I Should Write a Book

OMG

I am sitting here in the "computer" room right now looking out my window------I can barely see the street light!!!!   Talk about snow!  (I'd really rather not on October 28th, but as my brother is always saying, "Whaddayagonnadu?').  It is coming down so fast and furious and the wind is really blowing at top speed.  They said a nor'easter and I guess they meant it, but, darn, it's just too early.  We got snow last week--a couple of inches--but nothing like this.  I'm just happy that my family is all home and safe.  I hate this.  Probably won't go to thearpy tomorrow or go for my hair appointment but that's ok.  I'll just re-schedule.  I guess it's supposed to be fairly nice for Halloween, tho, so that's a plus.

We had the baby and Liz here for a few days.  Michael was working nights and Lizzie goes back to work next week so she wanted us to get to see little Ainsley as much as possible before that happens.  We probably won't see her as often later.  She is really developing a little personality all her own these days.  She talks a blue streak and, boy, can she let you know when she's hungry or wet or needs some loving!  And she is full of smiles.  Liz thinks, and I agree, that she is trying hard to laugh out loud--she's almost done it a few times now.  I'm sorry to say that I can't really walk a lot with her in my arms; she is getting very heavy.  But I hold her as often as they let me.  Quin loves her and "kisses" her often.  Ainsley is as beautiful and wonderful as my other grandkids. 

They all carved pumpkins last nite and they all came out so good.  I wish I knew how to put pictures on here so you could see them.   We got some good pictures of them and also with the baby, so remind me to show them to you when you are here.

The elections will soon be over, but not soon enough for me.  I still am not sure who I will vote for but I will vote.  All the hoopla has gone on long enough.

Yup, it's still snowing and blowing.   I think I will go get into the tub and then make some hot chocolate.  See you all later.

Ever Wonder....? My version of "10"

Do you ever wonder if those products advertised on TV really work?  Billy May seems to have a monopoly of sorts on items but there are others.  I wonder......

1.  Oxi Clean.  Now, this one, people, I can tell you most certainly does work.  I have tried it.  Tim got some ink on many of his shirts and pants (a pen in the dryer so it was even harder since it was all dried on) and I tried EVERYTHING I could think of to get it out.  In desperation, I soaked them all in Oxi Clean over nite, washed as usual, and, honestly, all the ink came out!!  I am a true believer.

2. Steam Buddy.  I don't have one of these (or many of any of it) but I do know a person who does and she says it works great.  Since I hate to iron, I should get myself this, I guess.

3.  Mighty Putty.  I don't know.  Sounds really good, but pull a big truck??  I think I would have to see that in person to believe it.

4.  Auger Yard Tool.  If I were a gardner, either fruit or flower gardner, I would most probably get this.  It seems it's good for fences and other stuff, too.

5.  Zorbeez towels.  Ok, I am torn between trying these or the Sham Wows I keep seeing on TV.  Both are supposedly fantastic so who knows?

6.  Hercules Hooks.  I do have these but admit I haven't tried them yet.  I plan to, in the living room or bathroom and will try to remember to report back when I do.

7.  Shark Sharpener.  This, of course, is for knives and I would think any sharpener would be good.  Probably not as good as this one, if you believe the ads.

8.  Big City Slider Hamburger Press.  Not sure I understand the "slider" part.  From what I can see, this cooks several hamburgs, on both sides, at the same time.  If I still had a big family at home, I would try it.

9.  The Paint Stick.  THIS is REALLY good.  I got mine (and another one later) a long time ago, when I still could paint, and I'm telling you, it works great!  Clean up is horrendus but painting is so much easier.  I love it.

10.  Epi-Egg.  I also have this and it does work, too.  Cleans up my heels very well.  Makes me sick, of course, so I don't use it a lot, but it works.

So, I guess some of it is good, and maybe most of it is.  There are a lot more but I only had room for 10.  Let me know if you have tried any of them and what you think.

Baby

Our newest little Red Sox fan arrived, as most of you all know, on August 28, 2008, weighing in at 8 pounds 8 ounces.  ( I guess 8 will be her lucky number! )  Two weeks old today---hard to believe.  She is a beautiful little girl and well worth the long 9 month wait.  ( You can check her out on Incoherent Ramblings ).  She left the hospital at 8 pounds and was up to 8 pounds and 14 ounces on Tuesday so she is gaining well.

This little girl does all the things new babies do--she eats, she sleeps, she poops, she farts, she cries, she makes adorable faces--in other words, she's perfect!  Just like all of my grandchildren, Ainsley is wonderful and so loved.  It's hard to remember life before she arrived.  I love to hold her in my arms and kiss her little velvety cheecks.  We have many fun years ahead with her.

Her parents are very much in love with their baby girl and it's fun to watch them with her.  The three of them are learning together to be a family and I think they pretty much have it down pat.  They did from minute one.  It's a great time for them all.

She certainly was the best of all anniversary gifts and we all love her. 

Happy Birthday, Mom

Happy 93rd, Mom!  I'm sure you're having a wonderful time up there with all of your family and friends.  I bet Poppy is telling tugboat stories and Mamie is probalby baking you something very special for your day.  Aunt Rita and Aunt Ellen, I'm sure, are are singing Happy Birthday, arms entwined with you and each other.  I can just see you and you are beautiful!  Aunt Laura is looking for a canasta game and the Yannis' and Wilkinson's are all playing bridge, waiting for you and Dad to join in.  Doris is happily knitting a very soft and very pretty sweater just for you. 

And Dad~~~well, he is still basking just at the sight of you!  I can see him at the piano, playing and singing love songs to you.  He missed you so much and is so happy to have you with him and I am also very happy that my Mom and my Dad are together again after so many years apart.

I am speaking for Lindy, Skip, myself and your entire family now when I say Happy Birthday, Mom.  We miss you terribly and love you very much.  Kiss Dad for us and let him know how much we love and miss him, too.

No More Summer Fun...........

........at least for a while!   This morning I pulled a muscle in my lower back and I am suffering!   Not too bad just sitting, except for the occasional spasm, but walking is a pain (pardon the pun) right now.  Darn!   I am not a happy camper right now and will probably go to the doctor soon for some meds.  I do have a muscle relaxer from last time, but it really makes me sick to my stomach so I haven't taken it yet.  Not a good day~~~we are supposed to go to Lizzie's for dinner and altho I know I can do it, Mike isn't so sure.

On a lighter note, they are here again today finishing up the basement walls and that's good.  I also got a new door, as a surprise from Mike~~the one going out into the garage.  It's been badly needed for years and now I have one.

Just saw the oxygen guy so my tanks are being replaced, which is also good!  I was down to the one I have been using. 

Ok, this is a bummer blog and I'm sorry.   Hope things lighten up soon!   Till next time..........

More Summer Fun

The summer is going by really fast now~~funny how time flies when you're getting old!   Anyway, we are still having summer fun.  As you may have read on Liz's blog, her mother-in-law had another baby shower for the parents-to-be last Saturday.  It was a fun time and they did get many nice things.  This baby will want for nothing for a very long time!  It was nice to see Michael's aunts and cousins again~~they are nice, funny people and kept me in stitches most of the time.  The food was good, the cake, made by Michael's cousin, was beautiful and very tasty.  A good time.

On Sunday, Mike and I went to Friend's Lake to visit with the folks there.  Scott and family are home from California so it was a kind of reunion.  The boys are getting so big and so cute.  Little Joseph took his time getting to know all the strangers (Hugie was also there), but came around just as we were about to leave.  I got hugs and blown kisses (from all the kids).  Craig's little ones are just as cute as Scott's and I can't believe how much they've grown.  I guess I forget things like that!  Little Andrew isn't so little any more and is now talking and walking (running) just like the big boy he is now!  Emma is a beautiful little 4 year old.  Janelle was also able to make it and I always enjoy seeing her.  It didn't rain and it wasn't humid so it really was a fun day.  The food, as always at the Other Side, was delicious. 

No rain here so far today.  It's just amazing.  I think the news said, as of last Friday, we had 2 days in July with no rain, but, now it is 3, I think.  Saturday was very nice, but it did rain and Sunday was great because it didn't!  We have a few days left so we'll see how it turns out for the month.  (Happy Birthday, Sheila).

The guys are here fixing the outside basement walls finally so I am a little hopeful that I MAY get a deck this summer, after all.  It would be great, but, of course, it hasn't been the best summer for a deck, anyway, but hopefully, August will be better.  One can only hope.

Liz is getting anxious now, as are we all.  I'm pretty sure SHE and possibly Michael, are the MOST anxious of us all, but I am a close second!  I really can't wait to see him or her!  They have the nursery almost ready now, and it will be fun for them to arrange everything in there and get set up. 

The rest of my family is doing well.  I miss seeing the girls and Nick and hope to see them all again soon.  I will let you in on any more summer fun we have, when we have it!  Love to all

Summer fun, so far

We had a shower for Baby C last Sunday.  My 4th, and eagerly awaited grandchild!  The event itself was fun and hopefully all enjoyed it.  All the preparation was almost as much fun.  We had a great time~~I say "we", but probably I had the best time, being the "overseer" as opposed to actually DOING anything.   (Well, I DID shop~~a LOT!)  I will get back to the shower in a minute.

Daughter S and family arrived for the 4th and we had a fun filled time in the pool, playing a lawn game, and visiting with the neighbors, two of whom ate with us.  The girls seemed to like the pool and had fun playing with the dogs and the soccer ball.  A very nice day!!

Monday, S the girls and I shopped.  I enjoyed it a lot.  The girls, not so much and who can blame them?  But they were good and good sports.  It was just the beginning!

Daughter L and her husband, M, picked up my sister, L at the airport in Burlington on Tuesday and on Wednesday we shopped some more.  Brother S, and wife M, arrived on Wednesday afternoon.  We had a full and happy house! Most of the rest of the week was spent shopping, ordering a cake, shopping, ordering balloons, meat trays, shopping, cancelling a cake, shopping, re-ordering a cake, shopping, cooking, shopping, baking, shopping, wrapping gifts, shopping, making favors, shopping, laughing, and oh, yes, shopping.  On Thursday, S and T actually got to go golfing before the rain so that was fun for them. 

Sister, L, got bad news on Friday about her mother-in-law and had to make hasty plans to leave.  Luckily, her son was able to fly up to take her back so they left on Saturday evening.  We missed her, but things do happen and we all, of course, understood.  Sadly, but not unexpectedly, her mother-in-law passed away on Monday.  Our sympathies go to J and family.

We were able to get the keys to the shower room on  Saturday evening so we began to decorate.  E and M helped so that was great.  Back at home again, we did the last minute things and tried to rest for the Big Day!

Sunday~~shower day!  It was hot, humid and rainy but that did not stop the fun and frolics!!  Daughter-in-law, C, and grandson, N, arrived and I was so glad to see them.  N is a foot taller than last time and C brought and fixed a lot of food.  Husband, M and brother S did all the running around and picking things up (cake, platters, balloons) early so all was ready on time.  Thanks, guys!!  We had a good crowd, close to 30 with all of us, a lot of food, and good fun.  It was good to see some people I haven't seen for a while.  The 4 little girls were excellent and I was so proud of them.  L and M got many beautiful gifts and both really do appreciate it.  Baby C will be well dressed, well fed, well toyed and well taken care of!!!

Brother S and M had to leave after the shower~~I was bummed.  M, I don't think sat for 5 minutes and worked like a horse.  S and L also worked just as hard and I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.  We did, tho, find time for the Wi.  We all played and it was great fun!.

Daughter-in-law C and grandson N spent the nite here~~just don't see them enough and I so missed son, M.  All of my grand kids are nice people and such fun.  They are wonderful!

So, here it is a few days later.  Everyone is gone~~back to their homes and lives, after helping me with mine, and it is so quiet now.   I don't like it.  It was nice having a houseful and great to have both my sister and brother here at the same time.  I hope we can do it again soon but without the bustle of something going on!

Thanks to all of my family for their help.  It turned out as well as it did because of all of you and I appreciate it all so much.

Another shower is happening soon and I'm looking forward to it.  And very soon, now, my little grandchild is going to make his/her appearance~~he/she is the reason for all this partying!  I just can't wait to see and hold and love him or her.

The rest of the summer will be a time of waiting and fun times with the parents to be.  I hope it doesn't stay as hot and humid as it has been but it won't matter~~Baby C will soon be here!!

Well!

I did not realize that I have so much power!  I wished the rain away, and by gosh, it went away!  Now, however, I want it back.  We are in the midst of L's weather~~~HOT and HUMID and I do NOT like it at all!!  You just cannot please me, I guess.

Ok, I just wanted to impress you all with my power!!

Rain, rain, go away...............

............little n wants to play!  I don't know which is worse: bright, sunny, hot days when the sun shines in so you can see every little speck of dust because I don't walk around with a dust cloth in my hands, or, dark, dreary, rainy, and windy days such as we have now had for what seems like days on end and more to come!   L hates the three H's and so do I but I also hate this depressing weather we are having here.  No happy medium, I guess.

It's been a while, hasn't it?  Well, I warned you people, didn't I??  Anyway, we have been playing a lot with the Wii and the Wii Fit, and I must say, it really is a lot of fun.  Of course, I don't do everything yet but I do do a lot and I love watching the kids.  H and A had fun with the Wii Fit over Memorial Day and I love watching them.  Bowling is my personal favorite, but unlike one of the kids said, I can be beaten and, in fact, was!  So, now it's game on, L!!!  I do also still go to thearpy and I am still enjoying it.

So, you have all heard me talk and laugh about things Mom said and did.  Heck, YOU'VE all  talked and laughed about things Mom said and did!  Well, now that I AM Mom it may not be quite as funny as I had originally thought!  She once addressed mail to me by my maiden name and made it worse by putting %M.F.!   I had been married for 4 years!  And our neighbor and friend was our mailman so he never let me forget it!  But, of course, the clincher was her note on the back of the envelope which said, "Whoops, I already put the stamp on it".  Well...............a few weeks ago I called L at work and asked the person who answered if I could talk to LF!  He went to her and asked if her Mom had not accepted the marriage yet?!  She thought it was funny and I know that years from now, or maybe sooner, she will be telling stories of me and laughing, as will all of my kids.  It's just a natural progression of things!

Mom also had trouble with names, and so do I.  Granted, in a different way than Mom.  She sent M a very nice, personal and touching birthday card once and then wrote, Dear Bill!!  Struck me so funny!!  Well my problem is exchanging the first letter of each person's name with each other.  For instance, Bev and Dick become Dev and Bick.  Jeet and Peen.  FairyLou and Mill.  The list goes on and on.  With Dick and Lynn~~~~you do the math!  I don't even realize I do it till everyone laughs.  Just a quirk I have.

Q dog has some quirks, as most of you know.  The other day a new one appeared but it wasn't unexpected.  An empty plastic water bottle was on the floor and she was headed for the door when she saw it.  Put the brakes on and stopped dead, scared silly.  Would not go past it.   Things like that happen a lot with her.  Kind of like me yesterday when I spotted a BIG spider (and let's face it, they are ALL BIG!!) and stopped dead, scared silly, till M killed it.  I guess she gets it from me!!

My side tables are in and we will go and get them if it ever stops raining.  It may be a while. 

We are going to L and M's tomorrow nite for a small dinner party for M's birthday.  It will be fun.

Ok, that's it for now.  More at a later date.  Probably much later date!!!!

Update

I don't know where the time goes, but, as I have said in the past, the older I get the faster it goes, that's for sure!  I keep being reminded that I need to update my blog~~I thought I just had, but actually it's been almost 2 months!  In that time, I 've done a little traveling~~~ok, no, I didn't hop on a plane and fly off to Paris or anything~~I'm not a jet setter~~but I did hop into a car and go to Vermont, Connecticut and North Carolina.  Not all at once.  First I (we) went to Vermont to celebrate Christmas/Easter with M and his family.    It was one of those oh, so rare times when we could all be together at the same time and,believe me, it made my year.  I had such a good time.  Our 3 and a 1/2 grandchildren were all together and they had such fun.  They played Wii (as did we all); they went to a local farm where they hunted for Easter eggs, colored eggs, did crafts, rode horses~~ they just had a wonderful time and so did I, just watching them.  The Easter Bunny arrived that nite and hid so many good treats and M and C had a great meal for us.  A very nice time.

A couple of weeks later, T and B took me to Connecticut and I spent a week there before S, the girls and I went to North Carolina.  We spent most of our week there at the cottage but did go to Cary for a few days to see my nephews and their familes.  It was nice to see them all~~N and J are great kids and H and A and they got along so well~~it was as if they see each other all the time.  I wish they could.  We had a terrific dinner out~~ask the kids about that~~and did a lot of shopping.  Fun times for me, not so much for the girls!  Back at the cottage, S and H went out on the lake in kayaks.  I thought I would die!  H is so little and had never been in one before and here she was, all alone in the big thing!  Fun for her, not so much for me!   Anyway, she did beautifully~~if you didn't know better, you would have thought she was brought up in one.  They really enjoyed it~~ A did go with her Mom for a bit but then came back and went swimming~~yup~~swimming in the freezing cold water.  In her clothes.  She loved it.  She loves everything.  We all loved the puppy!  She is so darn cute and almost, I said, almost, made me think about getting one of my own.  Luckily, I am over that now!  Then it was back to Connecticut where M came to get me and now I am home again, home again, jiggity jig!    I got to see Miss H do her presentation at school and I was so proud of her.  I missed everyone here and am happy to be home again, but I would like to get back to Vermont and spend some time there.  Maybe in a while.

So that's my update for now.  I probably won't get here again for another couple of months.  Who knows?  Ok, S, it's your turn!  And you, too, L!

   

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