Deer hunting tomorrow. We have quite a group. My brothers, Jeff and Randy, Jeff's son Shane, Randy's daughter Jessica, Bobbie, Lee and Cory Carpenter and me. Probably Jim Karl's son Jason will come out too. He always has. We lost Jim this past year but I would think Jason will still want to hunt.

We will dearly miss Jim. He always brought the beer for after the hunt and he always kept the knives sharp while we butcher the deer on the Friday after Thanksgiving. What a guy. Lots of great memories.

I have been given the job of bringing a 12 pack. I had to ask Jeff what kind as I don't drink it. I was told Miller Lite is the brew of choice so that is what is coming. I will get all ready tonight and just have to dress and move out in the morning. I pick Bobbie up at 4:00AM so we can get out to the woods by 5:45 and in our spots by 6:15 so we are ready for dawn at 6:30. WOW.

Wish us a safe hunt and a good one. I used the last of my venison a couple of weeks ago.

Love

Mary

Rainy and 'Warm" today. I qualify the "warm" because it is almost 50 degrees out there which we find quite comfortable. However, my ex-sister-in-law, Jacquie, informed me that she feels it is rather cool at 68 degrees. So I guess it is a matter of what a person is used to.

When I gave you the pie crust recipe I thought of an incident that occurred shortly after I got married. My father in law, Victor, came over for dinner and I fixed a lemon meringue pie because I knew it was his favorite. Victor said that the pie was good but that he thought that I should get Lil's recipe. Imagine his surprise when I said that I already had. What I am trying to say is that it is not only the recipe, sometimes it takes a little practice.

Have a nice evening.

Mary

I think I mentioned that I am hosting Thanksgiving this year. I am fixing two desserts. Pumpkin Pie and Figgy Hobbin. Figgy Hobbin is a dish I discovered when Dick and I spent a night near Pendarvis Wisconsin. Pendarvis is a Welsh settlement in the Southwestern part of the state. It is kind of like a raisin pie, but made jelly roll fashion. Then you cut it into pinwheel shapes, put two side by side on a plate with a scoop of ice cream and carmel syrup swirled lightly over all. It has become a favorite.

I always use the pie crust recipe that I got from Lil, my dear ex-mother-in-law. Here it is.

1 cup Crisco
2 1/2 Cups Flour
1/3 Cup sugar
3 teasp. salt
6 Tblsp. hot water
1 Tblsp. Canned milk or buttermilk

Cream the Crisco, flour, sugar and salt together with a fork until curmbly. Spinkle the wet ingredients over all and mix until plibable. (Add a little more flour if necessary.) Roll into a circle if for a pie and put into a pie pan. The above is enough for a 2 crust pie.

For Figgy Hobbin, roll into a rectangle. Spread a raisin pie mixture over all. (If you want mine, let me know) Roll jelly roll fashion. Place on cookie sheet and bake until done. 30 to 45 minutes at 375 degrees until browned nicely.

Num Num


Mary

Bret is HOME!!!!!! I called this afternoon and he was even visiting at Tony's house, so he can do whatever he wants. The doctor said that he had one little vessle that was misbehaving. The angioplasty probably has fixed it but if not they will just cut it off. His heart was never a problem which is so great because he is much too young to have heart trouble. He will go to work tomorrow. He said that his leg is not even as painful as when they did the angiogram. Yeah for good doctors and for a healthy body to begin with.

Thank you everyone for your prayers. I know heaven was bombarded. We don't really have to stop you know. He is still my baby and I like for him to be prayed for.

The Packers beat Tampa Bay so this is indeed a stellar day.

Georgia O'Keefe said "I have been terrified every day of my life, but that has never stopped my from doing everything I wanted to do."

Love

Mary

Talked to Bret at about noon today, noon my time. The doctor had not been in as yet but he sounded strong and ready to go home. Trish was ready to come to get him as soon as he was ready to be released. I know he is feeling better because he hated the breakfast they gave him and was hoping to be out of there before he had to face the lunch. He is so pleased that so many people are praying for him. It made him feel very special. I put him on the prayer chain at Blessed Trinity and Barbara put him on the prayer wheel at the temple. I will call him again tomorrow to be find out the instructions he has from his doctor.

We are going to the Symphony tonight. It is Broadway night so should be light and cheery.

I read this quote in Newsweek and simply HAVE to share.

From Kuti Ben-Yaakov of the Hebrew Battalion on getting approval from the rabbis to train pigs to guard settlements on the West Bank: "According to the Muslim faith, a terrorist who touches a pig is not eligible for the 70 virgins in heaven."

That is one of the silliest things I have ever heard. Wonder where the terrorists figure God is going to get all those virgins? And how about all those guard pigs?


Mary

This was a roller coaster day. First, a friend asked me to be the poetry portion of a St. Patrick's Day celebration at Richard's in Sheboygan Falls. Wow, what a privilege. I will read some of mine, some of the Irish greats and some silly tongue in cheek things.

Then, I come home to word that Bret is back in the hospital. He experienced the pain again and went to the hospital at 1:30AM. He has now successfully gone through an angeoplasty. There is now a teeny tiny balloon in a teeny tiny vein near his heart. He comes home at noon tomorrow so I will let him sleep tonight.

Then Bobbie, Jim and I went to the bust up party for the gun league. I have successfully moved from Novice to Sharpshooter since we started last year. The new Buckmark has really done wonders for my prowess. Going to a lighter single action from a heavier double action made my scores really soar.

THE MOUSE ON THE BARROOM FLOOR

Some Guinness was spilt on the barroom floor.
When the pub was shut for the night
Out of his hole crept a wee brown mouse,
And stood in the pale moonlight.

He lapped up the frothy brew from the floor,
Then back on his haunches he sat
And All night long you could hear him roar,
"Bring on the goddamn cat!".

Unknown Author


Mary

Christmas is REALLY coming. We had choir tonight and picked up all of our Christmas music. Lots of pretty and perky stuff. Like "Mary Did You Know?" and "Ding Dong Merrily on High."

Sr. Marcia had a wonderful speaker, David, for a Senior Saint program this morning. Mother went too. We started with a bit of a social gathering at 8:30AM with coffee and sweet rolls and then he spoke followed by a mass for the Seniors. A lovely morning. He said one thing that really stuck in my mind. In Leviticus 26 it speaks of the practice of the harvest of the Jews of that age. They would always leave the produce around the edge of the field for the poor. If we all did that, there would be no hungry people in the world. He also mentioned that we keep trying to build or rent more room for the things that we accumulate rather than just eliminating what we no longer need.

Sharing. After Christmas, we should all do the paring down and the winnowing out of our closets.

Tomorrow.

Love

Mary

Christmas Shopping, what a chore. We have been catalog, online shopping all day and have agreed that it is a lot easier than tromping the malls. We are making a big dent and ar down near the end.

There is a catalog avalanche that pours into this house most of the year but it becomes overwhelming at the holiday season. We easily receive 6 to 10 catalogs per DAY. Isn't that frightening?

Tomorrow is a busy day outside the house. Dick and I will get our portrait taken at Blessed Trinity, I have a meeting all morning and choir and a council agenda meeting in the evening.

Well, as my Mother used to say. It is time to "go up the wooden hill to four corners."' I am going to bed. I am tired.

Love


Mary

Wow, have I ever taken a break. It is almost a week and I vowed that I would post to this at LEAST every other day.

It has been busy and I have been terrible distracted.

Sunday, Bobbie, Jeff, Randy, Jessica and I went out to the woods to check out our stands for deer hunting which will open a week from Saturday. It was an absolutely gorgeous day. The sky was blue, the sun was warm, the grass smelled like new mown hay and it was crisp and perfect. Hope it is that nice on the opener.

I sit in the stand that Matt, Jeff's son, used to use. It overlooks the swamp and affords a nice view of a large area with several good shooting lanes. I did see several deer last year and got one shot off. I hope this is my year. I have paid my dues and really need to earn my keep now.

This Friday evening is the bust up party for the pistol league. I feel pretty good about it this time. The new Buckmark has made my scores go up considerably.

Winter is around the corner. It was almost up to 60 today, so I took advantage of the warmth to pull the last of the marigolds from my planter. I would like to share from Cadfael. Brother Cadfael's Penance, Chapter 1.

It is "A time to pause, to look round, to make sure that nothing had been neglected, no fence unrepaired, against the winter."

Hope your fences are all "repaired."


Mary

Being a Mom is not for the weak. One would think that once you got them grown you could stop worryig about them. Not true. Actually, the worries just get bigger and you can't heal them with kisses or a big hug.

I was so pleased to see Little Jimmy Dickens on the CMA awards tonight. Sure would have liked to hear him sing one of his songs though.

Love

Mary

Rain, rain, beautiful rain. It rained off and on all day. We need water so badly. I hope it is raining in California where they need it even worse than we do. I understand that people are getting back in to the areas of devastation and at least are able to survey their losses and perhaps salvage something. I cannot imagine losing precious things like pictures and some precious things that bring memories and make a person feel close to the person or event that they symbolize.

We are working on our Christmas list. Does it seem possible that it is time to do that already? But it is only three weeks to hunting and then Thanksgiving. I always try to get the mailed presents off the first week in December so I don't have to worry about them being late.

By the way, my arm is better. I found out that less than 1% of the people who get the pneumonia shot get a severe local reaction and, guess what, I am special. It is almost healed now. Just a slight ache and slight redness this morning. I was told not to get another one because the reaction will probably be even more severe.

Remember, that every child has a right to feel that God created the world JUST for him or her.

Mary

All Saints Day, All Souls Day. The choir sang today. Lots of beautiful touching Sainty hymns. Unto The Hills, an especially nice hymn that we sing partially a capella. Steve Naffin has taught us well.

"There's nithing better in the whold wold than a friend showing up at your door asking if you can come out and play. So don't mope around the house all by yourself. Go ahead. Ring a friend's doorbell!"
Leigh Anne Josheway

Isn't she wonderful.

Your Friend

Mary

November 1st. All the goulies and ghosties are gone until next year. Today was All Saints Day. I would like to pay tribute to all the saints that I know that are in that land beyond the sky. My Grandparents, my Dad, my Brothers and all the wonderful Aunts and Uncles who were such great examples of good people for me as I grew and became the person I am. Pope John Paul II won't ever canonize any of them.

Keep well.

Love

Mary

From Goulies and Ghosties
And long legged beasties
And things that go bump in the night.

Dear Lord, Deliver Us.

Happy Halloween


Mary

This has been a really hectic week. It is THURSDAY already and I have not posted since Sunday. Monday we shopped and I nursed a headache, a remainder of the concern that Bret's illness gave me. Tuesday, I sewed a square of the Birds in the Air that I am incorporating in to the quilt I am assembling that was inspired by the Gee's Bend Exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Wednesday, Dick and I picked up Mother and we went to the Senior Center in Sheboygan Falls. (It is really heard to believe that I am a Senior, but I am.) We all got our flu shots and I got a pneumonia shot. I will never do that again. The pneumonia shot has caused my arm to swell and get red around the point of needle entry and red sore streaks are spreading down to my underarm. I had MORE trouble sleeping last night.

Today we went shopping and then I napped because I was exhausted. This afternoon, I went with several other people to play bingo at Rocky Knoll with some of the patients there. This was the third time I have done this and it is really a fun thing to do. I like helping those people and a person does come home so grateful for health and healthy families.

Then tonight was choir and Parish Council meeting. So It has been wild.


Retirement is not for the lazy. Though Dick has learned the trick. When you ask him what he does, he says, " I am retired, that is what I do."

Love

Mary

Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles. Bret is HOME and OK. He did not have a heart attack after all, despite what they told him at the hospital in Blythe. (Probably why the fact that he drove himself from Blythe to Lakewood did not cause him to have another one.) The doctor said it was stress. The stress caused his blood vessels around the heart to constrict causing the pain. He is sounding WONDERFUL and obviously relieved. This Mother is just starting to get over her headache.

Thank you all for your prayers. I know that is what brought us through.

Love

Mary

My boy, Bret, called tonight. He is in the hospital, having experienced a mild heart attack. It isn't right, you know. My children should not be experiencing adult illnesses or problems and he, at 36, is much too young anyway.

Anyone who reads this, please, pray for Bret. Tomorrow, he will have the results of the tests and they will know the extent of any damage and what he needs to do to heal. Bart happens to be in California for a week. That is a comfort. At least, Bret has some family and I am grateful for all his good friends. And he does have many.

Please pray for health.

Thank you

Mary

What a night. Bobbie and I went shooting for our regular pistol league. I am doing SO much better with the new Buckmark than I did with the Colt Trooper. The Buckmark is a single action and so much easier to handle. I will keep practicing with the Trooper until I get it but not for league.

Doc, one of the Rhine Plymouth members, the one who nominated me for secretary, had purchased one of the decks of playing cards with all the "wanted" people from Iraq. When Bobbie and I were going down, he gave us each one to "practice" on. We pasted them on our non league target and both did very well. I had the 6 of hearts, Mohammad Mahdi Al-Sahib the Minister of Trade. I got him right in the middle of the forehead. Will Jim ever be impressed. All the guys at the club were.

Love

Mary

My Aunt Mary Ann Bowser shared this soup with me when Dick and I made our trip to Texas several years ago. I has turned out to be a keeper. My grandaughters call it Pizza Soup.

Zucchini Soup

1 ½ lb. Mild Italian Sausage (no reason you can't use hot if you like it better)
1 Cup Onion Chopped
1 Cup Green Pepper Chopped
1 Cup Celery Chopped

Saute and drain the above ingredients.

Add
1 16 oz can of Italian tomatoes
1 28 oz can of stewed tomatoes
1 quart tomato juice
2 cans chicken broth
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp basil
½ tsp sugar
8 oz carton fresh mushrooms, slices
1 lbs Zucchini sliced


Simmer for one hour. FANTASTIC. This soup also Freezes well which you may have to do because it is a really LARGE recipe.

It will be in the cookbook I am writing.

Love

Mary

Dick and I sang Happy Birthday to Jim when he woke up this morning and he ran away and hid. But he liked his pasta dinner and chocolate birthday cake this evening.

I have finished the items that I am donating to Festival of Trees. The SWAK Advent Calendar looks pretty good. The envelopes will hold little jungle figurines and have a candy cane hanging from the envelope. Sandy from the Festival Committee came over tonight to look at it and really liked it so I feel more confidant.

Barb and I will go to the Festival and to Kristkindlmart in Elkhart. We LOVE those things.

Mary