Hey there! Sounds like you're making good progress there Jane. Dad got out the table yesterday and I scrubbed it this morning. It has some stains on it so I hope the tablecloth is good and thick to cover it up. Bobby called yesterday to ask if I had a rack for a canner - I have 2 of them - so I will bring them to your house for him. I also have packed up 3 boxes of empty quart jars and a few lids, too. He and Sal are going to make marinara sauce. Yum.

i will try to fit in my hanging plant, too, but since I used up all my boxes I'm not sure that will make it. I got my new outfit all hemmed up and just have to iron it now. The big decision is which jewels to wear - lol!

It's really hot and humid here today but hope we have a little rain. Everything is parched. I have a few tomatoes (4) that I will try to remember to pick to bring to your house. They're just little ones. Do you need any more pears? The pears are beginning to get a little "blush" on them now and look very pretty. I'll try to remember to bring some anyway.

You know, when dad and I go anywhere, he starts nagging at me until I get all distracted and forgetful. He already started today. I told he we would stop at the bank in the morning to get some $$$. He said that would delay our departure - bank opens at 9!!! I told him it didn't make any difference what time we left - 5 in the morning or 2 in the afternoon. He is driving me nuts!

I have picked out some CD's to bring for Sunday - something to play before hand and some lighthearted stuff for afterwards.

Will see you tomorrow afternoon. And DON'T cook a big dinner for us. We have been having very light meals in the evening.

xxx'S
Mom

hmm no new blogs....

well it's thursday I have a few things left to do, and I have to go to the store one more time.
Weather report yesterday says 94 for sunday and today it says 88...I am hoping for 8with no humidity.
Jamie helped me carry in all the soda cases and beer yesterday and Jaida and Jamie will help me make some cupcakes today.

what I need people to bring...mom 1 table, ellen ice bucket and favor basket, Catherine 2 tables. Jackie's mother-Kerry sent me an email yesterday..justice of the peace needs to start right at 2 pm as he has another wedding at 2:45 pm. Adams mother marybeth and her boyfriend will not be coming- Adam uninvited his mother!
I am cooking a ham for friday night...not sure about saturday..I have a big chunk of beef ...we will see how it goes.
everyone have a great day and I will be seeing everyone soon.
luv
jane

it's quiet ...for a few seconds

Well Jaida was just waking up when Christain arrived this morning...jaida had fruit loops...and christain didn't want any....they played nicely for about and hour and a half....then the fighting was on...I thought I might beable to pull a few weeds while they played..WRONG...they were fighting over everything...they both went after each other...I had to break it up..Christain has a MOUTH on him...and has been a little naughty and earned 2 spankings so far today. They have both been begging me for the giant lollipops from Great Grandma...I said after lunch and after they have been good for a little while.

Mark is busy working in the yard..he decided to take down the gutters he started to put up because there are too many missing pieces and we have to pay for it first and be reimbursed ...and that won't work for us right now, but it looks a lot better with the new paint.
ok well I better say bye for now
luv
jane

I have not been posting here because my life is so quiet and uneventful - and I like it that way! Jane, Marianne, James, Christian, and Jaida were all here this weekend and we had a lovely time. The little ones ran around a lot and fell in love with the beanie babies. Jaida has a nice little tan and was kind of quiet. Christian was his usual irrepressible self. I had made lasagna before they came so I wasn't tied up in the kitchen very much. Jane and Marianne managed to do most of the clean-up, too, which was great. My cake turned out okay - almost sickening sweet - just the way I like it.

There was much talk about the upcoming wedding - Jane seems to have lost a lot of her enthusiasm - Jackie and Adam have little or no interest in anything but each other and drinking vodka! Jane says they stay in their bedroom just about 24/7. Jane took home my geraniums and lobelia for her garden - she's done her utmost to make it a success but it is terribly frustrating to work with uncooperative participants.

It's been so hot and humid that I haven't done much outside except watch plants keel over from lack of water. I used my last Barnes and Noble gift card to get 2 books by Elizabeth Ironside, one by Leif Enger, and one by Anthony Doerr. I am immersed in Barack Obama's Dreams From my Father - am finding it very interesting - what an interesting life he has led. I find it curious that his father is constantly referred to as a goat herder when in reality he was a Ph.D. and Phi Beta Kappa to boot.

Today I will work in the garden until it's too hot. We have had 3 tomatoes so far. I know I planted them too close together, and with lack of water they look terrible, but as long as they produce enough for my tomato sandwiches I don't care.

Nancy - does Joey still lift weights? And Jamie needs to stuff himself with ice cream - lol.

See you all this weekend!!

HElloolloollooo----seems no one including myself, except Jane wants to blog any more. Are we too boring, or just lazy? ok Ladies - we carry the family - let's all blog. We want to hear the tales of the young and the spirited! That means, Marrianne, Catherine, Katie, Zsuisi and now Jackie. The middle aged, but wise folks need to blog more. And the family patriot - MOM....LET'S all BLOG!!!

Nothing new on our homefront. Joey is doing very well w/his summer school class. Don't know why he could do this well in regular school. He's probably got a average of a B. And, he will retake the sol on the 31st. Keep your fingers crossed he will pass.

As, for Jamie.. I think he's testing me. He's always being sassy. He's just a carefree young spirited soul with his own opinions. I hope he let's up on being sassy!! He's also been staying up late and sleeping in.

Joey weighs a whooping 194, Jamie weighs about 85lbs. I told Joey he weighs more than me!!! I hope he will pay attention and watch what he eats.

I'm looking forward to next weekend --seeing my sisters and parents all together -meeting at our usual place -- Jane's. I don't have any extra time off--boo!!.

Ok, enough about my boring life -- i hope to read someone else's blog now. Love ya all.

Jaida is just waking up

good morning!
Jaida and I are going to the mall today to find her a cute dress for the wedding. I guess it's going to be HOT today again.
We made cupcakes yesterday and played with the water hose. Christain will be coming over tomorrow, and saturday morning we'll be going to Great Grandma and Grandpa's house. We are hoping to see a snake while we are there!

luv
jane

hey from bobby's house

I will be leaving today when it's time for Bobby to go to work...he has to make me some pizza before I go!
Jaida had her dentist appointment yesterday...they give her medicine to calm her down before they start it's called "versed" I am going to look it up....on the way to the car...she was like a noodle...and she vomited twice on the way home...then she slept for several hours. I have been doing Bobby's laundry...what a chore...I don't think he has done laundry since I was here the last time. The air conditioning here at the house is broken....Bobby has a window unit up stairs...gets pretty damn hot downstairs....It also fells real hot to me at the restaurant. We went to the restaurant about 4:pm yesterday (me, Jamie and Jaida) Sal made us stromboli, it was very good. Jamie pulled Jaida around in the wagon for hours and hours...I just tried to stay cool.We came home around 9pm. It's going on 9am here and everyone is still sleeping! Got only one more load to dry and the laundry will be done!
take care everyone
luv
jane

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE SNAKE KIND!

As I stepped out the kitchen door this morning I did a scan of the yard - ya never know what lurks in these here parts. And I sure don't want my little Fritzy boy tangling with anything ominous. Emerging from the flower bed was a black snake - I stood still as did he. Fritz was still inside. I summoned Dad to help me shoo away this critter but he slithered off without any prompting from us. NOW comes the scarey part -- about an hour later I approached the picnic table to water my little seedlings, got within about an inch, and guess what was having a sunbath just below my hand. I am sort of proud of never, ever screaming when confronted with something scarey, even when I almost stepped on the big fat copperhead, but this time I let out one blood curdling holler! Dad came running, as did Sandi and Fritz, but by the time they got to me, little blackie had slithered off the table and disappeared in the azelias. Am pondering a decision to give up gardening (you know I won't, but won't go out again until I stop shaking). Why won't those stupid snakes go down and eat up the moles and voles!? Folklore says that black snakes will keep away poisonous snakes, but it ain't so folks!

Ellen - thanks for finding my missing post - you must tell me how you do it!

adie odie

hi from the burg

Scott is getting ready for his business trip - he leaves on Monday- only going to DC, but he'll be working from 5:30 am to 9 pm. I may pop up to visit since he is in that swanky hotel. Swanky is a cool word. I have a ton of stuff to do -so much I can't decide what to start on. I have 2 tomatoes on my plants. I've lost 2 pounds. We went to petsmart last night and I almost got another cat. I am nuts. This is a bit rambling, I know. One of my chores today is to do something with all these centerpiece things. I have an idea what I may be giving as Christmas presents this year! Ok, later ya'll.

E.

hey!

Mom I don't know what in the world is happening to your bloggs???

I have painted the front door...it looks like I need to go over it again with paint. The shutters need another coat of paint too.

Tomorrow morning I an going to Bobby's, Jamie is going with me, to pick up Jaida. We will be coming home friday. Friday night Adam arrives, his flight does not arrive until 11:30 pm so I may or may not be awake.

I haven't heard anything else from Jackie or her mother....I did get a rsvp from her grandfather...he will attend with a guest.....

Catherine and Mom I am counting on your tables for the wedding!
Ok I guess I will get busy painting.
luv
jane

recovered post from mom:

Glad Nancy's home safe and sound. Must be hard to go back to work! The cabin in the mountains looks terrific. I am picturing what it must look like with snow all around. Treacherous drive, though.

Nothing much going on here. Did a little yard work yesterday. We had 1.3 inches of rain Monday night which was wonderful but the garden still looks like !$#@%$#. I am so engrossed in the book I'm reading (Death of a President by William Manchester) that I'm finding it difficult to do anything else by read. I read this book when it was first published - 1967 - and I find it interesting to reflect on the feelings I had then and the feelings I have now. We spent (my Mother, Father, and Dad) that whole weekend - Nov. 22, 1963 standing in front of the television. I don't think we ever sat down - peculiar - and our meals were finger foods as we stood there. It also mentions lots of people I had kind of forgotten about - like Everett Dirksen, a very interesting Senator, so I've having lots of fun googling people and events.

I have been watching Flipping Out on Bravo - is this guy Jeff an AR (anal retentive) or what. He needs some time with a shrink, along with the guy he fired. Interesting show.

I am hoping the New Yorker will give John McSame with same attention they gave Obama - like in diapers or something. I know that cover was satirical BUT!!!!!

Back to my book - Toodle oooooo --

hello to everyone who reads the blog

Well I am not going to work on wedding stuff for a while.
Christain was here but Marianne got off work early and came by to pick him up...he was kinda grouchy anyway. Jamie is here now ...Nancy will be picking him up soon and we are having a thunderstorm.

Mark painted the shutters and soffets..was supposed to be a brick color and a tan color...looks more like orange and yellow after it's been painted...I hope it mellows out, cause I'm not liking it a whole lot, it looks better than before.
The rain is excellent for the garden and the new grass.
ok I must take a rest now.
take care
jane

We are home....sad to say, but glad to be in my own bed

Yeah, vacationtime will be over for me tomorrow - back to work. It was a very nice vacation. Relaxing when i didn't have to drive long distances. The scenery was very pretty from the Virginia route to the North Carolina route coming home. When we left, thought i would back track home, the way we came. And, we borrowed Mark's GPS. I programed it for the shortest route. Thought we were going home the way we came w/the GPS, however, while driving we came across a sign that stated "Welcome to North Carolina"! Then i realized we were not going the same route. OH WELL!! I wasn't going to turn around. I will say the route along the Tenn. Smoky Parkway was very pretty. A lot of steep grades. Glad there were not too many truckers out there. Everyone was whizzing by me --i did not go more than 65mph the entire trip. Jamie had a severe case of gas...now called "walmart bathroom" farts. He never gives me a heads up either..it's just a smell and "Jamie, is that from you?" Couldn't roll the windows down either due to the heavy rain!!!

I'm going to try and post a few pics of our cabin and the scenery. The cabin was very pretty. I wished i owned it..but on flat land. Driving in the mountains is just too much for me. Let alone this place..had to drive up a steep hill. The cabin is right against the mountain. The balcony's both are on stilts and have sheer drop offs. MOM- if you were there you would forbid anyone to go and walk on the balconys!!! When i see you guys i can show you more pics if you are interested!! OK, I'm done for now.

Am I crazy or is it just me?

Do you mean that if you are crazy, the rest of us are sane? Or, if you're sane, the rest of us are crazy? This is making my head spin. I am NOT crazy - aren't crazy people the only ones that say that? I have been thinking about the definition of normal for about 50 years now and have never come up with a satisfactory answer. I am NORMAL, go^&*(mn it), except for a few little idiosyncracies and prejudices, none of which I can remember right now, except that I can't bear to even be in the same room with Republicans. Gerald Ford was the last republican that I liked. I can't even look at the t.v. if a republican a*%hole (you know who I mean) is speaking. Oh, enough of this dribble ----

No, you are not crazy. I am not crazy. Repeat after me - I AM NOT CRAZY.

hola

Am I crazy? Or is it just me?

I wrote a long blog yesterday but it did NOT appear! Oh, well, my dial-up provider was having problems all day so I suppose that's why.

Nancy called yesterday and said it's beautiful where she is and the cabin is lovely. Hot tub, 40 inch TV, king-sized bed, another TV for the boys, etc. The pond for Jamie to fish in is quite small and just for children. He will love that.

I have been thinking about flowers and pots for the wedding - I have pots - 3 pink geraniums, 3 pink impatiens (double bloom kind), 2 pink flowering almonds (not in flower, but nice greenery), 1 medium blue lobelia, 2 pink New Zealand impatiens with green viney type around base with small white blooms, and assorted empty pots - 3 or 4 I think. I think lavender chrysanthemums will be available in early August for the empy pots. My problem will be transporting them - Can Ellen come here with her big station wagon to help with that?

I told Dad about Denver trip and he wants to go!!!! Lol - not a chance in hell! You know, if he went he would never remember it!

Spent yesterday morning cleaning refrigerator - yuck. Somehow tomato juice got spilled and dried on the bottom - looked like a hemorrage - don't know how to spell that. I do have some cleanliness standards even if they're low, and am gearing up to do some major cleaning. Today will be spent in kitchen - too hot for any gardening.

Am thinking lots about Zsuizsi - imagine by this time she is safely in Budapest with her family! Sure hope so. Let me know if you hear.

Update from beach and beyond...

I am at the beach, on phone w/Jamie now. They are nearing Salem, VA. All is well. We are going to take care of Bruti... tomorrow to the ocean. I am giving Jane all my wedding ideas and she is promptly rejecting them. We are going to Michaels' so I can show her topiary making stuff and ivy and stuff. Mom: we need ivy...got any? Not the poison kind, though.

*toodles** E.

hey no one is blogging!

We had a nice 4th of july, bbq chicken, pasta salad, deviled eggs, baked beans and watermellon. Zsuzsi and Michael went to Chics Beach with friends and Mark and I watched the Mt Trashmore fireworks from the window in the den.
We finally got a little more rain too, overnight. Marianne and James went to the ocean front for fireworks and Nancy and Jamie went to Mt Trashmore.Eric and Catherine went camping at Lake Gaston, and Bobby says the Earlysville annual 4th july parade is lining up at the restaurant.
I hope to see a little more blogging
luv
jane

mom the hydrangas have always been pink!

the yard is looking better and better..I figured if I got the edge of the flower bed really straight I would not need border rocks....I got that done yesterday, and it looks pretty good.

EVERYONE READ: THE WEDDING DATE HAS NOW CHANGED TO AUG 3RD. ADAM SAYS HE HAS HOME TIME RECRUITING FOR THE 1ST 2 WEEKS, EVERYDAY...I got the call yesterday.
Jackie says she is going to get her dad to buy the cake...
Jackie says her mom wants to come over and see the area for the wedding....jackie said something about tables...so maybe they will rent them. They also wanted it at night..which I explained to Adam..the reason for having it at 2pm. So now I really don't know whats going on....
Ellen...I told Jackie to come over when you are here....ok

I am going to go out and water a little now.
Everyone have a great day!