Category Archives: Mom

Sep11

One down…

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…and one to go!

My mom did fairly well with her cataract surgery today. She thought it would have been an easier experience though. Said she was really aware of the surgeon’s work. Now if that was the case, I think she would have been hitting the ceiling in pain! It must have been an anesthesia that didn’t knock her out all the way. The cataract was so hard, he had to do it without the use of an ultrasound procedure and do it the old-fashioned way.  She had to go to a seminar last night and the nurse (also the doctor’s wife!) gave it and was there today. Mom said she was so kind to her too. Mom called me a little while ago a bit weepy and needing some TLC. She should have come home with me and then I’d have to take her to the doctor for the follow-up, but it’s a little trip out here, not sure if she was up for it. I was hoping my brother’s would take her some dinner. I got her lunch and she only took a few nibbles of it. She has to put 4 kinds of drops in her eye 4 times a day. I watched her do it the first time and when she called, she was an hour behind with it. Keep her in your thoughts-maybe she’ll see like a 20 yr old again. : )

This was a weird day with it being the 7th anniversary of the attacks. I was at my SIL’s first, she does my hair, and hearing planes going over was making me think back and how close the planes were that horrible day.

A really cool gift to me was being featured on Sherry’s blog- If I could set my soul free. I was so flattered and it really lifted my spirits! Thanks again g/f!

Sep8

I have Scrambilitis!

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I had one of those nights where I was looking at the clock every hour and getting up. I couldn’t figure out if it was something I ate or drank-I did have that McD’s sweet tea earlier in the day and green tea for dinner. Then it dawned on me that I sat on the floor after dinner for about 45 minutes sorting out my paper goods. I can’t do this anymore, I did it anyway and I’m sure that’s why I felt funky-that and PMS. And it doesn’t get better as you get closer to 50, it gets really strange and you wonder what is inhabited in your body sometime. Anyway, all night, thanks to Facebook’s Scramble (I have a word IQ of between 99 and 101) I was doing words in my head-ten-tent-taint-faint far-fare….you get the picture. Ugha! That was awful. So I couldn’t turn my brain off. Maybe walking around the Mushroom Festival would have helped, but I decided not to go.

I’m thinking a lot about my mom and FIL too. Mom’s a little snippy. I was coming down tomorrow so Colleen can do my hair, but my brother’s friend lost his mom last week and they are going to the funeral. (the lady felt like she had heartburn for 3 days, but she also weighed over 250, but none the less, that is scary stuff). I said to mom that while she was having her eye surgery, I’d run to get my hair done first. She’s only 5 miles away at the hospital and she said she’ll be there 3-4 hours anyway from 9:30 (when the surgery is suppose to take place). I know they are never on time from my experience with the biopsy last November. So mom said I’d have to call the short procedure to see if she was ready to go home, in a snippy way. I think it will work out.

Not sure what I’m doing today-need to wake up!

Here’s what I did on Saturday, inside during all the rain:

I added some fall garland, leaf candles and some aluminum pieces I had. My mom gave me the little Holly Hobbie recently. I also had bought the candle in front of the mantel clock and was trying to figure out where it would look nice. I love those mosaic pieces I found on deep discount at Value City a few years ago. There’s a string of 5 flickering lanterns that don’t show up well here.

Thanks for everyone who offered help with chosing a tv. It sure isn’t an easy task!

And Jennifer and whoever may have signed up for the J. Holdsworthy meeting at the SS, I signed up too! Yeah!

Aug25

A little snow!

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Surprise! Gotcha!!! I got a prize in the mail today from Flora of Bonehead Studios! I won her door prize and it’s simply adorable. Flora, you are so talented and I am honored to own a piece of your work. Isn’t he something? He’s a snowman on a wand with pretty ribbons. I got a lovely handmade card too.

Here’s the link to the Spooky Times Jingles blog for shopping.

Not too much is new, I just worked on some ATCs with the crushed flower backgrounds-after I went food shopping and making dinner.

My mom is having cataract surgery in the beginning of September. I’ll pick her up from that. Then she is having another eye procedure a few days after her birthday-probably a glaucoma thing. She should have had this done ages ago. Please keep her in your thoughts.

I’m getting itchy to go to Longwood Gardens again, so maybe tomorrow. I want to try to get down to the Italian water gardens this time as I seem to miss it or forget about it.

Aug24

It’s all about Joe

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Since Senator Biden is fairly a ‘local boy’ (born in Scranton, PA), close to both Philly and Wilmington, the news is all about him and the people camping out at his home in Greenville, New Castle County, DE (there is also a Greenville in Kent Co., DE). I like to hear that people sit next to him in church, and see him out and about. He’s been teaching at Widener U law school p.t. since 1991. (My mom worked at the Widener campus in Chester, PA and I attended there a few months-hard school).

Here’s a map of how close the ‘maybe’ next VP lives from me. How cool (his birthday is the day after mine-Nov. 20th)!

Makes me want to take a drive down there to see where he lives! It’s not a very big town and you definitely would not miss it (you know the expression of if you sneeze, you’d miss it) as it has some lovely homes and scenery.

I think a lot of us locals feel we know Biden personally as he’s been a senator so long. He’s had some really down moments in his life-

His 1st wife and infant daughter died in a car accident shortly after he was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972. His two young sons, Beau and Hunter, were seriously injured in the accident, but both eventually made full recoveries. Biden was sworn into office from their bedside. Persuaded not to resign in order to care for them, Biden began the practice of commuting an hour and a half each day on the train from his home in the Wilmington suburbs to Washington, DC, which he continues to do.

In February 1988, after suffering from neck pains, Biden was hospitalized and underwent lifesaving surgery to correct two brain aneurysms, one of which began leaking.[6] The hospitalization and recovery kept him from the Senate for seven months.

From Wikipedia

Biden is a politician through and through!

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Sean is doing well, getting use to living in an apartment and buying his own groceries. Seems the only thing he forgot was a trash can and bags. He can walk a 20 minute walk to the campus or take a bus. Today he took his car to go to church. He’s been visiting with some old pals. Tomorrow classes start.

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I was a cleaning fool yesterday. I think it helped me not to think about Sean driving 160 miles. I even got Bri in the act! He got out the Murphy’s Oil soap and did some of the floors in the living room. Men have such great upper arm strength, that the floor shone! He failed to lift a few area rugs to get the dirt from under them. I worked so hard in the living room, I neglected the family room. Mom and friend dropped by to bring back my tote bag with my latest read and cross stitch project in it and they sat in the messy family room. You want to see my latest XS?

It sure doesn’t look clear here-rats! I think the camera focused on the chart. It’s called ‘Sleeping Kitty’ by Ellen Maurer Stroh. I’m doing it on fabric I think I bought from Carol S. I usually don’t start in the middle (at the top) and I’m finding it harder to keep my place, thus the pencil marks. I don’t think it will take long to finish.

Need to do some art one of these days. I’m stalling working on a Wizard of Oz swap. I have 3 weeks, but I really want to think of something neat for my partner. I have the main piece I will collage and most of the materials gathered. It’s just to sit down and get cracking!

Oh! I’ve been using the back massage chair cushion (Shiatsu by Homedics-my mom has one we bought her too) we have and I think it’s helping! Yeah! When the chiropractor made me lay on a table with the same principle of ‘faux’ massage, the lightbulb went off to start using mine again. Even Bri’s been using it.

Monday will be the first day I’ve been alone since the 15th!

Aug20

Atlantic City & attractions 2008

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Atlantic City & attractions 2008, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

Here’s a mosaic from our trip-view the large one at the above link or go to the slideshow of the set here. Unfortunately, some of the photos were cut off a bit. Sunday-we basically just stayed around the hotel and went to the mall for dinner. Monday we went to the beach after having the hotel’s breakfast buffet. While we were on the beach, we heard the roar of planes coming very close, almost like one was going to crash in the ocean! Here is was the USAF Thunderbirds flying team practicing for their show today. It was neat at first, but after 45 minutes, it was a bit loud. That night we went to the outlet shops near by and bought a few clothes items (that’s basically all there was). Sean bought me a candle as he was getting a bit short with me about things. I couldn’t help it if ‘Aunt Flo’ decided to visit me during the trip. To prove that I could do it, I climbed the Absecon lighthouse as described below-ouch! The front of my thighs are complaining! After we left there, we headed to Margate where Lucy the Elephant is located. It’s over 100 years and a mascot for the area. You can go up in her, but I just couldn’t do the climbing again. We found a excellent deli (Downbeach) and we all loved what we had-mom said it was the best pastrami she has had for a long time. We decided to stop at Smithville, a quaint little shopping area on the way home. We hadn’t been there for a while, and it doesn’t change much. I bought a tiny hummingbird feeder from a store that sold all bird related things (that’s what they basically were-all Ireland, all angels, etc). to put in the window where my craft table is.

I haven’t felt that tired for a long time when we got home and it took me a few hours to fall asleep, but I stayed asleep for a solid 4-5 hours which is good for me. Mom or I haven’t done that kind of walking for ages. I’m really happy that she did so well in that aspect. Sleeping there was another story.

Oh, and Cosmo was glad to see us and not too stand-offish. He seems really tired, I guess he was pining after me!

Aug13

Snap, crackle and pop!

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I did hear some of the above noises today at the chiropractor! My neck cracked really well. He pressed on my spine and that was uncomfortable. Then I laid on a table that vibrated mostly my butt area for a few minutes. I told he I had a chair massager pad that I should use more. Our insurance won’t cover these visits, so I have to figure out what to do (they take the same credit plan as the dentist, but I’m kinda saving that for extreme bills from them). I guess I can go a few times a month. I’m going tomorrow too. I think my neck feels a bit looser.
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I won a big box of ephemera from eBay to scan and use in my art projects. What fun it is to look through old photos and cards! It can be sad too as the photos are unmarked. I am not saving all of them. I bought the lot mostly for the really old photos. I have seen just one on sale for $4 and I got 11 pounds of goods for around $10. I love this hobby! There is so much history involved-the clothing, the cars, the scenery and towns.

Here’s ‘sort of’ any oldie I found in my craft desk. It’s me at my Communion/Confirmation back in about 1983 with my grandmom Ruth and my mom Jeanne.

I know who I am getting a bod like. This has a few spots on it. And my mom is the height of my grandmom now-I am taller than her! I think my grandmom was about 80 here and mom is almost 78 now.
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Thanks to Jennifer for mentioning the Absecon Lighthouse. Think we’ll go there. Sounds great. I love gift shops too. ; )

Aug12

Down the pike

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I finally got to my mom’s house after not being there for a few weeks. It was just so hard to drive with a sore shoulder blade. (I do go for my first chiro treatment tomorrow). I went to my brother #3’s house first and got my hair done by C. Got to see my niece play ‘Dance, dance revolution’ on the Wii system. She had to follow-move-dance to arrows that come up on the screen. She did pretty darn good. I said she should be a cheerleader and I didn’t know they had try outs (for 4 graders?) and she didn’t want to.

I then went to mom’s and took her out to lunch up the street-she had crabcakes and I had their famous chicken salad club. Before we went to lunch, I checked out mom’s yard. My brother #2 had chainsawed a bunch of bushes, even the lilies I planted a few years ago next to the house. Mom said they had all bloomed. Mom got poison ivy on her foot from being outside with my brother the day he was working in the yard. You can cut stuff back, but you really need to get the roots to a bunch of things-like the ‘weed’ trees. He had planted a tree thinking it was a red bud tree like 30 yrs ago and they are all over the place now. I never saw any tree grow so fast.

We got to see Mom’s friend who hurt himself, as he stopped by after a doctor’s appt and to get a few things. He’s in an assisted living place until his family helps him find a place to live. He has about a 4-5″ triangle shaped cut on his forehead-I think his friend called it a dog tear? and his nose is scabbed over and looks like frost bite. He has a dimple over the top of his nose, from hitting hard I guess. I think it had to be a paver that wasn’t set correctly and he caught his foot on the front of it and down he went. They are new this year and he never fell before. I worry about mom falling too. We’ll have to fix them in the ground better. My #2 brother put those in.

Sean came to mom’s after ‘work’ (he is finished his internship on Friday) and he was craving brick oven pizza. I wasn’t really hungry as I had a late lunch, but I went with him and ate one piece of white pizza with broccoli.

We went to Pet Smart and talked to the kitties there-so cute! And mom and I went to JoAnn’s and I got a 3 drawer piece for my craft goods and a few yard things for 70% off. If you like Debbie Mumm, she designed many of the things-with roosters too (Zoey!). I got a rooster whirligig-couldn’t resist.

There seemed like a ton of people on the road tonight, we’re thinking tourists.

I missed the last episode of ‘The Mole’ so just watched it online and found out who the mole was-I was right! Yeah! I almost changed my mind at the end, but I said ‘Craig’. I like who dunnits!

We have to start getting ready for our Atlantic City trip. I hope it will be a good time. We have always enjoyed walking through Caesars and to stay there will be awesome.

Aug7

Bulk item happy

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Sean and I did head for BJs Wholesale Club in the afternoon. Those places always overwhelm me! We took around a calculator and we were watching what we spent. I had to use the restroom and when I came back, Sean had messed up the running total! The items don’t have prices on them, the signs are the only indicator of what the prices are. We were very selective. We’ll be splitting some stuff, but he’ll have a good array of snacks and breakfast cereals to last him until he comes home and we go again. He got a huge Phillies towel for $15. It will be great for him to toss in the wash and not have tons of towels to worry about.

We ate in a Chili’s where Sean and I shared nachos and he had shrimp fajitas and I had the little burgers, two I saved for Bri.

Sean had to have car repair and it was expensive. He is planning a day trip with a pal or two to one of the Delaware beaches, and of course he is going back to PSU in a little over 2 weeks! I don’t know where this summer went. Of course I’ll miss him, but now he has an apartment and we could take the inflatable mattress up and spend the weekend with him sometime. We haven’t made our minds up if we are going with him this time.

I got a few cross stitch magazines at a Barnes & Noble. I got the one with the DaVinci lady that I admired a few weeks ago. I think I’ll kit her up! Got the JCS Xmas ornament preview issue and Cross stitch and Needleworks for the Halloween design from Mirabilia.

As luck has it, my uncle’s neighbor is a retired chiropractor and his son is a practicing one! And he’s right in the same complex as my dentist, eye doctor and GP! I’ll call to see if they take our insurance. My shoulder blade is better, but I’m getting a flash of tingling that goes around to the front after I’ve been sitting a while like in a car. What I’ve read, it sounds like a pinched nerve. It doesn’t bother me when I am sleeping-yet.

Mom’s friend Jim went in a rehab (I think) center near the main line of Philly today. His brother-in-law will be coming to help clear out his room and ‘tons’ of stuff at mom’s house. My #2 bro has been really testy and wants to hire a company to clean out some part of mom’s house. He complains about me not doing cleaning and sorting down there. This isn’t exactly the time of year I do that-I’ve got a big yard to tend! I did try to make an art corner in my dining area and got laid up with my shoulder. I still want to do this. Waiting for someone to move a table in there for me. I may not even like the chosen table.

Think I’ll go drool over the cross stitch magazines. : )

I’d love to go to Longwood Gardens tomorrow, but carrying the camera and it’s case may be pushing it. Walking isn’t really a problem. It’s lifting and sitting too long that bothers me. And you know if you have anything that is ‘off’, it effects your entire self.

Aug6

Art and cooking

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Different ideas same background ATCs, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

I was looking through stuff as I sorted last week. This week seems to be a bust because of my back issues. The sore spots like to move around, but Advil and the heating pad are my pals. It doesn’t bother my rest, just when I am sitting a lot which isn’t good.
I found a really neat page in a landscape catalog we picked up at the Philadelphia Flower show this year. These are what I made from the one page-all these cards’ backgrounds! I know, my imagination tends to run wild. I loved her eyes in the one image of Clara Bow, so they became the focus of the card. The other lady card is indeed Clara Bow again. She was gorgeous in my opinion.

The Michelangelo prophets are from a Dover Publications sticker book. I used both Isaiah and Jeremiah on my cards then did a google search to find out that Isaiah literally put the fear of God in people and Jeremiah was know as ‘the broken hearted’ prophet. Interesting!
Here is what we had for dinner last night called Frittata Al Tonno.
Frittata Al Tonno
Found it on the Chicken of the Sea website. I wanted to use tuna, and it also has eggs (of course), zucchini, onion, basil and tomatoes-mostly fresh from our garden. The secret was to cover the pan and steam the eggs for about 5 minutes. Both guys asked if it was quiche!
And speaking of eating-on the opposite end of the spectrum, our cute little mop top and bottom moths are cannibals! I found a completely bare stem of milkweed and there was only bits and pieces of a bunch of the critters left on it. Not saying a bird or two didn’t get to them. But I am sure I haven’t seen too many of the moths around.

My mom has loved paperdolls since she’s been a little girl and has collected Tom Tierney (also from Dover Pubs) for many years. Look what Mr. Tierney just came up with, no surprise to me. I’m thinking their clothes can’t be too exciting, maybe Senator Obama’s?

And three cute little girls-two fairly famous-you know who they are (belong to B and A):

and a little girl I found on etsy-on her mom Adrianne’s store:

I photoshopped this a bit. As you can see, I live vicariously through those who have daughters. : ) I’m still hoping for a granddaughter or two someday.

Sean and I are off to BJs Wholesale Club tomorrow. I broke down and bought a membership there. Dangerous-big quantities of things-must buy-!!!!

Jul23

Much needed rain

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We did get a nice soaking rain last night-with lightning too. It figures it had to be during the wee hours of the night. Sean slept through it, Brian didn’t (me either), and he’s really bushed today. I hope that’s it for the heat waves for a while, but I’m not holding my breath.

My mom finally went to the hearing specialist and she was found to have fluid in her ears which is causing her hearing loss. He told her to gently hold her nostrils closed 10 times a day and blow! If that doesn’t help, he’ll have to put incisions in her ears for drainage. Mom is so funny, said the doctor was about her age and was ‘eyeing her up‘. ; )

Me, well now it hurts where I had the two injections. I have a scar in my cheek from oral surgery and I am wondering if the dentist hit that? Sean went for his checkup there yesterday and my dentist said to him that he guesses he was glad he didn’t have teeth like me-then nudged Sean like it was a joke! Sean’s wisdom teeth appear ok for now and he had no cavities. I go for my checkup in a few weeks. I will also get my eye checked out on Friday-I’m sure the medicine (I stopped using) helped.

I am seriously thinking about going to a chiropractor for my right shoulder blade problem. I had an injury to it back in 9/01 (that ‘great’ month) and I had terrible pain for 3 weeks. It comes back to haunt me, especially sitting at the computer. I did it from using an exercise chair and the arm lifts over my head-the next phase-tore or pulled something.

The guys are getting geared up to go the their first Phillies game together on Saturday. They plan to try to go to at least one baseball and one football game at the stadium a year. Gotta give the hometown boys some support! : )