I met Jeff, Randy and Jessica out this side of Dundee at the spot we go deer hunting. We checked out all the spots and cleaned them up and "repaired" benches and seats. It was a bit chilly, but the wind they had mentioned was not noticeable in the woods which were beautiful. The trails were covered with leaves. Makes it a bit tricky because one has to be more careful not to slip, but it is nice and soft.

We went in past Cory's spot so that we could see the big deer rub that we had heard about. If it is indeed a rub it must be either a huge deer of a mighty aggressive one.

Then we walked on to Shane's spot. He won't be here until the end of the week. We have to go over ruins of the rock fence that we figure great grandpa Joseph built when this was the Bowser homestead.

These treks are fun. Shane was the second one to shoot at that big deer that Randy got the year before last. I saw it too when Shane shot, and I waited for it to reappear closer to me but it went around back of the ridge across from me. It did make it to Randy anyway and he was a happy happy camper.

When we left there, we went to the spot that I was at last year. Jeff is going to sit there. He is being exceptionally good to his old sister and letting me use his spot which is easy to get to and close to the road. He has also done very well there. It seems to be a place that the deer travel a lot and he wants me to fill out at least once.

Next on to Jessie's place where she and I shot to see how accurate we are. Jessie was right on. I was low and to the left. I did get it lined up but have to remember to shoot a bit higher.
Randy and Jessie then went up to Randy's spot and Jeff and I over to "his" spot. When he started hunting this place there was a nice tree there. He had made a bench below and had a nice seat up in the crook of the tree which gave him a bird's eye view of the lanes. Over the years, his tree has died. All that is left is a crumbling stump and some rotting branches. We got the lanes cleared out and reinforced the bench and then were done. We did well. I got home shortly after 11AM, took a shower, a load of wash and ate lunch. Then I went over to see Dick. I tried to take a nap but my tooth started to throb, so I came home and took some Tylenol an lay down here. I went to Mass at 4PM.

Dick and I visited from about 5:30 to 7:30 and now I am home for the evening. Tomorrow, I am staying home until 2:30PM. Then Nancy Roehre and I are going to shoot some pistol. I will stop to give Dick a hug on my way home and stay home for the rest of the evening.

We have decided that I need rest so I will to stay in my cave except for that short jaunt. I intend to nap at least twice. Chelsea will be beside herself.

Be happy and pray for us as I pray for all of you.

Tomorrow is the big Raffle at St. John the Baptist. Some of you have tickets. The drawing is after the 10:45AM Mass. They will call all the winners so be near your phone.

Love

Mary





Randy and Jes

I am exhausted. It was a long day. I got up a bit early because I woke up and couldn't sleep anymore. I went to the Pig early to pick up some water for making coffee and some pretzels for Dick. I went early because I wanted a donut. I got a Chocolate Long John which tasted wonderful.

I went over to see Dick at about 9, after making a few phone calls. I talked to Janice Lemkuil, the wife of an amputee, Lee. They are members of an amputee support group which meets once a month on the fourth Wednesday of every month. I am going to try my best to go to the next meeting which is November 26. They meet at 2PM at Rocky Knoll.

I also heard from Dick Ruh from A & J Custom Van. He checked and found out that the 2008 Ford Explorer cannot have that swivel, lowering seat installed. Something about the electrical hookups. We are considering changing vehicles, but are in the early stages. Dick said that he would bring over a lower van that allows for wheelchair access by ramp for my Dick to try if that would help. They also deal in custom vans. One of the workers at the Center has a brother and sister in law who also are adept at finding vehicles. We need to consider all the pros and cons and then make up our minds.

I met Bobbie at the Horse and Plow at about noon. We had lunch there. She had a Cobb salad that looked luscious and I had a veggie pannini. Then we walked through the American Club Craft Fair.

There was a LOT of neat stuff. It is fun to look at all the beautiful things that people make to sell. I picked up two Christmas gifts which I will not put on this site because the recipients just might guess what is for them.

Got home a bit after three and caught up on the phone and email messages before going over to be with Dick again. Jim and Michelle came to clean again just before 4PM so I packed my dinner and asked them to feed the Chelsea for me.

I came home at a bit before 7 so I could watch Ghost Whisperer. I saw the first part of a two parter last week and did not want to miss the ending.

Tomorrow, I am going to the woods with Jeff, Randy and Jessica to scope out our hunting sited. It is supposed to be cold. I just hope it is not too cold next Saturday when we hunt. We are going out at about 8:30 so I should be over to see Dick by noon. I will go to the 4PM Mass and then be with Dick again until close to bed time. We decided that I will take Sunday for a stay at home and rest day - except that Nancy and I are going shooting at 2:30 and I will stop on the way home to give him a hug.

I found a neat quote that is fun with all the political stuff that is going on. A P. J. Rourke said:

He said, "The Democrats are the party that says government will make you smarter, taller, richer, and remove the crabgrass on your lawn. The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then they get elected and prove it."

Love

Mary

Today was a bit better. At least we got a few answers.

We have an appointment at St. Luke's with the Hyperbaric doctor on December 2 at 10:00AM. Now I have to confirm that Tim from Custom Care and Transport can drive us.

I also have A & J Vans pricing out what it would cost to have a "lift" passenger seat put in the Explorer. Dick is learning to do a board transfer and this would be a seat that would swivel, come out, lower and then reverse to get Dick in the car without standing. Gene from A & J, as I said, is pricing it out. It is only one thing that we are checking but may be a "permanent" solution to transporting him. Tim is great but there is no funding for transportation and it is beginning to mount up, even locally.

I have several other possible sources of help that I will be calling in the next few days.

The rest of the day was spent just us together. I ate dinner with him in the dining room. We were served really good ham, scalloped potatoes and beans with peach pie. Then for supper I brought Market Day hamburgers and we ate in his room.

Don't have much else to say as everything is really goofy. Tomorrow, Bobbie and I are going to the American Club for the Christmas bazaar and having lunch at the Horse and Plow. I look forward to the break.

Love

Mary

Had to get moving VERY early this morning because Dick had his appointment with Dr. Moreno at 9AM and we left the Center at 8:15.

I got hungry for a Mc Donalds Breakfast sandwich so stopped and picked up a bacon/egg/cheese biscuit. It tasted good.

No good news from Dr. Moreno. The largest wound on his right foot is now deep enough that it is VERY serious. Several things were discussed. First, he can no longer put ANY weight at all on that foot. Second, Dr. Moreno gave me the name of a hyperbaric doctor. We are going to see about getting an evaluation to see if he is a candidate for oxygen therapy. Third, if not or perhaps in conjunction with the oxygen therapy a graft might help it heal. Lastly If we cannot get it healed, we have to consider another amputation. Please pray very hard. We are discouraged.

I had lunch at Firehouse Pizza with members of the class of 1958. We plan on doing this every three months. This started with the gals but now the guys come too. It was good to see them and I had a chance to unwind a bit.

Then I went grocery shopping and back to stay with Dick. I ate supper with him. I did come home long enough to pick up my meal, take care of Chelsea and make some phone calls. Kate called while I was home. Pray for them too. Ron is having a minor surgery on Monday.

When we get our men healed, Kate and I are planning on a weekend somewhere, the four of us to relax and celebrate. Perhaps you would like to join us as you have traveled this journey with me.

Anyway. Tomorrow is a quiet day. Fr. Van Beeck is saying Mass at the Center and I will go. I will be firming up evaluations for the evaluations too.

Til tomorrow. I hope it will be much more upbeat then.

Love

Mary

FELLOW TRAVELER

Come back with me to yesterday
Rage one more time
Cry for past mistakes
Mourn over lost friends
Gloat over triumphs
Relive treasured joy
We journey there in memory.

Travel with me to tomorrow
Bring Peace to the world
Resolve world hunger
Make every child safe
Fly to distant planets
Explore the center of the earth
We travel there in imagination.

Then, walk with me today.
Hold my hand.
Work with me, side by side
Play with me in wild abandon.
Sing with me, shout out your song.
Pray with me and share your soul.
Love me. Stay with me.
Today we have.

The day started VERY early. The phone rang at 4AM. It was Dick. He had a problem. The call button cord had broken, apparently it got caught in the bed mechanism or something, and he could not get help to his room. He was in bed and had been trying since 2:30 to get some one's attention. Finally he just called me. I looked up the number as I got my sweats and a jacket on and called as I was driving to the Center. When I got there they were just swinging him into his wheel chair. He was a bit shook and so sorry that he had to wake me. The staff had never seen a cord break like that before and told him that next time he should just YELL until someone answers. But - we had a better idea - he now has the number at the center desk and could just call them on his phone. They said that they used to have a patient who always called them because she could not remember how to use the call button.

So, I went home and tried to go back to sleep but that was rather futile. I got two short rests with perhaps a bit of sleep before I headed back to see him at 8:30AM.

I left again at 9:30 to pick up Chelsea for her appointment for another blood draw today. Not good news. The BUN level is still increasing and Dr. Connors is suggesting taking her off of one of the meds that helps the cough to see if that will help the kidneys. It is all iffy but the new med is supposed to be really good for the kidneys. We will just have to try it and see.

I took my lunch back to the Center and ate with Dick and the guys in the dining room after he had his PT. Then I took a nap. Not long, perhaps another half an hour but it helped. I stayed with Dick until 4:30PM. He had occupational therapy this afternoon but the rest of the time was quiet. We missed it but the social director had a special Veterans program. It was while Dick was having his therapy. But Ross had prepared a special framed certificate for each of the veterans. It has their name, branch of service and which war they served in. We put Dick's up on a shelf in his room. Ross also brought a red white and blue boutonniere which Dick wore proudly.

Anyway, I came home at 4:30PM and stayed. I am really tired. I had put pork chops and cabbage in the slow cooker so supper was easy. I called Bret at about 6PM and we had a lovely visit. He had called last night before I got home and was available again this evening. He sure sounds good and is planning on being back here for a visit next summer. Yippee.

I heard from Leslie today too. Her husband Bill's sister Debbie died yesterday. We all prayed for her earlier this year. Now we need to pray for Bill and his family.

Guess that is all the news.

A friend sent me the following quote from When Angels Speak: Inspiration from Touched by and Angel by Martha Williamson.

There are rivers for you to cross, but when you walk through the waters, He will be with you. There are mountains for you to climb. But when you cannot take another step...He will carry you. There are gardens, jungles, oceans, and caves. There are people to cherish and hearts to change. There is a life to live here. And He will hold your and all the way if you will just come into the light and have faith.

I think it is beautiful so should be shared with you all too.

Love

Mary

Cold, Cold, Cold.

That is all I have to say for today.

I went to Bible Study in Sheboygan Falls for my usual Monday morning. We had a group of 8 of us. The readings all related to using your talents to the best of your ability. The first reading was from the last book in Proverbs relating to the Ideal Wife. The last was the parable from Matthew about the landowner who gave three of his servants money when he went on a trip. Two doubled his money and one buried it and the one who buried it was in REAL trouble. Guess we are supposed to use what we have, be it talent or money.

Then I stopped and visited with Mother for a while. She is just fine and staying warm. She went to church yesterday. It was clear though cold and someone, usually Shirley Carpenter, always walk her home. We set a date to go out to Gibbsville to get the Christmas cheese boxes AND I told her that Bobbie will go with us on December 10 to see The King and I at Horace Mann.

I took a couple of things, including some of my Zupa Toscana, over to Kate on my way back to the Center at about noon and had a cup of tea with Kate. Keep praying for Ron. He sounds good, but there are things that need praying for.

Then I spent all afternoon with Dick, including eating supper with him, except of course for coming home to walk and feed the Chelsea girl at about 4:30PM..

I always come home at about 7PM so that I can get things done and prepare for bed. Chelsea is impossible. I have been home less than an hour and have taken her out twice. She had been very good and is now whimpering at me again. I know she is confused but wish she could talk. One doesn't know if she just wants to go to bed, if she REALLY has to go out, or if she just wants attention. And I still miss my kitties, even if they would mean more work for me.

So that is what is happening in our world. Soon it will be time to settle into a nice warm bed for the night.

Be safe and I will say a prayer for you all tonight that tomorrow is perfect.

Love

Mary

There were a few snow flurries this afternoon. Nothing accumulated today either. Chelsea and I went out just as the day was dawning and had a brisk but pleasant walk. When it is not windy, I do not mind the cold.

I spent a good chunk of the morning sitting with Dick, then came home to walk Chelsea and fix and eat my lunch so I could get back at a proper time to take off his stump shrinker and let his leg breath before we put the clean one back on.

Jim and Michelle came over at close to half time of the Packer game (Boy was THAT a disappointment. Got to have good kickers or we are out of luck. The game was pretty good up til then too.) Did I tell you that Ross, the social director, put up a tribute to the veterans in the solarium? He did a nice job and I had brought in a picture of Dick in Korea. So Jim and Michelle got to see it. Jim remembers wearing the shirt that Dick wore in the shot. I never knew him when he was so young.

I zipped home again at 4:30 to feed Chelsea and pick up soup and a sandwich for my dinner. Dick and I ate together in his room.

I sewed on the tea caddy that I am making.

Altogether it was a lazy, quiet, uneventful Sunday. Just the way we like it. We are renewing our cribbage skills too.

The other day I was talking to a friend and she mentioned an Indian tradition. It reminded me of the true story of the Choctow Indians who sent money to Ireland during the famine. The following is from Wicapedia

Midway through the Great Irish Famine (1845–1849), a group of Choctaws collected $710 (although many articles say the original amount was $170 after a misprint in Angi Debo's "The Rise and Fall of the Choctaw Nation") and sent it to help starving Irish men, women and children. "It had been just 16 years since the Choctaw people had experienced the Trail of Tears, and they had faced starvation ... It was an amazing gesture. By today's standards, it might be a million dollars" according to Judy Allen, editor of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma's newspaper, Bishinik, based at the Oklahoma Choctaw tribal headquarters in Durant, Oklahoma. To mark the 150th anniversary, eight Irish people retraced the Trail of Tears.[54]

I have always been impressed by their generosity. One year at Irish Fest, a Choctaw artist called Gary White Deer showed his work. I got a book mark but would really like a print or something of his work.

Love

Mary