This was a lovely day.   Dick and I took two short walks this afternoon,  the weather made it possible.   He is not really an outdoor person so does not stay out long, but he suggested the second walk and we sat on a bench in the shade for a bit before going in.   I know he liked getting out of the building for a while for something that was not a doctor appointment.

I got there at 11:30AM this morning, just as he was standing.  He did it three times for a total of 3minutes.   Really good as that involved standing and sitting back down too.  He is complaining less of pain in the current prosthesis.   That is REALLY good.

I baked cupcakes for the Tallgrass Picnic which is tomorrow night at Lions Park at 5:30PM.

Today was nice.  I had to go over to Mother's to pick up Bobbie's currents that Jeff and Kathy had left for her to make wine with.   Then I baked the cupcakes, then I cleaned out some of my sewing cabinets and boxes.  Then I went over to Rocky Knoll.

I came home again when Dick went down to dinner.   

Roxie and I had a nice evening.  I cleaned out some more of my sewing stuff and now am having my tea and getting ready to go to bed.

I got this as part of an email today and wanted to share.

It's so dry and hot in Manitoba that the Baptists are starting to baptize by sprinkling, the Methodists are using wet-wipes, the Presbyterians are giving out rain-checks, and the Catholics are praying for the wine to turn back into water.   
Have a great Wednesday.   It is the day at Rocky Knoll with the coctail hour and I will be going to a picnic, so it will be fun for me.

God love you


Mary
 

I do like Mondays.

Bible study was nice.   I brought my friend, Sy Regan's book, Psalms To Go, to share with the group.   They all know Sy too.   He grew up in Falls and was Deacon at Blessed Trinity until her retired.  He composed a Cinquain for each of the 150 Psalms.    A cinquain is a poem that consists of 5 lines.   The first with 2 syllables, the 2nd with 4, the 3rd with 6, the 4th with 8 and the last again with two.

Here is one of mine for an example

Treasured


I am
Never alone.
I know those who love me
Surround me in the darkest times.
God's gift.

There were 8 of us there so we had nice discussions.

Then I went over to Mom's house.   She didn't have any bills at all so we visited until Jeff got there with lunch.   I brought the fixings for Apricot Cream Biscuits for our dessert.   Jeff really liked them so I will send the recipe to Kathy.    They are really easy but such a nice hot weather dessert.  I also gave him a jar of Apricot Pineapple Jam and he brought fresh produce, beets, cukes, kohlrabi and a tomato.    They have a couple ripening, mine are growing but have no color yet.

I spent the afternoon with Dick.   He was just finishing therapy when I got there.  He was standing for the third time that day and the therapists were there, of course, but not holding him up.   He was standing on that one prosthesis and using his arms on the bars for the rest of his support.   Yea Dick.

We played cards and visited until dinner time.   I ate with him, then came home.    It has been a quiet pleasant evening, just Roxie and me.    Mainly me because Roxie is sleeping.   She usually wants to visit at 4AM.

So have a nice Tuesday.   We are getting some rain tonight - Good   Then I won't have to worry about watering things.

God love you

Mary

.  

Sunday Sunday.  

I went to Rocky Knoll at 9:00AM and spent some time with Dick before going to Mass at 10AM.   It was again, a lovely Mass.  The priest who officiated is very sweet.   He spoke on  the gospel alone.   It was the story of Peter trying to walk on water.    Father concentrated on the phrase "Do not be afraid!"  and made it real for today and our situations.   It is really comforting to not be afraid.    I really liked the first reading too.  It is from Kings and tells the story of God coming to Elijah.   First there was a strong wind, but God was not in the wind.   Then there was an earthquake, but God was not in the power of the earthquake.  Next there was a fire, but God was not in the fire.  Finally, there was a gentle breeze and God was in the gentle breeze.

After Mass, we went for a roll and stroll.  We went down the hill and around the building then back again to the Woodland entrance.   Then we roamed the  halls until it was time to go into the dining room for lunch.

Dick and I had lunch together.  I bought their meal.  They do make wonderful apple desserts.   He is again seated at a full table.    People are coming in there every day it seems.  Of course, people leave too.  

Dick and I played rummy for a while,   then Bobbie and Bill came to visit.  Bobbie was wearing a lovely dress that she created on Zelda, her dress form.  

Now I am home and Roxie is glad.   Ah to be so much in demand.

I finished cleaning the windows in the family room downstairs.   Tomorrow I will do the windows in the bedroom down there.   Then I will have all the inside windows done.  I can do the outside of the downstairs windows but Dick made me promise not to do the other outsides as I have to get up on a ladder.   I have to think about that.

Well, I have finished what I needed to accomplish today and it is bedtime,  so I am heading there.

Love you all

Mary

Today was a lovely day.   Perhaps a bit warm but certainly tolerable and with all the lush green fields and trees, Wisconsin was spectacular today.

I did a bit of cleaning this morning and harvested a batch of Basil for the winter. At about 11AM, I left to join Dick at Rocky Knoll.    Allison was freshining Dick's house for an open house tomorrow, so I stopped in to say Hi and see how things were going.

I arrived at Rocky Knoll just before lunch time.   We started down the hall to lunch almost immediately.    I had brought some soup and cheese for my lunch.   Dick had a ham casserole and beets and potato and ordered a cookie bar for me for dessert.  Isn't he special.   

After lunch, we played a couple of games of rummy, then we went out for a walk.  It was a might warm for him so we did not stay out long, but we did cruise the hallways for a while after we came in.

Then we played more cards until it became time to take him down the hall for dinner and for me to head home.

 Roxie was pleased to see me on time for a change.    She is always ready, of course, when I get home.    I finally had to dispose of the flowers that I had brought to Dick from the Celtic Tea which was August 17.   There are STILL about 6 small flowers that are lookin' good, so I put them in a cup.   I was glad to bring the lovely tea pot home.   I will put it above the cupboards in the kitchen.  Next time Bobbie is here, we will have to use a teapot for our tea.   Silly not to, I have three really pretty ones now.    I would like to make a tea cozy or two also.   There is a pattern in the Irish Quilting Magazine that one of the members of the Kettle Quilters gave me.

Dorothy Rose stopped by tonight to return a book.   I gave her a nice cold drink and we had a visit.   I will be riding to Irish Fest with Joan and Dick Kramer and Dorothy will also ride along.
Only two weeks til then.

Another Sunday is rolling around, I cannot believe how fast the weeks are going.   I think I told you yesterday, that Gary finished all the work on the house.   I am cleaning up a bit each day.

That is all the news here.   Richard called his Dad this morning.  That pleased Dick.   He got to hear about the Colorado trip.  

Love you all and God does to

Mary


Funny Story

TEXAS BEER JOINT OWNER SUES CHURCH over LIGHTNING STRIKE !
                                 
Texas Beer Joint Sues Church In Mt.Vernon, Texas , Drummond's Bar began
construction on expansion of their building to increase their business.

In response, the local Baptist Church started a campaign to block the bar
from expanding with petitions and prayers. Work progressed right up until
the week before the grand reopening when lightning struck the bar and it
burned to the ground!

After the bar burning to the ground by a lightning strike, the church
folks were rather smug in their outlook, bragging about  "the power of
prayer ", until the bar owner sued the church on the grounds that the
church . . ."was ultimately responsible for the demise of his building,
either through direct or indirect actions or means."

In its reply to the court, the church vehemently denied all
responsibility or any connection to the building's demise.
  The judge read through the plaintiff's complaint and  the defendant's
reply, and at the opening hearing he commented  "I don't know how I'm
going to decide this, but it appears from the paperwork  that we have a
bar owner who believes in the power of prayer, and an entire church
congregation that now does not."

True Story.

A friend sent me an email with this in it.

Quote of the day:

'Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby. If you give her a house, she'll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart.
She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her. So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit.'

I stayed home all morning.  Jody came at 8AM and Gary got here just before noon.    I did windows and washed towels and made a couple of important phone calls before lunch.

Then I went to my friend Joan Kramer, for a reflexology treatment.    That relaxed me so so much and visitign with Joan is always helpful too.   Now I have pretty toe nails.

I went right over to see Dick after leaving her.   We had supper together.   Then visited until about 6:30 when I came home to feed Roxie.

So that was the day.   

I came home to a reassembled house.  Gary got it all done today.    Now I can call Ed to order carpet cleaning.   Then I will be ready with a clean house when Dick comes home.

Take care.   And have a nice weekend.   I don't have to do anything but church and go to see Dick.   Love that.

Mary 

 

Today was really lovely.   It did get a bit too hot this afternoon, but at least it was not humid.

I got up at 6:30AM or so and took care of the cat and me before Gary got here at 8AM.  I left shortly afterwards to be at Rocky Knoll when it was time for Dick to go to Advanced Eye Care for his eye exam.   We had delayed it for a couple of weeks after the surgery because we did not feel he was strong enough.  Tim from Custom Care and Transport picked us up shortly after 9 so we were early for our 10AM appointment.

But it was a good day to be out as Dick has been cooped up at Rocky Knoll for so long.   He had already been given his Thursday bath, but because of the timing, he had both hours of his therapy in the afternoon.   As he was unable to nap in the morning (which he usually does) he is a really tired guy tonight.    He will try to stay up til at least 9PM so he stays on his schedule.  Hate to mess that up as he has been sleeping very well there.

The appointment went well.   There is some dryness of the eye again, so Dr. Cheryl is re prescribing an ointment to help that.  She thinks it is probably related to all the things that have happened to his body and to the meds.  Otherwise all is well.

I came home after lunch.  Gary is getting close to being finished.  He is done under the deck, so I put ant sticks all around and sprinkled that powder around the whole exterior of our unit.   We have also sprayed like heck inside everywhere, so that should be the end of the ants.  He will be back tomorrow to finish.   There is a little on the deck and the door and in the basement to finish.

Then I will have Ed send his carpet cleaners in to clean everything.

I finally put the "summer" floor mats in the car and washed the winter mats.    I also got involved and swept and vacuumed 1/4 of the garage and washed the windows in the garage

I have to find time to wash the rest of the outside windows soon.   I am almost done with the indoor upstairs.

Leslie sent a Bossier City Newspaper with a wonderful article about our Nora's accomplishment as one of the 12 airmen of the year.   I will take that tomorrow to share with her Grandpa.

So it has been a very full day and I am more than ready to go to bed.   I have to wait a bit though as it is still rather early.

God love you

Mary

A Haiku

Sandhill Cranes proudly
Standing tall beside the field
Full of dignity.

What a day.   The weather was and is really nice.   A bit humid for my taste but pleasant temperatures and blue skies with green all around us.

I hung around until 9AM waiting for Gary, the repairman.   At 9AM, I left for grocery shopping and left a note and the door open for him.   Shopping went really well.    I got the tickets, stamps for mother and the groceries. and was back before 10AM.

When I got home, Gary was there and working.   He had an appointment for an estimate and ran late.    He started right in working and did we have and adventure,   When he took of the door to the deck, and what a mess we found.  Carpenter antes all around the door jam.   We sprayed like crazy and he dug out all of their gook.

Then I had to leave for lunch with Dick and for the afternoon visit.  I go there just as he finished up his OT and then we had lunch.    I had brought a sandwich.   I DO have that wonderful Fireside bread for a while you know.    He had physical therapy shortly after lunch, then we played a couple hands of Rummy before it was time for the On the Rocks Cocktail hour.   

When I got home Gary had the door almost reinstalled with the rotted pieces fixed and said he saw no signs of the ants any more.   So we are pretty sure they are eliminated and he has sealed the door so it is no longer accessable.   If they did get in there, they should die from all the poison anyway.

So a busy day again.    I called Bret.   Hadn't heard from him for quite a while.   I had to let him know that his sister Bobbie thinks he should come and get the toy box that I have saved for him all these years.   It was make just for him.   Even has his name on it.   Bobbie thinks it would make a good ice chest for beer at their new bar by the River.    Just a nice metal case inside the toy box area and some insulation and Whalaa.  A super unique ice chest.    He laughed, of course, but actually thought it was a good idea and would like the toy chest if we can just figure a way to get it there.

So Gary will be back tomorrow and hopefully will able to finish the job.   Pary for no more surprised.    Those ants were just gross.

God love you

Mary

Today was a warm muggy kind of rainy day.  I left at about 8:30AM to spend the morning with Dick as Quilt Club was at 1PM.

He was a sleepy guy but we had a visit, I stayed with him through his PT and we lunched together.   Tat is always nice.   I know his afternoons get long but at least his morning was full today.

There is a little bleeding on the stump again so we are backing off on applying pressure on it.

After lunch, I went to the Plymouth Library for Quilt Club.   I shared the Celtic Knot Block that I am making.  Those who want are sharing one block.   We will then share a finished project when the year is done and our blocks are assembled.   It is always totally amazing how the same block patterns, using different fabrics from different imaginations and then assembling them in different placements makes them all so unique and breathtaking.  It was a nice meeting.  I had not been for two months.

On the way home, I stopped at the bank and then at KMart.  I finally picked up a battery charger for the times that I don't drive the car enough.   I bought one that Richard had recommended.    I found it at KMart for $4 less than the Sears catalogue, so I feel like I really got a bargain.

That is about all for today.  I pulled out and folded all of my hunting clothes as I really don't intend to go any more.    I will see if the guys can use some of it.

God love you

Mary

It did not seem nearly as hot as they predicted, though I know that it was hot. 

Gary, the repairman, arrived at 8AM, just as he promised.   He started right in.   Before I left at 9AM, he had determined that the door frame itself was not leaking.   The water is getting in under the door and at the corners.

At 9, I went to Bible Study and to see Mother.  There were 9 of us at the Bible Study.   It was a nice discussion.   We love the verse we were discussing.  Psalm 1 1-6, 

Psalm 1

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

Psalm 1

 ¹Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the chair of pestilence.    ²But his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he shall meditate day and night.
    ³And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters, which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season. And his leaf shall not fall off: and all whosoever he shall do shall prosper.
    ⁴Not so the wicked, not so: but like the dust, which the wind driveth from the face of the earth.
    ⁵Therefore the wicked shall not rise again in judgment: nor sinners in the council of the just.
    ⁶For the Lord knoweth the way of the just: and the way of the wicked shall perish.

The tree planted by the water reminds us of that good old Gospel song.   We Shall Not Be Moved.

Mom is fine.   I brought her some of each of the breads that I got at the Fireside.   She loves good bread too and it is nice to have a variety.    I brought her two slices of each variety and told her I would bring more next week if she wants some.

I got home about noon, after dropping off the big bag of clothes that I had weeded from the closets off at St. Vinnie's.    I had lunch and stayed until Gary finished for the day.   He has everything stripped and covered the bare framing with a tarp so that things can dry out before he puts everything new over it.  He will be back possibly tomorrow for some more removal, but Wednesday for certain.

After he left, I went to Rocky Knoll with a tuna sandwich and a muffin to have supper with Dick and spend some time with him.  I was able to swing by Sun Graphics to have copies made of  the pattern for the Celtic Quilt Square that I am sharing with the Kettle Country Quilters tomorrow afternoon.   I finally finished the actual square this morning.   I like it.

Dick was fine but is getting a lot of pain in his legs.   That phantom pain is so real and really bothering him the past two or three days.   Corrie is trying to desensitize it.   But this takes lots of time.    I left after dinner with his laundry.    I should be able to get it in the dryer before I go to bed.   I somehow let him get a bit low.   He does have a change for tomorrow.   And I will be there in the morning.  

I will go at about 9AM and stay through lunch, then go to The Quilt Club at 1PM and then home again.   I have decided on another cleaning out project and a whole afternoon will be good for that.

I am trying to use the time that Dick is in rehab to pare down and get rid of or find homes for things we no longer need.

Have a nice day.  It is supposed to be REALLY REALLY hot tomorrow.

God love you

Mary 

Another hot day.   But thank God for air conditioning.

I got up at about 7AM and had breakfast and took care of the morning things around here.   Then I went to Rocky Knoll at 9AM.   I dropped my purse off in Dick's room then headed down to the activity room chapel to help bring residents down for Mass.  I made three trips and helped get people in place.   The Mass was quite lovely.   A family was visiting a Grandma so we had a curly haired little boy in the congregation.   That is always a joy.  A group from Blessed Trinity came today and took care of the Woodland Village residents.   That was nice.   I saw a couple of friends.

Next week, I won't have to help because a group of young men from St. John's come the first Sunday and take care of everything.   So.   I will just attend the Mass.

After Mass and everybody was back in their places, I went back up to visit with Dick until lunch.   I brought my lunch, a sandwich with that great bread from the Fireside.   Jack's wife also ate with us so we had a full table.   A great bunch of guys.  Jack may be able to go home on Wednesday.

After lunch, we played a couple of games of Rummy, then Bobbie and Bill came for a visit.    We all visited until 2PM, then I came home - for a nap and to get ready for the week.   While I was napping, Gary Anderson called.   He will be here in the morning to fix that leak.

I had fresh tuna for supper with spinach and cucumbers.   Tomorrow I will have fresh tuna salad for lunch.   Boy am I lucky.

So now it is bedtime.   Tomorrow will be double busy with Gary coming.   So I wish all of you a blessed sleep and a good week

God love you

Mary

Feed your faith, and your doubts will starve to death.

Such a great day.   Consisting, of course, of the bus trip to the Fireside to see David.  

The trip was quite pleasant.   I read both ways.   We got there at about 10:30 and got kind of set for lunch.  Bobbie and Bill and I sat with a lovely lady Alma who traveled many times with her husband Harold to the Fireside.   The lunch was really good.  They served a delicious salad with strawberries, grapes, pineapple, grapefruit and Mandarin oranges over greens with a poppy seed dressing, Chicken Vienna, Sweet Potato Souffle and fresh asparagus.   Of course, they also had their wonderful breads.   Then we had a lemon chess pie with strawberry coulis for dessert.  

I picked up my bread before lunch then after went to the gift shops to buy the CD of the show so I could get it autographed afterward.   I also found the cutest tea pot.   Now I have three.

The play was SO good.   It was lively, the music was super and the author presented the story of David in the same wonderful human way that he did the other three.    I loved it and recommend it to anyone who has the notion to see it.   It will be at the Fireside until August 21.

So that was my day.   I called Dick when we got home to tell him about the day.   He had a good day it seems too.   So until tomorrow


God love you

Mary

What a lovely day.   I know it was up in the 80s and a bit humid but not enough to be really uncomfortable.

I was able to be out and about a bit.    Dick and I even did a short stroll and roll this afternoon after his PT.

This morning, Jody came to clean at 8AM.   I did not hear from Gary about the repair of the leak though.   If I do not hear by Monday noon, I will call him.    This, I am going to have to be pushy about.   

I left shortly before 11AM to pick up batteries for Mom's hearing aids.   I had lunch with my friend Debbie at Richardson's Tea Atrium and figured it was a good time to fit in a visit with her and take her some food and the batteries.    We had a lovely visit.    She was so pleased to be able to spend time with everybody while they were home for the wedding.   Everybody has scattered to their corners of the world again.   Georgie's mother and little brother are still here for a bit .   Such a lovely family.    I think they all felt at home.    Several of them, including Georgie's little brother did not speak English, but we all managed with a bit of interpreting, hand gestures and, as I told Georgie's grandmother, muy poquito Espanol.

Mom looks good but still complains that she is weak.  

I met Debbie at noon.   We got the things she needs as president of CWI transferred to her and enjoyed a lovely lunch.   The last time I was at the Atrium, the food was pretty sparse.  They have really expanded the menu and it is really good.    I had spinach quiche and a wonderful salad with country bread.   As usual, I finished it with Dick this evening.    Richardson has moved their kitchen area to the other side of the store.   Boy could I ever go crazy in that area.   Debbie said that she is really not supposed to come in that store "unsupervised."

I stopped at Woodlake on my way over to Rocky Knoll.   There are a couple of things that they carry that no one else does.   I bought a fresh tuna steak for my Sunday supper, some Stilton cheese and some English Digestive Biscuits.   (I thought I would see how they compare to the ones I made.)

Dick was at PT when I got there.   He did some slideboarding.  (Do you know that Slideboarding is not in this program's dictionary.)  Good practice for him, just to increase mobility.  When he was done, we  did our stroll and roll, then settled down to some Rummy.    He beat the tar out of me all THREE games.    It was a massacre. 

After supper, I came home.   Boy was Roxie glad to see me.   It was a bit after 6 so not too late.   Tomorrow, I will be gone from shortly after 8 til shortly after 6PM so she will REALLY be lonely.   But will not miss any meals and I will be with her the whole evening.  I am looking forward to the Fireside.   A couple of my friends saw David and liked it.  You can't beat the meal.   I will bring back plenty of bread too and share with Mom on Monday.

So I hope you enjoy your Saturday.  Til tomorrow


God hold you in the palm of palm of His hand


Mary

The week and the month are both winding down.  Much faster than I expected.

I was able to sleep until I really was ready to get up this morning.   No appointments at all.

So I just spent the morning, after I got up, trying to clean up a bit downstairs.   I packed all the video tapes into boxes.   Dick and I will go through them later to see which ones we want to keep.   I wiped down the kitchen which seems to need it every day and shortly after 11Am went over to spend the afternoon with Dick.

I found him at his OT.  He is working really hard.

We went right from there to lunch.  I had brought mine, a rice burrito.  There is a new person at Dick's table.   Victor.  They have had a lot of admittances this week.  Lots of people got to go home too. 

Dick's PT went VERY well.   He stood two times.  Once for 3 minutes and the second for 4 minutes.   A record.     We played a few games of Yahtzee and then went for a little walk or as Dick says a Stroll and Roll.    We didn't go far because it was rather muggy but I figure out if we get out two or three times a week, at lease he is getting fresh air.  We can increase the time when it isn't so darn hot and muggy.

I have not heard from Gary so I am guessing that he will be coming to fix the leak in the family room next week.  Jody will be here in the morning though and can really vacuum that area.   I have been working on getting things clear for carpet cleaners, but now will wait until they are done with the repairs.  It will be nice to have things all clear and fresh when Dick comes home.

Tomorrow I will be having lunch with Debbie O'Grady to update her on some of the president things that one usually finds out about by accident.   Clubs are like that.   And we are still working on the details.   Much better and more structured than when I took over.

Here is my recipe for Lavender Cookies.  They are SO good. 

Lavender Cookies

1/2 cup shortening
1/2  cup butter - softened
1 1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/4 cups all purpose-flour
4 teaspoons dried lavender flowers
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. In a large bowl cream the shortening, butter and sugar.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.   Beat in extracts.   Combine the flour, lavender, baking powder and salt.  Gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well.Drop by rounded teaspoonsfull, 2 inches apart onto baking sheets lightly coated with nonstick spray.   Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.

3. Cool for two minutes before removing to wire racks.

4. Store in airtight containers.

Servings: 18
Yield: 18

Cooking Times
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes


Enjoy'

God love you

Mary

A very rainy day and the temps never got over 70.  Really a nice relief after all the heat and humidity of the past couple of weeks.   ( I don't have any idea why my posting is so bold and big.   I am not unhappy about it but I wish I knew why.)


I could have slept forever this morning.   But I had to get up.   Gary Anderson called me last night and was able to come to check the leak that is affecting our family room.   He agrees that it HAS to be coming from the door that goes onto the deck from the living room.   Of Course, he can't do anything til it stops raining.   We think the damage is really done when the wind blows the water from the rain from the west and we have not had wind with this rain, so we are hoping there will be little or no more leaking.   I put a towel as a dam and it might help.


He will come on Friday if it is sunny or else next week.


Then I went grocery shopping.   Didn't need much but I am keeping the schedule as it also takes care of picking up our lottery tickets.


I left shortly after 11AM to spend the afternoon with Dick.   He was still in PT when I got there and I saw him stand twice, once for over 3 minutes.   Then we went to lunch.   It was the last lunch with Rich.   He went home this evening.   So there is hope.   We added a gentleman to our table.   His name is Ernie also, so Dick is now Ernie 1.   I brought a sandwich and an apple muffin for my lunch and joined the guys.


He had OT after lunch.  Another busy hour and Sheila had him take off and put on his prosthesis for practice.    He did great though he had to figure out how to adjust to the different height than he was used to.


At 2PM, I went down to the activity room to touch with the Amputee Support Group.   Lee and Janice Lemkuil were so good to me when I was going.   I stopped because it seems silly for me to go without Dick and, as you know, he is not a group kind of a guy.    I was able to tell them about Dick losing his right leg and also to give Lee and Janice a bottle of the Marigold wine.   I got my last marigolds from them.   They said they have lots again.   Perhaps one day next week, I can go and pick a quart or so of the blossoms and make a batch this year.

Then back up to Dick so that we could join the residents at three in the On the Rocks Saloon between Woodland Village and the nursing home section.   Rich and his wife, Beverly,  joined us.   Rich had determined that he would not leave until after the cocktail hour. 


I came home at about 5PM after walking Dick down to dinner.   


A quiet evening.   I fixed supper and then went downstairs and packed away the video tapes and cleaned the walls and the book shelf that had gotten wet
Tomorrow, the shelf will be dry enough that I can put it upright and stack the DVD's on it so that some movies are available if we want them.


So.  I am very tired and will be going to bed very soon.   Roxie will be delighted.   Tomorrow, I can come back to bed after feeding Roxie and will not have to get up until I am slept out.   Nobody coming and no morning appointments.


God love you - I do.


Mary




We all get heavier as we get older,
because there's a lot more information in our heads.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it. (Quote from an email.)

An interesting Tuesday.   I was home most of the morning.   I really could have stayed in bed for a LONG time but had to get up to get the trash out, so that was that.

I went in to spend time with Dick at 11:30AM.   He was still working on his OT.   When he finished that, we went to lunch.  I didn't bring anything today so bought the lunch that Dick and his buddies had.    We had BBQ chicken, buttered spaghetti, carrots, really really good cucumber salad and a scrumptious raspberry dessert.

Tim from Wisconsin Prosthesis came today to take a first measurement on Dick's new stump   While he was there, the therapists had Dick stand between the parallel bars.   This time we rested the knee of the newest amputation on a stool so that he was able to distribute his weight better.   He stood twice, once for at least 3minutes.   Tim was able to make a couple of adjustments on the prosthesis but as Dick finally understands, the final adjustments will be made when both prosthesis are on those legs.    I heard them discussing and now know that the magic 100 days of insurance coverage will definitely be used before he can come home.

When we got back to the room, I got a call from Lenys, the board member who handles maintenance problems, in response to an email that I had put in regarding a water stain in the family room downstairs that Richard had mentioned.   It took me this long to call because I had so many other things I have been dealing with.    She and Dave, another board member, came down to check and sure enough, we found out where it is, what is causing it and I now know that it is not covered by the condo insurance.   They do not cover door or window leaks.    It was very obvious what is wrong. The water is coming in under the door from the living room to the deck.   Dave pulled out all the wet insulation.  We left it wide open to dry and I put a call into Gary, a contractor who does jobs like this and worked on the condos.     I guess I will check our condo policy to see if there is any coverage there.

Now I have had the afternoon to clear a few things up, bake some muffins and clean a couple of windows.

I will go to bed early tonight.   What a pleasure that will be.

God love you all

Mary

Mondays are pretty much back to normal again.

I had time before going to bible study to rack the current/marigold wine that I have fermenting in the basement.   I got a taste when I did the decanting and it is not bad.   It has that harsh background but the whole flavor is good and with the proper aging it should be a fun wine.

I went to bible study at 9:30AM.  There were 9 of us there today.   We are trying to determine what the Old Testament means by the fear of God.    Respect, Awe, Love.   And for some reason one of the questions referred to creation and we kind of discussed the fact that we are all still being created in some way.

From there I went to Mother's house.   Nora and Leif were there.  We had our last visit for a while, as they will be heading back to Texas tomorrow.   Nora helped me learn how to do things with my Kindle.   I will need some more advice but now have direction and it is making sense to me.    Mother is looking good but is really tired from all the company she has had in the past week.    Such a good tired for her. 

Then I went to the Final Approach Restaurant near the airport for a lunch reunion with my high school graduate friends.  Such a nice time.    There were lots of us there.   I sat with Rita Petrie Ertl and Linda and Bill Guse and across from Bill and Dan Kuhlow (cousins)   We actually had the lunch a bit early because Bill is visiting.   I recited my Cobwebs, Haiku to him and he would like to see more of my poetry.   I may have Rita starting to write as a result of our talk.

I know I posted Cobwebs and it is in one of my books which most of you have but here it is anyway.

Cobwebs


Friend from long ago
Do you ever think of me
You stroll through my mind.

From lunch I went directly to Rocky Knoll and spent the afternoon with Dick.   He was all done with therapy but stood for a minute and a half this morning and 30 seconds this afternoon.    Wow.

We played Rummy and he whipped me two out of three games.  We ate supper together and then I came home and have been just puttering all evening, except for doing a load of wash.

So.  Such a lovely day.   Oh - I almost forgot.   He and I went outside for a stroll.  Or as he said I stroll, he rolls.   We didn't go far, but it was a start.   He needs his hat and arm protection from the sun.   He loved getting the fresh air though and being mobile.

God love you

Mary

This is the stitchery that I designed and made of St. Brigid at a holy well, giving food to the poor.

Last night I just got home too late and too tired from the wedding to do the blog.    I very sensibly went to bed immediately.

It was a lovely wedding.  There was a wedding mass at St. Mary's Church in Hilbert.  This is a nice little church.  I had not been there before.   Lots of beautiful stained glass and brick.    Matt was here from Hawaii with Kauru and the children, Coleton and Alana.    Coleton and Piero (Georgina's little brother) were ring bearers.  Matt was the best man.   Alana was the flower girl.  She is only four and when her mother sent her down the aisle and she saw all those people, she headed right back.   So Matt came to her and held her hand and helped her strew the roses petals as they came.    It was adorable.

 Everybody was there it seemed and many of Georgina's relatives too several from Peru.  I met her Dad, her Mom, her little brother, her grandmother and several aunts.  The reception was at the Altona in Kiel.  A great dinner and a very loving and happy reception.   I felt I was in a Lake Wobegon community where instead of "All the women are strong, all the men are good looking and all the children are above average."   All the men are strong, all the women are beautiful and all the children are indeed above average.  

We had lots of youngsters running around.   Such a joy to see the little ones up to the almost teenagers again.   And they all got along so well. 

I asked for a piece of cake to take to Dick.   Georgina wrote him a little note on the top of the container and make Shane sign his name too.   Such a dear girl.

Today, I went over to Rocky Knoll at 9AM so that I could go to Mass and help bring residents down again.   The mass was nice.   I guided Rich and his wife and daughter down and then sat with Alice, who's husband Claude, was at Plymouth Care when we were there.

Dick had his first tub bath in quite some time today.   He loved it.   They have a whirlpool and lower him in to bathe.  So glad that leg is healed enough for that. 

After Mass, I spent the time before lunch updating Dick on the wedding and everyone there. 

I brought soup and Kate's peach cobbler for Lunch.   Dick had a good meal too.   Swiss Steak and a cream puff.

We played cards after lunch.  He smacked me.   Then Bobbie and Bill came.   Bobbie was able to bring her lap top and bring up the news video about Nora and he being one of the 12 top Airmen in the Air Force this year.   Such a prideful thing.  

I came home at about 2:30PM and took a nap.   I felt that I really need to get rested up after being out late last night.

I will post a picture of my Bridget wall hanging.   Nora said that I didn't do that and I am rather proud of it.

Have a good Week.   It is supposed to be cooler and less humid for a day or two so Dick and I are going for a walk tomorrow.

God love you

Mary

Another Red Letter Day.

I got up and out of here shortly before 8AM to join Dick for breakfast. Because this was the two week followup with Dr. Fehrman.

Tim from Custom Care and Transport picked us up at 9AM for the 9:30AM appointment.   It was raining, a blessing for today as my plants  and pots all got a welcome drink of water.   It was a steady gentle rain that had to make the earth very happy.

Dr. Fehrman is pleased with the healing so far.   He did remove the stitches   -- Yeah!!!!   We have to go back in three weeks and at that point he hopes that the serious shrinking (sounds gross but means the shaping of the stump for the prosthesis) can begin.   But in the meantime, he can now bathe and does not need dressings.  So we are truly blessed.   The bottom still has a darker look but is warm and seems healthy.

I went to their lunch area and got a cappuccino for fun.  When I got back to the entrance (I had called Tim and we were waiting for him to get back from Sheboygan) a sweet lady, named Melba, was talking to Dick.   She is 91 and looks lovely.   Her father had lost limbs which kind of started the conversation.   Anyway, she left with her companion just before Tim arrived so we sere not bored.

When we got back it was almost 11AM.   I stayed with him until it was time for his trip to the dining room then went on my way.

I had lunch at Dairy Queen with my friends.   A nice break in the day.   When I got home, I took a nap.   Boy was Roxie glad.   I think she probably thinks that I have finally come to my senses.

So the day is winding down.   Tomorrow is the big wedding.    I will stop on my way to Hilbert to drop some clothes off for Dick but basically will just be celebrating.

  Hope you have something special this weekend also.   I guess, just the somewhat cooler weather will be special

Love you all and God does too.

Mary

What a red ;etter day!!!

I was home all morning,  paying bills and cleaning.   

Then at 11:30AM, I went to Rocky Knoll, just in time for the end of Dick's PT session.    Yippee,  he stood on his prosthesis between the parallel bars.   I am not sure how long he was up that time.   BUT, when he went for OT in the afternoon, he did it again and stood for 50 seconds.  It was a bit painful, but he has not put pressure on for over a month and the prostheses will be needing adjustments.   When we took the prosthesis off, there was very little redness, so Dick and I felt really good about that.

Tim from Wisconsin Prosthesis will be doing an initial evaluation on Tuesday.   At least if he gets the stitches out tomorrow.   

We had lunch together with Bob.   I brought soup and a cheese and basil sandwich.  

We played a couple games of rummy after all the therapy excitement was over with.   He won.

So, I am going to bed early as I have to get up early to be there before breakfast.   We will leave shortly afterwards for his appointment with Dr. Fehrman.

Saturday, I will not go at all because of the wedding.

Hope your day was at least half as exciting as ours.  

God love you all

Mary

My table

The table with the food and friends

Another view of my table

Another Hot Day.   Bart and Barb called this evening and they are even hotter.  Of course, they may have a bit dryer heat too as they don't have the moisture in the air that we do.

It got up to 98 on my car thermometer.  It was quite comfortable when I went grocery shopping at 8AM but had heated up a lot in just the time I was in the store.

I cleaned this morning, the kitchen and Dick's desk, then packed up and went over to have lunch with and spend the afternoon with Dick.    I got there just as he finished OT.  Then we went right down for lunch.   After lunch he had PT.   We played Yahtzee and Rummy the rest of the afternoon, except for the hour at the On the Rocks Saloon that Rocky Knoll hosts every Wednesday from 3PM to 4PM.

So nothing terribly exciting.   

As long as this heat maintains, I don't think there will be much exciting.  Everybody is just trying to stay cool.

God love you

Mary

Another HOT day.   This spell is not supposed to break for several days yet.   Thank God for Air conditioning.   I remember, years ago, we had no relief.   When Dick and I and Jim were living at Creekside, we had a year like this and I remember one day that Dick said.  "I don't care if this heat lifts tomorrow, we are getting air."   And we did.  I think it saved Jim.  He was trying to sleep during the day at that time as he was a 2nd shifter.  He was sleeping on the deck and in the basement to survive.

Aunt Helen called the next year after we had our conditioning.  She said that she was totally miserable and could we come to get her.   I called Dick and he drove out to Falls, picked her up and installed her on the couch in the living room.    She said later that we saved her life.  And well we might have.  

She was not a cat lover, but she napped in relief from the air conditioning and she told me that she felt something there.  She opened her eyes and her was our Taco just looking at her.  They observed each other for a bit and both felt quite comfortable, so Helen went back to sleep and Taco went back to wherever he was.

She kind of liked my cats because I told her stories about them and they became "people" to her.

Today, I just hung around home this morning and then went to Rocky Knoll at noon to have lunch with Dick and spend the afternoon with him.    I brought my lunch and some treats for the guys.   Rich was out for lunch with friends but Dick, Bob and I enjoyed them.

Then I watched Dick's Occupational Therapy and then we played Yahtsee and Rummy to pass the time until Dinner. 

I am home now,  Had a pasty for supper and am beginning to settle down for the night.

A good night's sleep will prepare me for the rest of the week.

Love.

Mary]
]

Here is a poem that I have in one of my books that addresses heat like this.   The tells of heat 60 to 70 years ago so it is not a new thing.

SUMMER EVENING MUSIC

I dream of summers long ago
When I was a child.
On the dead end street
All of us, from toddler to teen,
Gathered in the twilight
While the sounds of Hildy
Playing her squeeze Box
Mingled with the sounds of us '
Shouting.

Hildy's Mom was in heaven.
Her Dad often stumbled home late at night
And her sister took care of them.
Hildy couldn't run and play with us.
Her neck couldn't hold her head straight.
She walked strangely.
But she played the music
That filled the air in the
Twilight.

We played kick the can, or tag
Or hide and seek on the gravel road,
Our feet calloused from running barefoot
Since school let out.
I still feel the humid musky dampness
Of the dark.
We played until too tired to care
That it was really too hot
To Sleep.

 Hildy came to church for a while.
Then someone complained.
They said she upset them
Because her head wobbled and whe
Walked funny.
I remember that Mother was angry
And we didn't understand.
She was, after all,
Just Hildy.

She went to a nurshing home
When she got old and her Dad was gone
Ang her sister married.
My younger sister cared for her there.
She said that they liked to spoil Hildy.
I was pleased to hear that.
She deserved to be spoiled
For providing the summer evening
Music.

Another Hot day and it is supposed to get even hotter by Thursday.   I saw 95 on my car thermometer.

I left at 9AM for Bible Study.   We had 10 of us there today and a lovely discussion of Psalm 1.   The introduction to the Psalms, with that lovely phrase  - They are like a tree planted near streams of water, that yields its fruit in season:  "Its leaves never wither; whatever they do prospers."   Such beautiful poetry in the psalms.

I shared lavender cookies with everybody. 

Then I went over to Mother's.   I brought her samples of the tea breads and cookies that I baked.  Leif and Nora were there.   They are in Wisconsin until  sometime late next week after Shane and Georgina's wedding.   We had a lovely visit and shared some Ireland experiences.    Then we lunched.   I had intended to be with Dick for lunch but called and let him know I would be late.  

I got to Rocky Knoll at about 2PM.   He was just finishing his therapy.    We got back to his room just in time for Mike from Accessability who brought the rests for his motorized chair.   Now he can rest the stumps on them and they won't have to dangle.

So it has been a really good day.

We played  a couple of rounds of rummy.   We each won one game.   Then we went to supper together.   I ate some chili that I had intended to have with him for lunch.   After Supper I came home and had just time to feed the cat and do a couple of quick chores before the CWI Board Conference Call.  That went well.   Tomorrow I can get that information coordinated as to what I have to do and do the Sheboygan Branch newsletter before I go to spend the afternoon with Dick.

So I hope you sleep as well as I hope to.  God bless you and keep you

Mary

Happy Sunday.   I went to Mass at Rocky Knoll again at 10AM.  I helped bring a couple people down, one of them being a resident in Woodland Village who sits at Dick's table at lunch.    He broke both of his arms in a horse accident.  So, after I took a man in a wheelchair down, I went back and asked him if he would like to go and he did.   The trick the first time or two is to find your way there.

It was a lovely Mass.  The gospel was the parable of the man who planted his fields and his enemies planted bad seed in it.    Father used that parable to remind us that as it would have been difficult to separate the plants until harvest.   We to cannot be judgemental of others but have to leave the judging up to God at he Harvest.

I left pretty much after Mass, after I stopped in to visit with Dick for a few minutes.     I finished loading the car with all the things for the tea.   I took a table and chairs,   strawberry bread, pepper cheese sandwiches, lavender cookies and apricot cream tea sandwiches.   I also brought my teapot, and a setting of dishes for "my" table and the cork ornaments that I made for favors.   There were other things too.   Debbie O Grady brought just as much or more.   And Kate has tons of lovely tea things.    We set up tables in the back yard, on the porch and n the side yard.   The food was all set up on the dining room table and what a spread.

Kate had prepared beautiful teapots and cups with matching saucers full of gorgeous flowers for the tables and a drawing.  She gave Debbie and I our choice before everybody got there while we were setting things up.  Such a sweet thing to do.   They are beautiful and I took mine over to Dick after we finished cleaning up.    Actually there was a bit to do yet but I needed to get  to Dick as I had told him I would be there.

It WAS HOT.  But we did sit out under the trees at the tables to eat anyway.   With the shade and a gentle breeze, it was not too bad and the company and cold drinks made it possible and even fun.   Some of us shared pictures and/or stories of feisty and influential women in our lives.    I shared Aunt Helen.      

We had a nice crowd.   About 20 which was very heartening.    Next month our meeting will be Irish Fest.

So. That is the day.    I will input a couple of pictures tomorrow.

Bobbie and Bill visited Dick this afternoon.    I thought they probably would so knew he would not be alone.

Love

Mary

Another warm and humid day.   We were supposed to get rain but I am h=not seeing it, so I watered the berms and the potted plants tonight when I got home from visiting Dick.

Started off a bit quiet this morning.   I got up about 7AM,  showered without washing my hair and went to Just Jane's so Jessica could cut my hair.   I had been scheduled for a cut the week after Dick's surgery but just could not see leaving him on the day he transferred to Rocky Knoll.  So I cancelled.   The past week, I have been having difficulty "seeing".  The hair was falling right into my eyes.  I felt like a sheep dog.   Now I am much lighter and will be able to easier keep my hair in control.   Fewer bad hair days.

]Next stop was Amy's Hallmark in Sheboygan.  Would you believe that this is already the Hallmark ornament sale week.   As I get double points, this is the time I begin the  Christmas Shopping.    Hard to believe isn't it?   But it is nice to know that I have one part of it done already.

Then I went to have lunch with Dick and spend the afternoon with him.   The lunch choices today were spaghetti or liver.   Yippee.  Guess what Dick had.   I had liver.   It w as quite good.   Still have to get Bobbie over here for a liver and onions dinner.   It would be nice to have Shane and Georgie as Shane wants to try liver.

Dick and I took a stroll around the hallways as it was too hot to go outside and he did not have therapy.   Then we played Rummy for a while.  I won two and he won one.   Yesterday, he swept the board.  

I came home at 4PM. I have been getting things gathered for the Tea tomorrow.

Dick said he wants to come home.   I know and want him here too.   But we have to get him well and able to help himself.   I told him that if we win the lottery, it will be much quicker because I can   hire help then.

Pray for a win.

Love you all and God loves you too.

Mary

P. S.  Another wonderful thing about Nora.

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150315397729948&oid=95781119896&comments

A very fruitful day. 

This morning Jody came and cleaned.    I finished the cork ornament favors for the tea.   baked the lavender cookies,  folded clothes and caught up a bit on email.

Then at about noon, I left to join the Bank Ladies for lunch at Dairy Queen.   I stopped at the bank for change and at Kettle Moraine for medication for Roxie.  It was nice visiting with my friends again.   Did you know that Dairy Queen (at least the Plymouth store) have quesadillas now?   They have chicken and veggie.   I don't much care for chicken in quesadillas ,  so I get the veggie and it is enough that I had the second half when I joined Dick for supper tonight.

I went to Rocky Knoll after lunch and watch Dick do the last of his OT.   He is doing well at his therapy.   They told me that he really did well at his transfer this morning.    Then we went back to his room, watched TV for a bit and then played a game of Rummy.    We are starting to play games to keep ourselves amused.    I really would like to get to cribbage.   But he is happy with Rummy right now.

I received an exciting email from Leslie.   Read the following about Nora, our granddaughter.


http://www.lompocrecord.com/news/local/military/vandenberg/article_96bd234c-aea6-11e0-82bd-001cc4c03286.html

I think I told you Nora is pregnant.   She sent an email saying that she fixed fried pickles.   Her most clever sister, Sarah said and I quote. "I am both horrified and intrigued at the same time."  Boy I love those girls.

God love you all

Mary

Hello Again.   This was a day that reminds us why we live in Wisconsin.   Lovely temperatures, green lush growth all around,  the corn growing like crazy and no humidity to speak of. 

I did the grocery shopping, such as it is, this morning and bought our lottery tickets.   We did well on the quick pick numbers this time.   Maybe it is a sign.

Shopping went very well, my major purchases were for Roxie.   She was just about out of food and I needed more litter.  I don't think she really appreciated it.

I went over to be with Dick at 11:30AM..  He had done most of his PT already.   I missed the slide board transfer today.  The therapists said that he did really well.  They hardly had to help him at all.  

We went down to lunch.  He now has two table mates.   I think they have gotten a couple more who need more help so they put two at the table who are pretty independent.   Bob, who used to sit at the table beside ours all alone and Rich, who just got here.   Rich broke both of his arms in a horse accident.   He has a great attitude and it is nice to sit at a full table.   It is good for Dick too.

After lunch he had his OT.  upper arm strength exercises and his last driving test.

At 3PM on we went down to the On the Rocks "bar" for the Wednesday happy hour.  Rich and a woman resident sat with us.   A pleasant break for us all.

I came home shortly after that and have been putting the cork ornaments together for the Tea favors.   They are fun.  I am trying to use just supplies that I have.  So far it is working.

So. Til tomorrow

God love you

Mary

Today was a nice weather day, though someone said that a few drops of rain fell.    I only know that it did not seem as humid and was not as hot either.

I went to Rocky Knoll this morning at about 9AM.  Dick was glad to see me of course.   He is all dressed and breakfasted by then so we visited until it was time for him to go to Occupational Therapy.  Most of his OT was his motorized chair "driver's test".    He has to go through ropes three times.   This was his second.   We walked all around the building - into the other areas of Rocky Knoll.   Down to the ground floor, where the chapel, a little store and some activity rooms are.     Then he had to do a slalom, back up and get in and out of the bathroom.   She walked down to the lunchroom with us to see how he fared getting up to the table for lunch.   He is really good so it is just a formality.

We had lunch together.   I purchased it today.   They had what they called Cowboy stew.  A really tasty stew that had both beef and pork sausages in it.   Dick and I both had it on noodles.   They had chocolate mousse for dessert.

I left shortly after lunch.   I had an appointment at Wells with my investment banker at 1:30AM.   We reviewed my accounts and did some tweaking.   I also had a mailing about my 401K about a class action suite and needed advice.

Then I shopped a bit.   I went to Fleet and found some thumbtacks, raisins and screw eyes.   The thumbtacks and screw eyes to finish assembling cork ornaments for favors at our tea.   I also stopped at Kmart for a akirt.   I really don't have a summer skirt and it seems, in my vision, that I should have a skirt for the tea.

So.  Home again.   I have been working on the cork ornaments and paying bills.  I fixed a fajita for my evening meal which was very tasty.

I hope your day was as pleasant.    Tomorrow is grocery shopping day.    I sure don't need much now but we get our lottery tickets on Wednesday too.   And Dick told me that he thinks it is just time that we win that thing and get it over with.

God love you

Mary

It was so great to get back to a normal Monday morning.    I got up at 7AM and proceed through the usual morning chores until 9am.  Then I left for Sheboygan Falls, Blessed Trinity and Bible Study.   It was go good to get back with my prayer support group.

We started discussing Psalms of Wisdom today.   There was a lot in the introduction - We will get to the first of this type of Psalm next week.

The most interesting question we discussed was - should we just be living life in expectation of eternity or dare we live for the joy of living.  It reminded me of something that Mark Victor Hanson said in a workshop of his that I attended years ago.    "God did not make the jewels of this world for the devil's children."     God made the world for us.   We have a right to enjoy it as long as we are doing our bit to preserve it and to help others enjoy His world and make their way to Him.

Then I went to Mom's for our weekly visit.    I brought that I purchased about the Lady Elgin for her to read.   It is a part of our history and I knew she would enjoy it.

She was delighted yesterday when Uncle Pat, Aunt Joan, and their children and families came to visit her.  They brought dinner and prepared it, set the table and cleaned everything up so that Mother could just enjoy.   How nice is that.

Jeff and Kathy have "visitors".   Matt, Kauru , Coleton and Alana are here already and will be here til after the wedding.   The big wedding of THIS summer you know.  Shane and Georgina.   That is July 23.   I am excited. 

Nora and Leif will be in the state on Saturday, I think.    We will get to visit a bit, I hope.

I picked up a new watch for Dick on the way home, then ate a quick lunch and went to Rocky Knoll so I could be there for the afternoon therapy.    Dick and I wanted me there because today was the first slide board transfer that he attempted.    It went well, I thought.  He left the prosthesis on the lift leg for another hour so he can get used to it again.  It really looked good when I took it off.   The redness is minor and will be OK when Tim can adjust both together in the future.

I ate supper with Dick and now am home and glad to be here.   Roxie is glad I am here too. 

Take care of yourselves.   I love you and God does too.

Mary

Boy was this a nice day.    I got up at 7AM.  (Of course, I always have been poked out of bed at 6AM to feed a greedy little cat.) I got myself all ready for this busy day.

I had to be at Rocky Knoll at 9AM.   Mass is at 10AM and I have volunteered to help residents come down to the Mass as long as Dick is there.   This mass is working so well and usually I just have lunch with Dick afterwards.   I helped three people down and one person back up after Mass.   I sat with my friend Alice during the Mass.    Please pray for her Claude.   He is very ill.

I left for home at 11:30AM.  My friend Nancy Coenen picked me up for our lunch and the play  - A Rising Wind The Lady Elgin Story.    We had a great time.   Lots of visiting on the way over and back and at lunch.   AND a really exceptional play.    The author was one of the actors.   The play was the story as told by a newspaper writer and four people who were involved in the incident.   I understand now, the sequence of events in more clarity.    Even better, we heard the story from the view of "passengers" and a seaman who was on the Augusta, the ship that rammed the Lady Elgin.   These accounts made the story very real.   It is so moving when a faces are put on history.

We had lunch at JMKAC.   It was excellent and I had anough to eat tonight when I had supper with Dick.   I drove over as soon as I got home and fed Roxie.   Then I came home almost immediately.   

Dick was settling down and tomorrow will again be a busy day.

He had company this afternoon.   Bobbie and Bill came to visit.   I kind of figured they would.   But there is quite a bit of activity in that place anyway.

So Now I am closing down to get ready for next week.     I have quite a bit to do, though not many appointments.  The Sheboygan CWI Tea will be at Kate's next Sunday from 2 to 4PM.    If you want to come, let me know.    I baked Strawberry bread and froze it for next week.    I am planning on making scones, lavender cookies and/or Apricot treats.

Tomorrow, I will be able to return to my normal Monday Bible Study and visit with Mother.    I am so looking forward to that.    I will go to Rocky Knoll right after lunch.   He is going to be practicing with a slide board and wants me there to observe and learn.

So.  I will be there.

God love you all

Mary

A rather uneventful day.   I did not get up until after 8AM this morning.

I felt very lazy this morning so really did not do much of anything except for the usual morning things and loving the kitty.

I got to Rocky Knoll at about 11:30AM.   Dick had a good night again.    He is still looking good and has the weekend off from  therapy.  He is using the motorized chair which makes it easy to get around in.   It is not as roomy as the other one so he has to work his muscles to shift around.   Therapy will be able to help him with that.

We had lunch together.   I bought the lunch they provided this noon because it sounded good AND the dessert was Schaum torte.   After lunch Dick rested so I read and did some crossword puzzles.   Then a bit later in the afternoon,  we played some Rummy.  I brought cards and a cribbage board so we can do things like that to pass the time for him and keep him stimulated.   (And keep me from getting bored.)

Again I left after accompanying him down to the dining room for his supper.  

It is always nice to get home, the days are long.   Roxie is so glad to see me and I try to do some project or cleanup both in the morning and the evening.   Tonight I am SO tired, that I don't know how far I will get.

I fixed a grilled cheese and basil sandwich for my supper.   Boy is that good.  I baked some strawberry almond bread for the tea.   Soda breads freeze well, so I can concentrate on other more perishable tea foods next Saturday.

Tomorrow I will go to JMKAC to see A Rising Wind, The Lady Elgin Story with Nancy Coenen.

I am really excited about that.   I think I told you that Phillip King, a boy orphaned by the sinking of the Lady Elgin, was raised by relatives in the Clifford family.   When he grew up he married Charlotte (Lottie) Bowser,  my great grandfather Joseph's sister.

So soon to bed.   I really miss my naps.

God love you

Mary

I really waited til too late to post this blog.

With so much to do at home, I kept putting it off until now.

This was a wonderful day.   We went to see Dr. Fehrman at 11:00AM and he is very pleased with the healing on Dick's leg.  He will see him in two weeks and take out the stitches.  

We go the motorized chair back today which is a relief for Dick as he can get himself around so much easier.  They are supposed to put hm through a "driving test", but the people who do this are gone until Monday so he should be really good at driving the thing by then.

As I said, a red letter day.  So now I am going to bed after calling most of the people that should hear about this beautiful turn of events, his children.

God  Love You

Mary

Today the schedule was tweaked a bit.

I made phone calls and worked on cleaning out obsolete medical supplies this morning.

 Then I joined Kate and Debbie at Antoinette's for lunch and discussion of our tea which Kate is hosting for the Sheboygan Branch of CWI.   I have to get the invitation ready tonight and tomorrow morning so that it can be emailed and sent.    People have been told to mark their calendars but the time is now set and we need people to RSVP so that we can prepare enough food,  tables and place settings.

After lunch, I drove over to pick up a prescription.   As it was at Walmart, I looked for clothes for Dick and found a pair of shoes for $10 for myself.  I will have to go to Fleet and Kmart for Dick's shorts.   They have a much better Big Man selection.

I stopped at home to check on the mail and then went to spend the afternoon with Dick.   He was in therapy when I got there.   Then back to the room where we visited until time for supper.    I ate with him tonight.   As I only ate half of my lunch at Antoinette's, I had the rest with with Dick, then came home for the night.

 So a full day.   Tomorrow we will have a report from Dr. Fehrman.

God Love you

Mary

Another successful day.    I did our grocery shopping today.    Berries were on sale.    I got blueberries to preserve and raspberries and blackberries to snack on.

This morning I watered the berms and the pots on the deck.   The promised rain from yesterday did not arrive, so it was necessary.   It was trash day too.   The holiday delayed the pickup a day.

So. I left to have lunch with and spend the afternoon with Dick shortly after 11AM.   He was in therapy when I got there so I went to there to watch and be with.   He was done just before noon and lunch.   I brought mine along so that we could eat together.  Dick had turkey, mashed potatoes and coconut cream pie.   I had a nice pork sandwich and a salad.

Dick had his other therapy session a little after 1PM.   He was pretty tired when that was done but we both know that the activity is good for him and we cannot let his muscles get all stiff and atrophied.   On Wednesdays they have a social in the "On the Rocks Saloon" which is at the end of the hall going into the other part of the building.    From 3:PM to 4PM they serve drinks and a snack.   We went down and enjoyed a glass of white wine together and met a couple of people.    Ken and Lucy.   Lucy is also in rehab so Ken was visiting with her.   It is very pleasant.   They have jukebox music and everything.

I left after I took Dick down to the dining room for his supper.   He was having chili and looking forward to that.   I came home, fixed a hamburger and settled in.    I am washing and drying his shorts and shirts to I can restock him tomorrow.

I will be up a bit later tonight, because there is a special on ABC about the Virgin Mary appearances around the world.   I am really looking forward to it and hope I won't be too tired to enjoy it.

Tomorrow the schedule will be a bit different as I am going to lunch with Kate and Debbie at Antoinette's.   We are going to plan the tea goodies for our mid July Tea party.

The weather has been wonderful, though a bit dry and I have blossoms on my tomato plants.   So all is coming along.

God love you

Mary



P. S.   I have received the following before, but this time it was copied and pasted into an email, so I thought I would share it with you all.

Interesting concept.

Subject: Change

I have totally cleaned this e-mail from all other names, sending it to you in hopes you will keep it going and keep it clean. This is something I will fight for and I hope you all read it all the way through. You will be glad you did.

The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc.

Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.

I'm asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.

In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.

Congressional Reform Act of 2011

1. No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12.
The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S. ) to receive the message. It is time.

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!!

.

Here we are, finally the beginning of the week.  And the month.   With the whole weekend, including Friday, July 1st, being the holiday, life was very disjointed and it seemed that we were not really into the swing of rehab.

But today, Dick has been put on a pretty good schedule, I think.   He will have PT in the morning, OT in the afternoons. 

I have been staying home until about 11AM in the mornings, then going to Rocky Knoll to have lunch with Dick and spend the afternoon with him, coming home at about 5PM.  This seems to work pretty well for both of us.

Today he was in occupational therapy when I got there, so I sat and watched while he finished and then we went together for lunch.  

They got him at about 12:45PM for the PT so some could be done before Tim from Wisconsin Prosthetics came to check out the current prosthesis and get a look and measurement on the new amputation.  I got to see the incision and it seems to be healing pretty well.    The other leg has been swollen too but the compression sox are bringing it down.   A day or two and he will be able to wear the prosthesis without discomfort and Tim can finish the adjustments.   We have dry skin and a sore on that too.

Dr. Sharon stopped by to see him this afternoon.   I was SO glad to see him.   I was able to express my concerns to him.  He is always ready to explain treatment and so understanding.

So that was our day.   We played some rummy in the late afternoon.  We decided that we are going to start playing games to pass the time.   The days are so long for him.  AND for me is I am just sitting there.   I do read but just can't do that all day.  

Time to settle in for the night.   Both Dick and I slept well last night.   Hope this is a repeat.

God love you all

Mary

Roxie is very happy to have me home again.   Today, I again came back from visiting with Dick at 5PM.   I went over there at about 11AM so I could have lunch with him and then spend the afternoon.

When I got there he was in the therapy department.   I think he thought, perhaps, I would get him out a bit early.   Not that he is not working hard, but he does get tired.   I am not help to him because I wait until they finish his time and routines.

We had lunch together.  I brought my own today and will do so most of the time.   Then we went back to the room.

I get really restless sitting there.  I have three books that I am alternating reading.  Two for knowledge, one for fun.  But the afternoons get long.   I brought the cribbage board and cards and we are planning on a tournement soon, after he reviews the rules as we have not played in years.

We are also going to go over the budget together.   I will be gathering up the information we need tonight and tomorrow morning so we can do it together.    Things have been a bit loose lately, as Dick was our budget maker and has been so unmotivated.   He plans things and just can't get to it.   I know and understand but have been trying to push him without nagging.   Together we can do anything.

So my day is home and the Rehab center.

Thursday I am going to lunch with friends.  That will be a welcome break.

Take care and know that I love you all.


Mary

A lovely day and I had to spend it mostly inside again.   But that is OK since Dick looked so much better today.   His color was good and he was better rested as he did get some sleep last night.    They have figured out how to change his position in bed ever so slightly  to relieve pressure on his back and bottom and it is helping the discomfort in his back and helping rashes to heal.

He is experiencing more pain in he newly amputated leg, but I would imagine that is normal with the healing going on and the fact that the morphine is moving out of his system.

We lunched together, Dick and I.   They served meatballs, noodles and Caesar Salad and chocolate cake.  The noodles and cake were really good.   The meatballs were nondescript the the salad was nice and crisp with just OK Caesar dressing.  But we were together and that is all that matters.

Bobbie and Bill came to visit this afternoon.   A welcome sight.    We all enjoyed a nice visit in one of the gathering areas.   His room is rather cramped and not too good for visiting.

I went to 10AM Mass at Rocky Knoll.  I had planned on going to that Mass after I saw it on the schedule.  Then Alice, the wife of one of the other residents, Claude, who was at Plymouth Care the same time that Dick was three years ago, asked if I wanted to go and if I knew how to get there.   So we went together this morning.
It is a nice intimate mass with residents and volunteers.    I have decided to volunteer to bring patients down to the mass as long as Dick is there.   I should be able to help for four to 8 weeks which would make me feel useful.

I left there at 3PM so that I could take a drive over to Falls to visit with Mother for a bit.   She is looking good too.   She says she feels weak but does not have any real aches or pains and is just grateful that she can be in her own home and still has her wits about her.   We had such a good talk.    I figure that next Monday I will be able to start back to Bible Study and to our visits.   Then she will get weekly updates on Dick.

So.  Home again, I fixed a bit of supper and have been doing this blog and answering phone calls.   My friend Katherine from Ireland called.   We had a grand visit.   She and her son Tony were so gracious to this Yankee Girl when I was in Ireland last.

God bless you all continued thanks for your prayers.    They are keeping us lifted up, I know.

Mary