Saturday, and a productive day. I got my Eucharistic Minister "chores" done. I have the volunteers for holy week and have contacted the new people. Yea. There is always something.

What am I? I walked into church, took a swing by to see if they needed any communion ministers and got waylayed by dear Deacon Jens and Maynard Turany. The lector didn't show up. I don't know who was scheduled. It doesn't really matter. I told them that I have not lectored before, and they said what does that matter. So ---- I lectored. I only made three mistakes and they were not any that the congregation would notice (except for Mary Bainbridge - "tongue in cheek" who said that she watched every move.) So it was OK. I spent all those years talking to people and groups of people at work. Talking in front of people really does not bother me much. Especially since it is God's word that I am reading.

Hunting tomorrow. I found out that Shane, my brother Jeff's son, is here from Florida with his girlfriend, Roxie, for a high school sports event. Roxie is so excited - she is a southern girl and has never REALLY been in snow. She wants to go for walks and make snowballs. Roxie seems like a person who blooms where she is planted. I like that in a person.

Love

Mary

I went out to shoot tonight and - egad - my first one was AWFUL. I got a 12. Thinking back, I think I wasshooting with the left eye instead of my right eye. What a stupid thing to do. The second two were 30 something and 40 something, still not too good but at least somewhat acceptable. Well, it is only a game, and I am learning each time.

Had lunch at the Dairy Queen with Marlene, Mary and Ceil from Wells Fargo. We enjoy that and it is a nice break in the week. The Dairy Queen in Plymouth has Sheboygan County Fair Grilled Cheese sandwiches so I can easily keep my Fridays in Lent meat free. I fixed pasta with spaghetti sauce and veggies for supper.

Bart and Barb got us NetFlix for Christmas. I signed up on Monday and we have our first three dvds. Tonight I am watching the new Stepford Wives. I had really wanted to see that when it came out but we just didn't get there. I figure that I can catch up on the films thatI missed during the year.

Today is our grandaughter Sara's 18th birthday. It does not seem possible that it has been 18 years since I went to the hospital to see Leslie and Sara and got to go right into the room at ANY time, because I was the Grandma. She has grown up so fast and we miss her and her sister, all the way down south in Bossier City LA.

Have a good evening.

Mary

I also picked Shrek 2 and The Mists of Avalon for my first three discs.

Sunday is Rabbit Hunting. Last year I got my first shot off at a rabbit. Perhaps this year I might even get one. It is supposed to be a bit rainy, I hope not too much and not soo much snow mixed in. Every year, the guys who hunt also have a sausage taste off at the bar when we are done. It is really fun.

Have a good evening.

We shopped this morning. We were done and home by 9:30AM. Good thing, because I was busy filling out the census, cleaning the bathrooms, checking out the ammo for the rabbit hunting trip on Sunday and just clearing out the email on the computer. Tonight I went to bell practice for about 20 minutes and then on to the council meeting.

Tomorrow, I will have lunch with the Plymouth people and clean the kitchen.

Council was difficult tonight again. It seems that Christian communities and Christian people and Christian ministers are not always very Christian. I must remember that as it says on the framed print that Barbara, my dear daughter in law, gave me of Jesus saying. " I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it." This is the last year of my term and I really need a break.

Be healthy and happy

Mary

Tonight, Bobbie and I had to attend a board meeting of Rhine Plymouth to discuss the fact that some members don't show up for their work hours. Typical of all clubs but we do need to try to alleviate the problem if for no other reason than to stop the bitching.

Dennis Behr reminded me that we are going rabbit hunting on Sunday. Jeff, Randy, Kenny and me and Dennis and his brother, Donald and Leroy, a friend of Jeff and Randy and Vic. Vic is different. Dennis tells me that Vic was a heavyweight wrestler at one time. He also coached for about 20 years. He looks like a wrestler actually, though Dennis tells me that he has gone into weightlifting and looks better now than when he wrestled because he does not have a pot belly any longer. Anyway, tomorrow, I had better check my ammo, gun and other gear.

I made a pretty good turkey chili for lunch today. It is simple.

Turkey Chili

1/2 Lb. Ground Turkey
1 Cup onion chopped
2 cup peeled chopped plum tomatoes
1/2 cup lima beans
1/2 cup red beans
1/2 cup corn
1 Tblsp. Chili powder
Pepper
1/2 cup salsa

Brown turkey with onion, add remaining ingredients and simmer for about an hour.

Serve in a cup with a dollop of sour cream and about a tablespoon of salsa on top.

Really good and look how healthy.

Love

Mary

We went grocery shopping this morning. We didn't need too much but we were almost out of milk and, even worse, out of lettuce. Lettuce, as I am sure that you know is the treat of choice for our Chelsea. Being as she is a sick little girl, we don't want to run out of her treats. She actually does not seem particularly ill unless you realize that she is going potty and inordinate number of times and unless you see the drops of blood in the snow. She also sleeps very deeply and a lot. Well, by the day after tomorrow, the infection should be under control.

The ladies of Blessed Trinity are going to make a quilt for raffle at the Celtic Faire in September. I already have 6 of us that are willing to make the squares so we have a good beginning. We will purchase base fabic to give to every participant and they can make any square they want, adding whatever other fabrics they want. A true group quilt.

I have a desk full of kitties again. Between them and the computer, I had to go out into the dining room to the table to be able to spread out the information I needed to decide what kind of supplement I will need to Medicare. On May 1, I will be on Medicare. It starts the first day of your birth month and I will be 65 in May. I remember, when I was a little girl. I would think - I will be 60 in the year 2000 and it seemed SO far away. And here I am, already 5 years beyond that. Wow.

Figuring out those supplements is a real challenge. But I think I have it.

I will share a winter poem I wrote a while ago. I might have sent it to a contest, but am sure you won't tell.

WINTER CHILL




If today I see the sun should shine
God is in the warming rays.
And fills the center of my mind
With comfort through the day.
Sun on snow creates a glare
That hurts the eyes at times
But if a choice of cloud or glare
I'll take the sun that shines.
Rambling o'er the winter crust
Wandering through the snow
My breath like fog with little puffs
Accentuates the way I go.
Ice and snow on everything
Deny the future warmer spring.

Have a good Wednesday.

Mary




























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































-

We're baCK! I was totally relaxed when we arrived home this morning at about 10:30AM. Then I took Chelsea for a nice walk and the sun was shining and she and I really enjoyed it. I know that Jim takes her out but no walks are on his agenda.

Later, she asked to go out again (much too quickly I felt) and lo and behold there was some blood in her urine. So - called Dr. Zechlinski. He saw her this afternoon at 2:15. (Did you ever try to collect urine from a female small dog in the snow? --- I had to. I wasn't too successful, but we got enough when I got to the vets.) She has a little bladder infection and is on anti biotics. Isn't that a kick. Dick says she seems to have the same symptoms he has had with bladder infections and the same type of medicine.

The Rochester Inn is a really nice B& B. The rooms are special. We stayed the first night in a 2 room suite on the first floor right off the kitchen. It is much less expensive than the others because it does not have a whirlpool tub. The we moved to the Waldo Brian Donlevy suite, which is their best. It is on the second floor. It has a large sitting room with a wet bar and refrigerator and TV. The bedroom is up another flight and the bathroom with a double whirlpool is off the bedroom. I whirlpooled four times and my hips are feeling 100 % better. The rooms are decorated beautifully. We had a full breakfast each morning. Cheese and crackers or cookies two evenings and there were soft drinks and water in the refrigerator. Coffee, tea and hot chocolate were also in the room.

Sunday, the only time we left was to walk over to Richards for dinner. We holed up and watched the plows go by once in a while. I read and sewed and rested.

I guess I'm glad to be home. I do miss the critters when we are gone.


Til tomorrow

Happy Presidents Day

Mary