Thursday, April 20, 2006

You sounded good, Paul, on the phone, so I hope things are improving day by day.  I think of you all a lot.

Today is Barb's birthday.  I made a carrot cake -- her wish.  And we're having the chicken with the mushrooms & cheese, another favorite.  Green beans, 'taters & fruit salad.  I also baked the choc. cooky dough from the freezer while the oven was in use.  My favorites now -- with Andes mint topping that melts & make them look so nice.  That was the end of it so I'll have to make another batch to have on hand.  Sheila told me she freezes cooky dough so I tried.  It is great to have on hand.

Last Fri my washer blew a fuse -- only with new wiring we don't have fuses.  Barb said she knew what to do.  But it didn't work.  Dale came home & said you have to push the nob to off & then turn it to on.  But I never tired it again.  On Mon I called the repair man.  There are 2 sides -- one for regular wash & one for delayed wash.  I used that side & finished my laundry. He couldn't find any reason for 1 side to work & not the other.  Yesterday he came again, filled the washer, turned it on & waited for the machine to stop.  It didn't.  I told him we didn't turn the nob to "off" before we tried to set it.  And after Dale told us what to do, we never tested it.  "It's so nice to have a man around the house--" So I wasted money because I didn't try it again.  Oh well, how I know who to call if something goes wrong.

Called Millie on her birthday.  They celebrated on East Sun. at Larry's place at the Cape. Allen stayed around for a couple of days & took Millie to lunch on Mon. & she enjoyed that. She said she never thought she'd live so long.  Each year she said she slows down.  I know that feeling.

The Mets plan to build a new stadium to be completed in '09.  Wonder if I'll still be around to see it on TV.  They lost their 1st series & of course it had to be to Atlanta.

Barb saw the cutest dog sitting by a flower pot that says "welcome".  The dog looks like Torey & it has such a nice expression on its face.  We got it for Lar's birthday.  A yard decoration.

At Valentines & Easter I always get favorite candies to put by the plates.  But I forgot to do it last Sun. -- a senior moment -- so they'll get them tonite.  M&M's for Kim, Hershey milk choc. nuggets for Dale (my favorite as well), & Hershey's dark choc. miniatures for Barb & Lar.

Dale mowed the lawn for the first time last Mon.  We've had a series of beautiful days but starting tomorrow we are in for rainy days.  But it makes the grass nice & green.

Fri. the 21st

We had a nice birthday dinner.  I gave her money & Dale did & so did Lynn so she can shop for what she wants.  Larry said he'd like the same meal Dale had except for the cake.  He wants carrot cake. Then the birthdays will be over until fall.  Oh no, Kim's is in June.

It won't be long before all of your festivities are upon  you, the way time flies.  May will be here in 9 days.  Wow!  Take care of yourself so for all these parties your strength will be back. But you are in good health so that means a lot.

Barb has stated her bike riding & enjoys it.

Sheila told me this A.M. that Angie Pellegrino's daughter &  boyfriend bo't Collins' house. They plan to be married this summer.  Here I thought a family with children would move in. Leave it to the beauty operators or hairdressers to get all the news.

Dale said another guy at work is having marital problems.  Men gossip just as much as women, I guess.

Wednesday, May 14, 2002

At 1pm, I had my teeth cleaned & checked.  Have 1 that needs a filling & that will be done June 17th.  Dr. Walters said he's building an ark!  We've had so much rain but the ground has absorbed it, tho there is some flooding.  Today it's beautiful & sunny.  Barb put the plans she planted in pots on the porch as they were getting too much rain.  We put the hanging baskets up & they look so nice.  We waited because of the winds & rain.  The begonia plant is so large & beautiful, esp. the varigated leaves -- yellow & green.  Dale gave me a Fuscia plant.  Thanks for the plant.

Mon's paper always has an article about a local resident & last Mon. it was about Barb Lucia's brother who has returned to Warren.

When I washed on Mon. the spin cycle wouldn't work so I called a repair man.  When he came, he suggested I call Maytag Co. as they are pretty good about the Maytag Neptune.  They talked to him & they said I wouldn't have to pay for parts -- just the service call.  That was Tues. the 14th.  He called Buffalo for parts -- he got them today -- he came over & as of now I have a load of towels washing.  I got it at Seats but didn't call them as you wait forever for them to come, etc.

Barb's pkg. came & I'll let her thank you.  She likes the jewelry box a lot.  Very attractive.

I got 3 puzzles at KMart for 99 cents each.  I did one already & it was so pretty.  Lake Superior Harbor at Bayfield, Wi.  Last nite I started a 2nd one -- Along the Oregon Coast scene & it will be harder with yellow & violet large & small flowers & dark areas.  Barb said she'd help if I have problems finding the right pieces.  Barb is taking advantage of a nice day to ride her bike.

Dale will mow the lawn tonite as more rain is predicted for the rest of the week. Hope they are wrong.

I made a caramel brownie today today & they are delicious.  Melt 18 caramels with butter & milk.  Then add eggs, flour, nuts, etc. & bake & I love them. Easy to make & too easy to eat.  Too tempting.

I've been getting the Icelandic frozen haddock & it is good baked.  Dale likes it -- no bones & we are having fish for dinner.

Our interim pastor love N.W. Pa.  Thinks our valley is so beautiful.  He said if he had realized how beautiful this area is, he would have liked a call in the area.

Last Fri. nite Dale looked so nice when we went out for dinner in his new pants.  I wish he'd meet a nice girl to date.

Thurs.  Dishes are clean or in the dishwasher & I'm watching TV.  We had Kim's favorite creamed chicken on biscuits & I made cheesecake brownies with ice cream for dessert.  Regular brownies & then a creamed cheese mixture spooned over the batter & swirled with a knife.  They liked them, in fact Larry said he wouldn't mind taking some home.  So I fixed a plate.

Careys aren't home yet - maybe next weekend.  Mary Ann had back surgery in Fla. & both will be flying home & someone else will drive the car home.

Lar's birthday party was nice according to Lar & Kim.  Nancy & Jay gave Lar a special birthday gift.  Both couples are soccer fans so Aug 14 they are going to a pro soccer game in Columbus, Ohio.  All arrangements have been made by Nancy -- tickets, hotel, etc.  They just have to decide who will drive.  Lar is thrilled.

Cherrios offers small Star Wars cars with proof of purchase & money to cover cost of mailing.  There are 3 of them & I ordered the set of 3 & it will go out in the mail tomorrow.

I always enjoy reading your letters.  It's nice to know one of my children has his own sons & will experience the ups & downs of teenagers.

Soon bedtime so I'll sign off.