We had the car serviced very early this morning. Then we loaded the car again and went back to the condo. My kitchen is functional. I now have most of the spices in.

Dick did a couple of loads of wash while we were there and I ran the glasses through the dishwasher. They came out nice and sparkly. All the appliances are Maytag . Judy left the manuel for the washer and dryer but not the dishwasher or stove/microwave, so we will have to wing it.

Had lunch with Betty, Joyce and Ceil at Dairy Queen. Dick ate some leftovers at the condo. Jim and Michelle popped in at about 2:00PM so we went over to see how far they have come in getting their home together. It is coming together so well and is comfy and very lovely. They are so proud and should be.

We stopped at Bobbie and Bill's on the way home to take in the paper and mail and I picked a few more tomatoes.

Now I am tired and will hit the bed soon as we are going to Fort Atkinson tomorrow to the Fireside to see 42nd Street.

Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the
clothes you were buried in for eternity?


Mary

Another day of moving. We took a car load down to the condo and on the way, signed up at Time Warner for our cable service and internet access. We are being moved on Saturday the 16th and will get our service hooked up on Monday the 18th. I checked with Michelle and she said that she and Jim will be around an will get us all "computerized." Can't be too long without service, you know. However, and I will remind you again, you will NOT hear from me on the 16th or the 17th. I hope you miss me.

Tonight was the last choir rehersal for Celtic Mass and I think it went very well. Jim Wilsing has three young musicians joining him, playing fiddle, bodhran and guitar. Natalie Seich, a dancer, is going to help with worship dance during the prelude and the Mass. She is wonderful and the congregation loves it. Did I tell you that we are doing the Lake Isle of Inishfree by Wm. Yeats at the offeratory. It is a lovely poem and a lovely song.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.

Enjoy.

I have a TON of calls to make tomorrow.  Hope you all come to the Faire on Sunday and buy by book.


Love

Mary

The picture is of the banner that I designed for Celtic Mass and Faire and donated to Blessed Trinity. It is not showing the brightness of the colors. I will work on it when I am not so tired and if I can refine it will republish at a later date. However, it is done it is hung and I am very proud of it. It is such joy to share a vision like this with others. I will add what I put on the lable that is on the back of it so that you too can see the meaning and symbolism.

THE HAND OF GOD

The Hand of God blesses the congregation, rising up from earth into a cloudy sky. The snakes that are entwined form four frames that contain the symbols of the Four Evangelists.
On the right are seven Celtic designs that symbolize the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. On the left, ten Celtic designs that symbolize the Ten Commandments.
Designed and created by
Mary J. Kunert
September, 2006


The rest of the day was also very busy. Dick and I went shopping this morning. Then I packed a couple of boxes and cleaned the bathrooms. The guys from A-Better Home Services came and took away all of our trash. Then the moving company came at 5:00 and gave us an estimate. It is fine and they will be able to come a week from Saturday to get us over there.

The last thing I did was go over to Blessed Trinity and help decorate. The church is beautiful. I hope you will all come. The Mass starts at 10:00AM followed by the Faire which is finished at 3:00PM. You will love it.

Guess that is all for now.

Tomorrow is just as busy. I will let you know.

Be safe and healthy. Love yourself


Mary

 

This is my second attempt at this tonight, I left it to go to find the following and lost my whole posting. I had some really clever things in it too. Hope I can recreate them. Here is the treasure that I went to find.

Ten Guidelines From God




Effective immediately,
please be aware that there are changes YOU need
to make in YOUR life. These changes need to be
completed in order that I may fulfill My promises
to you to grant you peace, joy and happiness in
this life. I apologize for any inconvenience,
but after all that I am doing, this seems very
little to ask of you. Please,follow
these 10 guidelines



1. QUIT WORRYING:
Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit
and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here
to take all your burdens and carry them for you?
Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little
thing that comes your way?



Now for today. Dick and I took one carload of stuff out to the condo today. I spent an hour or two putting food away in the kitchen. Boy do we have a lot of food.

It is a family joke that we could survive almost any catastrophe because, I have this thing about having enough food in the house and Dick is just as worried about running out of paper towels and toilet paper.

There were two times in my life where I was able to provide just enough food for my family. No more, no less. I even accounted for snacks for the kids after school or whatever. I did a pretty good job if I do say so myself. It is fun not to have to plan every bite that goes in ones mouth though there is, I must say, a certain satisfaction in being able to do such a thing.

I picked up Market Day this afternoon too. We now have pork chops, ham steaks, chicken steaks and blueberry muffins and chicken pot pies to add to the larder at Treegrass.

Tonight I had to attend the Rhine Plymouth Board meeting. We handled that with dispatch and I was home by 8:30PM. Whew. Good thing because I am a bit tired again.

Tomorrow, the trash collector is going to pick up all our stuff that can't go into the regular garbage. We are hoping to hear from a mover out of Plymouth otherwise I will start calling around as we want to get everything done by the end of next week. Actually, I have mixed feelings as I am going to miss my kitties but things have to be done.

Roxie has been exceptionally loving lately. I think all the emptying is getting to her. I wish I could explain to them.
Love

Mary

Dick and I "wined" all day today.

We filtered and bottled the white zinfindal. Then Dick cleaned the carboys and we got all the filtering equipment boxed up and ready to move. We also racked the current wine and will be able to move it with a careful bubble wrapped box on the floor of the car behind the seat.

I also got four boxes wrapped and spent a lot of time holding and petting Sweet Roxie. She is awfully affectionate today. She even took a nap with me this afternoon.

We had steak and raw fried potatoes for supper. Boy was that good.

Tomorrow we move some more again and make many many phone calls.

I finished the banner. Now I have to get a label on it. We will hang it up on Wednesday when we do the decorating.

Love

Mary

It was a lovely Sunday.

I got up at 6 AM to walk Chelsea so I could go to the 8AM Mass. As it turned out, I could have gotten up later. There were goose hunters out in the field and they started shooting. Chelsea heard the shots and high tailed it for home. We had a VERY short walk.

Church was short too, Fr. Gene's sermon was only a recap of the settlement that the Milwaukee Archdiocese is making to the victims of the priest who was sent out of state to Orange County California and did more damage there. The Archdiocese is selling a lot of property to pay the settlement. Perhaps this is the lesson. Getting rid of some of the excess wealth. If we can function with less property and buildings, perhaps we should have been all along. Too bad this excess wealth is not going for something proactive but to repair damage.

Then I had a nice visit with Mother and came home. We paacked a few boxes and went back to Plymouth where I UNpacked a few boxes. The kitchen is shaping up and I am able to put lots of extra things in the kitchenette downstairs. I have decided to make that the bread baking area. I can just leave the bread machine there all set up.

We went out to New China Kitchen for a nice dinner, just the two of us and are now home and settled in for a bit.

Tomorrow, we intend to stay here and bottle and rack wine. I need to do some cleaning too. It will be a relief. Hopefully, we will be able to just be home. The kitties will like that. I wish I could talk to them and let them know that I really DO love them and want what is best for them.

Have a wonderful Labor Day. It is my son Bret's birthday tomorrow. And it was actually Labor Day the day he was born. I remember going up on the elevator to the OB and finding that there ended up being about six women all in labor at the same time. One of the nurses said, and I quote. "Just because it was Labor Day didn't mean that you all had to come in at the same time."

Enjoy your day.

Mary

 

Quite a day.

Bobbie and Bill and Jim and Michelle all came over this morning and we packed and loaded cars and drove back and forth to the Condo Twice. Most of the stuff that we are taking is now there. We will gather the rest over the next week and a half as I get through Celtic Faire.

We will have a mover come to take the furniture, the auction company come to take what we are selling and a trash man to haul off the rest.

I got hold of a carpet service, I know the owner and feel confidant, and he will come to clean and deoderize in the Hunters Glen property so we don't have to worry about that. I will have SOME cleaning but it will be OK.

I am so very tired. It will be so good to be in one house and at least partially settled.

Tomorrow we hope to be a bit more laid back. A couple of boxes to Plymouth and some unpacking. It would be good to have the kitchen and bathrooms ready before we move in.

Love

Mary

And I thought I was tired last night.

Today, we loaded up the car twice and made three trips to the house. The third, we picked up Mother so she could tour both houses. Then we took her out to dinner with Jim and Michelle also to the Villager for a Fish Fry. Very Sheboygan. YA!

I stopped at Souchon Funeral Home on the way from Mom's to the condo to give my condolences to Del Mc Clintock, who's wife passed away this week. They were married for over fifty years and he is going to miss her very much. He was very sweet and said that he is not good at letting go of things he likes and loves. All I could tell him was that I cared and that he should remember that he DID have over 50 years. Much more than most.

At the house, we finally have garage door openers. The garage is getting full. I have unpaced about five boxes, not much but I do a bit whenever I have a moment.

The neighbors "donated" their son Patrick, who mows our lawn, to carry boxes up from the basement to the garage for us. What a help. People are REALLY good.

Take care. Tomorrow is coming much too soon.

Mary

Well, the deeds are done. Dick and I followed immediately by Jim and Michelle closed on our adjacent condos in Tallgrass in Plymouth.

Dick and I signed first and then went directly to the new place with the loaded Santa Fe, dropped off those boxes (and did we ever have it jammed) and moved the five boxes that I had put in Jim and Michelle's garage as we had one of the garage door openers.

Then things got a bit goofy as we, along with a representative from the Realty Company, managed to lock the garage door opener in Jim and Michelle's condo and couldn't get the garage door shut with the control panel. So, Stacy, the rep, went looking for keys and Dick stayed while I went and loaded up the car again. By the time I got back, they had found a key and closed things up again. We still only have one key and no garage openers for our unit but are sure this will be resolved by tomorrow.

After I got back, we unloaded the car again and then went to lunch, where I managed to leave my purse. Didn't discover that until after we had come BACK to the Hunters Glen and loaded up AGAIN, including Chelsea. She has been rather distressed and I thought it was a good idea to get her a bit used to the new place.

So, we got her there and she was afraid of the kitchen floor. Reminescent of the weekend that she spent with my Mother, where she spent the whole weekend in the living room because she was afraid of the kitchen floor there. Mother and I have concluded the at the "little people" had taken up residence in her kitchen. The last two times we took her to Mother's she has gone into the kitchen, so we believe that the "little people" have moved on.

After, Chelsea wandered around on her own for while, she became comparatively comfortable and did explore every room. The cats are also quite agitated but I am just trying to love them enough as they will have to go to stay with Bobbie and Bill for a while at lease.

Anyway, at about 4 I discovered that I had left my purse at Culvers. Thank heavens, It was there so the potential mess was resolved quite easily.

I had choir tonight and took the banner to see if it will fit. Everybody seems to like it and thank heaven's it does fit. and is quit spectacular, because of the colors when it is hanging.

That is all for tonight I believe that it it enough.

May the angels keep you save until morning.

Love

Mary

We are on the count down to the big signing. As Dick just said. Another "Great Adventure". An expression Dick apparently used when he built the new library on 8th Street. Many of his staff, including Bobbie, remember that phrase.

Today, we did a final walk though on the house. Had a nice visit with Judy Richards, the current owner. We found out that SHE is having the carpet cleaned so that is a load off of our mind. We checked out the connections for the TV and what shelving is there and what we will bring with us. We then went over to Plymouth Utilities to sign for the transfer to us and went grocery shopping at the Pig in Plymouth.

This afternoon Kaye called with the final amount that we need to bring to the closing, so we went over to the bank and got a cashier's check to take with us.

Tonight we loaded the car and tomorrow morning will fill the ice chest so that we can go RIGHT to the house from the closing and start unloading. We got quite a bit in. We were really rather surprised to find out how much will fit.

Anyway, tomorrow at 8:30AM we will sign the papers and be the owners of two places. Hopefully that will not last long. Pray to ST. Joseph that this house sells VERY quickly.

Wish us luck tomorrow, I will update when I get home from choir.

Love

Mary

Only two more days til we sign on the condo. I packed the pans and trays and things on the shelves in the laundry room today. That was my three boxes.

Dick had an appointment with Dr. Hodous for his feet today. Things are looking pretty good there. He will be checked in a month now. The sores are healing quite well and he trimmed the callouses some more today. We also did a bit of shopping and dropped things off at St. Vinnie's.

It was a hard afternoon for me. I think I am tired and a bit overwhelmed. Took care of the insurance this morning and made several phone calls for church and the Celtic Faire.

Tomorrow, we will have a walk through on the house. We need to find out if we want to clean the carpets or not. If we do we want it done BEFORE we move in, not after the fact when furniture needs to be moved and all. I will also have to send a notice to the Beliefs editor at the Press regarding the Fair AND I want to harvest the Marigold blossoms to freeze for wine. If I don't get them, I will lose out. Frankly, I don't know what I will do next year as Marigold is my best wine.

I cleaned the upstairs refrigerator today too. I REALLY scrubbed it. I will get the freezer section later, but I wanted to check everything and then bring up what little we have in the basement refrigerator. I will have to clean that throroughly before we move too. Can't leave a mess, you know.

I fixed some teriaki chicken and from scratch fried rice for supper tonight. It sure was good and I fixed enough for tomorrow too. We will be eating out and on the run for the next couple of days, so I wanted something really good and something easy for tomorrow because we will be loading up the Santa Fe in the evening.

I believe that things will work out for the best. It seems that the condos are right and the other pieces will fit. I must trust that everything will be OK.

Did I tell everyone that you can take a virtual tour of the place at billcain.com. Just go there and then under his listings. Look for 725 Tallgrass under the condos and click on virtual tour.


Have a great day

Love

Mary

 

Bible Study this morning. It was quite a stimulating conversation. We discussed Deuteronomy where Moses told his people that they were not to add to or detract from the commandments. What is interpretation however? Is there ever ANY justification for fudging. Should you tell a person who is really ill that they look like hell? Do we have the right to kill someone in defense of our own life or the life of someone we love? We didn't resolve that but I don't think we have to.
We learned in the letter from James that we are responsible for the weak and defensless of this world.

Anyway. Dick and I between us got five boxes packed. We have an appointment to do a walk through on the condo onWednesday at 9:00AM and the names of a possible moving company and two carpet cleaners, one from Michelle and one from someone in Kiel from Tom Cain. We will order that on Wednesday, when we know if we need one or two places cleaned.

Tonight was the Environment Committee meeting at church and we firmed up Celtic Faire and they did some future planning. I don't care about anything beyond Celtic Faire because I will be gone by then.

That was ENOUGH for today.

I will post a picture from my files to brighten your day. It is a picture of the rose window at the national cathedaral in Washington D. C. and a picture of the Cathedral itself which I took through the arch leading to it and published just like this in a sepia in my book.

Mary

Church was very pleasant this morning. I distributed communion and Joan, my friend who is having hip surgery on Tuesday, asked that I carry the empty cups and all down from the altar after communion. It is a BIG tray. Fr. Gene carried a bowl and followed me down. When I got there ( it is rather awkward) I whispered to Fr. Gene that Dick would never have believed that they let me do that. I am not the most graceful person in the world and would have never made it as a waitress.

Dick, Jim, Michelle and I had our last breakfast in THIS house together before they left for West Allis. We had pancakes, hot sausages and eggs. Before they left, I gave them a St. Brigid's Cross, blessed by Fr. Gene to hang in their house when they sign on Thursday. I had won one of them at the Irish Reunion and I bought another one at Irish Fest so we can both have one. Jim had expressed concern that if we had one in our house, it would drive all the evil to their side. This way evil will have to skip the entire building.

Then I trimmed the bushes out front and Dick and I spent a bit of time down in the basement emptying the metal shelves that Jim and Michelle will pick up on Thursday.

I even took a nap for about an hour. I am still tired though and I am still worrying about my kitties.

Talked to Bret and Bart and Barb today. All is well, except that Barbara is being worked much too hard in too many directions. She needs to relax a bit but HOW.

I received the following from my friend Harold Diedrich who belongs to Rhine Plymouth Field and Stream. I liked it so I will share. Tomorrow, I will put some pictures on again.

His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans, and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college.

He is brilliant. Kind of profound and very, very bright. He became a Christian while attending college.

Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. They want to develop a ministry to the students but are not sure how to go about it.

One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with jeans, his T-shirt, no shoes, and wild hair. The service has already started and so Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat.

The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now, people are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything.

Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit, and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet.

By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick.

About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill.

Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, and a three-piece suit. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a cane and, as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to themselves that you can't blame him for what he's going to do.

How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?

It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy.

The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing The minister can't even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.

And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with him so he won't be alone.

Everyone chokes up with emotion. When the minister gains control, he says, "What I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget."

"Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will ever read!"

Just be kind to everyone. My Dad taught me that. Mother always remembers how gentle and caring he was to all of those workers at Gilson when he was their union representative. And she said that sometimes these men or women were so stupid. But he was unendingly patient and made them feel that they were important. Because he really believed that they were.

Love

Mary

Another busy day that ended with a very fun evening.

Got up a little late. Dick was up early and kept Chelsea out of the bedroom so I was able to sleep until 6:30AM. WOW. Then I showered and fixed breakfast for Dick, Jim, Michelle and myself. Then I packed a few boxes and finished an article for the Celtic Women Newsletter. Then I napped.

I napped because this evening I went to karaoke with Jim and Michelle to Hauser's Hideout in Port Washington. We were there once before to see Michelle's friends Randy and Diane, who are Almost Live, a dj and karaoke service. Tonight was a birthday party for someone named Scott. They called him Scotty the Hottie, which Jim told me is a wrestler or fighter's name. He had a wonderful time but I am afraid that he will not feel that way in the morning and he spent a fortune. The saddest part was when he tried to sing. But Michelle, Jim and myself all sang and had a great time.

For some reason or other, I was thinking today about some friends of mine back in California. They belonged to the same jeep club as we did. Big Al and Mary had three daughters. The girls at one time decided to get their Mother a dog. She wanted one of those dogs that is kind of small and its hair kind of covers their eyes. I forget the breed now. Well, they saw an ad in the paper, so called the owner and went over to see the dog to see if it would work.

The owner was a nervious wreck. One of the girls was only about 11 years old. The other two were older teens. For some reason, this owner was concerned about the dog going to a home with "young children." But it was a sweet dog and the girls liked her and finally talked her into selling the dog to them.

So they paid her and loaded the dog into the car and started to drive off. As they were driving off the woman started running frantically after them and flagged them down at the end of the driveway. She leaned into the window and said. "By the way, the dog is blind in one eye."

The kids were shocked but decided to keep the dog anyway. It turned out to be a perfect pet and whenever anything was a little weird someone in that family would say, "By the way, the dog is blind in one eye."

Sometimes blind in one eye is not such a bad thing.

Love

Mary

It was a busy day. I had an interview with a Jeff Peterson at the Plymouth Review office for the Sheboygan Falls News about the Celtic Faire. Followed by a stop at the book store, where I introduced myself to Sue the owner. She said that she would carry my book in her store if I bring it down. Yippee. She also belongs to St. John's, so there is another person I know there.

Had lunch with Barb, Betty, Marlene, Ceil AND Mary Schroeder, who came because she missed us and she is worried because David is not feeling well. We must all pray for him and her.

I cleaned the kitchen this morning and we had a couple with four kids, a friend named Jim, who I used to work with at Wells come through the house today.

Clelsea had another of her little seizures today. She seems subdued tonight.

I guess that is all. Tomorrow, I am going to Karaoke again with Jim and Michelle. That is always fun. I can wear my 'Forgive me for I have Zinned" Shirt since I got it at this bar.

Love

Mary

We had a little rain, most of it last night and early this morning. The thunderstorms that we were promised are turning out to be nothing but promises, though we are getting a bit of thunder as I do this posting.

We had a showing today. So I spent the morning cleaning the kitchen and running the Roombas.

Then I had an appointment with a Jeff Peterson from the Sheboygan Falls Review in the Plymouth office to tell him about the Celtic Faire. He took volumes of notes. If he writes an article that long, we will REALLY get the publicity.

Then I went to the book store where the Plymouth Writers Club meets every third Monday of the month. I re-met Sue, the owner and introduced myself.

 

I am very proud. I packed THREE more boxes today. I still have to take one out in to the garage, but it is packed.

We did our grocery shopping this morning , then went to the drug store on 5th and Superior to pick up Dick's new support stockings. The woman who helped us with them was truly amazed at how much better his legs look now. Some things that we are doing are working.

Then I cleaned bathrooms, packed and finalized a few things for Celtic Faire.

We are having a showing tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 so I will have to hurry home from my lunch in Plymouth to help get the critters out of the house for a while. I spent a while today cleaning and sprucing up. I have an interview about Celtic Faire at the Plymouth Review at 11:30AM.

We had choir practice tonight. The songs for the Mass are coming along just fine. Did I tell you that we are singing the Lake Isle of Inishfree. It is a beautiful piece that we are all enjoying. The only thing is that on that particular piece, they have made the printing REALLY tiny and we are all squinting.

The picture that follows was taken at lat year's faire. I especially like it because it shows such action. We are having dancers again this year. They are VERY popular.

Have a neat Friday. We will be having fresh corn for supper again, if you want to join us.

Love. Mary

It has been a long day . Dick and I went shopping this morning, to Walgreens and Office Max. When we got home, I brought up the dishes from the cabinet in the basement and packed most of them. Three boxes worth. I figure two more boxes will accomodate the silverware and serving dishes.

Then I realized that I didn't feel too well, so I laid down for a bit and even napped. It did help. I made potato salad and barbqued turkey breasts for dinner. Then Dick and I played a couple of games of rummy. Amazingly, I won them both. Kind of an exciting evening for me.

Chelsea had one of her little seizures again tonight. She seems so confused by them.

One week from tomorrow, we will sign the papers on the condo. We need to find out where we are signing. I also want to ask Bill for a walk through so that we can see if the carpets need cleaning or not. We are going to load the Santa Fe as full as possible when we go to sign and then head right over and start unloading.

We did not get our promised rain. I will turn on the water again in the morning and leave it on while we do our grocery shopping.


Love

Mary

I am so tired. I could not nap today. And I have been doing STUFF since 6:30AM.

Chelsea and I had a nice walk. Then I packed a couple of boxes, wrote an article for two, made a few phone calls, did a bit of sewing, cooked a couple of meals and I am NOW very tired. It is really too early to go to bed, but I just might have to.

I want to share a story that my Mother told me yesterday.

First I must give you the set up or the background of the story. When I was a little girl, and perhaps for many years before, when we had familiy gatherings, there was always singing. I may have mentioned this to you before.


During picnics or parties, at some point someone would start singing. We did not have accompanyment with this singing. Someone would just start singing. Then, maybe a couple of guys or maybe a quartet would sing another song and then someone would ask for a special song from somebody there. Some of my best memories are of my Grandpa Bowser, my Dad, my Uncles and some cousins singing in the dusk as a picnic or party wore down.

Anyway, my Dad loved to sing. In case you don't know, his name was Francis David Deeley. He was known all his life as Hutz. A name given to him by his brother, George, who could not or would not pronounce Francis. Daddy died 14 years ago.

Another of the singers was Uncle Leo Ayers. Uncle Leo was a musician and a bandleader. He was married to Aunt Kathleen, my Mother's sister and my godmother. Most of you won't know but he was well known around here as a bandleader. His band was called Leo Ayers and the Millionaires. Uncle Leo died 32 years ago of cancer

Now, for the story. A couple of year ago, Uncle Roman, one of my Mother's brothers and a WWII Airforce veteran, was dying. He was mostly in an state of rest, not responding to too much but very peaceful.

Cousin Andrea, Uncle Leo's daughter, came to visit him during his last days. He did not really respond to much, but Uncle Roman's wife, Mary Ann, a real lady and a treasure, asked Andrea, who is an accomplished musician in her own right, to sing him a song.

Andrea thought that this would be a good idea and chose an old song, something like Shine on Harvest Moon, or Blue Hawaii or some thing like that.

When she finished the song, Uncle Roman opened his eyes, sat up in the bed and said, "Hutz - Leo" and laid back down contented and calm.

Uncle Roman joined my Dad and Leo not too long after this event. I know they were waiting at the gates of heaven, ready to have him join them in the old songs.

Love

Mary

The weekend was truely a wonderful break for me. Irish Fest was vibrant and full of music and fun as usual.

On Saturday, I drove to Sussex to pick up Suzi, Dick's niece, at her and her mother Hazel's home. Suzi went to the Fest with me on Saturday. I had passes that were given to me by Dan Vircks, who organizes the song circle which I stumbled on last year. So Suzi and I got in free on Saturday. We delivered my lavender scones and Irish brown bread to the bakery area and then wandered through the shops, picked up a spinach roll for lunch and went TO the song circle and SANG.

It is fun. Whoever wants too can join the circle and they just go around and take turns singing songs. It reminds me of the song sessions we used to have when I was young and when Dad was still around.

Then we went back to the bakery contest to see if I won. I didn't. I figure they just don't know good bakery. I am sure enjoying what I left at home. I LOVE brown bread and my recipe tastes just like I remember eating in Ireland.

I also connected with my friend Maureen Smith from Chicago. We visited and made arrangements to meet again on Sunday.

I also ate a lot. I had a scone and and Irish coffee and then a cheese and bacon baked potato. Nummy Nummy.

We spent the afternoon shopping and listening to the musicians. We saw the Kinsella Acacemy Dancers, who are going to be dancing at our Celic Faire, and they are marvelous. I am so relieved. Their teacher is a many time winner of competiions in the Unites States and in Ireland, even more than Michael Flatley.

We saw Tommy Makem, Gaelic Storm and Grada in the evening.


Sunday, I got up early and got to the grounds at 8:45 so that I could get to the Mass in the Ampitheatre. Archbishop Dolan was the celebrant this year. He gives a great sermon. He told about a trip he just got back from - to Ireland. On one tour they sent to a chapel or something featuring Blessed Matt Talbot, who was an alchoholic in Ireland, who attained sobriety and set up programs to help other alchoholics - a kind of pre 12 step program. Archbishop Dolan said that he didn't know who planned the tour but they went right from there to the Jamison Distillery. I don't know, sounds very Irish to me.

Then I ate breakfast and met Maureen again. I was wearing my Celtic Women tartan scarf, so Maureen took a picture of me in it. We like to feature pictures in the newsletter, called "Where in the World is the Celtic Women Tartan". As she was taking the picture Donna, Jessie and Becky wandered by so we visited for a few, they were heading to a concert at the Leinie Rock Stage.

I gave Maureen five of my books to put on their table at the Chicago Irish Fest. Wish me luck.

Then I finished off the day until 6PM moving from stage to stage to enjoy a few songs by The Irish Rovers, Lamand, Tom Sweeney and a few others. There is REALLY WAY too much. I was home by 7:30 but am still exhausted.

I was mildly busy today too. Bible Study this morning and a Celtic Faire meeing tonight.

Tomorrow, I get to stay home ALL day. We will bottle wine, pack and I will do some computer jobs that need to be finished.


The good Lord didn't create anything
without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.

Mary

Promised a message when I got home from the Fest. Was SO tired I forgot. I woke up a few minutes ago and remembered.

I had a great time, met some friends, enjoyed the music and ate well. I will give details tonight.

Sleep tight. Now I can rest again.

The Mass was awesome.

Mary

Well, I think we have the house all spic and span for the open house on Sunday. That way, Dick can just relax tomorrow and Bobbie and Bill are coming to get him and the critters at about 11:30AM Sunday so the open house can be held successfully.

I cleaned the kitchen and took several boxes out to the garage and generally picked up and put away. This noon, I went to Plymouth, via Sheboygan Falls, stopping at Wingert's for corn. Dick and I had that fresh corn with tomatoes for supper.

Next was Blattner's Piggly Wiggly where I picked up some paper plates to carry my bakery to the Contest at Irish Fest. I am entering Lavender Scones and Irish Brown Bread in the Baking Contest. While at the Pig, I ran into Jean and John Blattner. Hadn't seen them for a while, so had a bit of a visit. Then on to Plymouth where I cashed a check and picked up the rest of my books. I am really rather proud of it. It is called Fragments, I think I mentioned that. I will be selling it at the Celtic Faire and the Historical Research Center and where ever else I can. I figure can price it at $6. Lastly, I met Marlene, Betty, Ceil and Barb at the Dairy Queen for lunch. Soon, that will be a REALLY short trip.

This afternoon, I baked the scones and I mixed the day ingredients for the Brown Bread. I want that to be super fresh for the contest.

I will be leaving her at about 9 to get to Suzi and Hazel's so that Suzi and I can get there by 11:30 or 12:00. It is going to be a great two days.

I think I gave you my Brown Bread Recipe before, but here it is anyway.

IRISH BROWN BREAD
2 cups wheat flour
2 cups white flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tbs.. white sugar
2 tbs.. brown sugar
2 cups buttermilk (in a pinch you can sour milk by putting a tsp. of lemon juice or vinegar in it and letting it set for a bit but buttermilk is best.)

Sieve the dry ingredients into a large bow. Scoop up handfuls of the dry ingredients and allow to drop back into the bowl to aerate the mixture. (Very Important!)

Add enough buttermilk to make a soft dough. Work quickly as the buttermilk and soda are working. Knead the dough lightly. Keep flouring hand to keep dough from sticking. Too much kneading will toughen, too little it won’t rise.

Form a round loaf about as thick as your fist. Place on a lightly floured baking sheet or stone and cut a cross across the top with a floured knife.
Bake at the top of a preheated oven. 450 Degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. The loaf will sound hollow when rapped on the bottom. Wrap immediately in a clean tea towel to stop the crust from hardening.


Love

Mary

Remember, you won't hear from me again until Sunday.

We started out this morning with breakfast at Zana's with Terry, our favorite waitress, who actually quit about a month ago. She and her boyfriend Paul joined us anyway. I asked her if she has figured out what she wants to do now and she hasn't. Will have to keep in touch with her. She has a little dog that looks much like Chelsea.

Then we went grocery shopping and to the drug store. Then home where I was able to stay and work until this evening when we had our first choir practice of the church year. We are getting ready for Celtic Faire now. It is exciting to finally sing the new songs and meet with everyone again.

Stopped at Mom's too. I made chocolate zucchini bread so I took her some of that and the blueberry zucchini bread that I baked the other day.

I packed the bottom drawers of my desk, the wrapping paper and Dick emptied the file cabinet. So we are making headway every day.

Since we are having open house on Sunday and I will be gone to Irishfest Saturday and Sunday, I am really working to get the house ready. Waylon's room, the dining room and the guest bathroom are ALL done. I will run the roomba in the office tonight and the hall and livingroom tomorrow and clean the kitchen tomorrow. That's the best I can do. Hope we get a good turnout. One never knows. Sometimes open houses are busy sometimes the realtor sits there for nothing. Since this is the first time we are open and it IS supposed to be a pleasant day, I have hopes.

Tomorrow, I will pick up corn on my way to Plymouth for lunch and the rest of the books while I am there.

A Reminder that I will not be posting Saturday night because I will be at Irishfest until late, with Suzi and spending the night with her and Hazel.

Before you order a drink in public, you should read this!
Seven New York City bartenders were asked if they could nail a woman's personality based on what she drinks. Though interviewed separately, they concurred on almost all counts.

The results:

Drink: Beer
Personality: Casual, low-maintenance; down to earth.
Your Approach: Challenge her to a game of pool.


Drink: Blender Drinks
Personality: Flaky, whiny, annoying; a pain in the ass.
Your Approach: Avoid her, unless you want to be her cabana boy.


Drink: Mixed Drinks
Personality: Older, more refined, high maintenance, has very picky taste; knows EXACTLY what she wants.
Your Approach: You won't have to approach her. If she's interested, she'll send YOU a drink......................


Drink: Wine (does not include White Zinfandel)
Personality: Conservative and classy; sophisticated yet giggles.
Your Approach: Tell her you love to travel and spend quiet evenings with friends.


Drink: White Zinfandel
Personality: Easy; thinks she is classy and sophisticated, actually, she has NO clue.
Your Approach: Make her feel smarter than she is...this should be an easy target.


Drink: Shots
Personality: Likes to hang with frat-boy pals and looking to get totally drunk... and naked.
Your Approach: Easiest hit in the joint. You have been blessed. Nothing to do but wait, however,
be careful not to make her mad!


Drink: Tequila
No explanations required - everyone just KNOWS what happens there.


Love

Mary

Such a lovely anniversry day Dick and I had.

We exchanged e cards this morning. Then we went out to breakfast before going to get Dick's blood tested at the Clinic. For those of you who have been following, Dick was AGAIN within the perameters and has not reached 20 months without needing an adjustment on his medication. Sue is trying to figure out what the heck he is doing. And Dr. Phelan was extremely impressed when he had is physical last month.

I packed a couple of boxes today and took them out to the garage. We are having an open house on Sunday (I think I told you that). Linda from ReMax is coming Friday to look the house over before doing the open house on Sunday. She is coming at 10:30AM.

Then, we went to Marcus to see The Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Man's Chest. We liked it a lot. We have become quite the fans of Johnnie Depp since Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the first Pirates movie.

Tonight Dick took me to Nonna Maria's to celebrate the anniversary in style. Needless to say, we are both very tired. Neither of us got a nap and we are feeling it.

Did I tell you the story of my Mother's first day at school. Well, if I did, you are going to hear it again.

Mother grew up in a farming community and went to school her first couple of years at a school called Pius School, which no longer exists.

The first day of school, she was dropped off with George Dwyer, a neighbor boy. Grandma Bowser, Mother's mother, was working in the kitchen at about noon when Mr. Dwyer came walking in with George and my Mom. Grandma, quite concerned, said what happened, what went wrong. And Mr. Dwyer, gentle, easy going, hardworking farmer, said "That was long enough for those little persons to be at school." He figured that they would be tired and went and got them.

They never got away with that again. Mr. Dwyer was informed that they HAD to stay for the whole session.

Have a lovely day

Mary

I got up ahttp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5293456
Create bit early this morning because it is a holyday of obligation in the Catholic Church. It is the Feast of the Assumption. I went to Mass at 7:00AM. It was sparsely attended. There do not seem to be many people who consider the holy days all that important.

After Mass, I took pictures of the church quilt, which I forwarded to Sandy at the parish office, and went to the Serenity Gardens for a breakfast. I got there just as they were pulling fresh cranberry muffins out of a pan so I had one of them, still warm for breakfast. My hair cut appointment was at 9AM so the timing was perfect. I got to see a young man getting cornrows in his hair. That was kind of interesting. Never seen that process before. It takes FOREVER. Even if I ever thought of such a thing, I would not have the patience.

Dick and I are working on boxing up the office and have made a great deal of headway. We got five boxes out into the garage today. I hope to get one or two more started this evening.

I saw Dr. Casy this afternoon. Things are pretty good lately but I needed a bit of adjusting. We are back to a month again and I told him that next month was a real puzzle and they are going to call in a month to see if I am ready to schedule.

We had salad, a super mexican burger patty and veggies for supper. Just enough.

We also racked and filtered the Luna Bianca wine. We want to bottle it as soon as possible so it can be boxed for transport to our new home.

Uncle Bob and Aunt Kathleen came by to bring me the Evening Optimist Packer Yearbook and we had a nice visit. Aunt Kathleen wanted to hear all about the Irish Reunion at St. Michaels. She hated to miss it but she and Bob were up at a "snowbird" get together in the UP of a bunch of Barbershoppers and they had a good time with the singing and good company and all.

As I was cleaning up, the door bell rang and there was a special delivery from Bobbie and Dick of a wonderful gift for our anniversary, which is tomorrow. We are so thrilled. Got our card from Mother also. It is so warm and fuzzy to be remembered and loved.

It does not seem that 20 years have passed by already. Tomorrow, we are going to go out to Nonna Maria's for dinner to celebrate. Dick gets his blood tested in the morning, which is not too celebratory, but we will use the opportunity to go to breakfast also and we might even go to a movie in the afternoon if all goes well. So we will enjoy. It is rather great that we enjoy each others company so much.



YOU SAY-GOD SAYS-BIBLE VERSES

You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)

You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you
(John 3:16 & John 3:34 )

You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)

You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: "It's not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )

You say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)

You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)

You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5



Hope it helps you too.

Love

Mary

Today was much too busy. Started off with my walk with Chelsea. It was very nice, so she was eager and we did the whole thing. Then I watered the plants and started the sprinkler. We did have a little bit of rain last night but not enough to do a lot of good.

Bible study was interesting. We are talking about the bread and wine becoming the body and blood and how gross and shocking it must have been to the people of Jesus' day when he said that if they did not eat his flesh and drink heis blood they would die but if they did they would live forever. Wonder what I would have done.

This afternoon was Writer's Club. I brought my book. They are all very proud of me and I sold my first two books. WOW.

This evening I went to church to help decorate for the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady. We also hung the quilt for the Celtic Faire which is done and absolutely beautiful. I will be going the the 7AM Mass in the morning and get a good digital picture to send to Sandy in the office so that she can get it into the bulletin.

Now I am home and tired. I had trouble sleeping the latter part of last night. I kept waking up and having trouble getting back to sleep. Such a pain.

I am getting excited about Irish Fest. Suzi, Dick's sister Hazel's daughter, is going with me on Saturday. We had such fun last year and I know we will repeat that fun. I will spend Saturday night with them in Sussex and then go back to the festival on Sunday in time for Mass at 9:30. I have two passes so Suzi and I can get in free on Sunday and then I will bring some groceries and get in free on Sunday. Such a deal.

We are going to have an open house on Sunday afternoon from 12:30 to 1:30. Bobbie is going to pick up Dick and the critters for a couple of hours. Best that the house is empty when there is an open house.

Wish us luck

Love

Mary

It was supposed to get up to 80+ degrees today. But thank heaven the forecasters were wrong. It was beautiful - not over 74 with slightly overcast skies. Mother and I got there about 12:15 or so. We went right after the 10:30AM Mass. There was a nice crowd. Mother got to talk to several family members of families that she grew up with. She was baptized in St. Michael's in 1916.

Ken and Dolores always come, of course, since this started as an O'Reilly reunion and Ken's mother was an O'Reilly. Kurt, Jody and the boys, Brandon and Evan came too. Kurt is interested in family geneology and was delighted to have Mother walk around the cemetary and point out the gravestones and tell about the various family members involved. I think that I have mentioned the Bowser stone over four children that died between December 1859 and June 27, 1860. One, Sarah, an infant in the dead of winter and three in June of a summer fever, I think typhoid but am not totally possitive. I know that my Great Grandfather Joe Bowser had to help his Dad bury the children because the neighbors were afraid to come close because of danger of infection. They would come to the drive and inquire and leave food or any requests but could not help. It must have been awful. To lose three children and not be able to get comforted physically by your friends and neighbors. It must have been almost as difficult not to go and comfort your friend.

Anyway. Today was a joyous day. We had a good meal. Lots of good company. I added a picture below of Mother, Dolores and myself. It is from last year, but at our ages we don't change much. When I download today's pictures, I will put a picture of St. Michael's on for you. It is a charming little church.

Hope your day was as pleasant.

We had the first couple come through the house today. It has begun.

Love

Mary

  

We packed and cleaned all day today. Tomorrow is the first time that prospective buyers will view the house and we want it to be looking its very best.

Guess what. The Packers are playing tonight. I can't believe it either. It is only August but of course there are pregames and we got the first. It is starting NOW, which is 9PM because they are playing IN San Diego against the Chargers. I know I won't make it through the whole game. But I will have it on and do the best that I can. We did tape a program that was on from 7 to 8 previewing the whole league. I intend to view that when I can concentrate and use the information in the fantasy football league.

We had to tape it because Jim, Michelle, Dick and I played cards tonight. Dick won both games, one hearts, and one rummy.

Tomorrow, except for last minute picking up and kitchen cleaning, I intend to just play. I will go to the 10:30 Mass and then Mother and I are going out to that Irish Reunion. I am bringing some of my books and the information on the Celtic Women Conference.

I fixed Busy Day Chicken tonight but had to do a bit of adapting.

The recipe is as follows:

1 Cup Rice
3 lb. Chicken
1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 1/2 Cups Water
1 Pkg. dry onion soup

Layer rice in baking casserole. (I sprayed it with Cooking spray) Layer chicken on top of rice. (I used four chicken breast pieces instead of 3 lb chicken.) Mix the soups and water and pour over all. (I didn't have Cream of Mushroom so I used Cream of Celery and I did add a can of drained mushrooms for the flavor.) When it was time to serve it however it was still pretty watery, so I added a cup of instant potatoes. It worked and tasted wonderful.

Have a good day tomorrow. Wish us luck on the viewing.

Mary

It was almost chilly this afternoon. I tried to sit out on the deck at about 4:00PM but it was cool so I came right back in. Sure is a relief actually as the house is quite comfortable and we have been able to open windows and doors and air it out. Kitties are VERY fond of that.

We went grocery shopping in Plymouth today BECAUSE, I picked up the lions share of my book. They still had to trim out about 75 of them but I was able to get most of them. That is good because I can take them with me to the Irish Reunion. I want to share them there and see if I can get Beth to sell them at the Research Center in Falls. I am really pleased. I will be able to take them to Writer's Club too.

We were going to go to a movie, but Dick did not feel well enough, so I just did some more packing and cooked a bit. I made a squash casserole with chiles and cheese that I really liked. Don't know if anyone else did. Jim ate it, Dick didn't even try and Michelle didn't eat much of it. She is very polite of course and probably wouldn't say any thing. I'll take some to Mother and see what she thinks.

I also made cucumber salad and some brownies.

Tonight I started working on my desk. There are less than three weeks until we sign and can start transporting boxes. Tomorrow we will pack some more.

An imponderable. "If flies didn't have wings would they be called walks?"

Love

Mary

Did anyone miss me yesterday. I just got all tired at the end of they day and did not post.

We were home most of the day. I packed some more boxes and Dick took them out to the garage. It is getting full out there. At 4:30PM I went over to Ebenezeer Church and had the quilt that Mother found between the pieces of ticking in the Deeley garage appraised. I want to give it to Becky, who loves antiques and has such a love of the family history. But I wanted her to have a value on it by an expert. The woman who did the appraisal, Carol Butzke, is one of only 14 quilt appraisers certified by the American Quilting Society in the nation. It is quite fascinating to watch her work and she explains as she goes along.

Then last evening I went to the Quilt Guild where Carol gave a lecture on the origin and history of Sunbonnet Sue in literature and quilting. I was glad that I took the time. I think I will make some version of Sunbonnet Sue just to have done it now that I see what imagination can do with the basic premise.

Today was the BIG Brewer game arranged by Uncle Leif Salvesen to gather all who could come together. We had a fun tailgate. There were lots of us. Myself, Jeff and Kathy with daughter Sara, Donna and Randy with all three daughters, Jessica (who left the park in a BUS to go back home in downtown Milwaukee. We all wondered if she was REALLY old enough to go on the bus all alone.) Erin, with boyfriend Josh, and Becky with husband Bryan. (Have I lost you yet.) Then there were Nora and Leif who brought Fred and Eileen with them. Eileen and Fred's son John came from Chicago with my nephew Shawn, George and Betsy's son, who also lives in Chicago. We were rounded off with my Jim and Michelle and Leif's friend Bob Doody and his wife Mary Ann.

Mary Ann and I discovered that we both went to high school at St. Mary's Academy in St. Francis many years ago. Me, several years before her. They are a nice couple. She has her own landscape and design company. I am impressed.

We had a great tailgate. Brats and portobello mushroom sandwiches, salads, cucumber sandwiches, bruschetta and other snacks. And to make the day perfect, the Brewers won.

It was hot in the stadium. They left the roof closed, which I think was dumb, but there was rain projected. I suppose it costs too much to close if they were afraid of having to open it again.

I am tired now again and will close with a quote that I liked from an e mail that I received from my friend Janet.

"Do what you can, for who you can with what you have, and where you are."

We are so blessed, I wish all these blessings for the children of this world. They deserve it. Maybe their parents don't, but the children do. At least a full tummy, a warm bed and a few hugs a day.


Mary

It was a beautiful day all day today. I was actually a little chilly when Chelsea and I went out for our walk. I don't have a thermometer any more but the TV said it was in the low 60s. It got up to the mid 70s and stayed there. Chelsea was pretty enthusiastic about her walk, but did cut out one cul de sac. She just sits down, looks down the road and keeps on going past it.

Today I talked to two neighbors that I hadn't seen face to face since the sign went up. Mary, across the street, was looking kind of sad. We don't see each other too much because we are both so busy but have common interests in quilting and faith. She said that she and her husband will probably be thinking condo soon too. It is getting harder for Gary to keep up the lawns and all and she, like me, can't really do it all.

The videos of our house showed up on Bill Cain's web site. So - if you want to see it go to billcain.com. Look under "Our listings". Select single family and find 4409 Hunters Glen Drive. Nick did a good job of filming. We will entertain offers.

Dick saw the podiatrist today and had his callouses trimmed. They need some extra care for a bit and we will go back to be sure they are healing in three weeks. Then we went and did a wee bit of shopping and Dick took me out for lunch.

Tonight I went to Rhine Plymouth to work the "Traveling League", a trap league that shoots at several different clubs and several different yardage. It was fairly busy. They stuck me in the gun room with little instruction but I finally figured it out. I worked from 4:30 to 8:00. It was Dennis Behr 's birthday and he and Sara brought cheese, sausage and crackers for a treat. That plus the yogurt I brought made a good evening meal.

I am working on articles for the paper regarding Celtic Faire and have come up with the season the Irish celebrate of Lughasadh, beginning August 1st and ending November 1st with Samhain. Lughasadh is the harvest time. John O'Donohue in Eternal Echos speaks of an Irish Notion called "Meitheal": the act of a community gathering to do the work for each other that one person working alone could not do in ages. Very reminisent of our barnraisings or co-ops that our country had in it's early days. We still experience Meitheal in small ways such as the example of Habitat for Humanity building houses on the quick with large volunteer crews. I want to incorporate Meitheal into my article and also Lughsadh - the harvest.

Love

Mary

It was kind of warm but not heat stroke hot today. Chelsea and I had a nice walk. We did not really see many other walkers but I did not get started until about quarter after six so most people were already done. I did see Steve turning into his driveway.

Bible Study went well this morning. We had nine people there so it was a lively discussion. Then I reviewed the initial worship folder for Celtic Fair with Sandy. I shrunk three Celtic Letters from my Celtic Coloring Book to put on the cover. Jim Wilsing and I came up with a really neat idea for it this year. (Jim is jealous of my coloring book so I said I would look for one for him when I go to Irishfest.) We are going to use the capital letters that I shrunk (B T AND P) for the first letters of Blessed Trinity Parish with a nice medieval looking font. I chose goldenrod for the cover because the intro I wrote mentions Harvest and gold is a good harvest color.

We had Swedish Meatballs, noodles, fresh green beans from Mom's garden for supper. I am working on cleaning out the freezer and the meatballs are one of the treasures to be finished off.

Bobbie and I had the Rhine Plymouth meeting tonight. It was mentioned AGAIN that all the officers are up for replacement this December. Bobbie and I (at least) will not keep our positions. Three years is enough. It is time for another member to step forward. I will be helping Doc out tomorrow at a shoot that we are hosting.

Bernice Sipiorski, an old neighbor, died on Sunday. Her funeral is tomorrow. I believe that Dick and I, with any luck at all, can get his doctor's appointment done and I can get there for the Mass. It would be nice. She was a sweet woman and I used to babysit for her boys when I was young. Her son, Donald, is deceased but Dennis will be there and it would be good to see him again. I wonder if he even remembers me. That was a cushy babysitting job. Bernice and her husband, Martin, would go downtown to the tavern every Saturday evening from 9 to 1. I came over and sat with the boys, who were usually in bed asleep. Bernice would have a fit if I did the dishes or any other little things that I saw. I did them anyway (Mom taught me better than that.) And I could watch anything I wanted on TV and then go to bed til they came home and Martin walked me home across the vacant lot between our homes. Like I say a cushy job.

Say a little prayer for Bernice.

Love

Mary

P. S. I packed two boxes and sorted through ALL the medicines and first aid supplies today.

It seems like it was a very long day. Chelsea and I had a good walk before the rain. It rained from about 7:00 to 11:00AM. A nice steady rain and it brought the temperature down a bit for today.

I went to the 8AM Mass and then visited with Mother until it was time for her to go to Mass. I stayed long enough to walk her over as it was still raining lightly and I don't think it is wise for her to walk alone if it is wet. Someone always walks her home. People are so good and there are three or four of our friends who note that she is there and see that she gets home safely.

I only packed a part of one box today. But I also got one item sent into the Press for the Celtic Faire. I must e-mail Ann Pirrung to find out the name of her editor. Perhaps I could send an article for the beliefs section to him to present to the beliefs editor. I can try anyway. I need to do an article for the Falls News and the Plymouth Review also.

This week is a very busy one with bible study, Rhine meeting, working at Rhine, a quilt appraisal and a ball game. Nora and Leif will be in Wisconsin, the reason for the ball game, and it will be good to see them. Michelle and Jim are joining us at the game. Michelle will meet Nora and Leif and Eileen and Fred. I called Jeff and he will let me ride down to the stadium with him, Kathy and Sara. I am so relieved, I was not thrilled about driving alone.

It has been an exhausting day for some reason. Dick and I are watching Bluebeard, one of the Horror Movie collection that Dick gave me for Christmas. We watch them when nothing else is on worth watching and lately that has been a lot. John Carradine is in this one. It is quite good.

A W. H. Auden said. "We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for I don't know."

Have a good week.

Mary

I got to stay home all day. The temperatures were quite pleasant. It is really quite comfortable in the house tonight. Yesterday it was kind of muggy.

I packed five boxes today. Dick said he would carry four of them (books) out into the garage for me.

Jim and Michelle and Dick and I played cards tonight. Jim and Michelle were the winners again. We old people are really falling down on the job lately.

I cannot get the sewing machine to accomodate the iron on applique. So I guess I will just start hand sewing the banner tomorrow and any time that I watch TV. It will make the time pass nicely.

I finished the draft of the worship folder today. I sent the rough draft off to Jim and Beth and will take it in to Sandy at the church office on Monday. I have to work on the cover and the publicity next.

Tomorrow, except for church, we don't have to go anywhere again. That is two days in a row. But next week will make up for it.

My father in law had an expression that I really liked. He used to tell the grandaughters when they were sensitive that their "Tears were too close to their eyeballs."


Have a nice Sunday.

Mary

Fresh corn and tomatoes from Wingert's for supper along with fresh blueberry pie with REAL whipped cream for dessert.

As my brother in law George would say. "Wonder what the rich people are eating tonight."

Bobbie and Bill joined us and Jim and Michelle were home too so we had a lovely dinner with good conversation.

Had lunch with Betty, Marlene and Ceil in Plymouth today. They are happy that we are moving to Plymouth. I feel that I have a belonging there already. As I worked so long there I will be running into friends in stores and church and so on. It is hard to go to a place alone. I've done that enough in my life.

I got three more boxes packed and stacked in the garage today and cleaned the kitchen.

Fr. Mike Shea called this evening. He is in the states, but is leaving Wednesday for Thailand. He was only here for two weeks, and had run out of time, so we will have to plan on getting together next year when he is hoping to be here longer. I told him that Beth Dipple and I will let him know AS SOON as the date is set for the Irish reunion at St. Michael's Church near Parnell and he can hopefully say Mass for us AND we can make it a big fundraiser for Sarnelli House. He called Mother this morning and was very pleased to visit with her. He is so impressed with her independence and I told him how proud we are of her. We both agreed that it does not pay to get into an argument with her. She reads constantly and knows her facts before she speaks.

Tomorrow, I am going to spend the day working on the banner for Celtic Mass. I have not had the time or inclination for weeks and there are only about five weeks left. If I can just get the edging around the fused applique the rest will go VERY fast.

I have finished the introduction for the Celtic Mass Worship Folder. Dick always helps me by editing. I do like to present a different view of Celtic Spirituality each year.

This year I am presenting the idea of the feasts that the Celts celebrated and how they can relate to today quite easily. The season of the Harvest, or Lughasadh begins August 1 and continues til November 1st. Very easy to feature.

Love

Mary

Dick and I went grocery shopping early this morning. We were home before 9:AM which is unusual. We stopped for breakfast at Hardee's for a change. I do like their bisquits. So I had an egg and cheese bisquit.

When we got home, I put the groceries away and called Dolores to find out how the new baby and her parents are doing. All is well. Stacy's c-section only took about 20 minutes. Doesn't that seem impossible? She is just fine but will have to remember to be very careful for a few weeks so she heals up right. Todd is such a happy Daddy.

I called Eileen too. She has been a sick lady. A reaction to a very strong antibiotic. Now she is on ANOTHER one that is easier on the system and will help counteract the problems caused by the first one. What a mess, right.

Dick and I went over to Menards and bought a hex driver so that I could try to replace the broiler element in the stove. However, when I took it out, the wire was broken. I am not capable of repairing, only replacing, so we called Sears and the repairman will be here tomorrow.

I cleaned the bathrooms today too.

This evening, I wrote the rough copy of the intro for the Celtic Mass worship folder. I will have Dick edit it for me. I have decided to tell about the Celtic Season Lughnasadh, which starts on August 1 and celebrates the harvest. It is one of the two minor seasons. Beltane, celebrated on May 1, means bright fire, and marks the beginning of the "light half" or summer of the year. Samhain. the most important of the four, is celebrated on November 1. It is now associated with our All Hallows Eve (Halloween) and marks the "dark half" or winter of the year.

So it was a busy day, all day. I even got a couple of boxes packed and out into the garage.

We are getting fresh corn and tomatoes for dinner tomorrow and Bobbie and Bill will join us.

Love

Mary

It was hot again today. The cold front that was promised started to come through this evening. The temperatures have dropped from the high 80s to the high 60s this evening. We are even getting a bit of rain. Not enough but anything we get is very welcome at this point.

Chelsea and I had a nice walk this morning and ran into a couple of neighbors, Sherry from next door and Mikki from across the street, so I had to tell them what was going on. I will be somewhat difficult to leave as this is a lovely neighborhood with really good neighbors. Anyone who buys this house will be accepted and feel very comfortable.

Dick and I ran a few errands this morning then went to Falls to the Firehouse to join a bunch of my classmates and their spouses for lunch. The Firehouse is always good and we did some catching up. Dick admitted that he did enjoy himself. We sat across from Dick and Lorraine Schaap who are always good company.


Then I went to Plymouth to do the final review of my book. There was a question on one page which will be emailed for my approval when corrected, then the printing. I want it done by the 10th so I can take it to show everybody at the Ball Game. I will also have it ready for Irish Fest, the Irish reunion at St. Michaels and Celtic Faire.

This evening I did the minutes of the Rhine Board meeting and the outline for the Celtic Mass to take to Sandy on Monday. I still have to write a bit of an introduction to the Worship Folder. I like to change that every year.

So it was a productive day and now I am tired. I did get two boxes packed also. I forgot to mention that.

From Cadfael's Book of Days "Tongues wag more freely before the deaf man."

Be cool and safe. Keep us in your prayers. I am still very worried about many things. I must remember that all I have to do is do my best and keep plugging along and that God will pick up the slack for me.

Love

Mary

Well, I am home. Actually, Dick and I were able to stay in out of the horrible heat all day. It was 95 again with a heat index in the triple digets again. Tonight it is supposed to cool and tomorrow, the temps will be in the mid eighties. It has been raining this evening.

Tonight, I went to Beth Hoegger's (my choir director) house to meet with her and Jim Wilsing (the bagpiper)to plan the Celtic Mass. Dick said they must be Deeley's. We could have been done in an hour but it took us almost three because we had to to talk and visit. BUT - we got it done and it will be a beautiful service. We will have a couple of new instrumentalists joining us for some of the music, especially in the prelude. Jim promised that he will play the Old Rustic Bridge to get the program started. (One of my personal favorites). We will sing the song that I wrote the words to and Beth is writing music for the standard parts of the Mass (e.g. the Gloria and Sanctus.) Now I am getting excited.

I need to finish the banner too. With all the house stuff and confusion, it has been put on a back burner.

We got a few more boxes packed and stacked against the wall in the garage. We also pulled out books that we are donating to the library.

Mother called this evening. My nephew, Todd, and his wife Stacy are expecting a baby and she is having a long hard labor and they have decided to take the baby by a C-section. Best to do it sooner than later, but it is still a worry. Please pray along with me for the safety of little Morgan and especially her parents, who I am sure are scared beyond belief. This is their first child too.

We now have a for sale sign on our front lawn. Wonder what the neighbors are thinking.

All my love

Mary

It was HOT today. I believe it topped 98 degrees with a heat index of triple digets.

Nick Cain came over today to measure the rooms and take pictures and video for their website. I remember him as a little kid when I worked at Wells in Plymouth and he and his sister Katie would come in to see their Mom, Dawn, after school. He has grown up to be a pleasant competent young man. They can be very proud.

Bible Study this morning. We had about 8 of us. A nice number. Helen Morgan and Esther Hasler were both back after an absence so we were glad to have them to add to our discussion. They are sad that we are moving and I will probably switch parishes because we will be so close to St. John's in Plymouth. I said that I MIGHT stick to the bible study because I should come in to visit Mother at least once a week and this would make it a two for one trip.

H. Jackson Brown Jr. said "Never deprive someone of hope, it might be all they have."


Love

Mary

Sunday, Sunday. It was much cooler that they predicted but very humid. I understand that the heat tomorrow will more than make up for today. I am still having trouble sleeping. I wake up every morning at about 4AM and cannot get back to sleep. I managed to stay in bed and listen to the music that was on for about an hour, then got stiff and just got up. Chelsea is not doing too well in this humidity. She is cutting back her walk and sometimes just sits down to rest for a bit.

I went to the eight o'clock mass and had a nice visit with Mother. We got to talking about my brother Tim and his friend Gene Drossel. They were thick as thieves as kids. One time Mom and Dad and the Drossels got called to school. There was a party at school and the kids were allowed to bring a snack and something to drink. Tim, Gene and a couple of other boys decided to bring cokes, however, they got the idea to spice them up a bit with some whiskey from one of the Dad's cupboard. Somebody squealed and they got caught. Mother said that now days that would have been all over the papers. At that time, the parents were called and THEY handled it. Tim and Gene grew up JUST fine.

I got home somewhere around 10:30AM and fixed a brunch for Dick, Michelle, Jim and myself. Jim and Michelle went back to West Allis shortly after we ate.

Than, except for an hour for a nap, I worked on getting final touches on the house for the big video taking tomorrow for the house listing. Supper was easy, we had a couple of Jeff's bratwurst and some potato salad left, so we ate that at about six.

Tomorrow, I have Bible Study and a Rhine Plymouth Board meeting. I will also be taking my edited book to Sun Graphics to leave for inal publication.

Today is Nora Schwarten, our granddaughter's birthday. She is eighteen now. It hardly seems possible. We have not seen her now for several years and she never seems to be available when we call. It is sad not to be close to her any more. She is a lovely little thing and seems to be doing well from what Leslie, her mother, says. I think of her often and we have such lovely memories.


Love

Mary

I forgot to blog last night. We spent the day getting as much stuff of of flat surfaces and into boxes along the garage wall as we could.

I think Michelle is doing too much with her foot as the surgery was only Monday but only she can judge how she feels.

Dick took us all out to breakfast.

I have been waking up at 4AM and am unable to go back to sleep for the past two days. Too much on my mind but it is not helping. I am tired and dwelling on problems that I don't have solutions for. I need to keep working on letting go and letting God. I know that he will take care of things but I am so worried.

Later

Mary

Most of the day was pretty good. It was very hot. The last time I checked it was 85 degrees. I guess we are better off than most of the nation and thank heavens for air conditioning. Thank heavens too, that we are not being threatened by rolling blackouts and have not been hit with the power outages that have been occuring in parts of the country.

I cleaned the kitchen this morning. Must remember to water the plants on the deck and on the pole out front in the morning before it gets too hot. I have one tomato that is red.

Had my weekly lunch with the ladies at the Dairy Queen. I told them today that we are moving to Plymouth. They all said that I was welcome. That is nice. Two of them go to the church, St. John's, so I won't be all alone. I remember moving to a new parish in California one time and being so alone that I cried. I cry alone, I don't like other people to see me crying.

After lunch, I picked up the proof of my book from Sun Graphics. It looks nice. Mary Kay did an edit for me. Dick and I will both check it. Then, with the corrections, we can get it printed. I am so excited.

Then I stopped at Cappelle's and picked up the first sweet corn or the season and a nice big fresh tomato for supper. Stopped at ReMax and dropped off the condition report. Swung by the Pig and picked up milk, eggs and (special treat) Krispy Cream donuts for dessert. Then I went to Wells to meet George, a personal banker, who wanted to review my accounts. Because of his review they are giving us a $150 credit on the closing costs on the mortgage. He had to tell me that we are really using everything that we need and would not recommend changes. I did tell him that after we buy the new house AND our current house sells, we will need to do SOME adjusting of accounts.

Then home.

Nora's Birthday is on Sunday. I can't believe that she will be 18 already.

Sometimes I wish I could wiggle my nose like Samantha the witch and make everything all right.

Love

Mary

The house is listed. Bill Cain stopped over this morning and we did the deed. He will have it on the MLS and the internet very quickly and Nick Cain will be over on Monday afternoon to take some videos to put on his website.

As soon as we can get some of the excess "stuff" out of the way, we can have open houses if it seems right. It is good to do a real big crush when one first lists a property because that is when the activity is the heaviest and it is more likely to get the closest to the asking price.

We also have official loan approval (with a letter) and have received permission from Judy, the owner, to store boxes in the property that Jim and Michelle are buying, which will help us clean out the excess and make the house look neater and less cluttered.

We also asked Bill's advice as to what we have that we are not using that we can sell at auction.

I packed a couple of more boxes and now have Waylon's room ready to videotape and have done quite a bit in the livingroom or "greatroom" as it is more properly called.

Tomorrow is a very busy day. I will be having lunch with the girls, checking my book at Sun Graphics, picking up corn for supper, picking the garage door opener and dropping off the condition report at ReMax, and meeting the personal banker at the bank. Whew.

We are almost to the end of July already. Then it will be one more month until this is all over, and there is a lot besides just moving going on in this month.

You might be a Redneck if:

1. It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, "One nation, under God."

2. You've never protested about seeing the 10 Commandments posted in public places.

3. You still say "Christmas" instead of "Winter Festival".

4. You remove your hat and bow your head when anyone prays .

5. You stand and place your hand over your heart when they play our National Anthem.

6. You treat Viet Nam vets with great respect, and always have.

7. You've never burned an American flag , but would kick someone's BUTT if they did.

8. You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

9 You respect your elders and expect your kids to do the same.

10. You'd give your last dollar to a friend.


Not a bad credo.

Mary

Dentist this morning. It was a good thing that they called yesterday to remind me because I had not written it down and would not have been there. All was looking good except for a minor problem with the gum on my back upper right. I have some local antibiotics deep in there and it will heal everything up in a little over a week. Teeth always feel so good after they are cleaned and polished.

Then Dick and I went grocery shopping, to the bank and got gas. We shopped at the northside Pig. Pick and Save doesn't have the napkins that we like so it seemed like a good idea to go somewhere that does.

We also went to Superior Liquor to get more boxes this afternoon. I have pulled out all my Irish videos and books to sort. Some I want to keep and some will be donated to the Research Center.

Talked to Bret this evening. It has been hot hot hot out there. He said that it was 118 degrees today. He is moving this weekend. He is going to rent a room from a friend, Mary. Mary's husband Mickey is the one who got Bret into the welding business and taught him all the ropes. Mickey died of cancer a few years ago and Mary does depend on Bret to help with major home and auto repairs and all so it will be a good thing for both of them. Cheaper for Bret and Mary will have help there.

Michelle and Jim are here tonight. Jim is working tomorrow so Michelle can stay here with us while he is gone. Tomorrow night they will go back to West Allis because she sees her doctor early on Friday morning. She experience a great deal of pain yesterday, but finally got to sleep and today the pain is managable.

I had to throw out a plant that I was trying to save today. One of the cats decided that it would make a handy litter box. I got rid of it and sprayed the big corn plant with LOTS of cat repellent. Sure hope they don't decide to try that too. Waylon did the same thing. Once. Well, that is one plant that I won't worry about any more.

Tomorrow, we list the house.

Love

Mary

I went on the trip alone today. Dick feels much better tonight but was just not up to the trip today. Now that it is over, I am just as glad it turned out this way. The crowd, even on a Tuesday, was so heavy and moved so slowly that he would have been terribly uncomfortable. The exhibit is definately worth it but I think it would have been a while before he appreciated it.

I bought him some candy in a Tutenkamen tin and a 2006 Calendar that goes with the exhibit with wonderful pictures.

We went right from the exhibit to Marshall Fields for a delightful lunch of spinach salad, chicken pot pie and a mint chocolate ice cream pie. Then we had about an hour and a half to shop. I found two new pairs of jeans in the petite section and two pair of cute sox. Then on to the Chicago River for an architectural tour. The captain of the boat was SO knowledgeable. He knew the history of every building on the river, I swear. Who, when and why and the architectural details too. We saw the Trump tower, now under construction.

Then the long drive home. It started to rain just about Ozaukee county. So the day was perfect.

Michelle's operation went well according to her e-mail. This evening, the drugs are wearing off and she is not feeling too well. With any luck at all, she will sleep well tonight and feel a bit better tomorrow. Sometimes, the next day is worse though. (Don't tell Michelle. She will be fine if she doesn't know that.) We want her healed and happy.

Take care. Til tomorrow.

Mary

I went on the trip alone today. Dick feels much better tonight but was just not up to the trip today. Now that it is over, I am just as glad it turned out this way. The crowd, even on a Tuesday, was so heavy and moved so slowly that he would have been terribly uncomfortable. The exhibit is definately worth it but I think it would have been a while before he appreciated it.

I bought him some candy in a Tutenkamen tin and a 2006 Calendar that goes with the exhibit with wonderful pictures.

We went right from the exhibit to Marshall Fields for a delightful lunch of spinach salad, chicken pot pie and a mint chocolate ice cream pie. Then we had about an hour and a half to shop. I found two new pairs of jeans in the petite section and two pair of cute sox. Then on to the Chicago River for an architectural tour. The captain of the boat was SO knowledgeable. He knew the history of every building on the river, I swear. Who, when and why and the architectural details too. We saw the Trump tower, now under construction.

Then the long drive home. It started to rain just about Ozaukee county. So the day was perfect.

Michelle's operation went well according to her e-mail. This evening, the drugs are wearing off and she is not feeling too well. With any luck at all, she will sleep well tonight and feel a bit better tomorrow. Sometimes, the next day is worse though. (Don't tell Michelle. She will be fine if she doesn't know that.) We want her healed and happy.

Take care. Til tomorrow.

Mary

A very busy day. Started off with bible study. Peggy Feider brought the nicest reading for our opening prayer. It was from Mother Teresa. She said, in a nutshell, she never figured that she would help 42,000 people. She just picked up one person and then another and then another. Like adding a drop of water to the ocean. One drop isn't really noticed but without it there would be one less drop.

Then I took Mother to the Clinic to get her blood test. That went very quickly. Next I went to Sun Graphics in Plymouth to drop off my book. They are going to have the proof ready on Friday. I can stop after my lunch with the Plymouth Bank Ladies. That way they can have it ready for August 10th when I go to the ball game with the Deeleys. Uncle Leif and Aunt Nora will be here and Uncle Leif likes to arrange a ball game with a tailgate party. Should be fun.

Finally, I stopped at ReMax and dropped the way we want title to be held off to Erlinda and talked to Tom for a bit. We have not given up on the animals. Judy, the owner,is going to bat for us. She really felt, I believe, that my letter spoke for itself. I explained to Tom again, that Chelsea is really quite old AND she has a heart murmer and does experience little epileptic type episodes. I also told him that we got the cats from the Humane Society three years ago. They are now eight and we love them and hate to put them through any more trauma than just moving. However, bless her heart, Bobbie said that she and Bill would take them for the duration if it became necessary. We can't separate them and I would NEVER take them back to the Humane Society. That was a big relief. At least we have the security of knowing they will be loved and accepted together by someone who knows and loves them too.

Tonight I joined Dottie Diedrich and Marlene Freville to work on the Celtic Faire quilt. It is such a nice experience to hand quilt in a "quilting bee" situation. We all learn little bits about quilting and share in such a comfortable way, our life situations and just fun things. I like that. We got everything but ONE block, the stitching in the border and the binding done. Dottie is going to finish the last block and there will be a last session next Monday for the border stitching. Joyce will sew on the binding and Marlene will finish it off. It is beautiful. I will put a picture on agan and you can all order tickets from me.

Have a great Tuesday. I am going to Chicago. Dick and I were both supposed to go but he is just not up to the walking involved. So I will join the tour alone. I don't want to miss the Tut exhibit. and Dick doesn't want both of us to miss it. So I will go. We have to be really careful now because too much walking is just too much for him.

Have a great day


Love

Mary

This is insane. This is the third time that I am trying to post tonight. It keeps crashing on me.

I am trying to vent my frustration with the condo situation. I will try ONCE more.

We received a letter on Friday. After we had verbal assurance from Tom Cain that all was OK. And after we had gone in to see Kaye Beck on Thursday and filled out an application for the mortgage AND ordered th appraisal that the Condo association was turning down our request to bring all three of our animals with us to the condo.

Needlless to say, I am a wreck. I don't crash very often, but when you try to take my kids or my critters away, you are missing with my heart.

We have four choices, as I see it.

1. We cancel the deal and stay here. We could pay the loan WAY down, get it reamortized, get Jim off the deed and him his equity and hopefully have enough spendable income to pay for shoveling and more outside help and general maintenance.

2. Go ahead with the deal and find someway or someone to take part of the animals. We could concievable alot a dog or a cat to Jim and Michelle but what about the third one?

3. Sneak them in.

4. Persist in our request but Dick is afraid of antagonizing the board or our neighbors. However, we KNOW that there are households with more than one animal and we KNOW that exceptions have been made for elderly LARGE animals, so see no reason for the action as we are willing to even sign an affidavit or agreement or whatever that we will not replace until ALL are gone.

Anyway, I am going to see if Judy, the sellor, has any pull or influence and go from there. I am literally sick to my stomach some of the time. I seems like such a mild request and DOES worry me a bit about the condo assocation's ability to cooperate with tenents.

Well. We will see. I am praying a lot and hope you will join me. It is not as imortant as World Peace, but I cannot imagine that God wants three little animals to be frightened any more than just by the move. New owners would be really hard on them.

Michelle has surgery on her foot on Tuesday. Pray for successful surgery for her. Also my nephew, Jesse Johnston, will be starting a bone marrow procedure any day now. Pray for him and opt for life and health.

Love

Mary