Chelsea and I had a lovely walk this morning. We ran into our friend Roger with a "guest" dog called (I think) Rufus. Roger was Chelsea's Schnauser friend, Pepper's daddy. We also met some new walkers. That was nice.

It was cloudy and comfortable all day. We got a thunderstorm with rather heavy rain this afternoon. The thunder came in the strongest just as our poor Chelsea was getting ready to eat, but she finally managed to finish.

We had lasagna, salad and raspberries and ice cream for supper tonight. We went to Walgreens to pick up some prescriptions and when we passed the Menard's parking lot, I saw a "raspberries" sign, so we took advantage.

Packed the cassette tapes and all the Celtic CD's today. Also packed the sewing patterns and that type of thing. I am hoping that if I do a bit at a time, it won't be to daunting a job. It is really up to me as Dick can't do too much.

I trimmed the growth from under our trees. They were looking very shabby. As I was working, a really pretty airdale came out from the back yard to greet us. She was super friendly and I slipped Chelsea's leash on her because I didn't want her to get lost. She very politely led me through Terry's yard to Linda and Greg's in the cul de sac. That's where she belonged. I was not aware that they lost one of their Schnausers last year and replaced her with this dog, Lucy. She is named Lucy because of her red hair. Anyway, Greg had not been aware that she was gone and Linda came back pretty quickly, she had gone out on their bike to look for her. As I said, Lucy is beautiful and VERY well behaved. She is good about staying in the yard, not like their Schnauser, Otto, who they always leash when he is out.

So that was my excitement for the day.

Here is a little poem that was read at that poetry-fabric art.

The Origins of Hypotheses or Where Did You Get That Idea.



Butterfy wing, newt's tail
dragon tongue, unicorn horn
clarity of day and magic of the moon
thumping drum, dizzying swoon
From South Milwaukee to Tangier
from bird song, child's tear,
toenail clippings, from satin, from swish
from an empty yard, the mind of a witch
poets and artists complied
Threaded Metaphors:
Text and Textiles

By Phyllis Wax

Have a nice Sunday


Mary

Today was the last day that Rhine is responsible for feeding the pheasants at Maywood. Greg Reich did not have to work today so he came out to help me, thank heavens. There were some pretty heavy losses in some of the pens this week so the birds have been getting a special antibiotic in their water. Also they are eating more, so the big feeder boxes by each pen needed to be topped off. Between Greg and I we finished everything in about an hour and a half. We had 14 dead birds. The four that managed to get into the flight pen in pen three are doing just fine. Greg put a container of food and water out there for them and I think they are bigger and healthier than the others.

I went through some of the books to weed them out. We have a box ready to donate to the library. Tomorrow I will try to go through the one in our office and the one in the basement. I also want to go through and pack cds, dvds, cassetes and videos. Those are easy things to sort and pack. And we can do without them for the weeks that it takes to get resettled.

Chelsea is SO much better but is still a very tired little girl.


Don't have much more today. I think I am tired.

Love

Mary

Dick and I went to see Kaye Beck today and completed our application for the mortgage loan. We are all set except for the completion of the appraisal. Gary Kramer is doing it. I had hoped he would. We will ask for a equity line of credit at the same time so it will be in place when we pay off the first mortgage.

I went to Neenah with Michelle and Jim to peruse a Wedding Expo. I had never been to one before and it was fun. There are all kinds of vendors hawking their wares. There are DJs, flower shops, photographers, caterers, makeup - even Pampered Chef and Taste of Home. Michelle won a cute little bustier purse. It was filled with an interesting kink of "toy." Ask her about it. She was every shade of red for quite a while.

We got to sample some wedding cakes, meatballs, finger sandwiches, appetizers AND chocolate covered strawberries. We did to the the local restuarant and had a cup of soup and shared and appetizer, a quesidilla stuffed with spinach and artichoke. I couldn't finish things so appetizers for lunch tomorrow.

A nice day and very productive. I went through my pots and pans and tupperware and weeded it out quite well today. Tomorrow I will tackle books


Have a great day

Mary

Chelsea is almost back to normal. We got up at a bit after 6:00AM and we went on our whole walk and except for sitting to rest a couple of times, she trucked right along. Her bowel movements are ALMOST back to normal. She is still pretty tired, but no longer looks distressed and is not begging to go out every hour.

Dick had his dentist appointment today. Went very well. We were out of there in less than an hour. Then we did a few more errands and were able to come home and stay home for the rest of the day.

BULLETIN!!!!!!!Talked to Tom Cain today and we are all okayed to bring all three animals to Tallgrass with us, so we are on our way. I left a message for Kaye, so tomorrow or the next day we will finish our application. Tom and Bill Cain will be coming over on the 27th to list the house and talk about auctioning the things that we do not want to take with us. Now the scramble begins.

We filtered the Marigold Wine today too.

We had quite a dinner tonight too. There were enough meatballs left and, as I said yesterday, we had the fresh green beans from our very own garden. Boy were they ever tender and good.

We finished getting my book all ready to take to Sun Graphics. Dick wrote a biography for me for the inside cover and edited it for me. Now, I just need to get a disc from Jim and copy the book to it to take with me. I am kind of excited.

You're not as young as you used to be and you're not as old as you're going to be. So watch it. And Old Irish Proverb.


Mary

What a day. Chelsea is still having bowel problems. We even had an emergency during the night. So, I called the vet at 8:00AM, as soon as they opened, and was able to get her in at 10:30AM. When we walked in the door, there was Terry, the waitress who has been serving us breakfast at Xana's for a couple of years now and her dog, Chester. She quit Xana's about two weeks ago. Kind of a sign, I guess, as Dick and I were trying to figure out how to break our breakfast habit. Now, since we have lost our favorite waitress, we won't feel so bad about finding a place in Plymouth.

She took my number so perhaps we will hear from her.

Back to Chelsea. Dr. Lubenbill said that she definately has a problem. There have been several dogs in the past few days with the exact same symptoms. She gave Chelsea a week's supply of special diet food, antibiotics and a medication to harden the stool. So far it hasn't done any good, but she just took her second pill about an hour ago. Dr. L. did say that the medication uaually acts pretty quickly. She is down a whole pound which tells us how much she is losing. I am supposed to call tomorrow whether or not she is better.

I got my hair cut and saw Dr. Casey today too.

Bobbie and Bill came over to enjoy a supper of chili with us. Jim and Dick did a great job on it and I baked some "bumbleberries" from Market Day for dessert. It is a kind of tart - pie dough baked around a mixture of apple and berries and very tasty. A nice evening.

Dick and I also bottled the Wild Grape wine. It doesn't taste too bad and when it is matured should be really good.

Tomorrow, the only outing is Dick's dentist appointment. I need to get out in the yard too.

I picked enough of my purple beans for a meal for Dick and myself tomorrow. How fun is that!

Love

Mary

Well, Jim and Michelle have an accepted offer. Now, we have only one little hurdle. We need the final word that the condo will let us bring all three of our animals. It seems like a shoo-in but it ain't over til the fat lady sings. Tom is going to try to find out tomorrow.

Then we have to get this property listed and our loan applied for. We have approval for the credit amount that we want but need the appraisal and all done.

Chelsea woke me up at 5:35AM this morning. Just as well, as I had to go take care of the pheasants before I went to bible study this morning. Bob, the guy who taught me what do do for the pheasants, said it would take about an hour. It took me a little longer, but I was alone and I can't do things as easily as the guys can so I was pleased. It is fun, as I said. They are such cute little things. I did have to report that pen three has some of the chicks who are working their way into the flight pens and they are really too young for that yet. Greg's wife Lynn said she would tell Greg and he can find their escape route and seal it and with their son's help get the escaped birds back into their safe pen. I go back on Friday.

Bible study was fine. It was SO hot outside, but the meeting room was nice and cool. There were just six of us today. I expect more next week. Dick and I have discussed it and I have come to the conclusion that I will change to the church in Plymouth when we move out there. It is just not economical to stay at Blessed Trinity with gas prices the way they are. I am making a resolution to not sign up for ANYTHING for a year so I can get a break and decide what I really want to do for a ministry. I would like to concentrate on ONE thing.

Tonight I went back to church and helped quilt the Celtic Faire Quilt. I got a WHOLE square done tonight. Usually, I am half or more done but not quit finished in our evening sessions. We are coming down the stretch. It really is beautiful and very elegant looking.

Chelsea has slight case of tummy troubles most of the day. If she is still in this distress tomorrow, we will take her to see Dr. Z.

Dick is reviewing my book and will do a mini biography for me. Then I can take it to Sun Graphics for printing. I want it done by Aug 13 so I can take it to the Irish Reunion at St. Michaels.

Bobbie and Bill are coming for chili tomorrow night. I am way looking forward to that. The chili was good, even unseasoned so we will have a feast. I have some interesting Market Day desserts that I will fix us.

Love

Mary

A rather quiet day. I went to the 8AM mass this morning, and Chelsea and I walked early so we missed being out in the worst of the heat. Today, it got up to 95 degrees on our calenday. Yesterday, the paper said that we reached 101. Seems impossible.

I watered early and will do so tomorrow also. Must get the pots on the deck and on the pole out front. I also need to trim the bushes before we list the property. I fully believe that Jim and Michelle will have their accepted offer tomorrow, then we can move full throttle.

I spent the rest of the day clearing my desk again. I sketched out two articles for the church newsletter and gathered things to take to Bible Study to share with Lynn and Sandy. Must remember to ask them if they still have boxes.

Dick and I measured bedrooms tonight and (if the measurements given on the flyer are accurate) we should be able to fit things in. The difficulty is that there is much more wall taken up with doors and windows, especially in our room. Every wall in the master over there has closets or entry doors or windows which means that much of our current furniture would overlap something. A puzzle. We will have to work it out and we will.

I have the draft of my book all done and out for Dick to review. I asked him to write a short biography of me too.

Guss that's all for now.

Love

Mary