Left the house at 5:15 AM to meet the hunters in the woods. We had a successful hunt. I didn't get one, AGAIN, but the party did well. I will tell the story.

To set the stage for those who might not be aware of hunting regulations. Hunters, at least in Wisconsin, wear blaze orange during deer hunting season for safety reasons. If you are ever out there, you will know why. The orange shows up no matter what the weather and from great distance.

About noon, I heard four shots coming from over to my left above the swamp and beyond Shane's spot. Right around where Cory sits. Next thing I see is a HUGE deer running into the breach between the woods and the swamp in front of Shane. Shane shoots and misses. (He knew he had missed but still felt he had to search for signs of blood because it was SO big and he was hoping against hope that he was wrong.) The deer whips around in back of the ridge across the swamp and worked its way back around to where Randy is sitting. He shot twice and hit it a killing shot but it did run for a bit and he was afraid he lost it. So he went and got Jeff to help him follow the blood trail. Shane was so antsy because he lost it that he had just arrived that Jeff's site to commiserate when Randy ran for help. He said he never saw Randy so outwardly excited in his whole life. Randy is usually calm and collected. They found it very quickly.

It is a 10 pointer and has to dress out at least at 200 lbs. It is the biggest deer the Deeley's have ever taken out of the Kettles. Wow.

Cory said to tell Bobbie that it came up towards him from right in front of her stand.

Now I want to tell you something really cute and then sign off so I can get ready for bed.

I decided at about 2:00 that I had had enough. I had only seen the big one and a doe that came up in back of me on top of the ridge and had posed in a totally unsafe shot. So I didn't.

So I walked around the side of the swamp to the clearing where the falling down fence that my great great grandfather built is. I took some pictures and then walked down to Shane to tell him that I was going to work my way to the road. He told me the story of the "great hunter" and said that - When I got to the fork in the trail, I should look to the left about 150 yards and there I would see a large brown fuzzy lump with a big smiling pumpkin standing next to it..

And I did. There was the biggest deer I've seen in my hunting years and Randy, grinning like a Cheshire Cat.

He is so happy and keeps saying that he never thought he'd ever get a big buck and here it is. WOW. I'll send a picture tomorrow. I am too tired to try tonight.

Love

Mary

I hope that tomorrow turns out to be much like today. It was not too cold and there was no precipitation. Chelsea woke me up at 6:03AM and she was a very enthusiastic walker. I thought at first that she was, perhaps, a bit tired because she kept turning around before we got to the ends of the cul de sacs - but she just wanted to get to the park. She was very hungry too.

I think the worst is over. She still has to take her anti biotics for almost two weeks but she is OK.

Went to have lunch at the Dairy Queen with Marlene, Ceil, Barb, Mary and Joyce. We had a pleasant lunch and visit. We will not meet for two weeks because of Thanksgiving. Joyce told us that she had heard that a Kayla had been hurt in a rollover accident on the way to school that morning. The last name told us that it was Betty's grandaughter. She was taken to Sheboygan Memorial with non life threatening injuries. Certainly a relief. It was a hit and run. How can ANYONE do that and leave someone hurt.

I went to the new Plymouth Historical Museum opening tonight. I was SO impressed. When I was in there two weeks ago, I never would have guessed they could get it ready in time. It is very impressive. That is where Beth Dipple and I are going to have our first Irish program, a Christmas Tea with a harpist and Irish Cakes and comaradery.

While at the opening, I met Mark Kleinhans and his wife. Mark built the Tallgrass condos and also lives here. I mentioned to him that I love it there but miss my kitties. He and his wife got a funny look and said they see no reason why I shouldn't get them. Those by laws are intended to be guidelines and besides, cat's in a house, do not bother anyone. Mark's wife said that bylaws can be changed but who would know there are here. I also met Tom and Linda Phillips who live down the street. I knew Tom before as he is the principal at St. Mary School in Falls which is run by Blessed Trinity. He and Linda said - go get your kitties.

When I told Dick, he looked very surprised and gave me more hope than I have had in two months that I can perhaps get Oscar and Roxie back. This would make the house perfect as far as I am concerned. I figure we can put the litter box down in the basement, I am thinking in the guest bath. Anyway, Dick hasn[t said yes but he is considering. Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could have them back.

We tried a Chicken Helper for supper tonight and it was really good.

I will be closing now as I need to get Dick's legs soaped and need to be in bed early so I am ready to go hunting tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Love

Mary

It was an eventful day today. At least for Chelsea. She had her dentistry work done today and (poor little thing) had to have one of her molars removed. She is a bit demanding tonight. When she got home she drank and drank and drank. Probably didn't have a drop at the vets. So she is needing to go out a LOT. We think she is also in a bit of pain now that the anesthetic has worn ovv and she is feeling that hole in her gums.

Well, this will be the last time. She will be way to old when her teeth need cleaning again.

It was rather cold today. We had to add air to most of our tires , should have thought of THAT while it was still warm. We also went grocery shopping. I tried to think of everything we need for Thanksgiving as our next shopping day is supposed to BE Thanksgiving.

Today I made the cranberry relish and mixed the pie crust dough. My pie crust dough can be kept for quite a long time. It is a recipe that I got from my dear mother in law, Lil Johnston many years ago. We are going to have pumpkin pie and Figgy Hobbin for dessert on Thanksgiving.

Years ago when Bret and Bart were little. Turkey was for Thanksgiving. The Johnston's always had turkey for Christmas too. After a few years, we decided to spend Christmas at our own home so the kids could enjoy their gifts and all. One year Bart asked why we had to have turkey for Christmas too. He asked why we couldn't have a special meal like Crab or something. So from then on, we did. I would fix crab legs, shrimp and (for my ex and the boys) steamed clams (I couldn't stomach the clams myself. They are all right in chowder but not steamed.) It became a rather fun tradition.

We Kunerts eat whatever the cook decides to prepare on Christmas. It is fun. And we take turns with who has what each year.

Saturday I will go deer hunting. Wish me luck and dry weather.

Love

Mary

Dick had his appointment with Sue at the Clinic today. His count has dropped down from over 400 t0 180. It is supposed to be between 200 and 300 so we are getting close. She made a minor adjustment and we will go back in two weeks to check.

We stopped at Fleet Farm on the way home to pick up a hot seat for my hunting trip and a tire gauge. The one we found in the garage was not working and then later we found another one. So we seem to have three.

I spent most of the day catching up on phone calls and emails. Then this evening I went to Mead to see my friend Jean-Andrew a storyteller under the name of Storylore entertain a room full of toddlers. She is really fun.

Then home. Tomorrow our poor Chelsea is going to have some dental work done. She has it worse than we do. For one thing, she doesn't understand at all and for another they have to put her under and she will have to go through not eating after 9 this evening and then probably being a bit sick when she wakes up.

Thanksgiving is nearing. I am trying to pick up EVERYTHING we need tomorrow because the next week is - again -VERY busy. I LOVE cooking Thanksgiving dinner.

Have I ever told you of the Thanksgivings in my previous life? We used to go out to the desert with the jeep club. I would cook our turkey dinner on the Sunday before and then take all the pieces for a dinner on Thanksgiving in the camper. Then on Saturday, the jeep club would roast a whole pig and a quarter of beef on a spit outside. We started in the wee hours of the morning and the guys monitored it all day sprinkling it with spices and pouring red wine on it. They had rigged up a bit spit with a generator to run it. During the day, Twila Heinze would supervise the making of fresh applesauce and beans and anyone who had an oven in their campers baked potatoes. Finally we would all line up and gorge ourselves . Then we would finish our meal with homemake ice cream. I remember one Thanksgiving when Bret stared at that pig going round and round over the fire and asked Orrin Nordin "Can it oink yet?' Orrin said he sure hoped not.


Love

Mary

This was a rather disjointed day. Dick did not really feel up to par and ended up taking an afternoon nap, which is very unusual.

He slept this morning until about 8 (of course, that does not factor in how little if any sleep he got during the night) Then we took out the trash and transported Chelsea to Kettle Moraine Veterinary Clinic to get updated on her shots and introduced to her new "health care" experts. Dr. Quilling confirmed that she does indeed have a heart murmer and feels that this is probably the reason for her seizures. He feels that since she is so alert and likes her walks that we will not medicate her. He has suggested that her teeth, obviously full of tarter, be cleaned as he has seen tooth infection cause a lot of trouble. Also had her nails cut as this is easier on me. I get so scratched up from her when she paws at me to get my attention or tell me that she loves me.

We left there and headed to Sheboygan Falls to take Mom some wine. I was amused when she said that at her card game yesterday she mentioned the "tragedy" that had occurred that morning when the wine crashed in the street. She found it funny that they all were so concerned until they heard the punch line.

Then home again.

I spent a good chunk of the afternoon mixing the meat and veggies and assembling and baking the pasties. (You bake them for 30 minutes then freeze them. To prepare you put the pastie on a greased cookie sheet in a preheated oven and bake, from frozen, for 50 minutes.) Since I was grinding stuff, I ground some extra carrots and made a carrot, pineapple, raisin salad. We love that and it lasts. I had quite a bit of the meat and veggie mixture left so I am going to make hash for supper tomorrow night. A pork,beef, potato, carrot, onion hash SHOULD taste mighty good.

Tonight I went over to St.John's and met Marlene and Ceil to attend Fr. Van Beek's Adult Education. They supply the bible and he speaks. He is a good preacher. Tonight's class was on infinity, light and always from above. I learned a lot. About Trinity, Jesus and have some really great reference notes. Did you know that Ruah means the Breath of God? It is a pretty word.

Now I am home and winding down. Dick took me out for dinner. We went to the Wilderness and I had liver and onions. Very tasty. too. Dick got lake perch and said it was good too. We always have so many leftovers. We brought home chili AND part of our entree.

Tomorrow morning we go to the Clinic and have Dick's blood checked. It will be interesting to see if the adjustment Sue made had corrected his count.

Have a good Wednesday.

Love


Mary

The snow was melting quite fast today and we did have some sunshine.

I went to Mass at St. John's for the first time as a parishioner. My friend Marlene and her husband Warren were there and Marlene introduced me to the pastor Dennis Van Beek. He does give a wonderful sermon. I do like the way he speaks before Mass to give you an idea of what to expect in the readings and how it will apply to your life. He is really good.

Each year he has a four lesson adult education series, one a month for four months. This year the first one starts on Tuesday. So I guess I joined at just the right time. Marlene is going and I will meet her there.

Jim and Michelle came over this afternoon and we played a couple of games of pool. I had only played once before in my whole life and did not do well. I did not do well this time either but I am sure that with practice I could be better. It was fun anyway and that is the most important thing.

I am going to make Pasties this week. I mixed the pastry together today. That has to chill for at least 24 hours so I figure that I can make them either tomorrow or Tuesday.

Listening to Jerry Aps on Saturday talk about his days growing up on a farm without power in their house brought back lots of memories to me. He mentioned that they would get a gallon on ice cream on Saturday and bring it back home to divide carefully into five pieces to be eaten all at once because they could not keep it in the ice box.

We did have a refrigerator, but it did not have a very impressive freezer compartment. It only held a try of ice cubes or so. So. Once a week when Mom and Dad came back from grocery shopping they would bring a gallon of neopolitan ice cream. We still can see Dad with a knife and all the plates carefully carving that ice cream up into EQUAL parts but still honoring each child's request for his or her favorite flavor. And he did it too.

That made me remember the time Mom opened the refrigerator and found a poor little kitten sitting on a shelf shivering. She started to remember other odd things that had appeared in the refrigerator and questioned Randy. Randy said that our course he had put it in there. He wanted to "save" it. Mother had used that term when whe put food away and he figured that a kitten was just as important.

Love

Mary