Our ten year old pre-owned cats arrived Monday. As the previous owner, Marco, was carrying them up our steps the handle came off the carrier and they rolled a couple of steps. Not a great beginning. When the carrier was opened and Ralph left the room, they went into hiding and stayed hidden til the middle of the night.
Sylvester, the boy, is huge! He's at least 20 pounds! His sister Satina, "Tina", is smaller but still hefty. We thought she might be invisible for the first few days, because we never saw her. The last few nights she's been sociable at 4 a.m. They're still exploring their new house.
Eventually they'll stand still long enough for me to get pictures.
We're going to Mike and Donna's tomorrow for Easter dinner. I made Joseph's Trifle, banana split dessert, and cream cheese/tomato dip tonight. Tomorrow morning I'll make pineapple stuffing, brussels sprouts, and crescent hot dogs. We're taking Mom Florence with us. She enjoys going to Mike and Donna's- as soon as she sits down, Mike hands her a glass of wine.
Tomorrow is also Big Mike's birthday- he'll be 57.
We're off from work all week. Monday my car is going in the shop to get the oil changed, brakes checked, and the window motor checked. Friday Mom has an eye doc appt. This is the 3rd one she's had- she has a habit of cancelling if snow is forecast, without waiting to see if it actually snows.
My goal for the week is to make Baby Girl's quilts for the shower, which is coming up fast. She's the size of an ear of corn this week. I just finished her afghan.
And another week is over!
Holly
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Palm Sunday
It's spring! On paper, anyway. We're supposed to get snow tomorrow, but the last several times snow has been predicted, it's been only a dusting. We'll see.
Steph and Dan will be home this afternoon, so the dogs will go home. They've been really good all week, we only had to go out in the middle of the night once. It'll be nice to go back to our no-dog routine. And the cats are coming tomorrow! Ralph keeps forgetting to ask their names. He's excited that they are coming to live with us.
Baby Girl was a large mango for the past week. We're giving a baby shower for them on April 20, which should be fun. I've gotten some small, cute gifts for her. And Manda and Ben bought a house for Baby Girl! They have settlement right after the shower. The house is in Mill Creek, their preferred town. It looks beautiful in the pictures.
We have a short work week- half day Thursday, off Friday and the whole next week! I'm ready for a break. I used 4 sick days in September when I had bronchitis, and one personal day in October, for Dave and Juliette's wedding, and I've been at work every other day. I have 31 sick days built up, and I'm hoarding them. I learned when I was so sick in 2010 and used 70 sick days in a row, to not waste them, because you never know what is going to happen.
I plan to use the week off to construct two crib sized quilts for Baby Girl. I was in Joann's Fabrics, and took pix of the baby panels with my phone. Ralph emailed them to Manda for me, and she picked the ones she liked. I also have flannel for some receiving blankets and for burp cloths.
Julianna was named a STAR at school! And Eddie went to the Meteor race with Ed, and took his bike, and he was taking scores back and forth.
Today would have been my grandmother Alice's birthday. Next Sunday is Big Mike's birthday. Mom has been teasing that he's now the patriarch of the family, since he's a grandfather. But she adds that she's still the matriarch, which trumps patriarch.
Ralph is off on his Sunday morning visit with his mom. She's continuing to decline, and he's so sad.
And the roofer guy finally came, and diagnosed a leak by the skylight. It needs flashing, wood, and shingles, but will cost a lot less than I was afraid of!
Happy Spring!
Steph and Dan will be home this afternoon, so the dogs will go home. They've been really good all week, we only had to go out in the middle of the night once. It'll be nice to go back to our no-dog routine. And the cats are coming tomorrow! Ralph keeps forgetting to ask their names. He's excited that they are coming to live with us.
Baby Girl was a large mango for the past week. We're giving a baby shower for them on April 20, which should be fun. I've gotten some small, cute gifts for her. And Manda and Ben bought a house for Baby Girl! They have settlement right after the shower. The house is in Mill Creek, their preferred town. It looks beautiful in the pictures.
We have a short work week- half day Thursday, off Friday and the whole next week! I'm ready for a break. I used 4 sick days in September when I had bronchitis, and one personal day in October, for Dave and Juliette's wedding, and I've been at work every other day. I have 31 sick days built up, and I'm hoarding them. I learned when I was so sick in 2010 and used 70 sick days in a row, to not waste them, because you never know what is going to happen.
I plan to use the week off to construct two crib sized quilts for Baby Girl. I was in Joann's Fabrics, and took pix of the baby panels with my phone. Ralph emailed them to Manda for me, and she picked the ones she liked. I also have flannel for some receiving blankets and for burp cloths.
Julianna was named a STAR at school! And Eddie went to the Meteor race with Ed, and took his bike, and he was taking scores back and forth.
Today would have been my grandmother Alice's birthday. Next Sunday is Big Mike's birthday. Mom has been teasing that he's now the patriarch of the family, since he's a grandfather. But she adds that she's still the matriarch, which trumps patriarch.
Ralph is off on his Sunday morning visit with his mom. She's continuing to decline, and he's so sad.
And the roofer guy finally came, and diagnosed a leak by the skylight. It needs flashing, wood, and shingles, but will cost a lot less than I was afraid of!
Happy Spring!
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Top of the Morning to You!
It's St. Patrick's Day! My grandmother was Alice Carson from County Down. She and her sister Charlotte emigrated to the US in the 19teens. They almost missed the boat because they were getting their hair done! They were orangemen, or Irish Protestants. Alice married my grandfather, Michael Joseph Oehrl, who had a German family history. Pop was a lapsed Catholic, and Alice hated Catholics to the point that she wouldn't call him Michael, which is a traditional Irish Catholic name. She always called him Joe. I grew up hearing terrible things about "them goddammed fish eating papists."
Even as a kid, I knew they were a nuts on the subject of religion, and I think their constant ranting actually made me more tolerant of other religions. When I started going out with Ralph, they referred to him as 'that nice young man that Holly's seeing. He's Eye-talian, you know."
My dad was named Joe, and I think being raised among all the religious rants made him turn against all religions. He joined the Navy as soon as he could, and got outta Dodge!
Other than their religious fanaticism, my grandparents were good to us. They thought my brothers and I were perfect. Alice kept her Irish accent til the day she died, in 1988.
Steph and Dan are in Florida, so the dogs are here. The first night they settled down fine, last night Whiskey was restless so I didn't sleep well either.
Looks like we're getting a couple of cats! A friend of a friend of Ralph's on facebook is getting divorced and has to give up a ten year old brother and sister cat. Ralph is finally ready to have another cat in his life after Cliffie died in December, and after some conversation on facebook, we're taking the two cats after the dogs go back home. The owner describes them as goofy and sweet, and as ten year olds, they're probably mellow. I'm not up to a real young cat, but mellow is good. I've seen a pic, and they're both white and gray, which is different than our last couple of cats.
I'm still churning out the ruffly scarves, and giving them away as fast as I make them. I sent three down to Morgan with Steph, and I have a pile to be mailed to Manda.
And now back to the laundry!
Holly
Even as a kid, I knew they were a nuts on the subject of religion, and I think their constant ranting actually made me more tolerant of other religions. When I started going out with Ralph, they referred to him as 'that nice young man that Holly's seeing. He's Eye-talian, you know."
My dad was named Joe, and I think being raised among all the religious rants made him turn against all religions. He joined the Navy as soon as he could, and got outta Dodge!
Other than their religious fanaticism, my grandparents were good to us. They thought my brothers and I were perfect. Alice kept her Irish accent til the day she died, in 1988.
Steph and Dan are in Florida, so the dogs are here. The first night they settled down fine, last night Whiskey was restless so I didn't sleep well either.
Looks like we're getting a couple of cats! A friend of a friend of Ralph's on facebook is getting divorced and has to give up a ten year old brother and sister cat. Ralph is finally ready to have another cat in his life after Cliffie died in December, and after some conversation on facebook, we're taking the two cats after the dogs go back home. The owner describes them as goofy and sweet, and as ten year olds, they're probably mellow. I'm not up to a real young cat, but mellow is good. I've seen a pic, and they're both white and gray, which is different than our last couple of cats.
I'm still churning out the ruffly scarves, and giving them away as fast as I make them. I sent three down to Morgan with Steph, and I have a pile to be mailed to Manda.
And now back to the laundry!
Holly
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Happy Pi Day!
It's a geek thing- Pi is 3.14, so it's celebrated on 3.14 by eating pie. Boeing is big on Pi day celebrations, which is great for morale. Manda made a cherry pie to take to work.
We have big news! Steph and Dan got engaged on the second anniversary of their first date. It wasn't a surprise to anyone, but we're happy for them.
My internet group has gotten me totally hooked on Castle. I'm working my way thru the seasons of episodes. It's fun watching the relationship grow between Castle and Beckett.
This time change is awful! Yesterday I had to come home and nap. And I hate, hate, hate getting up in the dark. It's unnatural. But I do like the light after dinner.
Ben and Manda's house hunt continues. They know there's a house for them, they'd just like to find it and get moved in before Baby Girl arrives.
Julianna got a STAR award at school!
I'm reading a really good book by J.A. Jance, part of her Ali Reynolds series. It's called Left for Dead, and has a lot of twists. She's one of my favorite writers.
We're getting into sad anniversary time. Tomorrow it will be the 6th anniversary of the death of my friend Barbara's dad, and three weeks later will be the anniversary of my dad's death. I still talk to Dad, but not every day. I even have days that I don't think of him, and I thought that would never happen.
I'm still making ruffled no crochet scarves. As fast as I make them, I give them away! They take no concentration, other than counting to 9 over and over.
Tomorrow is Friday and payday!
Holly
We have big news! Steph and Dan got engaged on the second anniversary of their first date. It wasn't a surprise to anyone, but we're happy for them.
My internet group has gotten me totally hooked on Castle. I'm working my way thru the seasons of episodes. It's fun watching the relationship grow between Castle and Beckett.
This time change is awful! Yesterday I had to come home and nap. And I hate, hate, hate getting up in the dark. It's unnatural. But I do like the light after dinner.
Ben and Manda's house hunt continues. They know there's a house for them, they'd just like to find it and get moved in before Baby Girl arrives.
Julianna got a STAR award at school!
I'm reading a really good book by J.A. Jance, part of her Ali Reynolds series. It's called Left for Dead, and has a lot of twists. She's one of my favorite writers.
We're getting into sad anniversary time. Tomorrow it will be the 6th anniversary of the death of my friend Barbara's dad, and three weeks later will be the anniversary of my dad's death. I still talk to Dad, but not every day. I even have days that I don't think of him, and I thought that would never happen.
I'm still making ruffled no crochet scarves. As fast as I make them, I give them away! They take no concentration, other than counting to 9 over and over.
Tomorrow is Friday and payday!
Holly
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Sunny Days!
It's so nice and sunny and beautiful outside! Last night I set my bedside clock ahead, and reminded Ralph to do his. This morning I slept in, then got up and went and got my hair trimmed and went to Michaels crafts to get more scarf yarn. Then I stopped at Dunkin Donuts for a bagel for my brunch.
I know I haven't blogged in weeks. I felt so lousy for almost 3 weeks! From nausea, to a head cold, to a chest cold, back to nausea- I was going to work and that was it.
Last weekend I did feel well enough to go to Julianna's and Mom's birthday party. Julianna is very into something called Monster High, and she got a bunch of the ugliest dolls I've ever seen! And their arms and legs are interchangable!
It was nice to visit with Jeanne, Michelle, Charlotte, Sharon, Pam, Heather and Steph, Mom and Donna. The kids ran around inside and outside, and sang a lot of karaoke. The men were in and out of the garage. Our family parties are always so much fun!
Mom Florence is having more and more falls. The asst living people are concerned, and asked for a hospice eval. Hospice guidelines have changed, and you no longer need a terminal diagnosis. The eval was done Friday, and they've taken her on as a patient on a 90 day trial. They will provide an aide to help/supervise her showering- one of her falls was in the shower. She'll see a nurse twice a week, and they'll have a priest come to see her.
Baby Girl Briles is a dancing girl, Manda tells us! Two weeks ago she was the size of a banana, last week she was a carrot, which is weird, since I see as banana as bigger than a carrot.
Next week the dogs come to visit for a week while Steph and Dan head to sunny Florida!
My insurance company and my hospital of choice aren't playing nice right now, so I can't schedule my knee surgery yet, which is really annoying.
I read a really good series of books by Tasha Alexander. They take place in Victorian England, and the main character is Lady Emily. Emily married to get out from under her mother's control, and a few minutes later her husband went on safari to Africa and died. Emily was not in love with him, but during the course of her two year period of mourning she reads his journals and falls in love with him. Then comes word that he might be alive!
And the beat goes on!
I know I haven't blogged in weeks. I felt so lousy for almost 3 weeks! From nausea, to a head cold, to a chest cold, back to nausea- I was going to work and that was it.
Last weekend I did feel well enough to go to Julianna's and Mom's birthday party. Julianna is very into something called Monster High, and she got a bunch of the ugliest dolls I've ever seen! And their arms and legs are interchangable!
It was nice to visit with Jeanne, Michelle, Charlotte, Sharon, Pam, Heather and Steph, Mom and Donna. The kids ran around inside and outside, and sang a lot of karaoke. The men were in and out of the garage. Our family parties are always so much fun!
Mom Florence is having more and more falls. The asst living people are concerned, and asked for a hospice eval. Hospice guidelines have changed, and you no longer need a terminal diagnosis. The eval was done Friday, and they've taken her on as a patient on a 90 day trial. They will provide an aide to help/supervise her showering- one of her falls was in the shower. She'll see a nurse twice a week, and they'll have a priest come to see her.
Baby Girl Briles is a dancing girl, Manda tells us! Two weeks ago she was the size of a banana, last week she was a carrot, which is weird, since I see as banana as bigger than a carrot.
Next week the dogs come to visit for a week while Steph and Dan head to sunny Florida!
My insurance company and my hospital of choice aren't playing nice right now, so I can't schedule my knee surgery yet, which is really annoying.
I read a really good series of books by Tasha Alexander. They take place in Victorian England, and the main character is Lady Emily. Emily married to get out from under her mother's control, and a few minutes later her husband went on safari to Africa and died. Emily was not in love with him, but during the course of her two year period of mourning she reads his journals and falls in love with him. Then comes word that he might be alive!
And the beat goes on!
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