Just thought I’d check in before March is gone. I cannot WAIT until it is totally spring and I can sit outside. It became too chilly to sit out for long on Saturday and I didn’t even try today. I spent most of today watching TV, crocheting, and playing with my home videos. On Friday Vito showed me a daffodil that sprang up in our front yard. (I didn’t even know we HAD daffodils in our yard!) I guess that means spring is really here?

I’m trying to clear out the movie clips I have saved on Windows Movie Maker so that I can have only active projects that I am working on. So I spent a lot of time combining individual clips and moving them to my Photo & Movie albums. Since I am still learning how to do all of that it is taking FOREVER! But it’s fun! I have a plan to put different video clips of Ella together to document her first year of life. That will be time consuming, but I figure if I start the project now, all I’ll have to do is add new ones. I have 4 ½ months to catch up to right now. I’ll let you know how that goes.

Vito is making dinner (bless him) and, since Desperate Housewives is a repeat, I can surf the net earlier tonight. I have been crocheting the Doily from hell. It’s very pretty, but I keep goofing it up. (I know…it’s NOT the doily….it’s ME!) I should be done with it soon. I only have 1 ½ rows to go. I will post a picture when I finally complete it.

Vito is going nuts. Our kitten somehow pulled the wires out of his computer and he has been trying to fix it all day. Nobby is smart enough to hide from him. *LOL*

Not much to post. Brian made dinner last Monday and it was delicious. He made homemade gnocchi with wheat flour and a lamb & tomato sauce. Awesome. We stayed longer than normal and got to see Ella get her bath. The picture posted is one that Vito took and I think it’s amazing. He entered it in an art contest his work is having.

Well, gotta go. Later, gators!

Another nice Sunday!!!

Today I was sitting on the front porch in the sunshine. I tried the back porch but it was in the shade and the breeze was still too cool and made the backyard too chilly. Some idiot was riding his quad up and down the street earlier, so I put on police scanner to see how fast someone called. No one did. Very disappointing! If he’d kept it up, I would have called.

No fishing license yet (for those who are keeping tabs). Maybe Vito will get it tomorrow while I am at work. (crossing fingers)

Nothing much happening, here. Saw the squirrel again yesterday…or maybe it was a different one. Who can tell? Besides other squirrels I mean. Doesn’t matter what squirrel I am seeing, its name is Rocky! Our kitten, Nobby, has discovered the hermit crabs. I knew he would…he’s smart and curious. Now I have to keep my office door shut unless I am up here. He caved in the screen covering them yesterday. I was terrified he got one of them, but I don’t think he did. (I don’t always have both of them on the surface where I can see them) I have a constant nightmare that he is going to lunch on them one day.

We got to babysit Ella today for a few hours. Our first time babysitting. Mallory is gaining confidence in us! *LOL* We took her for a walk in the stroller Vito got her. (see above) It was wonderful and now I have a way to get Vito & me out to exercise!! Ella was getting a bit fussy, so we headed for home. On the way back, one of our neighbors called over to us to come by their garage. She came out with a jogging stroller (I think that’s what it’s called). She said we could have it, as her kids are now too big for it. I thought that was really nice. We joked with her about how cool is our neighborhood when you take a leisurely stroll and end up with a free gift!! Vito took fussy Ella back while we talked for a bit. When I got back to the house, Ella was still fussing. The funny thing is she stopped when she saw & heard me. Vito started whining, but I told him it was the “female mommy” voice she was responding too. (HAD to tell him SOMETHING!) So I changed Ella’s stinky diaper (Ella smella!) and told Vito “guess why she was fussing!” and tapping my foot while I said it. Then Ella and I played on the floor til Brian and Mallory came back. Now that I’m over my first babysitting experience with my grandbaby (hey, it’s been 25 years!) I feel more confident for next time.

I made a pot roast yesterday and stuck it in the fridge, so all I had to do was heat it up today. It came out pretty good. I can make a few things well!! I made chili last Wednesday when the kids came over for dinner. That came out ok too. Two hits in a week! WOW! *LOL*

We are supposed to get a glider off of Bill’s parents. They bought a porch swing and no longer have room for it. So I guess I’ll probably be spending more time out front this year.

Well, gotta go and upload this before Desperate Housewives comes on and my laundry is calling. Til next time!

It was a wonderful 72 degrees in the Burgh yesterday! Unbelievable! I sat out on my back porch, my usual spot in warm weather, with all my necessities around me: police scanner (have to see what the neighbors are up to), coffee, cigarettes, puzzle books, pen, pencil, paper, books I’m currently reading (this time it’s J.D. Robb’s Promises in Death), crocheting, and my handy dandy cameras. I just sat there and soaked in the nice, warm weather. The yard is still a winter mess with lots of mud and leaves, but Vito came home from work and started fussing with the plants. Our lone little cherry tree and the grape vines are just sticks yet, but if this weather keeps up they should be budding soon. Can’t wait for my lilacs to bloom!

We plan to get our 09 fishing licenses next pay (in 2 weeks) so, hopefully, we will put in more attempts at catching a fish thank last year. We are lazy about going places. But all in all, we’ve had a great start on the not so new year. Chrissie and Bill are married (see previous post), Brian and Mallory gave us our beautiful grandchild, Ella, and my work replaced the 2 employees who left so my workload is back to normal and much more manageable.

I’m back trying to learn American Sign Language (ASL). Mostly, this time, for Ella. I’d love for her to learn it. Vito is talking to her only in Italian and ASL could tie in nicely with that. I think signing for babies is awesome and helps them with their language and reading skills. Plus, it will be fun!

I overheard my neighbors talking and I think they are planning to cut down the tree in their back yard. I hope not. I love having trees around me and since all we have is a 2 year old cherry tree that Vito planted, I enjoy the trees my neighbors have. Most of them are old and huge and I love to hear them whispering in the wind. I have always believed that trees talk! Must be the Druid in me! About 3 or 4 years ago the same neighbors (they have a corner lot 2 doors down from us) cut down the tree that was next to their porch. I was unhappy about that because I used to sit on our porch swing and look through the tunnel our porches made and see a beautiful curtain of green at the end of it. Of course, it was THEIR tree to do with want they wanted, but still!!!

While I was outside yesterday I saw my first robin of the year and a squirrel ran past me and ducked under the porch. I get excited when I see wildlife, even something as mundane as a squirrel!

Well I have to go and upload a video I took of Nobby yesterday. I think, if it turns out ok that I will post it on You Tube. Maybe here too! Take care and see ya soon!

Well, it’s official. Chrissie and Bill are now one. It was fantastic. We had a few hitches, mostly at the rehearsal. My sister, brother in law, niece, nephew, and great nephew were on their way to the rehearsal (they live about an hour and a half north) when the transmission on their truck went. They could only go forward…couldn’t back up. They called Vito to come get my niece and nephew (maid of honor and usher respectively) and bring them to the Burgh. The rest drove the sick truck back home. So Vito missed the first rehearsal, but they made it in time for the re-do. The second hitch was I discovered I was in the wedding! *LOL* Thought all I had to do was walk to my seat, watch the ceremony, and then get escorted back out at the end! But NOOOOOOO….Bills’ mom and I had to walk down the aisle at the very beginning of the ceremony carrying a taper (enter Lady MacBeth) and walk up to the altar and each of us light a candle on either side of the Unity Candle. The kids would then, after they were united, light the Unity Candle with both candles. Actually it was way cool. I never saw that before, but it seems like I’m behind the times a bit. I thought it was awesome.

The wedding itself went great. I didn’t cry, but I came close a few times. Once was when Vito was walking Chrissie down the aisle. Then I almost lost it when Chrissie and Bill came over and handed me a rose and hugged me. MY BABY WAS MARRIED!!!! *sigh* My great niece in nephew (different great nephew than the one in the broken down truck) were in the ceremony also. Flower girl and ring bearer. My little nephew is not quite 3, but he was wonderful, even though he almost fell asleep on his feet at the beginning of the ceremony. (The wedding took place during his naptime) After the ceremony we all went outside (remember, February and bitter cold) and blew bubbles as they came down the church steps. Then we all hurried, and I do mean hurried, back inside for pictures.

The reception was tons of fun. It really came off great and everyone had a blast. I heard a rumor that a video of Bill’s relatives singing at the wedding is on You Tube, but we haven’t found it yet! My little great nephew picked up my co-workers two little girls and partied down. It was hysterical! I have no video of it because my camera battery was being charged, but I’m sure someone in my family taped it. Even my older brother in law got in the action! Mallory wheeled him around the firehouse at the head of a conga line. Loved it. I’ll post a picture of Chrissie and Bill and, hopefully, the cake topper here. I thought the cake topper was hysterical. Hey, I raised my daughter right!!!

One the cutest ideas they came up with was the candy table. Someone did it at another wedding and since this was Valentine’s Day it fit really well. (will post that pic either here or on next blog…which should be later today) (it is now 1:20 AM here) They had cute plastic bags with hearts on them so that people could go up to the table and get a bagful of candy. Attached to the bag was a cut out heart with “Chrissie and Bill” written on one side and little sayings like the sweetheart candies that come out around Valentine’s Day. Sayings like “Kiss me”, “I love you”, etc. Well that’s it for now. Have to check out You Tube and head for bed. Happy March to all!