Sunday, October 15, 2000

I'm in my nighty watching the Mets.  Was watching Yankees at Seattle & Seattle won.

Thanks to Paul & Eddie for a wonderful weekend.  A great start to the decade of the 80's.  Red roses form Eddie & Paul.  The second time in my life I received red roses.  Our dinner Sat. nite was so delicious.  And I'm so lucky to have such great children, daughters-in-law & grandsons.  We enjoyed Eddie so much -- to see how he has grown & he is fun to be with.

I took it easy this afternoon -- even a little nap.  For supper we had left overs.

Gen called this afternoon to wish me Happy Birthday.  I told her all about our weekend.  She was going to call Millie & tell her what I told her.  Plan to write to both of them.

In church today I told Rose I would visit her either this week or next.  It's been a long time since her operation, I should be ashamed I've put it off so long.

I'm excited the Met are hitting the ball & getting some runs.  Timo Perez is such an exciting player.  He won't be going down to the minors after his good showing.

This afternoon I started to make plans for Thanksgiving.  I'm to the stage where it is better or me to have my plans & recipes on hand so I know what I'm doing.  It's fun to make plans.

We might go to the mall on Mon. & get Eddie's Christmas present.  The 3 of us will go in on it so he'll get what he wants.

We'll go to Jamestown on Wed.  And also I have to get a blood test for several things & have to fast.  So I like to get there early in the A.M.  Usually I just need it for thyroid or whatever!  Then I don't have to fast.

I'm eating a Klondike bar -- one of the two in the freezer.  I never remember to check for them when we were at home.  I'll have some at Thanksgiving.

Barb made $82.00 at Lynn's rummage sale.  Lynn made $600.00 at the 2nd sale.  Barb's money will go for her new bed.  Plus we got ride of some things just taking up space.

Don't forget we need suggestions for the boys.

Mon. Oct 16

Paul, noticed you left your "Stepping Stones" here.  You can get it at Thanksgiving, unless you want it earlier.   Historical Soc. issue.

This aft. we went shopping at KMart & got someone's Christmas gift.  He will be a happy guy.  It will be from the 3 of us.

In Brand Names catalog, noticed that the Game Boy that Eddie wants doesn't come our until Oct. 30.

Last nite I watched all of the Mets game so it was after 11 pm when I got to bed.  And then I couldn't get to sleep.  Too much Met excitement.  So again I'm ready for bed & watching TV.  The baseball game isn't on yet & I don't know how long I can stay awake.  Dozed off once already.

Larry was over for a little while late this morning to put more rock, I mean blocks, no bricks, in.  He also had to cut off some of the sidewalk on an angle to get the bricks in.  I hope it will soon be completed so it can be used.

Tues A.M. the 17th

The Mets won & are in the World Series.  Pinch me, am I dreaming.  It was close to midnite when I got to bed -- had to see a little of the celebrating.

But I was up before 7 -- a little before & have the bathroom cleaned 9:30 a.m. & gave my room "a lick & a promise'.  I'm enjoying a cup of coffee (bet you were glad to get home to your coffee, Paul) & resting a bit.  Next I have to take a shower.  Oh yes, I gave the kitchen floor a little swipe with the mop to get rid of Torey's drools.  They really make a spot.  Almost time for "Murder She Wrote" -- 10AM.

This A.M. paper stated they hired the present acting director.  That's good for the library -- they can go forward.

It was nice to talk to JoAnna & Andy on my birthday.  After seeing how Eddie has matured, we are anxious to see Andy in person.  There are so many changes at this time of life.  We look forward to seeing all of you.

Friday, September 29, 2000

Got your letter today.

The driveway is about half completed.  It is a big job, one Lar told Kim he wouldn't do for anyone but his mother.  The one who delivers the fill was late both yesterday & today.  He has a job at United & is on 2nd shift this week.  Now Lar is going for a final load & Dale is tamping it down with a rented machine.  So it won't get finished this week -- they'll get a start but will have to work on it after working hours -- laying the blocks, that is.

Kim has 2 aunts that try to run everyone's lives.  Her sister in Fla. isn't well & they are driving her crazy.  Yesterday Kim was a little late because her sister called to tell of the aunts continued interference.  At least her in-laws don't interfere with her on Larry.  We love both our daughters-in-law, & fell very fortunate you & Lar made such excellent choices.

We were talking about where we should go for my birthday dinner.  We don't want to go too far & there is nothing in Warren, so Kim suggested an Italian restaurant just as you enter Jamestown from Warren.  It is small but Kim said the food is good & they have a wide menu.  So that is where we'll go.  Kim & Lar have been there several times.

The Mets go in as the N.L. wild card.  But I'm hoping the Giants will go all the way as I'm sure the Mets won't.

Sat A.M. Sept. 30

This A.M. I walked overtown & went to D&K & found a few items I could use. It's fun to look around in that store.

This aft. I made a coffee cake & a batch of bar cookies.

Now I'm taking it easy.

Barb is going to ride her bike -- it's a lovely fall day.

The bricks for the driveway won't be delivered until Wed. Oct. 4th.  It should be done by the time Paul & Eddie come.  Times is flying by.

Sunday Oct 1.

Another lovely day so after lunch I walked to CVS for a few items.  It was good to exercise.

Last Fri. when Barb & I got home from a trip to the mall we noticed a Beaty girl was upset.  I asked her if I could help -- she wanted to use the telephone.  Her dad picks her up but she was a little late & she was in tears.  I heard her tell her mother she wasn't at her girlfriend's but an old lady who was nice but let her use the 'phone.  I'm an old lady but funny I don't feel like one!  They picked her up.

In today's Buffalo paper there is a cooky recipe that took top honors at Erie County Fair in Aug.  It contains choc. chips, oats, coconut & nuts in addition to sugar, flour, etc.  Also a small amount of cinnamon.  I plan to try it.  They said to use 1/4 c. dough for each cooky but I'll make them smaller.  T hey sound good.  We'll see.

I got another Sandra Brown book Fat Tuesday and it is so good.  Finished another M. C. Beaton book Death of an Addict featuring Hammish McBeth who solves the crimes in his bumbling ways.  They are fun reading.  The author has written 15 of these novels & I'm sure I've read them all.

When we were kids, I remember I didn't like Sun. afternoons as we couldn't play alike they do today.  We might take a walk or just sat & watched the cars go by.  Now I'm a widow & feel the same way.  Not much to do Sun. aft. so that's why I'll walk to CVS if it's nice weather.  Or read or do a puzzle.  I still don't like to work on Sun.  Guess it got ingrained in me or I'm lazy!  Probably the latter.

Mon Oct 2

They are unloading the bricks now & Lar is here.  I wrote out a check for $2,048.93 for them.  Still the bill for the fill to come so I'm lucky to get the labor free.

I made the cookies from the Buff. Sun. paper & they are very good.  Lar & Kim stopped by yesterday & I gave the recipe to Kim.  She said she'd leave out the coconut.  I felt the dough was very thick so I added 2 T water.  I've already had 3 & still 3 pm  coffee ahead!!!

Saturday, September 23, 2000

It is nice to hear that you & Eddie, Paul, will come for my 80th birthday.  It is hard to believe I will be 80.  Millie is 85 so maybe there are more years ahead for me.  I had a Dr. appt. for Fri. the 13th but I cancelled it & will go the 27th.  Don't care to spend the aft. at the Dr.'s office when you are here.  Maybe we can get to lunch at the Plaza.

Our get together luncheon date for the 25th is postponed.  Ted & Pat Benson are leaving Sun. to visit their daughter & new granddaughter.  Anna & Warren H. will still have company from their anniversary party.  They don't have a very nice day for it -- we've just had a hard shower & more are forecast.

I'm back to reading.  Stayed up last nite til 11:30 pm to finish The Alibi by Sandra Brown.  It was so good.  I've already read several of Anne Perry's novels but never the first one -- The Cater Street Hangman -- a Victorian novel.  It tells how the daughter of a middle class family falls in love with an Inspector policeman who is considered below her class.  They marry & she is a big help in solving the crimes in her novels concerning Insp. Pitt.  I've enjoyed reading them.

I have to put some of my summer clothes away in the attic but I want to be sure the bats are gone.

Was also glad to hear you'll be coming for Thanksgiving.  I've already started to think about plans & menus.   And of course -- cookies!
Dale is driving the Blazer now.  He works til noon this Sat. & after work he plans to align the wheels.  They have a new computerized machine that figures it all.  Dale was telling me how it works & of course I don't understand any of it, but I listen as it is good for him to talk about things at work.

Just about lunch time so more later.

Kim stopped by with Torey for a quick cup of coffee.  She still has to go to the grocery store.

Barbara started her Christmas shopping yesterday.  It is time for gift ideas!  We can talk about it when you are here so please start to think about it.

Sun:  I had the wrong date at the beginning of this letter.  Reason - I have 2 calendars, one on Sept. & one on Oct.  Looked at the Oct. page.  Time goes fast enough.

Arlene Hornstrom was in church today.  Her illness surely has changed her.  She still can't do all the things she'd like to.  Her busy life is a thing of the past.

I'm watching St. Louis at Atlanta -- football on Fox.  Was watching Pittsburgh but I couldn't take it they are so bad.  They are playing Tenn.  Just checked & they are tied 13-13 so my face is red!  Tenn. just got a field goal so it's 16-13.  I'll go back to Fox TV.  I like St. Louis but Barb doesn't -- because of Buffalo.

Buffalo paper had an article on the two Niagara Falls.  The Canadian city is growing & doing well, while the N.Y. Falls is going down due to poor management.  It said people stay an average of 4 hrs. in N.Y. & then go on to Canada so it is the Canadian hotels & eating places that are flourishing while the N.Y. Falls are less than half full and no really good restaurants.  But they have plans for the future.  We always considered the Canadian side prettier.

Pittsburgh just went ahead of Tenn. with a T.D.  Can they keep ahead - time will tell.  They couldn't.

Mon A.M. - the 25th

Lar & Dale are digging up the driveway.  Lar is taking the first load to camp to put by the stream to prevent erosion.  Lar has a jack hammer to break it up.  I'm sure that will take a couple of days to break it up, etc.

Careys wanted Barb to "baby sit" the dogs while they go to Fla. for 2 weeks.  But that is the time Bob & Lynn will go to Fla. & she will take care of their 2 cats & 1 dog.  At Carey's it means she would have to sleep there & that doesn't interest her.  The money isn't that important.  Bert leaves today for 2 weeks in Fla.  Maybe you could see her house on Market St.  The 2nd house beyond the Crary's Art Museum -- the same side.  More later.

After supper:  There is 1 block left to break up.  The side edge is out - Dad always hated that.  He would approve of this project!  Lar & Dale worked hard breaking up the cement & lifting it into the truck.  This first stuff went to Monty's place.  The smaller pieces that are left will go to Lar's place.

Tell Andy we got his tank you notes.

Last nite I watched the story of murders in N. Calif.  Up to 14 murders.  On Discovery Channel 2 hr. program so another late nite for me.  But I had a hard time getting to sleep so I guess it isn't a good pre-bedtime story.

Forgot to add -- Dale said his arms feel a little sore.

Now it's Thurs. Wed A.M. (Guess I'm not with it) the 26th.

All the cement is gone & Lar is leveling it out with his new piece of expensive machinery - the tractor with a back hoe & bucket.  Nice to have it, as it saves a lot of back breaking work.

Lar was here a little after 8 this A.M. -- usually it's been around 9 A.M.  Torey comes along.  I didn't hear them come & Tor comes upstairs to my room -- I didn't expect him & I jumped a little.  He wanted his cheese.  Now he's under the D.R. table.

I want to go over to the bank today.  Lar will have to haul away the excess dirt & Tor goes with him so I should be able to go then.

Want to mail this so I'll bring it to an end with our love to all.