Hi everybody.

Back from the "Wedding of the Century".   It was wonderful.

A beautiful wedding and ceremony.     Erin and John and their families did a perfect job of planning.

I was priviledged to be asked to read the petitions at the wedding ceremony.  Erin is my god daughter and I am so proud to call her that.    When she was a little girl, she once told me that we have a "special relationship".   I agree with  that am so blessed.


I got to Chicago at about  10am and my friend Maureen picked me up.  She drove me to the hotel and we had lunch and the best visit.   We shared what we are doing and what is coming up in our Celtic futures.   I will be coming back to Chicago in October to be a part of her Literary Salon at IBAM.  She edited my forward/introduction and liked it.   I have to get myself published or at least on the brink of publication before IBAM.  I think there is a market for my book.  It has not been done before.   The patron saints of all 7 Celtic nations.  It has been an adventure and a wonderful obsession for me.  If any of you know of a publisher to contact, let me know.

It is very warm here.

Dia dhuit

mary 

   

AUNTIE BRANDL'S WONDER SALVE

8 ounces sweet oil

4 ounces red lead

3 drams olebaum

2 drams burnt alum

2 drams camphor

Heat oil to boiling point. Add all ingredients except camphor.

Boil until lead turns brown.

Take from fire and immediately add camphor. Beat until cool.

NOTES : This salve was used for healing sores. Auntie Brandl sent some of this salve to Grandma Helen Ziegler Deeley when Dad had Tularemia (contracted from contact with rabbits). He had a sore that would not heal. The envelope with the recipe had a note on it to "Put on Hutz's toe" My dad, Hutz, swore by it and after it was gone tried to get Mom to make more. Some of the ingredients are no longer available. Actually we aren't sure what some of them are. To top things off, according to my brother George, who has a PHD in Water Pollution (Chemistry) the red lead is poisonous and illegal anyway. Mom used to have a bottle of sweet oil (which may have been too old to be of any use) and a small sample of the original salve. I am not even sure from transcribing the writing if I spelled correctly and olebaum may be oledaum or even olebalm. If I ever find out I will correct the recipe and update this page.

Don't you love the word drams. It is a really cool word. I looked it up so that you don't have

to wonder how much a dram is.

1 dram = 0.0625 ounces and was originally both a coin and a weight in

ancient Greece. There is a lot more information in the definition, but it is really much more than we need to know.

Well, tomorrow morning I will be leaving for Chicago for the wedding

Bart will be spending the night so I can just wake him when it is time to drive me to the airport.

Today, I had a pedicure.   I almost made the appointment for after the wedding.   Sure glad I didn't.  My does were a grown out green and raggedy looking.   As I am wearing a yellow dress and open toed shoes, this would have looked like  H E double toothpicks.

I had Brooke paint them a nice lavender which is in the sash on the dress.

The rest of the day I tried to rest.   I planted the herbs that I had purchased a week or so ago and packed but that was about it.

You probably won't hear from me until I return.   Pray for the happy couple as they start their journey.

I think you all know that Erin is not only my niece but my god daughter.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Just got off from a nice phone conversation with my friend Janet.     The evenings get long sometimes and we always have so much to talk about.

Bart stopped by early this evening just before Barbara got off work and we had a nice visit too.

He and Barb and I will have dinner tomorrow night together.  Then he will spend the night in my guest room as he has to get me to the airport by 4:30AM on Friday.

Tomorrow I have one appointment at 11AM and have to finish packing but will mainly rest as the the next three days will be SO busy.

May friend Maureen is picking me up at the airport in Chicago and will take me to the hotel.  We are planning on catching up and just visiting for the afternoon.   I am so looking forward to that.

So time to wind down again.

I love you all

Dia dhuit

Mary

What a great couple of days.

Today, I drove over to the Center for Creative Living and we firmed up the event that I hope will kick off a very active CWI - Celtic Women organization in Lawton.  

On April 27th,  the Center is supplying the place with lunch from 11AM to noon.   At noon, I will read the Proclamation,  (The Proclamation of Independence of the Republic of Ireland,  that was read on April 24 by Padraig Pearse on the steps of the General Post  Office on O Connell Street  in Dublin just after the Irish Republican Brotherhood occupied the property.)

I will be bringing the dessert. - Barm Brac, Guinness cupcakes and Irish soda bread.

I  hope to get a number of people interested in the aims of CWI signed up for membership and begin a series of events that will keep the movement going.  

I am packing for the big Wedding of the Century.   I don't know if my Erin reads this but she would be  amused at my labeling of the event as such.   She is my niece and goddaughter so this does seem right.   I am looking forward to spending time with my Chicago CWI friends on Friday and then with the DEELEY CLAN on Saturday and Sunday.

Isn't this day an age wonderful?   When I was married (the first time) it was a miracle that Mother was able to come for the wedding.   Travel in 53 years is a whole new game!!!!!

I love you all

Dia dhuit

Mary

Last night I was in church from 6:30PM to 11:30PM then spent about 30 minutes in the hall at a reception for the dozen people who were baptized and confirmed in our faith this Easter Saturday.   The service is SO long because of all the blessings and the baptisms.   My new church has a baptism pool.   The candidates step in and Father Paul pours the water over them in the pool.   Quite dramatic.  

This morning, Bart, Barb and I drove to Dallas to spend the day with Timothy and Amber and their dear little man, one of my step great grandsons, Augie for Easter Dinner.    Amber's parents and aunt and uncle and Timothy's father and his wife were also there.   Quite a party.   Lots of fun to be around a baby on his first Easter, especially with such pleasant people.

Augie is adorable.   I have pictures but my phone is not connecting properly and I will have to work on it tomorrow when I am more alert to send some.   I know that I have been bad about pictures.   I am not doing as well with the process here in OK.  

?So it is time for bed for this lady who is exhausted after two days of LOTS of activity.

Friday I leave for Chicago.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A busy couple of days.

Yesterday, my computer tried to tell me that I had used all of my memory and it was acting very slow and some things weren't working at all.   I emailed Richard and Brenda for advice and bless their souls, they called, signed in to my computer and FIXED it.   Even from Wisconsin they can save me.  Thanks, Richard and Brenda.   I LOVE you.

I talked to Bret and Leslie and Bobbie also during the day and evening.

Today, I did a bit of household needs shopping and washed clothes and sheets.  This evening I went to the Good Friday service at Holy Family.   I find it odd, but they do not do a noon to three service, they do the evening adoration of the cross and communion service in the evening instead.

Tomorrow I will go to the Holy Saturday service.  It is a long vigil, and I don't always go, but since Bart, Barb and I  are going to Dallas to spend Easter with Tim, Barb's son, and his family on Sunday, I won't be able to go to an Easter Mass.   I will get to see my newest step great grandson, Augie for the first time. 

Time for bed.   My back is sore.    A nice cold pack will fix that up just fine.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I was finally able to get an appointment with Barb's hairdresser to get a haircut.   I no longer look like a Cocker Spaniel   Whew.

Had that appointment at 9AM, then stopped at my new bank to order checks which we had neglected to do yesterday.

Home  the rest of the day.   I finished the trimming on the quilt top that I am planning to put together and made some phone calls to firm up my new life here.

Last night was the first show of Dancing with the Stars.   I decided to watch it again this season,  I missed the last one because of the move.  But I really do enjoy that show.   It was fun and I got my votes in, so I am now committed.

I have a dentist appointment at 7AM so am going to bed even earlier than usual so I can get up early to get there.  Tomorrow is a busy day ending with a Vespers service along with an Anointing of the Sick service at Holy Family.    

Guess I am getting busy.   I miss all my friends in Sheboygan County but do call when I get lonely.

Dia DHuit

Mary                                                                        

Well, It was 33 degrees outside when Nicky and I went for our walk this morning.   It warmed up to the 60s by afternoon but felt a bt cooler because of the wind.   The wind actually blew over my trash barrels after they were empty.

I went to a local bank and opened an account so I don't have to be paying ATM fees. 

The rest of the day was home with writing, starting a fabric project and making a really good chicken salad recipe for supper tonight.

Tomorrow I will finally get my hair cut.   I am beginning to look like a Cocker Spaniel.

Until tomorrow.

Dia DHuit

Mary

Except for Mass this morning, it was a very quiet day.   I am glad for that.

Talked to a friend, worked on the book and am tired and ready for bed.

I love you all.

Please be well.   The prayer chains are SO busy.

Dia dhuit
Mary

A lovely day.   I prepared the corned beef and cabbage dinner for Bart's birthday dinner.   It turned out very will.   I have corned beef and cabbage coming out my ears leftover - that is the trouble with such a meal.   I wish you all had come.

I made a green velvet cake for his birthday cake and the dessert (remember, Bobbie, from our class at Kohler.)   There were four of us, Bart, Barb, Marlies and myself.   Marlies brought me a beautiful hanging plant for the front porch.  I will get a hook on Monday or Tuesday.   With the cold we are having, almost to freezing, I am keeping it in the sunroom for the time being.

I went to a plant sale and got a few herbs.  Still need lavender, thyme, basil and rosemary, but I have a start.

Holy week starts tomorrow with Palm Sunday.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Had an appointment with Dr. Toy this morning.  He is pleased with my progress and I will see him in another week again.   We are extending the time between visits and eventually I will see him only when needed.   Ya Hoo. 

After a couple of errands, I spent the rest of the day at home.   I am preparing for a special Birthday dinner for my youngest son.   Of course, you all know that is Bart.   He will be 45 tomorrow.  How can this baby who snuggled into my neck be 6 feet tall and 45 years old?    He was born on St. Joseph's day but requested corned beef and cabbage.

I read in a prayer guide, that corned beef was a staple of the Irish.   That is actually not completely accurate.   The Irish did prepare Irish Bacon with cabbage and potatoes.  When they arrived in New York, the Jewish people had this wonderful  process of corning beef to make it tender and tasty.   The Irish found that this worked quite well as a cheap and available replacement for Irish Bacon.  And that is the rest  of the story.

I am working daily on my book, now that I have found it again.    My goal is to have it ready for IBAM.

I can't believe that next week is Holy Week and a week from Sunday is Easter.   Then the following week is the Erin/John wedding.   I am so excited about that.   So happy that Nicky is happy with his "brother" Bart when I am gone.  I hope that I will be as comforting to his critters when I am in charge of them when they go somewhere.   OMG.  WHAT IF WE WANT TO GO TOGETHER.  Oh well, we won't think about that.

We have a freeze warning for tomorrow.  Go figure.   But it is a short session and spring is on its way.  We will yearn for these temps in the summer.

Dia Dhuit
Mary

I just got home from the last of the Lenten Bible Classes that Fr. Phil put on this season.   I dressed in my St. Patrick's day sequenced vest over all green with my greet hat with a feather in it.    I shared Brown Bread and scones with my fellow bible students.

I believe that I have my bible study.   One of the gals at my table is in a Wednesday morning study and they are about to begin Psalms.   Sounds like it is meant for me. Right.

I also went to the Center for Creative living at noon for a St. Patrick's Day meal.   I brought scones there also and made some inroads for getting a Celtic Women Group started.

So I am a happy girl.   Tomorrow should be quiet except for a visit to my chiropractor. 

Saturday, I am cooking Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner for Bart's birthday dinner.     My BABY is going to be 45.   If anybody wants to come, we will be eating between 6 and 6:30PM.   All are welcome.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A lovely Oklahoma spring day again.   It is a good thing I am having all this now as I can hold it in my heart when the dry hot days of summer come down on us.

I baked all morning.  Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day and the two events I have found to celebrate require that I bring something to share.   So I have baked three batches of scones and made a batch of Devonshire cream which I will bring along with jelly.    Tomorrow I will bake Irish Brown Bread to take, along with scones to the Bible Class at Holy Family tomorrow night.

Bart and I went shopping today so I was not alone all day.   He looks pretty good but his back and head have been really hurting him.  Barb is still nursing her knee.   Hopefully it will heal without surgery.

So Hopefully tomorrow will be more exciting.   Actually exciting is OK but normal days are not so bad either:)

Dia Dhuit

Mary

  

Got to take more pictures.   I will of the back yard as I get it in shape.   I had an herb garden put in and should be able to plant in early April.   The trees are being trimmed, (they are huge and had not been groomed in quite a while.)  I love them because they will provide shade during the heat of the summer.

I was home all day.  I worked on the book most of the day.   Also did my washing and a bit of cleaning.   I am doing windows one or two every other day or so.  

Jeff called last night and we had a really nice visit.    Will see them, of course, in April at Erin's wedding.   Then my niece, Suzi, that Dick gave me, called.    I had called her after the Texas Irish Fest as Suzi and I Always met at the Milwaukee Irish Fest.   She wasn't home, but was able to call last night.    She is quite the gal.   I know she will come to visit some time.

So.  That's all for today.

It was in the 70s and dry.   We are supposed to cool down and MAY get rain on the weekend.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Had a chiropractor appointment today.  He finally has me where he is extending the time between appointments.   A big step.   I am almost aligned.

Nate came and trimmed the trees in the back today.   There were broken limbs and very fragile ones extending over the fence into the neighbors.   The trees will be much healthier for a trimming.

Bart and I went grocery shopping today and he was able to locate some of my lost files on the computer.

Now I am VERY tired.   Have been all afternoon, so I am going to bed early.

I am starting to get in the habit of writing every day too - so am settling in OK.

Til tomorrow

DIA DHUIT

Mary

Hi.
 Last night was wonderful.  I had not attended the Stations of the Cross for several years, so that in itself as comforting.  I was able to sit with members of Holy Family Church who I have me in the past couple of weeks through Fr. Phil's bible study of St. John.

We ended with a dinner of tuna casserole and salads.   Wow.  I felt so Catholic.

I need that once in a while.

I was able to get my Lenten sacrament of reconciliation in at the same time It also gave me the opportunity to just turn myself over to God. I am not good at sitting still and listening:) 

I have to tell you a funny story.  I was talking to Bart's mother in law, Marlies, and she said that she had captured a possum.  I didn't quite get it at first.  She actually captured an oppossum.  She will have someone pick it up and take it to a safe rescue site.   She has also caputured racoons.   I am amazed.


Dia dhuit

Mary

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”

― Hunter S. Thompson, The Proud Highway: Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman, 1955-1967

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!” ― Hunter S. Thompson, The Proud Highway: Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman, 1955-1967

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!” ― Hunter S. Thompson, The Proud Highway: Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman, 1955-1967

The weather is still so pleasant.   Always in the mid to high 60s.   We are getting rain and possibility of rain for the next few days but intermingled with sunshine and we do so need the rain.

Nate came and cut the lawn today so I should have had the last of the young man who was not reliable coming by to ask if I want him to do it.     It really looks nice right about now.   Nate will also clean the storm cellar, trim the big oaks in the back yard and help me get my herb garden in.   Then I will be on a roll and be able to get into a summer routine.

Tonight I went to the Bible Class on St. John at church.  Tomorrow I will also go to church.    I am going to the Blessed Sacrament Church, the other Catholic church in Lawton, for the Stations of the Cross, the sacrament of Penance and a Lenten Supper.   

Next week will be the last of the St. John Class as the following week is Holy Week.   Can you believe that Easter is SO early this year.   Next week Thursday, also St. Patrick's Day, I am bringing treats to the class and intend to bring scones and fresh Irish Brown Bread.   I want to bake the brown bread in the afternoon so it is still a bit warm.  

Everybody be safe.   

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I did get a picture to post.  Yippee.   This is Nora, Leif, Betsy and George at the Southfork ranch.

I will keep working on it so that I can be "efficient" about it.

Today, I went to the chiropractor.  I am getting better.   My arms don't hurt so badly.

I also got an oil change on my van.   So with washing clothes and all, It was a busy day.

We heard from Jim and Michelle, Jim had surgery on his neck to fuse the vertebrae.   Please pray for him.   We should hear tomorrow as to how things went.   The last we heard is that he is resting and  is supposed to come home tomorrow.   They send them home SO quick these days. 

So that is the day.   

Dia DHuit

Mary

Nora and Leif, Betsy and George at Southfork, the ranch from Dallas, the TV Show.

I got back from my trip to Plano for the Texas IrishFest this afternoon at about 3PM.   Nicky is very very happy to be back home and with me, though he stuck to Barbara like glue when I was gone.

I left on Friday about 9AM and got to Leif and Nora's shortly after noon, George and Betsy were already there.  We had a lovely lunch of sandwiches and then took a drive out to Southfork for a bit of a tour.   It was fun.   Lots more pictures but my family are the most important part.

That evening we went to a Chinese restaurant chosen by Stenn and Bing.   Bing chose the meal, lots of selections in the middle, family style and unbelievably good.   We were stuffed and then went back to Leif and Nora's for more visit and a night cap.

The next day was the Irish Fest.   It is different that Milwaukee but very interesting.  Lots of exhibits and vendors, good music and lots of good food.

We watch the group Altan, and I got to see Jeff Ward, one of my very favorite tenors, (I call myself his groupie)   Also saw a wonderful presentation by a local pipe and drum group.

We took the train from Plano to the Fair Grounds where the Festival was.   It was fun.  Got back to Plano at about 9:30PM or 10 and enjoyed some Bailey's and Irish and Texas Whiskey and good conversation before retiring.

 This morning after breakfast, a visit to see Bing and Stenn's lovely home and goodbye's, I headed home as did George and Betsy.

A totally wonderful weekend.   We now have quite a southern contingent of Deeley's.

dia Dhuit

Thanks Nora and Leif and Bing and Stenn for your wonderful hospitality and I am SO glad that George and Betsy could come too.


Mary

(I tried to send pictures they till not go.    I will try again tomorrow.)