Christmas is almost over. We have eaten the meal, exchanged the gifts and are settled down to a nice quiet visiting time.
I talked to Bart and Barb this morning, Bret this afternoon, and Leslie, Bill, Sara and Nora this evening. It is good to hear those voices since we cannot physically be together for hugs and sharing.
Dinner was very good and I DO recommend the Guy Pie. Everyone loved it and I can see how it won Emeril's contest.
The animals are very tired. Chelsea is hoping that I go to bed soon. Her tail is still bravely curled over her back but whenever she stops moving her eyes start closing. She isn't as young as she used to be.
Santa was very good to us again. We are indeed blessed in all ways. Especially with family that love us and that we love in return.
Stay warm and keep in touch.
Love
Merry Christmas
Mary
Saturday, December 25, 2004
Friday, December 24, 2004
Christmas Eve is drawing to a close. The choir sang at Mass tonight. The teen-young adult group joined us and sang before Mass and at communion, so we didn't get to sing out great numbers during Mass. Fortunately, we rehearsed before Mass so most of the attendees heard us sing -Mary Don't You Weep and Peace Peace. It was a nice service anyway and I can stay home ALL day tomorrow which is nice for me.
After Mass I stopped to see Mother and wish her a Merry Christmas. She goes to Eileen's on Christmas, a tradition for many years. This year, for the first time in many years, there will be no children. It is time for more children. We have Mary's little ones about 10 and 8, (Mary is Eileen's daughter). They will be with their father this Christmas day. We have Dolores's Evan and Brandon, who are about 5 and 2. (You do realize that I am talking Mother's Great Grandchildren. We have Denise's children who are about 11 and 5 and mine are 21, 20, 17 and 16. Where are the babies. We need babies. Now, I am not advocating babies without families. (This is the Grandma talking.)
Dick, Jim and I exchanged gifts tonight, as always. I am again bedecked in jewels. The guy s seemed pleased with their gifts. Tomorrow, I get to cook. If anyone wants to join us, I always have plenty. We are having Tomato Tart. An Italian sausage, tomato cheese dish which is to DIE for. For dessert, we are having Guy Pie. Guy Pie was the winner of this year's Emeril pie contest and is banana cream, chocolate, coconut cream pie with whipped cream and shaved chocolate.
Eat your hearts out if you don't come to partake.
Anyway, Merry Christmas. and I love you all.
Mary
After Mass I stopped to see Mother and wish her a Merry Christmas. She goes to Eileen's on Christmas, a tradition for many years. This year, for the first time in many years, there will be no children. It is time for more children. We have Mary's little ones about 10 and 8, (Mary is Eileen's daughter). They will be with their father this Christmas day. We have Dolores's Evan and Brandon, who are about 5 and 2. (You do realize that I am talking Mother's Great Grandchildren. We have Denise's children who are about 11 and 5 and mine are 21, 20, 17 and 16. Where are the babies. We need babies. Now, I am not advocating babies without families. (This is the Grandma talking.)
Dick, Jim and I exchanged gifts tonight, as always. I am again bedecked in jewels. The guy s seemed pleased with their gifts. Tomorrow, I get to cook. If anyone wants to join us, I always have plenty. We are having Tomato Tart. An Italian sausage, tomato cheese dish which is to DIE for. For dessert, we are having Guy Pie. Guy Pie was the winner of this year's Emeril pie contest and is banana cream, chocolate, coconut cream pie with whipped cream and shaved chocolate.
Eat your hearts out if you don't come to partake.
Anyway, Merry Christmas. and I love you all.
Mary
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Because I have choir tonight, I am going to post early. It is about 1:30PM and the temperature has risen from 3 degrees this morning to a rousing high of 11 degrees right now. The garage had dropped to 31 degrees. I actually am grateful right now as I look at the snow that is causing such difficulty in many parts of the nation. However, we must be aware, as we snuggle in our warm homes that there are still homeless out there and these snows in some of our usually warm states are likely to be catastrophic. I understand that the shelters are really stretched. I also heard that - in this cold - Chicago did another sweep under the overpass bridges and again found homeless. Seven in fact that they are trying to direct to help.
Many years ago, while I still lived in California, and the boys were three and seven, my ex husband, the boys and I, flew here to Wisconsin for Christmas. It was a wonderful trip BUT I don't think the temperatores were higher that 3 degrees the whole time we were here. When we stepped out of the airport and ran to my sister Nora's car, the boys actually wailed with shock at the cold. Most mornings the temperatures were 15 to 16 below zero. Not many of the homes on the street that I grew up on had garages. Cars were just parked outside and it was quite an adventure in the morning as people got ready to go to work or school. If one person got their car started, they helped jump the others or whatever else worked to get them moving.
My three California boys really got an education and my ex husband did not drive as he was nervious about ice and snow, for good reason.
It was a wonderful Christmas though and a really special memory.
Take care, stay warm and remember those who are less fortunate.
Love
Mary
Many years ago, while I still lived in California, and the boys were three and seven, my ex husband, the boys and I, flew here to Wisconsin for Christmas. It was a wonderful trip BUT I don't think the temperatores were higher that 3 degrees the whole time we were here. When we stepped out of the airport and ran to my sister Nora's car, the boys actually wailed with shock at the cold. Most mornings the temperatures were 15 to 16 below zero. Not many of the homes on the street that I grew up on had garages. Cars were just parked outside and it was quite an adventure in the morning as people got ready to go to work or school. If one person got their car started, they helped jump the others or whatever else worked to get them moving.
My three California boys really got an education and my ex husband did not drive as he was nervious about ice and snow, for good reason.
It was a wonderful Christmas though and a really special memory.
Take care, stay warm and remember those who are less fortunate.
Love
Mary
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
I am sure that you have all heard the following by now. It has been around for several years. But I will repeat it and expound on it.
THREE WISE WOMEN
Do you know what would have happened if it had been Three Wise Women instead of Three Wise Men?
1. They would have asked directions
2. Arrived on time
3. Helped deliver the baby
4. Cleaned the stable
5. Made a casserole, and
6. Brought practical gifts.
I want to expand on that a bit. I may have told this story before, but it also is worth repeating. My Grandma, Matie Bowser, was quite a women. She died November 1, 1986 just 17 days short of her 93rd birthday. When she died, except for bequests and special requests, we grandchildren were permitted to go and choose things that were meaningful to us.
Years ago, Evanoff's, now Evans, used to sell Nativity scenes in pieces. There were bins of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, animals, shepherds, Wise Men and Angels. Grandma had purchased a small set. This was way before women's lib and the above little story, but Grandma was practical and made a definate statement with her Creche.
It consists of Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, and angel and - -- - - -three Women. Bet your bottom dollar she was making a statement. If a new baby was born in a stable or a barn, the women would have been there to help providing food, and comfort and begging to cuddle the baby.
I have that little Creche in my home now and display it proudly.
Only two more days.
Love
Mary
THREE WISE WOMEN
Do you know what would have happened if it had been Three Wise Women instead of Three Wise Men?
1. They would have asked directions
2. Arrived on time
3. Helped deliver the baby
4. Cleaned the stable
5. Made a casserole, and
6. Brought practical gifts.
I want to expand on that a bit. I may have told this story before, but it also is worth repeating. My Grandma, Matie Bowser, was quite a women. She died November 1, 1986 just 17 days short of her 93rd birthday. When she died, except for bequests and special requests, we grandchildren were permitted to go and choose things that were meaningful to us.
Years ago, Evanoff's, now Evans, used to sell Nativity scenes in pieces. There were bins of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, animals, shepherds, Wise Men and Angels. Grandma had purchased a small set. This was way before women's lib and the above little story, but Grandma was practical and made a definate statement with her Creche.
It consists of Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, and angel and - -- - - -three Women. Bet your bottom dollar she was making a statement. If a new baby was born in a stable or a barn, the women would have been there to help providing food, and comfort and begging to cuddle the baby.
I have that little Creche in my home now and display it proudly.
Only two more days.
Love
Mary
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Three more days til Christmas. We are really counting down now. Today, Dick and I went to Hartland and took two deer hides to be tanned. We had lunch there too. It was a nice drive. Cold of course, but while we were on the road the snow we started with stopped and gradually changed to blue skies and sunshine.
Tomorrow, Chelsea gets her Christmas bath. As I will tell her, she can't be a dirty doggie when company comes. Then I am taking a bunch of clothes and stuff over to St. Vincent and a meal of soup and bran muffins to a friend who is not well. Please pray for my friend. Esther has a heaviness in her chest and has to go to St. Joseph's Hospital in Milwaukee on Thursday for tests. She is very brave but frightened and her son Adam is in need of prayer too.
I am so grateful to have so many blessings. So many in this world need so much.
Bless the little children, our soldiers and the homeless.
Mary
Tomorrow, Chelsea gets her Christmas bath. As I will tell her, she can't be a dirty doggie when company comes. Then I am taking a bunch of clothes and stuff over to St. Vincent and a meal of soup and bran muffins to a friend who is not well. Please pray for my friend. Esther has a heaviness in her chest and has to go to St. Joseph's Hospital in Milwaukee on Thursday for tests. She is very brave but frightened and her son Adam is in need of prayer too.
I am so grateful to have so many blessings. So many in this world need so much.
Bless the little children, our soldiers and the homeless.
Mary
Monday, December 20, 2004
Countdown to Christmas. Four more days. The very last of the presents we are giving arrived TODAY. So I will wrap and put under the tree tomorrow. The presents from Bret and Bart arrived today too. It is a red letter day.
Tomorrow, Dick and I will take two deer hides down to a place in Hartland that tans them. I figure I need four to make a nice vest and one of the hunting guys, either Jason Karls or one of the Carpenter boys gave me one of theirs to start my collection. I hope that by the time I have four, one of them is mine. Randy, my brother, said that this is a really nice store too, so Dick and I will really enjoy the trip. There is no snow expected tomorrow anyway. We are going out to lunch too.
God direct all. It is , after all, a way he has.
Ellis Peters
Silver bells are ringing.
Mary
Tomorrow, Dick and I will take two deer hides down to a place in Hartland that tans them. I figure I need four to make a nice vest and one of the hunting guys, either Jason Karls or one of the Carpenter boys gave me one of theirs to start my collection. I hope that by the time I have four, one of them is mine. Randy, my brother, said that this is a really nice store too, so Dick and I will really enjoy the trip. There is no snow expected tomorrow anyway. We are going out to lunch too.
God direct all. It is , after all, a way he has.
Ellis Peters
Silver bells are ringing.
Mary
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Packers lost. What a drag. They came back from behind again but not soon enough.
The choir sang at the 10:30AM mass. After Mass, we all had a sandwich and cookie lunch and then trucked over to the Mall to sing Christmas carols in the atrium. It was fun. The Kindercore sang first. Then we sang two songs with them and then we sang a few songs on our own. A nice way to kick off Christmas week. It is almost like going out caroling.
I fixed Chili Mac for dinner tonight. I haven't fixed it for a couple of years. One of the good basics.
It is really quite simple.
Brown 1 pound of hamburger, with 1 medium chopped onion, 1/2 chopped green pepper and 1 diced clove of garlic. Add chili powder, garlic salt and black pepper to taste. Throw in 1 small can of tomato sauce and 1 16 oz can of stewed tomatoes and let simmer.
Finally, boil about 3 ounces of macaroni until tender. Mix in to the simmering sauce and let cook together. Add some shredded cheese, (if you want) and serve with a nice green salad.
Love
Mary
The choir sang at the 10:30AM mass. After Mass, we all had a sandwich and cookie lunch and then trucked over to the Mall to sing Christmas carols in the atrium. It was fun. The Kindercore sang first. Then we sang two songs with them and then we sang a few songs on our own. A nice way to kick off Christmas week. It is almost like going out caroling.
I fixed Chili Mac for dinner tonight. I haven't fixed it for a couple of years. One of the good basics.
It is really quite simple.
Brown 1 pound of hamburger, with 1 medium chopped onion, 1/2 chopped green pepper and 1 diced clove of garlic. Add chili powder, garlic salt and black pepper to taste. Throw in 1 small can of tomato sauce and 1 16 oz can of stewed tomatoes and let simmer.
Finally, boil about 3 ounces of macaroni until tender. Mix in to the simmering sauce and let cook together. Add some shredded cheese, (if you want) and serve with a nice green salad.
Love
Mary
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