It has been a very quiet last day of 2006. Tonight, Jim and Michelle will be over at about 7:00 and we are planning on playing games until either midnight or we are too tired to stay awake any longer.

Chelsea and I took a very short walk today, her choice. Then I went to the 8:00Mass. It is the feast of the Holy Family and Fr. Van Beeck again spoke so eloquently of the joys and responsibility of families. Also reminding those who are single to treasure their memories and peripheral membership in families. The first reading was from Sirach telling young people to honor their fathers and to treasure their mothers - EVEN in their old and dependent days.

Jim and Michelle invited us over to watch "The Devil Wears Prada" that they had rented. It is really a very good movie. I do like Meryl Streep. We were discussing the execution of Saddam before the movie. I told them my opinion and my position. I do not believe in the death penalty. That is my final conclusion on that subject. However, I did express the opinion that IF I did believe in the death penalty, Saddam would be one of the people that I would feel should qualify. I believe that taking a life is God's job and better left to Him.

We are having leftovers for supper, chicken Parmesan and pasta with a nice green salad.

Jeff called this afternoon. He and Kathy are back from St. Augustine FLA where they spent Christmas with Shane. They had a good time. He also got the venison that his friend gave to him back from the butcher. So I have 10 more pounds or so which will put our larder at a pretty good level.

Tomorrow we are having Mother here for dinner. I am fixing ham, mac and cheese and banana cream pie. We will be eating at about 2:00PM if you are planning on joining us.

Love and Happy New Year

Mary

Well, they hanged Saddam last night. I think that is a mistake. Killing only begets more killing. I feel that an eye for an eye is God's Job. Too bad there was not an international court. I guess that we need to feel that at least it was an Iraqi court that did the deed. I wonder if we could have appealed or kept him in our custody?

Let us pray that this does not start riots and more violence in Iraq and around the world. He still had a lot of followers who will try to make a martyr out of him.

It was a rather gloomy day t0day. Chelsea let me sleep until 7:00AM. Of course that was because Dick had shut her out of the room. She surprised me by taking her whole walk even then. Sometimes she is so hungry if I sleep late that she heads back early for breakfast. She is not stupid.

I mixed up a batch of Marigold wine today. I had the blossoms in the freezer and FINALLY had all the other ingredients gathered with an empty primary fermenter to put it in. We are way behind on making wine because of the move and the confusion of getting resettled. One would think it would be easier because we have a little room that we can actually dedicate to wine making. Maybe it will be once we can get on a rotation. We had hardly any to give for Christmas presents.

We are almost to the end of the year 2006. What is it about a New Year. It is just one day to the next but seems like such a real new beginning. The last quarter of this year has been very hard. I am praying that 2007 will be the start of good things and perhaps the end of the distressing things that have been occurring one thing after another. I will plan on it happening that way and then it will.

Here is a nice quote from The Cadfael Book of Days quoting from Ellis Peters. "Live, amend, in your dealings with sinners remember your own frailty, and in your dealings with the innocent, respect and use your own strength in their service. Do as well as you can and leave the rest to God, and how much more can saints do?"

I really like that. It is comforting to know that when we have done what we can, the rest is up to someone much more wise and powerful.

Love

Mary

Such a nice day today. It was not too cold but a bit gloomy weather wise. Chelsea and I started on our walk at abut 6:10AM. She was Little Miss Adventure this morning and decided to take a slightly different route. We turned out of the tract on a path about halfway up Tall Grass Lane heading towards the Park. Then we turned onto the abandoned railroad tracks and proceeded to Highland where we started on our usual path around Lions Park. A nice walk altogether.

When we got back, I fed everybody breakfast. Dick took a nap and I cleaned the kitchen. I met Betty and Barb at the Dairy Queen for lunch. Everybody else was gone or busy. Barb's daughter Dana was with her with her other daughter's children. Anna is the one who is almost three and I forgot the baby's name again. Anna has Down's Syndrome and it is always good to see her and see how she is progressing. She interacts well with people now, is very friendly and smiles a lot. The baby is a smiler too and has cheeks as round as a chipmunk.

Home again and I baked a cake. We have these clementines that are just NOT getting eaten fast enough. I found a recipe for a bundt cake which is really good and I made it in my new rose bundt pan. Is it ever pretty. Come over for a piece tomorrow if you want.

Did I tell you that there are Fairy Rings in Lions Park? They are scattered ALL over the park. I did a little bit or research and found that many nationalities recognize the fairy ring. More often for evil that good. I know the Celtic people do. People believed that the mushroom circle grew where the fairies danced, following their circle path. The rings in the park are just dark green rings. I see no mushrooms. I hope they are happy fairies as CHILDREN play in the park. Legend also says that if you find a fairy ring on a night with a full moon you will be invited to join in.

The Bible actually alludes to them, Matt. xii. 43 says that 'The fairies dance in circles in dry places; and the Scripture saith that the walk of evil spirits is in dry places.'

Later

Mary

When we got up this morning, the streets were all wet, but it was not raining. Chelsea decided on a very short walk which did not upset me because I had a schedule to keep today.

First, Dick and I went to Mc Donald's for breakfast and then to the Pick and Save to grocery shop. We hurried a bit because, as I mentioned yesterday, I had to pick Mother up again to take her to the Clinic as they had not told her that there were TWO lab tests that she needed and one of them required a 12 hour fast.

Anyway, I picked her up at 9:30AM and we hied down there for the tests. We were back by 10:30. We fixed tea and she ate a blueberry muffin that I had brought along. Just as we were sipping our tea the doorbell rang and in walked my niece, Britt, Nora and Leif's daughter, and her friend, Andrew. They were on their way up to Washington Island to spend some of this holiday with his mother and step dad. I was so glad of my timing. Britt is so lovely and charming and Andrew is great. I will be sending them copies of my book. Andrew had Britt send me the program from his exhibit at the University of Arizona. He is an accomplished artist and I am so thrilled to share my work with him too.

Then home. It was a quiet afternoon. I did some quilting and tonight just took the evening off and watched a Harry Potter movie.

Hope your day was as fulfilling. I received the following from a friend today and hope you enjoy it.

My Wish for You in 2007

May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts. May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet of $100 bills. May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips! May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires and may happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy. May the problems you had forget your home address! In simple words ...

May 2007 be the best year of your life!

HAVE A HAPPY 2007

--

Have a nice Friday.

Love

Mary

Chelsea and I had a lovely walk this morning. It was less than 30 degrees but there was no wind AND she let me sleep until ten to seven so it was starting to get light which is a real pleasure at this time of the year.

When we got home, I turned on the news and found that Gerald Ford had passed away last night. A sad time because it is always sad to hear of a death. But he was 93 years old and certainly left a mark on our nation. As the only unelected president he supplied a steadying hand and a sense of calm after the bitter end of Nixon's time in office and resignation.

Then Dick and I went to the Clinic to get his legs wrapped. They were starting to swell again so it was a good thing. Dr. Phelan was there so we got his opinion. He says if they are starting to swell before the month that we have been using for a gauge we should call and get them wrapped sooner. I can cut the bandages off on Saturday.

Right after lunch, I picked up Mother and took HER to the Clinic where we found out that, in addition to the urine test, she was supposed to have fasted and have a blood test also. The blood test had actually been scheduled for the end of November but with the bladder infection and all we forgot about it. SO I will pick her up at 9:30AM and we will try again.

The rest of the day was very quiet. Tonight there are two episodes of Bones, one of my favorite shows so I will watch one downstairs while I quilt and the other in the living room on the big TV. Dick doesn't like it. Boy do we have a lot of TVS.

When we came back through town, Mother was remembering years ago when a tanning salon went into business in Falls. Dad came home one day and told Mom that the boys could now take their deer hides right downtown for tanning. He was sure surprised when he found out what a tanning salon was.

When I was a little girl, I must have been maybe eight or nine, I used to walk to morning Mass during the week and join my Grandma Deeley who lived just across the street in the house that Randy and Donna now own. Then we would walk over to Grandma's house and she and I would have breakfast of cheese and bread. She introduced me to all kinds of cheeses. Aunt Helen would not let her give me limberger though. I also remember that Grandpa Deeley would usually get up and come in while we were having breakfast. He would always go to Grandma and nuzzle her one the cheek and start smooching. She would smile really coyly and say, "Now Mike, Mary is here." Then Grandpa would go into the pantry and pour himself a shot of whiskey. Just one. But he had one each morning. I think it kept him healthy.

Have a nice Thursday..

Mary

A full day, here at home. Dick and Brenda were here so we had a lovely morning sharing breakfast and time. Dick hooked up the VCR on the tv in the living room after he set the new universal remote that he got his Dad for a Christmas present. What a good son, he knew that we had trouble working with three remotes.

After they left, Dick took a nap and I did a bit of quilting. I had to take a quick trip to the Sewing Basket to pick up a marker. I am using a stencil for my hand quilting of the kittie quilt and it is too hard to work THROUGH the stencil. Much easier and more practical.

Last night when I got home, I called Bret and Bart. Bret was fine and having a good day but when I called Bart's number, I got his daughter in law Lexi who informed me that Barb had taken Bart to the hospital with kidney stones. That left me kind of discombuberated again. I couldn't reach them until this morning. At that time Barb told me that he was feeling better and had been able to eat something when they got home last night. Then, he called me tonight to wish me a Merry Christmas himself and he sounded good. He said he was tired, but he sounded strong and in control. This took a big load off of my heart. My own stomach had not been doing well today.

I will close with a little story. When I still lived in California and the kids were still pretty young, the jeep club decided to do a "field trip" to the Griffith Park Observatory one day.

Several families piled in Jerry, the Ragman's big motor home for the trip. There must have been 20 of us in that rig. Jerry drove us from Orange County through Long Beach to the Observatory where we bought tickets and saw both the laser light show projected on the dome and the show about the heavens. It was a lovely and fun time, complete with our friend Orrin Nordin falling asleep in the quiet of the show and snoring for us. Then we headed home. It was by now dark.

Jerry drove down the hill and through a street in Long Beach that was quite a shock to everybody and apparently very exciting to Jerry and the guys. The storefronts were "stocked" with Ladies of the Night. Jerry got so "interested" that he decided to go around the block. Then he went around one more time. This time, the kids asked what we were all looking at. It was fun and goofy.

Jerry was called the Ragman because he was a supplier of work uniforms and shop rags. His wife's name was Butch.

Tomorrow Dick gets his legs wrapped again. It is time, we are seeing a bit of swelling. Then I will take Mother be sure that her infection is gone. So will be busy.

Take Care.

Love

Mary

T'was a lovely Christmas. I would have liked to sleep in but, of course, habits are hard to change and certainly for Chelsea. She figures that 6:AM is walk and breakfast time, no matter what. We had a lovely walk anyway. We went the big one, all through the tract and then around the park and through the woods home.

Then, after breakfast, while Dick napped, I prepared an "overnight egg" dish for popping in the oven tomorrow as Richard and Brenda will be here. I also baked some scones.

It was a rather melancholy day for me. For some reason I really miss my boys. Thank heavens I have such a loving and caring family with Dick and Brenda, Jim and Michelle and Bobbie and Bill. Bobbie was such a comfort when I acted goofy. I got to hold both my kitties today. I think they may remember me. Roxie seemed kind of puzzled and was quite definite about letting Chelsea know her boundaries.

Bobbie fixed Italian Rolls, spinach with ricotta cheese and Italian sausage with pepper. They were SO good with a lovely green salad and fresh cooked broccoli and cauliflower. Dessert was her candy and some cookies that Michelle brought. We are still stuffed.

After we got home Jim and Michelle invited us over for Jim's famous Tirimisu. It was delicious too. He is turning into quite the chef.

At the dinner table we were talking about the library and the problems there. Jim mentioned that some of the employees were not too supportive of a union which was defeated when they tried to come into the library. He mentioned that some employees complained because the Union reps told them that they would be unable to help with some problems. Funny how conversations repeat themselves. Mother, Dick and I were talking about the unions just the other day. Dad was a union man, a striker during the Kohler Strike. I remember him coming home from work covered with a red coating. It was rust from his grinding job in the foundry. Many people are not aware, but Rocky Knoll was originally built to house the silicosis patients that came out of the factory.

I know that many unions in the past years have become corrupt. Power breeds corruption. Look at congress. However, Kohler NOW is a wonderful and safe place to work. But it took the union and a seven year strike to make it so. It was men like my Dad who fought for healthy and safe conditions. Silicosis no longer is a fear if one works at Kohler. Many other issues were also solved. Because of the union and these brave men.

I hope your Christmas was wonderful. We saw a Happy Birthday Jesus sign on the way to Bobbie's house today. It reminded me that when the boys were little, I would bake a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas and we would light the candles and sing Happy Birthday.

SO. Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday Dear Jesus
Happy Birthday to You




Love

Mary

Again - it got too late to post. I forgot when we got home from church and really wanted to recap the whole day.

Yesterday, Jim and Michelle went to church with me in the morning. It was a lovely service. Fr. Van Beeck does do a nice sermon. The church was beautiful. Very simple with large trees on the altar decorated with pointsetta wreaths and with pointsettas all around it. The Creche was also on the altar to our right side along the back. The music was good too.

Then we went home and I fixed a breakfast for us. Dick was still napping so I kept his portion for him until he woke up.

In the early afternoon Dick and I drove to Mother's to give her presents to her and have a Christmas visit. She looks good though she is sure disgusted that it is taking time for her to get her full strength back. We enjoyed our visit. She is such fun. George and Betsy are in Chicago with Shawn and Sarah. That is SO good.

When we got home, we napped. Then ate bean soup and garlic bread for supper. After I cleaned up we shared our Christmas Presents. I had received three of them already. A great collector Santa and a Yoda Santa had appeared on the shelf above the kitchen cabinets during the past couple of weeks.

Saturday night, we had some excitement. The power was out for over two hours. I woke up in the middle of it. Not aware that Dick was still up when it had gone off, I fumbled around for candles and was looking for a number to call when I sat on my office chair. Now I wear night shirts and there are NO bottoms. Sitting on the chair, I discovered another of my presents, a stepping stone for my garden that says "Don't piss off the fairies." I was delighted with the present but by then shocked into "awake".

Anyway, Dick also got me a watch, jewelry, a book of poems collected by Garrison Keiller (autographed no less) and an Irish bear. Among other thing. Santa is VERY good to me.

Then we watched music on TV until it was time to go to Mass AGAIN at 10:00PM. The choir did a concert before mass and we sang ALL the verses of about 5 Christmas carols during mass so it was really nice. Then to home and bed.

I PROMISE to write tonight. I should be anyway. It helps me unload my heart and for some reason, my heart is heavy this Christmas.

Have a wonderful Christmas.

Love

Mary

Hello!! Did you miss me? I hope you did but not too much.

Thursday we had doctor appointments and shopping in the morning and then I quilted until 9:00PM and frankly, I forgot. Yesterday, we played cards with Jim and Michelle and then I called Bret in Norwalk to tell him that his card had arrived and then called Barb in Geronimo because I had promised that I would and then it was so late and I was so tired that I just went to bed.

Oops. I can't remember the last time I didn't post since we went on an overnight vacation.

So I had better catch you up. On Thursday, Dick had his blood tested and it was again within the required norm. We are 0n a roll again. This is the third perfect test again. Then Dr. Hodous trimmed his feet again. We feel now that the new insoles will help keep the callouses from forming.

We did our grocery shopping and then I cleaned the bathroom, baked some bread and spent the evening quilting. I have to get back in the mood because, I have two tops completed that need to be assembled. Time to get to work on them.


Friday I ran some errands in the morning and cleaned the kitchen. It rained most of the day.

In the afternoon, Dick and I went to see The Nativity Story at the Marcus. It is a really lovely portrayal of the Christmas story. When you leave it you have seen an interpretation of Mary and Joseph as real people. Young and trusting and very young. I liked it a lot. That evening as I said, we played cards in the evening.

Today, we took a ride out to the house in Sheboygan to check it out and run the water. Chelsea went along with us so she is a happy girl. It is quite a bit colder today, but is not raining. It weather is supposed to stay clear through Christmas which is nice as we like it that way when Dick and Brenda are traveling. We are SO looking forward to seeing them on Christmas.

Only two more days. Tomorrow, I will be all "holy" again. I am going to church at 8:00AM for the Sunday Mass and then will be attending the 10:30PM Mass for my Christmas service. Dick is going in the evening with me and Jim and Michelle are talking about possibly attending one or both. Dick and I will exchange our gifts tomorrow night after we have our supper. Then I can pack everything up to take to Bobbie and Bill's for the BIG exchange.

I have informed Chelsea of all the following rules. As she goes to visit at Bobbie and Bill's when we do, I felt that it was very important that she understand them.

HOLIDAY ETIQUETTE FOR DOGS

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 kind of pleasure out of seeing how you look with fake antlers.

4. They may bring a large tree into the house and set it in a prominent place and cover it with lights and decorations. 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 interesting or that have your name on them, don't rip them open; and

(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 - not all strangers appreciate kisses and leans:

(A) don't eat off the buffet table -- beg for goodies subtly; be pleasant, even unknowing strangers sit on your sofa;

(B) don't drink out of glasses that are left within your reach.

6. Likewise, your humans may take you visiting. Here your manners will also be important -- observe all the rules in #4 for trees that may be in other people's houses (4a is particularly important): respect the territory of other animals that may live in the house; tolerate children; and 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 the middle of the night. DON'T BITE HIM !



I will get to see my Kitties too. It will just make me sad because they will probably hide all day and I won't get to hold them and they hardly remember me anymore. There is no hope.

Mary

I got to stay home the WHOLE Day. Look in my blog as to when THAT happened last.

I cleaned the kitchenette as planned. Tonight I am going to spend a couple of hours quilting and watching BONES on TV. I worked on some of my writing today and make a big pot of beans and ham. It is a Mexican New Year Soup. I got the recipe from my Aunt Mary Ann. It is a "Friendship Soup". It calls for about 13 kinds of beans. What you can do is buy 13 lbs of beans, all different varieties. Mix them all together and then repackage attractively in 1 lb packages and gift them with a copy of the recipe for a present. (Doesn't HAVE to be 13 kinds. As long as you have a nice colorful variety.)

Jim and Michelle came over this evening to bring us a nice bowl of Ramen Salad which will be a welcome addition to our meals for the next few days. Yum Yum

Today I went to see Dr. Nytis, an ear specialist because my right ear feels like it is not popping. It has been that way for over a month and I felt that there was some hearing problem in the ear too. She checked everything. My left ear has better than perfect hearing. The right ear is showing some loss. She thinks that the estruatian tube is not opening and closing as it should be . So she wants me to continue trying to "pop" it and perhaps use a decongestant to help clear it up. She said that it can take as much as three months to fix this problem.

The rest of the day we were at home. I did some writing and research. We added what was needed to the Gewertziminer Wine and I baked bread.

Such a pleasure not to be under any deadlines for a change.

I called my sister, Nora, tonight too. Mom had told me that her husband, our Leif, went for his annual physical and that he has prostate cancer. This is of course very upsetting. I asked the bible study group to pray for him yesterday and my friend, Kathy Keyes, whose husband Tom, was diagnosed last year about this time gave me some advice for her. 1. Listen to the doctors. There are five or six treatments. Choose carefully. 2. Always go together. Four ears are better than two. 3. Go to support groups. and 4 Most people die of something other than this cancer so have hope. We are planning on the latter.

Leslie's Nora has delayed her wedding to Jan 13 so that they can be married in Brandon's church. I am pleased. This will give more time for planning a memorable ceremony for her and going through a church setting will underline the importance of this commitment.

Tomorrow we will be home ALL day. This will really be a treat. We will cut Dick's hair, and do some cleaning and just relax. The next day he goes to get his blood tested again and his calouses checked.

From Dog to God:
Dear God: We dogs can understand human verbal instructions,
hand signals, whistles, horns, clickers, beepers, scent ID's,
electromagnetic energy fields, and Frisbee flight paths. What do
humans understand?


Have a nice evening.

Mary

Such a lovely day. The sun shone. It was not really too warm but there was not wind and it was pleasant. Chelsea and I had a wonderful walk through Tallgrass, around the park and through the woods to home.

Bible Study, as always, was nice. Just before Christmas and we will not meet until January 8th so we had a lot to talk about.

Also, it was announced on Sunday that the pastor of Blessed Trinity will be leaving as soon in January as the Archdiocese can find a temporary replacement. The reason is very sad. Fr. Gene Neuman has beginning Alzeimer's disease and it is beginning to affect his ability to lead and perform his duties. Such a sad thing. It explains a lot that has been happening with him though. I will keep him in my prayers.

The readings are the last before Christmas. The Gospel is the story of Mary and Elizabeth meeting and rejoicing in their children. Peggy Feider went to see the Nativity and recommends it. She said that it does an especially nice presentation of this meeting and also depicts St. Joseph as real and a whole person. He must have been really quite wonderful. To be chosen as Christ's father and protector was such an honor but also required faith and trust on his part.

The group gave me a Christmas present. I was surprised. They seem to feel that I am their leader. I loved it though. It is an Irish Santa Ornament and is displayed proudly on my tree. Two of our members, Tom and Kathy Keyes will be going to Texas to spend three months with their son. We will miss them but they always come back in the spring.

After the study I went over to Mother's house and visited for a bit. I brought her some Scalloped Potatoes and Ham and a couple slices of Michelle's Pumpkin Cranberry bread.

Today was the Plymouth Writers Club Christmas Party. We had fun. I took some Scripture Cake and the recipe to share. We exchanged gifts which is always fun. I got a wonderful sepia picture of the Christ Child as a child not a baby and a really pretty soap dish with angel and heart soaps. Bev, the president and our host, served hot cider and cranberry apple dessert. We read lots of readings and just talked and it was such a lovely day.

Home again. I was tired and took a nap. Then Dick and I had Chili Bowls and salad for supper.

HOLIDAY EATING TIP

Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

Later. We are on the count down to the big day.

Love

Mary

We had a sunshine day today. The temperatures were only in the low 40s but it was pleasant with the warm sun.

It was a quiet day for me. I went to the 8AM Mass and did not have to go to another place ALL day. Fr. Van Beeck pointed out a very interesting and probably truism. If we were asked to do something really hard and kind of heroic that would help all mankind or bring relief to lots of people we would step up and do it. But to just do a little bit every day - a little small effort - probably won't happen.

The 2nd reading was from St. Paul and he said that we are not to be anxious about anything. Now you and I know that that would be impossible. But I read today that what we can do today is make a LIST of everything we are anxious about and change them to a prayer.

So, with a wholeay at home. I finished some things on my desk but generally took it easy and watched the Packers WIN.

We had scalloped potatoes and ham, fresh corn and salad for supper. We asked Jim and Michelle to join us because we had a few "house" things to talk about and it seemed like a good time. Michelle brought a really good Pumpkin Cranberry Bread and we had a bit of that and stollen for dessert.

This week will be fairly quiet except for three doctor appointments. Tomorrow I get to go to a Christmas party for the Plymouth Writers. I seem to have lost the letter telling where so if Kate doesn't call me back, this could be rather interesting. I know it is on Hill and Dale Road but I can't remember the hostess's last name.

Just think. A week from tomorrow is CHRISTMAS. I am ready.

Love

Mary

Dick and I finished our Christmas shopping today. I refuse to buy ANOTHER thing. I wrapped everything too. There is one gift that we ordered online that needs wrapping but everything else is under the tree and it look very pretty.

I also dropped the recipes for Irish Soda Bread and Scripture cake off at the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center for Beth to publish in the newsletter. I still remember people that had been to Ireland taking a big wiff of that Brown Bread before slathering on the butter and taking a bite. Memory food. I will have to make a batch next weekend and get a loaf to Mom and Bobbie for Christmas.

Today, I sent a few more e-christmascards. And Dick and I racked the chokecherry wine. It will need at least two more rackings before we bottle it.

I have two little things to share with you. A quote "How sad it would be to see clouds where there are angels."


And a poem that I wrote for a Christmas Card this year.

Reason for the Season

Sparkling
Birthday Candles!
The stars in the heavens
Proclaim the birthday of the King.
Everlasting.

Sleep tight.

Mary

I called Mother this morning to see how she was feeling. She told me that she was feeling better but was really disgusted because she had just received a call from the doctor's office. The results of her tests showed that she still has the bladder infection and the doctor has prescribed antibiotics again. This time he ordered Amoxycillin. This is a MUCH milder and antibiotic and less likely to cause trouble, but Mom had vowed that she wasn't going to take any more new meds. I told her that she should because the infection HAS to be cleared up before she will really be well.

Randy stopped by a bit later and she told him how she felt. Randy called the doctor's office and consulted with the nurse, who told them ALL the possible side effects. She also reaffirmed what I had said about clearing up the infection. It won't clear itself and will only get worse without treatment. SO. When I went out for lunch with the girls, I picked up the prescription AND yogurt. All we would need is for her to get a yeast infection on top of everything else. She has taken two doses so far and no adverse effects.

The rest of the day has been rather quiet. Michelle had invited me to join her and Jim at her Christmas party, but it was in Milwaukee and didn't start until after 8:00PM. A bit late for me to be driving around alone and too close to the bedtime. I am glad she thinks of me.

I will be a communion minister for the first time at St. John's on Sunday. I will feel a part of the congregation then.

The wedding day was fast approaching. Everything was ready,
> and nothing could dampen Jennifer's excitement, not even her parents'
> nasty divorce.
>
> Her mother Sheila finally found the PERFECT dress to wear
> and would be the best dressed mother of the bride EVER!
>
> A week later, Jennifer was horrified to learn her new young
> stepmother, Katie, had purchased the same dress. She asked Katie to
> exchange the dress, but Katie refused, "Absolutely not! I'm going to
> wear this dress; I'll look like a million in it!"
>
> Jennifer told her mother, who graciously replied, "Never
> mind dear. I'll get another dress, after all it's YOUR special day, not
> hers."
>
> Two weeks later, another dress was finally found. When they
> stopped for lunch, Jennifer asked her mother, "What are you going to
> do with the first dress? Maybe you should return it. You don't have
> any place to wear it."
> Sheila grinned and replied, "Of course, I do, dear! I'm
> wearing it to the rehearsal dinner!"
>

Love

Mary

Today was much warmer than yesterday. It started out quite cloudy and even rained for a while, but the sun came out this afternoon and warmed things up nicely.

It was another eventful day. Chelsea and I went for our walk, a very successful walk. Then Dick and I went to Mc Donalds for Egg Mc Muffins for breakfast followed by our weekly grocery shopping.

We got home in time to put everything away, then piled back in the car to to to National Pedontics to pick up Dick's prescription insoles. That seemed to take forever. We had to wait almost a half an hour past our appointment time because the lady before us was such a problem. Not a mean or uncooperative problem. Her poor feet are so troubled by arthritis that they are just trying everything to get her shoes and insoles so that she is as comfortable and as mobile as possible. Dick says his new insoles are really comfortable and we got him new shoes also.

We stopped at Bublitz for lunch on the way home. Quite a pleasant lunch. When we got home we napped. Then I did some computer work and cleaned a bathroom and we racked the Currant wine.

Whew. Now I am watching Harvey. My annual watching of Harvey. If you haven't seen it. DO! The most charming movie I know.

Growing up on Pinehurst Court, as we did, was a very small town cozy way to grow up.

Across the street from us on the corner of Pinehurst and Pine lived the Billman Family. Louie Billman and my Dad were best of friends up until Louie died (of old age). Both of them had trouble walking. Dad used a cane for years and Louie used to occasionally ride his lawnmower across the street to visit Dad during the summer when it became to hard for him to do much walking.

One slippery winter day, Dad went for a walk. Why I don't know, but as he turned the corner off of Pine onto Pinehurst where there is a slight incline, he slipped on the ice and couldn't get up again. Now this is, of course, not funny, but Dad is very resourceful and independent. So - he crawled to the street sign on the corner and using his hands and his cane pulled himself to his feet and proceeded home.

A couple of days later when he was talking to Louie, Dad mentioned that he had fallen on the ice at the end of the street. Louie told Dad that he knew that, he had seen the whole thing. Dad asked him why he hadn't come to help. Louie said that he was watching him. He figured that if he had gone to help Dad, they both would have been down on the ground. But he told him that if he hadn't gotten up he would have called for help. That is a true friend. A friend who lets you try to get out of an uncomfortable situation by yourself, if you can, but is ready to bail you out if you need it.

Love

Mary

Today turned out to be much more productive than we thought it would be.

We started out early and dropped off the car at the dealer for maintenance. They gave us a loaner. So. We went to Amber's, formerly Zana's, for breakfast. It really has not changed at all, so we were pleased with our meal. Then we moved on to the DMV where we FINALLY updated our driver's licenses. That place sure has changed. People used to DREAD going there because the employees were so crabby and rude. Now they are friendly and very efficient. They are much more modern too. We got our new licenses, both of them, in less than a half an hour.

Then on to home where we did a bit of computer work and just relaxed until it was time to go BACK to pick up the car. On the way back to Plymouth we stopped at Office Max and picked up some black ink cartridges. (Are you tired yet?)

Next stop, ReMax on Eastern Avenue in downtown Plymouth for their annual Open House. What a spread and I saw a few people that I had not seen in several years. Nice. Then home so Dick could take a nap.

I vacuumed the den downstairs and finished making the stollen using Mom's recipe. It seems OK. They look a bit primitive, but do taste good. I made two without nuts so Jim can have them too.

Tonight I almost finished the Christmas cards. I have three snail mail and a few computer cards to go.

So. It is 20 after 9 and time for this old lady to think about bed. Chelsea has been hinting that she is ready too. She does start bugging me at about this time. She doesn't like to go to bed alone.

It was quite foggy today, especially from the late morning until about 7:30PM. Warm too. The grass and streets are wet and gucky with car grime and everything. Poor Chelsea is putting up with getting her feet wiped off and even that is not getting everything.

I went to the bank and did some shifting of the assets in my 401K today. Learned a lot and I was able to tell my broker something too. Not about assets too much but about the way that Wells matches the funds for commissioned employees.

Tonight was the second of the four Adult Religious Education classes that Fr. Van Beeck presents each year. The last two will be in January and February. The first was on the existence of God and the Images of God. Tonight was on the Humanity AND Divinity of Jesus. He pull lots of scripture passages to support the information. The mentioned that we are all promised glorified bodies at the end of time and that Jesus came to the apostles after his resurrection with a glorified body. It must have been very much like the body he walked around this world in though several times his disciples did not recognize Him right away. Fr. Van Beeck also said that though we may not be able to be A students we can all reach C+.

Tomorrow we will have to take the car to be serviced and have to get it there by 7:30AM. I will get up at 5:30. I might have been able to sleep late this morning, Chelsea was not moving at 6:00, then Dick's watch alarm went off and there you go.

Jeff and Kathy took Mom to Dr. Hancock for a checkup. He said that she is doing OK and that it will take time for her to get her strength back. The results of the blood and urine tests will show if she needs any supplements. Jeff also has another deer that a friend gave him and will share the meat with me. I will either get 1/3 or 1/4. It is not a big one but will be nice to have. I only got one lb of hamburger from the hunt. Someday I will get a deer and be entitled to a full share.

Did I tell you that my friend Ann Pirrung asked if I had my Kitties yet. She knows how hard it is for me to be without them. I am trying not to dwell.

Love


Mary

Chelsea and I took our first long walk in several days this morning. We went out of Tall Grass, around Lions Park and through the woods. She was very pleased with me.

I stopped to see Mother before and after Bible Study this morning. She is still very weak but sounds a bit stronger. I called tonight and she said that she ate a real meal, chicken, mashed potatoes and jello for supper tonight. That is the first solid food besides soup and soft boiled eggs that she has had in days. Tomorrow, Jeff will take her to see Dr. Hancock. We will be relieved when she is given a clean bill of health AND feels like it.

Bible study was nice. The next week's readings are about the joy and exulting in your heart. God is in our midst and will "sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals." Isn't that pretty?
The Gospel is about John the Baptist coming out of the desert to make way for Jesus. We were very lively.

This afternoon, I spent with my fellow writers at Arabella's in Sheboygan for our Christmas party. We exchange gifts and get door prizes and eat and share ideas. This year our co presidents Ann Pirrung and Jane Kocmoud turned over the gavel to our new co presidents, John Textor and Sue Bartenstein. John had to accept the gavel himself because Sue was unable to come to the party. On February 10, the Sheboygan County Writer will celebrate 50 years in existence. I belonged to the club back in 1959 and 60 or thereabouts, just before I moved to California. We will have an event at Mead on that Saturday from 1 to 4. John has suggested that all members who want to should bring a poem, or a short essay printed on half of a 8 1/2 by 14 sheet of paper and we will assemble little books to be available for maybe .50, the cost of the item. We will display a history of the club and works from members who wish to display and hopefully get a bit of publicity. Sounds like lots of fun.

I got a book called Fondling your Muse from Sylvia Bright-Green. (Yes that REALLY is her name and she is an excellent writer). and a door prize of a little blue carrying case that I can use instead of folders to go to the meetings.

I made up a little poem that I put on a card to go with the present that I brought for the gift exchange. Here it is:

Reason for the Season

Sparkling
Birthday Candles!
The stars in the heavens
Proclaim the birthday of the King.
Everlasting.

I had a dream last night - it was two part. I dreamt that we were moving again and no matter how much we packed and cleaned and how much help we had there was no end to the stuff and/or the dirt. Then the second part had to do with the fact that Jim and Michelle saw a deer in front of the condo when they got home last night and had a heck of a time getting it to move so they could get in the garage. In my dream, I found out that it was not a deer at all. It was a kangaroo. Wait until I tell Michelle that.

Have a nice tomorrow.

Love

Mary

It was very pleasant today. Chelsea and I took our first long walk in a long time today. We went around Lion's Park and came through the woods to the back yard. She was very pleased and I felt good.

I stopped and visited Mom before and after Bible Study.

A lovely productive Sunday. Chelsea woke me up at 6:00AM on the dot and we went for a short walk. It was dark and there were a few slippery spots so we did not go far. Besides that I went to church at 8:00AM and wanted to spend a bit of time with Boots. He was such a lonely little kitty with his Jim and Michelle gone.

Church was very nice. Fr. Van Beeck said something in his sermon that I want to be sure to share at Bible Study tomorrow. He said that Married People have to minister and proclaim the word to each other, and Parents well obviously they proclaim to their children. Then he said "Single People Lucky you have everybody."

Isn't that great!

Then I wrapped presents and cleaned my dirty kitchen and cooked a huge ham. Bobbie and Bill DID come for dinner and Jim and Michelle came home at about 6 and joined us too. Good thing because that ham will be with us for a long time anyway. It sure is a good one. All spiral cut too, so very easy to serve.

I guess that is all for now. I talked to Mother twice today. She is still very weak but is eating lightly and I thought that her voice sounded a bit stronger. I will stop tomorrow between Bible Study and Writer's Club to check on her and see if she needs anything.

Have a good week.

Love

Mary

Today was not a bad day overall. Most things went well. I baked Irish Brown Bread for the Irish program at the Plymouth History Museum.

I spent three separate times with Boots over at Jim and Michelle's. He is a lonely little guy and is sure glad to be let out of that little room. I have been trying to give him enough time to stretch. He is so cute but sometimes bites. I think he is so GLAD to be with that he gets carried away.

Then we went to the Condo Association meeting. We met a few people and helped approve the budget. On the way home we saw a man walking TWO dogs. I am really mad.

At 1:00 I went over to the Plymouth History Museum to help Beth and Katie, her daughter, set up the food and chairs and all. Dorothy Walsh Best, the harpist, and her husband, Jeff Best, a minister in the "Celtic American Catholic" church arrived almost immediately and she set up her harp. She does a wonderful program, playing traditional and Irish American music and Christmas too. She gives talks about the pieces she plays, the history of the harp and Irish history. The audience was transfixed.

It was fun talking to her husband too. He gives talks on Celtic Spirituality sometimes. I would find that interesting. I find it easy to incorporate many of the Celtic beliefs into my Catholic beliefs. Goodness is goodness. Goodness knows.

We had tea and coffee with cookies and my brown bread and Scripture Cake. All went over really well. Several people asked for the recipes, so I will give them to Beth to put into the next Sheboygan County Historical Research Center newsletter. I have just enough left for a good breakfast tomorrow.

Many people were asking when we will have the next one, so right after Christmas, Beth and I will plan another program.

When I got home, Dick told me to call Leslie. We have BIG news. Nora is engaged and will be married in about two weeks. Then she is planning to join the Air Force and take advantage of the benefits offered by the service. We wish her well. That is an awful lot to take on in only two short months. She had better grit her teeth and hang on for the ride of her life.

Mother is feeling better today. She is still weak as can be but has not felt nauseated since yesterday noon. She ate three light meals today, including a soft boiled egg and is doing her very best to drink 8 glasses of fluids. By trying hard, she will at least get more than she would have otherwise. She is going to lay low and stay home all this next week so she can get all healed.

Guess that is the day. Pretty full, wouldn't you say.

Love

Mary

Last night I got a call about 9:30 from Donna that they had taken Mother to emergency because she started throwing up and became very faint and was not too coherent. So not much sleep until after one AM when I received a final call from Jeff that they had taken her home after she received some intravenous saline drips. She was dehydrated from all the nausea which was a reaction to the anti biotic that they had given her for the bladder infection. What a circle this turned out to be.

She feels much better tonight after a somewhat rocky day. She slept a lot and still had trouble eating. However, tonight she ate a cup of soup and had a cup of tea and seemed a bit stronger. Someone stayed with her all day, but she wants to spend her night alone she says. I will call her in the morning as I am sure everybody else will.

This morning Dick and I went to Hunters Glen to check it out and run water and flush toilets. Then we proceeded to Bobbie and Bill's to feed Roxie and Oscar as Bobbie and Bill spent last night in Milwaukee and went to see the Cudahy Carolers. Roxie reluctantly let me cuddle her. She really just wanted her food. Oscar did not run away, but was only interested in food. I don't think he loves me any more. I sure miss them.

Tonight I went to Mass for the holy day at Blessed Trinity and sang with the choir. We sang Mary Did You Know which is really lovely. Then Cindy Dorn had us all over to her house for hor d oerves, wine and song. It was fun. I do miss singing with the choir but will have to decide if I REALLY want to commit that time at St. John's. I feel I can only pick one time consuming ministry and don't know what it will be yet.

That's all for now. I am really tired.

Michelle called Dick to tell us that Jim had made it to DC safe and sound and that they were going out for dinner. We are watching their kitty, Boots. We went over for about a half an hour this evening so he had some company. I will spend some time tomorrow and Sunday too. He is a cute little guy.



Subject: E-mail from God

One day God was looking down at Earth and saw
all of the rascally behavior that was going on. So
God called one of the angels and sent the angel to
Earth.

When she returned, she told God, "Yes, it is
bad on Earth; 95% are misbehaving and only 5% are
not."

God thought for a moment and said, "Maybe I
had better send down a second angel to get another
opinion."
So God called another angel and sent him to
earth for a time too. When the angel returned he
; went to God and said, "Yes, it's true The earth is
in decline; 95% are misbehaving, but 5% are being
good."

God was not pleased. So He decided to e-mail
the 5% who were being good, because he wanted to
encourage them...give them a little something to
help them keep going.

Do you know what the e-mail said?

Okay, just wondering; I didn't get one either.

Love

Mary

I got my blood test done this morning. One has to fast for 10 hours you know so I did that last night. Then Dick and I went to breakfast and grocery shopping.

I called Mother and she still sounds SO weak. She gets a reaction to the antibiotic. This evening Donna called because Mother was almost out of it after taking the pill tonight after dinner. She and Randy were almost ready to take her to the emergency ward. They called the pharmacist who said that the reaction is not uncommon but that the medication is still one of the best. However, can we leave her alone for that hour or so after she takes the pill? Donna called Dolores and she and Kenny will come out to be with her in the morning. She will eat breakfast and take the pill at about 7:00AM. I had told Donna that I could be there if I am needed but I am really glad that Dolores can come because she works with the elderly and will know what do do with odd reactions. She has been doing it long enough. That poor little lady. I hope this does not continue for the whole time she has to take the medication. She is not scheduled to see Dr. Hancock until Tuesday afternoon. Jeff is coming in to take her for her appointment.

I am going to church tomorrow for the holy day in Sheboygan Falls so will spend the hour before Mass with Mother. That will be a good time as she will be taking another pill about that time. I really don't want to tell her that I am coming because she MAY decide to feel guilty for not going to Mass ON the holy day. We don't need that on top of everything else that she is going through.

I made Scripture Cake today. In case you don't have the recipe, here it is.

We should always let the scriptures be our guide. It even works when making Christmas goodies - at least it works when making this delicious cake. Rad the scriptures indicated to find the ingredients and make this interesting and informative cake for a special family home evening activity.

1 cup Judges 5:25
1 cup Jeremiah 6:20
5 Jeremiah 17:11
1 cup Judges 4:19
2 cups Numbers 28:5
5 teasp. Amos 4:5
1 teasp. Leviticus 2:13
2 cups 1 Samuel 30:12
2 cups Naham 3:12
1 cup Numbers 17:8
Assorted 2Chronicles 9:9 to taste

Follow Solomon's directions for making a good boy Proverbs 23:14. Bake as a fruit cake about 350 degrees for 45to 50 minutes. Makes two standard loaves or five small loaves.

Have fun. I always do.

Mary

P. S. Please pray for my Mom.

I am exhausted. It was quite warm when I woke up this morning, in the low 30s. It still was not a great day for walking as there was a little film of something or other all over the roads. It was not especially slippery but it covered up ice patches. Then Chelsea wanted to go around the park but there were definite patches of ice on the sidewalk leading to the park. So I deferred. It is supposed to get very cold overnight again but warm up for the weekend.

I did some more decorating today. Got all the nativity sets placed around the house. I also hung a few things on doors. The only things left are the music boxes.

Mother called this afternoon and said that she was just unable to go to the play tonight. She sounded so weak. I asked her what was wrong and she said that she just felt weak and that that pain in her side that she suffered about three weeks ago was hurting again. I went right over there and we called the doctor. It turned out that Dr. Hancock had left for the day and the doctor on call, Dr. Willis, (he doesn't impress me. Hasn't for some time.) suggested that she wait for Dr. Hancock in the morning. When I told her that she looked so forlorn that I told her we should just go right away and I took her to the walk in clinic. Four hours later, with an exhausted little lady in tow, we left there with a diagnosis of a bladder infection (which has apparently been building since three weeks ago when the symptoms first appeared) after she received a shot of antibiotics and a prescription to take for the next several days.

As we were coming out of x-ray, Becky showed up. She had come to the clinic for her own appointment and when she talked to her mother, Donna, and found out that Grandma was there she looked for us. So she stayed, bless her sweet heart until we were all done and had Mom loaded into the car.

When we got Mother home it was almost 7:00. I fixed some cup a soup for both of us and some tea for her. Then I came home.

So now you know why I am tired. I found out that I should not wait so long to eat. My stomach started to bother me at about 6:30. Perhaps it would have been OK if I had not been so worried.
The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you.

Have a nice day.

Mary

Today it was 4 degrees when Chelsea and I got up. BRRR!. Needless to say we did not walk very far. Later when the temperatures had gotten up into the low 20s we went a bit further but her poor little paw got cold and I had to warm it up once so we could get home again.

We did not have to go anywhere today. I decorated the Christmas tree. It is really beautiful. We have it at the end of the living room in front of a window near the fireplace . It reflects off of everything. So it is doubly pretty and full of light.

I make Lizzies today too. Boy are they good. Now I just have the Scripture Cake to bake before Christmas. I still haven't found figs in Plymouth. Hopefully they will have them at Pick and Save. I need to get to work on Christmas Cards too. Time is a'wastin.

Saturday is the Irish Christmas gathering at Plymouth History Museum. I got an e-mail from Beth Dipple. We have 25 people signed up which is really good as we know it can only increase. We have to limit it to 50 anyway. I want to see if I can recruit a Celtic Women's group. Perhaps just a few ladies (and gentlemen if they want) would like to be a part of the Celtic Women.

Tomorrow, Dick and I will be taking Mother to see Beauty and the Beast presented by the Sheboygan Theatre Company. Beth Hoegger, my choir director friend, saw it and said that the Beast is magnificent. So I am really excited about seeing it.

Someone looked at the Hunters Glen House today and seem to be interested. They had questions about the well. Please keep your prayers going. Maybe this will be an early Christmas present. We must keep the faith. It is a lovely home and should be lived in. I just hope the new owners have as much happiness as we did there.

We will be taking care of Jim and Michelle's little Boots kitty while they are in Washington DC. Michelle has training starting tomorrow and Jim will be joining her for the weekend. He is a really cute little guy. I will have to spend a bit of time with him so he doesn't think he is totally alone. He will miss them.

A little Imponderable for you.

Why, Why, Why???

do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting dead?

Have a nice Wednesday.

Love

Mary

This was a very productive day. Started out with bible study. We had a very lively discussion on God's promise to make the path level. He speaks of leveling the mountains and straightening the paths and filling in the gorges for us. We decided that the Jewish people of the time did not understand that the straight way was to heaven, not necessarily and probably not to Israel itself. Perhaps they still don't. Perhaps we don't. Tom Keyes pointed out that Israel is withdrawing from some of the territories that they finally agree they should not be in. It would be nice, he said, that if instead of bulldozing the homes in the areas they vacate, would leave them standing for the reoccupying citizens. We were really hot today anyway.

By the way, please say special prayers for my friends, Dan and Shirley Moioffer's son, David who has been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that has attacked his liver. The only treatment right now is steroids which present their own set of problems but he will try. Anyway, please pray, this is a hard one.

I stopped at Mother's after Bible Study. We had a nice visit. She reminded me that tomorrow is St. Nicholas Day. Do you celebrate it? We did when we were young and my boys got visits from St. Nick too.

She told me a story. When she was a little girl and their family lived on a farm, she saw St. Nick. He came during the evening, a big man with a heavy old black coat made of animal hides and carrying a whip. He came into the kitchen where everybody was sitting around the kitchen table. There was the Bowser Family, Grandma, Grandpa, Mother, probably Uncle Noel and Uncle George AND a hired hand (they always had supper with the families they worked for.) He came in and started asking questions of everybody. He finally asked the hired hand if he said his prayers at night. The hired hand laughed and said that he never prayed. With that St. Nick took his whip and started beating that hired hand across the back and drove him right out the door. Scared Mother half to death. I could tell that the memory was still there.

She says that she knows NOW that "St. Nick" was one of their neighbors who did this every year, dressed up in the old carriage robes that people wore those days in the winter. But what good did that do then.

Poor little people, what we put them through. Bobbie told me that she never liked clowns. They scared her as a kid. She figured there was something suspicious with a grown person who dressed up like that and acted so silly.

After that I had lunch with my friend Beth in downtown Plymouth. We had soup. They had a chicken chili that was REALLY good.

Dick and I went to Sheboygan Falls to the Bemis store to buy a new toilet seat for our bathroom. It broke. Would you believe? We decided to do it quickly before one of us accidentally sat on it and pinched our bottoms or worse. Years ago, when I was young and Jacquie and I rented a house from Ron and Doris in Costa Mesa, I owned an old Chevy. Those old cars had chrome strip on them and the chrome strip on my car at the front fender was bent. Jacquie and her cousin Linda and I were going into the garage off the alley and when we pulled the garage door open, for some reason, I jumped back too fast and impaled the tip of that chrome strip in my right gluteus maximus. It was NOT good. When we checked it Jacquie and Linda decided that we had better get it checked. It took something like five stitches. I remember the doctor saying, that he and the nurses would not tell anybody. I told him that with Jacquie and Linda out there in the waiting room laughing their heads off, that his promise would not keep it off the streets.

I finished off the day with the last meeting of Rhine Plymouth that I have to take minutes for. They gave me a pin that says Rhine Plymouth Field and Stream - Secretary Four Straight. Wasn't that a sweet thing to do? They are a great group of people.

Have a great Tuesday. I get to stay home and decorate the tree.

Love

Mary

It was COLD all day today. When I woke up it was 11 degrees and I never saw it over 17. BRRRR! Chelsea and I went on VERY short walks off and on today and I started to get a bit testy about it this evening. As cold as it is, it becomes a big production each time. She finds it easy because she does not have to put on boots, gloves, jacket and hat for each trek.

Dick went to church with me this morning. We were testing it out. He likes to go with me once in a while but was avoiding Blessed Trinity because the seats were not padded and were very uncomfortable for him. So he went to St. John's today and was quite comfortable so he will start going again. He was going once a month or so. I like the company too. We went to the Family Restaurant for breakfast. That was a nice break in the day but Chelsea kept asking for her breakfast treats.

This afternoon, Bobbie and I worked at Rhine. We stayed until 3. There were all of three shooters who each shot two rounds. The rest of the people in the building were club members who all watched the Packers get creamed. They lost 38 to 10. What a mess. Sure glad that I chose the NYJets. I would feel guilty but THEY are the ones letting me down.

While I was gone Dick tried to get the tree up. He had called Jim and Michelle and they arrived shortly after I did. Between the four of us, we got it up. It is a new one, a prelit that rotates even. I put on the new Mary's Angel treetop and the tree skirt underneath. Tomorrow and the next day, I will get up the ornaments and finish. That is the FUN part of decorating. Taking out each memory and putting it on the tree. I love it.

Tomorrow will be rather busy. It will be the last meeting that I am the secretary of Rhine Plymouth. After four years, that will be a big load off of me.

Have a nice week and stay warm. We will have to really work at it from the forecast.

Love

Mary

We stayed home all day today. The driveway was solid ice, so Chelsea and I did not go for a walk this morning. I am starting to get a little restless myself and she certainly is. The sun was out part of the day and did melt some of the ice away. I went out and scraped a path so that we can walk to the street without slipping. Hopefully, It will still be clear tomorrow and we can go for a bit of a walk in the morning.

I packed the boxes for Leslie, Bret and Bart today. Whew. When we get those off, I always feel better. We DO have to get the gift certificates yet. This year Sara and Nora are out of school and on their own so we are using Mother's rule that they will no longer will get presents. We don't know their addresses either so it is a good cut off time. I hope they are doing well, we have not talked to them or heard from them directly for at least three years.


Leslie has sent pictures and some updates. They are good looking girls. One of my favorite pictures of them, however, is the one of them in the tea party hats that Bobbie made for them when they were just little. I enlarged it and hung it in this house. We had it in the office at Hunters Glen.

We were watching Who Wants to Be a Millionaire tonight. I was remembering that I have watched Regis Philbin off and on for over 30 years. He was a local celebrity in Los Angeles when I lived there and co hosted with Cyndy Garvey, Steve Garvey's now Ex Wife. She was a lovely blond lady. They used to refer to her and Steve Garvey as Ken and Barbie. They were a beautiful couple but that did not last. She has gone down hill from there I understand. Too bad. She and Regis were a good mix at the time.

It was snowing a bit this evening when I took Chelsea out before dinner. It is not supposed to be too messy though and will not get as low at the 10degrees that I woke up to this morning.

Talked to Mother this morning. Randy went to St. Louis on Wednesday and as of last night was still waiting to get out of the St. Louis Airport. He had spent the night before in the airport and was still waiting. I hope he is home now. He told Donna that it was useless to try to get a hotel room too because of the crowds, they were all full.

Take care and enjoy your Sunday. I am sure that we will. I do have to work at Rhine, but Dick is putting up the tree while I am gone so I can start decorating it this week.

Love

Mary

We got our first blizzard of the season. It was bad and we did not get hit as hard as Milwaukee and Chicago.

I did go to my doctor's appointment and did everything else that I planned in Sheboygan. Jim and Michelle started to work this morning but were back by 6:30AM. It was so bad when they hit Ozaukee County that they turned back so they drove into Sheboygan with me and they did an errand or two also.

I had my physical, my mammogram, gave blood and got my hair cut. Jim gave blood for the first time today. Michelle's iron count was a bit low so she has to wait. She is going to try again on Monday. We left Carina Capelle, the beauty shop, at about 11:00 and headed home. Michelle drove. It was AWFUL. The windshield wipers froze and were almost useless. Fortunately they did clear a nice spot for Michelle and after all the driver DOES need to see. There were at least 10 cars in the ditch including a couple of semis. None of them rolled. Three police cars were assisting some of the problem areas and probably had to move on the the next ones. I don't envy them their job. Hwy 23 was the worst. When we turned off on 57 the plows had been through and it was not too bad getting the rest of the way home. The snow was done by three and the sun actually came out. We are now plowed out completely.

I spent this afternoon clearing my desk, cleaning the kitchen and taking a nap.

We went to the Wilderness for supper tonight. We got the buffet. They did have perch on the buffet, and smelt. I think I much prefer on the menu items. I should really know that and just go for it. But it was good.

Time for bed. Tomorrow we are going to the house in Sheboygan to run the water and such.

Take care.

Mary

Prime Minister Tony Blair's words during a recent interview.
When asked by one of his Parliament members why he believes so much in America, he said:
"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in ... and how many want out."

That is my thought for today.

It DID cool down today and it is supposed to start snowing at 3:AM. Chelsea will like that. She loves nothing more that jumping around in the snow.

Dick and I started this morning with breakfast at Mc Donalds. Then we went to the clinic for his blood test. He is perfect again. Sue wants to see him in three weeks again, to be sure that we are REALLY back on track. Then we went directly up to see Dr. Hodous to have his feet checked. They are healing quite well, but we have real hope of the insoles that we have ordered that should take the pressure off of those sensitive areas.

Grocery shopping was next. Then we got to stay home the whole rest of the day. I finally got around to dipping the buckeyes and I made fudge so that I can get the Christmas packages for the out of towners ready soon. Hopefully I can mail them next Monday or Tuesday.

Tomorrow is MY doctor day. I have my annual checkup followed by a mamagram (ick). Then I am going to get my hair cut and out to lunch with the bank ladies. Guess what, Saturday, IU don't have to go ANYWHERE.

Tomorrow, Dick and I are going out to dinner with Jim and Michelle using our coupons from the Welcome Lady. That should be nice. I won't be cooking at all.


Guess that is all

Love

Mary

The weather - it is a'changin'. It was very warm this morning, so warm that I was able to wear a light jacket and a baseball cap on our walk. This evening it is cooling down and there is a possibility of snow showers tonight and tomorrow.

I had a dentist appointment today for a cleaning and checkup. I went right over to Mother's fromt he appointment and picked up the deer hide. Then after lunch, Dick and I drove to Hartford to W. B. Place to drop the hide off for tanning. I will have 5 hides. That will probably be enough for a jacket. they say 5 to 7 and I am not really very big. So maybe it will work. Otherwise, I will just have to wait until next year.

I made some Hello Dollies, or as they are sometimes called. 7 Layer Cookies. I made a few changes. I used chocolate graham crackers and substituted white chocolate chips for the butterscotch chips. They are REALLY good. I will have to rename them.

Tomorrow we take Dick to get the blood tested and to see Dr. Hodous for his feet. Then we will grocery shop and I will be able to stay home for the rest of the day.

I guess that is all for today. I am really tired and haven't much imagination left.

Have a good day tomorrow.

Love

Mary

It rained again today. Not too bad but it did rain. This is probably the last day that it will be warm enough to rain. Chelsea and I has a nice walk in the fog. Did I ever tell you that there are fairy rings in Lion's Park. Well there are. LOTS of them. I suppose the fairies like the fact that children play there.

After the walk I spent most of the morning on the phone trying to get some appointments scheduled and clear up some loose ends. Then this afternoon I went to Wells to talk to our investment broker about some stuff. Every so often I like to review a few things. Then I went to talk to Bill Cain, our real estate broker. We adjusted the sales price and will do a new push with the new price to see if we can drum up some action. Come on St. Joseph. Do your stuff.

Dick and I went over to K Mart and found a tree that is already lighted. That should make it very easy to get up for Dick. I want to start this week so I can be done by the end of next week. I started the Buckeyes today too.

I heard something on TV this morning about children who have imaginary friends. My Dad had two imaginary friends. Grandma Deeley and Aunt Helen told me about them. They were called Beanie and Ga Ga.

Jacquie called tonight. She liked the slippers that I sent her and wants to get some for Christmas gifts so I gave her all the information. I think I WILL get a pair for myself.

Tomorrow , the dentist and then Dick and I will take the deerskin down the Hartford for tanning.

This week is much too busy but it tapers off for the rest of the month.

Have a nice evening.

Love

Mary

We are experiencing rather steady rain tonight. This is supposed to continue for the next couple of days with temps staying "high" and then drop like a rock on Thursday.

This morning's bible study was rather lively. The commentary on the 2nd reading, one of Paul's letters, mentions that the early Christians expected Jesus to be coming back rather quickly. There were lots of problems because of that feeling. As an example, some people were not working ( why bother since they expected Jesus to come and get them soon.) It has been almost 2000 years now and He still hasn't come. Do you think He would have come sooner if we had listened and obeyed his message to Love God above all and to Love our Neighbor as ourselves. I mean REALLY did it.

This afternoon, I took care of several phone calls. A Christmas order, an insurance clarification and a conference call with the Celtic Women International Board and then tonight was the Rhine Plymouth board meeting. This is my last board meeting for Rhine Plymouth. So that will be one thing that I am done with by the end of the year.

Today I was thinking of a friend and old neighbor of mine who lived next door to us when I lived in Santa Ana Heights. Her name was Joyce Nusser and she had a boy the same age as Bret. Chip was his name. It was really Michael but he went by Chip. I remembered how we tried to get gardens growing in our back yards with dirt that was basically clay and almost impossible to dig in.

One year we sent for rosebushes out of a catalog and Joyce sent for a privet hedge. It should have been obvious from the price what we were going to face. Anyway when the privet hedge, which was supposed to consist of 50 plants, along with the roses arrived in a package weighing about 10 lbs, we DID know. We opened that box and took out what looked like a bouquet of sticks, some as small as a pencil. We laughed our heads of and later we laughed at ourselves even more because Joyce actually planted those sticks and not a one came up.

I am trying to find Joyce. Haven't seen or heard from her in probably 25 years. I found a Joyce Nusser related to a Michael D and Matthew D Nusser that might be her. I'll keep you posted.

Oh, Mom and I went out to Gibbsville and did some Christmas shopping there too. Love Gibbsville cheese.

Have a nice evening

Love

Mary

Chelsea and I had the nicest walk this morning. It was dark when we started out but the temps were in the 40s and it got brighter the further we walked. We started at 6:00 and got home about 40 minutes later.

I went to the 8AM Mass this morning and sat next to my friend Ceil. On the way out I ran into Pat O Reilly and his wife so had a bit of a visit with him. Pat is getting much older and said that when the snow comes he will be snowbound and have to stay home. (You have to see the twinkle in his eye as he tells this.) He then said that they had better plow him out for March 16 and 17. I told him that if it was snowing then I would come to get him.

This afternoon I worked at Rhine. We were unexpectedly busy. We ran 14 teams so did very will. I had fully expected it to be much slower because of the holiday weekend and the end of the deer hunting season. I am glad it was busy because the afternoon does not drag that way. I shot three pistol targets and was quite pleased with the results. I got, in this order, a 53, a 62 and a 68. And I even lost one on the last target so WOW.

A story: I took Bret and Bart to and Earth Festival at the Orange County Fairgrounds when they were quite young. I took them to the children's area where there was this giant sand pile along with other things to play with. The kids were supervised lightly and they were told to build sand castles. After a while Bart was just sitting there with this stick stuck into the ground. The helpers asked if he wanted help and he said he was all done. That the rooms and everything were underground.

I left Bret in charge for about a half an hour so I could zip though a couple of the tents. Suddenly I heard myself paged from the bandstand. "Could Bart Johnston's mother please come to get him." He had gotten bored, sneaked away from Bret and went directly to the bandstand and told them his name and that he was lost. No dummy that boy.

Have a good week.

Love

Mary

Another Warm day in sunny Wisconsin. Chelsea and I had a lovely walk. She was quite eager so we had a lot of fun. On the way back through the park, however, a noise was heard in the distance that sounded something like thunder and she made double time back to the house.

I put up the outside lights this morning and placed the Santa hat on the totem. The wreaths that we used on the garage lights fit just fine here too. So we are now very festive.

This afternoon, I went out shopping and found a timer, (by morning we will find out if we set it right. We want the lights to go on at dusk and continue for nine hours.) I also found four battery operated candles and some suction cup holders so that I can put them in the glass panels next to the front door. I will light them one at a time during Advent until all four will announce Christmas.

Tomorrow, work at Rhine. I thought it was last week but got there and the club was even closed for the opening week of deer hunting. THIS is the week I am substituting for Greg. I wonder if there will be many shooters this week. Oh well, we will just have to see.

I was thinking today of Dick's theory on raising children. He said that they should be kept in the basement until they are 35. Parents should feed and clothe and educate them. Then at 35 they can be on their own. I pointed out that he did not do that and he says that other parents should learn from his example.

Now, however, I think he knows that in order not to ever worry one can NEVER let them out of the basement.

Love

Mary

It has been quite a day.

Chelsea and I went for a very foggy walk this morning and she was raring to go so we went around the park. I did turn her around a bit early. We did not go ALL the way down and around. I am glad that she is feeling well anyway.

Then I showered and fixed scrambled eggs with chopped green onions and cream cheese for Dick 2 and Brenda and Dick and me before Dick 1 and I went to the Clinic to get his legs wrapped. That went very smoothly. A young lady named Angie did them for him this time. She is a very bubbly nice gentle young nurse and Dick liked her too.

When we got back I took off for Mother's to help butcher Five deer. That is the most that we have ever butchered in a year. Randy's deer was STILL BIG. A bad thing: I cut my little finger nail to the quick on the meat slicer blade. (Don't worry. It was not turned on at the time. I simply adjusted the meat and nicked the nail. That blade is obscenely sharp.) It seemed to take a long time, but with that many deer it is not surprising. Bobbie came to help today too and to get her ribbing for not being out there and "missing" the big buck. Actually Randy said that he was just as glad that she wasn't there.

The hunters again shared meat with Bobbie and me, even if we haven't contributed to the take yet. We split what they gave us and I also brought home a nice rolled roast to prepare for the wild game dinner. I also was given a deer hide to take to Hartland for tanning. In a year or so I will have enough for a coat or a jacket.

Then when I got home and checked my computer, I found that Jim has located my great picture of Waylon and now has it as my wallpaper on the computer again. I am so happy. I can print it out and frame it to put with Zero's picture.

Tonight Jim and Michelle joined us for leftovers and then we played a game of Rummy.

Tomorrow we are going to the new Cavella Store. Doesn't that sound like fun.

When Bart was just a little guy, he went through what I call his Kung Fu stage. He and Bret watched Kung Fu on TV and he was fascinated but he kept yelling Kung Fu and kicking people. One day we were at church and he yelled Kung Fu and kicked the priest before I could stop him. Another time on Ascension Thursday, they gave all the children balloons and led them out of the church to release the balloons. Everything went well until it was time to let go of the balloon and he started yelling. "God can't have my balloon." God didn't get it either.

Love

Mary

Well, Thanksgiving is almost over. We have finished the feast and the guests who are not spending the night have gone home.

The meal turned out just fine. We had the turkey and stuffing, stuffed squash, rutabaga, broccoli, mashed potatoes, fresh rolls, a molded salad and cranberry relishes. I got carried away again. I am my father's daughter. I still remember him in the kitchen when Mom was preparing meals for guests telling her to put in just a couple of more potatoes, or maybe one more loaf of bread or something. We always had too much food too.

What a wonderful life we have that we can prepare too much. I do make a point of not wasting but it does not seem fair that some family out there is probably hungry.

Leslie called today just as almost everybody was arriving. She picked the best time to talk to Jim, Michelle and Bobbie. Dick and Brenda came after she had gone on her way. She and Bill are spending the day with Nora who was cooking everything but the turkey. She figured that she was not quite ready for that.

It was gorgeous today, almost 60 degrees. Really too warm. I am sure that Randy and Jeff had to ice down the deer. Fortunately it has been dropping to freezing at nights so the garage is probably remaining very cool. We will butcher tomorrow. I will be a bit late because Dick gets his legs wrapped in the morning too. Bobbie is going to join us. She is prepared to be teased for not coming out but I suggested that she has a little bit of come back because she can ask Cory whether the rumor that he missed four shots is true.

I went to Mass this morning as it seemed that there was plenty of time. It is always good to thank the Lord for the good that comes to us. Fr. Van Beeck pointed out that this is one secular holiday that has crossed over to a national holiday with religious overtones rather than the other way around. He also said that married people should go home and thank their spouses for sharing their lives with them. The greatest love next to the love of God. As he said single people and priests never experience that committed kind of love which is very special.

Hope you had a lot to be thankful for today and that your tomorrow will be good

Mary

Well. It was a good day and a bad day.

It was a good day because I spent it cooking for tomorrow. I do love cooking and I had a LOT to do. I made two stuffings, a pie and Fiffy Hobbin and day ahead mashed potatoes and jello. It was fun and I was busy ALL day.

The bad is because Dick has changed his mind about letting us bring kitties here. He had said after I met with Mark Kleinhans, the builder, that he felt that put a different light on it and he would reconsider. Today he practically said that he was not going to. It looks like I will have to wait until Chelsea is gone and then what will he say about TWO kitties. The rules DO say one animal. I am so sad. Every person I talk to, resident of Tall Grass or not, says JUST GET THEM. WHO WILL KNOW. But Dick knows and feels that we are leaving ourselves open for lawsuits and what ever else awful could befall us.

I have no hope.

Chelsea,by the way, is feeling pretty good, but she did take a short walk this morning. She got a shower this morning too so she will be very pretty for the visitors tomorrow.

Jim and Michelle had their Boots declawed today. They brought him home tonight and he is a rather subdued little guy. He spent his time at the Vet's after the surgery trying to get out of his cage and getting his little paws bleeding. Now he is home and demanding lots of love and sympathy. Boy can that little guy purr.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I have SO much to be thankful for. I hope your day will be as nice as ours. We will be visiting and eating to the MAX.

Be. Happy.

Love
Mary

Such a nice day. It was rather warm. The temperatures climbed to 50.7 degrees at the hightest. Now they have dropped down to 31.5 again. Whew. Hope they stay that way. We need cool temps to preserve the venison. Randy will ice it down if he feels that there is any danger of it getting too warm.

I did preparing for Thanksgiving dinner today, mainly chopping and dicing things. Tomorrow I will be doing some serious cooking and baking.

Tonight Dick and I watched the Da Vinci Code. Jim and Michelle came over and made it through the first hour before they got too tired to finish. They will borrow it later for the end. That's what happens when you have to go to work. I remember those days.

We went to the Hub City Restuarant for breakfast. We had gone once before and thought it was pretty good. The ONLY problem then was that they serve way too much food. If you ask for one egg they give two and they have super sizes of potatoes and the meats.

This time, however, we found out that they allow smoking and there were two people smoking in the booth right next to us. It was just sufficating. As we were leaving we talked to the waitress and a customer. They were saying that most people say their food is good even if they don't like it. People don't want to make a fuss. I agreed with them and I told them that I had liked the food very much but found the smoke very bad. I am araid that we will not go back now, because it is iffy as to whether we can breath or not in there.

Guess that is all for now.

Mary

Went to Bible Study this morning. Sunday is Christ the King. All three readings were related to Jesus coming back at the end of the world for the final judgement. On a cloud they say. Sounds like we had better be ready. As I pointed out - we don't really have to worry about that. We just have to worry about our own personal judgment.

I visited with Mother for a while after the study. I brought her two of the frozen pasties that I made last week. She was pleased. That will be something she can just pull out some evening and not something that she would be likely to make for herself. We discussed the deer hanging and the fact that it is supposed to warm up during the days for the next couple of days. However, the deer are not in the sun, they are in the garage, it will be cold all night and Randy will ice their core down during the night to keep them cold. We butcher on Friday.

I went to the Cream City Writers Club. That is what the Plymouth group calls themselves. They meet on the third Tuesday at Book Heads, the local book store. A nice group. I really knew tham all, not well, but have met them. Sue and Sy from the Sheboygan Group were there also. I learned that somewhere in the bible it tells the farmer to leave the corners of his fields for the poor. Some cultures allow the poor to come through the fields after the harvest to gather the gleanings. Wonder why those traditions fell by the way. I guess that is what our Second Harvest programs are kind of replacing. There is plenty of food in the world and noone should ever have to go hungry. Distribution and good leadership are needed.

Tomorrow and the next day we will be cleaning and I will be preparing for the Thanksgiving feast.

ATTENTION:
ALIENS ARE COMING TO ABDUCT ALL THE GOOD LOOKING AND SEXY PEOPLE.


Have a great Tuesday.

Mary
YOU WILL BE SAFE; I'M JUST EMAILING TO SAY GOODBYE.