Oct19

Photo Hunt-Practical

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PSHunt
Grab the Scavenger Hunt code.Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

John Deere Tractor
My mom and I took about 150 photos on Thursday, which helped as I couldn’t think of anything practical! There were vintage tractors on display, so thank goodness for these practical and hardworking machines. And I have a family connection with the name Deere! My maternal great grandmom’s maiden name is Deere! My grandmom told the story of how John Deere had a fight with his brother ‘who ever-could be William’ and because of that, he didn’t go into the plow/tractor business with John. I looked up his bio again and one said he was one of three boys, so maybe there is some truth to the story, but our side of the family didn’t have Deere money.  I’m not saying he isn’t a distant relative, because that’s an unusual name. Speaking of which, I read that Deere had a daughter named Jeannette and my mom’s name is Jeanne. Wonder if my grandfather knew this as John was suppose to be his great uncle?

Another side note; several years ago another Deere relative’s obituary was in the paper and she lived in Chadds Ford, a stone’s throw from here. Small world.

Oct18

Around my house

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Here’s most of the front step area. You can’t see another little scarecrow on the other side. That’s a ‘fake’ pumpkin! I don’t carve pumpkins anymore, but I like them. This is ok until I grow them again. I do hope to get more than one though!

The front door
My pretty salmon colored nemesia came back in the front window box!
Nemesia made a return
And finally-to show some damage a chestnut tree burr can do-I was pushing my garden cart with the decorations from the lawn to the shed, one popped up from under the wheel and hit me full force in my ankle! Ouch! (It’s not a bump…it’s a few dozen little puncture wounds!)

My boo boo

This (laryngospasm) is what happened to me yesterday morning. It’s happened a few times over the last few months, especially when I have a stuffed up nose. I believe yesterday my sinuses were trying to drain too. Not fun.

On the news they just said MRSA, a staph infection, is spreading in schools around my hometown. Not a pretty thing. If you get a weird boil or something on your skin that doesn’t heal, you better get it looked at before it goes into your bloodstream.

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The last hotel that we stayed in down in Atlantic City got imploded tonight! It was the Sands and we stayed there to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary back in ’04. Sean and mom were with us. I believe some of my first blog entries were about this funky trip.

The Sands implodes!

My sinuses were fine walking around Longwood Gardens yesterday, but today they were annoying. We had the warmer than usual weather again. My mom went home in the late afternoon after we went to Walmart. I was hoping what I bought in there for Sean’s birthday could have been mailed, but we went through the town at 4:17 and the post office closes at 4:30.

Some good stuff :

A bought item from Walmart that is so yummy:

Strawberry Milkshake Whoppers!

You can’t eat just one!

I bought a small bottle of this at the Longwood Gardens gift shop, Thymes eucalyptus lotion:

Thymes eucalyptus lotion
Delightful and strong enough to smell like nice soap.

Oct17

Splendid fall day

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Mom came back from my uncle’s house and we headed over to Longwood Gardens. Most of the pretty beds that were there in September are gone. Not to say there wasn’t a lot to look at! We were there about 3 hours as it was in the high 70s.We got a wheelchair and I definitely worked out every muscle in my bod! Mom did get up a lot. I let her use my Power Shot digital and she had a blast using that until the battery died. We had some food in the restaurant (Mom a full lunch at 3! and me a half of pita with hummus and portabella mushrooms) The following photos are mine (out of 75!)

Mom in the conservatory

Mom looking lovely in her floral print top-perfect for today!

Bulbs laid out for spring!
Bulbs laid out for spring. They really plant them heavily!Some carved pumpkins

Awesome carved pumpkins Pierre DuPont house
Autumnal display at the Pierre DuPont houseBee on red
Bee on butterfly weed? Waterlilies
Waterlily gardens outside the conservatory. They were absolutely stunning this year!

Close up of waterlily
Close up of waterlily
I will be uploading more photos to Flickr soon. There are some awesome orchids shots too.

Oct16

Trying something else

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You know I’ve been on a kick to lower my triglycerides even though I haven’t had them tested in like 15 months. I gave Flaxseed oil capsules another whirl-not good. I couldn’t even eat a Ricola this morning it burnt going down. I also read that Flaxseed oil should be kept in the frig. I have mine in the cabinet and the expiration date in 2009! I bought it off the shelf too. I cut one open and it is really strong, so maybe they are not fresh.

I happen to catch Martha Stewart yesterday and she was talking about the essential amino acids. She mentioned ‘lysine’ and said it is good your triglycerides! I did a search and lots of foods have it-soy, green beans, etc. I’ll have to write them down and eat a ton of them!

Mom went to my uncle’s yesterday. My aunt is improved but talking jibberish. Maybe she had a fever or it’s just her age. Bri’s dad has some weird rash on his tummy and is getting that checked out. He has lost weight over the last few years (teeth issues) and I think it was chafing that got infected. Of course he’s thinking lymph nodes and the ‘C’ word. No use scaring yourself and stop playing doctor!

I have several piles of lawn ornaments to deal with. It’s nice weather again. Mom and I will probably hit Longwood Gardens tomorrow, but I’ll push her around in a wheelchair, because she won’t be able to walk around there like she use to.

I was looking at some really old unfinished stitching projects and decided to finish a few. One is a little Amish girl and boy. I have had to tear some things out, but it will make an adorable box cover. Not sure when I started it, but the leaflet is from 1985! Remember I have finished a few things like the turkey wreath and the stitching girl. I also have ‘kissing babies’ that I remember doing in our apartment and we haven’t lived there for over 21 yrs! I think I did add to it a few years ago, but the border and background is all that it needs now.

I’m getting some goodies together for Sean’s 21st birthday which is on the 24th as we won’t see him that day. I need to get the gift cards and a few other things. We will have a little get together for him when he comes home in November to make it special for him.

Oct15

Weekend visitor

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My mom came over on Saturday and will go home this afternoon. It’s nice to have company and she was glad to get a change of scenery. She was originally going to go over my uncle’s house yesterday, but my aunt (in a nursing home) ended up in the hospital with a bad urinary track infection. She is going on 92, so they didn’t want to take chances. She seems to better from the antibiotics.

I made mom a nice dinner Sunday(I did overcook the meat a bit as I was playing with PaintShop Pro), but it was good and she enjoyed it. She’s been enjoying my art magazines and books and even sketched out a fall still life from one of my books. This is good for her. And she gets to stay in Sean’s room which she likes as she misses him a lot.

I didn’t get outside or switch my summer clothes to winter ones because mom was here. I can use Sean’s room as a sorting room this year which will be helpful.

Have a great day. : )

Oct13

What’s wrong with this cover?

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Supplement cover

Bri asked me earlier, and I couldn’t see it right away. But a local University did and asked for a refund. Bri doesn’t do the cover layout, he gets the ads for this supplement. Now I would be a little peeved to see that mistake on an educational supplement! Bri is hoping no one else makes a stink as that’s his bread and butter-he did most of the ads for this.
Speaking of smelly-I can’t think of a Photo Hunt photo for smelly that would be nice or interesting, so I pass today.
I went back to the LNS shop and got a bigger piece of linen on Friday. I’m glad the place is still in business after all these years. I use to go there when I was in my early 20s, so it’s been around a while. I also went to Michael’s and hit a rubber stamp sale and got a few nice ones plus one you can make your own words with and stamp it. I’m still looking for a rubber stamp of wings. And I did hit Trader Joe’s and am putting together a box of birthday goodies for Sean. He’s had a few rough days, and was blue over a test he studied really hard for and didn’t do well with. He did get a curve and has a ‘C’ now, so that helped. It’s homecoming weekend and he went to a parade last night. I’m sure the game and festivities will lighten his mood. He said he’d like to come home for a bit, but that’s up to him, he’s gotta do the driving to and fro.

Oct12

What colors define you?

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Brian is meeting with a new ‘big wig’ at the newspaper company where he works today. His boss told the guys to ‘wear a tie’. So he opened up a new shirt that has been kicking around for over a year that came with a matching tie (that was fun to iron). It’s a moss green color, definitely one of his colors. He looks good in white too as he has a sallow/ruddy complexion. He looks good in greens because of his green eyes.

Me-I like to wear browns, reds, black and throw a little chartreuse in for good measure. Not to say I won’t wear brighter colors like pink, but mostly in the warmer months.

What colors define you?

I need to put away my lawn decorations, pots and stuff. There are a bunch of them. I also need to decide if the ones that are faded, rusted or chipped are worth keeping. I bought some sunflower seeds at the store yesterday, but need to figure out where to hang the feeder as the raccoons and squirrels both make a meal out of the seeds if they can get to it.

I’ve been laying low, but not really, as I was running some errands yesterday. The weather is getting chillier and my joints and muscles were aching. I didn’t take anything for the mild aches until the evening. It seems the inflammation or whatever went from my neck, down my back and to my hips. I seem much better today-go figure! I am trying Flax seed oil again, so maybe I’m getting oiled like a fine machine or something like that-lol

I need to go back to the LNS for my refund or additional item, so maybe in a few hours. I may hit Trader Joe’s for some goodies we can’t find in the local food store.

Have a great weekend!

Oct10

Some autumnal decor

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The mantel
I had to take a lot of stuff off here to add a lot of stuff!That’s a mirror I have had there for ages. I like the look of mirrors over fireplaces. I took down the mantel clock. I didn’t want to have any blue glass at all, it just didn’t look right. I keep the little lanterns up all the time, but added the floral garland. I decided to break up the trio of mosaics I had on the dining room table, just too big. So, two went on the mantel with the cornucopia and some Halloween decor. For Thankgiving, I’ll take down the Haunted house and pumpkin guys.

The table

Front window

Mantel lights