Sunday, January 16, 2005

The Steelers won yesterday but it was a tough one to watch.  We weren't sure until the end.  I'm watching Minn. at Philly but the exciting one will be the Colts at N.E.  People here are thinking the Steelers will go all the way.  I hope so but there is bout in my mind.

I bundled up to go to church this A.M.  It was 19 but it wasn't windy.  A widow in the congregation has a 300.00 gas bill & can't pay it.  So this A.M. the pastor asked for donations to help her, or her gas will be cut off. I just had my regular offering but next Sun./ I'll give some money to help.

Barb suggested we have pizza last nite while watching the game.  I ordered it & had made a pumpkin pie for dessert.  Had a coupon so  got a large pan supreme & had leftovers for lunch.

Both Barb & Dale had headaches yesterday.  Dale's was gone by aft. but Barb was in bed most of the day.

The paper announced the Templeton Funeral Home was sold to Peterson Blick.  Patterson's up the street owned it but it was never that busy.  He will receive payments over the next 10 years & will help part time.  Marilyn P. teaches with Kim & I wondered if she'd retire now.  (end of school year)  Lar didn't know -- I'll ask Kim on Wed.  They like to visit their daughters.  One teaches on the East Coast & the youngest is a nurse, married & living in Atlanta.

Yesterday's paper showed a picture of the 4 schools to be closed when the new school opens next fall.  Article said there is some interest in them.  Wonder if Jefferson will stand empty.  Nothing ever happened in the East St. School.  The parking lot is used for parking -- you pay to use it.

Thurs. we went to Jamestown -- temp in the 60s.  A beautiful day.  Just wore a blazer.  We ate lunch at the Red Lobster & enjoyed it.  We stopped -- the name won't come to me -- & the Jamestown telephone book is no help -- at, not Lowe's but the other one to look for shelves for the basement storage.  We found what we wanted to fit against the one side of the shower.  2 shelves for Barb's garden supplies; 2 shelves for canned goods, flour, sugar, etc,  I buy on sale & don't have room for upstairs.  It is nice & strong.  The first one Dad got, needed to be attached to something to hold it better.  This one was more expensive & stronger.  Dale put it together.  No school tomorrow so Barb plans to get things in order.  A y ear or so ago Dale got a larger set of shelves set up for his stuff.  We also have an old bookcase Dad made, down there to store stuff.  Have to try to keep it neat.  Still take my shower in the basement even tho the temp was low.  The heater helps a lot & I prefer to shower there.  That was the big purchase.  Not the shower, the shelf.

Barb wants to look for a new exercise machine.  She mailed Laura's dress to Honolulu & it cost $30.00.  Laura has sent 100 dollars for postage & Barb could keep the rest.  She said she would buy me a puzzle.  Mostly just the green foliage is left to put in the puzzle on the card table.  I don't mind doing old puzzles & we have a pile of them.

I've never fixed chicken wings but maybe I'll try on Super Bowl Sun.  So I'll copy how you fix yours (in your last letter) only mine won't be so spicy.  I'm sure b-b-cue sauce will do fine for us.  Already it is the middle of the month so I won't have too long to wait to try this.  I'll check recipes for more ideas how to do it.  I love looking at recipes.

Wed. the 19th already

Mon. Dale picked up a tire the wrong way & his back is hurting, says he feels like an old man.  He plans to call the chiropractor today for an appt.  Jan. hasn't been a good month for him.

You can be glad you only have 2 sons when it comes to buying shoes.  And that you have a good income.

Barb has her 2 shelves finished in the basement.  I'm in no hurry to work in a cold basement.  She's in a hurry so she might fill them in & if I don't like it, I can rearrange to my satisfaction.  Barb wants to get a new exerciser, as I wrote already.

Martin Luther King day the kids had to go to school to make up a snow day.  Scott stayed home -- he didn't know it was a make-up day.  So he says & both Barb & Lynn stand up for him.   They push the ADHD thing to the limit.  To me he's just a shrewd kid & will do anything to get his way.

We finished the puzzle with no missing pieces.  Barb got me another one.  Yesterday we went to the library before getting groceries.  I got 3 books & a paperback.  The latter is "Dawn in Eclipse Bay" by Jayne Ann Krentz.  It is enjoyable reading.  Also "The Widows Club" by Dorothy Cannell.  Don't think I've read her books.  P.D. James' "Devices and Desires".  "Late Bloomers" by Fern Michaels.  My time will be spent reading for a change.  And we have the weather for staying inside. 

I have to make a dessert for tonite -- Wed. nite meal with Larry & Kim & Torey.

I use my bundt pan every other week when I make coffee cake for Dale's snack.  Saw a date bread recipe that sounds good.  Dale said he might like it.  Know I would.  If I don't have a snack on hand, I always have my rolls on hand.  I have one on Wed & Sun A.M.'s & sometimes inbetween.

Torey like to make the rounds of the neighbors for food & they love to feed him.  Tues. nite Kim was up as Torey had to go outside.  Later it was Lar's turn to take him out.  Then he wanted on their bed & Kim only had very little room & no blanket.  It was not a good sleeping nite for her.  Torey was restless so they left at 7:30.  After things were cleaned up, I was able to get back to my book by F. Michaels & I enjoyed it so much.  2 down, 2 go to.  Finished it this A.M. after my chores were done.  Bathroom had to be cleaned & dishes done.  The 1st 2 books are fun reading; I'm not as sure about the last 2.

I made the Baby Ruth bars from the 1st library book book.  Easy to make & good to eat.

Dale went to the chiropractor yesterday & has another appt. Fri.  I has helped.  Some time ago Lar tried the newest chiropractor & liked him.  They were (husband & wife) on the corner of Conewango & 5th (old store) but moved up on Fifth, just above where the Welshes lived, same side.  A dance studio used to be there.  Adelaide is now in a nursing home in Pleasant Township.

I'm not watching the inauguration & I'm missing my soaps!  Isn't that terrible!!!  Ha, Ha.  I keep checking & hope it is over, but no such luck.

It is 10 degrees but the sun is out so it seems nicer.

Gen called the other evening.  She said something is wrong with her head.  She can't remember how old she is.  I told her & she wrote it down.  John has a girlfriend.  Gen mentioned Ed & I said "He's dead isn't he".  "Oh no, he's around", but she doesn't know where.  She went on to say she was in church & lost her skirt & was so embarrassed, they left early.  Someone, I don't know who, was very upset & talked to Ed & Gen hasn't seen him since.  It's funny what the mind can make up -- but it is serious to her & she can't forget it & feels bad.

Better sign off & hope to get it in the mail soon.  I really miss the mail box on 5th.

Do you read the letters to the editor. Monty Foley has a letter in every so often.  He doesn't work & hopes to get SSI.  Back trouble.  An easy out as it is hard to prove.

Saturday, September 4, 2004

I was watching golf & doing another puzzle when I needed a break.  So starting a letter is doing something different.

This A.M., I picked just about the last of the blueberries.  Maybe a large handful yet to ripen. We are enjoying tomatoes from the garden.  Also made a pumpkin pie & potatoe salad to go with hamburgers tonite.  Also corn on the cob.  We'll also have steaks either Sun. or Mon.

Barb went to Jamestown this A.M. -- she needed groceries from Wegman's.  She got some nice looking local corn there for 6/1.00.  Pretty good price.

Dale had a headache this A.M.  Wanted to go to Jamestown this aft. but he took some aspirin that got rid of his headache but left him with a "buzz" feeling, so he decided to sit in the sun & get more tan on his body.  It was his Sat A.M. to work but Shults is closed this weekend.

Boy, the Mets sure have taken a dive but they are still my team.

I've been watching the Weather Channel & feel for Fla with another storm Francis on the way. Maybe some folks will think twice before moving to Fla.


Wed. Sept 8

I was in bed at 9 pm last night.  Why so early, you wonder.  Mon. nite I couldn't get to sleep until early A.M. hours.  I did my work including washing the kitchen floor.  Also took 3 cat naps (1/2 hr) thru the day.  Today I'm well rested but lazy.  Worked on my puzzle & just finished while watching Perry Mason.  No lost pieces, either.  We're having tacos for supper & that is easy.  This aft. I made 2 batches of cookies.  Choc. chips & a new one with brown sugar, oatmeal & coconut plus the regular ingredients, so I wasn't completely lazy.  I sample them twice with coffee.

We're getting rain & the temperatures will be in the 60's.  Nice to sleep with a blanket on.

Had a letter from Millie.  She had a call from Gen who told Millie "I didn't know Barbara had cancer."  It must have been a bad day as she called many times to ask about Barb.  I don't see how Gen can be alone nights.  Lots of time they walk out & get lost.  I hope Gen stays home, & doesn't wander out.

I always read the library's Bookworm.  Interesting to read to see what is going on.  Sounds like it was an exciting summer for the library.

I had taco ingredients for lunch when you were here, but we ate out so they never got used. Barb & Dale like them & along with a salad it makes an easy meal for me to prepare.  I will freeze the leftover meat & it will make a nice & different lunch for Barb & Dale.

Dale talks a lot about Max who has a shop in Frewsburg for repairing cars.  Tonite Max stopped by to ask Dale to cut something for him.  Dale has said a lot about him -- an endless talker, divorced, a grandfather, is 43, has problems with women.  He isn't at all the picture formed in my mind.  He is short with dark curly hair & nice looking  I pictured an older man -- maybe not too neat & he is the opposite.

Thurs. Sept 9

Kim & Lar were here.  No special news.  Kim was meeting the "girls" for a nite out.  A glass of wine & talk.  The others would order more.

We had 4" of rain & some in the basement.  More cracks need to be fixed.  The ones Dale just fixed worked as no leaks there..  We got a few puddles -- imagine what homes in Fla. have to put up with.

Soon Andy will be 17!  Hard to believe.

Saturday, June 21, 2003

The Dr. gave me a new medication as my blood pressure was too high.  He said it might cause me to cough & it does during the night & spoils my sleep.  So on Mon. I'll call & see if there is something else he wants me to take in its place.

Last nite Dale had a bad headache & the all night cancer doing at Beaty Field didn't help. When it was my bedtime, a rock band started playing & all we could hear was the constant Boom, Boom, Boom. I finally fell asleep but was awaken at times.  Finally they quit, only to start it at 6 A.M. so you couldn't sleep in.  I'm sure a lot of area people were unhappy.  That's why Barb slept at Lynn's house.

Back to Dale, he's OK this A.M., but plans to stop drinking coffee to see if that will help. Teasingly, I say I must the be cause of headaches.  Dad had them once in awhile.  I'm not sure about you but Lar, Barb & Dale get them.  Knock on wood but I never get them.

How long will it take for Andy to get his license?  I suppose the next punishment will be "you can't take the car for a month"!!!  Am I being sarcastic?

Sheila told me her one cat had an operation to remove a lump from the tongue -- cut out part of it & the cat was very unhappy for awhile.  They don't know yet if it was cancer & if it had spread.  The cat was only 11 yrs. old so she wasn't ready to put it to sleep.  Expensive operation $300-500.

Kim & Larry are going to the Hosp. Ball tonite.  The Conewango Club isn't ready yet for a Ball so it will be a less formal affair.  It will be at the new riverfront area.  More like a cocktail affair with fireworks at 10 pm.  Kim will wear a long skirt but just suits for men.  It's cloudy & cool, in the lower 50's this A.M. so a sweater will be a necessity.  I just put on a cotton fleece jacket on rather than the furnace.

Watched the Yankees beat the Mets last nite.  'Nuff said!  There was rain & more predicted for today.  Around here you'd never know it was the first day of summer.

Tues. June 24th

Finally summer has arrived & more humidity is forecast for tomorrow.

Our potted plants by the side of the house & garage are so pretty this y ear.  We used a variety of flowers & some new ones this year -- verbina & it is so pretty & miniature dahlias. Both are so pretty & colorful.

The new medication the Dr. gave me doesn't agree with me.  It can cause coughing & it comes during the nite, so I called the office.  He told me the alternative is more expensive but the office said I could try some samples they get so I'll pick them up this aft.  I'll have to get them since my blood pressure was too high.  Guess the Dr. wants me to live to my 90's!

I got a chuck roast & browned it, put it in the crockpot with Beefy Mushroom soup & that will be our dinner tonite.

Met the new neighbor last nite as he was sweeping up after mowing his lawn.  I returned the keys Careys gave us in case they got locked out.  He is very nice but I didn't really get his name.  His wife's name is Melody & for some reason that stuck.  2 daughters -- one who was 13 yesterday & 1 10 yr. old.  They moved from Houston where they had lived for 56 years.  Both grew up in the Pittsburgh area so are happy to be closer to relatives.   I'm sure he is younger than Dale.  We'll have nice neighbors.  Haven't seen her yet -- she is busy unpacking & getting things in order.

The roast had a real good flavor, & it was tender.

This is the nite Dale was suppose to work til 8 pm but he was home early due to a blackout. I bet the stores at the Mall hate that.  This is the second time recently but that first one was due to a fallen branch on some wires in the vicinity of the country club.  Dale heard it might be due to someone digging & hitting something.

Wed. the 25th

Marisa was in a car accident.  The car in front of her stopped suddenly & Marisa couldn't and as a result it was a 4 car crash.  She wasn't hurt -- it was on Pa. Ave. E. near the new Country Fair (where Jones Chevrolet used to be.

Tomorrow I plan to have a cookout for supper.  Grill chicken & cook pot. in foil.  And fresh local strawberries (shortcake) for dessert.

Today the TV shows bad wind & rain storms for Madison   It is suppose to be coming to us for Fri. & Sat.  The only nice thing is that it will be in the 70's so Sat A.M., I can bake dinner rolls & cookies.  First thing tomorrow A.M. I'll make shortcake when it is cooler   I haven't turned on the A.C. yet but might tomorrow.

Thurs. the 26

Put the A.C. on this A.M. & it's run all day.  I don't dare to complain after the cold winter we had lasting the start of June.  Once the showers come it will cool off.

Denise Johnson might have to have a knee replacement.  Noticed she was limping a bit in church.  Betty Casey told me Sandy fell & broke her leg in 3 places.