Friday, April 30, 2010

Beautiful day. . . Cecilia home from the hospital . . . Rick May will make an effort to check out my computer this weekend. Let's wish him luck . . . Jack Barnett whipped up a plate of chocolate-y cookies . . . Angela Lawson showed up with huge slices of coconut cream pie . . . so much for my battle with cholesterol . . . Jack Brandt paid a brief visit; he is really enjoying his ceramics classes at HACC . . .

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Busy day unpacking all the beautiful new pottery. Sorry I cannot show you a picture of it. Next problem is where to display it all. Right now it is simply stacked on the floor . . . Cecilia has been admitted to the hospital for a recurring high fever that seems unexplainable. Worrisome. Our prayers are with the Battisti family. . . Have heard some disturbing rumors lately and I am hoping that one of you can confirm or deny: The fireman's convention of antique machinery which has been a fixture along the river in June has been canceled this year because of increased park usage fees; the chili cook-off, a staple of the Kipona celebration, has been canceled for the same reason and will seek another venue on the West Shore. Please, please tell me that these rumors aren't true. These two events draw hundreds into the city . . .

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

It will be a busy couple of weeks in the Janet Day/Tom Leonard household as son Peter graduates from Temple U. and son Daniel graduates from Bishop McDevitt . . . Hot off the press is The Book of Secrets ($24.95) which exposes the way charlatans and magicians pulled off their "magic." We are all familiar with most of these, some centuries old. I was fascinated. Also included are directions for amazing card tricks, which aren't so amazing once you know the techniques. We have two copies in stock . . .

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Doug and Amy Hill back from California after running a marathon around Big Sur country . . . Got an e-mail actually supporting the new $5 admission charge to ArtFest that I have been complaining about recently. If I am not mistaken, the writer is a supplier to the event, and I suppose he realizes that he can now raise his prices for services rendered. I imagine others will soon follow suit . . .

Monday, April 26, 2010

Another damp, dull day with nothing newsworthy here. I need some sun and some visitors . . .

Sunday, April 25, 2010

A gloomy and almost depressing kind of day. The highlight was a quick visit to Larry and Jon who had no news to share . . . Bob spent the weekend with friends in Philadelphia and had a very nice time . . . Looking forward to sharing some pictures with you as soon as I am on my own computer . . .

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Spent the evening revisiting my youth by listening to songs from the 1950s. And every word of those then-popular songs was crystal clear. Eddie Fisher, Doris Day, Don Cornell, Kay Starr . . . Almost expected Joan, Donna, Regina, Gary and some others to join me at our favorite Cheeri-o Restaurant table to fill up on French fries with gravy, a Coke with a splash of cherry or chocolate syrup and twenty-five cent hamburgers (no pizza back in those days) . . . Someone would come up with an extra nickel or two and he/she would trot to the jukebox to play the latest on Your Hit Parade. We would hum or sing along--Stranger in Paradise, Wheel of Fortune, Mister Sandman . . . Ah, those were the days . . .

Friday, April 23, 2010

Pleasant quiet dinner with friends Jon and Dan from Fulton County . . . Has this happened to you? I have "spring-cleaned" a closet until it is super organized and virtually empty, yet the next time I open the door it is jammed and cluttered. How does that happen? . . . Curious habits #1: I always close the door when I go to the bathroom even though I am the only one in the house . . .

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Post 301 . . . A nice visit with Cal Bostic today . . . Joanne made Eric some nice muffins for his birthday today . . . The trash men forgot to pick up in the 200 block of Briggs . . . A mixed bag of weather--sun, sprinkles, chilly wind . . . More pottery, cards and a couple of curious books are on the way . . .

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Larry Kirkhuff chided me today for not reporting a bicycle/vehicle accident on Susquehanna Street yesterday noon; I chided him for not telling me earlier. I hope all of you will get in touch when there is neighborhood news suitable for this blog . . . Brian Medkeff-Rose of Mechanicsburg was in today and was impressed and excited by the dragonfly pottery. He is associated with Camp Dragonfly, a weekend outing for young people who have lost a close loved one. Sounds like a good program so we reached an agreement that could result in some funds for the program . . . The Bare Wall has often coupled with groups that can earn a percentage of sales when their members shop here . . .

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Happy to report that Dr. Bob Coldren is out of the hospital. Still hurting, however . . . Mary Ann Furedi and Rick May back from Vegas and the Grand Canyon. Rick was in conference. Mary Ann was too--at the pool with a mojito it is rumored . . . Giuseppe's Pizzeria behind Messiah Lutheran Church on Sixth Street is trying evening hours Monday thru Friday this summer. Open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. with evening delivery. My cheese pizza, on special, was pretty good . . .

Monday, April 19, 2010

Lindsay Mills and Guy Kehler back from a Mexican vacation . . . Happy to see that the Boas School property had undergone extensive landscaping and that the scattered trash has disappeared. Wonder if I can take credit for that after my recent post , , , Still not back on my own computer and feel I must once again thank Angela Lawson for the loan of hers . . . JJ was beautifully attired as the ring bearer at a weekend wedding and was acquitting himself very well until the entire church turned to stare at him and whisper "How cute." He froze in place and never did make it to the altar . . .

Sunday, April 18, 2010

A low-key day with virtually no productivity . . .

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Chilly day. Nice visit from Claire Pennington and daughter Caitlin of Dayton, Ohio . . . happy to report that Dr, Coldren is out of intensive care and into his own hospital room. Still a long road to recovery, but all indications are encouraging . . .

Friday, April 16, 2010

My morning walk took me down Third Street. A new juice bar is to open in the 500 block . . . work is continuing on the Capitol Park renovations. Why we must destroy a good chunk of the greenery just to widen the sidewalk is beyond me. We have survived as it is for at least sixty or so years . . . wandered through some alleys and remembered all the pocket gardens that used to dot the area. All are gone now, sacrificed for parking . . . The Bare Wall was accidentally "Open" all last night. Forgot to take down the sign . . . I am furious to learn that ArtsFest will no longer be a free event. Despite the fact that it has sponsors and is self-sustaining, the board has decided to institute a $5 admission charge; no more strolling down in the evening for an ice cream or basket of French fries. The vendors must be up in arms. When we started this event in the 1960s we were proud that this would be a free event for all the people. Guess the intent is to keep out the undesirables. If you object to this charge and are as angry as I am, please call the Greater Harrisburg Arts Council and complain. Maybe it is time for a change of management . . .

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Dr. Bob Colden underwent serious surgery this morning and is now resting comfortably according to Jack Barnett . . . Kathy MacNett has given her huge back yard a complete makeover and the results are terrific; quite beautiful . . . Dad and JJ are having hot dogs at the baseball season opener on City Island . . . Rhea Maff celebrated her 91st birthday today, surprised by daughter Madeline with a set of nine small cakes shipped in from Georgia . . .

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Dinner at Dodge City. Bob got his oysters before the "r" disappears from the calendar for a while. And the famous Dodge City strawberry shortcake is just a few weeks away, we were told . . . JJ wanted to play on the computer and was furious to learn that it is"broken." He wants it fixed IMMEDIATELY . . .

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Sprinkles and cold . . . Sampled the box of Turkish Delight that Joanne and Eric brought us straight from Turkey. Yummy . . . All those nice days really accelerated Spring. The magnolias, lilacs, redbuds, daffodils, dogwoods and even the tulips are ahead of schedule and even over . . . Still am not on my own computer yet, so I cannot post pictures . . . Please stay tuned . . .

Monday, April 12, 2010

Unpacked a nice new selection of greeting cards. A different look that really refreshes the card racks. I think you will like these . . . Took the taxes to the post office about 1:45 this afternoon. Only one man behind the counter and the line snaked through the lobby and almost reached the Walnut Street door. Probably twenty or so in line. But we all were patient. It wasn't the best advertisement for using the postal service, however . . . JJ finally got to see the interior of St. Pat's cathedral tonight. He was very impressed, especially when he stood under the dome and looked up. We have been trying to access the place for at least a year, but the doors are generally locked. Remember the days when churches were safe havens and open at all hours? Society has changed . . .

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Pleasant Sunday. Toured Michael Billo's "for sale" home at 805 Green. It is in move-in condition . . . Called my friend Gary O'Leary to ask for his help with my computer problems. You think you have problems? My water heater is flooding my basement! But he promised to get back to me once he had his own life under control . . . Rhea Maff began a week of celebration with a family dinner at Dodge City this afternoon. Rhea will be 91 on Thursday . . .

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Welcome home Joanne and Eric, back from a wonderful Mediterranean honeymoon: Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt and Malta . . . having an agonizing time with my computer which does not want to connect to the Internet; Rick May and others are helping me cope. I hope you will stick with me if I should miss a post in the coming days . . . I cannot receive e-mails or Facebook, so please call the number on the left if you need to contact us . . . Thanks . . .

Friday, April 9, 2010

Tom Leonard caught me in an error yesterday (since corrected); our thanks to him . . . Had an interesting morning on the net watching our warships arriving in Greenock, Scotland. The USS Barry was one of them, but I have no idea what they are doing there . . . My computer has gone down, a possible virus . . . My thanks to Jon and Larry for allowing me to make this post on their machine . . .

Thursday, April 8, 2010



















My morning walk took me past The Lofts at 909, Forster and Green in the old Boas School building. The neighborhood can happily welcome these up-scale furnished apartments but the exterior is overgrown with weeds and strewn with trash. Be darned if I would pay those prices to live in the squalor . . . Frank Pines and Joe Russian back from a few weeks in Spain and environs . . . Neighbor Kim supplied a generous serving of mac and cheese for my supper . . . the art class at St. Pat's school was sketching al fresco in front of the old Zephyr Express Restaurant on North Street this morning under Mrs. Bircher's tutelage . . . Am almost finished with Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die. Made Bob drive to Barnes and Noble this morning to get me the titles in this series that I didn't already have . . . Jacquie Kirby Hensel came by; she was posting a Sunday Open House sign at 805 Green and was then on her way to the library to search for the first titles in this series. She is a faithful blog reader . . .

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Amy Hill's mother came shopping this afternoon and immediately recognized Bill Campbell's pottery since she lives just a few miles from his Cambridge Springs studio . . . Mary Ann Furedi and Rick May getting a complete make-over of their stoop that was damaged by this winter's weather . . . Just when I thought I was catching up Lee Spitalny appeared with another bag of cozy mysteries; I should have a "murderous" summer . . . Bob and I had a ham and green bean supper on the stoop tonight and we were greeted by a number of passers-by who said our appearance there was a sure sign that summer was on the way . . . Ordered some more greeting cards . . . Started another Nancy Martin novel . . . JJ could not come to look for hidden eggs in the courtyard so I got my chance to do the search. Found all but one and even "Easter Bunny Bob" couldn't figure out where he had tucked it . . .

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Thanks to Lee Spitalny I am so enthralled by Nancy Martin's mysteries involving Philadelphia society--How to Murder a Millionaire, Dead Girls Don't Wear Diamonds, Some Like It Lethal--that nothing is getting done around the shop--and that includes this blog . . .

Monday, April 5, 2010



After a few months at Linden Terrace, Joel Turley has decided to move back into the neighborhood around the first of May . . . Our condolences to James Cowden on the passing of his father . . . In showing me something else Trish Deibler Boyer inadvertently gave me a cam address for Tower Bridge in London. You can check out the traffic (on the bridge and on the Thames) at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/towerbridge. . . Nervously waiting to hear if the White House is still standing. JJ and Cecilia were to be guests of the Obamas this afternoon . . . I think JJ is checking to see if the Oval Office meets with his approval.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Nice store traffic on this gorgeous Saturday before Easter but unfortunately the two bunnies and woolly sheep are destined to be closeted orphans for another year . . . Bob dished up our traditional Easter dinner tonight; he is an excellent cook. Great fellowship with Mark Stevens and George Miller . . .

Friday, April 2, 2010

Good Friday. Beautiful day but not a single customer . . . Was rudely aroused at 7:30 this morning when the 800 block of Green was flooded with fire trucks and police cars. The engine compartment of a parked car was "smoking." Never did find out who the vehicle belonged to . . .

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Such a beautiful day. I am surprised that I got as much done as I did. Half the store looks great, the other half is a wreck. Always is when you are re-displaying the merchandise . . . Still some Easter cards left for you last-minute shoppers. Also a set of bunnies and a set of woolly sheep . . . April Fool's Day went by without too much tomfoolery. It started back in 1539 or before, you know . . . Sarah Battisti reminds us that this is also Census Day and encourages everyone to fill out and return his form. It has serious implications for Pennsylvania's Federal allotments . . ."Today is Census Day...10 Questions, 10 minutes. Each year, more than $400 billion in federal funds is allocated based all in or part on the results of the Census. That's more than $4 trillion over a 10-year period for things like: Schools, Senior centers, Job training centers, Bridges, highways, public transit and Emergency service including emergency vehicles and training for EMTs." . . .