Sunday, August 7, 2005

Another beautiful weekend.  I'm watching a Judy Garland music on TCM.  The Mets are on ESPN tonite.

Dale is on vacation this coming week.  Nothing special planned.

The sunflowers are beginning to bloom & the bees loves them, as well as the zinneas & marigolds.  I've never seen so many bees & have to be careful when watering the pots.

Fri the ones working for the gas co. left their "digger" on our front lawn as the work isn't completed.  Bright orange in color.  What an addition to our landscape!!!

Last Sat I made blueberry bread & it is so good.  Barb wanted a blueberry pie & she wanted me to make the crust with oil instead of Crisco.  I have a recipe so I tired it, but I don't like the results.  The filling is good but from now on I'll use my favorite crust recipe, the regular one.  This pie had the cream cheese layer & blueberries on top.  Then I made a blueberry sauce for on top of all & it is really flavorful.

Back to the movie -- Fred Astaire is in the movie.  I really enjoyed seeing a musical again.

Mon. A.M. the 9th

Our red rose bush has roses similar to American beauties.  I cut some & put them in bud vases & enjoy their beauty in the house.  Can look out at them thru the kitchen window. They have a little blight but Barb sprays them.  I might have been overwatering them.

Lar said he planted the single flower rose as they don't get the blight  But once they open they don't last.  It is not hard to care for them.

I never realized bees feeding on the sunflower could be so fascinating.  So much fund to watch them cluster around the flower.  We have 4 more to bloom.

Dale turned his mattress & I washed the matt. pad & sheets.  Now his bed is made & I have a load of towels to wash.  3 loads this A.M.  How much easier today than in my mother's day.  At least when we were kids she had the wringer washer.  No driers then.  Clothes lines.  I don't hang clothes out anymore.  Just rugs, etc. which I want to do this week when I wash the floor.

Barb is at Lynn's & Dale has gone to Jamestown.  Barb thinks Dale isn't doing enough trimming outside.  But this is his vacation & if he cares to do nothing that is fine with me. Tomorrow he will help me turn my mattress as I can't do it alone anymore.  That doesn't take any time.  As to working outside, the grass is all brown & you can't do much with the work the gas co. is doing.  That should soon be finished.  They are working on Dan Niezmik's property today.  Can't do any lawn work until the fall rains come.  The co. is suppose to see, etc. what they dug up.

Fri. A.M. the 12th

I'm home from having my hair done, took a load from the washer to the drier & put towels to wash.

Yesterday Dale washed the outside of the house.  Get the dust off after digging, etc.  The new gas meter is on the outside of the house -- in plain sight to Barb and Dale's dismay.

This is the weekend Lar & Kim are going to Niagara on the Lake with another couple.  They'll leave after lunch.  Betsy (your age) will have Torey for the weekend.  Torey loves to make the rounds of the neighbor hood, begging for food & it's always welcomed for him.  But he got "the runs" -- probably spoiled food.   So last nite Torey couldn't have "people food" as Kim wants it cleared up so Betsy won't have a problem.  The vet said to feed him ground beef & rice.  Kim said I could put a little chicken on top so he was satisfied.  He couldn't have ice cream but kept looking for it.  A couple of Beggin strips helped.  She spent $90.00 on Torey for flea medicine & something else.

Barb is experimenting with her laptop  She got onto TIME & showed me a page she copied. She's had trouble with her password for some sites.

Time for A.M. coffee.  I did smile when you told me about Andy's latest adventure.  Oh the thrill of being parents!  I'm still hearing things that happened like holding your breath to get a reaction.  Courtesy of Larry.  Do you remember!!!

I just read an article on the laptop about the Mets' Beltran & Cameron's collision on S.D. outfield.  Very interesting what the laptop, etc. can do.

Saturday, September 8, 2001

We're having summer weather for a couple of days so I'm on the porch & will start a letter.

I've started my Christmas shopping at a Bon Ton sale plus 10% coupon off.  I noticed  Dale could use a new satchel carrier or bag & got one for him.  It is very nice & I'm sure he will like it.

Also I ordered new blinds from Penneys for the eating area.  They are top down or bottom up shades.  I like the idea of having the top down to let light in & the bottom down to protect form sun & privacy.  Altho the trees have grown together & give privacy from the school yard.

This next week Dale will be on vacation & I hope he will get them up for me.

On Tues. I have a 10 A.M. eye Dr. appointment & he will take me over & I'll walk home.

Barb has been looking for a med. blue denim shirt.  She looked in Madison, Erie & Jamestown.  Yesterday she found just what she wanted at Bon Ton.  She didn't expect to find one here so that was a nice surprise.

When Eddie plays football, do they wear all the equipment that Andy's age does.  We were wondering about that as he is still in grade school.  We should have sent you Eddie's picture but Barb wants to wait & finish the film.

Had a letter from Ruth.  It must be this weekend that Rachel's baby Jack Franklin Morressey will be baptized by Arland in Beloit.  David's parents will be coming form England.

She had to have a plumber come as she had plugged drain pipes.  A new connection so they could use the Roto rooter.  That's always a budget buster.

I go to the bank once a month & I list my needs & then figure out how much money I'll need by 20's, 10's, 5's, etc.  It usually takes a little while to make it come out even, but I manage to figure it out.  Then I have envelopes for flood, hair, spending, church, etc.  It works for me so I don't overspend.

Your letter came today with the pictures of Andy.  It is such a good picture with a nice smile.  My handsome grandson!  He got a nice hair cut.  How many extra pictures did he have to exchange or don't they do that.  I'm sure a lot of girls would want his picture.   Thanks so much.

I'm watching Wis. vs. F.S. & it's the start of the 2nd half & I'm sure you weren't' happy with the F. S. TD.  It was some run.

I've also been watching the tennis U.S. Open & they have been very interesting.  Tonite the Williams sisters play for the title.  Should be interesting.  Barb & Kim were hoping Jennifer Capriati would beat Serena Williams so they were disappointed.  Barb was rooting for Agassi & he lost.

Sun the 9th

Last nite I watched the Mets vs. Marlins.  It was a seesaw game but the Mets prevailed.  I'm sure you've noticed it's too little too late but I'll be glad to see them hit the 500%.

Dale plans to put up my new shade in the eating area & he will paint the basement shower.  he also got a new shower head.  So his vacation won't be spent only working on cars.

Yesterday Barb went back to Bon Ton to get a 2nd denim shirt but they were all gone.  She was disappointed.

It's still warm so I turned the AC on.  And Dale was soaking up the sun in the back yard.

I'm watching football -- switching from Fox & CBS.  Enjoying Indianapolis beat the Jets.  Buff. isn't doing too good, neither is Pittsburgh.  I see Green Bay is winning.

Mon A.M. the 10th

Dale got the new shade up but he said he'd never put up another one.  He doesn't think much of it but I thin kit will be O.K.  Kim likes the ones they have in their bedroom.

This A.M. he has been scraping the loose paint from the basement shower.  He is so particular.  Next it's to wash it down good.  Dry out & then painting.

We had rain during the night & this aft it is turning out nice.  By the end of the week it will be jacket weather.

We're getting lots of nice tomatoes from the garden.  Green peppers are good, too.

I watched a lot of football on TV yesterday.  There were some good games & I enjoyed them.

Want to get this mailed.

Friday, July 28, 2000

Your letter arrived yesterday & when I was reading the part ab out Boxer & your dramatic outburst, Paul, I started laughing.  Why, because I knew you could never leave your fine family.  But you shouldn't scare the boys like that.

Kim speaks of making a rice salad for a meal.  So I checked my recipe books & found a recipe for chicken-rice salad as I served a cool meal last nite.  It was good & they all like it.

Dale starts a week's vacation on Sat.  The weather reports say showers are possible every day next week.  Time will tell.  Dale hasn't had time to transfer the old dresser drawers to the new drawers.  When he gets that finished he'll put the l dresser in the attic for storage of his extra stuff.  In preparation he had to make room in the attic & so he had to clean it up a bit.  In the winter & the wind blows, the door would rattle & it would bother Barb so she put a pair of old jeans on the bottom to stop the noise.  All along I thot they were there to cover the floor & keep the draft out.  Anyway Dale decided to shake the dust out & lo & behold there was a dead bat.  I'm glad the jeans were there otherwise the bat would have gotten in the house.

Dale also plans to have his eyes examined.  The cost is included in his health insurance from work. He'll also  lay in the sun if it is out.

Now it's Sat. July 29.

Got a birthday card & note ready for Ruth's birthday Aug. 3rd.  DOn't hear much from her but then I don't write too often either.

I'm doing a lot more reading now that the library opens at 9 AM weekdays.  Can return books on Fri & get new one.  Saw in USA Today a review of a book by Kathy Reichs.  Her novels are similar to Patricia Cornwell only they are set in Canada.  Deadly Decision.  Forensics experts -- her Dr. is Dr. Temperance "Tempe" Brennan -- "such bloody-good beach reading" to quote the article.  I'll have to look as this isn't her first novel.  3 other books so maybe I can find one of them.

Sun. the 30th.

Roger Thelin preached today & John Check was liturgist.  Both do a fine job.  Roger is really a good preacher for a layman.

Kim is friends with a lady who goes to St. John's.  The 3 Luth. churches have a joint picnic in Aug. among other things.  This person said they are doing this as St. John's isn't growing & neither is St. Paul.  But I'm sure it will be a long time before St. Paul wants to be "Swallowed up" by First Luth.  I don't go to the picnics but she said our pastor doesn't mingle at all.  And that is true & he doesn't like to make calls for new members.  He talks of retirement & I sure hope our next pastor will have more going for him in a lot of way. The church in Kane has a new woman pastor & they really like her.

It seems to me that George was cremated & Signe will be as well.

Just finished talking to Ruth.  I will send a card to Carolyn & a check for a memorial.  We had a long talk & she asked if I'd heard about Joan.  She had mentioned it to me in a letter.  Allan has already remarried.  Someone in the congregation.  Joan found a note this woman had written in which she wrote "I love you."  The youngest daughter stayed with Allan & the older daughter isn't very nice to Joan.  The son had a heart attack a month or so ago, but he is back to work.  Ruth said when they visited them when they were in N. or  S. Carolina -- even then Allan acted funny & Joan was upset.  At least now Joan has control of the money she earns.  I hope she can find some happiness.

Tues. Aug 1 (already)

Have to write a note to Carolyn & send a card & check.  Forgot to do it yesterday.

Dale has showery weather for a vacation.  He wants to lay in the sun.  Meanwhile he has other jobs to keep him busy.

Sunday, July 25, 1999

Dale has been on vacation this past week working on his El Camino, tanning in the backyard & taking it easy.  Tonite we're finishing it off by going out to dinner, 6 pm reservation at Nickel Inn, with Lar & Kim.  They got home late Thus. pm after a nice week in Fla. with her sister & family.

They have 6 cats but they were closed in their bedroom so they wouldn't bother Larry...his allergy.  But both Woody & Debbie are chain smokers & that bothered both Lar & Kim.  Now they have 2 dogs & a beagle is only 6 weeks old & not trained in any way.  So Kim started to train him to go outside to the bathroom.  She bot leashes for both dogs & each A.M. Lar, Kim, Eric & I can't remember the girl's name walked the dogs.  Then the 4 of them went roller blading.  Woody & Debbie had vacations so they went different places.

Torey was a basket case.  The 1st day he spent under Lar's truck.  He improved some but the last day, he carried his toy bunny all around & tried to bury it several times during the day.  Kim came over on Fri. & Torey was excited to see us so you can imagine how he acted when Lar & Kim came home.

One of my favorite authors is M. C. Beaton & detective Hamish McBeth.  The stories are so good & not too lengthy.  I'll enclose an item from the Sun. Buffalo paper.  Also another item I forgot to enclose the last time.   Cats & libraries.

As of today the Mets are 1/2 game behind Atlanta.  Wonder what it will be next letter.  But they've been playing very well.  Have a great infield & their new pitcher Dotel, only 23, is a great one.  So now my hopes are high for the wild card.

This A.M. the Conewango Clippers, a men's chorus, sang in church.  Ray Forstom preached for Gary & he is a chorus member.  They sang many well known hymns & were well received.

Wait til you walk down 2nd Ave toward town.  The nursing home between Water & East sts. have built a high fence by one side.  When I walked home on Fri. Jack Spenser (Meth. pastor) & a neighbor were taking about it.  Jack said how do you like our "stockade".  They got a permit but the neighbors didn't know anything about it & aren't very happy.  It must be 8' high.

I'm so happy we have A.C. as this has been a long hot summer so far.  We've kept it going several days running.  Last nite it cooled off so I turned it off & today it is better & less humid.  Suppose to be cooler on Tues. & I hope it's true so I can do some baking.  Did make zucchini bread & a coffee cake.  We have lots of zucchini from the garden & I want to try a choc. zucchini cake Kim has made & Lar says it's good.  Cucumbers are also ripe & tomotoes have formed & are growing. 

Friday, July 23, 1993

Our lovely weather continues -- but more humidity for Sun & Mon.  Perfect drying weather.

Wonder how Lar & Kim, esp. Kim, are enjoying hot, showery Fla.  Taury, too.

The Forge got a 17 million contract from the Air Force so that will keep them going for 2 more years.  Struthers, on the other hand, just has a skeleton crew.

Dale has been catching up on his sleep this vacation week.  So I do my dusting *quiet work) early; at 10 AM I watch reruns of Matlock & enjoy them so much; then at 11 I finish my noisy work -- vacuuming.

We went out for breakfast - Perkins for Belgium waffles & they are delicious.  It was busy.

Lost my library card but got a new one for 95 cents.  Worth every penny.  Have found good books lately but none of the late one by Paretsky, Grisham, or the other female who starts with G.  I also lost my list of authors I had in an address book with my card.

Barb finally got the frame to hold the futon mattress.  She also got a new bedspread & a round table with cloth matching the bedspread.  Looks nice.

Gen called last nite.  They enjoyed the Sweden trip to mulch.  Edith did, too.  They've been busy keeping up the outside.  Ed still does carpentry work - just finished building a deck for a friend.  Tonite Ed's investment club meets at their home - wives also so she expects 16 & she has the meal.  They picked blueberries & planning on making 3 pies.  I hope to get some to make jam.

The library isn't keeping up the shrubbery beds & it bothered Barb so she volunteered to weed & has been busy doing weeding evenings.  Lar will mulch it & that should help keep weeds out.  T hey have someone that mows but he isn't very ambitious.  Don't suppose they pay much.  The 1st week of Aug. they'll be closed for vacation.

In Aug. Kim will have an intensive week of school to get credits toward her masters.  School Board encourages that.  5 days, all day.

Lunch time & I've chattered enough.

We think of all of you a lot & we love you all -- heaps!