After an emotional, worthless day yesterday, I woke up to a nice, sunny day and asked the guys if we could take a drive down to Dover, DE. They said ‘yes’! So we are leaving shortly. It takes an hour to get there and the stores (plus my favorite book warehouse) are open until 8! Guess we’ll go out to eat too. I just needed to see something different. Talk to you later!
the past…my Uncle Don who is 83 now, his dad, my grandfather Alan and my gr-grandfather Alan Sr. They knew how to party in the 50s!
I don’t know when I’ll be blogging again-my brother and mom both have issues with me right now. I didn’t do anything except get sick on the day I was suppose to have my brother out for a visit before he went home to Florida. I’m pretty sure they are both bi-polar, either way up or way down and it’s ‘my way or the highway’. Mom was here since Wednesday and left around noon today in a huff because she said ‘she wore out her welcome’. I think she is upset about my brother showing me the gate. So when I have interesting things to share, I’ll be back. I think I’ll do something crafty to get my head on straight again. Hugs to you all!
Update-I talked to mom tonight and she wasn’t mad at me, but Brian! I don’t know why, he just got up in the morning like everyone else did. I am still peeved at the way she ran out the door. Brian left a voice message with my brother about apologizing to me for the email. I said he needs to stick up for me once in a while. We’ve heard nothing.
Care for some wine? I didn’t have any, but Sean and I designed a concoction of Sprite and cranberry juice-yummy! I had gold charger plates with my good china. I added a tea candle (gift from my sister-in-law along with an apple for a decoration.
The table again with a surprise ‘guest’-that’s Cosmo the kitty!
Hit dessert! Pumpkin gingerbread trifle-Paula Deen’s recipe (I also made her cranberry and cream cheese slices).
I also had mincemeat pie for Bri’s dad.
Mom and I relaxing after cleaning up the kitchen
A roaring fire courtesy of Brian.
I realized I didn’t post dinner food photos-I was just too busy in the kitchen. The food turned out great! I have to applaud my oven for helping out. I used a Reynold’s cooking bag and placed the turkey without stuffing in it (along with carrots, onions and celery). I seasoned the turkey with salt, pepper and sage and used a little butter on top. Along with the cooking bag, I cooked it ‘breast side down’ for the first 2 hours and then flipped it over in the last hour or so. It really makes all the difference!
I had Yukon gold mashed potatoes, green beans and bacon, brussel sprouts with garlic and bacon, yams, cole slaw and cornbread stuffing.
I got an email from my father’s half brother today. I have never met or talked to him ever, but he got my email from our cousin Ann who I correspond with. I won’t go into it, but it was about my estranged father. I think I answered his question and I also shared some of the family photos that I shared with you. I said he could share them with my father if he wanted to.
So exactly a year ago, a cousin from my mom’s side of the family had left a comment on blogger wondering who I was (I like to look up posts from a year or two ago). I had written a post about his grandmom and he had googled her name (I guess) and my blogger post came up.
The internet is a great way to connect with new people and family and even those you have wondered about.
I thought it would be interesting to put up a few names of people from the past to see if they google themselves. If you get to my post, please say ‘hello’. All are from the Philadelphia area.
Phil Heaver
Valerie Henschel
John Voelker (WCU)
Donna DiDomenico
Amy and Jessica Nackord
Andrea DeBeacke or DeBecke (I think the spelling is incorrect)
Amy Troy
Michelle Bendo
Regina Naab
Olivia Pettengill Maple
Kathy Clancy
Tons of birthday cards! (with a few Thanksgiving ones too)
The lovely gifts I described earlier
I’m still a little wonky, though I slept 6 straight hours last night. I heard nothing. One magic pill! Too bad I have 13 more to go. I never heard from Don. This makes me so sad for mom and me. I try to be a good sister and send him goodies in the mail once in a while. I think being around us reminds him of things he didn’t like about his childhood. Personally, I try to focus on the fun memories from then.
I hope everyone who is cooking in two days is ready! I’m not. I still need a few ingredients and to get the table ready. Thank goodness for one more day!
Just a quick note to let you know I am sick with a bladder infection! I was up all night ‘greeting’ the Tidy Bowl man every 10 minutes. I haven’t had much sleep since Saturday night. So much for a good birthday evening. I was kinda just getting by last night though I wasn’t up to par (I had indigestion as did the guys).
My brother and our sister-in-law were suppose to come out and see the kitchen and I was too miserable to have company. He’s angry at me for being sick! So get glad again. (I have shed a few tired tears over how he treated mom and what he said). I had to wait until 4 to go to the doctor (so I was miserable all day) and Brian is getting me antibiotics. Those blasted infections make you feel ill all over. I hope I am up to Thanksgiving, but mom said she would help and it’s just 5 of us anyway.
Keeping fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.
The thirteen of us-notice the lack of females. 
Next generation
With Don after not seeing him for over 4 years
Sharing a birthday cake-just like the old days! He’s a year younger
and born on the 28th.
I really am blest with friends I’ve met over the internet in the last 9 years. This past year, I’ve met some new pals, mainly through Blogger and Cyberstitchers. I had no idea I’d be surprised with goodies time and time again over the last few days.
First ‘Pea’ (Pea’s Corner) from Canada sent me a package. I told her I’d wait until today to open it. I need to take a photo, but it is the sweetest petite perfume bottle, shaped like a heart with a faceted round topper and little jewels on the sides. The box is pretty too! Thanks Pea/C!
Barbara from The Netherlands (Mainly Stitching) and Carol from N. Hampshire (A Garden of Stitches) both surprised me with cross stitched scissor fobs they made with their own two hands. Their creativity shines through each stitch and how the fob is assembled. I borrowed their shots from their blogs. Barb also sent a nice English stitching magazine, 2 quarters of Christmas fabric and some pretty stitching fabric. I also want to thank Carol for trying to find some info on NH for Sean for a paper.
From Carol
From Barbara
Charlotte from Ireland sent me peach and white roses (and another kind of flower) in a blue pitcher. These touched me as I know she’s been flat on her back, literally after back surgery.
Karin for Illinois sent me the JT Cmas CD (Bri gave it to me also), cute greeting cards with a little girl who is gardening and a roll-up case for a project.
Angela from NY sent me a lovely long scarf she made-red silk-like material with beads on the end. Also a little folk angel and a stained glass butterfly pot hanger.
Terri from Alabama sent me a Harry and David cheesecake ‘sampler’-pure heaven!
Joy from Washington sent goodies from where she works-Drugstore.com-Bert’s Bees items in a pouch, Badger hand balm and a catnip mat for Cosmo! I think she looked at my wishlist there! ; )
Sean gave me two CDS-Sarah MacLachlan’s Cmas and Bianca Ryan’s debut (I mentioned in my previous post).
Bri gave me two necklaces-a ‘D’ with a little diamond, a big ‘O’ with diamond-like rhinestones; Chocolates in a cute tin, a little teapot with bear figurine from Boyd’s and the JT CD which I will exchange. I will post more photos later.
I am going to Ken’s at 4 and hopefully all my siblings (3 brothers) will be there. Dave, the oldest, may have to work.
My mom isn’t well today with tummy problems, so I hope she’ll be better by then. I am ok today, at least my ears seem better. Let’s just say hormones can play tricks with you!
So from the bottom of my heart, I appreciate you all, not just for your thoughtfulness, but because you are YOU!!!!
Today in History -All Events on November 19
1965 Kellogg’s Pop Tarts pastries created-is this why I can’t help but buy them all the time?
1962 Fidel Castro accepts removal of Soviet weapons
1959 Ford cancels Edsel
1919 U.S. Senate rejects Treaty of Versailles and League of Nations
1895 Frederick E. Blaisdell patents the pencilGeneral Interest
1863 : Lincoln delivers Gettysburg Address
1942 : Soviet counterattack at Stalingrad
1969 : Pele scores 1,000th goal
1977 : Sadat visits Israel
American Revolution
1776 : Congress pleads for soldiers
Automotive
1954 : First toll machine goes into service
1993 : Chevy Cavalier becomes Toyota Cavalier
Civil War
1863 : Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address –I’m proud of this event happening on my birthday
Cold War
1985 : Reagan and Gorbachev hold their first summit meeting
Crime
1924 : The story of Thomas Ince’s death takes on a life of its own
Disaster
1824 : Thousands perish in St. Petersburg flood
Entertainment
1916 : Goldwyn Company formed
1923 : Louella Parsons joins Hearst
Literary
1899 : Poet and critic Allen Tate is born
Old West
1907 : Shane author Jack Schaefer is born
Presidential
1831 : James A. Garfield is born
11/19/1889 Clifton Webb Entertainment
11/19/1904 Nathan Leopold Crime
11/19/1905 Tommy Dorsey Music
11/19/1917 Indira Gandhi Politics
11/19/1919 Alan Young Entertainment
11/19/1920 Gene Tierney Entertainment
11/19/1921 Roy Campanella Sports
11/19/1926 Jeane Kirkpatrick Politics
11/19/1933 Larry King Entertainment
11/19/1934 Dave Guard Music
11/19/1936 Dick Cavett Entertainment
11/19/1938 Ted Turner Business
11/19/1939 Tom Harkin Politics
11/19/1939 Garrick Utley Journalism
11/19/1941 Dan Haggerty Entertainment
11/19/1942 Calvin KleinFashion
11/19/1949 Ahmad Rashad Sports,Entertainment
11/19/1953 Tom Villard Entertainment
11/19/1954 Kathleen Quinlan Entertainment
11/19/1957 Ofra Haza MusicAlso: Meg Ryan and Jodie Foster!
Collages & Creative Goodness 