PJ's addiction

Funny, ever since my dad moved down here I see the boys eat more things that are different to the area. PJ is the one that will try something and then end up liking it. He loves Boar's Head mustard and potato chips. He and my dad will go through a 1/2 bag in no time. But they have to be kettle chips, they can't be the ruffles.

When my dad moved down here 7 years ago, he brought some foods with him that were different. He would go to NYC and get a kielbasa, the real thing. Oh my, PJ went nuts over that. He loves pierogies, that is my kid, and he realized that he loves

My dad brought it over once, a few years ago. Now, no one else liked it, but PJ and I ate it up. Then I started finding this at The Fresh Market. I bought it a few times and then forgot about it.

A few weeks ago at Publix, while I was getting the lunch meat, there it was

Oh my goodness, I had to buy it. I just had to get it. Ok, so I buy it, tell him about it when he gets home, Eric snarls his nose at it, Chuck says "I don't see the big deal." PJ is on the floor begging for a piece. "Please make some for breakfast for me, please. I will pay anything." Not a problem, I know he likes the stuff. But little did I know how much.

The following week, I am at the deli again, and decided again that it was not a big deal for me to buy more Taylor Ham or Pork Roll. Depending on where you are from in NJ, is what you call it. I am from the middle of the state, so I call it either one. Anyway, I get home, PJ gets home and starts looking for it. He knew I went shopping and he knew what I was buying.

Well, last week I decided that I was not gonna buy any Taylor Ham this week. But I spotted the box in with the breakfast meats. I went ahead and bought that. PJ, once again, came home and started rummaging through the drawer looking for "his" Taylor Ham. I showed him the box and he commented, "all mine!" How funny is that!

Ok, so it is a Jersey thing. Along with Freeman's Bakery with their powdered sugar crumb cakes, butterscotch krimpets and Tastykakes, don't forget real salt water taffy from Atlantic City. I know that I miss all that stuff, but it is fun to find that stuff around here and introduce them to the family.

I really think that PJ would be very happy with the foods in NJ. And he is ready to try some new things.

Something new, not borrowed, and not blue

As I mentioned before, we have been in our house for 8 years. And of course I made all kinds of curtains for the house. Eric was first and his are of the moon and stars. It took him forever to pick out the material. He searched and searched for the right stuff, because he knew that he would have to live with it for a long time. I paid full price for them. I didn't know any better, so I got the fabric from Wal-Mart, and was very happy with the outcome. PJ finally got rid of the rid vine curtains this past year. I found some really outdoorsy fabric at Wilson when they had their Spring sale. It was only $1 a yard, for some very heavy duty fabric. He loves it and he is very happy with his curtains. It keeps the lightening out during storms, but still lets the morning sun in on nice days. Our bathroom got some curtains last year, right after Christmas.

We lived with these awful curtains in there, and I found this stuff when a local place was going out of business. I was afraid that I didn't get enough, but it worked out nicely.

As for the other bathroom, you have seen what I have done in there. I am really happy with what I have been able to do.

But now, we have done nothing to our bedroom. Living with curtains that don't match. A set that I bought when we lived in Knoxville and then something that I picked up a few years ago. Couldn't find what I wanted to put in there, didn't want to spend the money that they were charging for them, or just didn't feel like buying anything at all. So, for 8 years, we have had mismatched curtains.

Now, we won't have to worry about that. I bought that material from Wilson's and was very happy with the choice. I knew what I wanted to do. But I only had 15 yards, I really wanted some that went to the floor, but I didn't have that much to make them with. And once again, I am not good with measurements, so, I had to hem and haw over the length of them. I measured once, measured again, and measured once more. Added the hem and the top inches and thought it through one more time. Finally, I got a number that worked. It gave me a length that worked well for me, it gave the gathering at the top too. So, I went with it. I cut the fabric the other day, and I will end up attaching about 19" to the bottom of one. That one will be behind the dresser. Everything else was measured twice, cut once. A good rule to live by.

And then today I decided to get it together. Between the heating unit and Chuck going into work for a little while, it took me a while to get it rolling. But, I got 2 done tonight, and I don't have to be at work until 5:30 tomorrow. Chuck has a meeting and I will be home alone, so, I will work on curtains for a little while.

This is what I have so far:
I am really happy with them. And they are even too! Sometimes they don't come out right, but this time, they are perfect.

Look what I got!

Ok, before posting any pics about what I got. I need to tell you a story first. Not a long one, but still in all, a story.

When my dad moved down here in 2001, I spotted this fabulous dough board that I just loved. I told him that when he dies I was getting that board. He did everything on that dough board. All of his pie doughs, bread doughs, cookies, pierogi dough, babka dough and whatever else he made. He used that board all the time. I loved it, and I wanted it.

He bought himself a very nice bread machine, so, he didn't use that board as much. I asked and asked for it, but he didn't want to give it up. He still made pierogis and babkas, so he "kneaded" it. Ha ha, a little baker's humor.

Yesterday we went on our shopping trip. This time it was my turn to drive. He got over to the house, grabbed a cup of coffee, moved his car, got his bags and waited on me. I got out there and got everything in the car, ready to go. He told me, "there is something in the back seat for you." Ok, I thought he was talking about my car. I have the Pizza Hut topper in the back of my car. But he was talking about his car, he unlocked the door and I went to the car to find this:


I was so excited! I couldn't wait to get it in the house, but we had to go shopping. All the way down he told me how he made it. Not to use any water on it, don't cut any meats on it, only use it for dough and that is all. He told me how he bought a small sander, sanded it, and then the thing blew up on him. He took that back to the store. He told me how he got the wood for this too. He said that he was talking to the man at Home Depot, the one that sells the heating units, he had some wood from New Zealand that was left over and asked if my dad wanted it. He won't turn down anything like that. He would find something to do with it and he did.

He told me what happened to his. Turns out, his fell apart. He had it for years, but the craftsmanship wasn't his up to his standard. It lasted a long time and he used it many times.

Now I have some dough boards, but they aren't like this one. They are a lot thinner and they are good for somethings, but this one is flush with the countertop and I don't have to lean over and hurt my back making things.

On our way home from Publix we stopped at the restaurant supply store. Oh my goodness, I was like a kid in a candy store! It was AWESOME! But I found a really nice dough scraper. So that way I don't have to use anything else on this board.

He told me "It is made out of love." I know that. He will be 70 next week, and I know that he worked really hard on this. This is something that will be around long after I am gone too.

Time for some changes

We have lived here 8 years. I love my house. It isn't snotty or snooty. It isn't a dump or a hole in the wall either. It is perfect for all of us. It suits our needs and we have the most property then most of the people that live on the same street. People would love to have the land that we have.

Over the years we have done some things to the house. Painted the all white living room, all oil paint living room, to green and brown. I love the pecan color, it is a nice accent wall. We have painted Eric's room, painted the kitchen, put new flooring down in the kitchen, tore up the carpeting in the living room and moved our main stuff into the great room. I have also made curtains for most of the house.

My first project was the shower curtain for the bathroom. My neighbor showed me how to sew and she helped me create the shower curtain, all 7 yards of it. I liked it, took me a long time to pick out the fabric, and I was proud to show it off.



A few months ago, I decided that I was really tired of all that fabric hanging there, catching all the dust, toothpaste and hairspray. And that I was gonna do something different with it. I couldn't find the fabric for the curtains, I got tired of the little topper that was hanging there, so I decided to take the shower curtain down and do something with it. I knew what I wanted, it was just creating it that was gonna be a slight problem. All the measuring and numbers are not my strong point, so I had to think about all of this for a while and then go from there.

I knew that I wanted a topper for the shower and of course curtains for the window. It was just figuring out all that I needed for it. So, I came up with this.



Now the first time I made it, it didn't measure evenly across. It was a little off, so I had to take it down and work on it. I got it right. Ok, now the window was next. I made 2 curtains and hung them up, but I didn't like the way they looked with the mini blinds, I am really trying to get rid of all of them. I hate them. But the one in the bathroom was dusty, and even though Eric washed it once a month, it just didn't come out right.

I wanted the mini blind gone and something behind it. But I am so picky about what I make, that it takes me forever to find exactly what I am looking for. It has to be just right, or I won't like it at all. And then I will be disappointed in the long run.

I was shopping at Wal-Mart yesterday looking at some of the fabrics. Just looking for something to put in place of the blind. I looked at a shear cotton, didn't like it. Looked at some darker, like a cream color cotton, didn't care for that either. Walked around the corner and there it was, this material that I thought would work perfectly, but it was bridal fabric.
But it was something that I really liked. So, of course I bought that and I picked up the spring rod and went on my way.

I got home and waited until Chuck went to work, and then I went to work on what I was going to make. This stuff is a bear to work with and I don't think I will work with this much again. But I measured out the the top, sewed it, and then off to the bottom. I think it was cut crooked so, I pinned it crooked. I knew how many inches I wanted, so I had to go from there. Measure and re-pin, measure and re-pin. Finally I got it right, well almost right. It turned out nice. I was very happy with it and Chuck liked it too. He agreed with me that the blinds had to go, and it was time for a change too. I know that the sheer is really sheer, but the top curtains pull easily to close them up.



I am pleased with it. It was time for a change. Time for something different.

Clank, Clank, Clank

.... not the Trolley, my central heat and air unit. Yep, that is the noise that we heard out of it yesterday while Chuck and I were sitting around. We went outside, heard this awful noise, turned it down and went on our way. Thought that it was something that was not coming back. BUT....

We heard it again today and decided to call to have them come out and look at it. They told us it would be between 2 and 5 when they got here. As with the refrigerator, it was closer to 5, isn't that the way it always happens?

Before they came out I called the utilities to talk to them about financing a new unit. They charge $7K for them to finance it through a bank, pay on that for 10 years at 6% interest. Ok, that is a lot of money.

The guy comes out and looks at the unit, it is the outdoor motor fan that has gone out on it. It will cost a bit over $400 to fix it, but, and I mean BUT.... the unit is 16 years old and at this point it could nickel and dime us to death. Time to make a decision.

Now Chuck is at work and I hate making any decision without him being here. I forget to ask questions and then I have to go back and ask them. I look like a retard, but he isn't here to ask, so I have to ask. They do finance, but at a 17.9% rate, no matter what your credit rating is, but this is for 5 years, not 10 like the utilities. Also it is $2000 less than what the utilities charge. Big difference, but the interest rate is outrageous!

What to do, what to do? We decided to get it fixed and then when the next problem occurs, go from there. It could be tomorrow or 3 years down the road. The unit is supposed to last for 20 years, so I would rather take the chance and wait,then to put out that kind of money right now. At least in the winter time, you can buy heaters. If it happens in the summer, it has to be fixed, no matter what.

The many school projects so far

We have been busy with all kinds of school projects. Eric has had some fun with his, they are more detailed oriented and gives him a challenge too.

When school started I knew that we would have some projects, I just didn't expect to have so many this far into the school year. So, let's start with Eric.


Eric's Geography class had to draw a map from home to school. He had to have the route that we take everyday to school. Ok, not too bad, but he wanted to add more to it. The first draft came out ok, but Eric started to color the streets black, and made a complete mess of it. So, I sketched out another one, showed him how to do the streets and gave him places that the landmarks are at. He had to have a compass rose on it and a key of what everything was. He got 103 on it. The teacher was very pleased with the amount of work he did put into this.



Eric also had a car to make in Engineering Tech (shop) class. He had so much fun with this. He got the wood and drew out what he wanted. This was the class that Chuck went to help out at. He helped them cut the cars out and then the kids would bring them home to sand and paint. In the long run, Eric's came out pretty cool.


Add wheels to it, and he was on his way. They put an airgun in the back of it and shot it on to a strip. His did pretty good, got another 100 on that too.

Ok, so now the fun one for all of us to see how it works. Eric came home a few weeks ago and told us that he had a project for Science class. Ok, what can this be???? A rubberized egg. He was so excited that he had to start it right away. He had a paper that he had to follow the instructions on and to list all that he saw happening to the egg. Use vinegar, what kind, what kind of egg.... you know, they want all details.

So he started it, observed it, kept notes on it. Didn't follow directions all the way through and tried to bounce it. SPLAT! That one didn't work. I missed it, I was at work, but I did think it was rather funny. Now, let's start all over again and follow all of the directions. This time he did, observed it, bagged it up, took it to school and was the first one in his class to turn it in. It wasn't due until the 10th, but he was so excited that he had to turn it in. They bounced it 5 cm at a time, his bounced all the way from a 25 cm drop and SPLAT, but this time it was in a baggie, sealed up, no mess to clean up. Once again, another 100 for another project.

PJ has had 2 projects so far this year, and I do think that is all he will have. The first was the cell. I know that when Eric did it, we used pizza dough and all the stuff from pizza that made up the cell. All the other kids had done the styrofoam ball, cut it out and did what they wanted to. And every year, I would see the same thing. So, when it came to PJ's turn, I really didn't want him to do what every other kid did. So, that is why the jello came into play. He did a good job on it, got a good grade and it was rather different. Unlike the little boy that printed a copy off the internet.

And lastly, PJ had to make an instrument for music class. Things don't change much in school. I am prepared for the upcoming projects, because I already know what to expect. PJ came home all excited about this one, "Oh I have to make a rain stick" Well, great, now what??? I found a cylinder at work and the one manager told me how to make it, easy enough. Just getting the nails through this thick cardboard was a kicker! PJ had the easy part, pour rice in there, seal it up, and wrap paper around it. Nothing special, but it was kinda cool. He came home and said there were so many cool things. But his was the only rain stick that worked right!

So far, that is all they have done. They have kept me busy with all of this, but I have fun with them. I am sure there will be more to come.

PJ and Chorus

Oh I am so proud of PJ and his love for chorus. He makes sure that every Friday he is there on time for practice. He walks around the house singing the songs that he has learned and loves what he is doing. What he doesn't realize is that this opens the door for him to join choir and drama in Middle School. This is a good opportuntity for him.

Well, I worked last night and got home after they went to bed. I know that PJ is not a sleeper right away, so I knew that he was up. I walked down the hallway, asked him if he was still awake and I get this bright eyed response --- "Oh yes mommy! But I have to ask you a question."

Ok, I am game, "What is it buddy?" "Well, I don't know if I want to try out for Santa or sing a solo. What do you think?" I told him that either one would be great to get and that maybe he should try out for both, just in case he didn't get the other. He said, "I asked Mrs. James if she could wait until Monday for my decision, that I had to talk it over with you before I decided on anything." HA HA! I love it. We did talk, and when I finally got out of his room, "Mommy, thanks for the advice, I knew you would have the right answer." Now, he knows that if he doesn't get a part this year, that next year he stands a better chance at it, because he will be in 5th grade.

But, deep down inside, I hope he gets something. I will let y'all know what happens with this part of his very busy life!