We had our Easter today. And what a good meal, Bobbie prepared for us. We had ham, mac and cheese, broccoli and Cole slaw and then a homemade angel food cake for dessert.

And it was so good to have that many of our children in the house all at one time again. It will happen and even better in June when Bart and Barb and Bret come at the end of June. This is going to be the most wonderful year.

That is all I am able to share tonight at I am very very tired and am going to go to bed as soon a I take Chelsea out for one more chance to relieve herself. She has been a very quiet subdued puppy today.

She peed on the floor this morning before she got me up. Dick thinks he may have blocked her way and thrown her off. I hope so. We can't have her urinating in the house.

Happy Easter to you all.

Until tomorrow.

Mary

What a beautiful day. It was in the upper 70s with a nice breeze. It was so nice waking up and knowing that Jim and Michelle were here. Chelsea woke me up at 1:30AM and again at 5:30. I got up at about 7 and took my shower before letting the animals know that I was up for good. I had fed them at 5:30 so figured that they would be OK. Chelsea and I had the nicest walk this morning. She even added another cul de sac to our walk.

Jim and Michelle went shopping at Fleet Farm this morning because there are none in Oklahoma. They found these special treats for Chelsea that are called Pill Pockets. She is being so fussy about her food and giving her meds is becoming a real challenge. They used these for their Chip when he needed them. So far so good. She took it like a champ this evening anyway.

We had pizza and strawberry shortcake for our lunch.

Then I went to the Good Friday service at St. John's. It was a nice service. The classic choir led the music and we, of course, read the entire Passion by St. John.

Home again, Jim and Michelle were gone. They went to Cedar Grove to do a bit of coffee shopping. They are our coffee nerds, you know, and are having a bit of trouble finding acceptable coffee in Oklahoma City, though they are having more luck recently.

At 5PM, I had to go work at Rhine. It was slow, but not slow enough that I was bored. I did shoot two targets for the pistol league, so that Jerry can get me in my class. They were not too bad. I think I got 55 on each one.

Now, home and relaxing before going to bed. Tomorrow will be our Easter. Bobbie is cooking and Richard and Brenda are coming too.

Yea.

God love you all

Mary

Such a great day. The morning started pretty normally. Then at about 8:30AM we got a message from Jim and Michelle. They were only an hour away, in Brown Deer. I had made a reflexology appointment with my friend Joan Kramer for 10AM thinking that they were going to arrive in the afternoon, so I had to leave just before they got here but that gave Jim, Michelle and Dick a nice chance to visit.

The reflexology was very relaxing. Joan is so good at that and gave me lovely pink toenails. I got home at about 12:30 and Jim and Michelle, tired as they are from driving ALMOST straight through, were all showered and looking wonderful. I fixed some soup for our lunch and we spent the rest of the day visiting and catching up and sharing pictures.

I had a crockpot chicken and rice for our dinner. Then we all wound down. I know that they are exhausted and I am not far befhind them. I will, of course, stay up until 9PM for our little Chelsea, I always hope that she will sleep later that way.

Tomorrow will be so nice having them her. I will have to do Good Friday stuff but they need time to do things that they want to do also.

Til tomorrow then.

God love you

Mary

I just got home from a funeral. A lovely friend, Peggy, who I met at Plymouth Care Center, when Dick was a patient, lost her husband, Bob last Wednesday. Bob was in the room right across the hall from Dick and Peggy and I, both there with our loves, met and bonded. I found that Peggy is a poet and invited her to become part of the Cream City Writers, which she did. Ir is so hard to lose one's love and yet she knows that Bob was ready. He was suffering from advanced Parkinson's and dementia and had deteriorated very fast the last few months. I am glad she is in the Writer's Club. This will be a release for her. I got to meet her sons tonight, all fine gentlemen.

I went grocery shopping this morning, then after lunch, took a short nap before heading out for the Amputee Support Group meeting. We had a speaker from Aurora VNA who gave us a lot of valuable information. I have had experience with them, as far back as Dad, but still learned a lot from her. They supply services for everything from medical equipment to hospice.

Home again, I took care of some computer things, helped Dick with his bath and changing and fed him and the critters before going to that funeral.

Now it is time for bed. Roxie has been very insistent that I pay attention to her. She does not like it when I leave for any extended times.

When I took Chelsea out this morning, early, I heard one or two peepers over in the wetland. Tonight there is a virtual chorus. Nice sound of spring and summer.

God love you

Mary

Quite a full day but at least not rushed. Chelsea only woke up once during the night. And it was 3:30AM so I went back to bed and shut the door until 6:30AM. A much better sleep.

I did some wash this morning and cleaned two very dirty patches of carpet in the bedroom. When our Chelsea is no longer with us, I will have the carpet cleaned. Drooly and nose rubby and dirty feet marks just happen.

At 11AM, Dick had to go to the anti coagulation clinic. His count is still a bit too high so he is adjusting again and we will go back in two weeks to see if that works. Then we stopped at the drug store for a couple of supplies and a prescription for Mom. We picked up Chinese for out lunch. We have enough for possible two more meals. Next time we will order one meal and split it. But it was good.

I took a short nap this afternoon, then got to work on things for CWI, my online class and genealogy. I am trying to work out the Clifford family and think I figured out at least one question that was puzzling me as to three of the younger children of Jeremiah and Johanna, my great great grandparents. One puzzle is all I really care to tackle in one day so as it is now almost 9PM, I am going to walk the old doggy and go to bed.

It is supposed to get warmer every day for the next few days and Jim and Michelle will be here on Thursday afternoon or evening.

God love you

Mary

It was a perfectly wonderful do nothing day.

I did do some cooking. We had scalloped potatoes and ham for our dinner with broccoli and salad for our noon meal. Then I napped or tried to.

Last night was kind of broken up. Chelsea woke me up at 12:30AM or so and then again at 5:30AM. This time, I fed them and went back to bed until 8AM. I just don't seem to be able to get rested.

I did some wash and baked a cake too. I have somehow or other acquired to many red delicious apples and looked for recipes for them. I found a German Apple Cake recipe and it is to die for.

I will share.
German Apple Cake

2 eggs
2 C. Sugar (I used 1 Cup Splenda)
2 C. Flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
4 C. red apples (Red Delicious)
1 C. Wesson Oil
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 C. nuts
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Beat eggs and oil until foamy. Add sugar and vanilla; beat for 5 minutes. Add flour, soda, salt and cinnamon. Mix well. Add apples and nuts. Mix well and pour into a 9 x 12 inch baking pan or two 9 inch pans. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Icing

2 (8oz.) pkgs. cream cheese
3 tbsp. butter
1 C. nuts
2 C. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine and spread on cool cake.

Another week started and a month ends on Wednesday. Wow. Jim and Michelle will be here sometime on Thursday. Yea! Richard and Brenda are coming on Saturday to see them. This will be such a special Easter.

Take care and God Bless

Mary