It has been a busy day. Took Mother to the Senior Meal site for her flu shot and then grocery shopping.

Tonight was Quilt Guild. We had a pot luck. I brought tortilla wraps with cheese, Budig meat, tomatoes and shredded lettuce. I used flavored tortillas spread with chive and onion cream cheese. They were all gone so I guess they were good. Of course pot lucks are usually good as people DO bring their best recipes.

Anyway, I am tired and Chelsea is hinting that she is tired. Dick and I have to make the bed too. He washed the sheets this afternoon.

Have a good Thursday.

Edward Kennedy said. "Frankly, I don't mid not being President. I just mid that someone else is."

Isn't that how we feel about many things.

Mary

We went to Dick's doctor this morning. Dick has an ear and sinus infection and is now taking Sudafed and an antibiotic to cure them. We are so glad to know what it is and that there is something that will provide relief.

Then we went grocery shopping. Later, I picked up some thread at Joann's Fabric then spent the evening sewing. I completed one of the squares of the Oak Leaf table runner and started a stocking for the Festival of Trees.

Dick also got his flu shot right away. I will take Mother to get hers at the Senior Center in Sheboygan Falls. Guess what, I am too young and with the shortage will just have to wash my hands and try to stay well on my own.

Have a nice Wednesday.

Mary

Dick is still not feeling well. We are going to see his doctor tomorrow.

Today, at the bible study, we started 1 & 2 Corinthians by reading the first half of the introduction in the study guide. This is giving us a nice insite into Paul, his times and his relationship with the Corinthians. Should be fun. We have a couple of new people. I hope they stay.

Later, I went to Writer's Club. Rosemary Eichenberger, a friend, joined me today. We went out for lunch first and had a nice visit. She was a good friend of my Uncle George. She and her husband, Warren, owned the Villager. Uncle George used to walk downtown every Wednesday night after he retired and he would make the rounds of some of the bars, including the Villager, visiting with friends and having a pint or two.

Rosemary, George, Ione (the cook at the Villager) and perhaps several other people would exchange poety and once they had a Limerick Contest. Rosemary kept some of the limericks (in their own writing) and is sharing them with me. I will have Jim scan them and then give the originals back to Rosemary. I can share the copies with those of us who remember Uncle George.

He was my bachelor uncle, Dad's younger brother. He was also my Godfather. When I was living in California, he always send a cheese box at Christmas time, one of the BIG ones with about 20 varieties of cheeses. My boys loved it and learned to like all kinds of cheeses because of that. His sister, Aunt Helen, said he spent lots of time with those cheese catalogs picking out the right assortments for each person he bought a gift for.

Any way, Rosemary apparantly is also an aspiring writer and has been looking for a group for encouragement and information. I hope she likes us and comes back.

We did a writing exercize that Jane Kocmond, Ann Pirrung and I learned while we were at a writing conference a few weeks ago. Here it is, in case you want to try it.

1. Write five nouns - things that you can touch, feel, smell or see.
I picked - kitty, tomato, kilt, lotion, pine tree

2. Write five abstract words. eg: wisdom, honesty
I picked - hope, dreams, faith, wisdom, piety

Then write a paragraph, sentence of poem using at least one word from each column.

This is what I wrote:

The kitty was perched on top of the curie cabinet. Being on the highest point in the room seems to be her goal in life. Se looks for all the world like a statue of some ancient god, representing wisdom and conveying knowledge of all things good.

Try it it is fun.

Mary

Dick is still not feeling well. We are going to see his doctor tomorrow.

Today, at the bible study, we started 1 & 2 Corinthians by reading the first half of the introduction in the study guide. This is giving us a nice insite into Paul, his times and his relationship with the Corinthians. Should be fun. We have a couple of new people. I hope they stay.

Later, I went to Writer's Club. Rosemary Eichenberger, a friend, joined me today. We went out for lunch first and had a nice visit. She was a good friend of my Uncle George. She and her husband, Warren, owned the Villager. Uncle George used to walk downtown every Wednesday night after he retired and he would make the rounds of some of the bars, including the Villager, visiting with friends and having a pint or two.

Rosemary, George, Ione (the cook at the Villager) and perhaps several other people would exchange poety and once they had a Limerick Contest. Rosemary kept some of the limericks (in their own writing) and is sharing them with me. I will have Jim scan them and then give the originals back to Rosemary. I can share the copies with those of us who remember Uncle George.

He was my bachelor uncle, Dad's younger brother. He was also my Godfather. When I was living in California, he always send a cheese box at Christmas time, one of the BIG ones with about 20 varieties of cheeses. My boys loved it and learned to like all kinds of cheeses because of that. His sister, Aunt Helen, said he spent lots of time with those cheese catalogs picking out the right assortments for each person he bought a gift for.

Any way, Rosemary apparantly is also an aspiring writer and has been looking for a group for encouragement and information. I hope she likes us and comes back.

We did a writing exercize that Jane Kocmond, Ann Pirrung and I learned while we were at a writing conference a few weeks ago. Here it is, in case you want to try it.

1. Write five nouns - things that you can touch, feel, smell or see.
I picked - kitty, tomato, kilt, lotion, pine tree

2. Write five abstract words. eg: wisdom, honesty
I picked - hope, dreams, faith, wisdom, piety

Then write a paragraph, sentence of poem using at least one word from each column.

This is what I wrote:

The kitty was perched on top of the curie cabinet. Being on the highest point in the room seems to be her goal in life. Se looks for all the world like a statue of some ancient god, representing wisdom and conveying knowledge of all things good.

Try it it is fun.

Mary

Dick is not feeling too well. He has a persistant cough. We will be calling the doctor tomorrow is he is not better. A few prayers will be appreciated.

What a beautiful day. The temperature was beautiful and the sun shone all day. Chelsea was a real pain this morning. She woke me up at 4:00AM the first time and I was so groggy that is was up and in my sweats before it dawned on me what the real time was. So, I let her out the back door to piddle then went back to bed. Then , she got really pushy at about 5:30AM so I gave up. It has been a long day - needless to say.

This morning I led our Kindercore choir in church before Mass in a rousing rendition of The Unicorn Song. They had done it for the Celtic Faire and wanted to do it again. We figured that after all it is about Noah, so we could stretch doing it as a prelude. The congregation loved it.

Have a nice week.

Mary

I went to a class today that taught machine applique. I am quite excited about it. For the next couple of weeks I will be practicing on a table runner called oak leaves. By the time I finish, I should have it pretty well down pat. The leaves are quite curly, so I have to learn how to adjust for them. I also got an opportunity to purchase some REALLY fine fabrics at dealer cost. I now have the backing for the quilt that I have been working on while we travel. It has a lot of greens and browns in it. Next I must learn how to quilt on the machine.

Tomorrow I am going to stuff and roast a chicken for dinner. Should be nice for the three of us. We had salmon croquettes for supper tonight. We all love them.

Did I tell you that Chelsea has taken to sleeping in back of the toilet in the guest bathroom. I think it is because it is cool and kind of cave like. Animals sure are a puzzle sometimes.

Have a good evening.


Mary

Bobbie, Jim and I went pistol league shooting again. I am going down by myself now because I don't feel as pressured if I am alone. I did OK. Not great but OK. I seem to be pulling down and to the left. Frank, one of my friends, suggested how to correct that. I will try his suggestion next week.

I watched the debate tonight between President Bush and Senator Kerry. I think I learned a lot.

Tomorrow I am taking a class through the Quilt Guild on machine applique. I am really looking forward to it. I realized that I do not have an applique foot but should be able to get by with a foot that came with the machine and if I really like it I can order the foot for future use.

I have been sampling the Revolution Tea that the kind waitress at the St. James Hotel gave to me. The English Breakfast is great, the Chai is OK, the Earl Grey Lavender Tea is great and the green is the best I have tasted. I must look online to order more.

Have a nice Saturday, I know I will. We had corn and tomatoes for dinner. I hope for one more week this season.

Love

Mary

Dick has a bit of a cold. I hope he gets it under control quickly.

What about this flu shot availability fiasco? We are planning on going to the Piggly Wiggly next Thursday with Mother. The Visiting Nurses are dispensing shots there (unless they have to cancel.) Dick and Mother are in the high risk group. I am still under 65 and healthy so won't get one. Tommy Thompson doesn't look too good in this situation.

I am very tired now so I think I'll hit the hay.

Sweet dreams.

Mary

The Sheboygan Theater Company's presentation of Jesus Christ Superstar was REALLY good. The good singers and performers must have been waiting for this one. Dick was unable to go so I called my brother Randy's house and my neice, Jessica, was able to come. I am so glad she was free. She is a busy girl. Jessica is a Senior in high school, has a job AND is practicing for a production of Footloose at the high school.

Dick and I will have to go see that. It will be presented in early November is anyone is interested.

I am tired, so will go to bed now.

Today was a beautiful day and tomorrow is supposed to be just as nice. We are expecting much needed rain in the evening. God is indeed good.

Mary

Tuesday - we went grocery shopping this morning. Then I got my hair cut and then went to see Dr. Casey for an adjustment. We are working on wine too.

We filtered the Lemon Balm today. We will let it sit for a couple of days and then filter again. Then bottle. I tasted a bit and it has a very light lemony taste. Very pleasant. I think it will make a nice light wine in the summer time. If it matures as good as it is now, I will pick a lot more lemon balm next year.

I am going to listen to the Vice Presidential Candidates debate tonight. I am trying very hard to get informed. Dick said he is not going to listen because he just gets mad. I need info.

Dr. Suess said. "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

Enjoy Wednesday. We are going to see Jesus Christ Superstar presented by the Sheboygan Theatre Company with Mother. It is the kickoff to the 2004/2005 season.

Mary

We had a very stimulating bible study this morning. We finished the current study of Psalms, having covered Psalms 1 - 72. We discussed the fact that the Old Testament seems often not to make any sense. I know that the bible is the word of God but - as Fr. Gene pointed that the Old Testament prophets told the people that in order to take possession of the promised land they must go in and kill every man women and child, burn the towns to the ground and salt the earth so that nothing remained. Did God really say that? or perhaps power hungry leaders. We must keep those lessons in mind. There are those who say the same thing about Iraq. But that is not right. It is not right to destroy a people for a principle or impose our ways for the sake of oil or power.

We are supposed to get a freeze tonight. I brought in the plants that I am really worried about. Tomorrow we shop, I get a haircut and got to see Dr. Casey for a neck adjustment. Busy days.

My friend Janet Thomas sent me several quotes about women by famous women. I loved the following. "Inside me lives a skinny woman crying to get out. But I can usually shut the bitch up with cookies." Helen Hayes. Do YOU believe that. I always liked her.

Love

Mary

The Packers lost AGAIN. And Bret Farve got hurt. Looks like a concussion. Hopefully he will be OK by next week. Things are not looking too good in Packerland.

I talked to Bart and Barb tonight. Bart sounds pretty good. It is later in the day and he seemed to be pretty up. Usually by evening before, he would be just drained. There are still things to be ironed out but the weather is helping and he said he is trying to keep busy and figure out how to occupy his time without getting reclusive. I am proud of him. Barb is enjoying work and has found a few women to quilt with so she has something for HER.

The next week is fairly busy but managable. Tomorrow I have bible study and the Rhine Plymouth Field and Stream. I can't remember where I put my bible study book so this should be interesting.

We had pork roast and roasted potatoes for supper. I also fixed spinach. Jim wouldn't eat the spinach. He asked where the noodles were. (The famous Kunert Spinach Noodle Egg Casserole which is the only way he eats spinach.) His loss. It was really good.

Yesterday at the Legion of Mary Breakfast, I was surprised that the speaker listed the "5 non negotiables" I agree with(1) cloning, (2) abortion,(3) assisted suicide. I am in need of more information on (4)stem cell research. I certainly don't believe in making fetuses for the stem cells alone, but see no problem in harvesting the cells from live births. The fifth is homosexuality. I really have a problem with that. I cannot believe that God made over ten percent of his creatures as homosexuals and that they are evil if they act naturally.

Have a great Monday.

Mary

The Legion of Mary had a Mass followed by a breakfast at Blessed Trinity this morning. We are a nice group. There are 89 auxiliary members and 5 active members. I am an auxiliary. I am just unable to spend 4 hours a week more on ANYTHING. The Mass was nice and the ladies fixed a scrumtious breakfast. We had sweet breads, deviled eggs, scrambled eggs with bacon, bread and butter and cheese and fruit. WOW. The company was pleasant too.

Then, I got home and figured I was done for the day. UNTIL I looked at my calendar and realized that the Sheboygan Symphony was tonight. So we napped and went. It was really good, as usual. They had a guest organist and a guest guitarist. The guitarist played with the orchestra on selections from a composer called Jaoquin Ridrigo - Concierto de Aranjez. The peices were delightful. They also played the Pines of Rome by Respighi. I had not heard them before and was very impressed.

Tomorrow is the third Packer game of the season. Heaven help us. We had better win this one.

Have a great Sunday morning.

Mary

We are home. Did you miss me?

We had a very exciting four days - all a mystery, of course. We travelled from Sheboygan as far west as Minnesota. We visited Lark Toys, the Mayo Clinic, the Spam Museum (yes, there really is such a place), took a ride on the Minnesota Zepher train and many other things.

We were with a grand group of people. I well expand on this tomorrow and hopefully, I can get a picture in. I am really tired and want to go to bed.

Take care and have a great Saturday

Mary

We are home. Did you miss me?

We had a very exciting four days - all a mystery, of course. We travelled from Sheboygan as far west as Minnesota. We visited Lark Toys, the Mayo Clinic, the Spam Museum (yes, there really is such a place), took a ride on the Minnesota Zepher train and many other things.

We were with a grand group of people. I well expand on this tomorrow and hopefully, I can get a picture in. I am really tired and want to go to bed.

Take care and have a great Saturday

Mary

It is 5:15AM. We are waiting for Bobbie. Chelsea and I took our walk at 4:00AM. It really was nice out there. The moon is full. I got one view of the sky with the full moon on the right, outshining the stars and stars showing up on the darker left. I did not hear birds. I suppose they were still sleeping. Sensible. Dick joked that perhaps we are going to be touring historic Sheboygan Falls.

You will not hear from me until Friday. Then the secret of our destination will be revealed to you.
Have a good rest of the week. I am sure we will. I have fun wherever I go.

Love


Mary

We are all packed for our Mystery Tour. I don't think I have ever been ready the day before for ANY other trip. Surely, we must have forgotten something. Bobbie will be here at 5:30AM so we can get to the pick up point for the 6:15 AM departure.

Cadfael's Book of Days was good today. "Salvation comes from strange places and unexpected friends."

Love

Mary

We are all packed for our Mystery Tour. I don't think I have ever been ready the day before for ANY other trip. Surely, we must have forgotten something. Bobbie will be here at 5:30AM so we can get to the pick up point for the 6:15 AM departure.

Cadfael's Book of Days was good today. "Salvation comes from strange places and unexpected friends."

Love

Mary

The cheesecake is a keeper. It is three layers of chocolate. A cheesecake layer, a brownie layer and a ganache layer. Two of them I laced with Irish Potcheen.

Bobbie and I ate the venison liver. Wow was it good and we each got two pieces for later. The guys turned their noses up at it as usual. But they enjoyed their hamburgers and we all liked the raw fried potatoes.

The Packers lost - again. They seem to have no defense this year. The offence was scoring but they couldn't keep the Colts from scoring and were just outplayed. Ick!!

Tomorrow will be busy as we need to shop, pack and then I have two evening meetings at church. We must get up by 4:30AM on Tuesday morning to catch the bus for our Mystery Tour at 6:15AM.

Someday I plan on publishing a volume of my own poems. I read something today that I must keep in mind when that occurs. A quote from Don Marquis. "Publishing a volume of verse is like dropping a rose-petal down the Grand Canyon and waiting for the echo."

Puts it all in perspective.

Love

Mary

Today was beautiful AGAIN. It is supposed to dip down into the low 50s, maybe the 40s tonight. I should check the forcast to see if I need to bring any of the deck plants in. I kind of doubt it but one never knows.

I make scones and bread today. I had to make two loaves of bread. The wheat did not rise, so I put in a loaf of English Muffin bread too.

Bobbie and Bill are coming for dinner tomorrow. I am fixing liver and onions. At least for Bobbie and me. Dick, Bill, Jim and Dick will have hamburgers. I decided that raw fried potatoes would go well with both entrees.

For dessert, I made a cheesecake that sounded good. It is my first experiment for the Home and Hearth Contest next year. This one is a Double Chocolate Whiskey Upside down Cheesecake. Wow.

I used the Potchen I picked up in Ireland instead of the Jack Daniels that was called for. It sure smells good.

Have a nice Sunday. I am going to the 8:00 Mass so I will be getting up early.

Love

Mary

As mornings get darker, I clip on a flashing red light
so that the neighbors can see me
When they in their cars leave
for work.

Chelsea likes the colder days, I just
hope that the chill winds and rain
and snow hold off for just a little while.