Monday, July 21, 2025

Monet and Me

 are sharing a memory about the Young One's birthday

Monday, July 23, 2012
Creating Memories


For The Young One's eighth birthday, the cake request for a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. No problem until the baking went horribly wrong. The cake layers baked uneven. So uneven, it would have taken a tub of frosting to even things out so the layers would stack on top of each other. What to do?

The gap between the layers looked like a mouth. I grabbed items I had hanging around. Desperation is the mother of invention. White chocolate chip bits, glaced fruit, and red licorice laces became the features on a monster cake and fortunately, The Young One loved it. Whew!

Twelve years later, The Young One's cake request was for chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. And then a surprise. I wish I could have a monster cake?"

"Seriously? "

"I loved that cake."


Ok. This time I went out to buy candies to use for decorations. I had to buy white chocolate chip bits because someone had opened up the package to snack on and only left two bits. Hugs, gummy worms, peach rings, M&Ms and red licorice laces jumped into the cart. The hard part was to intentionally bake uneven cake layers. without burning one side or the other not baking through. It worked and The Young One loved the result.

We spend a lot time, effort, and sometimes cash to create memories. Nostalgic memories  from when we were kids, or expose them to opportunities we never had as kids. Sometimes odd what we think what should be a memory, and what actually becomes a memory. Some thirty or forty years from now, The Young One will be saying, "That crazy, old, broad was hell on wheels with a tub of frosting and a bag of gummy worms."

Back to the present. Over the weekend, I sent a message asking if she was still here at home for her birthday, what would her request for a cake be? She said she would like the chocolate cake with the chocolate frosting and orange flavoring.

On Sunday, I was going to bake the Starlight Double Delight Cake with orange flavoring, but it was too humid to bake. Humidity can effect baking. Since today is supposed to be dry, I will bake the cake later on. It won't be as elaborate as the cake Monet is posing with, but it will be delicious.

Sunday, July 20, 2025

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Short and sweet this week with some new arrivals.


Queen of Hearts petunias


Verbena


Petunias because they can withstand the heat.

How does your garden grow?

Friday, July 18, 2025

The Friday Five Good Things


 Five good things that happened this week.

1. I finished Season 2, Part 1 of The Sandman

2. The Eldest invited me to go to Crane Beach. 

3. I had a lobster roll at the 99 Restaurant before going to Qi Gong and Reiki Meditation

4. The Eldest was working and Himself went to a karate seminar. I made a sandwich for supper and binge watched The Gilded Age.

5. Another hot and humid day, Teague and I had ice cream at the Dairy Queen.

How was your week?

Thursday, July 17, 2025

TBT Reprints from CJ's Whine and Cheeze

 In 2003, Ma had a stroke. Dad was her full time caregiver until he he had a car accident that totaled the car. So in 2006, I became their chauffeur among other jobs.

At the time, to deal with the stress of running two households and working, I kept a blog entitled CJ's Whine and Cheeze. Egged on by some friends who enjoyed the first read through, you'll see your part when it comes by.


Sunday, January 21, 2007
Some Days It Just Doesn't Pay....

There are days, and then there are days. Friday was one of those days. Friday began earlier in the week with a phone call from Dad. Ma's shoes were in. Dad called to tell me she had an appointment for a fitting on Friday at 10am. Good! Himself offered to keep me company. Even better!

Himself took the Youngest to school at 7:45am. At 8:40, we dropped the Oldest at her cube farm, and then hopped on the Pike. Traffic moved steadily and at a good clip inspite of some light snow. We made excellent time and arrived at the Weebles at 9:30am.

Their driveway had an inch or so of slush on it. Himself found a shovel and began pushing the slush off the driveway while I went in to announce the arrival of the elder bus.

Dad greeted me at the door, trousers, undershirt, no socks. This was not a good sign. Weebles not ready. The bathroom door banged open. Another bad sign. Ma came out in her robe with a towel turbaned on her head. "You didn't tell me you were coming!" she screamed. She stormed off to her bedroom muttering things in Italian that would have gotten my mouth washed out with soap. I looked at Dad, and he shrugged.

"Didn't you tell her the appointment was today?"

"I told her! She says I didn't tell her."

Oh, boy. I made the mistake of going into her room to see if she needed help getting dressed. She pounced on me. "I fell," she said "My hip feels like the bone is out of place."

I knew she must have given herself a good bang, but if her hip was dislocated she'd be in excruciating pain and unable to move. "Why didn't you call the doctor?"

"Because NO ONE WOULD TAKE ME!"

"You know that's not true." I tried not to look to the heavens in exasperation.

"You didn't call to take me."

"I'm not a mind reader!"

"I wasn't told you were coming today until this morning!"

"Look that's not my fault! I'm just the #%^&*#! bus driver!" Some days it just doesn't pay to gnaw through the straps. I went outside to warn Himself and to watch him finish the driveway. We went inside. I thought I would hurry things along as it was just past the appointment. I got Ma's pockabook. Hunted around the living room for her check book. Another battle erupted over which walker Ma was going to take, the tall one or the short one. After the brouhaha settled down and the walker decision had been made, we were able to load Weebles into the car.

Himself has his own way to get to the hospital where the podiatrist's office is located. Ma turned toward him and started to open her mouth. Nothing came out. I bit my lip so I wouldn't laugh. She so wanted to yell that Himself was going the wrong way!

Himself pulled up to the front door, and Weebles were offloaded. Himself took Ma's handicap placard and went to find a space and peace as he would wait in the car. I didn't begrudge him, but wished I could figure out a reason why I couldn't stay with him.

Ma sputtered into the building. Yelled at Dad because he didn't push the button for the elevator. The "down" indicator on both elevators was lit so there was no need as both were headed to the lobby. We got in one elevator and rode up to the third floor. We were a good 20 mins. past the official appointment time.

Ma was still mumbling as we entered the office. Fortunately, there were no other Weebles in the waiting room. The little bit of snow had kept other weebles home. The receptionist escorted Ma to the shoe room. Ma was griping very loudly, Dad asked the receptionist for the key to the lavatory and bolted out of the office and down the hall. I started to sing, "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day in the neighborhood..." The receptionist started to laugh.

The doctor arrived and the griping stopped as the shoe fitting took place. "Oh these are wonderful. Oh these look nice." The doctor escorted Ma back to the waiting room. "You are so wonderful," she said to the doctor. "I don't know what I would do without you!"

"Oh, so you're the golden child today", I said to the doctor.

"I guess so."

I so desperately wanted to say, "Good, you can take her home!"

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Day 3 Doodle from the 2OLOTR Journal

 

Day 3 started out rainy so it wasn't going to be a beach day. We enjoyed a very slow morning before heading out for lunch at New England House of Seafood and Sports Bar in Wells, Maine.

Lunch at the restaurant and I didn't order seafood, but had a chicken gyros.

At 8 PM, we decided to go out for ice cream. Most of the restaurants and ice cream stands close at 9 PM. We went to Big Daddy's which was next door to the motel. It was packed and we could barely get into the driveway. So we toodled down the road to the Scoop Deck. Long lines and no parking. Who goes out for ice cream at 8 PM? Turns out the entire state of Maine.

We decided to go where there would be plenty of parking and lots of ice cream choices. We ended up getting sundae cups at Hanaford's Supermarket and way less than what it would cost us for ice cream at the ice cream stand.

Doodles done using the free version of Concepts app on the iPad with the iPencil

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

T Stands for I Scream, You Scream

 

One of the things I wanted on our trip to Ogunquit was ice cream. I'm not a big fan of ice cream. It's a seasonal dessert for me to be eat on warm or hot Summer days/nights. 

The weather wasn't cooperating when we went away, but I didn't want to miss the opportunity to get a Chocolate Almond Joy named after the coconut candy bar. Besides, Big Daddy's ice cream was just around the corner from where we were staying.

We had a late lunch/dinner so around 8 PM, seemed to be a good time to go get ice cream. It was raining so how many people would be out getting ice cream? Seemed like the entire town of Ogunquit went out for ice cream. We got the last parking spot, but the line for ice cream was out the building. The covered porch with old-fashioned ice cream parlor tables and chairs was filled, too.

We decided to try another ice cream stand a little further down the road. The Scoop Deck. Their parking lot was filled, too.

So we ended up with our backup plan. We headed to the local grocery store and bought sundae cups. While in line at the register, I saw the candy selection included and Almond Joy which I broke up to include in my sundae. I also had ice tea.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

Monday, July 14, 2025

Monet and Me

 

asked The Young One if she could remove the background from a picture of Monet so Monet could be added to photographs.

I had given it a go, but it was quick and ragged.

The Young One said sure since it was an easy thing to do. Voila! I now can add Monet to photographs. Here he is with The Young One when she was 6 years old and dressed up as our cat, Mitty, for Halloween.

Thanks, Doll Baby. It works like a charm and the check's in the mail 😉

Sunday, July 13, 2025

How Does Your Garden Grow?



Walk, the Stinkbug, looking like a gigantic monster on the outside of the kitchen window.


Mr. Bluebird hanging out on the corner of the sunroom roof


A lone turkey hen enjoying some of the birdseed I toss on the ground


The hydrangea bush starting to bloom




A surprise Hollyhock. Before Ink, there was Mitty. The hollyhocks were Mitty's favorite place to hang out. The large leaves gave him a shady and safe hidey-hole. It was cool by the foundation of the house, too.


Giant pokeberry outside of the greenhouse.


Borage.


Nasturtiums


Calendua


Zucchini flowers


A bumblebee enjoys the milkweed flowers


Samwise busy mowing the lawn


We have blueberries! We might get 3 each!

How does your garden grow?

Friday, July 11, 2025

The Friday Five Good Things


 Five good things that happened this week.

1. Attended the annual family gathering and met the two grandnieces.

2. I saw a bluebird pair in the backyard. The female flew towards the woods and the male stood guard on the corner of the sunroom roof.

3. I asked the florist to trim the stems for me so the bouquet would fit in the vase at the cemetery. She trimmed them perfectly

4. On the way to the cemetery I saw a man walking along that reminded me of dad with his Bermuda shorts and knee socks.

5. The washer repairman said the leak was from the soap dispenser. It would take a week or so to get the part in. I can still use the washer and I don't have to go to the laundromat. the Little Princess is very happy.

How was your week?

Thursday, July 10, 2025

TBT Reprints from CJ's Whine and Cheeze

 In 2003, Ma had a stroke. Dad was her full time caregiver until he he had a car accident that totaled the car. So in 2006, I became their chauffeur among other jobs.

At the time, to deal with the stress of running two households and working, I kept a blog entitled CJ's Whine and Cheeze. Egged on by some friends who enjoyed the first read through, you'll see your part when it comes by.


 Thursday, January 18, 2007
Television and OPD

Himself and I started watching a new television series, The Sopranos. It's not really a new series, just new to us as we don't get HBO. The series is being shown on the A&E channel. I'm really enjoying this program. I'm not watching it for the action or the drama. I'm enjoying watching Tony Soprano deal with his elderly mother and OPD. It's hysterical.

Tony loves his mother and is a devoted son. In one episode, in the middle of his business day, he calls his mother. She's sauteing mushrooms and forgets them on the stove. Next thing, flames shoot from the pan, but poor Tony can only hear his mother yelling, "Oh my God! Oh my God" Tony is able to get in touch with his wife to send her to check on his mother.

In another episode, Tony's mother is driving a friend home. The lady gets out of the car. Tony's mother goes to back out of the driveway, but forgets the car is in drive and plows through her friend. Mama ends up with a broken arm.

Tony moves his mother to a lovely assisted living facility. The old lady complains her son has "put her in a nursing home to die."

Poor Tony has panic attacks or in Italian acute agita. Tony talks to a shrink to help him deal with his OPD. He explains that the assisted living facility costs him four grand a month. It has lots of social amenities, but his mother refuses to participate thus making Tony feel very guilty. He says his mother makes him feel like he's "an Eskimo pushing her out to sea." Himself and I roared. Tony should try blogging.

I can hardly wait for next week's episode.

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Day 2 Doodles from the 2OLOTR Journal

 

The night before we bought donuts from the Congdon's stall at the food trucks. I had a blueberry filled donut with my tea for breakfast.

While Teague went for a swim in the pool, I waled down the path to the Ogunquit River to journal. I saw colorful kayaks, a wild morning glory, and a shell. Back at the pool, Teague made friends with a couple from Worcester.

For lunch we went to Ogunquit pizza. That's the restaurant that had the pictures of seagulls eating French fries, and pizza that I wrote about last year.

For dinner, I had a lobster roll at the food trucks.

Doodles done using the free version of Concepts app on the iPad with the iPencil

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

T Stands for Lobster Roll

 

One thing I wanted to do on our trip was to have a lobster roll. A couple of the food trucks at Congdon's After Dark had them so I happily handed over my money and the sandwich wasn't as expensive as it would have been at a restaurant.

I was happily enjoying the lobster roll when Teague asked, "Aren't you going to take a picture of your food?" Oops.

I also had a bag of chips (crisps), pickles, and a ginger ale.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

Monday, July 7, 2025

Monet and Me

 

Inspired by Kathy Milici's take on the Macintosh rose, I created a piece with her Modern Illuminated Initials for the newest grandniece's room. Monet approved of the design when I added Stickles glitter to the dots in the corner, center of the roses, and dots on the ends of the heart border.

Sunday, July 6, 2025

How Does Your Garden Grow?



Tiny pansies in a hanging basket


New, adorable, mushroom solar lights


Green things


More green things and a sunflower solar light


Milkweed


The scarecrow sometimes acts as a weathervane. Sometimes he's standing with his back to me and then the wind blows and he's looking at me. Pulling into the driveway, it always looks like someone's in the yard. Very Stephen King.


Corn. Knee high by the Fourth of July

How does your garden grow?

Friday, July 4, 2025

The Friday Five Good Things


 Five good things that happened this week

1. I had a delicious lobster roll at the Congdon's After Dark food trucks.

2. Big Daddy's Ice Cream and the Scoop Shop were packed with no place to park and long lines. We ended up going to Hanaford Supermarket to buy sundae cups 

3. After a rainy weekend, we finally made it to Ogunquit Beach. Not quite a beach day and the water was cold, but we made it.

4. I saw a bluebird in the backyard (Image from All About Birds)

5. We went out to lunch with some of Himself's friends. Good food and lots of laughs. We finally got to meet B's wife. We've known him for many years. He always talked about his wife, but I thought she was imaginary. 🤣

How was your week?

Thursday, July 3, 2025

TBT: Reprints from CJ's Whine and Cheeze

 In 2003, Ma had a stroke. Dad was her full time caregiver until he he had a car accident that totaled the car. So in 2006, I became their chauffeur among other jobs.

At the time, to deal with the stress of running two households and working, I kept a blog entitled CJ's Whine and Cheeze. Egged on by some friends who enjoyed the first read through, you'll see your part when it comes by.


Thursday, January 11, 2007
Mahket Day

Yesterday, was another excursion to Market Basket. Himself came along and even offered to come into the store with the Weebles and me. What a guy!

We arrived at the house and the Weebles were running behind. They finally got themselves pulled together, coats on, when we had to do the missing checkbook dance. Himself thought I was kidding about these rituals. Checkbook found, we piled the Weebles in the car. Himself drove. Himself has his own preferred route to Market Basket. I was chuckling to myself. He is so the Golden Child. Not one peep about the route he was taking though I could tell Dad wanted to say something!

Wednesday must not be the usual elder crowd shopping day. Several handicap slots were open. Himself found a prime space, and we unloaded Weebles. At the store entrance, Dad went in to get Ma one of the shopping scooters, and Himself returned her walker to the car. Ma hopped on the scooter and zoomed around the store with us following in her wake stepping and fetching as she dictated. a 12 pack of "jinjah-ale", a 12 pack of root beer, 2 dozen eggs, 2 gallons of milk.

The deli seemed to be the parting of the ways. Dad took off one way, and Ma headed to the meat case. Himself decided to follow Ma and I as she blessed the meat. He really thought I exaggerated the task of picking out the meat. Ma would point, I would lean into the case to retrieve a package, and then hold it for her inspection, then put it back when it was rejected. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Himself watching our progress. As Ma was looking at another package of meat, I made the papal blessing behind her back. Himself started to laugh.

Ma finally selected a package of chuck which she was going to grind into her own hamburger until we found packages of hamburger for $1.79 per pound.

"Is that a good price?" she asked me.

Now, many of you know I don't do the grocery shopping, and when I do shop, I ascribe to the Little Princess Principal of Shopping. That is, if you want it, you buy it whether or not it's on sale or you have a coupon. Ma was waiting for an answer and of course, I have no idea whether it's a good price or not. Suddenly, I feel as if I'm on a game show. Wait! I need a lifeline. Himself gave me a thumbs up. Ma put the hamburger in her cart and had me replace the chuck. As we left the meat case, the meat manager was rearranging all the packages.

Ma's entourage seemed to join up at Produce. She sent Dad off to the other end of the store for something or other. Himself was ordered to pick out plum tomatoes. Not an easy task since most of the tomatoes looked rotted.

Himself rejoined us as Ma and I rounded on the carrots. She wanted big carrots as she doesn't like peeling and doesn't like peeling small ones. Course I'm thinking she doesn't do the peeling any more so what difference does it make. I pick a package. It's rejected. Another is offered. That one is axed too. Ma suddenly grabs the package that is the corner stone of the entire carrot display. I begin juggling 5 lb. bags of carrots as they slide from the top. Fortunately, Himself lifted the entire 200 lb. stack and Ma was able to get the bag she wanted. Whew!

Himself was sent off to look for raisins while Ma and I headed to the freezer case of ice cream. I have no clue where Dad was, probably taking a break. A local brand of ice cream was on sale.

"Get a gallon of vanilla."

I obliged. She looked at the freezer case trying to decide on another flavor.

"Pick one that you like."

I picked chocolate.

"No, I don't like that." I put the chocolate back. Condensation which had formed on the glass of the open door was now starting to freeze. "What other flavors are there?"

"Chocolate chip, mint chocolate chip, Chocolate chip cookie dough, Fudge Swirl, Berry Swirl?" She wrinkled her nose. The tips of my fingers were turning black, and I feared gangrene from frostbite had set in.

"Get the spumoni"

"The spumoni is not on sale. It's $5.99."

"No, that's too expensive. What other flavors are there?"

"The same ones that were in the case a minute ago."

She finally selected the Berry Swirl.

Dad made an appearance about this time, and she sent him looking for nuts. I almost said he didn't have to look far as we were all right there.

We went up and down aisles, and she sent us scattering like ants hither and yon to bring back things to be presented to her highness.

"Where's the list?"

List? There was a list? We've spent an hour and a half running from one end of the store to the other and there was a list? At least no Little Debbie snack cakes gave their lives during this production.

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Doodle for Stress

 

Two weeks ago, the virtual doodle class I take on Mondays was cancelled and Monday I was in Maine. While away, I did doodle in a virtual journal I kept on the iPad.  This was from the first day of the trip.

2OLOTR: Two old ladies on the road going to Camp Ogunquit. We stopped at the Lobster Cove in York, Maine for lunch where we had BLTs (bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches.)

It was windy and cold at Nubble Lighthouse, so we bought hoodies to go over the hoodies we had brought.

We stayed at the Ogunquit Tides motel outside of town. We unpacked, took a nap, and then went to Congdon's After Dark for dinner. Food trucks set up in the Congdon parking lot. I had chicken and veggie cabobs, rice pilaf, and pita bread. Very good.

Then we had a slumber party where we stayed up talking until 1:30 AM

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

T Stands for 2OLOTR Eat in Maine


Two Old Ladies on the Road stopped for lunch at York Beach, Maine. We stopped at a new to us restaurant called the Lobster Cove. On all the drives up to York Beach, I never notice this restaurant. It's nestled in the middle of motels and summer places on Long Sands Drive. I thought it was just another motel.

I ordered and Arnold Palmer (half lemonade and half iced tea). Teague had a ginger ale.


From our table we had a beautiful view of Long Sands What do you think one orders for lunch at a restaurant called Lobster Cove?


We both ordered the BLT (bacon, lettuce and tomato). Since it was a late lunch, we didn't want a huge lunch or have to take food with us.


After lunch, we made our usual stop at Nubble Light


The views never get old


The weather had turned quite chilly and windy. My light-weight hoodie wasn't going to do the job of keeping me warm enough. At the gift shop, I bought a Nubble Light hoodie in a pretty shade of blue. Teague bought the same hoodie in Navy blue.  The volunteer outside said the light blue was turning out to be a popular color. 

When we went out to dinner later in the evening, I wore the Nubble Light hoodie under my old hoodie. That way, if I slobbed dinner on myself, I wouldn't run the new hoodie.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page