HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BETH!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY WONDERFUL DAUGHTER!!

NOT AGING GRACEFULLY TODAY

Yesterday I started out being 63 years old. By last night I felt like I was 75. The cause of this instant aging is due to technology overload. Actually there was one other reason also.

I took my Toyota into a detailing shop in the morning to leave it for the day. It would be "detailed" which would include interior shampoo and exterior wax. I have never had a car detailed before, but since this car is a 2004 and I have had it since summer of 2003, it really needed a very good cleaning. I was quoted a price of $155. Okay. When I picked it up at 4 p.m. the price had risen to $191. Before I was told the new price, I had my checkbook in hand (to use credit/debit card would cost 2% more) and I said, "$155.00 right?" He then proceeded to explain the new price, but said I could get a "break" because he thought I had already written out $155.00 on the check. When he realized I had not yet filled in the blanks on the check, he said $191.00. I said "what about my break?" It was not to be. The reason for the increase in cost, which was very patiently explained to me (remember I am 63 and apparently need special care), was that there were "spores" on the car and it took longer to clean it. I thought, mushroom spores, viral spores, bacterial spores? It sounded dangerous. Well, they decided it was due to garden mulch in the air and it had imbedded itself into the finish on the car. We haven't mulched anything and the car has been in the garage when I am not using it. But, the neighbors are mulching a lot. As I drove away in my $191 detailed car, I berated myself for not just refusing to pay the extra. After all, he had looked at the car and quoted me $155 a few days ago.

After I left the garage I went to Verizon to pick out a new cell phone. Part of this story is too complicated to explain because it involves a new plan my husband is getting for the home landline which changes to a cell phone that works through the computer and keeps the same phone number. I was supposed to pick up a new phone for that also. I attempted to explain what I was there to do and I might as well have been speaking Latin. They totally didn't get it even though it turned out that everything I was supposed to pick up was sitting in a bag on the floor with my husband's name on it. I gave up on that and went over to the display to pick out my new cell phone. That alone aged me about 10 years. Why do I want my phone to play music, games or videos? I did find a phone I liked, though.

Last night my computer stopped allowing internet access. I have no idea why and this morning it was the same and all day today. There was a message on my phone from verizon that for $9.99 additional per month I could have computer assistance for our verizon internet line. Did they plant a bug in my computer that caused it to cease working and force me to get more service for more money? For no reason the computer started working again and I jumped right in and started this very wordy, detailed post. Suddenly a light flashed on that Blogger was not automatically saving everything and then it disconnected. I am trying to finish this post because the internet (verizon) keeps kicking me out.

I am now not 63 years old. I am at least 90.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

I hope all of you mothers are having a lovely day. The weather here is gorgeous for a change. I talked to my daughter and my grandsons on the phone and also my sister. Unfortunately, I won't be seeing any of them today -- the family is so scattered. The above photo is my daughter at six weeks old and me. Don't I look like a proud mama? I was so happy to have a little girl!

I plan to plant a few tomato plants today which I have been procrastinating on doing. Ken and I will probably go out to eat dinner this afternoon.

I made $114 on my yard sale yesterday -- not bad since I only did it for two hours. Then I went to an auction and spent $38.00. In one pocket, out the other.

Are any of you on Facebook? It has been so much fun connecting with people I have not seen for years and years. Cheryll -- you know one of them is you! Another is someone I haven't thought of for 50 years. He was the star of our sixth grade operetta and I had a slight crush on him after that. Well -- there he was on FB yesterday asking to be a friend (you have to ask on FB). Turns out he had a crush on me at the same time (we were about 12 years old I think) and neither of us knew about the other's crush. So funny! I have also connected with a boy who was one of my friends when we were only about three or four years old. That was really incredible. It is so nice to see that these people have gone on to have happy and successful lives with families and even grandchildren now. The circle of life........

Have a happy day, dear bloggers!

Always,

We have sunshine!! Actually, we had a little sunshine yesterday in between the rain showers. I just dropped Beau off at the groomer's for his monthly "do." He is so funny. He definitely knows the difference between when I get up and don't plan to go anywhere, when I get up and plan to go somewhere without him, and when I get up and plan to take him somewhere. He is so smart. When he knows I need to put the leash on him to go in the car he starts running from room to room so I can't catch him. But the thing is -- he really wants to go. Crazy dog.

Our community yard sale is tomorrow and I really have to start moving some stuff out to the garage and put tags on things. I don't have a lot to put out, but at least it is a start to get rid of some stuff I really don't need. I have a problem with pricing things. Any suggestions?

Well, off to the garage.

Always,

RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY....PLEASE!

I swear it has been rainy, cloudy, chilly, grey, depressing and just plain awful for the past week. It is supposed to continue until Sunday I think. Everyone seems miserable because of it. It is amazing what joy a little sunshine brings into our lives.

I went to one of the local thrift shops today and came away with a few things: a cut glass ice bucket with little ice tongs, an oil lamp with a cut glass base, a vintage pitcher like three others I have, and a few little linen doilies. Our neighborhood is having a yard sale on Saturday. I am trying to decide what to put out. It is so hard for me to get rid of things. I keep thinking I can use it or paint it or save it for later. HELP! I have to get rid of some stuff!

Always,

MV LAST CHANCE IS AFLOAT!

I have written a few times about my husband's boat building project. He and two friends formed a partnership to buy an old damaged boat and rebuild it. It has been a project for the last three to four years. All the important things have been redesigned and rebuilt and it was ready to put in the water a month or so ago. They found a leak and it had to be taken out and repaired. Last Saturday it was ready to launch again. This time it went smoothly - no leaks. It spent a night at the dock and then the next day it was towed a hundred yards up the canal to its new slip. It was towed for safety reasons and because there are some engine hookups that have to be completed.

The boys/men are happy. Here are pictures of it being assisted in its move.

ALWAYS,

A GREAT WEEKEND

I had a fun weekend. I met my sister in Pennsylvania on Friday and on Saturday we met with a cousin we had never really met. Dad's father died when he was one year old (in the flu epidemic of 1918). Linda and I never knew very much about that part of the family because our grandmother remarried when our father was young. Our father kept his father's last name even though his step father was the only father he ever knew. We have a few photos, but that was all. Our cousin brought a few other cousins with him and we looked at tons of old photos -- many of the people none of us knew. We then went to the cemetery where our father's father and grandparents and several other relatives were buried. We had never been there either. It was a very interesting day!

Yesterday I spent the day at our local auction. As you know, that is one of my favorite things to do. Here are the things I purchased:

A set of sterling demitasse spoons and sugar tong - very old.

A Fenton milk glass shoe.

Two rustic candle chandeliers, one of which I will sell to a lady at the auction who really wanted one. I have been looking on-line for one of these for ages and couldn't believe I found two. $45 for both!

A cranberry glass bowl - large and heavy.

A cranberry glass candy dish.

Two glass candelabra

A spinning wheel (missing some parts) for my daughter who knows how to spin.

Three brand new chairs for my husband's boat.

It is about 93 degrees here today -- beautiful, but too hot.

Always,

I AM SICK OF BEING SICK!

I have been sick since last Tuesday. I was in bed for two days with a fever and feeling lousy. I went out Saturday night to celebrate the launching of my husband's boat and I was getting hoarse and kept talking so now I have laryngitis. I am finally going to the doctor tomorrow. I think I need some antibiotics. I used to wish for laryngitis in high school when we had to do oral reports. I have never had it before. Anyway -- here is a little bouquet of violets I picked in our yard. They are in a tiny porcelain vase that belonged to my mother.

Always,

HAPPY EASTER AND HAPPY PASSOVER!

THANK YOU TO GRAPHICS FAIRY FOR
THIS VINTAGE CARD.

Happy Easter and Happy Passover to everyone. Isn't this the cutest card? Notice the little chick holding some violets?

Spring is finally here -- I found some violets in my yard...among the weeds, but violets nevertheless.

We won't be seeing any family this Easter. Everyone is too far away. We may go out for dinner unless I decide to bake a small ham for the two of us. If I do that I will make some scalloped potatoes and some of that Jiffy baked corn and a vegetable. I often color eggs even if there are no children to enjoy them, but this year is turning out to be such a low-key Easter that I won't be doing the eggs.

Tonight I went out to dinner with two girlfriends, one of whom was celebrating her birthday. We went to a new barbeque restaurant that just opened. It was packed so I guess it is popular, but the smell of smoked meat was so intense it gave me a headache. My husband wanted me to bring him home some ribs and when I got them home, I realized they never gave me the sides that went with it. So back I went to the restaurant. And then home again. Husband stated that they were the worst ribs and greens he had ever eaten. So much for that restaurant!

Always,

A GOOD BOOK

I just finished an excellent book entitled "The English Major" by Jim Harrison. He is especially known for his novella "Legends of the Fall" which was made into a movie (with Brad Pitt).

I really enjoyed this book. Oh, some of it may be somewhat colorful in language or innuendo, but it was so entertaining. It is the story of Cliff, a sixty year old farmer and ex-teacher, whose recently divorced wife has sold his farm and with it his life as he has known it for many years. Cliff decides to take a long road trip across America, "armed with a childhood puzzle of the United States and a mission to rename all the states and state birds." His adventures are funny, sad and insightful.

A quote from the book that I like: "We're forced to look back because we can't see forward."

I got this book from the library and I just put a hold on Mr. Harrison's memoir, "Off To The Side." He has a tremendous volume of work to his name, including fiction, non-fiction, children's books and poetry. I know I will be reading much more of his work.

Always,

MY SUNDAY

Hi, everyone. The weather today was beautiful and this was my day:

I was on the office schedule today so I called on the way in and they were pretty well covered so I went to church. A beautiful Palm Sunday Mass. Then I went to the office and immediately left to go up to the convenience store for a sandwich. I stayed at the office about an hour and a half and then left to meet a friend to go to a Celtic harp concert. It was held at the local library. It really wasn't a huge concert - just one woman who played the Celtic Harp and the pipe and flute and sang Irish songs. Very beautiful. Here is a picture of the harp she played.

After the concert I went to the grocery store and wandered around trying to decide on Sunday dinner. I planned on pork chops, but I ended up with a rotissierie chicken, stove top stuffing, gravy from a jar and peas. Certainly simple.

I am now heading to the television to watch Celebrity Apprentice. Who will be fired tonight?

I am back. They fired two people tonight. Donald, Donald, Donald. You never know what he is going to do.

I have been getting together the Easter goodies I will send to the grandchildren tomorrow and I am finishing a book before I go to sleep.

Goodnight all.

Always,

P.S. If you read my blog and haven't posted your link to my "Followers" on the left sidebar, I would be so happy if you do. I like to click on your happy face to follow your blog, too.

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

Hello, all. I just realized that it has been ten days or so since my last post. I just haven't had that much to say and I haven't been very good about checking in with all of you on your blogs either.

I have been doing the usual in Violetlady's world: reading, watching old movies on television, cooking, shopping for goodies at the local thrift shops, playing around with the family genealogy, working some, talking on the phone, etc., etc., etc. While searching some on-line records I found that someone who had once been very important in my life had died -- nine years ago. I had been meaning to contact this person for years and never did - now it is too late. I have been truly bothered by this for the last few weeks. I think my sadness is caused mainly by the fact that it just brings home to me how a chapter in our lives can end so suddenly. If there is someone you think you should get in touch with, you should do it before it is too late.

Well, at least Spring is here...sort of. There are a few things blooming and the weather is getting slightly milder. I will share with you a photo of my youngest cat, Chloe, who was sitting on my desk looking at me. Isn't she sweet? What is she trying to tell me? Probably, time to open a can, Mom.

Always,

THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING!

The first day of Spring and things are starting to bud and bloom and the birds are very busy. I have been putting seed out in several feeders and they are really enjoying it. I am going to have to start buying the seed in bulk. I think the squirrels are eating as much as the birds, though.

The view from my home office window:

I don't know what that is that blooms every spring, but it is very pretty.

I attended an auction last weekend. I really should stay away from them. I always come home with things that I really don't need. This time I got a primitive bench (which I love), a Gone With The Wind lamp that is missing the top shade, three Wallace Nutting prints, two of which need work, and a set of brand new lamps for my grandsons' bedroom, but I realize that they are so heavy it will cost more than I paid for them to ship them. I usually get so caught up in the moment when the bidding is going on that I often forfeit my better judgment. While I was at the auction I did one of my favorite things to do there -- eat. I had a scrapple sandwich for breakfast and a hot dog and chips for lunch. Healthy, huh?

Always,

NOTE:

A few commenters have asked what scrapple is. I forgot that this is not a common dish in some parts of the country. Here is a description from Wikipedia:

"Scrapple is a savory mush of pork scraps and trimmings combined with cornmeal and flour, often buckwheat flour. The mush is formed into a loaf, and slices of the scrapple are then fried before serving. Scraps of meat left over from butchering, not used or sold elsewhere, were made into scrapple to avoid waste. Scrapple is best known as a regional American food of Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland."

Here in Delaware we even have an "Apple-Scrapple Festival" every year. I grew up on scrapple, my mother's mother made it herself from scraps from the hog butchering on their farm (before I was born), and I LOVE it.

GIRLS NIGHT OUT

Last night I hosted a jewelry party. This particular one was for sterling silver jewelry for which I used to be a representative. I decided it would be fun to do a little get together and if some friends would like to buy something, fine. But this is a very low pressure line to sell--the stuff is beautiful. My thought this time was just to get some friends together - I wasn't the one selling the jewelry, my rep was. I planned this about a month ago and invited about twenty women. I decided to serve a light supper and also have a drawing for a piece of my silver jewelry from my collection. I also planned to have Mama Mia- the sing along version - on the television for fun.

The menu was white chicken chili, cornbread, guacamole, salad, brownies, and beverages, to include sangria. If you knew me well you would know that I am a terrible procrastinator. By yesterday afternoon I was ready to have a major meltdown. I kept shopping for more things I needed and put off the prep until very late. People were due to start arriving between 5 o'clock and 6 o'clock. I gave up on my from scratch cornbread and used Jiffy mix and added a can of corn. Guess what? It was excellent! I also gave up on the brownies and bought frozen mini cream puffs and some strawberries. Guacamole - no. Just added the avocado to the salad. Sangria -- just bought the bottled kind and added slices of orange and a little ginger ale. The recipe I use for the chili is the one from Bush's Beans and I spice it up a little more. Served with shredded cheese and sour cream it is delicious.

And the twenty or so people invited? Almost everyone came and the party was a big success, if I do say so myself. Some people did buy jewelry and that means I get some free jewelry for being the hostess. Yay!

Everyone left by 8:30 or 9:00 and I was beat. I left the clean up for today. It is really tiring to be the "hostess with the mostest" - ha, ha. Actually I haven't done much entertaining for many years until recently.

I actually had another "girls night out" late this afternoon when a few girlfriends and I went to a concert at a local venue and saw the Diamonds perform. Do you remember them from the 50's? Well, maybe you aren't as old as I am. They are not the original guys, but they did a very good oldies show. We were rockin'! Four old (not really) chicks, looking around at all the old people in the audience and wondering if we looked that old -- no, of course not. Anyway, it was a lot of fun and I was home by 7:00!

Always,

SNOW!!!!!!!!

I am so happy -- we finally have a decent snowfall. Here in coastal Delaware we get very little snow. It has something to do with proximity to the ocean. I am from Pennsylvania so I grew up with lots of heavy snowfalls. I remember when I was little we could hardly open the front door after it snowed a lot. I lived on a great hill and all the kids in the neighborhood would sled on it. Actually there were a lot of hills and sometimes you could start on our hill and if you had enough momentum you could keep going around the corner and down another two hills. Our dog, Teddy, would invariably get out of the house and chase the kids on their sleds.

I am sitting here in my little home office looking out at the snow coming down. It started last night and it is now 10:40 a.m. and still snowing a little. It is so beautiful.

My daughter is in Massachusetts and she is expecting a total accumulation of 15 inches -- on top of the foot or so they already have! My grandsons are in one school district and Beth teaches in another -- they are all home today. And little Ian's 9th birthday is today -- what a great present. Happy Birthday, Ian!

SHARING A SATURDAY LAUGH

Why, Why, Why?

(from Paul Galvin)


Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are almost dead?
___________________________________

Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds' when they already know there is not enough money?
___________________________________

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars; but have to check when you say the paint is still wet?
___________________________________

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?
___________________________________

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?
___________________________________

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?
___________________________________

Whose idea was it to put an 'S' in the word 'lisp'?
___________________________________

If people evolved from apes,
why are there still apes?
___________________________________

Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?
___________________________________

Is there ever a day that mattresses
are not on sale?
___________________________________

Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?

Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?

How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?

Always,

....TO GRANDCHILDREN'S HOUSE WE GO!!

I am posting the pictures first because it is too hard to try to get them under each paragraph. Does anyone know an easy way to do it?


Me with my daughter and grandsons.

What a great meal!

Helping to build the giant Lego pirate.

Beautiful snow!

Snow isn't always beautiful!

I got home yesterday from Massachusetts. It was a nice visit - a little short - but better than nothing. The grandsons seem to be taller every time I see them (which is every few months). There was still lots of snow there and we had a fresh dusting one of the nights.

I am not a mall shopper, but we were at two different malls on two different days. Each day to get presents for the boys. Ian's birthday is next Sunday. Cooper's isn't until July. So they both got early birthday presents! There was a Lego Master at one of the malls which we had to visit. He was building an 8 ft. tall pirate and there were hundreds of kids there to help.

Beth made THE best dinner on Saturday night - shredded chicken tacos, fresh guacamole, black beans and rice......yum. We visited the local thrift shop in the afternoon and I found two blue willow plates - one a divided diner (as in diner, not dinner) plate for my display and another larger platter. If I haven't mentioned it before, I have been using Blue Willow dishes since I was 21. A very long time. I have some other dishes, too, but the main ones I have always used are Blue Willow. I always get a kick out of the old movies I always watch when I see families sitting down to dinner and what kind of dishes do they use? Blue Willow!

THIS N' THAT

On Sunday I attended one of my favorite local auctions. It was crowded and had lots of good STUFF. I ate my usual hot dog and watched the action. I came away with this oriental rug (that's Chloe testing it out). The prices for stuff at this auction is unbelievable. They even sell some cars which go for great prices. This rug was $225 which is a very good price for an oriental rug. You would pay that for a rug at Home Depot! After I got it home I noticed that it is a little crooked on the ends, but I can live with it. I saw a beautiful armoire that was probably about 75 years old and I would say if it were in a showroom it would be priced at $1,500 or more. It went for $335!!

Tomorrow I leave for Massachusetts to visit my daughter. She and my grandsons are off from school this week so I will go up and spend a few days with them. My son-in-law has to work, unfortunately. Beth and Dale are both teachers, but at different schools so their holidays don't always coincide.

I usually get stressed whenever I have to travel anywhere. The older I get, the worse it gets. It is just the preparation - what should I pack, clean up the house, get to the airport in time, etc., etc. Are you like that, too?

I will take some pictures up there and share them with you when I return on Sunday.

All the best to all of you,

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

MAY YOU ALL HAVE THE SWEETEST VALENTINE'S DAY!

(Thank you to Graphics Fairy for the vintage Valentine)