About Me

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Full Time Mom, Wife, Work, Life - Mom to three children (adults), two are college graduates and now own their own homes, and the youngest is in college in NC; wife to Thomas; Work - one full time and multiple part time jobs; Life - whatever you can throw at me....

Monday, September 28, 2015

Doing my darnedest

I am writing posts when I have time and scheduling them in advance.   Hopefully that way, I will be able to keep up the blog.

Last week (this week, as I write this at 7:00 in the morning), has been crazy with work and getting ready for an estate sale.  My mom is finally selling her 13 room Victorian after almost 40 years.  It is too big, too expensive, and too much of everything!   It has been difficult for her as my sister and I are tyrants and we just want to help her clean it out and sell it out, but the stuff.........I just can't explain all the stuff a person collects in 40 years.  And my parents were not hoarders.  Their home was spotless.  It was just full of stuff!!  

The estate sale has taken us months to get ready for.  We pray it will be a success.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Book Signing/Reading

I went to my first Book Signing/Book Reading this week.  The author spoke about living in the Valley in the 50's and 60's (when it was a wonderful place to be).  The book deals with multiple decades and the setting is a little place called Vonetes which used to be downtown.  It was a soda shoppe.  I was never there as a child, but most of the people in attendance last night had been there and everyone had fond memories.  The book is a love story and deals with a factory explosion (true) and a restaurant gas explosion (true) and the death of a president (true). The author stated that the book was 70% true, so I actually can't wait to start reading it!

The book is called Palace of Sweets and the author is a friend named Sal Coppola.  He ran out of books last night, so I have to order one on Amazon and then I will also download it to my kindle.

FYI - it would make a great Christmas present to those folks who grew up and around the area as most of the places in the book will be familiar to them!


Saturday, September 26, 2015

The annual Yankee Red Sox game at Fenway



We go every August to Fenway and this year we went for two games.  I think I  have had enough now for two years!!  I really don't even like Baseball.  I just like Boston!!!  We went to the North End for Italian and it was very good.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Cape Cod

 We went to Cape Cod this summer for a week.  I never even blogged about it but it was a fabulous vacation.  Lots of ice cream, downtown Chatham, Provincetown (I had not been in many, many years!), Truro Vineyard, Long Pond in Brewster and my new favorite beach, Crosby Landing!  We were close enough to walk each day.  I did Yoga on the beach also - a first for me!   Here are random shots!





My trips spend three days with us also!!!  

Thursday, September 24, 2015

New Appliances

My stove went last week.  The stovetop worked but the inside died out.  It was 16 years old and so was the microwave (which was cracked and scary).  So we bit the bullet and bought two new appliances.  We had gift cards and an appliance fund, so it wasn't as bad as we thought.  Now, we have matching appliances (Fridge, micro and stove) and the only thing that doesn't match is the dishwasher......but one thing at a time!!!

The new stove has the center burner which is what I wanted for when I make my sauce or my big pot of chicken or beef stock.  My stove is well used and since we went with black, I don't think it shows the dirt or stains as much!! And I need that!!  We went with black appliances because I am not a fan of stainless.

It has been an expensive year with new windows, a new driveway and now two new appliances....




Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Graduation


My niece graduated from Nursing School.  It was a very proud day.  Quite a few of us were able to share it with her!





Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Steelers


They didn't win their first game in Boston, but they won their second game in Pittsburgh.  Hubby got to go to the second game so it was a very good day for him!!!


Monday, September 21, 2015

Apple Picking


I believe this is our sixth year picking apples.  Except this year, all the trips couldn't come with me.  So it was just Cassidy and me!!  

And we only pick honey crisp!!

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Pears and more pears and rain and crops


We had a very productive pear tree again this year.  I have made pies and 10 quarts of pear sauce so far.  I will probably be able to can a few more quarts, before the tree is bare.  

I did grape jelly for the first time this year.  It was a lot harder than I thought it would be.  I also canned peach jam, raspberry jam, and of course my violet jelly.  

Because we had such a violent winter last year, our blueberry bush (which was overwhelmingly prolific last year), did not produce one single blueberry!  My mom's blueberry bush didn't either, so I know it isn't just me!  We will see how next year's bush fares.  My raspberry bush did not do as well either, but I am blaming that on our lack of water this summer.  We are in a drought (not like CA), but down six inches for the summer and it really hurt some crops.  I'm afraid it is going to effect the foliage too.  It will probably be a very brownish yellowish fall!   


The night before the shower


Hanging with my my favorite people!!!


Shower

Oh what a day!

Perfect weather, perfect host, perfect food, perfect place, perfect view, perfect gifts, perfect friends, perfect family......

Really.......We are truly blessed!














Friday, September 18, 2015

I have been remiss

Eva tells me I haven't blogged since June....WTH!


I can't believe it!  But it's true......so for her, I will try to re-start this blog.  Maybe if I shake it up a little?? 


The big shower is tomorrow.  I know I'll have pictures, so I can start over with that lovely event!


Talk soon!