Life is good. I shot a 15 at trap league tonight. That is the best I have done with my new gun and I am slowly improving.

The recipe for Beer Cake turned out well enough that I will share it with you. It is another way to use the 1/2 can of beer that I have left after making Chicken on a Throne, also known as Beer Can Chicken. The suggestion is to drink it but I haven't been a beer drinker since I got pregnant with Bart and it started making my stomach all goofy. Now not only does my stomach get goofy, but I don't like it. However, it makes good bread and (I now know) cake.

Beer Cake

4 Oz. cream cheese
2 Oz. sour cream
4 oz semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup beer
2 cups fours
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking soda

Put the cream cheese and half the chocolate chips into a blow. Heat in microwave until soft (they really don't melt but become blendable after they are warm.) Stir in the sour cream.

Add the sugar, and mix well. Add the beer,, the flour (it is smoother if you sift) and the rest of the chocolate chips. Continue to mix.

Add the baking soda and mix quickly. The beer starts to work the soda right away.

Pour the batter into a pan and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until it is done. (A knife or toothpick comes out clean.) Tastes OK as is but is a little nicer frosted or with ice cream or whipped cream.

enjoy.

Mary

The thunderstorms we were expecting did NOT appear. Thank Heaven! Chelsea and I walked this morning in a little mist but I did not even come home soaked, just a bit moist. Actually, I was a bit irritated with my Chelsea. She started pestering me at about 5:15AM and I ended up getting up at 5:30AM which is too early on a Sunday. Dick says he thinks she is still on standard time. Maybe she is smarter than the rest of us by not accepting change.

We drove south to Sussex WI to visit Dick's sister Hazel and his niece, Suzi. Hazel moved back to Wisconsin within the past several months and is finally settled in a mobile home in Sussex. She is 87 years old. Such a joy to see her healthy and fully "with it" when we know many of the problems that come with old age. We are planning on having them come up here in August for a get together with all of Dick's children.

We went to the Outback for dinner. It was the first time we had been there and it was great. I had a steak and garlic potatoes.

I was going to add something whimsical but can't find it right now, so I will add something SILLY instead. I don't know WHO wrote this but got it from a friend many years ago.

The Loser

Mama said I'd lose my head
If it wasn't fastened on.
Today I guess it wasn't
'Cause while playing with my cousin
It fell off and rolled away
And now it's gone.

And I can't look for it
'Cause my eyes are in it.
And I can't call to it
'Cause my mouth is on it.
(Couldn't hear me anyway
'Cause my ears are on it).
Can't even think about it
'Cause my brain is in it.
So I guess I'll sit down
On this rock
And rest for just a minute.

(Think about it!)

Love

Mary

Ronald Reagan is dead. I can't say that I feel sadness. The past 10 years have been so hard for his family and we have not seen him. We may not have been so brave as his family. Alzheimer's disease is a terrible thief. It takes the personality and leaves the body to taunt those who take care of it. He was 93. What a ripe old age and what a legacy.

I found another use for the leftover 1/2 can of beer that I use when I make Chicken on a Throne. I found a chocolate cake recipe. Not bad.

We will be going to see Dick's sister Hazel and his niece Suzi tomorrow.

Hope you have a great Sunday.

Mary

I was remembering Grandpa Bowser, my Mother's dad today. Uncle Noel, told a story about his relationship with his sons that I just loved. In nice weather, Grandpa always sat on the front porch and read the paper on Sunday mornings. He always wore his hat and his vest as he sat out there.

Uncle Noel, a typical teen, was talking to Grandpa one Sunday and said "I think I can take you Dad." Grandpa said they should see. He got up, put his hat on the table next to his chair and walked down into the yard next to the porch.

I will set the scene a bit. Grandma and Grandpa's house was up on a slight hill and "fenced" by a nice row of hedges on the edge of the hill which sloped down to the sidewalk.

Grandpa and Uncle Noel squared off. Then Noel said Grandpa picked him up and pitched him over the fence and walked back up on to the porch to finish his paper.

Noel never challenged Grandpa again. Even when he KNEW that he could take him.

Have a nice Saturday.

Mary

The quote in Cadfael's Book of Days was short and to the point today.

"Draw off, and try something else, but never give up."

Great plug for perserverance. People talk about giving up but life keeps going on with or without them anyway. I read a book by Nancy Snyderman, a doctor who used to do medical specials reports on Good Morning America. The book is Necessary Journeys. In it she recounts a time in her life when she was informed that she might have a fatal illness. Her memory of leaving the consultation was quite descriptive. She noticed that all the people she encountered were just going on with their business, the sun rose and set. People kept shopping and raising their children and just went on as if NOTHING was wrong. And she felt a little confused and angry that this was so. Didn't they realize what was happening to her? Some journeys just have to be taken alone and then the quote is a good thing to hang on to.

I also liked this one. "Don't tell God how big your problems are. Tell your problems how big your God is."

Love

Mary

Sewing Machines can drive a person to drink. I am trying to do some machine applique on a wall hanging and the thread keeps breaking. The black thread I am using is bunching and fuzzing, I believe because of the dye and because it is going through so many layers. I think tomorrow I will try the walking foot and see if that helps at all. At least I won't be trying to guide the several layers of fabric.

I am sure you are not at all interested in my sewing problems but I do usually put whatever is on my mind into this blog.

My brother Jeff sent the following to me a couple of years ago. It is worth repeating.

NATIONALITIES OF GOD
>
>
> There were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was BLACK:
> 1. He called everyone "brother"
> 2. He liked Gospel
> 3. He couldn't get a fair trial.
>
> But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was JEWISH:
> 1. He went into his father's business.
> 2. He lived at home until he was 33.
> 3. He was sure his mother was a virgin and his mother was sure he
> was a
> god.
>
> But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was ITALIAN:
> 1. He talked with his hands.
> 2. He had wine with every meal.
> 3. He used olive oil.
>
> But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was a
> CALIFORNIAN:
> 1. He never cut his hair.
> 2. He walked around barefoot all the time.
> 3. He started a new religion.
>
> But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was IRISH:
> 1. He never got married.
> 2. He was always telling stories.
> 3. He loved green pastures.
>
> But the most compelling evidence of all - 3 proofs that Jesus was a
> WOMAN:
> 1. He had to feed a crowd at a moment's notice when there was no
> food.
> 2. He kept trying to get a message across to a bunch of men who just
> didn't get it.
> 3. Even when he was dead, He had to get up because there was more
> work
> for
> him to do.
> ***********

Have a nice evening.

Mary

"It is said that if a person takes a small statue of St. Joseph and buries it upside-down, facing the street and near the for-sale sign, that a much faster sales transaction will occur. Who says this? Well, thousands of homeowners and real estate agents have utilized these statues as a marketing aid. The phenomena has been written up in The Washington Post (11/15/90), The New York Times (5/19/96), the Salt Lake Tribune (10/11/97), the Lincoln NE Journal-Star (1/5/92), Chicago Sun-Times (10/3/97), the Cleveland OH Plain Dealer (11/28/02), Athens GA Banner-Herald (10/5/01), the Daytona Beach FL News-Journal (11/21/02) and the Quincy MA Patriot Ledger (6/1/96), to name just a few publications!

Many folks are of the opinion that St. Joseph, who is the Catholic Church's patron saint of carpenters and other manual workers, can help facilitate real estate sales transactions. They claim that burying a St. Joseph statue has helped them sell a house."

I printed the information and sent it with a small statue of St. Joseph to Bart and Barb. I hope they take it as a prayer for a quick sale as it is intended. Anyway, I mailed it today.

Tomorrow, Dick and I take Mother out for dinner and follow it with the Sheboygan Theatre Company's production of South Pacific. Dick feels that they sometimes do the old musicals too often, but I haven't seen this in a LONG time and the music and message are so beautiful. Next year they are starting off with Jesus Christ Superstar and ending with Sondheim's Into the Woods. Something a bit different.

Til tomorrow.

Mary

Rain again today. I decided to show you a rainbow. This is a picture I took last year. The rainbow is over our house and shows one of our pretty trees. This tree had a nest in its branches for several years. This winter, the nest was blown out or the tree. I think the bird might have rebuilt but I will not really know til winter again when all the leaves fall off the branches.

Enjoy the rainbow. It is the sign of God's Promise you know.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day. We don't have to go ANYWHERE. Isn't it nice to have a day where one can JUST STAY HOME and love it?

Next Sunday, we are going to Sussex not too far from Milwaukee to see Dick's sister Hazel. I only met her once several years ago. She moved back to Wisconsin from California only recently when her companion of many years, Ralph, died. She is living with her daughter Suzi. Hazel was a twin. Her twin sister, Helen, died before I met Dick. Actually he and Hazel are the only remaining siblings.

It rained most of the day, but I did get the rest of my plants in the pots on the deck. Now if we get some sun so they can thrive.

Love

Mary

When I first started this web site, it was shortly after the Iraq invasion and I became very concerned about the animals in the zoos in Baghdad, who were starving and being killed and killing and living under terrible conditions. I am attaching an article that I searched out because I had not heard anything for quite a while. It is information from March, but does indicate that things are much better and are improving. From the earlier articles, I really gathered that the Iraquies were and probably are very proud of their zoos.

Here is the most recent information that I could find. It is from the North Carolina Zoo.

Update on Assistance to Baghdad and Kabul Zoos-
The Last Few Months

Baghdad

The situation appears to be stable with most animals now housed satisfactorily, if not optimally. Issues still remain around the need to sterilize (prevent breeding) amongst the larger carnivores, the rehousing of nine lions at Uday Hussein’s old palace and one or two clinical cases, notably an aged blind brown bear. The great advantage that Baghdad has over Kabul is competent leadership with keen and fairly knowledgeable Iraqis heading the operation ably assisted by Brendan Jones from South Africa and with considerable logistic help continuing from the coalition forces. We recently facilitated the visit of the three most senior Iraqi staff including the Director and Deputy Director with Brendan Jones to the UK to look at designs for large cat and bear enclosures, constructed at relatively low cost and to give them an extended network of people to whom they can turn to for advice, particularly on this type of construction. The trip also enabled them to talk to a wide variety of animal staff at Whipsnade, Woburn, Marwell and London Zoos. This trip already appears to be having a beneficial effect on the discussions relating to the rebuilding of exhibits in the Baghdad Zoo. The remaining AZA-linked funds being held by the N.C. Zoo Society will be used largely for the purchase of construction materials and items for enclosure rebuilding that have not been provided through the coalition. Captain William Sumner, who has been in charge of the Zoo site, along with other antiquity sites in Baghdad, will be leaving Iraq shortly. He has played a major role in assisting with the Zoo, particularly in its difficult times during the first few months after U.S. troops took over. We are looking for opportunities for the Iraqi Zoo staff to network more effectively with the better Zoos in the Arabian Gulf region and Middle East generally. There is a rather loosely organized Middle Eastern Zoos Association, but attempts are being made to strengthen that at the moment and the Baghdad staff should try to play a role in that. Like all the Zoos in the region, these sites are very popular with the public and the big challenge for Baghdad Zoo in the coming years, as outside help withdraws, is to see whether they are able to attract enough resources to continue the rebuilding program with a keen eye on evolving Zoo standards around the world. With the caliber of senior staff that they have, Baghdad, together with one or two other zoos in the Middle East and several in India and possibly one in Pakistan, could become models for what the region might achieve in terms of improved Zoo standards. A critical issue is a cultural one where Islamic society generally, despite the pro-animal welfare teachings of the Koran, are not generally disposed to proactively promoting high standards of animal welfare. However, there are a few notable exceptions driven by some key individuals and Baghdad’s Deputy Director, Dr. Farrah Murrani is probably one of those.

Kabul

With significantly more of our specially donated funds applied to Kabul than Baghdad one would think that the long-term future there would be better. The difficulty however is that Kabul Zoo has no other resources than ours and no well-trained animal staff. With the exception of the new Education Officer, the general levels of knowledge there are poor. Considerable emphasis is being put into looking for ways that we can provide them with training and also to see whether there is any possibility of the Municipality appointing one or two better qualified people to help run the site.

Approximately half of the resources available for Kabul from the AZA/NC Zoo Society funds have been used to supplement day to day running costs, notably salary supplements and the purchase of animal foods and essential supplies. Currently we are reducing those supplements gradually and it is planned to end them in May. We have asked the Municipality for a plan as to how they intend to fund the site in the coming years. This has not yet been forthcoming. In the meantime, the other half of the available funds are being used for reconstruction purposes. A significant amount has been spent on the improvement of infrastructure, particularly water supply and electric power to all the major buildings. Approximately half the exhibits have either been rebuilt or are in the process of being rebuilt and this program has focused on facilities for the larger carnivores, primates and large birds. The latest photos show very clearly the considerable improvement that has taken place over the last year. Nevertheless, there are a lot of out of date and ramshackle structures, which will either be definitively earmarked for future conversion or demolished and the rubble removed. The Afghans are very reluctant to pull down old buildings in the expectation that they will be rebuilt and one of the challenges here is to convince them that many of these structures would be better removed at this stage and completely replaced if and when resources become available.

Nick Lindsay, senior Curator from the London Zoo and now head of their overseas operations, together with John Lewis, an independent Veterinarian with considerable Zoo animal experience, will be making another week-long visit to Kabul in the latter half of March with a long list of “to dos”. Amongst them will be sterilization of most of the male animals to prevent further reproduction and a clinical assessment of the Asiatic Black Bear, “Donatella”, which has been one of the chronic issues since she was discovered during the early days of our involvement with severe Leishmaniasis and physical damage to her nose. The issue here is the lack of day to day veterinary attention and facilities required to give such an animal the intensive care she needs. This assessment will be followed by a decision on what the long-term prognosis would be for her and where, if treatment is possible, she should be placed (almost certainly out of the country). This team will also be discussing some further capital work with the Municipality, again concentrating on the larger mammals, to include probably a second bear enclosure.

The International Crane Foundation have now come alongside us with a wish to construct a wetlands exhibit for those species of cranes that used to or still use Afghanistan as a migration corridor. The main discussions this time are likely to be around the long-term future of the Zoo and ways in which it can be financially stabilized. Our expectation is to withdraw from further funding by the end of this calendar year, although some reserve funds will be held back against emergency situations. So often in these situations there is a chronic problem of aid reliance- a feeling that those helping now in a country like Afghanistan will continue to assist regardless of what they do for themselves. It is very important that the responsibility be handed back firmly to them well before the funds dry up in order that that hand-over process can be given assistance. What we are trying also is to interest other agencies such as the diplomatic missions (we have already had considerable help from the British Embassy) and United Nations agencies and other aid operations. The long-term hope is that the Kabul Zoo can act as a focus for interest, education and public awareness of the natural environment of this ravaged country. We hope for example that the addition of the International Crane Foundation to the Kabul Zoo team will be the start of a wider coalition where that site can develop its true environmental education potential. At the same time, it is also probably the most popular place in Kabul for families to go on a Friday (their “weekend”). As with Baghdad and other zoological parks across the region, such places are very popular and there is a huge challenge in trying to get the authorities to take them more seriously and begin to use them in ways that parallel the current thinking about the role of Zoos and similar biological institutions elsewhere in the world.

DMJ/jnh
03-03-04


I was pleased to get a personal response from the zoo in North Carolina.

Have a nice Sunday.

Mary

Can doggies get epilepsy? Chelsea has had three little seizures in the past three days. This morning was really rather scary. She collapsed and we had a bit of trouble getting her out of it. Once she recovers she seems just fine - running around and acting perfectly normal. We took her to see Dr. Zechlinski and he couldn't find anything wrong but is doing blood tests to see if anything shows up.

I planted today. The pots under the deck are now full and in place. Tomorrow I will finish. Good thing because the bushes are ready for trimming already, even with the lack of sun. I guess all the rain is good for what I have.

The reading from Cadfael is nice today.

" 'Well, well!' said Cadfael silently to himself, and left the unsoluble to the solver of all problems."

Have a great Memorial Day weekend.

Mary

It has been a VERY long day. The most fun was the hour I spent at Rocky Knoll playing Bingo with the residents there. I promised a lady named Jules that I would bring her a honeysuckle or a marigold the next time I come. I put it on the calendar, so I should remember.

Sunday, Mother, Bart and Barb will be here for dinner. I am making the Famous Kunert Spinach, Egg and Cheese Casserole. I will give you the recipe. Perhaps I have done so already but it would have been quite a while ago and I know there are some recent readers.

FAMOUS KUNERT SPINACH EGG AND NOODLE CASSEROLE

4 Cups Cooked Noodles
1 Can Spinach (Drained)
Velveeta Cheese
8 hard boiled eggs
Margarine

Layer in the order listed. Noodles, tablespoons of spinach, sliced Velveeta, sliced hard eggs. About three layers and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour until hot and the cheese is all melted through.

This is so good that even people who don't like spinach like it. Jim would not eat it from childhood because he said he didn't like spinach. Then, I prepared it one evening planning on another meal for Dick, Bart and me. When I went to get it, there was none left. He had come home, snug around lots and lots of beer, and ate it all - cold no less. He looked rather sheepish but has eaten it ever since and quite enthusiastically if I do say so myself. He used the excuse that it tasted ok cold.

Try it, you'll like it.

Love

Mary

When I was growing up, there used to be a pond over across the street in back of Richardson's Lumber. I don't know if the pond is there any more, but we used to go down there to catch frogs and some of the boys had built a couple of rafts to float around on. One day, I climbed on one of the rafts, one that was pretty well falling apart and started drifting out into the pond. I got out too far to go back and whomever I was with ran up the hill and home to tell Mother. She came with Mrs. Painter (A neighbor) and her boots but Mrs. Painter wisely knew that there was no way to wade out to get me because the pond was really swampy.

She got her son Kenny to come down. Kenny got on the other raft and poled out to get me and he saved me.

Isn't that a nice story. When Kenny started kindergarten, a few years before he saved me, he took me with him one day for something like show and tell.

The Painters are lovely people and I have fond memories of them.

Her is a little poem by R. S. Thomas

I think that maybe
I will be a little surer
Of being a little nearer.
That's all. Eternity
Is in the understanding
That that little is more than enough.

Sunny today so we bought plants and I even planted a few.

Love

Mary

I checked the planters this morning and my marigold seeds are sprouting. At least it has been warm enough for that. Dick did point out that there have been a couple of really hot days before this last siege of rain and chill. The marigolds are very important. I make wine out of the petals in the Fall of the year. It is a very interesting sherry tasting wine. I also harvest the seeds for next years crop. Aren't I the thrifty one?

Yesterday at Bible Study, I shared the following. I received this probably 25 years ago from Cal, a fellow real estate agent at the Real Estaters in Huntington Beach:

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER

I'd like to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax. I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would take more trips. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.

You, see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've have my moments, and if I had it to do over again, I'd have more of them. In fact,I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.

Written by: Nadine Stair, 85 years old of Louisville Kentucky.

I am sharing this also because a member of the Sheboygan County Writer's Club, Betty Marketos passed away this week. She was a charming lady who shared her life in the stories she wrote. She wrote of her youth and her travels in such a beautiful way that we felt we were seeing and experiencing the places and the time. She will be greatly missed. She certainly lived her life to its fullest.

Til tomorrow

Mary

Monday, Monday. The sunshine promised this afternoon did not appear.

I shot my first league set at Falls Conservation and did terribly. It was chilly and I was wearing my jean jacket and could not get the gun to shoulder properly. No excuse, I guess, but I will never wear a loose jacket again. I will practice Sunday and shoot league again on June 7th. Maybe I can be sure it WAS just the jacket by the practicing.

"If you live to be a hundred,
I want to live to be
a hundred minus one day,
so I never have to live
without you. "

-- Winnie the Pooh

Til tomorrow

Mary

I read a summary of an important part of the Koran years ago that really impressed me. It stated that - Every child has a right to believe that the world was created Just for him (or her.) I really liked that. Children are so eager and open and so trusting. They have this inate feeling of self that if not destroyed can be refreshing and beautiful. I wish all the children in the world could be cushioned and treated this way.

I always remember one year, while feeding my Bret as a baby of about 9 to 10 months, watching a documentary or new show or something on a famine area in Africa. I can still see this baby, his eyes as big as his face, so trusting and so sad in a thin pitiful little body. I wished that half of what my baby didn't even finish could have gone to Africa. It would have brought that child a healthy body and a chance to grow strong and healthy.

FIRST BABY

FIRST LOOK

by Hutz Deeley (My Dad as he described his first look at me, his first child.)


When I first saw you this is what I said.
That can't be ours, bring out another one instead.
But your Mother pleaded. "Let's wait and see."
And reluctantly I did agree.
In a couple of days your face did clear
The scars were gone and with them my fear.
After a time some good looks did gather
Tho sorry to say you resembled your father.
When more years did pass, another, another.
Praise to the Lord, you looked more like your mother.
You grew quite fast and into your teens
And took your right place in the rank of the queens.
Time quickly passed, you went out on your own.
A mother yourself and a good one it's known.
Altho you've grown older as all people do.
No one could tell it by looking at you.
You really are pretty, may it never fade
So now I'll take back the first statement I made.
And now I'll conclude with this old Irish Song,
Be a long time in Heaven
Before the devil knows you're gone.
There was a second ending for the 1st BABY poem:

You really are pretty that surely is true
And have changed all my thoughts of my first look at you
This story must prove and please take my advice
Never judge a picture til you've looked at it twice.


I am glad it is evening and I can rest now.

Have a nice evening.

Mary

Today was a quiet day. No pressing appointments - no emergencies - no important tasks to be performed. So. We went out for breakfast. Did I tell you that our very favorite breakfast place, Highway Bakery, now known as Shuff's Resort, is no longer going to serve breakfast. Today was the last day of breakfasts so we went.

This was a week of restaurant disappointments. Monday, Dick took me out for breakfast because I had had such a busy day. We went to Garden View, a recent favorite. They have changed to buffet only for lunches and dinners. Not only are we not too fond of buffets, but ----- the plates were all hot. This sounds OK until you realize that this was the SALAD plates too. The food tasted alright but Dick quickly discovered that they had tips but no noodles which is a real Kunert mistake. Tips have to have noodles.

Anyway, we need to find a new breakfast and dinner place to eat. What a bummer.

I make teriaki steak, fried rice and stir fry for supper. It was really great.

I am dehydrating the extra round steak.

Have a great Sunday.

Mary

Am I ever glad that this week is over. Each day seemed busier than the last.

I spent last night in DePere with Bart and Barb. Barb is a member of the Church of the Latter Day Saints and the Women's group put on a marvelous production of Women at the Well. Barbara was one of the narrators and was (of course) the best. Their faith community has some wonderful voices and the music and script were very uplifting and really showed the role of the women of Christ's time and related it to the rose of Women today.

I helped Bart and Barb set up for their garage sale too. This first day was really a did because it has been rainy with thunder and lightening all day.

I drove down Geele Avenue in Sheboygan today and it is breathtaking. All the flowering trees are in bloom. At this time of the year they are beautiful and when the petals start to fall it is like a warm snowfall.

Have a nice Saturday. I got a trophy for my pistol shooting at the Bust Up Party tonight.

Love

Mary

I spent the day with Mother as she had the cataract surgery this morning shortly after 8:00AM. We were home by 11:30AM. They had not told us that someone should stay with her for 24 hours so I stayed until Donna and Randy could come over after 5:30 when the girls,Erin and Jessie, were fed and Randy was back from work and a game of golf. Randy can spend the night and Jeff is coming fairly early in the morning and will take her for her checkup. I was sure glad I did not plan anything else as Mom was very tired and woke up from a nap with a very teary, blurry eye. It would not have been good for her to be alone.

You will not hear from me until Friday. I will be traveling a bit and not able to post.

Uncle Bob had his surgery just before Mother's and left shortly after she came back to her room. Aunt Kathleen, Mother and I were talking about Grandma Bowser and what a hard time she had when she had to leave her home. She told Aunt Kathleen that she had hoped so that she would never have to leave it.

During her first several years of marriage, they must have lived in 8 or more different homes. Moving that many times, in that era, with all those little children must have been so hard and she just wanted a home.

Getting old is not for the weak.


Remember - don't spend your time preparing for life. LIVE IT!

Mary

It was a bit chilly today, but the sun came out for a little bit. We are expecting rain for the next five days but at least the temperatures are staying up a bit.

I will be going up to De Pere on Thursday to see Barbara's church's production of Women at the Well. Barbara will be one of the narrators. (I will also help them get set up for the garage sale they are having on Friday and Saturday.) I am really looking forward to the play.

Here is a little poem I wrote recently that I thought you might enjoy.

THE RAGDOLL

A half finished rag doll in the hamper.
Erin made the doll with Grandma’s help.
Then one night Erin went to sleep
And never came back to finish the doll.

Erin made the doll with Grandma’s help.
Others came to play with Grandma
And never came back to finish the doll.
They got wisdom and joy from Grandma.

Others came to play with Grandma
One day young, the next all grown.
They got wisdom and joy from Grandma.
The wisdom is stamped on their souls.

One day young, the next all grown.
Then one night Erin went to sleep
The wisdom is stamped on their souls.
A half finished rag doll in the hamper

Say a prayer for that Grandma, my Mother, who will be having cataract surgery in the morning. Just routine, I know, but it is MY MOM who is having it. Pray for an easy time for her and a sucessful procedure.

P. S. My Uncle Bob Finger is having the SAME surgery a bit later tomorrow. Prayers for him too.

Love

Mary

I went to Sheboygan Falls Gun Club today and signed up for spring league, which starts next Monday, with Rosalie. Who has been kind enough to be may partner for two years. We shot a practice round and I got a 14. Not bad. I know some of what I am doing wrong too so hopefully can maintain and improve. I do enjoy it.

The funeral was well attended for a woman who died at age 95. It was held at St. Michael's out in Town Michell. Mother was baptized in that church. It is no longer an active parish but is being kept as a chapel because somebody donated a very large sum of money to ensure the maintenance of the buildings and grounds. I hope this continues because there is a lot of family history in that church and the cemetery. There is a tombstone that marks the spot of three of my great great grandparent's children who all died within 6 months of each other. One an infant girl and two sons who died of diphtheria. My great grandfather was just a boy but had to help his father bury the children because the neighbors were afraid to come near the family because of fear of infection. They would leave food at the front gate and call for news across the yard. Such sorrow. I cannot imagine how it would be to lose three children all at once. Times were hard in those times.

Have a good day.

Mary

Tomorrow I will be taking Mother to a funeral at St. Michael's Church out in the Kettles. This is a lady that Mother taught with for several years before she and Dad got married. As a matter of fact, Frances Butler Trimberger was a bridesmaid at my parent's wedding. One summer, they took a train to California to deliver a couple of children to their parents who had moved out ahead of them. The ladies had quite a trip. They delivered the children in San Francisco, I believe, then traveled to Santa Ana California and spent some time with my Great Aunt Genevieve, better known as Aunt Gee, and her husband Andy. Then they came back home again. Over the years they remained friends but dear Frances developed Alceimers disease a few years ago and has been in a nursing home for the past two years since her husband died.

I know that the last time Mother talked to her, she didn't think Frances really knew who she was. She was very sweet and happy and pleasant but never asked about any of us or talked about her own children. I always thought she was a rather plain woman in the pictures of the wedding and when we met her over the years. But - she was a beautiful old woman. She had the prettiest snowy white hair and a rosy smooth complexion. May she rest in peace.

It is so hard for Mother, I know. So many of her friends are leaving.

I shot a round of trap again today and moved my score up to a 15. I need to get a bead put on the gun this week as Rosalie and I will start league in a week.

Have a good week.

Mary

Dick and I went to the Sheboygan Symphony this evening for their season finale. They were combined with the Sheboygan Symphony Chorus for the evenings performance and what a performance it was.

The first portion was Beethoven's Fantasia in C Minor, Op.80. This was really interesting because he wrote this prior to Ode to Joy and the main melody bears a striking resemblance to that piece.

The second portion was remarkable composition by a Carl Orff. This is actually quite recent, written in 1935-36 but based on a collection of Thirteenth Century poems and songs called Carmina Burana. This was quite lively and very impressive and it was special also in that Dick had not heard it before. It is always nice for him to hear something new.

We will definitely subscribe next year again.

Have a nice Sunday

Mary

P. S. I planted Marigold seeds today. It was sunny and dry but a bit chilly.

Rain, rain, rain. Where is it all coming from? I guess we should be glad we are not in Houston or parts of Oklahoma. Did you see the pictures of that house being sucked up by the tornado? Looked just like the Wizard of Oz. We are supposed to have sunshine for the next two days.

I believe it was about 6 years ago that we had all the flooding in Sheboygan. I remember that we still lived in the condo on the south side of Sheboygan and the water came up into our backyard. I did flood some of the condos at the end of the street and washed out a bridge from the creek.

There is an old Irish saying that goes: Never take a road with grass growing down the middle.

Think about it.

Mary

This is the second blog that I prepared today. The first just disappeared when I attempted to send it. So I figure that means it was not meant to be.

I was venting my opinions on prisoner abuse, the press, Rumsfeld and the cruelty of people to people. I will restate that I find the abuse, physically or mentally , of any of God's creatures to be beyond my understanding.

Today was a nice quiet day. We shopped this morning, then I caught up on computer work and made a few phone calls mainly ending up leaving messages to get things set up for the Celtic Mass and Faire at Blessed Trinity which will take place on Sunday September 12. Mark your calendars as we have a wonderful worship service and then will follow it up with a nice musical Faire. Simple but classy with good food, good music and good fellowship.

Thunder, lightning and rain have just started. They came up very fast. I would really like a nice sunny day soon. The trees really need a little sun.

Have a nice evening.

Mary



.

The abuse of the Iraqi prisoners is reprehensible and all the headlines are condemning the action and we will probably never recover face. However, I don't remember such a to-do when four people were mutilated, tortured, killed and hung from a bridge in Iraq not too many weeks ago.

I believe we should not show any more pictures. The world knows and has seen enough and any more would be only embarrassing to the victims and their families. They now need to be helped to recover from the humiliation and abuse and steps need to be taken to see that this NEVER happens again. It seems to me that the Geneva Conference was supposed to have done that. What happened? Personally, I think that Rumsfeld should resign as he is symbolic of the problem to the world and is after all at the top of the heap. The soldiers were probably told to "soften them up". Ill trained people with instructions like that WILL behave abominably.

Well, I vented. You may not agree with me. That is your privilege. We can only pray that the damage to the prisoners, our servicemen's safety and our reputation can be repaired.

Mary

Today I drove up to De Pere to take Bart and Barb out for lunch. I helped them stow stuff away and make clear spaces because their house is on the market and the first people came to see it today. We packed their two dogs, Sheva and Beauty and cat, Kitch, into the car and drove around while the prospective buyers looked at the house.

My naughty kitties will NOT leave the flowers alone. One of them dumped them again tonight.

Hope your day was good.

Mary

Bret called tonight. He had good news and bad news.

The good news is that he had a doctor appointment today and got a clean bill of health and the doctor even took him off some of the medications he has been on.

The bad news is that he had news of the death of a friend of ours, Ronnie Heinz. Ronnie died of kidney disease apparently. I always remember one day that Bret, Bart and I were going out to the desert for a jeep run. On the road, Bart announced, "There is the guy from the jeep club." I asked him which one and he said, "The gray haired one." I asked for MORE clarification and he said. "You know, Timmy's Dad." Then I knew it was Ronnie. The funny thing is that I had known Ron for 20 years and never noticed that his hair had gone from brown to gray. Later I told Ron what Bart had said and Ronnie told me to tell Bart that his hair wasn't gray, it was blond.

Nice man, good father,husband and friend. He will be missed.

Have a good day and say a prayer for my friend.

Love

Mary

The Bible Study group we started at Blessed Trinity is studying the first half of Psalms. The members were kind of bummed out because the chapters we read this week, 6 through 10, are mainly laments and quite depressing. However, we came to the conclusion that we were really glad because chapters 9 and 10 were entitled Thanksgiving for the Overthrow of Hostile Nations. These seemed very pertinent in the world we are living in. We have come to a conclusion that nothing much has changed since David wrote his Psalms.

Celtic Faire is in full swing. We will have our Mass and Faire on September 12th. I need to see if Archbishop Dolan will come and arrange the music and entertainment.

Wednesday, I will drive up to DePere and take Bart and Barb to lunch. They have their house on the market as Barbara has been hired to go back to work at Fort Sill and will start sometime in late June. It is hard to have them so far away, but De Pere isn't next door either and they have more friends in Oklahoma as they lived there for 10 years or more.

Have a good week.

Mary

Blogger has changed. This should really be interesting. This is the second time I am trying this.

Mother's Day today and I heard from all six so I am a happy camper. Dick and Brenda left around 11:00AM after a late breakfast to continue their "Mom Hop" - a new term we thought of. They were heading north to Cleveland to see Barbara, Dick's mother, then west to Portage to have a late lunch or early dinner with Brenda's parents. We had such a nice visit.

Tomorrow is Writer's Club. I have been working on several things. I noticed that most of my poems, since Bret got sick last Fall, have been really gloomy. So I picked out a couple that are more cheerful and refined them a bit today. I will share one about spring. Now I only have to do one about Summer to finish the seasons.

REBIRTH

Red Winged Blackbirds chortle at each other
Perched on treetops and dried out cattails
The Robin - returned – sings at the top or his lungs
Outside my office window.

The Cardinal – most blessed in sound and beauty
Sings his melody in the early morning air.
The Morning Doves coo their gentle song
From rooftop to rooftop

Worms that feed the birds, crawl over the street
After rain drives them up out of the ground.
Tulips and day lilies valiantly reach for the sky
Despite frost, snow and roller coaster temperatures.

Daffodils bloom in impossible conditions
Brilliant yellow, promising sun and warmth
And the Flowering Almond bedecked in bridal blooms
Its branches bare of leaves or any other sign of life.

These are Spring and hope for warmth and summer
Rebirth and joy for days ahead.


Mary

No hunting this morning after all. There was thunder and lightening and rain like the second flood. But the Lord said a fire not a flood next time. We got 3 to 4 inches in all.

Dick and Brenda are visiting from Madison. Dick is Dick's son, his oldest one. He has decided that when one is over 70 one deserves to be taken out for dinner. Dick (the Dad, my husband) figures he has four dinners owed to him. Hee Hee.

Have a nice Sunday.

Mary

I believe that I had mentioned in an earlier posting that I have been writing a bi weekly food column for a little paper called the Pike Rive Community News. A friend of mine started this little local paper in the Amburg Area. It consisted of news, nice little columns, comics and a crossword puzzle. Unfortunately, Janet Kaat was unable to get it profitable in the time she had and the next issue will be the last. I was having a lot of fun doing the column and had been looking for such an opportunity. But Janet invested in it an it was a GOOD paper.

Just for fun, I will attach my latest column so you can see what it was like. I hope to do a book of them some day and this was my practice. Hope I can find a new practice place and hope Janet can continue in some way. As it said it was good and fun.

JUST DESSERTS

By

Mary J. Kunert


My Mother made fantastic desserts. She had nine of us so she looked for easy, delicious and economical ways to feed us. We ALWAYS had dessert with our main meal. We also ALWAYS had bread and butter on the table with every meal.

From her I also learned that it is nice to put good looking dishes on the table. One of the easiest “fancy” desserts she prepared was nothing more than pudding, whipped cream and graham crackers. Even the most amateurish of cooks can put this together and it will look great.

FRENCH PASTRY

1 Package Instant Chocolate Pudding – Regular or fat or sugar free
5 Whole Graham Crackers
1 Large Container of Cool Whip or Whipped Cream

Mix the pudding according to the recipe on the package. Break the crackers in half. Place two halves side by side about two inches apart. Spread about a tablespoon of pudding on each half. Layer another cracker and the pudding until they are all used up in two stacks. Cover each stack generously with the Cool Whip. Let set for a couple of hours so the crackers absorb some moisture. When serving, cut each stack in half and serve with the cut side down. It is nice to swirl a bit of chocolate syrup on the plate and over the pastry for effect.

Easier, but not so elegant, you can purchase a graham cracker pie crust or make one using the following:

24 Graham Crackers
6 Tablespoons Melted Butter
¼ Cup Sugar

Crush the graham crackers to make 1 ½ cups. Pour into a 9” pies tin. Add the melted butter and press evenly over the bottom and up the sides. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in a 350-degree oven. Cool to room temperature.

Then pour either instant or cooked pudding (prepared for pie not pudding) into the crust. Spread whipped cream over the top or serve with a dollop (I love that word.) on top.
Chocolate Grahams make a wonderful chocolate crust. You can use cinnamon or oatmeal flavors for an exciting taste, or add some cinnamon, allspice or nutmeg to the plain grahams.

Last year, I found measuring spoons for a pinch, a smidgen and a dash. I bought several and used them for package decorations for all the “cooks” in the family last Christmas. What fun!


I have another dessert that I found on the Internet that is easy and Oh so Good and full of chocolate and whipped cream. This one is not so healthy because it is full of sugar and fat. It is best made with real whipped cream and chocolate chips - not exactly diet foods. But it is easy and really tastes good. It is called

STRANGE CHOCOLATE PIE

1 1/3 cups sugar
¼ cup cocoa powder
1 dash salt
2 large eggs
¼ cup margarine -- melted
5 ounces evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup semisweet chocolate chips
¼ cup butterscotch morsels
1 9 inch pie crust -- unbaked
Whipped cream - Lots

1. Sprinkle butterscotch and chocolate chips over bottom of unbaked pie
shell.
2. Combine sugar, cocoa and salt; set aside.
3. In mixing bowl, combine eggs, melted margarine, milk and vanilla
extract. Beat well with a wire whisk. Add sugar mixture and beat again to
combine.
4. Pour over chips in pie shell and bake in preheated 350-degree oven
for 45-50 minutes.

Serve chilled with whipped cream.

Again, calories and fat can be cut by using Cool Whip, low fat evaporated milk but to really get the taste use the real thing.

Desserts don’t have to look pretty to taste good, but it is nice to make a good presentation. The cook does not have to be an expert or have a lot of time to prepare the above.

I will in a future column share a recipe for the ugliest looking best tasting cupcakes in the world. And they don’t even need frosting.







By the way, it is Dick's 74th birthday today, May 7th. If you can, send a card to him at ekunert@charter.net.

Love

Mary

Guess what, a new Harry Potter movie premieres on June 4. I can hardly wait.

Went turkey hunting again this morning. No luck. I saw a deer this morning and a LOT of turkeys but they were all our of range or didn't have a beard. I was conversing with a hen for quite a while as a matter of fact. We left the fields at about 9:30AM because it started to thunder and lightening. Not a good time to be out in an open field holding metal.

Choir tonight. We LOVE our new director. She seems pleased to be working with a larger choir and is willing to teach us more music theory and all that stuff. I sometimes think of cantoring but it would have to be all ALTO stuff and very simple. I'd probably be scared too. Well, sufficient unto the day. I am quite busy enough right now.

Be happy

Mary

I went turkey hunting today. Really. I did. I went with my brother Randy and my brother in law Kenny. The turkey license is only good through Saturday. Randy got his today, so we are all going out again tomorrow. Randy will call for us and Ken and I will sit in the "hot spots". At least we hope they will be hot spots. I would love to get one and be able to hang the tail fan above the fireplace.

I am a bit tired and am going to shower and go to bed a bit early so I can get up at 4AM again.

From Cadfael again:

"There was no profit in lying awake fretting for what would, in any case, have to be faced on awakening, and he had long ago sloughed off the unprofitable. It took too much out of a man, of what would be needed hereafter." Ellis Peters

In other words put your worries in the hands of God when you go to bed and face it fresh in the morning. Much easier said than done but I did it at least once. Aren't you proud of me?

Mary

When Bart and Barb and I were in Ireland, Barb and I found a teeny tiny Barbie doll sized shirt on the street in Athlone. We picked it up and I brought it home with me and washed it and gave it to Mother.
Barbara and I had decided that it must belong to the Little People.

Chelsea, our dog, is afraid of Mother's kitchen. Mother and I wonder if perhaps there are Little People inhabiting the kitchen that she senses. She absolutely refuses to set foot on the kitchen floor. Once she sped into Mom's spare bedroom and realized that she was trapped. I actually had to drag her back to the livingroom. She spent a day with Mother when I was in Ireland and all of the Kunerts went to Madison to see Dick and Brenda. She had a good time but stayed in the living and dining rooms.

Mother put the little shirt out for the Little People but nobody took it so either there are none or they didn't like the shirt.

Mary

What a day. I had lunch with nine of the gals that I graduated from high school with. Such a wonderful group of women and I am so glad we get together off and on. We try to especially if someone is "home for the summer" as some travel to warmer climates in winter. Today, Kathy Kinney (who left town in the 6th grade) joined us. We didn't recognize each other of course but quickly reacquainted. Kathy has a picture she is going to send me of her and me dressed up in white as "angels" who led the first communicants up for the sacrament when we were probably about four years old. I think I was chosen because of my cousin Colleen and she because of her brother who were receiving that year. Our friend Carol Van Dixhorn Kaat, has retired since our reunion last summer. She has had her knee operated on and she looks WONDERFUL. It is good for the heart to see people relaxed and healthy.

Randy, Kenny and I walked the fields in which we will be hunting turkeys. Wednesday morning, I will be out there before 5:00AM so that we are in place before the turkeys wake up. We saw two today over in a green patch. I am really excited. Last year I saw one - just before dawn. I couldn't see what it was and in this spring season, one has to know that it is a Tom or a Jake. Don't I sound like I am really good at this? A Tom is an adult male and a Jake is a "teenager". They have to have a beard anyway.

Shopping tomorrow. That is my only planned event for tomorrow so after today, it will be a vacation.

Have a great day.

Love

Mary

Shot two rounds of trap at Rhine this afternoon. I AM improving with my new gun. It was suggested, and I followed the suggestion, that I purchase and install a Morgan pad, which is contoured and adjustable. My score went from three to nine on the first round and then to thirteen on the second. Bill Olson, a friend who teaches high school trap, went with me on the second round and was a great deal of help. This is the first year that I am actually getting any on the spot instructions. The first time I went out to shoot they just told me which direction to point. I think after a couple of times they just figured I knew how and was just bad. This year I may be able to improve steadily as I have a gun that actually fits.

Did I tell you that I play the Penny Whistle or Tin Whistle as it is sometimes called? Of course, I only play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and easy stuff from the "Tin Whistle for Dummies" books and I make cats cry, but I do play it. Seriously, Waylon used to come to wherever I was playing and cry. I don't know if it was my playing or just the tone of the whistle itself. Roxie fusses at me if I start whistling. I think the sound must hurt her ears.

Have a nice week.

Mary

Had a wonderful day at the Fireside. The meal, as always, was really delicious. We had roast pork on top of stuffing with whipped mashed potatoes, green beans with ham and a wonderful mixed green salad with fried won tons on it. The dessert was a lemon ice cream pie in a pecan crust. Yum Yum

We saw Guys and Dolls. A lively well done production. When we got home, we checked on Frank Loesser who wrote the music AND lyrics. He also wrote the music to Charlie's Aunt, Hans Christian Anderson and believe it or not the song Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition. Such talent.

I got my bartender's certification so I can register with Rhine Plymouth Conservation and be an official bartender. Bet you didn't expect that, did you? We serve beer and wine coolers, so someone with a license always has to be on site to comply with the laws.

Have a good evening.

Mary

Today when Bobbie, Jim and I were driving back from Rhine Plymouth after shooting pistol, I was looking out over the fields at the stands of trees scattered all over the Wisconsin landscape. I was reminded of the woods that stretched in back of our house. We used to play in those woods. We played war and cowboy and Indians. We even had a tree that we called the Tarzan Tree. You could climb that tree, grab a vine and swing to another tree. This was really fun until the day the vine broke. Naturally, I was the person doing the swinging. I landed on my solar plexis and knocked the wind out of myself. I still remember the terror I felt because I was unable to catch my breath. Obviously, I lived and frankly it did not discourage me from acts that are a little bit on the edge.

However, what the woods really reminded me of was lying in bed at night with my sister Nora. We could look out of our bedroom window over the woods and there were three big pines that stretched high above the rest of the trees. We gave them names. I believe they were a family of some animal or other and we would put ourselves to sleep making up stories about the family of trees.

I remember some of those big pines being blown over by the strong winds of winter and spring and us using the root holes for forts the following season.

That woods is now all gone and built up with houses. Lots of good memories.

I seem to be the only on not done shooting, but I missed two Fridays and did not try to catch up on Sundays. I just used Sunday for practice, such as it was. We have two more weeks of league actually so I am OK and only have two more targets to fill next Friday. The bust-up party is May 21. I wonder if they know they are having a birthday party for me.

Tomorrow, we are going on a bus tour to Ft. Atkinson to the Fireside where we will partake of a delicious meal and see Guys and Dolls.

Later

Mary

A couple of years ago, Jim installed a couple of "computer pets" on my computer. A cat named Felix and a Puppy, who had no name. When I would turn on my computer both of them would in the background and just kind of roam around the screen. Really nice low maintenance pets.

After a while, the dog began to disappear occasionally. Jim was able to find him again, or at least ANOTHER puppy that looked just like him. At the same time, Felix started multiplying. Sometimes one cat appears, sometimes as many as three. Jim says that this is not possible. However, then he said that if it does happen, they should be mirror images. Not so. The three cats all be behave differently and if there ARE three, only two appear ON screen at one time.

My theory is that the cats kill the dogs. So I do not have Jim reinstall him any longer. As far as the cats go, when more than one appear, I just put the extras "outside." They get back in soon enough anyway and I figure they are just taking up space.

Have a great day.

Mary

Mark Russell has a new show tonight on PBS. Haven't seen him and his politically humorous music for a long time. He looks older. For years he didn't seem to change much. But he looks old now. He sounds the same and his humor and songs are just as pertinent and funny as always. So far he has touched on Condoleezza Rice and homosexuality.

It was a beautiful day. If this keeps up, Dick will turn on the air conditioning. You know his theory. Furnace in Winter - Air in Summer. The Kitties will be awfully disappointed when the windows get closed. They do like sitting in them and watching all the birds out there.

I planted my honeysuckle vine and the peony. I put the peony over on the other side of the house next to the herb garden. Now if everything just will grow.

It is a time for rebirth and hope after a long dark winter. I am putting trust in the Lord that Spring will bring better times, health and prosperity.

Peace to you

Mary

I went to the Senior Meals in Sheboygan Falls with Mother and then took her to the eye doctor for her ultrasound on her eye. She is scheduled for her cataract surgery on May 19. On the way to Dr. Larson's office, we stopped at Superior Gardens and I bought three plants that can be planted this early in the spring.

I got a honeysuckle and a clematis for the trellises that are on either end of the deck. I also got a peony to replace the one I planted last year that just didn't grow and seemed to have disappeared.
When I got home, I took Chelsea out for her bathroom call and glanced over to the spot I was going to plant the new peony and lo and behold - there was the old one peeking above ground. So I have two. Now - where to plant the new one.

The Cadfael Book of Days entry was special today so I will share that with you.

"Even the pursuit of perfection may be sin, if it infringes the rights and needs of another soul. Better to fail a little, by turning aside to lift up another, than to pass by him in haste to reach our own reward and leave him to solitude and despair. Better to labour in lameness, in fallibility, but holding up others who falter, than to stride forward alone." From The Raven in the Foregate by Ellis Peters

Have a good day

Mary

It was chilly today. The sun was deceptively lovely this morning but it clouded over and a chilly wind came up. I had plenty to keep me busy in the house - mainly on the computer - but would really like to spend an hour or so a day outside.

I found some cooked brats in the freezer yesterday, so I fixed potato salad and warmed them up for supper. They sure tasted good. I will give MY recipe for potato salad. There is a Kunert version which we use about half the time but tonight I fixed mine.

American Potato Salad

6 potatoes
6 hard boiled eggs
2 Large pickle cut in small pieces
1/4 cup chopped sweet onion
3/4 to 1 cup mayonnaise
1 heaping teaspoon mustard

Boil potatoes, cool, peal and cube into a bowl. Add all other ingredients. Mix well and salt and pepper to taste. Chill for at least an hour.

(Dick is an official taster of potato salad if you are not sure it is right.)



Love

Mary

I think we figured out part of the reason I have been shooting the pistol so badly the past few weeks. Jim noticed that I was not using my finger tip to SQUEEZE the trigger but was putting my whole finger on the trigger and then jerking to the right a bit. I tried with the tip and did MUCH better. We will see on Friday when I shoot league again.

We had spaghetti tonight. The sauce was especially nice. I use a recipe that I got from a friend many many years ago. It calls for a can of tomato soup, a can of tomato paste and a can of tomato sauce to each pound of hamburger. I substituted a four cup bag of frozen tomatoes for the tomato sauce and it was delicious. The rest of the recipe is as follows: a medium onion, a clove of garlic per pound and oregano, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, a little salt, generous pepper and a dash or two of Worcester Sauce for zip. I was able to use fresh oregano from the garden too. Fresh Herbs are really the BEST.

"The following is also something to ponder...

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness...you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death...you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over-head and a place to sleep...you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace...you are among the top 8%of the world's wealthy.

If your parents are still alive and still married...you are very rare.

If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all."

This is the beginning of a beautiful week. Each day is a new page in the book of your life. Live it because it won't come around again.

Love

Mary

Such a chilly day. It was gloomy too. I went shopping, however, which did brighten the day. I replaced some wine glasses and lunch plates. The plates are actually considered dessert plates, but they make such a nice size for lunch. I found some really colorful plates with four different fruit patterns on them. They were 70% off so it was quite a deal. Go to Kohls if you are looking for bargains in the housewares department. I bought a couple of cutting boards too. I like to have two. One to use and one to wash and mine are getting pretty bad. I replaced one and got a spare for Jim.

Jim bought a dehydrater. I believe I mentioned that some time ago. He is dehydrating EVERYTHING and could use a cutting board for some of his things. He also purchased a slicer/chopper which I have been finding very handy for many things myself. I believe I will fix a carrot salad next week and it will be much easier to grind the carrots in the machine. But meat is better done on a board. I have some venison in a marinade to put into the dehydrator tomorrow. That should really be good.

Blessed Trinity has hired a new music minister. How great is that. We will have a rehearsal on Thursday and can be singing for Pentecost. We have really missed being able to sing in choir. I will have council meeting that night too so will only be able to attend a bit of the rehearsal but at least I will be able to meet her.

Here is a nice easy rather elegant dessert that Mother used to fix when we were young.

FRENCH PASTRY

1 Package Instant Chocolate Pudding
5 Whole Graham Crackers
1 Large Container of Cool Whip

Mix the pudding according to the recipe on the package. Break the crackers in half. Place two halves side by side about two inches apart. Spread about a tablespoon of pudding on each half. Layer another cracker and the pudding until they are all used up in two stacks. Cover each stack generously with the Cool Whip. Let set for a couple of hours so the crackers absorb some moisture. When serving, cut each stack in half and serve with the cut side down. It is nice to swirl a bit of chocolate syrup on the plate and over the pastry for effect.


Enjoy

Mary

I am searching the internet for information about Fairy or Faerie Fields. I know they exist in Irish legend but the information on them seems to be very sparse.

Somewhere, I learned that you can always identify a fairy field if there is a big open field with a lone tree or bush in it somewhere. The tree or bush is where the fairies can hide if they need to. It is bad luck to put a road through a fairy field. I know that for sure. There is or was a fairy field out in Sheboygan County where the Irish settled. For many many years, the road went around that field. Foolish highway designers have now run the road through the field but we all know that no good can come of that.

Some say that you can tell a fairy field if there are fairy rings in it. Fairy rings are found all over Ireland and are three foot circles of dark green grass with paler grass in the center. The fairies are supposed to dance around these circles. One of my neighbors has a much larger circle that does match the description of a fairy ring except FOR the size. Maybe everything is bigger in the U. S.

Liam Clancy got trapped in a fairy field for a whole night on his way home from the pub one evening. He could not find the gate in the hedgerow until the sun came up and it reappeared. He never said he saw any fairies though.

Anyway, I am trying to find out a bit more about fairy fields. If you know anything, please pass the information along to me.

Slainte

Mary

I am full of ambition to be creative again. Maureen Smith, my friend in Chicago, had sent me a pattern for a Nativity Scene on blocks of wood almost two years ago. When we had our bathroom remodeled, the man who did the work was kind enough to cut the leftover supports into the lengths I needed. So the other day, I sent out an SOS to my brothers, Jeff and Randy and my brother-in-law Ken to locate a sander. Kenny responded and brought it over today and we rounded the edges of the chunks of wood.

Now - I have to cut all the pattern pieces out of the felt pieces that I have purchased and glue them together. I figured that would make a nice donation for the Festival of Trees this year. I have entered several stockings and a couple of wall hangings and this would be something really different. The Creche consists of the Holy Family, the Three Wise Men, a Shepherd, an Angel, a Donkey and two sheep.

I also started cutting out the pieces for Fire and Ice, a 35 by 35 wall hanging that really impresses me.

Kenny also brought me a video on Turkey Hunting. Randy, Kenny and I will be doing that in about a week. I hope I get a shot off at one anyway. I am using my 20 guage this year which is easier to handle than Randy's 12 guage. I did see a bird last year but it was before it was light and I could not idenitfy it as a Tom. One of the major rules is to KNOW YOUR TARGET.

"If God is your Copilot - swap seats"

See Ya

Mary

Dick and I took Mother to lunch today, prior to her eye doctor appointment. We are so blessed to have that lady with us at 88 years old.

She wasn't happy with the news at the eye doctor. The good is that there is no recurrence of the macular degeneration. The bad news is that the cataract in her left "good" eye is now in need of being taken care of. Therefore, she will have cataract surgery on May 19th. As she got into the car, I could hear her muttering "what a business" under her breath. Much like swearing. I am just pleased that they can do something. If she would lose her sight, she would have to give up reading, sewing and so very much else and she doesn't need that.

She is our "Sunday in every week." and we want her to have nothing but good.

Keep her in your prayers.

Good things for you on the morrow.

Love

Mary

This will be short. It is 9:00PM. This morning I had to go for a followup mammagram. Thank the Lord. It came out OK so I am back on my usual checks again. It is always a little frightening when they want you to come back to check something "questionable".

Then I had my teeth cleaned. And tonight I went to Volunteer Appreciation Night Banquet for the volunteers to Rocky Knoll. I go out there every month or so to help the residents play bingo. They have such fun that it becomes fun for the volunteers. The staff out at Rocky Knoll is very caring and obviously take such good care of their charges. For those that do not know, Rocky Knoll is the county Health Care Hospital for many disabled people. We play bingo with the mildly retarded, aged and sometimes a bit disturbed. But they are all sweet and love to win their quarters which they can use in the vending machines.

Remember - Peace starts with a smile.

Mary

Boy, did we ever get a wind storm last night and this morning. I guess we've had worse but it was pretty bad. The temperatures are in the mid to high 50s which I don't mind. Wouldn't hurt to be a little warmer though.

I guess it is in the 80s in Boston. They were running the Boston Marathon today in that heat. I wonder how many made it through this year. Several years ago, my brother George ran the Boston Marathon. He came in the upper 1/3 of the finishers. Pretty impressive for a guy in his late thirties who had just started running a couple of years earlier. His wife, Betsy, tells the story of the first marathon he ran. I think it was in Texas but would not swear to that. She was waiting at the finish line. As she waited, a man ran across the finish line, collapsed and died on the spot. Eventually, George came through and she said he looked like he was going to die too. Obviously, he didn't and he went on to run others. He said he learned from that experience. One thing he said, I have always remembered. If you are in a physically stressful event or situation, grab water whenever you can. If you wait until you are thirsty, it will be too late. Your brain just doesn't assimilate the thirsty need soon enough. Just like it takes about 15 minutes for your brain to know that you are full after eating.

Have a great day.

Mary

Today while in church I realized that I was slumping my shoulders a bit and the nicest memories of my Grandmother Matie Bowser came in to my mind.

Grandma Bowser was a lady and she ALWAYS stood proud with her shoulders back and her head high. When I think of how a lady behaves, I only need to remember her and her manners and ways and KNOW. She often said that she married Irish but she married Lace Curtain Irish not Shanty Irish.

On the 50th Wedding Anniversary of Grandma Matie and Grandpa John Bowser, my Dad wrote a parody of an old Irish Song called John O'Connor's Wedding Day.

Here are his words:

One morning Johnny Bowser was as happy as could be
For in an hour he would wed his beautiful Marie.
He whistled as he dressed himself in his Sears and Roebuck suit.
He was thinking of his sweetheart.
She really was a beaut.
Matie's face was blushing as they walked down the aisle.
And when the preacher tied the know
John's face beamed with a smile
When it all was over to the parsonage they went.
John meant to pay the preacher
But he couldn't find a cent.

Chorus:

Down went his hands into
His pockets, they were deep.
Down went they deeper
He was in an awful sweat.
50 years have passed away
And still I'll always bet
That he hasn't found the bottom yet.

Ahh Ha Ha A

(Grandma's name was Marie, but she was called Matie by those who knew her well. I called her Grandma.)

Love

Mary

Yesterday the 80s and today back down in the 50s. We are on a weather roller coaster. At lest the low is in the 50s not the 20s like it has been. More and more green is showing up all the time.

Today I am making a pork roast with bread dumplings for dinner. Most of the recipes I find have you dropping the dumplings in salt water but my Grandma Deeley used to make them by pressing the dumplings on the roast for the last hour or so of cooking. This kind of bakes them and the juices of the meat soak into them a bit too. Leftover dumplings fry up in butter the next day and are really yummy.

My cousin Patty showed me how to do this when she stayed with us for a couple of weeks when she was working out in California. I did not write down the recipe, so I searched the internet and have come up with a recipe that should work.

I took 4 hardrolls and soaked them for a while in 1/2 cup of milk. Then I added two tablespoons of butter and 2 eggs and some parsley to the soaked bread. It was pretty soupy so I added some more bread crumbs, formed the dumplings and slapped them onto the pork which had been roasting about an hour. It sure smells good. I will let you know tomorrow how they turned out.

Dick and I are also having sauerkraut. Jim hates sauerkraut, but I have some green beans for him so he will survive. I used up the last of the hard boiled eggs as deviled eggs so they won't care what else I fixed anyway.

Later

Mary

I had lunch with the "girls" I used to work with at Wells Fargo. It had been about three weeks since I saw or heard from anybody. Within the past two weeks, two of our friends who are still working had problems which I will add to my prayer list and I hope you do to. One friend, Karen, was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to undergo a double mastectomy. Another friend, Barb, has a daughter who gave birth to a baby girl with Downs Syndrome and apparently also heart, sight and hearing problems. Lots of prayers for that little person and lots of prayers for the family. Barb said that the baby is beautiful. God always gives us something. Anyway, we will pray and try to offer encouragement.

The temperature on the car thermometer was 80 degrees on my drive back from Plymouth. This is a far cry from the 32 we had just a couple of days ago. I went out and trimmed the blossoms off of a bush in the front this morning and let Chelsea enjoy the fresh air with me. I'll bet we will both sleep very well tonight.

I read the most wonderful paragraph in a book called ANAM CARA by John O'Donohue today on the transience nature of time. I would like to share it with you.

"There was never a dawn, regardless of how beautiful or promising, that did not grow into noontime. There was never a noon that did not fall into afternoon. There was never an afternoon that did not fade toward evening. There never was a day yet that did not get buried in the graveyard of the night. In this way transience makes a ghost out of everything that happens to us."

He goes on to say that these vanished moments secretly gather in a special place. That special place is memory.

Have wonderful moments to story in your special place.

Mary

Today is April 15, Tax Day. We have been done for about a month now. We paid the State and got a refund from the Federal and have spent it already.

Our dishwasher was a disaster. Not old particularly, and still kind of working but the dishes on the top shelf never got clean and it ruined all of our glasses. So we had enough of a refund to buy a new one and did. So far so good. At least the top shelf comes out clean. It is the quietist one I think we ever had and Jim said it sighs. Twice it has sighed at him while he was getting something in the kitchen and made him jump because he thought someone was there.

It was pleasant enough this afternoon that I was able to go out in the yard and clear the leaves off of my herb garden.. I am pleased to tell you that my chives, parsley, thyme, oregano and lavender are all coming back and the rhubarb is coming up too. We are supposed to have rain and warm weather this weekend. I hope there is a bit of a thunder storm because that seems to make the leaves just pop out on the trees. Yea for Spring.

Sheboygan Falls has their annual Home and Hearth Days this weekend. Every year they have a food contest. Three years ago it was bread and I won third prize with my Irish Soda Bread. Last year was cheesecake and I didn't win. This year is cheesecake again and the following is the cheesecake that I am going to enter.
I haven't tried it before so will make three little tastes for Jim, Dick and I.

Fiesta Cheesecake

Source: Casa Sedona Bed & Breakfast Inn, Sedona, Arizona

1 1/2 cups finely crushed tortilla chips
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
16 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 large eggs
2 1/2 cups (10 ounces) shredded Monterey
jack cheese with peppers
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chiles, drained
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 (8 ounce) carton sour cream
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup chopped sweet yellow pepper
1/2 cup chopped sweet red pepper
1/2 cup green onions
1 medium tomato, chopped
2 tablespoons finely chopped ripe olives
2 bunches fresh cilantro or parsley (optional)

Combine tortilla chips and butter; press onto bottom of a lightly greased 9-inch spring-form pan. Bake at 325 degrees F for 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Beat all 19 ounces of cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer for 3 minutes or until fluffy; add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in cheese, chiles and ground red pepper. Pour into prepared pan, and bake at 325 degrees F for 30 minutes. Cool 10 minutes on a wire rack.

Place on a bed of fresh cilantro or parsley, if desired. Gently run a knife around edge of pan to release sides, and let cool completely. Spread sour cream evenly over top; cover and chill.

Arrange green pepper and remaining ingredients on top as desired.

Yields one 9-inch cheesecake or 25 appetizer servings.


Wish me luck

Mary

We concluded our study of the Vatican II Constitutions at the Bible Study today. We only went about half way through the book - through the changes on Sacred Liturgy because we really want to get back to a Bible Study. Next week we start the letters of Peter. We had some rather heated discussions of sacred music (how contemporary should we get? What about Gregorian Chant -where has it gone?) It was fun.

I am writing a poem about my Uncle George Deeley. He was my Dad's brother and a bachelor. He was born and raised in the home on School Street in Sheboygan Falls that my brother Randy bought after Aunt Helen died. He stayed with Aunt Helen, who also never married until he died of cancer. He was a good looking guy, rather shy and very well liked.

Once a week, he would walk down town and go to three or four bars throughout the evening, meeting friends and lifting a few and exchanging tales and whatever guys do. The last time I saw him was back in 1978. I was living in California at the time but was visiting Sheboygan Falls for my 30th High School Reunion. The boys and I were coming out of Evans (You know Evans. It is the dime store in Sheboygan Falls that has been there since I was a little kid and probably before. They say if you can't find it at Evans - it doesn't exist. Children LOVE to go to Evans.) Anyway we looked down the street and Dales Bar (now Chuck and Sue's) was burning. I rushed up the street to see and ran into Uncle George coming down the street. I said. "Dale's is burning." He said. "I know, I was in there." George used a cane for years but his friends said he really made good time getting out or that bar.

He always sent me a cheese box for Christmas. I was his goddaughter you know.

Love

Mary

Again, I have two cats sprawled on my desk. I really need two desks. One to work on and one for the cats to "be with me" under a nice warm desk lamp. I am going to add a picture of them on the desk. If you look at the computer screen, you can see our old cat Waylon. He was with us for 18 years and we still miss him. It is taking both of these kitties to make up for him. They are something else. The black one is Big Oscar and weighs 15 pounds. The tabby is Foxy Roxie. She weighs 9 pounds and has no tail.



Every day has one hour in which a wish may be granted and in which a person has the power to see spirits. Only by trial and error can that period be known. (An Irish Superstition)

May you find your hour.

Mary

It was a meeting day. This morning the book discussion group met. Our topic was Stretching Your Limits. We are a group of doers, it appears. They suggest stretching physical, mental and spiritual limits. We decided that by establishing a bible study group, we are stretching our spiritual limits and perhaps that is enough for right now. I think I mentioned in an earlier entry, that Liz Holtz, one of our participants, said that she would like to study Psalms, so that is where we will start. We have decided to skip the last week in April and begin our study on May 3rd at the same time as these discussions. I will send for the study guides from The Liturgical Press. We will use the Collegeville Bible Commentary series which I have had experience with at the Wednesday morning group that meets at St. Clements.

I am going in to quite a bit of detail because Tom Keyes, a member of the group, and Blessed Trinity's webmaster is going to put a link to my web page on the parish site. This means that I need to be more informative about some things and I want to be more entertaining as not everybody will know me so well as most of my current readers.

I figure I will be sure to add a poem (mine or some master poet), a quotation, a recipe, or an anecdote or story to each entry. Today you are getting a poem. I was at Writer's Club today and read two new ones to them and they seemed to find them likeable. I welcome comments and you can do so on the web page, on the left at the bottom of all of those dates. Just click on Tell Me and you will link to my AOL address. Otherwise, it is mkunert@aol.com. The poem I will share today is an early morning experience shared only with my dog as we walked. It is an attempt to share it with others.


AVIAN BALLET

By

Mary J. Kunert


We saw them in the morning sky
Sweeping, swirling up on high.
The starlings rival Fosse's dancers.
Never falter - forwards, backwards.
Never a trip or misstep there
Death defying in the air.

Blue Angels can't compete
With Avian Dancers o'er the street
Feathered dancers wing to wing
Glide in silence - deafening.
Thirty - forty we can't count
The tension and the beauty mount.

Back and forth in joy they flow
Like a disc on blue they go
So close we hold our breath in wonder
They do not touch or stray or blunder
Alighting finally in the trees
They chatter proudly to the breeze



Have a wonderful week

Mary

Easter was very special. The Mass was very special to me and all the choir. We sang our hearts out and even got applause a couple of times which is unusual, because, as you know, it is not a common thing during the services. We even has a Celtic dancer during the song the Lord of the Dance just before the offertory.

I talked to Bret today. He is still a bit tired but is feeling fine and will be back to work this week. We had a nice phone visit.

Steve told us the funniest Easter story today. It seems that some friends of ours took their children to see the Easter Bunny at the Mall. It was not a successful trip at all, because the four year old stated immediately that that was NOT the Easter Bunny. Easter Bunnies do NOT walk, they HOP.

Then they filled the Easter Baskets after the kids were in bed and hid them in the bathtub. The Daddy got up in the morning, reached behind the shower curtain and proceeded to turn on the shower to warm it up while he brushed his teeth. Thought it sounded funny and threw the curtain back to find a river of chocolate floating down the drain. The Easter that is best forgotten but will be remembered through all family history.

Hope your chocolate didn't get floated down the drain.

Love

Mary

I prepared as much of the Easter Dinner as I could today. I baked the Blitz Torte. Grated the cheese for the mac and cheese and got up the dishes. I also filled the Easter Baskets. I will put them out when I take Chelsea for her walk in the morning.

It snowed today. Not a lot - non stayed on the ground- the temperature stayed in the upper 30s and the road actually got wet as the snow melted on the warmer pavement. But it snowed. This is not what one wants for Easter Weather. One is supposed to be able to wear nice pastel dresses and straw hats with flowers on them and sandals just for pretty.

The choir will be singing at the 10:30 Mass. The last time with Steve directing us so we want to really be good. Then Jim and Bobbie and I will go pistol shooting and then we will have a lovely Easter Dinner at about 5:30.

I have a teeny Easter Basket and a bunny bell for Bobbie, Bill, Bart and Barb too. I hope they don't read this posting tonight. It would ruin the surprise.

Have a Blessed Easter and remember that HE IS RISEN and saved us all.


Love

Mary

Good Friday. The choir sang at the services. We are singing with such enthusiasm and trying to remember everything because we are so glad to have Steve Naffin directing us for these holy days. We will have him on Easter Sunday too. But he is ill and it is very hard on him.

Haven't heard from Bret, so I am going to assume that that means that he is doing VERY well and has nothing to report. Thank you for all your prayers.

I am going to share the reading from Cadfael's Book of Days. It was really super and worth sharing.

"Don't reach for your halo too soon. You have plenty of time to enjoy yourself, even a little maliciously sometimes, before you settle down to being a saint."

I need to get Easter Baskets out tomorrow.

Love

Mary

Hallelulah!!!!! Bret had his surgery at 7:30AM and I talked to him at 11:30AM. He sounded just fine and said everything went well. Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts. Now I can really rejoice this Easter.

The Holy Thursday service was very nice. Bob Born, a music teacher at Falls High school, played the organ. He is always a pleasure to listen to. As we didn't sing, I was able to be a minister of communion which is always a wonderful experience. I never grow tired or used to that. Maybe because of all those years that we were not even allowed to touch the Eucharist and received it on our tongue. Which was rather silly as it is supposed to be a meal and we feed ourselves at meals. Anyway, I find it a very moving experience to be able to be an extraordinary minister.

I took poor little Chelsea to the vet today for her heartworm test. She was a pitiful little thing. We always have to muzzle her because I think she probably would snap at them and then she would feel bad. (Ha Ha). He took blood and then her little leg bled a bit and he had to put alcohol on it to stop the bleeding. Poor baby. Well, she will enjoy the chewable heartworm pills throughout the summer anyway. Now ALL of the animals are set for about a year.

SALAD
9 cups torn mixed salad greens
1 can (11 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained
1/3 cup thinly sliced scallions
2 teaspoons unsalted sunflower kernels

DRESSING
3 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon orange juice concentrate
1 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar or additional cider vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped scallion
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
Water


1. Make salad: Gently toss greens, oranges, scallions, and sunflower kernels in a large salad bowl.

2. Make dressing: Combine dressing ingredients in a measuring cup. Add enough water to measure 1 cup. Pour into a jar with a tight-fitting lid; shake well. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately.


Per serving (1 1/2 cups): Calories 140, fat 9 g, saturated fat 1 g, cholesterol 0 mg, sodium 130 mg, carbohydrate 16 g, fiber 4 g, protein 2 g.


From Light & Tasty

The recipe is from our ChangeOne Diet and I am fixing it with the Ham dinner on Easter. It is really GOOD.

Love

Mary

Bret will have surgery tomorrow morning around 6:00AM. The angioplasty is so non invasive that he probably will be able to go home tomorrow evening. I sure hope so, then I will know that everything is OK. Please keep him in your prayers. I know this surgery is minor as far as danger but as I heard one time, I believe that Dave Barry said it, no surgery is minor if it is MY child.

We had choir practice tonight. It is so good to have Steve there to direct us and we do appreciate him pushing himself to do it for us. He is really exhausted as he is very ill but I hope he knows how much we all love him. He should from the enthusiastic singing he is getting out of us. Easter music is so beautiful.

Bobbie and Bill and Bart and Barb are coming for Easter Dinner. I found a little present for everybody and got the last of the Easter candy today. The Easter Bunny does come to our house you know.

"May dawn find you awake and alert, approaching your new day with dreams, possibilities, and promises."
John O'Donohue


Thanks for your prayers.

Mary

This was not a good day. Bret called this morning. He is back in the hospital so we need a lot of prayers again. It seems to be the same thing as he experienced four months ago. They though the balloon inserted by the angioplasty would solve the problem but now they may have to clamp off the offending blood vessel. I am very worried.

Please pray.

Love

Mary

We had a stimulating book discussion today. We were talking about love and expressing love for others and how it does become easier as we get older to do so. Perhaps we aren't so worried about rejection, or we are just more comfortable in doing so. Anyway, we had a lot to say about it. We just have two more weeks of the book and have agreed to continue meeting for a bible study. Liz said she would like to study Psalms so we are going to start with that. I love my Wednesday bible study group but it would be good to have a study group at Blessed Trinity and I would be pleased to be instrumental in starting it. I think we could grow. Spreading the word of Jesus is what we are supposed to do and knowledge and love will do it.

I guess this is a little bit of a rambling paragraph. But I just wanted to get some thoughts down. Enjoy tomorrow. I guess we will, BUT we have to take the cats to the vet for their yearly checkup. Always and adventure.

Love

Mary

We decided a year ago, when we got the cats, that this would be their birthday, so we can keep track of their ages. The cats are six now and Chelsea is ten. So on the way back from church, I bought a cake. I got a Pepperidge Farm Coconut cake so Chelsea could at least lick the plate. She was grateful.

It was a pleasant day but a busier one than I expected. After Mass, Jim and I went out to Rhine to join Bobbie in shooting and to my surprise, I was supposed to be working. So I did. It seemed rather quiet but we ran 16 teams through on a Lewis Shoot which is very good.

I hope you all remembered to "spring forward" with your clocks. One of my friends, still in the mortgate business, send postcards to her data base, telling them to turn their clocks back. I didn't call her because I am sure she heard from tons of other people and WHY rub it in. So far I am not feeling that I lost an hour.



Thought I would send a picture of (in order) Jim, Bret, Bobbie and Bart from Bret's visit last summer.

Enjoy your week.

Mary