Such a great day.   It was REALLY cold.   At least I thought so.

I spent the morning doing several things.   I worked on Mom's quilt.   I am about a third of the way through with the repairs.   I worked on the cookbook.    Really feel that I have things on track.   I intend to have it done by the end of March.

Then at 1:00PM is was at Becky's house for a Wildtree Freezer Bag workshop.    It was fun.   Jessie and Becky's mother in law were there so I knew two of the other attendees.   The others are friends and coworkers of Becky and are lovely young women.     We had been instructed to purchase 10 different "bags" of meet and some vegetables and bring them in gallon freezer bags to the party.   Then the cost of the party included spices and oils by this Wildtree company which we all flavored our meat with and sealed up to bring home and freeze.    I brought half the quantities of meat she suggested because it is after all only me.   Then I divided most of the packages again so I have reasonable amounts for one - some of these will end up being two meals anyway but that is good.   I now have 20 or more meals ready to pull out of the freezer, all spiced and ready to thaw, and cook.   With the instruction.

So a good day.  

I am making plans for a vacation.    I am going to visit Bret for a week.   I will go on a Thursday and we can go to his river property.   I will get to see his place,  meet his friends,   go spend a day with Jacquie and just relax with one of my boys.    I am planning at this point on leaving on March 7th.

Am I excited?   Yes!!!!!


Dia Dhuit

Mary

I liked today.    The sun was shining.   It was cold but with little wind and the sun, the snow that fell last night was all gone by noon.

Jody came at 8AM to clean. I spent the morning working on my book, researching for the Celtic Saints, St. David and St. Piran.   They both have their feast days in early March and the Sheboygan Celtic women are going to meet on February 27th, a Wednesday, for the music.    We are meeting a bit early for dinner and a meeting and I will give them a talk on the two saints so that we can celebrate their feast days too.   It is really SO fun to learn about all our Celtic sisters roots.

I also spent some time sewing on Mom's Quilt.   I am getting there.  It will take a couple of weeks though as it is very finicky work sewing all those little points that have loosened back together.   I can only sew for a short time before my shoulder hurts, for one thing.

Went to the Dairy Queen for lunch with the Bank Ladies.    The Dairy Queen still has the grilled cheese sandwich.   I think it was better under the old management.   But it is still a grilled cheese and OK.  It is Lent and I do abstain from meat on Friday's.     The day that Jeff and I took Mother for her doctor appointment on Tuesday, we talked about the fact that the next day was Ash Wednesday, already.    Mother mentioned that she is so old that she no longer is required to fast or abstain.   Jeff and I laughed and reminded her that we don't have to either.  Same reason.

This afternoon, I prepared all my bags of meats and veggies for Becky's Wildtree Freezer Bag workshop that is tomorrow afternoon.   That will be a fun way to spend and afternoon.  As if I don't have enough food already.

So enjoy your evening or morning depending on when you are reading this and I will check in tomorrow

Dia Dhuit

Mary

 

 

 " If you could see the journey whole - you might never undertake it; might never dare the first step that

propels you from the place you have known

toward the place you know not."

                                                                J. L. R.

What a day.    I stayed in bed until almost 8AM.  Sometimes I sleep the best towards morning.   Last night was difficult because my arm hurt so much that I had trouble getting to sleep.   I used the heating pad and it did seem to help.   I have been using cold during the day.

Who knows.

I worked on one of the books that I started to write quite some time ago and have brought our of the drawer to finish.   It is fun reviewing it.  I read the forward to the Sheboygan Writers and they seem to think it has promise.   It will be a cookbook with stories to go with the recipes.

I also worked on Mom's quilt a bit this afternoon.  That plus one more set of drawers cleaned kept me busy all day. 

I saw that it was snowing some this afternoon.   I really don't know how much there will be on the ground but tomorrow is a day in town anyway.    I really only plan on going out once to lunch with the bank ladies.  

Roxie has been very pleased with me today. 

Today was St. Valentines Day.   Several people wished me a happy day.    I missed Dick even though we usually just shared E Cards on this day.

Jim and Michelle called tonight.    Was good to hear their voices.   Jim is recovering quite well from the tooth that was pulled but has a procedure to replace a filling and cap the tooth next to it tomorrow so keep praying that all goes well.    They sounded good otherwise.

So that was the day.    Busy but not exciting.  So I will put a little poem to start you thinking about St. Patrick's day.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Flirty Guys
With flirty eyes
I love the Irish Men.
They charm we gals
As we do them
With mutual admiration.

by me

Ash Wednesday.    No snow and comfortable.    I got up with Roxie at 6AM.  She actually started bugging me at about 5AM so I was not too happy with her little fat self.

Since I couldn't go to Mass tonight because of the Poets Corner at Mead, I went to the 8AM Mass.  Walked around proudly with my ashes on my forehead just like I used to do when I was a little kid.    There was a time in our church that people who did not bother coming to Sunday Mass would have died before missing the Mass on Ash Wednesday.   They HAD to get those ashes on their forehead.   I guess the tangible is kind of comforting.

I did my grocery shopping, went to the bank and the post office and then came home by 10AM.  Yea.  I was able to stay home until just after 5PM when I left to pick up Sy for the Poetry Circle.  There was a nice group there tonight.  Just about everybody read something.   I read the poem I read at Writer's Club on Monday.   I will be able to use it next week at the Plymouth Club too.  Getting a lot of mileage out of it.  

So now it is after 9PM, a busy day and I am ready to rest.   Tomorrow I get to be home all day.  I am working on a big writing project.

Michelle called shortly after I left for the Poetry Circle.    I had called and missed them the other day.   We will eventually connect but in the meantime, Jim is having dental hell, so pray for him.

Til tomorrow

Dia Dhuit


Mary

Today was rather pleasant.   It was pretty gray and we had some flurries this morning but by noon, the sun was peeking through and the rest of the day was very pleasant.

Today, I joined Jeff at Mother's house at 10AM to help him take her to see Dr. Hancock.  I am so glad that everything was dry.  Jeff was able to back his van into the neighbor's driveway for a spot with NO ice.   Dr. Hancock did a bit of adjusting on her meds.   Nothing too drastic, but they may help a couple of concerns.   He is generally satisfied.

Then we stopped and got lunch at Mc Donalds.   I haven't been there in ages especially for a hamburger.  Kind of fun.   We took it to Mom's and ate lunch together.  Kathy sent WONDERFUL mint brownies and some muffins for us.   I know what I am having for breakfast tomorrow.

Then I went to Joan Kramer's house for a reflexology appointment.   I felt SO good when I left.   Now the neck is getting sore again.  We always have such a good visit too.   Joan is great.   

That is all.   I have been just working of writing and general STUFF since I got home.   Roxie is absolutely goofy tonight.  Seems to be having fun though.

Til Tomorrow

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Well, this day did not go as planned but it went.

I went out to drive to Bible Study and the battery was dead.  I called Van Horn.  They came out and got me charged within an hour but I erased  Bible study and a morning visit to Mother from the day.

I spent this time working on Mom's Cathedral Window Quilt.

So at noon, I left for Sheboygan County Writers meeting. On the way, I dropped the last form I need for taxes off at Mark Miller's office and picked up supplies for Mother at Aurora Superior Drug store.

The meeting was great.  I read the entry that won for the 2014 WFOP Calendar and an "assignment" poem on the senses from Sheboygan County Writers.   Then later in the open reading, I read the INTRO to my cookbook.     They liked it and Sylvia said to infuse a bit more humor into the intro to pique interest in the reader.

Next, home stopping on the way to drop Mom's supplies for her.   Finally, a stop at the bank and then HOME.

I am so tired.   So well be going to bed early.  The Westminster Dog Show starts at 7PM .   I will go to bed and watch that.

Til tomorrow.   I will be going with Jeff and Mother for her doctor appointment.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It was a Sunday at home.   Just Roxie and me.   The only time I left the house was to get Jean's paper for her.   She is my neighbor and I think I told you that she fractured her leg and I have been picking up he mail and papers for her.   She generously shares her papers with me ALL of the time.  

I had not paid any attention to the outdoors until just a few minutes ago.   I started watching the news and found out that rain is passing through.  Sure enough.   It is raining.   It is not supposed to get too cold, so I am banking on it being warm enough to keep from freezing.   Then it is supposed to be windy which will help dry the roads.

I kept myself pleasantly busy today.    I baked some butternut squash bread.   I fixed myself a good lunch.   I spent time sewing on a neglected wall hanging that has been on the quilt rack for years and I started mending Mother's Cathedral Window quilt.   It is such a treasure and years of use have resulted in lots of broken points.    I figure I will do a little every other day or so and have it ready for her when she wants it.   She is already worried about it being ready for spring.

I also worked on several CWI projects.

So I am ready to use the rest of the day doing NOTHING.  (Wonder if that will work?)

Can you believe that Wednesday will be Ash Wednesday already?

Dia Dhuit

Mry