TODAY ON BEECH DRIVE

I know I haven't written for awhile. In a nutshell: there was Thanksgiving, a real estate class, several doctor's appointments, a funeral and....and....is that all?? I feel like I have been SO busy.

My daughter and son-in-law and grandsons and my granddog came down from Massachusetts for the holiday. How wonderful it was to spend some time with them. The boys are growing so fast, but are still my little boys -- the same with my daughter. She will always be my little girl. I was in a funk for a few days after they left because I missed them so much. I think the older we get the more we miss our children if they aren't close to us. For those of you who have your family close by, treasure this because you are very, very lucky.

I am now recuperating from something -- the flu, bronchitis - something. I went to the doctor and am on antibiotics. I came down with it on Wednesday and am just now starting to feel better.

We attended a funeral on Saturday for one of my husband's very close friends. He was only 58. It was a graveside service -- very cold. I was bundled up and I hope I don't have a relapse. There was a bagpiper which only added to the sadness of the occasion. We just can't believe the friend is gone.

This is what happened to my Sunday dinner:

Since I haven't had much appetite I had made a beautiful chicken noodle soup and was planning to have it for dinner. I had chunks of chicken in it, along with pastina and some corn. I had a cup of it this afternoon and was really looking forward to it at dinner. My husband wanted stuffed green peppers and he had brought home the peppers and the ground beef last night so for his dinner I went to some bit of trouble and attention to make the stuffed peppers along with some creamed corn. I don't like stuffed peppers or creamed corn. He had been out working on his boat all day and when he came home he was in the kitchen and I called to him that the peppers were in the oven and would be finished in thirty minutes. He didn't answer so I yelled out "THE PEPPERS ARE IN THE OVEN"!!. Did you hear me? Yes, he said. He proceeded to come into the family room with bowl after bowl of chicken soup. I said, "Aren't you going to ruin your dinner with all that soup?" He said, "Isn't this dinner?" To make matters worse, he had dumped the entire pan of creamed corn into the soup and declared, "This is delicious!" So - gone was my chicken noodle soup and after he ate one of the stuffed peppers I asked him how it was. "Uh, so-so." MEN!!!!

TODAY ON BEECH DRIVE

I got home from Massachusetts on Sunday. It was a nice trip and a good visit. Those little boys are really growing fast. They both went out on Halloween. I thought the twelve year old would say he was too old, but he did go out and they brought home tons of candy. I took some pictures on my daughter's camera and I am waiting for her to download them and e-mail them to me (hint).

My daughter and I went to our favorite junk/antique shop. Here is a picture of the sign. I came away with a few more things to add to my ever-growing collection of "stuff." I may need to open a store of my own soon.

By the way, here is a picture of my little hutch that I showed you before. I decided to leave it "au natural" and I filled it with more "stuff."

I am happy that the election is over and even though Barack Obama was not my man, I am sure he will do as good a job as he can, considering the mess that he is stepping into. President Bush will probably be glad to get back to his ranch.

I live in Sussex County, one of only three counties in Delaware. We have a history here of celebrating "Returns Day." This dates back over a hundred years and is essentially when they used to get together to count the ballots or returns from the voting. It is a big deal here. Parades, food vendors, music, local officials riding in horse-drawn carriages. They even literally "bury the hatchet." This year Senator Joe Biden (from Delaware) was there. I heard it was a madhouse with Secret Service and extra security. It also rained all day. Violetlady did not attend! Another tidbit: Senator Biden's wife Jill graduated from my (and Lynne's) high school in Pennsylvania.

So that is about it for tonight. Oh - one more thing. If you notice the upper left corner of my blog there is a place where you can click and show that you follow my blog. Blogger has added this feature which is kind of cute.

TODAY ON BEECH DRIVE

What wonderful weather we have been having. I just love autumn. I have a pumpkin and mums on my front doorsteps, Indian corn hanging on the door and an "autumn tablescape" on my seldom-used dining room table. My daughter and son-in-law and grandsons are coming down from Massachusetts next month for Thanksgiving. I am going up there at the end of the month to visit over Halloween. Life is good.

Yesterday I drove up to Pennsylvania to meet up with my sister to put flowers on our parents' grave. (Here is a picture of my sister relaxing while waiting for me to arrive at the cemetery - late as always. She has the holes dug all ready and waiting for the flowers.)

On my way back to the turnpike to head home I drove past the house in which I grew up, past my old elementary school and high school, past houses where friends used to live. I stopped into my mother's favorite consignment shop (we used to love to go there together) and I bought a beautiful blue wrap scarf to wear with my blue jeans. Mom would have approved. It was a happy-memory filled day.

Thanks for stopping by!

TODAY ON BEECH DRIVE

I made it to church today - had to sit in the choir loft because I was a little late and the place was packed.

It is 90 degrees today and it feels like the humidity is high as well.

I am in the process of reading three books right now: Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich, R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton and The Santa Letters by Stacy Gooch-Anderson. I don't usually read more than one book at a time, but two of these are library books and I have to get them read in a timely manner. The Santa Letters is being read for a review which will appear here on September 22. I also have books that are heavier reading and I read them sporadically. I just finished James Lee Burke's latest, Swan Peak, which was (as always) excellent. That man's writing is so beautiful; his prose is like poetry. I have been working my way through Sue Grafton's alphabet mysteries from A to T.

I am off to the movies with some friends to see Brad Pitt and George Clooney in Burn After Reading. I'll update my opinion tonight.

UPDATE: Burn After Reading was hilarious!! If you have a chance, go see this movie. The dialog is full of a certain four letter word, so I would not have young people see it, but if you don't mind that it is full of a lot of laughs. It is a Coen Brothers movie if you are familiar with them ("No Country for Old Men.")

That's the news from Beech Drive today.

TODAY ON BEECH DRIVE

I am a Realtor and today was my day on the schedule to be on duty. It was dead! No calls, no one stopping in, nothing. The real estate market is definitely in a slump and according to all reports, it may continue for awhile yet. People are buying, though. The market where I work in Delaware is primarily vacation home or retirement home shopping. If you are buying within the resort town proper the prices for a single family home are close to or exceed a million dollars. "Deals" are non-existent anymore.




After I got home I took Beau for his walk, stopping along the way to chat with neighbors and other dogs. For the second time in as many weeks Beau went after (with teeth bared) other much larger dogs. It seems to happen if the dog runs towards him (usually in happy exuberance). Beau believes the dog is being aggressive so Beau defends himself and me. At least this is what Beau told me!



We have been dealing with fleas for the past month. First the Frontline stopped working and then the Advantage stopped working. He is now on Promeris and Capstar and they seem to be working. I still see a flea here and there and he still scratches, but I think it is improving. I bought flea foggers which I haven't used yet. What a pain.


I have a pot roast simmering in the crock pot and I will make mashed potatoes and veggies for dinner. I always use the crock pot for roasts - even a chuck roast can be cut with a fork. I don't use it for other recipes, but I love it for things like soups, roasts, stews.


The storm here didn't turn out to be anything. I hope the same is true for all of you. Hurricane Ike is the next one we need to worry about!


Good health and happiness to you and yours,