I just got home from 4PM Mass a bit ago and found my Roxie waiting at the door pointing to the clock.   I WAS, you know, five minutes after 5PM and she should have the food down on the ground by 4:55PM.   Everybody knows that.

I slept until almost 8AM this morning.  That was nice.   We got up then and managed to get everything ready for the day pretty efficiently.  I can't believe how much there is to do before we event get to breakfast.

I fixed fried potatoes, spam and egg for breakfast.    That tasted good.   Then I finished my football picks.  I was quite disappointed.   One of the sources that I use for my picking did not report this week so I used only partial information.  There are only four games so I can't do too badly,   I hope.  However,   New Oreleans is not doing too well for me so far.

Except for Mass, I was home all day.    I baked that biscotti, recipe to follow.   It turned out kind of ugly, but tastes good so I will pick the best looking pieces to take to my friend's house and call it good.

I did some more quilt cutting out this afternoon.

This morning Andrea, the home health aid, was supposed to be here at 10:30AM.  It was almost 11:30AM when she got here, but we were here all day anyway.   She comes from Two Rivers.   Wow.   She also has four children, including a new baby.   Dick likes her because she knows what she is doing and doesn't talk a lot.    He appreciates that some of the aids think they have to entertain him but he is just as happy with just a little talk.   I suppose you find that surprising.

I am hoping to crawl in bed early tonight.   I know I will have to get up with Dick at least once but a head start wouldn't hurt.    We purchased a thing called a bed pull up for him and so far it is a godsend.   Sometimes he has trouble sitting up if his prostheses are not on and this gives him a ballast.   Which means he doesn't have to use me.  And it IS working.

So,  until tomorrow.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Biscotti

1 Pkg. butter pecan cake   (I used spice cake today)
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 eggs
3 tbsp. maple syrup
1 1/2 tsp. instant coffee granules
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup white baking chips
1 cup confectioner's sugar
1 cup finely chopped pecans

In a large bowl, beat cake mix, flour, butter, eggs, syrup, coffee granules and vanilla until well blended (dough will be very thick.)  Fold in chips.

Divide dough in half.  Flour just your hands if it is too sticky.  On an ungreased baking sheet, shape each portion into a 12" X 2" rectangle.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.  Place pans on wire racks.  When cool enough to handle, transfer to a cutting board;  cut diagonally with a serrated knife into 3/4 inch slices.  Place cut side down on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake for 10-15 minutes or until firm.   Remove to wire racks to cool completely.  

In a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar and coffee.  (Today, I just frosted them lightly with some leftover icing that I had.) Drizzle over biscotti.  sprinkle with pecans.   Let stand until set.   Store in an airtight container.

Another day at home.  Mostly.

I had to get up at 6AM though because Dick got up then.    I might have been able to sleep some more
BUT  By the time we got him assembled and ready to go to his desk and doling out his meds, I was pretty much out of the mood.    Also, since Jody comes at 8AM, I would have had to get up in an hour anyway.

So I just got up.   I showered, fixed breakfast, emptied the new litter box for the first time.    Did I tell you we got a new one?    It is a roll and empty model and works quite well.  The old one had lost its clips a couple of years ago and when the handle broke the other day, I decided it was time to upgrade.   Roxie had no trouble adjusting.    I put it in the same spot and used the same litter as I had just changed it all on Tuesday, so she felt comfortable.   Maybe she can see that it is an upgrade.

I did some quilt preparation this morning and did a lot of wash.

Sara, the PT, came shortly after lunch and put Dick through his paces.   He did very well.    He had already walked once this morning so got a second walk and lots of balancing exercises.   A very good day.    I hope it tired him out a lot for tonight's sleep.

Tomorrow Andrea, the home health aide, will come to bathe him.   That is such a help for me.    We can wash his hair easily enough and it is good therapy too as he stands by the sink and I do the washing.

I took a nap after Sara left.    Needed it after the short night's sleep and the busy morning.   Then Nancy and Warren picked me up to go to pistol league.     It actually started last week.   I missed the first week, but that will be OK.   So I saw lots of my friends at the club.    I did not renew my membership this year because I don't feel that I can commit the time that is needed to be a member.   But I can still shoot pistol and I really do enjoy that.

My first target was not too bad,  the other two were a disappointment, but I find that my arm was tired.  I must practice building up stability and strength so that won't happen any more.

Tomorrow, the only place I have to go is to Mass at 4PM, and Andrea is coming at 10AM so it will be a comparatively quiet day.   I have been able to keep the weekends quiet lately.    That will end with this weekend though.   Things will start to happen next weekend, starting with the Family Irish day next weekend.

I am going to make biscotti tomorrow.    I have a really easy recipe that you make with a cake mix.   I'll put it in tomorrow.

Time to get ready for bed now so good rest to you all and good rest to me also.

Dia Dhuit.

Mary

A day at home.   I was glad that it turned out that way, as a winter storm was and perhaps is coming in.    There was no appreciable snow until after noon, but it does seem to be accumulating now.

I slept until almost 8AM.  Would have stayed in longer but I was starting to ache.   Dick slept until 10AM and I had to wake him up.   I was a bit concerned because he should be eating at somewhat regular intervals.    So far his sugar counts have been just fine, but we don't want to mess up a good thing.

I finished a big project for CWI today and cleaned up the kitchen.  Jody always finishes it, but there are certain things that she doesn't do, like bleach the sink every so often.

The new litter box for Roxie arrived today.    The old one finally broke enough pieces that I decided to replace it.    I got a rolly polly one that supposedly will, when I roll it put all the Icky stuff into a container that I just have to pull out and throw away.     I like that better than scooping.   It will be interesting to see how Roxie takes to it.  I cleaned the area really deep, vacuuming the carpet and the edges and washing the plastic pad and place mats that I keep under the box.   I put her old litter in it so she should be all right.

Sara came at 12:30PM to put Dick through his paces.   He did pretty will and she is going to see about an extension to the trapeze on his bed.   We should get the bed pull up tomorrow and these things will make it easier for him to sit up in bed unassisted.   Good for him and good for me.

We took the decorations off the tree this evening so that Jody can help me pack up and take the tree downstairs tomorrow.    Then next week, she can help me take down all the Santa Clauses and clean the top of the cupboards.   

Tomorrow I will be able to stay home all day too.   If it is OK, I would like to go to shoot pistol, but I can go out Sunday afternoon, if I need to.   Don't want to get too far behind.

Snow is still falling.  Should make for a nice night for sleeping.

I hope your night is peaceful too.  

Dia Dhuit.

Mary

This was a very busy day.    I did get to sleep until 7AM.  The night was short.  I did not finally get to sleep until almost 11PM.   But those hours were pretty good.

I spent the early part of the morning finishing phone calls and emails that I have been behind on.   I did most of the cooking for the Chili Mac that we had for lunch and got Dick's hair washed.   That is a good way for him to be exercising too as he has to stand by the sink and balance while I do the washing.

Bobbie got here at about 10AM.  We had two batches of wine (mine - Marigold and Marigold/Current) to rack and two batches of wine(hers - both beet - one with brown sugar, one with white) to filter.   That took a bit.  My brother Jeff came at about 11AM to fix a door jam that had been knocked off.   He is so good.  He told me to call if I needed help so I did.    Can one ask for better relatives than that?
He was on his way to Mom's.  He intended to take her out for a walk.   Eileen brought a wheel chair and with today SO beautiful, it seems like the perfect day to get fresh air.  

I even opened the deck door for Roxie for a bit.

Dick had his appointment with the prosthesist.   We have a new one, as Tim has moved on to another company.  His name is Marty and he seems to be very nice.   He casted Dick's left stump and we should have the semi final prosthesis in two weeks.   Boy will that be a relief.   We are using way too much ply for the padding on the temporary one.

So, I have washed all day and still have one more load to go.   I am tired and going to bed very early.  I can read and relax.   Dick can just call as he needs me to help him.

Take care of you.   We are supposed to be getting a pretty good winter storm tomorrow.    I am glad that I do not have to go anywhere and feel sorry for the health aids that are coming to care for Dick.

Dia dhuit

Mary

This will be short and sweet.   

I had an appointment with Dr. Leben, the physiatrist, who gave me the results of my back MRI.   She did find an area of concern and a slight curvature which can be treated.   We are starting by having me take a medicine for the nerve called Gabapentin.   I will take it for 3 or 4 weeks to see if it will be useful.  The other option is a cortisone shot and I really don't want to do that.   Time will tell and I sure hope that this will help.

I went right from there to JMKAC to bring a flag, some CDs and some pictures to Danika, who is in charge of the Irish Family Day.   We discussed other needs to and had a great conversation.    I got home at noon and prepared tuna sandwiches with potato salad for our lunch.

We finished before Rachel, the RN from VNA, came to check Dick over.    We are pleased with the way the wounds are healing.   She made note of the bladder infection and will be here a week from Friday to take blood tests and to collect a urine sample to be sure that he does not need more treatment.

Then I napped for an hour.   I spent the rest of the afternoon kind of trying to get caught up on computer work.   I STILL have a lot to do there.

At 6:30PM, I left and picked up Kate to go to Fr. Van Beek's last "Evening with the Pastor", his adult education project.   He will be retiring in a few months and I really wanted to be at this evening.   He does such a nice presentation, tonight talking about prayer and Faith and trust.   He also is starting to get us used to the idea of accepting a new priest when the time comes.   He wants the transition to be good for him, and for the man who takes over and for us as the congregation that will welcome him. 

By the way, did you read that Timothy Dolan, our previous Archbishop is going to be a Cardinal.    I am not surprised and am very pleased.   He is a good man.

So I am home and going to be going "up the wooden hill to four corners" soon.   Have you ever heard that expression.   Mother used to say that to us when it was time for bed.

Love and Dia Dhuit

Mary

Today I was able to get back to a "normal" Monday morning.   Bible Study and a visit with Mother.

Bible study was well attended for our winter group.   Tom and Kathy are in Texas until spring and two others could not come, but we were 6 strong and had a good discussion of Psalm 101, especially as it relates to the responsibilities of rulers and the people - and in this pre-election climate, there was a lot.   We DO try to keep too much politics out of our discussions but this was a psalm that just called for it.    How does one make people see their moral responsibilities in the leadership?    None of this is new.   But it will lead to destruction unless somehow, we see the mistakes of the past and change them.   As a democracy, the people should be able to do this.   The tools are there, but someone has to take the reins and do it.    Congress, as an entity, has become a greedy pig, voting itself raises and benefits that are beyond reasonable.   The members of congress should be on the same SSI program, the same health care program and the same pension possiblities of every citizen of this country.   Also, one term in office should not entitle a person to a lifetime of pension.    Who will step forward to get this going?   Dick won't let me.  He says I am too busy.


Mom and I got her finances squared away.    It was simple.  Only one bill this week.  Then we had a nice visit.   She said that she felt a little stronger today which was good to hear.    Eileen was coming out this afternoon to take her tree down.   The tree has shed a circle of pin needles around itself,  much like a fairy circle.

I got home just before noon and fixed Dick lunch before the first of our VNA helpers, Sara, the PT, came.  He is doing very well.   He had already taken a walk this morning, long before shewas due.

Then at 3PM the health care nurse came to give Dick his bath.    So we are well cared for.


I am rather tired tonight and told Dick that I am going to bed early tonight, even if it means that he has to get me up to help him.   I really need the sleep.   I will be glad when the bed pull ups the we ordered come and he can get himself into a sitting position ALL the time.   Sometimes he can, even now, but we are not sure how.   It is hard to figure out when one is half asleep.  I know he tries very hard to get up  before calling me, but sometimes, he just can't get up without help.  Especially when he is half asleep.

So that is our day.   I will end this with a quote that  I used as a prayer at the bible study.   Actually two of them.

They make one think. One challenges us and one asks us to trust.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

St.  Basil:  "The bread which you do not use is the bread of the hungry; the garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of him who is naked;  the shoes that you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is bare foot;  the money that you keep locked away is the money of the poor; the acts of charity that you do not perform are so many injustices that you commit."

St. Gregory Nazoreane.  "God accepts our desires as thought they were a great value.   He longs ardently for us to desire and love him.   He accepts our petitions for benefits as though we were doing Him a favor.   His joy in giving is greater and ours in receiving.   So let us not be apathetic in our asking, nor set to narrow bounds to our requests; nor ask for frivolous things unworthy of God's greatness.