We cleaned the garage today. I am tired. At least the temperatures were nice and we were neither too hot nor too cold while doing it. Dick took us out to dinner as a reward. We went to Zana's and had pasta. Dick and I brought enough home that I probably won't have to cook all week.

I went out to fill the birdbath and checked the beans that I replanted. The damn rabbits got them already. I really think it is too late to replant, but I MAY try one more time. I used Mother's methods of repellant. I put a jar half full of water in the bed and I sprinkled liberally with chili powder. Apparantly my rabbits are not afraid of water in a jar and must be fond of spicy food because the plants are GONE!!! I will use the liquid fence more this time, if I can get them to grow.

At dinner, I asked Jim if Pete had tried the pepper jelly yet. Pete is Jim's boss and gave Jim some hot peppers from his garden. I used a couple of them the year before last when I made my last batch of pepper jelly. It is a great jelly, a nice mild kick, but not too hot. Pete is apparantly afraid to try it. I am still trying to figure why he even grew them in the first place as Jim says he is afraid of hot stuff. I know that if he tried this he would like it and told Jim to cluck like a chicken at him for me.

My herbs are thriving this year, sure glad the rabbits leave them alone. I think I will make some lavender bread next week.

I decided that when we win the lottery, I will start having manicures once a week. I would like blue nail polish.

Guess what! Remember when the Felix Cat that Jim put on my computer was multiplying? I had as many as three at one time and it kept chasing the dog that I also had away. I finally gave up on the dog and for the past year, I have had only one cat. However, today there are two cats running around the screen again.

Have a nice Sunday. We are going to fry out.

Happy Forth of July Weekend.

Mary

It was actually chilly most of the day. I went to Plymouth to have lunch with the Plymouth gals and darn near froze in the Dairy Queen. I had ham and bean soup for lunch. I've had better. Usually their soups, except for the cream soups, are much better than that.

I spent some time sorting the fabric downstairs, now that I finished the Oak Leaf Table Runner. I put the quilt that I need to tie for the Celtic Faire on the rack and partially assembled a square that I am doing for the Sheboygan County Quilt Guild Show. So far it looks good. It is a star of white and red and then I will be putting blue petals on it, then a gold center for the motif.

Dick and I racked the batch of Gewertziminer that we are almost ready to bottle. It went so smoothly. We can never figure out why sometimes it is a breeze and other times I end up having to scrub the bench and floor because we slop all over the place.

Tonight we had good old hamburger helper for supper. I made spinach with bacon, onion, mushrooms and parmesan cheese to go with it. It was quite simple, I diced a slice of bacon and cooked it together with some chopped onion until the onion was soft, then I drained a can of mushooms and a can of spinach and added them to the pot. Finally just before serving, I added some parmesan until it was melted. Pretty good.

Tomorrow, Chelsea has to have a bath. She will not be a happy girl but she is quite gray by now and we are having guests on Tuesday. Can't have a dirty dog greeting people.

An Alex Levine said "Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all essential four food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat."

That is right up there with the theory that the Sheboygan Brat is the perfect balanced diet. You have your hard roll for grain, your brat for protein, your pickle and onion for vegetable and butter for dairy.

Enjoy your long weekend. We will be at home except that Bobbie and I have to work at Rhine on Sunday. We will watch whatever fireworks that we can see from the deck. We usually get a pretty good show.

Bye now


Mary

Another rather full day. We didn't want the waitress at Zana's to worry because we weren't there on Tuesday for breakfast, so we stopped today on our way to the Pig to grocery shop.

This afternoon, I went back to Falls to meet with Sandy at church. We tried to come up with suggestions for people who can take over the chores that Sr. Marcia was doing. Sr. Marcia is all settled in a cute little apartment in Campbellsport now. Mother said she did come back today to join her Senior Saints at their annual picnic at the Bachmann's. The Bachmann's are a lovely family who plan a picnic and gathering at their farm every year for the Seniors.

I agreed to write a couple of notices for the bulletin and call on Dewey, another church member, to help get the environment(decorating) committee together to do a long term plan. I also will call the Bachman's to be sure that they will have the picnic next year and told Sandy that I would plan programs for the Seniors to fill in the months that they don't have trips or school kids events. We figured that will involve perhaps four programs a year. I think I would enjoy that.

Tonight we "got through" the last of our German songs. Now we have to just practice. We will have one more practice alone and then two with the whole choir at the Bavarian Inn in the Milwaukee area. We told Beth that we would like to sing the German Mass for the congregation the first Sunday in August when we will know it the best. I think the congregation would really like that.

Dick's son, Dick, sent pictures of the tile and flooring that they are having installed in their new remodeled bathroom. It really looks nice. We will have to go see when they are all done.

I took Mom a bottle of both the Domaine Du Sac and the Prairie Fume that we bought at Wollersheim. She is always so pleased.

It was in the upper 80s again today, despite the promises of temperatures in the 70s. Chelsea and I had a lovely walk this morning. I know she was very grateful. When I am gone, she doesn't get walks. Jim says that he thinks she knows because she gets right to business and doesn't even try to lead him down the driveway any more. She is not dumb. Her hair is growing out a bit and she looks a bit shaggy. I will be giving her a bath on Saturday as we are having guests on Tuesday and I want her to be pretty.

She is trying to tell me that it is time for bed now so I will sign off and accomodate her. Have a nice Friday.

It is a big payday for us so we are rich again for a day.

Love

Mary

We had a lovely holiday.

The International Crane Foundation is always one of my favorite places. This year, there was in the Amoco Whooping Crane Exhibit a chick that is being fostered by the pair of Whoopers that live in the exhibit. I did get to see it for a few moments before the three of them moved behind the rushes and just kept feeding there. I took some pictures and will look at them tomorrow to see if the chick is at all visible. What a thrill. I took LOTS of pictures of all of the other cranes. Some were posing nicely and some were not.

If you want to see more about the cranes, look at www.savingcranes.org. It is a great site. I have been a member of the International Crane Foundation since the first time that Dick and I stumbled on it when we went to the Circus Museum, probably 10 years ago.

Later, after we checked into the hotel, we went to downtown Baraboo and did some shopping. Dick had found an Irish Shop online so we went there. It is a shop with all kinds of truly quality merchandise. I found a three disc set of the Women's Heart music. I had the first one on tape and the second on CD. But getting all three in a set seemed like a good idea. I will find new homes for the duplicates.

Today, we drove home via Prairie Du Sac and the Wollersheim Winery. We do like their wines. Their Domaine Du Sac is SO good. A beaugolais type. It is a smaller bottling for them so they do not often sell it outside of the winery. We stocked up a bit and will have some to share with Mother and Bobbie.

It has cooled down considerably this evening. I is 64 degrees now so Dick turned off the air conditioning and opened things up. Tomorrow it is not supposed to get much over 70 which will be a big relief. It seems that the heat wave is over. We still need rain however and there is none in the immediate future.

I did most of the driving today, and Dick did most of it yesterday. So we make a good team.

I came home to a lot of emails. Most of them were spam of course but several were from friends. My friend, Janet, sent me one with lots of really great quotes. Here is one that tickled my fancy.

I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue . . ."No good in a bed, but fine against a wall." ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Til tomorrow.

Mary

Yesterday was so nice. Everyone was at Jeff's to see that baby. It was nice that his parents, Matt and Kaoru, could come from Hawaii with him too. He is a nice little man and was so good. It is not easy to be only 10 months old and have all these aunts and uncles and cousins that want a "piece of you". It was hot but we all stayed in the shade and visited and drank TONS of soda, water and beer and did just fine. The apple cheesecake was GREAT. I was able to save a piece for Jim and he approved also. I think I might make that one for the Main Street Days contest this year.


Today, again, was hot. I went to Bible Study and shooting. The shooting was awful. I only got an 11. My friend Bill says that I am constantly behind the bird. I will practice on Sunday. We do not shoot on the Forth of July.

Tomorrow, Dick and I will be going away for two days. Actually we are leaving tomorrow morning and will return Wednesday night. We are going to visit the International Crane Foundation and an Irish Shop that is in Baraboo. So you won't hear from me tomorrow.


Something to ponder...

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness...you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

Bart and Barb believe that they have found a doctor who is really listening to Bart and who Bart can relate too. Thank you for your prayers. He has requested more tests that may disclose reasons why he is not sleeping.

Have a nice Tuesday. I will post again on Wednesday.

Love


Mary

I don't think the temperatures topped 76 today, which was fine with me. I am watering tonight even if we are supposed to be getting rain. The weather bureau has been promising rain for so long that we just plain don't believe them anymore.

Dick and I bottled 25 bottles of White Zinfindal today. It has a lovely color and the bit that was left over sure tastes good.

Tomorrow we will be picking up Mother at 11:30AM and going out to Hilbert to see my brother Jeff's son Matthew and his wife Kaoru and their son Matt who is about 9 months old now. Everyone who lives in Wisconsin who can will be there to see them. They live in Hawaii now, where Matt teaches grade school. His school is a year round, so they will be only here a week or so as his vacations are quite short.

I made an apple cheesecake to take along. It is VERY heavy. You mix apple pie mix into the cheesecake before you bake it and top it with a struesel topping. I am hoping it is as good as it seems to be.

I also made some guacamole today which is EXCELLENT. It has been a long time since I had any of that.

I am really tired tonight. I have to stay up until at least 9:00 though so that Chelsea can get out for her walk. I also want to turn the water off then.

Did I tell you that Barbara called last night? Bart is having a lot of trouble sleeping and is not at all with it in the mornings. She is trying to get a doctor in Oklahoma City to look at him and listen to him. His doctor in Lawton doesn't even know what he has prescribed for Bart.


Have a nice Sunday.

Mary

It was HOT today. Dick and I went and saw Mr. & Mrs. Smith today. It was a good movie. Lots of excitement, shooting and romance (kind of romance anyway.) It is the first time we remember seeing Angelina Jolie in a movie. She is really good and quite lovely.

It was 98 degrees when we came out of the theatre. Then I dropped off the 9 extra quilt squares from Blessed Trinity to Mary Bainbridge. She will add her 3 so that we can make the lap quilt to raffle along with the queen sized one. By now it has dropped down to 74 and tomorrow will be much cooler. I am hearing 84.

I did get all the flowers watered and part of the lawn too. We had about 15 minutes of rain as the front barreled past us.

We Writer's Club Members did a little excercize at our meeting using words that sound alike but mean different things. I came up with the following using horse - hoarse and lead - led.

The hoarse auctioneer led the horse nto the ring. They were old, the horse and the man. The horse's back was bowed as if he carried lead weights on his back. The auctioneer's the weight of the world.



Til tomorrow

Mary

Just got home from choir. We are just practicing our German pieces for the choir at Germanfest. Beth, our director, is able to translate enougth so that we at least know what we are singing about. We finished going through everything but the pieces that are just for the men and just for the women. The melodies are quite easy to learn but matching them with the foreign words is difficult.

Dick got the little burr on his tooth filed and feels much better about them. They really do look nice.

It was very hot today - up in the 90s. Tomorrow will be the same they say.

Tomorrow we are going on a date. We are going to an afternoon movie. Dick gets to choose this time and has decided on Mr. & Mrs. Smith. It has great reviews. I can hardly wait for POPCORN.

I have the Cashel Dennehy School of Dance booked to dance at Celtic Faire. I am really excited.

Have a nice Friday and a super weekend. We will be going to my brother Jeffs on Sunday. I am making an Apple Cheesecake to share.

Love

Mary

Dick and I are watching Dancing with the Stars again. Two dancers have been eliminated. We are really enjoying it. There are two more weeks after this one as they elimate ONE couple each week. This week they will dance two dances. A Samba and a Waltz. I find myself getting really irritated with the judges. They are very nasty with their comments - at least the old crotchety one. I liked Evander Holyfield myself.

It was very pleasant today - the temps were in the mid 70s. I sat out on the deck for a while this evening and read. The rest of the week is supposed to get HOT HOT HOT. Up into the 90s by the weekend.

I talked to Barb and Bart is feeling a bit better thought he is still struggling and needs prayer. He will be seen in Oklahoma City on July 12 and Barb said they are taking more blood tests so perhaps they are finding some odd levels. She feels that perhaps because he is exercising more he needs to have his meds adjusted but the doctor in Lawton won't listen to them about ANYthing.

We filtered the White Zinfandal today and will do another filter tomorrow. Then we can bottle it. We will be done just in time to start racking and filtering the Gewertziminer. Got to build up the stock. We like to have it for gifts. I have been harvesting rhubarb and hope to have enougth from my plants for both wine and desserts. But - I will probably have to get some from Bobbie or Donna. My plant just isn't quite big enough for everything I want to do with it.

We got the car washed today and went to Menards. Tomorrow morning we are getting the Alantra serviced AND Dick has to go back to the dentist to get a little burr on his new caps smoothed out. Busy Busy.

Thank God that the little Boy Scout in Utah was found safe and sound. I loved his mother Jody's statement. "People say that the heavens are closed and God no longer answers prayers. We are here to unequivocally tell you that the heavens are not closed, prayers are answered and children do dome home."

WOW.

Mary

It was warm today, up in the middle 80s. We waited until after 4:00 then started both sprinklers. The rotating one is acting up. We have such hard water that they keep getting jammed with minerals. What we need is a big vat of vinegar to soak it in and then have two - one soaking, one working.

This afternoon, Dick and I met with Mary Schroeder, my friend and investment counseler, and her replacement, Tom Schmidtke, to review my retirement portfolio. They had some suggestions that I have to study. Mary is retiring, at least temporarily. I will miss her as my consultant, but will see her often, as she is a part of the group of Wells Fargo ladies that meet on Friday's for lunch.

Tonight, eight quilting ladies met with our squares for the Quilt that we are putting together for a raffle at Celtic Faire. I believe I told you about that. 9 ladies have made 39 squares that are all unique and just wonderful. We are making a queen size quilt and have enough squares left that if Mary Bainbridge makes her three will become a lap quilt for a second prize in the raffle. This was a good idea, I hope it turns out to be profitable.

I made a pasta salad today. Anything with pasta is well received in this house. It is a great one that I found on Richard Simmons' recipe cards. You mix 2 cups of elbow macaroni with four or five cups of chopped veggies (carrots, celery, green onions, cucumber, peppers, zuchinni) whatever you have, add some shredded cheese and/or sliced ham or pepperoni and stir in a couple of tablespoons of light mayonese, salt and pepper to taste. Chill and serve.

A nice quiet day tomorrow.

Happy Day.

Mary

Nice day today. We started reading Paul's II Corinthians. Actually, we just read the introduction from the study guide and the greeting. He always has quite lengthy greetings that seem to go on and on. Again, we are going to have to rely on the notes to tell us the customs of the area and the time so that what Paul says makes sense. For example, we always have to keep in mind that slavery was customary and a fact of life in his time. He actually gives slaves advice on how to be good slaves.

Then I took Mother to see her eye doctor, Dr. Larson for her bi-annual check. He did notice a slight change but not enough to warrant any action and just told her to keep checking that lined chart and if there is any change to call immediately. Then we went to the Restoration Gardens, Thyme Savors, restaurant for lunch. It is a pleasant place to eat. We had tuna and a cup of soup. I had their corn chowder and it was great. They put all kinds of nice greens on their sandwiches.

This evening I shot trap league and bumped up to a 15 score. Better than last week and CERTAINLY better than yesterday. But I am still not leading on the bird. (That is what Bill, a friend who teaches trap to high school kids says.) It will come. I am determined.

Dick got the second prime coat on the garage door today. Probably on Wednesday he will put the paint on. We also racked wine.

Old Oscar is on the desk all sprawled out with his paw over his eyes. I am surprised that he has not noticed that Dick opened the deck door and the windows. It has cooled down enough to turn off the air.

My reading in the Cadfael Book of Days by Robin Whiteman said "God is still looking your way." I like that.

He is looking at you too. Enjoy.

Mary

Here it is Sunday night at 8:00PM already. This has been a rather eventful day. As I said, the Bell Choir (by the way we are called the Trinity Tones. Not my choice but that is the name that was chosen,) played at Mass this morning. our first piece was great. The second, was moderately ok. We fell apart on the third (I think we fooled the congregation by plunging on through) and the last one was OK again. I received complements from two of our audience and will bask in that.

This afternoon, Jim, Bobbie and I went shooting. I did pretty good on the pistol range but was disappointed with the trap shooting. I have done some adjustments on my shooting vest which I hope will help when I shoot league tomorrow.

It was Father's Day and all the kids contacted Dick. Leslie called tonight and we had a nice phone visit. He has been busy lately, scraping and painting the inside of the garage door.

It was an absolutely perfect day today. The temperatures were in the mid 70s. It was sunny. Everything is green and beautiful. Wisconsin is really the prettiest state in the union. I have always said that, no matter where I lived.

Bart is having a bit of a problem with his med adjustments. We can use prayers that things can be resolved and will get better soon. He has not been sleeping for one thing.

I have the get together for Fr. Mike Shea all arranged now for July 5th at 11:00AM. That should be fun. I am going to fix "Old Rags" for lunch. I can make it the day ahead of time and just put it in the slow cooker for serving and to keep it warm. It is really good on hard rolls. A salad and nice dessert should round it off.

I was reading a sentence in a book called Celtic Christianity by Timothy Joyce. He said "Of course, there can always be a cast of too much spirits in a pub, but you can also have too much religion in a church!" It reminded me of the parish priest in Ireland at the church where Fr. Mike Moran said Mass. Fr.Mike asked him why there was not more music in the service and the priest said that they did most of their "singin' in the pubs."

Roxie just joined me for a bit of cuddling, so I will sign off now. Have a nice week.

Love

Mary

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