so here i am... in taunton, mass sitting at the kitchen table with my mom and dad... he's on mom's laptop reading his orlando sentinal news paper and she's writing in her trip journal... and i'm here blogging... i just finished checking all my e-mails and replying to them so we are all caught up... for now anyway...
marc and lucia just got home from a refy meeting and he was trying to get a fire lit under dad so they could go play golf... mom and lucia are going to the store to pick up a few necessities like sugar and coffee and stuff... no not another coffee blog i promise... lol i'm staying here by myself with the dog... take my shower and chill.... all by my onesies in the quiet... mmmm quite...
this vacation is great, i'm loving seeing everyone, but i miss my quiet... i'm not used to the noise of people all the time... after all it's usually either just ray and i or when i'm out mom and i... quiet... sweet quiet...
oh before i forget... today is marc's birthday, he's 31... last night i forced myself to stay up until midnight just so i could be the first to wish him happy birthday... cute huh? then today i gave him his gift and card. hand made by me of course... he loved the little accordion album i made for him of his dog max... i'll take a picture and add it to this when i get it... he also loved the card i made him... i love it when people actually like what i make them... makes me happy...
well dad is wandering around waiting for marc now so they can leave and then mom and lucia will head off to the store and i will relax...
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Just chillin' June 24th 2007
Not much today… just sat around and watched old movies and shows on tv and talked thru most of them… the original plan was that hopefully her brothers and others would stop by for a hello so she bought some burgers and dogs… only one brother showed up… david… the oldest of the kids…
What a funny guy… always has been… also a great conversationalist… I could listen to his stories all the time… even if some were repeated it doesn’t matter… he’s a blast to listen to…
Laurie ended up cooking burgers on the stove because the grill wasn’t working and besides it was just the four of us… very good burgers… she also made a broccoli salad and a pasta salad…
After we ate we came back down to the den and put on more old movies and talked some more… it was just a peaceful day…my kind of day… it was great…
Now dave has headed home, laurie went up to bed as she is a very early riser and I’m sitting downstairs watching “end of days” on sci fi and tying my blogs in word that I will copy and past over to my blog site because I can’t get on line…
Sorry girls I planned on going in and checking my mail and replying but that will have to wait until I get to marc and lucia’s house on Wednesday.
What a funny guy… always has been… also a great conversationalist… I could listen to his stories all the time… even if some were repeated it doesn’t matter… he’s a blast to listen to…
Laurie ended up cooking burgers on the stove because the grill wasn’t working and besides it was just the four of us… very good burgers… she also made a broccoli salad and a pasta salad…
After we ate we came back down to the den and put on more old movies and talked some more… it was just a peaceful day…my kind of day… it was great…
Now dave has headed home, laurie went up to bed as she is a very early riser and I’m sitting downstairs watching “end of days” on sci fi and tying my blogs in word that I will copy and past over to my blog site because I can’t get on line…
Sorry girls I planned on going in and checking my mail and replying but that will have to wait until I get to marc and lucia’s house on Wednesday.
Bubbles... June 23, 2007 again
Laurie, her mom avis and I went out to dinner tonight… we kind of got carried away talking and then were all starving and none of us wanted to make anything… so we didn’t… we went out for Chinese food… yummo… you can’t get really good Chinese food in florida… my only other food request while up here is a steak and cheese bomb… another huge yummo… lol So we go off to the restaurant and the food is amazing… the company is great of course and we have a lovely dinner…
After dinner we go for a bit of a drive. Laurie’s nephew Dana has been into ghosts and hauntings and stuff and told his aunt about a place he goes to that is haunted and of course now laurie wants to see it. On the way back to her house she wants to see it… with her mom and I in the car… I’m not one for creepy scary stuff but what the heck… it’s still light out… well we found a place we think is the place Dana was talking about but nothing… guess it’s only in the dark. Lol
When we came home avis was tired and wanted to get settled into bed so laurie took care of her then asked me if I would be interested in a dip in her hot tub… a new experience for me again… never been in a hot tub… always wanted to but never have…
Off we go to get our bathing suits on…
Now I’ve been freezing all afternoon… it’s a bit chilly here… but still the hot tub sounded great so in we went… omg… I was in heaven… it was 102 in it and the bubbles and steam were rising… we sat and talked in the dark with just one blue bulb lit in the bottom of the tub and the stars above… oh and one little bug light up on the top part of the deck cause it was really dark getting to the tub and she didn’t want me to fall going down the stairs… next time no bug light… Laying in the tub looking up at the stars and just listening to the night sounds… wow… talk about relaxing…
After about ½ hour Laurie decides to go hop into her in ground pool to cool down and then go back into the hot tub… she goes down and goes right in swims to the other end and gets out… well as she’s heading to the other end I decided that it can’t be that cold cause she just went in and swam so I decided that I would do it too… she asks me if that is what I’m thinking of doing and when I say yes she tells me that it’s pretty cold and I might not like it… I tell her I’ll test it with my foot… my foot… no way my toes… that’s as far as I got into the pool… the water was freezing… brrr… back to my bubbles thanks…
I want a hot tub… I want one really bad now… guess I need to really save my pennies… lol
After dinner we go for a bit of a drive. Laurie’s nephew Dana has been into ghosts and hauntings and stuff and told his aunt about a place he goes to that is haunted and of course now laurie wants to see it. On the way back to her house she wants to see it… with her mom and I in the car… I’m not one for creepy scary stuff but what the heck… it’s still light out… well we found a place we think is the place Dana was talking about but nothing… guess it’s only in the dark. Lol
When we came home avis was tired and wanted to get settled into bed so laurie took care of her then asked me if I would be interested in a dip in her hot tub… a new experience for me again… never been in a hot tub… always wanted to but never have…
Off we go to get our bathing suits on…
Now I’ve been freezing all afternoon… it’s a bit chilly here… but still the hot tub sounded great so in we went… omg… I was in heaven… it was 102 in it and the bubbles and steam were rising… we sat and talked in the dark with just one blue bulb lit in the bottom of the tub and the stars above… oh and one little bug light up on the top part of the deck cause it was really dark getting to the tub and she didn’t want me to fall going down the stairs… next time no bug light… Laying in the tub looking up at the stars and just listening to the night sounds… wow… talk about relaxing…
After about ½ hour Laurie decides to go hop into her in ground pool to cool down and then go back into the hot tub… she goes down and goes right in swims to the other end and gets out… well as she’s heading to the other end I decided that it can’t be that cold cause she just went in and swam so I decided that I would do it too… she asks me if that is what I’m thinking of doing and when I say yes she tells me that it’s pretty cold and I might not like it… I tell her I’ll test it with my foot… my foot… no way my toes… that’s as far as I got into the pool… the water was freezing… brrr… back to my bubbles thanks…
I want a hot tub… I want one really bad now… guess I need to really save my pennies… lol
Pussy cats.... June 23, 2007
My friend of over 40 years came to sheryl’s to pick me up and take me back to her house for a few days for a visit today. I grabbed my stuff that I was taking and left what I didn’t need for dad to put in the van when we head to Marc and Lucia’s on the 27th.
We gabbed all the way from berlin to Billerica. Sometimes you don’t know just how much you miss someone until you are back with them. She and I are more like sisters then friends… wait no, sisters fight… we used to fight when we were little but not now… we are all grown up now… lol
We get to her house and her mom was here waiting for us, they live together. So we sit and visit for a couple hours. Talking about when we were kids and talking about her new cats. Two are called pixie bobs, a special bread of cats that are close relatives to some wild cat in Africa or something. The third cat “oopsie” is half savanna… another wild cat from Africa. They are all beautiful though the pixies are a bit different to look at… cute though… Paul Mewman… yes that’s his name… is like 17 pounds and short bodied with a naturally bobbed tail. His tail just happens to go off to the left… like a crooked handle… his belly is really wide and when he walks he waddles… the shape is normal for the breed. His best quality is his face. His eyes are amazing sort of a green blue and intense… the fur around his head is so much like a lion it’s amazing. He’s really a beautiful cat.
The other pixie is Princess… she’s half the size of Paul… seriously half the size… she’s older but she was the runt of the litter… I’ve only seen glimpses of her as she’s not really a people cat… she’s laurie’s cat and that is that… after a couple years she finally lets one of laurie’s brothers come near her… she looks like a mini paul but a girl… lol
The third cat is Oopsie… she’s half savannah. She’s gorgeous. Her fur is short but silky and she’s got a lean tall sleek body. She’s the baby of the three but she’s very bossy… her coloring is hard to describe but it has loads and loads of copper in it… some stripes but not really bold ones… more subtle… tonight she actually let me pick her up. Wahoo…. Cool huh???
I miss my kitties… midnight passed away a couple months ago and emma is at home with ray. I will just have to be patient and wait till I get home to see her…
We gabbed all the way from berlin to Billerica. Sometimes you don’t know just how much you miss someone until you are back with them. She and I are more like sisters then friends… wait no, sisters fight… we used to fight when we were little but not now… we are all grown up now… lol
We get to her house and her mom was here waiting for us, they live together. So we sit and visit for a couple hours. Talking about when we were kids and talking about her new cats. Two are called pixie bobs, a special bread of cats that are close relatives to some wild cat in Africa or something. The third cat “oopsie” is half savanna… another wild cat from Africa. They are all beautiful though the pixies are a bit different to look at… cute though… Paul Mewman… yes that’s his name… is like 17 pounds and short bodied with a naturally bobbed tail. His tail just happens to go off to the left… like a crooked handle… his belly is really wide and when he walks he waddles… the shape is normal for the breed. His best quality is his face. His eyes are amazing sort of a green blue and intense… the fur around his head is so much like a lion it’s amazing. He’s really a beautiful cat.
The other pixie is Princess… she’s half the size of Paul… seriously half the size… she’s older but she was the runt of the litter… I’ve only seen glimpses of her as she’s not really a people cat… she’s laurie’s cat and that is that… after a couple years she finally lets one of laurie’s brothers come near her… she looks like a mini paul but a girl… lol
The third cat is Oopsie… she’s half savannah. She’s gorgeous. Her fur is short but silky and she’s got a lean tall sleek body. She’s the baby of the three but she’s very bossy… her coloring is hard to describe but it has loads and loads of copper in it… some stripes but not really bold ones… more subtle… tonight she actually let me pick her up. Wahoo…. Cool huh???
I miss my kitties… midnight passed away a couple months ago and emma is at home with ray. I will just have to be patient and wait till I get home to see her…
The Visit... June 22, 2007
This year Jess is going thru some stuff and space at her place is limited so I was unable to stay there for a visit. Unfortunately I don’t have transportation of my own so I have to depend on people to take me places, pick me up, that kind of thing.
Friday, Jess and Gabriel came over to Sheryl and Terry’s to visit for a bit… I was sad that it couldn't be a longer visit, but stuff happens and what can you do… go with the flow… Even though the visit was short it was a great one. I even managed to get some quickie videos of Gabriel for me and also to show his grampa. He’s so adorable. Loads of energy and can be very loud, but interested in everything.
He played with the dogs a bit though was a bit nervous when they came up to him, not him going to them. When he had grapes and Clowie wanted some and followed him all he could do was keep turning his back to her and try to get away from her. Even though she’s a sheltie dog, he’s just 2 ½ and was just the right height to try for a taste.
He was fascinated with the videos I was taking of him with my cannon sure shot camera. As soon as my memory card was full I would load it right onto my laptop and then play it to check it out. He got such a kick out of it though was a bit confused seeing mommy on the computer and sitting right there at the same time. That was pretty funny.
When the first got to Sheryl and Terry’s house Gabriel wouldn’t have anything to do with me. Of course he wouldn’t, he didn’t have a clue who I was. He hadn’t seen me since last summer and well he is only 2 ½ after all. Mom was the first one he connected to then Dad then finally me. He’s very attached to his mommy so when she wasn’t within sight he would get a little upset until he saw her again.
When they arrived they had a chicken nugget meal with fries and a bottle of milk for his lunch. He didn’t want it, just left it on the table. Then O’ma (my mom) got out some grapes and he did some gobbling on those and then a bit later she buttered up some of the special bread she buys for herself at Wal-mart for her lunch but ended up sharing them with him. First there were two pieces and he went for the soft middle and left the crusts… lol Then she went and got the last piece which was a crust thinking that one he wouldn’t want because it was all crust but nope… he really liked this bread and ate most of that piece too… what a good appetite when he likes something huh? lol All too soon the visit was over. It was time to head home and get Gabriel settled in for the night. Gabriel was all set to head home too… we got quick kisses goodbye and then got ready to walk them out. Before we got to the door in comes Sheryl with her little one Noah and a friend of his. As soon as Gabriel saw the boys he didn’t want to leave anymore. He wanted to stay and play. Mom let him play for a little bit while we all said our goodbyes and then Terry showed up so it was a quick hello and goodbye again then she decided it was really time to go now. “Let's go Gabe, it’s time to go home.” “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO” lol he wanted nothing to do with her all of a sudden. He was having way too much fun playing now and was not going quietly. Boy can he get loud… he screamed while she hooked him into the back seat of the car and screamed all the way out the driveway. I haven’t heard from her yet so I don’t know if he quieted down or just kept screaming all the way home.
Friday, Jess and Gabriel came over to Sheryl and Terry’s to visit for a bit… I was sad that it couldn't be a longer visit, but stuff happens and what can you do… go with the flow… Even though the visit was short it was a great one. I even managed to get some quickie videos of Gabriel for me and also to show his grampa. He’s so adorable. Loads of energy and can be very loud, but interested in everything.
He played with the dogs a bit though was a bit nervous when they came up to him, not him going to them. When he had grapes and Clowie wanted some and followed him all he could do was keep turning his back to her and try to get away from her. Even though she’s a sheltie dog, he’s just 2 ½ and was just the right height to try for a taste.
He was fascinated with the videos I was taking of him with my cannon sure shot camera. As soon as my memory card was full I would load it right onto my laptop and then play it to check it out. He got such a kick out of it though was a bit confused seeing mommy on the computer and sitting right there at the same time. That was pretty funny.
When the first got to Sheryl and Terry’s house Gabriel wouldn’t have anything to do with me. Of course he wouldn’t, he didn’t have a clue who I was. He hadn’t seen me since last summer and well he is only 2 ½ after all. Mom was the first one he connected to then Dad then finally me. He’s very attached to his mommy so when she wasn’t within sight he would get a little upset until he saw her again.
When they arrived they had a chicken nugget meal with fries and a bottle of milk for his lunch. He didn’t want it, just left it on the table. Then O’ma (my mom) got out some grapes and he did some gobbling on those and then a bit later she buttered up some of the special bread she buys for herself at Wal-mart for her lunch but ended up sharing them with him. First there were two pieces and he went for the soft middle and left the crusts… lol Then she went and got the last piece which was a crust thinking that one he wouldn’t want because it was all crust but nope… he really liked this bread and ate most of that piece too… what a good appetite when he likes something huh? lol All too soon the visit was over. It was time to head home and get Gabriel settled in for the night. Gabriel was all set to head home too… we got quick kisses goodbye and then got ready to walk them out. Before we got to the door in comes Sheryl with her little one Noah and a friend of his. As soon as Gabriel saw the boys he didn’t want to leave anymore. He wanted to stay and play. Mom let him play for a little bit while we all said our goodbyes and then Terry showed up so it was a quick hello and goodbye again then she decided it was really time to go now. “Let's go Gabe, it’s time to go home.” “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO” lol he wanted nothing to do with her all of a sudden. He was having way too much fun playing now and was not going quietly. Boy can he get loud… he screamed while she hooked him into the back seat of the car and screamed all the way out the driveway. I haven’t heard from her yet so I don’t know if he quieted down or just kept screaming all the way home.
up the stairs... down the stairs.... argh...
i hate stairs... one of the rules to having our new house built in florida was NO STAIRS... lol ... when we went to check it out mid build there was one step leading from the garage to the laundry room and ray "kiddingly" had a fit...
i get to my cousin's house and there are the stairs into the house, then the stairs to the bedrooms and of course mom wants me to go and see something "up" in her room so that's a full set up to my aunt's inlaw apartment and then another up to the finished attic where mom and dad sleep... oh my friggin' lord... argh
then i get to my friend's house and granted you just walk into the front door cause her mom is in a wheel chair and there is a tiny ramp... entrance is on ground level... but she has a chair lift to get her up to the main living space... that's where my room was too... but then the tv is "downstairs" so down i go to drink my coffee and at night to chill... couldn't do the net there cause like i said... cable internet and isp issues and i just didn't want to deal even though i understand that it's only a matter of changing the numbers... knowing me i would screw up the whole damn computer...
now i'm at my son and daughter in law's and well let's see... first he had us bring our luggage in thru the side door... down stairs to get in... yup it's a split garrison with a finished basement... then up two short flights to the main living space... nope not me... i did it once... told him i was coming in thru the front... straight shot... up the front stairs then up the one short set... no down then up crap... lmao
when i get to sandra's house in illinois "no stairs"... it's a handicap apartment cause of christian and it's on the ground floor... that way i can get some relief for my legs before i take the long ride home... lmao
i better have lost some friggin' weight on this trip with all these stairs... my hips are just about shot and i didn't know i had knee problems until now... lmfao
i get to my cousin's house and there are the stairs into the house, then the stairs to the bedrooms and of course mom wants me to go and see something "up" in her room so that's a full set up to my aunt's inlaw apartment and then another up to the finished attic where mom and dad sleep... oh my friggin' lord... argh
then i get to my friend's house and granted you just walk into the front door cause her mom is in a wheel chair and there is a tiny ramp... entrance is on ground level... but she has a chair lift to get her up to the main living space... that's where my room was too... but then the tv is "downstairs" so down i go to drink my coffee and at night to chill... couldn't do the net there cause like i said... cable internet and isp issues and i just didn't want to deal even though i understand that it's only a matter of changing the numbers... knowing me i would screw up the whole damn computer...
now i'm at my son and daughter in law's and well let's see... first he had us bring our luggage in thru the side door... down stairs to get in... yup it's a split garrison with a finished basement... then up two short flights to the main living space... nope not me... i did it once... told him i was coming in thru the front... straight shot... up the front stairs then up the one short set... no down then up crap... lmao
when i get to sandra's house in illinois "no stairs"... it's a handicap apartment cause of christian and it's on the ground floor... that way i can get some relief for my legs before i take the long ride home... lmao
i better have lost some friggin' weight on this trip with all these stairs... my hips are just about shot and i didn't know i had knee problems until now... lmfao
Friday, June 22, 2007
whew... been busy... lol
okay so i've arrived in berlin mass in one piece, which is a good thing... i guess... and am staying at my cousin and her family's house... it's a beautiful house on a beautiful piece of land with a beautiful view out the back... it's not what i am used to in the state of massachusetts... i'm more a city girl, but i love it here... it's quiet and peaceful and very restful...
the ride was pretty much uneventful. dad drove the whole way as usual and mom rode shot gun. her job is to stay awake and keep him company so he doesn't fall asleep and to hand him toll money and such... also she is the one that takes all the fuel reciepts and logs them into her little travel journal...
she has a journal for every single trip they've ever taken whether it's by road or not... she can tell you what all they ate and where and how much it cost... she should be a scrapbooker, but she won't try it... she says she never knows what to say... i made her and dad a page once of a trip they took to cancun or one of those places and left the journelling block empty for her to write in... what the pictures were of that type of thing... simple... nope not done yet... soon... lol so okay back to my trip... i digress... again.... lol
we make the trip all in the course of one day... 23 hours to be exact... we stop for fuel and potty breaks and while getting ready to head off again i make the tuna sandwiches that sustain us till we get to where we are going... dad will not let anyone take over the driving for him.... he's such a guy... he can do it... it doesn't matter that he turned 76 this past december... he can do it and you aren't convincing him other wise...
when we made the pit stop in new jersey and got out of the van i commented "wow, rained more than half the way here", to which dad replies, "that's a good thing because it makes me stay allert and pay attention to my driving..." okay as opposed to what??? not paying attention... note to self... pray for rain when we travel... seems to be safer that way... lmao
anyway, we get to my cousin's house and unload the van and settle in... i love visiting here... oh i already said that... peaceful, restful... blah blah blah... get up this morning and my poor mom is sitting at the kitchen table all huddled down as much as she could in her robe playing mahjong on her laptop and freezing to death... the windows are all open and well... the "breeze" is coming in and it's more like march... just a wee bit chilly and she is complaining that she is "friggin' freezin' " lol... so first i shut the window across from her and then tell her to shut the one next to her... there that's a bit better... but it's still cold... we're from florida and we aren't used to this "brisk" weather... i may be chilly but i'm still loving it... not hot and humid like it usually is in mass in the summer... at least you can breathe the air...
i've been in berlin now since wednesday and today, friday my stepdaughter and my grandson gabriel come for a visit... because of time restraints and space i am unable to go stay with them for a few days so a short visit will have to suffice... it's really not enough time with gabe but what can i do...? he's adorable... he's 2 1/2 and well... likes to have his own way... first thing when he sees me he screams for his mommy to pick him up... then he proceeds to climb up to her head and would go higher if she were taller... about half way thru the visit we are more friendly... this is better... i take pictures and little video's with my camera so that his grampa can see him too... as he doesn't make this trip... i sit and read a story to him, we play on the wrap around porch with the dogs and stuff... i'm exhausted ... ready for my gramma nap... lol... then too soon it's time for them to head home and it's crying time... i hate goodbyes... and i'm an old softie so yes i cry...
tomorrow around noonish my friend of over 40 years is picking me up to kidnap me to her house for a few days... she has a huge in ground pool and a hot tub and "no kids"... lol... it's the sit and visit type of visit... catch up... have a little wine and cheese type visit... my kind of visit... but on sunday she plans on taking me up to hampton beach in new hampshire to view all the sand sculptures... don't worry i'll take a ton of pictures... i love this kind of stuff... then it will be walking on the beach looking for sea shells and stuff...
my daughter, sandra asked me to get her a jar of beach sand for her... she moved to illinois last year and misses her beach... hampton was her favorite... the jar of sand will be for her to open and smell once in a while... to refresh her memory and her soul... i think it's a cool idea so of course i will do it... as well as collect some pretty shells for her too...maybe make a dish with them in it and put some pretty candles with them... to remind her of home...
so there you go... an uneventful trip... thank goodness... a start to a wonderful vacation... and some great visits with some great people... life is good...
the pictures i've attached are ones of my cousin's house... the porch in the first one is where mom and i like to sit and read and listen to the wind chimes, birds, leaves blowing in the breeze and the water fountain in the garden... shaded and hidden from the world... a little piece of heaven on earth.
mom on the porch, we sat behind the tree on the left and this is the view from the back of the house... like i said... wonderful... and it's in massachusetts... unbelievable....
and my boy gabriel... playing behind the dog barrier.... lol
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Ready... set... go... lol
okay so i'm all packed and ready to go on my annual summer trek to see my kids and grandboys... it's a grooling trip... for all of us...
dad is doing the driving... from florida to mass., then from mass. to illinois in about two weeks and then from illinois to florida in another 2 weeks... with only fuel and restroom breaks... at 76 i think this should be his last drive... it really takes a lot out of him... for hours after we arrive at a destination his legs still feel like he's driving... the vibration and all... and he looks really drained... it actually scares me... i don't like seeing him get like that but i also know that for the most part he does this trip for me...
he knows there isn't a lot of spare cash laying around so flying to see all my kids would be out of the question... and since my daughter moved to illinois, well it makes visiting a bit tricky to get in all of them... but she's happy where she is and christian is thriving so that's all that really matters... it's only geography right? he even took me into account when he bought his new vehicle... he said it had to have a big enough bench seat for me to be comfortable on our trip... how sweet huh?? people do change... he's proof...
so there he sits, calendar and maps in hand... planning... where to go when... three of the kids have birthdays all around the same time so we have to be sure to be with each one on their special day... i want it and dad sees to it... yup sweet once again...
mom... what can i say... she goes along to keep us both happy... and of course enjoys seeing her grandkids and great grandboys... but she probably would be just as happy staying home and having them all come down here for visits... she's more of a home body than she lets off to be... lol she rides up front with dad, even though her seat is way less comfortable than in the old van... and tries to stay awake to keep dad awake... she is the keeper of the toll money, rights down the odometer and fuel amounts at each stop as well as the time... she has a journal of each and every trip they ever took up to mass... since my kids were little... actually since they moved to florida... she has what every meal was while on our visits and all kinds of interesting information... she prints out a map of the u.s. and marks off each state that she sees a license plate for... even dad and i help her find them... she doses off once in a while but mostly during the night...
me, i pretty much take extra pain pills cause the trip knocks the crap out of me... besides the usual pain i deal with on a daily basis there is the added from the vibration on the road, the awkward sitting and laying on the back seat and not being able to just get up and move around... it's murder but it's so worth it... besides if i plan it right the pain pills keep me sleepy for most of the trip... just wake up for restroom and food stops...
food stops... lol... this is way too cute... mom makes this amazing tuna salad... very simple but omg it's delicious... always solid white tuna and she buys potato hot dog rolls... when we stop for fuel she and i use the restroom while dad pumps the fuel and then while he's in the restroom we are out in the van making sandwiches... don't want to loose too much time on the road... we are on a schedule you know... lol... dad returns, gets settled back in the driver's seat and mom makes her notes... then it's on the road again with sandwiches in hand... lol
when we arrive at our first destination, dad unpacks the van with help of course, then usually has a quick visit and heads off to bed for a few hours... when he gets up he's rearing to go... it's amazing... mom sits and visits and doesn't usually sleep until that night and then back on schedule for the most part... and me... visit and sleep... and then visit some more... that's what i do... get in as much of my kids and grandboys as i possibly can because it usually has to last me another year...
so there you have it... possibly our last annual trek north... i say possibly because dad has been saying for a few years now that it's the last time we drive up... actually i think it's more mom trying to talk him into not putting himself thru it but we shall see... i just go with the flow... one way or another i will see the ones i love...
dad is doing the driving... from florida to mass., then from mass. to illinois in about two weeks and then from illinois to florida in another 2 weeks... with only fuel and restroom breaks... at 76 i think this should be his last drive... it really takes a lot out of him... for hours after we arrive at a destination his legs still feel like he's driving... the vibration and all... and he looks really drained... it actually scares me... i don't like seeing him get like that but i also know that for the most part he does this trip for me...
he knows there isn't a lot of spare cash laying around so flying to see all my kids would be out of the question... and since my daughter moved to illinois, well it makes visiting a bit tricky to get in all of them... but she's happy where she is and christian is thriving so that's all that really matters... it's only geography right? he even took me into account when he bought his new vehicle... he said it had to have a big enough bench seat for me to be comfortable on our trip... how sweet huh?? people do change... he's proof...
so there he sits, calendar and maps in hand... planning... where to go when... three of the kids have birthdays all around the same time so we have to be sure to be with each one on their special day... i want it and dad sees to it... yup sweet once again...
mom... what can i say... she goes along to keep us both happy... and of course enjoys seeing her grandkids and great grandboys... but she probably would be just as happy staying home and having them all come down here for visits... she's more of a home body than she lets off to be... lol she rides up front with dad, even though her seat is way less comfortable than in the old van... and tries to stay awake to keep dad awake... she is the keeper of the toll money, rights down the odometer and fuel amounts at each stop as well as the time... she has a journal of each and every trip they ever took up to mass... since my kids were little... actually since they moved to florida... she has what every meal was while on our visits and all kinds of interesting information... she prints out a map of the u.s. and marks off each state that she sees a license plate for... even dad and i help her find them... she doses off once in a while but mostly during the night...
me, i pretty much take extra pain pills cause the trip knocks the crap out of me... besides the usual pain i deal with on a daily basis there is the added from the vibration on the road, the awkward sitting and laying on the back seat and not being able to just get up and move around... it's murder but it's so worth it... besides if i plan it right the pain pills keep me sleepy for most of the trip... just wake up for restroom and food stops...
food stops... lol... this is way too cute... mom makes this amazing tuna salad... very simple but omg it's delicious... always solid white tuna and she buys potato hot dog rolls... when we stop for fuel she and i use the restroom while dad pumps the fuel and then while he's in the restroom we are out in the van making sandwiches... don't want to loose too much time on the road... we are on a schedule you know... lol... dad returns, gets settled back in the driver's seat and mom makes her notes... then it's on the road again with sandwiches in hand... lol
when we arrive at our first destination, dad unpacks the van with help of course, then usually has a quick visit and heads off to bed for a few hours... when he gets up he's rearing to go... it's amazing... mom sits and visits and doesn't usually sleep until that night and then back on schedule for the most part... and me... visit and sleep... and then visit some more... that's what i do... get in as much of my kids and grandboys as i possibly can because it usually has to last me another year...
so there you have it... possibly our last annual trek north... i say possibly because dad has been saying for a few years now that it's the last time we drive up... actually i think it's more mom trying to talk him into not putting himself thru it but we shall see... i just go with the flow... one way or another i will see the ones i love...
Friday, June 8, 2007
pj party
well tonight was fun... one of the yahoo groups i'm in had a pj party... sadly only about 10 of us showed up but we had a lot of fun anyway... some had recently participated in two swaps... one was a stamped image swap... loads of fun and the other one was a left over swap... new one on me... but also fun...
in the image swap you fill up card stock... i use white... with stamped images of the theme the hostess chooses... i use stazon black ink so that whom ever gets the images from me can color them with what ever they like and not worry about ink bleeding... there were four groups for this swap so i was in all four... i love stamping and getting new images of stamps i don't own... it's a great way to see what all is out there and start your wish list... like i need more on that list... lol
the left over swap was different like i said... you take a sandwich size ziploc bag and fill it with stuff... scrapping, card making, stuff... usable bits from projects that we all as crafters save... usually never use most of it again but it has to be saved just in case right??? lol so you take this stuff and load up the baggie... really pack it in... i put nice papers, some odd embellishments, fibers and tons of stuff... there are three groups for this swap and i got into all three... had a blast and when the stuff was swapped out got back some really neat stuff...
oh yeah, tonight's pj party... well it was set up by the hostess of the two aforementioned swaps... and it was to use some of our new stuff as well as learn how to use some stuff we got in the left over swap that we might not know how to use cause we don't know what all it is... lol
she had prize drawings and i won the second one... can't wait to see what she chooses for me... she always sends me fun stuff... she also set up one class and three challenges that when done we post to the site... yep did em all... she taught us how to make the most adorable paper pj's... way too cute... then gave the first challenge... decorate them with some of the stuff from the left over swap... what a blast...
next challenge was to make a card or layout using some images and embellishments from the swaps... i now have one more card to add to my hand made collection thank you very much...
the third and final challenge was another card... this one you had to use an image from the swap or one of your own if you didn't participate in the swap... and color it in a way different from what you usually do... well i usually do water color so this time i used just plain colored pencils... came out pretty i think... though i did use one of my own images along with a word stamp from the image swap... that matched... cool huh?..
all in all it was a fun evening with friends that i hadn't visited with in a while... i love yahoo groups... i love web cams... mics and speakers... we open up a conference room and turn on the cams and it's crafting play time with friends as far away as australia... canada... and all over the u.s.... people being brought together that would never have met otherwise... people creating beautiful things together and being great company for each other that otherwise might have just spent another evening alone... making life long friendships... that's what it's all about and that's one of the main reasons i love yahoo groups... it has brought some very special people into my life and i thank you for that...
in the image swap you fill up card stock... i use white... with stamped images of the theme the hostess chooses... i use stazon black ink so that whom ever gets the images from me can color them with what ever they like and not worry about ink bleeding... there were four groups for this swap so i was in all four... i love stamping and getting new images of stamps i don't own... it's a great way to see what all is out there and start your wish list... like i need more on that list... lol
the left over swap was different like i said... you take a sandwich size ziploc bag and fill it with stuff... scrapping, card making, stuff... usable bits from projects that we all as crafters save... usually never use most of it again but it has to be saved just in case right??? lol so you take this stuff and load up the baggie... really pack it in... i put nice papers, some odd embellishments, fibers and tons of stuff... there are three groups for this swap and i got into all three... had a blast and when the stuff was swapped out got back some really neat stuff...
oh yeah, tonight's pj party... well it was set up by the hostess of the two aforementioned swaps... and it was to use some of our new stuff as well as learn how to use some stuff we got in the left over swap that we might not know how to use cause we don't know what all it is... lol
she had prize drawings and i won the second one... can't wait to see what she chooses for me... she always sends me fun stuff... she also set up one class and three challenges that when done we post to the site... yep did em all... she taught us how to make the most adorable paper pj's... way too cute... then gave the first challenge... decorate them with some of the stuff from the left over swap... what a blast...
next challenge was to make a card or layout using some images and embellishments from the swaps... i now have one more card to add to my hand made collection thank you very much...
the third and final challenge was another card... this one you had to use an image from the swap or one of your own if you didn't participate in the swap... and color it in a way different from what you usually do... well i usually do water color so this time i used just plain colored pencils... came out pretty i think... though i did use one of my own images along with a word stamp from the image swap... that matched... cool huh?..
all in all it was a fun evening with friends that i hadn't visited with in a while... i love yahoo groups... i love web cams... mics and speakers... we open up a conference room and turn on the cams and it's crafting play time with friends as far away as australia... canada... and all over the u.s.... people being brought together that would never have met otherwise... people creating beautiful things together and being great company for each other that otherwise might have just spent another evening alone... making life long friendships... that's what it's all about and that's one of the main reasons i love yahoo groups... it has brought some very special people into my life and i thank you for that...
Thursday, June 7, 2007
one of those nights...
okay so today i got an e-mail from a friend telling me that i had to write something because she went to check out my blogs and already read all of the ones that were there... geesh... so here i am...
the topic for tonight is about something that happens to all of us... i don't care who you are, whether you have money or not... whether you are old or young"ish"... or even if you are male or female... this happens to you... it's even been the subject of one of those funny e-mails that gets passed around and around via the Internet and you've seen it at least a half dozen times... i know i have... but it happens to me and it happened to me again tonight...
i was on the phone with a really good friend... chatting away and the subject of cookies came up... i've been on a cookie binge mood lately and well i can prove it by my new waistline... lol so anyway there we were talking about cookies and she asks what kind... well, chocolate chip for my dh and for me... i found this amazing recipe for oatmeal that are to die for... if i remember to i will copy paste into this message if i can remember how for you all to try... i mean this recipe is the best i've ever tasted... no gross cinnamon or anything weird like that... just raisins and oatmeal... well of course sugars, vanilla, eggs and oil... yep oil.... oh and baking soda and salt... which i never omit because it does enhance flavors (the salt does)... (in my opinion)...
so she says she wants this recipe and i promise to e-mail it to her right after getting off the phone... it was a lengthy conversation so when we did say goodnight i had to take a potty break... while walking to the bathroom i glanced to my right and looked into my sewing room... that's when it all started... after finishing my "business" i went straight into the sewing room... i wanted to look at some material i bought to make my grandson christian something for his birthday next month... i wanted to make sure i had enough... and if not i had precious little time to order more... well, i found it, pulled it out as well as bunches of other material... set the one i wanted to find on my cutting table so that i could straighten out the rest of the material cabinet then i would measure the original material i was looking for, but it was wrinkled from washing it so i had to press it first... then i had to find the pattern for the thing i wanted to make... of course made a mess looking for it and after i did find it and put that on my cutting table with the material i was looking for, straightened out the new mess i made...
i turned on my iron and remembered that my dil uses her iron board at the square end not the narrow end... i never would have thought of that... even for "square" material... that was always the "other" end of the ironing board... besides i have one of those cord keepers that is attached to the square end and it would be in the way... or would it... nope... moved it to the skinny end of the board since i was going to be ironing the material for christian's gift, for his birthday in a month, and since it was squarish lol it would be easier to work with... finally i got the darn thing ironed... measured it and it was plenty...
oh well, while i'm here i might as well cut it to get ready to sew... i can type that recipe in a bit... she wouldn't be making them tonight anyway... it's much too late for that... well for normal people anyway... for me... it's never too late to bake cookies... damn... i might end up making some after this now... lol
so i cut the material, then measure and press the 1/2 inch hem all around this thing... might as well sew it now... so i do... then put the Velcro sewable strips in it cause well, i had done this much... lol press it again and guess what? it's all done and ready to give in a month... wow... done early... me... amazing... i'm so proud of myself...
that's the topic... that's what i was talking about... that funny e-mail thingy... planning on doing one thing and getting side tracked doing something else and then the whole darn thing snowballing... but at least this time i did remember to send mare her recipe i promised to send... so this time it worked out okay...
the bestest ever oatmeal cookies... according to me... lol
eggs 2
brown sugar, packed 1 cup
granulated sugar 1/2 cup
cooking oil 1 cup
vanilla 1 tsp.
baking soda 1 tsp.
hot water 1 tbls.
rolled oats 2 cups
all purpose flour 1 1/2 cups
salt 1 tsp.
raisins 1 cup
beat eggs in mixing bowl until frothy. beat in both sugars. add cooking oil and vanilla.
dissolve baking soda in hot water. stir in.
add oats, flour and salt. stir well. fold in 1 cup raisins drop by spoonfuls onto greased baking sheet. bake in 350 oven for about 8 minutes. makes 3 1/2 dozen.
the topic for tonight is about something that happens to all of us... i don't care who you are, whether you have money or not... whether you are old or young"ish"... or even if you are male or female... this happens to you... it's even been the subject of one of those funny e-mails that gets passed around and around via the Internet and you've seen it at least a half dozen times... i know i have... but it happens to me and it happened to me again tonight...
i was on the phone with a really good friend... chatting away and the subject of cookies came up... i've been on a cookie binge mood lately and well i can prove it by my new waistline... lol so anyway there we were talking about cookies and she asks what kind... well, chocolate chip for my dh and for me... i found this amazing recipe for oatmeal that are to die for... if i remember to i will copy paste into this message if i can remember how for you all to try... i mean this recipe is the best i've ever tasted... no gross cinnamon or anything weird like that... just raisins and oatmeal... well of course sugars, vanilla, eggs and oil... yep oil.... oh and baking soda and salt... which i never omit because it does enhance flavors (the salt does)... (in my opinion)...
so she says she wants this recipe and i promise to e-mail it to her right after getting off the phone... it was a lengthy conversation so when we did say goodnight i had to take a potty break... while walking to the bathroom i glanced to my right and looked into my sewing room... that's when it all started... after finishing my "business" i went straight into the sewing room... i wanted to look at some material i bought to make my grandson christian something for his birthday next month... i wanted to make sure i had enough... and if not i had precious little time to order more... well, i found it, pulled it out as well as bunches of other material... set the one i wanted to find on my cutting table so that i could straighten out the rest of the material cabinet then i would measure the original material i was looking for, but it was wrinkled from washing it so i had to press it first... then i had to find the pattern for the thing i wanted to make... of course made a mess looking for it and after i did find it and put that on my cutting table with the material i was looking for, straightened out the new mess i made...
i turned on my iron and remembered that my dil uses her iron board at the square end not the narrow end... i never would have thought of that... even for "square" material... that was always the "other" end of the ironing board... besides i have one of those cord keepers that is attached to the square end and it would be in the way... or would it... nope... moved it to the skinny end of the board since i was going to be ironing the material for christian's gift, for his birthday in a month, and since it was squarish lol it would be easier to work with... finally i got the darn thing ironed... measured it and it was plenty...
oh well, while i'm here i might as well cut it to get ready to sew... i can type that recipe in a bit... she wouldn't be making them tonight anyway... it's much too late for that... well for normal people anyway... for me... it's never too late to bake cookies... damn... i might end up making some after this now... lol
so i cut the material, then measure and press the 1/2 inch hem all around this thing... might as well sew it now... so i do... then put the Velcro sewable strips in it cause well, i had done this much... lol press it again and guess what? it's all done and ready to give in a month... wow... done early... me... amazing... i'm so proud of myself...
that's the topic... that's what i was talking about... that funny e-mail thingy... planning on doing one thing and getting side tracked doing something else and then the whole darn thing snowballing... but at least this time i did remember to send mare her recipe i promised to send... so this time it worked out okay...
the bestest ever oatmeal cookies... according to me... lol
eggs 2
brown sugar, packed 1 cup
granulated sugar 1/2 cup
cooking oil 1 cup
vanilla 1 tsp.
baking soda 1 tsp.
hot water 1 tbls.
rolled oats 2 cups
all purpose flour 1 1/2 cups
salt 1 tsp.
raisins 1 cup
beat eggs in mixing bowl until frothy. beat in both sugars. add cooking oil and vanilla.
dissolve baking soda in hot water. stir in.
add oats, flour and salt. stir well. fold in 1 cup raisins drop by spoonfuls onto greased baking sheet. bake in 350 oven for about 8 minutes. makes 3 1/2 dozen.
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