Sunday, November 20, 2005

Some good news to start this letter.  Patty Welsh Phillips is engaged.  I haven't met him but he is in church with her every Sun. U& he seems like a nice fellow.  I'm happy for Patty.

This is Frank's last day at the former Dunham home.  They sign papers tomorrow.  It went for $110,000.  They had to come down according to Gustafson's up the st.  So there will be little children on our block again.

I'm watching Pittsburgh lose to Baltimore & it is not a happy situation.

Barb & Dale went across the st. yesterday aft. to say goodby to Frank.  He said to Barb "Don't wash all the paint off the car" -- she was washing the van.  Bad weather is expected the middle of the week, so Dale has the Monte Carlo ready to put away for the winter & has taken the Blazer out.  He thinks we should get new tires for the van for winter driving -- he will look into it.

Nancy Bloom Davis is now a grandmother.  The oldest, a daughter Amy had a baby girl. Nancy went for a week to be with her in N. Carolina.  First grandchild for both sides of the couple.  So Irene Bloom is a great grandma.

Had a card from Millie.  She & Linda will go to Allan's for Thanksgiving & hope to see Gen sometime during the weekend.

Yesterday Larry called & said Kim will make 2 pies for Thanksgiving.  I used to order pecans from Texas & they always send info on prices, etc.  They had a recipe for Caramel Pecan Pie that sounds delicious.  You use brown sugar & milk, 1/2 c. B. sugar til it bubbles.  Then make a cream filling using 1/2 c. B sugar, milk, cornstarch, etc.  After it thickens you add egg yolks, & the melted B. sugar.  Meringue on top.  Sound luscious but sweet.  Maybe I'll try it.  You also add coarsely chopped pecans.  It said after the dessert your guests will be so sated & tired they'll heard for the nearest bed & leave you in peace!

Barb has all but 1 of her gifts wrapped.  I started wrapping yesterday.  We'll get the pkg. out in time for JoAnna's birthday.  By UPS.

My faith is restored -- Pitts. just tied the score 13-13.  5 min. left to play.  Other 2 QB injured & Maddox hasn't played that much.

Thanksgiving Day

We'll eat at 5 pm & the turkey smells so good.  All is ready or just about.  Green bean casserole & mashed sweet pots. ready to go into the oven -- about 4:15.  I made broth using turkey gravy broth wings.  Where is my mind -- on TV football game -- & have gravy made. Might add a few pan drippings to it.  Have to peel pot, etc. & finish the fruit salad by adding apples & bananas.  When we eat late it 's not so much of a rush.

We've had snow -- enough for Dale to shovel.  When I got up this A.M., the Weather Channel said 30 for Jamestown.  Now it's in the low 20's.  The snow has stopped but more is predicted.

Paul you'll have to get your scarf yourself.  We looked in Warren & Jtown & no light colors. All dark colors & not too many of them.

I miss not making a pumpkin pie but I'll make one for the weekend.

Poor Detroit they can't catch a pass.

The Mets got Carlos Delgado & lost an up & coming 1st baseman in the trade.  Wonder if they'll get the Boston outfielder -- the one with the big ego.

Finally there was an obit for Max & it was a very nice one.  She was well liked & loved & will be missed.  She didn't know how to pick her men.

Fri A.M.

I got a haircut this A.M. & it's nice not to have  it not hanging on my neck.

It was cold this A.M. -- in the teens & I needed to wear boots, mittens, heavy jacket.

Our thanksgiving dinner was very nice.  The food was good & we enjoyed each other's company.  Torey has to have an operation.  I think they noticed blood in one car, took him to the vet as one ear had blood in it.  They'll cut the length of his ear to remove the blood.  He will go under.  First he had to have a complete check-up, including a urine sample to see if he can take it.  Heart, etc.  First call cost $96.00 & the operation will be a lot more.  That's their baby.  Kim hoped it would happen today but for sure on Mon.

Dale doesn't come home for lunch today -- doesn't want to lose his parking spot.  I make him turkey sandwiches but forgot to include the yogurt he has each lunch day.

Saturday, August 23, 2003

It's a beautiful day -- it started cooling off Fri. aft.

Fri aft. Barb started cleaning her bedroom & finished this A.M. Then she went for a bike ride & afterwards started cleaning the east & south sides of the house -- just the bottom part.  Then she cleaned the porch.  There was a lot of dust from the roofing job which they finished on Thurs.  It looks so nice.  Expensive but worth it.

Dale starts a weeks vacation today.

This A.M. I made Babe Ruth Bars from your library's first cookbook.  They are tasty. Planning a quiche for supper & might make choc. chip cookies.  Should have made them this A.M., but didn't realize Barb wanted them.

Was watching Boston vs. Seattle play baseball in Boston.  Then I switched to golf which is very interesting because it's only the best players in this tournament.  They make mistakes, too.  And again Tiger isn't playing his best game.

7:30 p.m.  I'm watching Pittsburgh at Milwaukee   It looks like a good crowd at the new ballpark.  Have you seen any games (yet) this season?  You usually write about it if you do.

I made choc. chip cookies so all are happy.  Made a broccoli quiche & it came out good.

The Pittsburgh announcers are saying there is a new attitude among the Braves & they beat the Pirates because they are better!

The Mets are at L.A. & were on TV last nite starting at 10 pm.  Same tonite.  I watched 2 1/2 innings & couldn't keep my eyes opened any longer.  It will be the same tonite.

A lady was having her hair done next to Sheila's booth & I mentioned having a bat in my house.  She told about her experience.  She woke up in the A.M. to find pictures off the wall, lampshades askew, etc.  She figured a rabid bat got in bumping into everything.  She gave up smoking but keeps a carton in the freezer.  She got a pack of cigarettes, went outside & smoked 2 cigarettes -- called a friend to come -- smoked 2 cigarettes.  The friend said -- "they like water, go check the toilet".  She did & there is was, the wings spread out. She flushed the toilet, but the lid down, rushed out & smoked 2 more cigarettes.  Her friend said "did it go down when you flushed." She didn't know so went back in to check.  It had.  She is so funny, it was fun to hear her explain it.  I think she is a widow.  She is very unhappy because Marilyn, her beautician, is retiring.  She is 66 & her husband is retired.

Kim & Larry are having company at camp tonite.  It is her friend Nancy's 50th birthday so Nancy & Dr. Jay will be there; Mike Brindis who will also be 50, & they invited "young" Bob Moran to come.  Mike said he won't be able to eat too much because Dr. Jay is his doctor. Mike is way too heavy & doesn't exercise & has a bad heart.  Bob Moran doesn't work, has a trust fund to live on.  Lives at the Commons Apt. & doesn't do much.  Bob could do some of the things they paid Larry to do but the Dad never thought he could do anything.  Talk about ruining a child's self-confidence.  Larry is his closest friend but they don't see each other too much since Lar married Kim.  It is Bob who feels that way.  He wouldn't even go to the wedding (Lar & Kim's).  Thurs nite they weren't sure if Bob would come.After supper & cleaning up< I sat on the nice clean porch & enjoyed coffee & cookies.

Sun the 24th

When I came home from church, Barb was so upset.  She couldn't find $800.00 cash & her check book. When the bat was upstairs, she had taken the money & ck book out of her hiding place & when she saw the bat -- money in hand -- she came downstairs in a hurry.  Then she was going to Bert's & she didn't want to go upstairs so she put the money in the buffet with he silverware. Then she forgot.  She was very upset but you couldn't help her. She was going to the police accusing the roofers.  Both Dale & I said they wouldn't do that. We left her alone.  Sitting downstairs I was thinking about it.  If anyone was going to steal anything they'd look downstairs first.  I thought of the sterling silverware & looked there. Lo & behold there were the 2 bank envelopes  check book. Mother came to the rescue and all is well.

Tues the 26th

I'm watching the 5 pm Buffalo news on WGR & UB has such an increase in enrollment that some students are staying in Motel & another motel for 1 semester.  2 new Jrs. to U.S. like it.  Their own bath & AC.  They are installing washers & dryers as kids have to do their own sheets, etc.  They also like the continental breakfast.  Do you think grades will improve?

We've had showers today -- cool air is coming in.  The grass isn't as green as it was.  It doesn't take long to dry things out.

Aug 27

Just finished washing the kitchen floor.  Dale is vacuuming in the attic.  The 3rd A.M. to do this. Some vacation.

Sept. is soon here & I have to have the downstairs in good order for the 17th.  For the cottage meetings the church is having.  I'm making a schedule of things I have to do -- washing my cups in one cupboard & the glassware in the other.  What's behind closed doors can wait.  I'm too old to say "yes to these things.  I'm the only one opening my home & having a 20 min. devotional, one mine might not be that long!

Aug 28

We had a mtg at church last nite & the group leaders discussed our topic & I understand what they want much better now.  There are 7 of us and it is exciting to see the leadership we have.  Both Nancy Davis, Nancy Sampson are more active in taking part. Diane Scarcella is really great.  She retired from teaching last June . The future is exciting.

Made a banana cream pie the first thing this A.M.  It's Thurs & Lar & Kim come. That spurs me to make a dessert.  We'll have an oven meal tonite as it has cooled down & is less humid.

I'm watching the Mets & Atlanta & the Mets are ahead 1-0.  Hope they keep it up.

Kim didn't say much about school.  They have new Health books to become acquainted with. She has lunch room duty so they keep her busy.

Guess I've covered all the news at this end.

Barb wants to know what you think of the N.H. ex gov. running for Pres.  She is impressed.

Monday, June 29,1998

I'm sitting on the porch cooling off.  Barb is putting up the wallpaper border in the laundry area.  It's finally done & looks so nice.  Dad is watching T.V. & Dale is working in the garage.  He had a crack in his windshield & it was replaced today.  And I'm drinking coffee & eating fudge.  Barb's next project is painting the porch.

The washer & dryer work so nice & look so good.  The dishwasher came today but they don't install it for free.  Dale said eh could do it.  So Thurs. nite Lar will help him take it in.  They put it in the garage.  Now I won't get the old one taken away.  Lar said he'd take it to Valentine's Disposal - Kim said put an ad in the paper & sell it. Lar's suggestion is the easy way out.  We have other junk that could go as well.  Barb like to clean & get rid of stuff.

Thinking of Melinda (pastor's daughter).  Things have come easy for her & she hasn't had any job maturity yet & she's pretty sure of herself. (a good quality) but I'm sure her mind will be changed as she gets into the "real world".  Gary can make mountains out of molehills - we've seen that at church so she could be a little biased.

To a degree (3rd game) I enjoyed the Mets-Yankees series.  The 3rd game was more interesting & not just because the Mets won.  It was closer & you couldn't guess the outcome til the last out.  Nice to see a full house.  I like the interleague games.

Barb just came to have me see the border & it adds so much.  It is a leaf design & not straight on the bottom.  Cut like leaves are.  Hard to describe - you'll see when you visit.

You are busy people with all the baseball games & special ones.  Here you mostly played at Beaty & could walk.

The 80.00 for the pool membership is money well spent as kids have so much fun swimming.  Has Eddie learned to swim.

Nancy Davis' daughter Amy is a cashier at KMart.  I know her from church but not that well.  We recognized each other from church.  She is very personable.  Think she'll be a senior at college this fall.  She is an education major.  The 2nd child, a boy, graduated from high school this yr. & will to go Penn State Behrend, Erie, in the fall.

The first of June we had a lot of rain.  The last 2 weeks nothing & it's quite dry.  Rain is forecast but nothing happens.  At Hatch Patch the corn is really high & tasseled so they should be picking soon.  Probably be at least 3.00 a dozen - baker's dozen.

Kim stopped over today to return the papering equipment Lar borrowed.  She mentioned having us out at camp next Sun aft.  Lar plays in a soccer game at 2 pm.  Young guys vs. "old" guys.  So it wouldn't be until 4:30.  Kim wondered if it would be too late for Dad.  Barb thinks if it's a hot day, later would be better as then it would start to cool off.  They want us to see what has been done recently.  The back room about completed.  Lar's started stairs from the deck near the storage shed.  Kim has put up some of her collections. She was looking thru boxes Lar has at the Carriage House basement & came upon a tea set Barb got Lar when she was in Italy.  She wants to up that up.  Lar has made shelves for her stuff.  So there are new things I'd like to see.  And it's so pretty up there.

This turned out to be longer than I expected.  Didn't think there was much to talk about.

In the June Good Housekeeping there is an article about "children" coming home to live.  Some to pay off college debts faster; some as a result of divorce & need Grandma to baby sit, one lost her apt. lease & went to live with sister & bro.-in law.  All seemed to work out fairly well.  And money wasn't the problem.  It was interesting to me having 2 at home.

Will bring this to a close.  Am looking forward to seeing all of you in Aug.

February 1989

We awoke to slippery roads and snow and school was cancelled.  So it is a good day to write letters and I just finished one to Gen.

Barb is up and off each a.m. and she is liking the babysitting.  She is also sitting for Lauri.  Twice this week.

We enjoyed the dinner-theater at Holy Trinity Church last Sat. nite.  They did a great job and all members.  Directed by the pastor's wife.  A good meal, also.

We are invited to Lar and Kim's tomorrow nite.  We will try our hand at the golf game on the computor and they will borrow the Wheel of Fortune so we can try that.  They say the games are so true, and fun to play.

Paul do you remember a Pederson in your high school class - according to Denise Johnson he was in your class and now is going with Nancy Bloom Davis.  He is in church with her.

I ordered some tapes from the Reader's Digest and they are good - from my earlier days so nice memories.

The end of March Larry will get the first interest payment from the estate and naturally he is looking forward to that.  They had the vacuum cleaner we bot when you were born, Paul, so they bot a new Hoover on sale.  His work on the room is coming along fine.  He hopes to get it finished as he will have a lot of extra outdoor work to do.  Is making plans for new shrubbery for the library.

At church Katherine [Peterson, church secretary since before we moved to Warren in 1957] retires in March and Cheryl (Mrs. Ron) Bloom will be the new secretary.  She will be a good one.  We didn't attend the annual meeting last Sun.  Went to church in Jamestown instead.  All went well from what we heard.  We have a choir director, now we need to find an organist.

Hope you got your pkg. all right.  Don't think you left anything else.  Did you find your blouse, JoAnna?

I've been reading again and found a new detective authors - Emma Latham and I really enjoy her* books.  Have also reread a few favorites.  Don't remember everything so I enjoy reading them again.

We were able to walk 3 times this week.

Dale received a ring from work as a reward for his good service.  He doesn't wear it but if I remember it has the Chrysler emblem on it.  He is working on the car they took to Sorenson's.  Worked the past 2 nites til midnight.  He has this aft. off so assume he will work on it today.

Soon lunchtime so will send this off.

*really their as 2 lawyers write them.