The last day of 2005. Wonder why we put such significance in the end of one year and the beginning of another. I still find it amazing the the turn of the century causes such a todo. I will never again experience one of them in my lifetime. I guess I am fortunate to have gone through it once. At least in 2000 there was some reason for excitement and trepidation because of the potential computer problem. Actually it was amazing that the programmers did not factor the problem in and it was amazing that most of the problems were corrected beforehand. It always takes more to fix something than to do it right in the first place.

Anyway, we had scalloped potatoes and ham, cauliflower and salad for supper. We also had S'mores made with a couple of the marshmellows that Bobbie made for Christmas Candy. Messy, (when made in the microwave) but very very good.

I spent a good hunk of the afternoon mixing and rolling meatballs for tomorrow. That is why I don't make them often. They are SO good but such a production. It will be nice to have Mother here for dinner. I do like to share the Christmas decorations. It was nice to be the host this year. Next year Bobbie gets the Christmas honor.

I promised to share a picture of the Millinium ball that is housed at the Waterford Factory in Ireland. This is one of the three pictures that I took when Bart and Barb and I were there.






Bart and Barb called last night. It was a rather odd conversation as their phone kept cutting out. They are trying a new Vonage line and said they'd call back but haven't. I will call them on Monday if I haven't heard from them again. Leslie is supposed to be calling this weekend too. I guess she told Jim when she was going to call but I haven't heard.

Chelsea and I went for a walk again today. I plan on upping the route to the full two miles on Monday, depending on weather of course. Today, we saw Sam - the white eskimo that looks like a larger Chelsea, my friend Steve, who lives up the street and that is about all. I am surprised that there are not more children out playing as this is Chirstmas break. But it is damp and cold and perhaps they all got new computer games or are off visiting families.


As the New Year rolls around, remember the poem I shared a few years ago written by the anonymous Scandanavian

May you always have light on a sunny day
When you need to be home may you find the way
May you always have courage to take a chance
And never find frogs in your underpants.

Love

Mary

Early Saturday. I sluffed off and went to bed VERY early last night. I slept all night too.

I went to have lunch with the gals in Plymouth yesterday for the first time in three weeks. There were only four of us. I haven't seen Mary Schroeder in a couple of months I bet. But Barbara, who left Wells and has started at Community was there. She is very happy with the change and looks good. Betty and Ceil were there too. I had my usual grilled cheese. They only make them at THAT Dairy Queen, a tribute to the grilled cheese at the Sheboygan County Fair.

Chelsea got her bath yesterday and is gorgeous. She, of course, was not happy with me but knows that at least I will leave her alone for a while now. I cleaned the kitchen too so it was a busy day. I kind of lazed off the rest of the afternoon.

I will send an evening New Years Eve message later.

Love

Mary

Another quiet day. Dick and I did have to go out to buy the "winning" lottery tickets for the coming week and I went to choir and visited with Mother for a bit this evening but aside from that it was quiet.

I cleaned the bathrooms and mixed up the crust for the banana cream pie that I will make for our New Year's Day Dinner. I told Mom that we will pick her up at about three as I am fixing dinner for 5:00. There is just one Mass on Sunday morning again. It will be at 9:30AM.

I wonder if Fr. Gene will be there. His father died today and the funeral is on Saturday. The choir is going to take a collection and use the funds to have Masses said. I know that his Father has been very ill and that the lastest news had been that they were going to have to amputate his second leg this week but he died before this occurred.

Only two days until 2006. On my Dec. 31 posting, I will publish on of the pictures that I took at the Waterford Factory in Waterford Ireland of the duplicate of the Millenium Ball that drops each year in Times Square. When Bart, Barb and I toured the factory we learned that every special order has a duplicate that is kept at the factory as insurance in case anything happens to the original. You will like the picture.

I was doing a bit of writing today and remembering Tara, the black lab that we had while living in Huntington Beach. She was a really beautiful animal. One day Bart called me at work because Tara was sick. She had gotten on the couch and wouldn't get off. I hurried home and she was obviously in great pain and great distress. I took her to the vet. He said that it looked like she had eaten something that was bad for her. It must have been thrown over the fence, because we were careful what our animals ate. Anyway, she died the next morning, shocking us and the vet who felt SO bad.

Bart wanted another dog right away and held a garage sale to earn the money. We went to the Humane Society and after one small disaster that I will tell you about some other time, we found Zero. Zero is legend. He was the sweetest little dog that one could ever have. I knew he was the one when one day as I was attempting to take a nap, (this was a time of great stress and I was exhausted) he climbed up into my arms and never moved until I woke up. I remember too that on weekends when we were home all day, he would turn kind of grumbly by the end of the day. He was used to napping while we were at school and work and found that keeping up with three people ALL day just plumb wore him out. Yes, he was special.

Have a nice Friday. Chelsea gets a bath in the morning. She is going to be 12 years old soon.

Love

Mary

Today Dick and I did our grocery shopping a day early. We were right, the crowds were down considerably. Of course, since Christmas was LAST week, tomorrow might not have been bad anyway but we did not want to find out.

It was a dreary day. Gray and damp. I took Chelsea for a short walk but she seemed to be limping, so we cut it short. I think that perhaps there is too much salt on the roads. That always hurts her little pads.

Jim made Spinach Casserole for his friend Dora last night. He said it was very successful. He felt it could have used more cheese but she liked it and as I told him, it is a very "forgiving" recipe. All the ingredients are good and you can't really go wrong.

I got two delayed Christmas cards this week. One from Aunt Velma Patterson, my ex mother in law's sister. Velma is the sweetest person and has to be at least 96. Her handwriting is very strong but she complains about being tired. Sounds like Mom. I was so pleased to hear from her. The other was from my friend Steve Hanson. He has moved to Idaho and sounds good also.

Here are the last two Dog's Rules for Christmas.

6. Likewise, your humans may take you visiting. Here your manners will also be important:

a. Observe all the rules in #4 for trees that may be in other people's houses. (4a is particularly important.)
b. Respect the territory of other animals that may live in the house.
c. Tolerate children.
d. Turn on your charm big time.

7. A big man with a white beard and a very loud laugh may emerge from your fireplace in teh middle of the night. Don't bite him.

So there they are. Hope you enjoyed them as much as I did.

We had scalloped potatoes and ham for supper. That is such a wonderful meal. We have enough for Saturday too. Have a good Thursday.

Mary

It was rather warm today - all the way up to the high 30s. Sure is a welcome relief from those bitter cold days we had early in December. I went to see Dr. Casey today for my monthly back adjustment. He adjusted my foot too and said that since Chelsea and I are walking again, it would be a good idea if we walked after I got home. We did. I am now able to go every day and next week intend to be back to the full route. We are only going about 3/4 of the way now.

I started assembling a quilt top of squares that I have been putting together now and then with a bunch of odd blues that came from somewhere. I can't even remember. But I finally figured out HOW I want to do it and have decided to use a pattern for dogs and cats at the top of it. Hope it works out like my "vision" is showing it. I need to start planning the banners I want to quilt for church. I want to do "The Hand of God" from a Celtic Pin I bought at Irish Fest years ago and a companion piece of a Celtic Cross. I think I will use the pictures that Bart, Barb and I took at Clonmacnoise for the basic pattern.

The rest of the day was very quiet. Jim went up to Appleton to see his friend Dora. He is cooking a meal for her. Quite interesting. I told him how to make the famous Kunert Spinach Casserole.

Here are two more of the Dog's Rules for Christmas.

4. They may bring a large tree into the house and set it up in a prominent place and cover it with lights and dcecorations. Bizarre as this may seem to you, it is an important ritual for your humans, so there are some things you need to know:

a. Don't pee on the tree.
b. Don't drink water in the container that holds the tree.
c. Mind your tail when you are near the tree.
d. If there are packages under the tree, even ones that smell interesging or that have your name on them, don't rip them open.
e. Don't chew on the cord that runs from the funny looking hole in the wall to the tree.

5. Your humans may occasionally invite lots of strangers to come visit during this season. These parties can be lots of fun, but they also call for some discretion on your part.

a. Not all strangers appreciate kisses and leans.
b. Don't eat off the buffet table.
c. Beg for goodies subtly
d. Be pleasant, even if unknowing stangers sit on your sofa.
e. Dont drink out of glasses that are left within your reach.

I'll share the last two tomorrow. Dick and I are going grocery shopping tomorrow. We are afraid that Thursday will again be too busy. After all New Year's is another big weekend and besides all the kids are off school this week.

We had leftover cheese enchalada stacks and the last of the cheesecake for dinner tonight. So the refrigerator is almost managable now. I have decided on Swedish Meatballs and Mashed potatoes for Sunday dinner. Mother and Bobbie and Bill will also be here. Come is you want. We are having Banana Cream Pie too.

Love

Mary

Today was really nice and rather quiet. I took two naps but am still very tired. I had a difficult last night as my ankle started bothering me and I got very little sleep after 2:00AM.

Dick and Brenda were here through breakfast. I had cranberry scones and scrambled eggs with fresh onion and cream cheese. Then they left to go visit their mother in Cleveland WI. Jim joined them and said they had a nice visit. Their Mother had surgery a couple of weeks ago but is recovering nicely now and Jim said she feels pretty good.

Chelsea and I had a nice walk early this afternoon. She is so pleased and so am I to be getting out and stretching again. My ankle did get a bit sore so we did not do the WHOLE route but still got some kinks out. I also took two naps today. I am really rather tired. Hopefully tonight will be a better night than last. Chelsea is also exhausted and is trying to catch up on her sleep. We certainly are becoming aware that she is getting older. She needs more rest and does not feel that she has to stay awake the WHOLE time we have company.

Fr. Gene published A DOG'S RULES FOR CHRISTMAS in the bulletin this week. I will give you a couple a day because they are very funny.

1. Be especially patient with your humans during this time. They may appear to be more stressed-out than usual and they will appreciate long comforting dog leans.

2. They may come home with large bags of things they call gifts. Do not assume that all the gifts are yours.

3. Be tolerant if your humans put decorations on you. They seem to get some special kind of pleasure out of seeing how you look with fake antlers.


More tomorrow.

We had ham and mac and cheese again for dinner. It was still just as good as yesterday.

Have a nice Tuesday. We are rapidly sliding out of 2005.

Love

Mary

Chelsea is a very VERY tired little girl. Bobbie and Bill got here shortly after 1:00 and Dick and Brenda arrived not too much later than that. Went to Mass and sang at the 9:30. We did quite well. Frankly, our bass section has been lacking but they really came through today. I must tell them how GOOD they sounded at the next practice. We sang Ding Dong Merrily on High and Mary Did You Know.

The ham and mac and cheese were very good. I fixed a green bean dish that you might like to try. Just soften chopped onion, mushrooms ( about a cup each) and a small can of water chestnuts, drained, in olive oil and then add two cans of drained green beans and season with thyme, oregano and basil. Salt and pepper to taste. It was really good.

We always have fun exchanging presents. Did I tell you that Dick got me a new Celtic Cross and a very pretty watch that has a band of Conamara marble beads. Very pretty. He remembered that one of my watches had just died.

The coming week well be quiet. There is no bible study and very little else happening. I am glad. I would like to do some sewing and perhaps get a little writing done. There has been a long dry spell and it is time I do something creative.

An e-mail from a friend.

The Pastor had a kitten that climbed a tree in his back yard and then was afraid to come down. The Pastor coaxed, offered warm milk, etc. The Kitty would not come down. The tree was not sturdy enough to climb, so the pastor decided that if he tied a rope to the tree and attached it to his car, he could drive away and bend the tree down. He could then reach the kitten. He put the plan into effect, all the while checking in his rear view mirror. He decided he could just go a little farther and be able to reach the kitty, but as he moved the car farther the rope broke... The tree sprung and launched the kitty which instantly sailed through the air out of sight. The pastor felt terrible. He looked all over the neighborhood for the kitty but on one had it so he prayed, "Lord, I just commit this kitten to your keeping."

A few days later he met a church member buying cat food, but he knew she was a cat hater so he asked, "Why are you buying cat food, when you hate cats?" She said, "You won't believe this. My daughter kept begging me for a cat so I told her she could have one if God gave it to her. Pastor, she went into the yard, kneeled down on the grass, and prayed to God for a cat. And really, Pastor, I saw it with my own eyes!
a Kitten suddenly came flying out of the blue sky and landed right in front of her!"

Love

Mary

What a busy day. I got a lot of prep work done for the dinner tomorrow. Chelsea and I went for a lovely walk this afternoon. It was rather foggy and a bit damp but the temperatures were pleasant enough and Chelsea was certainly a happy little puppy.

This evening, before dinner, Dick, Jim and I exchanged our presents and opened the ones we got from Bret. That is always fun. We were all very happy with our gifts. I got some beautiful jewelry from Dick again, Frank Mc Court's new book and two DVDs of classic horror and sci fi movies. Jim got both Dick and me new wireless keyboards and mouses. It will be so nice not struggling with those cords AND the kitties. Bret sent sweatshirts, a cookie jar and a set of bath and shower stuff. It will be usefull as I have been taking soaky baths to ease up the muscle aches in my legs.

We had pizza tonight. I fixed it the way I used to for the kids and I when I was in a hurry.

Defrost a loaf of frozen bread and let it rise. Then squishit out into somewhat of a round on a pizza stone (a cookie sheet or pizza pan will work as well).

Spread sauce on it (I had some leftover spaghetti sauce but tomato sauce sprinkled with oregano, garlic and any other Italian spices works as well).

Top it with mushrooms, peppers, pepperoni (or anything else you like on pizzas. I used to slice hot dogs on it for a meal for the boys and me.)

Top with grated cheeses and bake it for about 45 minutes at 375 degrees.

Boy is it ever good and hearty.

Tomorrow the choir is singing at the 9:30AM Mass, then I will stop at Mother's and take her presents to her. Dick, Brenda, Bobbie and Bill will be here at about 1:00. We will visit and do presents and then eat at about 4:00. It should be a very nice Christmas. I hope we talk to Bret, Bart and Leslie as it is a special day. Wish they could be here for the ham, mac and cheese and Triple Chocolate Poteen Upside Down Cheesecake.



Merry Christmas Eve.


Mary

It was nice today. The freezing rain that had been predicted did not come. Thank heavens. I made the cheesecake today. I also added the yeast and additives to the Lemon Balm and Marigold wines. Then this evening, I joined the crew at church and we finished decorating for Christmas. It looks great. I will take the camera on Sunday to get pictures. After we finished a bunch of us went over to the Firehouse Pizza for something to eat and some visiting.

The package from Bret arrived today. He didn't get it off until Monday and was a bit afraid that is might be late, but here it is. Tomorrow night, Jim and Dick and I will exchange our gifts and I get to open the presents from Bret too. That is always fun. We will have to fill the stockings sometime during the day. I get to stay home ALL day again.

I am afraid that I am not very inventive tonight. Perhaps tomorrow, I can think of something more interesting to write about. In the meantime, be safe and happy.

May

Today was quite pleasant. The temperatures got ALL the way UP to 36 degrees. Chelsea and I hit the streets this afternoon again. We went just the same short walk that we did yesterday. If the weather doesn't betray us, we will go a bit further tomorrow.

Dick and I did our Christmas grocery shopping this morning. We also delivered the candy that Dick presents to the Eastern Shores Library people.

I am working on two new scratch batches of wine now that we have bottled the Currant and there are empty gallon jugs. I mixed up the Lemon Balm and also the Marigold. When I free up more gallon jugs, I will start the Wild Grape.

We had our final choir practice before Christmas tonight. We are singing at the 9:30AM Mass. We are singing Ding Dong Merrily on High and Mary Did You Know. Both lovely Christmas songs. I still remember listening to my Dad sing along with that choir on Christmas. Dad had a beautiful voice. At one time he belonged to a Barbershop Chorus. I remember there was a competition held in Sheboygan at some point in my childhood of Barbershop Choruses. I know that Dad's group didn't come in first but I KNEW that it was the best one.

I will have as much of my meal done or ready to pop in the oven before Mass on Sunday. As a matter of fact I can make the dessert tomorrow. We will have a Kunert Christmas. Too bad that Leslie, Bill and the girls can't be here. I will also miss my Bret and Bart at this time of year. If I had my druthers, time and space would not mean anything if it would bring us all together at ANY time but especially at Christmas. I miss my boys. It is so hard to accept the fact that my baby is 34 years old. I still can remember those littles face when I brought them home from the hospital.

When Bret was born, we had a black cat named Samantha with the most beautiful coat and emerald green eyes. By the time he was born, she had already given birth to two litters of kittens. Anyway, I sat down in the living room with Bret in my lap and Sam jumped up to see what I had. She kind of crept over and sniffed the top of his head. Just then, he let out a little cry. She sat bolt upright and stormed away in total disgust. Someone said she probably felt that he was OK if I really wanted him, but her babies were much cuter AND they were on their own at 6 weeks old.

Bart on the other hand came home to a big brother and no cat as I remember. When he came home, my neighbor, Joyce Nusser came over to see him. She took one look at his little face all scrinched up and red as a beet and said "He looks just like Mr. Magoo." The name stuck for a while. I still think of him as Magoo once in a whild. He was actually a beautiful baby with a flawless complection and just a slight fuzz on his perfectly shaped head.

Have a nice Friday.


Mary

Only three more days until Christmas. Bret called last night. His packages both arrived. However, he sounded so sad and I asked him what was wrong. He told me that his friends' (Earl and Janelle) daughter, Stephanie, who was only 14, was killed in an automobile accident on the way to school on Tuesday. Everyone is, of course, devastated. All I could do was tell him that I loved him, express my sympathy and tell him that I would put the family on the prayer chain at church. Which I did. Would you all pray for this cirle of people too. The funeral is Friday. I can't thin of any more sad a Christmas.

On a lighter note, I took Mother to the eye doctor today and the news is good there. She is stable and he is very pleased. We are always so grateful after the Macular Degeneration episode. She said that she sees about as well distance wise without her glasses as with. That is pretty amazing for an 89 year old woman.

I cleaned the refrigerator and freezer today. Now I will have room for Christmas stuff. We will try to eat up the odds and ends before Saturday. I did remember to take out the ham and put it in the fridge to thaw. Most things really have to be prepared on Saturday or Sunday.

Cadfael's Book of Days said today. "While you live, there is no way of escape from your part in humanity."

I remember a Christmas years ago when living in Santa Ana Heights. My neighbor and I went out to get our trees. We took our pickup. Our plan was to get trees about our height. She was a bit shorter than I, so our plan was for trees about 5 and a half to 6 feet. But when we got into the lot they look different and we were trying to look at shape and fullness and holding our hands up to our foreheads but we must have slanted our hands up. When we got home, those trees were huge and we were totally surprised. My ex and her husband had to cut some off of the bottom so they would stand up in the livingroom. But shey sure were pretty.

Have a nice Thursday. We shop in the morning.

Love

Mary

Today was a rather quiet day. The only excursion that I made outside of the yard was to get my hair cut.

I am all finished with wrapping presents. Actually, I still have Mother's. I have a couple of small things for her but I ordered Galtee Sausages and Irish Bacon and intend to give her an Irish Breakfast for her main present. I will give her the bacon,sausages and fresh soda bread or scones (I have not decided which to bake as of yet. I will do that on Saturday.)

We were watching some game show and they asked a question as to where you send children when they are naughty. It reminded me of Bret when he was in kindergarten.

He had the most wonderful teacher in Kindergarten. Her name was Miss Gamel. She had a class of 16 little boys and 4 little girls. One of the little boys went home and told his Dad that the teacher was a "big beautiful blond." Needless to say that Dad came to teacher conferences.

She did love her students and was infinately patient with them. By the end of the year they knew that if there was a "shy E" at the end of a word - the vowel said "its own name." Think about it.

Anyway. Bret ended up hysterical in the principal's office. The kids were using rather bad words. Miss Gamel said that some of them were REALLY bad and she finally said that the next person that said a bad word would be sent to the principal's office. Bret said "poopy". So she sent him to the office.

He just disintegrated. Miss Gamel felt terrible and the office told her that she shouldn't have done that. But I agreed that she should have. She would have lost all credibility with the class and Bret learned a valuable lesson. He was trying to show off and learned timing if nothing else.

So that is my story about being sent to the principal's office.

Have a great Wednesday.

Love

Mary

I am all done with the decorating except for spreading candles around. I think it looks mighty festive. Then tonight I joined a crew at church and we did much of the decorating for Christmas there. We exchanged the purple ribbons in the wreaths with red and took down the purple hangings and replaced the Jesse Tree with the Nativity Icon. Friday, we will put up the creche and trees and finish all the beautiful things.

Tomorrow, I have to get my hair cut. The next day, Mother goes to the eye doctor and Thursday, we shop. I need to be sure to have my list complete because I don't want to make another trip after that.

We had meatloaf again tonight. Tomorrow, we will have meatloaf sandwiches. One of the main purposes of meatloaf is the sandwiches. My ex husband did not like meatloaf. Isn't that the silliest thing you ever heard. However, his mother, who was a very good cook, made awful meatloaf. She bought the cheapest meat available and served it in the pan she cooked it just oozing fat. As I said she was a good cook. You could not beat her chili or her pies. I use her pie crust recipe.

We bottled the current wine - finally and now I have gallon jugs so I can start a scratch wine. Either lemon balm or marigold. I also have wild grapes to brew.

We will be busy with wine all winter.

It was 1 degree when I woke up this morning. This is January weather. Wonder if this will last ALL winter. Where is global warming.

Love

Mary

Cold. Cold. Cold. It was 4 degrees when I got up this morning at 6AM. I am kind of glad that this is happening when I can't walk anyway. It is supposed to warm up a "bit" next week and I think Chelsea and I will attempt a couple of short walks later in the day, starting Tuesday.

I went to the 8AM mass. I took the winter coat, boots, mittens, hat and snow pants that I bought for a kindergarten boy who need them. Was that ever fun. I don't have little people to buy for anymore. He wanted a Packer jacket or a blue one. I got him a Packer jacket. It is Christmas and he is only 5 or 6 and should get his wishes filles. Then I visited with Mother for a bit.

Bobbie, Jim and I went shooting this afternoon. Bobbie did great, Jim didn't bother bringing up his sheets and I was EH! Not AWFUL but nothing the be proud of either. Oh well, practice makes perfect they say.

The tree is all decorated and looks beautiful. I still have some decorating to do, none of the Nativity Scenes are up yet but feel that the hardest part is over with.

Tomorrow the crew will start getting everything ready at church. We are doing it in two sessions. First getting everything out and checking the condition and making final decisions on the end result so that on Friday night we can just take down Advent and put up Christmas. Fr. Gene says we can put the creche on the altar this year. It has been over on the side and taking up valuable space in the choir area for the past two years. I much prefer it on the altar as the kids can see it better and will be more likely to ask to come up.

We had bean soup and Irish Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato sandwiches for supper. Boy was that a good idea. It was the bean soup that I made with the sugar cured ham that we brought back from Kentucky. I have one more meal of that left in the freezer. I will have to see if there are any sugar cured hams produced or imported locally.

It is time for bed. Only on week until Christmas. What a year. It is hard to realize that in two weeks it will be 2006 already. I remember that when I was very young I used to think that when it was the year 2000 I would turn 60 and it seemed so very far away. And NOW here it is 2005. Just a blink in the whole of time. Sometimes even to me.

Love

Mary

I did not have to go anywhere at all today. I know I told you that yesterday but usually something happens that makes me have to leave the house for something or other. The farthest I got today was the mailbox.

I did more decorating of the tree today. I hope to finish that tomorrow. I put away a lot of the everyday decorations too so I can put up the other Chrismas decorations.

Bart called to tell me that the truck with their stuff had arrived and was ALL unloaded. How nice that they have their possessions all in one place again. Mother had commented that she could see things there that MUST mean something to Barb and how she must want them with her - even if she didn't NEED them necessarily. Why do we get so attached to things. Probably because of the memories attached to them. I get all comforted putting the ornaments on the tree. MOST of them have a memory attached to them. Some go back to when Bret and Bart were babies and many to the early days of Dick and my marriage. Many are gifts. I cannot bear to toss any of them, even the "Paddy's Pig" that has his curly tail broken off. I just put the damaged side against the tree.

The meatloaf was super. For several years, I have used breadcrumbs made of all the pieces of leftover bread I have all dried up and mixed with a little butter and garlic. They are fresher. If I don't have dried bread, I just dry some hamburger or hot dog buns, buttered and garliced and dried in a very low oven. I fixed corn mixed with sauteed onion and peppers too.

Dick and I filtered the currant wine today - twice. Tomorrow we can bottle it. We should get 17 bottles. It does not taste too raw now, but we will let it mature for a full year because we have learned that the currant does benefit from aging.

From Highlighted in Yellow by H. Jackson Brown and Rochelle Pennington

Leave a quarter where a child can find it.
Skip a meal and give what you would have spent to a street person.
Offer to pay for parking and tolls when you ride with someone.
Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards.
Make a generous contribution to diabetes research.

Look outside yourself and bring pleasure to children. Such a good idea that should spread beyond the Christmas (yes, I said Christmas - not Holiday) season.

Be happy

Mary

We went to see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I REALLY liked it. It is such a big book and there was a great job of keeping the theme of the story while condensing it into three hours or so of movie. I hope they can keep these kids "kid" enough for the last three stories. As you probably know. Two more books are already out in print. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. A final episode is promised by J. K. Rowling. No word on that yet.

We always have popcorn for lunch on movie days. We go on Friday Afternoon for the old people special. It only costs us $7.50 to get in. It costs more than that for our popcorn and soda.

The morning was spent cleaning the kitchen and running a few errands. I am now at 6:30PM VERY tired. It is going to be an effort but I will try to stay up until 9:00. It is much easier for me to sleep through the night that way.

Tomorrow, I do not have to go ANYWHERE. SO - we will filter the Currant wine and I will decorate the tree. We are going to have meatloaf for dinner tomorrow with garlic mashed potatoes.

The other day, a news broadcast was showing the Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Harbor, Newport Beach Wisconsin. When I was living in California, I got to go on a couple of those. It is really fun and an impressive site. All the boats that want to decorate and fall in line. Then they slowly sail around the harbor. On the boats, you not only get to see all the other boats but also all the beautiful mansions that surround the harbor. They are all decorated too, of course. Food and drinks are always there. I had the hottest chili I ever enjoyed on a Christmas Harbor Cruise. It was so hot that it burned all the way down. BUT it left a great taste when the heat died down.

I received the following in an e-mail.

If you want someone who will bring you the paper without first tearing it apart to remove the sports section
Buy a dog.! []


If you want someone willing to make a fool of himself simply over the joy of seeing you
Buy a dog. []

If you want someone who will eat whatever you put in front of him and never says its not quite as good as his mother made it
Buy a dog []

If you want someone always willing to go out, at any hour, for as long and wherever you want
Buy a dog. []

If you want someone who will never touch the remote, doesn't care about football, and can sit next to you as you watch romantic movies
Buy a dog. []

If you want someone who is content to get up on your bed just to warm your feet and whom you can push off if he snores
Buy a dog.[]


If you want someone who never criticizes what you do, doesn't care if you are pretty or ugly, fat or thin, young or old, who acts as if every word you say is especially worthy of listening to, and loves you unconditionally, perpetually
Buy a dog.[]



But, on the other hand, If you want someone who will never come when you call, ignores you totally when you come home, leaves hair all over the place, walks all over you, runs around all night and only comes home to eat and sleep, and acts as if your entire existence is solely to ensure his happiness...

Then......................................



Buy a cat! []


(You thought I was talking about men didn't you!)


I finished my fantasy football tonight. Good thing. There are some games tomorrow.

Love
Mary

Another day closer to Christmas. We went grocery shopping, but not until about 11:00AM because we waited for Jim to plow the driveway to avoid getting it all iced up. He got up early but not before our usual time of 7:30 ot 8:00AM. He can't do the plowing at 1:00AM because he would be waking up the entire neighborhood.

Tonight we had choir practice and have all the music planned for Christmas. We practiced a little longer so we can be ready. I think Beth picked some good pieces.

The Rockettes, as I mentioned this morning, were really wonderful. They have several traveling groups, I understand. There are 18 women on stage for each routine. and they are totally precise. I think my favorite dance routine was the March of the Wooden Soldiers. Eighteen soldiers doing the whole march from Babes in Toyland. Wooden Soldiers are way at the top of my favorite Christmas characters.

We had a super lunch at Carlucci's not far from the Rosemont. The meal consisted of pizza for an appetizer, (really good), a mixed green salad (pretty non-descript), a choice of beef or chicken. I had the beef and liked it a lot. Dessert was tirimisu. Tirimisu is either great or whipped cream. This was great.

I started putting ornaments on the tree. So it should be done by Sunday. Tomorrow we are going to see Harry Potter. I have been waiting patiently through other plans and injuries and it has been put off since the premier. So - tomorrow we will have popcorn for lunch. Yum Yum.

Saturday, we are going to filter the Current wine twice and then on Sunday we will bottle it. Things are going to be moving rather fast an furious with the scratch wines. I have three other batches to start as soon as I free some gallon jugs. I have wild grapes, marigold blossems and lemon balm elixer. We will have wine working all winter this year.

Got Mom's application for Senior Care filled out and will copy it and mail it tomorrow. Whew! Medicare D has been quite a project but I have made the best decisions that I know how and we three, Dick, Mom and I, are stuck with them, at least for a year.

Here is a recipe for REALLY easy bread that tastes good fresh and hot or toasted later.

Beer Bread

3 cups self rising flour
2 Tablespoons Sugar
1 can beer

Preheat the oven to 350 Degrees. Grease loaf pan. Mix the above ingredients IN THE PAN and let settle for a few minutes. Bake for 1 hour.

Good luck

Mary

We got back last night exhausted from the trip to Chicago to the Rosemont Theatre to see the Rockettes. The show was spectacular with dancing, singing and a lovely Nativity Pagaent to climax the show along with a reading of A Solitary Life.

My leg is very sore as we drove straight through from the theatre to Sheboygan because of the weather. Usually there is a stop to refresh and stretch.

Anyway, just letting you know. I was just too tired last night. But I am back now.

I'll post again tonight.

I heard that turtles can breath through their butts. I wonder what purpose that serves.

Mary

Turned out to be an eventful day. I got a call from Mary Yurk, who is the neighbor across the street, called just before noon and offered me an "opportunity". She is the Queen Mother of a Red Hat group here in Sheboygan and some of them were joining an Elkhart Lake group for a bus trip to De Pere to Frank's Dinner Theater for a comedy musical production. One of the ladies was unable to go because a root canal had infected and she was VERY ill. So I got to go free. We left at about 3:15 and got back home a bit after midnight. The show is a musical and a comedy. This production was a Christmas program with a lot of traditional music and based VERY loosely on the Christmas Carol. I had Red Snapper for dinner.

Tomorrow we are going to see the Rockettes in Chicago so this is turning out to be quite a week.

In the museum under the Arch in St. Louis there is a plaque that has this inscription. I liked it and just recently found the picture that I took of it.

"I was first a bogtrotter (in Ireland), din a cobbler, din an immigrant, din a weary (Private Soldier), din a corpril, din a sargint, and now I'm a commissioned officer and captain fur life... and gintlemin, by act of Congress." Captain Gerald Russell.

Isn't that great?

Later

Mary

This was the best that my ankle has felt since Thanksgiving - However, tonight my hips just ache. I probably overdid because I did feel better.

Went to Bible Study this morning. We always have a good discussion. I like the idea we have now of discussing the passages that will be read the following Sunday.

The Sheboygan County Writer's Club had their annual Christmas Party. We go to lunch, this year to Arabella's, and then exchange the $5 gift and read anything that we have. I am really tired so will cut and paste the little short blurb that I wrote to read at the lunch.

My Mother shared a memory with me this year. She asked me if St. Nicholas had come to our house this year. December 5 is St. Nicholas Day, you know.

St. Nicholas used to come to us when I was a child. St. Nick always brought a piece of fruit and a little bit of candy to good boys and girls. He was a reminder that Christmas was coming and that we had to be good. Bad boys and girls got coal. One year, my brother Jeff got a lump of coal.

Her memory is this:

Grandma and Grandpa Bowser were living in Lomira. Only Mother, about 4 years old and her younger brother Noel were born at that time. One of the neighbor men dressed up in a long fur coat, like those used to ride in horse drawn carriages years ago with a hood. He carried a long staff and wore a beard. Then he traveled around to all the homes where little children lived.

At that time hired hands were quite common. They would work on the farms and live and eat with the family. Grandma and Grandpa had one.

“St. Nick” proceeded to ask Mother and Noel if they were good little children and if they said their prayers faithfully every day. They assured him that they did.

Then he asked the hired hand if he was good and if he said his prayers. The hired hand laughed and said that he never said prayers and never would. At that, St. Nick rose up and began to “beat” at the hired hand with his long staff and drove him out of the house.

This whole thing really terrified Mother. She said that she really said her prayers after that. Actually – she still does.

By the way – St. Nicholas did not come to our house this year. He did not come to Mother either.


I also wrote a poem for a Christmas Card. Here it is.

Tiny Baby, Son of God
The Angels sang the story
Shepherds, Wisemen came to see
This Child of endless glory.

The message of this virgin birth
Through the ages we still tell
I proudly shout his name to all
Jesus - Our Emmanuel

Good Night.


Mary

I went to the 8:00AM mass this morning. The roads were quite clear in spite of the wet snow that we had last night. It was chilly - in the 20s all day but partly cloudy and quite pleasant.

I visited with Mother after Mass. She is fine. We always have such nice visits. Her tree is up and in the process of being decorated. She will spend this week doing that. She is also baking stollens and cookies for gifts and to eat. I am glad that she is making Lizzies as I didn't this year. Jim can't eat them because of the nuts so I decided not to bother.

I tried out the new crock pot today. I made a recipe called butter beef. Cubed chuck steak with dried onion soup, butter and a splash of white wine. Then I added fresh mushroom for the last hour. We had it over noodles with peas and salad. The crock pot works just fine. Good thing. I am making Mac and Cheese in it for Christmas dinner.

Jim and I went out shooting today. He did pretty well. I have been worse but have also been a lot better. Practice. Practice. Practice. That is what they say.

Tomorrow I have Bible Study and then Writer's Club Christmas Party. I still don't know what I am going to bring for my $5 gift for the gift exchange. Well, something will come to me. $5.00 is an "impossible" amount. But we all seem to come up with something every year. The idea is that it is a token gift.

When Bart was a little boy, he was quite a worrier. He even worried about who he was going to marry when he grew up. I remember that his babysitters always found him quite funny because he would propose to them. He was only about 4 when this was going on. I think I told you that he did not want to come to Wisconsin for a visit because he worried about the "red tomatoes" (tornados) because I mentioned that a tornado had gone through Sheboygan County and killed a baby many years ago. He hasn't changed much. Some people just are very serious about thing.

I got my Christmas e-cards sent today. Now, I have the BIG job of those that I have to mail.

If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?

Have a good Monday.

Love

Mary

Mother, Dick and I just enjoyed a truly special presentation of the Messiah by the Sheboygan Chorus and the Lakeland College Chorus accompanied by the Sheboygan Symphany Orchestra and directed by Richare Bjella, associate professor, director of Choral Studies at Lawrence University in Appleton. I was really impressed with him and kind of wish he was in the running for the permanent director of the Symphany Orchestra.

It was a productive day otherwise also. We got the packages mailed. BOY has shipping gone up. It cost a fortune. We may resort to gift cards in the future. But anyway, the boxes are on their way and now I don't have deadlines to meet. I suppose that I need to get the cards on their way this week but there still is time.

We had lunch at the Funky Bean in the shopping center built on Hwy 42 where the old Flamingo was. The food was good but the service was slow as could be. We will try again in a few months when they have shaken out the bugs. The shipping place was slow too so Dick was pretty antsy by the time we left there.

I decided that I don't like this business of "Happy Holiday" INSTEAD of Merry Christmas. I don't have a problem with Happy Holiday itself as several holidays do occur in this time period. But Christmas is Chrismas and I DO celebrate it and so do the majority of people in our country. Therefore I have decided to put stickers on all my Christmas Cards that say. "Rejoice - The Savior is born!"

Joy and peace to you tomorrow and have a good week.

Mary

WELL!!!!! My brothers Jeff and Randy and my brother in law Kenny helped me (actually I helped them) load the ABF truck with the things that Bart and Barb could not take with them when they had been left here two years ago. I am so grateful for family because there was no way that I could have done it myself. Now the kids will have all their stuff. As Mother said when she looked at it one day, there were things there that mean a lot to Barb and she should have them.

Tonight I am going to finish the tree skirt and look through pictures for Randy. He is putting together a collage of picture of Mother, Dad and the kids and grandkids for the big birthday party. Yea! I saw the pictures that Jeff brought today and they were so nice. I don't know how many I will have as I was in California for SO long.

Tomorrow, Dick and I will take the packages to be mailed. Then I can relax and just get everything else done at my leisure. I have not even begun Christmas cards but can send them out just a week or less before. Such is life. I suggested that we mail the packages at the new mailing center and then go to lunch. We like to go out and seldom go for lunch. There is a new coffee shop in the same mall as the new mailihng center. It is where the old Flamingo Restaurant used to be if you remember.

I had a rough time with my leg last night. I am hoping that tonight will be better. Sometimes it just aches and I cannot get it into any position that relieves it. If I get up and move around it helps a bit but I never really get back to a sound sleep. This is very annoying.


Isn't making a smoking section in a restaurant like making a peeing section in a swimming pool? (My sentiments exactly)

Until tomorrow

Mary

It was much warmer today. It is amazing how wonderful 17 degrees can feel when one has been living with 5 and below. It snowed this afternoon. We were supposed to get only a dusting but have about 2 inches it seems.

Dick and I went grocery shopping this morning and I spent the afternoon with Mother waiting for the truck to be dropped off in front of her house. Tomorrow morning we will load Bart and Barb's stuff into it and then I will call to get it picked up. Next week they will have it all. Jim helped me load the stuff that is in OUR garage into the Santa Fe.

While I was at Mom's, Aunt Kathleen and Uncle Bob dropped by to say goodbye. They are leaving for the south (they are snowbirds) on Saturday and will not return until April. Aunt Kathleen said that she would just as soon be staying home or at least not going for so long. However, they do like it down there and Uncle Bob has a barbershop quartet group that he sings with all winter and it is really really fun for him.

December 5 was St. Nicholas Day. When we were kids, it was always somewhat of a precurser of Christmas - a reminder to be good little girls and boys. St. Nick alway brought a piece of fruit and a bit of candy to good little girls and boys. But naughty ones got a piece of coal. One year, my brother Jeff got a piece of coal. It sure impressed the little ones.

Mother remembers an incident from her childhood about St. Nick. They were living in Lomira. Probably just she and Noel were born as she thinks that she was about 4 years old. One of the neighbor men dressed up like St. Nicholas - he wore a fake beard, a big old fur hat and one of those long fur coats that men wore when they rode in open carriages and so on. He came in and talked to the children and asked them if they were good little girls and boys. They assured him that they were. At that time, Grandpa had a hired hand. "St. Nick" asked the hired hand if he was good and if he said his prayers. The hired hand said he never prayed and wasn't about to. St. Nick proceeded to "beat" the man with his wooden staff. The hired hand ran off into the night. Mother said she was scared to death. She is still saying her prayers regularly.

Have a nice Friday. I will be packing a truck.

Mary

Last night was miserable. I woke up shortly after midnight with my whole left leg aching and could NOT get comfortable. Dick fixed me a cup of tea and I took a pain pill and did get some sleep but I kept waking up even with all that. Then Chelsea woke me up at 5:30AM. I tried to go back to sleep but twenty minutes later she was at me again so I gave up.

Today, I went to church and Marcy Eppers and I got the Blessed Mother Statue out of the closet and put it on the altar for the feast of the Immaculate Conception which is tomorrow. We put a BIG rosary on that statue and on the big statue in the back of the church. The I did a bit of shopping and came home for a nap.

Dick, Mother and I went to the Villager for dinner tonight and then to the Sheboygan Theatre. They had a nice feel good program. Three short Christmas skits followed by the feature, The Best Christmas Pagaent Ever. Ralph did a great job. He had one of his biggest casts ever and LOTS of kids. They were very talented as was the lead adult in the feature. We really enjoyed it a lot.

Now I am tired and sore. I just soaked in the tub and am icing my ankle then will go to bed. Pray that I sleep tonight.

"The trouble with bucket seats is that not everybody has the same size bucket." (from an e-mail)

Love

Mary

Another COLD day. It was 1 degree on our thermometer when we looked the first time. It makes me feel less guilty about not being able to walk Chelsea because we would not be walking in this cold anyway.

Dick and I took Mother to Gibbsville Cheese Factory to buy Christmas Cheese packages (and a bit for ourself). Then we went out for lunch at the Parkview in Falls. It was a nice outing. I am almost ready to seal all the packages that have to go out to the far away kids. I need to pick up a couple of things tomorrow, which I will do when I go to church to put Mary on the altar for the feast of Immaculate Conception. I will stop at the store on the way home and FINISH. Then we can post everything by the weekend, with any luck at all.




Well, I finally got around to it. Here is a picture of me with Daniel O'Donnell in Branson. We sure did have a good time on that trip.

Have a nice Wednesday.

Mary

It was cold cold cold AGAIN. My poor little Chelsea goes out and eagerly rolls in the snow. Then she surveys her domain. Then she gets down to business. By then her poor little pads get cold and she ends up finishing her business on three feet. Well, that's her problem.

Went to Bible Study this morning. The Advent readings are really nice. Full of promise. We especially liked the 2nd reading for next Sunday. Paul 1 Thes. 5:16-24.
"Rejoice always! Pray without ceasing!" Those are the first two lines.

I took care of lots of phone business today. I spent time trying to get Medicare D plans for Dick, Mother AND me. I have Dick and Mother almost figured out and am waiting to hear from my insurance company to see if I want to go that way. I think that the same idiot who designed a couple of freeway sections that I know of was assigned the Medicare D program. Some things are put together strictly to confuse the consumer.

We had hamburgers, beans and apple pie for supper. Num Num.

Have a nice day and pray for a warmup.

Mary

Tonight, Bobbie and I went to Rhine Plymouth for the club meeting. It was handled quite well this time and we were home by 8:30PM.

I DID get to stay home all day today. It was very very cold and quite lovely with blue skies and the sun glinting off fresh snow.

Dick and I bottled the Gewertziminer wine this afternoon and I also wrapped the remaining Christmas presents.

The Packers lost so we are depressed. This was a BAD week for my fantasy football picks. I really struggled and made some pretty poor choices apparantly. At this point I am clear at the bottom only outscoring one of our members who did not get his picks in. I might be able to pull out of the basement but things are not looking good.

Barbara called today. She has been working LOTS of overtime and is stretched for time but has been healthy lately. Bart, however, has a sinus infection that is bothering him. All else is well. She is, amid taking care of Bart and working, trying to plan a 50th wedding anniversary party for her parents.

Students in an advanced Biology class were taking their mid-term exam. The last question was, "Name seven advantages of Mothers Milk," worth 70 points or none at all.

A funny email that I received the other day. I am tired and can't think of anything clever myself.

One student was hard put to think of seven advantages. He wrote:
1. It is perfect formula for the child.
2. It provides immunity against several diseases.
3. It is always at the right temperature.
4. It is inexpensive.
5. It bonds the child to mother, and vice versa.
6. It is always available as needed.
And then, the student was stuck. Finally, in desperation, just before the bell indicating the end of the test rang, he wrote.................................
7. It comes in such cute containers.
He got an "A"

Love

Mary

I am very tired. BUT a lot was accomplished today also. It was cold and started snowing this afternoon. We have about two inches already I think. Chelsea, of course, is in hog heaven.

This morning, Dick and I went out very early to Walmart and bought a new microwave (our current one has had a door that jams for a couple of years now and I think it is dangerous.) a new crock pot (the base on my current one broke and it is silly to prop up your crock pot when you are using it.) a new water pick and some Christmas cards. Then we stopped at Hardee's for breakfast.

I did get the buckeyes dipped in the chocolate, so everybody can relax. Then at two o'clock I drove to Falls to join the choir for caroling on Pine Street for Main Street Memories. We really had a lot of fun. I found out my friend, Fran, had never gone caroling before. We sang outside Fasse's for a bit, took the horse drawn wagon and sang the whole trip it took around town, walked through Fasse's and over to Richardson's Furniture, where we joined a pianist who was entertaining there. Finally, we walked over to to Evans and strolled through the store while we were singing.

Then we sang at the 5:00PM Mass. That means that I don't have to go to church tomorrow and can stay home ALL day.

I think I told you about the time Mother, Nora and I all tried to get a snowsuit on Bart. My Ex, Bret and Bart were visiting Wisconsin one Christmas and went to spend the day with Nora and Leif. Nora offered a snowmobile suit that Stenn had outgrown for Bart to play in. He took one look at it and said. "People will laugh at me." He was three but apparantly his self image did not include a snowsuit and the three of us were unable to shove those flaying arms and legs into the thing. We gave up. He wore the old snow pants and jacket that Mother had found at the house.

Have a happy Sunday.

Mary

Dick and I had quite a busy day. It was very cold, in the teens, but sunny and very pretty outside. We went over to Mom's and Randy helped me box up the two deer hides to take to WB Tanning in Hartford. That is an interesting experience. You get a slip that you tape or tie to the hides that you brought in. Then you just leave and two or three months later, when you have forgotten ALL about it a notice comes that the hides are ready. You send a check and they mail the hides to you. It is quite efficient. Did you know that tanned hides are not natually that pretty brown tan color but a kind of bluish gray color. When I get enough hides tanned, I will have a jacket made. I asked and I need between 4 and 10 depending on the size and style I choose. So I have a ways to go. With these two, I have three.

On the way home, we stopped at a George Webb Restuarant to eat lunch. Neither of us had ever eated at one before. They are, we found, very 50s cafe. Small. The service was pleasant but SLOW. We loved the french fries. Anyway, there were four women in the booth next to us. One of them was quite old and the others were reassuring her that her current situation was indeed best for her. We assumed that she had recently been forced to go into either assisted living or a nursing home. I felt for her - and for them. I remember that Aunt Kathleen said that Grandma Bowser was in tears when she had to go to Pine Haven. She had to move SO many times in their early marriage and when they bought the house in Falls, she wanted to die there. I think it broke her heart. I hope Mother never has to make that decision. So far so good. She is getting excited about her birthday party in January. 90 is pretty special.

This afternoon, I mixed and rolled the buckeyes. Tomorrow, I can dip them in chocolate and have them ready for shipping. Christmas is trying to creep up on us.

Love

Mary

I read an article in Good Housekeeping today about a mother who's son, while in Junior High School, began to hang out with black kids. This was a bit disconcerting for her as they were white and though many blacks tried to act white, white boys don't usually try to act black. These friends were good kids, fortunately. They were, some of them, underpriviledged, and lived in some really poor project type neighborhoods. But they were good kids. As she got to know them and their parents, she came to see them as just kids in a difficult environment. It surprised her to find that their parents were as nervious about their kids being in an all white neighborhood as she was with the reverse.

It reminds me of a time that Bart and I were watching the Jessie Owens Story on TV. There is a scene in this movie in which the coach tells the Jewish members of the
U. S. Olympic Team that they cannot participated in the games in Nazi Germany. The lone protester to this action was Jessie Owens. He was promptly told to "Sit down, Boy!" and he did so. My Bart, who in Huntington Beach California, went to a pretty ethnically diverse school, he even had a black principal for a few years, asked my why Jessie just sat down and did not protest further. I had to explain to him how much courage it had taken for that man to say ANYTHING. Bart did not understand prejudice. Isn't that wonderful? Would that it could have stayed that way. I think he is pretty open to everybody, but he is certainly aware of prejudices now.

Tomorrow, I am going to take the two deer hides that the Carpenter boys gave me down to Hartland to be tanned. When I have enough, I will have a jacket made of them.

Today, we went grocery shopping and Dick got his blood tested. He has been within the boundries for 10 months now. Sue says he is getting boring.

We had the best dinner tonight. I had leftover pork tenderloin. I sliced it and warmed it, then put it on a hard roll with a slice of cheddar and mayonese (flavored if possible). Then I grilled it and served it with a dollop of cranberry relish on top of the pork. Wow was it good.


Have a nice Friday.

Mary

We took Chelsea to the Vet today as scheduled. Dr. Zechlinsky must be either expanding or planning on retiring because he has a new associate in the office who looked at our girl. She is basically in pretty good shape, but the new doctor did discover a slight heart murmur. We decided to just do nothing for it at this time. The New Vet (I will get her name in my head on our next visit) assured us that unless Chelsea shows signs of tiring easily or developes a severe coughing problem or faints a lot that we don't need to worry too much. The occasional little fainting episodes that she does have COULD be associated with the murmur. If more symptoms appear there are medications that can help her so we will just see what happens.

I spent the rest of the day, trying to get stuff put away. Since out trip, I am way behind. The sprained ankle hasn't helped. By the way, it is starting to itch. I know that scars itch when they are healing but had no idea that sprains did. The foot is all sorts of different shades of red and purple.

Today I finally did get the deer hunting stuff cleaned and stowed and I put the Thanksgiving decorations away. Good thing, it is really time to start doing Christmas.

Love

Mary

Today was a success. I, as the Senior Saint contact person, had arranged for a morning prayer service followed by a presentation by Pat Hefferman, an expert from the Department on Aging at Sheboygan County, who told us in detail about the new Medicare D program. She was wonderful. There had been only one other presentation in Sheboygan Falls so, as a faith community, we had invited anyone interested through ads in the papers. We had more than 50 attendees who were full of questions. This was great because we learned a lot and now hopefully can wade through the information. Deacon Bill Jens presented a lovely prayer service touching on Advent and the coming of the Lord which was well received. I told him that I would call on him again when I do the next program for the Seniors.

We are watching a show about the Mamas and the Papas on PBS tonight. Dick just commented that back then this group and the really great groups just stood and sang. They did not nor do they now need special effects of gyrations or weird lighting. They just SANG. What a head and ear treat.

Tomorrow, Chelsea goes for her annual physical. She will be delighted with her ride. Then when we get to Dr. Z's office she runs in all enthused then turns right around and heads for the door. Poor Zero became afraid of riding in his older years because the only place he ever went was to the Vet. Chelsea loves to go for rides because she gets to go to Bobbie and Bill's or Mother's houses sometimes and once in a while, just for a ride.

An Old Farmer's Advice. Some of the items that were sent by a friend.
* Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.
* Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none.
* Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.


Enjoy Wednesday. We are going to filter some wine.

Always fun to "wine" a bit.

Mary

I have a very affectionate Kitty named Roxie on my lap as I post this Blog. It rained most of the day today and the temps were quite warm. All the way up into the low 50s. Wow. Sounds cold to the South but for Wisconsin in late November it is like spring.

Did I tell you that Bobbie and I had venison liver, bacon and fried onions for supper last night and was it EVER good. We had enough left for each of us to have a sandwich this noon too. And it was also so tasty. They guys weren't allowed to have liver. (Can you hear the sarcasm.) They ate ham and the rest of our side dishes, brussel sprouts, raw fried potatoes and cole slaw. Jim was not aware that there were raw fried potatoes. I know that he has eaten them. He thinks that it is more trouble to cook the potatoes and then fry them. It is actually just the method of cooking. And there is a difference is taste.

Today was full. I had bible study in the morning. As it is early Advent, we are into the "waiting" scriptures and are reading a lot of Isiah. He wrote a lot about the waiting for the savior. There was also a nice section of 2 Peter telling people not to get to impatient waiting for the second coming. As he points out A thousand years is like a day and a day as a thousand years to the Lord. Time means nothing to him (or her.)

Tomorrow, Pat Hefernan from the County Division on Aging is coming to Blessed Trinity at my request to speak to the seniors about Medicare D. I am interested in hearing the presentation, so that we can decide what we are going to do. I also have Deacon Bill Jens doing a prayer service before the presentation so it will hopefully be a full and interesting day for the seniors. (Including me.)

I have to pick up cookies, punch and tea on my way to church. We always have TONS of coffee so I never have to worry about that. People keep donating that.

We were talking about the homeless at bible study. Many of them don't want to come in, usually those with dependency problems because they have to remain clean while they are in shelters. Usually they will only come in during the worst of the weather. God bless them and help them. I hurt for the children who are sleeping out or in cars because Moms and Dads cannot find an enclosed shelter. I hope their guardian angels keep them from fear.

I understand that they are still gathering pets up from the hurricane ravaged areas. Wish I knew what to do to help.

Hope your week goes well. So far so good for me. My foot gets a bit better every day, but I still cannot see my bones and it is still black and blue.

Love

Mary

It was warm and rainy and foggy all day. The temperatures were in the mid 40's. Sure a change from Thanksgiving when it was 10 degrees at noon.

Bobbie and I worked a Rhine. We left at about two o'clock. There were about 10 people there but the traps had not even been set up because of the fog and there were plenty of people capable of handing out and collection for beer as these people watched the football games. Besides, my foot was getting uncomfortable.

I went to the 8AM mass this morning and visited with Mother until she was ready to to to the 10:30AM mass. I begged off of being Eucharistic Minister because it is too hard to stand for any length of time. There are plenty of "whole" people to do that.

On the way home I heard this quote on the radio. Bobbie already heard it but she will just have to read it again. I can't remember the source but it is a quote. "Men think of shopping as a response to an unseen emergency - such as Christmas."

We are now celebrating Advent, so Chistmas is looming. The time of preparation is upon us.

Love

Mary

An absolutely quiet day today. Snow is on the ground but the temperatures did not seem so bad, because there was no wind at all to speak of.

Dick and I went out for breakfast and to get gas in the car this morning, but except for that we were home all day.

The day went much too fast. I really did not do much except try to catch up on things and put things away. It is hard when one hobbles around. George Carlin has it right. People get houses to fill with stuff, then they have to get a bigger house because they keep getting more stuff.

It is like planting seeds. You plant and they keep reproducing. Or like leaving one dirty dish in the sink and by morning finding the sink overflowing with them.

My foot feels better but is still swollen, because I cannot see the bones yet. (That will be my proof that it is better.) It is turning the most interesting colors. It is really difficult to walk with a cane, however, I am learning and have learned how to go down and up stairs with the least discomfort. By the time I get it down pat, I will be all healed. Did I tell you that the doctor at the emergency room asked if I could hear the deer laughing as I made my way out of the woods? I told him that I sure could.

Tomorrow, I have to work at Rhine. That should be interesting as I cannot stand for any length of time. Then Bobbie and Bill are coming to dinner so that Bobbie and I can eat the venison liver and listen to the guys complain about having the be in the same house where something like that is prepared.

Have a nice Sunday. We will, I know. Every day my foot feels a bit better.

Mary

A rather strange day. It started good enough. We had a very nice breakfast (Cheese and egg bisquit sandwiches) with Dick and Brenda before they headed back to Madison. They left at about 10:00, the same time that I left to pick up Bobbie and go to Mom's house. We butchered the deer. There were three of them. It took us until about three PM to finish the job. Because of my ankle, I spent most of my time sitting at the table trimming meat off of the leg quarters and cutting it in to hamburger/sausage pieces.

Tonight I went to church and we took down the harvest decorations and then put up the
Advent colors and the Advent wreath.

I am exhausted and will go to bed as soon as I finish this. Chelsea is really getting irritated with me. She cannot understand why I am not taking her for walks and why Dick is usually taking her out to go potty.

I was remembering Thanksgivings when I was in California. We belonged to a jeep club called the Orange County Four Wheelers and every Thanksgiving as a club, we would go out to Chiraca Summet to celebrate the holiday together with a big community meal on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The guy had made a big spit run by a generator and would star the meat at about 2AM. We always barbequed a whole pig and a quarter of beef. It would cook all day while they poured wine and spices on it. In the meantime, the ladies would bake potatoes and make fresh applesauce and bake beans. By two o'clock in the afternoon, we would be ready to eat our selves silly and then make homemade ice cream for everybody. Finally we would sit around the fire and sing and sip Apricot Brandy until we were ready for bed. Lots of fun, lots of memories.

Tomorrow, I will better be able to rest my leg.

The week is over. Hooray for Saturday

Mary

This has been a very eventful day.

First, I got up at 4:45AM. It was 10degrees and the wind was blowing but I headed off to the Kettles to meet Jeff, Shane, Roxie and Jason Karls for the last attempt at getting a deer. We got to our stands at about 6:45AM. Again, I didn't see a thing. At about 8:30 I saw Jeff come over to Shane's stand and then Shane worked his way around the swamp on his way over to Roxie, trying to stir something up as he worked his way over there. About then, I heard people walking and Randy and Jessica came over the hill. They were moving around a bit too, from spot to spot, the stands on the west side of the hill were much more cold than those on our east side. I was cold but surprisingly not really freezing. The wind never really blew my way and sometimes the sun was beating on me. I decided as Randy and Jessie left to go to the nice spot that I had found in a stand of pine on the way back. I started up the hill, my left foot slipped on the leaves and I went down with my ankle under my body. Fortunately, I did not break it but "man alive" did it hurt. I crawled up the hill and made my way along the ridge and over to where Jeff was sitting. I told him what had happened. He asked if I needed help out, but I figured that I was able to walk and would just go slow and steady and then head home. I was wearing my good stiff hunting boots which kept my ankle fairly steady.

When I got out to the road, Jason was waiting in his truck for the others. (The rule is that you wait till everybody is out before you leave. However, I had told Jeff that I was not waiting but would go home to put ice on the ankle. He said that was a good idea and if my truck was still there when he came out they would know that a rescue was in order.) I told Jason what was up. He suggested that I go back to my stand, take off my boot and roll up my pants to chill the ankle.

I have a lump the size of an oversized golf ball on my ankle and it is funny color. Jim eventually drove me to Emergency. They did take Xrays to be sure but it is only a sprain. Hurts just as much or more, but will heal faster.

We went over to Bobbie and Bill's for a fantastic meal. Turkey, stuffing, squash, succatash, cranberry relishes, mashed potatoes and gravy and pumpkin and hickory nut pies. Everything was SO good and I was SO hungry.

I guess that is enough for tonight. Tomorrow I will be helping butcher deer.

Hope your Thanksgiving was warm and fuzzy.

Love

Mary

A busy day but at least I got to spend most of it at home. My only outside chore was that dentist appointment. They just checked them and cleaned them and sent me home.

It was snowing and there was about an inch on the ground when I woke up. Chelsea was say too excited. She barked at nothing for about half the walk. Then she spent the rest of the walk rolling around and eating snow.

Then I made Cranberry Relish for tomorrow and cole slaw for a salad to have on hand. I cleaned my desk and the bathrooms too. Now, Dick got the Roombas clean and we are letting them vacuum the livingroom and our bedroom.

Tomorrow I will be going out with the gang for my last deer hunting try of the year. It is supposed to be windy and cold, so will be the most miserable of the three days.
We are meeting out on Highway F at 6:00AM and will be staying out until about 10:00 as everyone has to be back for Thanksgiving. Actually Bobbie is serving dinner at 5:00PM with snacks including a bribe of deviled eggs at 4:00PM so I will have plenty of time to come home, shower and take a nap before we go. Dick and Brenda will be spending Thursday night with us.

There is a cricket in our office. We cannot quite pinpoint where he is nested. He seems to be somewhere between Dick and me but it is really hard to tell. He chirps occasionally, then when one of us moves the big chicken shuts up. He probably heard Dick say that he wants to crush him.

I remember a cricket in the coat closet in my home in Huntington Beach. We managed to get EVERYTHING out of the closet and finally got the thing. We just took it outside. Boy was that thing LOUD! The one in our office is really rather quiet.

Aren't crickets supposed to bring good luck? I seem to remember some tale about that.

The Brother Cadfael's Book of Days had a great quote today. "A pity there should have to be factions, an decent men fighting one another; and all of them convinced they have the right of it." Ellis Peters.

People on both sides of a war always believe they are right and the winner becomes the "truth".

Happy Thanksgiving.

Mary

Hello again.

Bobbie and I did go out hunting today. Another empty day, we did not even see any deer. It was much colder than yesterday, but with no wind and the sun shining on us if we picked the right spots to sit, it was quit pleasant. We stopped for lunch on the way home so it was an altogether enjoyable day. According to the weather reports, we are supposed to have show tonight - up to an inch. Chelsea will have the best walk tomorrow.

This afternoon, Dick and I went grocery shopping and picked up Market Day. I have SUCH full freezer compartments. I won't have to buy meat or much else except fresh foods for quite a while. Tomorrow, the dishwasher repairman is supposed to be coming. We are waiting for our call from Sears to confirm this. The only other thing that I have going tomorrow is the dentist. I am not thrilled about that but what must be done, must be done.

I still haven't had time to look at the Branson Pictures. On Thursday, we had the whole morning free so Dick and Bart took advantage of the time to take naps and Barb and I went shopping. We finished up at a shop called Quilt and Quilts Shop. I found a few grays and blacks for the quilt that I am working on. Barb found some great fabric for a future quilt. She showed me one that she is working on of a great big bear. It is all pieced and is wonderful. She has requests for more and the fabric she found will make great background as it is all piney and looks like a mountain terrain.

They really enjoyed the Yakov Schmirnof and Andy Williams Shows that we saw together. Did you know that Yakov also writes as well as performs and he paints very beautifully? His paintings are often very patriotic as is his comedy. I have seen his show twice now and he has had us in stitches each time.

Have a nice Wednesday. Should be so as it preceeds a holiday and perhaps for most of you a long holiday weekend.

Til tomorrow

Herman Melville said " All wars are boyish, and are fought by boys."

Mary

I made it out to the Kettles this morning for my first day of deer hunting of the season. It was a lovely day. Kind of cold and overcast to begin with but no appreciable wind and eventually the sun even came out. My brother Jeff, his son Shane and Shane's girlfriend Roxie were also out today. We didn't see a darned deer but we all enjoyed the day. There is plenty of wildlife out there besides the deer. I saw a red squirrel and a gray fox squirrel, heard a Pilated Woodpecker and a huge flock of geese went overhead. We arrived just before dawn and left the woods at about 11:00AM. Then we drove into Dundee for lunch at a tavern that Jeff knows. I had a good cup of chili (Sheboygan Chili) and a great grilled cheese sandwich. I came right home after that and took a nap and a shower because

tonight I had to be at church to get out and check the condition of the decorations that go up for Advent. They put this big "Jessie Tree" that used to go over the Altar on the side wall and I do not like it but was overruled. Hopefully the wonderful Advent Candle Tapestries that Bob Fleming painted for us will make them look better. We will be gathering again on Friday to take down Harvest/Thanksgiving and put these up.

Tomorrow, Bobbie and I will go back out to the woods to try again to get our deer. Sure hope we at least see one. That always "Makes" the day.

I probably should say more about our Branson trip but the main focus was all the shows. Did I tell you about the Hughes Brothers. They are five brothers. The show involves all of their children, this numbers something like 13 or 19 kids, NINE of them are in ONE family. Their parents have just adopted four children from Russia who are learning to be in the show because they really wanted to be a part of it. The grandchildren are also extremely talented, they sing, dance and several play the violin. It is quite a show. When they did their Nativity presentation as part of the Christmas show, they just use the littlest baby (who behaved like a little angel. I don't know what they do if he decides he doesn't want to be there. I remember an incident that occurred when Bret was about three. We were at some function or another and he came up to me and said "Lets go home." I said that it would be a bit as we were busy. He leaned back a bit, looked me in the eye and said "But I want to go NOW." Those kind of statements are a mother's nightmare. In public, children have an extra ace as sometimes they get their way to avoid a big scene."

Hopefully I can look at the pictures soon and will forward a few to you.

Have a fun Tuesday in this short work week and wish Bobbie and I a good and save hunt.

Love

Mary

I have emptied my suitcase. That is always a big accomplishment when one gets home from a trip. It was a nice day. Rather chilly perhaps but I hope that tomorrow is like today. There is talk of 30% chance of rain, and I am going to be out in the woods with Jeff, Shane and Roxie trying to harvest a deer. Rain makes it unpleasent indeed.

Saturday, the opening day party did get three. None were shot by a Deeley, however. The Carpenter boys got two and Jason Karls got the other one. So we will be butchering on Friday or Saturday. With any luck there may be another one or two by the weekend. I will go out tomorrow and Tuesday with Bobbie (if she still wants to). I plan on going out on Thursday for a last shoot if I haven't filled out. That will be a very short day as they usually come out of the woods by 10 or 10:30. Actually, I will have to so I can get showered and dressed to to to Bobbie's for Thanksgiving dinner.

I haven't had a chance to look at the pictures I took of the Branson trip as of yet. I had my picture taken with Danny O'Donnell and with Bobbie Vinton.

The choir sang at the 10:30AM Mass and I picked up the venison that Jeff had gotten from his friend and a piece of liver from the Saturday harvest. Bobbie, perhaps you would like to come to dinner Sunday and have that liver with me. We have to work at Rhine, so you could get out of cooking that evening. Let me know.

Jim and I went shooting pistol today too. I am consistantly bad on the first target and then much better on the last two. I must figure out why it takes that first target to get me sited in.

Mark Twain said that "To get the full value of joy you must have somebody to divide it with." The Christmas season is a good time for that. The choir is going to go caroling in downtown Sheboygan Falls on December 3rd. That will be a fun way to kick off the season.

Have a nice week.

Mary

We are HOME!!!! I am exhausted so I am afraid that you will not hear much about the trip tonight.

We saw Danny O'Donnell, Shoji Tabuchi, Yakov Smirnoff, Andy Williams, The Hughes Brothers, Bobby Vinton and The Baldnobbers. We also saw two Christmas Light Displays and ate for five days.

I have my picture with Danny O'Donnell and Bobby Vinton. It was an exciting trip. The most exciting was that Bart and Barb were able to join us on Wednesday and half of Thursday. We had such a good visit and they both look great. Bart did very well. Crowds do bother him a LOT but he did will at the two shows we went to together. I am glad we didn't push for more though. It was obvious that two were his limit. Barb looks GREAT. She has lost over 60 pounds. I am so glad we had that time.

Tomorrow I will tell you more, when I am more alert

Mary

Wow, what a day.

Chelsea let me sleep until 6:45AM. I could not believe it when she jumped up on the bed and whimpered at me. We went right out for our walk. The wind was AWFUL. At several points I was facing into it and was barely able to move forward. Doesn't bother the girl at all. She is just too low to the ground to be affected.

Then, I put in the pan of stuffing that I had picked up from church to cook for the turkey dinner. I took that with me when I went to the 10:30 mass. After Mass, I went down and sold tickets for the raffle of the print, the sewing machine, the afghan and my twin sized quilt until 1:00AM when my replacement came. I got the dinners for us and came home so that Jim and I could go shooting. It was TOO windy to do trap, but we like to keep our hand in on the pistol shooting. We each shot three. My first two were none too good, though the second was better than the first. However, my third was not bad. I got a 65.

When I got home, I got a call from Kitty Klitch at church. I won the limited edition print that she had donated. It is of her Main Street Memories collection and is of the Villager. It is beautiful and I am really jazzed. It has a value of about $250. I love decorating our house with works from people that I know.

Tomorrow, morning Dick and I leave for BRANSON. So - this is my last posting until next Saturday evening. We get to Branson at about noon on Tuesday. We will be going to see Daniel O'Donnell that afternoon before checking into our hotel. Then we will spend the evening at Shoji Tabuchi's theatre. Bart and Barb will be atht Grand Country Resort that evening, So we will be able to have supper with them before going out. The next day we will spend most of the day with them. I am excited to see them and Barb and I are looking forward to sharing our quilting projects.

I will miss posting but will enjoy the trip a LOT more than I will miss the computer.

Someone named Austin O'Malley said "A hole is nothing at all, but you can break your neck in it." I thought it was clever. Have a good week.

Love you

Mary

Dick and I had a lovely evening. The Friends of Mead Public Library, as I mentioned last night, I believe, had a fundraiser dinner in the Quiet Reading Room at Mead. As we walked in, we were offered glasses of wine and members of the board walked around with trays of delicious hors d'oeuvres - specialties of the board members such as marinated mushrooms, crackers with chese and homemade chutney and flavered cream cheese wraps cut into pinwheels. The meal was prepared by Berni Markovich. He had a wonderful salad with greens, apple, dried cranberries and nuts, followed by a plate of veggies and potatoes, accompanied by a pork chop and applesauce. We also had apple pecan pie.

We then walked over to the Weill Center for the Symphony. It was also a treat ending with a dynamic presentation of Bolero. This was the second of the conductors in the running for the job, and we liked him. I am really sorry that we couldn't see the first one. The ticket holders WILL have a small say in the selection of the new one, along with the members of the orchestra and the board.

Anyway, I am now very tired so will close this up and go to bed. I got some of my packing for Branson done today. I also got the last of my hanging pots into the garage. It is supposed to snow while we are gone and the ground could freeze. In that case, I would never get the pots emptied so decided to do it while I could. It was actually very pleasant today, in the mid 50s, though we did have a BIT of rain this evening.

Love.

Mary

I got the sharpshooter trophy for pistol league at Rhine tonight. Since I was the only one in my class, I would not feel that this was a great accomplishment, except that my average improved immensely since the last league. Bobbie and Jim each got trophies also. Bobbie got the Expert trophy. Jim will be pleased because that means that he beat Frank, his main competition.

We had really great food for the bust up dinner. Sara Behr made chicken soup with some frozen chicken legs and thighs that we had in the freezer and german potato salad. Gary Hefter made beef and gravy for sandwiches and cooked up some brats that we had frozen with some sauekraut. Bill Olson brought his "famous peach cobbler" which is always a treat. I am literally stuffed.

Next league starts on January 6. Jim and I will continue to go out on Sunday afternoons as often as we can to practice and I will practice trap unless it is too cold. I don't like to get too cold.

I believe that all my errands that had to be done before the trip are finished. Tomorrow, I just have to pick up a pan of stuffing to bake for the turkey dinner on Sunday. Then in the evening the Friends of Mead Public Library are hosting a fundraiser dinner in the quiet reading room at Mead. Bernie Markovich is cooking the dinner which begins with wine and hors d'oeuvres at 5:30PM. We have been promised these plus a delicious dinner and dessert, all to be done in time to get us to the Stephanie Weill Center down the street for the evening's Symphony Orchestra performance. This concert will present the second of the four finalists for the new conductor of the Sheboygan Symphony. We missed the first one as we were in Washington D. C. Bill and Bobbie said that he was very. Good. Dick and I will have to decide between the three that we see. Sheboygan will miss Guy Bordo, the conductor for the past many years. But things do nothing if they do not occasionally change and I am sure a new conductor will bring new ideas and many new things to the community.

I bought a new fanny pack for the trip. On the Washington Trip, a pen leaked all over the old one which was such a wonderful size and shape. I hope I picked another that I like as well. I really never know until it is broken in.

If all the world was apple pie
And all the seas were ink
And all the trees were bread and cheese
What would we have to drink.

That just popped in to my head. It was a beautiful day. I hope it holds out through the weekend but my understanding is that the weather is going to turn.

Love

Mary

Today, I spent from 10 to 2 reading poems, essays and short stories written by middle schoolers for a contest the Sheboygan County Writer's Club sponsored with the Sheboygan Press. The Press has been VERY helpful with this project. They printed the ads totally free and have agreed to print the winning compositions and the names of ALL the participants. We received entries from most of the middle schools in the city mostly from the private schools. Most of the entries were pretty indifferent but there were glimmers of wit and talent and some of them were quite good. We found the poetry winners and narrowed down the essay and story entries to a managable number. The other four judges will meet on Monday to finalize those.

The five of us who judged the entries then went to lunch at the Mucky Duck. I had a tuna melt. Love them.

Jane, one of the fellow writer friends, has a Welch Corgi who has back trouble. The dog's name is Daisy and she is a sweet thing. Jane says she is usually a goofy playful thing and it is just heartbreaking to see her so subdued and uncomfortable. The vet she is seeing has not been able to help and she is going to try a second opinion. I remember when Chelsea had a bit of back trouble but that was when she would grab on to her rag and we would swing her around a bit and she would wiggle and fuss. We don't do that any more and fortunatly that has not reoccurred. It is so hard to have pets in pain. They keep looking at you expecting you to fix it.

We discussed pets. Jane said that when she taught she had all kinds of animals in her classroom including snakes. Ann Pirrung said that she hates snakes and it reminded me of an event that Aunt Velma told me. Joan, her daughter, was just a little and sitting in a high chair. A garden snake crawled into the kitchen as Velma was feeding her. Velma panicked and ran screaming out of the kitchen AND the house, leaving poor little Joanie sitting in the high chair. That is fear.

Tomorrow is quite a full day AGAIN. I am just about caught up so that I can leave this town for Branson with a clear conscience and nothing hanging over my head.

Here is a poem for you, I don't know the author but I like the poem.

"He stumbled home from clifton Fair
With drunken song and cheeks aglow.
Yet there was something in his air
That told of kingship long ago.
I turned and in me burned with grief,
The one so high should fall so low.

Bur the plucked a flower and sniffed its scent
An waved it toward the sunset sky.
Some old sweet rapture through him went
And kindled in his blood shot eye.
I sighed and in my cried for joy
That one so low would rise so high."

Have a nice Friday.

Mary

It was a blustery day. Even more blustery than I think Winnie the Pooh experienced. We had cold bursts and long winds all day. I went out. I really did not want to but we were about out of milk and I needed to get stamps for the Gun Club. So I went. I got gas while I was out and was almost literally blown away. I started dispensing the gas and a big wind came out of the west and I had to grab on to the truck to keep myself on this earth. There is the old Irish saying. "An Irishman is never drunk as long as he can hang on to one blade of grass and not fall off of the face of the earth." I had not had a drop and there was not a blade of grass on that pavement but I managed to hang on anyway.

Mother is going to celebrate her 90th birthday on January 21 of 2005. I have gotten messages from George and Nora wondering what we are doing. I had been under the impression that Eileen was working on planning something but when I called her tonight she said that she had just been asking Mother what she wanted to do.

SO - I called Mother and just asked her what she wanted. She wants a family dinner followed by a reception with cake and perhaps snack for friends following the dinner.
So - I can let George and Nora know what is up. Her birthday is on a Saturday, so that will work quite well. She seemed amenable to the Villager and I am sure they will go a little bit special for MOM. Now I will let Eileen know and e-mail George and Nora so that they can make their plans.

Tomorrow I will be joining three other gals from the Sheboygan County Writers Club to judge the entries that we have received for the writing contest that we sponsered with the Sheboygan Press for middle school students in the Sheboygan School District, public, private and home schools. We have about 30 entries and Jane said that Ann (who finds poetry beyond her grasp) does not want to judge the poetry. We also have essays so there will be plenty for the four of us to do and we will take a break for lunch. I am looking forward to spending three hours or so with these ladies. I will miss the meeting this month because we will be in Branson so I need my "push" to do something. It is really easy to put writing or quilting on the back burner when I don't get a push once in a while.

Enjoy your Thursday. It is downhill all the way to Saturday now.

Love

Mary

I got to stay home ALL day. It was really a lovely day too though there is thunder and rain outside now and Chelsea is a trembly little puppy. This was not a great day for her. I gave her a bath this morning too. She looks beautiful, of course, but she would just as soon stay dirty and a bit smelly. She is not a really doggy smelling creature actually.

I wasn't bored today, I will tell you. I got the Senior Saints program to explain Medicare D all set up and pretty much finished the flyer that will go out to our mailing list. Tomorrow, I will write a couple of notices for the Sheboygan Falls News and for the Sheboygan Press. I really need to have that done BEFORE Dick and I leave next week. The 20th is really too late to send notices out.

I am still in 15th out of 18th place in the Fantasy Football League. I just can't seem to get above that. Well, I can keep plunging along. I will actually have to do two weeks picks this weekend and just have to refine the second when we get back from the trip.

The Hmoung man who killed the six hunters over in the western part of the state was sentenced to 6 consecutive life sentances so he will never get out of prison. I am glad that we do not have the death penalty. I do not believe in a life for a life. God can take care of that and will in His own time. I wonder now, how Mr. Vang will fare in prison. There are some crimes that criminals don't like and they seem to deal out their own form of punishment.

Have a nice Wednesday. I am sure glad we are not in France right now. (or any other time frankly) But now with all their riots, it must be just awful. So much unrest in the world. It would be so nice if we could all just try to be kind to each other.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE TO DIE FOR

6 oz. Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
3 eggs-Separated
3 Tbsp. water
1 Tsp. Instant Coffee
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Tsp. Vanilla
1 Tbsp. Blackberry Brandy

Stir instant coffee powder into boiling water in small heavy saucepan until completely dissolved. Add chocolate, place over low heat, stirring, just until chocolate is melted.

Remove from heat.

Whisk egg yolks into chocolate mixture one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in brandy and vanilla. Beat egg whites in a medium sized bowl until foamy, gradually beat in sugar - a tablespoon at a time - until meringue forms soft peaks. Fold into chocolate mixture until no streaks of white remain. Spoon into parfait glasses. Refrigerate at least one hour.

Garnish with whipped cream. Add a candied rosebud and mint leaf if you wish.

Recipe says 8 servings, I always make it 5. You COULD use any brandy but the flavored add such a great taste.

By by



Mary