Friday, May 5, 2000

It's been a perfect day & we've had supper so I'm on the porch.  After getting my hair done, Barb & I went to the Mall.  Bo't 2 plastic urns for plants on each side of the new railing for the steps.  After, we stopped at Hatch Patch for flowers.  They just opened for the season & the flowers look great.

In the late aft.  Barb started planting the urns.  We need to get a dish for them to set in so the water won't damage the porch floor, so in the meantime they sit one on each side of the garage doors.  I bo't the large begonias & they are so pretty & Barb put some pansies with them & a form of ivy - don't know the correct name.  Later on I'll have hanging baskets also.

Careys are expected to be home Sun. or Mon. the 7th or 8th.  Will be nice to see life around there again.

Last nite when Kim & Lar were over, Kim told us her sleep had been interrupted by Torey being sick.  Thge Crary home residents love to feed him & so does another neighbor & had loose bowels so at 2:30 A.M. she was cleaning the L.R. & D.R. rugs & then found it hard to get back to sleep.  So no more treats from the Crary Home or the neighbor.  It will be hard as Torey goes to the door to be let in & then begs.  He didn't get ice cream last nite but after begging Kim said he could have 1 cooky & then dog biscuits.  Today Sheila was telling me about ice cream for dogs.  It is called "dog paws" & her dogs loved it in hot weather.

The gal who bought Holders house walked by & we talked a bit.  Her 2nd son & wife had a new baby.  She, Pat Vavala, was married to the oldest Vavala son but is now divorced.  She is very friendly & nice to talk to.  Her mother will be 80 -- I mentioned I'd be 80 in the fall -- & her father is 82.  He has Alzheimer's.

Last nite Barb stayed up til 2:30 A.M. watching Phillies vs. Pittsburgh hockey game.  5 overtimes & when Pitts lost, Barb said it wasn't worth staying up for.  People stayed until the end -- even children who were asleep by then.  A game theh players will never forget.  Barb is afraid now that the Penguins lost their chance to win the series.

I received a wedding invitation from Barb O'Connor's daughter Melissa who graduates from Allegheny College this spring.  Wedding at First Meth. followed by a reception at Sugar Grove Fire Hall.  I don't plan to go -- don't really know Melissa or her future husband -- but will get a gift & bring it over to Joyce.

Dale brought out his Monte Carlo & put the winter car in the rented garage.  The Blazer.

Barb doesn't have to care for Scott anymore.  He's going back to the YM as that's where he'll be this summer.  Barb doesn't mind the switch.

Sat A.M., the 6th.

Dale had to work today so I was up early.   Made a coffee cake for next week snack for Dale.  Then I filled the 6 flower pots I have by the garage.  Pansies, my favorite.  They are nice to look at when I'm at the sink.  The 2 pots we put by the garage doors look so nice so we're going to get 2 more for the front porch.  They are tan & look good with the house.  Both Barb & Dale work around the yard.  Dale mows & trims & Barb has the veggie garden plus flowers.  It's nice all of you enjoy working outside & making the property look nice.  I'm back on the front porch watching the cars go by.  Dandelions are in great supply this year & we are trying to keep ahead of them.  This is the earliest we've gotten our flowers planted.  Usually it's Memorial Day weekend but the warm weather arrived earlier this year.

Sun A.M.  Again I'm ready for church by 9:40 A.M. so I'll continue on.

I had gotten a small lamb roast & we had it yesterday choosing a warm day to use the oven.  It was very tasty.  Your Seder service sounded very interesting.  It makes me want to read Haggadah.

Tonite we'll just have hamburgers.

I'm enclosing two articles you might like to read.

The Mets lost last nite & today in the 1st inning Fla Marlins are ahead, 1-0, 2 on & no outs.  The Braves lost & the Mets couldn't gain on them.  After 1, it's only 1-0.

A couple of years ago we got a new grill but it was a cheap one.  Suppose to be automatic "on" but it went on the blink & we had to light it by hand.  We use the grill a lot so Dale is looking around.  Saw one at Don Gages, on the way to Jamestown, but ti was sold but more are expected.  Maybe we'll have one before Thurs. Lar's birthday as she chose steak for the menu & either carrot cake or spice cake. Think I'll make spice cake for a change.

In church today the choir anthem was given by Carol Andersen in honor of Pastor & Mrs. Carl Nelson.  First sung by the choir Apr. 14, 1996.  People are invited to pay for choir music in honor or in memory of someone.  Several have been given & I think I might do that in Dad's memory.  The anthem was "Hymn of Promise" -- nice words & very pretty.

When I lost weight, I had to get a smaller size.  My thyroid must be OK as I'm soon back to my weight so I can't wear some of last year's clothes.  Need to get a blood test this week for a check on the thyroid.

Mon. the 8th.

I cleaned the eating area today plus my regular washing & changing of 2 beds.

It's 3:45 pm & Barb wants to go to the Mall.  She just got back from Bert's.  I got myself cleaned up & rested a bit.

Saturday, November 20, 1999

Your letter came today & I'll start a letter because this will be a busy first of the week in preparation for Thanksgiving.  Don't know if Barb J. is coming but if she does I'll have to fuss a little more.

Thurs. nite we heard from Kim that Torey had dug up an old bone & chewed on it.  Result he had "the runs".  Thurs. he still had to eat her e- cheese, salmon, ice cream & cookies.  That didn't help - at 2:30 A.M. he woke Kim up - he had messed on the rug in the living room -- all liquid.  He stood by the door meaning he wanted to go out.  So Kim put a coast over her pj's & took him out.  Meanwhile she tried to clean up the rug.  The worse part was Lar slept all thru this & Kim couldn't take that.  She turned on all the lights & Lar finally roused.  Kim said it's your turn if he needs to go out.  About 5:30 A.M., Kim heard Tor & Lar had to get up.  Kim said to Lar "don't let Torey eat old dug up bones."  Lar said "that's part of being a dog."  Kim - "Not for Torey, he's almost human."

Dale was in Rochester Thurs & Fri this week.  Sam B. also went so they went together.  It was about noises & squeaks in cars - at least part of it.  Dale said it was an interesting 2 days.  Shults has an agency in Erie & was asked to take over a Ford agency in Pittsburgh & get it back to be successful.  T hey have Toyota, Ford as well as Chevy & Pontiac, etc.  Dale said the one son is the one who has the smarts to be successful.  The 2 songs have taken over from the father.

Where Barb works for Bert, one bedroom ceiling had a hole in the plaster.  On Tues. someone went to plaster & also painted the ceiling & walls.  Barb didn't' work Fri. as the room wasn't finished.  So she worked today but didn't get finished so will go in tomorrow for a couple of hours.  Bert's niece doesn't come til Mon. aft. so that will help & barb can go over the downstairs on Mon.  Painting the kitchen took time so she didn't get any cleaning done.

I guess Penn State is going to lose for a 3rd time in a row.  Lots of unhappy Penn Staters around - including Cindy I'm sure.  When is Julianna a year old.

When Dale was gone Thurs. nite, it gave us a chance to have fish.  Salmon & it was delicious.  Dale is not a fish eater.  Doesn't like the smell.

Last Wed. when Sam came to pick Dale up, he was early so we talked awhile.  He divorced his wife but still they see each other.  He put winter tires on her car, check to see the storm windows were OK.  They are friends but being husband & wife won't work.  I like Sam but he's not husband material.  It was her - she spent & charged too much money - one of the problems.  There were others.  Sam was her 2nd husband & she has 2 children.  A son 16 & a daughter 14 going on 30.  Sam told her you'd better watch the girl or you'll be sorry but she said that' how kids are today.  She's an R.N. & can support herself.

Mon A.M.

I'm going out to lunch with our pastor friends at Holiday Inn.  Hollertzs won't be there as their daughter Valeria is home for a short visit.  Bensons will pick me up.

Last nite I was the last one in bed - this is Dale's early week.  Reason: I watched Law & Order from 8-11 & really enjoyed it.  I'm going to think about watching L&) on Wed. nites at 10 pm.

Luncheon date is 1 pm & we're there about 2 hours so Barb will get the groceries while I'm gone so we can go to the Mall when I get home.

Another warm day here - should be in the 60s.  Hit 59 yesterday.  Nice Nov. weather!

Guess I've covered everything.