The Nut House

I love visiting Dottie.....
Started out a typical visit...Dottie was glad to see me. Found her down in Activities..coloring..She hates art now even tho in her younger days she loved art and did some drawing herself! Today I guess she was entertaining the class with her stories of the olden days when she was an acrobat! Yes old Dottie was an acrobat.... I kid her about it all the time. Whenever she talks about falling, which she does occasionally, I have to laugh because I picture her falling...going into a rolling summer salt...flipping over and popping right back up arms up in the air..yelling "Viola" !! She has tripped over the rug...she has fallen out of bed... stumbled over the chair and even went down on one knee while we were strolling thru lovely East Aurora one day. She is so resilient tho she gets up and laughs too. I guess all those years of being quite active gave her strong bones!!

Today we got out the old cards and began to play. Got our coffee and our cookies out..and the rustling of the cookie bag always brings her roommate over! Anne loves sweets..so we share She just rolls over in her chair and starts to babble..knowing she's gonna get cookies!! Today the babbling was about the laundry. ..
She wanted to know who did the laundry there and did I do my own laundry. I told her they did her laundry there for her. She said "oh I know the man told me he would take it down but do I have to go get it?" "No" I told her .."they come get it and a few days later bring it back and put it away . That is why all the clothes are labeled with your name!" Dottie told her "put them in your laundry basket." then Dottie looked at me and laughed and said "I just throw mine on the floor behind my chair like I did when I was a kid...I make them look for them." "Good idea" I told her "in fact I think I will start to bring my laundry in once a week and throw it behind the chair and get it the next time I come in! They will never know..I'll put Dottie labels in them. We laughed..and good old Anne chimed in again .. like a broken record..stuck on "the laundry"
But I gave her her cookies and she rolled away stashing them on her night stand for later... That shut her up! We went back to playing cards..Or "kicking Dottie's Ass" as I call it!
All of the sudden we heard all this commotion and heard Anne yell! Gabriel..the big visiting dog strolled in must have smelled Anne's cookies and scared the BeGesus out of her...it was too funny..he was like a big smiling Lummox!!!!



Too Cute. So they brought him around we all gave him some attention and kept him away from Anne's cookies. Over he comes to Dottie and tried to get her coffee cup and then spotted her cookies!
He sat right down and just stared at them.."No use Gabe buddy...you can't have the cookies... I asked, but your mean master said no!! After Gabe left..we could hear all the people down the hall having fun with the dog...and Dottie looked at me and said ...I live in a damn Nut House!!!!!!

Did you ever play checkers?

Dottie asked me one day....Did you ever play checkers? Yes I answered..do you like checkers? "I love em" she replied.. Dottie wanted to play checkers so I got us a nice new checker set. We first noticed it sure wasn't like checkers of the olden days...Nice wood board..heavy wood or plastic checkers that fit together with those grooves...Nope the board was a paper cardboard folded in fours with a split in a section just enough so it won't lay flat!! then cheep little plastic checkers that we couldn't even pick up off the board..had to slide them around the opponent and then off the board! And the ridges weren't even deep enough to hold all my KING MES!!!! But what the heck Dottie was so excited...we played... For a game she loved she sure stunk at it!! Maybe she was confused about the rules.. First we played regular checkers the kind I thought you tried to avoid getting jumped and tried to get to the other side by jumping your opponent and get KINGED!! well apparently if you don't jump and you could your opponent can take your checker and apparently your opponent just moves her checker in front of yours so you have to jump hers...making it so I won every time...never did she try to move a checker that couldn't
get jumped or to just get out of the way..or just to move closer to my side so I could KING her!! Then she suggested we play another checker variation...called Give Away!(Thought that's what she was playing!) This is a game where you deliberately move to get jumped to be the first to loose all your own men. I guess she didn't realize that's what she had been playing all along! Oh well she loved it! kept asking why I was so good at it...even tho every game no matter who had the checkers left on the board..I told her she beat me again! She loved it!
Finally she got board with that and wanted to play our old standby..rummy. That kept us going for a few hours. Finally it was time for me to go meet my friends for Birthday group. Dottie was sad she wanted me to go down to dinner with her but I had to pass! Dottie decided not to go to dinner anyway she was too full from the two big chocolate chip cookies she ate..Hers and Mine! Got them out and we just kept breaking pieces off and eating them, I had two bites and was too full so after Dottie ate all hers she just helped herself to mine not realizing it was mine...so yes she ate two big cookies! So that was her dinner!!!!
So we cleaned up our card game and Dottie suggested I leave the cards there so I didn't have to lug them back and forth.( They are her cards and they stay in her drawer!!) So I did I left the cards and Dottie and headed out! Nite Nite Dottie see you again soon.

I'm Back

Well I have been away from my blog as you all know. I have been busy. Lots of things have been going on in my life and I am trying to keep up! My old comp injury is beating me down..might have to have neck surgery so that is upper most in my mind. Dr. visits, test and therapy occupy a lot of my time. Still involved in my Birthday Group
with my Forever Friends, singing in the church choir( no this pic isn't the church choir.. it is birthday group at womens weekend as California raisins) and taking time to enjoy myself too.. therapeutic massages and spending lots of time outdoors walking!

The weather this year has been so cooperative! And of course still being the biggest Band Groupie of all times!!
HP ,
ELR and hitting all the Joe Shows.


We also want to move..time to down size...This old house is too big and too full and its closing in on me. I'm feeling claustrophobic! A lot of it has to go! Everything except my Scrap stuff!!! We are looking forward to a smaller place (with a scrap room of course) down off the hill in a nice quiet neighborhood within walking distance of something...anything..other than barns and open Fields!! I want to walk to stores, shops, food joints anywhere with people. So we begin the process..the next step for empty nesters....move to a smaller nest!
Before we can move we need to unload this place! so yes
"House for Sale" any takers? Got a little fixing up to do and like I said "Unloading of the 36+ years of collections", along with inherited stuff from 2 generations of both families. Never thought the day would come when I would actually want a smaller place and not so much "stuff". But I do and I am "Stuffed out". So if anyone out there wants some of this "stuff" yell now or forever hold your peace! Sarah and Al are claiming some of it...nice...and then I have been ebaying my ass off..Starting with the attic and basement. So if you kids know of any of your things that are in the attic and you want them..best come get them.. or you will be buying them up off eBay!!! Like dad and his siblings did when his mom cleaned out and took a lot of there stuff to the flea market across the street at the community center when they were kids. They we so mad..they had to buy all their stuff back..even stuff they really didn't want just to piss their Mom off!!! I won't do that tho...I'll ask you first! Got thru all the baby stuff already. keeping some stuff for grand kids...Ya grand kids did ya hear that..somebody..anybody..GRANDKIDS!!!! Kept all the handmade things my mom, Grandma,Great Grandma and I made. I did give a few handmade things to my Great Niece Julianna
, that her grandma and Great Grandma made. But I can get those back! We are also sprucing the place up..lots of paint and DUCT TAPE!!! Lots of help to from Scott and Al..Poor Al got the job of painting most of the shed but I forgot to get pics that day..
I'm sure this will be slow going.


I figure at least 2 years to be all set to go. Then we can move on and look for a place anywhere between here and grand Island where Steve works. Not too far I still plan on keeping and seeing all my old friends and close enough to bug my family and extended family!!!!And of course I will still be at every band gig. Like it or not!!! Keeps me feeling young and happy!! I am actually excited..as my family knows I love to move..I think because I moved alot as a kid...we always kidded we moved alot because my dad was trying to stay one step ahead of the law!!! Or was it that he was hiding from The Beneficial Finance Company harassing phone calls! Who knows...But now I love to move...something I haven't done in 20 some years!
Then did some traveling down to visit my sister Linda. Got to see her twice this year.
She was here in June for our annual scrapbook convention and scrapping marathon. We took a road trip to our
brother Terry's too. Then I drove to her place in August.
We did some exploring in her neighboring towns...fun times..shopping ...spa treatments..
did alot of scrap booking and eating!
We even got to meet Stevie at his place and went to brunch. I saw my first Broadway Production.ever! it was so exciting!!..
"Spring Awakening" it was terrific..Thanks Jim!!! Had a wonderful time relaxing and getting to know their new dog..
Gypsy AKA Rickety Cricket...Sweet dog! And the real highlight of the trip..Going to philly to meet my first Grand Niece Julianna..
What a Princess!



Still doing the granny nanny thing. Still hanging out with my old friend Dottie a couple of times a week..We play cards and eat and laugh the time away. She looks so forward to my visits. Now that the weather is turning yuckie our field trips will be very limited!!!!! Oh well she would rather sit and play cards anyway!!!She is just too cute!!!! Then there is Bob whom I care for a few times a month..
His wife is active with the seniors and me and Old Bob just sit and watch TV . Works for me..he's got a great cable set up..every channel imaginable!!!!! and I get to control the remote!!!!.
Sadly September 18th my Ruthie passed away in her sleep.
We knew it was coming. She had been declining for months now. She was a sweet old lady and I was blessed to get to know her and be able to be "her girl" and take care of her till the end. She was 87 years old she was a feisty old woman..had 7 kids and raised many foster kids as her own. She was the inspiration for my Granny Nanny blog and there were many a story about her! So now that makes three I have lost...Hum..I am detecting a pattern here!!! No its just an occupational hazard I guess...Yes that's it..a hazard! First was Charlie Wetsell..another 80 something gentleman I was caring for....he thought I was there just to clean! Did not have a clue I was there to make sure he ate and took his meds and was not alone. Till one day I found him all dazed and confused. Called for help and found he had a twisted gangrenous bowel. He almost died but we got medical attention just in time and he ended up in a nursing home after that for many many years. And you can bet the family thanked me for that!..HaHAHa,,bye bye daddy's money!!!!!
Next was Stevie's friend's Grandma, Norma, again in her late 80's only got to stay with her twice. She had a heart attack and passed away the morning I was to come care for her. And then Ruthie....God Rest her Soul. This is one job I really really love! Now I just have good old Dottie and Grandpa Bob...Uncle Billy didn't work out, was there a few times, but that is a story for another time! I am looking for more grannies if you know anyone needing elder care I got a few spare hours! Call me. 1-800-Nan-neee
What else could be occupying my time you ask! Yes I'm glad you ask...my daughter Sarah and her hubby Al have moved back to Buffalo! (Lets see how long we can keep them here). So far they are loving it!
They got a nice flat in the city in the Elmwood village area and they are taking in all that the city has to offer! Walking everywhere and trying all the restaurants..hitting all the shops, stores and Bars(thanks to little baby brother). I have been there a few times...making curtains and helping them get settled but I don't want to crowd them..you know how mothers can be..But I am so excited. Sarah and I have never lived this close to each other since she was a real "grown Up" So I am really looking forward to time with her..as soon as she is not so busy Writing her new book... Oh yes did I forget to mention Sarah is a published writer! Her first book
'Twenty Boy Summer' was picked up by Little Brown and will be out June 09. That is only about 7 1/2 months away and you can feel free to pre order it now from amazon.com..oh here..click here...http://www.amazon.com/Twenty-Boy-Summer-Sarah-Ockler/dp/0316051594/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1224989621&sr=1-3 We are all so Proud and excited for her!!! But that is why she is so busy..book two is DUE...oh those dreaded deadlines!!!!
Her afore mentioned Baby Brother is very happy they are living down near him! But they are a little older and have a hard time keeping up with him!!! And of course she is so busy..So we keep in touch like all other modern families... on "FACEBOOK"! Oh what would I do without it!! I can keep track of all my kids, their friends, my nieces and nephews, some of my friends and cousins too! I Just click on FaceBook every day and night...yes that is really what is taking up all my time!!!!!!! I am a FaceBook Addict!!! I admit it...
I "facebook stalk" as my kids say...a "creeper" they call it...haha but they love it..I love it! Oh modern technology!!! The kids all look forward to my comments and pics..keeps us all in the loop!!!!
My next mission in life is to get my son Steve to move back to Buffalo but that ain't never gonna happen he says. They can't pay him enough in his Field to make it worth his wile to move here!!! That's Ok Steve..stay there and make tons of money so you can support your parents in there old age!!! Plus that just gives me another reason to visit NYC..You and Linda's family and Al's family... I hope to be going there alot!!!!
And since Sarah's book...which I did get an advanced copy..I have been reading every chance I get. I read 'Twenty Boy Summer' by Sarah Ockler twice now and cried both times...Cried because it is a tear jerker...and because it is so well written and because it was written by my daughter! I also am reading the popular 'Twilight" series. just started book three..oh by the way..the photographer for the book covers for that series..well yes he is the photographer for Sarah's book cover!!! that is a BIG DEAL...Took the time to read the book uncle Tom wrote and a book on Back pain Linda sent me..bot that was an eye opener both books actually...
I also took time out to mourn the loss of a dear friend,
Pat Garra. Pat was Band Jay's mom. She was a BAND MOM in our BAND MOM CLUB. Pat battled ovarian cancer 15 years ago and won.. or she had hoped. Well it returned and within a few months that dreaded disease took her from all of us! Pat was very active in Roswell Park's "Ride for Roswell". Her family sponsored a rest tent for many years. This year a few of us from our Church went along to help out..We had a great time! She was dearly loved by many and will be sadly missed.
And as you can see my scrap booking has taking a back seat to all this.
But now the winter is coming and I am putting away all the summer things and getting ready to snuggle into my nice warm cacoon and get ready for the holidays.
Sarah and Al will be hosting our family Thanksgiving this year and they are so excited! But our hostess being a vegan..I'll be making the turkey..at home I think..not sure meat is allowed in her oven! And we will be bring the traditional family movie.."Christmas Vacation" for our holiday viewing pleasure!
The next day....The Christmas Crunch begins!!!!!! Blair the Christmas music..decorate the Whole house.......set up the tree with the millions of ornaments..make and send a million Christmas cards and get ready for our Christmas Pajama Breakfast with the Wetsells.
Speaking of Christmas..this is starting to sound like a yearly Christmas news letter so I better stop. hum..good idea I can print this out and include it in YOUR Christmas card!!!!
So there I am all caught up and hopefully well be back into the full swing of granny blogging and I will post the scrap pages I have managed to do this past summer.
Check it out!!!