Saturday, August 12, 2006

We packed and cleaned all day today. Tomorrow is the first time that prospective buyers will view the house and we want it to be looking its very best.

Guess what. The Packers are playing tonight. I can't believe it either. It is only August but of course there are pregames and we got the first. It is starting NOW, which is 9PM because they are playing IN San Diego against the Chargers. I know I won't make it through the whole game. But I will have it on and do the best that I can. We did tape a program that was on from 7 to 8 previewing the whole league. I intend to view that when I can concentrate and use the information in the fantasy football league.

We had to tape it because Jim, Michelle, Dick and I played cards tonight. Dick won both games, one hearts, and one rummy.

Tomorrow, except for last minute picking up and kitchen cleaning, I intend to just play. I will go to the 10:30 Mass and then Mother and I are going out to that Irish Reunion. I am bringing some of my books and the information on the Celtic Women Conference.

I fixed Busy Day Chicken tonight but had to do a bit of adapting.

The recipe is as follows:

1 Cup Rice
3 lb. Chicken
1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 1/2 Cups Water
1 Pkg. dry onion soup

Layer rice in baking casserole. (I sprayed it with Cooking spray) Layer chicken on top of rice. (I used four chicken breast pieces instead of 3 lb chicken.) Mix the soups and water and pour over all. (I didn't have Cream of Mushroom so I used Cream of Celery and I did add a can of drained mushrooms for the flavor.) When it was time to serve it however it was still pretty watery, so I added a cup of instant potatoes. It worked and tasted wonderful.

Have a good day tomorrow. Wish us luck on the viewing.

Mary

Friday, August 11, 2006

It was almost chilly this afternoon. I tried to sit out on the deck at about 4:00PM but it was cool so I came right back in. Sure is a relief actually as the house is quite comfortable and we have been able to open windows and doors and air it out. Kitties are VERY fond of that.

We went grocery shopping in Plymouth today BECAUSE, I picked up the lions share of my book. They still had to trim out about 75 of them but I was able to get most of them. That is good because I can take them with me to the Irish Reunion. I want to share them there and see if I can get Beth to sell them at the Research Center in Falls. I am really pleased. I will be able to take them to Writer's Club too.

We were going to go to a movie, but Dick did not feel well enough, so I just did some more packing and cooked a bit. I made a squash casserole with chiles and cheese that I really liked. Don't know if anyone else did. Jim ate it, Dick didn't even try and Michelle didn't eat much of it. She is very polite of course and probably wouldn't say any thing. I'll take some to Mother and see what she thinks.

I also made cucumber salad and some brownies.

Tonight I started working on my desk. There are less than three weeks until we sign and can start transporting boxes. Tomorrow we will pack some more.

An imponderable. "If flies didn't have wings would they be called walks?"

Love

Mary

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Did anyone miss me yesterday. I just got all tired at the end of they day and did not post.

We were home most of the day. I packed some more boxes and Dick took them out to the garage. It is getting full out there. At 4:30PM I went over to Ebenezeer Church and had the quilt that Mother found between the pieces of ticking in the Deeley garage appraised. I want to give it to Becky, who loves antiques and has such a love of the family history. But I wanted her to have a value on it by an expert. The woman who did the appraisal, Carol Butzke, is one of only 14 quilt appraisers certified by the American Quilting Society in the nation. It is quite fascinating to watch her work and she explains as she goes along.

Then last evening I went to the Quilt Guild where Carol gave a lecture on the origin and history of Sunbonnet Sue in literature and quilting. I was glad that I took the time. I think I will make some version of Sunbonnet Sue just to have done it now that I see what imagination can do with the basic premise.

Today was the BIG Brewer game arranged by Uncle Leif Salvesen to gather all who could come together. We had a fun tailgate. There were lots of us. Myself, Jeff and Kathy with daughter Sara, Donna and Randy with all three daughters, Jessica (who left the park in a BUS to go back home in downtown Milwaukee. We all wondered if she was REALLY old enough to go on the bus all alone.) Erin, with boyfriend Josh, and Becky with husband Bryan. (Have I lost you yet.) Then there were Nora and Leif who brought Fred and Eileen with them. Eileen and Fred's son John came from Chicago with my nephew Shawn, George and Betsy's son, who also lives in Chicago. We were rounded off with my Jim and Michelle and Leif's friend Bob Doody and his wife Mary Ann.

Mary Ann and I discovered that we both went to high school at St. Mary's Academy in St. Francis many years ago. Me, several years before her. They are a nice couple. She has her own landscape and design company. I am impressed.

We had a great tailgate. Brats and portobello mushroom sandwiches, salads, cucumber sandwiches, bruschetta and other snacks. And to make the day perfect, the Brewers won.

It was hot in the stadium. They left the roof closed, which I think was dumb, but there was rain projected. I suppose it costs too much to close if they were afraid of having to open it again.

I am tired now again and will close with a quote that I liked from an e mail that I received from my friend Janet.

"Do what you can, for who you can with what you have, and where you are."

We are so blessed, I wish all these blessings for the children of this world. They deserve it. Maybe their parents don't, but the children do. At least a full tummy, a warm bed and a few hugs a day.


Mary

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

It was a beautiful day all day today. I was actually a little chilly when Chelsea and I went out for our walk. I don't have a thermometer any more but the TV said it was in the low 60s. It got up to the mid 70s and stayed there. Chelsea was pretty enthusiastic about her walk, but did cut out one cul de sac. She just sits down, looks down the road and keeps on going past it.

Today I talked to two neighbors that I hadn't seen face to face since the sign went up. Mary, across the street, was looking kind of sad. We don't see each other too much because we are both so busy but have common interests in quilting and faith. She said that she and her husband will probably be thinking condo soon too. It is getting harder for Gary to keep up the lawns and all and she, like me, can't really do it all.

The videos of our house showed up on Bill Cain's web site. So - if you want to see it go to billcain.com. Look under "Our listings". Select single family and find 4409 Hunters Glen Drive. Nick did a good job of filming. We will entertain offers.

Dick saw the podiatrist today and had his callouses trimmed. They need some extra care for a bit and we will go back to be sure they are healing in three weeks. Then we went and did a wee bit of shopping and Dick took me out for lunch.

Tonight I went to Rhine Plymouth to work the "Traveling League", a trap league that shoots at several different clubs and several different yardage. It was fairly busy. They stuck me in the gun room with little instruction but I finally figured it out. I worked from 4:30 to 8:00. It was Dennis Behr 's birthday and he and Sara brought cheese, sausage and crackers for a treat. That plus the yogurt I brought made a good evening meal.

I am working on articles for the paper regarding Celtic Faire and have come up with the season the Irish celebrate of Lughasadh, beginning August 1st and ending November 1st with Samhain. Lughasadh is the harvest time. John O'Donohue in Eternal Echos speaks of an Irish Notion called "Meitheal": the act of a community gathering to do the work for each other that one person working alone could not do in ages. Very reminisent of our barnraisings or co-ops that our country had in it's early days. We still experience Meitheal in small ways such as the example of Habitat for Humanity building houses on the quick with large volunteer crews. I want to incorporate Meitheal into my article and also Lughsadh - the harvest.

Love

Mary

Monday, August 07, 2006

It was kind of warm but not heat stroke hot today. Chelsea and I had a nice walk. We did not really see many other walkers but I did not get started until about quarter after six so most people were already done. I did see Steve turning into his driveway.

Bible Study went well this morning. We had nine people there so it was a lively discussion. Then I reviewed the initial worship folder for Celtic Fair with Sandy. I shrunk three Celtic Letters from my Celtic Coloring Book to put on the cover. Jim Wilsing and I came up with a really neat idea for it this year. (Jim is jealous of my coloring book so I said I would look for one for him when I go to Irishfest.) We are going to use the capital letters that I shrunk (B T AND P) for the first letters of Blessed Trinity Parish with a nice medieval looking font. I chose goldenrod for the cover because the intro I wrote mentions Harvest and gold is a good harvest color.

We had Swedish Meatballs, noodles, fresh green beans from Mom's garden for supper. I am working on cleaning out the freezer and the meatballs are one of the treasures to be finished off.

Bobbie and I had the Rhine Plymouth meeting tonight. It was mentioned AGAIN that all the officers are up for replacement this December. Bobbie and I (at least) will not keep our positions. Three years is enough. It is time for another member to step forward. I will be helping Doc out tomorrow at a shoot that we are hosting.

Bernice Sipiorski, an old neighbor, died on Sunday. Her funeral is tomorrow. I believe that Dick and I, with any luck at all, can get his doctor's appointment done and I can get there for the Mass. It would be nice. She was a sweet woman and I used to babysit for her boys when I was young. Her son, Donald, is deceased but Dennis will be there and it would be good to see him again. I wonder if he even remembers me. That was a cushy babysitting job. Bernice and her husband, Martin, would go downtown to the tavern every Saturday evening from 9 to 1. I came over and sat with the boys, who were usually in bed asleep. Bernice would have a fit if I did the dishes or any other little things that I saw. I did them anyway (Mom taught me better than that.) And I could watch anything I wanted on TV and then go to bed til they came home and Martin walked me home across the vacant lot between our homes. Like I say a cushy job.

Say a little prayer for Bernice.

Love

Mary

P. S. I packed two boxes and sorted through ALL the medicines and first aid supplies today.

Sunday, August 06, 2006

It seems like it was a very long day. Chelsea and I had a good walk before the rain. It rained from about 7:00 to 11:00AM. A nice steady rain and it brought the temperature down a bit for today.

I went to the 8AM Mass and then visited with Mother until it was time for her to go to Mass. I stayed long enough to walk her over as it was still raining lightly and I don't think it is wise for her to walk alone if it is wet. Someone always walks her home. People are so good and there are three or four of our friends who note that she is there and see that she gets home safely.

I only packed a part of one box today. But I also got one item sent into the Press for the Celtic Faire. I must e-mail Ann Pirrung to find out the name of her editor. Perhaps I could send an article for the beliefs section to him to present to the beliefs editor. I can try anyway. I need to do an article for the Falls News and the Plymouth Review also.

This week is a very busy one with bible study, Rhine meeting, working at Rhine, a quilt appraisal and a ball game. Nora and Leif will be in Wisconsin, the reason for the ball game, and it will be good to see them. Michelle and Jim are joining us at the game. Michelle will meet Nora and Leif and Eileen and Fred. I called Jeff and he will let me ride down to the stadium with him, Kathy and Sara. I am so relieved, I was not thrilled about driving alone.

It has been an exhausting day for some reason. Dick and I are watching Bluebeard, one of the Horror Movie collection that Dick gave me for Christmas. We watch them when nothing else is on worth watching and lately that has been a lot. John Carradine is in this one. It is quite good.

A W. H. Auden said. "We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for I don't know."

Have a good week.

Mary