Today has been a very special day.

First, my cousin Colleen and her husband Don are in the area for the PGA and were at Mother's home this afternoon so I got to visit with them.

Then tonight, thanks to Kohler, there was a free concert in Ravine Park in the Village of Kohler and Ronan Tynan was the vocalist. In case you are not familiar with Ronan Tynan, he is a tenor who has been a part of the Three Irish Tenors since their debut and he is WONDERFUL. The concert was outdoors in the bowl. He sang Irish, and Italian and show tunes and then concluded with his encores by singing The Parting GLass and God Bless America. Wow. And guess what, Herb Kohler, Governor Doyle and Donald Trump were all there. I never did see Trump but Herb Kohler introduced Ronan and I was Doyle.

I also ran into many friends. Nancy Gallagher Roehre, Kathy Roehre Burich, Sandy and Al Loth and Carol and Leon Kaat. A nice night altogether.

Hope your day was just as good.

Love

Mary

Today, I got corn again for our supper. I believe that I have mentioned, maybe more than once, that during the sweet corn season, we eat corn and tomatoes for supper EVERY Friday. Anyway, I have been getting it from the Farmers Market in Plymouth. They get theirs from around Ripon or at least south and west of us. It is good Wisconsin Corn. BUT, I have been checking Wingerts in Sheboygan Falls. And today they were OPEN. So we had their corn and it was wonderful. I have started freezing the leftovers for winter.

In my travels, I drove past Sheboygan Falls High School and remembered my Bart in his Freshman year. He had decided to get himself in shape and had started running an watching his diet and all. Part of his plan was to join the basketball team in high school. So he went to the first practice. I picked him up after and he was in pretty poor shape. They had run laps and done whatever for almost two hours and he was literally green. We started out and he said he was going to be sick. I offered to pull over but he said to just get home. He was not sick to his stomach but was exhausted and sore (and dehydrated, I suppose.)

What a gutsy guy he was. He went back the next day and in a short time he WAS in shape and doing the game without any more pain. I was SO proud of him. He has always been determined if he gets a target to aim at.

Got pictures from my nephew Matt of the new baby boy Coleton. He is just precious. I printed copies for Mother and dropped them off this afternoon too.

Busy day but a good one. I am content.

Love

Mary

There are several rooms or even whole homes rented out in Hunters Glen to the golfers at the PGA.

This morning Chelsea and I were on our walk and she barked at a man putting his clubs into a van supplied by an area car dealer for the golfers. We greeted each other and I asked his name. He is Brendon Jones, an Australian Golfer. I wished him luck. He golfed a par today, better than Tiger Woods, but still only one of 21 at par. There were 39 under par so he has a way to go. If I see him tomorrow, I will tell him that I am impressed anyway because I am.

It was cool again today. It was, however, nice enough that I could trim the hedge around the birdbath. It was indeed in need of a "shave and a haircut." Tomorrow, I will do a bit more if I get time.

Ronan Tynan is singing at Ravine Park in Kohler on Saturday night at 7:30. I believe I will go. He is a wonderful Irish tenor who sings with the Irish Tenors . He is a study in courage, having had to have both of his legs amputated. He has gone on to thrill his audiences with his voice and his ability to even dance a short jig or two.

Have a great Friday.

Mary

This has been a very discouraging day or two. Things are HAPPENING. Nothing major but little things that just wear a person down.

Well, a person must not dwell on these things and I must stop being a crabby puss.

I will be going to The Sheboygan Quilt Guild meeting with Bobbie tonight. The Guild is 20 years old. Pretty impressive. We will be celebrating with cake, coffee and punch. I finished the crane wall hanging, so will bring that to show and tell.

I really want to go to Irishfest just one day. Dick doesn't want to go. I have checked and a friend from Chicago is coming for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I believe I will go and join her for one day. One of the things I want to do is meet and greet Cindy Matayi, and artist that I really admire who is going to display her goods in the marketplace and I also want to spend some time in the Poetry tent.

Now If I could just get someone to ride down with me, it wouldn't be so lonely a drive.

Love

Mary

Years ago, in my previous life, I received a message one day while at work from one of my fellow real estate agents, Linda. As I came in the door, Linda said. "Your sister-in-law Doris called. She told me to tell you that you are a wonderful aunt."

I puzzled over that for only a moment til it dawned on me that my niece, her daughter Rhonda, had given birth a few days early to her first child, Deanna. The message was SUPPOSED to be that I was a great aunt.

Well, I am a "wonderful" aunt again. My brother Jeff's son Matthew and his wife Kaoru had a baby boy, Colton Deeley, 6lb 14oz and 20 inches long this very morning. They live in Hawaii. Jeff and Kathy flew over to be there for the birth and have waited two weeks for the blessed event. One more week and they would have missed it. Now Kathy gets to spend the week helping Kaoru and getting to HOLD Clayton. We are all so happy.

Join us in prayers of thanks for a safe delivery and a healthy addition to our clan.

Love

Mary



I

Today was SUCH a busy day. I had Bible Study at 9:30AM. Writers Club at 1:00PM, a meeting about the Celtic Mass at 3:30PM and trap at 5:00PM. All things I LOVE to do. Sometimes they do all come "to onst".

I read a poem that I have written about my Grandpa Deeley. I wrote it to send to the Irish Fest Poetry contest. Hopefully, they will receive it as well at the club did. Sy Regan, seemed to especially enjoy it as he knew my Grandpa. Grandpa was Sy's confirmation sponser. Sy is the same kid who brought the creeping charlie to Dad thinkin that it was a pretty plant.

As I sent it to the contest, I will share it with you after the judging. Win or not. There are usually tons of entries so I figure that the odds are slim. However, I did win this contest a few years ago so I know that it CAN happen.

I also read one of Matthew's poems at the meeting. I can share that with you.

IN ANSWER TO YOUR POEM

how wonderful! you fear for my life
but you should know
life is death
and death is life
and the mysteries
of the unknown empires of quietus
offer more
than life can hold in its hand

by Matthew Deeley

Have a good day

Love Mary

Strange weather today. The temperature got up to 77 but it was cloudy much of the day. It even sprinkled a bit when Chelsea and I were out walking.

Dick's sister Hazel and her daughter Suzi were our houseguests this weekend and we had all the kids that live around here over to dinner last night to see her. It was a lovely mini reunion. Of course, we did a lot of conjecturing as to where all the other cousins are. Dick and Hazel are the last of the Kunert siblings left. Hazel is an amazing 87 years old.

Just a quote from yesterday's Cadfael Book of Days.

"Every man's fortune, and every women's too, can be changed given a little thought, perserverance and cunning."


Great concept. And I have lived my life by that motto. If you don't like it - change it. It isn't always easy or immediate, but you can do it.

Love

Mary