Another Saturday with no reason to leave the house. Dick put the tree up on Thursday so I put the ornaments on today and the tree is beautiful. Now it is coasting all the way til Christmas.

Yesterday, I made the applie pie recipe that I heard about which mixes chilis in with the apples. It is really good. It is just basically any apple pie recipe with a 4 ounce can of Ortega chopped chilis mixed in with the sliced apples before you pour it in to the crust.

We had a few flurries today and Chelsea is trying to take advantage of the few flakes that are managing to stay on the ground by rolling around in the grass everytime she gets outside.

Have a nice day. Tomorrow the choir is going to sing at the Mall at 1:00. Perhaps you would like to come and hear us.


Love

Mary

Had a perfectly lovely Christmas lunch at the home of Marlene Schueffner, one of my "Plymouth" people. We are a group of about 7 ladies who all worked at Wells Fargo and meet every Friday for lunch, usually at the Dairy Queen.

Marlene wanted us to come over to her house for lunch. There were 6 of us. Betty, Ceil, Barb, Joyce, myself and of course, Marlene. Mary and Dawn were unable to come. We will not meet until after the New Year turns now. Wow. Only two more weeks of 2004.

After I left there, I went to Mother's house. Jeff brought the new washer/dryer combination, that we bought for her for Christmas. It is really sharp looking. Now the boys have to get it installed. She will no longer have to go down into the basement to do her wash. This will be a great relief to all of us as we worry about her falling. I think she does too and is really pleased with her gift. We were getting a delight out of her neighbor. He asked Mother when she brough him a stollen that she baked to thank him for all he does for her, whether she had an upstairs washer yet. She assured him that it was coming and he said Good. It is so special to have neighbors that are so good to her AND so concerned.

While I was there, I saw a quotation on her refrigerator that I really like and will share with you. She said that she heard it on TV from an Irish group in a song. She can't remember the group so I cannot give credit.

God be good to anyone
who's sleeping out tonight.
Tuck them in and keep them warm
And don't put out the light.

Especially this time of the year, God needs to be there for all the homeless in our country. It is mighty cold out there and I am sure that Guardian Angels are mighty busy.


Mary

It was a Christmassy day. Not at first, Dick got his blood checked early and then we went out for breakfast. While we were at the clinic, we found out that they have more flu vaccine and that people over 50 now are eligible. Sue, the nurse that tests Dick's blood, was able to give me my shot so I am now immunized. This makes Dick feel better anyway, because he likes to know that I am protected.

Then I picked up Mother and we sent to dinner at the Senior Center in Sheboygan Falls. It was fun, we exchanged gifts and I got two really pretty Christmas hot pads as my gift. We had a tasty lunch of a 1/2 Cornish game hen with pumpkin pie for dessert. Then I took Mother to the eye doctor where she got a clean bill of health. He said that her vision seems to have even improved a bit. Perhaps the Vita Eyes she takes is helping.

Tonight we had choir practice. Took a bit longer because of Christmas and then I stayed for the bells and even played a bit. Always wanted to try them and it is really fun. - -- Fun but a bit confusing.

I received the following by e-mail this week and at Christmas time want to ask everybody to please pray for our sons and daughters in danger over there. Pray for safety and a quick resolve to the conflict.

Let's remember them especially this time of the year when we count our blessings.
Let's all pray for their safe return.................



The picture is beautiful

Love

Mary

Today Dick took candy to Mead Library and Eastern Shores. He has done that since he retired and he and they all enjoy it. He says that he sees less familiar faces. Some are retiring after 13 years and some are of course on vacation or just not on at the time.

I had lunch with a friend. A few years ago, Blessed Trinity asked if anyone would volunteer to be a confirmation sponser for a young man who did not have family in the area, so I volunteered and met David and his family. He is now ALMOST done with four years of college and I see his mother, Jane, sometimes. We decided that it was TIME to lunch so we did.

Did you know that Tommy Smothers said. "When you don't know what your're talking about, it's hard to tell when you're finished."

I like that

Tomorrow is SO busy. Dick gets his blood test, checking the wine, lunch at the Senior Center with Mom and then on to the eye doctor with her and choir in the evening. I got some chili out of the freezer for supper. Sure glad I have it in there. It is the venison chili and is SO good.


Love

Mary

I flat out forgot to post last night. It was a good day too.

Started out with bible study. There were five of us there. It probably will be a bit sparcely attended until after the new year - and then until spring. Many are very busy with Crhistmas and all and some of our members are snow birds and will be heading for Texas/Florida for a month or two or three. One of our regulars is experiencing medical problems. She is a wonder. She has diabetes, back and hip trouble and now is complaining of chest heaviness (congestive heart failure has been ruled out) and is going through a series of tests to see what can be done. We ended up with a very lively discussion on the roles of women in the church and throughout history. It was pointed out the science has been useful to women. I ancient times, woman was the "nest" - the man "planted the seed". Science showed the human race that it takes the sperm and the egg together to make the child. I pointed out that since boy babies are so prized in many societies, it must have been a real shock to the males to discover that it was their fault if only girls were produced as they provide the gene that determines sex.

Then I went right on to the Writers Club party. We went to Arabellas. It is a good restuarant. For those of who, who know Sheboygan but don't know where it is. It is located on south Eighth street on the roundabout where the Hardee's used to be. We had about 25 writers there, some even came from the Plymouth Club, which is a branch of our club. We ate, exchanged gifts and stories and I got home at about 3:00.

I then finished the little booklet that I am making for the family about Uncle George and his limericks. I will include a couple of his limericks for your enjoyment.




Today we shopped and I have been decorating. I am still waiting for Dick to finish putting the tree up so I can decorate it. Well, there are 10 days to go. I hope that I am not frantically throwing ornaments on the tree Christmas Eve. That would not be fun as the choir is singing then too. I am going to make Apple Cinnamon Liquor today so it can mature before Christmas. That should be fun to share with the GUY PIE.

Have a good day.

Mary

Good day. We had a substitute priest, as Fr. Gene is still recovering from his surgery. He was here two weeks ago. He is an older priest, a Salvatorian, who gives wonderful informative sermons. He explained why, Palestine, so arid and not to fertile, was such a prize all through the ages. It is the passageway to just about everywhere in the Middle East and therefore stratigically vital.

Then the Packers won. The first half was a disaster, but they rallied during halftime and won 16/13. We were happy campers and went out for dinner.

I will end with a quote from Cadfael.

What Cadfael did not regret, he found grave difficulty remembering to confess.

Don't we all.

Love and prepare for Christmas and Peace and Hope

Mary