Everybody should go to the Fireside in Ft. Atkinson for dinner and the theater. We went today and saw Beauty and the Beast. What a nice feel good production. There were lots of children in the audience which is so refreshing for this type of production. At one point, when the Beast sent Beauty to find her father, one little voice said plaintively. "Where is she going?" It was so sweet.

The meal was excellent as usual. We had a seafood croquette for an appetizer with coleslaw, followed by chicken and ribs with a stuffed baked potato. Then a strawberry mousse on a lemon cookie for dessert. Of course this is accompanied by their fresh baked breads. I bought two loaves, cheese and dill, to bring home.

Now I am tired.

Tomorrow is a bit quieter. However, the bell choir is playing at the 10:30 Mass and Jim, Bobbie and I are going shooting in the afternoon. So it won't be dull. I decided to make life easy and bring out some Cornish pasties that I have in the freezer for supper to make my life easy.

I called my Bret last night just to hear his voice and ask if he had felt any of the earthquakes. He sounds much better than he did the last time I spoke to him. He was heading out to the river to renew himself over the weekend. By the way he did not feel the quake. He said that his friend Tony did but that Bret, himself was working near railroad tracks and all kinds of other stuff and did not feel it. He says he is probably kind of used to them any way and it takes a real roller like the one that knocked him out of bed a few years ago to get his attention.

Have a nice evening.

Mary

Well, I was so tired last night that I didn't post.

Went to choir practice. We are learning the German pieces we will be singing at Germanfest at the end of July. The music quite easy to follow even various parts so the biggest challenge is the German itself. We got through the Mass pieces on a "once through" and felt pretty good about it.

After choir the bell choir practiced. We will be playing at the 10:30AM Mass, Father's Day and Kathy is very ambitious. She has us playing four pieces. A pre-mass call to worship, the Offeratory - the Communion and a processional. WOW - Judy said that the previous bell choir never did that many pieces at one service.

The roof is fixed. Hallelulah. Poor little Roxie was really upset today. She spent most of the day under the couch in the livingroom, scared to death of all the banging. I am sure she thought that the roof was about ready to fall in. Old Oscar found it annoying enough that he spent most of his day downstairs where it was not quite so noisy. Chelsea discovered that it was nothing to worry about so she ignored it.

There were garage sales all over the neighborhood. Cars were parked everywhere. They will be here tomorrow too. Jim will "love" it. I ordered the rock to be delivered in the morning and he will be distributing it around the house during the afternoon. We ordered one yard the first time and this time I ordered two. Poor guy, but Dick can't do it and I sure can't.

"Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes." Anonymous
I am going to be hosting a family gathering for Fr. Mike Shea on either July 5 or July 6th. I have Mom and Aunt Kathleen notified and need to reach Uncle Pat and Jeff. Yippee! I get to plan a party and I get to feed people.


Love

Mary

The roofer, Greg worked all day today and will be back tomorrow to hopefully finish the job. It was cloudy and rather cool today. We watered the front yard as this is supposed to be the beginning of a dry spell (as if we will notice as it has been so dry for so long already. The only thing that has saved us is the fact that it has been so muggy because rain has fallen ALL around us. My brother, Jeff in Hilbert, just west and a bit north has had plenty of rain.

I did get to stay home all day today and I finished the Claddagh Ring block for the church quilt. I think it looks nice. I will take pictures and post them on the blog next week. We are meeting next Tuesday to see what we have. I am sure we will have plenty of blocks. I made 4 and Dottie Koene made 5 and Beth, who wasn't even counted, made 1 so we have 3 extra already. We figure if there are extras we will make a table runner or pillows or a wall hangeing.
Whatever works.

Jeff, my brother, called last night to invite us to his home on June 26. His son, Matthew with his wife Kaoru and son Coleton will be visiting from Hawaii and he figured this is the best way for everybody to see them. Little Coleton, is the only son of a son of a son to carry on the Deeley name in the direct decendancy from my Dad. He is an interesting little mix of Matt and Kaoru. I look forward to see him in person.

Did I tell you that we are going on a bus tour to the Fireside to see Beauty and the Beast? I look forward to their meals almost as much as the performance and always bring back 2 or 3 loaves of their wonderful fresh baked bread. Usually, dill, cheese and maybe maple walnut. This was not one of their bigger selling shows. I heard that people are thinking of it as a children's show. But it really is not. Even Disney's cartoon is perfectly beautiful for adults as well as children.

There is a new movie, Bewitched, out. Nichole Kidman is Samantha but even more exciting Shirley Mac Laine is Endora. We are planning on going to see it next Friday.

Love

Mary

Kitties are taking up way more that their share of my desk space tonight. Sylvia Bright Green, a fellow member of the Sheboygan County Writer's Club, who is quite a successful writer and a psychic offered to talk to Oscar and ask him not to lie on the desk. The trouble is I don't want him to be offended and I really like his being here unless I need to spread out a bit - or if he and Roxie sprawl more than usual. Most of the time, they lie to the back of the desk and really aren't a bother. I can't see how he could be made to understand WHEN he is in the way.

I had my hair done today. What a relief. It has been getting WAY too long and sticking out every which way. I also had an appointment with Dr. Casey, my chiropractor. I had him look at my wrist and thumb. He said he felt a restriction and did an adjustment. Hopefully this will relieve the sharp pains I have been getting in the hand.

The roofer is going to start the repairs tomorrow. There are several area in need but at least the roof as a whole is sound and Jerry Ziegelbauer, the roofing contractor, says it is far from needing replacement. WHEW!

There is nothing of interest on tv of an evening anymore. We are watching Errol Flynn's The Sea Hawk tonight. It is really good. Errol Flynn, Alan Hale Sr., Claude Raines are all in it.

It was warm again today, but slightly cooler than yesterday. Tonight we are getting thunder and a little rain. I did water pots. I am really mad at bunnies. When I went out to water the beans and carrots I discovered that the bunnies have eaten all but ONE of my nice healty bean plants. I sprayed the rest of the garden with repellent. It is not a good move to close the barn door after the horse has escaped.

Have a nice Wednesday. I get to stay home all day.

Love

Mary

The phone has been ringing off the hook tonight. I got a call from Joan with three names for the prayer chain, a call from one of Nora's classmates needing her address because THEY will be having their 45th reunion this year and a call back from one of the people that I had called about the census. Mother called too.

I called Bart and Barb tonight and talked to Barb. She has been working 11 hour days and Bart is having some depression problems. They are working on that and his physical health is definately improving. So hopefully that will help him cope with the emotional in time. Barb is dieting and has lost 17 lbs. She is VERY proud as well she should be. They are exercizing in the pool on base together so Bart is becoming more mobile also. Good news and not so good news.

I must get a little package ready to send to them. Jacquie, my ex sister in law, sent some jewelry that my ex bought at one time for Bart's grandmother Lily. She thought that Barb should have it. That is a nice idea.

Tomorrow, we shop then a hair cut by Maria and a neck adjustment from Dr. Casey. I need to ask him about carpel tunnel. I think my wrist is arthritis, but sometimes wonder, as working on the computer does aggravate it. A writer/chiropractor spoke at Writer's Club today and gave us some hints on how to avoid neck and spinal problems. He was interesting enough that members kept him a bit longer than we had intended with questions.

It was hot and muggy again. We had about 1/2 inch of rain, I guess. This is not going to help much at all. I must begin watering again tomorrow. The pots and the soakers and the new grass at least.

Have a nice Tuesday.


It's a kind of arrogance to think that you are beyond redemption.





The above is a quote from one of the Cadfael books by Ellis Peters. I really liked it.

Mary

Singing for the graduates this morning was really fun. We sang quite well and two of our high schoolers sang a duet for the graduates too that was really beautiful. Jim Wilsing joined us for the Celtic Mass Music and our Offeratory Hymn on the tin whistle.

Fun.

This afternoon, I went to River Park in Sheboygan Falls for a memorial for Jack Boldt, a classmate of mine who died last October of pancreatic cancer. His daughter invited family, friends and classmates to the park for a memory trip and to dedicate a bench that she and her daughter had commissioned in Jack's memory. Jack was a jock when I was in high school, a really nice looking guy with a ready smile and the willingness to be a friend to everybody. He left a legacy of fun and joy. I started kindergarten the same year as he did and we graduated together. Then I didn't see him for 40 years. We met again at the 40th high school reunion and had a nice visit. He was proudest of all of his daughter and grandaughter, Gretchen and Samantha. I can see why, Gretchen has his eyes and his smile and I am sure his joy. She obviously loves him. What a legacy. I was glad that I had that memory to share with Gretchen.

It was a beautiful day. Too beautiful actually. 82 degrees at the highest but NO rain. River Park in Sheboygan Falls is a beautiful park. Always has been. When Randy was married, we all went there for pictures along the bank of the Sheboygan River with flowing willow trees in the background. That was 20 years ago and now their youngest daughter is graduating from high school. TODAY.

I am sad. I have not heard from any of the out of state children in weeks. I guess I'll have to start calling them because I get lonely.

Love

Mary

Roxie is being Miss Affectionate Kitty tonight. She is on my lap cuddling and purring and looking at me quite adoringly. She was a bit standoffish when we first got her but in the past month or so, she has become quite the lover. I like that a lot.

It was hot again today.

This afternoon, I picked up Mother at about 2:00 and we went to my cousin Brian and Peggy's house for the graduation party of their daughter Amanda. It was a nice couple of hours. Maureen was here from Kansas City and Chris and her husband Ron came from Sun Prairie. Aunt Kathleen and Uncle Bob were there of course and we got to see lots of their kids too. Brian and Peggy's youngest daughter, Samantha and two of her friends did a musical gymnastic act for us in the back yard. Brian and Peggy just moved into a new home. It is about the same size as their old one but the grounds are huge and beautiful going down to a creek. We were impressed. The view from the living room is spectacular.

Took Mom grocery shopping on the way home. She is having her Canasta group over this week and needed proper snacks to set out for the ladies. Usually, she asks Donna to take her grocery shopping But - Tomorrow is Jessie's graduation and then Jessie leaves for Germany two days later. To top it off, Erin's car broke down on the way home from work and Randy was trying to fix that. It never rains but it pours.

Dick is working on stripping the paint off the lower panel of the garage door because it is peeling. It is really not cooperating. So he figures it might be his summer project.

Tomorrow the choir sings at 8:00AM so I want to get to bed early. It is for the graduates.

Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you'll land among the stars.

Go for it.

Mary

Another hot dry day. I understand that it will be warm for the next few days with little chance of rain.

Today was a day that moved apace as the expression goes. Dick and I started out early. We went to breakfast at Hardee's then picked up some supplies at Menards. When we got home, I cleaned the kitchen and sorted my writing projects.

At noon, I went to Plymouth and the eye doctor for new sun glasses, the Art Center to view an exhibit by my friend Jane Kochmod of some of her poetry and photography. Then on to the Sewing basket and finally lunch with the gals at Dairy Queen.

We had hamburger patties, potatoes and Swiss chard for dinner and topped the day off by watching and old Errol Flynn movie called Dawn Patrol from 1938. It was really good. Actually kind of an anti war movie. So many movies from that long ago are dated and boring. But this was surprisingly special. Great cast too. Errol Flynn, David Niven, Barrie Fitzgerald.

Tomorrow I will be taking Mother to my cousin Brian Ayers home for a graduation party for his daughter Amanda. The next day, my niece Jessica graduates. Randy and Donna had Jessie's party last Saturday. Jessie leaves for 25 days in Germany on Tuesday. She is on an exchange program. Things sure have changed since I graduated from High School. Even since my Bart graduated. She had worked so hard to get there, I hope the trip is all she is dreaming it will be. She is a lovely girl. Did I tell you that she looks JUST like Mother looked in her wedding picture, except of couse Jessie has red hair and Mother's was dark.

I was reviewing the cookbook that I am trying to get ready to publish and thought I would share a special recipe with you.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE TO DIE FOR

6 oz. Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
3 eggs Separated
3 TBLSP. water
1 Teas. Instant Coffee
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Teas.. Vanilla
1 Tblsp. Blackberry Brandy

Stir instant coffee powder into boiling water in small heavy saucepan until completely dissolved. Add chocolate, place over low heat, stirring, just until chocolate is melted.

Remove from heat.

Whisk egg yolks into chocolate mixture one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in Brandhy and vanilla. Beat egg whites in a medium sized bowl until foamy, bradually beat in sugar, a tablespoon at a time until merangue forms soft peaks. Gold in chocolat mixture until no streaks of white remain. Spoon into parfait glasses. Refrigerate at least one hour.

Garnish with whipped cream. Add a candied rosebud and mint leaf if you wish.

Recipe says 8 servings, I always make it 5. You COULD use any brandy but the flavored add such a great taste.


Enjoy

Mary

We grocery shopped today and I did a bit of quilting.

It was hot again today. We did get about a minute and a half of rain this evening accompanied by enough thunder to terrify poor little Chelsea. It wasn't enough rain to really do much for the lawn or the flowers so I am glad that I watered everything this afternoon. My plants seem to be thriving despite the dry weather. I guess that I am watering just enough. Still waiting on those peony blossems to open.

On June 28 and 29, Dick and I are going on a mini trip to replace an overnight tour that Discovery had to cancel because there were not enough people interested. We decided to go to Baraboo and go to the International Crane Foundation. We always enjoy that. Dick found a new Irish shop in Baraboo also so we can check it out. I booked a whirlpool suite at the Best Western. I find that it does my hips and knees wonders to soak in a whirlpool and it is nice if I don't have to leave the room to do it. I can do myself some therapy before we go to sleep and maybe a bit in the morning before we leave. We are thinking of perhaps stopping in Prairie du Sac at the Wollersheim Winery too. That would make a nice low impact two day getaway.

We had choir tonight. Jim Wilsing is going to accompany us on the tin whistle along with Beth on the piano. The song is You Raise Me Up and is truly beautiful. We are singing it for the Graduates at the 8:00AM Mass. It will be a nice song for Celtic Faire too - a possibility.

Pray for rain. We need it. Especially the farmers.

Here is the first verse of a poem my brother Matt wrote called sleep. Something I think I am ready for right now.

SLEEP

sleep i seek your tender arms
your gentle hands and flowering dreams
and your painless misty hiways
sleep i seek you


(Matt never used capital letters and referred to himself by the small letter i.)
Til tomorrow.

Mary

It was a wonderful day. I got to stay home ALL day. So I caught up on all the paperwork that had been piling up on my desk. I sent out about 10 mailings. Some for us and some for Rhine Plymouth. And I even got some quilting done. I have pinned the majority of the Claddagh Ring for stitching.

This evening Bobbie and I went to the quilt guild meeting. Usually they last until after 9:00PM but we were home by 8:30PM this month. We were sure relieved. I brought the three blocks that I have completed for the group quilt that we are making at Blessed Trinity and the spiderweb that I posted the picture of yesterday. People seemed to really like the spiderweb. As you can see, it is quite whimsical. Things are all in the works for the annual quilt show. Unfortunately, Dick and I will be just returning from out Washington DC trip the day of the show. I will ask one of my friends to take and pick up my entries and am going to sell the raffle tickets and make a challenge block. That will have to be my contribution this year.

I had prepared a small batch of "old rags", Cuban shredded beef a couple weeks ago and froze it. We had that with rice and peas for supper.

Tomorrow we shop and there is choir in the evening.

Ellis Peters said in the Cadfael Book The Potter's Field "To overcome the lures of evil is all that can be required of mortals." Seems logical to me. Sometimes that is impossible. I also received from a friend of mine, a quote that seems to refute the above. "Some mistakes are too much fun to make just once." Puzzle that out for a bit.


Mary

Dick and I are spending the evening watching a wonderful OLD movie called The Old Dark House with Boris Karloff, Raymond Massey, Charles Laughton and several older really great stars. It is scary in the old way and a strange little movie.

This morning we shopped and I did a bit of sewing too. This afternoon I went to help put the raffle tickets for the Celtic Faire into envelopes.

It was hot today and we were under a thunderstorm watch most of the day. Nothing came of it as much as we could use the rain. It does seem cloudy outside now, perhaps we will have some tonight. Otherwise, I must go out and water everything tomorrow. It was humid so I don't think that things have dried out too much because of the humidity.

The peony on the side of the house is just about ready to open. This is the first year it has bloomed and I can hardly wait. I have even forgotten what color I bought.

Tomorrow night is the Sheboygan Quilt Guild Meeting. It is the first one I have been able to attend in months. I want to show off my spiderweb quilt. The last time I showed up at a meeting was at the end, just long enough to drop off the two baby quilts I made for the At Risk babies at Childrens Hospital in Milwaukee.



This is the Spiderweb.


Love

Mary

Lovely day today. It was all the way up into the 80s. Wow. Bobbie and Bill brought us some primroses from their garden Sunday afternoon. So I planted them today around the birdbath in the front yard. Bobbie says that they spread. I hope so as they are colorful and beautiful. I don't have any real color in that corner so it is a welcome addition.

I met Rosalie at Sheboygan Falls Conservation for our third week of trap league. I did a 17 - not as good as Sunday, but certainly in a consistant higher count than last year. I seem to have to constantly remind myself to be calm and focus.

Bible Study was very nice this morning. We finished the fifth of six lessons on the Eucharist. This lesson was on the ending rite of the Mass that sends us out to evangelize and practice the message. Also we discussed the Eucharist itself which is the center of the Catholic Faith. We believe that the bread and wine, at the Consecration, become the Body and Blood of Christ. The United Stated Bishops state. "Futhermore, being present under the appearances of bread and wine, Christ gives himself to us in a form that is appropriate for human eating and drinking." It seems so odd to us that animal sacrifice was (and still is in many cultures) accepted. However, Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice and ended the need for such things. Sure glad he took care of that.

I had to go to the Rhine Plymouth monthly meeting tonight too. It is good to be home and done for the day.

Tomorrow is much easier.

Have a good week.

Love

Mary

Lovely day today. The temperatures were in the low 80s. We are supposed to be getting thunderstorms this evening, but so far only a bit of wind and it is VERY muggy. Dick turned on the air conditioner for the first time today.

The choir sang at the 10:30 mass. It was the beginnng of a special farewell mass and luncheon for Sr. Marcia, who will be leaving Blessed Trinity at the end of the month. Beth, our choir director had picked Sr. Marcia'a favorits and we sang On that Holy Mountain with the Kinder Core. The Kinder Core is really good and we do enjoy partering with them. They sang another song called Our Redeemer Lives and we joined them for the refrain in parts and on the last verse which both choirs sang in parts and a capella. We rocked.

The lunch was pleasant, ham, cheese, rolls, Veggies and dip, chips and cake. Several people spoke and Sr. Marcia did too. Bob Weber spoke for the council and then followed with some comments from himself. I think his own opinion was a bit over the top. He compared her leaving to Hiroshima. Well, I had better keep my opinions to myself. But I figure that you won't tell.

Jim and I went out shooting this afternoon. I rocked there too. I got a 19 on my trap shoot and did very well with the pistol. The trap vest is helping now that I used it twice and am getting used to it. I am not flinching as I wait for the recoil and the pain. Without it I am pressing the gun stock right to bone and was ending up bruised and sore.

Tonight, We are going to watch the Tony Awards. I am excited to see how Smam a Lot does. I would really like to see that. We had better win the lottery, so I can go again.

Love

Mary

A beautiful, sunny, stormy day. Sounds odd doesn't it. But this morning, it was kind of cloudy but pleasant so I finished trimming the privet bush. (I don't think it is really a privot, but I like the name.)

This afternoon, about 3:00, it started getting very windy, then some mild thunder then the biggest BOOM we have had in a couple of years. Poor Chelsea is a basket case and Oscar flew (literally) from the window to the door of the office without touching the ground. Dick and I went to two graduation parties. Jessica Bainbridge and our niece, Jessica Deeley. It was raining until about 5:30 then cleared up nicely. Jessica actually graduates on the 11th but she leaves on the 13th for 25 days in Germany. Wow, kids now days sure have opportunities. She has worked her little buns off to afford this trip with fundraisers and a job and she maintained her school grades and extra circular activities too. Randy, my baby brother, can be very proud of ALL of his girls and I am very proud to be their aunt.

It was fun spending time with Uncle Pat, Aunt Joan, Aunt Kathleen and Uncle Bob. Next weekend, I will be taking Mother to my cousin Brian's daugher Amanda's graduation so I will probably see them again then.

Jeff and Kathy were there too, of course, Kathy is retired now. Jeff and Randy make their annual trip to Indy this year. Jeff said it was perfect this year. The weather was wonderful and the race was great. Danica, the young lady who managed to come in fourth on her FIRST major race, was quite a draw and VERY impressive. This group of guys have been going to Indy for at least 40 years. They used to camp out and tailgate. They still do tailgating but now they stay in a nicer motel out of the elements. They aren't stupid.

Jeff and Kathy said that the currants are looking really good this year. They should be ready about the middle of July. Last year we missed them and are we ever sorry. The wine needs to mature for a year but it is REALLY good. I told Jeff and Kathy that we don't want to miss the crop again.

A dear friend sent me the following. Try it. It is great.

HOW TO START YOUR DAY WITH A POSITIVE OUTLOOK


1. Open a new file in your PC.

2. Name it "Housework."

3. Send it to the RECYCLE BIN

4. Empty the RECYCLE BIN

5. Your PC will ask you, "Are you sure you want to delete housework permanently?"

6. Answer calmly, "Yes," and press the mouse button firmly....

7. Feel better?

Have a pleasant relaxing Sunday.

God love you - I do

Mary

WHAT A DAY! The Plymouth ladies were all unable to come to lunch so I had to redo my plans. I ended up going to the bank in Sheboygan Falls and picking up some pins I needed at Evans. Then I went to church for the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and dropped some information off to Lynn in the church office.

I stopped at Mom's for a few minutes. Randy had brought over a big box of cook books that Dolores brought to their house. Donna and her girls took what they wanted and they are spreading them around. We aren't sure why Dolores sent them down. Has she stopped cooking? Maybe so. Did she decide to REALLY clean house? Such a puzzle. I brought home a Frugel Gormet cookbook and will go through the Taste of Home but lord knows I have anough cookbooks myself.

I trimmed half of the corner bushes around the birdbath. It is supposed to rain for the next three days. I hope it starts late enough tomorrow so that I can finish the bush.

We had lasagna for dinner. I am using up things in the freezer. The sauce I made up without meat worked well for this too. I sliced mushrooms and meatballs along with three kind of cheese, the sauce and the lasagna pasta. Yum Yum. We had chocolate cake too. If you come Sunday I have plenty left for everybody. (If you ALL came I would add stuff til there was enough. One of my curses. I love to feed people.)

Tomorrow is the graduation party for Jessica. That will be fun. At least for me. I hope that it does not rain before late in the evening. I sure would make it difficult for Randy and Donna. She actually graduates on the 11th but she leaves for Germany on the 12th. So this is quite a whirlwind time for that girl. Boy, the kids now days sure have wonderful opportunities.

Love

Mary

Dick's blood test was perfect again. Sue, his technician, says that he is getting boring. We all LOVE that kind of boring. She says he should continue doing what he is doing and not doing what he is not doing.

Today was nice and warm. Low 70s. I went out in the front yard and trimmed the bush that Bobbie says is really a tree. It is under the Locust tree. If I let it go it gets way too big and tries to overtake the Locust. Trimmed, it looks nice. With any luck at all, this weekend I will get the privot hedge that corners the birdbath squared up. Everything is healthy and thriving. A good thing, but it does make a lot of work.

Tonight was choir practice, both adult choir and bell choir. Sr. Marcia, the ex-principal of our school, who has been here forever, 28 years as I understand, is moving to another ministry at the end of June. We are having a celebration of her service and a good bye party on Sunday. The choir is singing along with the childrens choir. We are singing a wonderful song along with the children called There is a Redeemer. The children will sing the first two verses and we will join in four parts on the refrain and both choirs will sing the last verse a capella. The children are so precious and we all enjoy singing together so it sounds wonderful.
Sr. Marcia will be so pleased. We are also singing her favorite - On That Holy Mountain.

Did I tell you that we have robots that do our vacuuming. They are called Roomba and are kind of like another couple of pets. After you make sure that the area you want vacuumed is surrounded by "walls" of one kind or another you turn them on. If you don't contain it, it escapes and you don't know where it will end up. They are fascinating to watch, they even know when there are stairs and turn around (usually, actually we have had the Roomba go tumbling down the stairs twice.) Anyway, I moved the carpet runners into the kitchen while we are doing the main carpet and you would really laugh to see Roxie jump on the end of the runners to get a ride.

Have a nice Friday.

Mary

We had dinner with Mother at The Villager. Mother and I both got their "Pasta Viola" a construct your own pasta meal. This is kind of fun. You choose your pasta, sauces, herbs and veggies and add meat or seafood if you want it. I keep trying different combinations and they are all good.

The Sheboygan Theatre did a fine job on Sondheim's Into the Woods. It is a typical Sondheim, full of good but not "humable" music and the story is fairytale and fun. Almost everyone dies which is really rather odd. It was a new play for Dick and me which is always an adventure.

And it is always nice to spend an evening with Mother.

Tomorrow, we shop and Dick gets his finger pricked again. He has had another long streak of being right within the perameters. We are very pleased with that. I means that his medication if working and keeping him stable.

I also have choir tomorrow night so it will be a busy day.

It was beautiful today. Well into the 70s. Dick says he is turning on the air conditioner tomorrow so summer is really here.

I am tired and hope to sleep tight tonight. Chelsea has been getting me up way to early lately. It was 5:30AM today.

Mary

What a beautiful day. The temperatures were up in the high 60s and everything is green and fresh. Days like this make me remember why we stay in Wisconsin. They almost make up for the icy below zero days we struggle through in the winter.

We cleaned the kitchen screens and windows today too. It is amazing how much that brightens up the room.

Chelsea woke me up way too early again. It was not even 5:30AM so Dick and I got out for our grocery shopping early too. But it makes for a long day.

Tomorrow night, Dick, Mother and I are going to the Sheboygan Theatre Company to see Into the Woods. Mother saw a production of the musical last year at Sheboygan Falls High School. Jessica, my niece, was one of the performers in that one. Dick and I have not seen it. Sondheim can be different. Some of his work I like a LOT and some I find rather odd. This one should be fun as it is a fantasy.

Well, I am tired. A E. V. Lucas said, "One of the most adventurous things left is to go to bed, for no one can lay a hand on our dreams." So I will start my evening's adventure. Hope yours is pleasant too.

Love

Mary

Yesterday was a lost day. I totally forgot to post on the blog.

Went to church early because the choir was not singing. The rest of the day was pleasant. Jim and I went shooting. I did pretty well with the pistol. Not so good with the trap shooting, but I was trying out my new vest. It did help with the bruising of the shoulders, but I need to get used to it. I will go again next Sunday so I have one more try before shoot league again on Monday.

Dick took Jim and I out for dinner last night. We sent to Nino's - always a good place to eat. I got pork, Jim got steak and Dick got fish.

Today was equally quiet. We fried out brats for dinner and I fixed the famous Kunert potato salad and beans to go with it. It was a beautiful day, up into the high 60s and sunny. We had lots of rain yesterday. A good thing for my new grass and I can see my bean plants coming up. Did I till you that there are buds on my peony bush. I am just delighted. This is the plant that I have thought was dead two years in a row. But it keeps coming back and this is its first year to bloom.

Yesterday, we had some really persistant thunderstorms. Our poor little Chelsea was just frantic. People in the area were setting off fireworks both Saturday AND Sunday nights and she is afraid of that too. Poor little thing keeps pacing and trying to find a safe spot. Jim and Dick both held her for a while and she just trembled. Her whole body turns into a little bowl of jello. We can't figure out why in the world fireworks are being used for Memorial Day. Neither can our girl. Hope they are out of them. I think if there were three days in a row, Chelsea will lose all hope.

Love

Mary

We had a very little bit of rain today, so I went out and checked the newly planted pots and watered the freshly laid grass seed. It was a pleasant temperature, about 68 and partly sunny.

The birds seem to be singing more loudly this spring. Perhaps we notice them more because we are leaving the windows and doors open rather than turning on the air conditioner. Dick is one to turn it on from the first warm day, close all the windows and doors and leave everything closed up until fall. However, now that we have Oscar and Roxie, who enjoy sitting in the windows and at the deck door observing the birds and the general outside, he is more amenible to opening things up rather than shutting things down. Now, he is complaining about the birds being too loud and persistant.

A peaceful day, I did some sewing and cleared off my desk. I am down to the last few projects at church, then will be all caught up.

Cadfael Book of Days had a great quote from Ellis Peters first book, A Morbid Taste for Bones today. "Well, well" said Cadfael silently to himself, and left the insoluble to the solver of all problems."

I made pizza tonight with my own sauce, the sauce I made Thursday with fresh herbs from our very own garden. Boy it was good. I made it the way I used to make a quick meal for the boys.

A frozen loaf of bread, thawed, risen and spread out on a pizza pan
Spread sauce
Sprinkle whatever toppings you want

Bake for about 1/2 hour at 400 degrees.

Have a nice Sunday. I will go to the 8:00AM mass and then shoot with Jim. I want to shoot a round of trap too so I can try out my new vest with the padded shoulder.

Love

Mary