Christmas is almost over. We have eaten the meal, exchanged the gifts and are settled down to a nice quiet visiting time.

I talked to Bart and Barb this morning, Bret this afternoon, and Leslie, Bill, Sara and Nora this evening. It is good to hear those voices since we cannot physically be together for hugs and sharing.

Dinner was very good and I DO recommend the Guy Pie. Everyone loved it and I can see how it won Emeril's contest.

The animals are very tired. Chelsea is hoping that I go to bed soon. Her tail is still bravely curled over her back but whenever she stops moving her eyes start closing. She isn't as young as she used to be.

Santa was very good to us again. We are indeed blessed in all ways. Especially with family that love us and that we love in return.

Stay warm and keep in touch.

Love

Merry Christmas


Mary

Christmas Eve is drawing to a close. The choir sang at Mass tonight. The teen-young adult group joined us and sang before Mass and at communion, so we didn't get to sing out great numbers during Mass. Fortunately, we rehearsed before Mass so most of the attendees heard us sing -Mary Don't You Weep and Peace Peace. It was a nice service anyway and I can stay home ALL day tomorrow which is nice for me.

After Mass I stopped to see Mother and wish her a Merry Christmas. She goes to Eileen's on Christmas, a tradition for many years. This year, for the first time in many years, there will be no children. It is time for more children. We have Mary's little ones about 10 and 8, (Mary is Eileen's daughter). They will be with their father this Christmas day. We have Dolores's Evan and Brandon, who are about 5 and 2. (You do realize that I am talking Mother's Great Grandchildren. We have Denise's children who are about 11 and 5 and mine are 21, 20, 17 and 16. Where are the babies. We need babies. Now, I am not advocating babies without families. (This is the Grandma talking.)

Dick, Jim and I exchanged gifts tonight, as always. I am again bedecked in jewels. The guy s seemed pleased with their gifts. Tomorrow, I get to cook. If anyone wants to join us, I always have plenty. We are having Tomato Tart. An Italian sausage, tomato cheese dish which is to DIE for. For dessert, we are having Guy Pie. Guy Pie was the winner of this year's Emeril pie contest and is banana cream, chocolate, coconut cream pie with whipped cream and shaved chocolate.

Eat your hearts out if you don't come to partake.

Anyway, Merry Christmas. and I love you all.
Mary

Because I have choir tonight, I am going to post early. It is about 1:30PM and the temperature has risen from 3 degrees this morning to a rousing high of 11 degrees right now. The garage had dropped to 31 degrees. I actually am grateful right now as I look at the snow that is causing such difficulty in many parts of the nation. However, we must be aware, as we snuggle in our warm homes that there are still homeless out there and these snows in some of our usually warm states are likely to be catastrophic. I understand that the shelters are really stretched. I also heard that - in this cold - Chicago did another sweep under the overpass bridges and again found homeless. Seven in fact that they are trying to direct to help.

Many years ago, while I still lived in California, and the boys were three and seven, my ex husband, the boys and I, flew here to Wisconsin for Christmas. It was a wonderful trip BUT I don't think the temperatores were higher that 3 degrees the whole time we were here. When we stepped out of the airport and ran to my sister Nora's car, the boys actually wailed with shock at the cold. Most mornings the temperatures were 15 to 16 below zero. Not many of the homes on the street that I grew up on had garages. Cars were just parked outside and it was quite an adventure in the morning as people got ready to go to work or school. If one person got their car started, they helped jump the others or whatever else worked to get them moving.
My three California boys really got an education and my ex husband did not drive as he was nervious about ice and snow, for good reason.

It was a wonderful Christmas though and a really special memory.

Take care, stay warm and remember those who are less fortunate.

Love

Mary

I am sure that you have all heard the following by now. It has been around for several years. But I will repeat it and expound on it.

THREE WISE WOMEN

Do you know what would have happened if it had been Three Wise Women instead of Three Wise Men?

1. They would have asked directions
2. Arrived on time
3. Helped deliver the baby
4. Cleaned the stable
5. Made a casserole, and
6. Brought practical gifts.


I want to expand on that a bit. I may have told this story before, but it also is worth repeating. My Grandma, Matie Bowser, was quite a women. She died November 1, 1986 just 17 days short of her 93rd birthday. When she died, except for bequests and special requests, we grandchildren were permitted to go and choose things that were meaningful to us.

Years ago, Evanoff's, now Evans, used to sell Nativity scenes in pieces. There were bins of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, animals, shepherds, Wise Men and Angels. Grandma had purchased a small set. This was way before women's lib and the above little story, but Grandma was practical and made a definate statement with her Creche.

It consists of Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, and angel and - -- - - -three Women. Bet your bottom dollar she was making a statement. If a new baby was born in a stable or a barn, the women would have been there to help providing food, and comfort and begging to cuddle the baby.

I have that little Creche in my home now and display it proudly.

Only two more days.

Love
Mary

Three more days til Christmas. We are really counting down now. Today, Dick and I went to Hartland and took two deer hides to be tanned. We had lunch there too. It was a nice drive. Cold of course, but while we were on the road the snow we started with stopped and gradually changed to blue skies and sunshine.


Tomorrow, Chelsea gets her Christmas bath. As I will tell her, she can't be a dirty doggie when company comes. Then I am taking a bunch of clothes and stuff over to St. Vincent and a meal of soup and bran muffins to a friend who is not well. Please pray for my friend. Esther has a heaviness in her chest and has to go to St. Joseph's Hospital in Milwaukee on Thursday for tests. She is very brave but frightened and her son Adam is in need of prayer too.

I am so grateful to have so many blessings. So many in this world need so much.

Bless the little children, our soldiers and the homeless.

Mary

Countdown to Christmas. Four more days. The very last of the presents we are giving arrived TODAY. So I will wrap and put under the tree tomorrow. The presents from Bret and Bart arrived today too. It is a red letter day.

Tomorrow, Dick and I will take two deer hides down to a place in Hartland that tans them. I figure I need four to make a nice vest and one of the hunting guys, either Jason Karls or one of the Carpenter boys gave me one of theirs to start my collection. I hope that by the time I have four, one of them is mine. Randy, my brother, said that this is a really nice store too, so Dick and I will really enjoy the trip. There is no snow expected tomorrow anyway. We are going out to lunch too.

God direct all. It is , after all, a way he has.
Ellis Peters



Silver bells are ringing.

Mary

Packers lost. What a drag. They came back from behind again but not soon enough.

The choir sang at the 10:30AM mass. After Mass, we all had a sandwich and cookie lunch and then trucked over to the Mall to sing Christmas carols in the atrium. It was fun. The Kindercore sang first. Then we sang two songs with them and then we sang a few songs on our own. A nice way to kick off Christmas week. It is almost like going out caroling.

I fixed Chili Mac for dinner tonight. I haven't fixed it for a couple of years. One of the good basics.

It is really quite simple.

Brown 1 pound of hamburger, with 1 medium chopped onion, 1/2 chopped green pepper and 1 diced clove of garlic. Add chili powder, garlic salt and black pepper to taste. Throw in 1 small can of tomato sauce and 1 16 oz can of stewed tomatoes and let simmer.

Finally, boil about 3 ounces of macaroni until tender. Mix in to the simmering sauce and let cook together. Add some shredded cheese, (if you want) and serve with a nice green salad.

Love

Mary

Another Saturday with no reason to leave the house. Dick put the tree up on Thursday so I put the ornaments on today and the tree is beautiful. Now it is coasting all the way til Christmas.

Yesterday, I made the applie pie recipe that I heard about which mixes chilis in with the apples. It is really good. It is just basically any apple pie recipe with a 4 ounce can of Ortega chopped chilis mixed in with the sliced apples before you pour it in to the crust.

We had a few flurries today and Chelsea is trying to take advantage of the few flakes that are managing to stay on the ground by rolling around in the grass everytime she gets outside.

Have a nice day. Tomorrow the choir is going to sing at the Mall at 1:00. Perhaps you would like to come and hear us.


Love

Mary

Had a perfectly lovely Christmas lunch at the home of Marlene Schueffner, one of my "Plymouth" people. We are a group of about 7 ladies who all worked at Wells Fargo and meet every Friday for lunch, usually at the Dairy Queen.

Marlene wanted us to come over to her house for lunch. There were 6 of us. Betty, Ceil, Barb, Joyce, myself and of course, Marlene. Mary and Dawn were unable to come. We will not meet until after the New Year turns now. Wow. Only two more weeks of 2004.

After I left there, I went to Mother's house. Jeff brought the new washer/dryer combination, that we bought for her for Christmas. It is really sharp looking. Now the boys have to get it installed. She will no longer have to go down into the basement to do her wash. This will be a great relief to all of us as we worry about her falling. I think she does too and is really pleased with her gift. We were getting a delight out of her neighbor. He asked Mother when she brough him a stollen that she baked to thank him for all he does for her, whether she had an upstairs washer yet. She assured him that it was coming and he said Good. It is so special to have neighbors that are so good to her AND so concerned.

While I was there, I saw a quotation on her refrigerator that I really like and will share with you. She said that she heard it on TV from an Irish group in a song. She can't remember the group so I cannot give credit.

God be good to anyone
who's sleeping out tonight.
Tuck them in and keep them warm
And don't put out the light.

Especially this time of the year, God needs to be there for all the homeless in our country. It is mighty cold out there and I am sure that Guardian Angels are mighty busy.


Mary

It was a Christmassy day. Not at first, Dick got his blood checked early and then we went out for breakfast. While we were at the clinic, we found out that they have more flu vaccine and that people over 50 now are eligible. Sue, the nurse that tests Dick's blood, was able to give me my shot so I am now immunized. This makes Dick feel better anyway, because he likes to know that I am protected.

Then I picked up Mother and we sent to dinner at the Senior Center in Sheboygan Falls. It was fun, we exchanged gifts and I got two really pretty Christmas hot pads as my gift. We had a tasty lunch of a 1/2 Cornish game hen with pumpkin pie for dessert. Then I took Mother to the eye doctor where she got a clean bill of health. He said that her vision seems to have even improved a bit. Perhaps the Vita Eyes she takes is helping.

Tonight we had choir practice. Took a bit longer because of Christmas and then I stayed for the bells and even played a bit. Always wanted to try them and it is really fun. - -- Fun but a bit confusing.

I received the following by e-mail this week and at Christmas time want to ask everybody to please pray for our sons and daughters in danger over there. Pray for safety and a quick resolve to the conflict.

Let's remember them especially this time of the year when we count our blessings.
Let's all pray for their safe return.................



The picture is beautiful

Love

Mary

Today Dick took candy to Mead Library and Eastern Shores. He has done that since he retired and he and they all enjoy it. He says that he sees less familiar faces. Some are retiring after 13 years and some are of course on vacation or just not on at the time.

I had lunch with a friend. A few years ago, Blessed Trinity asked if anyone would volunteer to be a confirmation sponser for a young man who did not have family in the area, so I volunteered and met David and his family. He is now ALMOST done with four years of college and I see his mother, Jane, sometimes. We decided that it was TIME to lunch so we did.

Did you know that Tommy Smothers said. "When you don't know what your're talking about, it's hard to tell when you're finished."

I like that

Tomorrow is SO busy. Dick gets his blood test, checking the wine, lunch at the Senior Center with Mom and then on to the eye doctor with her and choir in the evening. I got some chili out of the freezer for supper. Sure glad I have it in there. It is the venison chili and is SO good.


Love

Mary

I flat out forgot to post last night. It was a good day too.

Started out with bible study. There were five of us there. It probably will be a bit sparcely attended until after the new year - and then until spring. Many are very busy with Crhistmas and all and some of our members are snow birds and will be heading for Texas/Florida for a month or two or three. One of our regulars is experiencing medical problems. She is a wonder. She has diabetes, back and hip trouble and now is complaining of chest heaviness (congestive heart failure has been ruled out) and is going through a series of tests to see what can be done. We ended up with a very lively discussion on the roles of women in the church and throughout history. It was pointed out the science has been useful to women. I ancient times, woman was the "nest" - the man "planted the seed". Science showed the human race that it takes the sperm and the egg together to make the child. I pointed out that since boy babies are so prized in many societies, it must have been a real shock to the males to discover that it was their fault if only girls were produced as they provide the gene that determines sex.

Then I went right on to the Writers Club party. We went to Arabellas. It is a good restuarant. For those of who, who know Sheboygan but don't know where it is. It is located on south Eighth street on the roundabout where the Hardee's used to be. We had about 25 writers there, some even came from the Plymouth Club, which is a branch of our club. We ate, exchanged gifts and stories and I got home at about 3:00.

I then finished the little booklet that I am making for the family about Uncle George and his limericks. I will include a couple of his limericks for your enjoyment.




Today we shopped and I have been decorating. I am still waiting for Dick to finish putting the tree up so I can decorate it. Well, there are 10 days to go. I hope that I am not frantically throwing ornaments on the tree Christmas Eve. That would not be fun as the choir is singing then too. I am going to make Apple Cinnamon Liquor today so it can mature before Christmas. That should be fun to share with the GUY PIE.

Have a good day.

Mary

Good day. We had a substitute priest, as Fr. Gene is still recovering from his surgery. He was here two weeks ago. He is an older priest, a Salvatorian, who gives wonderful informative sermons. He explained why, Palestine, so arid and not to fertile, was such a prize all through the ages. It is the passageway to just about everywhere in the Middle East and therefore stratigically vital.

Then the Packers won. The first half was a disaster, but they rallied during halftime and won 16/13. We were happy campers and went out for dinner.

I will end with a quote from Cadfael.

What Cadfael did not regret, he found grave difficulty remembering to confess.

Don't we all.

Love and prepare for Christmas and Peace and Hope

Mary

I got to stay home the WHOLE day today. It was so nice to not have to leave. Silly Chelsea got me up at 5:30AM which was way to early but I took a nap this afternoon, so that helped a bit.

I am putting up Christmas decorations a little every day. Today, I put up another Nativity Scene and brought up the last one. I end up with them all over the place. I also have to find a place for the Santas and the Angels. Dick is working on the tree. He has two rows of branches on. As long as he has it done this coming week so I can get the ornaments on before the big day, I don't really care.

I fixed Huevos Rancheros for supper tonight and were they ever good. I made my own Salsa.

Here is the recipe.

1 Corn Tortilla per person
1 or two eggs per person (their choice)
1/4 cup chopped onion
3 cloves garlic - diced or pressed
1 14 to 16 oz can diced tomatoes
1 4 oz can of ortega chilis
1 TBLSP. jalapeno pepper chopped
Pinch of chili powder
Shredded cheese

Spray a frying pan with cooking spray. Add tomatoes, onion, chilis, garlic and chili powder. Heat to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes or so.

Put plates in oven on the lowest heat you have available

Spray a bigger frying pan and fry the tortilla until soft, about 30 seconds on each side. Transfer to warm plates. Fry eggs until white is done, do not flipping. Transfer to tortillas. Top egg with cheese and hot salsa (which cooks the top of the eggs) and serve with extra cheese and refried beans on the side.

Num Num

Mary

L

It rained all day again today. What a drag. We must keep telling ourselves that, at least, we are are not shoveling. We probably would be up to the rooftops if this was snow.

Dick has an echocardiogram today. Sometimes called just an echo. It is just a checkup on the heart because of the irregular heartbeat, the atrial fibrilation, that exists. The technician said that everything looks the same but the doctor will review it before his six month checkup next month. Then we mailed the packages to the out of staters. NOW, I can relax. Anything else can be done last minute.

We had salmon croquettes for supper. They are SO good. I had some fresh green beans to go with them. I also made up a batch of lentil soup. We can have that for lunches and dinners if it is cold and damp. I used a hambone from a Market Day ham. It was such a rich tasting ham. I wish you all could have had a dish of the scalloped potatoes.

I am doing up a little folder about my Uncle George to share with my brothers and sisters. I think I will send one to Patty and Doug too. They drive me nuts but they are my cousins and did grow up in Grandma and Grandpa Deeley's house with Uncle George. He was my bachelor uncle. Never moved away from home.

Years ago, when I was about three or four years old. I saw Billie the Brownie at our front door one Christmas Eve. Now that I am "grown up", I believe that it was really Uncle George that I saw. He was peering through front door to watch me come from the kitchen to the living room of our old house to see the tree and the presents. I entered the livingroom and saw a movement at the door. There was this tall brown thin "brownie" with a pointed hat and big eyes. Uncle George was home on leave from the Army and in his khaki uniform with his pointed garrison cap, to my toddler eyes he WAS Billie the Brownie, who I heard on the radio every night. I was in my 30s before it dawned on me that it was probably Uncle George.

Have a Christmasy weekend

Mary

Gloomy Gloomy Gloomy

Dick commented today that we have not been seeing the sun this past week or two. Of course, when the sun shined, it will probably get cold and/or snow. We would have had 10 to 12 inches if it had been colder when we got the last rain storm. So we were grateful that we were not shoveling.

Choir tonight. This week I will not have to leave to go to any other meetings. Good thing, we are getting closer to Christmas and have a lot to cover.

John O'Donohue in Anam Cara says:

Music is, perhaps, the art form that brings us closest to the eternal because it changes immediately and irreversibly the way we experience time.

I do enjoy choir. We are going to sing at the Mall on December 19. The Kindercore will sing with us too. It will be fun as we will party a bit after Mass before we go there.

Tomorrow, we will mail the packages to the out of state families. Then I really feel that I can slide into Christmas. Anything else can be changed, but if things don't GET somewhere, you can't change that. We are pleased with the gifts and only waiting for two to arrive for here.

Have a great day

Mary

We saw The Christmas Story on stage tonight. A nice feel-good stage production that followed the movie to perfection. The players put on a commendable performance and we came away delighted and in the Christmas Spirit.

Monday will be the Sheboygan County Writer's Club Christmas Party. I have been doing quite a bit of writing this month, but none of it is Christmasy. I will have to work on that.

WHY DOGS DON'T LIVE AS LONG AS PEOPLE

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane were all very attached to Belker and they were
hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family there were no miracles left for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for the four-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt Shane could learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few
minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion.

We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me - I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, "Everybody is born so that they can learn how to live a good life - like loving everybody and being nice, right?" The four-year-old continued, "Well, animals already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

A friend sent me the above. I may have included it before, but Mother and I were talking about an article in the paper about a group that helps people who are mourning for their pets and my sister Dolores said that she probably could have benefited from such a group after her dog passed on. So I felt it was worth sharing again.

Mary

Have a nice Thursday and

Only 18 days til Christmas. Mother and I went today and finished her shopping. We went to Evans and to Gibbsville Cheese. I got a bunch of cheese for the holidays. It is good to have a nice variety to share on Christmas and I have asked Mother to come to dinner on New Year's Day.

Christmas cards are in process both snail and e-mail varieties. I am sending a little history booklet to the brothers and sisters this year along with their cards. I have some limericks that Uncle George wrote years ago and I know they will love having that piece of our family. We are the few that remember him. I think I will make one for Patty and Doug too. Dick will think I am silly but I believe that time must heal hurts and family is family.


Seek not out the things that are too hard for thee, neither search the things that are above thy strength. ECC 3:22

Til tomorrow

Mary

Years ago I lived in Huntington Beach, California. We belonged to a parish called St. Simon and Jude. The priests there were Franciscan Order priests. One of them was originally from the Phillipines. He was the sweetest man. He came back from a vacation to his homeland with a sermon that started off with the statement. "You thought I was slow before." He proceeded to tell us that in the Phillipines, everything moves much slower and life is not franetic or hurried and that he had reverted to his childhood. He told us all to slow down, look around us and not rush through the day. To lean back an enjoy this life God gave us without trying to do everything now and so fast.

I left that service feeling so relaxed and refreshed. I'll bet it lasted several hours. Often when I feel the most pressed, I think of that homily and try to remember what he told us.

I wrote a poem that expressed that thought. Perhaps it will help you too. Remember - Lean back, look around, don't be in such a hurry.

SLOW ME DOWN, LORD



Slow me down, Lord
Let me see the flowers
Let me smell the flowers
Not just plant them
Not just tend them

Slow me down, Lord
Let me hold my children
Let me play with my children
Not just chide them
Not just tend them

Slow me down, Lord
Let me hug my husband
Let me talk to my husband
Not just keep his house for him
Not just tend him

Slow me down, Lord
Let me see the sun today
Let me breathe the air today
Not just plan for tomorrow
Not just wait for tomorrow

Slow me down, Lord
Let me laugh at the joy of today
Let me cry for the sorrows of today
Not just yearn for what is to be
Not just wait for what is to be

Slow me down, Lord

Love you all

Mary

This has been an adventure. I have been trying to connect to the Blog site for about two hours.

What a day. Good things and not so good. I went to church last night because the choir sang at the 5:00 PM Mass. Therefore, I did not have to go to Mass today. I actually slept until 6:30AM or so. Dick took Chelsea out at about 5:30 when he got up and then shut her out of the bedroom so she would not wake me.

The Packers played the Eagles today and it was an unmitigated disaster. We lost 47 to 17 and most of the points were made by the backup quarterback Greg Noll. Philly is really good this year and we weren't necessarily relying on a win, but really did not expect a stomping.

We had stew for supper. I finally found a stew recipe that I can make. For years I made the oddest stew. Dick could not understand that because I am a pretty good cook. In our early marriage, he had me buy some stew meat. I told him that I did not make a good stew but he wanted to try. I followed the recipe to the tee. It looked just beautiful and even smelled good. However, there was not taste. It was totally flat.

Afte 18 years and several recipes, I finally have it. I cook it forever, and add coffee and ketsup and worchester sauce and it is really good.

Have a great Monday.

Mary