We are experiencing rather steady rain tonight. This is supposed to continue for the next couple of days with temps staying "high" and then drop like a rock on Thursday.

This morning's bible study was rather lively. The commentary on the 2nd reading, one of Paul's letters, mentions that the early Christians expected Jesus to be coming back rather quickly. There were lots of problems because of that feeling. As an example, some people were not working ( why bother since they expected Jesus to come and get them soon.) It has been almost 2000 years now and He still hasn't come. Do you think He would have come sooner if we had listened and obeyed his message to Love God above all and to Love our Neighbor as ourselves. I mean REALLY did it.

This afternoon, I took care of several phone calls. A Christmas order, an insurance clarification and a conference call with the Celtic Women International Board and then tonight was the Rhine Plymouth board meeting. This is my last board meeting for Rhine Plymouth. So that will be one thing that I am done with by the end of the year.

Today I was thinking of a friend and old neighbor of mine who lived next door to us when I lived in Santa Ana Heights. Her name was Joyce Nusser and she had a boy the same age as Bret. Chip was his name. It was really Michael but he went by Chip. I remembered how we tried to get gardens growing in our back yards with dirt that was basically clay and almost impossible to dig in.

One year we sent for rosebushes out of a catalog and Joyce sent for a privet hedge. It should have been obvious from the price what we were going to face. Anyway when the privet hedge, which was supposed to consist of 50 plants, along with the roses arrived in a package weighing about 10 lbs, we DID know. We opened that box and took out what looked like a bouquet of sticks, some as small as a pencil. We laughed our heads of and later we laughed at ourselves even more because Joyce actually planted those sticks and not a one came up.

I am trying to find Joyce. Haven't seen or heard from her in probably 25 years. I found a Joyce Nusser related to a Michael D and Matthew D Nusser that might be her. I'll keep you posted.

Oh, Mom and I went out to Gibbsville and did some Christmas shopping there too. Love Gibbsville cheese.

Have a nice evening

Love

Mary

Chelsea and I had the nicest walk this morning. It was dark when we started out but the temps were in the 40s and it got brighter the further we walked. We started at 6:00 and got home about 40 minutes later.

I went to the 8AM Mass this morning and sat next to my friend Ceil. On the way out I ran into Pat O Reilly and his wife so had a bit of a visit with him. Pat is getting much older and said that when the snow comes he will be snowbound and have to stay home. (You have to see the twinkle in his eye as he tells this.) He then said that they had better plow him out for March 16 and 17. I told him that if it was snowing then I would come to get him.

This afternoon I worked at Rhine. We were unexpectedly busy. We ran 14 teams so did very will. I had fully expected it to be much slower because of the holiday weekend and the end of the deer hunting season. I am glad it was busy because the afternoon does not drag that way. I shot three pistol targets and was quite pleased with the results. I got, in this order, a 53, a 62 and a 68. And I even lost one on the last target so WOW.

A story: I took Bret and Bart to and Earth Festival at the Orange County Fairgrounds when they were quite young. I took them to the children's area where there was this giant sand pile along with other things to play with. The kids were supervised lightly and they were told to build sand castles. After a while Bart was just sitting there with this stick stuck into the ground. The helpers asked if he wanted help and he said he was all done. That the rooms and everything were underground.

I left Bret in charge for about a half an hour so I could zip though a couple of the tents. Suddenly I heard myself paged from the bandstand. "Could Bart Johnston's mother please come to get him." He had gotten bored, sneaked away from Bret and went directly to the bandstand and told them his name and that he was lost. No dummy that boy.

Have a good week.

Love

Mary

Another Warm day in sunny Wisconsin. Chelsea and I had a lovely walk. She was quite eager so we had a lot of fun. On the way back through the park, however, a noise was heard in the distance that sounded something like thunder and she made double time back to the house.

I put up the outside lights this morning and placed the Santa hat on the totem. The wreaths that we used on the garage lights fit just fine here too. So we are now very festive.

This afternoon, I went out shopping and found a timer, (by morning we will find out if we set it right. We want the lights to go on at dusk and continue for nine hours.) I also found four battery operated candles and some suction cup holders so that I can put them in the glass panels next to the front door. I will light them one at a time during Advent until all four will announce Christmas.

Tomorrow, work at Rhine. I thought it was last week but got there and the club was even closed for the opening week of deer hunting. THIS is the week I am substituting for Greg. I wonder if there will be many shooters this week. Oh well, we will just have to see.

I was thinking today of Dick's theory on raising children. He said that they should be kept in the basement until they are 35. Parents should feed and clothe and educate them. Then at 35 they can be on their own. I pointed out that he did not do that and he says that other parents should learn from his example.

Now, however, I think he knows that in order not to ever worry one can NEVER let them out of the basement.

Love

Mary

It has been quite a day.

Chelsea and I went for a very foggy walk this morning and she was raring to go so we went around the park. I did turn her around a bit early. We did not go ALL the way down and around. I am glad that she is feeling well anyway.

Then I showered and fixed scrambled eggs with chopped green onions and cream cheese for Dick 2 and Brenda and Dick and me before Dick 1 and I went to the Clinic to get his legs wrapped. That went very smoothly. A young lady named Angie did them for him this time. She is a very bubbly nice gentle young nurse and Dick liked her too.

When we got back I took off for Mother's to help butcher Five deer. That is the most that we have ever butchered in a year. Randy's deer was STILL BIG. A bad thing: I cut my little finger nail to the quick on the meat slicer blade. (Don't worry. It was not turned on at the time. I simply adjusted the meat and nicked the nail. That blade is obscenely sharp.) It seemed to take a long time, but with that many deer it is not surprising. Bobbie came to help today too and to get her ribbing for not being out there and "missing" the big buck. Actually Randy said that he was just as glad that she wasn't there.

The hunters again shared meat with Bobbie and me, even if we haven't contributed to the take yet. We split what they gave us and I also brought home a nice rolled roast to prepare for the wild game dinner. I also was given a deer hide to take to Hartland for tanning. In a year or so I will have enough for a coat or a jacket.

Then when I got home and checked my computer, I found that Jim has located my great picture of Waylon and now has it as my wallpaper on the computer again. I am so happy. I can print it out and frame it to put with Zero's picture.

Tonight Jim and Michelle joined us for leftovers and then we played a game of Rummy.

Tomorrow we are going to the new Cavella Store. Doesn't that sound like fun.

When Bart was just a little guy, he went through what I call his Kung Fu stage. He and Bret watched Kung Fu on TV and he was fascinated but he kept yelling Kung Fu and kicking people. One day we were at church and he yelled Kung Fu and kicked the priest before I could stop him. Another time on Ascension Thursday, they gave all the children balloons and led them out of the church to release the balloons. Everything went well until it was time to let go of the balloon and he started yelling. "God can't have my balloon." God didn't get it either.

Love

Mary

Well, Thanksgiving is almost over. We have finished the feast and the guests who are not spending the night have gone home.

The meal turned out just fine. We had the turkey and stuffing, stuffed squash, rutabaga, broccoli, mashed potatoes, fresh rolls, a molded salad and cranberry relishes. I got carried away again. I am my father's daughter. I still remember him in the kitchen when Mom was preparing meals for guests telling her to put in just a couple of more potatoes, or maybe one more loaf of bread or something. We always had too much food too.

What a wonderful life we have that we can prepare too much. I do make a point of not wasting but it does not seem fair that some family out there is probably hungry.

Leslie called today just as almost everybody was arriving. She picked the best time to talk to Jim, Michelle and Bobbie. Dick and Brenda came after she had gone on her way. She and Bill are spending the day with Nora who was cooking everything but the turkey. She figured that she was not quite ready for that.

It was gorgeous today, almost 60 degrees. Really too warm. I am sure that Randy and Jeff had to ice down the deer. Fortunately it has been dropping to freezing at nights so the garage is probably remaining very cool. We will butcher tomorrow. I will be a bit late because Dick gets his legs wrapped in the morning too. Bobbie is going to join us. She is prepared to be teased for not coming out but I suggested that she has a little bit of come back because she can ask Cory whether the rumor that he missed four shots is true.

I went to Mass this morning as it seemed that there was plenty of time. It is always good to thank the Lord for the good that comes to us. Fr. Van Beeck pointed out that this is one secular holiday that has crossed over to a national holiday with religious overtones rather than the other way around. He also said that married people should go home and thank their spouses for sharing their lives with them. The greatest love next to the love of God. As he said single people and priests never experience that committed kind of love which is very special.

Hope you had a lot to be thankful for today and that your tomorrow will be good

Mary

Well. It was a good day and a bad day.

It was a good day because I spent it cooking for tomorrow. I do love cooking and I had a LOT to do. I made two stuffings, a pie and Fiffy Hobbin and day ahead mashed potatoes and jello. It was fun and I was busy ALL day.

The bad is because Dick has changed his mind about letting us bring kitties here. He had said after I met with Mark Kleinhans, the builder, that he felt that put a different light on it and he would reconsider. Today he practically said that he was not going to. It looks like I will have to wait until Chelsea is gone and then what will he say about TWO kitties. The rules DO say one animal. I am so sad. Every person I talk to, resident of Tall Grass or not, says JUST GET THEM. WHO WILL KNOW. But Dick knows and feels that we are leaving ourselves open for lawsuits and what ever else awful could befall us.

I have no hope.

Chelsea,by the way, is feeling pretty good, but she did take a short walk this morning. She got a shower this morning too so she will be very pretty for the visitors tomorrow.

Jim and Michelle had their Boots declawed today. They brought him home tonight and he is a rather subdued little guy. He spent his time at the Vet's after the surgery trying to get out of his cage and getting his little paws bleeding. Now he is home and demanding lots of love and sympathy. Boy can that little guy purr.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I have SO much to be thankful for. I hope your day will be as nice as ours. We will be visiting and eating to the MAX.

Be. Happy.

Love
Mary

Such a nice day. It was rather warm. The temperatures climbed to 50.7 degrees at the hightest. Now they have dropped down to 31.5 again. Whew. Hope they stay that way. We need cool temps to preserve the venison. Randy will ice it down if he feels that there is any danger of it getting too warm.

I did preparing for Thanksgiving dinner today, mainly chopping and dicing things. Tomorrow I will be doing some serious cooking and baking.

Tonight Dick and I watched the Da Vinci Code. Jim and Michelle came over and made it through the first hour before they got too tired to finish. They will borrow it later for the end. That's what happens when you have to go to work. I remember those days.

We went to the Hub City Restuarant for breakfast. We had gone once before and thought it was pretty good. The ONLY problem then was that they serve way too much food. If you ask for one egg they give two and they have super sizes of potatoes and the meats.

This time, however, we found out that they allow smoking and there were two people smoking in the booth right next to us. It was just sufficating. As we were leaving we talked to the waitress and a customer. They were saying that most people say their food is good even if they don't like it. People don't want to make a fuss. I agreed with them and I told them that I had liked the food very much but found the smoke very bad. I am araid that we will not go back now, because it is iffy as to whether we can breath or not in there.

Guess that is all for now.

Mary

Went to Bible Study this morning. Sunday is Christ the King. All three readings were related to Jesus coming back at the end of the world for the final judgement. On a cloud they say. Sounds like we had better be ready. As I pointed out - we don't really have to worry about that. We just have to worry about our own personal judgment.

I visited with Mother for a while after the study. I brought her two of the frozen pasties that I made last week. She was pleased. That will be something she can just pull out some evening and not something that she would be likely to make for herself. We discussed the deer hanging and the fact that it is supposed to warm up during the days for the next couple of days. However, the deer are not in the sun, they are in the garage, it will be cold all night and Randy will ice their core down during the night to keep them cold. We butcher on Friday.

I went to the Cream City Writers Club. That is what the Plymouth group calls themselves. They meet on the third Tuesday at Book Heads, the local book store. A nice group. I really knew tham all, not well, but have met them. Sue and Sy from the Sheboygan Group were there also. I learned that somewhere in the bible it tells the farmer to leave the corners of his fields for the poor. Some cultures allow the poor to come through the fields after the harvest to gather the gleanings. Wonder why those traditions fell by the way. I guess that is what our Second Harvest programs are kind of replacing. There is plenty of food in the world and noone should ever have to go hungry. Distribution and good leadership are needed.

Tomorrow and the next day we will be cleaning and I will be preparing for the Thanksgiving feast.

ATTENTION:
ALIENS ARE COMING TO ABDUCT ALL THE GOOD LOOKING AND SEXY PEOPLE.


Have a great Tuesday.

Mary
YOU WILL BE SAFE; I'M JUST EMAILING TO SAY GOODBYE.

Here is the picture I promised. From left to right kneeling:

Cory Carpenter, with his nubby buck, Lee Carpenter, my brother Randy with the BIG BUCK, and Randy's Jessica holding up my brother Jeff's doe.

Standing in back:

Shane Deeley, Jeff's son and yours truly.

Quite a shot. Jeff took the picture so he is in others.

We will have LOTS of meat to butcher on Friday.





Today was a beautiful day weatherwise. It was still and the sun shone. I went to the 8:00AM mass and then spent the rest of the day putting hunting stuff away and cleaning up my desh and the house.

We had the chili that I had left out for Dick's Saturday dinner for supper. (He found something else that appealed to him before he found the chili yesterday.)

I watched the Extreme Makeover tonight. We don't usually but they featured the Koepke family from Dundee tonight and I was anxious to see it. Next time we are near Dundee we can drive by the house and then go see the restored Mill. The Makeover fixed that too because it was Matt Koepke's dream and they like to benefit communitee's as well as individuals. Matt Koepke always would say this to his family and I felt that it is worth repeating. They put it on a memorial in Dundee also. "There are lots of things to think about the but nothing to worry about."

Have a good week.

Mary 

Left the house at 5:15 AM to meet the hunters in the woods. We had a successful hunt. I didn't get one, AGAIN, but the party did well. I will tell the story.

To set the stage for those who might not be aware of hunting regulations. Hunters, at least in Wisconsin, wear blaze orange during deer hunting season for safety reasons. If you are ever out there, you will know why. The orange shows up no matter what the weather and from great distance.

About noon, I heard four shots coming from over to my left above the swamp and beyond Shane's spot. Right around where Cory sits. Next thing I see is a HUGE deer running into the breach between the woods and the swamp in front of Shane. Shane shoots and misses. (He knew he had missed but still felt he had to search for signs of blood because it was SO big and he was hoping against hope that he was wrong.) The deer whips around in back of the ridge across the swamp and worked its way back around to where Randy is sitting. He shot twice and hit it a killing shot but it did run for a bit and he was afraid he lost it. So he went and got Jeff to help him follow the blood trail. Shane was so antsy because he lost it that he had just arrived that Jeff's site to commiserate when Randy ran for help. He said he never saw Randy so outwardly excited in his whole life. Randy is usually calm and collected. They found it very quickly.

It is a 10 pointer and has to dress out at least at 200 lbs. It is the biggest deer the Deeley's have ever taken out of the Kettles. Wow.

Cory said to tell Bobbie that it came up towards him from right in front of her stand.

Now I want to tell you something really cute and then sign off so I can get ready for bed.

I decided at about 2:00 that I had had enough. I had only seen the big one and a doe that came up in back of me on top of the ridge and had posed in a totally unsafe shot. So I didn't.

So I walked around the side of the swamp to the clearing where the falling down fence that my great great grandfather built is. I took some pictures and then walked down to Shane to tell him that I was going to work my way to the road. He told me the story of the "great hunter" and said that - When I got to the fork in the trail, I should look to the left about 150 yards and there I would see a large brown fuzzy lump with a big smiling pumpkin standing next to it..

And I did. There was the biggest deer I've seen in my hunting years and Randy, grinning like a Cheshire Cat.

He is so happy and keeps saying that he never thought he'd ever get a big buck and here it is. WOW. I'll send a picture tomorrow. I am too tired to try tonight.

Love

Mary

I hope that tomorrow turns out to be much like today. It was not too cold and there was no precipitation. Chelsea woke me up at 6:03AM and she was a very enthusiastic walker. I thought at first that she was, perhaps, a bit tired because she kept turning around before we got to the ends of the cul de sacs - but she just wanted to get to the park. She was very hungry too.

I think the worst is over. She still has to take her anti biotics for almost two weeks but she is OK.

Went to have lunch at the Dairy Queen with Marlene, Ceil, Barb, Mary and Joyce. We had a pleasant lunch and visit. We will not meet for two weeks because of Thanksgiving. Joyce told us that she had heard that a Kayla had been hurt in a rollover accident on the way to school that morning. The last name told us that it was Betty's grandaughter. She was taken to Sheboygan Memorial with non life threatening injuries. Certainly a relief. It was a hit and run. How can ANYONE do that and leave someone hurt.

I went to the new Plymouth Historical Museum opening tonight. I was SO impressed. When I was in there two weeks ago, I never would have guessed they could get it ready in time. It is very impressive. That is where Beth Dipple and I are going to have our first Irish program, a Christmas Tea with a harpist and Irish Cakes and comaradery.

While at the opening, I met Mark Kleinhans and his wife. Mark built the Tallgrass condos and also lives here. I mentioned to him that I love it there but miss my kitties. He and his wife got a funny look and said they see no reason why I shouldn't get them. Those by laws are intended to be guidelines and besides, cat's in a house, do not bother anyone. Mark's wife said that bylaws can be changed but who would know there are here. I also met Tom and Linda Phillips who live down the street. I knew Tom before as he is the principal at St. Mary School in Falls which is run by Blessed Trinity. He and Linda said - go get your kitties.

When I told Dick, he looked very surprised and gave me more hope than I have had in two months that I can perhaps get Oscar and Roxie back. This would make the house perfect as far as I am concerned. I figure we can put the litter box down in the basement, I am thinking in the guest bath. Anyway, Dick hasn[t said yes but he is considering. Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could have them back.

We tried a Chicken Helper for supper tonight and it was really good.

I will be closing now as I need to get Dick's legs soaped and need to be in bed early so I am ready to go hunting tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Love

Mary

It was an eventful day today. At least for Chelsea. She had her dentistry work done today and (poor little thing) had to have one of her molars removed. She is a bit demanding tonight. When she got home she drank and drank and drank. Probably didn't have a drop at the vets. So she is needing to go out a LOT. We think she is also in a bit of pain now that the anesthetic has worn ovv and she is feeling that hole in her gums.

Well, this will be the last time. She will be way to old when her teeth need cleaning again.

It was rather cold today. We had to add air to most of our tires , should have thought of THAT while it was still warm. We also went grocery shopping. I tried to think of everything we need for Thanksgiving as our next shopping day is supposed to BE Thanksgiving.

Today I made the cranberry relish and mixed the pie crust dough. My pie crust dough can be kept for quite a long time. It is a recipe that I got from my dear mother in law, Lil Johnston many years ago. We are going to have pumpkin pie and Figgy Hobbin for dessert on Thanksgiving.

Years ago when Bret and Bart were little. Turkey was for Thanksgiving. The Johnston's always had turkey for Christmas too. After a few years, we decided to spend Christmas at our own home so the kids could enjoy their gifts and all. One year Bart asked why we had to have turkey for Christmas too. He asked why we couldn't have a special meal like Crab or something. So from then on, we did. I would fix crab legs, shrimp and (for my ex and the boys) steamed clams (I couldn't stomach the clams myself. They are all right in chowder but not steamed.) It became a rather fun tradition.

We Kunerts eat whatever the cook decides to prepare on Christmas. It is fun. And we take turns with who has what each year.

Saturday I will go deer hunting. Wish me luck and dry weather.

Love

Mary

Dick had his appointment with Sue at the Clinic today. His count has dropped down from over 400 t0 180. It is supposed to be between 200 and 300 so we are getting close. She made a minor adjustment and we will go back in two weeks to check.

We stopped at Fleet Farm on the way home to pick up a hot seat for my hunting trip and a tire gauge. The one we found in the garage was not working and then later we found another one. So we seem to have three.

I spent most of the day catching up on phone calls and emails. Then this evening I went to Mead to see my friend Jean-Andrew a storyteller under the name of Storylore entertain a room full of toddlers. She is really fun.

Then home. Tomorrow our poor Chelsea is going to have some dental work done. She has it worse than we do. For one thing, she doesn't understand at all and for another they have to put her under and she will have to go through not eating after 9 this evening and then probably being a bit sick when she wakes up.

Thanksgiving is nearing. I am trying to pick up EVERYTHING we need tomorrow because the next week is - again -VERY busy. I LOVE cooking Thanksgiving dinner.

Have I ever told you of the Thanksgivings in my previous life? We used to go out to the desert with the jeep club. I would cook our turkey dinner on the Sunday before and then take all the pieces for a dinner on Thanksgiving in the camper. Then on Saturday, the jeep club would roast a whole pig and a quarter of beef on a spit outside. We started in the wee hours of the morning and the guys monitored it all day sprinkling it with spices and pouring red wine on it. They had rigged up a bit spit with a generator to run it. During the day, Twila Heinze would supervise the making of fresh applesauce and beans and anyone who had an oven in their campers baked potatoes. Finally we would all line up and gorge ourselves . Then we would finish our meal with homemake ice cream. I remember one Thanksgiving when Bret stared at that pig going round and round over the fire and asked Orrin Nordin "Can it oink yet?' Orrin said he sure hoped not.


Love

Mary

This was a rather disjointed day. Dick did not really feel up to par and ended up taking an afternoon nap, which is very unusual.

He slept this morning until about 8 (of course, that does not factor in how little if any sleep he got during the night) Then we took out the trash and transported Chelsea to Kettle Moraine Veterinary Clinic to get updated on her shots and introduced to her new "health care" experts. Dr. Quilling confirmed that she does indeed have a heart murmer and feels that this is probably the reason for her seizures. He feels that since she is so alert and likes her walks that we will not medicate her. He has suggested that her teeth, obviously full of tarter, be cleaned as he has seen tooth infection cause a lot of trouble. Also had her nails cut as this is easier on me. I get so scratched up from her when she paws at me to get my attention or tell me that she loves me.

We left there and headed to Sheboygan Falls to take Mom some wine. I was amused when she said that at her card game yesterday she mentioned the "tragedy" that had occurred that morning when the wine crashed in the street. She found it funny that they all were so concerned until they heard the punch line.

Then home again.

I spent a good chunk of the afternoon mixing the meat and veggies and assembling and baking the pasties. (You bake them for 30 minutes then freeze them. To prepare you put the pastie on a greased cookie sheet in a preheated oven and bake, from frozen, for 50 minutes.) Since I was grinding stuff, I ground some extra carrots and made a carrot, pineapple, raisin salad. We love that and it lasts. I had quite a bit of the meat and veggie mixture left so I am going to make hash for supper tomorrow night. A pork,beef, potato, carrot, onion hash SHOULD taste mighty good.

Tonight I went over to St.John's and met Marlene and Ceil to attend Fr. Van Beek's Adult Education. They supply the bible and he speaks. He is a good preacher. Tonight's class was on infinity, light and always from above. I learned a lot. About Trinity, Jesus and have some really great reference notes. Did you know that Ruah means the Breath of God? It is a pretty word.

Now I am home and winding down. Dick took me out for dinner. We went to the Wilderness and I had liver and onions. Very tasty. too. Dick got lake perch and said it was good too. We always have so many leftovers. We brought home chili AND part of our entree.

Tomorrow morning we go to the Clinic and have Dick's blood checked. It will be interesting to see if the adjustment Sue made had corrected his count.

Have a good Wednesday.

Love


Mary

The snow was melting quite fast today and we did have some sunshine.

I went to Mass at St. John's for the first time as a parishioner. My friend Marlene and her husband Warren were there and Marlene introduced me to the pastor Dennis Van Beek. He does give a wonderful sermon. I do like the way he speaks before Mass to give you an idea of what to expect in the readings and how it will apply to your life. He is really good.

Each year he has a four lesson adult education series, one a month for four months. This year the first one starts on Tuesday. So I guess I joined at just the right time. Marlene is going and I will meet her there.

Jim and Michelle came over this afternoon and we played a couple of games of pool. I had only played once before in my whole life and did not do well. I did not do well this time either but I am sure that with practice I could be better. It was fun anyway and that is the most important thing.

I am going to make Pasties this week. I mixed the pastry together today. That has to chill for at least 24 hours so I figure that I can make them either tomorrow or Tuesday.

Listening to Jerry Aps on Saturday talk about his days growing up on a farm without power in their house brought back lots of memories to me. He mentioned that they would get a gallon on ice cream on Saturday and bring it back home to divide carefully into five pieces to be eaten all at once because they could not keep it in the ice box.

We did have a refrigerator, but it did not have a very impressive freezer compartment. It only held a try of ice cubes or so. So. Once a week when Mom and Dad came back from grocery shopping they would bring a gallon of neopolitan ice cream. We still can see Dad with a knife and all the plates carefully carving that ice cream up into EQUAL parts but still honoring each child's request for his or her favorite flavor. And he did it too.

That made me remember the time Mom opened the refrigerator and found a poor little kitten sitting on a shelf shivering. She started to remember other odd things that had appeared in the refrigerator and questioned Randy. Randy said that our course he had put it in there. He wanted to "save" it. Mother had used that term when whe put food away and he figured that a kitten was just as important.

Love

Mary

"Debra Johnson said that she likes shopping at the Dollar Palace because it is convenient and casual.
'I don't have to get all dressed up like I'm going to WalMart or something.' "

A redneck statement I received in an e-mail to day. Thought I would share because it was so funny.

When Chelsea and I went out for our walk this morning there was (and still is ) snow on the ground but the roads were plowed and not at all slippery. She liked rolling in the snow but I turned her back at the junction of Tall Grass and Highland because the sidewalk going around Lion's Park was not plowed AND I did not particularly want to walk through the snow in the park at the other end.

I met Ann Pirrung and Rosemary Eigenberger at the Parkview Restuarant in Falls before we went over to the library to listen to a talk by Jerry Aps, a historian who has written LOTS of books about rural Wisconsin and Wisconsin in general. He gives a great talk. I enjoyed it immensely. He is a friend of Irene Luedtke a published member of the Writer's Club. She came to hear him too. He spoke of the farm days in the late depression and WWII days which was very interesting to me as I had childhood memories of the latter.

Then I went to Mother's and had lunch with her and Jeff before Jeff and I went out to CountyF to check out our spots. Do you believe that next Saturday is opening day for deer hunting? Already!!! It was a lovely day to be out in the woods. We repaired his stand, mine and Shane's. Got out at about 4:30, a bit later than we planned and we had started in at 1:30 so we put in some time. It was still light when we got out so it was OK.

Somebody was supposed to be looking at the Hunter's Glen property today. We had someone on Wednesday too. The realtor that showed on Wednesday had not reported to ReMax as of yesterday. Hopefully one of the two will be interested. We keep praying and making sure that all looks good. On Tuesday we went over and I pulled out all the dead Marigolds from the front planter. Don't think I upturned St. Joseph. I will have to double check the next time we go.

All that fresh air is good for me.

Tomorrow I start officially as a member of St. John the Baptist here in Plymouth. I told Dick that none of the parishioners will even know unless I happen to run into someone that I do know. I have several acquaintances in the parish. I will have to call Lorraine Schaap and sign off of that prayer chain and get on the one at St. John's.

Guess that's all for now. Have a nice Sunday. It is supposed to warm up a bit in the next couple of days.

Love

Mary

First snowfall of the season and it came down with a vengeance. They said we would get about an inch but I am sure that there is more than that out there, at least in spots.

I did go to the bust up party at Rhine. Probably shouldn't have because I drove there during the very worst of the storm. But I did and had a good time. Sara had prepared ham with pineapple, Meatballs and gravy with mashed potatoes and corn for the meal and Bill Olson brought his "world famous" homemade peach cobbler with icecream.

This was Lil Pippings day to win. She beat me by 5 points and deserved it because of one REALLY bad target that I shot a couple of weeks ago.

This noon I met Sheila Isaacson at Bublitz in Saukville to give her the four sweatshirts that I had made into jackets trimmed with the Celtic Women International plaid. We had a wonderful visit and a good lunch. I had a portabello mushroom sandwich (to die for) and a nice hearty cup of clam chowder. That was before the storm. On the way home, I stopped at Barb Mac Ewen's place to get my Mary Kay restocked.

Jack Palance died today at 87. I was reading the newsflash on the net and came accross this quote of his. I think it is great. He is referring to the one armed push ups that he was famous for when he was in his 70s.

"That's nothing, really," he said slyly. "As far as two-handed push-ups, you can do that all night, and it doesn't make a difference whether she's there or not."

What a rake. He was fun to watch and such a good actor.

Have a great Saturday. I am going to hear Jerry Aps speak at the Sheboygan Falls Library in the morning.

Mary

I am posting a bit early today because I am going downstairs to watch a Mary Higgins Clark movie that will be on from 7 to 9 and I want to go to bed as soon as it is over.

It was a busy day. We had an appointment with Dr. Hodous to get Dick' s feet looked at then we went to Saukville to NPS to get Dick fitted for insoles for his shoes to help keep the callouses from building up.

I was barely home from my walk this morning when the phone rang. It was Michelle. I had seen them leave when Chelsea and I got back from our walk so I was surprised to get this call. They had had an accident on Bluebird Lane. A deer "attacked" them. Apparantly they were heading for 57. Michelle got a glimpse of this dope running along side them. Then it veered towards the car and smashed the passenger side doors, the rear view mirror and the window shattered all over both of them.

Thank the Lord. Neither of them were hurt. They came home and switched cars and headed back to Milwaukee. The car is at Joe Van Horn for repair and they are home safe and sound. They had just payed off the car. Now Michelle is thinking that with new doors and all it will be like having a new car all over again. We might as well look at the good in things.

Here is a little story that appeared in Reader's Digest this month.

Taped to my friend's refrigerator was a "job sheet: for her kits.

"They have to complete all these chores before I hand out theie allowances," she explained.


Does it owrk?! I asked.

"Like a charm. I haven't paid in weeks." Becquet.com

Have a great Friday.

Mary

Today was the only day this week that I was able to stay home ALL day and was it great. A lady, Sally Isely from Nicolet Welcome Service came by this morning to bring us welcome to the community gifts - similar to Welcome Wagon. We got lots of nice things, including a few meals, a fee gallon of milke and even a bible from St. John's Lutheran Church.

Then this afternoon, I went out back, because it was SO beautiful, and I cleaned the path between the house and the park out a bit. I also pulled weeds from the area that is in back of the house with a fire pit and two benches. It was pretty overgrown and I figured if I got some of it now, it would be easier in the spring and we could really use it.

I also finished two of the sweatshirts for the Celtic Women. I hope to finish the other two before Friday so I can take them with me on Friday when I go to meet Sheila in Saukville.

I got the Sheboygan Falls News today. On the cover was a story about the Falls Senior Center Halloween. I read it because I know so many people that go there, including Mother. Mother was quoted. It said

Mary Deeley had on a T-shirt with an odd-looking goat.

'This is a Puca!' Deeley said. 'A puca is and Irish ghost. They are mischievious and have the ability to become anything they want to be whatever the situation."

So I called Mother to tell her that she is a celebrity. She was pleased. She had a busy day today. She went to the beauty parlor and then shopping at Evans. Ken took her. Usually Donna does, but Donna had to go to Milwaukee because Jessica twisted her ankle and they had to get it checked. It looks like it is just a sprain but Jessie is pretty disgusted and if it is anything like mine it will take forever to heal.

That's all Folks.

I am tired and can go to bed soon.

Mary

I am done with my Senior Saints committment. Today, I picked up the food for lunch at 9:00AM. Went to Blessed Trinity and set up the food and the tables. Marcie Eppers and Kathy Rau came early to help. It wasn't that I really needed the help but more hands and company make the job SO easy. Just before 11AM I walked over to accompany Mother to church for Mass. There were the approximate 3 dozen that I expected.

After Mass, we went down to the hall for lunch and a program. Jeff Jenkins, administrator for Pine Haven talked to us about a new project called Prairie Crossing which will start with a 40 unit minimum assisted living complex for Seniors in Sheboygan Falls quite near the Pig off of Bluebird Lane. It sounds very nice. The units will range from very small one bedroom units to some larger two bedroom units. Quite nice, with community dining available plus lots of other amenities. The lunch was quite good. I ordered Turkey and ham sandwiches on hard rolls, Auntie Em's potato salad (which is very good) and cookies. Everybody seemed to be pleased.

When I got home, Dick and I went to the City Hll to vote. They say that 80 % of the eligible voters are turning out. Probably because of the referendums. I am not happy with the way they are turning out. We also went to the Hunters Glen house to run water and I needed to pull the marigolds out of the front planter. Once they dry out they really look tacky. Tomorrow someone is looking at the house and we want it to look its best. Please pray that it sells soon.

Tomorrow is quiet. I should be able to stay home all day. Someone from a place called Nicolet Welcome service is coming by to bring a welcom packet "filled with helpful civic information and gift certificates". We'll see. It is supposed to get up into the 60s tomorrow and I want to go out back and cut some of the burdocks away from my path to Lion's Park. It will be easier to guide Chelse if it have it a bit clearer.

Have a good one your self.

Love

Mary.

Well, it was MONDAY. We are having a beautiful week, weather wise, BUT it was foggy tonight and I had to go to Rhine Plymouth for the monthly meeting. It was a rather heated meeting, as we reviewed the proposed constitution and had a couple of members who are feeling rather picky and then there are a couple of others who take some things very personally. Everybody sees what they do for the club but many consider their voluntary contributions should excuse them from the assigned hours that we all have to work.

Bible study was at 9:30AM and I followed that by meeting with Kathy Rau, the custodian at Blessed Trinity, to gather the plates, napkins and so on for the Senior lunch tomorrow. Then stopped to see Mother. She is feeling better but if the discomfort doesn't completely go away by the end of the week, we will talk about seeing her doctor to explore further.

This afternoon we did our grocery shopping because of the Lunch tomorrow. Then I picked up Market Day. I got a beautiful ham, cookies and some mini omelets for Dick.

Tomorrow is the election also. Thank heavens that will be over. It will be interesting to see how the two referendums on the ballot will go. I will be voting no on both. I definately oppose the death penalty and feel that we do not need an amendment to ban gay marriage. For all intents and purposes, Wisconsin has a law already banning it and I don't approve of Amendments that take rights away from people. I won't go into my reasons but I do have a lot of opinions on these matters.

I have a cute story. Marily Taylor, the Poet Lauriete of Milwaukee, who was one of the speakers at the Writer's Festival at Lakeland College, spoke of an African Safari she went on several years ago. She said that, to her horror, they slept in little mini tents right out on the ground with no fortifications or extra security and she could hear lions roar and stuff during the night. Her apprehension was ot lessened when the guide said that "They almost never harm humans."

Have a nice Tuesday and GET OUT AND VOTE. (Even if you don't agree with me.) Voting is one of our most valuable freedoms. Do it.

Mary

We seem to be heading into Indian Summer. It was warm today and is supposed to get even warmer, perhaps up in to the low 60s by mid week. And we have had our hard frost. So that means that everything is running a bit late.

This morning when Chelsea and I were on our walk, we (I really should say "I", Chelsea is not all that observant) saw a deer in the middle of Tallgrass Lane. She watched us for a while until Chelsea barked at a dog in a house, then jumped over some bushes, decided she didn't want to be there either so she ran back into the Park. The rest of the walk was rather dull.

Went to the 10:30 Mass at Blessed Trinity. This was my last Mass as a parishioner there. I will be presenting the Senior program on Tuesday, then I will be done. Tomorrow after Bible Study, Kathy and I will be sure there are plates, cups and coffee pots set up for the lunch.

A lady from St. John's called and had taken all the raffle prozes home with her. So Dick and I went and picked it up this afternoon. I got 6 videos, quite good ones too, and several nice Christmas Tree ornaments in a very pretty basket.

The Packers lost. My Fantasy football picks turned out pretty bad this week. I looked good for the first couple , but then Chicago lost and Dallas which really messed me up.

The election is on Tuesday, thank heavens. Everybody is sick to death of all the negative campaign adds and hearing about everything. I have made up my mind and will be glad that it is over with.

Jim and Michelle fixed the door to the wine cellar and put the storm door in the front door. Dick said that it only took a few minutes each. Would have taken us all day and lots of anxiety. Sure glad they are willing to help. They got a kitten from the Humane Society yesterday. He is a real cutie. He is black with a bit of white under his chin and all four paws are white. They named him Boots. His face looks like Sylvester in the comics. And can that little guy purr. He seems like a happly little fella.

Have a good week.

I talked to Bart and Barb. Barb still has her hear infection, (the doctor says that it is a fungal infection) but Bart sounds pretty good.

Guess that is all for now.

Mary

It was a cloudy day but still and the temperatures went up as high as 48. Quite a lovely day to be out and about.

I baked the pies for the turkey dinner. I made four. One will stay here for our dinner and the others I will take to Blessed Trinity when I go to Mass at 10:30. I will be picking up the dinners after Mass.

Mom wasn't feeling too well today. Jeff was there and he called because her ribs ached and she felt kind of dizzy. I called this evening. They did talk to the doctor and he said that she can wait to make an appointment next week if she is not feeling better. She said that the dizziness was gone already and she will just see how things go.

I went over to the Craft sale at St. John the Baptist church. I won one of the silent auction items, a cooking basket. It had baking and mixing bowls and utensils, including a cast aluminum bundt pan shaped like a rose. I also won a raffle prize with movies in it. I will pick that up on Monday during school hours. Kind of a lucky day for me.

DEEP THOUGHTS FOR THOSE WHO TAKE LIFE TOO SERIOUSLY.
>
>
> 1. Save the whales. Collect the whole set.
>
> 2. A day without sunshine is like, well, night.
>
> 3. On the other hand, you have different fingers.
>
> 4. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.
>
> 5. 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.

Goodnight

Mary

I am so cold. Bobbie and I worked out at Rhine tonight. The clubhouse was actually warm enough but I just plain got chilled on the drive home. It was not a long enough drive to warm the car and I had to stop at 1st National to drop off the deposit from the club. As if I wasn't cold enough, I had to walk accross the street to drop the deposit in the night deposit.

It was an eventful day. I dropped off a couple of entries at Lakeland for the writing contest held in conjunction with the Festival, then went to Sheboygan Falls for a couple of errands including dropping off some copies of my book at the Research Center for sale. When I got back to Plymouth I had time to stop at St. John the Baptist church office to register as a member there. I was glad to see that my friend Marlene Schueffner was manning the office today. It is hard to come to a new church. I remember when I joined St. Simon and Jude in Huntington Beach and feeling SO alone because I knew nobody. At least in Plymouth, I know several people and will find my place sooner. I told Marlene that I was going to lay back for a bit before volunteering for much. I did tell her I would like to be a Communion Minister however. That only involves participating during the Mass and I am there anyway.

I finished that last two targets for the pistol league tonight. I am sure that Lil (my friend who is my competition) beat me this time. That's OK. We have fun anyway. And each league I get a bit better.

I got the current count for the Senior Event at Blessed Trinity. That will be my last project there. I ordered the lunch from the Pig in Falls. I am pleased to say that we have 26 people signed up. I ordered enough for 3 dozen as I am sure that a few will have signed up this afternoon and one or two on Monday.

Tomorrow will be quiet. I need to bake the pies for the turkey dinner AND I want to bake some bread. I want the smell of fresh bread in the house.

>
>Andy Rooney said on "60 Minutes" a few weeks back:
>
>
>I don't think being a minority makes you a victim of anything except
>numbers. The only things I can think of that are truly discriminatory are
>things like the United Negro College Fund, Jet Magazine, Black
>Entertainment Television, and Miss Black America. Try to have things like
>the UnitedCaucasianCollege Fund, Cloud Magazine, White Entertainment
>Television, or Miss White America; and see what happens...Jesse Jackson
>will be knocking down your door.



Have a nice weekend.

Mary

This morning was very windy and cold. I went to Lakeland College for the Great Lakes Writers Festival. Jane, Ann, Sy and Sue from the Sheboygan County Writers club were also there. It was a nice time. At 11:00AM the two presenters Sebastian Matthews and Marilyn Taylor read some of their work to the entire group. Quite impressive.

Then, the writers club group all car pooled over to the Log Cabin for lunch and some visiting. At 2:00PM Sebastian and Marilyn did workshops for all who wished to attend. This is entirely free. Jane and I went to Marilyn's poetry workshop. She focused on word choice and diction. We got a nice web site for a thesaurus and did a few exercises that were fun. I like little exercises - we sometimes do them at club too. She had us write a poem using six of about 12 words that she had us list and also we "filled in the blanks" on two poems already published with some words blanked out that we got to fill in. That was fun too.

I will DO one here so you can see what we did. This was one that we had to choose words to involve the emotions. The original poem was Washing Sheets in July by a Jane Gentry. I do not have the words that SHE had in the blanks so you will have to put up with mine. I will put MY words in caps. My half of the room had to be kind of negative. The other side of the room had to be positive.

Against the white garage,
hollyhocks SPAR.
The sheets, wet, adhesive
as I hang them, smell
of SULPHER and MANURE SCENTED air.
Flags of order in the WANNING sun,
How they CONVULSE in the ANGRY breeze!
Watching them TWISTING on the line,
I STRUGGLE with and old LOST DREAM.

It is amazing how many diverse ideas can come out of a group.

Anyway, it was lots of fun.

I will also share the Cadfael Book of Days intry for today.

November 2nd. It is only that the step from perfectly ordinary things into the miraculous seems to me so small, almost accidental, that I wonder why it astonishes you at all, or why you trouble to reason about it. If it were reasonable it could not be miraculous, could it?

Ellis Peters

Have a great day tomorrow. I have tons to do.

Love

Mary

It was a holy day today and I went to church in Plymouth at St. John's. The church was packed. It was the school mass plus a lot of parishioners. Their priest DOES give a nice serman. I had always heard that. He directed it to the kids today but included the adults enough to make it interesting. He spoke of the Communion of Saints. Explaining that it is the saints in Heaven, the sould in Purgatory and all of us.

I called the harpest that Beth Dipple had given me the information on. She is available and will be here for an Irish Christmas at The Plymouth Historical Center on December 9 from 1:30 to 3:00PM. She sounds like fun. She will play the harp and regale us with stories of Irish Christmas customs. Her husband will be with her and he belongs to the Celtic American Church. I am so looking forward to talking to him. He might possible even be a good future speaker.

Every year I get ornaments for all the kids and their spouses. This afternoon, Dick was working at the dining room table so I decided it was go good time to wrap them. Don't be too impressed. These are the ONLY Christmas presents that we have so far. And I have them because they come out sometime in late August from Hallmark. BUT they are wrapped and I feel good about that.

We had tacos and tostadas for supper tonight. Hadn't had them in a long time and they really tasted good. I still have some of the banana cake which mad a great dessert.

I finished the prototype of the Celtic Women's sweatshirt jacket. It was easy and looks good.

Tomorrow I will be going to Lakeland College for a Writer's Festival. I am meeting some of the members of the Sheboygan Writers Club. We will have lunch together as well as attending the speakers talks. Should be fun.

Bobbie sent us an e-mail about our Oscar. He apparantly chased his tail around wildly for about 45 minutes one evening and had her very amused. Sure miss him. It is fun to hear about theie antics from Bobbie. I really appreciate the stories and the fact that she and Bill have them until we can get them back.

Take care.

Love

Mary

Well - Dick has finally fallen off the perfect wagon with his blood count. Sue was right. The anti biotics did goof it up. So he has to change the dosage for a bit and see her in two weeks to see if we have him back where he belongs.

Then we went grocery shopping, registered to vote and picked up his prescriptions. So it was another morning of running around.

The rest of the day we got to stay home. I checked out and make sure things in the freezer were labled and then made a cake with some bananas that I found in there.

Worked a bit on the quilt for Donna and on a sweatshirt jacket trimmed in the Celtic Women fabric. Whew. Quite a day.

Watched Dancing with the Stars and still enjoy it. I found out that I could vote for more than one so I voted for Emmit and for Joey. They were both really good tonight.

Today is the official Halloween. As I said Plymouth had their trick or treat on Sunday. We didn't have anyone come anyway. Halloween is the eve before All Saints Day and traditionally the night that the bad spirits roam the earth.

Tomorrow is a holy day and I will be going to 8:00AM at St. John's.

Mother and I were discussing All Souls Day at lunch yesterday. (We both remembered the day incorrectly. We were thinking that is was today, but it is the day AFTER All Saint's Day.) Anyway, when we were young we were told that on All Soul's Day, if one went into church and said 6 Our Fathers you saved a soul. So we used to go to church and pop in and out of church saying 6 Our Fathers each time so that we could save LOTS of souls.

I think that ranks right up there with Pagan Babies. We would save our money for the Pagan Baby drive at St. Mary School. Everytime $5 was collected we had saved a baby. We even got to pick the gender and name it. Such a deal.


Never knock on death's door........ Ring the doorbell and run. He hates that.


Til tomorrow

Mary

We had a BEAUtiful day today. The highest temperature I saw was 59 this afternoon. What a nice break. It has been unseasonably cold this fall. Tomorrow a cold front is coming in and it is going to drop back down to the 40s. But today was a treasure.

Dick got Chelsea out of the bedroom this morning and shut the door so we managed to get her out on her walk at 6:00AM STANDARD time. Much better than 5:00AM. It was even light. I LIKE walking when it is light. So does Chelsea but of course she doesn't understand that time has a lot to do with it.

Bible Study went well. We were discussing Sunday's readings which are focusing on the Great Commandment. To love God first and then to love your fellow man. Sometimes that isn't the easiest thing in the world, is it? Not everybody is easy to love. And it is not always easy to remember that God comes first. We are faced every day with issues that are bombarding us constantly.

After that I picked up Mom and we did a lot of things. We picked up a packet for Mom to use to apply for the lifeline necklace, got her blood pressure checked, (her reading was really good 168/68 so she is to stay on the medication and same dosage for the time being). Then stopped at the Mall at Mary Lee's where Eileen had two books for Mom and Mom bought a present for her bridge club gift exchange. I gave Eileen the pattern for the spider web wall hanging and picked up two Christmas ornaments.

But we weren't done yet.

After leaving Eileen, we went to Applebee's for lunch. A good lunch if I do say so. Our final stop was back at the Clinic where her Ear specialist cleaned and adjusted her hearing aids. Then home. After dropping her off, I did stop at Walgreens to pick up prescriptions for Dick. Now I find out that they were partial prescriptions and we have to stop again tomorrow. Ick.

Tonight was the Rhine Plymouth Board Meeting. I was home by 8:15 or so. Good thing because I am tired and want to be done.

I read something in a magazine today. It was in a bunch of quotes that people attributed to someone who really had an influence in their life. So here it is.

"Someone who is priceless, can't be worthless."

That is all of you.

Mary

Mom and I had the nicest visit this morning. We discussed everything from Madonna's adoption to why war is the answer to peace. She is a marvel.

I talked to Barbara and Bart today. Barbara has an ear infection but her inspection at work went OK after a battle so this week was a mixed bag for them. Bart sounds Ok.

Chelsea started waking me up at 5:13AM. I had tried to explain daylight savings to her and she swore she understood. But I think she lied. I let her out to piddle and then tried to go back to bed but OH NO. At 5:30 AM there she was again and I just gave up. I guess we will have to go through a period of retraining. She was definately unhappy with Dick and me because we waited until 5(6) to feed her tonight.

For some reason or other, I really miss my kitties this weekend. It is hard for me to know that they are out there and not with me. I am sure they are fine, because they are with Bobbie and Bill and animals are not as possessive as people. But it is hard for me to go to bed at night without my Oscar cuddling me for a while. It is sad for me to sit at my desk without them taking up TOO much of the desktop. I miss my Roxie dragging all the little things off and leaving them in the hallways. I miss them greeting me in the morning and when I come home.
So many people say that I should just get them - who would know. Dick doesn't feel that way. I wish with all my heart that he did. I feel like a total nut about this but it is really hard.

This is a rather busy week ahead. I take Mother to the ear doctor on Monday after Bible Study. Monday evening is Rhine Plymouth Board Meeting. Tuesday, Dick has a blood test and we will shop. The end of the week I will be attending part of a Writer's Festival at Lakeland. Should get me going again. These things usually do.

Pray that the house on Hunter's Glen sells. We sure could use it.

Love

Mary

We had a FUN day. This morning Dick and I went to the house on Hunters Glen and took care of our faithful lawn mower, Patrick's pay for the past couple of months. Now pray that the house sells soon so that mowing and shoveling become non relevant for us soon.

Then we went to Main Dish over on Hwy 42. They are a service that provides the ability to assemble meals and bring them home ready to pop in the oven for you. They had a special today. for $12 you could get one container with enough to feed 4 to 6 or two with each serving 2 to 3. They had a choice of Chicken Parmesean or Pork Medalians. We chose Chicken Parmesean. It was really fun and I brought home two containers with Chicken Parmesean that will provide easily a main dish from each container for two meals for Dick and Me. As I was leaving, Jim and Michelle came in. They got the Pork Medalians, so we traded two. That will give us four meals, two of each kind. What a deal. I would be willing to go back. (Of course, we have to taste them first.)

Then we stopped at Walmart and I reupped my Trak phone. for another year. Then to Walgreens for my stomach medicine and home.

We were glad to get there by then.

Jim and Michelle came over and put a swivel shelf on our dresser for the tv. The video machine fits underneath it and we are all set for now.

We shared our lunch of pasta salad and salmon/cheese and crackers then I rested for a while. The Badgers won. Yea.

I worked a bit on Donna's baby quilt. Got the batting in and put the first stitching around the edge.

We had chicken stir fry for supper. Pretty good too. I used a package of frozen brocolli, fresh mushrooms, celery, red onion and chicken.

Tonight we have to remember to turn the clocks back as daylight savings time starts in the morning. Chelsea and I will like that for a while. It will be lighter when we walk. I hope she knows that I get an extra hour sleep.

Remember: Dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
1 - Eat less
2 - Don't ask for money all the time
3 - Are easier to train
4 - Usually come when called
5 - Never drive your car
6 - Don't hang out with drug-using friends
7 - Don't smoke or drink
8 - Don't worry about having to buy the latest fashions
9 - Don't wear your clothes
10. Don't need a gazillion dollars for college, and
11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.

love

Mary

Today was mild and clear. I had to do several errands so was able to be out and about and enjoy it.

Jim and Michelle got back from their honeymoon early this afternoon. Just before I left for lunch with the girls at Dairy Queen. I had a nice grilled cheese lunch there then did a bit of shopping. I found the Ivory Snow that Dick needs for his sox, a rod to put in the spiderweb hanging, the meal deal and some oreo cookies at Pick and Save.

Then I met Beth Dipple from Sheboygan County Historical Research at the Plymouth Historical Building which is still under construction in the building that used to house my friend David Roehre's Barber Shop. They say they will be ready for business by November 17 as that is when they are having their open house. Beth and I are hoping to sponser and run three 9or four at the most,0 "Irish" nights in Plymouth at the Historical Center. We want to start with a Christmas event in December. The Center people are quite agreeable to the idea. We have two weekends picked and I will contact a harper from Milwaukee to see if she is available either of them. Then we will start advertising and plan the event. We figure we can feature the Historical Center, have a harp concert and serve tea, coffee, hot cider and irish cookies and breads. I'll keep you posted, perhaps you would like to join us.

Tonight I shot pistol league and had my very worst score of the year on one of the targets. Then I went to Book Heads, the local book store, to meet Mary Bergin who has written Sidetracked in Wisconsin, a Guide for Thoughtful Travelers. She was quite pleasant and I bought a book and had it autographed. I had left five of my books with theowner of Book Heads and she has them nicely displayed as a Local Writer in the poetry section.

Gee. I am in a bookstore.

Love

Mary

I sewed and wrote to day.

I pinned the kitty/doggy quilt to ghe batting and backing. Tomorrow, I will put it on the quilt rack and start quilting it. I sure wish my Roxie and Oscar were here to enjoy the wonderful hammock that this will provide.

I also sewed the front and back of Donna's quilt together and will turn it inside out and slip the batting in tomorrow. It is a tied quilt so I won't have as much quilting to do.

I cleaned my desk and also wrote a poem today.

Chelsea let me sleep until 6:30AM, mainly because Dick had shut her out of the bedroom. We had a really nice walk, then I cleaned the bathrooms.

Tomorrow will be a busy day OUT of the house. I have several stops after lunch and in the evening. We are watching one of our horror DVDs, Bedlam. Have you noticed that there is absolutely NOTHING worth seeing on TV?

I read in the Plymouth Review that Plymouth will have their children celebrate Halloween on Sunday between 3 and 5 in the afternoon. We have been informed that very few children make the rounds in Tall Grass but we are ready with two bags of snack sized peanut M & M's in case of a sudden mob. When Halloween is over, I will get out the Thanksgiving things.

I made some Rice Krispy Candy in the shape of bones that I will frost and lay on a platter of Oreo Cookie Crumb dirt. Doesn't that sound like FUN?

Got an e mail from Leslie. It sounds like she and Dick have similar leg problems. Both girls are living on their own and she is a full time homemaker now, mainly because of her health. Wonder if she and Bill will get up here one of these days. His mother and one of his sisters were very ill. Pray for them if you can. They are both showing signs of improvement. That must be a big comfort to Bill.

Take Care

Boo


Mary

Chelsea slept until 6:15AM this morning. That was quite a nice thing for her to do, but it was still very dark out there, so we just went for a very short walk. Then at about 9:00 she and I went out again and went all around the Tallgrass complex and then around Lions Park and came back through the path that I cleared from the park to the back of our unit. She was a very happy girl. It is NOW time, because of the dark to do this every day.

Dick and I went to K-Mart today too. We are looking for Ivory Snow to wash his socks in. Nobody seems to be carrying it anymore. I will try WalMart on Friday and then our only hope is Woodlake. But I did find a couple of plants for the kitchen and a turntable for the TV in our bedroom. So it was a successful trip.

This afternoon, I cut out a few denim squares for the future quilt and emptied two boxes out in the garage. Everything that is left is Dick's. HOWEVER, I cannot find three pictures and a coffee perculator. Beats me where they have gone. I am sure they will sow up eventually. I remember that when we moved Mother and Dad to the little "Grandma" house (as Bret puts it) on Summer St. in Sheboygan Falls, they could not find all of Mother's spoons. Then, one day, Dad called Mother to come down into the basement and underneath a box and some folded linens were all of the spoons, carefully wrapped and ready to hang. I have faith. The pictures are two small cards that my Uncle George hand did for Christmas two years in a row in watercolor and a painting on hard medium that my Brother Matthew did. He is the poet who died when he was only 17. I KNOW they are here somewhere.

Tomorrow is scheduled to be very quiet day. We should not have to go ANYWHERE. I intend to sew and write and clean.

Hope you have a good day too.

Love

Mary

 

A day mostly at home. It was clear crisp and cold most of the day too. We got up at 6:30AM, Celsea and me. It was just beginning to get light. After this weekend, when the time changes, I will start taking her out for quick relief and then we will take a longer walk later in the day when there is sunshine. It only takes her a few days to catch on.

We went grocery shopping after a Mc Donald's breakfast and then stayed home the whole day. I watched Dancing with the Stars while doing some sewing. I finished the quilt top for my friend Donna to give to Helen and Kenny's grandson. I think I mentioned the beautiful cross stitch that she does. Now I just need to pick up a bit of batting and assemble it. I also did more work on the kitten/doggy quilt.

We had turkey patties with bread stuffing casserole for supper along with fresh apple crisp.

Tomorrow will be another rather quiet day. We want to do a bit of shopping for some odd little things we need for the house but the rest of the day is free at home again. I intend to sew some more and Dick and I are busy sorting out and culling old cleaning products. The boxes are ALMOST all emptied and the things put away.

BREATH by ME

The freshness of the dew

In a clearing in the midst of a forest

Highlights red locust and green willow

Still flush with the hues of their youth.

Moist, damp and sweet

Like the rain forest at dawn

Gentle rain and whispy filmy ferns

Breath in and out with pulsing languid life

Under the newly budded maple

Listen to life-renewing rain

Tenderly wash reaching branches

Then fall to nourish the earth below.

Love

Mary

A nice Bible Study this morning. We are reading some Jeremiah for our first reading at the Sunday Mass. This coming Sunday is the good news to Jeremiah that God will be reuniting the Hebrew people in Israel after the Babylon exile. He had to do a lot of reuniting because the people would disobey his requests. I like the "changing sadness to joy" concept.

I showed Donna the quilt as far as I have it and she is pleased. She did a cross stitch sampler for me of Dick and my wedding . It is truely lovely and she has it all ready to hang.

Then I came home. I went to the Plymouth Writer's Club a week late, they meet on the THIRD Monday fo each month. However, I was able to leave four books at Book Head and she will display them as a local author's work . I akso left one at the Plymouth Library for their collection.

This afternoon, was really kind of quiet. I did some cooking called a friend and wrote a note to another friend.

Found a great channel on TV. They run Dick Cavett's old interviews in the afternoons. I watched the show where he interviewed Groucho Marx. Groucho was charming. He sang and told stories with his wonderful wit. I wrote down a quotation that was just SO Groucho. "I think women are sexy when they have their clothes on. Then if they take them off later, you've triumphed."

I also called Barbara this evening and found out that my new great grandaughter is named Abigail Elaine.

Have a lovely evening.

Mary

 

Sorry for no Blog last night, but when I finally got time to post, at about 9:30PM the blogger site was down. I was also working with the slowest computer time in the world. However when Dick Jr figured out that the blog site was down, it was the perfect excuse to go to bed.

The wedding day was very very special. I invited Jim and Michelle to join, Dick, Dick, Brenda and myself for a special brunch, the Groom's Grub, as Jim referred to it. Then we gradually got dressed, and Jim and Michelle put out all the food that they could and had all the rest ready for the big event.

The ceremony was in Grafton in a lovely Veteran's Park under a roofed gazebo. By the time we got there it was rainy and rather cold, but under cover, the ceremony was lovely and very special. There were the Kunerts, myself and Dick, Bobbie and Bill, Dick and Brenda and Dick's Sister Hazel with Suzi. Then the Deeleys, Mom, Jeff, Kathy and Sara, Eileen, Donna and Becky. Bob Thomas and Gary came from the library, so we had a good group surrounding the happy couple. Judge Stengel came in his black robe and did a really nice ceremony for them.

George, Betsy, Shawn and Sara got there just a bit late but were part of it all and I was so glad to see them.

We didn't hang around the park too long as it was cold. The condo was all toasty and warm. Just the Kunerts had a chance to visit and snack a bit before the other guests arrived. The party was lively and warm and loving for Jim and Michelle. I think they were very happy. Dick Jr. said the toast for his brother and we all ate Michelle's delicious feast with gusto. After everyone left, Brenda, Bobbie and I helped clean up and put the food away. I have one layer of the cake in my freezer. It will stay there for a week, then Jim and Michelle are taking it to work to share.

It was a very special day.

Today was MUCH quieter. I went to the 8AM Mass in Falls and just zipped in to say HI to Mom. She was pleased to be a part of the event. When I got home, I fixed egg and cheese sandwiches for everybody before Jim and Michelle left for Florence WI on their honeymoon and Dick and Brenda left for home.

Bobbie and I worked at Rhine Plymouth today. We got to come home early because it was so slow. Probably because it was rather cold and windy and because there was a Packer Game on at noon. By the way, the Packer's WON. They actually beat Miami IN Miami. Wahoo!

I will post a picture of the happy couple.

Love

Mary

Chelsea let me sleep until 6:30 this morning. That was quite useful as it was beginning to get light when we started our walk and was quite light by the time we finished. She was a really active old lady this morning. We went down ALL the cul de sacs - June Grass, Cattail AND Indian Grass, then went down Eastern Avenue to Valley Road and followed the path along Lions Park until we got to the place where we could go through the woods right to our back yard. A nice pleasant walk.

When we got back, Dick was sleeping, so we ate breakfast, cleaned the kitchen and emptied a few little boxes. I had lunch at the Dairy Queen, a cup of chili, and a nice visit with Alice, Betty, Barb, Mary and Dawn. A nice visit and break in the day.

Then I rested a bit until Jim and Michelle came home. We found spots to put the wedding cake. Dick and Brenda got her at about 5:00 so we visited with them and Jim and Michelle for a bit more then out to dinner at the Villager. Brenda and I took a quick swing through Evans. Dick and Dick really wanted to go home so kept calling us AND then there was an announcement that the store was closing in 7 minutes (not 5 or 10 but SEVEN) so we figured we had better leave.

When we got home we called Jim and Michelle over for a little shot of White Chocolate Liquor and coffee. I found out that Michelle has never been to Evans so will take her and Jim some day. That is an experience that everybody should have. I know that when Sarah, George and Betsy's daughter in law, comes to visit she INSISTS on going to Evans, just to buy their candy. ( the old nickel and dime kind that you can't find anywhere)

Tomorrow is the big day. The wedding. Today was Michelle's birthday, tomorrow the wedding and Sunday, Jim's birthday. They sure know how to hold each other to remembering. Jim and Michelle are going to get their flowers early in the morning, so I suggested that we have a nice Bride's Brunch, or as Jim calls it a Groom's Gorge. Hope I remembered that right. He is very alert and notices that EVERYTHING is for the bride.

It is getting close to Halloween. I will tell you my little Halloween poem because I can't think of any clever way to end tonight.

From ghoulies and ghosties
And long leggity beasties
And things that go bump in the night.
Precious Lord , deliver us.

Mary

 

The above picture was taken on a lighthouse tour of Door County. I am experimenting with Picasso and it is really quite easy to put pictures on the blog. Do you like it? I was rather proud of this shot.

Today was dry. A nice change from all the rain that we have been experiencing lately.

Well, we had our two trips to the Clinic today. Dick and Sue, his nurse technician, both fully expected his blood test to be way off because he is taking antibiotics and was taking pain pills and muscle relaxants. These things ALWAYS thin the blood. But Dick, the wonder patient, had a perfect blood level for, I think, the 20th month in a row. Sue said that she would make a fortune if she could just figure out what his body is doing. She wants to see him in 10 days anyway, just to be sure that all is OK.

The second visit was to the podiatrist. He is prescribing some insoles which he is hoping will slow up the formation of those uncomfortable calluses that also sometimes get blood clots.

We stopped at Hunters Glen to check everything too. All is well and we got a call from ReMax that there is a showing scheduled for tonight at 6:00PM. Pray that we get an offer soon. As Jim and Michelle said, it would be a great wedding present for them.

Jim and Michelle came over tonight with a pumpkin cheesecake for dessert and we reviewed what is happening tomorrow and Saturday. She and Jim have been making two of the dishes for the reception each day and are almost done.

We called Dick and Brenda tonight. They are going to be here tomorrow, sometime between 5 and 6 and we will go to the Villager for dinner. I suggested to Brenda that we go next door to see if there is anything we can do to help when we get back from dinner. However, I think the most help we can be is on Saturday. Michelle thinks she has it all together, but on Saturday, she should be spending more time on herself and less on the preparations. We can step in there.

My camera arrived priority mail, wrapped in a neat black t shirt from Kristine at the ICHC (Irish Cultural and Historic Center). I have written a note and am sending it with a check for the restoration fund to thank her for the kind attention. I had about 50 pictures from several events stockpiled on the disc and would have hated to lose them as well as the camera. I am so pleased that I got it back before the wedding.


Sign at a Tucson, AZ coffee shop:
Unattended children will be given espresso and a free puppy.


Have a good one.

Mary

My day at home was only broken once. We did have to swing on over to Piggly Wiggly to pick up some more gauze and tape for Dick's legs and I had to buy a sympathy card for my brother in law Keith and his wife Joy.

Dick's legs are still very slender but still have several tender spots on them so we will be washing them in the special soap as directed and keeping them wrapped.

We hung a few more pictures and Dick almost has the telephone table we bought for the downstairs bedroom assembled. So it was a busy day, but still rather mellow. Good thing because we have two visits to the clinic scheduled for Dick tomorrow. I told him I think that we are single handedly keeping that place going this week.

Oh Yes. Chelsea had her bath today. It works just fine in the master shower. She is just gorgeous now. Hope I can keep her looking this good until the wedding is over.

I don't think I told you that I somehow or other left my camera in the seat of the Hallamor at the Irish Center. I emailed the director immediately and Monday Kristine emailed me back that they had indeed found it and she is mailing it back to me. She is actually sending it priority mail and wrapped in a black tshirt to avoid ruining the pictures. I had faith that in that setting I would probably get it back and my faith was rewarded. I will even have it in time for the wedding. We are going to send a donation in thanks to the Irish Center as soon as I get it and know how much they had to spend to get it back to me. Want the donation to match the costs plus some for the kindness.

We had chili burgers for supper tonight. Haven't fixed them for a long time and they sure did taste good. I also mixed up a pot of cabbage and other veggies for a Cabbage Chowder. Cabbage, carrots, potatoes cooked in water with salt,pepper and sugar. It smells wonderful. All I have to do is add the milk and butter and heat before serving. I may add some of my frozen corn too.

Dick and Brenda are coming Friday night. We will look forward to the time with them.

In Ireland they say that "when the sun sets in the Atlantic it rises in the land of our ancestors."

Love

Mary

Today was a marathon.

We started out by grocery shopping. That was quite successful. We were home by 9:15 or so and had a chance to get the groceries put away and relax for a little bit. I got all updated on my computer stuff. (I think).

Then at 11 or so we left for Dick's famous Unwrapping of the Legs. The swelling is dramatically down. Those wrappings are amazing. Wonder who ever thought of it. Now we have to heal some of the ulcers that started when the legs were so swollen. Dr. Phelan suggests that we wrap them once a month for a while to see if that will keep them close to normal.

We went right downstairs to the flu shot clinic. Now we won't have to watch for the schedules at the grocery stores etc.

That got us just right for my appointment with Dr. Wenberg. I have made an appointment for my yearly checkup and mammagram for December but Dick wanted me to ask him for help getting my stomach back to normal. Will watch diet and try a new pill that may help. I am to try the pills for two weeks then get a six week supply if they help. So, I will not expect miracles but a steady improvement.

We proceeded from there to lunch at Applebees. Being that it was past the rush hour, it seemed a good time to go there. They DO have such good food.

On to the bank to cash a check for Mother, then to her house to deliver her cash and her wine. Can't keep her on the water wagon too long, you know. Visited for a bit then home, with stops at Walgreen's to pick up prescriptions for both of us, the liquor store (Which was closed this morning. The sign said that hours were from 9 to 9 and it was ten minutes after when we drove by. The delivery man from Flipse was there too shrugging his shoulders.) and the gas station.

Then, finally HOME!!!! We were exhausted. I took a short nap.

Watched Dancing with the Stars, then remembered to check messages on the phone. To my sorrow, I have a message from Jacquie, my dear ex sister in law. My brother in law, Keith's son Jessie died today. Poor boy was only 22 and was suffering from cancer. A bone marrow transplant was in the works but apparantly they did not find a matching donor in time. Two matches had changed their mind after being matched. What is that? Why did they sign up in the first place? Anyway, a sad message and I will call Jacquie in the morning. I tried tonight but had no success in reaching her. Pray for Keith and Joy, it is so very hard to lose a child.

Tomorrow we get to stay home ALL day. And I intend to only stick my nose out to walk the dog and get the mail and paper. Hopefully, we can get the pictures on the walls and the counter clean again. I would like things nice for the weekend.

Suzi called tonight too. She and Hazel are going to be at the wedding and are staying at the AmericInn up the road on Saturday night so it won't be too hard on Hazel.


So that was our marathon day. I must remember the quote that is on a picture that Barbara gave me of a statue of Jesus up against the sky. It says "I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it."

Love

Mary

It was a pleasant and special day today. Bart called this afternoon. I had called HIM yesterday but he was unable to talk then. We had a nice phone visit. Nice for me especially because he sounds so much better. He is trying very hard to get a treatment that he believes will be helpful for him. There is only one doctor in Oklahoma who does it and you have to be there when he is available. It seems odd to me but this is the way the doctor works. Let us pray that he continues to improve and that if and when he gets this treatment it is all he expects it to be.

Went to Bible Study this morning. We were animated starting at the beginning with a discussion not at all related to the readings. Most of the studiers had attended a meeting regarding the collaboration with St. John's in Kohler that WILL take place next year due to the priest shortage. They all agreed that the meeting told them nothing and they were very disappointed.

Then I visited with Mother for about an hour. We always have SO much to talk about. Dick and I will stop off after his doctor appointment. She informed me that she is "on the water wagon." We got a good laugh about that. Dick actually prides himself on keeping her supplied with wine. I know that she likes to have a glass before she goes to bed at night. She said that most of her bridge playing buddies do the same thing. I know it is good for their blood and I am sure it relaxes them as they are winding down for the day.



Got a message from Bobbie today. Here it is in Bobbie's words. I simply HAVE to Share.

Well, we don't need to get the dust blown out of the ductwork any more!

Fat little Roxie squeezed her way down the cold air return Friday evening.
Once I figured out what had happened, I had to wake Bill out of a sound
sleep to drill out the rivets in the access panel in the basement so we
could rescue that little troublemaker!

(I had taken the grill off the cold air return to strip the paint off.
Both cats had sniffed around it, but I couldn't IMAGINE one would decide to
squeeze through that little opening)

All is well.

By the way. Be sure you pick your berries, especially blackberries before Halloween. I found out last week that you should never pick them after Halloween because fairies may have deficated on them.

Love

Mary

This day was beautiful. The sun shone and the temperatures were well into the 60s. I pulled the plants out of the hanging pots today so we can dispose of them this week sometime. I only need three for the front of the house next spring. I will try to keep the ivy alive through the winter in two of them.

I went to church in Plymouth today. It is a long story which I won't get in to. I am actually goint to transfer to St. John's in early November. Probably the week after turkey dinner which will take place on November 5th. Until then I will most likely just go back to attending Mass at Blessed Trinity. Tomorrow is the Bible Study which I intend to continue attending, because it will be a good chance to visit with Mother and see if she has anything for me to do for her.

Sure enjoyed the conference but all the relaxation that I achieved has been killed.

Friday was SO cold with the wind and the dampness in the air. Then to top it off the heat in the Irish Center was not working and we, as one of the speakers said, had a wonderful opportunity to develop character. Then, in the late afternoon, during the break between presentations, I ran into Dan Virks in the hallway. He is the coordinator of the Song Circle in one of the beer tents at Irish Fest. I have joined them for two years now and really have a fun time. There is a core group. Then anyone who wants can join the circle. We go round robin with each person in the circle choosing and singing a song. Every body can join in or not as they choose. Anyway, we visited for a bit and I asked if he was there for the program but he said he was here to fix the furnace. Thank Heavens. It was MUCH better the rest of the conference.

I might have mentioned that Beth Vaughan, a storyteller from Maryland, who, as Biddy O'Byrne entertained us at the previous conferences, died this summer. Susan Yaruta-Young wrote of her:

"Once upon a time
In a place called Your Heart
There lived a woman who you dearly loved
Whose name was Beth Vaughan "

I have a tape of her telling stories if you ever want to hear it.

The tradition of storytelling will be continued. This year a regular attendee and Wisconsin storyteller called Jean-Andrew entertained us with a marvelous Welsh folk tale with giants and magic swords and foxes. She will be coming to Mead Library next month. I will ask Bobbie to let me know when so that I can go to see her and visit.

The wedding is fast approaching. I got approval from Michelle for my dress. They have decided to have it all at their house to avoid confusion of where everything is. They do not really ask for anything or tell us much. I hope that they will ask for help if they need it. It seems that things are tense and now that my life is falling back into order (Bart is a bit better. At least he is not talking a mile a minute any more. Dick's legs are getting better too and he is even sleeping IN bed part of the night and not suffering too much pain when he gets up.) It is a relief also that Bill is really doing well and that Jim is working. I understand that it is wearing as all new jobs are, but that he likes it. Except for Dick's doctor appointments I am keeping the week open so if they need anything I will be available.

Dick and Brenda were in town today and they all took their Mother out for a birthday brunch this morning. They stopped for just a few minutes on their way to La Crosse for a funeral and got their first view of the house. While we were downstairs, Chelsea walked into one of the downstairs bedroom closets and, would you believe, I shut her in. I went downstairs about an hour later and heard this little whimper from the bedroom. Poor Baby, didn't want to follow me downstairs for quite a while.

Have a good week.

Mary