Well, I have everything done that I needed to prepare for the guests that will spend the night tomorrow night. Dick never looks at this site, so I guess that I can tell you all, that it is NOT Dick and Brenda that are spending the night, but his sister Hazel and her daughter Suzi. His other niece Teresa and her husband Gary are also going to be at Richard's for the birthday dinner. It is a surprise for Dick and I think we have succeeded. Last weekend, he asked me twice, who was spending the night, I think he was and maybe still is suspicious.

I am going to the 5:00PM Mass and will meet them all after the service. This works out really well as the choir is singing AND then I won't have to leave on Sunday morning. Bobbie and Bill will pick up Jim and Dick so we just have one car at Richard's.

Dick and I took Mother to get her blood test this morning. She is relieved. That was the last part of her yearly physical. Now she knows that everything is all right, at least she will when the results come in.

We had a nice gentle rain this morning and a really great thunderstorm a little while ago. A couple more storms would really help. We need at least three inches just to catch up. The storms are supposed to be past us by midnight, which is good as I want to go turkey hunting in the morning but will not go if it is raining.

There was some very loud thunder, so we had a very unhappy little doggie. The cats didn't seem to respond to it at all.

Happy Saturday.

Love

Mary

Another disappointing day hunting. Actually, I saw a lot of wildlife, just not many turkeys. I only saw seven today, compared with 13 yesterday. Actually, I think I saw two twice (going both directions) so only spotted 5. None were close enough for a shot. I am sure one was a Jake.

I did see four deer, a squirrel and numerous birds.

Ken did get a shot off at a big Tom but missed it. I left the field at about 11:30AM as I had choir AND council tonight and needed a little rest this afternoon.

Ken was staying out for at least part of the afternoon. If he didn't get one, we will PROBABLY go out again on Saturday at least for a couple of hours. Might as well try.

I was able to stay at choir at least long enough to practice the two songs we are singing on Saturday evening. I will have to practice AVE VERUM all by myself pretty soon. We are singing that next weekend.

Council went pretty well with very little dissention and a lot was covered.

Tomorrow is a "day off". We will shop and take Mother to the clinic for her blood tests and then come home and STAY.

It was a lovely day. Chilly this morning. We started in the field at 37 degrees. But it got all the way up to 60 and was warm and comfortable.

Have a nice Friday. Today is Ascension Thursday. We celebrate it on the following Sunday now. How odd. It is kind of like the Monday holiday bill.


Love

Mary

It was a beautiful day out at the turkey hunt, but we neither Ken nor I harvested our turkey, so tomorrow we will be at it again.

I saw several but the only two that were in range were hens and we are limited to Toms and Jakes. I saw a couple Jakes but they were way out of range. Again, I was able to "play" with a group of hens who worked their way down the hill in response to my calls but they lost interest before they got to me.

Tonight was the last of the Basic Pistol classes. We just checked our tests, saw some videos on some of the shooting organizations that are around and on how to improve our skills. Then we went to the range and shot for the rest of the class. I shot my two 22s and then tried a 10 milimeter, a 9 MM and a 40 MM. I really liked the 40 MM though I would have to really practice with it to be consistant and get my stance right.

I will update you again tomorrow

Love

Mary

This afternoon, I met Uncle Ken out at the turkey hunting fields so that we could scope out our places and get ready for tomorrow morning. We will be meeting at 4:30AM or thereabouts to hike out and be ready when the sun comes up. Turkeys start moving around at dawn and are pretty active for the first couple of hours at least. This will be my year, I hope. Ken and I are both very optimistic anyway. I will be hitting the sheets early tonight so I have as much rest as possible.

This morning was very chilly and damp again but the sun came out this afternoon and it gor up to the low 50s. Tomorrow it is supposed to creep up into the 60s though I reckon it will be chilly when we are hiking out and for the first hour or so of the hunt.

Dick and I went shopping this morning and I also got my hair cut, so it really was a VERY active day again.

Today is Bart and Barb's eighth wedding anniversary. It does not seem 8 years but a lot has happened since then. And I know that her young sons, Adam and Timothy, are now fine young men and Adam is even a Dad. Wow. Anyway, a long happy life to them and prayers for continuing healing for Bart. The pain is pretty much under control now.

Simone Signoret said regarding Marriage. "Pains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years. thatn's what makes a marriage last - more than passion or even sex."

I think we will have a pretty lazy dinner tomorrow. Something frozen that I can just heat up. It is, after the hunting, the last Basic Pistol class.

I'll check in and let you know about the hunt.

Mary

I took Mother to the doctor today for her yearly physical. She came through with flying colors though we do have to get her to the lab for her blood tests. They had neglected to tell her to fast from midnight on.

She got a tetinis shot. The nurse told her that it is good for five years. Mom told her that she hopes that it all gets used up.

Then we picked up Dick and went to the Parkview for lunch together. Always a pleasant experience.

Tonight Bobbie and I had our monthly Rhine Plymouth Field and Stream meeting. Pretty productive actually. There was much less babbling. We have found that these men are pretty good at rehashing items several times. We discuss and vote and then before the meeting is over someone brings the item up again. But tonight they kept it simple.

Wednesday, Turkey season starts for Uncle Ken and me. Tomorrow we are going to stake out our spots. Randy is going out with Ken and me on Wednesday, he didn't get a lisence but is going to help us call and will be there if I get one to help carry. What a guy.

There are two kinds of people in the world, those who come into the room and say "Here I am!" and those who come into the room and say, "Ah, there you are!"

Enjoy the day. We are promised warm weather again by the end of the week.

Love.

Mary

Well, it was a strange Sunday.

Chelsea and I had a very nice walk. However, as we were coming back down the street to the house, I saw a crow fly up to the rooftop accross the street with a carcass in it's mouth. When we turned into the driveway, lo and behold, there was a pile of rabbit parts. The parts were mostly fur but there were a few pieces of intestine mixed in and I had to pull a very interested dog away from the mess. I cleaned it up after church. ICH!!!!!

Then after church, which was just fine. Jim, Bobbie and I went shooting. I tried to use the tips that they gave me at the Pistol Course and shot a O - yes a NOTHING. I went back to the way I was doing it and got in the fifties and sixties. What a bummer. I asked Del if I could throw the one out because I was trying information given to me by the training and he said in effect - tough doobee , don't listen to anyone but me - which is a crock too. Excuse me but I really got upset by the whole thing. I left the 0 in the slot and I believe that I will not shoot out this league. There are only two women shooting at this point. I see no sense in finishing and getting a token trophy just because I shot. I will continue shooting with Jim but not league and try again when Fall League starts.

That was the day and I am glad that it is over. This is a busy week, starting tomorrow when I take Mother for her annual physical. She is so funny, she says she does not want any unusual testing, even her mammogram, which I understand. She just wants to be sure everything is OK. She looks good and is very busy so we are sure there will be nothing untowards.

Have a good first week of May. Happy May Day. I remember when I was a little girl taking baskets to the neighbors on May Day. They don't do that any more.

Love

Mary

Dick and I just got home from the Stephanie Weill Center where we enjoyed a couple of hours of watching the Trinity Irish Dance Company perform accompanied by a group who wrote a couple of their numbers called Stone. It is fascinating to watch the dancers. They make such use of their dance for both the beauty of the dance itself and for incorporating their sound into the entire body of the music.

I was interested to read in the program that a couple of pieces were cowritten by Liz Carroll. She is a very accomplished fiddler and musician who performed with Green Fields of America several years ago when Robbie O'Connell and Jimmy Keane were in the group.

All in all it was a very nice evening. The first piece was called "Out of the Woods" and was on the order of Riverdance. I loved the poem that it was writted about. The first line is "On the day when the weight deadens on your shoulders and you stumble, may the clay dance to balance you."

Beautiful.

Love you

Mary

What a day. I got a LOT done. Started this morning with cleaning the kitchen, then I finished that article for the Angelus (our church newsletter). At about 11:30 I left for Plymouth and went to the bank, the Sewing Basket and lunch with the ladies at the Dairy Queen. Following lunch, I stopped at the church office to drop off the article and I spoke to Fr. Gene for a bit about the concern cards.

The trip to the Sewing Basket was successful. I found a nice sale fabric for the back of the quilt top that I just completed . It is a twin quilt. I really like the colors. Mainly greens and browns.

Then home. I cleaned the strawberries for dinner. We had shortcake on those chocolate bisquits that I made a few weeks ago and froze. I also prepared pork tenderloin, rice and egg rolls for supper. The pork was roasted at a rather high heat, 400 degrees, and basted with a sauce of ketsup, soy sauce and apple cider vinegar. It was very tasty, tender and moist. The nice thing about tenderloin is that here is very little fat and it lives up to its name - tender.

Dick and I mixed a batch of White Zinfindal, five gallons, into the primary fermenter. Tomorrow, I will add the yeast. The temperature has to cool a bit from the initial mixing or the yeast will die. We also have a box of Gerwertziminer that we will start as soon as we get the White Zin into the secondary.

Tomorrow evening we are going to see the Trinity Irish Dancers at the Weill Center. I believe I will wear the sequinced vest that Dick bought me for St. Patrick's day.

I will end with a story that I have received a couple of times through email. Most of you probably have received it too, but it is really special.

What a son taught his Dad

One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the
country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people live. They
spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a
very poor family.
On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the
trip?"

"It was great, Dad."

"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.

"Oh yeah," said the son

"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered: "I saw that we have one dog and they had four.

We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a
creek that has no end.

We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.

Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go
beyond our sight.

We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.

We buy our food, but they grow theirs.

We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to
protect them."

The boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are."

The buying food versus growing it reminds me of the children at Sarnelli House. Fr. Mike says that they have great difficulty understanding why they have to help plant the fields when (as they keep showing him) there us perfectly good rice and other food in the market. I told him I understand their feelings as I used to HATE working in Mom and Dad's garden when I was a kid.

Later

Mary

This afternoon, I drove four other ladies out to Rocky Knoll Health Care Center to play bingo with some of the residents. We do this every two months. The last one was cancelled because flu was sweeping the residents and they were keeping them away from others and others away from them to prevent spread. I really enjoy this. We spend about an hour and sit at a table with two to three of them to help if they have trouble with the numbers. I sat with two men today, Steve, who was able to do his own card and Paul, who could close the numbers but needed help finding if he had them. Both of my guys won a game. We bring $10.00 in quarters and each winner gets a quarter with four quarters presented for the last game, a blackout.

Tonight was choir. We have a pretty busy two months aheaed. We sing again on May 7th at the 5:00PM Mass. I will go directly to Richards to meet the family for Dick's birthday dinner. Dick's kids want to take him out for his birthday, especially since this is his 75th.

Here is a quote from B. C. the cartoon . Two of the ladies are talking. One says "Woe! says her, in biblical times. Women were stoned for being unfaithful to theie spouses." The other women asks " What about men?" The first replies "It would be my guess that they wer severely pebbles." The second says, "Go Girl!"


I also have a quote from Cadfael by Ellis Peters. Today's was really good. "There are true things I will not tell you and questions I will not answer, but everything I do tell you, and every answer I give you, will be the truth."

Tomorrow is quiet except for lunch in Plymouth, and I intend to stop at the Sewing Basket to see if they have any fabric for the back of I quilt that I intend to finish for the Celtic Faire.

Have a nice one.

Mary

I have had a very "needy" kitty today. Needy is Jim's term for the kitties when they get on the lap and won't leave while demanding a lot of petting. Surprisingly it was Roxie who isn't usually too interested in me. She is sleeping on the desk under the lamp right now. We really have been exceptionally lucky with the cats. One really never knows when one gets adult cats from the Humane Society.

We grocery shopped today and also bottled the Chablis. We got 25 bottles. This batch is from a kit. I think I told you that we bottled the Chokecherry yesterday. That is a scratch wine and we got 5 bottles from the gallon. I did a gallon batch of that earlier in the season too.

We will be starting a batch of White Zinfandal tomorrow. The trick is to keep it maturing rather steadily. It is lots of fun to share it. The grape wine from the wild grapes that I got from Dolores and Ken will be ready in May. I am really excited to try that. It is really the only true "wine" that I have ever made from scratch. In theory wines are made from grapes.

the most important tip....

LADIES- Don't throw out all that leftover wine. Freeze into ice
cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.

REAL WOMEN- Leftover wine??

Have a fine Wednesday,

Mary

This was a nice quiet day and not nearly as chilly as I was led to believe that it would be. I took Chelsea out a bit ago and we are getting a little evening rain. We need a lot more than a little but will take all that we can get.

We had a nice crowd at Bible Study. Our Snow Birds are gradually returning. Someone asked me if we were going to continue the study through the summer. I said that we surely would, our attendence is more likely to be down in the winter when several of our members spend a month or two or three in warmer climates, Texas, Arizona, Florida for example. They come back for the nice weather in spring, summer and fall here.

We finished I Corinthians and now are going to spend six weeks doing a study of the Eucharist. We decided not to do the singing that is part of the book we are going to use, but "Shall We Gather at the River" might be fun.

I did a little sewing and pinning tonight. The Celtic Knot that I am doing is really a pain to pin on. Once I get it pinned, it should be OK. I need to be working on it. I did finish the shamrock that I am doing for the Celtic Faire Quilt but want to to Two Celtic Knots and am having trouble coordinating the first one.

Patience, I need patience.

Jeff called this evening. He has some more venison sausage. It is from the deer that we got from a friend of his and the meat was finally processed into sausage and hot sticks. We just finished the other about a week ago so it will be a welcome addition.

The Kunert kids are taking Dick out for dinner on his birthday, May 7. We are going to Richard's in Falls. Should be fun. He will be 75. A very special birthday.

"If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?" Milton Berle

Have a nice Tuesday.

I am a tired do-bee. Remember Romper Room and do-bees?

The thank you dinner for the volunteers was a great success. We had planned for about 175 and served closer to 200. We had plenty of food except for rolls and cake. The menu was ham, potato salad, baked beans, cole slaw, corn, rolls and cake. This was the first thank you dinner that Blessed Trinity has ever done, at least in my memory, and we will do it again next year. I said the prayer and think it was OK. I will print it here for you to enjoy.

No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself. ISLAM

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness... you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death...you are more blessed than three million people in the world.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep...you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in you wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace...you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If your parents are still alive and still married...you are very rare.

If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

Source Unknown

Someone once said: "what goes around comes around."

Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's heaven on earth.
Author Unknown

Like the goodness of the five loaves and two fishes,
Which God divided among the five thousand men,
May the blessing of the king who so divided
Be upon our share of this common meal.
An Irish Blessing


Leslie sent a picture of Nora, all dressed up for work. She sure is a beauty. We miss them.

Enjoy a spectacular week and "Dance Like Nobody's Watching." It will be fun - I promise.


Mary

Well, I obviously took a day off yesterday. After the busy Lyra day I decided to "gel" as they say.

I did clean the kitchen floor and made CHILI. As I write this it is reheating for our supper. Always make chili ahead and let it cool and reheat before eating it. (My sage wisdom for the day.) You probably know this. It makes the flavors ripen and mature. I used the last of the ground venison and I have found a source of chorizo so it will be goooooooood. Come on over if you want some. I have a BIG pot.

This morning, I met Joyce Hackel and Joan Schueffner to decorate the church basement for the big Thank You dinner for the volunteers at Blessed Trinity. We have 168 people signed up and have planned for 175 so we are close. I believe that with the side dishes we have we will still have lots of food left over. We have a source for that too. We freeze the ham anyway and give it to the school for lunches. Tomorrow will really be busy. Joan and I are picking up the rest of the food at 2:30PM to get it to the church, set up and heating for the 5:30 arrival of the volunteers. The social is from 5:30 to 6, then dinner then dessert then home or visiting - whatever they want. We hope this becomes a time of community and meeting each other. All of these people are the doers of our church.

One gentleman called me and said that he thought that he had gotten his invitation in error. He said he wasn't a lay minister. I asked him what he did for Blessed Trinity and he said he mows the lawns sometimes. I told him that he is a lay minister and he and I were quite excited about it. He found out that ministering to others takes on many faces.

Have a good day and thank those that minister to you.

Mary

What a day. Dick and I went out for our usual breakfast before grocery shopping. Then I did a bit of cleaning (bathrooms) and fixed lunch. Dick and I watched West Side Story - the movie that we have here from NetFlix - a movie rental that was a Christmas Gift from Bart and Barb.

Then - tonight. I took my soup and other stuff to the church rectory. There Beth and I finalized preparations for dinner for the six performers of Lyra, a vocal ensemble from St. Petersburg Russia. When I said I had soup, they just lit up. Apparantly they have soup at home almost every day and really miss it when they travel. This is my Slim Veggie Soup, which I know I have shared with you. I added some good old Sheboygan Brats to give it a local flair and we served it with crusty breads and salads.

The concert was WONDERFUL. These are professional musicians part of a choir of 30 members that perform in St Petersburg. They send small groups out to perform and we lucked out. There was a decent crowd and they loved the music and the singers. The whole performance was a-capella. Sergei, the tenor and leader, told us that all the music in Russian Orthodox Church is done a-capella. He also told us that some of their vesper services can last up to five hours and that they have a great devotion to the Blessed Mother.

Have a nice Friday. I intend to spend a quiet one.

Love

Mary

Things are ready for tomorrow night. Lyra, the Russian Group, is appearing at Blessed Trinity as I have mentioned.

We are feeding them supper. I made a sausage, vegetable soup, Beth is making a spinach strawberry salad. We are also providing a nice crusty bread and cheese and crackers.

Then after the concert, we are having bars - made by our choir members - juice and coffee for a social.

One of our parishioners, nicely volunteered to make them breakfast. She is making croissants, an egg dish, sausage and fruit. I wish she would come and cook for me.

Tonight was the third of the five Basic Pistol Classes. We got to shoot for the first time in class. I shot both a semi automatic and a revolver. We also learned the proper way to clean a gun. I need to replace my cleaning rod. Mine was a real cheap kit and I should be using one with a coated rod rather than aluminum.

It has chilled down today after our beautiful 70s yesterday. It rained pretty good last night and some areas even had thunder and lightening. Not enough but some of the trees are popping their leaves. More rain is promised for tomorrow and/or Friday. My tulips are also starting to flower.

I received two copies of a small publication called IRISH STEW that is published in Mehasha. They accepted one of my poems called CRAZY CATS. I will copy and paste it here for you.

Cats kalumpfing down the stairs
In reckless abandon.
Tumbling head over tail in Joy
Of just plain being alive.

In reckless abandon
The house shudders
Tumbling head over tail in Joy
We laugh at their sheer freedom.

The house shudders
If only we could have such fun
We laugh at the sheer freedom
They tear around like dervishes

If only we could have such fun
Tumbling head over tail in Joy
They tear around like dervishes
Cats kalumpfing down the stairs.

Hope you like.

Mary

Dick and I went grocery shopping this morning and then stopped at Superior Liquor so I could pick up the wine and beer for the big Volunteer party at Blessed Trinity on Sunday.

This afternoon I got the napkins and went to see Dr. Casey, my chiropractor, this afternoon. Then this evening, Rocky Knoll gave a dinner for the volunteers that helped during the past year. I drove four of the ladies from Blessed Trinity that go out about six times a year to play bingo with the residents. I really enjoy that hour and don't feel that they would HAVE to give a dinner. BUT they do put on quite a spread and have entertainment and door prizes for everybody so it is a really FUN night.

This year the Sheboygan Falls Middle School Jazz Band played for us. We were wowed and awed by them. It is so good to see such a beautiful group of young people playing such good music with such talent and finesse.

I won a bird house. If it is nice tomorrow - it is supposed to rain tonight - I will hang that bird house and the gourd bird house and put out my garden stone.

We have a Pope. Ratzinger from Germany was elected at about noon our time today. He is another John Paul II, if not more conservative, so we are probably due for more restrictions. We ladies tonight were joking that we will probably have to go back to veils in church again. God must know what he is doing, but I am confused. He has chosen Benedict XVI as his name.

Albert Einstein said "I cannot believe that God plays dice with the universe."

And a Danish proverb says: "Bad is never good until worse happens."

Til tomorrow

Mary

I went to a funeral this morning. A friend, Ann Piruung, lost her Mother last week. The service was at St. Dominic's and was very touching. The Mother was in her 80s and was apparently a very intelligent, loving, amusing woman and will be dearly missed. Poor Ann. Last night, they had an electrical "event". The wiring in her computer (they think) blew and started a fire and destroyed their electrical service. She had the eulogy that she had planned to deliver on the computer so had to wing it. She did fine.

I felt so near to this and Ann because my Mother is 89. She is still doing JUST great. Last week she has something scheduled to do every single day. Actually, she kind of complains about that as she likes a day off in between to rest up. Her only real complaint is that she gets tired. I am taking her for her physical next week. She just wants to be sure that her tiredness is just old age.
Eileen told her one day, "Mom, you have to remember that you are not 79 any more."

Then I spent the rest of the day picking up around here and sorting the avalanche of papers that appears on my desk every week. We did the first filtering on the second batch of Chokecherry Wine that I made this season. It is very raw yet but seems to have a pleasant taste. Should be ready in the Fall. We have a five gallon batch of Chardonnay to filter also. We will probably do that tomorrow.

Leslie called last night. It was good to hear her voice. The girls were both out. She sounds happy. They like it in Louisiana. Nora has a job and Sara is looking. It doesn't seem possible that they are 16 and 18 already.

Tomorrow is a busy day with shopping and Dr. Casey and a dinner in Elkhart Lake for us church people who have volunteered to play Bingo with the patients at Rocky Knoll. They really don't have to do that but since they do, we like to go.

Have a nice Tuesday and I will be thinking of you.

Mary

P. S. It was over 70 degrees today. Yippee.

A nice warm Sunday. The temps were up close to 60 and the sun was shining. There was no wind and it was beautiful. This afternoon, after shooting, I trimmed one of the bushes in the front yard and let Chelsea come out with me.

As I stepped into the junipers to get the back of the bush I was working on (I forget the name of it)lo and behold, a lady duck came crashing out of the foliage and took off. I remembered seeing her about three weeks ago in the front yard. At that time, I thought she was just resting on her way somewhere else. I know there is a pair of them down the street that seem to like swimming in the drainage ditch. I kind of peeked under the bushes but did not see a nest. I did not want to do too much digging around. It would be disruptive and upsetting to the Mama if that is her nursery.

Later, Dick took Jim and I out for supper tonight and when we came back the duck was back in the front yard so I am inclined to think that there is a nest in there somewhere.

We sang at the 10:30AM Mass this morning. It is the Feast of the Good Shepherd. Fr. Gene told us that sheep know their master by the sound of their voice, not smell, not clothing. That in the middle east, many flocks feed together in the good pasture land. When it is time to go, all the sheep follow the sound of their master's voice. Isn't that fascinating?

Rosemary Eigenberger gave me two old pictures last week. One is of a bowling team from Fitz's, now The Other Place, a bar downtown in Sheboygan Falls. This picture has both my Uncle Jack and my Uncle George on it and a bunch of other people I remember from my youth, most of them gone now.

The second was a picture of the Happy Hollow Heads. This was a men's club that played cards, Mom thinks Sheepshead, years ago. The picture has lots of people. Mother is identifying most of them and thinks that Bea Visser, one of her few remaining contemporaries, will be able to help with the rest. I DID fine Uncle Jack, and Uncle George again AND my Grandpa Bowser. They are all singing.


Have a wonderful week.

Love

Mary

Very Very Busy Day. I cleaned most of the kitchen, the dishwasher repairman came, went to Plymouth to have lunch and then to Sheboygan Falls to finish planning the Thank You dinner for the volunteers at Blessed Trinity. I got home just in time to fix dinner for Dick and me before heading out for four hours of work at Rhine Plymouth. It was a beautiful evening and we have 23 league teams so we were really hopping. Bobbie and I actually came home at about 9:30PM. The crowd was still pretty thick, but they were done shooting and probably will hang out there for at least a couple more hours. We don't drink or smoke so hanging around there isn't a big WOO for us.

Tomorrow I don't have to go anywhere at all.

I think I am hungry for chocolate. I must think of something chocolate that is not a huge enough recipe to feed the county. Perhaps cupcakes or brownies or something like that. I will let you know.

Here is a Psalm for going to bed which I will be doing ANY MINUTE.

I will lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me rest secure. Psalm 4:8

Mary

I fixed Hamburger Helper for supper tonight. I had a box down there that HAD to be used as I don't even KNOW how old it was. I decided not to check the expiration date. It was quite good as they usually are. I used ground turkey instead of beef. I also found a recipe for a really great pea salad in the Taste of home. It is quite simple.

Mix together:

1 lb thawed peas
1 8 oz can drained sliced water chestnuts
1/2 cup chopped red sweet pepper
1/3 cup chopped red onion

In another bowl combine:

Mix 1/2 cup mayonese
1/2 teasp garlic sauce
1 teasp. dill weed

Stir together. Let sit for a bit to meld the flavors and serve. Really crunchy and good.

Tomorrow, Joan Schueffner and I will be finalizing the plans for the Thank You Dinner at Church. We have over 100 people coming, closer to 150 so far so I believe that it will be very successful.

Had choir and bell practice tonight. I really enjoy the bells and will like them even more when I feel more secure and sure of myself. One of them has Aunt Helen's name on it so I feel a special closeness to her. I still miss her. She was REALLY my best friend. I am sure she watches over me.


Love

Mary

Here it is Wednesday. It was chilly this morning when we walked and really did not get over 50. It is supposed to warm up on the weekend. We are really in need of some rain.

The best friends are comfort friends
The friends that come in youth
The ones with whom we shared missing teeth
Acne, lies and truth.

The above is the start of a poem I am working on.

Had lunch today with several of the "comfort friends" that I graduated from high school with. We ate at the Firehouse in Sheboygan Falls. We graduated 47 years ago and try to get together every couple of months.

Wendy Shrank had given me copies of some writings of Gerry Gartzke, a man, who lives in the old Brickner Woolen Mill apartments and is very ill with cancer. She asked me if I had come up with any ideas for publishing the writings. I have been thinking that perhaps we should produce a bbiography of Gerry to give meaning and background to the reader and include the writings throughout the biography. She is going to see if perhaps he would be up to the two of us interviewing him to try to put this together. He does have good days and bad days as he is very ill.

My cousin David Bowser, it trying to convince me to help him put a book together of the Bowsers and trying to sweeten the idea for me by including the Deeleys (who are not related to him at all.) I would like both of these projects but am a bit afraid of the committment. However, I will be done with council this summer and then can keep my church stuff down to just helping with events and choir.

I hope I don't bore you with my days and plans. It is really nice for me to be able to recap the day and include my dreams.

My brother Jeff had hernia surgery today. Mother said he is home and OK but say a little prayer for him.

A William Jones said "The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook."

Be well

Mary

Yesterday, I forgot.

I was busy most of the day. In the morning I went to church for bible study. We had a lively discussion. Tom and Kathy Keyes are back and it adds to the group to have them there. The discussion was on the Resurection. Without the Resurection, what good would Jesus' death have been. The Resurrection gives hopt to us all and a promise.

The afternoon was occupied by Writer's Club. We had a speaker this time. Rachel Pennington, who wrote, The Christmas Tree Ship , came to speak to us. She had also worked for Mark Victor Hanson and Jack Canfield, who do Chicken Soup for the Soul books. I heard Mark Victor Hanson speak several times in my "previous life". He spoke for Amway and for Realtors. He is a dynamic man, very good looking and very Christian. He is a hugger so we got along well. He would not remember me but I remember him as a really inspiration speaker and a warm individual. I remember a quote of his that really impressed me. He said, "God did not make the diamonds of this world for the devil's children." The context of the saying is that God made a beautiful world and that he does expect his children to realize the beauty and wonder of it.

love

Mary

The day was beautiful again. Chelsea and I saw some daffodils blooming down the street and Mother has a few opening too.

Jim and Bobbie and I went shooting today. I am not doing as well as the first week. I think the sites have been bumped a bit as I have to aim right or be really left and low. I is hard to adjust. Jim is going to help me adjust them next Sunday.

We had my famous Lasagna Soup for supper tonight. My lasagna is usually spoonable, not easily served in wedges, the first day we eat it - thus Lasagna Soup. The last few times it was pretty well set up and I think Dick and Jim were getting used to it. However, today we were back to the good old soupy stuff. It tastes great and will be nice and firm the next time I serve it. I has also made a rhubarb-blueberry pie which I now know is very tasty.

The Mass this morning was for Pope John Paul II and Fr. Gene told several stories of previous papal elections, including one who was only eighteen and reported to be the illegitimate son of the pope previous to him. Fortunately, he died just a few years later of a stroke, apparantly in the bed of a prostitued. As Fr. Gene said, not all the popes were holy or honorable. Pope John Paul II was that - honorable and holy. I may not have agreed with all that he did, but I never doubted his love for God and mankind.

If we get rain this week, I think I will see my herbs and the second peony come to life.

Love

Mary

Chelsea and I walked around the house again today to check the "gardens". One of my lavendar plants is showing some green, the rhubarb is alive and one of my peonies is starting to sprout. The other one is not showing any life, but last year it came up late - after I had purchased the new one because I thought it was dead. There is also some growth on the honeysuckle. It is supposed to be warm and rainy next week so perhaps I can get a little work done.

I worked some more on the quilt top that I almost have assembled and getting the strips ready to do the Celtic Knot squares for the raffle quilt for Celtic Faire. It was a quiet day. Dick and I went out for breakfast. We went to Jalisco's, a Mexican restuarant that I saw served breakfast. We ordered huevos rancheros with mild sauce. They POURED on really hot salsa and I did not like it. Cross that one off.

Remember the great truth - No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.

Mary

What a icky turn of events. I was going to go down to the den and watch a DVD that Dick doesn't care for and do some cutting out of fabric to complete a quilt top. I went down and cannot even get the TV to turn on much less the DVD. Jim has a new control system and again, I cannot watch the big TV unless he is home. I hate all these remotes and systems. If I known how it works it is OK but I never find out how until I am ready to watch and noone is home to instruct me.

It was a beautiful day. The sun shone and it was warm. I took some pictures of a cardinal singing in the back yard perched in the big tree off the deck. Hope they turn out. I do have some really super nice pictures of trees against the sky in various seasons and this would be a nice addition.

I had lunch with the Bank Girls at the Dairy Queen in Plymouth today. Barb had pictures of her little grandaughter ANNA. Anna is one year old and had a really rough beginning. She was born with Down's Syndrom and a very weak heart but has weathered it all and is finally gaining weight and has a smile to light the world.

Tomorrow, I get to stay home all day and hope to just sew and write as I have cleaned the bathrooms and kitchen thouroughly. Maybe if it is nice, I can go out and just police the yard. We are supposed to have rain on Tuesday and sure could use it now.

Love

Mary

Busy day. It was a bit cooler today but the sun shone and there was really no breeze to speak of. Quite pleasant. I washed all the rugs from the bathrooms and laundry room. Must be getting Spring. The cleaning bug is hitting me.

Council meeting went quite well. We covered a lot. Part of the parish census that we are in the middle of is a concerns sheet. Fr. Gene and I are going to go through the concerns (which have been given to the council without names) and determine which are personal and should be handled by Fr. Gene and which can be handed over to the proper committee or person for either resolution or explanation. We want this to be positive for the parish.

I did get a quilt top, that has been a couple of years in the making, assembled. It looks pretty good. All greens and browns with a bit of yellow and orange for pizazz.

I need to enlarge it with a border and it should make a twin size quilt.

Remember - if you aim at nothing, you are bound to hit it.

Love

Mary

We were supposed to get rain this afternoon, but it never materialized. It was not as warm as yesterday, but still pleasant. We did open the doors and windows for an hour or so. Kitties are happy.

Today was a mainly stay at home day. We did drive over to Office Max to get new ink cartridges for the printer and a new mouse pad for me. I got a pretty one with a lighthouse on it.

Tonight, I went to the first of five Basic Pistol Shooting classes at Urban Middle School. The first class is, of course, basic pistol information and safety, with a hands on portion to practice loading and unloading revolvers and semi automatics.
Next week, we have more classroom, then down to the range and the last week we get to bring our own guns.

Tomorrow, we grocery shop and Dick gets his blood checked. The evening is WAY too busy with choir AND council.

Yesterday, I fixed a casserole that Dick found the recipe for. It is REALLY good.
It is in www.yumyum.com and called Chorizo Noodle Casserole.

Chorizo Noodle Casserole
Serves:
Ingredients:
12 oz Rotini
2 c Shredded jack cheese
1 ds Of pepper
1/2 ts Salt
1 c Milk
4 oz Can green chilies, chopped
1 sm Onion, coarsely chopped
4 Medium-size chorizo sausages
1 tb Butter or margarine
Boiling salted water
6 To 8 tomato slices
Instructions:
Servings: 6 Following package directions, cook rotini in a large kettle of boiling salted water until al dente.
Drain, rinse with cold water, and drain again.
Meanwhile, melt butter in a wide frying pan over medium-high heat.
Remove sausage casings, crumble meat into pan, add onion, and cook until sausage is browned and onion is limp (about 5 minutes).
Pour off drippings and add cooked pasta, chilies, milk, salt and pepper to taste.
Pour half the mixture into a greased 2 1/2 quart casserole; sprinkle with half the cheese.
Add remaining mixture, arrange tomato slices on top, and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
If made ahead, cover and refrigerate until next day.
Bake, uncovered, in a 350 deg F oven for 25 to 35 minutes or until top is slightly browned.
Makes 6 servings.

It is even hot enough for Jim but it is a pleasent hot for Dick and me.

Have a nice day

Mary

We have had windows and the patio door open since noon today. It was absolutely beautiful and the cats have been extremely happy. They love the smells and sights and sounds of the outside. I am sure if they actually got out there, they would be terrified.

I remember one time when I lived along the Sheboygan River in Sheboygan Falls, Waylon, Mr. Tough Guy, got out the backdoor one day and headed straight down the hill towards the water. I paniced and started after him. He got about 1/3 of the way down, when he paused and looked around. He immediately realized that he was totally out of his realm. Trees were looming above him and the river was rushing LOUDLY by him. He turned around, saw me and ran back. Then he climbed me like a tree and wrapped his front paws around my neck as if to say, "Why did you let me do this? Get me out of here." I wish I could say that he never sneaked out again, but he wasn't quite that bright. I did notice though that after that, if he did get out, he seemed to try to keep me or whomever was chasing him just close enough that he could reach us in a hurry.

Mother Theresa said "The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis , but rather the feeling of being unwanted."

Everybody needs to feel special and wanted. Somewhere in the Torah is says (I am paraphrasing) Every child needs to feel that God created the world just for him.


Love

Mary

It was a very lovely day again today, a bit cooler than yesterday, but enough to give us Wisconsinites hope of Spring.

We had another very lively discussion at Bible Study because of Paul's statement that women should keep silent in the churches. We ARE learning that things were different 2000 years ago. We are also finding that you have to read very carefully. Paul says those things and then finishes with "WHAT? Did the word of God originate with you, or are you the only ones it has reached?", Which seems to mean that he was trying to tell the people that women DO have opinions that have value and rights that need to be honored.

Tomorrow, we shop, vote, I will be cutting out fabric with a friend for a group quilt and I have to pick up Market Day.

Here is the third poem, I wrote for the Milwaukee Art Museum. It is based on a rather "modern" oil painting painted on plywood in 1924 by Arthur Dove called Sunrise.

Here is my poem called:

ICE CREAM SUNDAE SUNRISE

I walked out into a quiet early morning sunrise
to a strawberry ice cream horizon
blanketed by a layer
of warm blueberry syrup crusted over with a thin crunchy chocolate film
topped with lemon sherbet and another layer
of warm blueberry syrup crusted over with a thin crunchy chocolate film.
Concocted layer by layer until -
a scoop of blue raspberry ice cream oozes to the right
and a scoop of Neapolitan ice cream oozes to the left
covered with a final blanket
of warm blueberry syrup crusted over with a thin crunchy chocolate film.
Then God finished it all by scooping and smoothing
gobs of French vanilla ice cream over the entire exotic sunset
and providing a cocoa dusted whipped cream sun
to shine on all against an azure sky.

I read it slowly at Writer's Club and had everyone drooling. I really needs to be read aloud.


Love

Mary

Today was beautiful. It got up into the upper 50's and I went out and cleaned out the herb garden. Chives are coming up and I saw a bit of green on the thyme and parsley.

This morning there was a lady duck in the yard when I left for church.

Daylight saving time has begun and because of it I believe that Chelsea will no longer be waking me up at 4 to 4:30 in the morning. Especially if I don't tell her.

We really enjoyed the Fireside's presentation of West Side Story. The dancing was fantastic. At the end, I must confess that I was crying. Dick shed a tear or two also and commented that all around the stage, he saw people, notably the men, taking off their glasses and wiping their eyes. We had a great meal of stuffed pork chop, garlic potatoes, green beans and applesauce, preceded by a salad and followed by a wonderful chocolate, cappachino dessert.

While we were in the Fireside, Pope John Paul II passed away. I am sure he is very happy to be through with this life, as he was in such respiritory distress and failing so fast. I pray for his safe journey.

Here is the second poem that I sent to Milwaukee Art Museum. It is based on a pencil,pen, gray ink and watercolor piece by Karl Friedrich Schinkel - A Gothic Cathedral Behind Trees CA.1813/15

My piece is as follows:

A GOTHIC CATHEDRAL

Like the Gulliver's Laputa or the Isle of Avalon
She appears mist-like above primeval trees below.
God's house
So near
And yet a distant dream
Floats in lacy splendor
Against a canvas sky.



Love

Mary

I did a bit of shopping today. I went to the Kohler Mall and hit Target and Elder Berman. It was NOT easy, but I did find a jacket and two tops in the nice new pinks and a green. I also went to Payless and picked up two pair of shoes for spring and summer.

We took Chelsea to the vet today. She is completely over her bladder infection and we had her heartworm test. Hopefully, this will be it for animals for a bit. Actually, Oscar needs his teeth cleaned but all shots and physicals are done for a whole year.

I received the nicest letter today from the Milwaukee Art Museum. I had sent three poems for a poetry contest. None of mine placed but they were very kind and invited me and all other contestants, I am sure, to the reading in June. I will share them with you one at a time. They were to be based on works of art housed at the museum. If you want to see the art, it can be found on the Museum site which is mam.org/collections.

The first if about "The Wood Gatherer" 1881 by Jules Bastien-Lepage. I also call the poem

The Wood Gatherer

Grandfather gathers the wood
His Granddaughter gathers flowers
His gruff and gentle care surround her
Her joy is his fountain of youth

His Granddaughter gathers flowers
Chattering, pattering. He points out a bunny
Her joy is his fountain of youth
In the moist misty shelter of the forest.

Chattering, pattering. He points out a bunny.
He is bent with the weight of the wood and his years
Her joy is his fountain of youth
She dances with the blooms clutched in her fingers

He is bent with the weight of the wood and his years.
His gruff and gentle care surrounds her
Together they wander through the glen
Grandfather gathers the wood.


Tomorrow, Dick and I are going to the Fireside to see West Side Story. I have never seen it on stage and am looking forward to it.

Have a good Saturday.

Mary

We took both kitties to the Vet today for their annual checkups. They are both just fine. Roxie has maintained her rather overweight 9 lbs but Oscar has dropped from 15 to 13.5 lbs which is great. So we are going to just continue feeding as we are. Poor Oscar is going to have to go back to have his back teeth cleaned. He has a lot of tarter on them. Tomorrow, Chelsea goes in for her heartworm test. Then we will be done for a year (I hope) These animals have been mighty expensive lately.

I have some leftover sliced strawberries and blueberries. I found a recipe for "ice Cream". It is very simple and sounds very good. You just blend in a blender

10 oz of frozen strawberries
1/2 cup sugar
2/3 cup heavy cream

Blend the fruit until roughly chopped. Slowly pour in the heavy cream until totally blended. Can be served immediately or frozen for up to one week.

Have a nice Friday.

Mary

Got involved in putting a quilt top together last night and did not get around to posting.

Just a note this morning. I will expand tonight.

The duck family is back. I saw them this morning at the drainage ditch. I hope that they leave some of the marshy area for them. So much of it got dug up and the last NICE area was cut down last fall. Anyway - I was glad to see them.

Mary

Today was FUN. I met Joan Schueffner in Plymouth, and we went shopping at the Sewing Basket for fabric for the quilt that members of Blessed Trinity are going to put together for a raffle at Celtic Faire.

We had such fun picking out the base fabric, the backing and some of the fabrics that we will add ourselves for our blocks. The base fabrics are really beautiful. We have 8 other very enthusiastic quilters and are planning on approaching two more so there will be a dozen of us to make 30 squares. I have decided to do three Celtic Knots. I am looking for some kind of different patterns, though for sure, I will do the Claddagh that Eileen and I picked up several years ago.

We are going to give each of the quilters a fat quarter of the base and they can make ANY 12 inch block they want, (preferably with a Celtic flair) as long as there is some of the base fabric in the block.

Tomorrow, I will be home all day and all evening. I am going to quilt and write and rest. It will be SOOOOOOOOOO nice.

Jeff and Kathy sent me several good Irish jokes. Here is one of them.

Irish Last Request
Mary Clancy goes up to Father O'Grady's after his Sunday morning service, and she's in tears.
He says, "So what's bothering you, Mary my dear?"
She says, "Oh, Father, I've got terrible news. My husband passed away last night."
The priest says, "Oh, Mary, that's terrible. Tell me, did he have any last requests?"
She says, "That he did, Father..."
The priest says, "What did he ask, Mary?"
She says, "He said, 'Please Mary, put down that damn gun!'

What a glorious day we had today. It was 57 degrees when I was out in Plymouth this afternoon. I understand that rain is on the way. Then the worms will come out of the ground and cover the street. It is really icky to walk but the robins REALLY like it and get very fat.

Mary

We are still studying Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians in bible study. We are on chapter 14 which goes into a lengthy discussion of the gifts of tongues, prophecy and the interpretation of tongues. The gift of tongues is a strange one. The Charismatics claim that it exists and during their services, I understand that people still do speak in tongues. This gift, as I understand it, is a prayer of praise or whatever to God inspired by the Holy Spirit in a language unknown except to someone who has the gift of interpreting tongues, who is hopefully in the congregation.

Sounds odd and a bit goofy, but apparantly, the Corinthians and even Paul put a great deal of importance to it. Paul, however, does note that is is a useless gift if it does not help the community to grow in love and knowledge of God. He says that prophecy is the greater gift because everyone understands what is being said.

Does prophecy exist today? Does the gift of tongues exist today? Probably, but as Paul said then, if someone comes into a congregation of people speaking in a language that noone understood they would consider the congregation a bunch of madmen. Om addition, prophets in this day would be and are considered objects of ridicule or charletons.

Today was a BEAUTIFUL day. The sun shone and the temperatures got up to the mic 50s. My tulip bulbs are peeking their little heads above the ground. We opened the office door so that the kitties could peek out and start enjoying the spring smells.

We are thinking of getting Chelsea clipped for the summer. I think she would be much more comfortable with some of that hair off of her. I also might be able to get all the tangles under control.


Don’t let go of my hand!
The sky has no ceiling
The sea has no floor
The world has no walls
I might float away.

Mary

Happy Easter! It was a blessed day. Mass was quite nice- we had a baptism of a little baby boy which is always a pleasure and a sign of new life.

Then I had to work at Rhine which was kind of silly but there were 11 groups that shot a round of trap so some people must NOT have anything better to do. I did shoot my first rounds for the new pistol league and did pretty well.

Bobbie and Bill joined us for a turkey dinner tonight. It was good. A nice time to fix turkey before it gets too warm. The smallest one I could find was 14 lbs so we will be eating turkey for a while.

Fr. Gene told a story of a little girl who thanked her priest for telling her that her dress was pretty, told the priest that she thought so too but that her mother said that it was "hell to iron."

It reminded me of my cousin Linda Hoyum's daughter, Kim. One Christmas, Kim, then three, was taking a nap. While she was sleeping Linda put up the tree and decorated it so it would be a nice surprise for Kim when she woke up. She got done in time and waited to watch Kim's face when she saw the beautiful display that
had been created. Imagine her surprise when Kim came out of the bedroom, stared in wonder at the tree, put her hands on her little hips and exclaimed, "Well, I'll be a son of a bitch."

Have a nice week.

Mary

I finished the second baby quilt for the At Risk Babies at Children's Hospital. The Sheboygan County Quilt Guild has that as a their helping hand project. This is the first year that I have been able to do one but the Guild usually sends over 100 quilts down there. Each quilt is given to a sick baby to KEEP. I think that is a really special thing.

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. A very special day. It is the day tat Jesus rose from the dead about 2000 years ago. The choir will be singing at the 10:30AM Mass. Then I have to go to Rhine. Why in heaven's name they are opening on Easter is beyond me but they are. I am fixing turkey and can have it ready for Dick to put in the oven if I am still out at the club. Everything else is either done or really quick to prepare.

Dick and I watched Roxie and Oscar grooming each other on my desk this morning. Dick commented that he felt that cats should always be in pairs or they would not be very clean. I remembered that Jim always used to clean Waylon's eyes for him and that Waylon constantly licked Jim's arm. I really think Waylon thought of Jim as another cat.

Happy Easter

Mary

I spent quite a bit of time at church again. Good Friday, you know! The choir sang and I think we sounded good. We sang a Mozart piece called Ave Verum and When I Survey the Wonderous Cross, both very beautiful pieces. The congregation liked singing The Old Rugged Cross too.

Then this evening I helped the crew decorate for Easter. Lots of white and green and gold and the statue of the Risen Christ has replaced the Crucifix on the back altar. The Easter Lilies sure freshen up the church.

I finished dying my eggs today. I ended up boiling the last in grape juice and they are a very pale lavender. I will make deviled eggs to go with the Easter turkey. The guys REALLY like them.

We had salmon croquettes for supper. Frankly, it is no burden at all to have meatless Fridays. The hardest part of the whole thing for me is no snacking. I often have a very light breakfast and then fruit in mid morning. I had to JUST have three meals - nothing in between.

I read this quote - a punch line - from Jimmy Kimmel in Time Magazine. He said "We haven't been able to find out who shot Tupac or Biggie and we haven't been able to find Osama. So far, the only two criminals we've been able to catch are Martha Stewart and Chong."

Be happy!

Mary

The Holy Thursday Service is over. It is a nice service, with the washing of the feet and all. The Kindercore sang during the washing of the feet and we sang during the offertory. After Mass, I walked Mother home. I prefer she be walked home - in the dark especially. She is fine, but the macular degeneration makes her perception a little iffy and she sometimes is a bit unsteady.

After Mass, the bell choir practiced. We are named the Trinity Tones.

I dyed part of my eggs today. The tumeric made a gorgeous yellow color butcranberries did not work well, I got kind of a funny brown by adding onion skins to the water. Tomorrow I will pick up some beets and try a pink.

Dick's dentist appointment was a disappointment to say the least. He is in need of major cap replacements and will be spending hours in the chair in May. Please pray for him. That is such a difficult experience.

I noticed that some of my day lillies and bulbs are starting to peek above ground. Do you believe it? I couldn't as we have had continual freezing every night, but there they are - bits of green poking out of the soil. I tell you -- SPRING IS COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AWAKENING

Morning is a gentle time.
Time for meandering and meditating.
Meditating on the day ahead, the day past.
Past the wakening houses, I walk.
Walk with my furry companion.
Companion who listens but makes no judgements.
Judgements, I make myself, as we wander.
Wander through the streets, listening.
Listening to the world awakening.
Awakening birds chirp hesitantly.
Hesitantly, then hungrily as they soar.
Soar into the air where I would like to be.
Be free from constraints.
Constraints that keep my feet planted.
Planted on the ground.


by me

Kind of a spring thing.

Love

Mary

It was a beautiful day. The sun shone most of it and most of the snow is gone from the yard. I saw and heard my first robin this morning. It is the one that likes to sit and sing in the locust tree in the front yard.

Then I called a friend from Optimist club for some professional advice and he asked me to go to lunch with them at Nino's. I had no other plans to I did. It was good to see all of them. If I can get rid of about three other things, I would not mind being an Optimist again.

Tonight we had an unscheduled choir practice to go over all the Holy Week music. We are singing tomorrow night, Good Friday and on Easter Sunday. We had lots of music to go over but did well.

Tomorrow, Dick has a dentist appointment, we shop and then Holy Thursday services in the evening.

Here is a prayer for Terry Schiavo. "As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God!" May God welcome Terry, Gently into his home. 15 years is long enough to wait for her mansion.

Mary

Another Day. We got the car serviced, did our grocery shopping, I got my hair cut and went to see Dr. Casey for a neck adjustment.

Quite enough - thank you.

Poor little Chelsea is in for an unhappy day tomorrow. She is filthy and will HAVE to be bathed. I did put it off for a bit longer than usual because of her kidney infection, which seems to be all healed.

A friend sent me the following - Some of you got it forwarded in an e-mail but for those of you that I missed, I believe it is worth repeating.

Below is a wonderful poem Audrey Hepburn wrote when asked to share her "beauty tips." It was read at her funeral years later.

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

I always thought Audrey Hepburn was beautiful - inside and out.

Be happy and beautiful.

Mary

Today is REALLY the first day of spring. The redwinged blackbird, who for the last three or four years, has appeared early in spring, even before the first robin, sang to Chelsea and me this morning when we took our walk.

I have a couple of quotes that I would like to share with you today. One relates to spring and the other to war.

First the war. Dick and I watched Cold Mountain today and the quote referring to the impending Civil War has just as much meaning today. War and man's attitude towards it never changes. Here is the quote. "I imagine God is weary of being called down on both sides of an argument." We always have "wars to end wars". But nothing much ever changes.

The second is a great quote from the Brother Cadfael Book of Days assembled by Robin Whiteman from Ellis Peters books. "SPRING A time for all manner of births and beginnings, and for putting death out of mind."

Dick saw Dr. Aymond - the eye specialist- today. He said that the implants are doing well but there is some sign of "wrinkling. He had his staff take pictures and will recommend treatment if it is warrented. He did say that the implants are doing well, I am glad that we do "maintenance". It is good to catch possible problems early. It would be nice if our eyes and ears and teeth outlive us.

Happy Spring

Mary

Jim and I went out to shoot this afternoon. My first, again, was low and left, but the second and third were OK. I believe I got a 55 on the third, which is not to bac for me.

The choir sang at the 10:30 AM Mass. It is Palm Sunday. I must replace the old palm from last year and remember to burn the old one when I fry out next.

Tomorrow, Dick goes to see Dr. Aymond about his cloudy implant. I will let you know what the results are.

We had Teriaki Chicken and fried rice for dinner. I do my own teriaki sauce. I just mix soy sauce, about a tablespoon of brown sugar, some garlic and a dash of ginger. It is good to marinate the chicken for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours. After I start the chicken in the oven, I use the marinade in the rice.

The rice is made up of green onion, any veggies you want, and the cooked rice - refried with chopped bacon. Just before you are ready to seve add the marinade and heat till good and warm.

Hope your week is great.

Mary

We have just returned from the Sheboygan Symphony. We were very pleased, as we have been since we went to our first performance. It was a performance of the Messiah at Holy Name Church several years ago. The Sheboygan Chorus sang the second half tonight, Dona Nobis Pacem by Ralph Vaughan William.

The entire concert was English. I really enjoyed the first half which had a lot of whimsy. AND the orchestra was REALLY good tonight.

I found a scrumptious new noodle casserole. It is a basic rotini, cheese sauce, chopped onion, sliced kielbasa and (special "secret" ingredient) chopped apple.

Tomorrow, I am preparing chicken teriaki, rice and veggies.

A Barbara Kingsolver said "The friend who holds your hand and says the wrong thing is made of dearer stuff than the one who stays away."

Reach out to someone dear to you today.

Mary

Got lazy last night and didn't post so I thought I would add a thought or two this morning and then catch up tonight.

We went to see Hitch, the movie, yesterday afternoon. It has a very funny and very formula plot. We laughed and we felt good when we left the theatre. What more can you ask from a movie.

I also watched The Informer, an OLD movie with Victor McLaglen, about a poor dumb Irishman who betrays a comrade. So close to St. Patrick's Day, it is good to watch the Irish Classics. I may watch the Quiet Man today.

So then Dick and I went out for a fish fry (Very Sheboygan) and I settled in for the evening and forgot to post.

Be safe. We have 2 to 3 inches of snow out there. More where it drifted. Jim will not be a happy camper.

Love

Mary

St. Patrick's Day. I walked in Plymouth. The weather really cooperated today. The temps were a bit cold but it was sunny and there was no wind. I put long underwear under my sweater and was able to walk without my jacket so I could show off the beautiful sequinced vest and hat that Dick bought for me. They are beautiful - Black sequins with green and gold beaded shamrocks all over them. I will be able to wear it for many other occasions too. Several people asked where I got it.

After the parade, I hooked up with the O'Reillys and Mc Mullens. We ate corned beef and whatever and then went to Mannings in Sheboygan for music. 52 Stafford wasn't having music until evening. My sisters Dolores and Eileen and were there with their husbands Ken and Fred. The musician played the Unicorn Song so naturally, Dolores, Eileen and myself HAD to go up and do the little motion dance to it.

I came home hoarse from all the smoke but totally content. I wore the outfit to choir too and they loved it too.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you.

May the blessing of light be with you -
light outside and light within.
May sunlight shine upon you and warm your heart
'til it glows like a great peat fire
so that the stranger may come and warm himself by it.
May a blessed light shine out of your two eyes
like a candle set in two windows of a house,
bidding the wanderer to come in out of the storm.
May you ever give a kindly greeting to those whom you pass
as you go along the roads.
May the blessing of rain - the sweet, soft rain - fall upon you
so that little flowers may spring up to shed their sweetness in the air.
May the blessings of the earth - the good rich earth - be with you.
May the earth be soft under you when you rest upon it,
tired at the end of the day.
May the earth rest easy over you when at the last you lie under it.
May the earth rest so lightly over you that your spirit
may be out from under it quickly,
an up, and off,
and on its way to God.

Mary

The Sting was done well by the Sheboygan Theatre Company. We were entertained and what more can we ask. They sold raffle tickets as a fundraiser. The prize was half the proceeds with the other half going to the company. They did a really great job of building it into the Sting itself and made quite a production of the drawing and the giving of the prize, including a missing Ralph Mafagoni(the director) and a switched prize envelope that finally got squared away. F U N.

Tomorrow is the BIG day. I will be walking in the Irishman's parade in Plymouth as I told you yesterday. I got a call yesterday from my friend, Peg. She and Stan will NOT be there for the first time in forever because she is recovering from a very bad reaction to some medication. She is so disappointed. And I am too, I really enjoy spending time with them. I know I will see Nancy Gallagher Roehre, a classmate and Sheryl, from Quilt Guild. And I always know a few other people. I will eat corned beef in one form or another and perhaps share some poetry since Bob Mac Ewen did not do his Richard's thing this year.

Speaking of Bob Mac Ewen, reminds me of Barb Mac Ewen, his wife and a friend, who also sells Mary Kaye. She usually is in touch with me oftener than this. I know they were in England ( or Scotland) for a while but I would have expected them back by now. Maybe they decided to stay there.

Here is a neat poem. I don't know the author but heard it recited by Bobbie Clancy on an album.

"The life that I have is all that I have
And the life that I have is yours.
The love that I have of the Life that I have
Is yours - and yours - and yours.

The sleep I will have
The rest I will have
In death will be but a pause.

But the peace of my years and the long green grass
Are yours and yours and yours."

Love

Mary

Dick had his eye appointment today. He has to go see Dr. Aymond because there is a little clouding in his implant. We will see him on Monday.

We also shopped and went to the bank and sent a box of fudge off to Bart for his birthday. Barb said that when the Christmas box arrived, Bart asked if there was any fudge and I hadn't made any this year. So ---- I Had to do Something.

His birthday is on Saturday - St. Joseph's Day. It does not seem like 34 years have passed since I gave birth to that boy. He was a beautiful baby with a lovely clear complexion and a really beautifully shaped head. He used to scrinch his little face up into such contortions that my neighbor, Joyce, called him Mr. Magoo. I kind of miss my babies.

Have a nice Wednesday. Dick and Jim are going to Oneida so I will have a few hours alone. Then Dick and I are taking Mother out for Thai food and then to see the Sting.

Love

Mary

Dick had his eye appointment today. He has to go see Dr. Aymond because there is a little clouding in his implant. We will see him on Monday.

We also shopped and went to the bank and sent a box of fudge off to Bart for his birthday. Barb said that when the Christmas box arrived, Bart asked if there was any fudge and I hadn't made any this year. So ---- I Had to do Something.

His birthday is on Saturday - St. Joseph's Day. It does not seem like 34 years have passed since I gave birth to that boy. He was a beautiful baby with a lovely clear complexion and a really beautifully shaped head. He used to scrinch his little face up into such contortions that my neighbor, Joyce, called him Mr. Magoo. I kind of miss my babies.

Have a nice Wednesday. Dick and Jim are going to Oneida so I will have a few hours alone. Then Dick and I are taking Mother out for Thai food and then to see the Sting.

Love

Mary

Dick had his eye appointment today. He has to go see Dr. Aymond because there is a little clouding in his implant. We will see him on Monday.

We also shopped and went to the bank and sent a box of fudge off to Bart for his birthday. Barb said that when the Christmas box arrived, Bart asked if there was any fudge and I hadn't made any this year. So ---- I Had to do Something.

His birthday is on Saturday - St. Joseph's Day. It does not seem like 34 years have passed since I gave birth to that boy. He was a beautiful baby with a lovely clear complexion and a really beautifully shaped head. He used to scrinch his little face up into such contortions that my neighbor, Joyce, called him Mr. Magoo. I kind of miss my babies.

Have a nice Wednesday. Dick and Jim are going to Oneida so I will have a few hours alone. Then Dick and I are taking Mother out for Thai food and then to see the Sting.

Love

Mary

Dick had his eye appointment today. He has to go see Dr. Aymond because there is a little clouding in his implant. We will see him on Monday.

We also shopped and went to the bank and sent a box of fudge off to Bart for his birthday. Barb said that when the Christmas box arrived, Bart asked if there was any fudge and I hadn't made any this year. So ---- I Had to do Something.

His birthday is on Saturday - St. Joseph's Day. It does not seem like 34 years have passed since I gave birth to that boy. He was a beautiful baby with a lovely clear complexion and a really beautifully shaped head. He used to scrinch his little face up into such contortions that my neighbor, Joyce, called him Mr. Magoo. I kind of miss my babies.

Have a nice Wednesday. Dick and Jim are going to Oneida so I will have a few hours alone. Then Dick and I are taking Mother out for Thai food and then to see the Sting.

Love

Mary

I am RICH. I won $100 at Petermann's Hunting and Fishing Club raffle. Maybe the luck is turning.

Thank heavens Monday is winding down. I had just TOO much scheduled. First was Bible Study. Paul's letter was featuring the gifts that people have. We had a very animated discussion about the gifts, especially the gifts of prophecy and the gift of tongues. It seems to us that these gifts must exist today as well as they did in Paul's day. However, prophets and people speaking in tongues are looked on with distrust and scepticism in the 21st century.

Second the Plymouth people that I usually lunch with on Friday, met to celebrate Ceil's birthday. A surprise that her daughters arranged.

Next on to Writer's Club. I was able to announce my "sale" of the Crazy Cats poem to Irish Stew, a mini publication that comes out three times a year in Wisconsin. And I read the poems that I sent to the Milwaukee Art Museum Poetry contest. They liked them.

Then tonight I had a Celtic Faire meeting which was very sparcely attended. I think it was sparcely attended because the way it was written up in the bulletin, people thought it was a quilt meeting. I did pick up two more quilters. We now have 10 to make the quilt that we intend to raffle off at the Celtic Faire. Should be nice. We are going to give every quilter a fat quarter and ask them to use it in ANY square they want, preferably Celtic, but that will not be required. Then we will assemble. The common fabric will be the key.

Tomorrow is much easier. We are shopping and Dick has his eye checkup. That is all.

We did a little exercise at Writer's Club using words that sound alike but are spelled differently and have different meanings in a short writing. We got horse/hoarse and led/lead. This is what I came up with.

The hoarse auctioneer led the horse into the ring.

They were old, the horse and the man. The horse's back was bowed, as if he carried lead weights on his back - the auctioneer, the weight of the world.

Enjoy your Tuesday.

Love

Mary

Such a quiet day we had. I went to the 8:00AM Mass and went shooting with Jim but aside from that we just relaxed and played around with the computer.

WE had pork loin, potatoes, carrots and salad for supper. Some of the Girl Scout cookies came today. I still should have three more boxes from someone. I have no idea who. We had a fes for dessert and I put some in the cookie jar and some in the freezer. Don't tell Jim and Dick. I will dole them out in a healthy manner.

An Irish Proverb says-
"A true friend laughs at your stories even when they're not so good, and sympathizes with your troubles even when they're not so bad."

Love

Mary

Sure had fun today, I learned how to make three more bindings for quilts. - I learned how to make a corded binding, a scalloped and a prairie point. Surprisingly the Prairie Point, which looks the fanciest is really the easiest.

This afternoon we learned a really fun folded star. Lucy, the instructor, had suggested patriotic prints, but I used greens and Irish. My friend Mary used some muted greens, purples and pinks and is using it for gifts for her daughtor's friends when they graduate this June.

Two kitties taking up the whole desk again. We are watching Mystic River. It certainly is a good movie. I still think of Eastwood as an actor but he sure is a good director also. He picks some intriguing scripts.

Tomorrow is Sunday. I have NOTHING scheduled at all. So - I am going to th 8AM Mass and then relaxing the rest of the day. The coming week is really full.

May the wind be always at your back.

Mary

Winter is back. Twice today and even as I write, snow is coming down in force. We are only supposed to get an inch or two but it seems like more to me. At least everything will be white and pretty for a day or two. The flakes are huge and really pretty but I would trade them for spring.

Tomorrow, I am going to a day of sewing at the quilt guild. We are doing a star for sure. This is a postponed date, postponed from a really bad storm day. I am looking forward to it. My friend, Mary Bainbridge, will be there for most of it too. We will probably go to lunch together.

I should pin together the second At Risk Baby quilt too. Maybe Sunday.

Dick wants a dinner tomorrow that will allow him to have ice cream for dessert. I think a chicken breast with veggies and salad would allow that.

We racked a five gallon jug of Chablis today. Now it just has to rest and then be filtered and bottled. The Chokecherry is ready to rack again too. I was running short of bottles, but the stock is building up again. I know that Mother has some and Bobbie has one and I am sure that when Brenda and Dick come again, they will bring some.

I finished my last two targets for pistol league tonight. Not too bad. I went before supper and had Dick put in the Spinach Casserole while I was gone. Frank and Diane Hvisdak were there and I got to visit for a bit. Haven't seen Diane for a while. They are so nice. I bought my 12 gauge from Frank. He has a dealer's license and is an authorized teacher.

Just one week until St. Patrick's Day and two weeks until Easter. It is odd to have St. Patrick's so close to Easter which is very early this year.

Betty White said "My mother always used to say, 'The older you get, the better you get. Unless you're a banana.'"

Of Course, old bananas make great cakes and banana bread. Waste not want not as the old adage says.

Have a nice Weekend.

Til Tomorrow

Mary

Dick bought me a present for St. Patrick's Day. He got me a sequenced hat and matching vest, both decorated in brilliant shamrocks on a black background. I will wear them at the Irishman's Walk on St. Patrick's Day in Plymouth and I don't care WHAT the weather is.

I went to a "Lifelong Faith Formation Forum" with several people from Blessed Trinity. I guess it was OK but I think it was a bit lengthy for the message and I don't think they really fulfilled their promise. The information they provided could have been presented better - perhaps in an individual church setting so the group could have discussed OUR own situations and perhaps started on a plan.

WELL - we were well represented, with Fr. Gene, the two deacons, Sr. Marcia, Sandy and Lynn from the office, Rose Marie and Kathy from RE, Beth, the choir director, Bob Weber and myself from the council.

I had several people define "Catechesis", a term they kept using, assuming everyone knew. I got three definitions, all related. 1. Echo and pass down the faith. 2. Teaching of the faith. 3. Living the faith. Bob Weber gave the last one and got a little noble on me but I don't believe in nobility and one upmanship.

A quote from John O'Reilly regarding parenthood. "Top bunk - Where you should never put a kit wearing Superman Jammies."

I remember taking Bret to Dr. Allen when he was about three for stitches in his chin. He had used a tricycle for a seesaw on a brick planter and managed to jam the handle into his chin. Anyway, when we went back to remove the stitches, he was wearing a towel as a Superman Cape and Dr. Allen said that perhaps I should reconsider his costume. He was smiling as he said it. Bret also needed stitches when the neighbor's dog Desi bit him in the lip. I still remember taking him to the Doctor and his comment. " That 's not too bad, my son had a hunk missing out of his lip from a dog bite and still smiles kind of crooked." Not a direct quote, but you get the idea.


I miss Dr. Allen. He was a real comfort of a Doctor for many years.

Have a good Friday. We will be racking some wine.

Love

Mary

We had a busy day today. The Discovery show was nice. They reviewed all the tours for the year and told about a couple of future ones. And we got to eat a donut and drink coffee and punch.

We also got the car washed today too and it looks beautiful. There is no precipitation forecast for the next couple of days so it should stay clean for a while. It is cold though. We walked in 14 degree temperatures. Fortunately it was not too windy, so it was bearable.

Chelsea was glad that we did not haul her off again today. She seems to feel pretty good and except for a short period of time that she kept asking to go out this afternoon, she seems to be a bit better.

Here is an imponderable that I received by e-mail from my friend Mary Lou.

"Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars,
but check when you say the paint is wet? "

Blessed Trinity is going to have a party and I get to be one of the planners. You know how I love to host and feed people. We are going to have a ham dinner in the church hall and invite ALL the volunteers for a social and meal. Nothing like bonding over food.

I am going to fix the famous Kunert Spinach Noodle Egg Casserole for dinner on Friday. I believe that I have given you that recipe but just in case, I will include it here for you.

FAMOUS KUNERT SPINACH EGG AND NOODLE CASSEROLE

4 Cups Cooked Noodles
1 Can Spinach (Drained)
Velveeta Cheese
8 hard boiled eggs
Margarine

Layer in the order listed. Noodles, tablespoons of spinach, sliced Velveeta, sliced hard eggs. Each layer is dotted with margerine or butter and lightly salted and peppered. Divid it into about three layers and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour until hot and the cheese is all melted through.

I don't care if you are a cheese purist or not - Velveeta tastes better than "real cheese" in this casserole. Go for it. Don't skimp on the butter either.



Even if you don't like spinach, you will like this. Ask Jim.

Mary

Well, Chelsea does not have crystals in her bladder, the x rays were OK. We have her on more antibitotics. Hopefully this will clear her up. She was sure a relieved girl when we picked her up at 3:00PM. We had left her there at 9:00AM, so who knows what her poor little heart thought. She is being quite affectionate tonight but is Very tired.

Cadfael, Book of Days was really good today.

"Cadfael was not of the opinion that a man's main business in this world was to save his own soul. There are other ailing souls, as there are ailing bodies, in need of a hoist towards health." Ellis Peters

Kind of lets us know that we are all in this together and need to look out for each other.

Tomorrow, we will go to Discovery World annual little party. They always highlight the tours and serve coffee punch and cookies or donuts. We usually have already decided on our trips but go for the treats.

Til tomorrow

Mary

Today, Dick and I had to chase Chelsea around with a pan to catch her urine. I wish you could see her face when we try to do that. Dick says she probably thinks we are perverts.

We were successful. Unfortunately, Dr. John has found white blood cells and crystals in her urine so we need to take her in tomorrow morning for x-rays on her bladder. Hope he can fix her. I know she really feels that she has to go BUT she is exhausting me. I'll keep you informed.

Had bible study this morning and Rhine Plymouth club meeting tonight. So this has been a busy day.

Dick found another recipe that he wants me to try. Since the Castillian Chocolate and Churros, he feels a little more confidant. The new one is Chorizo Noodle Casserole. It looks quite "warm" but good. I am sure the Noodle is what caught his eye. You know the Kunerts and their pasta.

Desmond Tutu says "Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world."

I have always opperated on the premise that you might as well
"bloom where you are planted." You are where you are and if you don't like it - change it.

Love

Mary

The Castillian Chocolate recipe was excellant expecially with the Curros. I will post the recipe that Dick found on the worldwideschool.org site.

"Castillian Hot Chocolate
Thick, Rich Spanish Hot Chocolate

I first tasted this wonderful beverage while touring in northern Spain with a choir. It's not like any hot chocolate I've had anywhere else, and I was delighted to find a recipe in The Vegetarian Epicure Book Two. It is the best hot chocolate in the world (at least to me.)
Serves 6

1/2 cup
(55 g) unsweetened powdered cocoa
1 cup
(200 g) sugar
7 tsp
(25 g) cornstarch (cornflour)
1/2 cup
(120 ml) water
4 cups
(1 l) milk

1 Mix the cocoa and sugar together.
2 Dissolve the cornstarch (cornflour) in the water and combine with the cocoa-sugar mixture in a medium-sized saucepan. Stir this until it is a smooth paste.
3 Begin heating this mixture, continuously stirring it with a whisk. Gradually pour in the milk. Continue stirring as you bring it to a simmer.
4 Simmer, stirring often, for about 10 minutes. The cocoa is ready when it thickens and is glossy and smooth.

The consistency of the finished product should resemble chocolate pudding that didn't quite set. If you halve this recipe, you'll get just the right amount for two large mug-fulls. This cocoa is especially fantastic when you dip churros into it (a churro is a sugary, deep-fried, doughnut-like stick, and if anyone wants to send out a recipe, I'd be most grateful).
RATING
Difficulty: easy."

I put quotes around the recipe which was put on the worldwideschool.org site by a Tovah Hollandar.

The venison burritos were great. I will do that again too.

The next two weeks are going to be quite busy so I will have lots of news.

Have a nice week. It was nice and warm again today. I understand that the weather is going to turn again after rain tonight.


Bye Bye

Mary

It was in the upper 40s today. I fried out today, brats and venison steaks and was able to do it wearing a denim jacket instead of the old bulky winter coat. Of course, there is still snow all over the ground and supposedly more coming. Doesn't matter - today we had a hint of spring.

It is less than two weeks to St. Patrick's Day. I have not heard from Bob MacEwen and the ad for Richards does not indicate live music or a Celtic poet, that being me. So I guess I have to find my own entertainment. I do plan on going to Plymouth, walking in the Irishman's Walk, eating and just having a good time with my friends. Perhaps I will put a couple of poems in my pocket and see if I can read there. Usually, there is some kind of music in the afternoon. We can't go the night before to see Blarney because it is our night at the Sheboygan Theatre and Dick and I will be taking Mother out to dinner and to see "The Sting". It will be a nice evening and we are taking her to one of the new Thai restuarants in town. She has not been to one and I know she will like it.

A friend sent me this before we invaded Iraq but it is still funny. As we are nearing the great day for the Irish, I will try to have something "green" for you each day.

"Saddam Hussein was sitting in his office wondering whom to
invade next when his telephone rang.

"Hallo, Mr. Hussein!", a heavily accented voice said. "This is
Paddy down at the Harp Pub in County Sligo, Ireland. I am ringing to
inform you that we are officially declaring war on you!"

"Well, Paddy," Saddam replied, "This is indeed important
news! How big is your army?"

"Right now," said Paddy, after a moment's calculation,
"there is myself, my cousin Sean, my next door neighbor Seamus, and the
entire dart team from the pub. That makes eight!"

Saddam paused. "I must tell you, Paddy, that I have one
million men in my army waiting to move on my command."

"Begorra!", said Paddy. "I'll have to ring you back!"

Sure enough, the next day, Paddy called again. "Mr.
Hussein,t he war is still on! We have managed to acquire some infantry
equipment!"

"And what equipment would that be, Paddy?" Saddam asked.

"Well, we have two combines, a bulldozer, and Murphy's farm
tractor." Paddy replied.

Saddam sighed. "I must tell you, Paddy, that I have 16,000
tanks and 14,000 armored personnel carriers. Also, I've increased my
army to 1-1/2 million since we last spoke."

"Saints preserve us!" said Paddy. "I'll have to get back to you."

Sure enough, Paddy rang again the next day. "Mr. Hussein,
the war is still on! We have managed to get ourselves airborne! We've
modified Harrigan's ultra-light with a couple of shotguns in the
cockpit, and four boys from the Shamrock Pub have joined us as
well!"

Saddam was silent for a minute and then cleared his throat.
"I must tell you, Paddy, that I have 10,000 bombers and 20,000 fighter
planes. My military complex is surrounded by laser-guided, surface-to-air
missile sites. And since we last spoke, I've increased my army to TWO
MILLION!"

"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!", said Paddy, "I'll have to ring
you back."

Sure enough, Paddy called again the next day. "Top o' the
mornin', Mr. Hussein! I am sorry to tell you that we have had to
call off the war."

"I'm sorry to hear that," said Saddam. "Why the sudden
change of heart?"

"Well," said Paddy, "we've all had a long chat over a bunch
of pints, and decided there's no way we can feed two million prisoners."

God Bless the Irish! "




Bobbie and Bill are coming for dinner tomorrow. I am fixing Mexican because Dick wants to try Spanish Hot Chocolate and Churros and would like the meal to reflect the theme. Sounds like fun.


Mary



Til Tomorrow

Mary

A puzzle for you. Randy Walter from the Rhine Plymouth club posed it to me and I have no answer.

There are 365 days in each year.
There are 52 weeks in each year.
There are 7 days in each week.
7 times 52 = 364 days.
Where is the other day?

I am going to fry out brats tomorrow to go with the good calico beans that I fixed earlier in the week. I can fry out earlier in the afternoon and just reheat after the five o'clock mass. The choir is singing, and the bells are playing at the 10:30AM on Sunday. So I will be VERY holy again this weekend.

Enjoy your weekend and keep in touch.

Mary

Uncle Fred Michaels sent his annual summary of the Wild Game Dinner and Beer Tasting Contest. He always writes a little poem. Here it is


"We were all at Kurt and Joey's
Drinking beer, not many sodys
Kurt must have felt fine,
Cause he picked out nine!!

It's back to back chamionships for out expert Kurt.

24 beers- most ever
9 correct -also the most ever!"

The favorite beer this year was Busch and the Boobie prize was a tie between Point Special and Burghoff Lager.


I liked it at Kurt's house, because he and Jody do not allow smoking in the house. Things get pretty thick otherwise. Next year will be year #29. Quite a tradition.


I liked Cadfael's quote for March 3rd so will share with you. (I am using EVERYONE else's words today, but they are wiser and more amusing than mine.)

"All Welsh are kin, even if they slit one another's throats now and then, and manure their sparse and stony fields with fratricidal dead in tribal wars."

Think of the Welch as Mankind, or citizens of the U. S. We ARE all kin, even if!!!!



Love

Mary

I have been working on a mini biography of my Grandfather Mike Deeley to submit to a Woman's Day contest. The prize is a consultation with a geneology expert and be featured in Woman's Day. I am getting there. In the process, I reread some notes my Dad made many years ago of his memories of my Grandfather.

Here is one of the paragraphs from my Dad.

"Occasionally Dad and I would stop for a drink, I for a beer and he for a whiskey and beer. Unlike others he'd drink the beer first then the whiskey. Wen asked why, he'd say if you did it the other say, you couldn't taste the whiskey."

Grandpa was not a heavy drinker, but he did like his whiskey. I remember going to church with Grandma on weekdays. After Mass, I would go over to their house which was just down the street and have breakfast with Grandma. Usually Grandpa would come down while we were eating breakfast. The first thing he would do is kiss my Grandma on her neck and cheek. She would giggle like a schoolgirl and say "Not in front of Mary Helen". (Not too convincing to me.) Then he would go and have a shot of whiskey before his breakfast. Just one. And he did not drink any more during the day or evening that I was aware of. I think it was good for his heart. He did live to be 93.

Happy mid week

Mary