This was a stay at home day. Such a pleasure after busy weeks. I feel better today too. My cold seems to have subsided somewhat. I hope so because the coming week is starting to get filled up.

Jim's Michelle came to Sheboygan for the afternoon. It is nice that he has his area with the den downstairs because they can just do their thing and listen to their music and WE can do ours. I know that Jim was getting his laptop ready for her to take with her on a training business trip that she is taking early next week. Actually, she leaves tomorrow and comes back Wednesday. We enjoy having her around. She likes pork and lima beans and rhubarb pie.

Pork and lima beans is really good. Even Jim was surprised when he first had it. He was prepared to be unhappy but found out that it is good. It is VERY simple.

Four pork chops or pork steaks (preferably boneless)
1 large package of frozen green limas
2 cans of cream soups (I use the reduced fat and any variety like cream of mushroom
or chicken or celery)
1 small can of French's Fried onions
Velveeta cheese

Spray a casserole or baking dish. Layer the chops in the dish. Salt and pepper. Put a few slices of Velveeta on top of the chops. Spread the limas on top of all. Then mix the two cans of soups together and pour over the whole thing. Top with the onions and bake for one to on and one half hours at 350 degrees.

I did my research so I believe that I can fill out the paperwork for Rhine Plymouth's tax status. However, I am going to ask Bobbie and John to agree with me before I continue as the packet is 26 pages long. Granted, most of it does not relate, but one has to go throuth the whole darn thing to find that out.

I, also completed the workbook that I am preparing for Blessed Trinity's Environment Committee as far as I can at this point.

AND I sent some poems to two writing contests. One through Writer's Digest and the other through the WI. Regional Writers Association. So, whew! I was busy.


I decided to end with one of my poems. I sent it to the Milwaukee Art Museum. I don't THINK I ever put it on the blog, but if I did, you will have to read it again.

ORGANIZED CHAOS

Organized Chaos
Frenetic Frenzy
Intel dropped two
The sky is falling
Sweet juicy Mangos
Picked fresh this morning
A dozen eggs – (brown are best)
One million shares - at market
Trade you mangos for chicken
Oil is up – Buy – NO! Sell
Hand woven shawls in corner stall
Fingers stab the air – one – two – three
Red, green, blue shirts - fluttering birds
Red, gold, green, jackets - prowling foxes
Just like a hen house
Throw food and they swarm

We are getting a welcome rain and I think it is to continue for a day or two. We need it. Maybe it will warm up again too.

Love

Mary

It was a strange day today. I think I feel worse tonight than I felt when the I was sneezing and congested. I will be going to bed as soon as I finish this, if I ever do, I already goofed up my first try. It is not very forgiving.

Dick and I went out for lunch and then over to Richardson's to discuss the redoing of our kitchen cabinets and a new sink. We decided to go Coreon for the resale value. Hopefully we will be done with that in a month. It is looking as if we may be looking at rejoining condo life in the next year or so and we want things easy.

Jim and Michelle are in Madison tonight at a Kansas Concert. They were very excited about the event. I vaguely remember the group from when the boys were young. I'm sure they both do. Apparantly they have been going strong since the 70s. Should be a really neat night for the two of them. Music from their time.

I will close with a story that I am SURE you have seen before but it is special and feel good and motivational and I reread it once in a while because I like the message.

NEED WASHING??



A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Target.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypn! ! otic trance we were all caught in "Mom, let's run through the rain," she said. "What?" Mom asked.

"Lets run through the rain!" She repeated.

"No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied.

This young child waited about another minute and repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain,"

"We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.

"No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.

This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?

"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!"

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one ! ! came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.


Have a wet weekend. We might and it will be a good time to rinse off.

Love

Mary

The temperatures have warmed a bit. It was in the 40s when Chelsea and I walked. Chelsea seems to tire a bit lately when we walk. This morning, she pretty much chugged along, but sometimes she will just sit down an look at me for a bit. Like she is catching her breath or something. One morning, she seemed pleased to just shut it down early. Well, she is getting old. She is 84 in people years now.

Dick and I went for our usual breakfast and then grocery shopping. We racked the Marigold Wine today. Now it just has to settle a bit and then we can filter and bottle it. I think I will let it sit for one month because I detected a bit of fizz and that means that the yeast might be working a bit. Better to be ALL done before one sticks a cork in it.

I went to choir tonight and stopped at the Humane Society on the way.

They had told me that they would have the etching for Courtney done by tonight which was their Open House. Then I got a call just before 6:00 telling me they didn't get it done because they had been called on a rescue to Adams County on Monday and it took all evening. So I tried to call Randy and Donna who were going to the open house to take a picture for George and Betsy. They had already left.

Now you know why I went over there. I did manage to be there when Randy and Donna arrived and explained. The Society will call when it is done. They did send a letter of thanks and acknowledgement to George and Betsy. I heard the story of the rescue mission that they had gone on.

There was a couple in Adams County that the Society called dog hoarders. They had 75 dogs in their home. There was a job loss and apparantly the people were running out of funds to feed the animals. They had accumulated them over time from many sources - never had an animal spayed, so they were breeding. The animals had never been on grass. They were out is was only occasionally during the day and then on concrete. It is not known if they are housebroken. The dogs knew only their owners. Apparantly this rescue was done while the animals were still well fed and they are gentle creatures. I saw one of the dogs, a mother with several puppies, in the reception area. She looks well cared for, is very shy and has the cutest litter of nice rolly polly puppies. She is what you would call a sled dog. Her name is Ginger ane I watched as one of the helpers was trying to socialize with her. She was not at all against it but very shy and became very submissive as she accepted petting, literally plastering herself on the ground in front of the volunteer. What a story.

That was my day. How was yours?

Be healthy and happy

Mary

This was a pleasant day.

This morning was so special. Dick and I went to Rick's Flower Shop this morning and picked up a bud vase with four perfect pink roses and baby's breath to take out to Courtney. Then we picked up Mother so she could go out with us. The day was pleasant. The temperature was a bit low, probably in the low 40s, but it was still and the sun was shining. The yellow roses were pretty much done, so Mother and I replaced them with the roses. A fitting bouquet to give to a lovely girl from HER mom.

Mother and I walked over to say Hi to Grandma and Grandpa Bowser. There is a Legion medallion on Grandpa's grave and the Legion always gives him a flag, though Grandpa Bowser actually never served in any war. Grandma was always very active in the legion and they had three sons who served in WWII so I guess they figure that he deserves it.

Want to hear a cute story about Grandma Bowser? One year my ex husband and I were visiting Wisconsin and stopped at Grandma and Grandpa Bowser's for breakfast the morning that we were leaving. Grandma placed some fresh blueberry muffins on the table, and my ex said. "How come you never make fresh blueberry muffins?" Grandma said that it was really easy and she went into the kitchen and brought in the empty Duncan Heinz box. Needless to say, I got a box or two after we got home.

Now I make them from scratch.

Grandma was quite the woman. Whenever I want to know how to behave like a lady and with dignity, I use her for an example. Did you ever see the picture of her as a young woman? She was a beautiful woman.

I do seem to have caught a cold. I was supposed to go out to Rocky Knoll tomorrow to play bingo with the residents, but cannot go out and infect those people. Now I am going to head for bed.

Have a great evening or morning, whenever you happen to read this.

Mary

I think I am getting a cold. (Darn it). I have been sneezing all day and my throat feels funny too.

Today was quiet. I got my hair cut early, then came home and cleaned my desk. I took a nap after lunch and did a bit of sewing. After that I stuffed and sealed 300 envelopes for the Senior Saints at Blessed Trinity. I sent them a little cover letter summarizing what will be happening the rest of the year, an invitation from St. Mary School for them to attend the annual Spring Sing put on by the students and a brochure that I made up for them that lists all the services they can get from Blessed Trinity parishioners and committees in times of need and a few important Sheboygan County Resource numbers.

Tomorrow I will pick up the flowers Betsy wants for Courtney. Tomorrow would be her birthday and she asked that I put pink flowers, preferrably roses on the grave. I called Rick's and he is going to have a bud vase with four pink rosebuds and baby breath ready for me in the morning. Dick and I will then pick up Mother and take her with us. She would like to go out. She said that she wanted to also visit Grandma and Grandpa's graves across the path. I mentioned that when we were leaving the cemetery on Saturday, I mentioned to Dick that I hoped that Grandma & Grandpa weren't hurt that I had not walked over to greet them.

It is comforting to have so many roots in this community. And so many relatives and friends. Our friend Lucy Carderelle says that you can't talk about ANYBODY. Everybody is related or tied in SOME way. She came from somewhere else and is a wonderful person. She seems to be a big mother hen to lots of little old ladies, my Mom among them. She takes them to the Senior meals and several of them shopping and other errands too. There sure are a lot of kind people in this world. Most of them unsung.

I am going to take some nighttime cold medicine and "hit the sack" as Dad would have said. When I was a little girl, Mother used to say "Up the wooden hill to four corners."

Til Tomorrow

Mary

I forgot to post yesterday. Guess was so tired, and I just forgot. Last week was SO exhausting.

Yesterday was busy busy busy. I stopped at Mother's before the Volunteer Dinner at church an was able to say goodbye to Nora, Leif and Stenn and to George and Betsy. A bittersweet parting. Mother was really tired. She decided not to go to church for the dinner as she was not up to all the people who would have been trying to comfort her and talk about it. I am really glad she did not go. It was hard enough on me.

George and Betsy had gone out to the cemetery Sunday Morning and were so comforted to see that the hole was all filled in and smooth and whoever had done it had carefully arranged the yellow roses on top of the grave. I talked to one of the guys that works out there and was able to thank him for the care. He actually got teary. The crew out there is so caring and helpful.

Today, I took the money that we, as a family, had collected over to the Humane Society. They will etch Courtney's name and a statement about her on the glass of a door in the "cat house". It will be ready by Thursday when they have an open house and Randy and I will go an take pictures. George wants pictures of the building, the yards, the animals and Courtney's dedication. We will get them all.

The Volunteer Dinner was a great success. We had 150 to 170 in attendance. The meal and companionship were pleasant. And the cleanup was a snap. It is nice to cater to volunteers - While we were washing the silverware, they were policing the hall and had it done before we knew it. I was home by 8:00PM. Good thing. I was, as I said, exhausted.

Today, Bible Study, the trip to the Humane Society and Rhine Board Meeting.

Tomorrow, will be quiet. Darn good thing. It will be nice to cave up. I mentioned that I had made chili on Friday. The guys had it Sunday and Dick and I ate it tonight. Boy is it good. I had enough venison, so I just used it and chorizo for the meat.

Jim went to have supper with Michelle tonight. She was quite sick on Sunday but was feeling better and in need of company. That way he can see that she DOES eat and is OK.

"You'll never get to be a saint if you deny the bit of devil in you." from the Cadfael Book of Days.

Have a great Tuesday.

Love

Mary

The long sad day is over. We all gathered at St. Mary's Cemetary at 12:00Noon. A big crew with all the aunts and uncles and as many of the neices and nephews who could get here. It rained a bit on the way to the cemetary, but stopped before we all got out of our cars, so though it was a bit cool it was not an unpleasant time to be spending gathered around the grave.

We were there perhaps an hour. Shawn's father in law was a gentle and knowledgeable shepherd for the service. He kept us on track and pointed out the goodness of God which will follow the Good Friday that we have felt this past week and the Holy Saturday that we experienced today. He reminded us of the legacy of Courtney's goodness to the misfortunate of this world, she was like a magnet and always kind to them. I read my little story and told some of my memories of Courtney and then finished with the Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem that George requested be read. I finished but made sure that Dick was right there, because I knew that when I was done, I would need to be held. I had practiced the poem a couple of times at home because it needed to be read correctly to convey his message. Then George placed Courtney in Grandpa's arms and added a few things that were important to her. Two collars from her favorite cats, a windcatcher that Betsy made her using a couple feathers from the famous chicken that she spent $700 to try to save and her Aggie ring from college that she was VERY proud of. I put in a birthday card. Those who wanted took a yellow rose from the plastic tub that was waiting there and placed them next to the grave. We all went directly to Randy's to celebrate Courtney with pizza and beer.

It is NOW almost 11:00 I got home about a half an hour ago. It is hard to say goodby to each other.

I had the most wonderful surprise, Jim stopped by to comfort me and to express his sympathies to George and Betsy on his way to see Michelle. That meant the world to me and SO much to them.

I went to church tonight as it seemed like a good idea. The choir was singing and for an hour noone really missed me as there were conversation groups all over the house. I was glad I went. We sang You Raise Me Up and another song from the Unity Festival with Jim Wilsing playing the penny whistle for Joan and Don Otto on their 50th anniversary. Joan was in tears (of joy). So I am super glad that I did go over.


Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glint on snow
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there - I did not die.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain
When you awake in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight
I am the soft stars that shine at night
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there - I did not die.

Traditional

The above was on the prayer cards at my Dad's funeral. Courtney LOVED it and had several copies around her condominium. Randy read it for her today.

Tomorrow we will be fresh. Thank you all for your concern and prayers and love.

Mary

Today I went on a cooking frenzy. I had to do something to keep busy. As we will be eating at Randy's after the funeral, and Sunday is the Volunteer dinner at church, I made a big pot of chili for the guys and to enjoy part of next week too. I made carrot raison salad, cucumber salad, two pans of bars, (rhubarb and mint brownie) and the Kinert Spinach Noodl Casserole for dinner.

Michelle and Jim both got off work early today, so Michelle came up to spend the afternoon and evening with us (mainly Jim of course) they are watching movies downstairs. She passed another test, she likes the Kunert casserole.

It was beautiful for most of the day, though this afternoon it has become cloudy and a few raindrops are falling. George and Betsy and Nora and Leif arrived this afternoon. Stenn (Nora's son) and Shawn and Sara (George's son and wife) came too along with Sara's parents. Sara's Dad, Dwight, is going to conduct the graveside service for us.

It is good for all of us to be together and we are glad that they brought Courtney home to us. All the people do tire Mother, is is so important fo us all to be here, despite that.

I saw the workers getting ready for tomorrow night's spaghetti dinner fundraiser for St. Mary School, so I went over and gave the tickets that Dick and I had purchased to my friend Cindy to see if she could find someone who could use them as we will not be able to go. Cindy said that she would give one to her sister who is coming and planned to buy a ticket but is on rent assistance and this would be a nice surprise. Perhaps they can find another person who has a need.

Cadfael's reading for the day was thought provoking. "If I have guessed right, there is here a problem beyond my wit or yours to solve. I promise my endeavour. The ending is not mine, it belongs only to God. But what I can to, I will do."

Special

Mary

A beautiful sun shiny day. It was in the high 60s with a mild breeze wafting around. There had been rain last night and the streets were covered with worms. The robins should be very full tonight.

Dick and I went out to breakfast as usual on Thursdays, followed by the weekly grocery shopping spree. I cleaned the bathrooms when we got home. This afternoon, I went and picked up some groceries for Mother. George will stay with her while they are here and though she will not make any major meals, she really needed a few things in order to be able to supply breakfast and a lunch if necessary.

I also had to stop in church and replace one of the banners on the St. Francis Chapel wall with the Divine Mercy tapestry. Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday and my friend Esther, got permission to have the tapestry purchased and the Legion of Mary is celebrating a Holy Hour on Sunday in honor of the Divine Mercy. I thought I might need help but it was surpisingly easy to haul the ladder over there and switch the hangings.

Tomorrow, I am going to go on a baking and cooking frenzy. I will be making chili, spinach-noodle casserole and two pans of bars. The bars are for the gathering after the interment on Saturday and the meals are for Dick and Jim as I will not be here to prepare Saturday or Sunday meals.

Whose cruel idea was it for the word "lisp" to have an "S"
in it?

I hope I sleep well tonight. I am VERY tired.

Love

Mary

Today was better. The weather was lovely. Chelsea, however, seemed to be tired on her walk. She kept sitting down about when we got to the end of the street and did not want to go the full distance. I did not make her either. She is getting old, after all, and should have some choice in the matter. And frankly, usually she is the one dragging me the last half mile or so.

We racked the second batch of wild grape, the one without the bananas in it, to the secondary fermentors. I have to remember to check the specific gravity tomorrow. It is the most beautiful color. A deep deep purple.

Tonight, Rocky Knoll put on a thank you dinner for the volunteers. I have helped throughout the year by going with the church group to play bingo with the residents. They alway have a nice dinner, give out cute party favors, lots of door prizes and have entertainment. This year the entertainment was a Celtic Harpist playing a wirestrung Celtic Harp. I could not understand the introduction. Then when I went to see about getting a tape or CD (which I knew I would have to send for because I didn't bring that kind of cash with me) Imagine my delight when I discovered that he is Jeff Pockat. I have a CD of his that I got almost 20 years ago from Heather in Wausau. She thought I would enjoy his music and lent me the tape. I did and eventually purchased one for myself and another one for a gift to Fr. Mike Moran who loved traditional Irish Music. He gave nice introductions to his music and played a lot from way back when, including two from Carolan.

A nice break. Tomorrow we begin again.

We are going to pool our money that would be used for flowers or such and donate in a lump sum to the Humane Society. They will then engrave Courtney's name on a glass door in the Cat Room. Kathy and I started to laugh as we remembered the when Courtney worked at the Shelter in Texas, Betsy used to say that her daughter worked in a Cat House.


Love

Mary

The weather was lovely today. The temps were in the mid to high 50s and we were out in it for a bit.

Dick and I went to the funeral of Wally Horvatinec, who worked in maintenance at the library for MANY years. Jim came also, because Wally was his boss for 14 years or more and Jim was very fond of him.

Then we drove out to St.Mary Cemetery so I could get a lay of the land as far as how the graves are situated in the Deeley area. On the way home we stopped at Walgreens to pick up a couple of prescriptions and went to Harry's Diner for lunch.

When I got home, I called George and told him all that I had found out and they finalized their plans for the interment on Saturday at noon. Courtney will rest right on top of her Grandpa Hutz Deeley's coffin, just about in his lap. That will be comforting to George and Betsey as she and Dad had a really close relationship. Courtney lived out of state, most of the time, but they wrote letters in between visits. It was special. Dad wrote a poem especially for her too.

You might enjoy it.

Courtney dear you make me happy
A joy, a cheer to your Grandpappy
Cute as a bug, I love your hug.
Pretty and sharp you'll always be
One thing I don't like, you are so far away
And I don't get to see you grow up every day.
But when you come here a thrill it's to me
To see that you are still as sweet as can be
So bigger or not what difference Really
To me you will still be my Courtney Deeley.

Now, we mainly have to wait. Such a sad time.

Til tomorrow

Mary

Went to Bible Study this morning. It is comforting to have a group of people who pray and study with one. When we have a need, we know that people are praying with and for us.

After we were done, I stopped at Mother's to visit with her and Jeff and Kathy who were there to help get her gardens ready for planting and the trash hauled off to the dump. It was a good day for them to be with her anyway. We are all rather numb about our Courtney. I ended up staying for lunch and Aunt Kathleen called while we were eating and came to stay for a while. I left at about 2:00 and came home.

I had a message from George when I got in so I returned that call right away. Betsy and George want Courtney buried here in St. Mary Cemetery, close to her Grandpa. Our Dad, her grandpa and Courtney did have a special bond. When she was a little girl and did not live close, they wrote letters to each other and had a wonderful communication. They would like to have the buriel on Saturday, if all goes well in Texas. I was able to get the information and will call George and Betsy tomorrow for their decision. I do want to stop at the cemetery to get a visual before I call him and confirm Mother's ideas. Maybe I can convince Dick to go out to breakfast with me tomorrow and we can take a swing by there.

Aside from that I sewed today. I made some progress on the Hand of God wall hanging that I am designing. That was a relaxing project and I also watched Walk the Line. I recommend that movie just for the music. I liked it a lot.

A friend is someone who knows
the song in your heart
and can sing it back to you
when you have forgotten
the words.

-- Unknown

Love

The sun will come up tomorrow and we will all be OK. We will remember the words for each other.


Mary

Last night the phone rang at 10:00PM. This is a bit unusual under any circumstances, but when I heard my brother George's voice, for some reason, I was thinking, perhaps Houston was in a different time zone. I now remember that it is not. However, the news that he called to tell me was heartbreaking. Their daughter, Courtney, took her own life that morning. They had tried to call her all morning, then called work and though she WAS supposed to be there, had not showed up. So George and Betsy called the police to check and the police found her. Randy, Donna and I met at Mother's at about 9AM so someone would be with her when George called to tell her the news. It is heartbreaking and watching Mother hear the news was one of the most difficult.

We, Randy, Donna, their girls, Mother and myself all went to Mass. I asked Fr. Gene to ask the congregation for prayers, so a lot are being said for Courtney and for the family. We need them to get through this difficult acceptance. So you can help us out too. George told Randy that he should hug all three of his girls and then go back and hug them again.

The rest of Easter and I am exhausted. Jim picked up his girlfriend, Michelle, and she spent the afternoon and had dinner with us and Bobbie and Bill. I guess menitoned that she was coming yesterday, but just in case you just tuned in.

Michelle is fun, charming and lovely. We had a wonderful time and hope to spend more time with her in the future. Dick even gave her his chocolate bunny.

Jim, Michelle and I went out to Rhine to shoot in mid afternoon. Michelle chose to just watch, but I think she will join us the next time. She did like the club and the people she met. Not too many as Easter was a dud for business. Only about a dozen people, including us, and all were members who could have come anyway.

My first target was a dud again, only a 36, the other two were better 52 and 62 so I think from now on, I will shoot a practice target. (Then it will probably be my best one but we have to try.) I also shot a round of trap with Krunch as the Falls Club will start their league sometime in May and if Rosalee will shoot with me I would like to try again. Remember, I was Most Improved the last league there.

Today I only got a 14 in trap today, but after a whole winter of not shooting, I figure it will only improve. I was not following through - Need to reestablish my rythum.

The meal turned out really good. I will be reheating different combinations all week.

It is now time to call it a day. Remember our sweet Courtney and my brother and Betsy in your prayers. They need SO much comforting.



Love and Happy Easter


Mary

It was a bit cooler today. After the amazing 82 degrees of yesterday, Chelsea and I walked this morning in 40 degrees. It got up to the mid 60s and was clear and rather still anyway. We opened up the deck door and windows to let the fresh air in. The cats sure like that.

I was on a cooking frenzy today, getting ready for Easter as I have church at 10:30 and will be shooting with Jim and Michelle and maybe Bobbie at 2:30 out at Rhine.

I mixed the stuffing, made the cake for the dessert and sliced the strawberries. The Easter Bunny filled the baskets today too and left them in my care to put out for everyone in the morning. Dick and Jim will be so pleased that he remembered us again.

I don't think that I shared this recipe with you before. If I did , it bears repeating anyway.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE TO DIE FOR

6 oz. Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
3 eggs-Separated
3 Tbsp. water
1 Tsp. Instant Coffee
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Tsp. Vanilla
1 Tbsp. Blackberry Brandy

Stir instant coffee powder into boiling water in small heavy saucepan until completely dissolved. Add chocolate, place over low heat, stirring, just until chocolate is melted.

Remove from heat.

Whisk egg yolks into chocolate mixture one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in brandy and vanilla. Beat egg whites in a medium sized bowl until foamy, gradually beat in sugar - a tablespoon at a time - until meringue forms soft peaks. Fold into chocolate mixture until no streaks of white remain. Spoon into parfait glasses. Refrigerate at least one hour.

Garnish with whipped cream. Add a candied rosebud and mint leaf if you wish.


Happy Easter.

Don't let anybody eat the ears off of your chocolate bunies.

Mary

I am done with Environment for a while now. We had a WONDERFUL crew of about 20 people who worked very efficiently from 6 to about 8:00 and got everything done. It is beautiful. All gold and white with green plants around and the Celtic scrolls that Bob Fleming did for the church while he was in the parish. When I get pictures, I will post them on the blog so that you can see.

After we finished four of us went to Parkview Restuarant for a lake perch dinner. It was pretty good. I have had better, but I have difinately had worse and would bo back there for another one if the occasion arose. By then I was very hungry and it was a welcome repast.

The choir sang at the Good Friday Service this afternoon too, so I spent a LOT of time in church today.

I also got the kitchen cleaned this morning and boiled the eggs for Easter dinner and the baskets. Tomorrow, I only have to leave the house to walk the dog. I intend to be a real hermit.

I have not heard for ANY of my out of state kids for several weeks now. I guess it it time that I call to see if they are all still functioning. My weekends have been so busy that I have been thinking of calling much too late.

Below is my attempt at a prose poem. A prose poem is one that does not rhyme or have lined. Its only claim to being poetry is that it is supposed to flow and seems to me is an excuse to write ideas in a form other than a essay but that do not quite become another form of poem. Let me know what you think. A prime example of a good one is the poem Get Drunk, which I think I did put on the blog at one time.

Memories of a Strikers Daughter


Fear and fervor lived in our house. A STRIKE was being called for by the workers. The workplace was not safe. Everybody knew that the Company built the hospital for the victims of dreaded silicosis, the scourge of the plant. And Dad was a UNION MAN. United we stand! He believed. Then he walked the picket line. I remember. His friend John crossed the picket line. SCAB! They were friends no more. Ever. Some names are burned in memory - Dad spat out those names. These were the enemy. Mom made homemade donuts for the guys on the picket line. Dad joined the Union Chorus. They sang “When the Union's inspiration through the workers blood shall run” . The chorus traveled to Georgia to sing at convention. They went to other exotic places too. We kids loved THE SOUP KITCHEN! They were open 24 hours and they served dry Bologna Sandwiches wrapped in waxed paper with all the soda we could drink. Unbelievable luxury.
One day, Uncle Jack put Kohler fixtures in his new addition. Why Dad checked, we don't know but he saw and left without a word. Dad didn't speak to his own brother for years.

The Brothers made up. Praise God!

Many Never Have.




Mary

Another warm day with a bit of sprinkles thrown in mid afternoon. Just enough moisture to give everything a bit of a drink and a gently rinse.

We went to see Sue, the technician who checks Dick's blood every month. He was perfect again. Sue said it had been 16 months and she is amazed. She wishes he could bottle what he does because it is just unheard of to be within the perameters for that long a time. Proud - Proud - Proud.

We then went grocery shopping and home. This afternoon, I had to go BACK to church to finish the environment (decorating - it's decorating. Churches don't like to say they decorate, but they do.) for Holy Thursday (tonight). Marcie, Donna, Fran and I finished at about 4:45 and I had to spin back home to fix and eat dinner and change to go BACK to church for the Holy Thursday service, as the choir sang.

It was an interesting service. It is the one that involves the symbolic washing of the feet. That went well. Following that we had the petitions and the Eucharistic Service. THEN they processed the sacrament to the temporary tabernacle that we had set up outside the body of the church (which is the normal Holy Thursday thing to do.) In the back of my mind, I was thinking, "When do they strip the altar." When the sacrament was ensconsed, Fr. Gene said that people could pray in silence and then leave. So most people started to get up and leave. Then Deacon Sy Regan went up to the front and said. "Silence should be maintained. We aren't done yet." (I am paraphrasing) Then he and Deacon Bill proceeded to take the cloths off of the altar as those who remained in church kind of whispered and milled around in confusion. In the background we could hear Fr. Gene laughing in conversation with someone in the vestibule. It was all very odd. Why Fr. Gene or the Deacons did not announce, or better yet, they did not mention in the Worship folder that the altar would be stripped after the interment and that everyone should wait in silence until that was accomplished, I will never know. But I certainly do not know more than these Old Men do. Ha Ha

Maybe Good Friday will be smoother.

Love

Mary

What a day. It has been in the upper 60s and we have had the window in the office and the deck door open all afternoon. It is 8:30PM and they are STILL open and it feels great. It rained all morning or we would probably have opened them then. The rain was welcome too. I will have to walk around the house and see if it encouraged a couple more of my herbs. Two of the lavender, one thyme, the oregano, chives and parsley are coming up. The rhubarb and the peony on the far side of the house are coming up too.

I am waiting for the tulips to bloom. I thought I saw one out there today. Daffodils are showing color on my walk so life is good.

Jim just got back from having dinner with Michelle at Applebees in Bayshore Mall. We are looking forward to meeting her on Sunday. Jim, Michelle and I are going shooting at about 2:30 that day. We hope Bobbie will join us too. Michelle told Jim that she really hasn't shot pistol but has hunted and shot trap or skeet, maybe both. That will be a fun thing to do together.

I am going to fix a Blitz Torte for Sunday's dessert. I will fill it with custard and fresh strawberries. That seems very Eastery to me.

My friend Janet sent me the following - Enjoy.


Apples and Wine

Women are like apples on trees. The best ones are at the top of
the tree. Most men don't want to reach for the good ones
because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt. Instead,
they sometimes take the apples from the ground that aren't as
good, but easy. The apples at the top think something is wrong
with them, when in reality, they're amazing. They just have to
wait for the right man to come along, the one who is brave
enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree. Share this
with women who are good apples, even those who have already
been picked!

Now Men.... Men are like a fine wine. They begin as grapes, and
it's up to women to stomp the crap out of them until they turn
into something acceptable to have dinner with.



Have a nice Thursday.

I did get to stay home all day today. AND the weather was wonderful. It was in the mid 60s. I washed throw rugs and hung them over the railing on the deck to dry. Chelsea and I had a lovely walk this morning AND we walked around the house and put a couple of things out in the garden too.

Dick an I filtered the 2nd time around concord grape wine today. We will bottle it tomorrow. Then I have an empty jug and can start the last of the wild grapes that I gathered last fall.

We are having Bobbie and Bill and Jim's friend Michelle over on Easter for dinner. I love to feed people. This will be fun. I spent part of the day planning the meal. Jim would like to take Michelle trap shooting, so we will probably meet at the club in the afternoon. That way I can shoot again too. It is getting towards spring.

I really should check, as a matter of fact, as Sheboygan Falls Conservation has a two man league and I should probably call my friend Rosalee and see if she wants to shoot this year. Last year, I found out that she knew my brother Jeff at one time. She knew him as a rascal and was quite surprised to hear that he retired as a teacher and was not such a rascal in these last 30 years or so.

I am getting ready to watch the remake of the Ten Commandments so I am posting a bit early.

The only other exciting thing that happened to day was that I argued with my pastor over the ugly red cloth on the altar. We both settled down before the end of the conversation but it got pretty angry for a while, which I was. I ended by reminding him that I had a notice in the bulletin that the Environment Committe had nothing to do with the ugly red cloth and he said that he respected that.

So that is over. We still don't agree. I WILL be showing him the guidelines that we used for not putting red directly on the altar for Palm Sunday.

I am a stubborn Irish Catholic Girl, Aren't I?

Mary

Whew - what a busy day. I am so glad that it is over and tomorrow, I get to stay home ALL day. Chelsea is getting her Easter Bath in the morning. I hope that SHE doesn't read the blog tonight. I would hate to have her fretting all night long.

Started out this morning with Bible Study at 9:30AM. I was totally surprised. My fellow Bible Study participants chipped together and bought me a lovely crystal crucifix as a thank you for starting and leading the group. They are such a great group of loyal interested people and we are all learning SO much. This morning, we started out with a general discussion of the "new" Judas Gospel. It is pretty well proven that it does date back far enough but it does not put forth the same message (even discounting the fact that it says that Judas was following Jesus request by betraying him) that the other gospels do. It is totally different even than the other Gnostic gospels which were not included in the New Testament.

Then I went to take pictures of the Palm Sunday decorations in church that the Environment committee worked hard on and found the our Deacon and Priest had taken off the altar cloth we had left on and replaced it with a wrinkled red raggy piece of cloth because the Deacon decided that the altar cloth should be red and they couldn't find an altar cloth. What a joke. I am still trying to get some satisfaction on that. Deacon Sy and I disagree completely on the instructions for Palm Sunday decorations. I will be discussing this with Father. I don't have to this.

Writers Club this afternoon and two more meetings at church tonight have left me really beat. I shared my poem with them and they liked it. I will share it with you here and you can let me know what you think. I would like to send it somewhere but am not quite certain where it fits.


Luminescence

They become translucent
In the twilight of their days.
Like fragile delicate china
The light from within and beyond
Shines through
With a warm golden glow.

Once brazen yellow, like a dandelion
Sprung up on the lawn.
Now a fragile tuft of spun silver
Waiting to be whispered away gently
By God's own breath
To eternity and home.

Today at Bible Study, Helen Maurer mentioned that my Mother had taught her daughter at St. Mary School many years ago. Mom taught at the school for two years during the strike. She was a teacher, you know. She got her teachers certificate at the Sheboygan Falls Normal School which later became Lightfoot School, for special needs children and now has been torn down. The land is being used to put up condominiums. But I digress. Mom was teaching the year that John Kennedy was assasinated and Helen's daughter still remembers Mother talking to the children about it and crying along with them at the sadness of it all.

Have a nice Tuesday. It is supposed to be warm

Mary

What a satisfying day.

It was quite pleasant. Mid 50's after a brisk walk this morning in 31 degree temps. But the sun shone and there was no wind. I went out to shoot this afternoon. I shot three league targets.

After the first one, I wondered if I made a big mistake. I had either four or five non scoring shots. My mind has blanked it out. But the next two, I adjusted and they were much better. That really bad one will bring my average way down, but hopefully I can bring it up again.

Tonight, Dick and I went to the Kohler Memorial Theater in their high school and saw, Hal Holbrook as Mark Twain. I cannot tell you how enjoyable it was. He is a master. The delight in seeing him perform and on top of that performing a a role that he has been doing and refining since 1954 was enjoyed by the whole audience. Even the program was amusing. As and example, this was in the program listings. "MUSIC: A trombone player was engaged, but is unreliable and should not be expected." Dick says that they have narrowed the seats in that auditorium, so we will not go back there, BUT it was well worth finding that out with such a great show. It took the discomfort ALMOST out of the sitting.

He told a story about Limburger Cheese, a mix up with a box of rifles and a body and a very hot railroad car. Limburger Cheese reminded me of two incidents in my own life.

My Grandma Deeley (along with Mother) introduced me to the wonders of cheese. I used to go to join Grandma for morning Mass during the summers and then go home with her for breakfast. We always had cheese and bread. Homemade of course. She introduced me to many different and exotic varieties of cheese. Once she mentioned giving me some Limburger and I still remember Aunt Helen absolutely forbidding it.

The other story involves, my ex husband's dear Aunts, Ruth and Lib (short for Elizabeth.) They used to get together occasionally JUST to eat Limburger. They always said that the trick was to hold your breath and your nose until you managed to get the first bite down. Then you could enjoy it. Sounds like a lot of trouble to me. There are plently of cheeses that don't involve tricking your brain and taste buds.

My Uncle George always sent a cheese box with lots of different cheese varieties in it. My boys learned to love cheese from me and to experiment from those boxes. When Bart and I moved to Minnesota, the thing I missed most until I could get my kitchen set up was having a piece of cheese and a cracker while I was preparing dinner. Bart too.


Have a wonderful week. It is supposed to get up into the 60s for us.

Love

Mary

Worked all morning at church. We had to cut the ends off the palms because they had been left in their boxes - in the sealed plastic - for several days AND got moldy. What a mess, there are hundreds of the darn things. We did our embellishments to jazz things up for the Palm Sunday Celebration tonight and tomorrow.

Then we checked out the altar cloths and hangings that we will need for Holy Thursday and Easter.

Tonight I went to Mass at 5:00 because the choir had to practice for Easter Week AFTER mass. Didn't get home until about 7:15 so we had a very late supper and I am very tired. But Now I do not have to get up early tomorrow. I guess that Jim and I will shoot tomorrow and in the evening, Dick and I will go to see Hal Holbrook as Mark Twain at the Kohler Theatre. I am really looking forward to that, Hal is one of my favorites.

I sent for the Rosalyn Russell version of My Sister Eileen. Dick and I remember it very fondly from our youth. It is very amusing but it is also amazing how humor has changed and we are not finding it as hysterically funny as we remembered it from back then. It kind of reminds me of Dad. He used to rave about the OLD westerns. Lash Larue etc etc. So finally we got him a tape or something of an old movie and he grudgingly ended up admitting that he was really disappointed. It was not at all what he remembered.

Have a good Sunday. I hope this wasn't too rambling. Jennifer Garner said. "I know enough to know that when you're in a pickle...Call Mom." I still remember laying in the hospital in labor with my first baby and wishing that my Mom was there.

Later

Mary

It snowed today. The forecast was possible flurries, but it was really heavy for almost two hours. I was driving from Sheboygan Falls to Plymouth when it was at its peak and I was kind of wondering what the heck I was doing out there. Fortunatly, it stopped BEFORE I was leaving Dairy Queen and the drive home was safe and sound. So - on the way home I stopped and got two dozen eggs from the egg farm. (Now I just have to dye some white eggs with tumeric as I will have on green and several shades of brown dyed by nature for the baskets. Yes! the Easter Bunny DOES come to our house.) I also stopped at Woodlake and cashed in a couple of coupons. Woodlake will often have items before the major chain groceries.

Tonight we went to Bill's retirement party that was put on by the Friends. (There were nine other retirees honored but of course the most important one was BILL.) We ran into Pete, Jim's old supervisor. I asked him if he had tried the pepper jelly that I gave him (I knew he hadn't) He is afraid of it, I think. I tried to convince him that it is really good. It is you know. We are all out and I have to make another batch. If he tastes it he may ask for more (Ha Ha)

This morning I met with Beth Dipple at the Research Center. She is the Director of the organization. She is also my brother in law Ken's cousin. AND Pat O'Reilly, who sings with Blarney, (a favorite Irish Band) whenever they come to Sheboygan County is Ken and Beth's Uncle. He is the one who had a heart attack in the middle of his song about 6 years ago and was saved because:

1. There were two emergency room nurses in the audience
2. One of the band member is an EMT.
3. They were on him before he hit the floor.

When they got him stabalized and were reeling him out on the gurney he was struggling to get up. He kept telling the EMTS that he had to finish his song. The next year he was back and DID finish his song. He is still singing for us too.

Anyway, I took a biography and a copy of my brother's book to her. Now he will be remembered forever.

We are going to work together to try to bring Irish events to Sheboygan County three or four times a year. We hope to start sometime this summer.

I was thinkin today of all I learned in Al Anon and AA. I don't know why. But I do remember going to my first meeting and crying during the whole thing. A dear little man wearing a hand made tie slide with Jesus Loves You printed on it kept patting me on the arm and saying. "You are in the right place."

And a lady, who I knew had a rougher road than I, would say. "I can fix my day at the beginning of it. I can change "Good God Morning" to Good Morning God."
Have a Good Morning God kind of day!

The Elantra is all fixed. While Dick took Jim to work this morning, I dropped it off at the body shop. Then Dick picked me up and we went for breakfast and grocery shopping. We had to pick Jim up when the car was ready as well. Then in the early afternoon, we got a prescription for Dick from Walgreens, so I felt like we were traveling most of the day.

I also transplanted the pitiful plant that the cats have been chewing on into three smaller pots today and cut off the top of the big corn plant which was hitting the ceiling. I stuck the top piece in the same pot next to the original. Now the trick will be to keep the cats from killing it. They are extremely persistant. I may look for some repellant tomorrow.

The weather was beautiful, sunny and in the mid 50s all day.

Tomorrow night we will go the the Friends of Mead Public Library, retirement party for the eight long term employees who took early retirement. This time we have it right. As you remember, a couple of weeks ago, Dick and I were all ready. Good thing Jim figured it out and told us we had the wrong date.

I am taking my brother Matt's book of poems and mini biography to the Sheb. County Historical Research Center to donate. Beth and I have a couple of other things to discuss also.

The Cadfael Book of Days for yesterday was very special. I may bring it to Bible Study on Monday. "Death falls upon children who never did harm to any, upon old men, who in their lives have done good to many, and yet are brutally and senselessly slain. Never let it shake your faith that there is a balance hereafter. What you see is only a broken piece from a perfect whole."

Isn't that special?

Have fun tomorrow. The second last Friday in Lent.

Mary

It was a beautiful day. Up in the 50s. Dick said that this is supposed to be the warmest day of the week. That is a disappointment but we need to take them when we get them. This morning when Chelsea and I started on our walk, we heard a Phoebe singing his heart out right from the tree next to the walk. Such a big noise from such a small creature.

I had lunch with a friend today. Suzi lost her husband six months ago. I went to see Sam a couple of times when he was dying. He wanted company and I am good at that. I waited a few months before calling Suzi because it seems to me that everybody is always there and wanting to visit right after yhou lose someone but after a while they go on with their lives and forget. That is when you need someone. So we had a good visit. I will call her again in a month or so.

Tomorrow, we have to take Jim to work and the Elantra to the body shop to have the bumper fixed. I did tell you that Jim had a little fender bender on the way home one evening last week, didn't I? Noone was hurt at all but of course we have to get the car fixed. They say that it will not be over a day and a half. Hopefully it will be done tomorrow. We are grocery shopping tomorrow too. I still have to get my list together.

Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907.
"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
Theodore Roosevelt 1907

I thought that the above is as pertinant today as it was 100 years ago.

Mid week and on to the weekend.

Love

Mary

It was a gorgeous day today. The sun was shining and despite the slightly more than needed breeze it felt much warmer that the high of the forties. Chelsea let me sleep until 6:30 AM.

She had to go for her heartworm test today. She does not like going to the Vet at all. She is starting to object to even going into the office. We always put a muzzle on her because we just don't know if she will snap or not. This time she got scared and started crying while Dr. Kris was drawing the blood. She was totally pitiful. But all is well and she will start taking her pills in June. Dr. Kris is Dr. Zechlinski's new partner. When I told her Chelsea likes lettuce she was delighted because her favorite patient at her previous practice also loved lettuce.

Then Dick and I voted and went over to D & M Plumbing to look at counter tops. We didn't get as much information as we had hoped for. Dick expected that they would send someone over to measure and make some recommendations. Apparantly they want us to measure and draw a floor plan and so on. So, we need to reconsider how we are going to proceed.

An e-mail from a friend. We all get heavier as we get older because there's a lot more information in our heads. So I'm not fat, I'm just really intelligent and my head couldn't hold any more so it started filling up the rest of me! That's my story and I'm sticking to it


I thought you would enjoy it as much as I did

Mary

What a strange weather day this was. I woke up to rain, really strong winds and even some snow flurries for a bit. Chelsea was bracing her little four feet to keep upright in the wind and did not even object to not heading out for a walk. Then this afternoon, the sun came out and by 5 or so it was almost warm though the wind is still a bit gusty.

We did get our walk this afternoon. The wind was still strong enough at 2 that I was bracing myself one direction and scooting along pretty fast the other. The old Irish Saying. "May the wind be always at your back" makes lots of sense.

Tomorrow, she gets her heartworm test. She thinks that the pills she takes once a monthe to prevent them are treats. She will like the ride, but it is really funny to see her march into the office and then try to head immediately back to the car.

We must remember to vote tomorrow too. Dick says that he is going to vote against Bush.

Bobbie and I had the Rhine Plymouth regular meeting tonight. It went quite well despite the officer changes that we have had when our president resigned. Things had been quite disrupted lately, not because of our previous leader, but the change certainly has given us a chance to change direction a bit and perhaps stop some of the bickering.

How closely tragedy and comedy are intwined. Mother and I were laughing Sunday about an incident that happened to her several years ago. She belongs to a bridge club that has been in existance for probably close to 70 years. There are still three of the original members in it. They play when they all feel well and when the weather is with them.

A few years ago, Mother, Loraine Le Mehieu and Bea Visser went to pick up Florence Herring to meet the others in Sheboygan. They got to her house and she didn't come out for her ride. So they went to the door and knocked. When they didn't get an answer, they called her son. When he arrived he went in and found out that dear Florence had passed peacefully away. By then they were late to meet the other s for lunch but they valiantly got in the car and went to the restuarant where they were going to eat before playing cards. They joined their friends and Bea said to those gathered. "Florence is gone." Doris Moies, a little miffed because they were late said. " Well, Where did she go.?"

They all still laugh about this incident to this day. They are so close but so practical and so accepting of life - and death - as part of the whole picture.

Have a lovely Tuesday. Don't forget to vote if you have an election in your area


Love

Mary

It has been raining off and on all afternoon. Now it seems a bit foggy. We need the rain. The little bit that we had last week made the tulips and day lilies really shoot up.

Jim and I went to practice pistol shooting again today. I am holding. The exercising is really helping. Would you believe that I got a 72 today!!!! And my average for the day was only four below Jim's. I am EXCITED. When we came back upstairs, we found Uncle Ken, my brother-in-law, sitting on a stool so we visited a bit with him.

I wrote a biography of my brother Matthew to take along with his poetry book to the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center when I meet with Beth Dippel on Wednesday morning. I had Dick read it and he says it is OK. I reviewed the things that I wanted to say with Mother. I believe that I will embellish it with my personal memories and things that, maybe, don't belong in the Research Center. If I change my mind, I can always replace it.

Here is one of his poems.

THINGS I'D LIKE TO SEE
by
Matt Deeley

there are many people i'd like to know
too many for my short years
many ways i'd like to grow
many many things i'd like to hear

a few more hearts i'd like to touch
some words i might believe
you know i just can't see too much
before i take my leave
a few more friends i'd like to make
a little love i'd like to take

before i'm tired and have to rest
i'd like to try my very best
to see everything there is to see
before weariness falls on me

a few more years i'd like to live
a little trust i'd like to give
and maybe i can help someone
to know himself and understand
that day is never really done
the sun shines always on the land.

there are many things i'd like to see
before my eyes can look no more
many different places i'd like to be
before i'm too old to open doors.


Tomorrow is a busy day. Bible Study AND Rhine Plymouth Meeting.

It will probably rain and maybe a few flurries. That doesn't seem quite fair but after all it is only April. May the sun shine on you.

Mary

A whole day at home. I finished a rough copy of a brocure that I want to mail to our Blessed Trinity Senior Saints. (I'm one of them too, even if Mother says that I am just a kid.) I have to laugh at her. She said that most of the people that go to the Senior meals are in their 70s. And many are in worse shape than she is. She is an amazing woman.

I also cleaned my desk and cleared up several things that have been just hanging around. Then I made some blueberry muffins and a blueberry cheesecake. I had a bag of blueberries in the freezer and soon there will be fresh blueberries in the store that are reasonable. Don't want things hanging around in the freezer TOO long.

It was a little bit chilly today. I don't think it got over 47 and it was cloudy, so it was a bit gloomy. A good day to hole up at home. Kitties were quite pleased with that. They like it when I work at my desk. Actually they like it when I sew downstairs too. They just all move down there to sleep. Sometimes I feel like the Pied Piper. Of course, they are not rats or children.

Tonight we have to remember to change the clocks. Spring Forward. Nine becomes ten. I always have to go through the whole idea before it sinks in. That ought to really confuse the animals. Don't you think?

Later.

Mary

Woke up this morning to wet streets. It did not start raining again until this afternoon and has been misting ever since.

I went to Plymouth for lunch. There were just three of us today. Marlene was babysitting and Betty is off galavanting in the Carribean again. This time with her daughter on a rather small boat. I had a cup of Tomato Florentine soup. It was very very good. Then I bought three small blizzards for our dessert tonight. I couldn't resist when the server gave me a .50 coupon and they have Banana Cream Pie and Coconut Cream Pie flavors. Boy are they every GOOD!

I have a story for you tonight. Years ago, my Dad had a hip replacement. He was the first or second person in the county to get this new procedure which was a plastic joint. He had had a stainless steel one year before but it had gotten closed by calcium buildup. Calcium would not build up on the plastic joint.

Anyway, he had to go into the hospital a couple of days ahead of time as they had to scrub and totally disinfect and sanatize his skin and the area of the operation. Probably because they would be opening the bone marrow area. Grandma Bowser found that a good reason to tease Dad. She told him that she remembered hearing about the Man from Town Mosel who was admitted to the hospital and it took them seven days of baths before they got him clean.


Have a nice weekend. If the rain keeps up, we will have worms all over the street. This is another sign of spring and good harvest for the robins.

Mary

What a beautiful day. We opened the window in the office for a good part of the day, which made Oscar and Roxie, especially Oscar, very happy.

We went out grocery shopping this morning with our usual Thursday morning breakfast at Zana's. When we got home I raked the last of the leaves that were piled up against the house. Now if we get some rain, and continue to have warm days, I will be able to figure out what I will have to replace or supplement. The tulips, peonys, day lilies, parsley, thyme, chives and rhubarb are showing signs of life.

I was watching an old Married with Children today about Marcie and Peg going to a men's strip show. It reminded me of the time that I went to one. A bunch of Little League moms, including myself decided to go to one on a lark. So we gathered. Have you ever tried to tell a bunch of eleven year old boys that their mothers are going to a men's trip show. They, almost in unison, said "You are going WHERE?" with total disbelief on their faces. We had a great time. All of the strippers were way to young to be too erotic and I came home reeking of cigarette smoke but it was a fun night.

Friday already tomorrow. AND the last day or March. Maybe thunderstorms. We could use rain.

Mary

The crab tree in our side yard from Spring of 2003.


Enjoy this taste of spring. Every morning when Chelsea and I take our walk there are more and more signs. Of course, we don't have these beautiful trees yet. But they will be coming soon. I love the busy bird choir that we hear as we walk around the tract.

We went to Nino's with Mother for dinner before going to the play. It was Lend Me a Tenor. I did remember correctly. The Theatre Company did this play in 1993. It is a very funny farce. All three of us found it very amusing.

I spent the morning squishing juice out of wild grapes and combining the juice with the juice extracted from the raisin/banana mixture that I had put together earlier. This is a new recipe as the first wild grape wine I made was a disappointment. Very non descript and a bit harsh. Age did not mellow it very much either. I figure the raisins and banana should mellow it a bit. Only time will tell and the scratch wines do require patience.


Have a nice Thursday.

Mary

The only things I had to go out of the yard for today were to walk Chelsea this morning and to pick up Market Day this afternoon. It was SO good not to be running around for a day.

The weather was beautiful today. This afternoon, I went out in the yard and cleared the old dead Marigolds out of the planter and swept the leaves up from around the front. Chelsea was delighted as this was her first time to hang out in the yard since last fall.

This was a double special day because I took her along when I picked up Market Day. A ride always is special and I like to take her when I can and it is not the vet. Otherwise, eventually, she won't want to go. She really likes going to Mom's or as a special treat to Bobbie and Bill's house, much better than today.

I spent the rest of the day catching up on computer stuff, especially the board minutes, and roster for Rhine Plymouth.

Tomorrow I get to stay home all day until the evening when Dick and I will be going to dinner and the play with Mom. I want to do a bit more yard work as it is supposed to get all the way up in to the middle 50s tomorrow. Chelsea will be a happy little camper if she gets to go out two days in a row. That is almost warm enough to open up the windows and let in the fresh air. Kitties would love that.


[]
A friend is someone who knows
the song in your heart
and can sing it back to you
when you have forgotten
the words.;

-- Unknown

Mary

Today was the busiest day that I will have this week.

Bible Study started at 9:30AM. We had a lively discussion on Jeremiah. This was the chapter on the New Covenant where God tells his people that the laws will no longer be written in stone but in the hearts of his people. I especially like the quote from the latter half of 31:33 "I will be their god and they will be my people." and the last of verse 34. " for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more." Both very comforting.

After the study, I called Donna, one of the Environment Committee members, to help me clean and sweep the attic. We piled a bunch of carpeting against the wall so that Donna can get to the ladders to the scaffolding behind the altar to hang the stuff. Hopefully, Kathy, our maintenance person, can get rid of more of the carpet scraps, those that we don't think we use anymore.

Saw Dr. Casey today again about my shoulder. I still have some pain though it is getting stronger. He gave me a new exercise that he says should help. He called it the beer can exercise, which will help me remember how to do it.

Tonigh Bobbie and I had a board meeting at Rhine. Our president resigned and quit, I think I told you that, so the VP. John Nevicosi, wanted a board meeting to determine how to proceed and to establish an agenda for the meeting next week. That took a while but hopefully it will set up some ground rules as to how to deal with the difficult members who keep complaining about petty things.

The rest of the week is much quieter. The only other night event is to go to the Sheboygan Theatre with Mother on Wednesday to see Lend Me a Tenor.

Well, it is about time to go to bed now. Mother used to say "Up the wooden hill to four corners." It was probably a little more clear when bedrooms were ALWAYS upstairs.

Love

Mary

I just found Garrison Keillor on PBS. What a nice way to end a rather pleasant Sunday. I went to the early Mass. Had a nice visit with Jim Wilsing, my bagpiper friend, who is substituting for Beth Hoegger, our organist/choir director, while she is visiting her daughter in Germany. Does that make sense? Oh well, does to me. I wanted to confir that Jim will play for us at Celtic Mass in September and that he would help Beth and I plan the Mass. I was so pleased today, when we finished singing the communion song there was a bit of time left so Jim played my favorite Irish Aire - the one I wrote the words to for Unity Concert and Celtic Faire.

This afternoon, Bobbie and I worked at Rhine. It was a BEAUTIFUL day. I scored a couple of rounds of trap to give the guys that were doing it a break and it was well worth it. I told Doc that they should MAKE me do a round or two each time I work so that I don't feel so rusty the first round. Before I left, I went through a file cabinet of papers that has been sitting around for years. We sent MOST of it to the incinerator. It was receipts and bank statements and what not from 1990 to 2004. I kept the statements from 1999 to present for the record as they say that 7 years is as far back as they audit. (Some say less and some say more but 7 is the concensus.)

Got home and we had barbecued ribs and potato salad for supper. Nobody was disappointed.

I finished one of my squares for the Church Quilt. Only one and 1/3 more or less to go. I made a pinwheel and a square called Wintergreen which is actually a Christmas pattern but looks great in non Christmas colors too.





The above is a grave marker in the graveyard at St. Michael Church near Parnell. It is a single marker that covered the graves of four children of my great great Grandfather Michael Bowser. The children, at least three of them, died of diptheria during an epidemic at that time. Their brother Joseph, my great grandfather, had to help his father bury the children as the neighbors, though they were concerned and would bring food to the end of the road were unable to help because of fear of the disease. I cannot conceive of losing four babies in less than a year. One almost did me in.

They are hard to read.

Michael S. was born 7/18/1951 and died 6/29/1860
George L. was born 11/5/1855 and died 6/11/1860
Andrew W was born 1/17/1858 and died 6/28/1860
and Sara M was born 10/01/1859 and died 12/28/1859

We find it interesting that Great Great Grandpa had already changed the spelling of his name to Bowser but he used the Bauser spelling for the stone for his children.


Not to be grim. It is actually comforting to know my roots back that far.

Have a great week

Mary

We just returned home from the Sheboygan Symphony. Last year, our conductor, Guy Bardo, who was really excellent, decided not to continue with the orchestra. This year has been a year in which after the board narrowed the applicants down to four, each planned and conducted one perfomance. The conductor this evening was the only woman candidate, Cornelia Kodkani-Leammli, who impressed me. We had an opoeist, Mark Fink, as the guest artist. The whole performance was very impressive.

I saw several friends, notably, Steve Naffin, my old choir director at Blessed Trinity, and his friend and mine, Bob Fleming, the artist, who did so many beautiful hangings in Celtic designs for the church. He is venturing into expanding his art, notably, as an example, I received a St. Patrick's Day card from him that I was sure he had designed with the most beautiful St. Patrick. He is, Steve said, going to do a series. I told him to be sure to let me know when they are ready for ordering. You might want to see the Patrick. I love artists.

I was thinking about the desert the past couple of day. I do miss the desert. It was always such a treat to go out there for a weekend or more. The kids could run themselves silly. I remember one year we had all the kids there pile into Neil Minter's Jeep. He had a CJ6 which is a bit longer than the standard CJ5. Then we took 8 milimeter movies of them piling out one by one. I believe we had 20 some kids in that vehicle. It was quite a sight. We, my ex and the kids and me, belonged to the Orange County Four Wheelers. The club prided itself on being a family club. We even would say that we had 25 FAMILIES as members.

I also remember a trip when we took the boys bikes along with us, as we were going to the high desert with dirt roads versus sand. We were camped in a valley with high hills all around us. I looked up to the top of a hill with a trail winding down to camp and saw Bret just plunging down the trail from the top. All I could do was hold my breath and pray. He made it obviously. That was only the beginning for him. At 15, he could outdrive many of the grown men.

Have a sweet Sunday.

Mary

This was a nice day. It was cloudy mostly, but not windy and the temps were in the high 30s to low 40s. When I went to Plymouth for lunch the thermometer on the bank registered 45. Don't know how accurate it is but it did feel rather nice.

I got the kitchen scrubbed and polished this morning. Since I didn't do it last week, it really did need it. This evening I started a batch of wild grape wine. This is a new recipe, The first batch that I made a couple of years ago was rather bitter (foxy is the term used in wine talk). I am going to try that original recipe too, but this one calls for raisins and bananas. That should mellow it out. I am going to add more sugar to the other one after I rack it the second time.

Dick took Jim and me out for a fish dinner tonight. We went to Ninos. Very good too. Then Jim and I went and signed up for the spring pistol league and shot three targets. I did pretty good, the exercises and the elbow band are finally helping apparantly. My average was only 2 below Jim's average. Bobbie, bring your gun Sunday so you can sign up and shoot if you want to be in the spring league.

I got the FUNNIEST email from my friend Janet in California today. I will share it with you as I need to sign off and go to bed. Tomorrow we go to the symphony in the evening.

Here is the FUNNY email.

Cleaning the Toilet - Hilarious


1. Put both lids of the toilet up and add 1/8 cup of pet shampoo to the

water in the bowl.

2. Pick up the cat and soothe him while you carry him towards the bathroom.

3. In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close both

lids. You may need to stand on the lid.

4. The cat will self agitate and make ample suds. Never mind the noises

that come from the toilet, the cat is actually enjoying this.

5. Flush the toilet three or four times. This provides a "power-wash"

and rinse".

6. Have someone open the front door of your home. Be sure that there

are no people between the bathroom and the front door.

7. Stand behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly lift both lids.

8. The cat will rocket out of the toilet, streak through the bathroom,

and run outside where he will dry himself off.

9. Both the commode and the cat will be sparkling clean.

Sincerely,

The Dog


Love


Mary

We had flurries off and on all day today and the temperatures stayed in the high 30s. There was little wind so it was not bad.

We grocery shopped this morning. Then I took Mother to the Ear Doctor to have her hearing aid checked and adjusted. She is having a bit of trouble adjusting to the new one. It has built in features that she has to get used to. Then she and I went to Brisco County for lunch. That was nice. We had a nice visit.

We were talking about days before my time. She remembers when there was and insane asylum (and that is what they called it too.) somewhere out on the Kohler Memorial Drive. I asked her how long Dad worked for Kohler. We are not sure so we will have to figure that out. I know he worked in the Woolen Mill both as Brickner and as Grieves in Sheboygan Falls. (Woolen Mills are practically extinct. Wool Carding too. People use synthetics and cottons but less wool these days.) He worked at the Tannery for a while too. But he was at Kohler and had been there for some time when the strike was called and that was the beginning of his strong and dedicated interest in unions. The Kohler strikers formed a chorus that traveled to Union functions. I remember them being very good and singing Union words to all kinds of old favorites. For instance. "When the union's inspiration through the workers blood shall run." to the Battle Hymn of the Republic. I find that I still know the words to that one.


Tomorrow is a quiet day but we are going to the Friends of Mead Public Library's party for the 8 people who have taken early retirement. Bill is one of them as you all know.

Have a nice Friday.

Mary

My quiet day at home turned out to be another day of running around. We got a call yesterday that Dick's glasses were ready (I am pretty sure that I told you that.)so we drove to Plymouth to pick them up this morning. We had breadfast at Mc Donalds. I do like their breakfasts. Today I had a bacon, egg and cheese bisquit. Quite tasty.

Then late this morning, Darlene, the nurse at Dr. Phelan's office, called to say that the wrap package was in, so we went to the clinic after lunch to have his other leg wrapped. It made sense to do them both. Anyway, that took care of both the morning and the afternoon. I did manage a nap this afternoon. I have been getting very tired lately.

Tomorrow will also be rather busy. We grocery shop in the morning and then I am taking Mother to the clinic to have her hearing aid checked. Her appointment is at 11:30 so we will go for lunch. I am hoping Dick will come with us. It makes a nice outing for the three of us. I believe that we will go to Briscoe County, I like their Chef's Salad with Tuna. Num Num.

At least choir is cancelled for the next three Thursdays, that means that I have an extra night at home.

Since Monday or Tuesday, (depending on which calendar you look at) was the beginning of spring, I quote the Cadfael Book of Days by Robin Whiteman regarding SPRING. "A time for all manner of births and beginnings, and for putting death out of mind."

Today it got up into the forties and with the wonderful bright sun - felt like spring.

Mary

Whew! What a day. This morning we had an appointment at the Clinic with Dr. Hodous, the podiatrist. He checked out Dick's feet and did the nail cutting and trimmed tha callouses. Then we got home and I had to be at the dentist at 11:15 for my checkup and cleaning which went just fine. It is nice to have clean polished teeth.

Then, Dick had made an appointment with Dr. Phelen because of the sores he has been getting on his right leg. Dr. Phelen had the nurse wrap the leg again, which will provide an immediate fix and he recommended a vascular specialist in Brookfield that we can call to see if there is anything he can do for the swelling and circulation. There is hope anyway.

I did a bit of sewing today. Tomorrow we can go and get Dick's new glasses as Dr. Cheryl's office called and said they were ready. That is the one day this week that I was going to be able to stay home, but that is the breaks. Dick was saying earlier that he does not like the old glasaes because it is difficult to read with them. So we need to get the new ones as soon as possible.

I am really tired tonight. With all those errands, I did not get a nap and Chelsea woke me up at 5AM this morning. I took her out and went back to bed but that only lasted until 5:30 so it has been a long, long day.

Tomorrow, despite picking up the glasses should be much quieter.

Remember -- A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...BUT
a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!!"

Have a good Wednesday. I will get to have a NAP.

Mary

Bible Study was quite lively again. We are trying to give ourselves the "assignment" of doing something to right a wrong in this world. I really wasn't very good this last week, but DID call a friend who lost her husband six months ago because I thought of her. That was probably instigated because of our conversation. Tom, wrote to an organization that her was interested in. He mentioned that he was interested in their society but that one of their rules is that they do not accept Roman Catholics. He protested this rule and so far got a very snippy answer.

We will keep trying.

I went to see Dr. Casey today too. My shoulder and ribs are so much better. I must continue to do my exercises.

Tonight we had the first meeting for Celtic Mass an Faire. I hope that you can all come. It will be held the Sunday after Labor Day weekend again. I have work to do this week, calling the entertainers and the vendors.

One of my fellow Faire workers is Dorothy Ruh, the mother of Bob Fleming, an artist friend. I had received the most beautiful St. Patrick's Day card from him and his friend Steve. Bob did the design using the skills that he had learned at a special course that he took in painting icons. It is beautiful and I will treasure it. Sometime I will share it with you.

Jeff Foxworthy said "If you have not actually eaten it, but you have heard of Head Cheese, you may be from Wisconsin." It was cold today. It may be the first day of spring, but we sure are not feeling it.

Mary

I had to go to church THREE times this weekend. Of course, I only stayed for one Mass. I had to give a little personal invitation to the members of Blessed Trinty for the Thank You Dinner that we are having on April 23 for all of our members who faithfully serve. We did this last year and had a rousing 200 or more people show up. Much more than we expected. We ran out or cake. This year we hope to have as many or more. We keep it very simple. Ham, Veggies, Potato Salad and Cole Slaw, rolls and cake.(Much of it all ready to serve from the local grocery deli) We even have soft drinks, beer and wine for a short reception before. There is no program or anything. Just a chance to visit, mingle and eat together. After all Jesus did a lot of that.

Jim and I went shooting this afternoon. My arm IS getting better. The first two were OK but not great, but the third, I shot a 65 which is up there at my highest. Now - League starts next Friday. Can I maintain? We will see.

The corned beef and cabbage was excellent. You had your chance. I asked if you wanted to join us. I even made a cake for dessert. I had way too big a cabbage, so cooked half and make cole slaw with the other half.

Talked to Bart today because it is his birthday. It is hard to believe that my baby is 35. He sounds pretty good actually and said that he is feeling OK. I remember well the day he was born. I was in labor and some friends were over and decided to stay to help time the pains. Well, Tome' got pretty plastered and , though I was not aware at the time, made somewhat of a spectical of herself at the hospital.

I, myself, remember, though that I was very excited about being able to see him come into the world. When Tony was born, I was terrified because he was so early and frankly I did not expect him to survive the birth. Then, when Bret was born, for some reason, the doctor put me to sleep at about the time I delivered. So I was determined to see Bart come. I remember that the whole delivery room was enjoying that. At one point a nurse leaned between my vision and the mirror and I stopped pushing and said that I couldn't see. Anyway, I remember seeing the head crown, and then the shoulders slid out followed by the most beautiful sight that I ever saw. He was a bit dusky but when they cleared his mouth he let out a nice little shout so I knew that he was OK. Thirty five years. WOW. Where has the time gone.

Dick called Dick tonight too. We had not talked to him and/or Brenda for a LONG time. Brenda sent the cutest card. As the snakes are being driven out of Ireland by St. Patrick. He says "MMM Tastes like Chicken." To top it off the snakes squeal like crazy and Roxie must liken it to whistling (which she hates) and really fussed when I played it.

Have good week.


Mary

We're watching a fund raising special on PBS about Johnny Cash. Kris Kristopherson is singing The Ballad of Ira Hayes. There is a story. A man who went to war had showed such courage but could not take the fame involved in being one of the heros who raised the flag at Iwo Jima. Read Flags of our Fathers by Bradley if you get a chance.

We have stories of such bravery in all of our wars. It is always the innocent boys who have to do the killing that is decided by those who don't have to go. I am not saying that all wars are wrong and I will not judge which are, but the truth is that those who declare the wars do not fight and it is the best of our young men and women who do die.

There is a song that says "Did you really believe when they told you the cause? Did you really believe that this war would end wars. For young Willie Mc Bride, it all happened again. And again, and again and again and again."

Don't mean to be so glum. Today was a good day. I worked out at Rhine for a bit as we were hosting the County High School Shooters. I stayed for about three hours. There are up to 60 teams of 5 that shoot at this event. Quite impressive. It is nice to see the young people learning the skill of trap.

It was a bit cool but sunny and bright today and it felt much warmer than it really was.

Hope this continues for a while. I did tell you that the day lilies and tulips are coming up, didn't I?

Have a nice Sunday.

Mary

Well, I went back to Plymouth this morning to join the Irishman's Walk. I have done that for many years. This was one of the better ones. The weather was very pleasant. Cold but sunny. I parked in the lot accross from the Stafford and hitched a ride up to Chester's Drive In where the walkers gathered. The Plymouth Lions Club was providing hot coffee with a wee bit of the barley and some Bailey's to warm the hands and the soul. I chose the Bailey's in some coffee and it warmed me all the way to the hotel. There I joined a few other "Marys" for lunch, visited with people that I knew. And came home. It was a pleasant day all around.

I am sure that you saw this but it is worth repeating. Nobody but the Irish

Ireland Declares War on France


Jacques Chirac, The French President, is sitting in his office when his telephone rings.

"Hallo, Mr. Chirac!" a heavily accented voice said. "This is Paddy Down at the Harp Pub in County Clare, Ireland. I am ringing to inform you that we are officially declaring war on you!"

"Well, Paddy," Chirac replied, "This is indeed important news! How big is your army?"

"Right now," says Paddy, after a moment's calculation, "there is myself, me Cousin Sean, me next door neighbour Seamus, and the entire darts team from the pub. That makes eight!"

Chirac paused. "I must tell you, Paddy, that I have 100,000 men in my army waiting to move on my command."

"Begoora!" says Paddy. "I'll have to ring you back."



Sure enough, the next day, Paddy calls again. "Mr. Chirac, the war is still on. We have managed to get us some infantry equipment!"

"And what equipment would that be Paddy?" Chirac asks.

"Well, we have two combines, a bulldozer, and Murphy's farm tractor."

Chirac sighs amused. "I must tell you, Paddy, that I have 6,000 tanks and 5,000 armored personnel carriers. Also, I have increased my army to 150,000 since we last spoke."

"Saints preserve us!" says Paddy. "I'll have to get back to you."

Sure enough, Paddy rings again the next day. "Mr. Chirac, the war is still on! We have managed to get ourselves airborne! We have modified Jackie McLaughlin's ultra-light with a couple of shotguns in the cockpit, and four boys from the Shamrock Bar have joined us as well!"

Chirac was silent for a minute and then cleared his throat. "I must tell you, Paddy, that I have 100 bombers and 200 fighter planes. My military bases are surrounded by laser-guided, surface-to-air missile sites. And since we last spoke, I have increased my army to 200,000!"


"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!" says Paddy, "I will have to ring you back."

Sure enough, Paddy calls again the next day. "Top o' the mornin', Mr. Chirac! I am sorry to inform you that we have had to call off the war."

"Really? I am sorry to hear that," says Chirac. "Why the sudden change of heart?"

"Well," says Paddy, "we had a long chat over a few pints of Guinness, and decided there is no bloody way we can feed 200,000 prisoners."


HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

Have a lovely weekend

Mary

What a great day. The impending winter storm turned out to be a short period of light snow this morning that ended early. By the time I went to get my hair cut at 1:45 the snow was gone from the grass and roads already.

SO, the drive to Plymouth to meet Jeff and Kathy for dinner at Dairy Queen and on to 52 Stafford to hear Blarney at 8:00 was on and fun. Dick and I stayed for two sets and left at about 10:30. The smoke was really getting to Dick and I figure that I will be walking in less than 12 hours and really need to get some sleep. One of my classmates, Nancy Gallagher Roehre joined us for the music. We had a nice visit, sang some songs and lifted a couple of pints.

Pat O'Reilly sang a couple of songs for us too. He is my brother in law, Ken Thuemmler's, uncle. He has a lovely Irish voice. Several years ago, Dick and I had gone for the music on St. Patrick's Eve when Pat sang. In the middle of singing "My Old Man", he collapsed with a heart attack. Fortunately, one of the musicians is an EMT and there were two emergency room nurses in the audience. They were on him before he hit the ground. By the time the paramedics came he was coming too and they stagilized him before they took him to the hospital. I still remember that stubborn old man struggling to get off the gurney. He kept saying that he had not finished his song.

He fully recovered and sang his song the next year and for these many years since.


I got some more cards today - notably one from my daughter in law Brenda about St. Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland. Totally FUNNY.

Tomorrow I walk. Have a WONDERFUL St. Patrick's Day. I know that I will.
Archbishop Dolan even said that I can eat meat so I am looking forward to some Corned Beef either in a sanwich or a dinner. I just can't decide. I will be fixing corned beef and cabbage on Sunday if you want to come for dinner. Just let me know so I know how many potatoes to put in the pot.

Love

Mary

It was truly a lovely day today. The sun was shining all day. This morning it was only 22 when Chelsea and I walked but it did warm up nicely.

Dick had his eye exam today and is getting new lenses in his frames. Otherwise, his eyes are healthy and he is scheduled for next year.

We racked and filtered the 6 gallon Luna Bianca wine today. As soon as we have a day at home, we can bottle it. Good thing. Our stock was dwindling. We like to give away gifts a lot and were scraping the bottom of the stock. Actually a couple of last year's scratch wines are ready now, which is helping.

Yesterday, I watered the house plants AND the plants that I am wintering in the garage. While I was watering the three herbs that I have on the potting bench, I saw movement to my left. Lo and behold, there was a little gray mouse. He wasn't even alarmed that I was there. I don't know whether he thought that I didn't see him or if he was so used to us walking in and out of the garage but he just kind of sat there, even when I banged on the box he was next to. Anyway Jim put the mouse catcher that he got when we had one in the basement and within an hour we have no more mouse. We hope. I hope he didn't have any friends.

O'Toman walked into a bar and ordered martini after martini, each time removing the olives and placing them in a jar.

When the jar was filled with olives and all the drinks consumed, the
Irishman started to leave.

"S'cuse me", said a customer, who was puzzled over what O'Toman had done, "what was that all about?"

"Nothin', said the Irishman, "my wife just sent me out for a jar of olives!"

Tomorrow, barring too bad a storm, we will be enjoying Blarney in Plymouth. Pray for a mild storm or an early ending.

Mary

It was not too cold today but very windy. Chelsea and I had a nice walk early. I hope we will be able to do so tomorrow too. I will go as soon as we get up because we have to be in Plymouth for Dick's eye exam at 8:35AM. Why do they have appointments at such odd hours?


A big storm is threatening to come in and RUIN the St. Patrick Eve (March 16) concert and evening with Jeff and Kathy. I really feel that it will pass us by but that we will have a VERY cold walk the next morning.

I went to see Dr. Casey this afternoon and he is pleased that my arm is improving and is now working on my rib cage which started hurting last Thursday. I am simply disintegrating, one bone and joint after another. Hopefully, he will continue to be able to put me back together.

On the way home, I stopped and got Chelsea's license. So she is legal for another year. We don't have to license cats in the town. We did have to license Waylon when we lived in the city.

Here is another Irish joke for you.

Irish Cemetery
Three Irishmen, Paddy, Sean and Seamus, were stumbling home from the pub late one night and found
themselves on the road which led past the old graveyard..
"Come have a look over here," says Paddy, "It's Michael O'Grady's grave, God bless his soul. He lived to the ripe old age of 87."
"That's nothing," says Sean, "here's one named Patrick O'Toole, it says here that he was 95 when he died."!
Just then, Seamus yells out, "Good God, here's a fella that got to be 145!"
"What was his name?" asks Paddy.
Seamus stumbles around a bit, awkwardly lights a match to see what else is written on the stone marker, and exclaims,
"Miles, from Dublin."

Til tomorrow

Mary