What a good day.   Very laid back.    I only left the house twice.  Once to take out the garbage and take mail to the mailbox and once to pick up the mail.

I heard my first cardinal of the spring singing in the trees in back of the house.   I am sure he has probably been there sooner, but without my Chelsea to take me for walks, I do not get out like I used to.   I really miss her and she was such a good girl to keep me healthy all those years.   Every time I cut up a tomato or shred lettuce, I look around for her.

We had fried chicken, mashed potatoes and veggies for lunch.  Boy was that good chicken I breaded it in corn muffin mix and ranch dressing mix and fried it in just a bit of Olive oil.  We had Pizza soup for supper.  

Dick got me a tin of a Guinness bread mix that I decided to prepare today.   It is just marvelous.   Now I have to figure out what to do with the rest of the Guinness.

We changed Dick's tuba grip today and his leg looks just super.  Not a wound in sight.  I hope this salve that the VNA recommended continues to heal the leg as it seems to be doing.  I was developed by a man with diabetes and he says it has prevented wounds on his leg for years.    Too bad we didn't have it sooner.

Tonight I am going to sit here at my desk and go through some of my fabric scraps.   That is a constant battle.

Bless you all.   Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday already.   We are supposed to be getting a rain snow mix over the next 12 hours or so.   Hope it doesn't cause any troubles.

Love

Mary

Me in a cell at Kilhainham Gaol, Dublin. I would have been proud to be considered as a political prisoner during many of the Irish rebellions.

There were just four of us at Bible Study this morning and we had such a meaningful sharing of the Psalm 145.   We loved the commentary - I referred both the the masculine and the feminine sides of God.  This Psalm is an Acrostic and I was able to explain that type of poem to the group, though as this is a translation, we cannot really see the full implications of how it would have looked or sounded in Hebrew.  The Acrostic was the Hebrew alphabet.    That would be a real treat. 

An acrostic is a poem that, as an example, might have the first letter of each line spell the title of the poem.



DREAM
 
Don't be afraid
Run with your dream
Every singing JOY
And if you sign loudly enough
Maybe someone will hear.

Then I went over to visit with Mother.   We had a few bills to pay and then solved the problems of the world as we usually do.  

Dick and I had the last of the Enchiladas for our lunch with a nice salad.   Then I finished my tea and rested for a bit.

I did a bit of CWI work both on computer and phone calls.  I will be having breakfast with Bob Fleming at the Point on Thursday.    Should be fun.  I will be collecting a print of his St. Patrick to send to the Brigitine Nuns in Kildare.  Sr. Mary asked for one when I described it to her. 

Tomorrow I get to be home ALL day.  I will be busy with getting ready for the CWI Conference, Sorting fabric and preparing for the CWI board meeting.

So Until tomorrow then.   We are supposed to get precipitation tomorrow night, I am not quite sure what kind as I keep hearing conflicting reports.

God love you

Mary

Today started off rather quietly.  Dick had a bad night so was still asleep at 7:30AM.   I had a small problem.  

Yesterday just before Mass, Fr. Van Beck announced that they had found a garage door opener near the ladies bathroom.   I thought to myself,  Oh that poor soul.  

Imagine my surprise when I got home and found that there was no garage door opener in the car.  I was the poor soul.

  Oh Oh.  So I used the pad to get into the house and this morning, I left shortly after breakfast to arrive at church when I knew someone was there for Mass to retrieve my opener.  Mike Svitter saw me and I asked him about it.  He was so glad that I had come to retrieve it.   A few months ago, I dropped my cell phone in church and had to retrieve it.   It was Mike that retrieved it for me.

I told Mike that there must be a message somewhere in there.   Anytime I lose anything, I should probably go to church to look for it.  Maybe even my soul

I prepared the famous Kunert Spinach Egg Noodle casserole for our dinner this noon.

I spent much of the day gathering information and deleting things from the various spots on my computer.
and updating emails.   I still have to add addresses and phone numbers to a new "book" I am setting up for my new friends in Ireland.

So - not too exhausting and I am watching a 2008 movie about Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea to wind my self down to bedtime.

The coming week is comparatively quiet.  I hope nothing happens to change that.

God love you and keep you safe.    I love the quote from Isiah 40:15  "See, I shall not forget you.  I have carved you on the palm of my hand.."

Be safe

Mary



\

I was home most of the day today.   My only venture into the world was to go to Mass this evening.   It was COLD out there.   The temperatures were in the lower thirties and it was damp.  

I have been working on getting old tax papers shredded and took care of a whole trash bag full this morning.   I am trying to go through the house and get rid of all the stuff that really has no need anymore.   It is amazing how much just fits into a closet or a drawer because one either doesn't want to deal with it or it no longer has relevance.

I am trying to get a disc ready to take to Walgreen's to get prints of some of the Ireland photos and I want to upload more to the Google site.

Dick was hungry for hamburgers and fries, so I went to Dairy Queen for them at noon.   I got a couple of mini blizzards too.  They are still in the freezer.   We had leftover Mexican food for dinner.

Nothing else to report so until tomorrow.  Be healthy

Love

Mary

The quilt in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh

Hi.   This was a wonderful day.    I spent the morning baking a nice raisin bread and cleaning my desk for the weekend.

Jody came to do the cleaning at about 10:30AM.   She had switched the times with Mother.  I had no problem as I was home til 12:30PM anyway.   

Then Megan from the VNA came at about 12:30PM to check Dick's coagulation count and to change the tuba grip on his right leg for, as it turns out, the last time.   His coagulation count was 230.   Yippee!! as this is three times that it has been within the parameters, he will not have to have it checked for a month now.   So, since that will be in April, hopefully Spring, there is no need for the VNA, especially since his leg is now healed of all wounds and is looking pretty good.

Megan told Dick to tell me that I have been doing a great job with him.  That makes me feel SO good.  Because I do worry as I don't have any training, only people telling me and then the fact that I love him so.

We had pasties and salad for our lunch.

At 12:30PM I left for Joan Kramer's house for my reflexology treatment.  It has been longer than usual but with the trip and all it got stretched out.   I told Dick that he did not have to worry about my nap because that treatment is the best relaxation in the world.   We always have so much to talk about. 

She felt the tightness in my neck and shoulder so she massaged them too to try to loosen them up.  I don't know if they are totally  loosened but I sure feel better.

I will try alternating heat and cold for the next few days.

Then tonight, Nancy picked me up at 4:45PM so that we could get to Rhine to finish our pistol league.   I only had two left and she had four.   I did my two with mixed results.   My arm is still sore and Harold thinks that perhaps my trigger needs some adjusting.  He said he would check it for me.   I came up after my two to visit and let Nancy finish up on her own.   As we were going down to shoot, an Irish song.  Pretty Peggyo came into my head so I started singing it.   Everybody stared at me and kind of grinned.  I can't help music in my head

God love You

Mary

I really overdid it yesterday.   By the time 7PM rolled around I was hardly able to stay awake.   So I took it easier today. 

This morning, Nance picked me up at 9AM and we drove out to Rhine so that she could shoot enough targets so that she can finish this Friday.   Otherwise, she would have been short targets and she is actually doing pretty well.   So to be short would be a real crime.  

I got home a bit before 10AM.   Then Gary Anderson, a repairman and construction guy, came to check out my closet doors that are not working properly.  He will be back next week to fix the one that is the worst and to check all the others to see if they need some miner repairs.   He worked at some extensive remodeling across the street last year and remembered me and Chelsea walking every day.  He was sad to hear that Chelsea was gone.   I still miss her.   Every time I cut up a tomato or shred lettuce, I find myself looking for her.


This afternoon, I went to the bank and took care of the final things that needed to be done from the Irish Trip, like closing the account that I was able to set up free for us.   That is a good feeling to be done with it.  

Home again, we got Dick bathed.   So it was a good day.  But I did back off a LOT.  And I feel better tonight.

Now I just want to send a few emails and then go to bed early again.   Perhaps I can catch up after all.

God love you

Mary

Wednesday - Shopping Day.    It went very well.  I left a bit before 8AM and was back by 9AM.  

Then I spent the rest of the morning cooking and preparing things.   I got a roast all salted and in a bag with veggies.   A corning process.   The corned beef should be ready just in time for St. Patrick's Day.  Dick said he likes my corned beef better than the processed briskets that I used to buy.  I am corning a 3lb chuck roast which should be really good.   I will fix it for the weekend after St. Patrick's Day as I will be marching on the holiday and surely have a corned beer dinner or sandwich after the walk.

I also made a fruit salad and baked a cake.   So I am ahead on meals for a couple of days now.  

I swear I was busy all the rest of the day with computer, calls and getting my quilting in order.   I still have a lot of sorting of fabric to do but feel a little more organized.   I have until June to get a block done to share with the club and want to assemble the block of the month we did last year.

Anyway, I am tired.  So I am going to sign off and go to bed early tonight

God love you

Mary

Today was the mammogram day.    I had to be there just before 9AM and it went very quickly and comparatively painlessly.   I am a bit achy but not too bad.   Unless I get a phone call tomorrow or the next day, everything is all right.    After nearing about my neighbor, Freddie, I really feel that this procedure is extremely important.    Thank God that I am in a very low risk for that type of cancer, but nobody is immune.

We had T-bone steak for our dinner.   I was just hungry for meat.   We have found that we can split a steak and it is just right for the two of us.

A little before 1PM, I left for the Kettle Quilters club meeting.   I dropped some expired meds at the Plymouth police station disposal site on the way.   It is sure nice to have that in town.   Then on to the library for our meeting.

We had a good crowd there today.  Lots is going on in the quilting world.   Now that the trip is over, I want to set aside a couple of hours a week to go downstairs and get quilting again.   

Toni taught us a method of quilting that she learned called One and Done.    It seems very efficient.   I have it in my head to adapt the method it with a group of squares that I have ready to assemble.   It saves a lot of work.

It was a really nice meeting.  I was able to share the fabric that I purchased at Mulaney Brothers in Ireland and the picture of the quilt that was hanging in St. Patrick's in Armagh.   I have been unable to upload that picture because somehow the Picassa to Blogger is not working.   I am hoping it is a communication glitch and will correct.

So.  A pleasant day and the weather was just at pleasant.

Then Bart called and is excited about a new house that he and Barb are bidding on in Lawton.  The wonder of computers - I could look at it online.   It looks really nice for them.

Than Richard called.   They are in Milwaukee with only a flight to Madison to be home.   They wanted us to know they are back in God's country and had a nice vacation.

I loved today

God bless you all

Mary

Quite a day.    I am still feeling so good about the warmth and fun at our Gathering of Celtic Women yesterday afternoon.  

Today was again a special day.   Monday and the weather was beautiful.   Cold, of course, but the sun shone and the sky was a beautiful blue and there was no wind to speak of which made it very pleasant outside.

I went to Bible Study at 9:30AM.   There were five of us there and I shared the St. Bridget story and the flame with them as our opening prayer.  My dear friend, Ione, gave me two pair of Irish socks again.   She is so sweet to remember me on my "special" holiday.   Please pray for her husband, Don, who is having some health problems again.  We had a good discussion of Psalm 113.   It came up in our discussion that when we get to the gates of heaven we want God to recognize us.     He is so high up but promises to lean down to help those below and all we have to do is believe in this.   Quite a deal.  He told his people.    He said, I am your God and you are my people.   Such a deal.

Then I went over to Mom's.   She had some bills to be paid and we went through a bunch of papers that had piled up while she was in rehab.   Now she knows where she is at and I know she feels better about that.   She is very hands on, but I usually write out the checks and have her sign them because her sight makes it difficult.   We had time for a visit after the "work".  Then I came home, fixed lunch and took a nap.

We changed Dick's tubagrip and cleaned his leg.   At this point, he has no sores at all on the good leg.   If it is still good on Wednesday, he is going to try walking again.   Good sign.  He brought it up himself.

Tomorrow, I am going to get my mammogram.   Not happy about that but know that it is best.   It is brought home to you when you hear about someone who has breast cancer and how fast it can come and spread.   I am low risk but will be vigilant.

Quilt Club tomorrow.   I am going to bring the picture of the quilt I saw in the St. Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh and the fabric I bought while I was in Ireland.   I'll put the picture of the church quilt on the blog tonight.

God love you

Mary

Prayer from St. Brigid of Ireland

Today was a lovely day.    I woke up to sunshine.   Chilly, of course, but sunshine.   The snow from last night had been plowed and shoveled, so with the sun, I was able to go to the UCC over on Highway 67 for the CWI meeting very safely and we had a nice turnout.   

My friends from the "south" (Milwaukee) did not come because they were worried about the weather.   Perhaps it was worse down there and I think they may have gotten freezing rain.    They missed a nice afternoon but with the weather we have been experiencing this month, one must be practical.

Dick slept most of the morning as he had a rather restless night and finally got into a good sleep which lasted until almost 11:AM.    So I fixed egg salad sandwiches for our lunch and then got myself ready and loaded up for the CWI program at 1:00PM.   Dorothy Rose and I got there at 1PM to get things set up.   A couple of people came early anyway so it was a good thing we were there.

We officially began at 2PM and had a nice turnout.   There were 15 of us in all.  Debbie O'Grady did a wonderful power point presentation of the trip.   She was able to show it to us on the video equipment in the church proper.   So we began our program there.   While Debbie was setting up, Joan Kramer read the reflections on the trip that she had written about a week after we returned and it was so special.   I must call Joan and set up a reflexology treatment.   I am really overdue.

After the powerpoint, we made our way to the lobby and the fireside room where, Joan Kramer, Dorothy Rose, Joan Brigham and myself had displays of some of our purchases and books displayed to share and invite questions.   Both Joan Kramer and I had set up photo viewers that were scrolling our pictures as everybody was gathering and talking.  

Then Dorothy Rose and I brought out the carts with tea (along with cream and sugar in the raw for those who wanted to drink it like they do in Ireland) and my Barm Brack, Chocolate Pie from Debbie, Scones from Joan Kramer and Cheese and crackers from Joan Brigham. 

We all visited and did more sharing.   We finished with a special ceremony.   I brought candles for everybody.   Then I lit a small pillar candle I got at the Solas Brede with the the candle that I received that was lit from the eternal candle also at Solas Brede.   We then said a prayer together- This is the prayer

Prayer from St. Brigid of Ireland

I would like the angels of Heaven to be among us.
I would like an abundance of peace.
I would like full vessels of charity.
I would like rich treasures of mercy.
I would like cheerfulness to preside over all.
I would like Jesus to be present.
I would like the three Marys of illustrious renown to be with us.
I would like the friends of Heaven to be gathered around us from all parts.
I would like myself to be a rent payer to the Lord;
that I should suffer distress, that he would bestow a good blessing upon me.
I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings.
I would like to be watching Heaven's family drinking it through all eternity.

I also gave water from the holy wells of Ireland to whomever had little bottles and wanted some.   Those who did not have bottles are going to get together with me later to get their share.

Nancy Coenen and Pat Becher, who shoot with me, did not have bottles.  We have decided that I will bring the water to the League bust up party for them.   We also decided that we will light the Brigid Candle and read the poem for the crowd.    We think they would like a lake of beer.

Take care.   God love you

Mary

What a lovely day.    I stayed in bed until after 7 and would have stayed longer but needed to get up to put drops in Dick's eyes and to feed him. 

I spent the morning making Barm Brack for tomorrow's CWI presentation and washing clothes.   I am pretty much caught up on clothes but here is always something.

The next thing that was not just catching up was going early to Mass so that I could pick up some things at Walgreens.   Mass was interesting.  We got the audio part of a video that Archbishop Listecki recorded for the diocese.  Fr. Van Beek, thought that we could imagine the video if we tried and that setting it up in two parishes was too involved.   I kind of disagree.   We are worth the whole shebang.   But what can you do.   I can see it on the internet at the Archdiocese site, if I want to.   I  just may do that.   I am a bit concerned by the donation.   Partly because of the bankruptcy declared by the Archdiocese and partly because I can't see that much of these funds, if they are indeed protected, will get to us, the worshipers in Sheboygan County.  The causes are good, but we have to take care of our close family members first.

Alicia, Mom's morning health aide, called me this morning.   She was concerned that Mother may not be getting her meds in order.   (She got out of the habit when she was in the rehab center.)  So I called Mary Margaret, who is seeing her today and she will take care of it .   Thank God, we have this wonderful family who all love Mother and each other and all chip in when the need is there.

So that was today.   I have everything ready for tomorrow's program.  If any of you would like to share the light of peace and justice that I received in Kildare from the Brigitine nuns, let me know and I will do so.   Tomorrow will be a big day of sharing and Monday also when I share it with the Bible Study.

God love you

Have a nice Sunday.   I hope the snow stops/

Mary

Friday almost come and gone.    Nancy and I went out pistol shooting for league a bit before 5PM.   We did better than last week for sure.    My first two were a big improvement but the third was not good.   My arm is still sore and I have to learn to rest longer between.    "Remember, Mary,   It isn't a race." 

Somehow or other Nancy got behind while I was gone and has to squeeze in an extra session before next Friday.   So we are going out some afternoon so that she can get caught up.

Jody came and cleaned this morning.   I cooked salmon croquettes for lunch with fried potatoes and creamed green beans.     Roxie was absolutely delighted with the drained water from the can of salmon.

I did a couple of loads of wash today including the sheets.   Jody helps me make the bed if I plan it right.   That was something that Dick and I always did together before.   It is much easier with two.

I had to make a quick trip to the bank but otherwise was home until I went to pick up Nancy.    I have figured out how to get my pictures uploaded to a Google Spot that Maureen set up for our Ireland pictures and documents.   I still have some of the intricacies to work out but the main part of the learning is done.

I also framed the posters that I got at the Navan Centre  so they are ready to go to the event on Sunday.   I also am soaking the raisins for the barm brack.   Barm Brack is So good.   I will put the recipe in here for you.

BARM BRACK

1 lb (2 cups) Sultanas (or try Craisins)

1 lb (2 cups) Raisins (Golden or brown)

3 cups strong milkless black tea

1 lb (2 cups) brown sugar

1 pound flour

3 eggs

3 level teaspoons baking powder

3 teaspoons mixes spices (optional)

Soak the fruit and the sugar in the tea overnight.

The next day, mix alternately the flour and the 3 beaten eggs

Finall add 3 level teaspoons of baking powder and the soaked fruit – tea and all. If you choose the spices,mix them in now. Then turn into 2 greased loaf pans and bake for 1 ½ hours in a 300 degree oven.

If desired you can brush the cool loaves with melted honey for a glaze.

Enjoy

God love you

Mary

Things went very well today.  Yvonne from the VNA came to change the tuba grip and check Dick's leg for the last time.   He is all healed and I am home.   Megan will be here one more time, next week, to do the anti coagulation check.  If it is normal, he will not have to go in to the clinic until April and then the weather will be much milder and it will be easier on him.

We had pork and rice and fruit salad for lunch.   I picked up strawberries and watermelon at the store on Wednesday and made a nice big fruit salad and Dick is really chowing down.   The fruit was good so I will try again next week.

This afternoon, I went into Sheboygan,  I stopped at Hobby Lobby and picked up two poster frames for the posters that I got at the Navan Centre in Ireland.  I want to frame them to take with me on Sunday to our CWI presentation.   We want it very exciting for the friends who were unable to come and will share the Brigid flame and the holy well water with everybody along with our pictures and memories.

After I left Hobby Lobby I drove to my friend Mark Miller's office to drop off the taxes.   They should be much simpler this year but we are still in a state of flux and this is the first year that I have had to take money from my IRA so things are different and I will just feel better if he does them again.   I am thinking that if things are settled down, perhaps I will be able to do them myself next year.   We will see.

On the way home, I stopped off at Mother's to drop off her Vit Eyes.   She was feeling tired but SO good.  Dolores and Eileen were there today and got the decorations that had been put away at Christmas back where they belong, all the remaining Christmas things stowed away and St. Patrick's day scattered throughout the house.   She is a happy lady and so are we.

So. Now it is the end of another full day.  We had pizza for supper.   It just plain sounded good.   So.   I hope your day was as fulfilling as mine and that you are happy.

Godl love you

Mary

A very fruitful day.  

We got a LOT done. 

I did our grocery shopping this morning and picked up a prescription at Walgreens.   All of that went well.  and I was home by a little after 9AM.

I unwrapped my liverwurst.  I am a bit disappointed.  It does not spread.   It is also a bit bland.   The taste is OK but I have an awful lot of it, so I must share.    I am experimenting with additives to moisten it and spice it up.   So far, Miracle Whip moistens it but does not add enough zip.    Better find something because there is a LOT of it.   There is no way to make a small batch of it.

I got a call from my friend Bee, who was our tour leader in Ireland today.    She received a package that I had sent last week.   All is well with her and she is hoping for accolades from all of us when Tony sets up their tour site.  I told her we would all be delighted to do so and that when Tony does CD's, we all want to know.   He is a super singer and a marvelous storyteller.

I finally figured out how I download new pictures to the disc for the Dynex viewer that Bart and Barb gave me a couple of years ago.   I have a group of Ireland pictures set to just plug in and let do an automatic slide show during our program on Sunday.  If any of you want to come to the program on Sunday, just call me and I will give you the address and details.

Then later this afternoon, Bobbie and Bill came and Bobbie helped me get Dick up and down the ramp for a doctor visit.   We went to see Dr. Sharon for an interview to have him fill out the proper recommendations so that Dick can apply for a power chair.   It is becoming pretty apparent that he will not be able to walk, at least in the foreseeable future as his legs keep developing ulcers even without walking.  Dr. Sharon is more that willing to do his part of the paperwork.   I just hope that this will be acceptable as it would provide a great deal of independence for us.  And Dick needs this.

So what a day.

Tomorrow will also be busy as I am taking the taxes in that the VNA are coming out to change Dick's tubagrip and check his legs.

I am also going to stop at Hobby Lobby and pickup some poster frames for the two posters that I got at the Navan Centre.   They are beautiful.  One of Maeve and one of Cuchulainn as a young man.  In the visitor center there were these beautiful huge serreal posters of many of the legends of ancient Ireland including the two that I got.

So lets close this day and get some sleep.

I am tired and ready for bed.

Bless you and yours.

Mary

What a nice day.   The snow had stopped by morning.    Our roads were not plowed but I was not in any hurry anyway and there were only two or three inches. 

I started off the morning by boiling the liver for the liverwurst that I made today.  Last night, I ground the pork, so I was one step ahead.   Then I got everything mixed up really good and tried to stuff it into the stuff that I had gotten for the sausage.  I immediately discovered that what I got was too small.   So I decided to look for some bigger casings when I went to see Mother today.   I wanted to stop at Fleet Farm to stock up on nuts and raisins anyway.  So, I finally started to stuff the sausages this afternoon.  But the casings I got to replace the small ones did not work either.  Shuckins!   I went on the net again and found that I could wrap them in muslin and boil and simmer the sausage for the same result.   So that is what I did.    I am done with the cooking now, and in the morning will unwrap them, divide and wrap them and freeze what I figure will not be eaten in 10 days.

With all that work, it better be damned good.

Dick decided to take a nap this morning, so I decided that was a good time to go visit with Mother.    We had a lovely visit.   I got a few things taken care of in the house, updated her on the savings and checking accounts, and sorted out her medications.   Then I shared some things from the Bridget trip with her.    When we were in Kildare, we all had a candle lit  from the eternal flame at Solas Brede.   I brought that candle and a candle for Mother.  We re lit my candle and used it to light her candle.   Now she has a wick lit from the eternal candle of Bridget which is to stand for peace and justice in this world.  Mother and I prayed for this and put the candle up next to the St. Patrick Statue.   I also gave her water from a holy well in Ireland and a stone from the grounds around the well.   It was very special.

As I was leaving, Mom's neighbor was working on the driveway and had worked a bit on her ramp, so I thanked him and we had a nice visit.   What wonderful neighbors she has.  

So this is the day.   Quite busy.  We had pork tenderloin and rice for our dinner.

Tomorrow will be a busy day for Dick as he goes to see Dr. Sharon to see if he can help us get an electric chair for Dick.   Hope all goes well.


All my love   Be Happy

Mary

P. S. Please pray for a little guy named Liam who has cancer and will not be able to go into as special program unless his white count goes up.

Also for a neighbor who has breast cancer,  the very worst kind.

Good Day.    And was it for you?    

By the time I got up, the plows had been through and our sidewalks were shoveled.   I had canceled the Bible Study and Cream City Writers meetings last night and am not sorry as I am sure that the roads were slippery and we did not need anybody sliding off the road getting to and fro from either meeting.  

So I stayed home today.   I baked some bread, did some wash, caught up on some email, Facebook and snail mail and generally just hung out.

I got out some pork and liver too.   I ground up the pork and am soaking the liver in milk.   Tomorrow, I am going to attempt to make some homemade liverwurst.    It sounds mighty good and Jeff gave me two pounds of beef liver.    I also have venison liver which I will cook up one day when Bobbie and Bill and Shane and Georgina can come over to join us.  


I thought you all might enjoy the following poem:

Lyrics to Saint Brigid's Prayer



I'd like to give a lake of beer to God.

I'd love the Heavenly

Host to be tippling there

For all eternity.



I'd love the men of Heaven to live with me,

To dance and sing.

If they wanted, I'd put at their disposal

Vats of suffering.



White cups of love I''d give them,

With a heart and a half;

Sweet pitchers of mercy I'd offer

To every man.



I'd make Heaven a cheerful spot,

Because the happy heart is true.

I'd make the men contented for their own sake

'd like Jesus to love me too.



I'd like the people of heaven to gather

From all the parishes around,

I'd give a special welcome to the women,

The three Marys of great renown.



I'd sit with the men, the women of God

There by the lake of beer

We'd be drinking good health forever

And every drop would be a prayer.

Read more: http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/2000/03/A-Lake-Of-Beer-For-God.aspx#ixzz1EeGTYdgX

What a strange day.   It was sunny and clear until after 11AM, then the winter storm that they had warned us of came in.

Dick remembered at about 9 that he was out of one of his meds, so I DID have to go to Walgreens at about 11AM to pick his prescription up.

The rest of the day was so peaceful.   There has been at least 5 inches of snow and it its still coming down. 

I was supposed to work at Rhine but called my friend Doc to see what was going on, because Dick was really upset about me going out after noon.   Doc told me not to come in, he was figuring on calling me to tell me not to come in.  Aren't my friends wonderful.  They really take care of me.


I did a couple of loads of wash and worked on trying to move pictures from one spot to another on the computer.   I still have problems but have at least gotten Facebook figured out with the help of my friend Janet.

So. I am closing early because this was a rather uneventful day.   Hope you are all save and that you stay that way.

God love you

Mary

A busy Saturday because Mom is HOME!   Who could delight in better than that.

I worked around home this morning.  Dick slept until 11AM.  What a sleepy head.

 I fixed pancakes.  I got hungry at about 8AM myself so I ate and put things aside for my sweetheart.   Today was Share pickup day.  I went there shortly after 9AM and fully expected Dick to be awake but since he wasn't I just let him sleep and just checked on him every half hour or so.

Shortly after noon, I went to see Mother.   Randy and Donna had picked her up at about 10AM and got her home and helped her settle in and get lunch.    I got there just as she had finished her lunch and stayed about 2 hours.   We went over her bills and checkbook and her meds and just plain visited.  I have missed our uninterrupted visits.

Talking about the problems with the Wisconsin public employees and their dissidents, we were reminded of other conflicts.

I remember that during the Kohler Strike,  Uncle Jack remodeled his home and did some plumbing.   Dad went over to see the finished work and just instinctively looked at the plumbing and it was Kohler.   He stood up and walked out of that house and did not talk Uncle Jack for many years.   Such a tragedy.   I thought of it because a friend of mine is at conflict with her daughter about this crisis.   Her daughter is a teacher and on the Democratic edge of the situation.   She is a died in the wool Republican, much like my Bart, who wants me to come to Oklahoma NOW, to get out of this mess.   I hope that my friend and her daughter can just talk.   How sad it is to have these emotional rifts between people who love each other.  I always do my best to try to see each situation from the view of all the participants.

Then I went to Mass at 4PM.  It was a very lovely mass,  a bit theatrical, as the folk choir was singing, but beautiful.  I find them a bit stagey.   (I thing I made up that word.)  I was not scheduled for distributing communion but there were not enough people, so I got to do it.  I always feel so privileged to be able to share the sacrament with the congregation.

Now it is time to wind down.  Dick and I are going to have an ice cream cone for dessert.  Doesn't that sound good?     Tomorrow will be quiet.  I will be working at Rhine from noon to 2PM unless the winter storm heads in sooner than expected.  It looks like we will be pretty much homebound until  sometime Monday.   I told Mom I  will be there to see her either Monday or Tuesday, depending on the storm.

So.  You all stay safe.

All my love and my Jesus, Mary and Bridget bless you

Mary

Wow.   This was a busy busy day.  
\
Dick is exhausted and I am close behind.    I overslept a bit.  Not much but Jody came to clean at 8AM and I was JUST barely showered and fed before she came. 

Jody is delighted that she will be cleaning for Mother next week again.  She loves Mother and takes good care of her.

Then at 11:00AM, Megan and a trainee came to check Dick's anti coagulation count and change the dressings on his leg.  The wounds are healing so well and his count is just where it should be.  SO if, in two weeks, his count is still within range, they will be able to sign him off.   By then the next check will be into April so the awful weather will be past and it will be easier to transport him.

Then almost as soon as they left, I drove to the Dairy Queen.    Only Marlene, Barbara and I were there but it was worth the trip as we had not seen each other for several weeks.   Barbara is as adament about the "wisdom" of our new Governor as Bart is .  You do see the tongue in cheek?   They see their side and I am a middle person.   I know people on both sides.     Barbara is distressed because her daughter is a teacher and this is driving them apart to the point that they are having difficulty speaking.  How sad.   Bart called me last night and told me that we should hurry up and move to Oklahoma because of all these fiscal and political problems that Wisconsin is experiencing.

So, home again, at 1:30PM in time to meet Mike Trefz from Access Ability with Mary Merser from the VNA to discuss the availability and let Dick try a motorized chair.  It worked so well.   We have to have an interview with Dr. Sharon and have him fill out some papers for Medicare and get the process in the works.   It looks very promising.   As I really think that his ability to walk is really questionable because of the continuing wounds that keep appearing on his legs, this will afford him a great deal of freedom around and about the house.  Bobbie and Bill stopped by just before Mary and Mike came so we had two more ears to hear the presentation.   Bobbie brought us a dozen of her special valentine cookies too.   Eat your hearts out Jim and Michell and Leslie and Bill.   They are SO good.

Then at about 5PM, Nancy picked me up to go to shoot pistol.   We are both a bit behind,  but will catch up before the bust up.   We both are not doing too well what with lack of shooting and I also have my sore neck and arm to contend with.   I realized when I got to the club that I was supposed to be working.   I managed to get out of it but will be working on Sunday from noon to 2PM.

I wish you could understand how much the Ireland trip meant to me.   I always come away feeling closer to myself and to the past inside me.   The people and the places are full of history and spirit.   These holy wells, the Bridget wells are wonderful and such a bridge from the pre Christian to the Christian part of our heritage.


Last Monday I shared water from the Wells with my bible study and this week will share the flame of Solas Bride, hoping to spread the message of peace and justice throughout this world of ours that is in such need of these gifts.

God love you

Mary

A lovely day.   Some sun, some clouds, some fog.   But temperatures were up into the mid to high 50s and we definitely felt like spring.   We know, of course that this is just one of those little teasers that are thrown to us at this time of year and that as the old saying goes.   Don't plant until after Memorial Day because there is still a chance of frost or even snow.  But it does not make the warmth any less welcome.

I worked very hard today labeling all fo the pictures from the Ireland trip and making a nice pot of soup and some lasagna.  

This evening I went to Antonio's in downtown Plymouth for a retirement party or my friend Kaye Beck.   She is a mortgage banker that I worked with for over 10 years and she, with 10 more years is now retiring too.   I saw so many old friends.  Gene Hickey and his wife Chris,  Gary Kramer and his wife Suzie, Kaye's daughter Shelley and her husband Larry and many more.   Even my old bosses Jane Gretzinger and Steve were there and I love them because they say I have not changed a bit.   Perhaps that is because I was wearing a jacket that they saw me working in before.Tee!   Hee!

Fritz and Kaye are leaving on their first trip on March 6 and well be gone for over a month.   Kaye's mother was there too and she looks lovely.   Such a nice party.   I am so glad that I was invited and could go. I pray that their days ahead will be as blessed as Dick and I have had.

So.  Only two more days til Mother comes home.  I imagine that she is chomping at the bit.   We think we have every thing ready for her safety and well being.  

Pray for her and us too.

God love you

Mary

.

What a busy Wednesday.    Shopping this morning.   That got very exciting as I got out of the store and checked my receipt as it seemed a bit high and found an item for $40.   I knew that was wrong so went back.   We figured out what we thought it was and I got a credit, then when I got home, I found that an item that I was NOT charged for.   So next week I will be giving them $5.24.  Then we will be even.

Home again, I spent the day paying Mom's bills, clearing off the desk (again), and labeling my pictures.   I downloaded everything to a disk today and it worked.   Now I want to download some to the viewer tomorrow.   I can only do about 60 of them which will be more than enough.

Another story about Ireland.   I have the email of a place that does custom knits in Dublin. (www.irishclothing.ie.)   They apparently have done some really great things with knit patterns.   Anyway, when I heard about them, I was wearing a pair of the sox that Bobbie made for me.   So I showed everybody the sox and they were all jealous AND amazed.   So I called them my Bobbie Sox and bragged a LOT.

Tonight I picked up Sy Regan and went to Karl Elder's (a professor at Lakeland College) Poetry Circle at Mead Library.    There were about a dozen of us there tonight.   Sy had called me last year and asked if I was considering going to them as he cannot drive anymore because of his vision problems.   It is good for me to get the incentive to write from really good local poets and Karl so I was glad to be able to drive Sy there.    Sy is a friend from forever.   I only met him about 25 years ago, but he asked my Grandpa Deeley to be his confirmation sponsor many many years ago and my Dad was his boy scout leader.    As Sy was and probably still is active in scouting, that was quite a strong influence.   I am proud of Dad.


Home again,  I am winding down.   Tomorrow I will be home until almost 5PM when I am going to a retirement party at Antonios for Kaye Beck.   Kaye and I worked at Wells Fargo for years together.   She is a dear.   I will tell her that she and Fritz should travel and do everything that they can dream that they can afford NOW.  Not push it but not put things off because one never knows what will happen and what might make mobility a problem.  Dick and I have such memories because we did what we wanted for those years before he got sick.   Don't wait for the "right time"   just explore and enjoy.

All my love  and God love you

Mary

Sheilah ma Gig in the St Bridget Church in Kildare

A full and exciting day.   I was home until after lujnch, but my dear friend Janet Bieschke came over around 10AM to help me learn how to import pictures to Facebook.   I figure that each thing I learn will help me become more proficient in Facebook.   I really need to spend at least a bit of my morning updating myself on what is going on there.

We ha spaghetti again for dinner.  As spaghetti does it gets better every time we have it.  I think I will prepare some lasagna with the sauce on Thursday.

After lunch I went to vote.   I stopped at the post office to mail a couple of packages and pick up some stamps.  Then I went to the bank to cash a couple of checks that I had to replenish my personal stash which was down to absolute zero.   I feel better now. 

We just lunched tonight for our dinner.

I called my friend Bob today and we are going to get together for lunch next week, date to be decided when he has his work schedule.   The Brigitine nuns at Solas Brede where the Brigid flame is being kept burning, were excited about his Patrick so I promised that I would send them one.   Bob says that he has some of the prints left so I will purchase one for them.   I love his Patrick and his Francis and he is going to put together a Bridget for us.

I am watching the Westminster Dog show.  I have enjoyed this show for 12 years now, ever since I stumbled onto it the year that the Papilon won the best in she.   That dog was such a ham and proud as could be.  He knew he was great.

I have learned to put pictures on Facebook and am working on that.   I am moving slowly and very selectively.   So far, my biggest problem is how to delete one that I put in twice.

Take care and enjoy this warmer weather.

God love you

Mary

Happy Valentine's Day again.

I left early for Bible Study to stop at Walmart.  My friend Kate told me that they had Irish shirts not far from the Green Bay Packer stuff.    The Irish T Shirts were only $5.   I got Dick and me matching shirts that call us Hooligans.  and another shirt for myself that is rather pretty.  I also found a Packer tshirt for myself.   They did not have any in Dick's size so I got a commemorative mug.   It just seemed right.

Then on to Bible Study.   I shared a Bridget prayer and water from the holy wells with my fellow bible study people.   Next week, I will share the flame.   I forgot my candle today.  So this gives a chance to share twice with the bible study group.   This week the water and next week the sharing of the flame of peace and justice.

After a good discussion at bible study, I drove into Sheboygan to see Mother.   She is doing very well and looking forward to going home.  We are still a bit fuzzy on the date.  My understanding is that it will be next weekend, but we need confirmation from SOMEBODY.   I just have to take care of reinstating Charter, The housekeeper, her colostomy bags and being sure that her meds are in order.  Dolores and Ken came to Meadow View while I was there, just after Mike Gustafson came in with candy and a card for Mother and the PT nurse came to collect her.   I did not stay long as we had discussed her bills and she needs her PT as much as possible before going home.  Dolores is going to reinstate the Companion Care.   Donna called this afternoon to see what was going on.  I shared what little I know and she will reinstate the lifeline.   So grateful for all of us.  I had a friend who was an only child and was, of course, the only one to help her mother and she lived in Milwaukee.   She commented at one time how lucky we were to have all of us.   And I agreed with her.   Then she commented that as she never married or had children that she wondered who would care for her in her old age.   We have all.   Between the love we have for each other and the love of all of our children we are a wealthy family indeed.

Here is a little poem I wrote as we were flying over the ocean to Ireland:

 It is a  Haiku



Darkess surrounds us.
We fly over the ocean
Hels up by angels.

Love you

and God does too

Mary

I spent all day yesterday transcribing notes and baking and OOPS realized that when I got into bed that I had not blogged.   Oh Well.



HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY.   I will blog again tonight.

Mary

The Bridget shrine and light in the home of the Brigidine Sisters in Kildare.

The flame outside the information center in downtown Kildare.

A comparatively quiet day.   I went to Mass at 4PM.  On the way, I got gas in the car and picked up a loaf of bread.

A bit more about the Brigidine nuns and I will post pictures of the Outdoor flame that was for a while lit by gas but is now  lit by LED lighting during the night and the sun during the day.    The flame, actually lit during preChristian times was kept lit by the Brigidine Sisters until the 16th century.     It was relit by Sr. Mary Teresa Cullen, then leader of the Brigidines, at the opening of a 1993 Peace and Justice conference in Kildare.
Srs. Rita and Phil have a small shrine with the original flame in their home.    We were invited to their home and were allowed to light a candle from the flame to take the message of peace and justice home with us.    I have that cancle and will light the flame for my bible study and for the Celtic Women when we meet.  So the flame has been burning again for 18 years and the nuns are trying to raise money for a proper shrine to house the flame.   I purchased a book called Rekindling the Flame by Sr. Rita.


Tomorrow I will be able to be home ALL day again.   That will be nice.  I believe that I can transcribe all of my notes by the end of tomorrow.    Oh Dear.   There will be no football game.

Have a lovely sleep and God love you

Mary

Such an exciting day.   I met Jeff and Kathy and Mother and the therapist from Meadow View, Linda at Mother's house.  Linda was there to check the house for safety and convenience for Mother.   It looks like she will be coming home for sure.   She is definitely much stronger and more alert than she was even two weeks ago when I saw her before going to Ireland.

There are a few things that we will have to do in the house such as a light switch on the door side of her bedroom and moving. rearranging or eliminating some pieces of furniture so she has more room. 

The therapists are going to work with her on stairs.   She really does not have to use stairs in her house but the back door, which would be an emergency exit DOES have stairs and we are tentatively going to bring her home on either the 18th or the 19th.   We are now putting the wheels in place to get all of her help, medicines and services back in place.   A week is more than enough time.

So Thank you all for the prayers.  We are still a bit worried about her being alone some times but will be adding help in the late afternoon or evening so there are more check ups on her  and she looked so very content to be in her very own chair in her very own living room.

Thank you all again

God love you

Mary

Steven the Jockey and my friend from the Trad

Kieran with another member of the session players and the Cello.

A whole day at home.   It was very peaceful in this cold cold weather.   I stepped out the door just twice, once to put some mail in the mailbox and once to pick up the mail.

I made a stew in the crockpot for our supper.  Jody came today to do the cleaning.  She is still having car trouble and was able to get a ride today.  She walked in the door and smelled the stew immediately.   I also made brown bread as I have gotten used to having it every day and could not go cold turkey.

So with working on transcribing my notes from the trip and cooking and washing, it was a very busy day.



The following are a couple of paragraphs from my notes from the third day of the trip.   I will have a couple of pictures too.

Tuesday, February 1, a goodly number of us headed back to Kildare at 9PM for the TRAD (a tradtional music session)  at the Cove in Kildare. The place was JAMMED. When we got there a group were playing in the second alcove of the place. They were finishing up so that the regular guys could come in between 9 and 10. I slithered over to the end of the bar to get a pint of cider and got into a conversation with a lovely gal named Collette. She plays bodhran in the session and sings.  I was looking for Kieran who helped us make the Bridget Crosses this afternoon.  I reintroduced myself and he asked if I would sing. I told him I knew Whiskey on a Sunday and he liked that. I found a good seat between Collette and another drum player. What a rush to get that beat coming in both ears. Before the music started I got to talking to a darling young man who actually flirted with me. He is a jockey and his name is Steven. I will put a picture of him and of Kieran on the blog. Steven's mother was there for the music too. I told her I would like to take him home in my pocket. She grinned from ear to ear but said that I could not have him.

Sr. Phil and Sr. Rita, the Brigidine nuns were there for the Trad too. We were supposed to be out at the bus at 11PM. At quarter to, Debbie pointed at her watch and we started to gather up people. I went to Kieran and told him that I had to leave as everybody else was piling out the door. He said that I had not sung yet so I told him if we could do it right away it would work. I sat on Collette's chair and sang Whiskey on a Sunday in the Cove in Kildare. What a thrill. Then I bolted to the door. Sweet Kieran was indicating “Call me” in sign. What a nice flirt. I stepped out the door to find Mick, our bus driver, coming in to get me. The others sent him. I was in disgrace. Ha Ha. What a night.

So everybody have a nice night.   I will post pictures of Kieran and Steven from the Trad.

God love you

Mary

Christchurch Cathedral from my hotel window.

Almost all of the Celtic Women. (I see that two are missing.) Those here are Felicia, Betty, Bee, Maureen, Cindy, Rosemary, Debbie, Rosemary (in back of me), Me, Joan, Patsy, Sheila, Gail, Sharon and Jan.

Life if almost back to normal.   I am still exhausted but figure by the weekend will be back on Central Time.

Today I did my grocery shopping in the morning and got my hair cut.   It is COLD.  It was sub zero during the night and got all the way up to 10 degrees this afternoon.  The wash is almost caught up.

I had intended to be meeting Mother, Jeff and a therapist from Meadow View at Mother's house this morning, but because of the cold, Jeff put the visit off until Friday when it will be warmer.  It is not wise to take Mother out into that bitter cold.  She will be able to go home soon and we want to be sure that the house is ready for her.  Then we will have to reactivate her morning help, the cleaning and the TV service and whatever else she should need.


Now for a bit of a continuation of the tour.  Sunday night we were all finally gathered and in the evening had a wine and cheese plus reception in the hotel.   I will attach a picture of the whole gang (of the women anyway, the men chose to stay out of that picture) and also a picture of Christchurch from the hotel room.

We went to bed from that as the next morning, we were picked up at about 10AM by Mick Mulcahy, the driver for Donohgue of Galway.   I recommended that company as I had traveled on it for two tours.  Joe, the first driver that Bobbie and I had, is now the owner and manager of the company.   Mick was a marvelous driver providing commentary as appropriate for the whole 7 days telling us the highlights of the countryside, the traditions and lots of stories.  That first day, we drove to the Kaedeen Hotel in Newgrove which is near Kildare.   We stopped at the home of Sr.Rita   and Sr. Phil.   the Brigitine nuns who relit the Bridgit flame in 1992 at a peace conference in Kildare and have tended it ever since.   I purchased Sr. Rita's book  Rekindling the Flame that tells the tale of the meaning of the flame.

Tomorrow a bit more about that. 

I am going to close up now and get ready for bed.

May God and Mary keep you safe

Mary

The actors doing a skit on the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl

Walking back to the hotel. At the statue of Molly Malone or as she is known in Dubling, The Tart and the Cart.

Micheal O Doibhilin at the Kilmainham Goal.

Mareen Smith and me at the Westbury Hotle Afternoon Tea looking out to a Dublin Street.



Love

Mary

I'm home safe and sound from the Island of Green Grass and poetry and spirituality.   It was a wonderful trip.   I can't say enough about the experiences and will try to relate an incident or two for the next few days (or weeks) however it happens.

I was dropped off by Joseph and Felicia at about 9PM last night.   We had an uneventful but interesting flight from Dublin to Chicago.   It was raining a bit in Dublin, but Aer Lingus has settled their strike so we were on an Aer Lingus plane.   The transportation there was a bit more dicey.

The group that left on Thursday got to the airport to find that the strike was on and that they were "renting?" a plane from another airline.   It was 11PM when they left almost 4 hours late and the plane was an American Airline plane which was not as nice.    We left on time but had an AirBerlin plane which we heard is much better than American Airlines but still, as we ALL found out yesterday Aer Lingus is Much nicer.   Better seats and other amenities.

We arrived in Chicago in a storm.   Fortunately, once our transportation to Milwaukee arrived, we drove north out of the storm.    We were all tired but still talking like a bunch of crazy people about the wonderful week we had just shared and the Packers.   Yeah Packers.   I won the Guessathon Fantasy Football league that I belong to with family and friends.   I was tied in points with Mike Gustafson, Mary Margaret's husband, but I won on the number of total correct picks.   I also won a quarter in the league we did as a CWI tour group so I feel very rich and lucky.

The tour was wonderful and exciting.   I will review it as the week goes on.   We spent our first two days, Saturday and Sunday in Dublin.   We went on a pub crawl, which was every bit as fun as I remembered when Bobbie and I were in Ireland many years ago.    I will enclose a couple of pictures of the crawl.   At the end, they again had a quiz.   Last time, I won a poster.  This time I was neck in neck with a gal from England.   She won the t shirt but I got a little bottle of Bushmills so don't feel that I did so badly after all.

The next day, we went to Kilmainham Goal for the tour.   It was truly moving and informative.   Our leader was a man named Micheal O Doibhliin who has authored a book called Anne Devlin , one of the true female heroes of the 1916 uprising.  I purchased his book and have his email.

We also went to the Westbury Hotel for an Afternoon Tea.   That was very special.   Such good finger sandwiches, a lovely selection of tea served beautifully in tea cups, good scones and breads and special sweet desserts.   I have nice pictures of that also.

That is enough tonight as I am really ready for bed.   I am almost caught up on wash and have the house almost put back together after my diving back in and unloading.

So until tomorrow.   The pictures will foloow.

Love

Mary

Bet you thought I left the country early.    But I didn't.   We got phone calls in the evening and I was trying to be sure that everything was in place for Dick and frankly forgot to post.

Today, I will be picked up by my friends.   Felicia's husband Joe Riendl and Debbie's husband Mike O Grady are picking up Joan Brigham and me to take us to Milwaukee to pick up the coach that will take us to O Hare.

I received an email from one of yesterday's travelers, Joan Kramer.   They did not get out til almost midnight as there was as she said "industrial trouble" with Aer Lingus.    We can only hope that this is resolved or other actions have been taken.

Anyway, this is my last blog for a while.   Wish me well and I will pray that God keeps you all safe while I am gone away.

God love you as I surely do.

Mary

Only one more day before I leave the country.     This morning I did the grocery shopping.   I think I have everything here that Dick and Roxie could possibly need.   Then I went to Wells Fargo to pick up the euros that I had ordered.   As a PMA account holder, I got the euro exchange free of charge.   Pretty good.   I saved us $15.

Home again, I put the groceries away and worked on the trip papers and packing.    Then this afternoon, I drove to Kmart to buy some shoes and to Walgreens to pick up some prescriptions for Dick.   Now, I should not have to go out again until I am picked up on Friday to head for O Hare and then straight on to Dublin.

I will only be sending out one more blog before February 8th.    I will remind you tomorrow.  I hope that you will miss me.

I am afraid that I am not too full of news as I am too full of excitement and trying to be sure that all is ready at home for Dick.

I will miss him and my Roxie but hope to come home all full of rest and enthusiasm after a nice break on a special tour.

God love you all

M ary

Only three more mornings until I leave for Ireland.   I am jazzed and hope I can get everything that I need to get done finished before I leave.

I have everything in place for Dick and Mother which are my main priorities.  Sorry if anyone on the trip is reading this but I do have my first place considerations and Mom and Dick are there.

I am getting the final do on the i's and crosses on the t's for the trip.   The Occupational therapist came by this afternoon and will see Dick two times while I am gone.  Mary, who was here before when this stuff all started seems happy to be working with Dick again.   I am so glad that we are able to take advantage of VNA to monitor Dick while I am gone.   Perhaps they will come up with things that will be helpful to make his progerssion to walking and keeping his legs healed.



I had my dental cleaning today and they told me that my teeth are in excellent shape.   She thanked me for making her job so easy.   Wow.

So tomorrow, except for shopping, I am home all day.    I will pack tomorrow and then have Thursday to be sure that Dick is all taken care of and everything is convenient for him.

God love you and sleep tight.

Mary

It was much warmer today, climbing all the way up to the mid 20s.   This morning Ellen, a physical therapist, came to the house and worked with Dick.  She came just as I was ready to leave for Bible Study.

He said that she ran him through several exercises and that he is expecting him to do them at least three times a week with my help.

Bible Study was wonderful.   I can't believe how beautiful the Psalms are.  There were 5 of us there today.   We got into quite a discussion as to how our perception of God has changed during our lifetime.    We also got into quite a  discussion on forgiveness and the really holiness of people who can forgive people who have harmed them.

Then I drove to Meadow View Manor to spend some time with Mother as this is my last opportunity before the Ireland trip.    I got there at about 11Am and stayed through lunch with her.   We visited, part of the time with Dolores and Ken, and then she and I went to the dining room for a lunch of pot roast, potatoes and gravy and squash.    It was altogether a pleasant visit and she knows I will be gone for two weeks.

On the way home, I stopped at Walgreens to pick up a few things.   When I got home Dick was sleeping, so I worked a bit on the computer until he woke up.   We both had a rather restless night last night so with his exercising, he was a tired guy.

After tomorrow, I well have all of my errands done, except for the grocery shopping, and can concentrate of finishing packing and taking care of Dick.

I put in my last pick for the fantasy football league for the Super Bowl.   The game is on while I am in Ireland, but I believe that even there, I can find out who won the game.    If the Packers win, I am #1.   Isn't that the greatest thing ever?

So Have a lovely sleep.

God love you

Mary

Cold Cold Cold.   I suppose you are tired of seeing that at the beginning of the blog.   But it was -3 when I looked this morning.   I was able to stay in bed until ALMOST 8AM.  Then I had to kind of hurry as I had to be at John the Baptist for Mass at 9:30AM.

Mass was pleasant.   The choir all were dressed in green and gold (except for one Pittsburgh Steeler fan dressed in their colors, whatever they are.)  I was dressed in my Reggie White Jersey.  Then there was a shortage of Eucharistic Ministers so I had to go up to offer the wine to the celebrants in all my Green Bay glory.   It was fun.   The choir really sounded good tonight.  Perhaps it was all that green and gold.

When I got home, I made a potato salad for our lunch.   We had a couple of brats for a sandwich and some home make applesauce.   Quite nice.  After lunch, I changed the tube-a-grip and bandages on Dick;s  legs and then took a nap before the Packer game

 A very exciting game led to a Green Bay Win!!!   We are in the Super Bowl and I got my points.    Then the Steeler/Jets game followed and lo and behold, The Steelers won too.   So I have maintained my place in number one in the football league.

The only thing that I have to do now is pick the winner of the Super Bowl.    I believe that no matter WHAT I do, I will be in the top six and get some part of the winnings , but if I pick right, I am in all the way.  



Tomorrow I will go to Bible Study and then on to see Mother.   I will not see her again before I get back to Ireland, so I decided to have lunch with her.    I will tell the front desk when I get there.

So  After talking to my friend Bob and to Bart and Barb this evening, I am now ready to hit the bed.   Hope you had as nice a day as I have. had

God love you

Mary

Cold Cold Cold again.   it was again below zero when we got up and as far as I know it only hit 12.  

I got up early, put the venison roast in the crock pot and went back to bed until almost 8AM.   Then I got up and had to rush a bit because today is the day I pick up SHARE.    After breakfast and shower, I made it over to the Armory by 9:15AM   Plenty of time.   We got a nice selection today.   Chicken,  pork tenderloin, beef sandwich meat, stew meat,  grapefruit, potatoes etc.

I heated up a Marie Callendar dinner for Dick this noon and we shared a honey bell orange.   I just had a piece of peanut butter toast because I knew I would be eating heavily at the Wild Game Dinner.

I went over to Donna and Randy's a little after 1PM for the party.    Bing and Stenn and George and Betsy were there so I got to visit with them a bit before things got CraZY as they tend to do at this event.

  It was quite the party.    There were 21 contestants in the beer tasting and 23 beers.   Bing and Betsy helped me serve the beers and keep the list intact.   It was again an amazing finish.   Mike and Mary Margaret helped score.   Mary Margaret came up with the best idea in the world for that.   One person reads the key list and two or three people check papers.  No looking back and forth, no need to double check.    We had a tie again.   That Jessica had 10 (in the top two the second year in a row.)  She was tied with John.   We ended up with a double drink off as they tied again on the first one.   Finally John took it this year so we may be going to Chicago to John and Holly's next year.    Holly was proud of John but kind of jealous because she lost to Jessie last year.

The food again was delicious.    My roast, chili, Brunswick Stew, pheasant, turkey Cordon Bleu and tons of other things.   Erin brought some vegetarian dishes that were really scrumptious too.We had angel food cake with berries and shipped cream for dessert.  

So home in the cold, it was 2 degrees as I drove home.  I got here at about 7PM and after I finish talking to you all, I will crawl in bed.   Tomorrow will be very quiet.   I will go to Mass at 9:30 then the rest of the day will be Dick's and mine to watch the big Packer game and just be together.

God love you all.

Hope the Packers and Steelers win.

Mary

I was lazing in bet this morning, it got to be a bit after 7AM when I remembered that Jody was coming to clean at 8AM so I had to jump up and get dressed and ready right away.   Dick was still sleeping too.  But we were both up and at 'em when she got here.

Poor Jody, her car broke down on the way here this morning in this awful cold.   Thank God for cell phones, she was able to get a friend to pick her up and drop her off here and her fiance was going to get the car going.   She had us to clean and then our neighbor's Tom and Linda so she was set here until noon.

Then I washed a load of wash and did a few things around here.   I left for the bank and Walgreens for some errands.   I had lunch with the gals at Dairy Queen.    We had a really nice visit.    I won't see Ceil and Betty for a month because I will be gone two Fridays and then they are leaving for a trip to Panama which will make them gone for two Fridays.    We are quite the world travelers.

When I got home, I ordered the euros for the Ireland trip.   They will be delivered to Wells Fargo on Tuesday.   I felt safer having them delivered there because I am sure someone has to be there to sign for them and there is always the remote possibility that I would be out just when the delivery is made.

We had minestrone soup for our supper.   I took mine to Rhine with me as I had to leave a bit before five and was not quite ready to eat.   I did not really expect very many people tonight.   It really surprised me that there were six squads out in this bitter cold.    When I came home, it was 0 degrees and probably will dip below zero again tonight.   It was -9 when I got up to feed the cat this morning.  A lot of us pistol shooters were there.   We have 22 in the pistol league this winter.

I was not too bad but did get a bit shaky and have to be steadier and remember to SQUEEEEEZE the trigger.

Home again.   I am finally warm again and ready to go to bed.  Roxie is telling me that it is time.

God love you

Mary

Today was exceptionally busy, especially for Dick.

The nurse, Megan, from VNA came over again today to recheck Dick and to redress the wound on his leg with a new ointment.   I have great hopes for this medication.

She left and we finished breakfast and then Bobbie came because Dick had his hair cut appointment at 11:30AM.   We got there on time with no trouble   Janet was ready for us.   The hair cut is at Shear Delight at the Plymouth Care Center where Dick spent his recovery.  We saw Lori, his physical therapist from that time and several other of the care givers.    Anyway his hair and beard are all cut and trimmed and he looks and feels good.

Home again, Bobbie, Dick and I feasted on brats, rice, broccoli and salad.  I had made an apple cheesecake for dessert.   

We finished before Dick's next appointment.  A physical therapist from VNA came and put him through his paces.  She was very nice but will not be the regular person. 

Needless to say, Dick is exhausted.   He has not had that much activity in one day in months.

Bobbie and I racked the last of the gallons of wine in the winery that  are about ready for filtering and bottling.   we figure that we can do that about the time I am back from Ireland.

So it was a truly busy day.  Tomorrow will be busy for me as I am having lunch with the girls and working at Rhine in the evening, but Dick should be able to rest up a bit with any luck at all.

So the day is done and I am glad.   Roxie got tired of all the visitors, except for Bobbie of course.   When we went downstairs to rack the wine, she was in "her" room so we just got to business.   We had the door almost shut.   She figured out where we were and was quite annoyed with us as she had to push the door open herself.   She yammered at us for quite a while before forgiving us.



So Have a nice Friday

God Love You

Mary

A day between the snow and the cold.

I went shopping this morning.   That went quite well and I picked up donuts for our breakfast.   I have been hungry for donuts so picked some up for our breakfast.   

The representative from the Visiting Nurses Association came to evaluate this morning at about 11:00Am.   She spent a couple of hours with us reviewing Dick's history and examining his legs and we believe that we will have help for up to a month, including the time that I am in Ireland.   I am hoping that they will have advice on easier ways to help Dick get his cleaning and also help him organize and get his physical therapy on track.  I am very happy with what has been proposed to us and feel that Dick will have a good support while I am gone.

After Megan left, we had lunch,   Dick had requested  cannibal sandwiches on half rye.   I assume that all of you know that cannibal sandwiches are raw beef and onions.  He was a happy camper.

Then I drove to Meadow View to visit with Mother.   She is doing very well.  I got there during her physical therapy and the therapist said that she is amazed at how well mother is doing.

So here we are at the end of a very busy day.   Tomorrow will be somewhat quieter though Megan is coming back and Dick has his hair cut appointment for 11:30AM.

Hope we don't have to cancel that.
 God love you all

Mary   

No snow today.    Good thing as there was quite enough yesterday and last night.    Our wonderful crew at Tall Grass had our roads and driveways and sidewalks all cleared early.   I was able to get the trash out by 9AM.  Good thing because the collectors were here before noon today, something that I did not expect.

I was able to stay home most of the day.  I did have to pick up two prescriptions for me and some gauze pads for cleaning and protecting Dick's wounds on his leg.  I also went to Fleet to look for good old fashioned shoe rubbers or overshoes.   I can't find them any where.  That is what I would really like to take to Ireland with me.

We had pork chops and rice for lunch and soup and sandwich for supper.

Today, Regis Philbin announced that he is retiring from Regis and Kelly  at the end of the summer.    I was remembering that the first time I saw Regis was sometime between 1970 and 1983 when they appeared on an early morning show similar to the Regis and Kelly show.   She was still married to Steve Garvey at the time and they were referred to as the Ken and Barbie of the sports world.   She was indeed a beautiful blond and he was a gorgeous dark haired athelete.

I remember one show that Tom Sullivan, a blind actor, appeared on.   Apparently he was in Cyndy's dressing room as she got ready.   She mentioned that she felt quite comfortable getting ready with him in the room.   He got this smile on his face and said.   "The sounds were driving me crazy."   She was so embarrassed.

 Today when I was lying down for a nap, I remembered an incident from Bret's kindergarten days.   He had a wonderful teacher, Miss Gamel.   She was having a bit of a problem one day.   The kids were saying naughty words and would not settle down.   She made an announcement that the next child who said a naughty word would have to go to see the principal.   Well, Bret whispered. "Poopy, Poopy, Poopy."  just loud enough to be heard.  So she sent him to the office.   He got hysterical.     Some people in the office said that she should not have done that but I told her she had to maintain her credibility with those kids and it was not that he was hurt.   She told me that poopy was not one of the words she was concerned with but Bret obviously thought so.  So he was defying her.   I thought it was really rather funny.

Have a lovely Wednesday.   The VNA is coming over to evaluate Dick for seeing him while I am gone and I am going to visit Mother tomorrow.   A busy busy day.

God love you
Mary