Dec1

Getting there

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It took until 4 this afternoon and 3 phone calls to get my bank to take off the two charges for $205. Eek! That would have early put a damper on the next few weeks.
I didn’t sleep too well last night. Never install virus software in a new computer at 1 am. If you do, make sure you download the correct software-I should have looked at the email better. I finally got that squared away around 1:40 am. My oh my!
To keep my nerves calmed (a little) I made our Christmas card for 2009-it includes us this year-that’s all I’m saying. I did have an idea, and then artist Claudine Hellmuth shared something she made on Facebook which was the springboard for my imagination. I’ll share it here after it gets color copied and sent on it’s way.
My mom called me tonight. She sounds somewhat better. I wasn’t going to continue our conversation if she was only going to complain about little things, she was ok.
My brother is moving in over this coming weekend, although the apartment’s gas has been turned off and he has to take a shower elsewhere.
Tomorrow I hope to get a few groceries in here as today I just couldn’t. My post nasal drip has been Chinese water torture today. I used my Neti pot which helped a lot. I could tell the right side was more clogged than the left. It always seems to be the right side. I do sleep more on the right.
I did my cookie post for the 3rd so I wouldn’t forget to do it! I only have a berry wreath on the front door as it’s not really the one I want to hang. I am doing more of a natural theme. I wanted to do mostly white lights on the tree. Sean like multi-color, so maybe I’ll add a few gold to the mix. That won’t be until around the 12th, though I do have a helper this year,it could be earlier!
Speaking of my helper-he has an informal talk next Thursday with a local conservation district. I was really praying hard last night and then Sean got the call. I hope something works out for him! He has gone through quite a few boxes in the basement-many his old belongings. What the heck do you do with an old chemistry set?

Nov30

Cyber Monday

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How I enjoy shopping on the computer! The weather was chilly and dreary and I got to snuggle up on the sofa to shop-pure bliss. I have to be really selective this year and I found a place that has neat things and bargains-Lake*side Collection.com. I think I ordered 16 things (a few for me) and it was just over $100. Can’t beat that. I then need to get some things at good old Wally World and then get a few gift cards. I asked for a Cuttlebug-the machine that embosses and cuts paper. The above company has that cheaper than Wally World. I used a few gift cards I got for my birthday to get 25% or free shipping. I could go to those stores, but the one item I ordered is exclusive to the online place.
I was pleased as punch as I also got Sean things from his Ama*zon wishlist. Then Mr. May*tag repairman showed up…
Yes, I do need a element-$200 buck-a-roos. No he wouldn’t take a deposit, needed the entire amount. Why I didn’t write a check-but pulled out the debit card and out he went to his truck. In a few minutes he came in and said it was declined. Hello airhead, it’s Cyber Monday and people are going to town with the debit/credit cards! Out he goes again. I thought I was saying good-bye to $200 and it turned out to be $600! After he left, I checked out my bank account online and there it was, 3 debits in a row-apparently it did go through! I have an email and a phone call into our very local bank (11 offices) to hope this mess can be cleared up in a few days. I just mailed off a ton of bills and as I told you, did a bit of shopping. Why does cr@p like this happen to me?

By the way, didn’t talk to my mom today(she hung up on me Sunday) and the other person in the fiasco is very depressed. Maybe the silent treatment will get her thinking about how nice things could be.

My brother’s gift is an egg separator! (see below). You crack the egg into his head and the whites run out the nose area! The lady at the shop says it works great. My brother was always the one who liked to talk about gross stuff, so that gift had his name written all over it! I also got him a nice blus ceramic business card holder and a plug-in aromatic thingie.

Crossing fingers for tomorrow!

Nov29

Trying to get in the spirit

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I’m not going to be a ‘Debbie Downer’. I just need my family to settle down and go with the flow. I talk to one person for over an hour. I talk to the other person for over an hour. I’m caught in the middle. Things seem better and then the one person pi#@es off the other person and vice versa. It all messed with my 50th birthday and now my Christmas is getting jeopardized. I do have my own issues and I sure would like some emotional support from them, but it’s all about them right now. I understand lives are changing, but please consider my feelings too. I usually go all out for Christmas. I’m hoping when I can purchase a few gifts I’ll feel better. I have Sean to help me this year.
I haven’t cross stitched in weeks. I find doing the paper crafts and making them for swaps is good for me right now. The stitching will come back. I do want to make a Christmas card like I did last year. We’ll see.
I do enjoy going around to different blogs and seeing how you are decorating and stitching. In a few days, I’ll add a cookie recipe too! Things just have to get better.
I’ll share a ‘domestic goddess’ angel I made for a swap shortly. I have to hop on the other computer to do so.

Nov28

Photo Hunt-Technology

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Loom, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

So, this was a difficult challenge to me. I decided to go back a few days to my trip to Winterthur Museum in Delaware and show you the old-fashioned way that fabric was made-in a loom. Can you imagine threading that and cranking it back and forth all day? I know the modern machines, which are probably also looms are run the same way, but I bet the can make yards of fabric in a matter of minutes.
Another thing I have to be thankful to technology for is the internet. A lady who was on the tour with me that day found me on Flickr and left me a message! How neat was that?

Nov27

Good stuff

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Thanksgiving was mostly pleasant. Sean and I arrived at my brother’s house around 2:15 so I could get our turkey cooked. Then I helped out when Colleen needed me, and almost fell asleep!
Brian came down later as he was going to bring dinner over to his dad who refused to come to over even though he would have been driven back and forth to the my brother’s house.
My middle brother, who is moving in with mom is feeling the pressure of packing and trying to get a room painted. Sean offered his assistance to move boxes and he said ‘no’. I think in the next week he’ll need Sean more.
My brother and his family presented Don and me with a birthday cake (Don’s is the 28th and he’s a year younger than me) which was nice.
The cheesecake was popular and I believe there is only a sliver left.
Today I got a much needed smile maker.
Thanks to Carole over at ‘Pea’s Corner’ for this delightful framed snowman print; and some heavenly bath powder and body lotion.

Here is a photo of my brother trying to figure out what his gift from me was:

Take a guess and I’ll tell you tomorrow! (You can click on this and make it bigger)
Here is my sweet niece and me. I gave her the outfit she had last Christmas. Her mom gave her some sweet Shirley Temple curls. I’m wearing the earrings that Brian gave me for my birthday.

Here’s a photo I had my nephew take-not bad for the first time using a fancy camera. This was taken for Jennifer F., but I’m mailing a snail mail form to you!

And finally, I was making ornaments for a swap and I think I’ll make some for gifts as they were challenging and fun to do-plus I have the template now!

By the way, the serviceman never came to fix my oven today. No courtesy call to say where he was. Brian called them three times! They rescheduled for Monday. If one hour goes by without a ‘I’m on my way’ call, I’m calling Maytag up as they send these idiots out. I didn’t go shopping, too tired. Sean did go out and said Wally World was crazy. We aren’t giving each other too many gifts, just can’t afford it. We got an almost $300 plumber’s bill and we are disputing a $50 charge for ‘misc’ as they had to use a big roto-rooter. Come on, isn’t that part of the $160 service fee? They at least came right away on a Sunday.
Have a great weekend!

Nov26

Happy Thanksgiving

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We will be going to my brother’s house. I did make a pumpkin cheesecake and will bring green beans and a second turkey. My oven’s bottom element went, so I will be going early to cook at my mom’s house. The oven is only 3.5 yrs old. Will have a repairman come on Friday. I hope everyone has a great Turkey Day!

Nov26

Shots from Winterthur

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Shots from Winterthur, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

The mosaic maker cut off the Christmas trees-but the shots give you an idea of what’s on the trees. The top one has vials of spring flowers like hyacinths and narcissus on it. The middle is the grand staircase with evergreen garland. The final shot is a tree with dried peonies-never saw this done as they are such a fragile flower. The girl print was from Strawbridge & Clothier, a local Philadelphia department store. So sweet!

Nov24

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme

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While visiting Pea’s Corner (her link on left), I discovered that if you answer these questions and post a few links you have the chance to win $3,800 in prices. I could go for that! What an awesome giveaway!
Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme
TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?
Peace amongst my immediate family members.
A trip to NYC in the immediate future.
Something to commemorate my 50th-something unusual that I didn’t really get.
A metal door to keep out the cold in the basement that seems to effect the warmth of the master bedroom.
A surprise!
2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?
From my late friend and cross stitcher Charlotte. She cross stitched a little rose for the lid of a pill box.

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?
I think something quilted.
4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?
I loved my Betty Crocker kid’s cookbook and made many a meal for my family like meatloaf with mashed potatoes on top.
5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?
My son is grown up, but he has an Amazon wishlist-probably a few CDs.
6. What is your favorite holiday food?
Home baked cookies!! I make several kinds-try some new ones each year.

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?
I hope to make some gifts. I have some pretty clear vessels I want to do something with.
8. What is your favorite holiday movie?
It’s A Wonderful Life, but A Christmas Carol-the very old one from the 1930s or 40s is timeless too.
9. Favorite holiday song?
Oh Holy Night
10. Favorite holiday pastime?
Cookie baking or decorating.

Nov24

Christmas tree covered with dried flowers

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Isn’t this just gorgeous! Sean and I went to Winterthur in Delaware today. It was a drizzling, chilly day, but it is mainly a tour of the DuPont Mansion which is now a museum. It sits way back off the road. The land was probably used for the cows that he raised there. He was one of the forefathers of the dairy industry.
This is mainly for Zoey as it sure reminds me of how she decorates her fabulous trees each year. There will be more to show you when I upload the close to 100 photos!