of dinner, I made the Rachael Ray turkey burgers which are so good! All you do is grate a small white onion in the ground turkey and toss in some seasoning like parsley and poultry seasonings. Next you make the patties and roll them around in pecan pieces and instant potato flakes and fry them up!

I am doing a little cross stitch at night. I am trying to finish off a Christmas ornament that I started back in ’05. I have to do birds over one stitch and it’s hard! Plus the design isn’t right at the top, and I can’t figure out why. It’s pretty though.