Today was Alvin's last day of baseball for the summer season. He is in the middle front, with the green batting helmet:
Friday, August 01, 2008
Busy, Busy Day
Today was Alvin's last day of baseball for the summer season. He is in the middle front, with the green batting helmet:
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Junior's Purple Period
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Old Home Week
Monday last, Janny came over for supper. Lily brought over some of her scrapbooking equipment, because I had purchased a vintage photo album (you know, the kind with the black pages) to use to make a Yo-Yo Sisterhood scrap album. This is what we call our little sisterhood, and, yes, it's like the movie of the similar name. Only take out the mental illness/cr*ppy childhood things. Keep the great memories/coming of age/love abounding stuff.
We had some photos of our previous gatherings that I wanted to put in the Book. I found out that the fancy "white" pen I bought (archival, acid free, etc. etc.) didn't work as well as a plain ol' white crayola crayon. The idea for this book is not to be archival (although my parents' old photo albums are still in as pristine condition as when they put them together) but just FUN.
So we put the pages together, and I glued some fabric yo-yos on the cover, and put in big green glitter letters: The Divine Secrets of the Yo-Yo Sisterhood:
*******************************************
Tuesday night was the meeting of the Sisterhood. Four members were present--my sister and I, and my two brothers' wives, Robin and Debbie. We met at Janny's hotel room, and had the pool and whirlpool to ourselves for a long time. We then went back to the room for the yummiest food you could get "to go"--chicken salad on croissants, broccoli/raisin salad, berries, good cheese. For dessert we had creme brulee, introduced to us at the 2003 Yo-Yo "convention" by our Auntie Marylin. We share this dessert every time we meet in our town.
We shared gifts, including Chocolate. We shared little bits of those girlie books that have quotes and poems and little stories about being Sisters or Mothers and such. We talked and talked and laughed and laughed--girl style. It was a beautiful evening, made even more beautiful because of the blessing of four sisters who love the Lord and have loved each other for decades.
******************************************
Wednesday was Janny and Barbie Day. We wanted to make it special, but not too far away. We chose to go to Huntington, a town 25 miles away, where my father was born, and forty-seven-twelve thousand other family members lived. We first went to Plaster*er's Antiques (take out the asterisk and you have my maiden name). It is run by a distant cousin, the grandson of Eiffel Plasterer and his wife. We had a wonderful time, talking family history. Edward (the cousin) and I could both rattle off the "roll" of our family genealogy in America--Heinrich, Conrad, Conrad, George, Henry, Richard, Robert (my Dad) and Barbie. That makes me eighth generation, and my grandbabies tenth generation Americans. Edward's line diverged after George, but what is really cool is that we could still feel the connection--we are "blood" relatives. Kinda puts that boring Numbers and Chronicles stuff I've been reading into perspective. I realize that all those Biblical genealogies were important--at least to the Israelites, right?
Janny and I both bought two teacup-and-saucer sets for our collections. We then went to Elizabeth's Tea Room (no website, but a super-cool place) for lunch. It is in a historical home, and was "atmosphere sublime" for chicks. I don't think they mean to cater to men...well, the guys have their "sports bars" for that purpose, right?
Wonderful time lingering over lunch, talking and talking together.
***********************************
Thursday, we had Janny to dinner at my house again, and it was her chance to visit with my children (and grands!) and my one lone nephew in town. Lots of laughter and talkin' goin' on. AND...she brought me my fabulous birthday present. (which I will share when I have a photo...)
Friday, I think all we did was to have lunch together. We were pretty tired by that time, after all.
Saturday morning, Janny went back to Huntington, to the Indiana Room at the Public Library, where they have an enormous file on our family. She chose several things to photocopy and share with us. Saturday night, my brother had all of us siblingsand spouses over for a cookout. (He makes fabulous ribs!) We had wonderful fellowship around the fire, as well. A great ending to a full, full, "family" week.
Now, it's back to laundry, dishes, and the myriad little chores that keep the house running. I'm also working on lesson plans for the fall semester (a little late, but, oh, well...). Saturday we have the get-together of Charming's family. In two weeks is our vacation. Somewhere along the line, Normalcy will return.
I'm hopin'.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
The Jury is In
![]() | 117 As a 1930s wife, I am |
I really think I could have done a little better, even. Some of the answers I did not choose would have, I thought, also been appropriate. My favorite thing about the test is that I really had to get my head into hers (my 1930's counterpart).
Meredith at Like Merchant Ships titled her post "fails to wash tops of milk bottles." I don't remember my mother washing the tops of the bottles we got from the milkman. She always told us that Tonne Dairy bottled their milk "under the most sanitary conditions."
Thanks to Meredith for this fun link! By the way, there is a "husband" test, as well!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Anybody hungry?
So...
Twenty pounds of potatoes, peeled, boiled, chopped. Four dozen eggs, boiled, peeled, sliced. Eight ribs of celery, two large onions, chopped. Four quarts of Miracle Whip, mustard, pickle juice. Dill weed and paprika.
Hours and hours and hours. Large-O mess. I filled two foil "turkey roasters" full to the top. Probably 25 pounds. Called Joe at work to tell him I Was Finished.
Mom. The fundraiser is Next Saturday, not This.
I pictured myself going door-to-door, crying, begging people to Please Take My Potato Salad.
I called Charming at work and boo-hooed on his shoulder. He said, "but, Honey, potato salad can be frozen."
Ray of hope? Light at the end of a very dark tunnel?
The jury is still out. Everywhere I go on the internet says that potatoes are good for nothing but the garbage can if they have been frozen and thawed. Gritty. Mushy.
So how come they sell Frozen Mashed Potatoes and Frozen Hashed Brown Potatoes? And, helloooo, French Fries...
edited to add: I think I have found my answer here. It appears you can freeze potatoes if you don't thaw them before cooking (thus the stuff you find in the stores). It is when they are thawed that the gritty mushiness occurs. Looks like I'm sunk.
If you are in the neighborhood, come on over! I'll warn you, though. Potato Salad will be the appetizer, entree, and dessert...
edited Again: My neighbor Linda's church is having a happenin' this weekend as well, and said she would welcome the potato salad. Praise the Lord!
Friday, July 18, 2008
Ooh, a giveaway!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Goodwill Happiness
Just Shoot Me And Get It Over With
"Joao is from Brazil, and Alberto is from Italy. Are those two countries next to each other?"
In her defense, she made the statement because the two boys knew each other before they started coming to youth group this summer, and she was trying to figure that out. AND...
We all say really dumb stuff from time to time, right? AND...
So, all the times I lament public school students not knowing where Mexico or Canada is, and saying, Thank Goodness I'm homeschooling, 'cause that would Never Happen to Me...well...
I guess we are all human.
But I *am* going to dig out that Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego game.
Today.
Monday, July 14, 2008
I Ain't Movin'!
I heard a story on the radio today. The "morning guy" played a sound-bite from a tv news story in Pittsburgh, where a Fort Wayne native had moved. He was shocked to find his property tax bill was $7000 a year.
Seven. thousand. dollars. I pay less than $500 over that amount per year for my mortgage, which *includes* property tax AND homeowner's insurance. My property taxes are about 10% of the guy in Pittsburgh's.
Another man called in to say that he moved here from Corpus Christi, TX, and the property tax bill for a 2500 sq. ft. home was *eight* thousand dollars! So that is more than I pay for everything. (guess I won't complain about my natural gas bill budget going up this month...)
My daughter Violet used to work for the Convention and Visitor's Bureau here in town, and would often receive calls from people who were moving here from other parts of the country. A man called from California, and asked if it were "possible" to find "anything" to house his family for $350,000. Now, of course you *can* find homes here for that price (at one time, our town had more per-capita millionaires than anywhere else in the country), but that her parents' home was in a lovely old neighborhood inhabited by many artsy-types (including the director of the symphony), and [our] home was less than $100,000. The man 'bout fell off his chair. Now, I understand that, him being from California and all. My aunt lived in a 1400 sq.ft. two-bedroom, one bath dealie that listed for $578,000. I can't even imagine how much money you would have to make, in order to make the payments on a mortgage like that.
Would any of you like to come "be my neighbor?" We'd love to have you!
Sunday, July 06, 2008
A Blessed, Blessed Evening
This is a group of musicians that get together for a Jam Session every other Tuesday. The leaders are Charming and Nancy Honeytree. Nancy is in blue:
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Oh, yeah, Baby!
You answered 100% of questions correctly.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Twisted
A couple of years ago, a neighborhood friend turned me on to Text Twist. I got to be pretty good at it (tho' it *is* rather addictive, and can take time out of your day...) and got up to 400,000 once.
Playing it the other day, I was getting close to 400,000, and decided to see how far I could go. This meant that I couldn't turn off the computer at night (the game doesn't have a "save" feature). Now, in my defense, I didn't sit all day staring at the screen; my children ate all three meals, *and* I caught up the laundry. Here I am, hitting the million mark:
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
New Blogger on the Block
Go visit my honey's blog . He is finally stepping into the bloggy waters, and I think he'll find them full of wonderful folks.
Charming is a thinker, so that is what you are sure to find. He is a worshipper and lover of the Lord Jesus, and my favorite Anyone!
Go check him out, and leave a comment. Thanks!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Happy Birthday, Daddy!
Today, my Daddy turns 86 years old.
Somehow, I still see him at near-40, the age he was when I began to have memories. Climbing on his back for horsey-play. Saturday afternoons when he would lay on a lawn-chaise lounge in the family room, with one baseball game on the black-and-white tv, and another on the radio, perched next to his ear, Carling Black-label beer in hand. Him being home on Memorial Day (always May 30 in those days), mowing the lawn, prepping for a cookout in the afternoon.
The first time I saw him cry, in the limo going to the cemetery to bury my five-year-old sister. Him leading us in family prayers: the rosary in early summer evenings, special prayers before supper during Advent. Grabbing my Mother for a quick kiss while cooking breakfast or dinner.
Helping him buy "the prettiest" jewelry box we could find, for Mother for Christmas one year. Him "standing in the gap" between Mother and her teenaged girl, who just thought that Life Was Unbearable with a mother who couldn't *possibly* understand...Daddy always did.
And always, always on his birthday (the first full-day of summer) Daddy saying to us, "Winter's coming--the days are getting shorter!"
But my most important memory--teaching me about God the Father, and the love He has for us--just like the love Daddy had for me.
For these things and so many, many more...Happy Birthday, Daddy. I love you.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Tidbits
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Busy, Busy
I started a new project. (Don't tell Charming. The phrase "new project" is not his favorite.) These are called "pretty baskets," and the handles have to be done by hand, perfect for *visiting* times:
Last week, Blackeyed Susan decided she wanted to go to church camp (this coming-up Monday). Since she has grown six inches and lost three dress sizes since her last bathing suit, we had to hurry-up-buy-one. A difficult job, because I don't have time to order something online I was *sure* was modest. Here is what we found, at Target:
Friday, May 30, 2008
Family Love
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
I'm a Winner, too!
I'm honored that Ruthie has chosen me! Now, as soon as I can figure out how to copy the graphic, I'll be glad to pass it along!
Alvin's a Winner!
Besides two cds, he received a beach towel, radio station t-shirt, earbuds, picture frame, bumper stickers, rubber-band bracelets, and, last but certainly not least, a two-pound bag of Twizzlers!
Friday, May 23, 2008
Coming Out of the Cave...
As in a Cold.
A Massive, Sleep for Eighteen Hours one day, followed by two more days on the couch...Cold.
"Upper Respiratory Infection," they call it. But sometimes, it takes your eyes (swollen so badly you can't read), *and* your brain (tried to blog one day, couldn't make the keyboard work).
No remedies touched it. This one just had to be Waited Out.
I've conquered it, but its dregs remain. I figure I'm now at about 60% full-strength. Maybe 70%.
but...
Charming is off on Sunday and Monday, and we're cooking out. So, the Good News is that, by then, I should be pretty good. So, I'm considering it a blessing that it happened this week. I missed a couple of beautiful days outside, but the weekend looks great--mid-seventies and sunny.
So, all in all, nothin' to complain about.
Now, back to housework and schoolwork!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Priceless
Busy This Week
Monday, May 12, 2008
Mother's Day
Did I tell you it was yummy?
It was.

