Category Archives: Mom

Florida weather

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Thank you very much O’ creator for bringing back my gardening mojo (sorry Barbara I stole that one from you). I didn’t actually garden today, I went to a book sale and then my hometown’s Super Sunday main street sale. When we arrived at mom’s she ushered me outside to present me with a ‘journey’ diamond necklace-you know the swirly ones you see in the tv ads? She said that it was a special Macy’s had. It’s really pretty and she got one for herself too. Wow!

The book sale had been on since Saturday and things were picked over. I spent too much ($2 for one hardback-how dare them!), but found fairly new books for crafting and some older musty books for cutting up for my paper crafts. My creative writing teacher from high school was there as a volunteer again this year. I didn’t speak to him as he seemed more interested in tidying up the books and I didn’t want to make him or myself feel old by bringing up the fact that my 30th high school anniversary is this year. Eek gads!

The main street sale was a bust. Mom got some applications to adopt a few kitties she saw up in town at booths for animal rescue. She was just going by seeing them in a cage and cat carrier. She wants a pet so badly, poor thing. The kitties were so pretty-the boy Leopold was white and Kyra the girl was almost white with a little calico thrown in.

We ate at a good Chinese restaurant this time. Sean was along (opps-forgot to mention him) and he drove us around. Nice when they get to that age.

I will be doing a little digging tomorrow. My irises have spread like wild fire! I am thrilled. I think of digging them up in the fall and adding them to other parts of the yard, sharing with my mom and maybe selling them myself. : )

Have a fine week-maybe I’ll finally get to Longwood Gardens to see the orchid display.

Photo Hunt-steps

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PSHunt
Grab the Scavenger Hunt code.Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

I like this photo as it was before Mom was hurting everyday from sciatica and she looks more like she always did. It was taken on a day trip to a New Jersey shopping area-Smithville Village. We later went to Caesar’s in Atlantic City.
Mom on steps in NJ

When we went to Orlando a couple of years ago, we went to a Titanic exhibit the last day and this is a replica of the ship’s grand staircase.

Steps of Titanic replica in Orlando, FL
And just for fun…

The Part of You That No One Sees

You are compassionate, caring, and soothing.
You like other people to depend on you…
In fact, you don’t feel right unless you are helping someone out.
Underneath it all, you feel the burden of everyone’s problems.
Without your guidance, you fear that many people’s worlds would fall apart.
You like to feel in charge, even if it brings you a lot of stress.

What’s the Part of You That No One Sees?

Kitchen anniversary

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One year ago, I was watching my 1960s kitchen cabinets(photos in link) get tossed out into my backyard, along with the sink and oven. I was a little reminiscent of days long gone by, like my baby’s first bath in that sink (given to him in his blue Fisher Price tub by his mom mom) and him standing on a step stool, looking so cute as we dyed Easter eggs together over the years. We did a bunch of messy things out there! But it was time for something new. There were more things on the countertops then inside the cabinets! I had drawn up a plan years before we actually went to the Home Depot for them to help us design the kitchen. I know I wanted light colored cabinets-it’s not a huge kitchen and the honey wood maple or whatever was not to my liking anymore. So I got the ‘fawn glaze’ finish which is an off white with ‘distress’, meaning little boo-boos to make them look older, but not overdone. The plans that were drawn on the computer were very much like the ones I had made up in my head! I wanted a pantry closet, a movable oven and stove combo with the glass top and a separate counter for baking.

I liked that we did some of the finishing-painting, tiling (with glass mosaics that I did) and tin which Bri and I both worked on. I pretty much know where everything is now. When I buy a bunch of groceries, they get ‘put away’ and you can’t tell I was even food shopping. It’s really easier to assemble things for cooking too.

I was just thinking I should give each cabinet a wipe out for their anniversary. I already do that to the bread drawer and pot cabinet frequently, but I think I will do that tomorrow as we are planning to meet Bri’s pal Kathy tonight for dinner. I am praying my sinuses will decompress soon. They started ‘acting up’ last night. Sean and Bri both are having nasal issues too. I was blaming mine on emptying my mom’s bagless vacuum out in the wind a few days ago. Speaking of mom, I so need to get her one of those mats with the stiff bristles for muddy shoes. No way should two people be making that much dirt-they are dragging it in on their shoes-no real sidewalk and Jim walks up and down the stone drive which is more dirt than stones now. When four kids lived there I don’t remember seeing that much. Maybe I just didn’t care or my live-in grandmom kept it cleaned up. I think both!

One view of the kitchen 2007

Second view of kitchen with dining area show

VA tech continued

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Sean’s psychology teacher was called down to VA tech yesterday as not only is he a grief counselor, but he is an EMT! I asked what kind of man he is and Sean replied that he is kinda like my brother Ken, a joker. I’m sure he helped.

Just heard that a bunch of New Jersey people were hurt-one young man who graduated the year before my nephew David (same high school) was probably a grad student down there.

I can’t understand why the English teacher didn’t red flag some of the papers the shooter turned in which mentioned killing several times (i.e.-I can kill him!).

College students are banding together offering support to VA Tech students. Sean has been meeting lots of VA tech students through Facebook and plans to wear maroon (and orange I think) on Friday-the school’s colors.

Sean dropped me off at my mom’s today as he only had a 2:30 class. His university in only about 4 miles from where my mom lives. I did a little vacuuming and dusting while there. We later went to my brother’s house so I could give Tori her birthday gifts which she liked (mostly clothes from The Gap and some earrings). We ate at a brick oven joint and then begged Sean to take us to the big JoAnn’s store. I did some serious damage there by adding to my art supplies. They always have good sales. I love the DCWV paper packs and got awesome designs-like 75 pages for $2.99-the right size for my cards. I may go food shopping tomorrow or I may play with my new ‘toys’.

Ancestors and things

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I went down and met my mom at the hospital thrift shop. I was there browsing when she called and said she was finally finished up with her doctor’s appointment. She needs to get quite a few tests, one of which is a mammogram. I don’t know why she needs to be put through some of the others like a nuclear stress test and an MRI-I can almost guarantee she won’t be able to hack the treadmill at almost 77. She had a MRI several years ago and was in the machine for 1.5 hours without moving. They’d have to drug me for that one. She said there is an ‘open model’ in a place about 20 minutes from her house. She worries the heck out of me-so thin, hardly eats (I took her for an early dinner and she only ate the hamburger and not the bun at Ruby Tuesday), her house has so much in it, things that could be discarded. My brother and his pals did a ton more in her yard then I thought. I’ll have to take photos next time. She has old pine trees (that my grandfather Alan planted in the 50s) and they took out 6 dead ones and trimmed many from the bottom up-no privacy now. Ken happen to stop over and I suggested bushes along the neighbor’s fences. He was not thrilled by this. I came home and found a tick crawling up my pant leg. Mom’s yard was disturbed, so I’m thinking it came from there. Talk about taking one’s clothes off quickly! When you’ve been deathly ill from a tick, you don’t play with fire!

What I got at the thrift shop-a real old flour sifter (ok I’ll take photos!) and an old musical sewing box.

Below is a photo (taken with my camera!) of my great grandfather William Hasselberg and his siblings that mom gave me a copy of today. The third man over is the great grandfather (Charlie) of my cousins with the store Dane Decor I mentioned a few posts back. My mom thinks this is from the 1930s-40s and was taken in Bohemia, Maryland. When I see Bette Midler, I think of her husband, Martin Van Hasselberg. Also, Elizabeth Hasselbeck’s husband must be a distant relative.

Great grandfather William

My great grandfather is the first one!

Going on to other things and a weird coincidence-aren’t you glad you know who Dannielynn belongs to? I mean she looks just like her real father. I was looking up Larry Birkhead to see how old he was (34) and then clicked on the link to Anna Nicole Smith who was born November 28th, the same as my brother Don. Here’s the weird thing-her father’s name is Donald Eugene Hogan and my brother’s name is Donald Gene!

And then a hero comes along…

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…John Wood.

John Wood-book crusader

I almost didn’t watch Oprah today. I turned it on while our girlfriend was interviewing Mr. Wood about his program to end worldwide illiteracy called Room to Read (second is linked to Oprah).

Room to Read

 A former big wig at Microsoft, Mr. Wood went to Nepal on a trip and found poor conditions in a school there-overcrowded and most of the pupils couldn’t read. He vowed to go back in a year with books and he kept his promise-I was in awe with him-got the warm fuzzies big time!  Now his org is building libraries and schools all over the world. Many people in the small communities are learning to make bricks and to build themselves! Check out the link and maybe make a $5 donation (I plan to donate something).

For two days and for a few hours,  I did garden clean up. Brian cleaned up the piles after dinner each night. I think I am wearing him out! Last night we moved the big hollyhock that was across from the front door. It broke into 3 pieces so hopefully I have three new plants. I know a tree near where we just planted it gets rust or whatever fungus it is and hollyhocks are prone to get it. We planted the hollyhocks in my iris bed. The iris have spread a little. I am hoping to give some to my mom as I have some gorgeous ones. This is reminding me to go order from the same company as I won their photo contest last year (Aug. 06) and I better use the coupon soon!

Getting my hair done late in the afternoon. I think my mom is staying over to go to the gyn with me. I could go by myself, but she wants to lend support. I have some issues, but just doing all this yardwork has made me stronger (and a bit achy) over the last few days.

Spring is really trying to make an appearance

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So much so I had Cosmo the cat out on his harness and we were enjoying the 67 degrees on this sunny, but a bit of a breezy day. The weather is kinda whacking us out-40s one day, 60s the next. We all feel a little congested. Life goes on.

So happy to report my mom says she’s been feeling better over the last few days. She is taking chewable adult vitamins and seems peppier. I’m hoping she keeps up her vitamin regimen. She did say she looked at herself in the mirror and didn’t like what she saw. I guess the first step for anyone is them making the move for their own benefit.

I was sad to hear that Elizabeth Edwards’ cancer has returned in her bone. I hope she gets excellent treatment. The Presidential campaign for John will go on it seems.

Bob Woodward and his wife Lee were on Ellen DeGeneres’ show and I swear I tear up every time they show that film footage when he is slow dancing with Lee and wearing a helmet to protect his head last year. He says on the video, “I can dance but I can’t talk.” Lee just looks at him very lovingly.

Sean and Brian are on my ‘S’ list tonight. They have a habit of tossing a football (!) down the hallway in our little ranch house. I ask them to not do that or they’ll break something. Well tonight they broke a gift from a friend. I need a new frame for it. Made me so angry that all my pleading falls on deaf ears. I told Bri I try not to be into material things, but the gift came all the way from the midwest and didn’t get broken until tonight. I told him I was going to go knock his beloved trains on the floor and he said that would be ‘just mean’. I think meanness is not listening to someone who is making perfect sense. Sean and I are going to get him a gift tomorrow and frankly I don’t really feel like it now, but I will.

Tomorrow is another day, thank goodness!

Bun bun ATC
My sanity-ATCs!!!

Family time

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Sean drove me down to my brother Ken’s to get my van which he had inspected. It still had a bunch of sleet/snow on it, so Ken and his pal knocked it off-Sean did a little. He’s not much on pitching in. I swear I didn’t teach him that if you get my drift. We gave my nephew Kenny his presents for his upcoming 11th birthday on the 23rd. He liked the rock and roll t-shirt we found for him at the Gap store (he only wears short sleeved shirts) and a little cash. I also made him an Art Trading card and he liked that too. I forgot to photograph it. I have one for Tori all made up for her 8th birthday on April 11th. Then Sean played Playstation2 with Kenny and I talked with Tori while she watched The Disney Channel-her eyeballs were glued to it. : ) Tori and Colleen went to a rollerskating event and Sean and I stayed to visit with the two Kens a little longer. Ken got out the video of when he was cleaning an engine that he had taken out of my Ford Montego back in 1983. He was only about 15-16 yrs old. Then there were footage of him in his prized 1964 Ford Falcon (I know a lot about Fords) and he was peeling out making the tires spin and the exhaust filled the air. The guys got a good laugh.

Ken said he was worried about my mom too and the quality of her home life, said she was pale with black circles around her eyes when he saw her on Friday. He and his pal walked around her yard (after they plowed her driveway) and also saw some damage on her house and her shed roof caved in from all the sleet/snow’s weight. He said he’d fix up the outside but not the inside. I knew I’d have to persuade her to get rid of things. Ken said mom is so stubborn. Makes you sit back and look at your own acquired stuff-speaking of which…

…our basement is a bit discombobulated as Brian spent the day making a path for the furnace guys. Some of my neatly stacked Christmas things got moved here and there. I was going to postpone them coming as I thought we had more to move. I see a few more things that may be in the way. We acquired a lot of junk
stuff in the last 20 years. Oy.

Mixin’ it up!

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Mother nature is playing games with us. We’ve had all kinds of weather from sleet, ice and snow. The snow one time was so fine it was like someone was shaving ice in the sky. We are hoping the power stays on. The furnace is running rough too. Tuesday can only come too soon.

Here are some photos I took around the house today:
I uncovered my pond (took off the netting) only for it to get covered again with ice
Uncovered the pond for it to get covered again.
These were my grandmom’s. My mom gave them to me the other day.
Mom mom’s vases
My glass egg collection, many gifts from Brian, so I think he really likes them.
Glass egg collection

Things are better

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I was so glad that my Reiki in training pal said she sent me chakras for over the course of 12 hours yesterday as it was a rough day. I do feel calmer today. Thanks Lisa!

The furnace/heater is going to be cheaper than anticipated. The salesman made a funny remark why we shouldn’t get the super duper model, like our house is only worth so much and not like the houses down in Hockessin (probably 250k and up). I guess he wanted to save us money. The new heater is going in Tuesday if all goes well. They got a deposit today. We have a little more basement cleaning to do. What I did a few days ago shows, so at least having repair is one way of getting that area tidied up.

Mom said I can help her sort stuff after pleading with her again. This time I used Peter Walsh’s approach (professional de-clutterer from The Learning Channel)-you hoard because you may need it some day (that’s me and mom) or for memories sake. You have to get practical when you are in your 70s-hold on to what you really love. Mom didn’t look good at all yesterday and I want her to be happier.

So I am pleased with my eBay sales of late. Seems my books are really popular. The barn sale is on again on the 30-31st, so you know I’ll be there as that’s where I bought the lastest good sales.

I had the cat out for his first walk of the year. He was so curious. He couldn’t believe another creature would leave their droppings in ‘his’ yard-he acted so disgusted.

Well, I am making Bri a nice dinner tonight as he’s been neglected of good eats for a few nights. I’m cooking up some steaks and tators. : )