Feb23

Applebees and Oscars

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Sunday seems to be my day to get mail together, make new collage cards and hopefully have a nice dinner.

First-the newspaper company that owns Brian’s newspaper declared bankruptcy (they just talked about it again on the news as I type this). We don’t know what that means right away, but it’s not something to put in the back of one’s mind. Bri’s worked for that company for 11 years now (though they were bought by another company a few years back). I guess we’re taking it day by day. I better keep my eye open for him and me! Sean will hopefully be adding to the finances in a few months too.

We had a boring array of food in the freezer as I need to go to the store and I remembered we had a $25 gift card to eat out!  We went to Apple*bees and got the 2-$20 special. The place wasn’t crowded, it was bitter cold tonight. We got the spinach and artichoke dip appetizer which was delicious. Then we both ordered the Lime Fiesta Chicken and that was pretty good too. I even had room for a Chocolate Mousse shooter dessert. It only cost us another $11 (plus tip).

Then I settled in with my stitching and watched the 81st Oscar ceremony. Hugh Jackman was the host and he was entertaining and quirky-funny dance and singing numbers. I liked how they brought past Oscar winners out-5 each, to each talk about each of the nominees. Many of the nominated ladies were very teary-eyed and touched. I was happy that Kate Winslet finally won. Many were moved when the late Heath Ledger won and his mom, dad and sister accepted the award for his 3 yr old daughter Matilda.
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We are still getting  cold weather and wind-miserable. I should go to the store today. I’m probably not going to the doctor on Friday as the bloodwork Bri had last month is still in question-we have to wait for the bill so the family doctor can resubmit it.

Wish us luck and we’ll send it back to you!

Here’s a Mona Lisa card I made for a challenge to welcome spring! Mona is embossed in gold. I forgot how much fun embossing things are.

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A small ‘I recommend’-
Shea body butter-it’s so nice to put on dry skin this time of year. I got some that was marked down and it was still fine and took away that dry skin itch.

Feb20

Show & Tell

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Antique flour shifter, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

I found this very much used and loved flour sifter a year or so ago. I forget I have it, but it’s mainly for display.
Blue Graniteware coffee pot
I found this on the trip Bri and I took to New England in the fall of 1984. It’s old and stained, but adds a vintage feel to the shelf in my kitchen where it is displayed.
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It’s a cold and blustery day here in s.e. PA. I’m glad I went to my mom’s yesterday. Today I was looking for a plastic box for the rest of my snowmen. I brought up an Easter box first and it was too small. I looked in one of the boxes leftover from the kitchen redo (it’s going on 3 yrs ago) and there were my vintage Franciscan Autumn leaves dinner plates! I need to bring them up in the kitchen! I started to decorate a bit for Easter. My entire house needs TLC! I’m trying! ; )
Have a great weekend!

Feb20

Feel the Love Charity Quilt Square

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I did this in about a week for a new group I am in as an emergency quilt square for a very sick lady in South Africa. It’s about 6″ x 4.5″.
It’s from Midsummer Night’s Design-the Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue for 2008. I changed the verse from ‘Feel the magic’ to ‘Feel the love’ as I felt it was more appropriate. I noticed the skin tones were two different colors and kept it that way as it made them more individual looking. There is also some blending filament in the wings and some of the stars.

Feb19

Thursday Thunks

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I’m a bit late as I was down to see my mom and take her out to dinner today. Dropped some cross stitched pieces off an JoAnn’s for framing. They are going to look gorgeous!
Here ya go…
1. What brand & flavor of toothpaste do you use?
Crest Night time formula-it’s gotta be good for the daytime too, don’t ya think?
2. What is your earliest memory?
Having the German measles at around age 2 or younger and laying on my grandmother’s chest all night.
3. Hot Dogs or Hamburgers?
I can go for either, but I love a good beefy burger especially from 5 Guys.
4. If you could bring any one famous person back to life, who would it be?
Ben Franklin as he would be amazed by all this new fangled technology.
5. What is one thing we would always find in your fridge… what one thing would we never find?
Green tea as always find. I want to say sardines, but my husband buys them once in a while for the never will find.
6. Did you have to go and look for the answer of #1? Yes-because it’s to freakin’ late to be answering questions. : )
7. Why don’t watermelons grow on trees? Because they would knock someone out cold if they fell off the tree.
8. What is something that you own that you should probably just throw in the trash, but you never will?
About 3/4s of the contents of my basement.
9. I push you into a room and lock the door. I leave you there for 6 hours. The walls are chalkboards and in the middle of the room there is a box of colored chalk. What will be written/drawn on the walls when I let you out?
I may have cuss words on one wall from not being able to go to the bathroom for 6 hours. I would think flowers and happy things if there was a bathroom in the room.
10. When was the last time you changed the oil on your car?
Funny you should mention this as it is about 200 miles over for a change. I don’t drive my van a lot-so I’d say the end of last summer maybe?
11. In your extended family, who has been married the longest?
My uncle got married when I was less than two weeks old, so 49 years. His wife is in a nursing home and he isn’t.
12. Name one thing that is so normal to you now that someone who was your age 50 years ago would think was abnormal.
Using a cellphone. If you watch ‘Life on Mars’ where Sam the main character goes back to 1973, they thought the idea of a portable phone was a hoot in one episode.
13. Have you ever wanted someone or something so bad that it hurt?
Of course, it’s human nature.
14. What do you dip your french fries in?
I like them with or without ketchup.
15. What was the last picture that you took?
Art trading cards I made.
What to play along?
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Feb18

Dianne’s Dummy guide to using a MP3 player

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Brian and I were in Big Lots Tuesday night and after we had checked out with our measly purchases, I took a gander at the locked cases around from the register. Here they had two different kinds of MP3 players for $24 and $40. My friend had recommended one over an i*pod as it was easier to download music (snicker snicker-more later). So I opted for the higher priced one because it had a bigger display screen. You can download photos and videos too. So I got home and while we were trying to get the DVD player to work (always remember to change the channel on the tv!), I looked at music on A*mazon and downloader software. Today I bought some music and the software wouldn’t download the songs to our computer. I called A*mazon twice. The first guy, was definitely an Indian (sounded like the guy from Heroes) and really didn’t help. The second guy, Teddy was a gem. Told me to get rid of the software and download right to our computer. It worked! So I have 20 songs and lots of space left on it. I don’t care for the earbuds-they hurt my ears. I need to get padded ones. And I need a case too. This was an early anniversary gift.
I bought this little Vera Bradley case for my player at eBags (great site)
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Keep Bri in your thoughts as he is suffering from insomnia really bad lately. He had that doctor visit last month and didn’t have any problems from his x-ray and bloodwork. He worries so much.
I may be seeing my mom tomorrow.

Feb17

Touched by Bees

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I just got finished watching ‘The Secret Lives of Bees’ tonight. I loved the book, so decided to buy the movie. Dakota Fanning is like my ‘I wish I had’ daughter, she is such a great actress.
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Queen Latifah and Dakota Fanning
I wasn’t certain who played Lily’s dad, but I kept thinking-gee that looks like that English actor Paul Bettany and sure enough it was! He really is a great character actor. Everyone was good!
The movie was close to the book, but not as spiritual. Mary was a big part of the book-read it and find out!
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Yesterday, my father has been gone a year. This movie shows a father with a trouble past, and of course made me think of my own.

Feb16

Display

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Skinny Cards on the mantel, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

Monday I was taking down my snowmen display out of my front bay window. I figure snowmen are seasonal, so we enjoyed them there for a few months. I did however, stop turning on the lights there. Now I have piles of snowmen on the sofa, etc. as I started to feel funny in the tummy and had to stop. I’m ok now.
Anyway, here are a few of the ‘Skinny’ cards (3″ x 5″) I made in the last few weeks that I like to display on the mantel. They are being held up by pieces of old sleigh bells.

Feb15

He comes and goes so quickly

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Sean was home from late Friday until 2 pm this afternoon. It was a way too short visit, but I loved seeing him as usual. He looks good. We took him along to a restaurant where a group of my old high school classmates were suppose to be and we didn’t see anyone. We left before the band started at 8:30 as it was snowing like crazy and very dark out. We almost didn’t get dinner there as you suppose to have reservations, but they ‘gave us’ a canceled one and then handed us a Valentine’s menu that was $29.95 a person. Bri’s face fell a mile! We saw people eating pizza, so we asked and got their regular menu-sneaky!
Not much happening other than my brother got a lot of my mom’s basement cleaned out-he hired someone. Out of the living room went the old electric organ my grandmom traded for the piano back in about 1970 or so. I was just learning to play the piano, but I did alright with easy songs on the organ. Many of the notes didn’t work anymore and mom never played it. Without my grandmom using it, mom lost interest.
Have to call about text messaging tomorrow as Sean went bonkers doing so and our bill was high. Also have to call about Bri’s last bloodwork as the insurance said they weren’t paying for more than half-a lot-will have to get the doctor’s office to resubmit it. Both of the above put a damper on yesterday. Wish us luck!
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A little ‘I recommend’-be sure to check on the packaging on your favorite food and look at their website, especially if they are locally based. They may have some good recipes to share. Here’s locally produced Herr’s Potato chips (and other snacks) website with some yummy sounding recipes.