Aug26

Late Summer Longwood Gardens 2008

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Late Summer Longwood Gardens 2008, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

I did get over to LG for about 1 hour. It’s a little hike to the Italian Water Gardens, my focus here. I didn’t even go to the Idea Garden or Conservatory. I’m going to try and go once a week for the exercise. A week ago, I was at the top of the lighthouse in Atlantic City! Even though I’m hurting some, I think continuing this will be worthwhile and I’ll have more energy.
I saw lots of bees, not one big butterfly. I had to come home to see them. Saw a bride and groom when I was leaving. I think they were just putting on their wedding outfits to get their photos taken.
Came home and made a almost from scratch roast beef dinner (used instant potatoes).

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I want to give a shout out to local young lady Amanda McGrory who will be going for the gold medal in racing at the US ParaOlympics. She was featured on the local news station last night as someone who has made a difference in sports-a ‘game changer’-video here. Amanda use to go to school with Sean (elementary) and was in the CCD class Bri and I helped with many years ago. She is a lovely, bubbly person.

Just got finished watching Hillary Clinton’s speech at the convention. I still wish it was her, but that’s the way it goes. She is so articulate and shows how intelligent she is. Funny to see Bill getting all misty-eyed. Her experience really showed. I like Michelle Obama, but Hillary is the seasoned politician. I know that Michelle isn’t a policitian, but she can surely learn a thing or two from Hillary.

Off to the dentist tomorrow-again. Am getting fed up. They did x-rays on Brian a few weeks ago knowing that he was on his 2nd visit of the year and that he had had a filling-so no insurance money left and us in the hole again. I purposely didn’t have x-rays my second time, nor did Sean. I’m surprised Bri did.

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Aug25

A little snow!

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Surprise! Gotcha!!! I got a prize in the mail today from Flora of Bonehead Studios! I won her door prize and it’s simply adorable. Flora, you are so talented and I am honored to own a piece of your work. Isn’t he something? He’s a snowman on a wand with pretty ribbons. I got a lovely handmade card too.

Here’s the link to the Spooky Times Jingles blog for shopping.

Not too much is new, I just worked on some ATCs with the crushed flower backgrounds-after I went food shopping and making dinner.

My mom is having cataract surgery in the beginning of September. I’ll pick her up from that. Then she is having another eye procedure a few days after her birthday-probably a glaucoma thing. She should have had this done ages ago. Please keep her in your thoughts.

I’m getting itchy to go to Longwood Gardens again, so maybe tomorrow. I want to try to get down to the Italian water gardens this time as I seem to miss it or forget about it.

Aug24

It’s all about Joe

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Since Senator Biden is fairly a ‘local boy’ (born in Scranton, PA), close to both Philly and Wilmington, the news is all about him and the people camping out at his home in Greenville, New Castle County, DE (there is also a Greenville in Kent Co., DE). I like to hear that people sit next to him in church, and see him out and about. He’s been teaching at Widener U law school p.t. since 1991. (My mom worked at the Widener campus in Chester, PA and I attended there a few months-hard school).

Here’s a map of how close the ‘maybe’ next VP lives from me. How cool (his birthday is the day after mine-Nov. 20th)!

Makes me want to take a drive down there to see where he lives! It’s not a very big town and you definitely would not miss it (you know the expression of if you sneeze, you’d miss it) as it has some lovely homes and scenery.

I think a lot of us locals feel we know Biden personally as he’s been a senator so long. He’s had some really down moments in his life-

His 1st wife and infant daughter died in a car accident shortly after he was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972. His two young sons, Beau and Hunter, were seriously injured in the accident, but both eventually made full recoveries. Biden was sworn into office from their bedside. Persuaded not to resign in order to care for them, Biden began the practice of commuting an hour and a half each day on the train from his home in the Wilmington suburbs to Washington, DC, which he continues to do.

In February 1988, after suffering from neck pains, Biden was hospitalized and underwent lifesaving surgery to correct two brain aneurysms, one of which began leaking.[6] The hospitalization and recovery kept him from the Senate for seven months.

From Wikipedia

Biden is a politician through and through!

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Sean is doing well, getting use to living in an apartment and buying his own groceries. Seems the only thing he forgot was a trash can and bags. He can walk a 20 minute walk to the campus or take a bus. Today he took his car to go to church. He’s been visiting with some old pals. Tomorrow classes start.

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I was a cleaning fool yesterday. I think it helped me not to think about Sean driving 160 miles. I even got Bri in the act! He got out the Murphy’s Oil soap and did some of the floors in the living room. Men have such great upper arm strength, that the floor shone! He failed to lift a few area rugs to get the dirt from under them. I worked so hard in the living room, I neglected the family room. Mom and friend dropped by to bring back my tote bag with my latest read and cross stitch project in it and they sat in the messy family room. You want to see my latest XS?

It sure doesn’t look clear here-rats! I think the camera focused on the chart. It’s called ‘Sleeping Kitty’ by Ellen Maurer Stroh. I’m doing it on fabric I think I bought from Carol S. I usually don’t start in the middle (at the top) and I’m finding it harder to keep my place, thus the pencil marks. I don’t think it will take long to finish.

Need to do some art one of these days. I’m stalling working on a Wizard of Oz swap. I have 3 weeks, but I really want to think of something neat for my partner. I have the main piece I will collage and most of the materials gathered. It’s just to sit down and get cracking!

Oh! I’ve been using the back massage chair cushion (Shiatsu by Homedics-my mom has one we bought her too) we have and I think it’s helping! Yeah! When the chiropractor made me lay on a table with the same principle of ‘faux’ massage, the lightbulb went off to start using mine again. Even Bri’s been using it.

Monday will be the first day I’ve been alone since the 15th!

Aug23

Photo Hunt Wrinkled

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PSHunt

Not to insult any living being, I chose wrinkled things from nature.

This is a nasturtium bloom. It’s a gorgeous orangey red. I had bought a few packets of seeds and went around and poked seeds everywhere, simple as that. I am now getting rewarded by these surprise gems in all hues. And you can eat them too-they taste peppery. Here’s a yellow one with the sun shining on it brightly:
Sunny Nasturiums

They tend to love the dry and sunny conditions we are experiencing now here in PA.

Aug23

Emotions

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Sad-Sean left at 9 am. I prayed I wouldn’t blubber, but I still do. He’s such a nice guy with us-takes me places, is patient, watches sporting events with Bri and they both have snickering attacks (it must be a guy thing). Stuff like that I’ll miss. Man, is his car jam packed with stuff! We were suppose to follow him up and see the apartment and town, but that will have to be in a few weeks. Bri’s dad needs his attention. I can’t wait to see how Sean does in his ‘bachelor pad’. He left me with a hamper of laundry and his room is a little messy. My entire living room was that way for a week or so. Now I can finish getting my craft stuff organized.

Happy-That Obama picked seasoned politician and all around nice guy Joe Biden as his running mate. I wasn’t sure where Biden resided, but here it’s down my road and make a right, about 10 miles away in Greenville. If you aren’t familiar with Greenville, it’s in Delaware and one of the most expensive places to live in the country. Greenville is Bri’s territory for the newspaper, but he doesn’t go down there that often.

Excited-to work on some projects again now that things are somewhat settled down. I squished some flower blossoms last night and was pleased with the results. I am using the paper as background for a few cards.
Flower squishing
Joyful-That a hummingbird or two found the little feeder I just bought from the store in NJ. We have the zoom lens on the camera, but we think we have to move the hanging basket the feeder is stuck in closer to the house. Here are a few photos taken with the zoom lens:

Bri’s photo-cropped

Also entered a contest to be in the pit crew for Patrick Dempsey at a race in Millville, NJ next weekend. Heck, I’d like to be the one who fluffs his hair when he takes off his helmet! It would be so funny to win!

Aug22

Show & Tell #6

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Holly Hobbie Embroidery, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

Here’s one of my first ever completed needlework pieces that I did way back in 1976 when I was about 16 going on 17. As you can see, I used a film camera to photograph Miss Holly Hobbie. I think she’s pretty nicely done for a 16 yr old, though I believe I used 6 strands of floss where I should have used 3 to 4. Now she is hanging in my guest room, a yellow room. She wasn’t framed until 25 yrs or so after she was embroidered.

These are little Holly Hobbie plaques I found at a yard sale and thought they looked nice with my framed piece.

Aug21

Adding insult to injury

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Today I am feeling that lighthouse climb even more. The front of my thighs hurt yesterday, but they are really complaining today. As is my back. Thank goodness for the heating pad, icy hot and massage pad! I went out last night and started to pull weeds. Then I was pulling grass out of the brick sidewalk. I even had Bri leaning over pulling grass out of it. Martha Stewart is pulling weeds (maybe), they are so bad this year. You can see why I’m so sore. It’s a good pain as I feel like I did something worthwhile. Sean bought me a weedwacker last year, but it’s so big, or I am so short (even after adjusting the handle part) I have trouble using it.

I will say the pond looks nice, despite the weeds. I have to get the fountain part to work again, more leaning over:

I have a few different kinds of water plants in there besides waterlilies (which didn’t bloom in either water container I have them in). I have water hyacinth and a Canna lily plus that plant that looks like little umbrellas. The waterfall has a piece of old tv glass in it.

Bri is with his dad today as he has a sore on his stomach that won’t heal-he’s at the wound center of the hospital over near where he lives. He was in the hospital about 4 yrs ago with one on his leg. Daddo is also having dental problems and can’t chew that well. It will take over a month for his bridge to be fixed. I think the time may be near for him to move into an assisted living place. He’s getting frail and I know he is probably lonesome. I bet he would be popular as he likes to tell jokes and talk about money. Bri would have to fix up the old homestead over there-like get a new roof and some cosmetic things. It’s in a nice area on the other side of Chester County.

Sean wants to go to Walmart soon and I need to get a few things too.

And thanks so much to Jennifer from Sweet Pea Stitches for this award:

I send it back to her:

I’m to pick 7 blogs altogether and tell the recipients they got the award.

Ok, this is difficult, but I pick:

Carole of Pea’s Corner

Barb of Mainely Stitching

Zoey of Perennial Passion

Lee of Lake Stitcher

Kelli of There is no place like home

Emily of The Floss Box.

Aug20

Atlantic City & attractions 2008

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Atlantic City & attractions 2008, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

Here’s a mosaic from our trip-view the large one at the above link or go to the slideshow of the set here. Unfortunately, some of the photos were cut off a bit. Sunday-we basically just stayed around the hotel and went to the mall for dinner. Monday we went to the beach after having the hotel’s breakfast buffet. While we were on the beach, we heard the roar of planes coming very close, almost like one was going to crash in the ocean! Here is was the USAF Thunderbirds flying team practicing for their show today. It was neat at first, but after 45 minutes, it was a bit loud. That night we went to the outlet shops near by and bought a few clothes items (that’s basically all there was). Sean bought me a candle as he was getting a bit short with me about things. I couldn’t help it if ‘Aunt Flo’ decided to visit me during the trip. To prove that I could do it, I climbed the Absecon lighthouse as described below-ouch! The front of my thighs are complaining! After we left there, we headed to Margate where Lucy the Elephant is located. It’s over 100 years and a mascot for the area. You can go up in her, but I just couldn’t do the climbing again. We found a excellent deli (Downbeach) and we all loved what we had-mom said it was the best pastrami she has had for a long time. We decided to stop at Smithville, a quaint little shopping area on the way home. We hadn’t been there for a while, and it doesn’t change much. I bought a tiny hummingbird feeder from a store that sold all bird related things (that’s what they basically were-all Ireland, all angels, etc). to put in the window where my craft table is.

I haven’t felt that tired for a long time when we got home and it took me a few hours to fall asleep, but I stayed asleep for a solid 4-5 hours which is good for me. Mom or I haven’t done that kind of walking for ages. I’m really happy that she did so well in that aspect. Sleeping there was another story.

Oh, and Cosmo was glad to see us and not too stand-offish. He seems really tired, I guess he was pining after me!

Aug19

Very tired

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Here’s why (did it just today)-

Don’t know if you can see where it says ‘228 steps-one amazing journey’. I was totally zonked. But look at this neat photo of the lens at the top:

And my red van looked so small from 169 feet up:

I had my almost 22 yr old son prompting me to keep going, felt like a lady in labor! There were six landings to rest on-how ingenious. My legs were like noodles near the top and at the bottom and I was totally sweating and my heart was beating like crazy. Guess I can cross another one off the list on things I wanted to do!

The doorway to ‘heaven’. The stairs looked like that the entire way up.

But what a view! That’s Brigantine from the top of the lighthouse. You stand in a cage. I felt a little funny up that high.

We had a good time, had some great food, nice beach time and weather and saw some neat things! Will tell you more tomorrow. It’s good to be home!

Aug17

C’ya in a few

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Update- 8:11

Mom and I are in the gorgeous room at Caesar’s relaxing. I’m through for the night as is she. The guys went to play miniature golf. We’ve been here since about 12:30 (we got here in no time and used Sean’s new GPS system which is really neat-wish we had gotten one at that low price) and met Bri’s dad in a nice restaurant for lunch. We didn’t go on the beach yet, just looked around the rather expensive/high end new mall. One store, all Victorian style things, had stickers-the kind I use for my crafts-$25 for the little package! Are they kidding? We had a gift card and used it in a candy store.  Bought some salt water taffy for one thing for my blogger anniversary give away!’

The room is really for handicapped, but it’s really big-like a small apartment- a sofa, ottoman plus a table and two chairs(and a huge bathroom). I took photos. I hope we can sleep ok though.

We ate in an Irish pub style restaurant in the new mall I had chicken pot pie, Mom had pork tenderloin stuffed wih apricot,  Bri had fish and chips and Sean had salmon.

We lost moola. I won’t be playing anymore. Sean did win about $12 and I think that Bri and Sean won $30 and split it.

Guess we’ll go to the beach tomorrow. I’m on the internet as it’s costing $13 a day and I might as well get my money’s worth.

 

We’re off for a few days to the glitzy shores of Atlantic City until late Tuesday. We were a little late getting stuff together as we got our portrait taken for the church directory early on Saturday. It turned out okay, but the guy took an excellent shot of Sean by himself which you’ll see in a month or so. Think I’m saving the other portraits for Christmas gifts. We bought a package  with unframed prints. The photographer wasn’t much older than Sean and an English chap. He hardly let us settle in at all and ‘click’ went the camera. My eyes were closed in the first one. The last photo he took, the one we liked of Sean so much, well he made him say something silly. I had asked if he was going to let us say ‘cheese’ so we have time to pose. Some people are in a rush and there was no one waiting their turn.

Anyway, here’s one I took of Sean for a cute frame I bought that matches my Woodland Walk sampler:
I’ll share the framed piece soon.
Take care!