This was a fairly warm day, thought it is still starting out in the teens and 20s. Chelsea and I had a nice walk. I swear I heard a sandhill crane in the wetlands. I could not spot him no matter how I tried.

We had a nice day at home. I did some sewing, some cooking and talked to my Bart. I called the hospital this morning and did get him. He sounded pretty good but said that he'd call me back. Later Barb called when she got there. She sounds exhausted and I hope that she will rest when he does today and will go home early to sleep. I am worried that she is getting too worn out. This has been a horrible year for her.

My friend Kate and I were discussing the fact that this is still a new year and that this year was supposed to be better and we are wondering how come it is not. I mentioned it to Dick and he said, and I quote. "Well, at least you both married well." I think we needed that.

I went to Mass at 4PM. I ended up going up to help with communion. I find it amazing how many people sign up and then apparently are not there but do not get substitutes. I don't mind as I love doing it.

I stopped to get milk on the way home so it loops like I will not have to leave the neighborhood tomorrow at all.

Later God love you

Mary


"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would have not a single bit of talent left and could say, I used everything you gave me."

~Erma Bombeck

Thought you could use a God hug.



Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit
the ground each morning the devil says,
"OH CRAP, SHE'S AWAKE"!.

Another week winding down. I was home most of the morning. We had pancakes for our breakfast and I cleaned the bathrooms. I also crocheted a little shawl for my "Crone Doll". As soon as I get that arranged on her, she will be all done and I can start working on the "Mother" part of the trio that I have planned.

I left at about 11AM to go to see Mother. I was anxious to visit with her as she had a minor fainting spell on Wednesday. I also had two of her prescriptions to bring to her and I took her some of that nummy cauliflower soup that I made on Wednesday. She looks and sounds fine. She is just going to be extra careful and slow down when she is feeling weak. We had a great visit anyway and I helped with some more paperwork.

Then I drove back to Plymouth and picked up Chelsea's prescription before meeting the gals at the Dairy Queen. We all had a good visit, and I asked them all to pray for our Bart too.

Barb had called while I was gone and called back while I was at Rhine, so Dick gave her the cell phone # and we were able to touch base. We do know that the problem Bart is having is not with the implant. He has a staph type infection that seems to be resistant to some antibiotics. They have taken more blood tests and sent them to
Wichita Falls where they apparently have a better lab facility. So, there will be no determination until Monday and he has to stay in the hospital until then. So my boy is not a happy camper and Barbara is exhausted. She has been going to work at 5:30AM besides all the worry about Bart and her boss has her doing two jobs which actually should be done by two people. Thank you for your prayers and remember that Barb, as caregiver, needs them too.

I worked at Rhine tonight. Two weeks in a row, I know, but I had traded with someone last week, so they could be at a function that they had to attend. Now I have three weeks off. It was really dead as most people have finished their league shooting and the bust up is two weeks off. This time, Jerry Coenen is in charge of the food and will have meatless options for us Friday Catholics. It only matters during lent but I am always stuck eating salads and picking meat out of beans or eating a cheese sandwich. We are going to have veggie and cheese pizzas. Yea.

So, day is done and I am too.

Dick and I are going to enjoy Sunday as and Oscar Day. I am going to prepare T bone steaks and asparagus and will fix a nice salad and dessert to go with them. It will be a fun time.

God love you, I do

Mary

A day at home Thursday. I never had to leave the neighborhood. Chelsea got me up at 1:30 and again at 4AM. Then I slept until almost 7Am. Boy was Roxie irratated.

Joan came to do the floors at 8AM. She was done by 10AM. I worked on computer stuff and Dolores called for some genealogy information on Grandpa Deeley for her grandson, Brandon. Of course, his report is due tomorrow.

I tried to call Bart twice. The first time, a nurse answered and he was out for tests. The second time I called, Barbara answered. He was sleeping and I would not dream of waking him. They do not know the results of the tests and Barbara will call when they do. I will call him tomorrow in the morning again, in any case.

This afternoon, I went down to the family room and worked on some quilting and craft projects. I have finished my CRONE doll except for her shawl. I gave her a cat and a rosary. That is pretty good.


We had leftovers for lunch and the cauliflower soup for our supper.

Chelsea had her bath on Tuesday and still looks so pretty. She, of course, would love to be dirty and stinky again.

Keep our Bart in your prayers and enjoy your Friday and the weekend.

God love you

Mary

The day was pretty normal until about 3PM. Then I got a call from Barbara telling me that Bart is being admitted to the hospital.

He called her at work this morning complaining that his back was hurting. So she told him to come to her workplace so she could look. The implant that he has that provides electrical impulses to the spine to control the pain is not looking good. The area around it is swollen and feels warm to the touch. So Barb took him to the emergency ward and they are admitting him and calling in the specialists. I have put him on all my prayer chains and am asking you all to put him in your prayers also. If they have to remove it, there is a very difficult problem. How can he have the pain controlled. He cannot take most drugs and this has been the equalizer. Please pray.

I did my grocery shopping today and made a wonderful pot of cream of cauliflower soup and practiced with the camera.

I had a good nap this afternoon before helping Dick get bathed and before Barbara called. I called Jim and Michelle as they and Bart and Barb are only an hour away from each other.

That's all I have for today. I am a bit discombuberated with that news and want to be ready for whatever comes. The ideal is that they can clear up any infection and move on from there.

God love you

Mary

The end of a busy day. Chelsea let me sleep until almost 4AM this morning. That meant that I had almost 7 hours straight of sleep. It means a lot. I was busy this morning with lots of things. First and foremost, I gave Chelsea a bath. She was just plain filthy and I could not stnad it one more day. I don't think she has forgiven me yet. She was mighty tired most of the day too. Those baths really wear her out.

I watered my plants today too. I try to be consistent about that.

We had a stir fry dinner for our lunch. Then I went to the Plymouth Library for the Kettle Country Quilters which I joined late last year and have been unable to attend meetings for a few months. I hate that. Just like going to the writer's club meetings inspires me to write, going to a quilt gathering inspires me to quilt.

I went from there to Just Jane's to get a hair cut. Then, on the way home I stopped at the bank to deposit a check for mother and to withdraw some money for us for the month.

I got home shortly after 3:30PM and Dick and I had a lovely quiet afternoon. A glass of wine and and nice supper of Chicken Soup had brought us to now. I am tired. It is amazing how quickly one gets used to a nap in the afternoons.

There were nice blog entries from Jim and Michelle and from Leslie and Bill when I looked today. Jim and Michelle even updated me on Bart and Barb, so this Mom is feeling pretty content.

Tomorrow, except for shopping, I will be home all day. What a pleasure. This is a rather quiet week. I must hold it in my heart.

God love you. Til tomorrow

From Brother Cadfael's Book of Days February 27, a quote: Blessedness is what can be snatched out of the passing day and put away to think of afterwards.



Mary

A typical Monday. I was quite busy walking, feeding and getting myself ready so that I could leave for Bible Study at 9AM.

Chelsea DID wake me up before 2AM again last night, but I shut the door and did not get up until 6AM. She did OK. Dick was up when I got up and said that she was just starting to get restless. He would have awakened me if she seemed too agitated.

There were just four of us at bible study this week. Ione, Joe, Felicia and myself. We had a lively discussion anyway. The verses that got us going were Mark 9 39-41. Jesus said that whoever is not against us if for us. We usually think of it the other way around. And whoever gives you a cup of water in His name because you are a child of God will be rewarded. And every soul is a child of God unless he or she rejects Him.

My friend Ione gave me a present today. She remembers me for St. Patrick's Day. She gave me a kitchen towel she made with a towel and a hot pad in a shamrock print, a lovely little green plate and two pair of sox. Irish sox of course. She is such a dear person.

Then I went over to Mother's and we did some of her bills and I brought her some of our leftovers. She is always so pleased and we have the nicest talks. I don't know if I told you but Jeff and Kathy are in Hawaii. They are on one of the center islands and are fine. Apparently there was little damage from the tsunami anyway.

The afternoon was quiet. I did a load of wash, fixed dinner and rested. Then tonight went to Rhine for the monthly meeting. We solved a lot and are rather busy now with league and the high school shoots.

Now I am home and Chelsea keeps whining at me. I have had her out twice in the last half hour and she is whimpering at me again. SO I think I will stagger outside with her AGAIN and then get ready for bed.

Take care and have a good evening.

All my love

God love you

Mary

A fairly quiet Sunday. Would you believe that Chelsea woke me up at 1:30AM. I shut the door because Dick was up and he left it open when he came to bed. Then she got me up again at 5:30AM. So I gave her the medicine and fed Roxie then went back to bed until almost 7AM. I had so much trouble getting back to sleep after that 1:30 walk that I really needed that extra hour. I took a nice long nap this afternoon too but am still rather tired.

I spent the morning on a couple of computer projects and preparing our dinner. We had barbaqued chicken, beans, broccoli and cole slaw. Num Num.

Then I took my nap.

When I got up I finished one more computer project so I am in pretty good shape for the week.

This is a quiet week. Monday, Tuesday and Friday are the only days that I have commitments for. Good. Chelsea is going to get a bath on Tuesday morning. She is a totally filthy little dog. She will be very unhappy with me but I can't stand her any more.

So that was the day. I went over to wrap our neighbor's ankle this afternoon but that is the only human I saw besides Dick.

Take care and God Love You

Mary