Such a chilly day. It was gloomy too. I went shopping, however, which did brighten the day. I replaced some wine glasses and lunch plates. The plates are actually considered dessert plates, but they make such a nice size for lunch. I found some really colorful plates with four different fruit patterns on them. They were 70% off so it was quite a deal. Go to Kohls if you are looking for bargains in the housewares department. I bought a couple of cutting boards too. I like to have two. One to use and one to wash and mine are getting pretty bad. I replaced one and got a spare for Jim.

Jim bought a dehydrater. I believe I mentioned that some time ago. He is dehydrating EVERYTHING and could use a cutting board for some of his things. He also purchased a slicer/chopper which I have been finding very handy for many things myself. I believe I will fix a carrot salad next week and it will be much easier to grind the carrots in the machine. But meat is better done on a board. I have some venison in a marinade to put into the dehydrator tomorrow. That should really be good.

Blessed Trinity has hired a new music minister. How great is that. We will have a rehearsal on Thursday and can be singing for Pentecost. We have really missed being able to sing in choir. I will have council meeting that night too so will only be able to attend a bit of the rehearsal but at least I will be able to meet her.

Here is a nice easy rather elegant dessert that Mother used to fix when we were young.

FRENCH PASTRY

1 Package Instant Chocolate Pudding
5 Whole Graham Crackers
1 Large Container of Cool Whip

Mix the pudding according to the recipe on the package. Break the crackers in half. Place two halves side by side about two inches apart. Spread about a tablespoon of pudding on each half. Layer another cracker and the pudding until they are all used up in two stacks. Cover each stack generously with the Cool Whip. Let set for a couple of hours so the crackers absorb some moisture. When serving, cut each stack in half and serve with the cut side down. It is nice to swirl a bit of chocolate syrup on the plate and over the pastry for effect.


Enjoy

Mary

I am searching the internet for information about Fairy or Faerie Fields. I know they exist in Irish legend but the information on them seems to be very sparse.

Somewhere, I learned that you can always identify a fairy field if there is a big open field with a lone tree or bush in it somewhere. The tree or bush is where the fairies can hide if they need to. It is bad luck to put a road through a fairy field. I know that for sure. There is or was a fairy field out in Sheboygan County where the Irish settled. For many many years, the road went around that field. Foolish highway designers have now run the road through the field but we all know that no good can come of that.

Some say that you can tell a fairy field if there are fairy rings in it. Fairy rings are found all over Ireland and are three foot circles of dark green grass with paler grass in the center. The fairies are supposed to dance around these circles. One of my neighbors has a much larger circle that does match the description of a fairy ring except FOR the size. Maybe everything is bigger in the U. S.

Liam Clancy got trapped in a fairy field for a whole night on his way home from the pub one evening. He could not find the gate in the hedgerow until the sun came up and it reappeared. He never said he saw any fairies though.

Anyway, I am trying to find out a bit more about fairy fields. If you know anything, please pass the information along to me.

Slainte

Mary

I am full of ambition to be creative again. Maureen Smith, my friend in Chicago, had sent me a pattern for a Nativity Scene on blocks of wood almost two years ago. When we had our bathroom remodeled, the man who did the work was kind enough to cut the leftover supports into the lengths I needed. So the other day, I sent out an SOS to my brothers, Jeff and Randy and my brother-in-law Ken to locate a sander. Kenny responded and brought it over today and we rounded the edges of the chunks of wood.

Now - I have to cut all the pattern pieces out of the felt pieces that I have purchased and glue them together. I figured that would make a nice donation for the Festival of Trees this year. I have entered several stockings and a couple of wall hangings and this would be something really different. The Creche consists of the Holy Family, the Three Wise Men, a Shepherd, an Angel, a Donkey and two sheep.

I also started cutting out the pieces for Fire and Ice, a 35 by 35 wall hanging that really impresses me.

Kenny also brought me a video on Turkey Hunting. Randy, Kenny and I will be doing that in about a week. I hope I get a shot off at one anyway. I am using my 20 guage this year which is easier to handle than Randy's 12 guage. I did see a bird last year but it was before it was light and I could not idenitfy it as a Tom. One of the major rules is to KNOW YOUR TARGET.

"If God is your Copilot - swap seats"

See Ya

Mary

Dick and I took Mother to lunch today, prior to her eye doctor appointment. We are so blessed to have that lady with us at 88 years old.

She wasn't happy with the news at the eye doctor. The good is that there is no recurrence of the macular degeneration. The bad news is that the cataract in her left "good" eye is now in need of being taken care of. Therefore, she will have cataract surgery on May 19th. As she got into the car, I could hear her muttering "what a business" under her breath. Much like swearing. I am just pleased that they can do something. If she would lose her sight, she would have to give up reading, sewing and so very much else and she doesn't need that.

She is our "Sunday in every week." and we want her to have nothing but good.

Keep her in your prayers.

Good things for you on the morrow.

Love

Mary

This will be short. It is 9:00PM. This morning I had to go for a followup mammagram. Thank the Lord. It came out OK so I am back on my usual checks again. It is always a little frightening when they want you to come back to check something "questionable".

Then I had my teeth cleaned. And tonight I went to Volunteer Appreciation Night Banquet for the volunteers to Rocky Knoll. I go out there every month or so to help the residents play bingo. They have such fun that it becomes fun for the volunteers. The staff out at Rocky Knoll is very caring and obviously take such good care of their charges. For those that do not know, Rocky Knoll is the county Health Care Hospital for many disabled people. We play bingo with the mildly retarded, aged and sometimes a bit disturbed. But they are all sweet and love to win their quarters which they can use in the vending machines.

Remember - Peace starts with a smile.

Mary

Boy, did we ever get a wind storm last night and this morning. I guess we've had worse but it was pretty bad. The temperatures are in the mid to high 50s which I don't mind. Wouldn't hurt to be a little warmer though.

I guess it is in the 80s in Boston. They were running the Boston Marathon today in that heat. I wonder how many made it through this year. Several years ago, my brother George ran the Boston Marathon. He came in the upper 1/3 of the finishers. Pretty impressive for a guy in his late thirties who had just started running a couple of years earlier. His wife, Betsy, tells the story of the first marathon he ran. I think it was in Texas but would not swear to that. She was waiting at the finish line. As she waited, a man ran across the finish line, collapsed and died on the spot. Eventually, George came through and she said he looked like he was going to die too. Obviously, he didn't and he went on to run others. He said he learned from that experience. One thing he said, I have always remembered. If you are in a physically stressful event or situation, grab water whenever you can. If you wait until you are thirsty, it will be too late. Your brain just doesn't assimilate the thirsty need soon enough. Just like it takes about 15 minutes for your brain to know that you are full after eating.

Have a great day.

Mary

Today while in church I realized that I was slumping my shoulders a bit and the nicest memories of my Grandmother Matie Bowser came in to my mind.

Grandma Bowser was a lady and she ALWAYS stood proud with her shoulders back and her head high. When I think of how a lady behaves, I only need to remember her and her manners and ways and KNOW. She often said that she married Irish but she married Lace Curtain Irish not Shanty Irish.

On the 50th Wedding Anniversary of Grandma Matie and Grandpa John Bowser, my Dad wrote a parody of an old Irish Song called John O'Connor's Wedding Day.

Here are his words:

One morning Johnny Bowser was as happy as could be
For in an hour he would wed his beautiful Marie.
He whistled as he dressed himself in his Sears and Roebuck suit.
He was thinking of his sweetheart.
She really was a beaut.
Matie's face was blushing as they walked down the aisle.
And when the preacher tied the know
John's face beamed with a smile
When it all was over to the parsonage they went.
John meant to pay the preacher
But he couldn't find a cent.

Chorus:

Down went his hands into
His pockets, they were deep.
Down went they deeper
He was in an awful sweat.
50 years have passed away
And still I'll always bet
That he hasn't found the bottom yet.

Ahh Ha Ha A

(Grandma's name was Marie, but she was called Matie by those who knew her well. I called her Grandma.)

Love

Mary