Friday, April 1, 2005

I'm starting early this week -- I have something to write about.

Millie's birthday is Apr. 17 & she will be 90.  I think it would be nice for you to send her a card.

We went to the Mall today & I was successful.  Seeing Millie will be 90, I want to get her a gift.  I got pearl earrings with gold trim & a necklace.  It has a small pearl bead, a 1 1/2" of gold chain.  Tried them on & I like them a lot & I'm sure she will.  Then I got Dale a darker tan pants & a nice shirt to go with them.  It is a flax & cotton materiel (light green).  All purchases on sale plus 15% coupon.

Last nite Barb was showing Kim the swim suit she wants from the L.L. Bean catalog.  Lar said there's a shirt I like & I was glad to know that.  Barb called the order in so my shopping is just about complete.

Then I stopped at Arby's for our supper.  2 for Dale & 1 for me.  Barb doesn't eat them.  I'm fixing oven fries for Dale & a salad.  He was late coming home so I ate early.  Still have the dishes to do.

I sure enjoy the pictures you add to your letters.  It's surprising how much houses are getting in your area.  And they are small.  How do people do it.  I've heard about the Macaroni Grill but I don't think there are any around here.

Sat. A.M. Apr 2

I've had a busy A.M.  After reading the paper I made choc. chip, peanut butter & oats dough. Put it in the fridge & started banana bread.  While it was baking I washed dishes, then went upstairs to get dressed & make my bed.  When the ban. bread was almost done, I put the cookie dough on baking sheets.  Made only 1/2 recipe, about 2 doz.  I don't like them after 2 days & Barb & Dale don't think to eat them altho they are in plain sight.  Then I tho't a pumpkin pie would taste good.  After I cleaned up, a cup of coffee & 2 cookies tasted good.

Barb is up & making blueberry pancakes for her breakfast.

Barb's treadmill sounded funny to her eats so a repair man from Sears came yesterday aft. He said nothing was wrong.  He calibrated it, etc.  Barb wanted it looked at while under warranty.

In Wegman's Sat. ads they have a recipe that sounds interesting to me.  Chicken Parmasan with broccoli.  Brown chicken.  Put in dish.  Drizzle with marinara sauce & sprinkle with shredded mozzarella.  Bake in 350 oven 10 min til cheese melts & sauce is heated.  Serve with penne pasta & broccoli florets.  Cook them & then combine olive oil, butter & garlic. Heat on low to melt butter.  Cook garlic 1 min stirring.  Add broc & cooked pasta.  Keep warm while preparing chicken.  I'll try it on a Thurs. nite when Lar & Kim come.  It will be a change from potatoes.  I might even use garlic, keeping some broc. & pasta out for me. Others like garlic.

Later in the aft.  Had myself a little nap.

Have to catch up because we lose an hour tonite.  DST.

Baseball starts this week & there will be many games to watch thanks to ESPN & II.  I'm ready to watch.

I have the same feeling that it would be nice to be closer so we could get together more often.  But that's life.

Was going to watch Busch racing but it's raining in Bristol, Tenn.  Then gold will be on & they've missed 2 days because of rain.  Today is suppose to be very windy.  Next week is the big one, The Masters, in Atlanta.  It is a beautiful golf course.

Sun. pm

Dale looked out the window & said "it's insanity", meaning the snow coming down.  Erie has 12" of snow & some areas have no electricity.  Heavy snow on the lines.

I wore boots this AM as I walked to church & was surprised to see more people in church than I thought would be there.  Buffalo area has a foot of snow.

Barb wonders if you'll see the movie "The Upside of Anger" with Kevin Costner.  She read a review of it & knows Kevin C. is one of JoAnna's favorites.  A good review.

Dale had a headache on Sat.  I woke up at 2:30 AM to go to the bathroom & noticed the hall light was still on.  I had to check & found Dale on the davenport holding a bag of ice on his head.  Now I could go back to bed & sleep, altho it took awhile to fall asleep.  A mother is always or should I say parent, is always concerned for their children regardless of age. What I don't know doesn't hurt me, but with Barb & Dale at home I get concerned.  I don't like the word "worry".  It's not part of my vocabulary.

Tues. the 4th

Barb & I went to Jamestown this aft.  Barb got pj's & a birthday shirt for Dale.  I didn't get anything except groceries at Wegman's.  We'll celebrate Dale's birthday on Thurs. & he chose teak & choc. birthday cake.  I asked about potatoes & he said pot. salad would be OK.  We had baked pot. last week & mostly we have mashed pot. so I tho't a change would be good.

The Braves played at the Marlins this aft. & was I happy.  The Marlins were leading 9-0 the last I saw & it's over so I didn't get the final score.  Smoltz started & lasted 1 2/3 innings. They got a grand slam off of him in the 1st inning.  The Marlins are my 2nd team if the Mets fail.  Yesterday Pedro pitched so good after the 1st inning & had 11 strikeouts, I think.  But the closer gave up 2 home runs & they lost.  I was so disappointed.  The Mets are at Atlanta this Fri. nite.  Barb said I shouldn't be so happy when the Braves get beat because the Braves are Andy's team.  That doesn't count.  He has his team & I have mine & may the best team win.  They talked today how many division titles the Braves have won & of course I can't remember the number.  I think they only won the World Series once & that's the important one.

Wed. the 6th

Gen called last Sat.  She had called Millie & found out she had been in the hospital.  I called the first of the week & there was no answer.  I tried tonite & got her.  She has low thyroid & potassium & not enough salt.  She was back in the hosp & had intravenous feeding.  She is better now.  She wasn't taking her thyroid meds, & she said she learned her lesson.  She still has a poor appetite but it's improving.   I've taken potassium pills for a long time.  With some meds you need it as they can drain your system.  If the Dr. prescribes meds I take them.  He knows more than I do.  Millie will be OK for her birthday.  Due to conflicts the family won't celebrate it until the 30th.  There will be 14 of them to help her celebrate.  All 4 of us had or have thyroid problems.  Only mine is overactive.

Thurs. the 7th

We had a nice dinner & Dale enjoyed an early birthday.

John called tonite to tell us about Millie.  I told him I had talked to her last nite.  I heard he had a girlfriend so I asked about it.  Is it serious?  Is there a wedding in the future?  He didn't commit himself.  But they took a trip to Aruba so that sounds serious.  I told him I was happy for him.  He has a lot of responsibility on his plate with Gen.

I'm watching the Braves vs. the Marlins.  The Mets go to Atlanta tomorrow.  Sure hope they start winning.  A bad start for Willie Randolph.  He's a good guy.

They said we reached 80 yesterday.  Different today, but the next 5 days should be sunny.

Sunday, July 4, 1999

How are you surviving the weather.  The 90's are too warm for me.  We kept the A.C. on late nite & will tonite as it doesn't cool off much.  I stay inside.  We have had some rain, much needed rain.

We don't take in any of the Fourth activities, except to hang the flag on the porch.  I watched the Mets get beat again on Sat.  I still have hopes for today.

Last nite Nascar had a race & I watched part of that before going to bed.

How is the reunion.  I'll be anxious to read about it.

I notice that Andy usually calls me when the Mets play the Braves & usually the Mets are on the losing side.  The Mets have a better 3rd baseman in Robin Ventura than Andy's favorite Skipper Jones - can't think of his nickname.  Andy & I could have a good discussion on that topic!  I think the Atlantic broadcasters played him & the team, maybe I should say praised, so much it turned me off on them, even they are good.

The pens are so light, it's hard to read the letter.  This is better.

Wed. I go out to lunch with Bensons. Hollertzs, Deckers, & Fostroms.  Warren & Anna will pick me up & we'll go to Holiday Inn for lunch.

Barb started painting my room.  She's divided the job into 3rds & the 1st 3rd is completed.  The West wall.  The other 2 have doors & windows to break it up.  Looks very nice & I like the blue color - light to med. blue so it's not too dark.

It looks like the corn at Hatch Patch will soon be ready.  Grows fast in this weather.  Read in the paper one farmer in the Erie area has corn to sell already.  They usually say "knee high by the 4th of July".

Paul, do you remember Roxy Sasserson from church.  Don't remember her married name - she is sec'y at Sheffield & Kim told me that her oldest son & wife had a baby recently.  In the 3rd month, the Dr. tho't something might be wrong & something was wrong & the baby is a mongoloid.  The first born.  I might have had a few problems with you kids but at least the 4 were normal.  And I'm very proud of you all now, as I was then.

With that I'll bring this to an end.

Sunday, May 31, 1998

I'm on the porch, lost interest in the crossword puzzle in the Buff. Sun. paper & will write a letter instead.

Read a good book Klondike Fever by Suzann Ledbetter.  About the gold rush with a love interest.  Easy reading.

Did I write Messiah Church, Auburn, is having a year long celebration of their 75 years.  So they are sending us their newsletter & the first one came yesterday.  Interesting to read.  Recognized only 1 name, Erv Steinle who is now the business mgr. of Messiah.  They have 2 pastors, a female associate in ministry, & 3 others so that's quite a staff.  It has really grown but it's in a growing area with a good job field.

We've had some rain, more is suppose to come & then cool off.  It was very hot in church this A.M. plus an extra long service honoring the graduating seniors, communion, etc.  Most of the seniors are going off to college.  One family who moved here after the husband retired (originally from the area) are moving back to Michigan.  The 2nd daughter graduated this June.  So retirement away from a familiar place, relatives, friends,etc. didn't work out for them.  And they've been very active members.

Barb brought some things to Lynn's garage sale & we got 30.00.  Sold all she brot up so we have a little less "junk" in the attic.

Mon. after work Dale goes to Rochester for classes & returns Thurs. nite.

Lar had some trouble with his truck & was without it most of last week.  Still didn't have it Sat.  He was using the station wagon as it wasn't Kim's turn to drive last week.  Mrs. Patterson, up the4 st. teaches at Sheffield so they take turns driving.  The teachers look forward to vacation as much as the kids do.

Gen called the other nite to see how things are.  They don't have their pool ready yet.

Andy!  Atlanta lost 3 games in a row.  What happened to your favorite team?  I won't say anything about the Mets.  Don't want to jinx them!! So far they're ahead today.  Buffalo has been a disappointment in their playoff games against Washington.  Nice they got that far when it wasn't expected.

Sounded like you had a great Memorial Day weekend & anniversary.

We're suppose to have a few cool days so I'll get some baking done.  The cooky tins are bare.

Lynn gave Barb a 100.00 Penney's gift certificate.  She couldn't find anything here so Fri. she went to Jamestown.  Got 2 skirts, 2 bras, slacks & a top to go with it.  Spent it all & enjoyed it.

We can get the Erie Sun. paper delivered so I will call about that & then someone won't have to go out for a paper.

Now it's Tues. aft. & the letter isn't mailed, so it won't go out til Wed.

Yesterday I hung sheets out to dry.  There was a nice breeze so they dried in no time.  I washed the quilt & ruffle for our bed last week.  It's been great weather for drying blankets, etc.

Barb got flowers & some veggies planted.  I filled my pots with pansies, geraniums, & alyssum (sp).  I like to look out the kitchen window & see them.  Pansies are my favorite with their pretty faces.

Better get this ready for mailing.  I'm just filling paper now.

Friday, May 15, 1998

Boxer, a new member of the family

Just finished a note to Bob Karlson seeing I couldn't get to the funeral.  I did give a memorial to the church.

This has been a bad week.  Dad fell in the shower & trying to get him out I strained my leg so it's starting to pain again.  Finally called Lar for help.  Another time I was in the kitchen getting lunch, heard a thump &U he had fallen.  He had to wait til Dale came to get him up.  Lar bro't over Mr. Crary's wheelchair & that is a help.  Today we'll get a twin spring & mattress & set it up in the eating area & we'll have to eat in the D.R.  It is too hard going up & down the stairs.  Sometimes he can get up & walk, other times there is no strength to left himself up.

But the weather is beautiful.   High 70s on Thus. & should get in the 80s+ today.  We sat on the porch for awhile yesterday.  It was just a perfect day.

Imagine Andy is real happy as an Atlanta fan.  I was glad they didn't break the home run record just tied it.

Heard from Millie from Fla.  She spent 10 days with Jerry's brother Tony & his wife.  We got a card from Disney World.  Also a letter from Edna.  Did I mention Aunt Esther fell & broke her hip.  It has healed & she uses a walker.  But she is very mixed up in her mind & sometimes doesn't know Edna, Millie or Gen.

In June Dale goes to Rochester for 3 days for a course in Electrics which he said is a pretty good opportunity for him.  He stays at a Red Roof Motel & gets money for food.  All expanses paid.  Drives on of Shults' cars.

I'm really enjoying hockey & Buffalo is doing so well.  The Buff. TV news says sport stores are having a hard time keeping Saber shirts, etc. in store as everyone is a fan now.  If they play (get to) Detroit I wonder if they could beat them.  They would be the "dream team" then.  I'm even getting to know some of the names.  ESPN's Gary Thorne & Bill Clement are the top announcers but I think Fox has the final games.

We still watch Atlanta but their announcers are so biased it's sickening.  Sometimes we get Cleveland on Erie Fox T.V. & their annoucners aren't so bad but they're monotonous.  What a critic - nothing is as good as WWOR (NYC) & we don't get them.  Youngsville & Sheffield do.  Dad doesn't like it if I mute the T.V. & just watch.

Did you watch the final Seinfeld - Dale did.

Have a nice Memorial Day.