I'm back.

It was a lovely weekend. We left shortly after noon and arrived at the Colonial Gardens at about 3:00PM. We rested for a while and then went to the Inn at Cedar Crossing for dinner at about 5:00 so we could spend an evening just resting.

The meal was very good. I ordered Islandic cod with mashed parsnips and a great sauce. It was quite nummy. Dick kind of wrinkled his nose at the parsnips but as he had a lake perch dinner, he did not complain.

I used the bubbly tub three times this weekend, Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday morning just before we left. I hope that this relaxes my muscles for quite some time. Chelsea is already being a pest, but her schedule was way off while we were gone. Jim and Michelle spent time with her here and took her to their house a couple of times but of course, when Mom and Dad are gone, it is just not the same schedule and we know that old critters like their schedules.

Saturday morning we got up at about 7 or so. Breakfast, a bread pudding with fruit, juice, and Canadian Bacon with fresh coffee was at the door at 8:AM on the dot. We ate and then went for a drive. We ended up at the Door Peninsula Winery where we went on a tour and enjoyed a wine tasting. Then we bought some wine and fudge and started back. We stopped at a restaurant called Kick for lunch. They have (or at least had that day) great soups. I had a nice chai tea with a peasant lunch of broccoli cheese soup with a fresh wheat roll. Dick had soup and a coke.

We went back to the B&B for a rest. I finished my Morgan Llywelyn book 1972 over the weekend and she better be "pert near" done with the next in the series as she left this one with a REAL cliffhanger and I can't wait for the next chapter. I will put in a quote that I loved that I thought was beautiful. This (fictionally of course) occurred during a 1968 peace march in Northern Ireland

A grandmother with thinning white hair and most of her front teeth missing tugged at Barry's elbow. Her face was a road map of hard times. "Will you link with an old women?"

He turned and smiled down at her. A warm,slow, lover's smile, as if the two of them were all alone and she was the most beautiful girl in the world. "There aren't any old women here," he said gently. "But I'll be proud to link with you."

As he tucked her arm through his, the years fell away from her face.

From 1972, chapter 32 by Morgan Llewlyn

Boy, can she write. God grant me that gift.

I went to the 5:00PM mass at St. Joseph's and found out the Green Bay diocese is consolidating and collaborating as much as the Milwaukee Archdiocese is and that they are losing priests as fast too.

We went to dinner at the Sage. I had quail. It was a tough choice as they had fresh tuna also but I figured the chance to have quail again soon was next to none and I was not disappointed.

We left Sturgeon Bay at about 10 and had easy traveling until we hit the Manitowoc line where we ran into the winter storm. I was rough the rest of the way and by the time we got to Sheboygan County it was slippery as heck. We DID stop at Mother's to wish her Happy Birthday and drop off her card and a bottle of Door Peninsula Wine. She was pleased. Later, she called me and mentioned that Eileen and Fred had also made it by with a birthday cake. I know Jeff was there on Saturday.

It was good to get home to our own place though we sure enjoyed the time away. Chelsea was so glad to see us. We wonder what goes through her little heart when we are gone, especially overnight. Poor little creature and there is no way to explain to her. At least she had Jim and Michelle to take her out and to visit and take her to their place once or twice.

She will be thirteen in March. A real old lady. She sleeps a lot more now.

Well that is a rundown of the weekend. It was great to be away for a couple of days. I GUESS I am ready for this next week.

Hope you are and yours is wonderful.

Love

Mary

Just a note before we leave. Remember you won't hear from me tomorrow. Sunday, I will let you know how our weekend went.

We went to the house this morning and ran the water. Next time we are going to cook some cinnamon in the oven and put baking soda down the drains to freshen things. We stopped at Mom's and brought her the stuff that she asked me to pick up and a bottle of wine.

Now we are waiting for lunch time, must pack a few things and then will leave.

Just a little story. I made a thief out of Dick. When we went to the Depot last Sunday with Jim and Michelle, I dropped my fork during the meal and couldn't find it under the table. It was dark and I figured that it had fallen under one of the other chairs at the table. Two days later a fork with a piece of dried out meat showed up on the kitchen counter. Dick informed me that he found it in his jacket pocket and wondered why I wanted to make him an accomplice to such a heinous crime as stealing silverware.

Have a nice weekend.

Mary

This morning was much busier than Dick likes to see it. Especially when he has to come along for all the things that are happening. It was all the way up to 23 degrees when Chelsea and I went out for our walk. She turned back after the first cul de sac however which surprised me but I did not argue as there was a lot going on.

We left just before 8AM to go to the lab at Sheboygan Clinic for Dick's blood test. Then we got some breakfast. He was a LITTLE miffed because they did not ask if he had so it was all for naught. Back to the clinic for Dick's blood count. As expected, his count was off because of the antibiotics. It was low. He is not to change anything because there is an appointment with Dr. Phelan next week and this may change things.

Our last appointment at the clinic was with Dr. Hodous who trimmed his calouses and fixed that split nail. He says the calouses look pretty good. They are not as deep, so the shoes seem to be relieving the pressure.

Our next stop was two drug stores. One to pick up some supplies for Mother (I will take them to her tomorrow.) and the other to pick up the new antibiotics that Dick has to take.

Second last stop was the bank where I picked up some money for expenses AND for our trip to Door County tomorrow.

Lastly we went grocery shopping at the Pig.

Whew - were we ever glad to be home.

I was remembering how Bret changed in 8th grade. He was such a happy boy, loved school, played hard was always polite and liked his teachers. Then in the middle of 8th grade, he suddenly got sullen, he hated school, he didn't like the teacher that he had liked at the beginning of the year. He was just very different. One day, there was a school picnic or something and I was talking to his teacher. I told the teacher that the pleasant, happy boy who had lived with me for 13 years had moved out over the past couple of months and this strange sullen unhappy kid had moved in in his place. He laughed and said that he was used to it. Teaching kids that are that age is getting them just when the hormones kick in. They want to be good in school but they don't want ANY of their friends to know that they are. They suddenly notice that girls exist and they feel totally out of place everywhere. It passes. Bret finally got over it sometime in high school.

Tomorrow, Dick and I will leave for Door County and a room with a hot tub and fireplace with breakfast brought to our room for two whole days.

Yippee. I will try to post just before we leave.

Love

Mary

This morning it was 7 degrees when we got up. Chelsea and I had a pretty good walk anyway. We went for almost a half an hour. She was not adverse to coming home though.

I went to Sheboygan Falls at about 9 and took Mom some of the vegetable lasagna that was left from lat night's dinner. She is always glad for such meals because she is not likely to make a lasagna for herself. We had a nice visit. We started talking about the old neighborhood. Mother remembered one of our old neighbors, a Schmidt. One night Jeff and his friend Keith (Trapper) Larson were sleeping outside in a tent or something and got really silly and were running up and down the street under an old furniture cover such as is used when moving furniture. Mr Schmidt was known to over imbibe sometimes and had apparently done so this night. The poor man saw the boys in the shadows and thought that it was some sort of monster. Now you need to be aware that at that time there was a stretch of thick woods in back of the homes on Pinehurst Court. He ran, terrified, into the house shouting and called the police. Jeff and Keith were scared then and ran home. The police came and searched the woods and by ways but, of course found nothing. Jeff and Keith felt so bad that they went to Mr Schmidt and tried to tell them what they had done, but he never did really believe them. Surprisingly there are no rumors of Yeti or Big Foot in the Sheboygan Falls rural areas.


before I headed over to church to meet with Jim, Beth, Shirley and a surprise, Martin, a guitar player to practice the poem that I wrote with the background music. It sounds really good with Shirley reading it to a background of guitar and Jim's flute. Jim (Wilsing), my bagpiper friend, plays tin whistle. However he is using a new wooden North American Indian flute that he just picked up on.

The reading went beautifully. I am pleased that I was able to help with this goodbye gift for Fr. Neuman. He was at the rectory when we finished, so I walked over to say goodbye in person as I will not be able to attend his retirement party on Sunday as Dick and I will still be gone.

The rest of the day was quite busy around here. I contacted Home Care Resources to come out next week and see what they can do about grab bars in the showers. Matt, the gentleman I talked to says he has done them in Tall Grass so it can be done though it is somewhat of a challenge. Anyway, he will be here on Tuesday.

Tomorrow we will keep the Clinic open again as I told you yesterday. We have added a blood test to the mix as Dr. Phelan wants to see if there is any infection in his system to see if we need to keep him on antibiotics.

A little quote that I read in the Reader's Digest this month. Hugh Downs said "To say my fate is not tied to your fate is like saying, 'Your end of the boat is sinking.' "

Kind of goes along with the thought that we are all one body and need each other.

Take care

Love

Mary

This morning when we went on our walk, poor Chelsea had her little feet get sore. When it is cold and there is ice in the slush, that happens sometimes. SO. We hurried home as soon as she started limping. I find if I pick her up until her feet get a chance to warm a bit she can usually walk some more.

Dick had his ECHO this morning at 9:00AM, then we took the key pad from the electric garage door to a door company. He checked it out, reset it and said that it should be OK so I brought it home and did what he said but it still doesn't work. He will call to make an appointment to come out to see if he can figure it out.

The rest of the day we spent at home. I really got a lot done. I am making headway on finding out how to mount grab bars in the shower stalls. Tomorrow I will call someone who may be able to give an estimate. We racked some wine. I caught up on e-mails and got the farewell card for Fr. Gene Neuman finished.

I received a call from Shirley Verhage this morning. Beth Hoegger, the choir director at Blessed Trinity had been trying to reach her to see if she would read my poem at Fr. Gene's farewell Mass. She called to let me know that she would be glad to and that she liked my poem. After Sunday I will put that on the blog.

SO we, Beth, Shirley, Jim Wilsing and I will meet tomorrow morning at 10:00AM to practice. I can't be at the Mass because Dick and I won't be back from Door county. So I am glad that I have been able to do something.

It was entertainment night at the Senior Center

Claude the hypnotist exclaimed: "I'm here to put
you into a trance;
I I intend to hypnotize each and
every member of the audience."

The excitement was almost electric as Claude
withdrew a beautiful antique pocket watch from
his coat "I want you each to keep your eye on
this antique watch. It's a very special watch.
It's been in my family for six generations"

He began to swing the watch gently back and forth
while quietly chanting, "Watch the watch, watch
the watch, and watch the watch.."

The crowd became mesmerized as the watch swayed
back and forth, light gleaming off its polished
surface. Hundreds of pairs of eyes followed the
swaying watch, until, suddenly, it slipped from
the hypnotist's fingers and fell to the floor,
shattering into a hundred pieces. . .

"S***" said the Hypnotist.

It took three days to clean up the Senior Center

Got this from my friend Janet today. She often sends some REALLY good ones. Janet is a dear friend from back in California. She is the one who looked at my Bret when he was a baby and said "Oh You put rubber bands around your baby's wrists and ankles too." Chubby babies were what we had. She had five children and said that mine were the best kind because she could give them back when she was tired of them. We had tons of fun together. I am so glad we have reconnected.


Love

Mary

Our second decent snowstorm of the year. We got 2 to 4 inches here in Sheboygan County. The roads were pretty well plowed by the time I headed out to Sheboygan Falls for Bible Study. We had 6 stalwart people at the study. We had some animated discussions, especially about the 2nd reading in which Paul writes that all the parts of the body are important, comparing it to the fact that all the talents people have are important. Without any of them we would be lost. We all found it quite amusing when our Joe said that if he was to chose a body part to be, he would like to be a toe. As he said, the toe is covered and warm and without it the body has a very hard time staying balanced.

We pray for lots of things too, you know. One of our people said that January makes her anxious for some reason and the reading from Nehemiah seemed to be for her "Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength."

Stopped off to visit Mother after the study. She is doing well and her eye is starting to look more normal. She had received a nice letter from our cousin, David Bowser, who is a historian and genealogist. He sent a bit of family history and copies of some great pictures of Bowsers, Kings and Lyons. It is hard to believe that Mother will be 91 on Sunday.

Then home for lunch and off to the Plymouth Writers Club. They, I guess We now, call ourselves the Cream City Writers. Lots of things read at this meeting. I got good critique on a couple of poems. I found out that if I put them on the blog, they are considered published, so I probably won't be able to do that anymore, at least if I am sending them places.

When I got home, Jim and Michelle, who had a day off for Martin Luther King Day, were playing pool with Dick. That was a pleasant surprise. I had a conference call at 4:00 for Celtic Women. They were really impressed with Beth Dipple and my response to the Celtic Christmas Program. I need to contact Beth so we can plan a second program.

Picked up Market Day at 5:00 and then I was done. I cannot figure out why my Mondays get so full.

Tomorrow, Dick goes to The Clinic in Sheboygan for an echo cardiogram. I am assigned to go up to De. Hodous office and mention the split toe nail.

I read somewhere that the richest person in the world is not the one who has the most but the one who needs the least.

Something to think about.

Be healthy and happy.

Mary

This was a very pleasant Sunday. Mass this morning and a very nice dinner at the Depot here in Plymouth with Michelle and Jim. I got a T-bone - memories of my father. Dad always LOVED t-bones. I suppose you know that the best flavored meat is the meat next to the bone. It was true tonight. Way too much food. I will not have to do any serious cooking until we are back from our weekend to Door County next weekend.

Called Bart and Barb tonight. I have been concerned because of Bart's kidney stones. He is still uncomfortable, but sounds quite strong. Oklahoma is having AWFUL weather. They were without power from Friday until this morning. There is an inch of ice on everything. Barb is concerned that unless there is a change, she will not be able to get to work tomorrow. She cannot even get in the car at this time.

Tried to call Bret, but no answer. I e-mailed Leslie. Figured there is no sense in calling her until the wedding storm has abated. I want to find out how the wedding went and hope we get some wonderful pictures. We do not really know what our granddaughters look like after all these years. I think we have a couple of pictures from about a year ago but we need new ones.

Shebogyan County is under a winter storm watch tonight. I hope it is not too bad as I have bible study in Sheboygan Falls tomorrow and really need to see Mother. I do feel it is important to spend time with Mom every week and after Bible STudy is SO convenient.

Bobbie said that she caught Roxie up on the top of her cupboards last week. From what she said it was really her and Oscar's fault because they wouldn't play with her when she asked. After all, who is in charge.

How Smart Is Your Right Foot?

This is so funny that it will boggle your mind. And, you will keep trying it at least 50 more times to see if you can outsmart your foot. But you can't!!!




1. While sitting at your desk, lift your right foot off the floor and make "clockwise" circles with it.

2. Now, while doing this, draw the number "6" in the air with your right hand..







Your foot will change direction!!!

Today's gospel was the story of the Wedding Feast at Cana. Fr. Van Beeck pointed out that it was Jesus that changed the water into wine. BUT it was Mary's FAITH that made it happen. She simply told the wine stewards to do what he said and trusted that he would not let her down.

Maybe we should do the same.

Love

Mary

Saturday already. A bit colder today. Chelsea let me sleep until 6:30AM but it was 23 degrees. She was eager to walk. But she did lead me kaddycorner accross the park instead of going around the WHOLE thing like we usually do.

I spent the morning catching up on computer stuff, working on a couple of poems and researching a bit on Door County. We are going there next weekend, you know. I am getting excited. A whole weekend with no phone and a hot tub and fireplace in the room. Such a deal.

Dick and I went to the Shops on Mill Street for a soup lunch. That is where I went yesterday with Beth. We had Lumberjack Vegetable today and I had a taste of Cream of Broccoli. Both were delicious. Bobbie and Bill came over for a "gourmet" liver dinner. Dick and Bill had hamburgers with mashed potatoes and gravy. The liver was really good. There was just enough left for Bobbie and I to split for sandwiches. Venison Liver is every bit as good as baby beef liver. This will not impress liver haters.

Jom and Michelle worked at a fundraiser for Children's Hospital this weekend. They had a shift last evening and then again late this afternoon. It is put on by a Pinstriper's group and a car group. They make money by auction and admission. The auction pieces are art pieces done by pinstripers. Jim and Michelle bought two and we were very impressed. Pinstriping nowadays is usually just strips pasted on. True pinstripers hand paint designs and do custom work.

We played a game of rummy tonight after they got home and Bill and Bobby left.

I heard on the news that China is facing a crisis. They suddenly have too many men for the women available for marriage. Surprise! Surprise! They had their one child per family in place and many couples used selective abortion to ensure that their one child was a boy. Well DUH!

For some reason, I was remembering a real macabre true event that occurred to a friend of mine years and years ago. She and her husband were filing for divorce and it was not a very civil divorce. One day he came over to the house in a real snit. He started screaming at her and suddenly collapsed on the doorstep and died of a heart attack. She was so grateful that the children were at school and did not have to witness, first: the tantrum and second: their father's death.

Remember that it is better to lower your voice in an argument because then the other person has to lower his or her voice to hear you.

Mary

A very busy day today. I cleaned the kitchen and bathrooms this morning. Then Dick and I went to Hunters Glen to pour water down the washing machine drain. We think the odd odor comes from there. If the water is not flowing regularly, there would be an eventual small of sewer. The house was nice and warm again so it should be pleasant for viewing.

Then I went for lunch with the bank friends. There were five of us today. Betty, Mary, Barb , Ceil and me. I had a grilled cheese. I do like the grilled cheese at the Dairy Queen. Probably next week, Dick and I will be on our way to Door county for our get away weekend.

I fixed spaghetti sauce this morning and we had spaghetti and meatballs for supper. Sure was good. I made half of what I usually make but have enough for lasagna and at least one more spaghetti meal.

Went shooting tonight. Not too good but not too bad either. Hope I can start getting good on the first one. It usually takes one to get my sights in.

I am working on two poems that I need to have finished by Monday morning. Both are kind of coming together. It is really good for me to have deadlines. ( Otherwise I need a REALLY big inspiration.) Deadlines, however, make me crazy. I like to put periods on sentences.

This morning on Good Morning America, they had a bit being put on by Lynn Shearer (I think I spelled her name right, but don't hold me to it.) Any way it featured reunions between animals showing that they do have memories and attachments to their own kind. One of the most touching things I have ever seen. Two circus elephants, one who had never seen another elephant in 25 years and one who had met this elephant that 25 years earlier were reunited at a refuge for elephants and other wild creatures. They had a fence between them in case the creatures were not receptive to each other. But the minute they were close enough they started caressing each other with their trunks and trying to get close and greeting each other. By morning they had disassembled the fence in their efforts to get close. The last scene is a film of the two walking across a field sides pressed together with their trunks entwined. It brings tears of joy.

Love is really special isn't it.

Mary

"In happiness or unhappiness, living is a duty and must be done thoroughly." From Cadfael's Book of Days by Robin Whitman, taken from Ellis Peter's writings.

We went grocery shopping today. We couldn't seem to get moving very fast. Then we went to the Family Restaurant for breakfast and that took forever. By the time we got home, it was after 10:00AM about an hour later than we usually are.

We had a message from Shanna at ReMax that there was a showing last night and that they are coming back next week to look again and to see the yard as it was dark when they came through. Shanna also told us that the house was VERY cold and that it looked like the thermostat needed batteries and that there was an odd smell just inside the back door.

SO we d took a drive over to the property with batteries and a screwdriver or two and sure enough the batteries were dead and the house was down to 49 degrees. BRRRR. We replaced the batteries and waited until heat was coming into the living room before we left. We decided that the odor is simply a "sewer" odor. There is no gas in that part of the house. The only source is the drain for the washing machine. Since it is not being used now, there is a drying out and a slight odor from the unused drain. We will pour water down there as well as running water in the sinks from now on.

Pray that we get a buyer soon.

This afternoon, I met Beth Hoegger, the music director at Blessed Trinity, for lunch. She has asked that I write a poem to be read at Fr. Neumann's farewell Mass as week from Sunday. Jim Wilsing will back the reading with a flute music background. Which sounds great to me. I have an idea. Now if I can just get it into words that will be appropriate. We had the best soup at the Mill Street Store. Red Pepper and Gouda cheese. Num Num. Come to visit and I will take you there. They have the soup special. $3.00 for all the soup you can eat with bread and croutons. They always have two choices of soup.

Jim and Michelle came over to try to put up the grab bars that we want in the shower stalls. However, we found that the studs are not up against the stall so we hit a snag. I am gong to make some calls to see if there are any other suggestions from the Department on Aging or perhaps Home Depot.

When Bart was in the Boy Scouts, he had the opportunity to go to camp in Colorado with his troop. He earned part of the money with a bike a thon and other things and we paid the rest. They got to tour many parks, Bryce comes to mind on the way there and then a week at camp. The first night I got a call from one of the parents who felt that she should prepare me for Bart who came on next.

He was homesick. I think he realized how far away we were and how long it would be til he came home. He was really distressed and I became so too. However, we could not do anyhting that night and he agreed to that. The parent and I decided that if he was still SO distressed the day after the next, he could come back with a couple of parents who were returning to California. I was on pins and needles for the next 24 hours or so, then got a call from Bart himself. He said that he was OK now and was staying. I was so proud of him. This was a once in a lifetime trip for him to see all he did at that age. He still sees scenic places and remembers being there on that trip. He is quite a guy and has tried a lot of things. I am proud of him. I hope he knows that.

Jim and Michelle brought Boots with them this evening. He sure is a cute little kitty. It sure makes me realize how much I miss my guys. I just wish I knew that they don't think that I don't love them anymore.

Take care

Mary

Today was a mixed day. It was cold this morning but there was no wind. I did not let Chelsea lead me around the park because Dick was concerned with us walking that far when it is so cold.

Dick had an 8:30AM appointment at the Aurora Clinic in Plymouth to get his blood test today. So we did that. Uncle Ken Thuemmler came in while we were there. He does deliveries for Aurora. So we caught up a bit.

Then home again where I spent the day just generally cleaning my desk, stirring wine and taking the tree down. It was quite quiet.

This evening Chelsea had a very bad seizure. It was the first one that she has had for quite a while, but it lasted longer and she slammed into the file cabinet on her way down. I couldn't get there fast enough. It scared her and scared me too.

I had expected that when the New Year came around, things would start looking up. Hasn't happened. I am trying to stay positive but it does get difficult when new things keep popping up. And I still don't have my kitties. They were always good about cuddling and purring to make me feel better.

Today on a quiz show some guy said that he set a record for eating crawfish. It reminded me of the time that Bart and his friend Scott went crawdad fishing in the drainage ditch when we lived his Huntington Beach. They came home so excited with this bucket of crawdads. For once Bart's Dad was enthusiastic about something that Bart did. Dick loved crawdads and helped the boys clean them. Then we cooked them up for dinner. They are really very good. Much like a crab or lobster meal. A bit sweeter and not quite as firm a meat but very good.

Yesterday we received an invitation to Dick's sister Hazel's 90th birthday party next month. That is something special to look forward to.

A friend sent this to me in an email today. Am I ever lucky. I found someone like this.

Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot.

Who calls you back when you hang up on him.

Who will stay awake just to watch you sleep.

Wait for the guy who kisses your forehead.

Who wants to show you off to the world when you are in your sweats.

Who holds your hand in front of his friends.

Wait for the one who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares
about you and how lucky he is to have you.

Wait for the one who turns to his friends and says, "...that's her."

Guess thats all for tonight. Have a great evening.

Mary

We were at the Clinic today at 9:45 to see Dr. Phelan. He has put Dick back on antibiotics. The legs are swollen and red and look kind of weepy too. The antibiotic will insure that infection does not settle in. Dr. Phelan noticed that the big toe nail on his right foot was loose. So we went upstairs to see Dr. Hodous. We had an appointment scheduled for next week but Dr. Phelan did not want us to wait that long. Dr. Hodous was able to fit Dick in and remove most of the nail. When we see him next week he will see if the rest should come off and trim the callouses. Now he takes medicine and we wait.

We stopped off at Mother's on the way to the clinic to drop off her VitEyes (vitamins to help her sight) and picked up Dick's prescription on the way home. By then it was almost noon. So I ate lunch and then made the rounds of the middle schools in Plymouth to drop off the information on the Write Stuff contest. That was an adventure as I was not familiar with the location of two of them. The public middle school and Faith Christian. I finally found them. When I got home I was exhausted so I took a nap.

The Ziggy cartoon was very funny today. It said "It's been six months and you haven't paid your bill. We've come to put your tonsils back in."

Have a great day and pray that Dick's legs heal very quickly.

Love

Mary

I got all the Christmas decorations stored today. The only thing left is the tree itself. That will have to be disassembled and stored in the basement.

Tonight I went to St. John's for Fr. Van Beeck's Adult Education hour. This month he covered the establishment of the Church. As he pointed out, we have two things that make us special. The Eucharist and history. We are the only church that has a history dating back to Christ and we supplied the New Testament. I also liked his statement that going to Mass on Sunday should not be an obligation but should be a privilege. Actually if I started feeling that it is an obligation, I probably wouldn't go.

Dick and I met his new doctor, Dr. Mark Sharon today. Dick had to have someone check his heart for that murmur and Dr. Phelan is phasing out of the clinic as I have mentioned. Dr. Sharon has told us that he does not consider Dick borderline diabetic but just flat out a diabetic. He is going to have the experts at the clinic arrange for education for us so that we can become wise in the eating habits. He also gave us some hints to help the circulation and ordered some tests of his own. We are pleased. Dr. Phelan is going to look at his legs tomorrow and will forward his findings to Dr. Sharon so Dr. Sharon can decide how he wants to treat the problem. Whew. So we see Dr. Phelan tomorrow and get blood tests on Wednesday. Then next week he will have an EKG and see Dr. Hodous for the callouses and Sue for the blood count. I wonder what they would do without us. Probably go out of business.

I did get to about half of bible study this morning. We had a good group there and the reading was the Wedding Feast at Cana. We all had our theories as to why Jesus asked Mary what she expected but noted as mothers ourselves, most of us anyway, that she acted like any mother. She smiled at his statement and told the people to just do what he said.

Then I stopped to visit with Mother. She really has a shiner from that fall. She never would have been able to hide it from us. She is feeling well enough to go the the senior meals tomorrow and to play cards with her friends on Thursday so I know she is better.

Next I went on to the Sheboygan Writers Club. We are in the middle of two events. Our 50th anniversary as a club is in 2007 AND we will be doing our second Write Stuff (a writing contest for middle school students) in cooperation with the Sheboygan Press. We have three categories: poetry, short story and essay. I will help judge the poetry. Last year we just went to the Sheboygan Schools and we had over 100 entries. This year we have opened it up to the county. I will be delivering the envelopes to the Plymouth schools tomorrow.

I turned in The Knockeen Dolmen poem for the booklet that we are putting together for the 50th celebration on February 10th. We are all submitting a piece for the booklet and then will have a reading from 1 to 2 on the 10th in the Rocca Room at Mead.

Hope that you can come. Hope I can. I am not sure when the Wild Game Dinner is. Jeff thinks it is the first weekend. I thought it was the second weekend and have signed up for a Celtic Spirituality Retreat for Feb. 2, 3 and 4. Oh well, I will just get the roast ready and over to Becky before I leave with instructions. If it is the second weekend I will have to miss the Writer's thing as family will come before that. I might be able to sneak away for a bit or perhaps go to the dinner after the readings. Oh well, sufficient unto the day.


Have a nice evening.

Love

Mary

Tonight was the Rhine Plymouth general meeting. I am no longer the secretary. It was my first meeting in four years that I didn't have to take notes for. Was that ever nice.

We had pizza for supper tonight. Hadn't had pizza in ages and I had one in the freezer begging to be eaten. Tasted pretty good and we have some left for lunches or another meal. It is rather hard to cook for two. But I am learning. I am certainly cutting out any recipes for two that I find. Usually they are enough for four anyway and we have two meals out of them. I cooked a pound of venison the other day. We have had two meals with it already and have enough left for at least a sandwich. I may have that tomorrow for lunch.

It will be interesting to see how much I have to change the way I prepare food and if we have to do much changing of habits. I told Dick he is probably going to have to give up his Pringles.

It was really chilly today. But no wind so manageable. Chelsea and I did have a nice walk. After that I showered and headed for church. I am embarrassed. I was supposed to be a communion distributor. I forgot. Fortunately all ministers watch and if there is one short someone fills in. I confessed to Fr. Van Beeck after Mass and he forgave me.

I spent the rest of the day resting between putting Christmas decorations away. I got the tree totally undressed and should be able to finish the rest in one more session. Then I want to spend some time sorting the boxes downstairs so that I don't have stuff we don't need.

I called Bart and Barb tonight. Bart is still having kidney stone troubles and will be tested tomorrow to see how bad the problem is. A few prayers are in order.

This is an old post but since we are getting election hype already, perhaps it is a good time to revisit it and to ask a few questions.

----------------------------------
SOCIAL SECURITY:
(This is worth reading. It is short and to the point.)

Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years.
Our Senators and Congresswomen do not pay into Social Security and, of
course, they do not collect from it.
You see, Social Security benefits were not suitable for persons of their
rare elevation in society. They felt they should have a special plan for
themselves. So, many years ago they voted in their own benefit plan .
In more recent years, no congressperson has felt the need to change it.
After all, it is a great plan.
For all practical purposes their plan works like this:
When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die.
Except it may increase from time to time for cost of living adjustments..
This is calculated on an average life span for each of those two
Dignitaries. For example, Senator Byrd and Congressman White and their
wives may expect to draw $7,800,000.00 (that's Seven Million,
Eight-Hundred Thousand Dollars), with their wives drawing $275,000.00
during the last years of their lives.
Younger Dignitaries who retire at an early age, will receive much more
during the rest of their lives.
Their cost for this excellent plan is $0.00. NADA....ZILCH....
This little perk they voted for themselves is free to them. You and I pick
up the tab for this plan. The funds for this fine retirement plan come
directly from the General Funds;
"OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK"!
From our own Social Security Plan, which you and I pay (or have paid)
into,-every payday until we retire (which amount is matched by our
employer)-we can expect to get an average of $1,000 per month after
retirement.
Or, in other words, we would have to collect our average of $1,000 monthly
benefits for 68 years and one (1) month to equal Senator! Bill Bradley's
benefits!
Social Security could be very good if only one small change were made.

That change would be to:
Jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under the Senators and
Congressmen. Put them into the Social Security plan with the rest of us ..

then sit back.....
and watch how fast they would fix it.

We start the doctor appointments again tomorrow. I am glad that I took it easy today. I think I needed a day without pressure.

Have a good week. Til tomorrow

Mary

It has chilled down a bit today and there was a rather brisk clip of wind this afternoon. We went to the Exchange Bank for breakfast on Jim and Michelle's recommendation and were very pleased. We each had a cup of decaf and I had a breakfast roll and Dick had a cinnamon bun. Both were excellent and the atmosphere was very pleasant. I found out that they have open mike every Friday from 5 t0 8 in the evening. He said it us usually music. I told him I do poetry and he seemed quite excited and asked me to come. Perhaps I will.

Then we went over to Fleet Farm and picked up some security bars for the showers. Jim and Michelle will install them for us as soon as they have time. I also found some spice packets for mixing venison and pork into bratwurst and Italian sausage. We are going to have to get a new fryer. I'll bet Dick regrets making me give away the two gas grills that I won in successive church festivals several years ago.

I cleaned out the spice cabinet and dumped a lot of old stuff. Things fit much better now. I also went through the freezer and inventoried the food in there. Boy, do we have a lot of food. We could bet by without buying anything else for a month, I bet.

I ordered Nora's wedding present today. It is supposed to arrive on the 9th. We'll see.

This year the Sheboygan County Writer's Club is celebrating it's 50th year. We are going to have an open house in conjunction with and at Mead on the afternoon of Saturday February 10. We are going to print a limited edition of a booklet using a piece from all of the members who wish to contribute. This is rather exciting. I don't know if I ever told you that I was a member of this club shortly after I graduated from high school and before I left for California. That was in 1958 to 1960 so I joined when the club was only two years old. Two of the members were Esther Stein, an elderly women who lived just around the corner from the old red house that I grew up in, and Dorothy Litersky, the mother of my friend Barbara Sadler. While I was a member we hosted a Writer's Conference at the then Executive Inn.

We had venison, noodles, green beans and cucumber salad for supper. I marinated the venison Texas style and broiled it. Boy was it ever good.

Take care and I will touch base tomorrow.

Love

Mary

Another busy day. It was 46 degrees when Chelsea and I went on our walk this morning at 6:30
AM. Yes. I said 6:30 - I got to sleep late. As one of the walkers I meet said. How about this spring weather.

Then I cleaned the kitchen and entryway. I also put away a few more of the Christmas things. I will continue to do a little every day and should be done by the middle of next week.

I made potato salad for our supper tonight. I made the Kunert Potato salad this time. We had it with cheesy hot dogs. A very satisfying meal.

I went out to Rhine at about 5:30 to start the pistol league. Lil and Ken were already there and ahead of me. Lil had heard rumors that I was dropping out of the club and league. See, when one stops ONE thing (secretary) it starts lots of gossip. I assured her that I was just backing off from things so I had more time to spend at home with Dick. I didn't do too badly tonight. The first one was a 51 followed by a 52 and I ended with a 68. Not too shabby. I just have to be more careful. I should have done much better on the second one. I got a little careless.

Dick had a kind of rough day today. He got very little sleep last night and couldn't seem to get any satisfying naps during the day . He gets uncomfortable so easily. Today he was just getting cat naps. Tomorrow we will take off the compression bandages again. I hope that the swelling is down this time.

We called Leslie tonight and had a nice long visit. Everything is going well for the wedding. There is a rehearsal at 1:00 on the 13th followed by the wedding at 2:00. Then they will all go to Brandon's parents' house for cake and punch. Brandon and Nora are going to stay with Leslie and Bill until Nora goes to Air Force Basic training. Then Brandon will stay with his parents until Nora goes for her training.

Tomorrow should be quiet. Dick is going to take me out for breakfast and then we are doing a bit of shopping.

Jim and Michelle came over and brought us sundaes from Culvers and did a bit of maintenance on the computers. So nice to have tech support next door.

From Cadfael Book of Days by Ellis Peters compiled by Robin Whitman. For January 5. "In no times, good or bad, can man do more or better than choose his own road according to his conscience, and bear the consequences of his choice, whatever they may be."


Love you

Mary

New Year's Day Mother, Me, holding Chelsea and Dick on the couch. Michelle, holding Boots and Jim on the floor.

We went grocery shopping this morning and got gas in the car. The rest of the day was spent at home.

I cleaned and cleared off my desk - again. Called a few people that I had not talked to in quite a while and ended up talking longer than I thought I would. I called Mom this afternoon too. She told me that she had fallen on Tuesday. She is really sneaky. She fell and then after making sure that nothing was seriously hurt and nothing was broken she was just not going to tell anyone about it. Then she looked in the mirror and found that she has a black eye so she told Donna the next time she talked to her and figured that she had better tell me too. I am sure glad that she got that lifeline. She commented that she was so glad she had it too. We both remember one time when Helen fell and could not get up, or to a phone to call for help. It was just a good thing that I had been trying to reach her and finally called Mom to walk over to see if she was all right.

Isn't the picture nice. Jim was very clever and got us all posed, set the camera on delay and popped right in there. Jim and Michelle "made" the refrigerator at Mother's house.

Love

Mary

We started out today by taking Dick to the Clinic to have his legs rewrapped. This time Theresa did it. We hope this will bring the swelling down. Angie who did them last week is really sweet, but they did not get much better and began to swell right away. I will cut them off on Saturday and we are going to see Dr. Phelan on Tuesday. Hopefully things will be much better.

Today was a really nice day overall. I cleaned the kitchenette and bathroom downstairs and did some quilting. I also took down a few Christmas things and gathered up my Christmas plates. I have four. One was made by the wife of an appraiser, Gary Kramer, that I used to work with years ago. She laquered Christmas fabric on glass plates and he gave them to us with his homemade caramels that were simply "to die for." One is a small blue plate I picked up at a garage sale it is #79 of a "limited edition" of 10,000. Wow. The third and fourth I got from Grandma Bowser's house when we closed it up. One is a 1972 Christmas plate - made in the USA none the less. The second is a plate with a picture of the Christ on it. I had not looked at the manufacturing information for YEARS. Imagine my delight today when I discovered that it was manufactured by the Crooksville China Company. Several years ago I started collecting their china and this was a pleasant surprise. A plate I didn't even know that I had.

I decided to tell you how I got my first driver's license today. I did not get it until I was almost 19 and less than a year before I left for California.

I told Dad that I wanted to learn to drive and asked him to teach me. Now, you might not know that my Dad hated driving and detested cars. He drove them only because there was no other way to get to jobs and some other necessary places that one could not walk or take a bus too.

Anyway, he took me out to a long deserted country road. I got into the driver's seat and he told me to start her up. I said "How?" and he paled. He said to push on the clutch and I said "Which is the clutch." He started to panic. We finally got it started and I jerked it a few feet down the road and killed it a few times before we decided that this was just NOT going to work.

So my boyfriend Jumbo Martin took me out a couple of times and then we went do the police station in Sheboygan Falls when the State Officers that gave the test were in. I passed the written test with flying colors. Then we went out to drive, it was not too good but really fell apart when he asked me to parallel park. I pulled up next to the patrol car with Jumbo's Cadillac and proceeded to scrape the patrol car with the Cadillac. Needless to say, they failed me.

I tried once more and failed.

Then I asked my brother, Tim, to practice with me. Tim, even then, was an old wise soul. I got really nervous and said something like I'll never be able to do this and he said something like Not with that attitude. That brought me up short. I was not going to let my younger brother think badly of me so I dug in and really tried. Then I took a couple of lessons from a professional so that I could learn parallel parking.

Finally, Dad took me to Sheboygan to take the test. It was bit humiliating to have to listen to the Officers fight over who would take me out. Obviously they were both terrified but finally the last one to take me got to stay at the station. I was perfect. I drove like a master and when it came to the parallel parking, I slid that thing in there into a space where the car JUST fit. And I got my license.

I do not now parallel park. I figure I did it once and I never have to do it again.

Tonight was the last board meeting that I will have to attend for Rhine Plymouth. For the first time since I joined that club, I will be just a member.

We got a package today from Leslie. What a pleasant surprise that was. She had such special items in there. An plate with a map of Ireland, made in County Cork. A CD of Mitch Miller, memories of childhood. A DVD of the girls. And a 1930 quarter in a little case and a 1930 National Geographic for Dick's birth year. How special was that "treasure chest".

Have a great day

Mary

We started out the day by taking out two weeks worth of trash. Last week we thought they were coming on Wednesday because of the holiday. But they came on Tuesday so we had LOTS and LOTS this week.

Then we drove down to Mequon to have Dick's new insoles checked. Pattie made a couple of minor adjustments but mainly they were just fine.

When we got home, I watered plants and took down the outdoor Christmas decorations. I quilted one more motif on the kittie quilt.

It was a rather quiet day otherwise with no mail and no market.

Yesterday, Jim, Michelle and I took Mother home and I took the kids on a tour of downtown Sheboygan Falls. Jim and Michelle have to go to Evans. Evans is famous. It is a 5 and 10 cent store that was there when I was a little girl owned and run by the Evanoffs. I went to school with their daughter Elaine. Her brother Edmund was in Nora's class and they had an older brother Alan. When the folks retired the children all took over a store, they had expanded to Sheboygan and Kiel by then. Edmund got the Falls store. It is a legend. If you can't find something any where else, it will probably be at Evans. That store is packed from ceiling to floor, has the best toy selection year round in the county and carries really quality fabrics and craft supplies. They never change prices on anything unless the whole rack is marked down so when you pick something up, be sure to check the rest to see if possibly one further back on the shelf is marked lower. Kids LOVE to go there. They can still take a small amount of money and buy a lot of stuff. And anyone from Falls who has moved away and comes back HAS to go to Evans. I told Jim and Michelle that they simply must go there. If for nothing else than the experience. I know that Ed is wanting to retire and there is noone that I know of who will take over the store so it may not be there long. I know that Elaine just closed her store when she retired.

Tomorrow we are going to the Clinic to get Dick's legs wrapped again. The last one just did not bring the swelling down. So tomorrow will be busy.

Have a good Wednesday.

"You can fairly claim that a day hasn't been wasted, if somethings been learned." from Calfael.

I am not sure that I learned anything new today. I'll try harder tomorrow.

Mary

The first day of 2007 is almost over. Dick is already sleeping and I am waiting for 9:00PM to roll around so that I can take our Chelsea out for her last nature call before I can get the jammies on and crawl in myself.

It was a beautiful winter day with blue skies and lots of sunshine, a welcome change after all the gloomy rainy days we have been experiencing. The temperatures stayed in the 40s too. So often when the sun comes out in the winter the temperatures drop immediately.

Last night I taped Garrison Keillor's New Year's Eve show because I knew I would not be able to stay up until 1AM. Now I have turned it on. He is at the Riemann Theater in Nashville. Right now he is interviewing Vince Gill. I know that I will really enjoy this.

Jim an Michelle came over and hung the pool cue holder that I got for Dick for Christmas. Now we have all the pool cues off the shelf by the windows. It looks really nice. They brought their Boots kitty over to meet Chelsea. They got along just fine. Boots was mildly interested in Chelsea and Chelsea was quite indifferent. This is great because Dick and I are going away the weekend of the 19th and they are going to puppy sit and would like Chelsea just to stay over with them most of the time anyway. Looks like it should work just fine.

I picked Mother up at about 1:00 for our New Year's Dinner of ham, mac and cheese and banana cream pie. You missed it. Love mac and cheese. We had enough to share too.

It was a pleasant afternoon. Mother and I told the story of the time the U. S. Army bombed us. I don't know whether you all have heard that story or not. So I will tell you.

It was the evening of the day that my Grandpa Deeley was buried. So I was about 17 or 18 years old. The whole family, all 9 kids, and Mom and Dad AND my then boyfriend Jim (Jumbo) Martin were in the house. Everybody but my brother Tim were downstairs spread out through the living room, dining room and kitchen. All of a sudden the house shook with a crash and loud bang from the upstairs. Mom's first thought and comment was that Tim must have knocked something over.

Several of us rushed up the stairs to find Tim standing at the door of the left back bedroom his mouth open staring at the plaster and dust that was billowing out of the door into the hall.

We looked in and could see several gouges in the floor linoleum and a hole in the ceiling. Further searching found a large cartridge (bullet) about a foot long and about and inch in diameter or more (Now these are 60 year old memories) We called the police and they came out to investigate. There had been other reports of similar incidents. A home up on Fond du Lac Avenue and a small fire in the street between our house and the downtown area AND a house in Oostburg where another small fire had started.

The police called the U. S. Army base which was located near Haven along Lake Michigan between Sheboygan and Manitowoc. In time we found that there had been some air maneuvers over Lake Michigan and somehow or other one of the planes had dropped a few of its load. There were several disturbing things BESIDES the fact that they had bombed Sheboygan Falls and hit three civilian houses. First, not all of the bombs or bullets had gone off. They were live. Dad and the policemen were handling this thing and tossing it back and forth to each other thinking that it must be a dud or a blank. Second, none of the planes had reported anything unusual and until the reports came in did not know that they had bombed us.

Thank the Lord. No one was hurt in any of the four places that were impacted. The bomb at our house had come through the roof, through a rafter then hit the linoleum floor at an angle, bounced like a skipping rock and rolled under the bed. It had hit the floor in the exact spot that my little sisters, Eileen and Dolores often played in their bedroom of an evening. It was only because of Grandpa's funeral that we were all downstairs.

Anyway. Times have changed. Nowadays I am sure that attorneys and many other people would have been swarming around suggesting that we sue the government and probably all 9 of us kids would have been awarded funds for trauma or something. Kind of silly if you ask me. What really happened is that the high ranking officers, probably from Haven, came personally to the house to talk to Mother and Dad and apologize for the incident. They gave Dad a model of the plane that did the deed and an empty cartridge for him to put in his display case. There was an estimate of the damage and a check was given to Mother and Dad for the full amount to fix it. Dad and some friends did the repairs and they used the money to buy a TV. Done and Done.

Pretty Simple and we have a story to tell. The night we were bombed by our own Army.

Went to Church this morning to start out the New Year. Fr. Van Beeck said that he wished that as our Pastor he could give us all Sunday afternoons for 2007. But he can't do that. We all know that Monday mornings WILL come. But along with him, I wish you more Sunday afternoons that Monday mornings this year.

Love

Mary

It has been a very quiet last day of 2006. Tonight, Jim and Michelle will be over at about 7:00 and we are planning on playing games until either midnight or we are too tired to stay awake any longer.

Chelsea and I took a very short walk today, her choice. Then I went to the 8:00Mass. It is the feast of the Holy Family and Fr. Van Beeck again spoke so eloquently of the joys and responsibility of families. Also reminding those who are single to treasure their memories and peripheral membership in families. The first reading was from Sirach telling young people to honor their fathers and to treasure their mothers - EVEN in their old and dependent days.

Jim and Michelle invited us over to watch "The Devil Wears Prada" that they had rented. It is really a very good movie. I do like Meryl Streep. We were discussing the execution of Saddam before the movie. I told them my opinion and my position. I do not believe in the death penalty. That is my final conclusion on that subject. However, I did express the opinion that IF I did believe in the death penalty, Saddam would be one of the people that I would feel should qualify. I believe that taking a life is God's job and better left to Him.

We are having leftovers for supper, chicken Parmesan and pasta with a nice green salad.

Jeff called this afternoon. He and Kathy are back from St. Augustine FLA where they spent Christmas with Shane. They had a good time. He also got the venison that his friend gave to him back from the butcher. So I have 10 more pounds or so which will put our larder at a pretty good level.

Tomorrow we are having Mother here for dinner. I am fixing ham, mac and cheese and banana cream pie. We will be eating at about 2:00PM if you are planning on joining us.

Love and Happy New Year

Mary

Well, they hanged Saddam last night. I think that is a mistake. Killing only begets more killing. I feel that an eye for an eye is God's Job. Too bad there was not an international court. I guess that we need to feel that at least it was an Iraqi court that did the deed. I wonder if we could have appealed or kept him in our custody?

Let us pray that this does not start riots and more violence in Iraq and around the world. He still had a lot of followers who will try to make a martyr out of him.

It was a rather gloomy day t0day. Chelsea let me sleep until 7:00AM. Of course that was because Dick had shut her out of the room. She surprised me by taking her whole walk even then. Sometimes she is so hungry if I sleep late that she heads back early for breakfast. She is not stupid.

I mixed up a batch of Marigold wine today. I had the blossoms in the freezer and FINALLY had all the other ingredients gathered with an empty primary fermenter to put it in. We are way behind on making wine because of the move and the confusion of getting resettled. One would think it would be easier because we have a little room that we can actually dedicate to wine making. Maybe it will be once we can get on a rotation. We had hardly any to give for Christmas presents.

We are almost to the end of the year 2006. What is it about a New Year. It is just one day to the next but seems like such a real new beginning. The last quarter of this year has been very hard. I am praying that 2007 will be the start of good things and perhaps the end of the distressing things that have been occurring one thing after another. I will plan on it happening that way and then it will.

Here is a nice quote from The Cadfael Book of Days quoting from Ellis Peters. "Live, amend, in your dealings with sinners remember your own frailty, and in your dealings with the innocent, respect and use your own strength in their service. Do as well as you can and leave the rest to God, and how much more can saints do?"

I really like that. It is comforting to know that when we have done what we can, the rest is up to someone much more wise and powerful.

Love

Mary

Such a nice day today. It was not too cold but a bit gloomy weather wise. Chelsea and I started on our walk at abut 6:10AM. She was Little Miss Adventure this morning and decided to take a slightly different route. We turned out of the tract on a path about halfway up Tall Grass Lane heading towards the Park. Then we turned onto the abandoned railroad tracks and proceeded to Highland where we started on our usual path around Lions Park. A nice walk altogether.

When we got back, I fed everybody breakfast. Dick took a nap and I cleaned the kitchen. I met Betty and Barb at the Dairy Queen for lunch. Everybody else was gone or busy. Barb's daughter Dana was with her with her other daughter's children. Anna is the one who is almost three and I forgot the baby's name again. Anna has Down's Syndrome and it is always good to see her and see how she is progressing. She interacts well with people now, is very friendly and smiles a lot. The baby is a smiler too and has cheeks as round as a chipmunk.

Home again and I baked a cake. We have these clementines that are just NOT getting eaten fast enough. I found a recipe for a bundt cake which is really good and I made it in my new rose bundt pan. Is it ever pretty. Come over for a piece tomorrow if you want.

Did I tell you that there are Fairy Rings in Lions Park? They are scattered ALL over the park. I did a little bit or research and found that many nationalities recognize the fairy ring. More often for evil that good. I know the Celtic people do. People believed that the mushroom circle grew where the fairies danced, following their circle path. The rings in the park are just dark green rings. I see no mushrooms. I hope they are happy fairies as CHILDREN play in the park. Legend also says that if you find a fairy ring on a night with a full moon you will be invited to join in.

The Bible actually alludes to them, Matt. xii. 43 says that 'The fairies dance in circles in dry places; and the Scripture saith that the walk of evil spirits is in dry places.'

Later

Mary

When we got up this morning, the streets were all wet, but it was not raining. Chelsea decided on a very short walk which did not upset me because I had a schedule to keep today.

First, Dick and I went to Mc Donald's for breakfast and then to the Pick and Save to grocery shop. We hurried a bit because, as I mentioned yesterday, I had to pick Mother up again to take her to the Clinic as they had not told her that there were TWO lab tests that she needed and one of them required a 12 hour fast.

Anyway, I picked her up at 9:30AM and we hied down there for the tests. We were back by 10:30. We fixed tea and she ate a blueberry muffin that I had brought along. Just as we were sipping our tea the doorbell rang and in walked my niece, Britt, Nora and Leif's daughter, and her friend, Andrew. They were on their way up to Washington Island to spend some of this holiday with his mother and step dad. I was so glad of my timing. Britt is so lovely and charming and Andrew is great. I will be sending them copies of my book. Andrew had Britt send me the program from his exhibit at the University of Arizona. He is an accomplished artist and I am so thrilled to share my work with him too.

Then home. It was a quiet afternoon. I did some quilting and tonight just took the evening off and watched a Harry Potter movie.

Hope your day was as fulfilling. I received the following from a friend today and hope you enjoy it.

My Wish for You in 2007

May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts. May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet of $100 bills. May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips! May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires and may happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy. May the problems you had forget your home address! In simple words ...

May 2007 be the best year of your life!

HAVE A HAPPY 2007

--

Have a nice Friday.

Love

Mary

Chelsea and I had a lovely walk this morning. It was less than 30 degrees but there was no wind AND she let me sleep until ten to seven so it was starting to get light which is a real pleasure at this time of the year.

When we got home, I turned on the news and found that Gerald Ford had passed away last night. A sad time because it is always sad to hear of a death. But he was 93 years old and certainly left a mark on our nation. As the only unelected president he supplied a steadying hand and a sense of calm after the bitter end of Nixon's time in office and resignation.

Then Dick and I went to the Clinic to get his legs wrapped. They were starting to swell again so it was a good thing. Dr. Phelan was there so we got his opinion. He says if they are starting to swell before the month that we have been using for a gauge we should call and get them wrapped sooner. I can cut the bandages off on Saturday.

Right after lunch, I picked up Mother and took HER to the Clinic where we found out that, in addition to the urine test, she was supposed to have fasted and have a blood test also. The blood test had actually been scheduled for the end of November but with the bladder infection and all we forgot about it. SO I will pick her up at 9:30AM and we will try again.

The rest of the day was very quiet. Tonight there are two episodes of Bones, one of my favorite shows so I will watch one downstairs while I quilt and the other in the living room on the big TV. Dick doesn't like it. Boy do we have a lot of TVS.

When we came back through town, Mother was remembering years ago when a tanning salon went into business in Falls. Dad came home one day and told Mom that the boys could now take their deer hides right downtown for tanning. He was sure surprised when he found out what a tanning salon was.

When I was a little girl, I must have been maybe eight or nine, I used to walk to morning Mass during the week and join my Grandma Deeley who lived just across the street in the house that Randy and Donna now own. Then we would walk over to Grandma's house and she and I would have breakfast of cheese and bread. She introduced me to all kinds of cheeses. Aunt Helen would not let her give me limberger though. I also remember that Grandpa Deeley would usually get up and come in while we were having breakfast. He would always go to Grandma and nuzzle her one the cheek and start smooching. She would smile really coyly and say, "Now Mike, Mary is here." Then Grandpa would go into the pantry and pour himself a shot of whiskey. Just one. But he had one each morning. I think it kept him healthy.

Have a nice Thursday..

Mary

A full day, here at home. Dick and Brenda were here so we had a lovely morning sharing breakfast and time. Dick hooked up the VCR on the tv in the living room after he set the new universal remote that he got his Dad for a Christmas present. What a good son, he knew that we had trouble working with three remotes.

After they left, Dick took a nap and I did a bit of quilting. I had to take a quick trip to the Sewing Basket to pick up a marker. I am using a stencil for my hand quilting of the kittie quilt and it is too hard to work THROUGH the stencil. Much easier and more practical.

Last night when I got home, I called Bret and Bart. Bret was fine and having a good day but when I called Bart's number, I got his daughter in law Lexi who informed me that Barb had taken Bart to the hospital with kidney stones. That left me kind of discombuberated again. I couldn't reach them until this morning. At that time Barb told me that he was feeling better and had been able to eat something when they got home last night. Then, he called me tonight to wish me a Merry Christmas himself and he sounded good. He said he was tired, but he sounded strong and in control. This took a big load off of my heart. My own stomach had not been doing well today.

I will close with a little story. When I still lived in California and the kids were still pretty young, the jeep club decided to do a "field trip" to the Griffith Park Observatory one day.

Several families piled in Jerry, the Ragman's big motor home for the trip. There must have been 20 of us in that rig. Jerry drove us from Orange County through Long Beach to the Observatory where we bought tickets and saw both the laser light show projected on the dome and the show about the heavens. It was a lovely and fun time, complete with our friend Orrin Nordin falling asleep in the quiet of the show and snoring for us. Then we headed home. It was by now dark.

Jerry drove down the hill and through a street in Long Beach that was quite a shock to everybody and apparently very exciting to Jerry and the guys. The storefronts were "stocked" with Ladies of the Night. Jerry got so "interested" that he decided to go around the block. Then he went around one more time. This time, the kids asked what we were all looking at. It was fun and goofy.

Jerry was called the Ragman because he was a supplier of work uniforms and shop rags. His wife's name was Butch.

Tomorrow Dick gets his legs wrapped again. It is time, we are seeing a bit of swelling. Then I will take Mother be sure that her infection is gone. So will be busy.

Take Care.

Love

Mary

T'was a lovely Christmas. I would have liked to sleep in but, of course, habits are hard to change and certainly for Chelsea. She figures that 6:AM is walk and breakfast time, no matter what. We had a lovely walk anyway. We went the big one, all through the tract and then around the park and through the woods home.

Then, after breakfast, while Dick napped, I prepared an "overnight egg" dish for popping in the oven tomorrow as Richard and Brenda will be here. I also baked some scones.

It was a rather melancholy day for me. For some reason I really miss my boys. Thank heavens I have such a loving and caring family with Dick and Brenda, Jim and Michelle and Bobbie and Bill. Bobbie was such a comfort when I acted goofy. I got to hold both my kitties today. I think they may remember me. Roxie seemed kind of puzzled and was quite definite about letting Chelsea know her boundaries.

Bobbie fixed Italian Rolls, spinach with ricotta cheese and Italian sausage with pepper. They were SO good with a lovely green salad and fresh cooked broccoli and cauliflower. Dessert was her candy and some cookies that Michelle brought. We are still stuffed.

After we got home Jim and Michelle invited us over for Jim's famous Tirimisu. It was delicious too. He is turning into quite the chef.

At the dinner table we were talking about the library and the problems there. Jim mentioned that some of the employees were not too supportive of a union which was defeated when they tried to come into the library. He mentioned that some employees complained because the Union reps told them that they would be unable to help with some problems. Funny how conversations repeat themselves. Mother, Dick and I were talking about the unions just the other day. Dad was a union man, a striker during the Kohler Strike. I remember him coming home from work covered with a red coating. It was rust from his grinding job in the foundry. Many people are not aware, but Rocky Knoll was originally built to house the silicosis patients that came out of the factory.

I know that many unions in the past years have become corrupt. Power breeds corruption. Look at congress. However, Kohler NOW is a wonderful and safe place to work. But it took the union and a seven year strike to make it so. It was men like my Dad who fought for healthy and safe conditions. Silicosis no longer is a fear if one works at Kohler. Many other issues were also solved. Because of the union and these brave men.

I hope your Christmas was wonderful. We saw a Happy Birthday Jesus sign on the way to Bobbie's house today. It reminded me that when the boys were little, I would bake a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas and we would light the candles and sing Happy Birthday.

SO. Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday Dear Jesus
Happy Birthday to You




Love

Mary

Again - it got too late to post. I forgot when we got home from church and really wanted to recap the whole day.

Yesterday, Jim and Michelle went to church with me in the morning. It was a lovely service. Fr. Van Beeck does do a nice sermon. The church was beautiful. Very simple with large trees on the altar decorated with pointsetta wreaths and with pointsettas all around it. The Creche was also on the altar to our right side along the back. The music was good too.

Then we went home and I fixed a breakfast for us. Dick was still napping so I kept his portion for him until he woke up.

In the early afternoon Dick and I drove to Mother's to give her presents to her and have a Christmas visit. She looks good though she is sure disgusted that it is taking time for her to get her full strength back. We enjoyed our visit. She is such fun. George and Betsy are in Chicago with Shawn and Sarah. That is SO good.

When we got home, we napped. Then ate bean soup and garlic bread for supper. After I cleaned up we shared our Christmas Presents. I had received three of them already. A great collector Santa and a Yoda Santa had appeared on the shelf above the kitchen cabinets during the past couple of weeks.

Saturday night, we had some excitement. The power was out for over two hours. I woke up in the middle of it. Not aware that Dick was still up when it had gone off, I fumbled around for candles and was looking for a number to call when I sat on my office chair. Now I wear night shirts and there are NO bottoms. Sitting on the chair, I discovered another of my presents, a stepping stone for my garden that says "Don't piss off the fairies." I was delighted with the present but by then shocked into "awake".

Anyway, Dick also got me a watch, jewelry, a book of poems collected by Garrison Keiller (autographed no less) and an Irish bear. Among other thing. Santa is VERY good to me.

Then we watched music on TV until it was time to go to Mass AGAIN at 10:00PM. The choir did a concert before mass and we sang ALL the verses of about 5 Christmas carols during mass so it was really nice. Then to home and bed.

I PROMISE to write tonight. I should be anyway. It helps me unload my heart and for some reason, my heart is heavy this Christmas.

Have a wonderful Christmas.

Love

Mary

Hello!! Did you miss me? I hope you did but not too much.

Thursday we had doctor appointments and shopping in the morning and then I quilted until 9:00PM and frankly, I forgot. Yesterday, we played cards with Jim and Michelle and then I called Bret in Norwalk to tell him that his card had arrived and then called Barb in Geronimo because I had promised that I would and then it was so late and I was so tired that I just went to bed.

Oops. I can't remember the last time I didn't post since we went on an overnight vacation.

So I had better catch you up. On Thursday, Dick had his blood tested and it was again within the required norm. We are 0n a roll again. This is the third perfect test again. Then Dr. Hodous trimmed his feet again. We feel now that the new insoles will help keep the callouses from forming.

We did our grocery shopping and then I cleaned the bathroom, baked some bread and spent the evening quilting. I have to get back in the mood because, I have two tops completed that need to be assembled. Time to get to work on them.


Friday I ran some errands in the morning and cleaned the kitchen. It rained most of the day.

In the afternoon, Dick and I went to see The Nativity Story at the Marcus. It is a really lovely portrayal of the Christmas story. When you leave it you have seen an interpretation of Mary and Joseph as real people. Young and trusting and very young. I liked it a lot. That evening as I said, we played cards in the evening.

Today, we took a ride out to the house in Sheboygan to check it out and run the water. Chelsea went along with us so she is a happy girl. It is quite a bit colder today, but is not raining. It weather is supposed to stay clear through Christmas which is nice as we like it that way when Dick and Brenda are traveling. We are SO looking forward to seeing them on Christmas.

Only two more days. Tomorrow, I will be all "holy" again. I am going to church at 8:00AM for the Sunday Mass and then will be attending the 10:30PM Mass for my Christmas service. Dick is going in the evening with me and Jim and Michelle are talking about possibly attending one or both. Dick and I will exchange our gifts tomorrow night after we have our supper. Then I can pack everything up to take to Bobbie and Bill's for the BIG exchange.

I have informed Chelsea of all the following rules. As she goes to visit at Bobbie and Bill's when we do, I felt that it was very important that she understand them.

HOLIDAY ETIQUETTE FOR DOGS

1. Be especially patient with your humans during this time. They may appear to be more stressed-out than usual and they will appreciate long comforting dog leans.

2. They may come home with large bags of things they call "gifts". Do not assume that all the gifts are yours.

3. Be tolerant if your humans put decorations on you. They seem to get some kind of pleasure out of seeing how you look with fake antlers.

4. They may bring a large tree into the house and set it in a prominent place and cover it with lights and decorations. Bizarre as this may seem to you, it is an important ritual for your humans, so there are some things you need to know:

(A) don't pee on the tree;

(B) don't drink water in the container that holds the tree;

(C) mind your tail when you are near the tree;

(D) if there are packages under the tree, even ones that smell interesting or that have your name on them, don't rip them open; and

(E) don't chew on the cord that runs from the funny-looking hole in the wall to the tree.

5. Your humans may occasionally invite lots of strangers to come visit during this season. These parties can be lots of fun, but they also call for some discretion on your part - not all strangers appreciate kisses and leans:

(A) don't eat off the buffet table -- beg for goodies subtly; be pleasant, even unknowing strangers sit on your sofa;

(B) don't drink out of glasses that are left within your reach.

6. Likewise, your humans may take you visiting. Here your manners will also be important -- observe all the rules in #4 for trees that may be in other people's houses (4a is particularly important): respect the territory of other animals that may live in the house; tolerate children; and turn on your charm big time.

7. A big man with a white beard and a very loud laugh may emerge from your fireplace in the middle of the night. DON'T BITE HIM !



I will get to see my Kitties too. It will just make me sad because they will probably hide all day and I won't get to hold them and they hardly remember me anymore. There is no hope.

Mary

I got to stay home the WHOLE Day. Look in my blog as to when THAT happened last.

I cleaned the kitchenette as planned. Tonight I am going to spend a couple of hours quilting and watching BONES on TV. I worked on some of my writing today and make a big pot of beans and ham. It is a Mexican New Year Soup. I got the recipe from my Aunt Mary Ann. It is a "Friendship Soup". It calls for about 13 kinds of beans. What you can do is buy 13 lbs of beans, all different varieties. Mix them all together and then repackage attractively in 1 lb packages and gift them with a copy of the recipe for a present. (Doesn't HAVE to be 13 kinds. As long as you have a nice colorful variety.)

Jim and Michelle came over this evening to bring us a nice bowl of Ramen Salad which will be a welcome addition to our meals for the next few days. Yum Yum

Today I went to see Dr. Nytis, an ear specialist because my right ear feels like it is not popping. It has been that way for over a month and I felt that there was some hearing problem in the ear too. She checked everything. My left ear has better than perfect hearing. The right ear is showing some loss. She thinks that the estruatian tube is not opening and closing as it should be . So she wants me to continue trying to "pop" it and perhaps use a decongestant to help clear it up. She said that it can take as much as three months to fix this problem.

The rest of the day we were at home. I did some writing and research. We added what was needed to the Gewertziminer Wine and I baked bread.

Such a pleasure not to be under any deadlines for a change.

I called my sister, Nora, tonight too. Mom had told me that her husband, our Leif, went for his annual physical and that he has prostate cancer. This is of course very upsetting. I asked the bible study group to pray for him yesterday and my friend, Kathy Keyes, whose husband Tom, was diagnosed last year about this time gave me some advice for her. 1. Listen to the doctors. There are five or six treatments. Choose carefully. 2. Always go together. Four ears are better than two. 3. Go to support groups. and 4 Most people die of something other than this cancer so have hope. We are planning on the latter.

Leslie's Nora has delayed her wedding to Jan 13 so that they can be married in Brandon's church. I am pleased. This will give more time for planning a memorable ceremony for her and going through a church setting will underline the importance of this commitment.

Tomorrow we will be home ALL day. This will really be a treat. We will cut Dick's hair, and do some cleaning and just relax. The next day he goes to get his blood tested again and his calouses checked.

From Dog to God:
Dear God: We dogs can understand human verbal instructions,
hand signals, whistles, horns, clickers, beepers, scent ID's,
electromagnetic energy fields, and Frisbee flight paths. What do
humans understand?


Have a nice evening.

Mary

Such a lovely day. The sun shone. It was not really too warm but there was not wind and it was pleasant. Chelsea and I had a wonderful walk through Tallgrass, around the park and through the woods to home.

Bible Study, as always, was nice. Just before Christmas and we will not meet until January 8th so we had a lot to talk about.

Also, it was announced on Sunday that the pastor of Blessed Trinity will be leaving as soon in January as the Archdiocese can find a temporary replacement. The reason is very sad. Fr. Gene Neuman has beginning Alzeimer's disease and it is beginning to affect his ability to lead and perform his duties. Such a sad thing. It explains a lot that has been happening with him though. I will keep him in my prayers.

The readings are the last before Christmas. The Gospel is the story of Mary and Elizabeth meeting and rejoicing in their children. Peggy Feider went to see the Nativity and recommends it. She said that it does an especially nice presentation of this meeting and also depicts St. Joseph as real and a whole person. He must have been really quite wonderful. To be chosen as Christ's father and protector was such an honor but also required faith and trust on his part.

The group gave me a Christmas present. I was surprised. They seem to feel that I am their leader. I loved it though. It is an Irish Santa Ornament and is displayed proudly on my tree. Two of our members, Tom and Kathy Keyes will be going to Texas to spend three months with their son. We will miss them but they always come back in the spring.

After the study I went over to Mother's house and visited for a bit. I brought her some Scalloped Potatoes and Ham and a couple slices of Michelle's Pumpkin Cranberry bread.

Today was the Plymouth Writers Club Christmas Party. We had fun. I took some Scripture Cake and the recipe to share. We exchanged gifts which is always fun. I got a wonderful sepia picture of the Christ Child as a child not a baby and a really pretty soap dish with angel and heart soaps. Bev, the president and our host, served hot cider and cranberry apple dessert. We read lots of readings and just talked and it was such a lovely day.

Home again. I was tired and took a nap. Then Dick and I had Chili Bowls and salad for supper.

HOLIDAY EATING TIP

Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

Later. We are on the count down to the big day.

Love

Mary

We had a sunshine day today. The temperatures were only in the low 40s but it was pleasant with the warm sun.

It was a quiet day for me. I went to the 8AM Mass and did not have to go to another place ALL day. Fr. Van Beeck pointed out a very interesting and probably truism. If we were asked to do something really hard and kind of heroic that would help all mankind or bring relief to lots of people we would step up and do it. But to just do a little bit every day - a little small effort - probably won't happen.

The 2nd reading was from St. Paul and he said that we are not to be anxious about anything. Now you and I know that that would be impossible. But I read today that what we can do today is make a LIST of everything we are anxious about and change them to a prayer.

So, with a wholeay at home. I finished some things on my desk but generally took it easy and watched the Packers WIN.

We had scalloped potatoes and ham, fresh corn and salad for supper. We asked Jim and Michelle to join us because we had a few "house" things to talk about and it seemed like a good time. Michelle brought a really good Pumpkin Cranberry Bread and we had a bit of that and stollen for dessert.

This week will be fairly quiet except for three doctor appointments. Tomorrow I get to go to a Christmas party for the Plymouth Writers. I seem to have lost the letter telling where so if Kate doesn't call me back, this could be rather interesting. I know it is on Hill and Dale Road but I can't remember the hostess's last name.

Just think. A week from tomorrow is CHRISTMAS. I am ready.

Love

Mary