This was a quiet day.   Roxie and I were all alone.    I only left once, at 3:30PM to go to Mass.   

I worked very hard on the book today and cleaned up the kitchen.  Tomorrow I should not have to leave At all.    My plan is to work on Mom's quilt and my wall hanging downstairs for a while.   You have heard that spring can't come until I get Mom's Cathedral window bedspread ready to put on her bed.    She gets quite distressed about things like that.

I also will need to practice for the Spring Concert at the Plymouth Art Museum practice which is Monday evening.

Nothing exciting otherwise.   So I am closing early and go to bed.    Tomorrow I will download my vacation pictures to Picassa and share a few.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

The week has finally come to an end.   I had altogether too many things going on for one week.    I am after all supposed to be retired.

Today I had errands to run.    After Jody left,  I went over to the bank.    Then I drove downtosn to the trophy store and finalized the order for the plaque for Dick to be hung at Mead.    Then I stopped at the Exchange Bank and picked up a pound of coffee which I seem to have lost between there and home.   Finally home, in time for lunch.   I tried to nap but couldn't relax so I went back to work on the cookbook.

At 4PM I started getting ready for the Soup with Substance, Sacred Spaces and Places of Ireland at Silverlake College.    Nancy Roehre rode with me to the Sheboygan North Walmart where we met Joan and Dick Kramer to car pool up to Manitowoc.    It was a lovely event.     We had a soup buffet supplied by local restaurants, with rolls, dessert and coffee or water.   They had four kinds of soup.   Three were meatless for us fasters.   Though as Nancy pointed out, we are old enough that we don't have to do that any more if we don't want to.    I had two bowls of soup, minestrone and potato.   I like my minestrone better but it was quite good.    Then Julianne Stanz, a Irish Native and Director or Evangelization of the Diocese of Green Bay spoke to us about the lands of Patrick, and Kevin - the holy places of Ireland and the famine and shared spirituality with other cultures.    She was absolutely fascinating.    I introduced myself as a Celtic Women and promised to send her a picture of my wall hanging of St. Kevin when it is completed.

As we were leaving we noticed a corner wall covered with wood crosses of all types. made from the wood from areas of disaster.    There was a little poem next to it and guess who wrote the poem and prepared the display?    Our Denise's Samantha!!!   She is such a talented little thing.  

Now it is late and Mary needs to go to bed.  

You will never guess what I did to our poor Roxie.   As I was getting ready, the doorbell rang.   It was Peg Stahlman bring back my cake pan that I had prepared bars for the History meeting.    Then the phone rang and then Nancy came while I was still on the phone.    Long story short, I forgot to feed the little darling.    And it took her about 15 minutes of insisting before I remembered.   Poor little thing.  

Til tomorrow

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It is still ungodly cold here.    It did get much over 20 degrees but at least the sun was shining.   I was home most of the day.    I baked some lemon bars for the Plymouth History Meeting tonight.   

I am a member of the History Society,  did no feel up to going to the meeting but I have volunteered to bake and am always glad to help in this way.   You know me and baking so it was a pleasure.

This afternoon, Bobbie and I met at Mead to attend the Mead Board Meeting where they approved the plaque that will be hung in the new adult meeting room.    I also presented the check of the monies donated for his wishes at the funeral.   So tomorrow I will go to the trophy store and finalize the order.   I also want a couple of brass plates.   One for his flag and one for the urn. 

I cleaned both desks tonight and have projects spread all over the table again.   Two will leave tomorrow so that is a plus.    I do this at least once a week and it takes about a week to deteriorate. 
But I get a lot done while the order stays in place.    This time I empties EVERYTHING and polished too.

So.  Bedtime for Mary.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A busy day coming to an end.

First.   I have to give you some really big news.    My sister Eileen's son John and his wife Holly gave birth to two healthy little identical twin boys.   They are names Sam and Jack.    We are all so happy and excited.    Give a prayer of thanks for them and that he bless John and Holly with lots of patience.  Love is easy but I know how hard it was with one at a time.   Go John and Holly, Go.

Today was a doctor day for me.    The CTScan showed no masses so Dr. Sohki is just changing the dose on one of the meds that I have been taking only "when needed".   

Dr. Leban seems to have allieved the pain in my shoulder and arm.   But as I told her, now I am getting headaches every day and am finding the vicadin helps.  But I don't want to become too dependant on it.   So she put some shots in the two tendans that can cause this pain and gave me a prescripion to take just for the next couple of weeks at bedtime.   Another wait and see but at lease something is looked at.

I came home to a very needy kitty.   She and I were at the desk all afternoon.    I worked on Chapter 8 of my cookbook project.

Now I am very tired and am going to finish cleaning up the kitchen and then go to bed.   By the way, I make avocado cupcakes with lemon cream cheese frosting and they are quite tasty.

So until tomorrow.   The only thing scheduled is the Mead Board meeting.   Bobbie and are are attending.

Dick and Brenda called tonight and helped me solve a couple of computer problems.   They will be over soon and help me sort out computer stuff.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Forty two years ago today, I was in the hospital giving birth to my boy Bart.   I was determined to see him come into the world as I was unable to do so with Tony and Bret.    This made for a very exciting delivery room.    I was so excited and that transmits I guess.    I never will forget that little head emerging, followed in one big push by the rest of him.     He lay there for a moment kind of blue looking and then gasped and started crying which made him pink up immediately.    Even then he was very intense and was the most beautiful baby in the hospital.

I called him this morning but got his answering machine so I sang Happy Birthday to him.    He called ME a while ago and we had a great birthday talk.   He is having crab legs for his birthday supper so is a happy camper.

I was home all day and spent it working on my Cookbook.     I am pleased with the way it is coming to being.    Bobbie agreed to edit it for me.     I am so grateful.

I also baked some avocado cupcakes.    An experiment, but they look good.    I will frost them tomorrow and taste.    They get a lemon cream cheese frosting.    A couple of the avocado
ripened a bit fast for me.    Bobbie will get two tomorrow and I gave Mom two.   I still have more than enough.    I am having salads and sandwiches too. 

Tomorrow, I go to see Dr. Leben about my strained muscles and I will be having a CTScan on my abdominal area to rule out problems because my stomach is so sore.  The whole middle of the day.  I will be able to drop Mom's meds off to her on the way home anyway.  

Thutsday, Bobbie and I are going to attend the Mead Library Board meeting about Dick's Plaque.

So.  The week is very busy.    I am so grateful for today.   

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This was a mega busy day.

I started off by returning a call that I received from a lovely Irish Lady that I met in Dublin two years ago.    We have exchanged phone calls and letters before.   I know that I have to confirm her address with her brother so I am sure that I have it right.   

Then, I left and picked up some coke for Mother at the Pick and Save on the way to Bible Study.   Then Bible Study.    We had an interesting discussion, the five of us.    We are finally moved on from Psalm 118 after four weeks and now are discussing Psalm 103, which is quite comforting.  

Then on to Mother's.   We had quite a bit to do.   Bills and I filled the pill boxes and took two to be refilled,  I can drop them off on Wednesday on my way back from Sheboygan.

I ate lunch with Mother and then went to the Sheboygan Clinic for my appointment with Dr. Sokhi.   He has ordered a CT Scan of my midsection to be sure there is nothing wrong as I have a lot of pain in there now.    He did have me increase one of the pills that Dick and I called the "whoop pills" because I would take them IF I had acid reflux.   Now I take them three times a day.

Next, I got a blood test, which I have already heard is just fine, and headed home via Walmart and the Bank.

Home again, I rested for a bit and then fixed dinner as I had to be at Redeemer Lutheran for a practice for the Spring Concert that a local chorus does at the Plymouth Arts Center every spring.   Don't ask how I got involved.   It is all Kate's fault.

I picked up prescriptions from Walmart on my way home and now it is time to go to bed.   Tomorrow I am home all day.   Yee Haw.

I am looking forward to that.  

Hope you had a good day.

Love you all

Dia Dhuit

Mary

P. S.  It is three months today.   That is hard.  Hard to comprehend sometimes.

The Irishman's Walk is over.   I had lunch with some of the Celtic Women an came home for a nap.    I will be going to Eileen's house at about six to enjoy some more St. Patrick's Day with the family.

As I promised, I will tell about last night's festivities.   I talked to Nancy Roehre yesterday afternoon and since she was going  to 52 Stafford for the Blarney Concert.  We had such a good time.  There was a man with his family, who was giving away shamrock beads that light up to anyone who came by.    I talked to him and told him a story about my recent trip to the river where I got beads.    Janet, Bret's lovely lady, me and three of the assorted children of Bret's friends decided to go for a walk on Sunday afternoon.  Bret's park is laid out with the permanent residents, those who keep their mobile homes there all year round and have leases on their lots above on a slight ridge above the area for snowbirds and people who come for a night or two.   Janet likes to walk through the snowbird area, then towards the river and then along the river and back to the mobile home.  

As we were walking past the campers and motor homes we noticed one that had its window just packed with  souvenirs from all over the country.   There were painted gourds and M & M people and stuffed animals and so on.  As we were walking by we saw the couple who live there sitting outside with their dogs.   They had Papillons.   Such cute little dogs, so we started visiting.    They showed us, I should say the kids, how a plastic dog skeleton worked.   It walked and talked.   He gave Morgan, the little girl with us, a brand new backpack that they had found in their travels.   They let us tour their trailer to see the window closer.   Then as we were leaving, they pulled out about 10 Mardi Gras Beads in gold and green and gave them to us.      When we got back to the park, everybody was asking where we got all that stuff so we told them we had gone to Mardi Gras and to the local museum.

So I told this story to the man handing out the St. Patrick Day Beads and he gave me the beads AND a pair of light up earrings too.    I am quite the sight when I am all lite up.

Blarney were worth going to listen to as usual.    It was an altogether pleasant evening.   We left as soon as the show was over.

I baked scones yesterday.   I had to make two batches.   I forgot to put butter in the first batch and though they are edible, they are pretty dry.   The second batch turned out great.   My friend Joan Brigham came by and had tea and scones with me before we left for the Walk.   Then we went to the Stafford and took a lift up to the start site.   There were six of us Celtic Women,  not as many as I hoped, but it  hoped but it was awfully cold and I think this discouraged a few.   

I guess that I have told you enought now as it is time for me to head to Eileen's for a bit of family St. Patrick's Day festivities.


I love you all and hope that this Holy day was special for you too.

Dia Dhuit

Mary



I gues this is enougth for now as it is

I guess I will have to tell you about tonight tomorrow.   I tried, and this stupid program did its funny thing and erased the whole thing.

I went to 52 Stafford to enjoy Blarney with my friend Nancy.  It is now almost 11PM so I will have to get to bed.    I had the best time and made several new friends.  

Tomorrow will also be a busy Irish Day.

Mother would have enjoyed the music of Blarney so very much.

Sleep Tight

Dia Dhut

Mary

Today I missed Dick SO much.   I guess with all the excitement and emotion involved in the vacation, it kind of blindsided me when I was alone for the whole day.    It will be OK! Everything will be Alright!   as  Bret and I say when things get a bit hard to handle.

I was really busy today just putting things away and doing wash and settling back into the real world.

I will download pictures tomorrow and than start sharing a few.

We have a new Pope, Pope Francis.   I mention this, because of the way I found out about the election.   I was certain that it would take several days and totally surprised at the speed of it.   

Here is the story:

Bret and I were in Huntington Beach on Wednesday.   We went there for several reasons.   I wanted to go visit Tony's grave.   Bret had never been there.   I was so glad to have him with me.     I found his place right away.    I remembered exactly where he was, adjacent to Beach Blvd, along the driveway and with a statue of Jesus guarding him just a bit to his left and back.   They really keep  the cemetery well groomed and his stone looks as good as new.   I left him a shell and took several pictures, one with me and one with Bret.   It is such a little grave.

Then we drove through the old neighborhood.   Our house looks different, simply because the big olive tree in front is gone.  I met the current owner.   When we got there, I told Bret that I wanted to go across the street to see if my friend, Joyce Woerner, was home.   I knew she was still living there and had just come back from her mission for the LDS in Salt Lake City.   She was home and we had a great visit.    As I get back into Ancestry, she said that she can possibly be of help as her mission was in the genealogy department that the Mormans have.

We left there for St. Simon and Jude.  I wanted to see if the church had changed (it had - quite a bit)  As we pulled into the lot to wait for Jana Winchester Hertz, who was meeting us there so we could go to have a nice visit, the phone rang.   It was Barbara, calling to congratulate me for the election of our new pope.   We had not been listening to any news since about 8:30Am when we left my hotel room so she was the one who announced it to me - all the way from Oklahoma.     As we were talking, I was getting a message that Jeff was calling me too.     Barb and I finished our conversation and I called Jeff back.     I asked him if HE knew about the Pope.    He and Mother heard from ME.   So the news went from Oklahoma to California to Wisconsin by phone.   So much for TV coverage.   As Jeff and I were talking, the bells of St. Simon and Jude started ringing out the news.    It was truly a beautiful experience.

By the way, Barbara received her diploma in the mail on Wednesday too.    Yea Barbara.   She should be so very proud.   And now she should take a break for a bit.

That is enough for today

I talked to Nora tonight too.   I was so glad that we connected because I needed someone to talk to.

Love you all
Dia Dhuit

Mary

P. S.  Bobbie and Bill brought my Roxie home when they knew I was back in the state.    She seems very happy to see me and I am so Glad she is here.   I missed her.

Dia Dhuit

I am safely home again.    It is late and I will be going to bed as soon as I finish this note to you all.

I had a wonderful time with Bret and his friends.    His new lady is delightful.  Her name is Janet and I found her just super.     The River Friends had a pot luck on Saturday evening in my honor.   The food was do DIE for and guess what?    I had my very first Jello Shot!   I also had a Pudding Shot and will be sharing this treat at Thanksgiving.   Bed EVERYBODY will want to be  there now.

I will share my adventures more in the next few days when I am better rested and will also share pictures.    

It was so good to spend the week with Bret.   He is such a fine sweet man and I am so very proud of him.

Dia Dhuit until tomorrow.

Mary

As I went to bed very early last night because I had to get up at 3AM to get ready for my trip, I did not blog then.

I am all ready and have enough time now, so here you are.

A lot of good going to bed early did me.  I didn't sleep very well.   I found out that I do know how to set the alarm on the new alarm clock.    Turning it off was another thing, I hit the snooze and then when I was in the shower, there it went again.  

It was a mainly quiet day, especially after Bobbie came to pick up Roxie this morning.   I had been explaining to her that she was going on vacation too.   As Bobbie said to Kitty Camp.    She, of course, was quite upset when she was put into her carrier and taken for a ride,  but Bobbie emailed that she was settling in just fine and was trying to tell Bobbie that it was time to take a nap shortly after noon.

My first trip in such a long time.  

If I get to a computer, I'll blog but otherwise, have a nice week.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I was almost asleep last night when I remembered that I had forgotten to blog.    Dick would be very proud of me for not jumping up to do it.    He always wanted me to relax.

I just was too busy all day,   I am getting everything ready for the trip and don't want any of my projects to be neglected while I am gone.

My neighbor, Jean, brought me the Sunday paper just about 5ish.   I invited her to share a glass of wine with me and she graciously accepted.   That was nice.     A glass of wine with a friend is always a pleasant way to spend an hour or two.

Today was a typical Monday.   I went to bible study.   We had 7 of us there and couldn't quite get past Psalm 118, which we have been on for three weeks.   However we started off with a discussion of the first episode of the mini series, the Bible.   It is always difficult to understand why Abraham allowed Hagar and Ishmael to be sent out into the desert after Sara had her Isaac and was jealous of Ishmael.   But God came to the rescue in the end.

The I went to Mother's and we paid her bills and made sure that she will not run out of things while I am gone.   If we missed anything, I am so blessed to have brothers and sisters who will just pick up the slack and take care of it. 

Tonight I drove over to Redeemer Church to practice for the Spring Concert for the Plymouth Arts Center that Kate talked me in to.   We are singing grand pieces from older musicals, like Chorus Line and Porgy and Bess and songs like I Got Rhythm.   It is fun.  But I am really tired now.   As Kate said, it is past my bed time so I am just going to go there.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It is after 10PM.   I just got home from having dinner with my friend Rosemary Mugan and then enjoying a concert by Theiss and O Connor at the Plymouth Arts Center with her and a whole slew of other friends that also came to enjoy the show.

Anyway, I am tired and going to go right to bed.    Hope you sleep tight and hope I do too.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Happy St. David's Day.    The daffodils I bought to celebrate the day.   Daffodils are blooming in Wales and are a big part of the celebrations.

It was a quiet day.    I was home almost all day.   I did go and have lunch at Dairy Queen with the Bank Ladies.   There were only three of us.    But it was a nice break in the day.   Always good to have someone one likes to talk to.

Same old, same old at home.     I just keep plugging away at things.   And eventually will be through everything.   Still can't bring myself to do Dick's clothes, but I was chilly the other day and got one of his flannel shirts out and I love it.    It makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

Til tomorrow.   I am going to see Theiss and O'Connor tomorrow evening with my friend Rosemary.   They are a great local Irish trio. 

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I stepped outside of the house twice today.   The first time to put a letter in the mailbox and the second to pick up the mail. 

Not a bad day.   The snow has stopped falling and the wind seems to have died down.   Not especially cold but not warm enough to reduce the very high snow banks around the greenspace in front of the condo.

I had a maintenance on my water heater.    The gentleman who came said that he was a block over at one of my neighbors.   They also have windows out under a deck and there was a big deer resting there.   He startled it a bit, but not enough to make it run away.    With all the snow AND with so much of their habitat was stripped for the impending railroad that I recon they are looking for sheltered safe spaces.    We do have at least three, I thought I saw four, that run back and forth behind us.

I believe that I have finished mending the top of Mom's Cathedral Window quilt.    I say believe, because those little loose tabs can hide, I have discovered.    I turned it over and now will check all the bottom seams, many of them are loose also.

I worked on the Cookbook today too.   So it was a full day.

Tomorrow will be a day at home also, unless something comes up.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A winter Haiku by me

Gloomy Cloudy day
Made a hole for the sun and
Broke into a smile.

I am too tired to spend much time here tonight.   You all know that I am a 9 O'Clock Wonder and it is almost 10PM.

The Celtic Gathering we planned occurred at 52 Stafford was just great.   There were six of us, despite the storm.   I was able to tell those attending about Sts.  David and Piran and to share the Welsh Cakes with the members attending AND the customers around the bar.

The music was  the icing on the cake.

Now I am tired.  I love you all.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

The predicted storm started a couple of hours ago.   The previously clear driveways are now all white again.    The storm started with a strong wind, I could hear it when I napped.

I got a LOT of trash out today, I have been shredding.   I am a couple of years behind so next week will be another heavy load for the trash guys.  

Then I went to do a couple of errands.  I did a bit of grocery shopping, I don't need much but did wander the store and got some cat food and trash bags.  Then I filled up my tank  in the van as I was below a half a tank.    Then I decided to go to Cain's Floral to see if they had a Daffodil plant.   I wanted one for tomorrow for the CWI Meeting.   We are celebrating St. David and St. Piran and the daffodil is featured at all of the celebrations for both feast days.    Daffodils must be blooming in the British Isles now.

The rest of the day was spent here at home.   There is never a lack of things to do.    I never get bored.   If I am tired of doing something, I just go to something else.

Today, I baked some cupcakes.    I had a lot of corn left from dinner (I had some with two meals from the same package already) so I searched and make a batch of corn/bacon cupcakes with a maple frosting.   They are OK.   I like them but they are not at all like the decadent  cupcakes that I made a couple of months ago.

Tomorrow will be quiet until evening when I will be going to 52 Stafford for the CWI meeting and the Craic.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Just another frantic Monday,

I had to have the car at Van Horn for its oil change at 8AM.  So I brought a book along to read while I wait.    I had Heaven is For Real.    It is SOOO good.  

From there I drove to Sheboygan Falls for Bible Study.   Several people are on vacation, but we had a group of five and lots to say.    The smaller groups sometimes are very intimate. 

Mother was fine today.   We did the pills and bills and had good time leftover to visit.   She really feels pretty will.   She will see the eye doctor on Thursday,  her sight is bad and it is distressing her.   I can't blame her.

I left for Sheboygan from there, picked up some supplies from Office Max and then went to Mark Miller's to get my taxes.   He got done much sooner that I thought he would, it always depends on how busy he is and if he needs more information.    He agreed with me that there is no way to figure out this year at all.   I will file single and probably only have standard deductions.   So we will wing it this year and next year be able to adjust.   

Home again, I took a great nap.    I must have been much more tired than I thought as I intended just to rest for a bit and fell sound asleep.

Tonight I went over to Redeemer Church for a practice for a musical program that will be at the Plymouth Arts Center in May.   My friend Kate has been trying to get me to come for years.   I finally went.   I hope it isn't too much.   I love singing and had a great time but am still trying to pace myself.   We are singing pieces from several Broadway musicals, so at least I am familiar with the music.

So that is the day.   I am now very tired and it is past my bedtime  So rest well tonight and be ready for the day.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It would have been a whole day at home, BUT my printer ran out of black ink (darn) so I had to go OUT!

I went to Walgreens where I could pick up  some cartridges and refill a prescription that I would have had to do tomorrow.   So - Tomorrow is a very busy day and this will be one stop that I don't have to make.

A neighbor came over late this morning for a visit.   Alison Smith, the condo board president, you remember her, Jim and Michelle, a really lovely lady.    She is such nice gal and has a really big heart.   I think she was worried about me, just because.   We had a very pleasant visit.   I will check in with her when I get back from my trip to visit again.


Then I spent the rest of the day getting things ready for Monday, which has turned into a marathon.  The rest of the week is pretty lazy, thank God, but Monday will test my mettle.   I start at 8AM at Van Horn for a service on the Van.

Must to early to actually BE somewhere.   I didn't used to feel that way.   Must be gettin' old.

Til Tomorrow

Dia Dhuit

Mary