Rain tonight. Even thunder and lightning. Poor little Chelsea. She is behaving differently during thunder storms than she used to. Instead of sticking her head under our bed when there is thunder, she stays near us but turns her back on us. We are wondering if she thinks we provide some kind of protection or if she thinks that we are bigger and that the evil stuff will get us first.

It was dry most of the day. Chelsea and I had a lovely walk this morning and I was able to clean out the pots on the deck and bring in the garden decorations. I didn't tell you this, but last night when Bobbie and I came back from Rhine there standing in the middle of the driveway were my garden gnome and my metal bee. Later I saw a gang of kids running around, so they must have been pulling a few pranks. As long as they don't break and destroy, I don't care. Actually it was rather funny.

The choir sang at the 5:00AM mass tonight. I picked up some fresh eggs from the farm at Range Line and Hwy O. I have been seeing their Eggs For Sale sign for a couple of years and finally stopped last week. I do like fresh eggs and I know that the chickens are healthier and that they eat better than the chickens that lay the eggs for the supermarkets. These eggs are all shades of brown and she said that they even have a few Aracondas, but I imagine that they keep the green eggs for themselves. I really liked having chickens when I lived in Huntington Beach. Kind of wish I could have them again. Once you get their housing set, they really aren't much trouble. Their clucking is quite comforting too.

Had bean soup made with the hunk of sugar cured ham that I brought back from Kentuky. BOY is that good soup. I fixed Marie Calendar muffins to go with the beans. Num Num.

There is a new Harry Potter movie coming out in two weeks or less. As soon as the crowds thin, Dick and I will HAVE to go.

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!

The story in italics is an old email that I received and thought you might enjoy.

Mary

Bobbie and I worked at Rhine tonight. It is the last night for league shooting and almost EVERYONE was through so it was very slow. The guys let us go home after about an hour. The last team had two more rounds and then a couple of guys came in for open shoot. I'll bet that the shooting will be over by 7:30 and then they will just sit around and drink beer and smoke cigars for a couple hours. Those guys!


Bobbie and I finished OUR pistol league shooting too. Neither of us really shone but we were not awful either. Now if Jim feels well enough, (he is home with a flu or cold) we can just go out Sunday to play. Next Friday will be the bust up. We will find out Monday at the monthly meeting what we are going to have to eat.

The Famous Kunert Spinach, Noodle and Egg Casserole was delicious. It is such a good meal, the recipe is one of the many benefits I got when I married Dick. I have shared it with many people. Some people foolishly use cheeses other than Velveeta to prepare it - But - to really get the full wonderful flavor one needs to use Velveeta. Just like there is nothing better (or more truely American) than grilled cheese made with Velveeta.

When I was a kid, we had a sandwich griddle. That griddle was black with the burned grease on it. Why we didn't all die of the fat, I'll never know. We practically lived on grilled cheese sandwiches. We would take two slices of bread, put Velveeta between the slices, butter them LIBERALLY and then smash the sandwich in that hot griddle until the cheese was all melty and nummy. MMM MMM

We also grilled peanut butter and summer sausage sandwiches. Also a culinary delight.

Have a nice Saturday.

Mary

The weather was springlike today, all the way up into the 60s. WOW. But it is chilly tonight. Tomorrow, much the same.

We went grocery shopping today after Dick got his blood checked. He is right where he should be again. Sue said that she is very proud of him. If he stays good til February he will have gone a WHOLE year without needing any adjustment on his meds.

I worked on the Christmas Tree Skirt again today. The top is assembled so I need to cut the backing and fill and pin it for the next step. That made me remember that I needed to pick up the fabric that Mother got for the backing for quilt top that she has finished. It needs to be sewn together and I had promised that I would do that for her. I picked it up tonight when I went to choir. I will take it back to her on Saturday and then we can decide when she wants to "make the sandwich" so that she can do the quilting.

I have decided - The Senior Saints at Blessed Trinity are going to have a program in late November or early December. I am getting a speaker to explain Medicare D (I need that information myself) and we will have a Christmas Tea. I will get some nice cakes and cookies and have coffee, tea and punch for refreshments. Doesn't that sound like fun.

It is time to start organizing for the Branson Trip. We will be leaving on November 14 and returning on the 19th. Branson is always fun and Bart and Barb will be joining us for one day. The day we will be seeing Yakav Smirnoff and Andy Williams. They will not go to the evening show, the Hughes Brothers, because we feel that the day will be quite long enough for Bart as it is. The following day they will leave for home. We have that morning free, so hopefully we will be able to have some visiting time then.

The dishwasher is not draining properly again. I have Sears Repair coming tomorrow. It is really annoying that one has to schedule the WHOLE day. They don't even tell you if they are coming in the morning or the afternoon, so you have to figure that you had better be there every moment. If you miss their call you have to reschedule. So I have to be sure that if I take Chelsea out, Dick answers the phone.



The above is a picture of the burning bush that is in our front yard. The burning bushes this year are spectacular. Leaves are falling so fast now that it will not be long before all the trees are but skeletons.

Have a great Friday. I am making spinach, noodle casserole if you want to come over for dinner.

Mary

I had to get my mammogram today. I just hate that. Don't you wonder why? Now I have to wait for the doctor to look at the x rays. The last two that I had required an ultrasound also. Dr. Wenberg said that I am in good health otherwise.

I finished the decorating on the tree skirt that I am making. Now I just have to assemble the pieces and then layer the backing and batting and quilt it. I hope I can get it done for Christmas. The old one is a felt one that I found at Grandma Bowser's after she died. It is rather small and very worn and faded. We really deserve a new one.

I think I will take the pieces I was working on during the Mystery tour when we go to Branson. I should be able to get the sashing between the squares. It will be a little tricky because the sashing is narrow.

Dick and I racked the Concord Grape wine today. It has a pleasant taste. The recipe says that if it is not sweet enough for your taste you can add a sugar syrup to sweeten it. I will test it in about three months when it is ready to be bottled. I had to suck the tube to get it to rack and it certainly does taste like Concord grapes.

Tomorrow, Dick gets his blood tested and then we will go grocery shopping.

The reading for today in the Cadfael Book of Days today was very good. It read:

"It is only that the step from perfectly ordinary things into the miraculous seems to me so small, almost accidental, that I wonder why it astonishes you at all, or why you trouble to reason about it. If it were reasonable it could not be miraculous, could it?" Ellis Peters

I do believe in miracles and even ordinary things.

Love

Mary

It was a nice crisp morning for Chelsea and I again. We really enjoy these Fall mornings. It was quiet. We only saw one other doggie and one walker.

The rest of the day was rather uneventful. I saw Dr. Casey today. He checked my knee and reviewed the exercizes that I need to do to strengthen the muscles. Then I had church tonight. It is All Saints Day. A holy day of obligation. Most people don't consider these days so important any more. It used to be announced on the prior Sunday and we were threatened with the Mortal Sin card if we missed it for any than earthshaking reasons. Now it is noted that it is a Holy Day on the calendar that we get from the funeral home each year but is not even listed as such in the bulletin. I am confused but I am not the priest and as we have been informed - the church is not a democracy, it is a hierarchy and the priest and the diocese have the final say (and responsibility for communicating the rules as far as I can see.)

Dick and I did also bottle the Riesling. It tastes OK but needs to mature for a month or so.

Tomorrow, I have to go for my yearly physical and mammagram. I am not happy about that. Let us hope that all is OK this time - I hate going back for these "further checks".

I got the following from a friend in my e-mail. I had mine, did you get yours?

A True Lover


I shall seek and find you

I shall take you to bed and have my way with you

I will make you ache, shake and sweat until you moan and groan

I will make you beg for mercy, beg me to stop.

I will exhaust you to the point that you will be relieved when I finish with you.

You will be weak for days.

All My Love


The FLU

Now get your mind out of the gutter and go get your flue shot



Go out and enjoy tomorrow.

Mary

A nice Autumn Day for Halloween. The "goblins" were out in all their glory. We had over 100 kids come by between 4 and 7PM, the witching hour. I gave them all a candy and a copy of the English blessing.

"From Ghoulies and Ghosties
And long leggety beasties
And things that go bump in the night
Good Lord Deliver us.''

I firgued that they needed a little extra protection on this "night of the ghosts and goblins." We all commented at our bible study that guardian angels were going to be awfully busy tonight and I believe they were because there were a lot of munchkins and gnomes out there on the street begging for their candy.

Be safe and I will post again tomorrow.

Mary

This was a cool day. Jim and I went shooting this afternoon and I was not unhappy with my results. I got an 18 in trap. I might have done better had I not gotten a little shook at the beginning, because one of my ear plugs was missing (I found it on the livingroom floor when we got home) and I had to delay everybody while I went back into the clubhouse to get a new pair. But 18 is about my personal best.

Pistol was not QUITE as successful. I only got a 39 on the first, a puny 30 on the second, BUT the third was a 66. Nice day as I say.

The animals are properly confused by the change to standard time. Chelsea DID sleep until 5:30AM which was 6:30AM by her little tummy. I hope to ease her into 6:00AM again. They were all very irritated with us by 5:00Standard Time. I am sure they think we are really mean humans.

Mother and I were discussing Halloweens of years gone by. Sheboygan Falls used to have Halloween parades and prizes were given for the best costumes. One year Nora and I went in the parade with Jeff firmly ensconced between us. The older kids ALWAYS had to take care of the younger kids in our family and it was expected that we take them with us on occasions like this. Jeff was adorable, dressed like a little old man. Part of his costume slipped over his face and he still remembers Nora and I hauling him through that whole parade, him not seeing a thing. He did get a first prize in some catagory or other so I guess it was worth it. We had some really great costumes that had been passed down to us by Grandma Bowser. I remember a gypsy, an Indian, Batman. They were great as she was quite a seamstress.

Here is a little quote for slowing down and relaxing in this life. Slow down and see some of it as it passes you by.

"Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you." Nathaniel Hawthorne.


Love

Mary

I am posting very early tonight because I want to watch The Sixth Sense on TV tonight. If you haven't seen this movie. DO! It is wonderful. I am constantly amazed at Bruce Willis. He keeps playing these super hero guys but does things like Sixth Sense which show how versital and what a really good actor he really is.

I took a LONG nap today. Dick says I need more but I hate to waste the days sleeping. This morning I went to the Legion of Mary Mass and luncheon. Blessed Trinity has 90 member in its Legion of Mary Auxiliary, which is me. I say a rosary and the accompanying prayers every day. The active members have to put in a much bigger time commitment than I am able to give at this point in my life. I can however say a rosary each day. I usually say it while Chelsea and I are on our morning walk.

A Fr. Mike Dineen gave our talk at the brunch. He gave a suggestion that we go home and suggest to our husbands that we say the rosary together. He suggested that at the beginning or end of each decade we hold hands and give each other a kiss and tell each other we love each other. I told Dick the idea. He said that he doesn't have to pray for kisses and love, he just has to get over his cold. It was a sweet suggestion though.

Mother is also a member of the auxiliary so I got to have brunch and some time with her.

Hope your Saturday was as pleasant. Dick and I filtered the Riesling wine today too.

Love

Mary

Chelsea and I walked again in 32 degree temps with no wind and nice sunshine. It warmed up to a comfortable mid 50s today which we really enjoyed.

I had lunch at Dairy Queen in Plymouth again today with the Wells people. Barb had her grandaughter with her. Anna is no 18 months old. She had a very shaky start as she has Down's Syndrome and has experienced most of the physical problems that these little people have. She is adorable and is learning sign language to express her needs. We were all SO glad to finally meet Anna.

This evening, the Environment Committee added the mums and the book listing the deceased from the past year to the altar in Church. It looks very nice. I think the relatives will be very pleased with the results. We put the book that I made on the altar with 22 candles to represent the 22 members that have passed on this year. So far God has listened to me prayer and not added anyone else. I do have room for possibly two more in the book if I have to.

Tomorrow is the Legion of Mary gathering and lunch. Mother is a member now too so I will walk her over to church and back. It is fine this time of year but I think that it is a good idea for her to have and escort whenever possible. I must remember to give her the money from the chekc that I cashed for her.

Two weeks from Monday, we will leave on our final vacation of the year. We are going to Branson. Bart and Barb are going to be able to come up and spend a day with us. I am looking forward to the trip AND seeing them. Barbara is so very proud. She has lost over 50 pounds this year and is excercizing and really getting in shape. I hope the two day trip will be good for both of them.

Til tomorrow.

Mary

Our last two nights in Kentucky were spent in Louisville or Lou-a-vul as it is properly pronounced. You kind of slur it all together too. We stayed at the historic Galt Hotel which has been and is still being refurbished and remodeled but is a very nice hotel. We were up on the 10th floor overlooking the street and the twin building of the Galt. They are connected by a bridge on the third floor. It is the biggest hotel and convention center in the state. From our window, we could also see the Ohio River and one of the bridges crossing over into Indiana and the boat that we traveled on in the rain. I will add a picture from the window here. I do love taking pictures from hotel windows. I did that a LOT in Ireland.



"Louavul" also had decorated statues of horses scattered all over the city. Much like the cows that Chicago had several years ago. I got a picture of the one that was in front of the Galt.




Today was clear but chilly. It was supposedly 32 degrees when I went out with Chelsea, though our thermometer said that it was 37. Big deal. We had a nice walk however BECAUSE it was dry and there was no wind. Chelsea is so darned happy it is funny. She REALLY misses our walks when I am gone or it is raining.

I went out with several other ladies to play bingo with the residents of Rocky Knoll. This is a group of mentally and/or physically challenged people. We bring quarters for their prizes and they love it. I was asked to be the caller today which was a kick. I like helping the residents find their numbers too. Part of our service is to sit with those who have a bit of trouble either reading the numbers of closing their boxes. They all understand quarters though. There are vending machines around you see.


The last of the questions that really need answers is:
17. Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive faster?

Dick and I are both MUCH better today. We went grocery shopping this morning and out for breakfast as is our usual Thursday morning.

No other excitement. Have a nice Friday.

Mary

I finished printing the names of our deceased on the "book pages" Now I have to wait to assemble it until I am sure that I don't have to add any more. I think it will look nice. The only time I had to go out today was to pick up some more poster paper to finish the project. Roxie was a pest while I was working at it. She kept mewing at me to pick her up. Then - when I put her on my lap she would move around back of me on the chair and paw at me. What a strange little kitty she is.



The above is a picture of Cumberland Falls. We saw this just prior to our show at Renfro Valley. Isn't it beautiful. Cumberland Falls is second in size only to Niagra Falls in the United States. I go several pictures that turned out quite well. I love the digital camera. The following is a picture that Dick took of me playing the washboard at The Old Stable Restuarant. Sure was fun.




A few more questions that really need answers:
13. Why do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the
same tune?
14. Stop singing and read on..........
15. Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup?
16. Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at
you, but when you take him on a car ride, he sticks his head out the
window?

We are recovering from our colds. I am MUCH better and Dick is a day or two behind me but definately much improved from yesterday. Jim stayed home sick today too. WHAT IS HAPPENING?

Have a HEALTHY Thursday.

Mary

It was a rather uneventful day. It rained off and on ALL day. Chelsea still has not had a "proper" walk since we left on our trip. Jim just runs her outside the door and she knows that, but she expects much better from me. I don't mind walking on a chilly day, but walking in the rain with a cold seems foolish so we have only been doing what is necessary.

Dick went to see the podiatrist today. His callouses are now trimmed down and he should be much more comfortable. The trip was really uncomfortable for his poor feet.

I am working of the "book" that we will put up on the altar for All Souls day, listing the members of the parish that were buried from Blessed Trinity since last year. I hope no more die before Tuesday, I am really close to being out of room on the plan that I put together. It is sad when someone dies anyway, I think God could hold off for me for a week, don't you?

I don't think that I told you about the train ride. We went to Stearns, KY and boarded the Big South Fork Scenic Railway which took us to the Blue Heron Mine up in the hills. It was an iron mine. We got, as a part of our tour, a miner's lunch. The lunch was a sandwich, containers of pudding, coleslaw, applesauce and lettuce and chips wrapped in a cool red neckerchief emblazened with the South Ford Scenic Railway info. The trip was lovely, we had a couple of guys AND the lady Forest Ranger singing and picking for us both before the trip and at the mine. I bought a tape of one of the singers. An altogether nice day.

Tomorrow, I will get enough energy to start adding a picture or two.

Have a lovely evening. Here are a few more questions that need answers

9. If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that Acme crap, why didn't
he just buy dinner?
10! . If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?
11. If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from
vegetables, then what is baby oil made from?
12. If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?


Mary

Bible Study today. We have finished the Letters of Paul that we were studying and have decided that for a while at least we are going to study the readings for the next Sunday. It is a bit confusing at first but I believe we will become very familiar with the books of the bible this way AND we all have different translations which makes for some interesting insights.

I finally have all the clothes put away and have sorted through my mail. I have a few piles of stuff on the desk that I should be able to get through by the end of the week.

The third night of the trip, we went to Renfro Valley,apparantly condidered the bluegrass captital fo the world. At least a BIG bluegrass festival is held there every year. We went to the Barndance Show in the Renfro Vally Entertainment Center. This place has shops and restuarants and two ( at least ) theatres. We saw Jeff Watson (who does a mean Conway Twitty as well as his own sound), Glenn Thompson (a guitarist who owns a shop nearby), Pete Stamper (a humorist),Susan Tomes Laws (a truly lovely female singer), Pam Perry (another woman) and Wayne Combs (who actually ran into us as we stopped the bus at a Walmart to get cold medicine for one of our fellow tourists.) He was coming out of Walmart with his kids in a cart and saw the bus. So good PR man that he is, he came up to the bus and told Patty that they should bring the tour to the show in Renfro Valley where he played and sang. Patty almost had a bird as she kind of shooed him out of the bus, whispering to him that this was a mystery tour and that we would indeed be seeing him there. He mentioned the encounter at the start of the show. Talk about weird.

They sure kept us busy every day. We left the hotels at 8 to 8:30 and did not get back until 9 to 10:30 depending on the night. I slept like the dead. It is easy when one is that tired.

More questions that need answers

5. Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane?
6. Why do people point to their wrist when asking for the time, but don't
point to their crotch when they ask where the bathroom is?
7. Why does your OB-GYN leave the room when you get undressed if they are
going to look up there anyway?
8. Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They're
both dogs


My cold is moving along as usual. Dick has one now too.


Later

Mary

Today was a yucky day weatherwise. It was damp and rainy and rather chilly. The only saving grace was that there was very little wind so the chill was not "to the bone."

I went to the 8:00AM Mass and sold raffle tickets after Mass. We sold a few this time. I hope the raffle does well. We really have EXCELLENT raffle items. A twin sized quilt that I made, a patriotic throw, a Janome Sewing Machine donated by The Sewing Machine Shop in Sheboygan Falls and a framed print of the Villager. The artist is our own Kitty Klitch who is also the chair of the Turkey Dinner. It is a beautiful print and she had it framed exquisitly.

Then I zipped over to Mother's for just a few minutes and then home. I had to be home by 10:00AM to receive Stenn - the Commissioner's call that it was OK for me to go in and post my selections for the Fantasy Football League. You can imagine my horror on Saturday morning, when I realized that they had moved the Miami game to Friday night because of fear of Hurricane Wilma. Stenn made it possible to post my picks except for the Miami game, of course. I stuck up for the Packers again today and they blew it. Against those mean awful Vikings too.

Brenda and Dick came to take us out for lunch at about 11:00AM. We went to Antoinette's in Plymouth. I knew that they had a rather nice selection fo vegetarian dishes. A cold and a hot sandwich, at least three pizzas and at leat two pasta dishes.

Dick was rather sick after we got home. Nothing major but he is really laying low for the next day or two. My cold is no better. I am glad that the next three days are quiet. I need to heal. As we speak, I am steeping some Respiratory Tea to help me relax and sleep tonight.

I wanted to tell you a bit more about our trip. The second day, Tuesday, we went to Keene's Depot, a store that deals in hunting and fishing gear and clothing AND food. They sugar cure their own hams. They explained the process and I bought a hunk to make some bean soup with later this week. They said it absolutely needs NO refrigeration.

We then went to Heaven Hill. Heaven Hill is a bourbon distillery in Bardstown. We were treated to a wonderful tour of the distillery museum and the warehouses where the bourbon is aged in charred new oak barrels. The three things necessary for good bourbon are - water that comes from limestone sources, good corn, wheat, rye, and new white oak barrels that are charred on the inside. It is the charred staves that give the bourbon its color and the distinctive carmelly taste. We got to go to the tasting room, (a room in the shape of a half barrel with a circular bar. We were treated to a lesson on inspecting bourbon. The master distiller seldom drinks the bourbon to test it. He relies on color, odor and the way the bourbon swirls around the glass. We all were given two samples (about a tablespoon each). One of a 7 year and one of a 12 year old bourbon. We tasted them with and without a touch of water. I liked the 7 year with water the best.

The guide told us that in 1998 lightening struck one of the 7 story rick houses (the proper name, I believe for a liquor warehouse) and it started on fire. As it burned the whole building, story by story began to collapse, barrels breaking open and bursting into flames as they fell. This warehouse was on top of the hill and the bourbon started down the hill and set six other warehouses on fire on the way to the creek. It flowed, still burning under the bridge over the creek and buckled the blacktop. It continued out into the river. Traffic on the main highway was stopped because flames were up over the bridge. They said that the flames were as high as a 35 story building at their peak. All they could do was let it burn out as it went very fast and there was no way to contain it. They have recovered beautifully and he did say that all the warehouses have different ages of bourbon in them so that there was never a year without a certain aged brew.

I recommend that you visit Heaven Hill if you get the chance. A nicely put together tour and you do not have to taste the bourbon but you do get samples if you want to.





Questions that really need answers...
1. Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze
these dangly things here, And drink whatever comes out?"
2. Who was the first person to say, "See that chicken there? I'm gonna eat
the next thing that comes outta it's butt."
3. Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer?
4. If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?

Til Tomorrow

Mary

We're BAAAACK!! Did you miss me?

We went to KENTUCKY! And did we ever tour Kentucky. It took us from 6:00AM to about 6:00PM to reach Bardstown, south of Louisville. Bardstown it an interesting community and we spent our first evening at a restuarant called the Old Stable. We had a buffet and mint julips (or a punch) in special Kentucky Derby Glass. They issue a new one each year and the Old Stable has one of every single year in a cabinet on the wall in the dining room. We got to keep the glass too. I ended up with three of them, so Jim will have one too. I like that. There were a man and woman playing bluegrass/country music just for us during our dinner. It was a nice buffet, but I am going to tell you now that I hope I do not have another buffet to go to for at least six months.

After we ate they got four of us (naturally I got "recommended " by Patty, our tour director) to go up and show off our musical abilities. Gene played the Washtub Cello, Stan played the Stumpf Fiddle, I got the Washboard and Maureen played the tamborine. It was a lot of fun.

I didn't tell you, we also were given hand made hats that we all "had" to wear while we ate.. Dick was "thrilled" as you can well imagine.

Anyway, we are home now and frankly we are really glad to be here. Have you ever noticed how excited one gets when one perpares and leaves on a vacation and how, as it gets closer, one becomes more and more eager to be home?

Critters were very glad to see us. Chelsea is at this moment trying to tell me that she is ready for bed now.

We were so delighted tonight to have Leslie call. She wanted to hear how we liked the trip and where we went. She had GOOD news from there also. Bill is starting a new job at LSU which is much more what he wants to be doing and will be more profitable AND they can stay where they are. They have grown to like it there and would hate to leave, at least for the time being. Also, our Sara has her first job. She is bagging at Kroger's and has been there for three weeks. Yea! Sara!. We are so proud. That first one is always the hardest. Experience and a job history helps SO much.

I will send pictures later, and let you all know more of our trip each day. We went to the Louisville Slugger factory in Louisville to find out how they make the wooden bats that they are famous for and to visit their museum. This was Friday. I mention this because I like to have a nice ending to the blog and was impressed with something Dusty Baker said on the film they show before you tour the factory. He spoke of playing baseball as a kid and all the kids encouraging each other as they played. He remembers the others yelling "Yea Dusty, Go Dusty Baker." when he was a kid. He then said, and I quote, that because of playing the way he did as a kid, " You kind of expect yourself to be a hero." I have visions of all these kids playing little league and pick up games imagining themselves as heros of the game. Too bad they can't always believe they are heros.

Til tomorrow

Mary

Well, today was a beautiful day. Sunny and comfortable with little wind. I got up at my usual 6:00AM. I had a lot to do. I was frying out tonight so fixed the potato salad and had a couple of extra eggs, so I made some deviled eggs that were spectacular. I keep telling the guys that there is really NO recipe. They always are good but these were really special. I must remember to always use "spicy brown" mustard.

I left early for church because I had to sell raffle tickets for the Turkey Dinner Raffle. I have donated a twin size quilt that I finished about a month ago. It is one of my travel quilts. It is mainly in greens and quite colorful. The other prizes are a sewing machine, a beautiful framed print by Kitty Klitch of the Villager in Sheboygan falls. Kitty is the head of the Turkey Dinner committee and an extremely talented local artist and teacher of art in the area and a "flag" throw. After that I went to visit Mother before going to Mass myself. The choir sang at this Mass. We sang a Vivaldi which is very lively and quite pretty. "Sing to the Lord."

I had to go directly from Church to Rhine to work the Sunday Open Shoot. It was very slow so Bobbie and I were able to easily do our league shoots. I was pretty happy with this week. I think my scores were all in the 50s and 60s which is good for me.

I fried brats to go with the potato salad. The fryer was scary tonight. I started to get flare ups (which I expected) and was totally prepared with a water squirt bottle, I kept putting the scattered flames out but finally the whole bowl of the fryer burst into flame and I was barely able to rescue the brats. They provided us with a little charcoal,(is charcoal really good for the breath) but still tasted good. I have never before in all my frying days had a fryer turn into an inferno.

Now, everything is done for the evening. This will be my last blog until next Saturday. Will you be able to stand it? All I have to do tomorrow morning, (we leave at 6:00AM) is shower, get dressed, walk poor pitiful Chelsea and eat something.

My brother Jeff (actually it probably was Kathy, his wife) sent me the greatest 20 "Words of Wiscom". Here is one for you to mull on.

When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bike. Then I
realized that The Lord doesn't work that way, so I stole one and
asked him to forgive me.
-- Emo Philips

Ezio Pinza was just singing "This Nearly Was Mine" from South Pacific on The Show Tunes Music Channel. As Dick says there are some names and songs that just turn me on. Ezio singing South Pacific is one of them.


I love you all. Have a great week and come back on Saturday for a quick summery of the Mystery Tour.

Mary

I planted daffodils today. Jeff brought some bulbs to Mother and she did not want them all, so we shared. Bobbie and I were discussing bulbs a couple of weeks ago and I had mentioned that I did not have any daffodils. They are one of the very first signs of spring, along with worms all over the street, robins, the red winged blackbirds and kids playing basketball all around the tract.

It was a pretty quiet day overall. I got all packed for the trip and worked on the "book" that we are going to put on the altar for All Soul's Day. I make a cross quilt square and sewed it on the fabric that I will be covering the "book" with. I searched and found a site that has about 6 different crosses, so I have a source now. The hardest part will be stenciling all the names of those who have died in the past year. I really can't do that until we are back from the trip because we include the names of ALL who have died in the past years and (it sounds kind of gory) there is always a possibility that we will have some more in the next two weeks. We can't leave anyone off and there is a placement issue.

Well, Cheslea is begging to go out AGAIN and it is almost 9:00PM which is her time. So I will sign off now.





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

REAL WOMEN- Leftover wine??

Love

Mary

It is almost 10:00PM and I am winding down very fast. It was a rather busy day. I cleaned the kitchen this morning.

Then I went to have lunch in Plymouth at the Dairy Queen with my friends. My friend, Mary, has gone back to work for Edward Jones Brokerage. She says she is not happy about that, she would really like to stay home, but she has to work and at least the brokerage that she has joined is staffed with really great people. She does like being a broker too.

I delivered my basket to the Tisket a Tasket site. They liked it. I always feel really good when I deliver them each year. It must be fun collecting the baskets. The idea is to assemble a basket around a book. I chose two books about tea parties and added stuff.

Lastly, I stopped at Office Max and stocked up on copy paper and some supplies to use to make a list of those who passed away at Blessed Trinity this past year for All Souls Day. We like to do a special rememberance.

Now, I am tired.

If there are no dogs in Heaven,
then when I die I want to go
where they went.
- Will Rogers

I like Will's idea. I want to reconnect with Zero and a couple of other good doggy friends that I have had throughout the years.

Mary

Tomorrow will be a very busy day. I have to clean the kitchen in the morning. Actually, the floor isn't as bad as usual, because when I cleaned the grapes yesterday, I got the floor so messy that I had to wipe down about a third of it so we wouldn't stick.

Then I will have lunch with the girls in Plymouth. I don't know if Betty and Ceil are back from their trip to the New England states or not. Then the bank, Office Max and I have to drop off a basket for the Tisket a Tasket raffle that will be happening on November 5th or thereabouts. The last day to drop off the baskets is Oct 21 and we will be gone. Tisket a Tasket if a fundraiser to help combat illiteracy. I have contributed a basket for auction or raffle for several years now. This year I make one using a basket tray that I got from Mother. I cleaned it up and put a liner over the tray part. Then I filled it with two books on teas, an apron that I had decorated with a beautiful big cup, a table runner that can be used as a table runner or a placemat, two cups, coffee, tea and cookies. I think it is OK.

When I was a little girl, I used to go down town to the library every week to see Mrs. La Budde and get as many books as I could carry to read during that week. The library was located in an old house on the corner of Pine and Buffalo Streets in Sheboygan Falls, right accross from the Franklin House. It is a beautiful old building, a historical landmark, now converted back to a home. I have a lot of nice memories of that library. The Sheboygan Falls Library was originally founded by a ladies group.


Friday is the beginning of the weekend for me. Hope it is for you. Monday we go away for our Mystery Tour.

Mary

I really enjoyed Quilt Guild tonight. We had a pot luck, which is always fun. I made beans and balogna.

This is the simple recipe:

1 Can of Pork and Beans
1 Can of Spicy Chili Beans
1 Can of Black beans
1 Ring Balogna, peeled and sliced into chunks.
A good squeeze of ketsup
1/4 cup finely chopped onion

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.

The dessert table was FANTASTIC.

Then we had the business meeting, followed by a slide show of this years Quilt Show. My spinning watersheel quilt was in the pictures, but Shannon must have missed the Spider Web Wall Hanging. Well, you all saw it on this site and I have it hanging in the hall.

I showed the twin sized quilt that I am donating to the Church for the raffle at the Turkey Dinner.

I got home at about 9:00PM which was nice. Sometimes these things hang on.

Tomorrow, we are getting our flu shot. Ugh. I hate that. The first two years I got a very quick, very fleeting reaction to the shot. Since then nothing, but I am still a bit nervous about it. I will NEVER EVER get another pneumonia shot. Last year, I got my first one and my arm swelled up and was sore for a week.

Have a nice tomorrow. It was very pleasant outside when I left the club meeting. I guess it is supposed to be nice for several days before turning cold again.

Enjoy. The leaves are turning color. What a spectacular time of year this is.

Mary

I went over to Becky and Brian's house late this afternoon and picked wild grapes. They have them growing all along the fence between their alfalfa field and the adjoining corn field. I picked somewhere in the range of 12 to 15 pounds so will be able to easily make two gallons of wine. I will have to freeze them at first because all my jugs are "busy" right now.

I got to Becky's before she arrived home from work and as I started down the fence line to the grapes a young collie joined me. I thought she came from across Cty. O but figured that I would just keep an eye on her and bring her back with me. She is young and this is not the first time she has crossed the highway. Her owners are trying to train her to stay in the yard. I hope she learns before she gets hit by a car. I found out that her name is Cloe and that her owners DID come around looking for her.

Brian and Becky have a dog too. Her name is Bailey and she is really a nice girl. They keep her penned while they are at work and are training her with a remote collar which seems to be working.

My friend Janet from way back sent me this impossibly funny e-mail. I REALLY want to share it so here it is.

Subject: warning

I hate it when people forward bogus warnings but this one is real, and
it's very important. So please send this warning to everyone on your
e-mail list:

If people come to your front door saying they are conducting a survey on
deer ticks and ask you to take your clothes off and dance around with
your arms over your head while they inspect for ticks, DO NOT DO IT!
IT'S A SCAM; they only want to see you naked!

I really wish I had gotten this warning yesterday; I feel so stupid now!!!

PS...I didn't have one single tick either time they came!



Hope it made you laugh too.

Mary

It was a busy Monday. I started off with a nice walk with Chelsea as soon as it was light. She actually got me up at about 5:45AM but it was too dark to walk so I took my shower first.

Then Dick went to the dentist. He now has fresh clean teeth and no cavities. I went to Bible Study. We are almost dine with Paul's 2nd letter to the Corinthians. He is still explaining why he is an apostle and why he worked for his keep along with his preaching and all. We branched off into talking about mystics and angels and special gifts from the spirit. I believe in the them. In Paul's age, there seemed to be more of them. I wonder if maybe there are the same amount now but then they were not branded as crazy and also perhaps a lot of those who claimed to be mystics or to see visions or angels THEN were faking.

Lately, the Catholic church is downplaying angels. There was an article in the Catholic Herald that said that the world seems to glom on to the ideas that we throw out. We aren't much interested in angels anymore, but the general public is hopping on to angel belief.

The devastation in Pakistan if awful. So many thousands killed and homeless. I was remembering reading somewhere years ago that it is hard for human beings to get really emotionally involved when thousands and thousands of people are a part of a disaster. If we are focused on one person in a disasterous situation we often get a much bigger outcry from the public. Probably because we can empathize with one but masses of people become numbers and rather unreal.

This afternoon I went to Writer's Club. We had an unusual amount of business. This was my first meeting since I won the Aestival Festival Poetry Contest, so I brought my trophy and certificate. I read a story that I wrote and got some really good feedback. I will do a few revisions and then send it to the contest that I wrote it for.

There was frost on the ground both yesterday and this morning. I got hold of Becky and will pick wild grapes tomorrow. I will have to freeze them for later as ALL of my gallon jugs are being used right now and I only want to make one or two gallons.

If the San Diego Chargers win their game tonight, I will be in second place this week in the Fantasy Footbal League. That would move me up a bit in the overall standings too. Still not in the money but getting close. Go Chargers.

A 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 nice Tuesday.

Mary

Such a nice Sunday. I went to the 8:00AM Mass. Then visited with Mother for a bit before heading home to fix breakfast, assemble the casserole for dinner and make an infusion from Lemon Balm leaves and stems so that I can make more Lemon Balm Wine when I finally free up some gallon jugs. Currently, I have two batches of Currant Wine and two of Concord Grape so my jugs are quite full and I need to wait until I can bottle. So I am making infusions and freezing fruit and flower petals so that I can make other batches when there are empty jugs available.

Bobbie, Jim and I went shooting this afternoon. My pistol shooting was OK. The first two weren't bad at all but the third was a little off. My elbow started hurting and I lost my steady hand. I only got a 15 on trap but I felt a little off. I need to keep reminding myself at EACH shot to line up the beads and keep AHEAD of the bird.

I talked to Bret tonight. He sounds good. The Santa Ana winds make his sinuses act up but he is far away from fires except for an occasional whisp of smokey air. He is working hard but today enjoyed a little fun at a church festival near his home that his friends Tony and Dee belong to. Their daughter, Emily, is his goddaughter.

And Oh YES! the Packers won big. 52/3 against New Orleans. So it has been a good day.

I have a puzzle. The Catholic church is talking about making a rule against gay men who are celebate and vow to remain so from becoming priests. Now, heterosexual men take a vow of celebacy and become priests all the time. (Well, Duh!) What is the difference. A vow is a vow is a vow.

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT LIFE THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:
1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your
hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always
catch the second person.
) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandma's lap.


Tomorrow will be busy so I am going to get ready for bed. Have a good Monday.

Mary

I took Mother to Joanne's today. We found her backing for her quilt and some lovely blue fabric for the backing. She also bought a pillow form. She is working on a Hawaiian design square and plans on making a pillow out or that. She never quits. I must ask her if she wants me to sew the backing together. I can't imagine her doing that by hand.

I picked up some thread and some fusable bonding so I can continue on my Christmas Tree Skirt.

Dick and I then took Mother to lunch at Zana's. I made the mistake of mentioning that I had gotten the "Friends don't let friends vote Republican" for both Jim and Bart, our Republicans. Mother got on her political platform and said that she would like one of them to tell her ONE reason why they back Bush. They could, I am sure, they are as determined as she is.

We racked the 2nd fermentation of the Concord Grape wine today. The first racking into the secondary fermentor. The Condord Grape Wines are going to take a great deal of patience. Two years, much like the Two Year Currant. I am thinking that perhaps that is what the Wild Grape wine needed too. More time. I know in Dad's personal wine recipes, if the wine was not up to his or Mother's standards, he would alway add the not - Age longer. Here is a great example. Actually, a wine that I would never try. It must have been around the period where he said of the Bee Balm Wine that if that worked, he would try his old shoes.

LETTUCE WINE

Step 1: Lettuce, campden tablets, 1/2 the sugar (1 1/4 lb), the raisins. Pour one gallon (7 pints boiling) over the itens in the crock. Cool.

Step 2: Add acids, yeast and nutrient. Stir twice a day for 5 days.

Step 3: Add rest of sugar (1 1/4 lb) boiled in 1 pint water. When cooled, fit lock and ferment.

Comment: Not so good. Let age.

Enjoy

Mary

I have a "needy" little Roxie, sitting on my lap purring her heart out and looking at me adoringly.

I had lunch in Plymouth again today. I had a grilled cheese today and it was exceptionally good. Then stopped at Mother's on the way home because I wanted to talk to Jeff. He came to get Mother's yard trimmed down for the winter and to help bring in the plants that she winters in the basement. I have asked him to help me drive Bart and Barb's things down to them. Bart is not well, as I mentioned and Barb has enough on her plate. They are doing a biopsy on the 18th. Please keep praying for a benign test on that.

Tonight, some of us finished decorating the church for Fall. We put the wreaths up and scattered colored leaves in the greens and around the candle holders. Now just before Halloween, we will add Mums and pumpkins and gourds.

I also baked an apple pie today and it really tasted good.

I looked for a simple one and this is it. It is called Wonderful Apple Pie and I found it on allrecipes.com.

* 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
* 1/2 cup flour
* 1 1/2 teaspoons McCormick® Apple Pie Spice
* 1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
* 1 (9 or 10-inch) deep dish pie shell
* 8 cups medium cooking apples, peeled and thinly sliced

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine brown sugar, flour, apple pie spice, and butter. Sprinkle about 1/3 of this mixture over bottom of unbaked pie shell.
2. Put apples in pie shell. Spoon remaining sugar-spice mixture over apples. Place pie on cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour and 10 minutes.

I don't do apple pies often because you have to peel all those apples and I don't enjoy that. I also tasted the Lemon Balm Wine as it is now officially one year old. It is quite good, very light and fruity but not too sweet. I will have to see if I can gather enough leaves between Mother's and my gardens to make a batch this year.

A friend is someone who knows
the song in your heart
and can sing it back to you
when you have forgotten
the words.;

-- Unknown

Mary

This was a shopping day and Dick got his "finger pricked" to test his blood. Sue, the technician , was training another tech and told her that Dick is one of her boring patients. He is always just where he should be. Only once in the last two years or more did he test outside of the perameters.

I spent the rest of the day cleaning the bathroom and transcribing some things that I have been writing in longhand on our trips lately so that I can work on them. I hate writing in longhand anymore but when there is not computer and a thought comes, one does not want to lose it.

I am going to make an apple pie for the weekend.

Mark Twain said "Principles have no force unless one is well fed." Quite astute. Just like I always say. Underfed children do not learn well. To teach the children in our poor areas, we first have to see that they have a good breakfast, follow it up with lunch and see that they do not go to bed with empty tummies.

Tomorrow is FRIDAY ALREADY. Where did the week go?

Mary

Here we are mid week.

Dick and I bottled the Beaujolais today. 25 bottles that will be ready in three months. They say you can drink it right away but we have discovered that the red wines really need to age for that three months to really smooth out. Tomorrow, we can try the Lemon Balm. We just have to remember to chill it.

Tonight, Mother, Dick and I went to dinner at Nino's and then went to the Sheboygan Theatre Co at Horace Mann to see Noises Off. It was a really fast moving farce. Well done. The last act was confusing, but they made it up in the curtain calls which were as good as the play.

George Washington's prayer for America -

"Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection ! and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

Be happy

Mary

Another warm day. It was up into the low 80's. The "end" is coming soon. It is supposed to drop 30 degrees in the next couple of days.

Chelsea and I had a really nice walk this morning. The rest of the day was mildly busy. I got my haircut at 11:30 and then did a whole bunch of errands between that and my appointment with Dr. Casey. I told him about my sore knee. He adjusted it and showed me a couple of excercizes that should strengthen the muscles and make the pain go away. I can even do them while we are on the bus so the knee shouldn't lock up on the mystery trip.

Tomorrow we will go to the Sheboygan Theatre to see the first show of the season. Noises Off is the farce that is being presented. Some prople saw it on opening night and said that it was confusing to them. Nora saw it in Dallas and says it is a wonderful play. At least, she and Leif really enjoyed it. Usually the Theatre company does a great job on farces.

I got the results of my bone density test and everything is normal. I kind of figured it was. I have not even lost any height. I am still 5'4" and they say that people usually shrink as they grow older. If you lose bone density it has to go somewhere. Height would be the first place as far as I can see.

Tomorrow we will bottle a batch of Beaujolais. We have a lot in the making but are kind of low in our stock. Well, we should have plenty for Christmas, when we like to give it away. In two days, some of the scrath wines that I made last year will be ready for testing. The first one ready is the Lemon Balm Wine. We will taste it tomorrow. If it is any good, I must harvest some from Mom's garden before it freezes.

A poem from R. S. Thomas on eternity. I just like it.

"I think that maybe
I will be a little surer
of being a little nearer.
That's all. Eternity
is in the understanding
that that little is more than enough."

Sounds good to me.

Till tomorrow.

Mary

I had to be at three meetings between 6:00PM and 7:00PM this evening and I made them ALL. The Environment Committee was doing some seasonal changes in church. I was able to help for about 1/2 hour. While I was there, Jim Wilsing, my bagpiper friend, came in. He is doing the music tonight for the Mission that we are having at church. He spent two weeks down in the Biloxi Miss to help with the Red Cross. He said that it was extremely traumatic. He is glad he went and was able to do some good but will carry the pictures in his heart forever. I am going to see if Fr. Gene would like him to come to talk to our faith community. While I was working, he played Lament on the organ for me. What a guy.

Next, I zipped over to the Parish office and gave my report on the Celtic Faire. I have the go ahead for next year. We will again have the same band, the storyteller and the the Cashel Dennehy Dancers. I will do some rotation of the acts and publicize the times each will be performing. We are going to move the vendors under the trees on the music side of the building. I think they were too hot and away from the "action" this year. Last year wasn't quite so bad because we had the band out there. So we will move them.

Last, I went to Rhine Plymouth for the monthly meeting. I was only about 5 minutes late and they were waiting for me. It was a comparatively short meeting with only two really important discussions, the parking lot and the fact that beer is disappearing from the cooler. The second is very distressing. We HAVE to resolve it.

This morning, I went to Mass because I really don't need to be out extra evenings at the Parish Mission. Then I had breakfast with my friend Joann between Mass and Bible Study. That was pleasant. Joann is a real delight. Fr. Hart, our Mission Priest (a Franciscan) joined us at our bible study. So I got a little bit more of renewal and was able to ask for more EXTRA prayers for the kids in Oklahoma.

I think that I will get up my Halloween decorations tomorrow. I did hang the spider web wall hanging in the hall. After Halloween, I will hang the spinning pinwheel hanging which really came out looking good in that spot. I DO have to get a proper rod for it.

Mother is still quilting. Did I mention that. She has another quilt top ready for assembly. When we take her to the Sheboygan Theatre on Wednesday, I will ask her if she can go shopping for her batting and backing on Saturday. I can take her to Joanne's and then we can pick up Dick and all go to lunch. She likes that and we LOVE spending time with her.

Donna called tonight. Jessica wanted to know if we liked Wicked. She saw it in New York and was JEALOUS that we got to go. She would love to see it again. I will take the Discover books to Donna. It will be in Chicago til May of next year from the looks of it - or else in and out at least twice.

This seems to be a pitiful night for the Packers. They were tied in the first quarter but as we hit the half, Carolina is ahead by 16. Oops. I picked the Packers, out of loyalty, but thank heavens, I only gave them one point. My picks weren't bad this week. I believe I may move up a notch or two. Still below half but at least I am moving up.

An important fact to remember when raising boys.

When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late.



Enjoy Tuesday.

Mary

Another beautiful day. Chelsea and I had the BEST walk this morning.

I met my cousin Mike, his wife Kellee and their children, Katie and Shawn for breakfast at Harry's Diner before they had to leave for the airport. Patty's funeral was yesterday and it was a lovely day for it. I guess everything went quite well. We had a nice visit this morning anyway. Mike still works for the airlines. He flies and also does some training. The children are busy in school and sports and whatever. They are beautiful children and very well behaved.

Then I went to church and this afternoon, Jim and I went shooting. This week was a big change from last week. I felt it was worth the trip to Rhine. My scores should be up. But that really BAD one from last week is definitly going to bring the average down. I shot a round of trap too and got a 16 again. Not bad but I hope to see some improvement as time goes on. Tomorrow is the club meeting. I am ALL ready. The minutes are copied and I updated the membership list with our two new member.

Please pray for Bart and Barb this week. They are facing health problems and need all the help they can get.

Take care. I read somewhere that we should live every day, as full of truth and kindness as we can, as though is were our last and to arise each day as if it were our first and a new and precious beginning.

Mary

We are home from Chicago. We got to the house at almost exactly 9:00PM just like they promised. It makes a long day but was well worth it. After picking up the extra passengers in Plymouth and Sheboygan Falls we headed directly to the Weber Grill Cafe in Chicago. All of their food is cooked on Webers. Dick and I had both ordered the Salmon which was brushed with a nice barbeque glaze. It came with salad, mashed REAL potatoes, steamed veggies and a great cheesecake.

Then on to the Ford Center for the Performing Arts (formerly and still recognized as the Oriental Theatre) for Wicked. It was one of the most energetic musicals that I have seen in years and we loved it. Again, none of the music is really memorable, by that I mean we did not come out of the theatre humming anything. However, we loved the performers, the performances and the message.

The premise is that one should always look at all sides of a situation. It is the Wizard of Oz from the viewpoint of the Wicked Witch of the West. Perspective can make the WHOLE story look completely different. One thing that impressed me was a statement by the Wizard that if one wants to rally people around you, one needs to find a common enemy.

Have pleasant Sunday. It is supposed to be beautiful with a chance of rain in the evening.

Love

Mary

A nice day. The weather was perfect. It was clear and sunnt but only in the low 70s for a high.

I had my bone density test today. It was the easiest test in the world. I just lay on a table and they took two shots. I paid attention this time and my height is still 5'4". I have been 5'4" for as long as I remember. That, to me, means that I am not losing height. So - my bones are probably OK.

Then I cleaned the kitchen and made Lavender Bread.

Had lunch with the girls in Plymouth at the Dairy Queen. I got a Grilled Chicken Salad. It was delicious. Then I stopped at Mom's and dropped of a card for her to take to Patty's funeral for the cousins. I enclosed a poem that I hope they like.

Tonight Bobbie and I worked at Rhine. I kept score because we needed scorekeepers. I had to be reminded a bit but it came back. I scored for a couple of really great shooters.

When I got home a call from Mike Holehouse was on the answering machine, so I called him. We will try to get together for a bit on Sunday Morning, but they have to be in Milwaukee by Noon so it could get tricky. Otherwise, as he says, since Patty is buried here, they will come occasionally. Though, that does not necessarily follow. I do not go to Tony's grave in Huntington Beach, but then I found that I just couldn't do that. I do want to go once more sometime. I only visited the grave twice since we buried him. Once with Dad and once with Grandma and Grandpa Bowser.
It is just too hard.

Tomorrow we go to see Wicked. I have to gather the things I want to take along and it is already 10:00PM so I will sign off now.

The Cadfael Book of Days, Ellis Peters, compiled by Robin Whiteman said. "What is done matters, but what is yet to do matters more."

Enjoy your weekend and pray for Patty. However, I believe that her angel has led her to God.

Love

Mary

Just a quick note as it is 10:00PM and I am about to go to bed. It was an interesting day. Dick and I went to breakfast and then shopping this morning.

Then I got a call from my cousing Lynn. She and her husband Jeff were in town early because they were not sure when the funeral for her mother Patty, was going to be. They have to leave EARLY on Sunday so would not be able to make it to a brunch on Sunday. So - I invited them to supper tonight. We had a very pleasant meal and then I led them over to Mom's to visit and I went to choir. I was done in time to lead them back. They are staying at the Comfort Inn just down in back of the Hardee's on J.
They seem very happy. Jeff drives truck - mostly locally and Lynn has been teaching for 18 years. They have two beautiful little girls, Katie and Sydney. I am really glad they came over.

Jeff called while I was gone. He is going to order a big floral arrangement from the whole gang of us and have it delivered to Wenig's on Saturday. That seems like a great idea to me. The obituary for Patty was in the paper tonight. I am so delighted to find that she also wrote poetry. I shared some of ours, (Dad, George, Matt and Mine) with Lynn. I gave her a copy of the book of Dad's poems that I compiled.

Tomorrow, I am having a bone density test. It will be interesting, but I believe that my bones are very good, so it is just a technicality.

Dave Berry said. "You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog sill give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'"

Later

Mary

This was the quietest day this week. The only thing that I did that required any effort was ride to Manitowoc with Mary Yurk, my accross-the-street neighbor. She delivered blankets for the Linus Project to a baby care place and then we stopped at Quilts and Silks to browse. I did find a hanger to use in the hall so that I could hang my spiderweb for the holidays.

Aside from that it was quiet. I heard from my cousin, Laura, Patty's daughter. Patty's funeral will be Saturday and Dick and I will be in Chicago seeing Wicked. They will probably be in town on Sunday so I told Laura that I would love to have whomever over here on Sunday Morning for a brunch. I will bake lavendar bread tomorrow and make a fruit salad on Friday. Then, if they come, I can just cook bacon and sausage and scramble eggs for the brunch. I have some bagels too.

I feel bad missing the funeral but these plans can't be changed at this late date.

Tomorrow, Dick and I shop and I have choir in the evening. I also should go to the funeral of the mother of a friend. I must remember to get a lot of sympathy cards. I am totally out.

Did I ever give you the recipe to the easiest bread in the world.

Beer Bread

3 cups self rising flour
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 can beer

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a loaf pan. Mix the three ingredients right in the pan. Let sit for 15 minutes or so. Bake for 1 hour.


Enjoy

Mary

I had the most wonderful experience listening to Dr. George Archibald's lecture at Lakeland College. Before the lecture, he actually walked up and talked to me. He thought he recognized me. I told him he looked familiar too and then he said he was the speaker. I told him that was why he looked familiar to me, because I am a crane fan. He is going to keep me informed as to when he goes up to Neceedah to watch the ultralights fly with the cranes. Wouldn't that be an exciting adventure.

The talk was informative and very easy to listen too. I learned a lot about the current condition of the flocks in Asia and Africa too. Did you know that there are no cranes in South America? Nobody really knows why.

I also picked up Market Day. As I said, we need to start emptying out the freezer now. We have enough food to feed us for a long time.

I got a call today from church. Lynn, the business manager, asked me if Doug Deeley was my brother. I told her no, he is my cousin. Then she said that the funeral home had called and that Doug's sister had died. I am so glad that she called. The sister is our cousin Patty. I haven't heard from her directly since my brother Tim died but have kept in touch with how she is doing through her daughter Jennifer. Jenny is a great gal for sending Christmas cards and responding to e-mails. Anyway, Patty was awful about writing or calling, but when you were with her, you always had FUN. Patty was a ray of sunshine in any room that she was in. I will miss knowing she is around. I am not too surprised, because I knew that she had congestive heart failure. I e-mailed Jenny and told her that if there was anything that I could do to let me know. And I called Mother. Doug MAY call but I wouldn't count on it.

Say a special prayer for Patty and her kids tonight. We want her soul to speed right up to heaven.


story that came out of Baton
Rouge.

Yesterday the Rev. Jesse Jackson showed up in Baton Rouge, I wished he would
have showed up in Sheriff Harry Lee's office as we would have NEVER heard
from him again. He said, "Bush has NOT appointed a Single Black to head up
this Katrina Relief, the Black Caucus and Black Leaders all over America are
upset with him putting the Black Folks on the side and it is OUR people who
are sitting on their roof tops waiting for Rescue, OUR people who are
standing in line at the Superdome waiting on Food, Water and a Ride to a
safe place, OUR people who have been locked down in Poverty..." and so on.

George Sell the Anchorman for TV 9 news responded to Jesse, "Rev. Jackson,
the Mayors of New Orleans and Baton Rouge are Black, the Police Chief's of
New Orleans and Baton Rouge are Black, the Head of the LA State Police is
Black, the Head of the Army conducting the Army's operation on the Ground in
New Orleans is Black, the Congressman from New Orleans is Black and for the
last 40 years, the leaders of LA have been members of the Democratic Party,
YOUR Party, don't blame us like you are doing, look in the Mirror, you pull
the Race Card any time you don't get your way, we are in a Terrible Crisis
and right now we need to come together and here you come to Louisiana and
holler Racism, just like you do, it is NEVER EVER your fault, ALWAYS someone
else, but here you are sitting High and Dry, why don't you go out in to the
waters where they are shooting at the Rescue personnel and help in the
Rescue???'"



From a copy of an e-mail that I received from a friend. I do believe that race is not a factor in the damage and devastation or the response. The response was poor management and the POOR suffered most because there is such a large poor population there.

Kind of an interesting commentary anyway. It brings out a lot of facts.

Til tomorrow.

Mary

Today was a quiet day.

Bible study was my only event, though Dick and I did have to pick up a couple of things this afternoon.

It is now still dark at 6:00AM when Chelsea wakes me up. So. I am just letting her out the door then and taking her for her walk a bit later, after we have breakfast and perhaps even a shower as it stays dark later and later and later. Winter gets that way, you know.

Bible study was lively. We are still reading Paul 2 Corinthians. In the 10th chapter, Paul is defending himself from charges that though he writes a nice letter, he isn't all that hot in preaching. We decided that out message is that not all ministers are equal. Some are preachers, some are good with people and some are good builders or managers. We are going to try to be aware that when people criticize a minister we should point out that even Paul had his drawbacks so we should be more accepting.

Tomorrow, I will go to Lakeland College to listen to Dr. George Archibald, the co-founder of the International Crane Foundation. As you probably know, the crane is my favorite endangered species and Dick and I try to go the the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo every year if we can. I never tire of it. I believe I will wear my crane vest and pin tomorrow. I will add one of my pictures of a crane to this blog posting.



We had pizza soup tonight. Such a good soup. I got the recipe from Aunt Mary Ann when Dick and I went to Texas several years ago. The real name is Zucchini Soup but Nora and Sara named it Pizza Soup when they were kids and it has stuck for us. I froze enough for three meals. It is time for us to start eating out of the freezer for a while.

These are two "givens" from a list of funny things boys do sent to me by a friend.

Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.

80% of Men who read this will try mixing Clorox and brake fluid.


Good night sleep tight.

Mary

I am exhausted. Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest but I was hopping most of it.

I mentioned that it was pheasant release day. Fourteen or so conservation clubs in Sheboygan County pool their money and time and raise 2500 to 3000 pheasant that are released in the county in the autumn of each year not too long before pheasant season. Granted this gives the pheasant hunter a bigger crop to harvest from, but it has been proved to be a way to increase the population of pheasant in general. The bird was almost extinct in the county. Now you often see the birds on the side of the road all year round. For sure, a big percentage of those released are harvested, but the smart and the lucky live to procreate and the population is growind.

Anyway, I got to the Maywood site at about 7:00AM and worked with the rest until about 10:30AM. We herded the birds into the holding pens, caught them individually, made sure their blinders were removed (Blinders are put on them as chicks so that they don't pick at each other and hurt each other in the rather confined quarters that they are raised in. Before release, the blinders come off so that they can see and hopefully protect themselves.) and put them in the crates for each club. Then the clubs drive them out around the county wherever they want them where there is good cover and food source and where the members want to hunt and release them. Many of the club members bring their children. This is really a good experience for them in conservation and in the knowledge of animals. I really like doing it. I think it reminds me of the chickens that Dad used to raise. We used to make pets out of them you know.

Then Jim, Bobbie and I went pistol shooting. By then it was POURING. I am not complaining because the rain held off while we were doing the pheasants. I shot miserably. There is no other description. The third target was not too bad but the first was bad and the second was AWFUL..

I think I need to see another rainbow for luck. These are the goofy things that happened today. 1. A Pheasant scratched my arm pretty bad. 2. The Packers lost. 3. An open coke fell out of the fridge and soaked my arm. 4. The trash fell over and I had to clean coffee grounds up off the floor. 5. I shot so badly.

There I have written them down - now they are over and good will happen from now on.

I don't think I told you about Bobbie's experience of a couple weeks ago. She was driving west on Highway J and at the corner of J and Rangeline Road, saw some large birds beside the road. Turkeys, she thought. When she got up to them she saw that she was right there were several turkeys and lo and behold along with them was a peacock. Can turkeys and peacocks mate? Wonder what that would look like and what would one call them - Perkeys? Teacocks?


Have a nice Monday

Mary

The Concord Grape pie is scrumptious. Kenny said that the lady who has the grapes is glad to have a taker so next year we will do it again. As Jim says "It is a keeper."

We also had what may be our last meal of corn and tomatoes until next year. Mr. Capelle, the produce man in Plymouth, expects there to be one more week of sweet corn. I will check next Friday but I am not holding my breath. I do have enough in the freezer for the winter now. I went to the 5:00PM Mass because tomorrow is pheasant release day. (I'll report on that tomorrow.) I fully expected to have to shuck that corn when I got home from church but that wonderful man I sleep with had the whole two baker's dozen ready when I got home so all I had to do was cook them.

I cleaned the lower cupboards in the kitchen today. I finally got tired of having to dig for things that have shifted and of having stuff falling out because everything is mixed up. I always find a few things that are expired anyway because they get shoved to the back.

I also cleaned my guns so I am ready for shooting tomorrow. I decided that I am goint to fix beer can chicken tomorrow with the last can of beer left from when Fr. Mike was here.

It was a lovely day for walking this morning. Kind of crisp. On weekends, Chelsea and I don't run into many people. Roger and Pepper aren't out because it is Roger's big work day and I think some of the other regulars take the weekend off. But it was nice. It is supposed to rain tomorrow.

Mother got a call from George and Betsy in Houston. All is well, the rain was heavy but not dangerous and they were really ready. They were spending today putting their house back in order. They took things off the walls and really battened down. They were well stocked, had a full tank of gas and had even filled their bathtub in case there was a problem with clean water later on. But by the time it got to them it was reduced to a bad but not catastrophic storm. Thank God.

"If you can't believe in God the chances are your God is too small." J. B. Phillips


Have a great Sunday. Come over for beer can chicken, if you want to.

Mary

I had an altogether wonderful evening at the Wonderful World Coffee on Michigan Avenue. Michael Perry, Wisconsin author from New Auburn WI, author of Population:485 and now Off Main Street was there to speak and sell and sign his books. I mentioned that I had heard him about a year ago. He is as interesting to listen to as to read. I recommend the books highly and if you get a chance to see him, he is a hoot to listen too.

Jane Kocmond, a fellow writer, joined me and we had a pleasant evening together too. The Wonderful World is a neat place to wile away some time too with tasty lattes and teas and nice bakery, soups and wraps. Dick said it was "OK" but I really like it. I orderd a chai tea and a cookie and bought a small bag of cookies to take home for Dick. He is sharing with Jim. What a guy.

I cleaned the kitchen this morning and also, (something I am VERY proud of) got a HUGE mess of ink stains out of my favorite pair of khaki pants. I thought they were lost but I kept pouring hair spray on the spots and brushing with a toothbrush until Wa La the spots were gone. I had already ordered a new pair of khakis (tsk tsk) so now I will have two. I really DID think that the other pair was shot.

Had lunch at the Plymouth Dairy Queen with the Plymouth people again. They said they missed me. We had the full crew today, Marlene, Betty, Barb, Ceil, Mary S., Jane and myself. It was a beautiful day, a bit cooler than it has been but sunny and pleasant.

I made pizza soup for dinner. A nice hearty meal, easy to eat. I picked up corn while I was in Plymouth so guess what we will have tomorrow. I am afraid that MIGHT be the last fresh corn of the season. Mr. Capelle seemed to think there MIGHT be one more week, so I will check next Friday. But I am not holding my breath.

Tomorrow should be a rather quiet day. I will be going to Mass at 5:00 because of releasing the pheasant on Sunday. Since we are having corn for supper, that makes and easy supper. We are also going to try a new pie, a concord grape pie, that I found a recipe for. I mixed the pie crust yesterday. That is half the battle I find. It says serve with vanilla ice cream, but I think that it will be fine with cool whip.

Have a nice weekend.

Mary

I sang to the Lord tonight at choir practice. We went over four songs. Three of them we sang several years ago, among them a Vivaldi - "Sing to the Lord". Very appropriate. It is, as all Vivaldi, very light but energetic.

Today, Dick and I went out for our,now only once a week, breakfast and grocery shopping. You sure could tell we had not been shopping for two weeks. We got a LOT, We ate breakfast at Zana's and ran into one of the couples, Ken and Phyllis, who were on the Washington trip with us.

I cleaned the bathrooms today and rested for a while this afternoon. I have been sneezing violently for two days and hope that is will not develop into a full blown cold. I should a bit nazel but no sore throat or fever, so I am hoping it will just disappear.

It rained and thundered today. We got quite a bit. Mother Nature is trying to make up for the summer, now that the growing season is over. She just wasn't using her head this year. But better late than never, we need to build up the water table.

Things, on the other hand, are dire down in the Gulf again. I emailed brother George, who lives near Houston. They are staying put, as they are high and well stocked and the solid highways at this point seem more dangerous than staying. Seems practical from what I see. He is more concerned with sustained winds than water at this point. Please keep him and Betsy and the whole endangered area in your prayers.

We had leftovers tonight. The noodles, beef and gravy that I told you I was planning for Dick and fresh cauliflower and a lovely mixed green salad.

Two very exciting speakers are coming to Sheboygan County in the next seven days. Tomorrow night, Michael Perry, a Wisconsin author, who wrote Population 486 about his experiences as a volunteer fireman in his hometown which has a population of 486. I heard him speak at last years Aestival Festival. He is an interesting speaker and will be at the Wonderful World Book Store over on Michigan tomorrow night from 6 to 8PM. Some of the othe writers from the club will be there so I won't be alone. I have a copy of the book, if you would like to borrow it. He has another one out, I understand. It will be interesting to hear about that.

On Tuesday evening, George Archibald, a co-founder of the International Crane Foundation, is speaking at Lakeland. I am utterly delighted and will definately go to that too. You do know that Cranes are my endangered species cause. I will wear my crane vest and crane pin.

I understand that Kathy, the bell choir director, is planning practices for Tuesdays. I am not sure I am up to committing another evening to something. I kind of liked all the music on one night. Especially, now that gas is up so high and we are trying to cut down on trips to everywhere.

A funny quote, emailed from a friend.

On a Swedish chainsaw -- "Do not attempt to stop chain with your hands or genitals."
(Oh my God..was there a lot of this happening somewhere?)

Have a good Friday.

Mary

What a day. Kenny and I picked about 15 pounds of Concord Grapes at his friend's house. I got home with them and realized that I did not have enough sugar so I drove over to Woodlake to get it. It seemed best to mix up the wine right away while the fruit was fresh off the vine. I have enough for 2.5 or 3 gallons. Now the only problem is where do I get enough gallon jugs. I am OK for JUST this, but will have wild grapes soon and I have frozen the marigold blossems already. So I will be busy making scratch wines this winter too. Dick and I also mixed up a batch of Gewertiminer today. So. There is a lot fermenting in our basement right now, but we are pretty low and Christmas is coming so we need to stock up because we like to give it away.






Sharing two pictures from the Washington trip. The first is a picture of the Rose Window in the National Cathedral with a nice shot of Dick to go with it. The second is a picture of one of the pools of cascading water at the WW2 War Memorial. I like the shot as there was a bouquet of roses lying on the edge of the pool on the IWO JIMA engraving, under the quote from MacArthur. I don't hink that you will be able to read it so it says. "Today the guns are silent. A great tragedy has ended. A great victory has been won, The skies no longer rain death - The seas bear only commerce - Men everywhere walk upright in the sunlight. The entire world is quietly at peace."

Too bad we couldn't keep it that way.

Til tomorrow

Mary

This was a quiet day. I cooked and wrote today. With just Dick and I eating during the week food goes a long way so I divided 1 1/4 lbs of chuck steak up into two dishes. I made a really good vegetable beef soup for lunch. There is enough for lunch tomorrow too. The rest I cooked in the slow cooker and there is enough of that for another meal too. Don't tell Dick, but we will have that with noodles on Thursday.

Tomorrow was to be another quiet day, but my brother in law Ken called and said that his friend's concord grapes are ripe, so I am going to meet him at his house at 1:00 and we will go to pick them. I found a nice recipe for Concord Grape wine. It has a recipe for a 2nd batch out of the same pulp which I will try too. Dick and I worked on the Riesling that we have fermenting in the basement. On Friday, we rack or filter the Beaujolais, depending on how much sediment is there.

When we were in Washington, we went to the National Cathedral. It is spectacular. There are so many beautiful stained glass windows and it is huge. There is a special chapel for the armed forces. Any one who has served can have his or her name registered there. We had a great guide who was knowledgable and easy to hear. We went there on Wednesday and knew ahead of time that President Bush was going to be there speaking at the National Day of Prayer on Friday.

Have a pleasant Wednesday.

My friend and fellow author Jane Kocmoud wrote the following which appears in the 2006 Wisconsin Poet's Calendar.

SUMMER FASHION

lanquid squirrel
sprawls across the birdhouse
roof of fur


Isn't she great


Mary

It rained today. I got up a bit after 6:00AM and kind of hurried out with Chelsea because Sally Severenson of Channel 12 News said that there was a severe thunderstorm alert. We started down the road with our usual eagerness and excitement. Before we got to the first turn, thunder rolled across the sky, the angels must have ALL been bowling. Chelsea did an about face on the spot.

When we were in Washington, we saw all three War monuments. We had seen the traveling Vietnam War Wall when it was in Sheboygan. Bart was still in high school, I remember and it was up at the UW Sheboygan campus. The Washington Wall is MUCH bigger, of course. We looked up Dick's sister's son, John D. Fitzpatrick's name and took a rubbing of it. If Teresa doesn't have it we will give it to her. Otherwise, we will keep it as part of our memories. I took pictures of the Women's Memorial that is also on that site.

We saw the Korean War Memorial twice. On Tuesday Night they took us on an "Illumination Tour" and the Korean War Memorial was best seen at night. It is touching to see that platoon in the half light posed as they are coming throught the rice paddies. Crickets are chirping as you walk through. The figures of the members of the platoon are bigger than life and very imposing. I got pictures the next day in the daylight.

That night we also went to the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial and the Iwo Jima Statue. Did you know that if you start by view it on the left front corner and walk slowly around it counter clockwise, the artist designed it so that as you round the back of the statue it appears that the flag has raised to the upright position. Spectacular!

Tomorrow, I don't have to go out at all.

Yippee!

Hope your day looks as good.

Mary

Today was a pleasant day. I slept like the dead last night but woke up at 6:00AM. My usual time. Chelsea was still sleeping when I got up so I missed an opportunity to be a slug-a-bed. Once I am up, she does not go back to sleep.

I went to the 10:30AM mass this morning. A friend of Beth, the choir director, who is a violinist joined us. So, we sang Pachebel's Canon of Praise which I pretty much had to sight read because I was in Washington on Thursday night when we practiced. A pretty sparse choir. About half our numbers were gone or working.

Jim and I went shooting at Rhine today. I shot a 16 in trap. Not the greatest but after only getting two on each of the first two stations, I got four on the last three, so at least I improved. The same thing with the pistol. I shot three targets and each one improved on the last.

Packers lost. Ick. Two in a row, not a good beginning.

I still haven't had a chance to look at the pictures that we took on our trip, but when I do, I will share a couple on this blog.

I hope the pictures of the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier turned out. We learned so much about the guards that serve there. They are a very elite group and make a committment far beyond the normal soldier.

If chosen, a soldier commits to an two year assignment, six months of training and eighteen months guarding the tomb. One soldier marches before the tombs 24/7 and they have done so since 1937. The changing of the guard happens every half hour during daylight hours in the summer months, every hour during the night and every hour in the winter daylight hours. Upon qualification, they receive a special wreath pin that they are entitled to wear for the rest of their lives.

Any soldier who requests this assignment cannot have a waistsize of more than 30 inches. During their six months training, the soldier cannot speak.

They take a vow never to drink alcoholic beverages and also vow never to swear. This is a lifetime vow and if they break their vow at any time, their pin will be taken away and they will have their name removed from the board below the tombs. (This is what the guide on the tram said, but the web site, says that this is a rumor.) Behavior that reflects badly on this elite corp, can result in removal and the taking back of the wreath pin.

The guard is strictly carried out and a thing of precision and reverence. All revolves around the number 21- the maximum gun salute given to any soldier or great person. They make 21 steps in front of the tomb. At each end they face the tomb and pause for 21 seconds. This is repeated during the entire shift.

We were priviledged to see the changing of the guard and I recommend it as part of any tour of the D. C. area.

We also saw the Kennedy tomb at Arlington. What a privilege.

That is all for today.

We may get some rain tomorrow. The storm that occured while we were gone, surely helped but the water table is WAY low. Everything actually looks pretty green.

Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself. (from an e-mail I received.)

Joy all week

Mary

We are home. It was a long long day, so I will keep this short and tell you more highlights as the next week progresses.

We saw SO much in our short time in D. C. All the memorials and many many monuments. Our nation's capital is inspiring in its beauty and richness of culture and history. It is also overwhelming with all the people and traffic that is constant.

We stayed at the Hampton in Alexandria VA and were very pleased with Lamer's choice of accomodations. We were within walking distance of two (we heard of another but never made it there)excellent restuarants. The Joe Theissman where we shared a quesidilla one night and ordered a whole dinner the next. I ordered crab cakes that night and they were delicious. Dick had a steak.

The last night in that area, we went to a Thai restuarant down the street that was also very good. Dick found out he likes rice noodles too. Somehow I am not surprised.

I think I have about 150 pictures. The digital is handy because one can take several shots of the same thing at different angles and try odd things if one wants. If they don't turn out - delete works just fine. I will have to wait until tomorrow to see them because after I reviewed 158 emails I am just too tired.

So - We are home safe and sound. We had a great time. I will tell you more tomorrow.

love

Mary

It was hot today, but the Celtic Faire was quite successful, at least we believe so.

We know that the Mass was VERY well attended and people were pleased with it. The band, the Cashel Dennehy Dancers were both hits. Everybody wants to see them again so we have already asked them for next year. The storyteller was well received, but I know now that I will rearrange the schedule and have her come on SOONER while more children are there and have her entertain everybody and then take the children for some games etc. Our Children Games chair let us down this year, there were no organized games for the kids and by the time Patti O'Clover got on most of them had been taken home.

The food was wonderful and we sold out most of it. There was a Nesco of meat left, but I am sure that was sent home with someone. We did not run out of corned beef this year and had less than a Nesco full of that which we sent home at a reduced price.

The bar is always successful.

SO!!! once we determine the financial results, we will know th total success. So far it is up there on 3 of the 4 criteria.

Then, when I got home, I had to sew the binding on the Waterwheel Spin quilt that I have asked my neighbor to take to the Quilt Show next Saturday. Nothing like finishing up at the last minute. Mary has two beautiful items she is entering this year, an Underground Railroad quilt and a really cute wall hanging called Mittens. It has MITTENS in big quilted letters and then four "mittens" hanging from it.


This will be my last post until next Saturday evening. We leave at 8:00AM for Washington DC. I hope you will miss me. I will miss posting. However, Dick and I are so excited about the trip. First times to special places are always SO exciting.

Have a great week. I will store up stories for you.

Love

Mary
We will know for sure once we determine how financially successful it was.