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Have you ever used shopping therapy to make yourself feel better? What happened? What did you buy?

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:38:45 GMT

Yes........had the blahs...........went to the Village Green.........bought a geranium and an ice cream cone.

Felt lots better!! What can I say, I'm easy to please.

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Have a nice weekend. Get out and see the foliage. It is quite beautiful.

What three things do you miss from your younger years?

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 03:36:54 GMT

I miss my babies, my grandparents and my parents. Though I'm pretty content in my current age it would be fun to be 10 years old again for 1 day. Go racing down Round Hill Rd. on my bike, buy pretzel sticks at Manhan's for a penny apiece. Play outside till Ma calls me in for supper.

Just for 1 day...........

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new photos

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:07:15 GMT

Go to my photos to see the Bennington pics. The life size sculptures are by J. Steward Johnson. The painter and the woman shopper are so lifelike. They will be on the main street untill Nov. . It is cold in the mornings now and at night when the sun goes down, but lovely during the day. I haven't heard much about what the winter will be like but I'm sure it will be cold and long as usual. Not my favorite time of year. I'm hoping for a nice long fall.

Not much going on, just working and starting yard cleanup. Hoping for a getaway Columbus weekend. Happy Trails!!

What food brings back fond childhood memories?

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:50:55 GMT

The smell of strawberry jam on warm toast!! It brings me right back to my grandmother's kitchen, sitting on her red metal stool at the table at breakfast. And it was her homemade jam. I was very small but remember it like it was yesterday. The table was in front of the window and I remember the warmth from the morning sun. It is a very happy memory.

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Times a Flyin

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 01:22:54 GMT

Wow, I can't believe we are heading into fall already. Why is it your favorite season goes the fastest? We have kept pretty busy. Joe got the new railings up on our bedroom balcony. And we had a new water pressure tank put in . Also bought a new bed and matress set. The finance company that handled our new roof sold our account to another company and it got totally screwed up in the process so Joe took money out of his 401k and paid it off. So we were able to finance the bed and water tank with personal loans. All were needed badly. We had our old mattress for 25 years. The floor was more comfortable!!

We did go to the Bennington VT garlic festival and had a great time. Garlic and cheddar scones were my breakfast treat. Yummy! There was garlic everything. And some crafts and live music. The weather was lovely, and lots of people. We went up the back roads and there was no traffic till we hit the town before Bennington. That was labor day weekend. And the weekend before that we went to the Cummington Fair. I always enjoy it. I've been going since I was about 4 years old. We sorta have plans for one more trip to Vermont before we settle in for the winter. That will be Columbus weekend. An overnighter in Whitingham. I really need to keep a day for the beach ...soon!

An update on our backyard friends. The baby bear is growing by leaps and bounds. He was the smallest cub I ever saw, and is about a third of his mothers size now. Mom and cub are fattening up nicely for their long sleep.We lost the oldest mother racoon. She was limping , her eyesight was getting bad, she mostly got around by scent. The other mother is gone also but the 3 offspring are still here. The cat still thinks he is one them. His new thing is screaming at the back door to come in so he can walk through the house and go out the front door!

Tomorrow there is an auto show in memory of Joe's uncle, at Smith school in Northampton. Proceeds will be donated to the Smith School scholarship Fund. The rain is suppose to be finished by then. Lets hope fpr a sunny day. Happy trails

What are your thoughts on going vegetarian or vegan?

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:42:36 GMT

I could easily go to vegetarian. I don't eat a lot of meat simply because I don't like it. I like my hot dogs and hamburgs but could give them up. But I really wouldn't want to give up chicken, turkey, scallops and shrimp. So vegan is a no.

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I haven't been spending a whole lot of time on the puter. Don't want my summer to pass me by. Last Saturday we went to a surprise party for our friend Judy , who will be turning 60 in Sept., her children live out of state and this was the only time they could get home , so that's why the party was 2 months early. And boy was it ever a surprise. It was an outdoor bbq at a local park. Sunday was spent doing yard work in the earlier part of the day and a late lunch at the Fish Hook.

This weekend we went to Mystic on Saturday. The Aquarium first, then the seaport. We did a crap load of walking and it was very hot. It was also a very expensive outting. I hadn't been to the aquarium in years and the admission is now 23.00 for an adult. And admission to the seaport is 18.50. That's apiece. We had breakfast in Easthampton before we left and then dinner at the Seamans resturant and pub in Mystic. Round trip was about 240 miles. Today we are laying low. We had a lot of rain and the yard hasn't dried yet. I was hoping to get some mowing done. I did move some plants around and put in 3 new ones but it is hot and humid so I'm cooling off now.

My brother is doing the family history, so Thursday after work I went to the Village Hill cemetry to find our grandparents. We also found our greatgrandparents and our great great grandparents. I should say he found them. I was along for the ride.

My phoebe's eggs hatched and I can watch her feed the babies from my dining room window. Their starting to get pretty fuzzy but still just grey. And it's amazing what big mouths they have.

So that's all I have for now. Hope you are all well and enjoying your summer!

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:10:53 GMT

We had an enjoyable weekend and I was not very excited about going back to work today. Actually I feel that way every Monday am lately. Even though I had a 3 day weekend it just was not enough. Friday was a me day. I puttered around the house and in the yard and finished the book I was reading. Saturday Joe and I went to Bennington VT. for an overnight. We did all the tourist things. It's a really nice town. They have a great museum. With rooms devoted to pottery, glass, the museum library, baseball and of course Grandma Moses (my favorite), and the battle fought in Bennington. We went to the battle monument. It is 306 feet tall. We went up 200 ft., that's all that's open to the public. Downtown Bennington has a J.Seward Johnson exibit on the streets till Nov., it is life size sculptures of everyday people.The first one I walked by was of an elderlady lady with shopping bags in both arms. I said excuse me when I passed because she is so lifelike. It's really a fun exibit. And they also have a few painted moose. I have pictures, but not on the computer yet. They are on film because we forgot the camera and had to pick up a onetime use. We had a really good dinner at the Peppermill . Breakfast and lunch at the Full Belly , also very good . The Bennington Motor lodge is very reasonable and has clean comfortable rooms. And, it was 77 miles one way, so we didn't burn a full tank a gas. Probably less than half. Gas being a consideration now when we travel. The gas prices there were really varied. From 3.97 to 4.10. And they a couple of full service stations!!

5a.m. comes around quickly so I'm off!

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 02:12:02 GMT

My, how time flies! Been busy with the usual. Work, yard, house. And catching up with friends. I'm on a four day weekend, Yippee. Today I slept in. Spent the early part of the day with my long time good friend, Linda, who has been having chemo treatments for 5 years. But the cancer has spread to the brain so it's a whole new fight for her now. She is the most courageous woman I know.

I puttered in the yard when I came home, and around the house, and ate icecream out of the container, on the deck. One of the racoons saw me out there and reminded me that she would like a snack too! So I got her some grapes and some cat food. We were going to bbq for supper but Joe came home in the mood for pizza, so we headed out to Easthampton, stopped at the tractor store first, then the dollar store (there's a new little one in the center) and finally PaPa Georges for pizza.

Tomorrow is our 37th anniversary and we have dinner reservations at the Whatley Inn. The weather is suppose to be good so the am will be for the mowing and weeding! As usual. Now....the pictures are of a wooden dragonfly that balances of it's nose. We sell them at the store and I just thought it was the most fun thing ever! So I had to have one. They come in all different colors, and when I'm not balancing it on my finger or nose it just floats of the corner of my monitor. It's a pc pic and not the best but you get the idea.And pictures of my hubby on Memorial Day, and me. And I have no idea why they are so small. Have a lovely weekend.

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 22:23:07 GMT

Well the weekend was a wash. Saturday I had a headache that made me want to vomit, and Sunday I tried to work outside a bit but those vicious bugs had their way with me and sent me running back inside.

On the brighter side we had a new roof put on the house, it was done in 1 day, and it's really nice. Today is cold and rainy and it will probably be the same tomorrow.

Last night was our monthly tues get together. It was a good time. One of our buds hadn't been coming for sometime but made it last night . We have been meeting once a month for 3 years now. It doesn't seem that long and it somehow makes the winter go a little quicker when you have something to look forward to. I have seen so many different birds in my yard today. I believe I have a pair of Northern Orioles nesting in the back. A few common flickers passed through this week. There is a gold finch right outside my window and a small dark colored one fliting in and out of the bushes so I can't get a good look at him. And of course we have are usual yard guest, blue jays, chiccodees,morning doves, phoebes and titmouses and robins. I mustn't forget the occasional owl and hawk. Such fun! If I were a little more alert I would do a spell check but it is close to bedtime. Have a lovely week.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Mon, 26 May 2008 21:47:43 GMT

We had a lovely weekend! Hope you all enjoyed yours. The weather was perfect. Got a lot of yardwork done. Joe rototilled the veggie gardens and I weeded the perenial beds and mowed all the trim. The kids were here sunday for a bbq. Tom's girlfriend came with her 2 boys and Tom had Alex. Betsy came with her new beau and his son. So we had 4 younguns racing around the yard. Mark was here but still unattached. Mama bear has been away all week. Betsy bought us his and hers trac fones . She worries will get stuck or break down. We held out for a long time though without one. I finally have them activated but am having a hard time getting my minutes. They tell me have them but it's not on our phones.

Busy day at work today. Joe had it off so when I got home he was already to go shopping. Ugh! Now I am pooped. Zzzzzzzz.