I was home most of the day today.   My only venture into the world was to go to Mass this evening.   It was COLD out there.   The temperatures were in the lower thirties and it was damp.  

I have been working on getting old tax papers shredded and took care of a whole trash bag full this morning.   I am trying to go through the house and get rid of all the stuff that really has no need anymore.   It is amazing how much just fits into a closet or a drawer because one either doesn't want to deal with it or it no longer has relevance.

I am trying to get a disc ready to take to Walgreen's to get prints of some of the Ireland photos and I want to upload more to the Google site.

Dick was hungry for hamburgers and fries, so I went to Dairy Queen for them at noon.   I got a couple of mini blizzards too.  They are still in the freezer.   We had leftover Mexican food for dinner.

Nothing else to report so until tomorrow.  Be healthy

Love

Mary

The quilt in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh

Hi.   This was a wonderful day.    I spent the morning baking a nice raisin bread and cleaning my desk for the weekend.

Jody came to do the cleaning at about 10:30AM.   She had switched the times with Mother.  I had no problem as I was home til 12:30PM anyway.   

Then Megan from the VNA came at about 12:30PM to check Dick's coagulation count and to change the tuba grip on his right leg for, as it turns out, the last time.   His coagulation count was 230.   Yippee!! as this is three times that it has been within the parameters, he will not have to have it checked for a month now.   So, since that will be in April, hopefully Spring, there is no need for the VNA, especially since his leg is now healed of all wounds and is looking pretty good.

Megan told Dick to tell me that I have been doing a great job with him.  That makes me feel SO good.  Because I do worry as I don't have any training, only people telling me and then the fact that I love him so.

We had pasties and salad for our lunch.

At 12:30PM I left for Joan Kramer's house for my reflexology treatment.  It has been longer than usual but with the trip and all it got stretched out.   I told Dick that he did not have to worry about my nap because that treatment is the best relaxation in the world.   We always have so much to talk about. 

She felt the tightness in my neck and shoulder so she massaged them too to try to loosen them up.  I don't know if they are totally  loosened but I sure feel better.

I will try alternating heat and cold for the next few days.

Then tonight, Nancy picked me up at 4:45PM so that we could get to Rhine to finish our pistol league.   I only had two left and she had four.   I did my two with mixed results.   My arm is still sore and Harold thinks that perhaps my trigger needs some adjusting.  He said he would check it for me.   I came up after my two to visit and let Nancy finish up on her own.   As we were going down to shoot, an Irish song.  Pretty Peggyo came into my head so I started singing it.   Everybody stared at me and kind of grinned.  I can't help music in my head

God love You

Mary

I really overdid it yesterday.   By the time 7PM rolled around I was hardly able to stay awake.   So I took it easier today. 

This morning, Nance picked me up at 9AM and we drove out to Rhine so that she could shoot enough targets so that she can finish this Friday.   Otherwise, she would have been short targets and she is actually doing pretty well.   So to be short would be a real crime.  

I got home a bit before 10AM.   Then Gary Anderson, a repairman and construction guy, came to check out my closet doors that are not working properly.  He will be back next week to fix the one that is the worst and to check all the others to see if they need some miner repairs.   He worked at some extensive remodeling across the street last year and remembered me and Chelsea walking every day.  He was sad to hear that Chelsea was gone.   I still miss her.   Every time I cut up a tomato or shred lettuce, I find myself looking for her.


This afternoon, I went to the bank and took care of the final things that needed to be done from the Irish Trip, like closing the account that I was able to set up free for us.   That is a good feeling to be done with it.  

Home again, we got Dick bathed.   So it was a good day.  But I did back off a LOT.  And I feel better tonight.

Now I just want to send a few emails and then go to bed early again.   Perhaps I can catch up after all.

God love you

Mary

Wednesday - Shopping Day.    It went very well.  I left a bit before 8AM and was back by 9AM.  

Then I spent the rest of the morning cooking and preparing things.   I got a roast all salted and in a bag with veggies.   A corning process.   The corned beef should be ready just in time for St. Patrick's Day.  Dick said he likes my corned beef better than the processed briskets that I used to buy.  I am corning a 3lb chuck roast which should be really good.   I will fix it for the weekend after St. Patrick's Day as I will be marching on the holiday and surely have a corned beer dinner or sandwich after the walk.

I also made a fruit salad and baked a cake.   So I am ahead on meals for a couple of days now.  

I swear I was busy all the rest of the day with computer, calls and getting my quilting in order.   I still have a lot of sorting of fabric to do but feel a little more organized.   I have until June to get a block done to share with the club and want to assemble the block of the month we did last year.

Anyway, I am tired.  So I am going to sign off and go to bed early tonight

God love you

Mary

Today was the mammogram day.    I had to be there just before 9AM and it went very quickly and comparatively painlessly.   I am a bit achy but not too bad.   Unless I get a phone call tomorrow or the next day, everything is all right.    After nearing about my neighbor, Freddie, I really feel that this procedure is extremely important.    Thank God that I am in a very low risk for that type of cancer, but nobody is immune.

We had T-bone steak for our dinner.   I was just hungry for meat.   We have found that we can split a steak and it is just right for the two of us.

A little before 1PM, I left for the Kettle Quilters club meeting.   I dropped some expired meds at the Plymouth police station disposal site on the way.   It is sure nice to have that in town.   Then on to the library for our meeting.

We had a good crowd there today.  Lots is going on in the quilting world.   Now that the trip is over, I want to set aside a couple of hours a week to go downstairs and get quilting again.   

Toni taught us a method of quilting that she learned called One and Done.    It seems very efficient.   I have it in my head to adapt the method it with a group of squares that I have ready to assemble.   It saves a lot of work.

It was a really nice meeting.  I was able to share the fabric that I purchased at Mulaney Brothers in Ireland and the picture of the quilt that was hanging in St. Patrick's in Armagh.   I have been unable to upload that picture because somehow the Picassa to Blogger is not working.   I am hoping it is a communication glitch and will correct.

So.  A pleasant day and the weather was just at pleasant.

Then Bart called and is excited about a new house that he and Barb are bidding on in Lawton.  The wonder of computers - I could look at it online.   It looks really nice for them.

Than Richard called.   They are in Milwaukee with only a flight to Madison to be home.   They wanted us to know they are back in God's country and had a nice vacation.

I loved today

God bless you all

Mary

Quite a day.    I am still feeling so good about the warmth and fun at our Gathering of Celtic Women yesterday afternoon.  

Today was again a special day.   Monday and the weather was beautiful.   Cold, of course, but the sun shone and the sky was a beautiful blue and there was no wind to speak of which made it very pleasant outside.

I went to Bible Study at 9:30AM.   There were five of us there and I shared the St. Bridget story and the flame with them as our opening prayer.  My dear friend, Ione, gave me two pair of Irish socks again.   She is so sweet to remember me on my "special" holiday.   Please pray for her husband, Don, who is having some health problems again.  We had a good discussion of Psalm 113.   It came up in our discussion that when we get to the gates of heaven we want God to recognize us.     He is so high up but promises to lean down to help those below and all we have to do is believe in this.   Quite a deal.  He told his people.    He said, I am your God and you are my people.   Such a deal.

Then I went over to Mom's.   She had some bills to be paid and we went through a bunch of papers that had piled up while she was in rehab.   Now she knows where she is at and I know she feels better about that.   She is very hands on, but I usually write out the checks and have her sign them because her sight makes it difficult.   We had time for a visit after the "work".  Then I came home, fixed lunch and took a nap.

We changed Dick's tubagrip and cleaned his leg.   At this point, he has no sores at all on the good leg.   If it is still good on Wednesday, he is going to try walking again.   Good sign.  He brought it up himself.

Tomorrow, I am going to get my mammogram.   Not happy about that but know that it is best.   It is brought home to you when you hear about someone who has breast cancer and how fast it can come and spread.   I am low risk but will be vigilant.

Quilt Club tomorrow.   I am going to bring the picture of the quilt I saw in the St. Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh and the fabric I bought while I was in Ireland.   I'll put the picture of the church quilt on the blog tonight.

God love you

Mary

Prayer from St. Brigid of Ireland

Today was a lovely day.    I woke up to sunshine.   Chilly, of course, but sunshine.   The snow from last night had been plowed and shoveled, so with the sun, I was able to go to the UCC over on Highway 67 for the CWI meeting very safely and we had a nice turnout.   

My friends from the "south" (Milwaukee) did not come because they were worried about the weather.   Perhaps it was worse down there and I think they may have gotten freezing rain.    They missed a nice afternoon but with the weather we have been experiencing this month, one must be practical.

Dick slept most of the morning as he had a rather restless night and finally got into a good sleep which lasted until almost 11:AM.    So I fixed egg salad sandwiches for our lunch and then got myself ready and loaded up for the CWI program at 1:00PM.   Dorothy Rose and I got there at 1PM to get things set up.   A couple of people came early anyway so it was a good thing we were there.

We officially began at 2PM and had a nice turnout.   There were 15 of us in all.  Debbie O'Grady did a wonderful power point presentation of the trip.   She was able to show it to us on the video equipment in the church proper.   So we began our program there.   While Debbie was setting up, Joan Kramer read the reflections on the trip that she had written about a week after we returned and it was so special.   I must call Joan and set up a reflexology treatment.   I am really overdue.

After the powerpoint, we made our way to the lobby and the fireside room where, Joan Kramer, Dorothy Rose, Joan Brigham and myself had displays of some of our purchases and books displayed to share and invite questions.   Both Joan Kramer and I had set up photo viewers that were scrolling our pictures as everybody was gathering and talking.  

Then Dorothy Rose and I brought out the carts with tea (along with cream and sugar in the raw for those who wanted to drink it like they do in Ireland) and my Barm Brack, Chocolate Pie from Debbie, Scones from Joan Kramer and Cheese and crackers from Joan Brigham. 

We all visited and did more sharing.   We finished with a special ceremony.   I brought candles for everybody.   Then I lit a small pillar candle I got at the Solas Brede with the the candle that I received that was lit from the eternal candle also at Solas Brede.   We then said a prayer together- This is the prayer

Prayer from St. Brigid of Ireland

I would like the angels of Heaven to be among us.
I would like an abundance of peace.
I would like full vessels of charity.
I would like rich treasures of mercy.
I would like cheerfulness to preside over all.
I would like Jesus to be present.
I would like the three Marys of illustrious renown to be with us.
I would like the friends of Heaven to be gathered around us from all parts.
I would like myself to be a rent payer to the Lord;
that I should suffer distress, that he would bestow a good blessing upon me.
I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings.
I would like to be watching Heaven's family drinking it through all eternity.

I also gave water from the holy wells of Ireland to whomever had little bottles and wanted some.   Those who did not have bottles are going to get together with me later to get their share.

Nancy Coenen and Pat Becher, who shoot with me, did not have bottles.  We have decided that I will bring the water to the League bust up party for them.   We also decided that we will light the Brigid Candle and read the poem for the crowd.    We think they would like a lake of beer.

Take care.   God love you

Mary