Today was a very special day.  

The only visitor we had today was Andrea, the health aid, who gave Dick his bath.   We were pretty well rested when she got here as both of us had a reasonably good night's sleep.

I DID have to get up at 5AM to put the venison roast in the crock pot.   I fixed it as a pot roast this year and it had to cook for at least 9 hours.   After I got it started, I fed the cat and went back to bed until 7AM.

When we got up, we had breakfast and then I baked some Irish Brown Bread to take along too.  

I left for Eileen's house at about 12:30PM.    Everybody gathered between 1 and 2PM.   We had a nice crowd.   Randy and Donna,  all three of their girls, Erin and her Jon, Becky, Brian and Elizabeth and Jessica,   Jeff, Kathy and Shane, Dolores, Ken, Kurt and Jody with Evan and Sean and Todd's Morgan, John and Holly (who came late) and, of course, Eileen and Fred.

Jeff brought me two of the greatest presents EVER.    Remember when I was deer hunting.   The last year, Jeff set me up closer to the road than I had been and just over the hill from his stand.    A perfect buck came over the ridge from my left and ran across in front of me.  I got three shots off at the darn thing but he ran faster than I could shoot.   BUT, I drove him over the hill right to Jeff who got him.   Jeff always said that that was OUR deer and I loved that.   He proved it today by bringing me the antlers mounted on a plaque for hanging.   It has the year and our names carved above and the names of all my fellow hunters on the bottom.   I will take a picture and post it soon.   He also gave me a picture from 1993 of one of the first sausage tasting days after rabbit hunting.  Kenny, Jeff, Randy, LeRoy Kramer, Jim Karls and  wonder fully, Tim are on that picture.    I will treasure it and frame it.

Only 15 contestants were in the beer tasting contest.  There were 21 beers.  Since Bing and Bobbie weren't there, Eileen helped me serve the beer to the enthusiastic crowd.    When we were about half way through, Jody arrived with Evan and the two of them helped wash the glasses as the rounds finished.   We really could have used more glasses.  

Little Elizabeth was a lot of help too.  She helped put the glasses on the trays for us.    Her only question was why we did not have root beer.  

The final winner was Kurt with a taste off with Becky and Jon.    Jon and Kurt tied on the taste off and since Jon and Erin aren't going to get married in the next 24 hours,  Kurt was declared the winner.

The we dined and we dined and we dined.   We had the pot roast, vegetarian taco soup, turkey in gravy, pheasant enchiladas, Brunswick stew, beans, potatoes, 7 layer salad, smoked fish, chips and dip and steak sandwiches.   I hope I didn't forget anything.  Everything was spectacular.   I told everybody that if they send the recipes, I would be glad to put together a little family cookbook for us.

I was done eating and able to leave at about 5:20PM.   So I got home very close to the 5:30PM that I told Dick would be the time.    He did OK while I was gone.  That is comforting, but of course, I don't like to be gone for quite that long a time.

So it was a perfect day from my point of view.  I found out that Nora and Leif will be in Wisconsin for St. Patrick's Day so that will be another family get together.     So cool.

Tomorrow will be much quieter.   I will go to Mass at 9:30AM and pick up a couple of Brats from the KC's Winter Brat Fry.   So I won't even have to cook.  

Ken and Dolores gave me an absolutely delicious hunk of smoked trout.   They got it from a friend.   It is SO delicious.   Bobbie, I will share if you would like.

So. until tomorrow.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A lovely sunny winter day.    The sun shining with blue skies and no wind, made it very pleasant.   Altogether enjoyable for the last week in January.

I baked some scones this morning, just because I felt like it.

Jody came to clean at 8Am so I was able to share some with her and then this evening share some with Nancy and Warren when we went shooting.

Rachel, the RN, came for her last visit unless something should change.    We are pleased with his overall health these days.   After she left, I prepared some cheeseburgers sans buns with beans and salad for our lunch.  

Then at 12:30PM, Sara, the PT came and put him through his paces.  He did very well, but his right heel and knee are really hurting today.    We took off the right prosthesis to see if there is a pressure that is causing it.   I don't know if we really know yet, but this evening, he is feeling better.

I spent the afternoon cleaning out "Roxie's" room.   I went through the bookshelves, dusted everything and  cleaned the windows.  I still have to go through everything in the file cabinet and in the closet but this is a good start.


Tonight I did go to pistol league.   It was rather a disaster.  I could not hole my arm steady for anything.  Oh Well.  There will be a next week.   Now I have finished all the evening preparations for tomorrow and am almost ready to start getting myself ready for bed.   Tomorrow is the annual Deeley Wild Game Dinner and Beer Tasting Contest.  I have to get my roast in the slow cooker very early in the morning.    I am depending on Roxie to wake me up early to do that.  She had better not let me down.

I am bringing roast and brown bread.   We always have way too much food and way to much beer.

Goodnight all

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It seemed like a very long day today and I only had to leave home once.

I slept until almost 8AM.  Dick wanted to get up when Roxie did at 6AM, so we got him all put together, I gave him his meds and some tea and juice, fed the cat and went back to bed.  That extra time really meant a lot.  

When I got up, I fixed breakfast and did some sewing and cleaned under the refrigerator (I hadn't really planned on that, but one of Dick's wheelchair wheels popped the refrigerator vent below and as long as it was off, it seemed like a good idea.)  I also gave Dick a sponge bath as the home health aid had not been here for a few days and we knew he would feel better.   Good thing I did, there was one little sore to be tended to.

Sara, the PT, came at about noon and put Dick through his paces.   For some reason, his right heel was very sore today.   We are trying different ply sox on that stump to see if different pressure will help.

I tried a nap when Sara left but it did not work.

So I went to Walgreens to pick up the prescriptions that were waiting there and a couple of things for Mom, then on to the bank for money, then to the post office.   Jim and Michelle, your Christmas Box finally came back and I have relabeled it and sent it to the RIGHT address.   You should be getting your Gibbsville box any day now,  after the post office, I stopped at Plymouth City Hall to pay the RE taxes, then finally a run into the police station to dispose of some meds that we are no longer using. WHEW.   But it was all one nice convenient circle and now ALL those errands are done.

A nice quiet evening.   And I am winding down and almost ready for bed.    I am enjoying a perfect Irish Coffee.  Decaf, of course, with Jamison, of course.

Are you jealous?

Until tomorrow
Dia Dhuit

Mary

Today was quite a nice day despite the fact that we had to take Dick to Wisconsin Prosthesis this afternoon in a rain snow mix.

I slept until 7:30AM and then went grocery shopping.  Dick was still sleeping, I woke him enough to tell him that I would be gone for an hour.   He was willing to sleep more, so that worked out quite well.

I got home and he was still sleeping, so I put the groceries away and caught up in Quicken.  Then he was sitting up in bed, so we got him all ready for the day.   And a busy day it was.   

Bobbie got here at about 10AM.   We had wine to work on.  We bottled two gallons of beet wine.   It sure is a pretty wine.   We hope it tastes as good as it looks.    So far one of them just tastes like beet juice, but it has to age for a while to find out its potential.    As the saying goes.   "No wine before its time."   Bobbie got a new siphon which really works well.   It stops when the bottle is full so that you can switch bottles without drips and spills.

We had hamburger helper for our lunch.   Dick has been asking for that.   I picked up a box of cheesy hamburger flavor.    We had that, a salad and lavender cookies for lunch.

Dick's Health care worker was supposed to come to give him his sponge bath but could not because her daughter had the flu.   So tomorrow, I will wash him down in the morning.    Bobbie and I took Dick to Wisconsin Prosthesis at 2PM.   He had his "second fitting" for the permanent prosthesis.   We go back in two weeks for another and then hopefully two weeks later he will have it.   It is a long process but has to be I guess.

We got home at about 3:30PM.   Tomorrow will be a quiet day.    Sara for PT at about noon and I need to go and run several errands at about 3PM.  

I accidentally shut Roxie in the wine room downstairs for about 45 minutes.    I thought she might have followed me downstairs when I took the potatoes and onions down but did not realize that she had gone in there.   I even left the door at the bottom of the stairs open so that she could come up.   When Bobbie got here we started looking and heard her meowing.   She was quite indignant.

So now you know the day.   Now I will be signing off.   I will share with you a St Bridget tradition that continues to this day in Ireland.   St.Bridget's day is February 1st.   I will be doing it myself.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Brat Bhríde

In Ireland there has been a custom down through the centuries of putting a white cloth out on a bush beside the house on the Eve (31st January) of St Bridget's Day. This cloth was left out over night and it is believed St Bridget passed over it during the night and blessed it. In the morning the cloth was taken in and folded away for the year. People believed in had powers of curing sore throats, headaches and toothaches. If someone developed any of these conditions they wrapped the cloth around their heads to help cure whatever was the problem. This cloth was known as Brat Bhríde and in many parts throughout Ireland the custom still exists of putting out the white cloth on the night before St Bridget's Day. The custom is still widespread throughout the country.

The day is over and what a day.

We had Dick's first appointment with Dr. Kream at 10:30AM.   So we both slept a bit late.   The trip there and back went very well.   Dick is really good at getting in and out of the car.   The appointment went well also.   Dr. Kream is pleased with Dick's improvement, is asking the VNA to update his CPAP machine.   After 8 years there are much improved machines, and he is adjusting his meds a bit.   We will go to see him after Dick has used the new CPAP for 30 Days.

Then this afternoon, we saw Dr. Phillips, a throat specialist.   He checked Dick's throat because we have been concerned that Dick's voice seems so weak and a bit rough.   He says that the throat looks great BUT age is causing a bowing of the larynx.  This causes weakness and hoarseness of the voice but is not a problem unless we feel it is.   There is a surgery but as long as we know there is no tumor or inflammation, we would certainly not opt for surgery.

So Yea! is has been a good day.

So we hope to sleep well because tomorrow is also a busy day.

Dia Dhuit.

Mary

A typical busy Monday.  I got up at 6:30AM.    There is always so much to do before we just get "even". 

I left at about 9Am because I had to get gas in the car before heading out.   I had actually let it get a lot lower than usual so was getting worried in this cold weather. 

Then I went to Bible Study at Blessed Trinity.  There were 7 of us there today.    A nice group, especially with three of our intrepid attendees off to warm parts of the word.   Ione is in Hawaii for another couple of weeks and the Keyes will be gone until almost Easter.   We miss them but what a blessing that they are able to get away during the worst part of the winter.

It was a good bible study.

Then I went to see Mother.   She is fine but the weekend was tiring for her.    Her birthday Saturday was busy with visits and calls.   And Sunday was quite active too.    She handled it quite will and got lots of presents and calls and visits on her 96th birthday.   We got her bills caught up and I explained the Cindy Matyi/Dolores Whelan perpetual calendar that I had purchased for her for her birthday.     She loves the Irish Spirituality so this was a fun sharing for us.

I got home by noon because the PT was coming then.   I have told them that Monday mornings are mine.  Then I get a call last night that someone wanted to come at 11AM.   I flat out told them no.   I could be back by noon, but not before.  I keep hearing how the caregiver has to take care of him or herself.   One would think that one morning a week would not be hard to work around.    Anyway, she agreed to come at noon.  

This afternoon, I finally got my kitchen uncluttered and a lot of other things sorted.   I finished a baby quilt top,  Now I have to get to work assembling it. 

We had scalloped potatoes made with mushroom soup for our lunch and leftover pizza for supper.

A nice day altogether. Spending time with Mom always makes it good.   Tomorrow Dick has two doctor appointments.   Pray for good weather.

All my love

Dia Dhuit

Mary

So.   Here it is.   Getting towards late on a Sunday evening.   It has been a quiet day.   I went to Mass this morning as I was not up to spending another hour away from home, AND Bobbie needed to get home to her Bill.

The Family Irish Day was wonderful.   I suppose you expected that ,as I usually find that the things I enter into are wonderful. 

The Celtic Women hosted a High Tea which was very successful.   We served over 200 people and it was a super Irish event.   We were located to the right of some of the best Irish music available in this area,  Mary Calvey and Jim Wilsing.      I was able to share the Icon that Jim Fleming did for me of Bridget of Ireland.   Jim Wilsing was awed.  When I told him that I was buying it and did not know how much it would be, he said "It does not matter." and he is right.  I gave it back to Jim to have him put the final coat on it and sign the work.   But it is MINE.  As I told Jim Fleming.   I want an original of an artist that I admire.    I do have two from a friend who has probably for gotten that I exist.  And I have an original painting from my Uncle George Bowser.    When I was visiting from California one year, I told Uncle George that I sure would love one of his paintings.   Before we headed back, he sent one of his paintings, an autumn scene because he said that since I did not have that season in California, I should have something to remember it with.   I treasure this painting SO much.

But I digress.   The Irish day was super.   Mary Calvey and Jim Wilsing performed just to the right of us.   In back of us was a table where people were learning how to make Brigid Crosses.    They used Raffia and ribbon to teach people.   In Ireland we used the reeds and rushes but sure as shooting someone would have said they developed an allergic reaction if we tried that here.

In the ARTery, Children were making potato stamps and learning how to write their names in Ogham, an old Gaelic Alphabet.     I love it .   It was fun to be able to convey this information to the Art Center and to give them a picture of a stone carved in Ohgam.  

I was able to try my wings as a storyteller.    Only time will tell if it was worth the effort.  I know that it was worth it for me.    The first session, had two little girls in attendance.  First they asked if they could sit on the chairs next to me and then one of the girls crawled up on my lap for the end of the session.   I figured if she was comfortable and happy with my "gig".   I was happy too.

The second session was fun.  Several close friends were there.  Then when I was really done, a woman came and asked if I would mind doing a bit more for four young people who were disabled.   I said sure and told  about Fairies, how to idientify a Fairy Field and the story  of Liam Clancy trapped in the Fairy Field.    When we were done, I had four "coins" with shamrocks, clovers etc.that I was able to give to each of them (After I asked if it was OK Of Course.)  I was rewarded with a lovely hug and thanks from one of the four little people so I felt that the whole day was worth it.


What a day, wouldn't you agree.   I am glad that today was quiet.  I was able to get MOST of little Marcus's quilt done today.   I like it.  I hope he does.   (It will be nice if his Mom and Dad do too, but it is most important what he thinks.)  I mainly want it cuddly.

So tomorrow starts another day.   Monday is reasonably busy but Tuesday and Wednesday are even more so, because Dick has to leave the house.

Take care of you and be happy

Dia Dhuit

Mary