What a day.   I went to Bible Study at 9:30AM.  Really did not want to get up.   Yesterday was a long and exhausting day, but worth every moment.  We had a good group though three of our members were absent.   Joseph's friend, Paul is visiting Felicia and Joseph and came along.   He has been before and is a good contributor to the conversation.

Then I went to see Mom.   She had an interesting morning.   The aid came and gave her a sponge bath and shortly after, another aid came and said it was her shower day.   She told her she really would rather not, but it would have been a week before her next schedule so there you go.   She said she didn't exercise because she figured that was enough activity.   Good for her.
I had to take her hearing aid to the ear doctor for checking.   The technician wasn't available until one o'clock so it was a good opportunity to stay for lunch with Mom.   That is fun and I know Mom enjoys it when we do. 

I was unable to give communion to one of my little ladies, she is failing so fast and just isn't with us anymore.   My heart just breaks for her so I said a little prayer by her bed.


I have received so many questions on being in Scotland for the Vote.   And that is what is was called, the VOTE.  This is a picture of  three of our tour members standing by a car decorated with the YES decals that were ALL over the Highlands.   There were also Huge signs on the hillsides and painted on sides of buildings and flags.   All with the Blue and White YES, the colors of the Scot flag which is the Flag of St. Andrew a white X cross, because St. Andrew was crucified on that shaped crucifix, on a blue background.  Also often the Flag itself  I am pleased to have been there during such a historic event.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

IBAM

Safe home from a super weekend in Chicago at the Chicago Irish American Heritage center.   We got there in plenty of time for Felicia to be a part of the CWI board meeting and I was able to help Maureen Smith set up the Literary Salon of its two days of presentations.

As I told you, I was one of the presentations, giving a half hour talk and demonstration on how I come up with, design and assemble the quilted wall hangings that I create.   There was a good turnout and I was pleased with the response.   We had fun.   I was asked how I choose the fabrics at the "store" and had to confess that I find most of them in the stash that I have assembled.   This helped me to let them know that IF they don't have a stash,   Draw up their loose sketch of their idea and go off to a fabric store, independent smaller stores are usually the most help.   They will help you pull bolts and hold them against each other to see the look.    People in those stores, love helping creators.    I also was able to tell them that their idea might not be mind.   My "lady" in my proposed new wall hanging will have an apron.   One of my audience said she thought pink would be better.   I told her good.   Now she sees how your imagination and ideas make each creation unique.  It was fun.

I was able to attend several talks and discussions and even participate in and open mike.   I read Falcon and Crystal.

Attended a discussion panel on how to publish.   I think perhaps my dear friend Janet Bieschke will start writing and realize her work is so good.   I may have her coming to the Poets at Mead group.

Also went to the awards dinner and have my picture with Paddy Reilly AND John Mahoney.   Also ate dinner with Darren from the High Kings.

I am overwhelmed and so happy that I was able to attend this weekend.  More will follow as well as more about Scotland.

Dia Dhuit

Hope all are well

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A reasonably busy day.   It is somewhat cooler and we had rain during the night.    The sun did come out for a while today but it still remained rather cool.

I have everything ready for IBAM.   My friend Debbie, who was going to drive, called and is very sick with the flu.   So needless to say she can not go.  So I will be driving.   Felicia with be with me and will be my navigator.

I had lunch at the Dairy Queen with the bank retirees.   Mary Schroeder came today.   She hasn't been with us for quite a while.   Good to see her again.

I am working on being able to send pictures from Scotland in different ways.  Got a bunch sent to Maureen for the CWI newsletter, I hope.

I sent some of Iona Abbey where Colm Cille landed when he came to Scotland and began his mission of converting the Picts to Christianity.  It is exciting to see these ancient rocks, some from his time, some reconstructions but all old and it creates a very thin place.  I loved that there is a stone with a sign next to it stating that it is supposed to be the stone pillow that Colm Cille slept on.   There is a legend that he did do this. 
Dia dhuit

Mary

I still seem to be a bit jet lagged.   Am going to bed early every night.

I had my hair cut today.   Spent the rest of the day getting ready for the weekend and IBAM.   Much easier than getting ready for Scotland.

My friend Jana Hertz, is going to spend a couple of days here with a friend.  She is a Braille expert and will be at a Braille conference in Milwaukee.   Coming a couple of days early to visit and do some  genealogy.    I am looking forward to that.

So.  Tomrorrow is Friday already.   Leaving for Chicago on Saturday.

Dia dhuit

Mary

The temperatures have dropped dramatically.   It was in the 50s all day today.  The only chore that I had today was the Condo board meeting at 3PM so I spent the day on getting ready for the weekend IBAM in Chicago.   I am ready for my presentation.   So, I just have to pack.   I will be leaving on Saturday morning instead of Friday night so it will be easier on my Roxie.   She will only be alone one night.   My neighbor Peggy will be coming over on Saturday night and Sunday morning to feed her.  Peggy will visit with her while she is here too.   I know how she is.   Roxie seems to have settled down a bit.   Her appetite has improved anyway and no nausea for over 24 hours.  

The meeting went well.  We are in a rather quiet spell which is much easier to cope with.   I shared a shot of OBAN Scot Whiskey with the board members and conned the guys into separating the key chains I bought with the St. Andrew Scotland Flag in heart and Heiland Coo shapes.   I am using them as charms for gifts to friends and could not get them apart myself.

Tomorrow I have a blood test in the AM and then will go grocery shopping.  I ordered some discs so that I can set up a slide show of Scotland like my Ireland disc.   That will be fun.


So until tomorrow

Dia Dhuit

Mary