Category Archives: Mom

Jan3

2011 in retrospect

Posted on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 by Dianne

I’ve been a bit busy with work on New Year’s day (12-6, very boring) and running around to after Christmas sales with Brian on Monday. He goes back to work today. I was thinking though 2011 didn’t start out that great, we still got the nice 2005 Mariner at the end of January:

It was my vehicle for a few months until we spotted this one on the internet in July:

Yikes….it’s not a Ford/Mercury (my family loves Fords) and now we have two car payments a month for the next several years. I do love my little Ina who just turned 10. I’ve only seen two other gold PT Cruisers since July. She’s a rare one in these parts.

We decided we needed to take a few trips, not a week…but usually one or two nights.

First we went to Baltimore, MD and loved it there!

Baltimore’s World Trade Center

And we took the ‘side trip’ from Baltimore to Fort McHenry where Francis Scott Key was inspired to write our national anthem ‘The Star Spangled Banner’.

(Opps-that’s my funny shot)

We got to see Chincoteague Island and really loved the place too!

Because we had the Mariner, we got to travel more than we had in previous years.

Sean and I saw the taping of a local Philly talk show and one of the guests was ace Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee!

We went to the tribute band event ‘Beatlemania’ down in National Harbor, MD

We took a little time to see Alexandria, VA. and liked it there as well.

At the end of September, we finally got to go to a mini reunion for my high school class in Ocean City, NJ! It was fun and we enjoyed seeing the town of OC and Cape May, NJ also. My mom was along for that trip.

Brian took me up to York, PA again in October so I could attend the rubber stamp and scrapbooking show and we looked around the town a bit, not as much as I would have liked. But we went over to Mount Joy so we could eat at Bubbe’s Pub.

I got to see my little pal Nick and his mom Jenn on his second birthday when we spent the day at Longwood Gardens:

And oh Longwood…I really went there so many more times than I have in the past and hope to do so this year too!

And the Sugarloaf Craft Festival in November up in Oaks, PA was fun too-never been to that either. I found some nice gifts for people there.

So, it was a good year that we got to go places and see new things. We got to spend time with old and new friends and our family. I always like spending time with Brian and Sean, but this group-my ‘almost’ children (and mom too). : )

I want to get back on the weight loss track, one reason I posted photos of me at different angles. I plan to keep walking in the lovely local park and Longwood too!

And I can’t forget about getting the job. I’m wondering if I’ll still be there next week, only time will tell! If not, I’ll be taking a break for a month or so to get the house in shape and do some art.

Dec6

Shopping!

Posted on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 by Dianne

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Just catching up!
Monday I went down to my hometown to get my hair done and picked up my mom so she could do some power shopping where I work. She was actually very selective and we were in the store a bit over an hour and she did well. We are doing a ‘pollyanna’ and I got gifts for two people. We grabbed lunch and then had to go back to the store as something was the incorrect size and looked at the 65-75% off ladies’ clothing racks. With my discount and the 50 plus day we saved 40% off on the totals. Mom then wanted to go to ‘lots’ of junk. After 4 hours of shopping, I brought her home again and as the weather is also rainy-stinky, she is staying over again.
I am way behind with decorating. Shopping isn’t too bad. I found a flat tree wreath at a thrift shop and took off the ugly fake bright red bows and added new ones. I’ll show you soon.

My mom doing a little embroidery work.

Cosmo is getting snazzy for the holidays.

Nov30

Rose Tree Tavern

Posted on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 by Dianne

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Today I went down to see my mom as I wanted to take her to dinner and shopping. We didn’t go to that many places in the mall though. I’m not seeing that many gifts that I wanted to buy, but I did get a few things. I happen to get a good coupon for the dinner- $15 toward $30 meals. We went at 4:45, so got the early bird special-we both got prime rib, mashed potatoes and a big salad. We got beverages and a piece of cake and I had to pay a little more, but I haven’t seen my mom go after a meal like she did this one (me too). It was a bit salty, but I got over it. : )

Before we went to the mall and the restaurant, I wanted to stop at the Rose Tree Tavern that use to be on the corner of a busy road where my bus went by all the time and on the National Register of Historic Places . They moved it back and renovated it. I was dying to see the inside as a tourist bureau, but they had it locked up at 3:30! I did take a few photos though.

From the back with my Ina

From the front-isn’t it lovely for a 272 yr old building? I know they didn’t have to redo the stonework.

From the side with the 1739 cornerstone

Be sure to click the highlighted link to see the various steps of renovation. Someday I’ll get to see inside!

Sep23

Happy Birthday Mom!

Posted on Friday, September 23, 2011 by Dianne

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My mom Jeanne turn 81 years young today! Since I am her only daughter, I am happy to spend time with her when I can get down to her house.
I’m trying to think of something from the past to share-like when Sean was born, she came out and saw we needed groceries. I kind of wanted her to watch him more, so I could rest (had an 18 hour labor and ended up with a C-section). She decided to go to the store for me and was gone for a few hours. Then when she was here she cleaned like crazy. She did give Sean his first bath. : )
Mom just loves to go to souvenir shops on trips. She especially loves pens and bookmarks with the name of the place on them, which I try to pick up when I go places she doesn’t go to.
Hopefully she’ll be going to the beach with us. I am also hoping Sean goes to so she isn’t stranded in the motel room while we are at my high school get together. I figure after a few hours, we’ll be ready to split and go a few miles to the casinos. ; )

Aug28

We survived Hurricane Irene!

Posted on Sunday, August 28, 2011 by Dianne

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It’s been a tense few days, but when we woke up with power and less rain we were very happy! According to the weather people, Hurricane Irene made landfall around 5:30 am in Little Egg Harbor, NJ, south from here, about 2 hours or so away. Unfortunately, my mom lost power around 10 pm or so and they think they heard a transmitter blow. Mom is more suburban than us. We do have a little water in a few places in our basement, but very manageable. Because it didn’t rain as much as they thought, that saved us. Also we put plastic around outside. Brian and I are dopey from nerves and achy from doing stuff outside. Thank goodness he cleaned the rain gutters out more as that probably helped too. Whew!

Now to look forward to the Bruce Hornsby concert on Tuesday and the Beatlemania trip on Saturday. No more hurricanes for my last hurrah of the summer. ; )

Update: 11:14 am is history-she’s a tropical storm now!

Jun23

I keep adding to the mix

Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2011 by Dianne

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First of all Happy 88th Birthday to Brian’s dad Frannie! Wow, that is a milestone birthday. The guys are seeing him after work. I’m not as they both are taking separate cars. He was rather ill last year and could barely get around. He is so much better this year though we worry about him living on his own. The yard is way too much work. He has a guy cut the grass and trim some stuff, but he got poison ivy bad in the backyard and doesn’t want to tackle that! I don’t blame him. He needs a super duper bottle of weed killer.

Yesterday I was down in my hometown to accompany mom to the doctor. She has had a sore right arm off and on and the doctor thinks it’s a pulled muscle. He took blood to keep her sugar in check. After she was finished, we went across the street to an Asian market and produce place. I was snooping around (lots of their things are picked over now), but I found this beauty, a Passion Flower for only $14.99. I know if I had gone to the garden center I went to later to purchase the same thing, it would have been at least $40 or more.

My friend Meg had one a few years ago and I couldn’t stop looking at it. I will have to see if it gets fruit.
Mom and I had some salad and gourmet pizza next. I only eat one piece and eat mostly salad. I lost 5 pounds in a month which is a small feat for me! I’m trying to loss in 5 pound intervals which is the safest and most practical way.
After dinner we went to JoAnn’s and their lawn decor is down to 60% off. I got a few more gnomes as some here getting old and broken. I didn’t stop there and usually overdo it at that store.
After I dropped mom off, I headed to the fancy Terrain garden center again. Remember the pocket gardens from a few weeks ago? I looked closely at them and they could surely be made from gardeners’ block fabric, maybe doubled. My camera was losing it’s charge or I would have taken a photo to show how bushy everything got! Great idea. I was looking for things for a few bowl gardens. Remember they are pricey and I went ahead and did buy some things like an ice plant, etc. Also found a chocolate Cosmo-it sure looks like the color of chocolate.
Today it’s like a sauna outside and the catkins are falling from the Chestnut trees. I did up two bowls with the new plants. I think they need a few decorations in them! I’ll share soon.

Not sure if you have heard of the ‘Jackass’ tv shows and movies, but pretty sure you have. It was all over the news that one of the stars, 34 yr old Ryan Dunn was killed early Monday morning in a firey car crash along with his friend Zack. They were driving at 130 and his alcohol level was twice what it should be. That happened near the hospital I was in for my appendix in January as they both lived in West Chester, PA. So some people are cashing in on this tragedy-this one lady sold the local paper about the crash for $10K and another is up to $100k on eBay! Not sure if they are legit, but they do look like they are. I hope she donates some of her winnings to MADD (Mothers against drunk driving). Although this is indeed a tragedy and it took 2 lives, he could have hit other vehicles instead of going through a grove of trees. By the way, Brian works for the paper that got the big bids.

Jun7

Wall of Pockets

Posted on Tuesday, June 7, 2011 by Dianne

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I went down to my hometown to get my mom to stay over as she has a hearing aid appt at a place that is local to me. I almost didn’t get this shot as the mirror phone protector was making it hard to capture this shot. Aren’t these neat? I think they are made of fabric. I guess I should take a closer look next time I go. My mom looked at was this huge hanging basket that was $85! This place has a display at the Philadelphia Flower each year and I love to see their color combos and other things. You just can’t touch the prices-$5-$8 for small plants is my limit. I got a Coleus, a Throatwart , a black ornamental pepper and a fern on sale. Mom got a black Petunia and a yellow Lantana.

Tomorrow the temp will be around 100 and the three of us (Bri, Sean and me) had tummy issues-from our dinner last night so I hope we are all better then. Sean and I are peppier, but Bri is still blah. We had wheat pasta and a salad with alfalfa sprouts on top (the lid said they were tested for e.coli-so I hope that’s so).

Isn’t this a sweet terrarium?

May7

Photo Hunt-digital

Posted on Saturday, May 7, 2011 by Dianne

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Mom 1950, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

I use to play more with Paint Shop Pro and especially like trying to fix up old photos-digitally. This is my mom when she was about 20. The photo was in bad shape. I could work on this a little more and maybe I will soon (neck and chin look too obvious).
I’m also sharing because Mother’s Day is on Sunday. Happy Mom’s Day Jeannie girl!

Apr27

Doing stuff

Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 by Dianne

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I just realized I haven’t blogged since Sunday! Running here and there-to get my hair done in my hometown and visiting mom for a couple of things. Unfortunately I wasn’t feeling that great on Monday between my allergies and eating something for Easter that didn’t agree with me. But I got to see my niece and gave her the little owl box I assembled the day before. She liked it.

Mom and I went out to a late lunch (she is never ready when I get there) and the place she wanted to go to was closing. I ended up eating a grilled chicken sandwich on a toasted hotdog roll at a hamburger joint. How cheap can you get and it was falling apart too!
Yesterday I took some gold jewelry that was given to me to a shop in Delaware that I dealt with before. I only sell stuff that I don’t need or know I won’t wear. I had a lot of bits and pieces. I had a ring sized too. I got enough for a car payment plus some extra. : ) I told the man I wanted the blue topaz out of this big ring as he said he only wanted the gold part. I go back today to get the ring I was having resized and there was no stone in the envelope. I had to ask for it! He was hoping I’d forget and only offered me $20 for about a 4 carat blue topaz. He doesn’t do the greatest resizing job-the ring is rough and not polished that much on the inside.
I asked Sean to get my white car washed last night as it was dirty and he was nice enough to do so. I see that the same dirty spots are still running down the sides-what a rip off. I told Sean that was a waste of money and not to go there again. Also my ”change oil’ reminder is coming on and the dealership was suppose to do that last week.
I did go to Tuesday Morning and got a pretty box for the wedding gift we are giving our cousin along with a few extras. I stopped in the store and bought some charcoal and made really good burgers. I grated onion and pressed it into them and it made all of the difference!
Sean is off tomorrow and wants to take a daytrip, but the weather may be dicey. That figures.
I have been cleaning inside and outside-it’s sure an endless job. I have no clothesline now as a big branch took off a side of a ‘t’ bar on one end. I have hanging pots on them now.

One of my newer collages based on being a visitor at the nation’s capital.

Mar10

Another rainy day

Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2011 by Dianne

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I’m sitting here stewing a bit. I have to go to the dentist at 3 pm and it’s a lousy, rainy day. It’s not too cold, but we have many streams and bridges around here that flood out. It also rained all day Sunday and Sean was at work and had to drive all the way around in a huge circle past the road that lead to his old elementary school, about 7-10 minutes from here at 10:30 at night. I can’t really bite down on the temp. crown which I have had over 3 weeks now.
Sean and I went to see my mom for a few hours late yesterday and we ran down to JoAnn’s as I was looking for those scrapbook storage boxes which they had and they were on sale too! I got three of them, so now I have 4! I would have done that today if I didn’t have to go to the dentist. There’s always tomorrow! I’m still trying to decide what I want to put in all the boxes. I have tons of scrapbook paper, but I should use a box for stampers too. These are great as they stack so nicely.
I need to add some photos soon here too. Later!