Well, I think we have the house all spic and span for the open house on Sunday. That way, Dick can just relax tomorrow and Bobbie and Bill are coming to get him and the critters at about 11:30AM Sunday so the open house can be held successfully.
I cleaned the kitchen and took several boxes out to the garage and generally picked up and put away. This noon, I went to Plymouth, via Sheboygan Falls, stopping at Wingert's for corn. Dick and I had that fresh corn with tomatoes for supper.
Next was Blattner's Piggly Wiggly where I picked up some paper plates to carry my bakery to the Contest at Irish Fest. I am entering Lavender Scones and Irish Brown Bread in the Baking Contest. While at the Pig, I ran into Jean and John Blattner. Hadn't seen them for a while, so had a bit of a visit. Then on to Plymouth where I cashed a check and picked up the rest of my books. I am really rather proud of it. It is called Fragments, I think I mentioned that. I will be selling it at the Celtic Faire and the Historical Research Center and where ever else I can. I figure can price it at $6. Lastly, I met Marlene, Betty, Ceil and Barb at the Dairy Queen for lunch. Soon, that will be a REALLY short trip.
This afternoon, I baked the scones and I mixed the day ingredients for the Brown Bread. I want that to be super fresh for the contest.
I will be leaving her at about 9 to get to Suzi and Hazel's so that Suzi and I can get there by 11:30 or 12:00. It is going to be a great two days.
I think I gave you my Brown Bread Recipe before, but here it is anyway.
IRISH BROWN BREAD
2 cups wheat flour
2 cups white flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tbs.. white sugar
2 tbs.. brown sugar
2 cups buttermilk (in a pinch you can sour milk by putting a tsp. of lemon juice or vinegar in it and letting it set for a bit but buttermilk is best.)
Sieve the dry ingredients into a large bow. Scoop up handfuls of the dry ingredients and allow to drop back into the bowl to aerate the mixture. (Very Important!)
Add enough buttermilk to make a soft dough. Work quickly as the buttermilk and soda are working. Knead the dough lightly. Keep flouring hand to keep dough from sticking. Too much kneading will toughen, too little it won’t rise.
Form a round loaf about as thick as your fist. Place on a lightly floured baking sheet or stone and cut a cross across the top with a floured knife.
Bake at the top of a preheated oven. 450 Degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. The loaf will sound hollow when rapped on the bottom. Wrap immediately in a clean tea towel to stop the crust from hardening.
Love
Mary
Remember, you won't hear from me again until Sunday.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Thursday, August 17, 2006
We started out this morning with breakfast at Zana's with Terry, our favorite waitress, who actually quit about a month ago. She and her boyfriend Paul joined us anyway. I asked her if she has figured out what she wants to do now and she hasn't. Will have to keep in touch with her. She has a little dog that looks much like Chelsea.
Then we went grocery shopping and to the drug store. Then home where I was able to stay and work until this evening when we had our first choir practice of the church year. We are getting ready for Celtic Faire now. It is exciting to finally sing the new songs and meet with everyone again.
Stopped at Mom's too. I made chocolate zucchini bread so I took her some of that and the blueberry zucchini bread that I baked the other day.
I packed the bottom drawers of my desk, the wrapping paper and Dick emptied the file cabinet. So we are making headway every day.
Since we are having open house on Sunday and I will be gone to Irishfest Saturday and Sunday, I am really working to get the house ready. Waylon's room, the dining room and the guest bathroom are ALL done. I will run the roomba in the office tonight and the hall and livingroom tomorrow and clean the kitchen tomorrow. That's the best I can do. Hope we get a good turnout. One never knows. Sometimes open houses are busy sometimes the realtor sits there for nothing. Since this is the first time we are open and it IS supposed to be a pleasant day, I have hopes.
Tomorrow, I will pick up corn on my way to Plymouth for lunch and the rest of the books while I am there.
A Reminder that I will not be posting Saturday night because I will be at Irishfest until late, with Suzi and spending the night with her and Hazel.
Before you order a drink in public, you should read this!
Seven New York City bartenders were asked if they could nail a woman's personality based on what she drinks. Though interviewed separately, they concurred on almost all counts.
The results:
Drink: Beer
Personality: Casual, low-maintenance; down to earth.
Your Approach: Challenge her to a game of pool.
Drink: Blender Drinks
Personality: Flaky, whiny, annoying; a pain in the ass.
Your Approach: Avoid her, unless you want to be her cabana boy.
Drink: Mixed Drinks
Personality: Older, more refined, high maintenance, has very picky taste; knows EXACTLY what she wants.
Your Approach: You won't have to approach her. If she's interested, she'll send YOU a drink......................
Drink: Wine (does not include White Zinfandel)
Personality: Conservative and classy; sophisticated yet giggles.
Your Approach: Tell her you love to travel and spend quiet evenings with friends.
Drink: White Zinfandel
Personality: Easy; thinks she is classy and sophisticated, actually, she has NO clue.
Your Approach: Make her feel smarter than she is...this should be an easy target.
Drink: Shots
Personality: Likes to hang with frat-boy pals and looking to get totally drunk... and naked.
Your Approach: Easiest hit in the joint. You have been blessed. Nothing to do but wait, however,
be careful not to make her mad!
Drink: Tequila
No explanations required - everyone just KNOWS what happens there.
Love
Mary
Then we went grocery shopping and to the drug store. Then home where I was able to stay and work until this evening when we had our first choir practice of the church year. We are getting ready for Celtic Faire now. It is exciting to finally sing the new songs and meet with everyone again.
Stopped at Mom's too. I made chocolate zucchini bread so I took her some of that and the blueberry zucchini bread that I baked the other day.
I packed the bottom drawers of my desk, the wrapping paper and Dick emptied the file cabinet. So we are making headway every day.
Since we are having open house on Sunday and I will be gone to Irishfest Saturday and Sunday, I am really working to get the house ready. Waylon's room, the dining room and the guest bathroom are ALL done. I will run the roomba in the office tonight and the hall and livingroom tomorrow and clean the kitchen tomorrow. That's the best I can do. Hope we get a good turnout. One never knows. Sometimes open houses are busy sometimes the realtor sits there for nothing. Since this is the first time we are open and it IS supposed to be a pleasant day, I have hopes.
Tomorrow, I will pick up corn on my way to Plymouth for lunch and the rest of the books while I am there.
A Reminder that I will not be posting Saturday night because I will be at Irishfest until late, with Suzi and spending the night with her and Hazel.
Before you order a drink in public, you should read this!
Seven New York City bartenders were asked if they could nail a woman's personality based on what she drinks. Though interviewed separately, they concurred on almost all counts.
The results:
Drink: Beer
Personality: Casual, low-maintenance; down to earth.
Your Approach: Challenge her to a game of pool.
Drink: Blender Drinks
Personality: Flaky, whiny, annoying; a pain in the ass.
Your Approach: Avoid her, unless you want to be her cabana boy.
Drink: Mixed Drinks
Personality: Older, more refined, high maintenance, has very picky taste; knows EXACTLY what she wants.
Your Approach: You won't have to approach her. If she's interested, she'll send YOU a drink......................
Drink: Wine (does not include White Zinfandel)
Personality: Conservative and classy; sophisticated yet giggles.
Your Approach: Tell her you love to travel and spend quiet evenings with friends.
Drink: White Zinfandel
Personality: Easy; thinks she is classy and sophisticated, actually, she has NO clue.
Your Approach: Make her feel smarter than she is...this should be an easy target.
Drink: Shots
Personality: Likes to hang with frat-boy pals and looking to get totally drunk... and naked.
Your Approach: Easiest hit in the joint. You have been blessed. Nothing to do but wait, however,
be careful not to make her mad!
Drink: Tequila
No explanations required - everyone just KNOWS what happens there.
Love
Mary
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Such a lovely anniversry day Dick and I had.
We exchanged e cards this morning. Then we went out to breakfast before going to get Dick's blood tested at the Clinic. For those of you who have been following, Dick was AGAIN within the perameters and has not reached 20 months without needing an adjustment on his medication. Sue is trying to figure out what the heck he is doing. And Dr. Phelan was extremely impressed when he had is physical last month.
I packed a couple of boxes today and took them out to the garage. We are having an open house on Sunday (I think I told you that). Linda from ReMax is coming Friday to look the house over before doing the open house on Sunday. She is coming at 10:30AM.
Then, we went to Marcus to see The Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Man's Chest. We liked it a lot. We have become quite the fans of Johnnie Depp since Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the first Pirates movie.
Tonight Dick took me to Nonna Maria's to celebrate the anniversary in style. Needless to say, we are both very tired. Neither of us got a nap and we are feeling it.
Did I tell you the story of my Mother's first day at school. Well, if I did, you are going to hear it again.
Mother grew up in a farming community and went to school her first couple of years at a school called Pius School, which no longer exists.
The first day of school, she was dropped off with George Dwyer, a neighbor boy. Grandma Bowser, Mother's mother, was working in the kitchen at about noon when Mr. Dwyer came walking in with George and my Mom. Grandma, quite concerned, said what happened, what went wrong. And Mr. Dwyer, gentle, easy going, hardworking farmer, said "That was long enough for those little persons to be at school." He figured that they would be tired and went and got them.
They never got away with that again. Mr. Dwyer was informed that they HAD to stay for the whole session.
Have a lovely day
Mary
We exchanged e cards this morning. Then we went out to breakfast before going to get Dick's blood tested at the Clinic. For those of you who have been following, Dick was AGAIN within the perameters and has not reached 20 months without needing an adjustment on his medication. Sue is trying to figure out what the heck he is doing. And Dr. Phelan was extremely impressed when he had is physical last month.
I packed a couple of boxes today and took them out to the garage. We are having an open house on Sunday (I think I told you that). Linda from ReMax is coming Friday to look the house over before doing the open house on Sunday. She is coming at 10:30AM.
Then, we went to Marcus to see The Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Man's Chest. We liked it a lot. We have become quite the fans of Johnnie Depp since Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the first Pirates movie.
Tonight Dick took me to Nonna Maria's to celebrate the anniversary in style. Needless to say, we are both very tired. Neither of us got a nap and we are feeling it.
Did I tell you the story of my Mother's first day at school. Well, if I did, you are going to hear it again.
Mother grew up in a farming community and went to school her first couple of years at a school called Pius School, which no longer exists.
The first day of school, she was dropped off with George Dwyer, a neighbor boy. Grandma Bowser, Mother's mother, was working in the kitchen at about noon when Mr. Dwyer came walking in with George and my Mom. Grandma, quite concerned, said what happened, what went wrong. And Mr. Dwyer, gentle, easy going, hardworking farmer, said "That was long enough for those little persons to be at school." He figured that they would be tired and went and got them.
They never got away with that again. Mr. Dwyer was informed that they HAD to stay for the whole session.
Have a lovely day
Mary
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
I got up ahttp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5293456
Create bit early this morning because it is a holyday of obligation in the Catholic Church. It is the Feast of the Assumption. I went to Mass at 7:00AM. It was sparsely attended. There do not seem to be many people who consider the holy days all that important.
After Mass, I took pictures of the church quilt, which I forwarded to Sandy at the parish office, and went to the Serenity Gardens for a breakfast. I got there just as they were pulling fresh cranberry muffins out of a pan so I had one of them, still warm for breakfast. My hair cut appointment was at 9AM so the timing was perfect. I got to see a young man getting cornrows in his hair. That was kind of interesting. Never seen that process before. It takes FOREVER. Even if I ever thought of such a thing, I would not have the patience.
Dick and I are working on boxing up the office and have made a great deal of headway. We got five boxes out into the garage today. I hope to get one or two more started this evening.
I saw Dr. Casy this afternoon. Things are pretty good lately but I needed a bit of adjusting. We are back to a month again and I told him that next month was a real puzzle and they are going to call in a month to see if I am ready to schedule.
We had salad, a super mexican burger patty and veggies for supper. Just enough.
We also racked and filtered the Luna Bianca wine. We want to bottle it as soon as possible so it can be boxed for transport to our new home.
Uncle Bob and Aunt Kathleen came by to bring me the Evening Optimist Packer Yearbook and we had a nice visit. Aunt Kathleen wanted to hear all about the Irish Reunion at St. Michaels. She hated to miss it but she and Bob were up at a "snowbird" get together in the UP of a bunch of Barbershoppers and they had a good time with the singing and good company and all.
As I was cleaning up, the door bell rang and there was a special delivery from Bobbie and Dick of a wonderful gift for our anniversary, which is tomorrow. We are so thrilled. Got our card from Mother also. It is so warm and fuzzy to be remembered and loved.
It does not seem that 20 years have passed by already. Tomorrow, we are going to go out to Nonna Maria's for dinner to celebrate. Dick gets his blood tested in the morning, which is not too celebratory, but we will use the opportunity to go to breakfast also and we might even go to a movie in the afternoon if all goes well. So we will enjoy. It is rather great that we enjoy each others company so much.
YOU SAY-GOD SAYS-BIBLE VERSES
You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)
You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you
(John 3:16 & John 3:34 )
You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)
You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: "It's not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )
You say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)
You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)
You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)
You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5
Hope it helps you too.
Love
Mary
Create bit early this morning because it is a holyday of obligation in the Catholic Church. It is the Feast of the Assumption. I went to Mass at 7:00AM. It was sparsely attended. There do not seem to be many people who consider the holy days all that important.
After Mass, I took pictures of the church quilt, which I forwarded to Sandy at the parish office, and went to the Serenity Gardens for a breakfast. I got there just as they were pulling fresh cranberry muffins out of a pan so I had one of them, still warm for breakfast. My hair cut appointment was at 9AM so the timing was perfect. I got to see a young man getting cornrows in his hair. That was kind of interesting. Never seen that process before. It takes FOREVER. Even if I ever thought of such a thing, I would not have the patience.
Dick and I are working on boxing up the office and have made a great deal of headway. We got five boxes out into the garage today. I hope to get one or two more started this evening.
I saw Dr. Casy this afternoon. Things are pretty good lately but I needed a bit of adjusting. We are back to a month again and I told him that next month was a real puzzle and they are going to call in a month to see if I am ready to schedule.
We had salad, a super mexican burger patty and veggies for supper. Just enough.
We also racked and filtered the Luna Bianca wine. We want to bottle it as soon as possible so it can be boxed for transport to our new home.
Uncle Bob and Aunt Kathleen came by to bring me the Evening Optimist Packer Yearbook and we had a nice visit. Aunt Kathleen wanted to hear all about the Irish Reunion at St. Michaels. She hated to miss it but she and Bob were up at a "snowbird" get together in the UP of a bunch of Barbershoppers and they had a good time with the singing and good company and all.
As I was cleaning up, the door bell rang and there was a special delivery from Bobbie and Dick of a wonderful gift for our anniversary, which is tomorrow. We are so thrilled. Got our card from Mother also. It is so warm and fuzzy to be remembered and loved.
It does not seem that 20 years have passed by already. Tomorrow, we are going to go out to Nonna Maria's for dinner to celebrate. Dick gets his blood tested in the morning, which is not too celebratory, but we will use the opportunity to go to breakfast also and we might even go to a movie in the afternoon if all goes well. So we will enjoy. It is rather great that we enjoy each others company so much.
YOU SAY-GOD SAYS-BIBLE VERSES
You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)
You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you
(John 3:16 & John 3:34 )
You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)
You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: "It's not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )
You say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)
You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)
You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)
You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5
Hope it helps you too.
Love
Mary
Monday, August 14, 2006
Today was much too busy. Started off with my walk with Chelsea. It was very nice, so she was eager and we did the whole thing. Then I watered the plants and started the sprinkler. We did have a little bit of rain last night but not enough to do a lot of good.
Bible study was interesting. We are talking about the bread and wine becoming the body and blood and how gross and shocking it must have been to the people of Jesus' day when he said that if they did not eat his flesh and drink heis blood they would die but if they did they would live forever. Wonder what I would have done.
This afternoon was Writer's Club. I brought my book. They are all very proud of me and I sold my first two books. WOW.
This evening I went to church to help decorate for the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady. We also hung the quilt for the Celtic Faire which is done and absolutely beautiful. I will be going the the 7AM Mass in the morning and get a good digital picture to send to Sandy in the office so that she can get it into the bulletin.
Now I am home and tired. I had trouble sleeping the latter part of last night. I kept waking up and having trouble getting back to sleep. Such a pain.
I am getting excited about Irish Fest. Suzi, Dick's sister Hazel's daughter, is going with me on Saturday. We had such fun last year and I know we will repeat that fun. I will spend Saturday night with them in Sussex and then go back to the festival on Sunday in time for Mass at 9:30. I have two passes so Suzi and I can get in free on Sunday and then I will bring some groceries and get in free on Sunday. Such a deal.
We are going to have an open house on Sunday afternoon from 12:30 to 1:30. Bobbie is going to pick up Dick and the critters for a couple of hours. Best that the house is empty when there is an open house.
Wish us luck
Love
Mary
Bible study was interesting. We are talking about the bread and wine becoming the body and blood and how gross and shocking it must have been to the people of Jesus' day when he said that if they did not eat his flesh and drink heis blood they would die but if they did they would live forever. Wonder what I would have done.
This afternoon was Writer's Club. I brought my book. They are all very proud of me and I sold my first two books. WOW.
This evening I went to church to help decorate for the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady. We also hung the quilt for the Celtic Faire which is done and absolutely beautiful. I will be going the the 7AM Mass in the morning and get a good digital picture to send to Sandy in the office so that she can get it into the bulletin.
Now I am home and tired. I had trouble sleeping the latter part of last night. I kept waking up and having trouble getting back to sleep. Such a pain.
I am getting excited about Irish Fest. Suzi, Dick's sister Hazel's daughter, is going with me on Saturday. We had such fun last year and I know we will repeat that fun. I will spend Saturday night with them in Sussex and then go back to the festival on Sunday in time for Mass at 9:30. I have two passes so Suzi and I can get in free on Sunday and then I will bring some groceries and get in free on Sunday. Such a deal.
We are going to have an open house on Sunday afternoon from 12:30 to 1:30. Bobbie is going to pick up Dick and the critters for a couple of hours. Best that the house is empty when there is an open house.
Wish us luck
Love
Mary
Sunday, August 13, 2006
It was supposed to get up to 80+ degrees today. But thank heaven the forecasters were wrong. It was beautiful - not over 74 with slightly overcast skies. Mother and I got there about 12:15 or so. We went right after the 10:30AM Mass. There was a nice crowd. Mother got to talk to several family members of families that she grew up with. She was baptized in St. Michael's in 1916.
Ken and Dolores always come, of course, since this started as an O'Reilly reunion and Ken's mother was an O'Reilly. Kurt, Jody and the boys, Brandon and Evan came too. Kurt is interested in family geneology and was delighted to have Mother walk around the cemetary and point out the gravestones and tell about the various family members involved. I think that I have mentioned the Bowser stone over four children that died between December 1859 and June 27, 1860. One, Sarah, an infant in the dead of winter and three in June of a summer fever, I think typhoid but am not totally possitive. I know that my Great Grandfather Joe Bowser had to help his Dad bury the children because the neighbors were afraid to come close because of danger of infection. They would come to the drive and inquire and leave food or any requests but could not help. It must have been awful. To lose three children and not be able to get comforted physically by your friends and neighbors. It must have been almost as difficult not to go and comfort your friend.
Anyway. Today was a joyous day. We had a good meal. Lots of good company. I added a picture below of Mother, Dolores and myself. It is from last year, but at our ages we don't change much. When I download today's pictures, I will put a picture of St. Michael's on for you. It is a charming little church.
Hope your day was as pleasant.
We had the first couple come through the house today. It has begun.
Love
Mary
Ken and Dolores always come, of course, since this started as an O'Reilly reunion and Ken's mother was an O'Reilly. Kurt, Jody and the boys, Brandon and Evan came too. Kurt is interested in family geneology and was delighted to have Mother walk around the cemetary and point out the gravestones and tell about the various family members involved. I think that I have mentioned the Bowser stone over four children that died between December 1859 and June 27, 1860. One, Sarah, an infant in the dead of winter and three in June of a summer fever, I think typhoid but am not totally possitive. I know that my Great Grandfather Joe Bowser had to help his Dad bury the children because the neighbors were afraid to come close because of danger of infection. They would come to the drive and inquire and leave food or any requests but could not help. It must have been awful. To lose three children and not be able to get comforted physically by your friends and neighbors. It must have been almost as difficult not to go and comfort your friend.
Anyway. Today was a joyous day. We had a good meal. Lots of good company. I added a picture below of Mother, Dolores and myself. It is from last year, but at our ages we don't change much. When I download today's pictures, I will put a picture of St. Michael's on for you. It is a charming little church.
Hope your day was as pleasant.
We had the first couple come through the house today. It has begun.
Love
Mary
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