I had so much trouble getting to sleep last night.   Then Miss Roxie started pestering me at 5AM.   I wish she would learn to look at the clock.  I got one with really big numbers for Dick to see as his eyes are not as good anymore.    She could look if she wants too.    I fed her at 6AM, helped Dick and then went back to bed until 8:30.  

We ate breakfast right away.   It was a lost day.   I got some wash done and made a super dinner, Peppers, onion, tomatoes and Italian sausage stewed "forever" with fresh oregano added about 10 minutes before serving.    Serve over spaghetti.    1 sausage and the sauce over the spaghetti.

It was really good.   Dick asked for more for supper.

I tried to take a nap after lunch but that did not work well.  I had trouble sleeping.

So.  I finally got up

Heather came to take care of Dick at 3:30PM and I took off for Mass.   That was great.   I was Eucharistic Minister which always makes me happy.   Then I stopped at Kate's on the way home to pick up something and to drop off a jar of my green tomato jam.    I thought she and Ron might enjoy that.

Home again.   We have had our dinner and both of us are like limp rags so I hope he will want to go to bed early.  I sure would like to.   Tomorrow I have to make the cocannon and gather up the things I need for the Samhain dinner.  We are gathering at 4PM and I want to get there at 3:30PM to help set things up.   I hope we have a good turnout or at least a happy trunout.   I have not gotten a lot of response.

Oh Well.   What Is, Is.  

So.  the sun shone today and it was rather beautiful.   A bit chilly but with no wind it was easy to take.

Again, I am glad we are not living in the northeast where Sandy is dut to land and join up with the cold front that passed over us yesterday.   Could be a real mess out there.

Until tomorrow

Dia Dhuit
Mary

It was chilly today.   We looked at the weather around the nation and Lawton was just about the same temperature as it was here today. So the midsection is in the same chilly stream.   We are surely better off than on the east coast where they are bracing for Hurricane Sandy.    I hope they are wrong, but it seems to be coming into its own as the "Perfect Storm."  That was quite the movie.   Did you see it?

Speaking of movies, I watched The Way with Martin Sheen that was directed by his son Emilio Esteves.    It is a story of a man who walked the Way of St. James in Galatia.   I wanted to watch it for the flavor as I am writing a book about the Patron Saints of the Celtic Nations and St. James the Greater is the patron saint of Galatia.   I want to watch it one more time as it will give me the flavor a that part of Galatia and help with the writing.   I wish I could tour all of the 7 Celtic Nations.   I have it on my bucket list/

Jody cleaned this morning.   I baked a box of the Tastefully Simple Beer Wheat bread this morning.   It really does taste good.   I sent some home with her and have enough to share with Mom on Monday and for Dick and Bobbie and I to have with our lunch on Monday.

We had stew for dinner with a nice green salad and some of the pineapple orange salad.

I took a great nap this afternoon.  Best in a long time.  Then I worked as much as I could on Ancestry.   I need days and days to do the things that I want to do.  Unfortunately, I need to be able to spend periods of time without interruption and that just doesn't happen much around here.  I must do better myself about setting a time and sticking to it.   It is hard and sometimes impossible to say No or Later to Dick if he needs something.

Tonight I drove out to Rhine at 6:30PM to shoot Pistol League.   I did not do too badly.   Considering all the discomfort I have in my ribs and shoulder, I think I am doing quiet well.  If I do really super on my last two targets next week, I just MIGHT be able to take my class.

I had a great visit with Nancy and Jerry Coenen.  They are good friends.   Jerry is going to clean my gun for me when league is over.  I love these little breaks.    Sunday the Samhain dinner will be a nice break.   I will be visiting with several of my Celtic women and their spouses or friends and I invited my friend Bob Fleming to join us too.  

Tomorrow I need to gather the things I have to bring along.    I am making a super batch of colcannon for my contribution to the pot luck.   If you want to come, just let me know and I will give you the address.   You don't have to bring anything but yourself..  I will have extra plates and PLENTY of colcannon to feed everybody.  I will bring some wine and tea also.   

Dia Dhuit

Mary

From Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

"Do not wait: the time will never be 'just right.' Start where you stand, and work whatever tools you may have at your command and better tools will be found as you go along."

A very odd day in my opinion.    It was very warm this morning.  I stayed in bed until close to 8AM but it was not easy with Roxie seeming to feel that I should get up EVEN after I had fed her.    She was a first class pest.

We had a nice egg scramble and toast for our breakfast.  I started a load of wash and as it went into the spin cycle, It stopped and started growling at me.   So I had to call Mike's Appliance.    He has saved us several times since we moved here to Plymouth.    He was able to come this morning.   There was a broken part.    He replaced it and pulled out the machine so that I could clean under it too.   He is such a great guy and has never failed us.

We had leftover Hamburger Helper and some of a pineapple/orange/coconut/marshmallow salad that I made last night.    It was quite good. and then I took a nap.    Actually, Roxie was ready for a nap too.   No surprise.

I finished the wash and did some much needed cleaning.  Kay arrived at 5PM.   I got myself ready for going to The Department of Aging for a workshop on Communicating with Health Care Providers.  Marsha Vollbrecht gave the talk.    I know I have run into her somewhere in this journey that Dick and I have been on the past 5 years.   I got some good hints anyway.

Then, on the way home, I stopped in at Mom's just to say Hi and see how she was doing.  She looks great and is so glad to be home..  Mary, her caregiver, was there helping her get ready for bed.   I knew that would be, so I just planned on staying for a few minutes as she likes her routines.  

Home again, Kay had Dick ready for me to cath and then she finished getting him ready to sleep for me.  I am so grateful as my ribs and neck are quite sore, probably a result of the rain and cold spell that swept in this afternoon, and this was one time that I did not have to do the physical maneuvering of the stand lift. Thank you, Kay.

So it is time to settle in for the night.   Tomorrow will be busy as I am not spending enough time doing some of the creative things that I have in the works.

DiaDhuit

Mary

Men in Heaven

When everybody on earth was dead and waiting to enter Heaven, God appeared and said, "I want the men to make two lines. One line for the men who were true heads of their household, and the other line for the men who were dominated by their women. I want all the women to report to St. Peter."

Soon, the women were gone, and there were two lines of men.

The line of the men who were dominated by their wives was 100 miles long, and in the line of men who truly were heads of their household, there was only one man.

God said to the long line, "You men should be ashamed of yourselves; I created you to be the head of your household! You have been disobedient and have not fulfilled your purpose! Of all of you, only one obeyed. Learn from him."

God turned to the one man, "How did you manage to be the only one in this line?"

I think I actually took care of Dick perfectly today.  There are so MANY things to remember that some days I get overwhelmed.

Heather came to take care of Dick at 7AM.   I left shortly thereafter and did all of this:

I dropped a box off at St. Vinnies.

I went to Van Horn to have the car mainenance done.]

I went to the post Office to mail a package.

I went to Mother's to drop off her pills and to set them up for the week.
(Yea.  She came home today.)

I got gas in the car.

I went to the bank to make two deposits.

I went home.

I got there at 9:59.   Yea.   Heather was supposed to be there until 10.AM.   So I was just right.  She and Dick had a good morning. I came home to a nicely settled day.

I was busy the rest of the afternoon.   I did several emails and finished my Fantasy football.

Tomorrow, I will be home until 5:30PM so I will abain be able to get caught up.

So let's be strong until tomorrow.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Another day at home.  I got up a bit earlier today though because it was trash day.   Got that out fairly early.    A good thing because it started raining a bit later in the morning and I was not about to go out in that weather.   It was fairly warm though.   We are supposed to have two days in the 70s before the cold weather comes back in.

I did some wash today, and I cleaned the kitchen as I made lunch and dinner.    This afternoon, however, I decided to just sit and watch a movie.   I have The Way with Martin Sheen and have been wanting to watch it as I am working on a book that will tell the story of the patron saints of all of the 7 nations.   The way features Galacia and St. James the Greater and I figured it would be a good background to the reading and research that I am doing.

Tonight I did our grocery shopping.  And that pretty well wiped out the day. 

Tomorrow I will be taking the car in for maintenance.  Early, so I want to get to bed early.   I picked up some prescriptions for Mother at Walgreens tonight too.   So, after the maintenance, I will run them to her house so she is set when she gets home.

Dick was pretty perky today.    I have started giving him his iced tea made with caffeine in the mornings.   He and I think that perhaps that will help wake him up a bit.   Can't hurt.

So tomorrow Mother comes home.    Pleas pray that all goes well for her.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This was a rather unique Monday.  I was home all day.   I slept until 8AM and then we got ready for the day.

It was a day to sweep the deck, clean around Roxie's litter box ( which she approved of by the way.), clean and load my pistol for the pistol league at Rhine, do a load of wash and fix a couple of meals.

Today was Jim's birthday.   Yesterday was their anniversary and the day before was Michelle's birthday.  They sure planned that well, didn't they.  Bless them on these three special days.

Had a nice visit on the phone with Barbara tonight.  She is trying to finish her last class for her Masters and cope with work struggles at the same time.   She is a tired girl.  So keep her in your prayers.   By the way, Bret's friend Lance, did pass away.  Pray for him, his family and those who loved him so dearly.  I hope they know that he will never  really leave them but will be with them is another dimension.  The Rainbow bridge does not only apply for humans.

Mother is going home on Wednesday afternoon.  I spent another portion of my day resetting her support staff.   How cool is that.   Mother has a "staff".  I hope we have it all in place.

Tonight I watched Dancing with the Stars, the only 'reality" show that I watch and now am watching the debate.

Until tomorrow then.  Dia Dhuit

Mary 













The banana cannot reproduce itself. It can be propagated only by the hand of man.  (wonder how it started in the first place.) 


In 2012, December has 5 Saturdays, 5 Sundays and 5 Mondays. This apparently happens once every 823 years!

I like Sundays.   Since I go to Mass on Saturday, it is truly a day of rest.    It often is the one day of the week that I can stay in bed late and I did.    I did not get up until almost 9AM this morning.   Of course, this does not count getting up to feed the cat at 6AM.  She was a real pest about it too.  

Lately we have to watch where we put glasses of ice water.   Along with discovering the "good water" in the shower stall, Roxie has discovered that ice water in a glass is a real treat.   If a glass is left unattended within reach of her tongue, we suddenly hear noises of drinking and she will drink until her little tongue won't go any more.

Because it was so late when we got up and organized, we had a fancy brunch at about 1AM.   I fried some bacon, there was sausage already cooked.  I made potato pancakes and eggs and I had a piece of Racine Kringle to add to the plate.   Pretty fancy.  Right?

I have had the pleasure of reconnecting with some old neighbors from Orchid Street in Santa Ana Heights in the past two days.    Joyce and I were SO close when her son, Chip and my Bret were born the same year.    I have communicated with Joyce and am so pleased that she seems to have the same affection as I do.   I also am in touch with her older son Mark who was and obviously is a wonderful boy.  (I don't especially care if he is 50.  he is a boy to me.)

Tonight I drove to Meadow View to visit Mother.   She looks wonderful and is "way" ready to come home.   She is now walking by herself to meals and can get up in the night without calling for help if she needs to.   I see no reason why she should not be home.   Of course, she could fall, but she could fall there too and at home she will be happier.   Jeff will be working on this during the week.

Home again, Dick is all settled for the night and I am just writing this while sipping a glass of wine.

Hope you had a nice weekend too.    Tomorrow we will be home all day as Bobbie and Bill are in Virginia on vacation visiting relatives of Bill.   Hope the weather is OK for them.   That is the only thing that could be a problem for them.  

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A lovely Saturday.    I had to get up a bit earlier than I had hoped but still got to be in bed until 7:30AM.    I treasure every hour.

The day was busy with a lot of things, I couldn't give you a rundown, but it was a lot of emails, some phone calls, sending some poems to a contest and that kind of thing.

I called Bret. His friend, Lance is not responding and all his friends are gathering to say goodbye.   I could hear the sadness in his voice.     I tried to reassure him that whatever happens is for the best.   Lance's wife game a DNR because she knew that he would not want to live as a vegetable.   Pray for his easy ride into eternity if that is what is to be or else, that all the prayers bring a miracle, which is always within the power of our God. Please pray for Lance, his family and friends.

I have decided that I must get back to writing.   I have the bones of a book I want to do on the patron saints of the Celtic Nations.   This morning, I chose Galatia as my first section to get serious about.   The patron saint of Galatia is St. John The Greater.   This weekend's Gospel is the story of James and his brother John asking Jesus to be seated at the right and the left of him  Mark:10:35-46.  Somehow that is weird and I think a sign that I need to do this project.    I have been getting these signs lately.   I think perhaps they are my relief from the daily grind.  God's giving me signs.   I have always said that when I don't know what to do, I travel as far as I can see and then another vista is revealed.
\
I left for Mass at 3:30PM.    It was a lovely Mass and I feel renewed.   I stayed a bit to visit with my friend Kate.  She called me this afternoon to tell me that her daughter, Dawn, called.  Dawn has an Immune Deficiency disease and is in a lot of pain.   Please pray for Dawn.

Dick and I are having a nice quiet evening together.  We had a bean tostada for our supper.   Really good.  I had not fixed Mexican for quite some time.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I received this as a part of a bigger email stating the differences between men and women.   I  have seen it before, but this time, this particular paragraph really tickled my funny bone.  Hope you like it as much as I do.


OFFSPRING
· Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.
· A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

A dreary rainy day today.   I don't know if it was enough to help the water table but I don't want to water any more. 

We had a 'show" outside the windows today.  They finally came and pulverized the trees that were cut down for the coming of the railway.    It was a spectacular as the killing of the trees was.   There were two big machines.    One of them picked up most of the trees, the ones that had branches it seemed, and shoved them into its craw and spit out the remains of them along the old tracks.  The other big machine picked up the big logs and took them down to the ends of the road.  They were again done in ONE day.

I still have a pretty clear desk as I have been able to almost keep up with things.  I called a couple of people about CWI stuff and cleared up emails.

I also have become "friends" on Facebook with my old friend Joyce and her son Mark.   This weekend I will email them to catch up a bit.

Bret called tonight too.  He was checking on his Grandma.   I am so glad that I am able to tell him how well she is doing.    He also mentioned a friend of his who was injured early this week in a motorcycle accident.   He has severe head injuries and they still don't know if he will make it.  Pray for Bret's friend, Lance.

I shot pistol league tonight also.  My arm and ribs are pretty sore, BUT I shot pretty well anyway.   That was a relief.   Perhaps I can get my score up a bit before the end of league.   I had a nice visit the Nancy Roehre and Nancy and Jerry Coenen.   Jerry said he will clean my gun for me next week.   I don't like to take it apart because I have trouble getting it back together.  I do clean all the exposed surfaces and all the spots I can get to with rags and q tips and stuff. 

Home again, Dick was in bed already, but he seems restless.  I think it is going to be a goofy night.   Good thing tomorrow is a quiet day.   All I have is Mass at 4PM.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A small haiku

Heavy lies my soul
I dream of flying way up
Beyond the rainbow.

A mixed day for me.   Roxie let me sleep until 6:05AM.  This is a milestone as she is often telling me at 5:15AM or so that she feels that I should be feeding her.

As I wanted to be up this morning,  (Kay from Embrace was here at 7:30AM). I was a bit disappointed om her.   But this was way close enough.  I was able to get everything I needed to do before Kay got here.

While Kay was here, I zipped over to Walgreens to stock up on some supplies and to pick up three prescriptions.  I believe that if I did not show up for a week,  Walgreens would send the emergency crew to find out if we were all right.

We had to be at Joseph and Joseph for Dick's dental visit.  He is still doing well.   I don't know if you all know this but we both still have all our teeth but one.   We have root canals but only one tooth each had to be removed.   Our dentists tell us that we are doing a great job.   Brushing, flossing and general care.   Yea for us.

We were home at about 11:30AM.  We had mac and cheese for lunch and then took a nap.

This has been a quiet afternoon.  I got a call from a friend, Jana Hertz to tell me how to get in touch with a family that used to live next door to my first husband and me when our children were all young.   Michael(Chip) and Bret were born the same year.   I have thought of Joyce,the mother, often in these recent years and now have connected with Mark, the older son, and hope to reconnect with Joyce.   Our sons, Chip (Michael) and Bret were like brothers when they were little boys.

Dick is in bed.  It is only 7:30PM but I think I will take advantage of it and go to bed too.  This was a painful day for me and perhaps some extra rest will help the healing.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Not a bad night.   Only had to get up once during the early hours of the morning.   Of course, that does not include pesky Rosie trying to get me up shortly after 5PM.   I had to get up at 6AM anyway.   Heather came at 7AM to take care of Dick from 7 to 10.   Of course --- Dick had to get up at 6:30AM so I ended up getting him partly dressed so that I could take care of his needs and we could ease an achy back.  

I left shortly after 7AM so that I could do the grocery shopping before my haircut appointment at 9AM.   The hairdresser that I have had since we moved to Plymouth, Jessica, has gotten a full time job with a bank and is no longer doing hair.   I am trying the new owner, Terry.   I like her and it seems that she has done a good job.  

Home again, I had a sleepy husband all day.   Dick took two naps.   One this morning and one this afternoon.   We had ham, beans, Brussels Sprouts and salad for our lunch.    Good ham.  I just bought a steak as I didn't want a ton of it and we will have at least one more meal out of that steak.

One of Bret's friends, who I knew as a little girl, posted a ton of pictures on Facebook, several of my Bret.   I loved it.

For some reason, I was thinking of dogs that have meant the most to me through the years.   The ones that will be waiting beyond the Rainbow Bridge.   I can list,   Chip, Clancy 1, Clancy 2,  Spook, Tara, Zero and Chelsea.   There are a few in there that I loved but may not remember me.  Beau and Buddy.  Buddy we gave to a friend that adored him.  Beau died, sick with hip displacia.   Anyway, I expect to be tackled by sweet puppies and licked and welcomed with joy when I pass into the other world.   I cannot believe that they will not be there.   Tomorrow I will list the cats.

Dia Dhuit

Mary





Jimmy Breslin said that writers used to go to the bar to listen to old-timers tell stories, but now "they all go to health clubs and then go home. They're in fantastic health, but they wish they were in the bar, and their wives wish they were in the bar, too."

Last night was a rather difficult one, but Dick and I were able to stay in bed until after 8AM.   This helped a lot.   It was trash day, so that was about the latest I felt safe being a slug-a-bed.

I have everything put away from the weekend.  That and cleaning took most of the day.   We had sausage and eggs for breakfast, a late breakfast.  We snacked in the early afternoon and then I prepared a t-bone with fried potatoes and salad for our supper.

Heather came tonight at 6:30PM and I took off for Sheboygan to visit Mother.  She looks wonderful and is figuring that the doctor and therapist will give her the go ahead to go home in a week or so.   As well as she is doing, I have no doubt that this will happen.  We had a lovely visit and I gave her the little gifts that I picked up for her at IBAM.

Roxie has been very happy to have me home.   She misses me when I am gone.  That is OK because I miss her too.

So winding down as I have to get up at 6AM tomorrow so that I can shop early and get my hair cut while Heather is here in the morning.

Not an especially busy week but something every day.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

What a weekend, what a day today.    Both were wonderful

As you now, Felicia, Luann and I left between 1 and 2PM on Friday for Chicago and IBAM.    We got to our hotel at about 5PM.   I called my friend Maureen.   She was just leaving the Irish Center, so came to our hotel and the four of us has dinner at Harry Carey's which is attached to this particular Holiday Inn.  What a pleasure to spend and evening with Maureen again.   We have been Celtic friends and personal friends for over 12 years now.   We met at one of the early Celtic Women conferences and have been close ever since.

We got to bed fairly early that night which was good because Saturday night was late (for me anyway).   Luann, Felicia and I got up at about 7:30AM or so, got all dressed and ready and then went downstairs for breakfast.  Joan and Richard Kramer joined us for breakfast.   We all caught the shuttle to the Irish Center provided by the hotel at 10:30AM.  I met some great new (hopefully) friends on the shuttle.   Rob, a sweet man from Ohio, who had come to see Phil Coulter and connect Bat Burns, a seanache,who was also at IBAM with his CDS , books and story telling presentations.   I did not get to a presentation but met him (also on the shuttle) and at breakfast on Sunday.  I bought two of his CDS and the three of us listened to them with great pleasure on our drive back home from Chicago.   Great stories.   Anyway, Rob kindly carried my bag, full of my props for my presentation to the shuttle, and into the center for me.    Ran into him several times during the day too.  

I also met two men, muralists, Mark Ervine and Martin Levine from Ulster who painted two murals LIVE during the event.   I fill show you the murals as soon as I figure out how to download them from my phone.

I gave my presentation at 2PM in the Literary Salon, right after Mary Pat Kelly of Galway Bay fame.   My presentation was on how I envision,  design and put together the wall hangings that I create sporadically.  I brought several of them and Maureen liked that as we had something to hang on the walls to brighten things up.    I am always so flattered that people like them.   The talk went well, I was told.   And I felt so also as I had a good time doing it.  

I went to the awards dinner with Maureen and her husband Marty.    It was up in the top floor that used to be a gymnasium.   The room has been completely remodeled and was nicely set for a grand dinner.   Awards were given at the dinner - Phil Coulter for music, Morgan Llywelyn for literature,  Matt Lamb for visual arts, Stephen Rea for performing arts and Richard Moore for the Person of the year.   Richard Moore was blinded by a rubber bullet fired by a British Soldier at the age of nine.  He forgave him personally and in 1996 founded the charity Children in Crossfire.  

The next day started with mass in the auditorium with the Irish Center choir singing (Much of the mass in the Irish).  Then on to more lovely programs, most of them in the Literary Salon where I gave my talk.   I did join the children when the Fairy Queen let them make Magic wands.   I wanted one too.   So I now have one.

Today was busy.  Bobbie came this morning and I went to bible study and then over to Mom's to pay her bills.   Then home to start putting things away and catching up around here.

Quite successful, actually but there is always SOMETHING left.  Seeds for tomorrow, I guess.

So rest tonight and tomorrow will be another great day.  I am going to see Mother tomorrow night.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I am so tired.    Got up at quarter to 7 this morning.   Should have gotten up earlier but it was not the best night as Dick woke me up twice to help him.

Anyway, I had a dentist appointment at 8AM.  That went well.   I have no new cavities and my teeth are now glowing.




The above is as far as I got last night.   We were both SO tired that when I got Dick to bed, I crashed too.   BUT we both slept like logs last night so I feel better about this morning than last.   Good thing, as I will be heading to Chicago in three hours. 

Dick had his Anti Coagulation check yesterday and he is still right on, so we don't have to change the dosage of the Warfurin .  We also both got our flu shots.   This is very important to Dick so I am glad that that is done.   We have been able to keep his health appointments to only one a week which is a lot easier on him.   Maybe we should be trying to make things a bit more difficult, this might stretch him and get him more enthused.    I am really concerned with his weakness.   But he seems content.






I am leaving now.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It was a very very FALL day today.  Nice and crisp after a light rain overnight.

I left shortly after Heather got here this morning to spend some time with Mother.   She looks wonderful and has started her therapy.   She is still weak and disgusted by all the pills, (I think a lot of them that she is disgusted with are the same vitamins she has been taking all along.)  I sat with her through breakfast and a bit longer.   She knows that she wants an OK from the doctor and the therapists before she goes home.  

Home again, Dick was all ready for the day but so tired that he begged me to put him to bed at 10:30AM.  He slept until 1:30PM or so.  So I spent the day getting ready for IBAM.   I will be leaving between 1 and 2PM on Friday.  We will return shortly before 9PM on Sunday.   I am so looking forward to those two and a half days of not having to take care of anybody.   I know that I will come back much refreshed and ready to dive in again.

I have a bunch of green tomatoes so looked on the net for some recipes and found a recipe for Green tomato bread.    I made it tonight and BOY is it good.   Still have several green tomatoes though so I will have to research some more.

Well, It is about time to head for bed.   Tomorrow will be a busier day than today and I need to be rested.

Dia Dhuit
Mary

I got to sleep in a bit this morning, for all the good it did.  I was still tired and took a morning nap instead of an afternoon nap.  I did get a lot done today.   Some wash, made a stew, LOTS of computer stuff.   My desk is wonderfully clean.

Tonight I did the grocery shopping.   

Tomorrow morning, when Heather comes back, I will go to see Mother at Meadow View.   As I have not heard from anybody, I am sure that she is doing just fine.

So. until tomorrow,

Dia Dhuit

Mary



I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

Fall is in the air.

Bobbie was here to be with Dick this morning.   I went to Bible Study, then over to Mother's house to be sure that all of her mail and bills were taken care of.   I will do this until she comes home.

Home again, Bobbie and I had mushroom pie for our lunch and Dick had a hot dog and beans.   I have been busy with CWI stuff this afternoon and generally cleaning up the things that got let go while I was galavanting at the Plymouth Arts Center with the Caim concert.

Tomorrow, I should be back in the groove and be able to get things in order for the weekend at IBAM.  I am so excited.  Two nights without having to worry and three days to be with friends will give me a boost.   A boost much needed.  This morning, for instance, I wanted to stay in bed so badly.   But had to get up much too soon.  

We did well this afternoon.  

Hope you can all say the same.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This has been an unusual and mostly superfabulous weekend.

Yesterday was the CAIM concert at the Plymouth Arts Center.    Heather and Jacynth arrived at the condo at about 10:30AM.  This was good.   They were able to get settled downstairs and ready and I prepared grilled cheese sandwiches with a fruit salad for our lunch.    Dick was pleased to meet them as I knew he would be.   

As soon as Heather from Embrace arrived, we zipped on to the Arts Center so that they could get set up and do their sound checks and all, and we Celtic Women could set up the tea table and heat the water for the tea.

There were about 30 people there to enjoy CAIM.   The performance was just super.   One wonders how two voices can produce the wonderful sounds that these two do.   There music runs from whimsical, to Celtic folk to religious and the Sound,  ah the sound.

And also  AH the tea breads and cookies that our Celtic Sisters provided for the guests.  I would say it was a successful event.

We got home at about 5PM.    I had a mushroom pie ready to put into the oven and a pasty for Dick who doesn't like mushrooms that much.    With a green salad and a piece of the pumpkin cake that I the four of us were quite happy.

Heather and Jacynth sang several songs just for Dick.   They also sang our grace before the dinner.  Dick loved it and told them that it was like they brought a piece of the world in to him.    They are SO nice and I was glad to be able to put this together and to have them as guests for the night.  

It was an at home day.    We had a late breakfast with the ladies around 9:30 and they left for De Pere at about 11:30AM.    Then Dick needed a nap.    I rested for a while too but Dick kept waking up and needing things so I am hoping for a quiet night tonight.

When Heather, from Embrace, got here at 6:30PM, I drove to Meadow View in Sheboygan to visit Mother.    She looks great but admits she is very weak.    She would rather be home but is accepting of the fact that she has to listen to the doctor and see what the therapists have to say about her strength.   As she and I agreed, she has to be safe.

So that is a summary of the past two days.    Hope you are all well.   I will be spending the week getting ready for IBAM next weekend.   I can hardly wait.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This has been a "longest" day.

Dick seemed to be extremely tired and a bit "off" today.   I can't describe it well but Heather, the care worker noticed too.     I am hoping that a good night's sleep will reset him.

Jody was here at 8AM to clean.   I baked scones and made cranberry relish.  Then I baked the Barm Brack for the Caim concert tomorrow.

Mother was transferred to Meadow View Nursing home today.    Hopefully, she will recover quickly and be able to go home.  She will not be content until she is home. 

Tonight I went to shoot pistol league at Rhine and now it is time to get ready for bed.    I am so tired and tomorrow will be busy what with the house guests and the concert.

Fall is in the air.   The trees are absolutely spectacular this year.

Barbara called tonight to see how Mom is doing.   She is working much too hard what with her job and school.    She will be done with school by Christmas then can ease up a bit.

Dia Dhuit

Mary 

First of all.  Mother is doing quite well.   She had hoped to leave the hospital today, but Dr. Hancock kept her for a few more tests and to be sure of her stability.   Tomorrow she will be transferred to Meadow View Nursing home for some rehab.   She is anxious to get started because she wants to go home.

I did several errands on the way home.  When I got home, Dick was all bathed and had done everything but eat breakfast.   So we had a nice late morning and afternoon.   We are eating up leftovers, so cooking is easy.    I am getting ready for the weekend, however.   I made a nice main dish pie crust that needs to be refrigerated for a Guinness Mushroom pie for Saturday's evening dinner.   My house guests are vegetarian.   Dick does not mind vegetarian but does not care much for mushrooms so I have a pasty for him.   I also am soaking the dried fruit for the barm brak that I will be taking to the concert for the tea part of tea and cakes.

I am thinking of a stew for Sunday.  I think I have everything I need for that.

I had a little adventure today.

While I was waiting for the Plymouth Arts Center to open, I stopped in at the Exchange Bank,one of my favorite places, for a cup of coffee.   All of a sudden, people were pointing at the building across Stafford Street.   There on the ledge or the second story was a cat.   Apparently the cat had managed to push its way out of the window onto the ledge and couldn't get back in.  A big white cat was inside and kept encouraging him.

Somebody apparently knew how to get into the units next to the apartment that the cat came from.   First they tried to coax the cat to a window about four down from the one he was trying to get back into.   He kind of told them that he thought they were crazy to think that he would fall for THAT one.   Then somebody managed to get to the window right beside the one he was at.  That was apparently not so much of a stretch and he zipped right in there.  We all cheered mightily.   I was sure relieved.   Kitties are so able to get themselves into so much trouble.   Curiosity, you know.

So that was my excitement for the day.

Hope you had a good one.

Dia Dhuit

Mary