Sure had fun today, I learned how to make three more bindings for quilts. - I learned how to make a corded binding, a scalloped and a prairie point. Surprisingly the Prairie Point, which looks the fanciest is really the easiest.

This afternoon we learned a really fun folded star. Lucy, the instructor, had suggested patriotic prints, but I used greens and Irish. My friend Mary used some muted greens, purples and pinks and is using it for gifts for her daughtor's friends when they graduate this June.

Two kitties taking up the whole desk again. We are watching Mystic River. It certainly is a good movie. I still think of Eastwood as an actor but he sure is a good director also. He picks some intriguing scripts.

Tomorrow is Sunday. I have NOTHING scheduled at all. So - I am going to th 8AM Mass and then relaxing the rest of the day. The coming week is really full.

May the wind be always at your back.

Mary

Winter is back. Twice today and even as I write, snow is coming down in force. We are only supposed to get an inch or two but it seems like more to me. At least everything will be white and pretty for a day or two. The flakes are huge and really pretty but I would trade them for spring.

Tomorrow, I am going to a day of sewing at the quilt guild. We are doing a star for sure. This is a postponed date, postponed from a really bad storm day. I am looking forward to it. My friend, Mary Bainbridge, will be there for most of it too. We will probably go to lunch together.

I should pin together the second At Risk Baby quilt too. Maybe Sunday.

Dick wants a dinner tomorrow that will allow him to have ice cream for dessert. I think a chicken breast with veggies and salad would allow that.

We racked a five gallon jug of Chablis today. Now it just has to rest and then be filtered and bottled. The Chokecherry is ready to rack again too. I was running short of bottles, but the stock is building up again. I know that Mother has some and Bobbie has one and I am sure that when Brenda and Dick come again, they will bring some.

I finished my last two targets for pistol league tonight. Not too bad. I went before supper and had Dick put in the Spinach Casserole while I was gone. Frank and Diane Hvisdak were there and I got to visit for a bit. Haven't seen Diane for a while. They are so nice. I bought my 12 gauge from Frank. He has a dealer's license and is an authorized teacher.

Just one week until St. Patrick's Day and two weeks until Easter. It is odd to have St. Patrick's so close to Easter which is very early this year.

Betty White said "My mother always used to say, 'The older you get, the better you get. Unless you're a banana.'"

Of Course, old bananas make great cakes and banana bread. Waste not want not as the old adage says.

Have a nice Weekend.

Til Tomorrow

Mary

Dick bought me a present for St. Patrick's Day. He got me a sequenced hat and matching vest, both decorated in brilliant shamrocks on a black background. I will wear them at the Irishman's Walk on St. Patrick's Day in Plymouth and I don't care WHAT the weather is.

I went to a "Lifelong Faith Formation Forum" with several people from Blessed Trinity. I guess it was OK but I think it was a bit lengthy for the message and I don't think they really fulfilled their promise. The information they provided could have been presented better - perhaps in an individual church setting so the group could have discussed OUR own situations and perhaps started on a plan.

WELL - we were well represented, with Fr. Gene, the two deacons, Sr. Marcia, Sandy and Lynn from the office, Rose Marie and Kathy from RE, Beth, the choir director, Bob Weber and myself from the council.

I had several people define "Catechesis", a term they kept using, assuming everyone knew. I got three definitions, all related. 1. Echo and pass down the faith. 2. Teaching of the faith. 3. Living the faith. Bob Weber gave the last one and got a little noble on me but I don't believe in nobility and one upmanship.

A quote from John O'Reilly regarding parenthood. "Top bunk - Where you should never put a kit wearing Superman Jammies."

I remember taking Bret to Dr. Allen when he was about three for stitches in his chin. He had used a tricycle for a seesaw on a brick planter and managed to jam the handle into his chin. Anyway, when we went back to remove the stitches, he was wearing a towel as a Superman Cape and Dr. Allen said that perhaps I should reconsider his costume. He was smiling as he said it. Bret also needed stitches when the neighbor's dog Desi bit him in the lip. I still remember taking him to the Doctor and his comment. " That 's not too bad, my son had a hunk missing out of his lip from a dog bite and still smiles kind of crooked." Not a direct quote, but you get the idea.


I miss Dr. Allen. He was a real comfort of a Doctor for many years.

Have a good Friday. We will be racking some wine.

Love

Mary

We had a busy day today. The Discovery show was nice. They reviewed all the tours for the year and told about a couple of future ones. And we got to eat a donut and drink coffee and punch.

We also got the car washed today too and it looks beautiful. There is no precipitation forecast for the next couple of days so it should stay clean for a while. It is cold though. We walked in 14 degree temperatures. Fortunately it was not too windy, so it was bearable.

Chelsea was glad that we did not haul her off again today. She seems to feel pretty good and except for a short period of time that she kept asking to go out this afternoon, she seems to be a bit better.

Here is an imponderable that I received by e-mail from my friend Mary Lou.

"Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars,
but check when you say the paint is wet? "

Blessed Trinity is going to have a party and I get to be one of the planners. You know how I love to host and feed people. We are going to have a ham dinner in the church hall and invite ALL the volunteers for a social and meal. Nothing like bonding over food.

I am going to fix the famous Kunert Spinach Noodle Egg Casserole for dinner on Friday. I believe that I have given you that recipe but just in case, I will include it here for you.

FAMOUS KUNERT SPINACH EGG AND NOODLE CASSEROLE

4 Cups Cooked Noodles
1 Can Spinach (Drained)
Velveeta Cheese
8 hard boiled eggs
Margarine

Layer in the order listed. Noodles, tablespoons of spinach, sliced Velveeta, sliced hard eggs. Each layer is dotted with margerine or butter and lightly salted and peppered. Divid it into about three layers and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour until hot and the cheese is all melted through.

I don't care if you are a cheese purist or not - Velveeta tastes better than "real cheese" in this casserole. Go for it. Don't skimp on the butter either.



Even if you don't like spinach, you will like this. Ask Jim.

Mary

Well, Chelsea does not have crystals in her bladder, the x rays were OK. We have her on more antibitotics. Hopefully this will clear her up. She was sure a relieved girl when we picked her up at 3:00PM. We had left her there at 9:00AM, so who knows what her poor little heart thought. She is being quite affectionate tonight but is Very tired.

Cadfael, Book of Days was really good today.

"Cadfael was not of the opinion that a man's main business in this world was to save his own soul. There are other ailing souls, as there are ailing bodies, in need of a hoist towards health." Ellis Peters

Kind of lets us know that we are all in this together and need to look out for each other.

Tomorrow, we will go to Discovery World annual little party. They always highlight the tours and serve coffee punch and cookies or donuts. We usually have already decided on our trips but go for the treats.

Til tomorrow

Mary

Today, Dick and I had to chase Chelsea around with a pan to catch her urine. I wish you could see her face when we try to do that. Dick says she probably thinks we are perverts.

We were successful. Unfortunately, Dr. John has found white blood cells and crystals in her urine so we need to take her in tomorrow morning for x-rays on her bladder. Hope he can fix her. I know she really feels that she has to go BUT she is exhausting me. I'll keep you informed.

Had bible study this morning and Rhine Plymouth club meeting tonight. So this has been a busy day.

Dick found another recipe that he wants me to try. Since the Castillian Chocolate and Churros, he feels a little more confidant. The new one is Chorizo Noodle Casserole. It looks quite "warm" but good. I am sure the Noodle is what caught his eye. You know the Kunerts and their pasta.

Desmond Tutu says "Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world."

I have always opperated on the premise that you might as well
"bloom where you are planted." You are where you are and if you don't like it - change it.

Love

Mary

The Castillian Chocolate recipe was excellant expecially with the Curros. I will post the recipe that Dick found on the worldwideschool.org site.

"Castillian Hot Chocolate
Thick, Rich Spanish Hot Chocolate

I first tasted this wonderful beverage while touring in northern Spain with a choir. It's not like any hot chocolate I've had anywhere else, and I was delighted to find a recipe in The Vegetarian Epicure Book Two. It is the best hot chocolate in the world (at least to me.)
Serves 6

1/2 cup
(55 g) unsweetened powdered cocoa
1 cup
(200 g) sugar
7 tsp
(25 g) cornstarch (cornflour)
1/2 cup
(120 ml) water
4 cups
(1 l) milk

1 Mix the cocoa and sugar together.
2 Dissolve the cornstarch (cornflour) in the water and combine with the cocoa-sugar mixture in a medium-sized saucepan. Stir this until it is a smooth paste.
3 Begin heating this mixture, continuously stirring it with a whisk. Gradually pour in the milk. Continue stirring as you bring it to a simmer.
4 Simmer, stirring often, for about 10 minutes. The cocoa is ready when it thickens and is glossy and smooth.

The consistency of the finished product should resemble chocolate pudding that didn't quite set. If you halve this recipe, you'll get just the right amount for two large mug-fulls. This cocoa is especially fantastic when you dip churros into it (a churro is a sugary, deep-fried, doughnut-like stick, and if anyone wants to send out a recipe, I'd be most grateful).
RATING
Difficulty: easy."

I put quotes around the recipe which was put on the worldwideschool.org site by a Tovah Hollandar.

The venison burritos were great. I will do that again too.

The next two weeks are going to be quite busy so I will have lots of news.

Have a nice week. It was nice and warm again today. I understand that the weather is going to turn again after rain tonight.


Bye Bye

Mary