Sunday January 2, 2005

Guess what our "divided" household is doing?  Watching the Steelers & the Bills & Dale & my team is ahead so far.  Barb keeps saying the Steelers don't have to win but they play to win.  Dale & I are happy.

Yesterday was beautiful weatherwise & the noisy motorcycles were out.  Dale washed his cars & took his white "summer" car to Jamestown.  He got a DVD for himself.

Wed. Barb & I went to Jamestown.  Didn't buy much.  We had lunch at Ruby Tuesday & I enjoyed my lunch of tender pot roast, mashed pots. & broccoli.  It was delicious.

Thurs. nite we went to Lar & Kim's & had a nice evening.  She served baked ziti & it was delicious.  We all like pasta.  Kim made a pecan pie & i made an apple pie.

Yesterday I started the New Year by making dinner rolls & a coffee cake.  After lunch I* took a short nap & then took the decorations off the tree -- the tree & all the decorations are put away for another year.  I like things back to normal.  Kim keeps the tree up longer as well as the decorations.

I mentioned that Elsie Yaegle will be 90 this month & they are planning a party for the 8th at church.   Today Betty told me Elsie had a slight stroke over the holidays.

Barb sent Millie & Gen a picture of the 3 of us.  So Millie sent pictures of her apt. & of herself.  Her place looks very nice.  I can see why she is happy there.

I'm working on the puzzle & it is a fun one to do.

Later -- I just clogged up the kitchen sink & made a job for Dale.  It could be a blessing in disguise as when Dale opened up the pipe, he found a plastic picnic knife there.  How it get there is beyond me -- guess I wasn't watching closely enough. He didn't get disgusted with me.

The Steelers beat Buffalo & I can't believe how "down in the dumps" Barb is.  She was so sure Buff. would win.  To make it worse, Dale & I are happy.

My puzzle is almost finished.  I'll try to finish it now.

Jan 4, Tues.

Thanks for the pictures -- they are good.  Noticed the watch strap on your arm.  Barb is so happy the boys like their pictures.  She showed them to Lynn & Marisa saw them & tho't they were cool.

Enjoyed reading the article on Green Bay, the team, etc.  Read parts of it to Dale.  The $500.00 to start the games sure paid off.

Yesterday Dale jammed his finger & it is sore.  The nail is black & he has to be very careful at work.  If he hits it, it pains.  Tonite he said it is better.  A couple of fingers just healed up & now another one.

Jan 5. Wed.

I got the kitchen floor washed & garbage ready for Thurs.  I'll ad a few more words.  We have some snow -- it isn't snowing  now (10:30 A.M.) but more is expected this aft.  Storm warning thru Thurs A.M.

Barb shortened 2 pr. of jeans for Dale.  He told her I'm giving you a tip.  She tho't he meant he was going to give her some advice but he gave her 10.00 for doing the job.  That was nice of him.

I haven't been upstairs since I got dressed & Barb never gets up til 9 A.M.  She still isn't up so she must not be feeling well.

I finished my puzzle & have started another one.

Last Fri. Barb & I went to lunch.  We wanted to go to the coffee place for soup & dessert but it was closed til 3 pm.  So we went to Holiday Inn.  And Ted & Pat Benson, Ted's sister & their oldest daughter (lives in Portland, Ore) were there for lunch.  We talked a few minutes & I went to our table.  We had a nice lunch.  We stopped at BiLo for some last minute groceries & what a mad house.  Both in the store & in the parking lot.  Was glad to get out of there safely.

Thurs A.M. the 6th 7:45 A.M.

No school today -- snow & icy roads.  Was awakened at 5 A.M. from the noise of plowing snow.

I got a kick out of your story of having to go to the downstairs bathroom at Cindy's.  You'll have to limit your liquids after 6 pm  Ha! Ha!

Your thanksgiving turkey looks lushious, or would delicious be a better word.  It looked good, and so did your table.

Sunday, December 17, 2000

We had rain during the night and this AM most of the snow was gone & temp. 45.  During the day the temp started going down & now -- 7:05 pm it is trying to snow & we have a strong wind.

Was lazy & ordered pizza for supper.  Have my Christmas Eve & Christmas breakfast & dinner planned but find it hard to plan for the other days in the week.

In church 5 high school girls played the prelude & offertory on clarinet & tenor sax.  They played Christmas carols & it was a good job.

I think Larue & Marie Whipple were were in your class, Paul.  Marie & 2 daughters are members but not her husband.  He was in church with her today as the 2 daughters played the clarinet.  Maybe he will become interested.  They live on Verbeck.

Because of weather they have already lost 2 days of school due to the roads.   Either slippery or too much blown snow in the outskirts of the county.

Got a card from cousin Larry & Debbie.  Shows a picture of their 3 children.  Nice looking kids.   Planned to call Millie last nite but got interested in a library book, so I'll do it tonite.  I call her every once in awhile.  Call Gen oftener.

I took time out to call Millie.  She started a cold & took it easy today & would go to bed early, so I'm glad I called early.  She has her family Christmas Eve but she is ready.  Gifts wrapped & meal planned.  They eat at 1 pm so that makes for a busy morning.

The 4 new channels are on already but they are still advertised for the 18th, Mon.  I'm already enjoying the Food Channel & Barb likes Fox Sports Channel as then she see Pittsburgh Penguins.  She's happy Mario Lamioux (sp) is returning as a player-owner.  Lot of tickets were sold after that announcement.

Millie received your Christmas Card & liked the picture.  I'm anxious to see it!

Millie said Gen is slipping.  It's hard for her to plan & get a meal ready on time for company.  She always wants to invite Frank & he is so hard to handle as he needs so much help -- is heavy & won't help himself.  So she won't invite him anymore.  It's too upsetting & he wants to eat as soon as he gets there & then wants to leave. It's hard for him to eat & not anything you want at a dinner but still Gen felt she had to invite him.  I find it hard to believe she can be such a great office manager & such a poor home manger.  I'm the opposite!!

Christmas Eve we'll have pork loin roast.  I'm not good on Swedish food.  One the food channel today, they presented different types of holiday celebrations.  One was a dessert from a Southern home.  They made a dessert -- pound cake & I wrote down the recipe.  Put a custard sauce over it & a dollop of whipped cream.  Looked so good & hot hard to prepare.  I might try it.

Christmas Day I plan to have a beef loin roast.  Plan to try a new recipe -- a maple pecan pie.  Calls for 1 c. maple syrup.  Sounds good to me.

Dale gets a turkey from work & thought I'd have that New Years Day.  He also got a $400.00 bonus.  Last year was $700.00.  He's been shopping again.  Bot 2 lamps with Tiffany like shades.  Made in China.  Very pretty.  Where he'll use them, I don't know.  His "hope chest"!

Mon A.M.

Barb wants to go to the mall t his aft. so I'll get to mail this.  Also want to get a card off to Elsie Yaegle who had thyroid surgery last week.

I know your Christmas will be wonderful.

Sunday, January 30, 2000

Just put a turkey breast roast in the oven for our evening meal.

I'll watch the super bowl but it's not as exciting this year.  I'll root for the Rams.

K Mart had 1000 pc. puzzles on sale for 1.99.  I got 3 last Tues. & didn't realize but 2 & get 1.00 off.  Should have gotten 4.  On Fri. I got 2 more so I'm well supplied with new puzzles, altho I don't mind doing them a 2nd or 3rd time.  I'm doing a farm scene - farmhouses, pumpkins, and green  grass.  The green & orange is driving me nuts.  Now I'm soon thru getting the pumpkins together -- then the grass.  I watch TV & do puzzles.  Heard from Millie & she does puzzles.  She said she sits down for 15 min. & 2 hours later she's still at the puzzles.   I have the same experience.  Retirement is nice - no time schedules.  I do some work!  Yesterday a coffee cake, Danish rolls & a batch of cookies.  Even washed the floor last Wed. so my back is better.  Can't be idle all the time.

The weather is something else.  I feel sorry for people going to Atlanta when it's so hard to get around due to icy roads, etc.

I knew my electric blanket was getting old & really found out when it turned zero & I was cold.  I have a full bed elec. blanket neither Barb or Dale would use so since I sleep alone it covers me & keeps me nice & toasty warm.  Next fall I'll look for a new one that fits. 

Last Mon. we had a good time at our get together.  We were there 2 1/2 hrs. & I'm sure the waitress was glad to see us go so she could reset the table.  She was the only waitress so the fellow who tended bar helped her.  He could be a manager of some sort as he wore a suit & was very nice & so was the waitress.  I called for a reservation but the D.R. never answered & I didn't call again but they weren't busy. 

Yes, Paul, I remember the disappointment when you didn't live up to your capabilities but in the end you did, so the disappointment turned to joy & pride.  Don't be too hard on Andy.

June gave us some old letters I wrote to the folks & some Carl wrote from college.  Signe sent him a new shirt & in the letter he asked for a tie to wear with it & a pair of dress socks.  He didn't have much to go on, but he made it.  Those were depression years.

I'll be waiting to hear about your dinner for Signe.  I sent her a card but just signed my name as I wasn't sure of her condition.  The sisters live long lives.  89 for Signe.  90 for Stella & I imagine Lila will be 88 her next birthday.

Gen & Millie went to see Aunt Esther but she knows nothing.  They are keeping her alive & I think that's too bad.  Elsie Yeagle's mother was alert at 100 -- I think they had a party for her at church.  If you have your ind that is wonderful.  Allie Peterson lived to 100 I think, but she was in & out of it.