Sunday, June 11, 2000

Yesterday Dale got the rug & pad down in his room.  He tried to rent a rug stretcher but it was out so he still has that to do.  It is a light gray & looks so nice.  Make the room look bigger.  W hen I put clean sheets on his bed tomorrow, I'll put the new bedspread on .  He'd like new curtains.

He is working on the garage window by Carey's.  Removing paint & will repaint it.

Mon. he leaves for Rochester for 3 days of school, returning Thurs around dinner time.

Last Wed. I went out to lunch with Betty Casey.  We rode the bus & went to the Mall & ate at Ponderosa.  It has been remodeled & is much nicer now.  We had the buffet.  We shopped a bit & took the bus home.

Yesterday, Sat, it reached the 90's & was HOT.  We turned on the A.C.  Not as bad today but humid & it's getting dark & showers are predicted.

I don't think I told you but our big storm a week ago was hard on Lar & Kim.  Lightning hit & ruined a T.V., 2 telephones, & their computer.  The new Phy Ed teacher suggested to Kim they go to Circuit City in Erie & check their computers.  T hey have insurance -- $250.00 deductible.

Kim' sister & family might come this summer.  They were planning to go to Fla. in July,but won't if her sister comes here.   Kim said they'll have to take a couple of weekends & get away.

I received a letter from Warren Luthgren, my cousin in charge of Aunt Esther's estate & 6 of us, 1 nephew & 5 nieces, each received a check for $1,256.30.  I put $1000.00 in the bank & it will go for the driveway project & I kept 256.00 for me.  I'd like a suit next fall.  I don't' know when the project will get started & your summer schedule sounds so busy so I don't know when you'll see it completed.  I was surprised when there was that much money left since she was in the nursing home so long.

Yesterday A.M. I was at the library a little after 9 A.M. to return books & get more.  Got one by Anne Perry:  Bedford Square - I like her novels.  Another one by Patricia Cornwell & a new author Luanne Rice:  Follow the Stars Home.  I didn't finish it.  Felt it took too long to get into the story & I lost interest.  I'm really on a reading binge!

Good for Eddie on his book report & that he did so well in 3rd grade.  Hard to believe Andy will go into 7th & Eddie 4th grade.  Time goes too fast.

Tues - June 13 - Gen's birthday.  I'll call her later.

This is my day to clean upstairs -- the bathroom & my room.  With the bedrooms looking so nice I decided to get rid of hte file cabinet in my room.  That meant going thru papers & throwing out some of it.  I found some letters hand written when you were in Mpls. & from U.B. so you'll have those to read plus other things.  Cards, pictures, & think you'll enjoy going thru someday.  I still have to dust my room -- it took quite awhile to go thru everything.  Kim was over for awhile & we had coffee & talked.  Tomorrow Lar & Kim are going to Erie to see about a computer.  Vacation day for Lar.  Torey will come over here to keep me company & vice versa.

Some time ago, I got a bedspread for Dale's bed for 20.00 but  it didn't look that good.

Last nite Barb & I went to the Mall.  Penney's had nothing we liked so we looked at Bon Ton & we found one & we think it looks good.  Dale is away but he should like it.  A nice contrast with the light walls & light gray rug.

Barb saw a set she liked so she got hers & they look nice -- a floral print.  Sheets too.  But she needed new valences & found some plain olive green & they look nice.  So the upstairs is in pretty good shape.

Tonite we went to Perkins for supper but it wasn't that good.

K Mart had paper shredders on sale & I got one & have plenty to shred.  Anything with credit numbers or S.S. number, etc.  I don't like to just throw away so I try to cut them up.  Now it will be easier.  Stuff from Dad to throw out.  Next I have to clean Dad's top drawer & get rid of more stuff.

Want to mail this tomorrow, Wed. so this is the end ofor rhis time.

Barb saw a set she liked so she got hers & they look nice

Friday, February 25, 2000

I finally called for a dentist appt. & saw Dr. Walters this aft. & Presto the hole is filled.  There wasn't much tooth left but he got it done.

I walked to the beauty shop this A.M. & it felt good to walk again.  Then I went to the post office for stamps; to the bank for next month's expenses & then to the new CVS.  It's a nice store.  Also walked to Dental Arts for my appt.  Nice to have clear sidewalks & warm weather.  We know it won't last but it's a good respite.  Wonder how March will come in.. Lion or lamb.

On Tues. Quality Mkts. give seniors a 6% discount.  Barb couldn't take me during the day so she suggested we go out to eat at Perkins & then go to Quality.  That's what we did & it was enjoyable.

Wed. nite was a 5 Star Banquet for the employees at Shults.  They are a 5 Star organization.  Dale had prime rib at Jackson Valley.  Happy hour first -- some were really drinking.  Afterwards some went out.  Randy S was designated driver & they didn't get home til 3:30 A.M.  Thankfully Dale was home between 9:30-10 pm.

It's none of our business but Barb & I wonder why if the boys get their homework done & done correctly, why couldn't they be rewarded with an hour or so of TV.

Do you remember Pam Valone -- you know the family & can't remember her married name.  2 daughters.  The  youngest has her pretty upset as she is going with a loser from Sheffield.  Kim has him in Health -- druggie, etc. Glad I'm going on 80.

Lar was over yesterday & trimmed the trees so they're even with the school fence.  He says they should fill in even more.  Imagine doing this in Feb.  We know it can't last but it's been wonderful.  Kim stopped by for a cup of coffee.

Was watching Nascar but now I've switched to golf.

Gen called last Tues. to say Aunt Esther died.  She was 100 last June but on life support.  But she was congested & no strength to fight it.  It must have been earlier.  I'm sure I wrote about it.  It  seems too familiar as I write.

Dale is getting his room ready for painting.  Put a lot of stuff in the attic.  The bedspread won't match the new rug too well -- brown against gray so I'll be on the lookout for a new one.  He's really gotten into it.

Finally wore my new dress today.  With the walks snow covered I prefer to wear pants.  The snow is all gone so I wore a dress & shoes -- not boots.  It's been springlike but we know it's still winter  But it's been a great break for us.  Just what we needed to spur us on.  Barb is thinking about planting seeds.  We'll look for some this week.

I need a change from puzzles & noticed in the paper a new author Teri Holbrook.  She is similar to P. D. James & Eliz. George & I enjoy their books.  On Fri. the library doesn't open til 10 AM & I'm thru with my hair appt. by 9:30 or so.  The new puzzles are so hard to match colors so it takes longer & I lose interest.  It's a week & I'm still not done.  Just sit & stare & find 1 or 2 that will fit.  But I finally finished it.

Now it's Monday, the 28th.

Dale chose the paint today.  An off white.  He'll paint the ceiling - he's patching holes now.  Figures he'll need to put on 2 coats.

Tried a couple of new meals lately.  Shrimp fettucini; & chicken & spaghetti.  Both went over well.  Recipes from my Quick Cooking magazine.  Nice to try something different, esp. when it is well received.

Did you notice in today's paper (Feb 29) "Warren Native sworn in as chief judge of S. Carolina Court".  First woman chief.  A classmate of yours.  Kaye G. Hearn.  Kathleen Wrenn Hearn, 11, held the Bible for her mother.  Could her last name have been Wrenn?  No one that name in the phone book.  She graduated in '68 also so you must know who she is.

Want to mail this when we go for groceries.  All is well here.

Thursday, February 17, 2000

Another nice day before the storm hits us.  No school last Mon. due to ice.  Kim & Torey came over for a cup of coffee to get away from the noise.  What noise, you say.  Lar is removing the floor from their living room & he ash the stereo full blast, even singing along.  He'll add insulation & then put down oak flooring.  Kim figures it will take up to 3 weeks to finish it.  So it will be a mess for awhile.

Dale got a glass door book case but it was damaged on top & bottom -- he got it 1/2 price off.  Nice glass doors.  But he has to have perfection so eh got a piece of oak veneer & will replace the top & bottom.  He used the radial saw Dad bot but it didn't cut good so he was frustrated.  Decided to get rid of it & get something better.  It made a couple of little nicks & Dale can't have that.  Lar will take the desk so Dale got it out of his room & Lar took it.  Once he made up his mind Dale works fast.  This is his early week so after work today he plans to go to Cobbs to see if he can get a matching stain for the replacements.

I haven't watched the Millionaire shows.  They don't appeal to me.  Used to watch "Wheel of Fortune" with Dad but not after he died.  Barb watches those programs & tells me about it.

Finally finished my puzzle with Barb's help.  Have 2 more new ones to do & both look harder.  Put the card table away but might start another puzzle this weekend.  [I did.]

Been checking my recipes.  In March I serve LCW with Marge Woods & looked for a recipe I tho't would be easy as well as delicious.  Can't find it anywhere.  So we decided on serving cake.  I'll make chocolate & Marge will make yellow.  Didn't check my calendar when asked to serve & have an eye appt. in the aft.  But we aren't a large group anymore so it will work out.  Told Dale this will be a froz. dinner meal.  We like the Stouffer's froz. lasagna & the spaghetti is good, too.

Sat. aft.

Nascar racing is back & I'm watching the Busch car race.  Watched the truck racing yesterday & there was an accident - flames, rolled over 11 times.  Not hurt that bad.  Did you happen to see it on the news.  (truck accident)

The reason we went to Janesville -- Dad said that's what we'd do & I followed.  After awhile that changed -- the meekness!   The big storm missed us -- just a little snow & nothing today.  It went south.

Gen called last nite to say Aunt Esther died Fri. A.M. -- congestion in the lungs.  Warren & Barbara Luthgren took care of everything.  There will only be a committal service at the cemetery.  Warren lives in N. Carolina now & won't come for the funeral.  Neither is Barbara -- she lives in Colorado.  So it would be Gen, Ed, Millie & Linda who has a week's vacation & Virginia, another cousin.  Gen said she'd have them back for coffee.

I mentioned that you sent Jeff's project to Cindy & Albert & that they would send it to Hawaii.  Had written Gen & Millie about it.  Millie tho't it was great.

Dale is looking for a new dresser.  Is on his way to Jamestown now.  He plans to start painting soon.  He bo't some shelving for the basement & has it set up.  Looks nice.  Oh yes, he plans to look for some kind of an elec. saw set up at Sears.  Can't remember the correct term for it.

Am enclosing a news article Gen sent.  Forest Park brings back many memories -- skating at Porter Lake, etc.  It must be beautiful to see -- the Christmas lights.

Sun.

Tim & Lisa Passinger were in church with their new baby Philip.  He slept the whole time.  Has lots of hair.  Born Jan. 8th.

Dale got a new piece of equipment from Sears.  Still don't know the correct term.  Lar came over & helped him carry it in.

Sun. aft. I'm always so tired so I took a nap.  Now all 3 TVs have racing on.

The following is from Rabbi Harold Kushner's "Who Needs God?"

What is the difference between a person who relies only on himself & a person who has learned to turn to God for help?  It's not that one will do bad things while the other will do good things.  The self reliant atheist may be a fine upstanding person.  The only difference is the atheist is like a bush growing in the desert.  If he has only himself to rely on when he exhausts his internal resources, he runs the risk of running dry & withering.  But the man & woman who turn to God is like a tree planted by a stream.  What they share with the world is replenished from a source beyond themselves, so they never run dry.

I like that & that's why we go to church to receive that special faith & strength.  My thought for today.

P.S.  It's a Craftsman table saw Dale got.  Big one.

Saturday, February 12, 2000

Thanks for the pictures -- the boys room looks so nice & colorful.  So do the cupboards.  I'm envious.

What a good idea to send the project of Jeff''s to Albert & Cindy & then on to Hawaii  It should be very interesting.  Some people never move & don't have relatives or friends who are far away.  Don't even know if Debbie has bothers or sisters.

Looking outside I see sunlight & blue, blue sky but it's deceiving as it hasn't warmed up much.  We had a couple of days in the 40s & you can see the snow level is down.  I did walk home on Fri. after getting my hair done.  Felt good.

Lynn is concerned about Scott but won't allow him to have medication.  He won't listen.  Barb tells him he can't do something & he runs to the phone & calls Lynn .  She doesn't want to be interrupted but he calls several times to try to get his way.  She should just hang up on him so he'd get the message.  Barb picks him up from school Mon-Wed - so he doesn't have to go to the Y.  Lar doesn't mind he's not in soccer -- but he said there are others who are rascals.  They have too many kids for those who help.

Back to memories of Auburn.  The new parsonage was only a block from Strands & I used to take you over there to visit.  You loved to take the pots & pans out of the cupboard & have them over the floor.  I tried to protest but Mrs. S. always said let him bee.  They had 1 daughter & she lived in Everett - worked so wasn't home much.

Had a note from Ruth with 2 pictures of Signe's party.  She said it was nice you were able to be there.

Dale is on his way to Jamestown to pick up his rug.  He bo't it last Sat. to be picked up today.  He chose a light gray.  Bro't home the padding last Sat.  Plans to get rid of the desk.  Lar might want it so it will be stored in the attic.  It's a good desk & once shined up, etc. will look good again.  I'm glad Dale is fixing up his room as it needs a point job, etc.  What got him started -- he wired something, stereo or something & put the wire under the rug.  When he lifted it up the underside disintegrated & he realized he should do something.  It's been down a long time so he got his money's worth.  He wants to get something to hold his TV, VCR, etc. & he should have a comfortable chair to sit on.

Don't think I told you Larry got a raise this year.  Think Kim said it amounts to about $5,000.00.  He has more work tho with the Salvation Army officer & wife living in one of the houses the committee bought.  Had to do plumbing as the pipes froze.  More walked to shovel - more grass to mow.  They added 2 houses to that they already had but aren't able to use them as retirement homes so that's why the S. Army couple can live there.  Couldn't get the ordinance changed but they're still trying.  First Meth. church is the one who has the authority over it all -- not the ordinance, tho.

Racing season starts Sunday.  Qualifying took place today.  D. Earnhardt came out with a red car rather than the usual black.  Don't know if it's permanent - my thoughts get ahead of my hand.

Now it's Sat. evening -- dinner over, dishes done (in dishwasher) & I had a little nap in my chair.

Dale's rug is nice.  Lar helped him put it in the attic.

The veggie dish you had at Mim's sounded good.  Peas, carrot & onion casserole.  I'll have to look thru my cookbooks to see if I can find one similar.  Kim said she's had one like that.  I'm always on the lookout for an interesting veggie dish.  Found one somewhat similar -- called for other veggies.

I'm tired at nite & if nothing is on TV I go to bed earlier but then I wake up earlier.  L.A. Law is on at 6 pm & I got interested in that, then Law & Order.  To keep awake I turned to Court TV & watch 2 programs from 8-10.  Cops is one & then another one.  Wouldn't care to be a policewoman in a large city.  Get my eyes opened to what goes on in life watching those programs.  Tonite at 9 pm skating comes on & that is interesting.  Watched golf this aft & Tiger is moving up but not on top yet.  Wonder if he can win his 7th in a row.  He couldn't.

I read the article about JoAnna's boss.  He must be a very interesting man to know & work for.  May be the race be successful.

All is well here.

Thursday, January 20, 2000

No letter from me this week as I just mailed your letter when I got a blood test today.  It's been too cold & snowy for me to talk to the P.O. box on 5th.  The weather channel says next week will be stormy as well.

I finally ordered a white shirt from Penney's catalogue & I like it.  Couldn't find one in the stores locally.  T hey had a special 25% discount so it was inexpensive.

Barb washed the kitchen floor today & it's nice to have it clean again.

Dale is talking about getting a new rug for his room & painting it (the room!)  He wants to get rid of Dad's desk if he knows what to do with the stuff in the drawers.  He should get a new mattress & springs but he doesn't think so.  We'll see when this happens.  He did look at a rug at the West End place.  Saw one he liked & with a pad would cost 400.00.  Blue & he'd keep the walls the same neutral color.

He also said he might sell the El Camino this spring or maybe the following spring.  He'll be fussy on the buyer as he'd want it kept in good condition.  He'd sell it for at least $5,000.00.  He doesn't think it would be hard to find a buyer.  He could change his mind as he thinks a lot of that car.

Fri. the 21st.

I had my hair done today & it felt good to get out.

Dale thinks he will get the rug & store it in the attic -- before prices go up.  He'll wait til spring to start painting, etc.  He plans to lay the rug himself.  I'm sure he can do it as he did such a good job on the back steps.

We have a leak in a pipe in the basement.  Lar & Dale can fix it & Lar will be over at 1 pm tomorrow.  Tonite Dale started to remove a pipe that we don't need anymore.  Dale got all the necessary pipes, etc. needed. Saves me a lot of money.

Got your letter today.  Thanks for the pictures. The new furniture is so nice looking.  Bet it's real comfortable.  The place where you stayed looked interesting.  You eat well on those trips.

I finished the 4th book in the Jan Karon series.  I've enjoyed them so much. It's like you're reading about friends -- they become almost real.  They're great.  One more to go in this series of 5 books.

Finished putting together one puzzle & started on the next one.  Gen called & she said Millie likes to do puzzles & was working on one.

Sat. evening.

Dale is still working in the basement getting it in order as they had to move things.  The old pipe wasn't on a slant so sludge built up.  The new pipe is on a slant & should give no problem.  Lar was here only a couple of hours.

Tonite Lar & Kim are going moonlight skiing with Nancy & Jay & then back to Endres' for pizza.  Don't think they'll be out too long as it's COLD outside.

Mon. we're supposed to go out to lunch - Bensons, Hollertz, etc.  I haven't made reservation because of the weather & on a Mon. they won't be that crowded.  We always go to the Holiday Inn.

I had a letter from Linda (cousin) & was surprised.  Reason:  Larry's youngest son has a school project - we are asked to send a postcard & a little about where we live.  Linda tho't I could do that & suggested I send it on to you so be prepared to tell about Middleton & find a postcard.  Linda started it out.  All instruction are in there.  Barb got interested in it & will do the project.  Give a little history of Warren; the 1st oil well, the Dam.  You'll get to see it.  Checking it over again I see you are to send a card to the teacher with teh child's name so they check the places on the map now.  I think it's a great project for the  children.  Kim was going to tell Betsy who teaches at Home School about it.

Now it's Mon.

Had a nice time with "the gang". There were 7 of us - Ray Forstrum's weren't' there.

Barb has the "project" finished & it sounds good.  I have to get a mailing folder & then it will be sent to you for your "contribution".

Tomorrow Barb is taking the A.M. off & we'll go to the Mall.  I have a long list of things to get...mostly at Big K.  I get soap & paper products there - their brand is cheaper & just as good.

Soon supper time.