It was an eventful day.

Our new bed arrived early. At about 9AM. The two men who brought it were very efficient. They were in and out of her in less than 1/2 hour. They took out the whole old mattress, box frame and the pump system and got our new bed and box spring on just like that. I hurried like heck to vacuum under the bed so as not to hold them up. I am SO looking forward to crawling in tonight. Dick got to try it already. He took a nap this afternoon and said it was just fine. The only trouble he might have is trying to get his prosthesis on as the bed is somewhat higher than the old one. We are going to find something for a little boost for the leg if it presents a problem.

I put the outside decorations up this afternoon. Boy do I have a problem. I can't get the outlet on the porch to work. The timer works just fine. The lights are working OK. But the outlet will not work. I checked all the switches, the breaker and just don't know what else to check. If anybody has any suggestions, let me know. The lights are there but out. I put the Santa Hat on my wood totem and I have my candles in the window. One for every week in Advent. We have the Advent Calendar up and the candy and candy canes are on it. I checked out the wreathes and got them hung too. So except for the tree and other indoor decorations I got a lot done.

I called Jacquie and Bart today also. Jacquie and the family are doing OK. She and Margaret were looking through pictures for a DVD for the memorial which is not scheduled yet. As there is no funeral and George was cremated, there is not rush for final plans.

Bart is OK but will be so glad when Barbara is home. She will be back on December 11. One more weekend of trips to see family in Germany, then home. Not a bit too soon for Bart.

I went to Mass at 4PM so tomorrow I get to stay home all day. I am so very glad that I will have that day as the rest of the week is stacking up to be pretty busy.

Take care and enjoy your Sunday too.

God love you

Mary

Sorry I did not post last night. By the time I got done with the day. After cooking off and all all day and eating and visiting with Bobbie and Bill and Brenda and Richard all evening, I suddenly was So tired that I just crawled in bed and went to sleep.

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving. Would that we ALL could not have been together. But Jim and Michelle, and Michelle's brother, Jim, joined Bart in Lawton for Thanksgiving and they said that Bart did himself proud with the dinner he put on. Michelle brought a cheesecake for their dessert so they ate like royalty. As did we. We had turkey, potatoes, veggie nut loaf, squash, Brussels Sprouts, cranberry relishes and pumpkin pie made from a pie pumpkin.

I hope that those we did not hear from did as well. I know that Bret is celebrating tomorrow at the river with a pot luck with all of his friends. He is designated pies which he can buy and cook in his mobile home.

Today was a double busy day. It is the annual deer butchering day and we had four deer to butcher today. I got there at about 9:30AM and took some pictures. They guys had two of the deer already skinned. So. Down into the basement we went to get started with be cutting up. We finished at about 4PM. Not to bad for four deer, and they were not small ones. Bobbie always comes to help. They give me a smaller portion (I have not gotten a deer myself so do not get a full portion.) I share it with Bobbie as we help butcher. They are glad to share as we do a lot of work. It is enough for us anyway. I also have a really nice neck roast that I will cook for the Wild Game Dinner in February.

So. it is almost 6:30PM now. Dick and I have eaten. I am ready to dress his wounds and then be done for the evening . I want to hit the bed at 9PM EXACTLY and sleep.

Tomorrow our new bed will be delivered and I have to do some unhooking and stuff before they come.

Michelle and Jim called last evening and we were all able to talk to them. All is Ok except that they had a close call with their dog, who they think got into some chocolate. Jim is in training for his new job with AFLAC. Now it all starts. The first few months and into the first year are the hardest in sales, then it becomes a matter of patience. Good luck, Jim, we are rooting for you.

Bill and Richard brought up our Christmas tree from the basement and Brenda, Bobbie and Richard got it all fluffed up and made sure the lights are working, so all I have to do is decorate it. It looks pretty just like it is, but just you wait. Tomorrow I will put the lights on the front porch and the wreaths on the garage. Then my outdoor decorating will be done.

Hope all is well with you and that your Thanksgiving was as good as ours.

God love you

Mary

I feel like I am on a treadmill.

This morning was grocery shopping. I forgot two things and had to pick them up in the afternoon, but was home by 10AM and spent the morning preparing the mashed potatoes for tomorrow. We had a can of Dinty Moore beef stew for our lunch, then I napped. I was at the Amputee Support group meeting at 2PM. We had a really nice meeting. A contingency from Ballhorn came to present information on pre-planning for one's funeral. It was very interesting. Then we had our Christmas party. We exchanged gifts and snacked. Rocky Knoll always provide us with a snack and coffee and ice water. This time it was cookies. I brought Buckeyes as I had told everybody that it was not Christmas without them. I ended up having to send the recipe to Janice Lemkuil to share with the group. They agreed that they are wonderful. Somebody asked why they are called Buckeyes. It is because when they are dipped a portion is uncovered and this constitutes the Buckeye.

I got home, after stopping to pick up the two things I forgot and a prescription at about 3:30PM. My house was all vacuumed and scrubbed. Is that ever nice.

Then I cleaned the Brussels sprouts and the butternut squash for tomorrow.

So tomorrow is thanksgiving and I am ready as I can be. We will not be eating until 5 or 6PM as Richard and Brenda are arriving at sometime between 4 and 5. So I have all day to finish everything else. It will be so good to have everyone that is in Wisconsin here. I wish we would win the lottery and I could get EVERYONE here. I miss those that are gone and really appreciate those that are here.

That care and have the happiest Thanksgiving.

God Love You

Mary

What a day. The morning was busy with just the morning things. I had one thing to add to the morning. CHELSEA GOT HER BATH. She was not happy with me but she was SO dirty and I want her halfway clean for Thanksgiving. She looks very pretty now. I know that she could care less but I like her to look good.

At 10ish, I left to take cookies to the Plymouth Historical Museum for their cookie sale. (I talked to Kate tonight and she said that my cookies are a real hit.) I went from there over to Sheboygan Falls to finish up and mail Mom's Senior Care form.

Home again, we had the last of the escalloped potatoes for our lunch, then I napped. I was exhausted and slept for over an hour and a half. I straightened up and dusted downstairs. Roxie was not happy with me for not settling down there. She likes to be down in the den but only when I am there.

So again we are to the end of the day. All the creatures seem to be tired. Soon, after Dancing with the Stars, I will to to bed. There is much to do tomorrow. Shopping, some cooking and I will be going to the Amputee Support Group Meeting. I hope Dick will go some day, but with the wounds on his leg, I am sure this is not the month. Don't anybody panic, but I am bringing a dozen or so of the Peanut Butter Buckeyes for a treat at our Christmas Party. I need to wrap a present too.

Take care. I am looking forward to Thanksgiving. Are You? If you are looking for a place to eat. We will have LOTS of food.

God Love You

Mary

Bible Study this morning. There was a good group there. Our Ione was back after being too ill to come for a few weeks so we welcomed her. One of our other members, Helen, will be having a mastectomy on December 7th. We well be lifting her up in prayer, especially that day when we will be meeting for our study. I ask you to pray also. If the cancer has not spread beyond the tumor, she may not even need chemo.

Then I went to Mom's for a visit. She is doing well and I have a couple of little things to do for her tomorrow. On the way home, I stopped at Walgreens for a prescription for Dick.

We had lunch and I called Barbara in Germany. I had talked to Bart on Sunday to tell him about his Uncle George Hiner passing but wanted to be sure that Barbara knew also. She will be home in less than three weeks. Not soon enough for Bart but that is what is not really long at all after what they have gone through. I think being with her those three weeks made him realize how much he does miss her. Pray for them too.

After lunch, I took Dick to Sheboygan Memorial for a visual swallowing test. We are trying to determine why he chokes. This did not show anything from what the technician said, but we will wait for the word from the doctor. On the way home, we stopped at Plymouth Aurora for Dick's blood check. All is just fine. We had to check because he is on antibiotics and that can thin things. He needs to be checked again in two weeks.

Home again, I started putting things away and just organizing. In two more days it will be Thanksgiving and there is a lot to do. There will be just six of us for dinner this year. Dick and me, Bobbie and Bill and Richard and Brenda. I am so looking forward to it.

Jim and Michelle will be spending Thanksgiving with Bart and Adam and his family.

Tonight was the CWI Board telephone conference. We had our majority so were able to proceed with all the business. We will be having our annual meeting after the Sheboygan Branch's Christmas Tea. It Annual Meeting will be either here at my house or at the Plymouth Inn down the street from the History Museum where the Tea will be held. So I have a busy next couple of weekends.

Now the day is coming to a close and I, as usual, am ready to come to a close also. Tomorrow will be cleaning and a bit of food prep.

Take care and God Love You All

Mary

A busy quiet day at home. Except for going to Mass at 9:30AM, I did not have to leave the neighborhood.

It was quite a day. Not the most pleasant of days. Mass was very nice. Fr. Van Beeck gave a nice sermon and I saw several friends after the service. I had changed Dick's bandages before Mass so the rest of the day should have been pretty quiet, Right?

I made a batch of cookies for the Plymouth History Museum Cookie sale and prepared a really good Ham and Potato Casserole for our lunch.

Then, as we were finishing dinner,suddenly, without a here do well, or whatever that expression is, Chelsea just started wetting on the carpet. Needless to say, I dragged her outside to finish, telling her what a bad girl she is, despite the fact that she cannot hear a thing. We are baffled. She had not asked to go outside at all. Perhaps she had too much water, or is getting senile. We will be watching her like a hawk from now on.

Then I got a call from Jacquie, my ex sister in law. My ex brother in law, George, passed away yesterday morning in his sleep. He had been on home hospice for just two days when he passed. So sad, my nephew, Todd, is devastated. It is a hard thing to lose a Dad. I know. Please pray for that family. George is to be cremated and his ashes scattered. There will be a military ceremony a the scattering. Details are to follow. I called Bret and Bart today to tell them, to save dear Jacquie some calls. Please pray for George and his family. This is such a hard time.

I got to talk to both of my boys today but not with good news. Bart is looking forward to Barbara returning home on December 11th for good. He is glad to be home but it is not good for him to be so far from her.

Bret figured that something must have happened when I called because he had called just the other day.

The Packers won today and I am not doing too badly in the Fantasy Football league. I did take a nap this afternoon but am still very tired tonight probably partly because of yesterday's hunt.

Tomorrow will also be a busy day. So I will sign off now. Take care and have a great week.

God Love you

Mary