I did not have to go anywhere at all today. I know I told you that yesterday but usually something happens that makes me have to leave the house for something or other. The farthest I got today was the mailbox.

I did more decorating of the tree today. I hope to finish that tomorrow. I put away a lot of the everyday decorations too so I can put up the other Chrismas decorations.

Bart called to tell me that the truck with their stuff had arrived and was ALL unloaded. How nice that they have their possessions all in one place again. Mother had commented that she could see things there that MUST mean something to Barb and how she must want them with her - even if she didn't NEED them necessarily. Why do we get so attached to things. Probably because of the memories attached to them. I get all comforted putting the ornaments on the tree. MOST of them have a memory attached to them. Some go back to when Bret and Bart were babies and many to the early days of Dick and my marriage. Many are gifts. I cannot bear to toss any of them, even the "Paddy's Pig" that has his curly tail broken off. I just put the damaged side against the tree.

The meatloaf was super. For several years, I have used breadcrumbs made of all the pieces of leftover bread I have all dried up and mixed with a little butter and garlic. They are fresher. If I don't have dried bread, I just dry some hamburger or hot dog buns, buttered and garliced and dried in a very low oven. I fixed corn mixed with sauteed onion and peppers too.

Dick and I filtered the currant wine today - twice. Tomorrow we can bottle it. We should get 17 bottles. It does not taste too raw now, but we will let it mature for a full year because we have learned that the currant does benefit from aging.

From Highlighted in Yellow by H. Jackson Brown and Rochelle Pennington

Leave a quarter where a child can find it.
Skip a meal and give what you would have spent to a street person.
Offer to pay for parking and tolls when you ride with someone.
Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards.
Make a generous contribution to diabetes research.

Look outside yourself and bring pleasure to children. Such a good idea that should spread beyond the Christmas (yes, I said Christmas - not Holiday) season.

Be happy

Mary

We went to see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I REALLY liked it. It is such a big book and there was a great job of keeping the theme of the story while condensing it into three hours or so of movie. I hope they can keep these kids "kid" enough for the last three stories. As you probably know. Two more books are already out in print. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. A final episode is promised by J. K. Rowling. No word on that yet.

We always have popcorn for lunch on movie days. We go on Friday Afternoon for the old people special. It only costs us $7.50 to get in. It costs more than that for our popcorn and soda.

The morning was spent cleaning the kitchen and running a few errands. I am now at 6:30PM VERY tired. It is going to be an effort but I will try to stay up until 9:00. It is much easier for me to sleep through the night that way.

Tomorrow, I do not have to go ANYWHERE. SO - we will filter the Currant wine and I will decorate the tree. We are going to have meatloaf for dinner tomorrow with garlic mashed potatoes.

The other day, a news broadcast was showing the Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Harbor, Newport Beach Wisconsin. When I was living in California, I got to go on a couple of those. It is really fun and an impressive site. All the boats that want to decorate and fall in line. Then they slowly sail around the harbor. On the boats, you not only get to see all the other boats but also all the beautiful mansions that surround the harbor. They are all decorated too, of course. Food and drinks are always there. I had the hottest chili I ever enjoyed on a Christmas Harbor Cruise. It was so hot that it burned all the way down. BUT it left a great taste when the heat died down.

I received the following in an e-mail.

If you want someone who will bring you the paper without first tearing it apart to remove the sports section
Buy a dog.! []


If you want someone willing to make a fool of himself simply over the joy of seeing you
Buy a dog. []

If you want someone who will eat whatever you put in front of him and never says its not quite as good as his mother made it
Buy a dog []

If you want someone always willing to go out, at any hour, for as long and wherever you want
Buy a dog. []

If you want someone who will never touch the remote, doesn't care about football, and can sit next to you as you watch romantic movies
Buy a dog. []

If you want someone who is content to get up on your bed just to warm your feet and whom you can push off if he snores
Buy a dog.[]


If you want someone who never criticizes what you do, doesn't care if you are pretty or ugly, fat or thin, young or old, who acts as if every word you say is especially worthy of listening to, and loves you unconditionally, perpetually
Buy a dog.[]



But, on the other hand, If you want someone who will never come when you call, ignores you totally when you come home, leaves hair all over the place, walks all over you, runs around all night and only comes home to eat and sleep, and acts as if your entire existence is solely to ensure his happiness...

Then......................................



Buy a cat! []


(You thought I was talking about men didn't you!)


I finished my fantasy football tonight. Good thing. There are some games tomorrow.

Love
Mary

Another day closer to Christmas. We went grocery shopping, but not until about 11:00AM because we waited for Jim to plow the driveway to avoid getting it all iced up. He got up early but not before our usual time of 7:30 ot 8:00AM. He can't do the plowing at 1:00AM because he would be waking up the entire neighborhood.

Tonight we had choir practice and have all the music planned for Christmas. We practiced a little longer so we can be ready. I think Beth picked some good pieces.

The Rockettes, as I mentioned this morning, were really wonderful. They have several traveling groups, I understand. There are 18 women on stage for each routine. and they are totally precise. I think my favorite dance routine was the March of the Wooden Soldiers. Eighteen soldiers doing the whole march from Babes in Toyland. Wooden Soldiers are way at the top of my favorite Christmas characters.

We had a super lunch at Carlucci's not far from the Rosemont. The meal consisted of pizza for an appetizer, (really good), a mixed green salad (pretty non-descript), a choice of beef or chicken. I had the beef and liked it a lot. Dessert was tirimisu. Tirimisu is either great or whipped cream. This was great.

I started putting ornaments on the tree. So it should be done by Sunday. Tomorrow we are going to see Harry Potter. I have been waiting patiently through other plans and injuries and it has been put off since the premier. So - tomorrow we will have popcorn for lunch. Yum Yum.

Saturday, we are going to filter the Current wine twice and then on Sunday we will bottle it. Things are going to be moving rather fast an furious with the scratch wines. I have three other batches to start as soon as I free some gallon jugs. I have wild grapes, marigold blossems and lemon balm elixer. We will have wine working all winter this year.

Got Mom's application for Senior Care filled out and will copy it and mail it tomorrow. Whew! Medicare D has been quite a project but I have made the best decisions that I know how and we three, Dick, Mom and I, are stuck with them, at least for a year.

Here is a recipe for REALLY easy bread that tastes good fresh and hot or toasted later.

Beer Bread

3 cups self rising flour
2 Tablespoons Sugar
1 can beer

Preheat the oven to 350 Degrees. Grease loaf pan. Mix the above ingredients IN THE PAN and let settle for a few minutes. Bake for 1 hour.

Good luck

Mary

We got back last night exhausted from the trip to Chicago to the Rosemont Theatre to see the Rockettes. The show was spectacular with dancing, singing and a lovely Nativity Pagaent to climax the show along with a reading of A Solitary Life.

My leg is very sore as we drove straight through from the theatre to Sheboygan because of the weather. Usually there is a stop to refresh and stretch.

Anyway, just letting you know. I was just too tired last night. But I am back now.

I'll post again tonight.

I heard that turtles can breath through their butts. I wonder what purpose that serves.

Mary

Turned out to be an eventful day. I got a call from Mary Yurk, who is the neighbor across the street, called just before noon and offered me an "opportunity". She is the Queen Mother of a Red Hat group here in Sheboygan and some of them were joining an Elkhart Lake group for a bus trip to De Pere to Frank's Dinner Theater for a comedy musical production. One of the ladies was unable to go because a root canal had infected and she was VERY ill. So I got to go free. We left at about 3:15 and got back home a bit after midnight. The show is a musical and a comedy. This production was a Christmas program with a lot of traditional music and based VERY loosely on the Christmas Carol. I had Red Snapper for dinner.

Tomorrow we are going to see the Rockettes in Chicago so this is turning out to be quite a week.

In the museum under the Arch in St. Louis there is a plaque that has this inscription. I liked it and just recently found the picture that I took of it.

"I was first a bogtrotter (in Ireland), din a cobbler, din an immigrant, din a weary (Private Soldier), din a corpril, din a sargint, and now I'm a commissioned officer and captain fur life... and gintlemin, by act of Congress." Captain Gerald Russell.

Isn't that great?

Later

Mary

This was the best that my ankle has felt since Thanksgiving - However, tonight my hips just ache. I probably overdid because I did feel better.

Went to Bible Study this morning. We always have a good discussion. I like the idea we have now of discussing the passages that will be read the following Sunday.

The Sheboygan County Writer's Club had their annual Christmas Party. We go to lunch, this year to Arabella's, and then exchange the $5 gift and read anything that we have. I am really tired so will cut and paste the little short blurb that I wrote to read at the lunch.

My Mother shared a memory with me this year. She asked me if St. Nicholas had come to our house this year. December 5 is St. Nicholas Day, you know.

St. Nicholas used to come to us when I was a child. St. Nick always brought a piece of fruit and a little bit of candy to good boys and girls. He was a reminder that Christmas was coming and that we had to be good. Bad boys and girls got coal. One year, my brother Jeff got a lump of coal.

Her memory is this:

Grandma and Grandpa Bowser were living in Lomira. Only Mother, about 4 years old and her younger brother Noel were born at that time. One of the neighbor men dressed up in a long fur coat, like those used to ride in horse drawn carriages years ago with a hood. He carried a long staff and wore a beard. Then he traveled around to all the homes where little children lived.

At that time hired hands were quite common. They would work on the farms and live and eat with the family. Grandma and Grandpa had one.

“St. Nick” proceeded to ask Mother and Noel if they were good little children and if they said their prayers faithfully every day. They assured him that they did.

Then he asked the hired hand if he was good and if he said his prayers. The hired hand laughed and said that he never said prayers and never would. At that, St. Nick rose up and began to “beat” at the hired hand with his long staff and drove him out of the house.

This whole thing really terrified Mother. She said that she really said her prayers after that. Actually – she still does.

By the way – St. Nicholas did not come to our house this year. He did not come to Mother either.


I also wrote a poem for a Christmas Card. Here it is.

Tiny Baby, Son of God
The Angels sang the story
Shepherds, Wisemen came to see
This Child of endless glory.

The message of this virgin birth
Through the ages we still tell
I proudly shout his name to all
Jesus - Our Emmanuel

Good Night.


Mary

I went to the 8:00AM mass this morning. The roads were quite clear in spite of the wet snow that we had last night. It was chilly - in the 20s all day but partly cloudy and quite pleasant.

I visited with Mother after Mass. She is fine. We always have such nice visits. Her tree is up and in the process of being decorated. She will spend this week doing that. She is also baking stollens and cookies for gifts and to eat. I am glad that she is making Lizzies as I didn't this year. Jim can't eat them because of the nuts so I decided not to bother.

I tried out the new crock pot today. I made a recipe called butter beef. Cubed chuck steak with dried onion soup, butter and a splash of white wine. Then I added fresh mushroom for the last hour. We had it over noodles with peas and salad. The crock pot works just fine. Good thing. I am making Mac and Cheese in it for Christmas dinner.

Jim and I went out shooting today. He did pretty well. I have been worse but have also been a lot better. Practice. Practice. Practice. That is what they say.

Tomorrow I have Bible Study and then Writer's Club Christmas Party. I still don't know what I am going to bring for my $5 gift for the gift exchange. Well, something will come to me. $5.00 is an "impossible" amount. But we all seem to come up with something every year. The idea is that it is a token gift.

When Bart was a little boy, he was quite a worrier. He even worried about who he was going to marry when he grew up. I remember that his babysitters always found him quite funny because he would propose to them. He was only about 4 when this was going on. I think I told you that he did not want to come to Wisconsin for a visit because he worried about the "red tomatoes" (tornados) because I mentioned that a tornado had gone through Sheboygan County and killed a baby many years ago. He hasn't changed much. Some people just are very serious about thing.

I got my Christmas e-cards sent today. Now, I have the BIG job of those that I have to mail.

If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?

Have a good Monday.

Love

Mary

Mother, Dick and I just enjoyed a truly special presentation of the Messiah by the Sheboygan Chorus and the Lakeland College Chorus accompanied by the Sheboygan Symphany Orchestra and directed by Richare Bjella, associate professor, director of Choral Studies at Lawrence University in Appleton. I was really impressed with him and kind of wish he was in the running for the permanent director of the Symphany Orchestra.

It was a productive day otherwise also. We got the packages mailed. BOY has shipping gone up. It cost a fortune. We may resort to gift cards in the future. But anyway, the boxes are on their way and now I don't have deadlines to meet. I suppose that I need to get the cards on their way this week but there still is time.

We had lunch at the Funky Bean in the shopping center built on Hwy 42 where the old Flamingo was. The food was good but the service was slow as could be. We will try again in a few months when they have shaken out the bugs. The shipping place was slow too so Dick was pretty antsy by the time we left there.

I decided that I don't like this business of "Happy Holiday" INSTEAD of Merry Christmas. I don't have a problem with Happy Holiday itself as several holidays do occur in this time period. But Christmas is Chrismas and I DO celebrate it and so do the majority of people in our country. Therefore I have decided to put stickers on all my Christmas Cards that say. "Rejoice - The Savior is born!"

Joy and peace to you tomorrow and have a good week.

Mary

WELL!!!!! My brothers Jeff and Randy and my brother in law Kenny helped me (actually I helped them) load the ABF truck with the things that Bart and Barb could not take with them when they had been left here two years ago. I am so grateful for family because there was no way that I could have done it myself. Now the kids will have all their stuff. As Mother said when she looked at it one day, there were things there that mean a lot to Barb and she should have them.

Tonight I am going to finish the tree skirt and look through pictures for Randy. He is putting together a collage of picture of Mother, Dad and the kids and grandkids for the big birthday party. Yea! I saw the pictures that Jeff brought today and they were so nice. I don't know how many I will have as I was in California for SO long.

Tomorrow, Dick and I will take the packages to be mailed. Then I can relax and just get everything else done at my leisure. I have not even begun Christmas cards but can send them out just a week or less before. Such is life. I suggested that we mail the packages at the new mailing center and then go to lunch. We like to go out and seldom go for lunch. There is a new coffee shop in the same mall as the new mailihng center. It is where the old Flamingo Restaurant used to be if you remember.

I had a rough time with my leg last night. I am hoping that tonight will be better. Sometimes it just aches and I cannot get it into any position that relieves it. If I get up and move around it helps a bit but I never really get back to a sound sleep. This is very annoying.


Isn't making a smoking section in a restaurant like making a peeing section in a swimming pool? (My sentiments exactly)

Until tomorrow

Mary

It was much warmer today. It is amazing how wonderful 17 degrees can feel when one has been living with 5 and below. It snowed this afternoon. We were supposed to get only a dusting but have about 2 inches it seems.

Dick and I went grocery shopping this morning and I spent the afternoon with Mother waiting for the truck to be dropped off in front of her house. Tomorrow morning we will load Bart and Barb's stuff into it and then I will call to get it picked up. Next week they will have it all. Jim helped me load the stuff that is in OUR garage into the Santa Fe.

While I was at Mom's, Aunt Kathleen and Uncle Bob dropped by to say goodbye. They are leaving for the south (they are snowbirds) on Saturday and will not return until April. Aunt Kathleen said that she would just as soon be staying home or at least not going for so long. However, they do like it down there and Uncle Bob has a barbershop quartet group that he sings with all winter and it is really really fun for him.

December 5 was St. Nicholas Day. When we were kids, it was always somewhat of a precurser of Christmas - a reminder to be good little girls and boys. St. Nick alway brought a piece of fruit and a bit of candy to good little girls and boys. But naughty ones got a piece of coal. One year, my brother Jeff got a piece of coal. It sure impressed the little ones.

Mother remembers an incident from her childhood about St. Nick. They were living in Lomira. Probably just she and Noel were born as she thinks that she was about 4 years old. One of the neighbor men dressed up like St. Nicholas - he wore a fake beard, a big old fur hat and one of those long fur coats that men wore when they rode in open carriages and so on. He came in and talked to the children and asked them if they were good little girls and boys. They assured him that they were. At that time, Grandpa had a hired hand. "St. Nick" asked the hired hand if he was good and if he said his prayers. The hired hand said he never prayed and wasn't about to. St. Nick proceeded to "beat" the man with his wooden staff. The hired hand ran off into the night. Mother said she was scared to death. She is still saying her prayers regularly.

Have a nice Friday. I will be packing a truck.

Mary

Last night was miserable. I woke up shortly after midnight with my whole left leg aching and could NOT get comfortable. Dick fixed me a cup of tea and I took a pain pill and did get some sleep but I kept waking up even with all that. Then Chelsea woke me up at 5:30AM. I tried to go back to sleep but twenty minutes later she was at me again so I gave up.

Today, I went to church and Marcy Eppers and I got the Blessed Mother Statue out of the closet and put it on the altar for the feast of the Immaculate Conception which is tomorrow. We put a BIG rosary on that statue and on the big statue in the back of the church. The I did a bit of shopping and came home for a nap.

Dick, Mother and I went to the Villager for dinner tonight and then to the Sheboygan Theatre. They had a nice feel good program. Three short Christmas skits followed by the feature, The Best Christmas Pagaent Ever. Ralph did a great job. He had one of his biggest casts ever and LOTS of kids. They were very talented as was the lead adult in the feature. We really enjoyed it a lot.

Now I am tired and sore. I just soaked in the tub and am icing my ankle then will go to bed. Pray that I sleep tonight.

"The trouble with bucket seats is that not everybody has the same size bucket." (from an e-mail)

Love

Mary

Another COLD day. It was 1 degree on our thermometer when we looked the first time. It makes me feel less guilty about not being able to walk Chelsea because we would not be walking in this cold anyway.

Dick and I took Mother to Gibbsville Cheese Factory to buy Christmas Cheese packages (and a bit for ourself). Then we went out for lunch at the Parkview in Falls. It was a nice outing. I am almost ready to seal all the packages that have to go out to the far away kids. I need to pick up a couple of things tomorrow, which I will do when I go to church to put Mary on the altar for the feast of Immaculate Conception. I will stop at the store on the way home and FINISH. Then we can post everything by the weekend, with any luck at all.




Well, I finally got around to it. Here is a picture of me with Daniel O'Donnell in Branson. We sure did have a good time on that trip.

Have a nice Wednesday.

Mary

It was cold cold cold AGAIN. My poor little Chelsea goes out and eagerly rolls in the snow. Then she surveys her domain. Then she gets down to business. By then her poor little pads get cold and she ends up finishing her business on three feet. Well, that's her problem.

Went to Bible Study this morning. The Advent readings are really nice. Full of promise. We especially liked the 2nd reading for next Sunday. Paul 1 Thes. 5:16-24.
"Rejoice always! Pray without ceasing!" Those are the first two lines.

I took care of lots of phone business today. I spent time trying to get Medicare D plans for Dick, Mother AND me. I have Dick and Mother almost figured out and am waiting to hear from my insurance company to see if I want to go that way. I think that the same idiot who designed a couple of freeway sections that I know of was assigned the Medicare D program. Some things are put together strictly to confuse the consumer.

We had hamburgers, beans and apple pie for supper. Num Num.

Have a nice day and pray for a warmup.

Mary

Tonight, Bobbie and I went to Rhine Plymouth for the club meeting. It was handled quite well this time and we were home by 8:30PM.

I DID get to stay home all day today. It was very very cold and quite lovely with blue skies and the sun glinting off fresh snow.

Dick and I bottled the Gewertziminer wine this afternoon and I also wrapped the remaining Christmas presents.

The Packers lost so we are depressed. This was a BAD week for my fantasy football picks. I really struggled and made some pretty poor choices apparantly. At this point I am clear at the bottom only outscoring one of our members who did not get his picks in. I might be able to pull out of the basement but things are not looking good.

Barbara called today. She has been working LOTS of overtime and is stretched for time but has been healthy lately. Bart, however, has a sinus infection that is bothering him. All else is well. She is, amid taking care of Bart and working, trying to plan a 50th wedding anniversary party for her parents.

Students in an advanced Biology class were taking their mid-term exam. The last question was, "Name seven advantages of Mothers Milk," worth 70 points or none at all.

A funny email that I received the other day. I am tired and can't think of anything clever myself.

One student was hard put to think of seven advantages. He wrote:
1. It is perfect formula for the child.
2. It provides immunity against several diseases.
3. It is always at the right temperature.
4. It is inexpensive.
5. It bonds the child to mother, and vice versa.
6. It is always available as needed.
And then, the student was stuck. Finally, in desperation, just before the bell indicating the end of the test rang, he wrote.................................
7. It comes in such cute containers.
He got an "A"

Love

Mary

I am very tired. BUT a lot was accomplished today also. It was cold and started snowing this afternoon. We have about two inches already I think. Chelsea, of course, is in hog heaven.

This morning, Dick and I went out very early to Walmart and bought a new microwave (our current one has had a door that jams for a couple of years now and I think it is dangerous.) a new crock pot (the base on my current one broke and it is silly to prop up your crock pot when you are using it.) a new water pick and some Christmas cards. Then we stopped at Hardee's for breakfast.

I did get the buckeyes dipped in the chocolate, so everybody can relax. Then at two o'clock I drove to Falls to join the choir for caroling on Pine Street for Main Street Memories. We really had a lot of fun. I found out my friend, Fran, had never gone caroling before. We sang outside Fasse's for a bit, took the horse drawn wagon and sang the whole trip it took around town, walked through Fasse's and over to Richardson's Furniture, where we joined a pianist who was entertaining there. Finally, we walked over to to Evans and strolled through the store while we were singing.

Then we sang at the 5:00PM Mass. That means that I don't have to go to church tomorrow and can stay home ALL day.

I think I told you about the time Mother, Nora and I all tried to get a snowsuit on Bart. My Ex, Bret and Bart were visiting Wisconsin one Christmas and went to spend the day with Nora and Leif. Nora offered a snowmobile suit that Stenn had outgrown for Bart to play in. He took one look at it and said. "People will laugh at me." He was three but apparantly his self image did not include a snowsuit and the three of us were unable to shove those flaying arms and legs into the thing. We gave up. He wore the old snow pants and jacket that Mother had found at the house.

Have a happy Sunday.

Mary

Dick and I had quite a busy day. It was very cold, in the teens, but sunny and very pretty outside. We went over to Mom's and Randy helped me box up the two deer hides to take to WB Tanning in Hartford. That is an interesting experience. You get a slip that you tape or tie to the hides that you brought in. Then you just leave and two or three months later, when you have forgotten ALL about it a notice comes that the hides are ready. You send a check and they mail the hides to you. It is quite efficient. Did you know that tanned hides are not natually that pretty brown tan color but a kind of bluish gray color. When I get enough hides tanned, I will have a jacket made. I asked and I need between 4 and 10 depending on the size and style I choose. So I have a ways to go. With these two, I have three.

On the way home, we stopped at a George Webb Restuarant to eat lunch. Neither of us had ever eated at one before. They are, we found, very 50s cafe. Small. The service was pleasant but SLOW. We loved the french fries. Anyway, there were four women in the booth next to us. One of them was quite old and the others were reassuring her that her current situation was indeed best for her. We assumed that she had recently been forced to go into either assisted living or a nursing home. I felt for her - and for them. I remember that Aunt Kathleen said that Grandma Bowser was in tears when she had to go to Pine Haven. She had to move SO many times in their early marriage and when they bought the house in Falls, she wanted to die there. I think it broke her heart. I hope Mother never has to make that decision. So far so good. She is getting excited about her birthday party in January. 90 is pretty special.

This afternoon, I mixed and rolled the buckeyes. Tomorrow, I can dip them in chocolate and have them ready for shipping. Christmas is trying to creep up on us.

Love

Mary

I read an article in Good Housekeeping today about a mother who's son, while in Junior High School, began to hang out with black kids. This was a bit disconcerting for her as they were white and though many blacks tried to act white, white boys don't usually try to act black. These friends were good kids, fortunately. They were, some of them, underpriviledged, and lived in some really poor project type neighborhoods. But they were good kids. As she got to know them and their parents, she came to see them as just kids in a difficult environment. It surprised her to find that their parents were as nervious about their kids being in an all white neighborhood as she was with the reverse.

It reminds me of a time that Bart and I were watching the Jessie Owens Story on TV. There is a scene in this movie in which the coach tells the Jewish members of the
U. S. Olympic Team that they cannot participated in the games in Nazi Germany. The lone protester to this action was Jessie Owens. He was promptly told to "Sit down, Boy!" and he did so. My Bart, who in Huntington Beach California, went to a pretty ethnically diverse school, he even had a black principal for a few years, asked my why Jessie just sat down and did not protest further. I had to explain to him how much courage it had taken for that man to say ANYTHING. Bart did not understand prejudice. Isn't that wonderful? Would that it could have stayed that way. I think he is pretty open to everybody, but he is certainly aware of prejudices now.

Tomorrow, I am going to take the two deer hides that the Carpenter boys gave me down to Hartland to be tanned. When I have enough, I will have a jacket made of them.

Today, we went grocery shopping and Dick got his blood tested. He has been within the boundries for 10 months now. Sue says he is getting boring.

We had the best dinner tonight. I had leftover pork tenderloin. I sliced it and warmed it, then put it on a hard roll with a slice of cheddar and mayonese (flavored if possible). Then I grilled it and served it with a dollop of cranberry relish on top of the pork. Wow was it good.


Have a nice Friday.

Mary

We took Chelsea to the Vet today as scheduled. Dr. Zechlinsky must be either expanding or planning on retiring because he has a new associate in the office who looked at our girl. She is basically in pretty good shape, but the new doctor did discover a slight heart murmur. We decided to just do nothing for it at this time. The New Vet (I will get her name in my head on our next visit) assured us that unless Chelsea shows signs of tiring easily or developes a severe coughing problem or faints a lot that we don't need to worry too much. The occasional little fainting episodes that she does have COULD be associated with the murmur. If more symptoms appear there are medications that can help her so we will just see what happens.

I spent the rest of the day, trying to get stuff put away. Since out trip, I am way behind. The sprained ankle hasn't helped. By the way, it is starting to itch. I know that scars itch when they are healing but had no idea that sprains did. The foot is all sorts of different shades of red and purple.

Today I finally did get the deer hunting stuff cleaned and stowed and I put the Thanksgiving decorations away. Good thing, it is really time to start doing Christmas.

Love

Mary

Today was a success. I, as the Senior Saint contact person, had arranged for a morning prayer service followed by a presentation by Pat Hefferman, an expert from the Department on Aging at Sheboygan County, who told us in detail about the new Medicare D program. She was wonderful. There had been only one other presentation in Sheboygan Falls so, as a faith community, we had invited anyone interested through ads in the papers. We had more than 50 attendees who were full of questions. This was great because we learned a lot and now hopefully can wade through the information. Deacon Bill Jens presented a lovely prayer service touching on Advent and the coming of the Lord which was well received. I told him that I would call on him again when I do the next program for the Seniors.

We are watching a show about the Mamas and the Papas on PBS tonight. Dick just commented that back then this group and the really great groups just stood and sang. They did not nor do they now need special effects of gyrations or weird lighting. They just SANG. What a head and ear treat.

Tomorrow, Chelsea goes for her annual physical. She will be delighted with her ride. Then when we get to Dr. Z's office she runs in all enthused then turns right around and heads for the door. Poor Zero became afraid of riding in his older years because the only place he ever went was to the Vet. Chelsea loves to go for rides because she gets to go to Bobbie and Bill's or Mother's houses sometimes and once in a while, just for a ride.

An Old Farmer's Advice. Some of the items that were sent by a friend.
* Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.
* Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none.
* Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.


Enjoy Wednesday. We are going to filter some wine.

Always fun to "wine" a bit.

Mary

I have a very affectionate Kitty named Roxie on my lap as I post this Blog. It rained most of the day today and the temps were quite warm. All the way up into the low 50s. Wow. Sounds cold to the South but for Wisconsin in late November it is like spring.

Did I tell you that Bobbie and I had venison liver, bacon and fried onions for supper last night and was it EVER good. We had enough left for each of us to have a sandwich this noon too. And it was also so tasty. They guys weren't allowed to have liver. (Can you hear the sarcasm.) They ate ham and the rest of our side dishes, brussel sprouts, raw fried potatoes and cole slaw. Jim was not aware that there were raw fried potatoes. I know that he has eaten them. He thinks that it is more trouble to cook the potatoes and then fry them. It is actually just the method of cooking. And there is a difference is taste.

Today was full. I had bible study in the morning. As it is early Advent, we are into the "waiting" scriptures and are reading a lot of Isiah. He wrote a lot about the waiting for the savior. There was also a nice section of 2 Peter telling people not to get to impatient waiting for the second coming. As he points out A thousand years is like a day and a day as a thousand years to the Lord. Time means nothing to him (or her.)

Tomorrow, Pat Hefernan from the County Division on Aging is coming to Blessed Trinity at my request to speak to the seniors about Medicare D. I am interested in hearing the presentation, so that we can decide what we are going to do. I also have Deacon Bill Jens doing a prayer service before the presentation so it will hopefully be a full and interesting day for the seniors. (Including me.)

I have to pick up cookies, punch and tea on my way to church. We always have TONS of coffee so I never have to worry about that. People keep donating that.

We were talking about the homeless at bible study. Many of them don't want to come in, usually those with dependency problems because they have to remain clean while they are in shelters. Usually they will only come in during the worst of the weather. God bless them and help them. I hurt for the children who are sleeping out or in cars because Moms and Dads cannot find an enclosed shelter. I hope their guardian angels keep them from fear.

I understand that they are still gathering pets up from the hurricane ravaged areas. Wish I knew what to do to help.

Hope your week goes well. So far so good for me. My foot gets a bit better every day, but I still cannot see my bones and it is still black and blue.

Love

Mary