A lovely Fall day. Kind of breezy and cool, but sunny. I am watching the weather forecasts. The first prediction of a hard frost and I will bring the planters with herbs in them into the garage and try to keep them until morning.

This is going to be a really difficult week for our Chelsea. Daylight savings time begins and her tummy is NOT going to be willing to accept that she has to eat and go out an hour later. We will ease her into it as much as possible. However, the world just changes, so we can't be to forgiving. I am staying up until 10PM myself to try to get ME into the new thing. One would think that an extra hour would be nice, BUT old bodies start to ache if they stay in bed too long.

I liked this Saturday. I made some sunflower brittle this morning. It is quite good.

Dick complained of a sore throat but is saying that is is a BIT better tonight so I hope it is nothing serious. With that procedure coming up on Wednesday, we don't need any sickness in his body.

I went to Walgreens to pick up a prescription and then did some Kmart shopping. I bought some bras. Mine were getting really raggedy. I hate shopping for bras even MORE that I hate shopping for jeans. Well, I found some so that should take care of it for a LONG time.

Today was the annual Craft Fair at St. John the Baptist. Part of the fair was the baskets that I helped Kate put together. The craft fair was fun and Kate should be proud of her raffle. It looked good and I think lots of tickets were sold. I went over at about 1:30 and stayed until the close at 3:00PM. I did get one of the silent auction items. 6 hand painted elf ornaments in a pretty red basket. I will either hang them on the Christmas tree or give them to someone as is for a nice Christmas present. I also bought some chances on the raffle baskets and did get a beautiful fern. I need something to put it on and will place it at the end of the living room where it should receive the best light. I need to take my corn plant out of there. I think I will move it down into the den, cut it back and see if I can get it to revive.

Michelle and Jim stopped at Bobbie and Bill's today. She sent us some of the pears that she dried in Jim's dehydrator. They are very good. She said they taste great cut up in oatmeal. Now that winter is coming upon us, I will surely try that.

Kate is going to try to write prose poems because someone told her that some of her stories would adapt to that. I gave her a copy of a great prose poem by Charles Baudelaire called "Get Drunk!" Here it is

"Get Drunk!", by Charles Baudelaire

One should always be drunk. That's all that matters;
that's our one imperative need. So as not to feel Time's
horrible burden one which breaks your shoulders and bows

you down, you must get drunk without cease.

But with what?
With wine, poetry, or virtue
as you choose.
But get drunk.

And if, at some time, on steps of a palace,
in the green grass of a ditch,
in the bleak solitude of your room,
you are waking and the drunkenness has already abated,
ask the wind, the wave, the stars, the clock,
all that which flees,
all that which groans,
all that which rolls,
all that which sings,
all that which speaks,
ask them, what time it is;
and the wind, the wave, the stars, the birds, and the clock,
they will all reply:

"It is time to get drunk!

So that you may not be the martyred slaves of Time,
get drunk, get drunk,
and never pause for rest!
With wine, poetry, or virtue,
as you choose!"

Go into this new week with the above as your goal.

Love

Mary

Whew. This was a busy fulfilling day. Chelsea and I went on a pretty good walk. We started at 6:30AM so I let her take me through the park as the path takes us into a well lighted parking lot but I steered her to the left and back into Tallgrass. She was quite perky. She did do some coughing just before I woke up but was quite happy walking.

After Dick and Chelsea went down for their naps, I drove on over to Kate's house to help put baskets together for the craft fair at St. John's tomorrow. We got up to 40 and there are several items that will stand alone so I think she was up to the 50 she wanted. That Katie. She is me in overdrive. You think I try to do too much. I am trying to tone that girl down but am trying to help her too. He husband Ron is doing SO much better. He is gaining strength and stamina. Thank you all for your prayers. He still needs them til he gains some weight and gets a few problems solved so don't stop.

I came home at noon and got Dick all messaged and rebandaged. Fixed us lunch (actually dinner as I had to be at Rhine this evening.) and moved up an appointment with Dr. Hodous as I have a concern with a strange blister or something on his left foot. We had an appointment for the day after his surgery, but this will be better. I don't like the looks of it.

Then I went back to Lakeland College for another workshop with Phillip Dacey, the poet. It was fun. We were with several of the college students who helped with the conference. We did a couple of exercises in connection with a class that Dacey does called. "There's No Such Thing As Writer's Block". It is a series of exercises for people who feel that they are facing such a thing.

One of the things we did was really fun. We took a piece of 8X11 paper and drew 10 lines on it. Then folded it in half. On the left half we write and adjective and passed it to the personto the left. Each person then wrote an adjective on the next line. When all ten lines were filled we turned the paper over and passed it to the person to our right. We then repeated the process writing a noun on this side. The combinations should provide breaking of writer's blocks for months to come.

Here are a couple of mine:

billowy moon
hurtful angel
georgous solorsystem
stinky brick
cranky tractor


I loved this one which was on someone elses list.

Witless hyphen.

Wasn't that fun. Now you should write womething about a cranky tractor for me.

I went right from there to Rhine Plymouth for my Friday of work. It was the last day of league shooting. All but 7 teams were already done and two did not show up for their last two lines. So it was a quite night. I shot a round of open with Bill Olson, Doc Blake and Larry. I got 14 this week and believe it or not out shot Doc on two stations. He beat me overall but I was a bit proud of myself. So was Doc.

Bobbie brought me soap. She is a good daughter. She and Bill are both feeling better which makes me feel good.

Tomorrow should be a quiet day. I want to go over to St. John's to participate in the craft fair an show support for Kate and will pick up a prescription for Dick sometime in the late morning but get to stay home most of the day. I think I will make that pumpkin seed brittle that I want to try.

Have a nice weekend.

Love

Mary

This was the "funnest" day. I got up at 6AM and took Chelsea for her walk IN THE DARK. Two more days til daylight savings time. Then I only have to convince her little inner clock to go to bed an hour later so she will get up an hour later.

It is a Holy Day. I have been notorious for the past few years at forgetting them. But this day I remembered. It is All Saints Day. The service was very nice. It is always good to go on these days when all of the school kids are at the service and do the readings and all. The reading was the Beatitudes. That reading has been on my mind lately.

Then I fixed breakfast for Dick and myself and headed off to pick up Kate. We drove to Lakeland where we met up with Bev Schellhaass, Jane Kocmoud, Sy Regan and Ann Pirrung and MaryAnn Hurtt who Jane and I met at the Ellen Kort workshop. We all sat together for the initial part of the day, readings by the authors: Philip Dacey, Poet and Margaret Dawe, Novelist. This is a fun way to start off a conference.

After the readings the six of us headed over to The Log Cabin restaurant for lunch and camaraderie. Then Jane, Mary Ann, Kate, Bev and I went back to Lakeland for the workshop. We all went to Philip Dacey, the poets and it was fun. I had sent in a Haiku that I had written.

COBWEBS
Friend from long ago
Do you ever think of me?
You stroll through my mind.

The workshop took the poems of those who had sent a work in. Philip had the poet read her work (all her in this case) and then the participants, except FOR the author, critiqued it and offered their interpretation and suggestions. It was marvelous. One thought was that this was an observation of Alzheimer's either from the view of the victim or the caretaker. (Of course, it could be argued that the caretaker is a victim too, but let's not quibble.) I was delighted.

Before the class, I was talking to a woman who looked somewhat familiar. We talked a bit and I asked her name. It was Marion Stewart. She was a reporter with the Sheboygan Press some 15 years ago or more and has moved to Colorado. She is here for the conference thought staying with her daughter. She was one of Dick's favorite reporters when she was here and he was still working as the director of Mead. They both have high and wonderful views of each other.

The end of the evening was in the PUB. Another session of readings from the authors with a wine and cheese event. A lovely day.

In between the workshop and the evening event, Kate and I went to Dairy Queen and purchased some ice cream treats then went over to my Mom's so I could introduce Kate to my Mother. We spent a wonderful hour eating ice cream and visiting.

Love you all

Mary

It was supposed to be warm today, but the wind was blowing and it was really quite chilly. It was very dark when Chelsea and I went for our walk so we did not go too far. We stayed on the lighted streets in Tall Grass.

Today was grocery shopping day but before we left turned off the water to the outside faucet and drained it. Now I have to decide if I want to bring in the hose or not.

We went to Family Restaurant for breakfast and then on to the Pig. We were home at about 10AM. I did a bit of sewing on CWI Sweatshirt Jackets and then got ready to go to the bank for an appointment and to Walgreens to pick up a prescription for Dick. We also drove over to Aurora for our flu shots. Glad that is done BUT my arm is sore and I am very tired. Of course, the tiredness could be because it is evening and I am usually tired then.

I then went to my friend Kate's house to help her start putting baskets together for the basket raffle at St. John the Baptist Craft event which is Saturday from 9 to 3. We sorted enough stuff for about 25 and she figures she needs at least 50. I told her I would try to help her again on Friday Morning. Tomorrow, she, I and Bev, also from the Plymouth Writer's Club, will be meeting at Lakeland College for the writer's event that is held every year. Should be a "loverly" day. ( I am feeling a bit musical.) It continues on Friday. There are less opportunities for adults at the Friday event. But I will see what fits my schedule. I also have to work at Rhine that evening.

A little Haiku for you.

It was a good day.
Peaceful and without crisis
I am so grateful.


A haiku traditionally SHOULD speak of nature but modern poets do sometimes stray from that and this one fits the 5-7-5 rule. AND I kind of like it.


Love

Mary

We had a very sad Chelsea this morning. We had a very nice early morning walk. Starting at 6:30AM it was almost light when we got back home. I am sure looking forward to daylight savings time. After we got home, we had breakfast and THEN I took MY shower and then make Chelsea come in for HER shower. She had wandered around under the grill on Saturday when I grilled the brats etc and drippings had gotten in her muff and on her back. I washed off most of them but she was just plain grungy.

Now she is just glowing and as white as the snow. Thank heavens for Bobbie's Puppy Love. The shower did get her a bit too excited and she coughed. No seizure though.

Dick's temperature has disappeared but he is still bothered by that pain in his back and side. We need to keep a good eye on that.

Did you watch that Packer game last night? I went to bed at 9:30 because I was so exhausted then the game got so exciting and so iffy that I couldn't sleep. Now I am so glad because I got to see that unbelievable final touchdown pass, that super first play in overtime. WOW!! How bout those Packers!

I finished the binding on the tree quilt and vacuumed the den so I could lay the thing out on the floor and arrange the TREES!!. Next step to affix and applique them on. Getting close.

Tomorrow will be busy with shopping and all. We are going to get our outside faucets winter ready tomorrow while it is still warm. I will bring in all my pots of herbs at the first warning of a hard freeze. They can just enjoy their time outside as long as possible. It was easy to enjoy today.

I baked a spaghetti squash today. Scared Dick. He knew that I was fixing spaghetti and meatballs and was afraid that I was going to make him eat the squash. He go his spaghetti, but did he ever miss a good veggie. I didn't even use the pasta. I cooked up some onion and garlic in olive oil then added the squash, black olives and feta cheese. A little salt and basil and num num. I could have make a meal of that.

Enjoy the joke below. I did

Mary

GOOD SAMARITAN

A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan, in which a man was beaten, robbed and left for dead. She described the situation in vivid detail so her students would catch the drama. Then, she asked the class, "If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?" A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, "I think I'd throw up."

Today was not as planned. Dick has had a pain in his back, in the kidney area, for a few days. He told me about it on Saturday. It was still persistent and he had a slight fever this morning so he got an appointment with a physician Assistant as Dr. Sharon is out of town for the week. So far the tests have not shown an infection so we are treating the pain and resting a lot. Pray that the final test also shows nothing. Though that will also be a puzzle. What is causing it!

So, I spent the bulk of the day cleaning and sewing. I vacuumed the office. The carpet is Chelsea filthy and we WILL have to clean it soon, but it is discouraging as she keeps drooling a path between us. We tried a runner but it kept moving and became a danger for Dick as he shuffles. Oh Well, we will just have to keep working on it.

The binding on the tree quilt is almost complete. I should be able to finish it tomorrow, THEN the trees have to be appliqued on or it won't be a tree quilt after all.

We are now watching the Packer game. It is at the half and is already after 9PM. I am not going to make it. Soon, Chelsea will get her last outside of the evening and I will go to bed and TRY to watch the end of it there.

Just for fun - A comparison

Love

Mary

LADIES- To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag
with the potatoes.

REAL WOMEN- Buy boxed mashed potato mix and you don't have to
worry about the potatoes growing arms and legs.

A very active and very satisfying Sunday.

When I got up, the temperature was at 32, before it started up during the day, it had dropped down to 29. I took Chelsea for two SHORT walks. It was too dark at 6AM when I go up, so I let her out long enough for her to be comfortable, then took her out for a bit longer walk before I headed to church.

I sat with Kathy Ziegler at mass. I was also a communion distributor. That is always very satisfying. I never quite get over what a real privilege it is to be able to do that.

Dick and I had a lovely breakfast. We almost have to on Sundays because Chelsea expects nothing less. We had sausage, scrambled eggs with cheese and green onion, toast and hash browns. Really good.

I went out to Rhine Plymouth today to finish the last two targets for the pistol league. My first one, as usual, was not good but the second was much better. My average for the league was 46.5, my goal is to break 50 so I am not satisfied. Well, I will try harder next time.

This afternoon, St. John the Baptist had an event. Someone donated a brand new organ to the church and today was the blessing and a concert. Fr. Tom Lijewski, who until recently was pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Kohler and who is a classmate of our pastor, Fr. Van Beeck, was the organist. He is an accomplished organist. He has been giving recitals since 1979 and is currently the chaplain of the Milwaukee Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. He really put the organ through its paces playing every thing from Bach to Purvis.

There was a reception in the hall after the recital. I walked down with Rosemary Mugan and we had a perfectly lovely visit. Several friends form Blessed Trinity were there and I got to visit with Fr. Howard Johnson who I had not seen in a couple of years. A nice afternoon.

We had leftover hamburgers and potato salad for supper so it was an easy night for me.

Oh, I baked pumpkin seeds today and are they ever good. I found a recipe for fresh pumpkin seed brittle. I will try it this week. Bobbie is the candy maker but I will do the best I can.

A busy week is ahead. Everything from battening down for winter to a Writer's Conference. Hope yours if fun.

Love
Mary


Birds are still asleep
In the hour before dawn
Only the breeze sings.

by me