Monday, September 3, 2001

We slept in a bit but we all are "laboring" some.  I made a coffee cake & banana bread as I had ripening bananas.  Just had a slice of banana bread with mid A.M. coffee.  Also did my usual Mon. load of clothes & changed Dale's bed.

Dale, the 2nd one up, went out to the garage to work on one of the cars.  The El Camino isn't turning out to his satisfaction so more changes are planned.

After Barb ate breakfast she went to work in the garden.

It has cooled off so yesterday I wore my new necklace, which I don't wear in hot weather.  It is so delicate & dainty.  I like it so much & when I wear it I think of all of you -- and in between, of course.

Was sorry to hear of Larry's setback but I hope this time the recovery will go faster.  It has been a merry-go-round for the relatives.

Last Fri. Barb & I went to the Bradford Mall, thinking there was a Penney's store there.  There wasn't but a salesperson suggested we go to Olean & we did.  Barb didn't find the pants she wanted so she ordered them from the catalogue.  She did find 2 tops on sale.  There was also a Bon Ton in Olean.  What surprised me the most was after 10 or so years I was able to remember the way.  We found both Malls without any trouble.  Not too bad d for an old lady!

The youngest Patterson daughter (undertaker) got married last Sat. & Kim & Lar were invited.  4 pm wedding & reception.  So Torey was over here with us.  Lar picked him up about 9:30 pm.

Last nite the lights went out for about a minute & came back on.  It was on long enough for Carey's alarm to come on.  We know Lar & Kim were at camp so we called & Lar told Dale how to turn it off.    We have the key & that saved Lar a trip.  The paper said there was electrical pole fire on the 300 block of Conewango.   8:20-9:15 it was fixed & it didn't affect our lights.  I was watching a series of "Murder She Wrote " on A&E.  Today they feature "Law & Order".

School started & Kim vows not to let the kids or things bother her.  The other Phy Ed teacher, after a couple of days, doesn't know if he's cut out for this.  You know how kids are trying the patience of a new teacher.

Last Sat. Dale went to Jamestown & said he might stop at Sam's Club so I asked him to pick up pecans for me.  Kim was here & she wanted pecans.  We got our pecans -- 2 lbs. for 9.00 -- & Dale also bought walnuts but he paid for them.  Also got himself a pr. of shorts on sale.

In Bradford they have a Big Lot store & the salesperson told us Warren is getting one & Barb noticed lights in the old Penney's store so maybe that is where they'll be.  Both Dale & Kim love to go there & find bargains.

Don't think I wrote this.  Ruth called me one afternoon.  Naturally, I thought it was bad news.  It wasn't.  She was working on the family history & wondered if we have one.  I know we have some of it so she sent me the completed history she has worked on.  It is very interesting.  More than what we've had, more detailed of the Nelson family.  So I wrote to thank her, answered Millie's letter & wrote to Gen.  So I did my good deed.  Plan to write to Darla but haven't had the inspiration yet!

I'm working on another 1000 pc. puzzle.  I've done it before but it's still a harder one.  If I don't have something to do I get bored, like Eddie says.  Then I want to snack -- if I'm busy I'll still snack but not as much or as often!

Tues. A.M.

My regular chores are done & I've showered & dressed.

Adam, next door, got or passed his driver's exam & has his license.  He had the car Sat. nite for a date.  Twelve o'clock came around & no Adam.  They -- Sally & Dan, went looking for him as today 16 yr. olds have to stop driving at midnite.  T hey knew the girlfriend's house & there were to be there.  He said he didn't know about the midnight deadline.  Now he has to be home by 11 pm.  Something you'll be experiencing a few years.

Tuesday, January 9, 2001

I'll start a letter and keep adding to it.  With Dale gone, Barb & I went to Holiday Inn for lunch.  I had the salmon with roasted potatoes & carrots (baby) & it was delicious.  The salmon was a larger piece that I've had before.  Barb had a Philly Beef sandwich.  We had dessert -- Barb carrot cake & I had Bourbon Pecan pie.  It was a nice outing.  I won't have to make supper.  We'll each get something easy.  Then we went grocery shopping.  They say it's best to go grocery shopping on a full stomach.

Wed. the 10th

Received Charles & Sandra's Christmas card & letter today.  I'll have to keep their address in my file.  They are made for each other.  He plays & she sings.

Today we have sun & clear blue skies & I can hear the icicles crashing to the ground.  Nice to see the sunshine.  Good weather for Dale & the other fellow to drive home form Rochester.  This session was on Dodge trucks.  Dale said the other fellow only had 15.00 & had brought food from home.  Dale had a couple of hundred $ on him.

Fri the 12th

Yesterday the UPS driver was here & I had to sign a paper I didn't receive the box.  It's our regular man & he said he always put small pkg. between the front door & screen door.  I order from Penney's & Dale orders a lot & we've never had any problems.

This A.M. after my hair appt. I went to D&K for some silk flowers.  Got 2 large cream roses -- about 5" in diameter & put them in a tall, blue, slender vase Lar gave me years ago.  Put it by the fireplace & it really looks nice.  Got some smaller pink roses & put them in a pink (deep) vase that was a wedding gift & they look nice.  They are in the dining room.

This aft. we went to the mall (missed an exciting part of my soap!!) & I paid the Penney's bill.  Barb got 2 tops at Bon Ton & then we went to Big K.  As we entered we saw some Christmas ornaments 1/2 price & some 75% off.  Got 2 boxes of ornaments & 2 wreaths.  They are gold trimmed with 3 pine cones & 2 roses.  Thought I'd like to put one over each light by the front door.  The other lights really light up the porch so they would be visible from the st.  They also have a lighter gold bow.  So I'd better be ambitious next Dec.

My nose & upper lip area were a mess.  The skin started to peel & what a mess.  Finally tried Neosporin & that healed it fast so it doesn't look as bad today.  Never had anything like that.

The nite stand Barb & I gave  Dale looks like a smaller version of the old iceboxes but only one door.  Inside there is no shelf so Dale is making one.   He does a nice job & has invested in tools.  Did I write he also got a large bookcase but hasn't had time to put it together.  He also put some of his money into a CD.  Last nite Larry mentioned he got a small TV (99.00 at Big K) for the greenhouse.  He can watch H&G TV when he is working.

Shults has a monthly lunch meeting.  Dale said they other Shults businesses (Jamestown, Bradford, Dunkirk) will be run like the Warren Shults as they make the most money.  I know they have a good business.  I'll brag & say they have a good man with Dale working there.

The moon was beautiful last nite.  The days are getting longer & I like that.

Sun the 14th

I'm ready for church but have time to write.

Torey is here.  Lar called yesterday to ask if we'd "baby sit" Torey.  They are on their way to Erie now.  9:40 A.M.  I was taking a shower & when I came up the stairs Torey was here so they wanted an early start.  When he saw me dressed he thought I was getting ready to take him for a walk.  He won't like it when I leave.  Dale is up & has had breakfast.  Barb is still in bed & as soon as she is dressed she'll leave to get the paper.  I put an old mattress pad on the davenport so he could be on that but he is on the floor.

Later on Sun.

Good football.  I'm still rooting for the Giants to be Baltimore.  Wsa rooting for Oakland.  Should be a good Super Bowl.

Are you away this weekend.  It is Martin Luther King weekend isn't it?  No, I'm a week early right the first time.

I took Torey for a walk around the block.  He was getting "antsy" waiting for Lar & Kim.  They picked him up about 4 & Kim walked Torey home.  Then they were going up to camp to take the furniture out of the bedroom as Larry wants to concentrate on finishing it.

Bet you're anxious to hear more from the contractor concerning the kitchen plans & costs!

Dale bo't himself a couple of shirts.  One is flannel lined.  He really is surprising me.  The other is a flannel plaid.  He plans to go thru his closet & get rid of old shirts.  I'll wash them & give them to the Salvation Army.

We had a beef roast for dinner.  It's been a long time since I fixed a roast & it was tasty.  Barb saw a roast & suggested it for a meal.  Nice to get ideas from someone else.

Guess I've covered the news from here.

P.S.  Great news about Eddie & his picture drawn for church.

Sunday, July 25, 1999

Dale has been on vacation this past week working on his El Camino, tanning in the backyard & taking it easy.  Tonite we're finishing it off by going out to dinner, 6 pm reservation at Nickel Inn, with Lar & Kim.  They got home late Thus. pm after a nice week in Fla. with her sister & family.

They have 6 cats but they were closed in their bedroom so they wouldn't bother Larry...his allergy.  But both Woody & Debbie are chain smokers & that bothered both Lar & Kim.  Now they have 2 dogs & a beagle is only 6 weeks old & not trained in any way.  So Kim started to train him to go outside to the bathroom.  She bot leashes for both dogs & each A.M. Lar, Kim, Eric & I can't remember the girl's name walked the dogs.  Then the 4 of them went roller blading.  Woody & Debbie had vacations so they went different places.

Torey was a basket case.  The 1st day he spent under Lar's truck.  He improved some but the last day, he carried his toy bunny all around & tried to bury it several times during the day.  Kim came over on Fri. & Torey was excited to see us so you can imagine how he acted when Lar & Kim came home.

One of my favorite authors is M. C. Beaton & detective Hamish McBeth.  The stories are so good & not too lengthy.  I'll enclose an item from the Sun. Buffalo paper.  Also another item I forgot to enclose the last time.   Cats & libraries.

As of today the Mets are 1/2 game behind Atlanta.  Wonder what it will be next letter.  But they've been playing very well.  Have a great infield & their new pitcher Dotel, only 23, is a great one.  So now my hopes are high for the wild card.

This A.M. the Conewango Clippers, a men's chorus, sang in church.  Ray Forstom preached for Gary & he is a chorus member.  They sang many well known hymns & were well received.

Wait til you walk down 2nd Ave toward town.  The nursing home between Water & East sts. have built a high fence by one side.  When I walked home on Fri. Jack Spenser (Meth. pastor) & a neighbor were taking about it.  Jack said how do you like our "stockade".  They got a permit but the neighbors didn't know anything about it & aren't very happy.  It must be 8' high.

I'm so happy we have A.C. as this has been a long hot summer so far.  We've kept it going several days running.  Last nite it cooled off so I turned it off & today it is better & less humid.  Suppose to be cooler on Tues. & I hope it's true so I can do some baking.  Did make zucchini bread & a coffee cake.  We have lots of zucchini from the garden & I want to try a choc. zucchini cake Kim has made & Lar says it's good.  Cucumbers are also ripe & tomotoes have formed & are growing. 

Thursday, October 31, 1996

This is a lazy day for me after a busy Mon-Wed. to get ready for company.  As usual we had a great time.  Pat Benson and Warren Hollertz tried to out do each other with a review of their naughty Halloween tricks & they were BAD!  It was fun.  Served a chicken casserole & it was good - first time I made it.  A frozen cranberry salad & pumpkin pie.  Casserole was so good so not enough was left for supper.  Barb finished it.  A veggie, too!  They will come in Dec. so I'll be making plans & looking for new ideas.

Thanks for the letters & pictures.  I think they are good of the boys.  We enjoyed the floral bouquet so much.  The pictures by the side of the garage look so inviting.  A good place to read or just sit & think & enjoy a cup of coffee or a cold drink.

Barb took the paper off the walls in the little room & painted it an off white.  Now she is working on the woodwork.  Looks nice.

We saw the Dr on Tues. & all is well for me.  Dad's aches, etc. are the result of Parkinson's & not much can be done.  He should walk more but it's hard for him & as a result he is quite stiff.  (Not drinking stiff!!)

This A.M. I walked over town & got a senior citizen pass to ride the bus so maybe I'll ride to the Mall.  Renewed my driver's license - probably for the last time since I don't use it, except for identification.

When company was here Wed, Barb went to Jamestown & started our Christmas shopping.  Barb is wondering if you & JoAnna would like one big gift from the 4 of us or do you prefer individual gifts.  Maybe you can find a minute or two to think about it & give us suggestions!!  We've gotten some games for the boys.  Can't find the mask Eddie wants - that will be up to you if he still wants one.  Hockey or what ever.

We "babysat" Torey Tues nite while Lar & Kim went to Erie to see Wrrn. Hi soccer team in playoffs.  They won 1-0 in 4 overtimes & go to the next step.  Torey slept under the dining room table after Barb had taken him for a walk.

The Teacher's Union rejected the contact offered by the Board.  They want more face to face discussion & the Board Pres. said fox it or call by phone.  Kim doesn't want to strike.  Be interesting to see what happens.

We have sun & blue skies - in the 40's but they say cold weather is on the way.   showed the heavy waves on Lake Erie both in Erie & Buffalo.

Soon time to fix lunch.