Posts tagged family
I know…………
Jun 22nd
I know, I’ve been missing for a bit. Sorry about that.
Sweet hubby got a blood clot in his leg so he has been basically confined to the house and when he isn’t sleeping, I am his entertainment.
On top of that, my father got ill again so we had to venture up to his place and take him to his doctor even though a certain someone was
supposed to still be staying in bed with his leg elevated.
And with my father being sick that means even more laundry with lots and lots of hot water and bleach.
The little one is flying to New York this week to spend 10 days with her friends and also seeing her sister. I know of at least one trip planned for going into the city and seeing where her sister works and then spending the day in the fashion district. Ah, to be young and have lots of free time on your hands.
We have a small strawberry plant in one of those strawberry pots that is doing so-so. Every time we think that we are going to have a few berries to try some bird or squirrel comes along and steals them before they are fully ripe. Hopefully I can post a picture of some of our plants on here soon.
Just thought that I’d catch ya up on what is going on over our way.
Happy Father’s Day
Jun 15th
Found this in Dear Abby and wanted to share it.
Not Her Father
Hey, it’s really not “your day”.
I just don’t know what else to say
Because, you see, you’re just a “step”,
You’re not her dad – you’re just a “rep”,
A stand-in really, rest assured
You’re only there to be endured.Oh! Unless she needs a ride,
Or someone there to take her side,
And please have money you can lend;
‘Cause that’s when you will have a friend.She’s NOT your daughter, though be clear;
You’re not her dad, just someone here.There’s really lots for you to do;
And you get all the “good jobs”, too;
You get to worry when she’s late,
Pick her up from her late date,
Comfort her when she’s in tears,
And try to calm her teenage fears.And you will get to love her, too,
Even though she won’t love you.
You’ll get to care for her each day,
And see my daughter doesn’t stray
From rules that you will get to make—
She won’t admit they’re for her sake!She thinks stepdads just aren’t “fun”,
You’re just as boring as her mom.
You’re only there (you must concede)
To see that she’s got all she needs!
Father’s Day? Nah, she won’t bother
Thanking you – you’re not her father!So let me do it in her stead,
As I have done since we were wed.
Thanks for all the things you do,
And all you are – I love you, too.
Happy Father’s Day.by Lesley Stitt, Ontario
There was a time I could’ve written something like this about my own sweet hubby, but my girls have started surprising him over the years by treating him more and more like the dad that he has always tried to be for them!! Love ya, honey!
Oh Bother………
Jun 3rd
Here I go again – getting out of the habit of writing on the blog on a semi-regular basis!!
Really been busy with graduations, grad parties, birthday parties and geez Louise two more Saturdays and it will be Father’s Day…………. and what are we going to do for the guys????
Been talking with two different friends about the places they want to move to and what they are looking at – one has even been bidding on a house. Now the house has a really bad leak in the roof and they would have to repair that, the inside of the attic, and the wall of the room below – not sure at this point how much that would cost them and if that plus what they are bidding on the house would really be worth the money. I told them with so many foreclosed homes on the market (that is what they are bidding on) that maybe they should just keep looking. I’ve seen quite a few that are in better shape.
The other friends are looking for something to rent. Something with 2 or 3 bedrooms, a basement and at least a bath and a half. Little bit easier to help these folks look – seems I have a knack for burying my nose in newsprint for a decent amount of the day. Ask my family – I read the newspapers, cut out articles and coupons all while watching the news and sitcoms. (They forgot all the foodie shows that I watch, and I am NOT going to remind them!!)
Found out today that the old Craftsman guarantee works on the clothes that carry that label. My father had a pair of overalls that were losing those metal thingies on the end of the straps and they wouldn’t stay on so he took those back today and the store gave him a brand new pair – no charge!! You have up to two years to exchange your item for one of the same. Thought that, that was pretty cool so wanted to share it with you.
Other than that small blurb – nothing to terribly exciting has been going on.
With that said, am heading up to bed and taking a look at the TV before lights out.
My Mother’s Day
May 11th
Today was one of the quietest Mother’s Days I have ever had. For the last 7 of them we lived on Long Island and Mother’s Day was spent with both kids at home and being with the in-laws for part of the day; having brunch at one restaurant or another and then there was the one time we all stayed at our house while sweet hubby whipped up one of his many creations for brunch.
Got up before 9am, hit the shower, got dressed, walked downstairs to use the computer so that I wouldn’t disturb sweet hubby who was still sleeping and about scared the life out of the little one. She was hiding out in the computer room, making her mother’s day card and having a boat load of problems with both the computer and the printer. She settled me in at the dining room table with the day’s papers and promised that she would be done with the computer soon. Finally she emerged from the room and then led me (with eyes closed tight) into the kitchen where she had set her part of her present on the counter.
Then I read her beautiful card that had a coupon in it for us to spend the day together.
Next the oldest one called and I opened the card that she had sent – with “DO NOT OPEN TILL SUNDAY” written on it – and we laughed together over her card and I thanked her for the contents. This is what was inside:
One of my favorite places to eat!!!
Here is the dinner that my sweet hubby made with help from the youngest:
In case you can’t tell from the picture it is shrimp scampi served over Green Giant rice with mushrooms and green peas, fruit salad with a yogurt dressing and some Italian champagne. A very tasty meal!! Dessert was strawberries served over angel food cake with home made whipped cream and was gobbled down to quickly for any photographer to take a picture.
Happy Mother’s Day all!! I hope you enjoyed your day!!
PS – Forgot to mention what is on that little oblong plate. It is olive oil with herbs and parmesan cheese that we dipped Italian bread into (very healthy).
Horton Hears ………….
May 9th
Yesterday was supposed to hold an afternoon of fun.
We went to see the movie “Horton Hears a Who” during the twilight showing as that is the same price as a matinée and hopefully would be mostly kiddie free.
Entering the theater we were happy to see that we were the only ones in there and the movie to start in only 10 minutes. 10 minutes can make a world of difference. (We took our favored seats – first row right behind the railing as that helps sweet hubby to stand after sitting for the length of a movie.)
The next group to come into the theater went up near the top. The next, and final group, came in and took the row behind us coming to within 2 seats of us. It was grandma and grandpa and two boys under the age of 4.
The movie got going and it is a really good movie – of course, you have to like cartoons and Dr. Seuss. About a third of the way in, the boys started talking and it wasn’t quietly. Grandma got up and took them out of the theater going behind our seats rather than out the other end of their row which was closer to the door. Sweet hubby quietly shushed them as they passed by. Came back about 10 minutes and they were quiet. Now it is a little past the halfway point in the movie and once again the boys start jabbering, quietly at first and then getting a little louder; Grandpa shushed them and it worked for a little bit. Then they started in again and it got louder, and louder and louder till we could no longer hear the movie. Neither their grandma or grandpa were doing anything so in total frustration (and also because we wanted to hear the movie) I turned toward them and yelled SHUSH!! Far more politer than the other things that were in my mind to say. Sweet hubby said that grandma shot me a look that would’ve frozen a polar bear. Too bad!!
Well, the boys started up again and we could hear grandpa tell his missus that she needed to take them out of the theater. And out of the theater they stayed until the movie was done.
We saw them on the way out of the theater, as they were slowly making their way to their vehicle. Sweet hubby thought that perhaps grandma was going to have words with me. If she did, she would’ve heard the same thing that I tell others who bring small children to theaters; “Until your child can sit still at home and watch a cartoon or movie on video that lasts for 1hr and 45 minutes without getting up or being disruptive than they have no place in a theater with other paying customers.”
Given the cost of the gas to get there (approx. $3.79 per gal around here), the price of the movie ($5.75 ea x3 in our case), and any snacks you enjoy while you are there; it is extremely rude for someone to behave in such a disruptive manner that the other patrons cannot enjoy what they paid for.
Now, we are waiting for it to hit video so that we can watch the whole movie and HEAR everything that Horton heard!!
Happy Cinco de Mayo!!
May 6th
Happy Cinco de Mayo!!
And what did you do to celebrate?? The family and I went out to one of the numerous Mexican restaurants and had ourselves a very nice authentic Mexican dinner. Sweet hubby (who needed a night off from cooking) ordered steak and shrimp fajitas, the youngest had what was called a Juanito Burrito and it covered a platter – half of it is now residing in the fridge for tomorrow – and your’s truly had her usual seafood enchiladas, stuffed full of shredded crab meat! Ooo Baby!! Of course sweet hubby started us off by trying something new – some sort of cheese dip – I found it much to salty and the cheese was just one big lump on the plate. We will NOT be ordering that dish again. Dinner was followed by dessert – apple pie filling wrapped up in a deep fried flour tortilla and covered with vanilla ice cream.
What a good dinner!! What even better company!!
End of the week catch-you-up
May 3rd
So, on Tuesday as I drove sweet hubby to get his surgery done I called my sister to find out how close the tornado was to their home, etc. She answered her cell phone on the third ring and in her very annoyed big sister voice let me know that they were fine and the tornado didn’t hit close to their home. I did find out later from my youngest that they had been in the shopping mall that was destroyed by the tornado about an hour before it got demolished.
Sweet hubby’s 2nd eye surgery went well and he is enjoying not having to wear glasses to see things far away. He is enjoying being able to watch the TV while in bed knowing that if he falls asleep there is no fear in him damaging his glasses. Right now the hardest thing is to get the drops into both eyes 4x a day.
Yes, the wash is done. Youngest daughter pitched in and did a few loads for me while I was with sweet hubby getting the surgery done. Of course, now we have to start on the next round.
Hope this finds you well and thriving wherever you live.
A little update
Apr 29th
Just a quick update on what is going on around here.
Wash is almost done!!
Sweet hubby gets his second cataract removed today at 10:30am.
The city my sister lives in, in Virginia got hit by a tornado yesterday; so will try to get in touch with her.
I have been awake since 7:30 this morning and now it is time to get some breakfast.
It’s my birthday
Apr 13th
Today is my birthday!!
Here is a picture of one of the many cupcakes that my darling youngest daughter made for me; at 5:30 a.m. after working a 12 hr overnight shift. Thank you sweetie!!
Remember that box?? The one that was driving me nuts earlier this week?? Here is a picture of what was inside:
They are a present from Momma & Jay!! Been waiting quite a few years to watch “Harold & Maude” (first watched at Momma’s house) and also “Being There” as Peter Sellers was hysterical in it. The 9/11 documentary will join the rest of the 9/11 collection. (And before you think me morbid – please remember that at the time that happened I was living on Long Island approximately 65 miles away from there. Yes, we could smell the smells from it at our house. That day will forever live on in my memories)
Thanks to the brave few who called and sang Happy Birthday on the phone. Be assured that those phone calls were NOT recorded.
A Week Full of Surprises
Apr 12th
Yes, it has been a week full of surprises.
Last Saturday I received an email telling of the forthcoming arrival of a box holding an early birthday present.
On Wednesday sweet hubby called Momma to let her know that it had arrived and to see if I could open it
The answer was, “no”. So I have been staring at it and shaking it (gently) as it silently torments me. On Sunday
I will be able to open it. FINALLY!!!
On Thursday we came home from being with my dad all day and helping him do his taxes. Lo and behold I saw the oldest’s car in the driveway.
First thought was, “who is in our driveway?” Second thought was, “Why is she home?”
With the kid about to graduate college you worry when they show up unexpectedly. As I started to fret and sputter in the van, sweet hubby
told me that she had come home for my birthday weekend; a plan that I thought had been squashed due to lack of funds.
Right now I am pretty content with my family all home.
