Sunday, September 26, 2004

Thanks so much for the pictures of Andy.  They are so good -- he has a nice smile.  Comparing with last year's picture you can see changes.  Your son is growing up.

I've been receiving calls & literature for hearing aids but they just go into the "circular" file.  I wonder how they got your name -- I guess you can get all kinds of info thru the computer. The info you sent on the house & families proves that.

Frank, across the st., took down the grape vines & arbor in their backyard & it looks so nice & gives more yard space.  This weekend his "ex" was helping him & today she cleared out the front corner that had grown wild with weeds.  They overplanted when they did that.  I'm sure that didn't help when people came to see the house.  They might have to cut the price again.  Faye is the one holding out.

Thurs. nite when Kim saw the 5 mum plants, she couldn't believe they were 5/10.00.  The Sat. before she got 2/10.00 & they are smaller pots.  It must have been a one-day special. They have a new principal & vice principal at Sheffield & he is not liked.  He closes his office door & does nothing.  The Vice p., a woman, does all the work.  The office sec'y has a sign on her desk M.Y.O.B. to keep her mouth shut.  He lifts weights during gym classes & showers.  A teacher who will retire next June is ready to go to the superintendent & tell him the story.  Last year he was at Warren Hi.  If he stays around, Kim is thinking about an opening at Warren Hi next year, even tho she'd like to stay put.

We enjoyed our dinner at the Fernwood.  Barb & I had the fish fry & the fish is delicious, but I'm sure it can't compare to Wi's fish dinners.  Dale had the steak-shrimp shish kabob & he liked it but it wasn't quite as good as he had before.  Maybe there was a different chef.

Betty Casey & some of her family were with her.  Sandy who is divorced, the younger sister whose name I don't remember & her husband.  Son Joe & 2nd wife.  Joe was married to Laura Hause & had 3 children with her.  They were with them today & the daughter looks just like Laura.  They started dating in 9th grade.  But it didn't last.

For once I have menus planned for the whole week.  Hope I stick to them.  Tues. is Dale's long day & it's also Bible Study at 11:15 A.M. followed by a potluck.  The pastor will be the teacher.  Dale said it would be OK with him.  It's cool enough for soup & that adds to his meal.  And I'll have snacks ready for him.  Even if he is 47, I'm still his mother & he does good things for me & I reciprocate.

The only one who caused my gray hairs was Dale. I'd tell him he couldn't go out on a school nite & he'd disregard it & go out the little bedroom, onto the roof & jump to the ground.  I know a lot of your weekends were spent in N.Y. area but I figured you had common sense & wouldn't overdo it.  Or was I one of those with my head in the sand?  Hoping for the best. After a few struggles -- if that's the right word -- I think you all turned out pretty well. Thanks to JoAnna, I know you did!

Wed. Sept 29.

Mon. when I went for my eye appts. it was cancelled, the Dr. was at a meeting.  The computer said appt. cancelled by the patient & that made me made.  Someone made an error & blamed me.  New appt. Oct 11.   Barb said that's the day we're going to Erie.  I called & said I had an appt. so it will be Oct. 25th.

Dale had a 10 A.M. appt. to have his eyes examined & he needs new lenses.  He doesn't go to the medical Dr.  Barb had an 11:15 appt. at the same place.  The lady asked if she wanted it under Dale's name & his insurance.  Barb said "He's my brother."  Dale can get time off for Dr.'s appt.

You know I would walk over the 5th to mail letters.  They took that mail box away.  I know the post man will pick up letters left by our mailbox so maybe I'll be doing that.  I'll miss walking over there.

I finally got one up on Barb.  She got groceries for me.  Costs $24.11 & I had given her $25.00.  She said I'll give you 89 cents & you'll owe me 1.00.  I didn't agree.  She even accused me of being like Scott in math.  Finally I got thru to her.  I'd give her 11 cents & she'd give me 1.00.

Scott got his grades & they were bad.  He always says he doesn't have any homework when he dos.  When he does homework he rushes thru & doesn't check.  Barb is suppose to help him & she does.  but he is very stubborn & doesn't want her telling him what to do.  Lynn cares but not enough to keep a check on his work.  And she won't tell the teachers he has ADHD or whatever the letters are.

I'm watching the Mets at Atlanta (1 pm game) & the Mets are 3-2 so far!  They did win 1 game so it's 1-1.  It's almost over & then the playoffs & World Series.  I hope St. Louis takes it all. They've been the bst all summer.  Exciting end for the N.L. & wild card.

Fri A.M.  Ready to get my hair done including a trim.  6 weeks since my perm.  Times sure flies.

Monday, May 17, 2004

Last Sat. nite the 5 of us went out to dinner at the Fernwood & we had delicious dinners.  Lar & Dale had steak & shrimp shish kabobs, Kim had a stead salad with sweet pot. fries, Barb had a shrimp dish & I had a 5 oz loin steak.  It was excellent & the salads were good.  Then Kim went to Sheffield to be a chaperon from 9 to midnight at the prom.

Barb saw the Dr today -- all the test show that she is healthy & the cancer hasn't spread. They also want to operate on the fibroids & she agrees to that.  But she wants to put off the breast surgery even to all the Dr. involved say she should have it done now.  She has to see her gynecologist tomorrow concerning the fibroids   The medication she took to stop the hemorrhaging can cause cancer.  Deppo vera or something like that.

Don't remember if I wrote this.  I was amazed at the cost of housing in Middleton.  I read the newspaper you sent from cover to cover.  Your house would at least double in cost today, wouldn't it.

Gen called again Sun. nite.  Millie called Sat. nite as Gen had called her & told her about Barb.  They are concerned about Barbara.

Barb wants to go to Jamestown on Fri. & I'm always game to go.

We got flowers last Fri. & Barb planted a pot by the house & the garage.  Pansies and petunias by the house.  Added dwarf dahlias by the garage.  They are such a pretty flower. Did you get all your planting done?

Yesterday's Mets vs. Houston game was so exciting in the 9th inning with 2 outs.  Piazza hit a homerun & tied the score & kept Clemens from his 8th straight victory & Phillips won it with a homerun in the 13th.  You know all this but I's fun re relive the excitement.  What a game!

Tues the 18th

This aft. I got a perm so I have curl again.  I made pecan bars, a new recipe similar to pecan pie & they are good.  I bro't a sample for Sheila & Sue & they liked them.

Next Wed. Barb will have the fibroid tumors removed.  It might mean a hysterectomy but that doesn't bother Barb.  If it is the latter she would be in the hospital for 2 days.

I got home about 2:30 pm & after a cup of coffee I started dinner rolls, got supper & the kitchen cleaned up.  The reason I didn't wait until tomorrow A.M. is I have to wash the kitchen floor & change my sheets.  That is enough to do with the little things that have to get done.  And I don't push myself too hard.

I'm watching baseball again.  Atlanta & Houston  While I watch baseball, I've been going thru my recipe books again looking for ideas.  NO matter now many times I go thru them, I always seem to find something that interests me.  One is a carrot bread that I'll try to Dale's A.M. snack at work.  Also some dinner recipes but many need the oven. I'm looking for hot weather recipes.  Not that we've had a lot of hot weather yet.

Fri the 21st A.M.

I'm all ready for my hair appt.  Th is is Dale's early week so I have an hr. to spare   Barb isn't up yet.

We had a nice dinner last nite & I gave Lar & Kim their anniversary card.  They are always busy over the weekend.  They're having a group over Sat nite at the camp.  Kim left to mow at camp.

We had a big thunderstorm early this A.M.  Lots of noise & rain.  Electricity went out for a bit & that screwed up the clocks.  But when I heard the birds start to sing, I knew it was time to get up.

I hope we can to go Jamestown.  The shirt I got Dale at Sears is exactly like one he has & I ant to return it.  I got a skirt & need a smaller size.  That from Bon Ton.  We'll also go to Walmart.  Barb gets cranberry juice cheaper there .  She likes it for smoothies.  I like to look around.  We find our puzzles there among other things.

Hope you had a nice anniversary.

Tuesday, May 7, 2002

We got the necessary items for Lar's birthday dinner today.  Yesterday we got flowers & this aft. Barb is planting pots.  We chose pansies, petunias & dahlias plus allysum or however it is spelled .  They are looking nice.

This A.M. I made pie crust & banana bread.  Then my usual Tues. duties.  We're having an easy supper -- pizza & salad.  We are trying frozen Freschetta on Kim' recommendation.  They had a pizza party & tried different froz. pizzas.

I wrote what we are getting for Lar's birthday:  cherry beer but you can only get it in Erie & Kim's friend Nancy is going to Erie & will pick it up.  I did find a Snow Baby soccer figure so he has a little gift to open with his special "50 year" birthday card.

Fri. nite we are going out to celebrate Mother's Day.  I never like to go out on Mother's Day as it is usually so crowded.  So I prefer Fri. & we will go to Fernwood -- just out of Warren toward Sheffield.

The children's part of the library looks so nice.  Looking in you see a small arc of computers.  I never go into that room so I just get a glimpse of it.

Scott was telling Barb he is making bombs.  She cautioned him about talking about it in school as he could get in trouble.  She doesn't think it is true as he talks a lot about his ideas.  Lynn had a call from the school about his swearing on the school bus.  Poor Lynn & she wants everything so perfect.

Sat. Kim is planning a party for Lar.  Some of the couples they are with a lot.

I pressed Dale's birthday shirt & tan Dockers in case he wants to wear them Fri. nite.  He usually wears good jeans when we go out.  Now he has another pair he can wear.

I wonder -- I didn't find out what Lar wanted for his birthday dinner as I think he didn't tell me til Thurs. & by then your letter was set to mail on Fri.  I'll report:  turkey breast, sweet potatoes & apple pie.  I wrote to Gen & usually my letters are similar --i.e. news -- so sometimes I don't know what I write to whom.  I also wrote to Darla.  I'm glad you aren't an English prof & grading my letters.  At times they sound mixed up when I reread them.

Did I write I got another Country Cook Book & it has some good recipes.  With all the cook books I have, menu planning should be easy but it isn't.

Next Tues. is the Bible Study at church & I bring rolls for coffee.  Wed. at 1 pm I have a dentist applt & cleaning.  My usual schedule will be upset & somethings won't get done.

What room will JoAnna want to paint next.  Your bedroom color sounds nice.  A good way to get a room housecleaned or spring cleaning done.

Your writing about your library work never is boring for me.  I like to hear what is going on in your lives -- meaning the entire family.

Barb decided she needs more plants  so we'll go for more.

Things are happening in Warren.  Maybe it will wake up people to see that we need to move out of the rut the city is in & that improvements & jobs are needed.  The commissioners are in the hot seat, esp. Hunter.

Mary Ann Carey had surgery on her back in Fla.  They should be home any time now.

Larry & Mike were up in Buffalo a couple of weeks ago for Paula's husband's 40th birthday.  Kim was invited but she didn't go.  Mike & John (husband) became good friends as they were neighbors when they lived in Warren.  John would spend time with Mike.  I think sometimes Mary Ann & Jack come on too strong for John & he needed an escape.

The pizza was pretty good but rather spicy for my taste buds.  Good crust.

Barb gave me a rose plant for Mother's Day.  It will go in with the roses Lar planted years ago.  They are pretty but don't last to pick for a vase.  This one is a regular ever-blooming plant by Martha Stewart so it had better be good.  I might buy a 2nd one myself.  I like roses in a bud vase.  Barb's next job is to hose off the porch & get the porch furniture down from the attic.  Soon we should be able to sit out there & watch the cars go by.

I have to send my health insurance payment in each month by the 25th.  I completely forgot Apr. so it was late.  Now I put the envelopes I have addressed for each month by my church offering envelopes so I won't forget.

Sunday, May 20, 2001

Happy 15th Anniversary.  I'm taking the easy way out & hoping there is still something you'd like for your beautiful new kitchen, by sending you a gift check of money.  Use it for something special.

Thanks for the pictures of the kitchen.  It looks so nice & I'm looking forward to seeing it in person.  Bob & Lynn are putting in a new kitchen, enlarging it as it is quite small, and they will have white cupboards.  Just getting started.

Last nite we went to the Fernwood for dinner & we all enjoyed our meals.  I choked crab stuffed fish.  Delicious.  Lar & Dale had kabobs.  Lar steak & shrimp & Dale just steak & veggies.  Both enjoyed their choices.

Martha Andersen died.  She had some sort of an obstruction & was operated on.  She had gotten so thin.

Last nite Mrs. James Smith was at the Fernwood celebrating her 96th birthday.  Her daughter Betty Berry was there.  You might recall her, knowing her other daughter was Cathleen Rossey, whose 2 sons are Rex (Barb's age) & Randy.  Mrs. Smith always looks so good & feels good.  In church every Sun.

Last nite Kim had to go to Sheffield -- it was prom nite.  Lar drove the van home.  Then he walked Torey over here for ice cream sundaes.

Gen called me the other nite & she sounded very good.  Her back still bothers her & she tires easily, but she is doing her household chores again.  Also driving again.  Was glad to hear that.

A showery week is predicted for our area.  Philly, NYC & Baltimore are in teh 20's for days without any rain.

Yesterday I walked over to Blair's and found a sweater I liked.  Pink & wore it today with a print skirt.  It felt good on me.  Then I went to the library & got 3 books.  Coast Road by Barbara Delinksy & it is so good.  The Black Tower by P. D. James & Agatha Raisin & the Walkers of Dembley by M. C. Beaton, whose books I really enjoy.  I got my new glasses so I can read again.  Can read the hymn board at church better now.  I also have another puzzle about 1/4 together so I have plenty of fun things to do.

Need to get this mailed on Mon. & I've covered all the news.

Will be thinking of you on your anniversary as well as other times & days.  Enjoy.