Oct24

Happy 22nd Birthday Sean!

Posted on Friday, October 24, 2008 by Dianne

Sean playing in the leaves, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

Today Sean is home for his birthday. He’s a bit sick with a sinus cold, but he made the trip down to be with his dad and I, so that is a gift to us. I don’t know where 22 yrs went. I remember I got tired of my mom saying how time flies and kids grow up too fast and now I am saying it! My once little pumpkin baby is a responsible and caring young man now. And I call him my friend, which is important to me. The birthday card I got him mentions that, and I tear up when I read it, every time. I don’t know why, I guess I’m just glad he is and I hope he always will be.

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I shared my little ‘foodie’ figurines last week. This week I am sharing my ‘stitching’ figurines. They are on an antique hutch that belonged to my great aunt. I painted it pink.

Incidently, the little sampler behind the pig and cow was one of the first cross stitched pieces I made back in 1980. : )

The little stitcher’s John Deere piece reminded me that he was suppose to be some relative of ours as my maternal great grandmother’s maiden name was the same but pronounced ‘Deer-ree’. I looked up info about him and couldn’t see where he had a brother by the name of my gr-gr-uncle.

Oct23

Welcome to the Autumn Gathering!

Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2008 by Dianne

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Welcome to an Autumnal gathering hosted by Artsymama!

(Enjoy the links I added too)

No need to ring or knock, I’m expecting you!!

Isn’t this a silly tin bucket?

The coleus is just starting to fade and wither, but looks pretty on the step next to the faux pumpkin. I love to carve pumpkins, but haven’t done one in years. Maybe I will this year!

If you look through my front bay window, you’ll see a tower of pumpkins and Casper the Friendly ghost!

I have an antique hutch with some cute figurines on it to the right of the front door. The one holding the pumpkin cookie cutter is an Annalee.

I wrapped some leaves around my Nancy Noel painting to give it a special look for the season.

I saw this sign at Michael’s and had to get it since I live on the west end of my road-the ‘Wicked Witch of the West’

I have this sign on the other side of the bay window

Under the Treats sign sits a Scarecrow I made 14 yrs ago and little Valentino the Webkinz frog dressed in a Boo Sweater

This is actually a demitasse cup holder, but I added faux pumpkins and coppery ribbon I found at the Dollar Store

This is the fireplace mantel. I have three mosaic urns on display for autumn, two on the mantel.

I cross stitched the middle of this wreath back in 2001

I saw this idea in Michael’s so I added some glitter to a faux white pumpkin

I’ve had this little Anne Geddes pumpkin baby for years. My son was born a week before Halloween, so I keep this on display all year long. That’s Sean in the background. My mom gave me the glass pumpkin.

I purchased this awesome Halloween Book from Tootie over at Honey Girl Studios (the link is to her site All Hallow’s Eve). and love it with my orange and black glass mushrooms. I have a small collection of mushrooms since I live near ‘The Mushroom Capital of the World’

This a Halloween tree on table next to my special book. I have many Art Trading Cards that I made stuck in its branches. The tags are by Tootie.

Here’s what it looks like lit up showcasing a tag I bought from Tootie (from a set)

I have a small collection of owls. I know I have an owl cookie jar somewhere too! I cross stitched the box lid.

Casper looks spooky and cute all lit up!

Here’s my bay window. I have glass pumpkins that I added orange lights to. I have a few crystal pieces that made the window glow.

A little trick or treater in my Halloween tree

More orange glow

Thanks for visiting. Happy Autumn and Happy Halloween!

The End

Oct21

Sammies aka Sandwiches

Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 by Dianne

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My pal Zoey was talking about making a sandwich spread that her husband loves-ground bologna spread (pick a recipe that appeals to you!). I’ve never had it, nor has Brian or the lady at the grocery store who checked me out. So I did a Google search, and lo and behold it’s a Midwestern thing. I definitely want to try it as I purchased buy one get one free Oscar Meyer bologna yesterday. The recipe called for grounding up the solid piece of bologna in a meat grinder. Think I’ll use the food processor. Also it has sweet pickles-will use pickle relish like Zoey does, Spanish onion, mayo and yellow mustard. Zoey skips the mustard. Sounds good! I’ve had my share of Deviled Ham, so this sounds similar.

I asked Zoey if she had heard of Lebanon bologna. She had not. It’s a Lebanon County, PA lunchmeat. I had a LB food jag as a teen. Everyday I had it with a slice of American cheese, a dab of mustard on white or rye bread, but mostly on white bread and potato chips (when I was skinny). It’s smokey and tangy at the same time. I do still buy it on occasion.
Update:
I did mix up a fast batch of the ground bologna and it’s quite good. Like ham spread, not as salty and very similar to a hot dog taste because of the relish and onion. So we give it a ‘thumb’s up’! We thought black olives or red peppers would be good in it too. Thanks for the idea Zoey!

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I’m wearing the waist trimmer as I type this. Bri’s been wearing it while using the ab-lounger (doing sit ups) and then leaves it on for a few hours afterwards. I put it on him. I have to put it on me, so it probably could be tighter. I like it! Mom said she’d go get me another one. I guess it gives you support like a girdle. One reason we are fixated on our tummies is because of what Bri’s dad has been going through. He’s had a huge tummy as long as I’ve known him. When he finally ‘deflated’, he got the terrible sores from the skin hanging down-I know gross. Sure would do everything I can to avoid getting that problem.

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Thanks for all your sweet comments on my ‘Think Pink’ ATC card. I must join in some more challenges. : )

Oct19

Gadgets-I love gadgets

Posted on Sunday, October 19, 2008 by Dianne

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: And you are worth, a zillion slim dimes. : )

: They look like they go together!

: I guess that means you have to do some kind of exercise for it to work!

: please look at the band and not the girls. : )

Zoey over at Perennial Passion said she found some really ‘rad’ kitchen gadgets lately. It’s true, I love gadgets and have an entire drawer of them!

I noticed my static duster (a larger household gadget) was looking old and worn and the handle, made out of plastic, had broken in several places, making it hard to shake out. Today, Bri took me out to lunch and then to a store that he collects ads from for the paper. I hadn’t been in there in years and it was much bigger than I remember. They are a bit pricey, but when I saw that chartreuse duster with the telescopic handle, I knew I was bringing it home! The handle part is metal. I have already tried it out and it reaches the corners of most of my ceilings (the family room is higher as it was the garage at one time), and holds the dust like a trap! This was my consolation for Bri not taking me to the Delaware Home Show where I could have meet Nadia Geller from the Learning Channel. She was the only reason I would have gone.

I hope you can see that I placed the duster, that looks like a broom, under my Wicked Witches’ house sign. I do live on the west end of my road. ; )

Yesterday my mom and I were in a 5 Below store (everything is $5 and below as the name implies) and I saw this waist trimmer, thinking of Bri and me. I decided to try it on and it’s comfortable. I took that photo, hello girls! LOL I guess you are suppose to make it as tight as possible. My mom was commenting on my tummy the other day and how it needed squishing. Well it’s been out of control for almost 22 yrs (with the one exception when I lost some decent weight). I guess you are suppose to ‘exercise’ wearing this thing? My tummy muscles have been really weak lately, moving involuntary like an eye twitch when I sneeze. In my mind’s eye I keep seeing Sigourney Weaver in Alien. Also, Brooke Burke, one of the celebrities on ‘Dancing with the Stars‘ wore some kind of contraption after she had her last baby and her tummy is flat as can be (it’s called ‘Taunt’, but what I linked to looks like a pricier version of what I bought). Hey, I think she’s going to win! I’m really hoping the fat gets pushed down to the butt region as it’s suppose to be better to have it there. In my dreams.

Oct18

Photo Hunt-Family

Posted on Saturday, October 18, 2008 by Dianne

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The first photo is of a mom (my mom) without a husband. She is trying to make the best of it because it is Christmastime, 1960. She has a 6.5 yr old, a 1 yr old and a newborn.
Below that is my wedding photo of our entire family at the time. Can you pick out my mom and two brothers from above? I am so happy we had this photo taken (April 14, 1984) as three of the matriarchs are now deceased and the patriarchs haven’t been well lately

Oct16

Show & Tell #14

Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008 by Dianne

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Foodie figurines on kitchen windowsill, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

I have a cute collection of figurines on the front ledge of my kitchen garden window. Seeing Kelli’s last week made me want to show you mine (in a way, I didn’t dust the shelf)! Many are Enesco items like Mary Moo Moos, Cherished Teddies and Blushing Bunnies (eBay has tons of these). Zelda’s Wisdom is the dog with the chef hat on with the wooden spoon in her mouth. I always admired the saying wrapped around Zelda’s base-‘If you can’t stand the heat, get out of kitchen’.

I love the cow selling lemonade and the Dairy Queen bovine-all of them!

They make me smile when I see them, hope they make you smile too.
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Also made these ATCs (Art Trading Cards) over the last week. I call them ‘Seasonal Duos’.

Oct16

Let’s Go Phillies!!!

Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008 by Dianne

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Phils reach first World Series since ’93
10/15/2008 11:38 PM ET
By Ken Mandel / MLB.com

LOS ANGELES — Using a perfect script without a surprise ending, the Phillies captured the National League pennant with a 5-1 win over the Dodgers on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. With it comes their first trip to the World Series since 1993.

With the Phils never straying from their opportunistic best, Jimmy Rollins scorched a leadoff homer on the game’s eighth pitch, much like he did in the Game 4 NLDS clincher against Milwaukee. With a lead and the ball in ace Cole Hamels’ capable left hand, it seemed inevitable.

The Dodgers never had a chance.

The star of the game!

There’s a lot of celebrating in downtown Philadelphia tonight.

I’m so glad Brian and Sean got to see the team that made it to the World Series. : )

Oct15

Watch this space

Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 by Dianne

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…for my latest cross stitch finish. For some reason, I diligently stitched on it since late July, to early August until now. I have a few stitches left. The designer didn’t use quality paper (yet charged $10 for the chart) and many of the symbols were terrible to read or rubbed off. I had to improvise a few stitches, but you can’t tell. And I did use the tape that Lee sent me-thanks again. I want to do a quick Halloween design next.

I went down to my hometown Tuesday afternoon and got my hair done and so did mom! Colleen gave mom a reverse bob-very cute. We went to Olive Garden for dinner (mom’s had the same tummy bug or whatever I had and I wanted to give her a treat) and then hit Micheal’s Craft store. I didn’t pick up anything to buy for a long time, then I saw a ‘now you can knit socks’ book, but didn’t see the correct weight of yarn in the vast collection in the store, so I scraped that(but it’s something I want to try). I purchased some stickers and papers-some with a Christmas flair!

I’m still thinking about having a table at the church Christmas bazaar, but then it may be better to have a yard sale which wouldn’t cost me $35. Our basement really needs to be tidied up. I had a sale years ago, but not sure that people want craft books and baskets. It’s a lot of work too.

So watch this space! : )

Update!! It took me 2 hours to finish this. Then I washed and pressed it. Introducing Sleeping Kitty by Ellen Maurer Stroth:

I can’t believe a strand of my own hair showed up so well too!

My inspiration to do this piece, my own brown tabby Cosmo!

Oct13

I’ve been tagged!

Posted on Monday, October 13, 2008 by Dianne

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Sherry over at ‘If I could set myself free’ tagged me for this. I think I tell mostly about myself on my ‘Me’ page, so this may be hard.
# 1 These are the rules for this meme:
# 2 Link to the person who tagged you.
# 3 Post the rules on your blog.
# 4 Write six random things/unspectacular quirks about yourself.
# 5 Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
# 6 Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog.
# 7 Let the tagger know when your entry is posted.

#1 All three of us, my husband, son and I had blonde hair when we were little. Bri had platinum blonde, Sean light blonde and me wheat blonde.

#2 I have my high school crush as a friend on Face Book. I’m sure he knows this, but I appreciate him accepting my invite. ; )

#3 Although I got ‘D’s in high school typing on those lovely manual typewriters, I can type great now thanks to using the computer keyboard since 1994.

#4 When we went to Orlando 3.5 yrs ago, I saw a tv guy heading for the outgoing flights (we had just landed) and I had a little conversation with him. If you are from Philly and watch Action News, you probably have heard of Don Polec. That is extremely brave for someone who use to be really shy.

#5 I met Brian at the wedding of my brother to his first cousin-like a soap opera! Everyone saw us chatting at MaryAnne’s mom’s house and almost clapped when Bri asked-do you want to go out sometime? My grandmom told him I was a ‘good cook’, like that would help. ; )

#6 My mom, older brother and I are the only left-handed people in 3 generations.

I tag: Carole, Jennifer, Lee, Barbara, Sharon and Tootie. Good luck ladies!