It was cloudy today

Cloudy but not unpleasant.   Actually they are predicting rain but not til early tomorrow morning as I recall.   We really could use rain.   Of course, my Vita will be very unhappy with that.

Dean came with his crew and finished the trimming of the elm tree that needed help in the back yard.   They still look pitiful, of course, but they have it trimmed so that when spring comes the limbs and branches left will leaf out and in a few years they should look better and will, at least, next year provide SOME shade in the heat of summer.

Spent hours on the phones with my friend, Maureen, to get the virtual speech I have prepared on a power point so she can give it to the Chicago Irish Center for IBAM.    I am totally exhausted.

Went to Mass at 4:30PM.    It is sad to see the sparse attendance.   Fewer and fewer people are coming as time goes on even with the social distancing and masks.  People get out of the habit.    I would miss  communion.    Actually, the first couple months of the year, we had to watch Mass on TV and I was able to attend in person on my birthday.     I told Fr. Seeton that it was like I got a birthday present:)

Stay well and safe.   I pray for you all.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A breath of fresh thought

Strides through your mind with joy

Always true to you

Hi Youall.

I know that Youall should be spelled differently but I  don't care.   You all know what I mean.

A busy day.   I caught up on all my wash.     Went to a Celtic Meeting from 2 to 4PM which was great.   We went to a local German Restaurant called Mutti's.   I had a bratwurst which was pretty good.  not Johnsonville but a good substitute.   There were 8 of us and I told them about the history of Dolmans in Ireland and the Celtic Nations and showed some pictures.     It was fun.    We are debating whether we will  meet next month.  If four or more want to, we will.

Also still working on the virtual speech I am doing for IBAM in Chicago.    We just have to be sure to get it recorded properly so that Maureen can edit, if necessary.

Tomorrow another day.     Sufficient UNTO the day.

Love you all

Stay safe and well.

Dia dhuit

Mary

Disease,

Riots and hate.

What has happened to life

As we knew it in the REAL world.

SAVE US!

 

Home again

from Writer's Club.    We were all four of us there tonight and all had something to read.    I is nice for us to have this group to keep us motivated.   To try to produce something every week is helpful to getting started.   I am impressed with my fellow writers

Had my yearly nurse checkup from Humana today and all is well.   My vitals were fine and she says that I am doing quite well.     So I will continue taking care of myself.    Don't want other people to feel that they have to take care of me anyway.

Also, Dean from SWOK Tree Service came and cleaned up my yard, trimmed my trees and hauled everything away.   I am so glad to see a yard again.    He has a bit of trimming to do on one tree but will finish that on Saturday.     He does such good work.

Hope all is well with you.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

The trees all maimed by ice and wind

Are being brave with sun to love

Perhaps with time they 'll somehow mend

And shield from sun too hot above.

Wonderful weather

I only had to wear my jacket this morning.  The sky was a vivid blue with whispy clouds scattered all over it.   Vita and I both liked our walks.   I did not turn her down oncs:)

 Went to Bible Study this morning.    We spent a good time praying for each other's needs and our courtry, then got into reading more of Job.   We still aren't done, but decided to leave it up to each person if they want to finish it.    We are going into a book that is called, The Jesus We Missed by Fr. Patrick Reardon.   I have read a bit of it and it is really fascinating.
We definitely seem to lean towards the New Testament.   We do want to get a bit more versed in the Old Testament too.    

I got my hair cut at 1:00PM so couldn't go to Mass today.   Sure glad that is done.  Oklahoma has not shut down those personal care people  and now I have at least 6 weeks in case they do before I look to shaggy:)

Home all day during the day.    Writers Club at 6:30PM  so I WILL see people.

Dia dhuit

Mary

 

Sunshine lights the dark

The Earth rejoices in it

And blooms green and lush

 

\

A rather productive day.

I did some cleaning.  I am working on getting the inside of my windows cleaned.   Figure I will hit the outside in spring, unless it stays as nice as it has been for a while.

Went over to Bart's this afternoon and he helped me with a computer communication problem that I have been struggling with.  To each day its lesson.  

We are all well and are not having our usual bit Thanksgiving get together.   I will miss it but had decided not to attend anyway because of the numbers and the diversity/   We all love eachother any way and will not put each other at risk.

Perhaps we can have an after coronavirus  when this is all over.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Nice little dog

In my life to care for

Caring for something is good.

Knowing that I AM needed.

Yes.   She is a nice little dog.

It was COLD This morning

 But it warmed up to a very pleasant afternoon  which seems to be what we are facing for the next week or so.

Saw Dr. Toy, my chiropractor, and he put me back in place.   ( I Hope.)   I seem to be maintaining anyway.

Am working on two presentations that I have to have ready by December.   One of them by Friday.    I am going to give a bit of the history of Irish Dolmens to my Lawton Celtic Group.    I have my poem and picture of the Knockeen Dolmen to share.

My other presentation is of the Patron Saints of the 7 Celtic Nations for IBAM in Chicago.  THis is the first year that they have gone virtual and is quite a challenge.      Under normal circumstances, I would have gone there and presented in person.  A whole new way of presenting for me.    Bart is going to help me.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Lovely Mass this evening

I am only gone about an hour and a half but Vita greets me as if I have been gone for days.    It is sure nice to have a living creature to welcome me home.

I was busy "putting our fires" today.    I sure will be glad when 2020 is over.    I am starting to feel like most of the world about that.

Coronavirus is increasing daily.   So far, no one I know had died from it but I am getting more and more prayer requests for those who have it.    God bless them and Lets keep praying that the vaccine comes quickly and is as effective as they think it will be.

Meanwhile.   Take care of yourself and yours.    I say it in that order because if we do not take care of ourselves, we are no good to anybody:)

 

Dia Dhuit

Mary

 

Coronavirus 

Leaves us alone and lonely

Yearning for hugs.

Friday the 13th

2020 has been bad enough.   Nothing new or catastrophic appeared today, Thank the Lord.

I was busy most of the day.   Should have a quiet weekend.    Will try to pamper myself.   I had my port flushed today and everything is good with that.

I am doing a Great Courses class on the Celts online, One chapter at a time.    I try to do one chapter a day and there are 24  chapters.    It is giving me something to plan for and to stimulate my interest.   I am on chapter 10 tomorrow.     It is a series of lectures.   Almost like being in a classroom though I sure would give a lot for a person to share with during or after the lecture.

We are supposed to get a bit of rain.   Nothing yet.   Hope we do.

Bless you all.   Take care

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Busy Day

For some reason or other there were several things that came to the front all at once.    You'd think, since I am retired, that there would be nothing urgent.   But that is not true.   I think I know what Dick meant when people would ask him what he did all day, he would say.   "I'm retired.   That's what I do."    And it is enough.

Went to writers club tonight.   We all had something that was interesting to hear.    At least they told me mine was.   I know that theirs were.  Glad I have that meeting.   I spurs me to write every week.

It was really pleasant today.   Tomorrow is supposed to be cooler and perhaps a bit of rain, which we dearly need.

Get my port flushed tomorrow afternoon.   Sure be glad when I don't need that any longer.

Take care of you

Love

Dia Dhuit

Mary

 

If love

Alone could heal

Those I love would never

Suffer from fear, pain or illness

Ever.

Hump Day

 Hump Day from my working years.    

It has been a busy week for me, but I am down to one major project - the recording of my virtual speech for IBAM (Irish Books Art Music) in Chicago.    My dear special friend, Maureen, is helping me get it ready for recording.   She has the pictures I need to be inserted.   It is going to be on the 12 Patron Saints of the 7 Celtic Nations.    I am excited to share.

Went to Bible Study today at 10AM.  We read from Job, which has been our challenge for the short haul.  Those of us who could stay, went to the Noon Mass.   It is a short mass, but we always get a lovely little talk from our Fr. Seeton.   I love receiving the sacrament mid week and am glad we have started doing that.  

So many of the prayer requests are rather suddenly COVID.    And I understand that the next several months, until April will be heavy with that disease especially with the holidays, where we all tend to huddle.   A bad thing as the Covid Virus LOVES huddling.  

Thank God.    A vaccine seems close.  God has provided us with so many really great scientists that know how to work on this and seem to be close.   I remember it used to take YEARS before vaccines were developed.

Sure will be glad when this presidential stuff is over..      I pray for all of us.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

My Love

He still makes me smile

Although it is his memory

That brings me this joy.

Great Quilt Guild Program

Just got home from Quilt Guild.   We had a ZOOM presentation from a wonderful quilt designer, instructor and just nice person called Karen Combs.    She has done a series of Celtic Designs.   The book is out of print but it is available on an ebook something or other.    I will try to figure it out as I have kind of (in this post cancer/chemo) become a bit lethargic as to my quilting.   This has me interested.   So I WILL follow up.

I was home the most of the day except for a couple of errands earlier this morning.   Worked on clearing my desk.   I can't figure out, since I am retired, how things pile up, but they do.    It was in the low 70s today and sunny, but we had a brisk breeze which kept things quite comfortable.  

I called Dean, who will be clearing my back yard from the ice storm damage and salvaging my trees, and he will be here either the end of this week, or early next.    I just wanted to be sure that I was still on his radar.    The city still has not picked up the limbs and trees that are lining the streets.     One of my neighbors said that she called and they are out of funds and trying to figure out what to do.   Sounds ominous.

Busy tomorrow.   Mainly at home, but I will have to go to the store.

Stay well and safe

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Bless all of you, this lovely Sunday

At least I hope your day was lovely.   We were at 76 degrees and sunny.   It was a bit windy, but with the warmth that was not a problem for Vita and me.

 I cleared up a couple of problems and went for a few walks today.   I also rested a couple of times as I did not necessarily feel great.   I am fine now.   Some days are just iffy.   I have a great meal of chicken,  mashed potatoes and veggies ahead of me so am feeling good.

Called my friend, Barb, today because we ARE friends and I needed a voice.   We are of an age, where we understand that.

Bart called me, as he always does.   Those were my voices today.   I did see a couple of neighbors out when Vita and I walked so got to say HI>

Love you all

Take care of YOU.

 

Dia Dhuit

Mary

 

Ah Miss Fluff

I do miss you, my feral friend.

Who came to dine with me at my home every afternoon

Rewarding me with purrs and hugs.

You were my companion

As I walked around the block.

After all those years, I thought

You would live forever.

Finding your poor dead body

Was almost more than I could bear.

You were special to someone.

ME!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a

What a Day

 Well, we have a new president.    I am glad that the election is over.   I will never tell how I voted, but with a lot of prayer made my choice and felt that if I was overruled, it was all my fellow citizens that did it.   Wow what a turnout.    I am just glad that we are in a country that we CAN make a choice.   

About ready to go to bed.   I can watch the rest of Biden's speech there.    I suppose we will have a few weeks of dissention about all that has happened but if we can make it to January, we will see if the nations choice is able to bring a sense of peace to our nation.

Went to Mass tonight .   Always makes me grateful for the week.    So glad that I can turn things over to Jesus after I have made the best decision that I can with what I know.

Bless you all

Stay Well

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Peace and joy to you

May life be loving and safe

In this world of change

Our warm weather is continuing

 It really is nice, but I may have to water the front lawn and get it mowed again.

Vita is really pushy about her walks.   I know I get a dog to "walk me" but REALLY!

Did four loads of wash today.   Then I had a doctor appointment.    Dr. Aiku says I am doing very well.    We are going to schedule one test to see if my esophagus has to be tended to but my vitals are great and I have not lost any more weight.   Haven't gained any either but I am maintaining.  Yea.

I am working on a virtual talk that I will be giving at IBAM in December.    Having trouble remembering how to load stuff on the computer and then move it on.   Also still don't know how to forward pictures from my phone.   

Oh well.   There is time and I am stubborn if nothing else.

Hope you are all well and happy.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Bless the day and night

Let then achieve their purposes

Of activity and rest.

What a day!

 My bible study met for the first time since February, (I think) when the Coronavirus first reared its ugly head.    Boy, were we ever glad to see each other.    We prayed for each other, and reorganized in the sense of deciding to meet weekly for the foreseen future and what we will be studying.     How good to have my prayer support close again.

We followed it up with Mass which Fr. Seeton offers each Wednesday at Noon. So, I got my "meal" twice this week.

Home again I caught up on all my bills and several other things.   Bart came by after lunch and we had a great visit.    I am always so glad to have people in the house and there are not that many people except  Bart that I know are safe.   We always have a lot to talk about.

I suddenly this afternoon, remembered that the family across the street are having their baby today.   Ceaserian.    I ran out and bought a present for the new one, so that when I go over to see him, I will be able to come bringing gifts:)

Bless all the babies

Dia DHuit

Mary

Blessing

I thank the Lord

For all he's given me

Each sunrise granting one more day

TO BE

I voted. Hope you all did too.

Bart was nice enough to drive me over to my polling place at about 9:30AM.    It was reasonably busy but not too bad and everything went smoothly.   I did not spend more than an hour.   HOWEVER,   my understanding from the news broadcasts that the early morning voters had the longest waits of the day.  (perhaps after 5PM things will line up a bit.)   But it is nothing like the horror stories that we have seen around the company.    I think all the pre voting and the mail in really made things fairly easy today.   I did not mind my hour.  I was glad that Bart took me though.

As we are going to gather for our first Bible Study at Holy Family since the beginning of this pandemic, I did my grocery shopping today so that I can enjoy this first time in so long.    We are a great support group for each other and I have missed the community prayers and discussions.   We are meeting at 10 AM and Mass is at 12 so I will probably go to Mass too.   I baked scones today and will bring them to the Bible study so that I can eat SOMETHING an hour before communion which is the time suggested.    I need food regularly, so when I get home at about 1PM I can gorge:)  We are not supposed to bring food, but I will bring the tin and just let everybody decide how they feel about it.

I HATE this pandemic.  I miss hugs and people.   I even love when vendors come:) Today some guys came to update my ADT.     Vita loved them and it was such a pleasure to have someone in the house.

Well.   That is my day.    Hope you are all well.

Miss you so much

Dia dhuit

Mary

A prayer I love

Lord I shall be very busy this day.

I may forget Thee but do not Thou forget me.

Sir Jacob Ashley

 

 

All Souls Day

Just got home from church and Mass for all the Souls that have gone before us, especially those we lost in the past year.   It was a lovely mass.

Saw Dr. Toy this morning.    I seem to be doing much better.  We apparently have hit a threshold.   Hope this keeps up, then I won't be waking up in the wee hours of the morning in pain.

Got my Virtual Talk for IBAM finished, now Maureen is going to help me get it on Zoom.

Got to figure out how to transfer pictures from my phone to the computer and then how to email them.   Used to know that. Can anybody help me?

We are having lovely weather - hope it lasts for a while.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

 

Bless the day and night

Let them fulfill their purpose

 Of activity and rest.

A quiet Sunday

The only people I saw today were people who happened to be out when I walked Vita.    There were several so I got to say HI to some of the neighbors.   Some of them were walking, Johnny, next door,  was cutting up the branches that fell in his front yard and stacking them for the garbage people to pick up.   I have the guy that took out my middle tree coming when he gets me on his schedule and he will try to save my trees which really got a beating.

I was busy all day.   Pretty much finished a virtual talk that I am giving at IBAM Chicago.   Now I have to call Maureen so I can get it to her and figure out if ZOOM will work and get her pictures.

Gave Via a bath.   She got into something stinky.    She was very unhappy with me but I don't like stinky doggies.

Hope your day was as pleasant.

Love you all

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Vita

My puppy Dog

Always is full of joy

Jumping like on a bouncy house

My friend.

Happy Halloween

Here I am, at home, waiting for trick or treaters.     I have had several groups and for a bit thought I might run out of candy.   But it is now 7:20PM and I have not had anyone for the past half hour.   I suppose there may be an influx close to 8PM when they have to stop according to the city, but I will be fine.    If not, I will just have to turn of the lights and close the door.

Went to Mass tonight.    We are celebrating the 40th year of our parish.   I was impressed with Fr. Seeton's service celebrating the anniversary and All Saints Day.

Tomorrow, a day at home.    I am going to be working on my speech.

Love you all

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This seemed appropriate for Halloween.   Wrote it years ago.

PICNIC IN THE GRAVEYARD

Have you ever picnicked in a graveyard?

It is okay, you know.

As long as the residents are relitives 

Or friends

They will enjoy the company 

And so should you.

Am I ever glad!

  Am I ever glad that today is over.   I had so many odd problems to tackle today.    Why does this always happen.

My plumbing was acting up again.     Sometimes the toilets don't work properly and it is the sewer between me and the back yard.   Guess what.   Over the backyard fence is an apartment building.    One would think that I might have been smart enough to think of that, but I didn't.   AND I still love my house and my neighborhood.

Mike, my plumber, said that until the apartments were put in there was not a problem in this area.

My Vita is going to get pretty bored when I don't have workmen over every day to love her.

I will be so glad when we are over this election mess.    I will be voting on the 3rd, as I like tradition and have  always voted at the pole on election day.    I still can, so I will.    I am planning on taking the walker so if there is a long long line, I can use it.

Bless you all

I love you

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I believe the sun

Is an antidote to gloom.

It cannot be faked!