Saturday, January 31, 2004

Scott was sick yesterday so Barb went up there as soon as I was thru getting my hair done. So we didn't get to the Mall. This A.M. we went to CVS for a prescription refill & then to the Mall.  Barb got a pair of jeans plus 3 blouses -- 1 style -- 3 different colors.  Blue, off white & tan.  The latter will be a birthday gift from me.  It's a style I like.  I got a pr. of slacks -- my size 16 are too large, esp. in the seat & I don't  like that, & a top on sale -- jacket type, nice for cold days.  I wear 3 layers to feel comfortable in the house.  I only turn up the thermostat on Thurs. when Lar & Kim come.

Last nite Ted Benson called & said they'd like to go to church with me Feb. 1.   He has a small church in Kanesholm much like Chandlers Valley.  They don't heat the church in Jan. & Feb. & no one needed his services so they decided to come here.  Probably want to hear & see our new pastor.  They will pick me up -- it will be nice to see them.

After lunch I made an apple bread -- it is really delicious.  Now I'm watching Senior Skins with Jack N, Arnie P, Lee Trevino, & Tom Watson.

Did I mention Bert broke a couple of ribs & it is painful for her, but she hopes to get back in a couple of weeks.  I will really be glad because Barb will have to get up & get going.  Lately she watches tennis from Australia starting at 10:30 pm & then sleeps in.  I used to try to be quiet but no more.  I like to clean in the A.M. U& I've started to work around it.

Carolyn has a birthday in Feb. & I plan to send her a card as I didn't have her address at Christmas time.  Finally heard from them.  It's also Joyce OConnor's birthday & I have a card for her.

A small town in N.Y. whose name I can't remember has 72" of now & are having trouble to find places to put the plowed snow.  Maybe you saw the report on the Weather Channel. We have 12" & that's more than plenty as far as I'm concerned.

Just got supper into the oven.  Could have put it in the crockpot but I put it off.  So I used the oven bags & then I didn't have the onion soup mix needed.  I told myself to check what is needed for menus but guess I didn't listen.  Looked at another recipe & used canned diced tomatoes with garlic & olive oil.  Dale likes tomatoes so I hope it tastes good.  Also added a bay leaf as that makes for good flavoring.  I've had this roast beef meat in t he freezer & decided I should use it.  Left6overs for tomorrow.  Dale isn't that interested in the Super Bowl -- some NASCAR program is what he'll watch.  Barb & I aren't that interested.  There is golf to watch.  Phil Mickelson finally won a tournament last week.

We have a new sub shop, Quisno I think it is, a franschise - was right the first time but it didn't look right so out with the dictionary -- & Kim & Lar tired them & said they are excellent.  We talk about getting some & Barb said we should do it this week.  I'm all for it & it's up to Barb to get them.  We'll see what happens.  An added push - -coupons worth 2.00 came in the mail.

My puzzle is calling & I have a good start on this letter.

Just remembered -- Dale's Dr. Strassburg is from Madison.  Lar has played either basketball or soccer at the Y with him.  Lar mentioned his brother was Lib. Director in Middleton.  He's a nice "guy" they both say.

Barb might go to Jamestown tomorrow.  There are a few groceries she wants & can only get at Wegman's.

Yesterday's paper said they hope to start the new bridge in May to be finished by Nov.  That will be great.

Later.  Supper was delicious.  Meat tasty & tender.  Enough for leftovers on Sun.

We got the Spring Summer Penney's catalog but I dont' see much that interests me.

Sunday Feb 1.

I think Ted & Pat were impressed with our pastor.  I know Ted thanked her for her message. After church we went to Ponderosa to eat -- we all had the Buffet Bar.  They enjoy visiting around.  This coming Fri. we are suppose to go to Peek'n'Peak for lunch.  We always enjoy going there.  We just hope the weather will cooperate.

A Deacon's Bench was given to the church in memory of Mildred Traub by the Traub, Himes & Darling families.  It is in the hallway you enter from parking lot between the sanctuary & the wing.  It is nice to have to sit on while you put boots on.  Ted used it today.  A nice addition.  We have new blue paraments for next Advent & green paraments are on order. The handicap lift is completed & being used.  So things are happening.

Barb finished her afghan & started one for Marisa's graduation gift.  They are nice.

Feb 3rd

No school today.  At 6 A.M. the radio said sleet so school would have a 2 hr. delay.  When the snow started they changed it.  I bet they'll have to dd onto the school year.  This extended weather is getting me down.  We had 5" & it is heavy snow.  It always comes when Dale has to work til 8 pm.  Barb shoveled here & at Bert's.

I'm lazy these days & don't accomplish much.  Dusted downstairs today & that's about all plus meals.  My puzzle is going slowly.  Only tans & browns to fit in & that is harder.

Fri A.M. the 6th

No school today -- sleet & icy roads.  I'll finish this but I'm not sure it will get mailed today. Too much snow around the mail boxes & we won't be going  out, except for my hair appt. We'll never forget the winter of '04.

More to write but I'll save it for the next letter. Nothing of importance -- just daily happenings.

Saturday, November 8, 2003

I'm glad to be sitting down.  Barb said we'd go to the Mall this A.M. so I didn't start baking. After lunch I got a coffee cake in the oven, started dinner rolls & made an apple crisp.  Now I'm almost thru.  The bell should go off for the last 2 pans.  While the rolls were baking I had a cup of coffee & a piece of warm apple crisp.  Umm.  Very tasty.

Yesterday I saw Dr. McNett for the last time.  Joyce O'Connor took me for a 2 pm appt & I got to see him around 3 pm.  People wanted to talk too long with him.  My blood pressure was good & so was my heart beat.  He felt maybe the new medication he gave me last time took my blood pressure down too fast & that caused my problems.  I imagined all sorts of things but with things OK that calms my mind.  It has a great power over a person. I thanked him for all he has done for Dad & me.  He gave me a hug before I left.  He recommended Dr. Nguyen -- pronounced "when".  He is Vietnamese, bro't up in Texas & has a Texas accent.  Dr. tho't I would like him.  Dale's Dr. was filled up.  T here are 4 Drs & they have an office in Pleasant Twp.  I have an appt. for Nov. 26 a 10 A.M. to get acquainted.  My records will be forwarded to Dry Nguyen.  So I have a new experience ahead of me.  It was a long wait for Joyce but she understood.  We went to supper at Ponderosa in the Mall.  We each had the salad bar & they had a good selection.  We walked a little bit but Joyce isn't a shopper.

We have clear skies & cold weather.  Winter coat time.

I read every word of the Bookworm.  Ken Mack must have been quite young when he died. Too bad he couldn't have lived longer to enjoy the fruits of his efforts.  But what a nice contribution to the library.  Enjoyed reading the bio of the library's pages.  Also about the lib. board chairman.  Lets me know more about your position.  Enjoyed reading about Chautauqua County.  The first I've heard of it.  Nothing in the Buffalo newscasts & we don't get the Jamestown paper.  I didn't even look to see if I had made any plans for supper.  I try (half-heartedly) to make plans for the week so I wont' be in the situation I'm in.  Tired & don't know what to have for super.  Luckily there is always Pizza Hut.

Dale put the glass insert in the front door today & the extra glass for the windows in his & my bedrooms. It helps a lot.

I lost 7 lbs & the Dr. wondered why & how my appetite is.  For awhile I didn't each much breakfast but that phase is over.  But I'd like to keep those pounds off.  But will I give up my coffee breaks -- that is the question!

I'm waiting for golf to come on -- The Ohio State-Mich. State game is going on too long. Penn State couldn't even score.  In the 1st half they were close to the end zone a couple of times & couldn't even kick a field goal.  And Wi. lost -- we switched back & forth between games.  (And Miami lost again.  There is a little talk that Joe (Penn State) should retire. Barb says they need a good QB.  You'd think at 76 he'd want to take it easier.  Guess some people find it hard to give it up.

Wed. Nov. 12

I'm making a new recipe -- Italian Bow Tie supper.  It has gr. beef, onions, tom. sauce & diced tom.  Then you add pasta, thawed spinach & mozzarella cheese.  I tho't it sounded good.  Also spices.  Time will tell.

Remember I mentioned Kim Schuler wanted to buy the house (empty) north of Bert's.  He kept after the absent owner & she finally said yes.  So now it is his & he hopes to bring it back to its former glory.  There is a lot to do.

We went to Jamestown last Mon.  Ate lunch at the Red Lobster.  I didn't find much -- a pink cotton blouse with cuffs & a navy sweat shirt with a Christmas design on the front.

Bert had company last weekend from Madison.  Relatives.  He works for the Dept. of Health & Human Services.  Barb said they are nice people.  Barb mentioned JoAnna working at the Capitol & Paul being library dir. in Middleton.  Their names art Myrt & Tom Seiger.

Larry called yesterday for Dale but it was the Tues. he worked til 8 pm.  He called again -- his truck wouldn't start -- on East St. but it sas too late for Dale to help.  Some people at work would ask Dale to work on relative's cars after work.  He'd get paid but he doesn't need extra money & he doesn't like to work on cars after working on them all day.  Of course he'll help Lar.  Mike Brindis waned Dale to work on his car but he didn't.

The former beauty shop closed as of Sat. the 8th.  Jerry couldn't make it without Sheila & Sue.  He is going to become a Schwan salesman.  It is just the opposite for Sheila & Sue -- they are doing very well.

Thurs. Nov. 13

We had snow today that stuck to the trees.  Making them so pretty.  Barb had to shovel at Bert's but we didn't have to.

Thanksgiving is 2 weeks from today.  We'll have the usual menu & Kim said she'll bring pumpkin & pecan pies & a green bean casserole.  I said only 1 pie is necessary but she wants to bring both.  We'll eat about 5 pm.

Sat. Barb is going to Erie alone.  I don't care to go .  Barb wants to look for some tops & she'll stop at Target also.  I'm sure it will be crowded & I never seem to find anything I really like.

Lar's truck needed a new starter.  The first one he got wasn't the right kind.  Today he finally got the new starter in . It wasn't a hard job & it saved him a lot of money.  As it was it cost him close to $175.00.  If he would have had it done, it would mean a towing job plus the cost of starter & the cost of having it done -- labor.

Things are fine here.

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