Mar19

One more day

Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 by Dianne

Yeah, so the furnace isn’t going to be replaced until Wednesday. The weather messed up the company’s installer’s schedule-boo hoo. I had just canceled my dental appt that day too. I decided to keep the whole week open. Bri has a few more things to move. I can’t as I sprained my right thumb and can’t lift things too well. I had hurt it a few weeks ago and then was replacing my M&M guy on my van’s antenna (stop laughing) and I pressed too hard with my boo boo and made an ouchie again. Get that?

I did get to mail some auction wins today. It took three drives around the parking lot before a spot opened up.

When I got up, I popped a pork roast in the crockpot and mixed up some stuff with the pulled pork McCormick seasoning. I had to stop and get rolls on the way back from the post office. It was really good! I had forgotten Bri had a pork sandwich Saturday night, but he liked my dinner better. Always nice to hear.

One thing I did bring up from the basement was all the clippings from when the Phillies won the World Series back in 1980. I was Sean’s age of 20. I have them in a big yellow envelope and they need to be put in a plastic box. I took the envelope out on the front step and hit it with my duster thingie-yes, it’s very dusty. I got to meet Tug McGraw, the relief pitcher who lived in my hometown. I know there’s a blog post about me getting his autograph. He use to frequent the bar up the street from my mom’s house. Tug was a great guy. If I find anything good in the clippings, I’ll share here. I plan to dump them in a clothes basket to further shake out the 26.5 yr old dust. ; )

Found this about Dallas Green’s managerial record (I see there is a singer with the same name!) Dallas may still live in West Grove, PA, a stone’s throw away and Applebee’s, the restaurant has DG memorabilia including one of his baseball shirts.

Year League Team Age G W L WP Finish
+—-+———–+——–+—+—–+—-+—-+——+——+

1980 NL East Phildlpa 45 162 91 71 .562 WS 1

Mar18

Family time

Posted on Sunday, March 18, 2007 by Dianne

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Sean drove me down to my brother Ken’s to get my van which he had inspected. It still had a bunch of sleet/snow on it, so Ken and his pal knocked it off-Sean did a little. He’s not much on pitching in. I swear I didn’t teach him that if you get my drift. We gave my nephew Kenny his presents for his upcoming 11th birthday on the 23rd. He liked the rock and roll t-shirt we found for him at the Gap store (he only wears short sleeved shirts) and a little cash. I also made him an Art Trading card and he liked that too. I forgot to photograph it. I have one for Tori all made up for her 8th birthday on April 11th. Then Sean played Playstation2 with Kenny and I talked with Tori while she watched The Disney Channel-her eyeballs were glued to it. : ) Tori and Colleen went to a rollerskating event and Sean and I stayed to visit with the two Kens a little longer. Ken got out the video of when he was cleaning an engine that he had taken out of my Ford Montego back in 1983. He was only about 15-16 yrs old. Then there were footage of him in his prized 1964 Ford Falcon (I know a lot about Fords) and he was peeling out making the tires spin and the exhaust filled the air. The guys got a good laugh.

Ken said he was worried about my mom too and the quality of her home life, said she was pale with black circles around her eyes when he saw her on Friday. He and his pal walked around her yard (after they plowed her driveway) and also saw some damage on her house and her shed roof caved in from all the sleet/snow’s weight. He said he’d fix up the outside but not the inside. I knew I’d have to persuade her to get rid of things. Ken said mom is so stubborn. Makes you sit back and look at your own acquired stuff-speaking of which…

…our basement is a bit discombobulated as Brian spent the day making a path for the furnace guys. Some of my neatly stacked Christmas things got moved here and there. I was going to postpone them coming as I thought we had more to move. I see a few more things that may be in the way. We acquired a lot of ~~junk~~
stuff in the last 20 years. Oy.

Mar17

Photo Hunt-drink

Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 by Dianne

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First of all-Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I don’t have any corned beef and cabbage to cook as I couldn’t get out yesterday. Maybe I can have some tomorrow or Monday.
The following photo is yet another Flower Show one-this was an award winning display-that’s a keg decorated with flowers and there is a hose and a tap that leads to a cup. Interesting, don’t you think?

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

Mar16

Mixin’ it up!

Posted on Friday, March 16, 2007 by Dianne

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Mother nature is playing games with us. We’ve had all kinds of weather from sleet, ice and snow. The snow one time was so fine it was like someone was shaving ice in the sky. We are hoping the power stays on. The furnace is running rough too. Tuesday can only come too soon.

Here are some photos I took around the house today:
I uncovered my pond (took off the netting) only for it to get covered again with ice

These were my grandmom’s. My mom gave them to me the other day.

My glass egg collection, many gifts from Brian, so I think he really likes them.

Mar15

Need a little springtime…

Posted on Thursday, March 15, 2007 by Dianne

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…right this very minute-we are expecting a mix of different weather-snow and rain and all that fun stuff. My van is inspected and fine. : )

Please note that I added a ton more flower show photos to my Flickr album which has two clickable links in my side bar.

So here are some spring-like photos….
The inviting entrance to the flower show

This reminded me of Naturegirl’s lovely arrangements-so this is for her and I love African violets too!

A big tree tied with scarves and decorated with fishbowls of cut flowers-Gerbera daisies?

Mar15

Things are better

Posted on Thursday, March 15, 2007 by Dianne

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I was so glad that my Reiki in training pal said she sent me chakras for over the course of 12 hours yesterday as it was a rough day. I do feel calmer today. Thanks Lisa!

The furnace/heater is going to be cheaper than anticipated. The salesman made a funny remark why we shouldn’t get the super duper model, like our house is only worth so much and not like the houses down in Hockessin (probably 250k and up). I guess he wanted to save us money. The new heater is going in Tuesday if all goes well. They got a deposit today. We have a little more basement cleaning to do. What I did a few days ago shows, so at least having repair is one way of getting that area tidied up.

Mom said I can help her sort stuff after pleading with her again. This time I used Peter Walsh’s approach (professional de-clutterer from The Learning Channel)-you hoard because you may need it some day (that’s me and mom) or for memories sake. You have to get practical when you are in your 70s-hold on to what you really love. Mom didn’t look good at all yesterday and I want her to be happier.

So I am pleased with my eBay sales of late. Seems my books are really popular. The barn sale is on again on the 30-31st, so you know I’ll be there as that’s where I bought the lastest good sales.

I had the cat out for his first walk of the year. He was so curious. He couldn’t believe another creature would leave their droppings in ‘his’ yard-he acted so disgusted.

Well, I am making Bri a nice dinner tonight as he’s been neglected of good eats for a few nights. I’m cooking up some steaks and tators. : )

Mar14

Always look on the bright side…

Posted on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 by Dianne

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…of life-Monty Python.

I’m having one of those days when the dark side is overpowering the lighter side of our lives.

First I called my mom and the discussion went sour when I mentioned again that she should get rid of half the stuff in her house so she doesn’t have to worry and do things she likes such as draw and watch movies. She doesn’t care to be told this, says she cleans when she can, which is practically never. She doesn’t seem to have trouble shopping though. (I know who I take after, but I don’t shop as much as her, believe me). Said no one helps her and I only talk about myself when I call her. She started crying and hung up on me.

The heater man came before noon and within 5 minutes called me to the basement and said he couldn’t clean the heater as it was shot! It’s like 19 years old and a piece had broken off. We are looking at a big bill for that. I was reeling from that and called my mom back and she said she couldn’t catch her breath right. I think she had herself so worked up and with all the exercise she got last night she did that to herself. She’s ok, I’m going there in a few hours. So the poor man from the heating company thinks I’m completely loony because I heard his voice which sounded like a friend of my son’s who seems to call at all the most inappropriate moments. After my ‘please don’t call this number…blah, blah’ he said he was calling about the heater! Man. The good thing-the warm weather is setting in soon (please). The bad thing-I had to sign a paper that said ‘run at your own risk’. I’m crossing fingers and toes that my van is ok when Ken inspects it tomorrow.

In the meantime…always look on the bright side of life..da…da..dadadadada. : )

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life (from Monty Python)
words and Eric Idle

Some things in life are bad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse.
When you’re chewing on life’s gristle
Don’t grumble, give a whistle
And this’ll help things turn out for the best…

And…always look on the bright side of life…
Always look on the light side of life…

If life seems jolly rotten
There’s something you’ve forgotten
And that’s to laugh and smile and dance and sing.
When you’re feeling in the dumps
Don’t be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle – that’s the thing.

And…always look on the bright side of life…
Always look on the light side of life…

etc.

Mar13

Shop ’til you drop

Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 by Dianne

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Sean and I made our leisurely journey up to Lancaster and the outlets at 2. I just couldn’t leave any earlier as Bri had woken me up at the ‘use to be’ crack of dawn and I needed to rest a little longer.

First we stopped by the post office so I could sent the cross stitched piece pictured below to England. The traffic was all tied up in town. Diana, at the post office said an elderly gentleman had been hit by truck and dragged a block or so. Of course he didn’t make it. So sad.

I took the camera hoping for some postcard-like Lancaster shots, but we didn’t venture down side roads, so I didn’t take any photos. I promise next time to leave earlier and do so. Try to visual some baby lambs, with their mama. I would have loved to take a few photos of them. The buay roads we travel on (lots of trucks) hardly have any traffic lights, so taking photos is difficult. I tried to take one of a pretty church in Paradise, but I only got half of it.

(not my photo)

Our first stop was ‘Tuesday Morning’ (me) and Adidas (Sean). I scooted and found a few things-a few goodies for mom who is in a blue mood. Sean purchased two pairs of sneaks at a great price.

We went to Target where he did eventually get his money back. The girl behind the counter was very disagreeable and was going to tell us to call an 800 number. I told her it was all settled back in January with the man I spoke to. They had even looked at the video from the surveillance camera to check. The manager did come over and Sean got his refund. We shopped a lot in there. They have a fun area with $1.00-$2.50 items. I think every little girl in there had an Easter hat on from that particular area.

We then ate dinner at Red Lobster. Sean had coconut shrimp and I had lobster and shrimp. We hadn’t eaten in a Red Lobster for years and it was pretty good.

Next-Gap Store outlet. Got birthday gifts for Bri, Kenny and Tori all who have birthdays in the next month.

I got some scrapbooking stuff at the Borders book outlets for dirt cheap. I really wanted a bell jar at the Pottery Barn outlet, but decided there was no place to put it. Sean knows I like it at least. We almost got into the traffic for a Vince Gill concert at the American Music Theater. We’ve been there for a Jim Brickman concert back in ’03 and it’s a nice place to hear a concert.

I did get that gift that Bri asked for in my post below. I also got a little teapot with a strainer so I can get some loose tea and really enjoy a cup of tea like you are suppose to.

The roads were so dark coming home tonight.

I called my mom and she was moving furniture at 9 pm with Jim her boarder. She is asking for pain! No way could Brian and Sean do it after walking around Philly on Sunday.

Tomorrow the guy is cleaning the heater-funny, I know. I had made the appointment about last September! Then I am having my brother Ken inspect my van and check out a few problems with it-grinding brakes and it feels like it will stall (actually it has) when you start it up after it’s been run. I have to leave it at his house and pick it up Thursday or Friday.
So, that was an interesting day. A little shopping does a body good!

Mar13

Some more shots

Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 by Dianne

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Sean and I are headed up to Lancaster. Target owes him money for being overcharged on buying a t-shirt that he didn’t. We need to birthday shop for Brian a bit too. We will probably get him a new cellphone. He wants a gigantic can of Virginia peanuts from Reading Glass Factory.

Here are some more flower show photos. One is a gown with orchids on a mannequin (Brian took this) and of a design in a garden bed filled in by glass in the harp garden (you can see it a bit there)-I guess it’s smooth on the edges. ; )

Mar12

JT and NRR

Posted on Monday, March 12, 2007 by Dianne

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First of all, Happy Birthday to my favorite singer, James Taylor who turns 59 today!!

Then a finished design for our Neighborhood round robin. It’s for Carol in New Hampshire. This was a bit difficult for me, but I was up for the challenge as Carol wanted flowers galore on her project. The hummingbird and kitty were added as requested. There were 42 colors used.