It was a busy day.    I am waiting for two reports to finish a project for CWI.    I am almost ready to finish the minutes for Tallgrass and I got a couple of volunteers for Bloomsday.

I also watered the deck plants and did a bit of weeding.   Not much because I don't want to start things hurting again.

I went to Mass at 4PM.    It is really warm outside today.   Church is always cold, I should have brought a jacket for in the building.

I fixed salmon croquettes for lunch today.    I have a couple for future meals now.    I do like salmon.   Mom used to make salmon croquettes too.

As soon as Bloomsday is over, my projects are done for a while.   I am ready.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It was chilly today.   Not awful but chilly. 

I spent a fortune on Mr. Nicky for heartworm and flea and tic meds.  I let him ride along.   He seems to like that a lot.  He ate the heartworm med ok but seemed to feel that he was in trouble when I made him sit still as I squeezed the other stuff on the skin on his back.

I have all the Tallgrass stuff done uneil I get feedback from the board.   I have the CWI stuff ALMOST ready to send to Rasemary AND I got two new volunteers for Bloomsday.  Please help if you can.   I still need readers and listeners.


I watered the tomato plants today.  Tomorrow the herbs.    We are supposed to get rain on Sunday, so that should take care of things for a bit.

Talked to my cousin Laura Westenberger, Patty's daughter today.   They cannot come when Jay is here but will try to come later in the summer.   I told her that I have lots of room.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

We had rain most of the day today again.    I am so grateful as we were in need of some and it is gone for a while now.

I talked to both Nora and Barbara, from our Oklahoma and Texas families, and they are fine.

Last night I went to Sheboygan Visual Artists at the Ebco Artworks  for their Sculpture and Blues final Friday event.    It was great I ran into several friends, saw a great art exhibit and heard a great band and had good snacks.     How can one go wrong.   When I got home, I was too tired to write but knew you would understand.   I was able to spread more word about Bloomsday too.

Today, I was home all day except for Mass at 4PM.    I am all ready for the Board meeting on Tuesday, made some phone calls, did my wash and took a nap.

Tomorrow will be a whole day at home too and I intend to tackle a couple of small cluttered areas as the day goes on.

My ribs and neck are feeling better.  The weather is probably the biggest problem with them.   I do have to go back to see Dr. Fehrman about my shoulder and arm.   It is getting worse.

It is supposed to be a bit chilly the next few days.   Oh well,   summer will come, perhaps not for long, but it will come.

Dia dhuit

Mary

I was able to stay home and catch up on Tallgrass and Bloomsday paperwork today.   At least most of the day.    After lunch, I did take Nicky for a little ride as I had to get stamps for myself and check the PO Box for Tallgrass Condos.    He liked that.   Especially as he did not end up at the vets this time.   

We have started our once a week gatherings of whoever can come in Tallgrass.   We had a nice group today.   Everybody just brings a chair and whatever they want to drink and we sit and visit.   Today was gorgeous.   Sunshine, but not too hot especially under the shade of the trees.

Tomorrow I can finish up several projects and will be picking up heartworm and flea and tick meds for Nicky. 

I need to start feeling creative again.   This has been a rather long dry spell and I don't like it.  

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A very disjointed day.    I went grocery shopping this morning.   (Got to get those lottery tickets, you know.   That is in Dick's honor and I will buy them forever.   One of these days our "special" numbers will come up. 

It was a weird day.   I ended up on the phone with Quicken, getting the connections with Wells straightened out.  It TOOK Hours.   I hope it is done.   The only reason I upgraded is because Wells no longer recognized the version of Quicken that I had.  Tomorrow will be the test, when I update.   Otherwise, I am probably destined for another marathon.  Why these companies cannot have problems resolved before they throw their new stuff out to the world is beyond me.

I enjoyed a glass of wine with my neighbors.  I saw them on their deck and had some food for their "grand dog" so took my wine and Nicki and joined them for a bit.  We interacted withe our new lawn mowers too.

Time for winding down.    I love you all.

Dia Dhuit

Mary




 Amicus Marcelling states – “A whole troop of foreigners would not be able to withstand a single Celt if he called his wife to his assistance”!

All day at home.  EXCEPT for the Condo board meeting at 4PM.   I got a lot done.

I felt sad today and as I often do when I am sad, I baked myself silly.    I make Scottish Shortbread cookies, scones and mixed up a no-knead bread to bake tomorrow.    

I did some more cleaning and planted the last of my basil plants.  If I feel sad tomorrow, I don't know what I will do.    I will go grocery shopping in the morning and bake the bread that I mixed.

The meeting went well,  I can transcribe my notes tomorrow.   I can also get a report for CWI ready.  I guess it will be oK.  It always is.   I just need to work things through in my head.



I have found out that digging is not good.   I am sore since I planted the tomatoes.   That's OK - tomorrow it will all be better.

Dia Dhuit

I hope I don't sound like a whiner.

Mary

I am so sad

Bart and Barb have had to change their plans for the visit this week.  It seems that Barb's mother had dizzy spells over the weekend and Barb has to see that she gets checked by a doctor.   She did not want to got to Urgent Care.   So here we are.      I am so disappointed and so are Bart and Barb.   Barb really needed this vacation.   Hopefully they will be able to do a weekend fun thing closer to home.    But I feel so bad.

Oh Well.  Things will go on, they always do.

I went to Bible Study this morning and then to see Mother.    She was just finishing physical therapy, so I got an update on that.   She is, according to her therapist, doing well.   She is standing at the parallel bars and even taking a step or two, albeit with some discomfort.   Her pain is an ongoing concern.   The doctor has adjusted her meds and have addressed the fact that she feel a bit nauseous.   She does not actually throw up but that is an uncomfortable feeling.   They moved her to a room two doors down from the nurses station which will be much safer for her.  She will be able to get to the lunch room more easily also.  It is exactly the same floor space and plan, so she will be happy.   As Dick used to say.  "Change is bad."

I picked up chicken and steak fries for my lunch.  Tasted good.

Guess that is all now.   No excitement for the week.  But the room is still ready if a miracle happens and they can come.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I miss my boys so much.

Sunday, May is gone!

A whole day at home.   It was sunny and the sun felt so good, but there was a chilly wind all day so one needed a jacket when on a walk.    Nicky was a bit pushy for walks today.   He had an exciting time when he saw two very fat rabbits on our lawn and really wanted to run them down.  

I cleaned a couple of cluttered areas today.

Jeff and Kathy stopped by around 2PM with my tomato plants.   It is supposed to be in the thirties tonight so I brought them into the garage and will plant them tomorrow afternoon or on Tuesday.   I have some basil to join them.   They are companion plants, you know.   I don't know much but I know that.

Tomorrow will be the first NORMAL(if there is such a thing) Monday in three weeks.  Bible study and then over to see Mom.  Please pray for her.   She is still experiencing a lot of pain and we are trying to find out why.   It seems that it should be getting better by now.

I am watching Peter, Paul and Mary as I write this.   How nice to see  this.   All their songs.  From the beginning to now.    It is amazing how many of their protest songs are still so relevant.

Anyway,  until tomorrow.

Dia dhuit

mary

A beautiful day.   It was not too warm, but the sun shone all day.   Blue skies with the green trees against them.    All is good with the world.

This afternoon, there was a crew working on the railroad tracks.  They are now connecting the rails with bolts.   Noisy business.  Nicky and I went out to watch them for a bit.  Ran into some neighbors doing the same thing.  When I left this morning, they had Highland blocked off, (of course, the way I wanted to go.)  But when I came back around noon, they had it open again.

I left at 9:30AM for my chiropractor appointment.  I am finally feeling some relief in my neck and ribs.   Dr.  Wiegand could tell too.  I will have massage therapy tomorrow.   I think I will ask Heather to be gentle again.   That really worked last week.    My shoulder is the sorest now.   Need to call Dr. Fehrman to see if I should get another shot in the joint.

While I was out, I drove to Kohler and left some Bloomsday fliers at Kohler High School and with Joan Kramer to distribute.   Then on the way home I dropped them off at the book stores, the Plymouth History Museum, the Plymouth Arts Center and the Plymouth Library.

Tomorrow I will try to hit Sheboygan High Schools as I will be in Sheboygan for my massage.

My writer friend, Jena Hoftiezer, took me out for an early dinner tonight.   She wanted to treat me for my birthday and we couldn't work it out for last week.   She also gave me an angel candle holder and brought a card that her Mom, Lynn, made.

Got home just in time to sit on the deck with a couple of my neighbors, the first of our Thursday afternoon gatherings.   It was such fun last year we want it to BE again.  

This time next week, Bart and Barb will be here.  Yippee.

Dia dhuit

Mary 

All day at home.   All day getting my new version and my Bank to play nice.

Richard and Brenda, I finally had to upgrade because the bank no longer recognized my Quicken as of April 30.    Not much notice, or maybe I just ignored the warnings figuring that they were just messing with me.

It is all OK so the day was, at least, successful.

Tomorrow I see Dr. Wiegand, my chiropractor.   Things are somewhat better but I am wondering if I should be seeing Dr. Fehrman about my shoulder and arm.

Ah, one dilemma after another.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Almost a Monday

I was as busy as a Monday today.    Dolores and I met with Mom and her caregivers to go over her care plan.    We had a lot of questions and they were very good about answering them.   Mom had trouble staying awake, but, don't get me wrong, she was still on board with us.   She knew the concerns that SHE had and brought them up with no difficulty.    She got her answers too.   We will follow up on them, of course.

I also did my grocery shopping and went to the bank and the post office today.   At 1PM, I had to have all that done because Servicemaster came to clean my carpets.    They were done at about 2:30.   I did a bit of sewing and then worked on Tallgrass and Bloomsday paperwork.

Tomorrow is an at home day, Good Lord Willing.    I have a lot to do.  As I say, I am never bored.

So Until tomorrow.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I am still having trouble getting pictures on the blog.   Will keep working on it.

I had a nice Memorial Day.   I went to spend time with Mother and have lunch with her today.  

While I was there, she had  her first OT and PT sessions.   The OT person was SO impressed.   When she found out that Mother has been doing those exercises since she dislocated her shoulder, she couldn't believe it.  The exercises will be the same, though she has upped the difficulty of the strap she uses.  The PT person has more work because we are dealing with the surgery, but it will be fine.

We had a nice lunch.   Mom ate pretty good today.   I was concerned yesterday.   Harriet said that she ate well at breakfast too.    Maybe things are on the upswing.

Tomorrow there is a meeting with the family to discuss the "plan".   They always have a plan for each resident.   I will meet Jeff there at 11:00AM.

I made rhubarb muffins this morning from rhubarb from the back yard.   Everything is pretty grown over, but I got a little bit.

Called Barbara last night.  They are on "high ground" but parts of Lawton are also flooded and all but one of their lakes are at capacity.   They have opened the Dams to relieve the pressure there.   Lets not pray for rain.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Memorial Day Weekend

A quiet weekend for me.   Only broken (and very nicely) by visits to Mom.    Today, I kept pretty busy here at home.   Bloomsday is coming together and I took care of some apples that needed to be dealt with.  (Apple Crisp and Apple Sauce)   Didn't have to really cook as I am still enjoying Schnitzel and dumplings from my birthday dinner.    It tastes wonderful with cole slaw.

I went to Mass at 4PM.   My friend, Tom Fohr, had called and asked if I could distribute wine for him today.   He had carpal tunnel surgery and didn't think that handing a cup of wine to dozens of believers was practical.   I was glad to help as I love distributing communion.   Pray for my friend's hand to heal quickly.

Then I stopped at home to feed Nicky and went to Meadow View to take communion to Mother.   She was at dinner.    I don't think she is eating enough but she ate some of everything and she says that she is full.   We went back to her room when she was done and I gave her the sacrament.   Then we visited for some time until I knew she was tired and I am too.   I had to get home and eat so that there is, at least, a little time before I go to bed.


Tomorrow I am staying home ALL day.   I do not intend to leave the neighborhood, except of Nicky's morning walk when we go through Lion's Park.   If it as nice as it was today, Nicky and I can sit out on the porch for a while.   They are suggesting rain for the afternoon, so we will have to see.  Perhaps I can plant the herbs I bought the other day. AND prepare the ground for the tomatoes that Jeff and Kathy will bring next week.

Mainly, I want no plans for tomorrow.   Just a wander through the day.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Family, - Bart and Barbara will be here in Wisconsin with me from June 3 to the 9th.    They are coming for a friend of Bart's wedding.    I am planning on a kind of open house on Sunday, the 7th?   Unless you all think another day would be better.   The wedding is Saturday.   I am excited.

Such a lovely birthday.    I got flowers this morning from Richard and Brenda, lovely lavender tipped roses with hyacinth mixed in a lavender vase.  Then some arrived from Leslie and Bill.   Beautiful Red Roses and Red lilies.   Lots of cards and then Bobbie and Bill took me out to the Depot for dinner.   I have food for two days and it was wonderful.   They brought me a long stemmed rose and a bottle of her Gerwertiminer wine too.

So it was a super day.   I feel feted.  I did have a chiropractic appointment and a massage, (I asked Heather to be gentle, after explaining my week).   She was gentle and I am hoping for a good night's sleep.

Mom went back to Meadow View today.  I did not go because it seemed that there were so MANY people all converging on her and she was going to be too tired.   I will go tomorrow after my cleaning lady leaves.   Jeff said she was doing very well.

Such a relief.   

Dia Dhuit

Mary

What a great day.

First - Happy St. Erwan(Yves) Day to you all.   St. Erwan is one of two patron saints of Brittany.    He is also a patron saint of lawyers, even then they said that he was an HONEST lawyer.  So Enjoy what is left of the day.

Second - I had planned a pasty baking event for CWI on Sunday, but, of course, Mom came first.   By the way she is doing quite well and I believe she will be back at Meadow View Manor by Thursday.  Anyway, I had make a dough for the pasties and thawed the meat.    Guess what, I couldn't wait to make them, so I sent out word and two of my friends, Kathy Schemrich and Joan Kramer came to tackle the job.   We had a great time and all ended up with three large pasties and a nice serving of hash for a good breakfast, (or supper if you are so inclined.)   It was great.

My Nicky behaved beautifully.   He barked like crazy when they first came in, of course, but settled down as close to me as he could all day and seemed content.    He managed to get all kinds of meat drippings on himself when I ground the meat so had to have a bath.   But he is so sweet about things like that.   I think that  Poop Diving has gotten him used to such things.  He accepted my friends as the day went on.   I am very pleased.

Jeff said that Mom was pretty good this morning.    I'll keep you posted.


Dia Dhuit

Mary

I left home at about 9AM this morning and stopped at Blessed Trinity to drop off a check from Mom and meet for a prayer with my Bible Study group.    Then I headed to Sheboygan Memorial for a visit with Mother.

She looks so much better and is not in the extreme pain she was in before the surgery.   She is having trouble remembering where she is, but I believe as the anesthetics work their way out of her system, she will settle in just fine.  She does remember what happened to her but not necessarily where she is now.    She is of course experiencing pain but it is manageable and she understands that the incision will have to heal along with the bone that they realigned and pinned.   
As I said she looks good and ate some breakfast while I was there.

Gary Henderson from Blessed Trinity came in while I was there with communion, so both Mother and I were able to receive the sacrament today.   That was a joy for Mom.   It always is.

I rested most  of the afternoon as I am tired and sore.   But tomorrow have a couple of projects that I HAVE to tackle. 

Thanks to all my family and friends that I love so for all your concern and prayers.   It hurts to see your Mom so uncomfortable.  I am relieved today.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Well, we all know the events of the day I believe.   There may be one reader who doesn't.  

Mother fell last night and broke her hip.   She had surgery, successful, this morning which will alleviate the pain of the fracture.   Now we need to just wait and pray.   Eileen, Dolores, Randy, Jeff and I were all there and in laws and grandchildren also. 

I came home after she was settled in her room after surgery and her stint in the ICU.   She was sleeping and I hope that lasts well into the night.    I will go to see her tomorrow.

It was foggy and breezy today.  I was very sore.   Hope tomorrow is better for EVERYTHING!

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I realized this afternoon that I am hosting a baking Sunday for CWI the day after tomorrow.   So shopping I must go tomorrow.

I had an interesting day.   My cleaning lady came and got the house cleaned.   Then I finally have the hall dry and finished up the wash.   I could not get the mattress pad on  the bed and had to call for help.   I called Peggy and she told me to call Bob and tell him that he had to come to help.   It is the strangest thing as it has no corners.  But it is ON.

I went to shoot tonight and found out that some of the ammo I have is not good for target.    EEEEWWWW.  You get one shot off, then have to eject it and remove the clip.   Then you reload the clip and start over.   So I did ONE target with Jerry helping me chamber the bullets.   What apain.


Glad to be home.

Tomorrow I will be busy all day with the Condo meeting  and church and then the musical event at Plymouth  Arts.      I am going to soak and go to bed.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A nice day.   However, it is cold.   I do wish we would get some sunshine and som warmth around here.  I am sure it is making my cold hang on.   The trouble with the cold is that everytime I cough, it causes my rib pain and my shoulder and arm and neck pain to hurt more.   Another hot bath tonight and early to bed.

I had a chiropractor treatment today.   Of course, the results of that really show up the next day.    I need to schedule a massage too.  

This Saturday morning is the Tallgrass Condominium annual meeting.   I now have EVERYTHING that I need to bring ready to do.   We meet at 10AM and I will go over at 9AM to be sure my check in table is ready.    I have my helpers lined up.

Saturday evening, I will be going to the Plymouth Arts Center to watch the Spring Concert.   Last year I sang with the group.   This year, I knew it would be too much of a commitment.   But I want to go see it as many of the singers are now my friends, notably, my friend, Kate, who has sung with them for years.

So, tomorrow, I need to woak on Bloomsday.   I am trying to reach my friend Paul tonight to see if he wants to be involved this year.

Hope my chest is loosened up some by morning.    I am sick of aching.

Love you all

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Home all day and I am still exhausted.

I spend a good chunk of the day getting my Quicken to work.   My version is no longer accepted by Wells Fargo, so I had to upgrade.   What a mess, but I believe the worst is over.

I also came home to a leaking washing machine that had soaked the whole hallway.   Curt from A-1 Appliance came over and rescued me again.   I am still drying out the hallway.

My neighbors and friends Bob and Peggy invited me over for wine and dinner.  What a joy.   I was feeling kind of down all day and they have perked me up.

I did get a call from my Bart today.   That always makes me feel good.

Tomorrow I will see my chiropractor.  Sure hope she can relieve some of the pain.

Dia Dhuit

Mary