It was a gorgeous day most of the day. Up in the high 70s again. The minute it hits 80, Dick has vowed to turn the air conditioning on. Tomorrow, may be the day.

It is sprinkling a bit right now. We may get a few scattered thunderstorms between now and tomorrow afternoon.

I am going to the 8AM mass tomorrow. Then I will pick Mom up at 3
in the afternoon and bring her here for dinner. I am going to fry out - brats, venison brats burgers and hamburgers. I have decided to make the Kunert potato salad too.

I found a recipe for Impossible Cherry Pie which looks and smells delicious. It uses bisquik (which when combined with eggs and milk bakes a crust) and cherry pie filling. We will have that for dessert tomorrow.

Chelsea got a bath today. She was so dirty around her shoulders and legs that I just had to do it. She hates baths, of course. And it totally exhausts her. She has been a very sleepy girl today. She does not get nearly as upset as Zero used to. We could turn that dog into a trembling bag of bones by the mere mention of the word.

Animals are such an important part of our lives. Zero, for instance, came from California with Bart and I when we moved. He was such a faithful little companion and so patient with all the changes. When we got him from the Humane Society, I was just content that he was small and seemed gentle and (more importantly) housebroken.

He got out of the yard and wandered away ONCE during the first week. We frantically drove around looking for him. There was a park at the end of the street. Actually it had entrances off of several streets. It was an L shaped park that ran in from one major street and did a sharp turn ending on another. We drove down all the streets calling for him and finally, he heard us and came running joyously towards us. I think he got into the park and all the entrances looked alike to him. He never wandered off again. He was so funny. By the end of the weekends, he would usually get a bit cranky and grumble a lot. I finally figured out that during the week, he rested while we were gone to work and school, but on the weekends he tried to keep up with us all day long as we were home and he was just plain tired.

I still miss that littly guy.

Love

Mary

It was a beautiful day. Temps were in the upper 70s and there was a gentle breeze to smooth it down. It was nice from the beginning when Chelsea and I took our walk to the end when I was out at Rhine for the bust up party. Sara got beef tips, potatoes, corn and rolls for the bust up dinner AND Bill Olson brought his famous homemade peach cobbler and ice cream for dessert. So we ate like royalty.

There was a rather sparse crowd, probably because of it being the holiday weekend. Bobbie and I earmed trophies for the pistol league. Bobbie is an Expert and I am a Sharpshooter. Bobbie wasn't there so I brought her trophy home with me. I do improve with each league.

I got the planting done this afternoon after I came back from Plymouth and lunch with the retired bankers. That was a pleasant break. I had not seen them for several weeks.

This weekend will be quiet except for Sunday when I will pick up Mother in the afternoon. She wants me to drive through the cemetery so we can check the flower boxes. She puts out a lot of them. Dad and Matt and Mickey and Aunt Nonnie and Uncle Jack and Grandma and Grandpa Bowser. And now Courtney is with Dad. I imagine that George and Betsy will send flowers for her. It is a pretty cemetery. I already bought a plot near my folks.

I don't have much else. I am tired. Perhaps I will have a story for you tomorrow night. Tonight I will quote you from the Cadfael Book of Days.

"You are your own master, however ill you master yourself."


Love

Mary

It rained off and on all day today. Just a gentle rain with no wind and the temperature was up in the low 70s. However, I could not plant. Hopefully, tomorrow we can at least get the plants hung on the pole in the front.

I ended up grocery shopping by myself today because Dick did not feel to well after we had breakfast. I went to the Pig in Falls. We had not been there in ages, but the Pick n Save does not carry the napkins that we like any longer so we decided to check out the competition. I ran into lots of friends and really had a quite a good time. When I got home, Dick was sleeping and he felt much better by the time he woke

I sent the following to most of you, but for those who didn't receive it enjoy the following:


How to solve the U. S. problems in a nut shell.

Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border.
Take the dirt from the moat and use it raise the levees in New Orleans.
Put those man eating Florida alligators in the moat.
Now. . . , any other problems you want me to solve?

I invited Mother over for dinner on Sunday. We are planning to fry out. I will do brats, hamburgers and a couple of the brat patties that I made. It is supposed to be very warm, so we may be able to sit out on the deck. I must try to get the plants in tomorrow, so it looks neat.

Have a great Friday. Dick and I get to shop.

Love

Mary

It was rather gloomy today. There is thunder tonight. Chelsea is valiantly trying to ignore it. She seems to be trying to do that lately. Instead of immediately hiding under the bed, she tries to look away and pretend it doesn't exist.

Jim went down last night to watch Michelle play her first volleyball games of the season. Her team won two out of three and she scored lots of points.

Dick and I went plant shopping this morning. Now, if it doesn't rain tomorrow, I can get some of them in the pots. For sure, I will get Dick to help me hang the pots that we bought for the pole in front. We got three beautiful New Guinea Impatients. Red - Dick's favorite color.

Mom and I went to church this evening to watch the students of St. Mary School put on their annual Spring Sing. This was a program called Of Mice and Mozart. They do a really wonderful job. They sing well, speak well and are required to memorize their lines. I believe that all of the students are involved in the production. They all said that they really liked learning about Mozart and his music along with learning their lines and getting to perform. Jeff came to help Mom in the garden yesterday and went to the Senior Meals with her for lunch. Mom always likes it if one of us comes. Of course, it makes her have to admit that her kids are seniors which doesn't exactly thrill her. Jeff knew quite a few of the people who come to the meals so I know that he enjoyed it. He brought me two nice tomato plants. Perhaps his will be better producers for me. I never have had much luck with tomatoes.


I got the following from a friend of mine through an e-mail. Did I tell you that a letter that I wrote to the Press regarding this got published?

1. If you migrate to this county, you must speak the native language.
2. You have to be a professional or an investor. No unskilled workers allowed.
3. There will be no special bilingual programs in the schools, no special
ballots for elections, all government business will be conducted in our
language.
4. Foreigners will NOT have the right to vote no matter how long they are here.
5. Foreigners will NEVER be able to hold political office.
6. Foreigners will not be a burden to the taxpayers. No welfare, no food stamps, no health care, or other government assistance programs.
7. Foreigners can invest in this country, but it must be an amount equal to 40,000
times the daily minimum wage.
8. If foreigners do come and want to buy land that will be okay, BUT options will
be restricted. You are not allowed waterfront property. That is reserved for
citizens naturally born into this country.
9. Foreigners may not protest; no demonstrations, no waving a foreign flag, no
political organizing, no bad-mouthing our president or his policies, if you do you
will be sent home.
10. If you do come to this country illegally, you will be hunted down and sent straight
to jail.

Harsh, you say? The above laws happen to be the immigration laws of Mexico!



Tomorrow we go grocery shopping. Have a good one yourself.

Mary

It was a beautiful day from beginning to end. Chelsea and I did not see much activity on our walk this morning. One dog, Lucy, (I think that is her name.) and Alana coming home from her walk. I did a bit of seed and herb planting and trimmed around the beds that Patrick (our lawn mower) could not get close to because of the floppy tulips and all. Tomorrow, Dick and I are going shopping for the rest of the plants. I would like to have them all planted and up for Memorial Day.

I also went to Joann's and picked up some thread and fusable bond for a couple of projects that I have going.

Jim was home for just a bit on his way down to Milwaukee to watch Michelle play soccer tonight.

I fixed pork tenterloin, mashed potatoes and broccoli/cauliflower salad for supper and we finished the last of the banana chocolate cake.

For the first time in MONTHS there are three things that I want to watch on TV at the same time. I will forgo one (the earthquake disaster - which was a little too boiler plate anyway) and have Dick tape House for me. I want to watch the Stephen King movie.

"You can pray til Hell freezes over and you can pray on the ice, but unless you get up off your ass, you will never be goosed by teh Holy Ghost."

Mary

There was frost on the grass when I walked this morning. The temperature was 37 degrees. I thought it was supposed to be spring. Well, it did warm up nicely to the mid to upper 50s and is still pleasant this evening. There is no wind and the sun shone all day.

I spent a good chunk of the day at church. Bible Study, as usual, this morning. We had 8 attendees. An average group. We won't meet next week because of the holiday and then the following week, Tom and Kathy will be back. That is a big YEA!! because it means that Tom is done with the treatments for his cancer. I saw Kathy and she said that all went well so far. Now we all need to pray and cross our fingers that it is ALL gone.

This afternoon, a bunch of volunteers met to stuff the letter and raffle tickets for Celtic Faire. What a mess, everybody started just stuffing and labeling, willy nilly. Makes my business mind go on overload, so I took over making sure that they remained in alphabetical order. We put them in the vestibule at church to be picked up and Alphabetical order is a MUST. The prizes are 1. A trip to Ireland or $1000. 2. $300. 3. 18 Holes of Golf at The Bull. 4. Dinner and Overnight stay at 52 Stafford for two and 5. $100.

THEN - tonight I met a few of the Trinity Quilters to begin the hand quilting on the quilt that we are putting together to raffle, also at Celtic Faire. It is just BEAUTIFUL. I recommend that you ALL buy tickets for both the quilt and for the other raffle. They are the same price. $1 each or 6 for $5. (They are separate raffles but both well worth it. Just wait until you see the quilt. A queen size by the way.)

I learned something tonight. I pricked my finger and got some blood on the quilt. Chris Nett said that she learned that your own spit will dissolve your own blood. AND it WORKED. Hope that doesn't turn you off from buying tickets. You will never find it, I bet.

Michelle started her new job today. She was very excited.

I talked to Bret yesterday. He called for my birthday. He sounds good.

All my love

Mary

What a fun birthday. Not so great to begin with. That goofy Chelsea tried to get me up at 5:25AM. I let her go potty and then went back to bed and shut her in the hall until 6:00. Then we went for our walk.

I left for church at about 9:00AM so I could visit with Mother a bit before heading over to church to warm up for singing at the 10:30 Mass. Cindy Dorn, a choir member, started everybody singing Happy Birthday. As it happened, her husband and oldest daughter had gone to the 8AM mass. When they came home her daughter said, "Guess what, today is Mary Kunert's birthday." Cindy, mistakenly said "Did you read that in the "bible" (meaning to say "bulletin".) Her daughter said. "No, Mom, she is not THAT old."

Cindy told Fr. Gene the story. He did not tell the story to the whole congregation, but did announce to the whole crowd that I was 26 again.

A fun afternoon too. Jim, Michelle, Dick and I played Hearts. It was a lot of fun. We haven't played cards in SO long. Must do that again.

Got really nice cards to greet me when I woke up this morning. It turned out to be a special Birthday and turned out to last two days, Yesterday and today.

Hope your week is good. It is supposed to be warming up finally. I plan on planting the herbs on Tuesday and getting Dick out to choose the rest of the plants on Wednesday. (Don't tell him.)

All my love.

Mary

Such a nice pre-birthday. The birthday cards came today. And Dick and Brenda sent flowers, a special surprise. It is a beautiful arrangement of cut flowers with a Happy Birthday balloon. The balloon made me think very happily of Waylon. Anytime a balloon came into the house, he would make a mad dash for it and bit the ribbon holding it and turn that balloon into a free range ballon that floated around the house until it deflated.

Dick took me out to dinner with Jim and Michelle and Bobbie and Bill. We went to a restaurant on south 8th Street called Nonna Maria. It is not very big but serves wonderful Italian/Sicilian food. I had Pasta with Sicilian sauce and sausages. It came with a nice crisp salad and fresh Olive Bread. We had Tomato Crostini before the meal for appetizer and it was so good. A lovely evening with lovely company. Tirimisu for dessert.. Num Num. They have a nice website. www.foodspot.com/nonnamaria. Check it out. It is another place that we could take Dick and Brenda too. A good selection of vegetarian and/or seafood dishes. All prepared fresh while one waits.

I suddenly remembered a little story about Bret when he was in Kindergarten. He was in a small class of about 18 kids. 16 little boys and 2 little girls. He had a teacher called Miss Gammel who was marvelous. She suffered from Hypoglycemia and had 18 little kids swearing to her that they NEVER ate sweets.

The incident that I remember, however, is this. Bret came home from school one day and told me that there had been a fight and one of the boys hit another one twenty two times. Five year olds are really funny. I told Miss Gammel and we both marveled at how he managed to come up with a number so specific.

She was a great teacher and had them doing preliminary reading by the end of the year. She taught them the an e on the end of a word makes the vowel "say its own name." A very clever way of introducing the long sound of the vowel.

Have a nice Sunday. We had sunshine most of the and just enough rain to water the plants on the deck this evening.

Love

Mary

It was a rather lovely day today, albiet a bit chilly. We started out this morning by going to the Johnston Bakery for a donut and coffee (actually, I had some tea.) It reminded me of when the boys were little. We lived in Santa Ana Heights, just above the Newport Back Bay in California. A point of interest. This Back Bay is the only remaining estuary in Southern California. And estuary is a body of water where salt and sea water come together.

Every morning the "Donut Man" drove through the neighborhood. My neighbor, Joyce and I would buy donuts for breakfast for us and the kids. The kids were mine - Bret and Bart and hers - Chip and Mark. Those neighborhood bread trucks don't exist any more, I guess. We had an ice cream man too and I even had milk delivered for several years. I guess that those services are no longer profitable, though I did see an ice cream truck a couple of years ago. I miss the Donut Man.

Then I cleaned the kitchen and we watched one of the "camp" horror movies that Dick bought for me last Christmas. We have been working our way through them over the past month or so. Today we watched "The Giant Gila Monster". There was an actress called Stormy Meadows in it. We looked on the net and that is the ONLY movie she ever appeared in.

We went out for lunch too. I have some 2 for 1 coupons for Subway, so we decided to take advantage of that and then drove around looking at some of the condo complexes in the area. Jim and Michelle arrived shortly after we got home.

I went to Superior Gardens and got my herbs. I picked up a couple of Rosemary, Basil and some parsley.

Bobbie and I worked at Rhine tonight. It was pretty quiet as it was the last day of league and most of the teams are done. Next week is the bust up. I guess that Sara is fixing turkey for sandwiches. Jim and Michelle came out so that Jim could finish his last two targets for league. Michelle shot one target and got a 62. She seems to be a whiz.

I have been so looking forward to the DaVinci Code movie and now all the reviews are saying that it is really rather boring and a disappointment. I probably won't want to pay to see it now. The book is an exciting mystery and very well written. The movie is being described as tedious.

Today, Dick had his monthly blood test. He was perfect again! Sue says that he is very boring. She wishes, actually, that she could figure out what he is doing right for the rest of her patients. Now she is challenging him to be the EXACT reading for two months in a row.

We went grocery shopping too. We didn't need as much as usual, so that was a pleasant surprise. We racked the wild grape wine today. Once more and then we can filter and bottle it. It has a rather nice underlying flavor but, of course, needs to mature. I get a quick taste as I have to suck the tube to get the stuff flowing.

Tonight was choir night. We have so few people show up for practice. I think we need to regroup at the beginning of the church year which is September, just in time for Celtic Faire. We will be singing this Sunday, my birthday. We are singing two songs, that I really like. Come to the River and My Song Will Be for You Forever.

I worked a bit on the banner this afternoon too. I am drawing out the symbols for the Four Evangelists tonight. So far so good. I will definately put the picture on the blog when I get it done.

I am thinking of sending a story to Reader's Digest and/or Field and Stream. What do you think of this.

I made it to my stand overlooking the marsh at about 7:00AM, Thanksgiving morning, just as dawn was breaking. It was really quite beautiful, despite the cold. I had dressed in several layers with hand and foot warmers in my gloves and boots. To pass the time as I scanned the swamp, and sang songs in my head to pass the time. By 8:00AM, I was bored so I ate the bag of trail mix that I had brought for a snack. We were only staying out until 11:00AM so that we would be home in time for the big dinner.

Because of the cold, it was slippery and each leaf seemed to be its own little ice encased entity. After the snack I realized that it was time to “mark my territory”, to put it mildly, so I worked my way to a small stand of trees close by that make a kind of shelter. As I pulled down my pants and crouched down, (boy, do men have it made) to my dismay, my right foot slipped down a small incline. I discovered to my further dismay that in that position, it is impossible to stop the bladder from doing what it is doing. So I did the best I could to avoid clothing, and got myself put back together.

I maneuvered around the evidence and crawled back to my post, just before my nephew made his way around the swamp. I find it very important to retain one's dignity.

Let me know what you think.

Mary

The sun shone this morning until about 11:00AM then the rain started and it kept it up off and on all afternoon. Late this afternoon we had some good old thunderstorms. Chelsea seems to be handling them better these days. She gets nervous but does not completely panic.

I did get the branches from the bushes out front into trash bags. Would you believe that there were 5 bags full.

Dick and I bottled the Gewertziminer today. There are 25 bottles in a carboy. Good thing, the stock was dwindling and we do like to have wine to share. Some of the wines I make from scratch should be getting ready to drink AND some of them from this year are getting close to bottling.

Jim went to Michelle's this evening so Dick and I were alone for dinner. I fixed chicken, stuffing and gravy. Mom had given me some fresh asparagus that Jeff picked near his home. Boy it was good.

I did a little more work today on my Hand of God Banner for the Celtic Mass. I need to draw the symbols for the Four Evangelists for the center of the banner. I have decided to use the Zodiac Symbols which are clean and simple and should transpose quite well.




ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings.
Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

Love

Mary

It was raining this morning and I didn't have much hope for the day. We took the Santa Fe over to Hyundai for servicing and spent TWO hours there. We had the systems flushed but never dreamed it would take that long. We got there at 7:00AM and by 9:00 we were starved. We went over to Mc Donalds and had breakfast. Boy, did that taste good.

By the time we got home, the rain had stopped so I went out and trimmed bushes. I have a whole pile of branches that I have to cut up and put in bags. I am sure that Jim will be "thrilled". Another bunch of stuff for the dumpster. But it all has to be done. I also dug up some of the oregano that is invading my lavender plants and planted marigold seeds. WOW. It was good to be able to be OUT. I only brought Chelsea out for a little while because with her short hair and wet grass, I didn't think it was wise to have her out too long.

Dick and I also filtered the Gewertziminer and will bottle it tomorrow. I don't have to go ANYWHERE at all tomorrow. What a treat.

Mother and I were talking Sunday about age. She mentioned that I have a birthday coming up and I said that I can't believe that I will be 66. Where did all those years go? She said that she wonders where her last 90 went. Then I said that I could not believe that I have a son who will be 39 in September. It was just yesterday that he fit in my arms with his head snuggled into my shoulder. So SHE said, she is trying to figure out how HER baby got to be 66.

Let's hope for sun tomorrow so that I can get those branches in bags.

Love

Mary

We actually had a bit of sun this morning (fortunately while Chelsea and I were out for our morning walk.) Then it kind of sprinkled all day until about 4:00PM or so when the sun came out again. Too late for me to do anything outside. If we have a day like this tomorrow, I will go out and trim a couple of bushes and plant some marigold seeds.
Maybe I'll pick up a couple of geraniums to accompany the beautiful one that Dick and Brenda brought for me on Dick' birtday. I have kept it on the deck so it didn't get beaten up by the wind and rain. We are still getting the rain but the temperatures are up and the wind seems to have died down a bit.

On my way to Bible Study, I took Mother her Mother's Day Card. I forgot it yesterday. I also took the Vermont Bear that Dick got for me to show to her. He is such a cute bear with his blue jeans, white t-shirt with rolled up sleeves and cool sunglasses.

Bart called today. He sounded pretty good. He was on his way somewhere with his friend Brett but wanted to touch base because he didn't get time yesterday. I told him that I knew he was thinking of me because I got the e-card but that his voice was the best greeting.


Subject: unbelievable

Another way to Unlock Your Car" - AMAZING - but it works.

One can't believe it, but this works -- who'd a
"thunk" it? Have you locked the keys in the car?

If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys
are home, call someone at home on your cell phone and
ask them to get your car keys.

Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door
and have the other person at home press the unlock
button on the spare keys while holding it near the
phone on their end. Your car will unlock. It will
save someone from having to drive your keys to you.

Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles
away, and if ! you can reach someone who has the"remote"
for your car, you will be able to unlock the doors (or
the trunk this way!)



I don't know if this is true or not (not having had to try it) but it is certainly something to be aware of since most of us have cel phones and remotes.

Let's opt for sun tomorrow

Love

Mary

Another gloomy day and it is supposed to continue until Wednesday - at least. It was Mother's Day. Fr. Gene gave all the mothers in church a special blessing this morning at Mass. I got lovely and/or fun cards from the boys and Leslie and Bobbie. Bobbie brought us rhubarb pie for dessert. Yum Yum. Her rhubarb is ready ALREADY. Mine is coming along but has a way to go.

Bret called this afternoon and we had a nice talk. I miss my boys being so far away from them. He was at the mobile home he owns at "the river" (the Colorado if you are not familiar with the area - that is what was always referred to as "the river".)

I went out to Rhine and finished shooting my pistol league. AGAIN - the first one was not good, the second better and the third was nothing to be ashamed of.

Aside from that it was a quiet day. Michelle was here to join Dick and me for our Sunday brunch. I went to the 8AM mass so we ate at about 11:00AM. Dick and I do enjoy our sunday brunches. Today we had fried potatoes, bacon and scrambled eggs with feta cheese scrambled in. I tried the pepper jelly. It is a bit hotter than the last batch but VERY good.

A quote:

"God, give me the grace to be open to the surpising ways you can change heart - even mine." Amy Welborn

A new week is upon us. Much quieter than last week, thank heavens.

Mary

We just returned from a marvelous final Sheboygan Symphony performance. It was a celebration of Broadway from way back when to the present. Boy, do we have talent in Sheboygan. We had two excellent guest vocalists but many solos were handled by members of the Sheboygan Symphony Chorus. The guest conductor, Richard Hynson, was charming and Very good. He was not one that applied for the position of our conductor but I was glad that I saw him work. He even sang a bit for us at the beginning of the performance.

I have never seen Les Miserables in its entirety, the movie does not hold my interest, but they finished with three songs from that musical and I was as the kids say "totally impressed." Live is the only way to see some things.

I made pepper jelly today. We were all out. This batch may be a bit hotter because I used jalapenos instead of Pete's peppers.

I also make a batch of mexican beans that I found on the Good Morning America site. Pinto beans, ham, bacon, chorizo, tomatoes, onion, tomatillos and spices. It really tasted good, unmatured even. I like a nice batch of something to intersperse during the week. I maked my days more free to do other things.

Our sleep last night in our new bed seemed a bit broken but Dick and I both agreed that we were very comfortable so I am sure that it was just the newness.

Rained lightly today. But when I got up it was dry and Chelsea got her first walk in two days. She was a happy girl. The dampness didn't bother her a bit. She dragged me right by the house for the last stretch. This wet weather is now being predicted through Wednesday. I WANT SUN!

Love

Mary

Today was another adventure of a day. I gave blood for the very first time. My friend, Peggy Feider and her husband Bob, sponsor a blood drive every year in honor of their son Joe. It is called "A Gallon or so for Joe". I really never thought much about it before. Peggy had mentioned it last year but I believe we were out of time on the day of the special drive. Anyway, I went over there at about 11:00AM. They took my history and an initial test. I found out that my count is 43 which I was informed was very good. Acceptable is 38 to 50 and women are usually lower than men. Then they took me to the room to hook me up. It was really quite simple. I felt no weakness or anything. I took their advice an got up a bit at a time and walked slowly to the waiting room where I had a piece of great poppyseed cake and a can of orange juice. Then, Peggy and Bob had arranged for a massage therapist to "do" necks and backs. It was great.

I also got a t-shirt because I was a first timer. AND my blood type is B+ which is apparantly one of the rarer types and quite in demand.

Had a grilled cheese and french fries when I had lunch with the ladies in Plymouth. It was the first time I had seen them in three weeks so we had a lot of catching up to do. I also went to the Sewing Basket and got the rest of the fabric that I need to complete the Celtic "Hand of God" that I am making for Celtic Faire. I am really jazzed with the color choices. Now I can get going on the next section.

Tomorrow, I get to stay home ALL day until 6 or so when Dick and I will be going to the Sheboygan Symphony. This is the season finale and will be a Broadway Extravaganza. We always enjoy them and this one will be very light and easy to listen too.

Now I am tired and must go to bed, our NEW bed. We had ordered a new air bed. The old one had sprung a leak. It took weeks. I think they lost our order (after confirmation which is REALLY odd.) But it arrived a week after Dick called and they scrambled to correct the error.

Mentioned it to Jim and Michelle and suddenly Michelle had everyone spinning around and the old one was out of the bedroom and the new one in. Sure glad they were hear because, Dick and I could not have done it. Well, we probably COULD have but it would not have been a pretty sight and would have been a morning to nignt job with lots of frustration and tears. The new bed is SO comfortable.

Have a lovely weekend.

Mary

Let the rain come down. My roof's got a hole in us and I might drown. Oh Yes! My roof's got a hole in it - I might drown.

Remember the song? Since I decided to get Chelsea trimmed (seemed like the cold weather was over) we are having five days more or less of temperatures in the low 40s to high 60s. The cool air doesn't seem to be bothering her much, but she looks a bit bewildered. She is definately aging. Tonight when I got home from choir she was sound asleep under my desk and didn't hear me until I called her name.

I went to a funeral today. A dear little man, Bill Berg, a member of Blessed Trinity and a wonderful musician (he has been the only tenor in the choir for over a year) died this past Monday. He was 89, a year younger than Mother. I stopped and walked Mother over and then took her to the Villager for the meal. I feel that if one knows the family, the meal after the funeral should be attended because it is a tribute to the deceased and a chance for the family to share, care and be cared for before facing the home and the next steps in clearing everything up. A celebration of what that person was and is in the hearts of us left here.

Enough. Tomorrow I am going to give blood for the first time. A friend of mine sponsors a drive every year in memory of her son and I thought there is no reason not to. I guess, I am somewhat of a prize because I have B+ which is a bit rare.

Then I will go to Plymouth to have lunch and do several errands. Hope you stay dry and warm.

Michelle will be here for supper tomorrow night. Then they are going to Flint, Michigan on Saturday so Jim can meet her sister. Sounds fair, she has met most of Jim's family.

Have a great day

Mary

It was an eventful day. I only had to leave the house once. Chelsea got her hair cut today. She was a perfect angel again. You would not believe how much hair can come off of one little doggy. How do you like the picture? Doesn't she look little?



I will have to watch her in the sun for a bit and be sure that she doesn't get chilled. Wouldn't you know that the temps are due to drop into the 50s for the next few days. But she sure will be grateful during the heat of summer.

The rest of the day was spent making Rhubarb Struesel Muffins, homemade venison (bratwurst) patties and working on the computer. This evening I just finished a quilt top - the one with the applqued kitties. I found a small hole in a motif, so I added a sleeping mouse next to the sleeping siamese cat. Now I need backing and batting so I can get it quilted.

Til tomorrow

Mary

Richardson's came and did the final measurements on the kitchen counters today. They say they probably will be able to do the installation in two to three weeks. That is as long as it takes to make the tops to the specifications. We are getting Corian with a stainless steel under the counter sink.

Aside from that and spending almost an hour in Walgreens waiting for a prescription to be filled, it was a very quiet day.

This evening I went into the den and worked on my animal quilt. I should be able to finish the last kitty tomorrow and put the final sashing around the edge. I really like it. Next step will be backing and quilting.

I really don't have much to say so I will send you two pictures of Rose Windows. The first is in the National Cathedral in Washington DC and the second is from the Basilica of St. Josephat in Milwaukee. Enjoy.






We sure enjoyed seeing them.

Mary

Tonight I picked up Mother and we drove accross the street to the church office and helped put the squares for the quilt being constructed for Celtic Faire into the order we wanted them. I knew that she would enjoy seeing all the squares and seeing all the quilters. About 10 of the quilters made it. She was delighted to see that all these people quilt. It is again going to be just spectacular. Pat Mersberger is going to join the squares with the green sashing that we bought. Then we will have it basted to the backing and fill and hand quilt it.

We decided tonight what we will do next year so it won't creep up on us again. We have decided on a holiday quilt and will try to get the fabic this year when the new stuff comes out and there is a big selection.

Went to Bible Study this morning and Writers Club this afternoon. Why does everything have to happen on one day?

I thought you might like to see a picture of Kenny and his turkey.




Kenny said that he looked like a dinasaur walking through that brush.

Dad's poem to my Mother when he retired called

TO THE BOSS IN THE KITCHEN

Mary, Mary much contrary
How does your kitchen grow
Since you've declared sovereignty
To it I fear to go.
So please relent and repent
For this you've always known.
No matter what you think or do
What's yours is mine and what's mine, My own.

He was a tease. On May 11 it will be fourteen years since he passed on. We miss him

Love

Mary