Saturday, October 25, 2003

I was sorry to hear of June's death.  But I guess it was to be expected - -she lived a long life. 90 years.  She & Ruth were born in 1913.

Thurs. nite I didn't sleep well at all.  I was really tired last nite & went to bed by 8:20.  And I made up for Thurs. nite.  Got up about 6:45 a.m. today.  It's a cloudy day.  Made banana bread, read the paper, made a grocery list but mostly just taking it easy.

Tonite I will see 9 innings of baseball unless the Yankees are way ahead, then I'll switch to another channel.

Yesterday my pastor friends met for lunch in Franklin.  Ted & Sue came from Ohio & Ted & Pat would have picked me up but I didn't go.  Just didn't feel like hearing the 2 Teds & their know it all taking over the conversation.  I might have fallen asleep.  I wasn't feeling up to it.

Nov. 7th I have a Dr. appt. & that is the wrong aft. for Barb to take me.  So I called Joyce O'Connor & asked for a favor (she had told me to call if she could help in any way) & she will take me.  I wanted to take her out to dinner but she said no to that.  She said people do favors for me & I do favors for others.

Barb's (O'Connor) daughter is expecting around Dec. 26th.  So the family is going to Philly for a shower for her.  Bev's son's wife had a baby in Oct. so Joyce is already a great grandmother.  Melissa is going to be an optometrist & will have 6 mo. left.  Her husband is taking his residence years in a Philly hosp.  Still has a couple of years left.  High school sweethearts.

Sun. Oct 26

I was so happy last nite to see the Marlins win.  Pastor Beth is from Fla. & very happy they won.  Denny Crandrell is a Yankee fan & very unhappy.  He is married to Elaine Jacobson & they are active members.  The Marlin pitcher did so well & only 23.  Now we'll be hearing about changes in the team's players.  Who will go where.  Will Torre be back in N.Y. Baseball is my favorite sport, but I like to watch all of them.

Tues. the 28th

Millie called Sun nite & she was telling me more about the retirement home.  She has already started to get rid of things.  In Dec. Linda will check to see how close Millie is to get in. She said Spfld. is really getting bad.  People don't go downtown any more.  They are afraid to.  She won't miss Spfld.  Once they tell her she has a place, she'll have 30 days to get ready to move.  That makes it hard as she  might not be able to sell the house that fast. And she doesn't want to put it up for sale now for fear it would see fast & she'd be left without a home.  The agent said to leave any furniture she doesn't want as furniture adds to selling a house.  I hope it all works out.

Barb started her Christmas shopping & has a good start.  I have some thoughts about what I want to do.

With standard time back, it sure gets darker earlier & makes for a long evening.

Let me tell you about this nite in Auburn, Wn.  My mother was with us & Dad was meeting with a couple with problems.  Around 11 pm, Mom & I went to bed & as I got into bed my water broke.  Dad got home & around 3 AM Dad called the Dr. & off we went to the hosp. Can't remember the exact time but you were born between 5-6 AM.  It was a busy time as several babies were born thru Halloween.  I was in the hosp. 5 days, I think. When I got home I had to make formula & a member L. G. Strand came -- he had to see the new baby.    And you were good & didn't even cry for a feeding until after he left. And that's the start of our family.

Wed Oct 29

This A.M. I made a white cake for dessert tomorrow.  Then I washed the floor & I'm always glad that's done for 2 weeks.

At lunch time Dale said no treats?  And I didn't have any so after my soap & now watching Perry Mason, I made some brownies.  The recipe uses Hersheys choc. syrup & I like that recipe.  It also has a recipe for the frosting -- using choc. chips & miniature marshmallows. We're having an easy supper.  Spag. & meatballs & the meatballs were frozen & I used ready made sauce.  Oh I also made an easy recipe.  Snack Mix Squares for Sheila & Sue. They close the shop on Halloween -- their favorite holiday -- dress up & visit some schools, nursing homes & they come here to show me their costumes.  So I always have a treat for them.  It contains the small stick pretzels, corn chex & M&M's.  Make a mixture of oleo,k peanut butter & miniature marsh. melted together.  Pour it over the pretzels, etc., press it in a buttered foil-lined pan & let set.  It's good.  This year they are dressing in old fashioned bathing suits.  I'll tell more next letter.  They always do a great job dressing up.

I'll finish this & then walk to 5th to mail it.

We're having a warm spell & enjoy it.

Nothing special going on with Lar & Kim, or the rest of us.  I turned one of the calendars to Nov.  Soon it will be Thanksgiving.  But it is fun thinking about Christmas preparations & receiving Christmas cards from friends in the past.

Friday, May 5, 2000

It's been a perfect day & we've had supper so I'm on the porch.  After getting my hair done, Barb & I went to the Mall.  Bo't 2 plastic urns for plants on each side of the new railing for the steps.  After, we stopped at Hatch Patch for flowers.  They just opened for the season & the flowers look great.

In the late aft.  Barb started planting the urns.  We need to get a dish for them to set in so the water won't damage the porch floor, so in the meantime they sit one on each side of the garage doors.  I bo't the large begonias & they are so pretty & Barb put some pansies with them & a form of ivy - don't know the correct name.  Later on I'll have hanging baskets also.

Careys are expected to be home Sun. or Mon. the 7th or 8th.  Will be nice to see life around there again.

Last nite when Kim & Lar were over, Kim told us her sleep had been interrupted by Torey being sick.  Thge Crary home residents love to feed him & so does another neighbor & had loose bowels so at 2:30 A.M. she was cleaning the L.R. & D.R. rugs & then found it hard to get back to sleep.  So no more treats from the Crary Home or the neighbor.  It will be hard as Torey goes to the door to be let in & then begs.  He didn't get ice cream last nite but after begging Kim said he could have 1 cooky & then dog biscuits.  Today Sheila was telling me about ice cream for dogs.  It is called "dog paws" & her dogs loved it in hot weather.

The gal who bought Holders house walked by & we talked a bit.  Her 2nd son & wife had a new baby.  She, Pat Vavala, was married to the oldest Vavala son but is now divorced.  She is very friendly & nice to talk to.  Her mother will be 80 -- I mentioned I'd be 80 in the fall -- & her father is 82.  He has Alzheimer's.

Last nite Barb stayed up til 2:30 A.M. watching Phillies vs. Pittsburgh hockey game.  5 overtimes & when Pitts lost, Barb said it wasn't worth staying up for.  People stayed until the end -- even children who were asleep by then.  A game theh players will never forget.  Barb is afraid now that the Penguins lost their chance to win the series.

I received a wedding invitation from Barb O'Connor's daughter Melissa who graduates from Allegheny College this spring.  Wedding at First Meth. followed by a reception at Sugar Grove Fire Hall.  I don't plan to go -- don't really know Melissa or her future husband -- but will get a gift & bring it over to Joyce.

Dale brought out his Monte Carlo & put the winter car in the rented garage.  The Blazer.

Barb doesn't have to care for Scott anymore.  He's going back to the YM as that's where he'll be this summer.  Barb doesn't mind the switch.

Sat A.M., the 6th.

Dale had to work today so I was up early.   Made a coffee cake for next week snack for Dale.  Then I filled the 6 flower pots I have by the garage.  Pansies, my favorite.  They are nice to look at when I'm at the sink.  The 2 pots we put by the garage doors look so nice so we're going to get 2 more for the front porch.  They are tan & look good with the house.  Both Barb & Dale work around the yard.  Dale mows & trims & Barb has the veggie garden plus flowers.  It's nice all of you enjoy working outside & making the property look nice.  I'm back on the front porch watching the cars go by.  Dandelions are in great supply this year & we are trying to keep ahead of them.  This is the earliest we've gotten our flowers planted.  Usually it's Memorial Day weekend but the warm weather arrived earlier this year.

Sun A.M.  Again I'm ready for church by 9:40 A.M. so I'll continue on.

I had gotten a small lamb roast & we had it yesterday choosing a warm day to use the oven.  It was very tasty.  Your Seder service sounded very interesting.  It makes me want to read Haggadah.

Tonite we'll just have hamburgers.

I'm enclosing two articles you might like to read.

The Mets lost last nite & today in the 1st inning Fla Marlins are ahead, 1-0, 2 on & no outs.  The Braves lost & the Mets couldn't gain on them.  After 1, it's only 1-0.

A couple of years ago we got a new grill but it was a cheap one.  Suppose to be automatic "on" but it went on the blink & we had to light it by hand.  We use the grill a lot so Dale is looking around.  Saw one at Don Gages, on the way to Jamestown, but ti was sold but more are expected.  Maybe we'll have one before Thurs. Lar's birthday as she chose steak for the menu & either carrot cake or spice cake. Think I'll make spice cake for a change.

In church today the choir anthem was given by Carol Andersen in honor of Pastor & Mrs. Carl Nelson.  First sung by the choir Apr. 14, 1996.  People are invited to pay for choir music in honor or in memory of someone.  Several have been given & I think I might do that in Dad's memory.  The anthem was "Hymn of Promise" -- nice words & very pretty.

When I lost weight, I had to get a smaller size.  My thyroid must be OK as I'm soon back to my weight so I can't wear some of last year's clothes.  Need to get a blood test this week for a check on the thyroid.

Mon. the 8th.

I cleaned the eating area today plus my regular washing & changing of 2 beds.

It's 3:45 pm & Barb wants to go to the Mall.  She just got back from Bert's.  I got myself cleaned up & rested a bit.