Hi.   I feel that it is the countdown to Christmas.   Every day needs to get SOMETHING done. 

Today, I make the fudge.   So now I am ALMOST ready to prepare the packages for mailing to all our our children who live far far away.

Bobbie came to help get Dick to the to the Anti Coagulation Clinic.   We were disappointed.   His count had gone from 2.3 to 3.6 so there had to be an adjustment to the dose of his pills and we have to go back in two weeks.   Shuckens.

We stopped and got Chinese food for the three of us on the way home.   That was good and we all have enough for at least ONE more meal with the leftovers.

I am starting to decorate the tree and put the candles in the front window today.  

Bobbie and I racked four gallons of the wine we have brewing downstairs.   They all look beautiful.   Bobbie MAY have her signature wine.   Ours was the marigold.   Hers will be a surprise when it is ready.

I also got a batch of Tuscana soup ready except for adding the kale and cream.  I love that soup.   Dick has had it before and likes it too but he heard today that there is kale in it and he is having second thoughts.

Hare a nice Friday.   Do you know that there are Christmas cards to be written too?

What a month.

Love you and God loves you too.

Mary

It was cold today.   We had flurries most of the day too but nothing that stayed on the ground.  The high was 29degrees.

I went grocery shopping early this morning.  I was home shortly after 9AM.   The rest of the day was spent at home.    I cleaned out the cupboard over the pantry.  I am trying to clear at least one small area every week and that cupboard was way overflowing.

We had the leftover chicken spaghetti casserole for our lunch.   Sure held up well and there is another whole casserole in the freezer for later.  That is the trouble with most recipes.   It is enough for SO many meals that without being able to divide it we get sick of it before it is finished.

I am almost done with the lap robe.  Just have to do the edging.  

We had another chef's salad for our supper.   They sure taste good.   Now I am going to wrap another batch of presents and then go to bed.   I am very tired.

Take care and God love you

Mary

Hello.   A countdown to Christmas has begun.

Today, I started wrapping presents.  I need to be ready to send packages out of state by Monday to be sure.   This actually gives me a bit of a leeway.

I spent the morning working on the Lap robe for giving through the Quilt Club.

We had smoked sausage, fried potatoes and cauliflower for lunch.   It was sure good.

I was able to stay home all day except for a short trip to the bank and the drug store.  Kitty and Dick like that a whole lot.   Roxie always complains at me when I come home if I am gone for any length of time.

Guess that is all as the day was not very exciting, just full.  

God love you

Mary

This has been a BUSY day.   Mondays  usually are. 

I left for Bible Study a bit early so that I could pick up candy canes for our Advent wall hanging.  I got Dove Pieces to fill the envelopes with.   Each day we get a piece of candy and the candy cane gets transferred to the tree.

Bible Study was good.   We have decided to bring the copy of the psalms that are read at the Sunday Mass, which we well hear sung, to our Monday study to enhance our learning of the Psalms.

I went right from the study to Gibbsville and took care of both Mother's and our Gibbsville Christmas presents.   Then back to Mom's.  I stopped at Ella's Dela to pick up an egg salad on marble rye for our lunch.   Mom and I had a good visit, a good lunch and we took care of LOTS of her bills and medicine things.    I sent out the first of the cashiers checks for the Irish trip to insure our spots in the hotels.  

Then home again where I rested for about an hour.   Couldn't sleep though so I am heading for bed pretty soon now.

I made my reservations for Ireland today.   Guess what, it was somewhat cheaper today.   Might be even cheaper if I wait a month, but I don't want to take that chance.  I was able to add travel insurance for the same cost.

Tomorrow I will be home all day.   Good thing,  There is a lot to do here and I need to recuperate after today.

I read a news brief about a woman who swerved off the road and ended up in the top of a tree 30 feet off the ground.   I reminded me of a man who came out to the sand dunes with our jeep club many years ago.

He had a friend build him a dune buggy.   The first time he used it was on this trip out in the dunes.   He got in the buggy, fired it up and took off.   He drove like a maniac.   Every body was cheering him on as he went round the camp and out and back over the dunes.  Then finally he steered it into a small ravine with lots of bushes and came to a halt.   We all ran over there and found out something very interesting.   The guy who built the buggy for him was about 8 inches taller and this poor guy was unable to compress the brake.  So once he got it going, he couldn't stop.

God love You

Mary

A Sunday at home.

Actually, I did have to go out once.   Today, I dipped all the buckeyes in their chocolate coat.   I was all out of paraffin.  This is probably not essential, but you try to pick up chocolates without the paraffin.   It is really much more melty.   So I had to make a trip to the Pig to pick up the paraffub, 

It took me all day to do finish the buckeyes.  I kept stopping when I got tired.   Then I mixed nuts, raisins and coconut into the leftover chocolate and made candies of what was left of the dipping chocolate.

I got the plants from the patio into the garage, the lights hung on the front deck, the Santa Hat on my totem and the grill covered for the winter.

So it is no wonder that I am tired.

We called Jim and Michelle this afternoon as it was the longest since we had heard from them.  Actually, we found that they had posted on their blog yesterday, but I had not had a chance to check.   It is better hearing voices anyway.   They had another bad experience with a puppy and are giving up on a puppy companion for their Chip for a while.   They like multiple animals and may switch to kitties for a while.  They love them too.

They spent Thanksgiving with Bart and Barb and had a wonderful time.  It is nice that some of our orphan children are able to be together on these sentimental days.  They said it was great.  Bart and Barb, Jim and Michelle and Marlise, Barb's mom, and Fred, Barb's brother.  Sounds perfect.

What a fantasy football day.   The Packers lost (naturally I had picked them this week.)  I could go either way this week.   But I just hope I hold my own in the standings.   I am still a contender in the Last Man Standing pool.

So tomorrow is another busy day.   Tuesday I get to be home all day again.  I need to finish the lap robe for the Quilt club.

Have a great week on me.

God love you

Mary

What a nice quiet day.  I slept for 12 hours last night.  

The only time I had to leave home today was to go to mass at 4PM.   So, I have had a nice chance to recuperate.   We got Dick all cleaned up and his leg bandages changed so he is feeling quite taken care of.

I also mixed the peanut butter buckeyes and rolled them.   Tomorrow, after chilling, I can dip them into the chocolate and they will be done, so everybody can breath a sigh of relief.   Christmas is indeed coming.

We had venison tenderloin, baked potato and corn for our lunch.  Boy was that good. And we still have pumpkin pie for the next day or two.   How rich are we!!

Tomorrow will be even quieter as I should not have to go anywhere at all.

Enjoy your weekend too.

I connected with a dear friend today through Facebook.   I must learn how to use that better.

God love you

Mary

I know that Bobbie missed my post yesterday and I hope some others of you did too.   The day just stretched too long.   A very good day.   Richard was checking out my computer ( he and Brenda are so good to check and fix my problems)

But.  Lets start with yesterday.   Thanksgiving was really a lovely day.   It was  a bit  damp and chilly.   I went to mass at 9AM as I did not have to fix dinner and it seemed a proper way to give thanks on this (really) non religious but national day of thanks.

Dick and I had a nice quiet morning and lunch.   We watched the New England/ Detroit football game and to my delight New England won.   Actually all three of my chosen teams for Thanksgiving day won.   I am secure in the survivor league for one more week.  Now if 13 more of my choices would win, I would be back on top for sure.

Bobbie got her at about 3PM with all the fixin's for the wonderful Thanksgiving turkey dinner and got right to work.  She spatchcocked the turkey.   Now that is something for you to wonder about.   Look up Spatchcock and it will tell you.   The turkey cooks much faster than it would whole.  

Richard and Brenda got here at about 4:30PM.  We all enjoyed a glass of wine and some hor d oerves along with catching up on each other while dinner finished.   What a meal.   We had the turkey, stuffing, mashed golden  potatoes, squash casserole, peas, salad  and cranberry relish, and more.   We stuffed ourselves, then had a glass of champagne and stuffed ourselves more on hazelnut and pumpkin pies.

Dick was not feeling too well, but napped and was able to rejoin us for most of the evening.

Anyway, Richard was checking things out on my computer and it got after 9PM and I could not stay awake any longer so I went to bed.

This morning, I got up at about 6:30AM.  Roxie started bugging me at about 4:30AM.   But I did not feed her until 6an then I went back to bed for a bit.  I had prepared a Strata for our breakfast.   Jody came to clean at about 8AM and Bobbie got here just before 9Am.

Richard, Brenda, Bobbie, Dick and I had our breakfast at about 9:30.  We had the strata, toast, grapefruit and cranberry bread.   Quite tasty and I had some to take to Mother and some left for our breakfast tomorrow.   Bobbie and I left for Mom's to help butcher the deer at about 10AM.

It was quite a job.  There were four pretty good sized deer and we finally finished the job at 4:30ish.   The guys were nice enough to give Bobbie and me a full share to divide.   We were delighted.  We love getting the meat and really use it but we go mainly because we enjoy being with the guys and helping with the butchering.   May seem odd to you but we like them and the fun.

So that is what has been happening the past couple of day.   The next two are quiet.   Tomorrow, my only out of home venture will be church and perhaps a walk.  Sunday is a total - at home day.

BUT -- I am going to make the peanut butter buckeyes this weekend.   Thanksgiving is the beginning of the season for us.

Take care until tomorrow.

God love you

Mary

It was cold again today.  I went grocery shopping early.    I left at abou6 7:30AM.   We wanted me back way before 11:45AM because Tim from American Prosthesis was kind enough to agree to come to the house to check the prosthesis and the shoe brace.

Shopping went very well.    I really didn't need too much as Bobbie is bringing Thanksgiving tomorrow. 

When I got home, I started clearing off the cupboards and cleaning the kitchen so Bobbie can have room to work and put things.

We had pasta salad for our lunch.  Boy did that taste good.    Then I took a nap while the oven was cleaning itself.   Isn't it wonderful that ovens can do that.  When I got up, I started on the pumpkin pies.   All done now, I just have to take them downstairs to the fridge down there.

We finished up leftovers for supper.   I am trying to have the fridge with at least ONE empty shelf for Bobbie to use.

Jim and Michelle posted on their Blog today.   They are going to spend Thanksgiving with Bart and Barb in Lawton.   I am so glad they are close enough to do that.   Jim and Michelle are bringing the dessert.   Cheesecakes that sound scrumptious.

Got a really happy email from Leslie.   Bill is home from the hospital, so Thanksgiving will be happy in Bossier City too.   He is feeling good.   He WILL be starting tests as of Monday to determine what needs to be done for treatment.  But,  he is home and we are ecxtatic

So, we go into tomorrow full of hope and thankfulness.    I will go to Mass at 9am as nothing is happening around here until late afternoon.   Seems the thing to do.

Love you all and you are my greatest blessings.

Mary

A fine day at home.    It was cold but sunny.   A bit breezy but not too bad.  There was bad weather south of us during last night.   Unseasonable tornadoes.

Tomorrow will be busy, and then Thanksgiving.

I talked to Leslie and to Bret today.   Bret is well and spending Thanksgiving weekend at the River.   Their little neighborhood down there will celebrate with a Saturday potluck.   He said they always have him bring the pies.

Leslie had news,  not good,  Bill is in the hospital so we must all pray for him.   Something to do with his atrial defib.  Hopefully he will be home tomorrow and they will know what caused it and what to do to make it all better.

Take care of you and pray for our Bill Smith and Leslie who loves him and cares for him..

God love you

Mary

Nice morning.    We are now studying Psalms in the bible study and are finally through the introduction and kind of understand how the new books work.    We will definitely have a lot to discuss as the Psalms are poems and hymns that come from the Old Testament and we will be figuring out how they relate to us, thousands of years later.     People haven't changed that much and we are discovering this even this early in the study.


Then I went to Mother's for our visit.  I had some food for her today.    A pork tenderloin dinner, a stuffed mushroom and a piece of lemon meringue pie.    We had such a nice visit and I put the stuffed mushroom in the oven to go with her chicken dinner from Donna for her lunch.

Before I left, I went out into the garage to look at Jeff's deer.   It is a nice big buck.  Randy put some ice in the cavity today because it was a bit warmer than he liked.   

I called Mother this evening and she had absolutely wonderful news from George.   Shawn's Becky is expecting a baby.   We LOVE hearing about babies and this will be a loving home for any little one.  

Dick and I had pork and gravy sandwiches and cauliflower for our lunch.  I took the cookies I baked for the Plymouth History Museum cookie sale over to the museum.    I visited a bit with Carol Meyer and Jeff Krueger, an appraiser, was there.   Had not seen him in 10 years or so.   That was nice.

Home again, I tried to nap, couldn't sleep.  So after I rested for a while, I got up and apent a bit of time cleaning out part of the garage and gathering the trash up to put out tomorrow.  Hope it isn't raining then.  I have cardboard this week.

Tomorrow, I am home all day, the Good Lord willing, and I can get things buttoned down and spruced up for Thanksgiving.     We sure are looking forward to the family time.

So.  Have a peaceful sleep and a great tomorrow




God love you


Mary







The quote of  the month is by Jay Leno: 'With hurricanes,  tornados, fires out of control, mud slides,  flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to the other, and with the threat of swine flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are  we sure this is a good time to take God out of  the Pledge of Allegiance?'

I loved today.   Bobbie called the other day as we had both missed the ads that Kohler's Christmas Craft show wast this weekend so she and I met at 9AM at the American Club to got through the exhibits.   It was truly a very good show.    I bought only one item at the show, a box of O'Flaherty's candies to use as a raffle item at the Christmas tea.    I gave them a CWI card and hope they consider joining us.  They had the impression that we were much bigger than we are.  I WISH we had a couple of hundred people at our conferences and they could set up a booth with their wares.


I got home in time to fix our lunch ( a wonderful salad) and settle down for the Packer  Game.   THEY WON!!!  I am not doing too well these past couple of weeks with my overall picks and may have to revamp the method that I use to pick my winners.   Oh well.  Sufficient unto the day.  At least the Packers Whupped the Vikings.


I spent a bit of my afternoon down in the lower level.  I finished the block I needed for quilt guild .   Only one more left.  We will get the directions at the Christmas meeting.   I also pinned the three layers of the lap robe.   I have to get that done before December.6th as we are giving them as presents for Christmas.   I think I can do it.   I do much better with deadlines.

So we are starting Thanksgiving week.   I have a rather busy week but it is manageable and Bobbie is cooking our dinner.   I think I can even got to Mass on Thanksgiving ..  It is not "required" but certainly seems proper.  :Prayer and thanksgiving seem to go together.

So.  Sunday is over and I am watching a couple of specials on how Harry potter movies were cast, how they designed the Creatures and the music.   I do like my Harry Potter and must ask Bobbie when she thinks would be a good time for us to got to see the new movie, The Deathly Hallows, Part 1. )  I can't miss it, of course.

God love you


Mary

Today turned out much busier than I had intended.

I had to be at the Plymouth Armory to pick up Share at 9AM.  That went well,  I was home by 9:30AM.  After I put everything away, I went to Sheboygan Falls to see Mother and bring her pills to her.   We had a nice visit.  We sorted through her mail.  I have become her secretary and she instructed me as to how to handle a couple of the mailings.

Home again, I finished fixing our dinner.  I had put a pork tenderloin in the slow cooker.  So I prepared a cauliflower and some rice to complete our dinner.   The slow cooker tenderloin left a really good gravy too.

I worked on a lemon meringue pie today too.  We will be able to enjoy that tomorrow.   Bobbie called while I was at Mass.   She suddenly realized that the Christmas event at Kohler is this weekend.  So we are going to meet at the American Club at 9AM to enjoy that together.

I want to get the family room downstairs kind of straightened out tomorrow too.   If I can get the excess fabric put away, finish the block of the month and pin the lap robe I will stay on schedule.  

Please pray for my friend Ron's sister who has been rushed to the hospital with complications from cancer.   She needs all the support she can get and so does he.

God love you

Mary

Hi everybody.   What a nice day.   It was really cold and rather breezy out there, but since I did not have to stay out in it that was fine with me.

Jody came to clean this morning and I was rather busy, trying to get my email under control and working on some of the little communication items for the Brigit trip in February of next year.   We are finally confirmed, even if we don't get quite to our 20.  I believe we have 18 and will be able to function with that.    It is a wonderful group of women (and husbands) and should be a very intimate and exciting adventure.   My friend, Joe Donohue is strong arming the hotels to drop their 20 minimum which is sensible in this economy.   I hope Joe is driving for us.  He is now an owner of the company but I know him from two other trips.   Bobbie knows him too.   I would love to see him again.   His boy must be 10 by now.   He was single when Bobbie and I met him.

Anyway, I gave Dick a lunch of spaghetti just before I headed out to do errands and have lunch at the Dairy Queen.   I got the 3/$4 meal.   A cheeseburger, onion rings and a soda.   There were fur of us ther.  Joyce, Mary, Ceil and myself.   We had a great visit on this chilly afternoon.   I had picked up two prescriptions from Walgreens and did some shopping at Fleet before the lunch.   I found two really nice flannel shirts WITH POCKETS for Dick.   He needs more warm shirts for winter.

On the way home, I stopped at the Dear Old Books store to order a couple of books that I want.   I found out that she will take books for credit so a possible place to take the books we are weeding out of our bookshelves.  The other choices are places that have book sales for fundraisers, friends or St. Vinnies.

I pulled out some cauliflower soup for our supper.    Now I just have two kinds in the fridge so it is time to make some more,   I must decide between Garden chowder of Toscana.

The funniest thing happened this morning.  Jody came in to clean and Roxie walked over to greet her then turned and walked away.   Jody's eyes got big and she said,  "What happened to her tail?"    Apparently Roxie had always observed her from afar and Jody never noticed her lack of a tail.   So I told her about the Manx cat and that this is the proper way for a cat like Roxie to be and that she is a Stumpy.   Manx cats with no tail at all are called Rumpys.

So that was today.   Tomorrow will be moderately busy.   We are getting a lot of things cleaned up around her.  You would think it was spring cleaning time.

God love you

Mary

Stayed home all day today.   It was really very pleasant.   It was cold outside and will be foe the next couple of days.  No wind or rain though.  

I don't feel that I did a whole lot today.   But when I look back, I really did.    Roxie was very glad to have me here.   She does not like it when I go away.   She always complains at me when I come home again.

There were and are a couple of projects that I am working on for CWI and I started to assemble the lap robe downstairs.   I have a bit of piecing to do on the batting yet.

We had spaghetti for lunch.  I made the sauce yesterday so it had a chance to age and it was very good.

The next few days are also moderately quiet.  Nice, since a week from today is Thanksgiving and after that all heck will break loose until Christmas.

Take care.

God love you

Mary

A moderately busy day.   Kind of chilly and cloudy too.   Rather dreary actually.  But we got Mc Donalds breakfast which is fun because it reminds of the days we shopped together and ALWAYS went out for breakfast.

I went grocery shopping this morning.   That turned out to be quite the adventure.   First, I got to the store and had to return home because I had forgotten my list.    Horror of horrors.  

Then, when I bought the lottery tickets that are going to make us rich some day, I asked if I could use the Pig Points that I earned today for credit on the turkey I planned on putting in the freezer.   I was told that this was just fine.

The shopping was rather fun.   But I was totally disorganized and kept having to go back to pick things up. Took forever!     I rather enjoyed it.  So, I get to the checkout and the computer program that records the Pig Points is DOWN.    So - the box man (he is not a boy) helped me load my groceries into the car and I went back to get this figured out.   I got a refund for my turkey.  The computer had given me the discount price of .45 per pound but I still had $7. credit which they gave back to me in cash.   So I am rich again.


I had fun in the liquor department after the grocery shopping because I had a lot of coupons and you know how I LOVE coupons.   So I have stocked up on some bottle wines.   Some are VERY expensive (for us)   One started off at $11.   Wow.

We are going through our books and getting ready to donate those that we know we will never read again an do not have a special place in our hearts.   I will take them to St. Vinnie's when we are through sorting.

Tonight I picked up Sy Regan and we went to Mead library for Karl Elder's monthly Poet's gathering.   It was fun.   I read a poem I wrote for Courtney and got interesting comments on it.  A nice group of people.   I felt out of my realm at first but am settling in and feel more comfortable now.

I brought my tribute to Uncle George to share with Sy.  I will print a copy for him.   Uncle George was my godfather.   He would go downtown once a week of an evening and make his rounds of the bars to interact with his friends.    At the Villager, Rosemary Eigenberger, Ione Otto an Uncle George had a limerick contest for a while.    Rosemary shared the limericks with me and I copied them and printed up a small chapbook for the family.   After we are gone, I hope this little book will be handed down in the family stories to keep his memory alive.

Here is one of his limericks.


Dear Edna St. Vincent Millay
Tis said wrote a poem each day
But its hard to convince
Even Friends of " Old Vince"
That she really had that much to say.


GD

Quite a guy my Uncle George.

God love you

Mary

 A mostly "at home" day.   I did go to get my hair cut at 3PM.  But except for that,  I was home all day.


You know, I cant really tell you what I did, but I was busy all day.   My desk is clean, the kitchen is clean, Dick got his leg coverings changed.   I was busy.

Now it is after 6, I did not get a nap and I am tired.   Dick slept from 9:30AM to 1:30PM.  I don't like to wale him if he is sleeping unless he asks me to because he has so much trouble sleeping. So I had lunch alone and then fixed him his when he got up.

So it was a strange and rather lonely day.   I was glad to get may hair cut and see a real person.  Jessica is very nice.

I am going to watch the Dancing with the Stars elimination show before I got to bed.   I hope I make it.

Here is a goofy Haiku for you:

Cat

My cat is a nag.
She figures that I should speak cat.
She should learn human.

God love you

Mary

It has been a very busy and very nice Monday.

I left for bible study at 9AM.    We had a great time.   This was the beginning of our study of Psalms and we feel we have determined how we are going to approach it with the study guides we got.   We were SO impressed with the first chapter which deals with prayer and the importance of the Psalms themselves.  Just one statement was this:  "At prayer we celebrate the reliability of our God and hence drive confidence to undertake new ventures." John E Craghan.   How exciting is that.

Then over to Mom's.  I brought her some of our leftovers and a loaf of Cranberry bread.    We got several of her bills paid and a good visit before I had to leave.   I had to be home in time to fix Dick's lunch and pick up Jena by ten to noon so we could meet Peggy for lunch at Hub City Restaurant before the Cream City Writer's meeting.    We had a good lunch and visit the three of us.   Then on the the meeting.   Lots of good reading  this month.  Next month is our Christmas party.   I will have to make reservations and let everybody know. 

On the way home, I stopped at the Sewing Basket and picked up a nice piece of flannel to back the lap robe with.   I really think it will look nice and feel good too.

Home again.   I tried napping but had trouble with that.    This evening I watched the new 1 VS 100 which I have been looking forward to.   Then Dancing with the Stars.   I will miss Dancing with the Stars but am glad they do it just once a year.    I hope they never try to overdo it like they do with so many shows.   I will not watch Skating with the Stars.   One is more than enough.


So tomorrow will be a much quieter day and Dick and I have a couple projects.

Take care of you.

God love you

Mary

This was a peaceful day.    I got up at about 7AM.   Dick has been getting up early and feeding Roxie so I don't even have to get up to feed her at 6AM.

I finished assembling the lap robe top this morning.   It looks quite nice.   A muted colored top that when I back it with a nice cozy flannel back will make a nice lap robe for a man or a woman.

We had a light lunch and dinner.   I was lazy today.   I just had a couple things on my list and feel good about them but I wanted to get rested up for the weekend.

Tomorrow will be busy until about 4PM then I have the evening and the next day at home.   Dick and I have determined that we are going to start sorting through our books to weed them out.   We are trying to deplete our "stuff.   A good idea.

Have a good week.  I am ending with a quote that I found today that may amuse you at it amused me because of it's truth.

Love and God love you

Mary



"And one finds, especially by the time one reaches one's fifties, that there are a limited number of types of people in the world, and you went to high school with every single one of them. You can visit the Eskimos, you can visit the Bushmen in the Kalahari, you can go to Israel, you can go to Egypt, but everybody you meet is going to be somebody you went to high school with." Quote from P. J. O Rourke

I WAS able to stay home all day except for Mass this evening.  It was a good day.

I spent a chunk of the morning downstairs working on the lap quilt for the quilt club Christmas donations.  

Then I fixed pork chops for our dinner.  They were really good.   I took a nap this afternoon kind of while watching the Wisconsin Badger Game.  Boy was THAT a game.  The Badgers beat the Hoosiers 83-20.   It started out kind of iffy.   The two teams traded scores in the first part of the first quarter and were tied 10/10 then the Badgers exploded and it was all over for three quarters.   I am sure Indiana just wanted to go home.

I went to Mass at 4PM so will be able to be home all day tomorrow.  I was able to help distribute communion today.   I kind of got in the middle of the row then they were short one distributor so I had to work my way out of the pew.   I always feel SO privileged to be able to do that . 

Have a great Sunday and be happy.   I love you all

God love you

Mary

The weather has turned somewhat.   I wok up to find the deck wet from a light early morning rain and it was chilly.  They say there is snow up north of us but we are still are not expecting a first snowfall for a while.

Jody came to clean this morning and, as usual, I cleaned my desk while she was here so I could stay out of her way.   By Friday, I always need to resort and clear things off for the weekend.  I washed the sheets so Jody could help me make the bed while she was still here. 

After she left, I make a quick trip to Walgreens to pick up a prescription and to the Pig to get a couple groceries and get my credit for last week's touchdowns by the Packers.   I had forgotten my slip on Wednesday.   There were three touchdowns or maybe four and at 4 cents a gallon or the points for a free turkey, that mounts up pretty fast.

Bobbie got her at a bit after 11AM.   We racked her second batch of beet wine into the secondary container.  The other gallons are still settling.and will be ready to rack in two to three weeks.

We had quiche and salad for our lunch with apple cheesecake for dessert. 

Tonight was the bust up party at Rhine for the Fall League.   I was just a bit below my goal of an average of 50.   If I hadn't had that one really bad night, I think I would have made it.    Nancy and I had a nice visit with the other pistol shooters and our trap shooting friends.

Tomorrow will be pretty quiet, I only have to go out once, to Mass at 4PM.

Sunday is a stay at home day.  

Hope your weekend is good too.   I will pray for you all tomorrow at Mass.

Love

Mary

Guess what.   I got to stay home ALL day today.

The only times I left the house were to take a walk and to sweep off the deck.    I feel good about that.   There were leaves against the house and I wanted to get them cleared before rain and freeze.   I hope I didn't overdo.  I don't think so as I was sweeping leaves off of the deck.

I got a lot done today at home.  I remembered to put the flag out for Veterans Day to begin with and I remembered to bring it in before dark too.

I did a lot of cooking and baking today.    I made my Cranberry bread and and apple cheesecake too.  

The trouble with being home is that I see so many things that should be done.   I do as many as I can.   Dick was not happy because I really could not sleep when I tried to take a nap.   Oh. Well.   After Bones,  one of the few shows that I like to watch, I will go to bed and see if I can sleep the night.

Tomorrow, Bobbie is coming and we will do wine.   The only other committment I have is the Bust Up party at Rhine.   So it is not a hectic day unless I chose to make it so.



Be good to yourselves and enjoy this wonderful time of year.  It will end too soon.

God love you

Mary

Hi everybody!

Another beautiful November day.   The sun was shining and no wind.   I hope it keeps up for the next few days as I will be able to walk again.    The past three days I have had to get up at 6:30AM to be where I needed to be on time.

Today was shopping.  I hate to get to the grocery store after 8:30AM because there are too many people there.   Shopping went very well, and even with my stop at Walgreens to pick up some prescriptions, I was home before 9:30AM.    I got everything put away and some morning computer things caught up.   I fixed Chicken and potato salad for Dick before I left for lunch at the Final Approach out at the Sheboygan County Airport with my high school buddies.   We had a good crowd.   There were11 class members plus some spouses.    I sat at the end of the table with Rita Petrie Ertl who I went all through school with.   Actually, we started kindergarten,  were in public school and St. Mary's, then went to the convent.   At that point, I left the convent in the middle of my junior year and graduated from Sheboygan Falls High School.  Rita finished school in Milwaukee, but this Class of 58 that I belong too is really unique.   We invite EVERYBODY that we can remember that went to school with us, and Rita is one of those who is still part of the gang, even if she missed the actual graduation.

I had a chicken wrap and sweet potato fries for out lunch.  And wonderful company.   I mailed a birthday package to Jacquie on the way home.   Now I am here until Friday.   Waa Hoo.

When I got home, Dick, our neighbor, was talking to Maryann, another neighbor, so I stopped to visit a bit.   Jean came out too and Jan, turned almost into a meeting.    Dick invited me in to see his dog, Katrina, who just had a hair cut.   She misses me now that I am not out as much.    She is a sweet dog but I would not have her because she is an excitement piddler.  

We had leftover quiche for supper.  Boy was that good.   I am feeling rather lazy tonight and am looking forward to tomorrow when I should not have to go any where, with any luck at all.

Have a nice day yourself

God love you

Mary

Today was car day.   I took the Passat in to VW this morning at 8:30AM for winterizing and its annual checkup.   I brought a book and a magazine.  There were very pleasant people also waiting for their cars that I was able to visit with and the time went very fast.

It was a beautiful day today.  Except for the drive to Motorville this morning.   The fog was like pea soup until I was almost to Sheboygan, then the sun came out and it was beautiful.

When I got home, I made an impossible quiche for our lunch.   Boy was it good.   I added some steamed spinach to the mix and used a combination of cheeses.   I was out of Bisquik so I mixed up a batch of my own.   It worked just fine and now I am stocked up on that.

I took a nap this afternoon, then wend downstairs to work on some sewing.   I trimmed and cut the squares for the lap robe and  did some sewing on the block of the month.

That is enough for today.

I heard today about that cruise ship that is stranded because of the fire in the engine room.   The boys and my ex and I went on a cruise once and it was really wonderful.   However, a flu of some kind went through the ship.  Poor little Bart got it.  Fortunately it was the last day of the tour.   He had a miserable trip home, but the cruise itself is a great memory for him.    However, as we were disembarking and going through customs, we were talking to a man who had gotten sick early in the week and had just recovered (almost) the past day.   Someone said that maybe the cruise company would give him a free trip to replace his bad experience.   I still remember that poor man, turning green and saying ,  "Oh God, No!"

Love you

Mary

I was very busy today.    Roxie is starting to accept the time changes, but she does find it a bit of an annoyance.     I folded clothes and put them away and started getting things ready for trash tomorrow. 

At 9AM, I left for bible study.   We watched as much of Barbara's Women's Group's video of Women at the Well as we could in the time we have.   We will watch the rest at some future time.    Next week, I asked everybody to review the books for the new study - Psalms - as it will be very different for us.   Then we can decide how to proceed.

Then I went over to Mom's.   She said she had felt a little dizzy this morning but as we visited and I took care of a couple things for her, she seemed to perk up.   I felt pretty good about her by the time I left.    I brought her some of the Braciole de Manzo and noodles for her supper and bread.    I got three loaves of bread at the Fireside and then I gave her a third of each loaf.   We put it in the freezer and she can pull it out as she needs it.
We had a nice visit.   As usual, the time went too fast.    I was able to tell her about yesterday at the Fireside.   One regret that I have is that we never did get her to the Fireside for a day.    She would have loved that.

We had our lunch and then I took a short nap before cleaning the kitchen, clearing off most of the dining room table, sorting and clearing things off the desk and gathering trash for tomorrow.  

Kate and Patty picked me up at 6PM to go to the UW Sheboygan to hear a speaker named Donald Stoker talk about the Strategy of the Civil War, The Grand Design, his book.   He was a good speaker making the subject exciting and pertinent.   We learned a lot about the generals and leaders on both sides of the war and opinions on why many of the decisions they made were ill timed   and what finally worked to end the conflict.

So a full day.   I am settling down for the night.  Tomorrow I have to get the car to VW at 8:30 for its maintenance and winterizing.  I made the appointment early so I could have the rest of the day at home.

So keep praying for Hazel and her family who miss her.

God love you all

Mary

What a wonderful day.    The weather was nice.   I believe it got up to the high 50s but as I was on a bus or in the Fireside most of the day, it did not make much difference.   It was nice to have the trip there and back uneventful.

This was a first for me.  I had never been there for a Sunday afternoon production before.   The meal was not a sit down meal but a buffet.   It was excellent.   We had breakfast items galore plus dinner choices that were super.   I chose dinner items as I had fixed breakfast for Dick and me before leaving.  So I had salmon, shrimp and scallops in a pasta and corned beef.   Everybody was served a cold peach soup.   I do not approve of cold soups but this was good.   More of dessert actually.

The production was up to Fireside standards.   The first act was the Fireside Christmas show.   Very lively and quite well done.   The voices were amazing.   The second act was the premier of The Child, a rock opera written by the creators of The Rock and The Rabbi and The Witnesses just for the Fireside.  I loved it.    I was interested to hear the comments of my fellow travelers.   Many of them did not know that they were in for.   BUT they ended up liking it for one reason or another.    Some for the music, some JUST for the narration between the songs by "Joseph" remembering the events that occurred. from the time he was betrothed to Mary.  Loved it and got to thank the members of the cast and the author and composer as we left.

Bobbie and Bill were along too.  It is so good to spend time with them   We had a great time.

So now I am watching the Packer game.   They better win.  I need their points.  

God love you

Mary

A very eventful day.

First,  I need to tell you that Dick's sister, Hazel, who I asked your to pray for has passed on.   She left us at 3:10PM today with her daughter, Suzi and her niece, Teresa on either side holding her hand.    She was 93 years old and had lived a full and wonderful life.   She will be missed but we are all grateful to have experienced her and her humor and personality.    There is a special place in heaven for her.

I went to Hallmark in Sheboygan today at about 10AM.  They had a special sale with special coupons and I had some coupons of my own so it seemed like a good time to go.  I picked up some Christmas presents, wrapping paper and cards.

We had Braciole deManzo with noodles and salad for lunch.   Then I took a nap.

Got Dick's leggings changed right after my nap.   I found a couple of little blisters on the leg.   I covered it with Neosporin and gauze.   Hope that will dry them up.

I went to Mass at 4PM.   A very nice mass.   I feel at home there as I know a lot or people now. 

So that is the day.   Think of Hazel with love.   Sleep tight.

I will be going to see The Child at the Fireside tomorrow with Bobbie and Bill on a tour.  That will be fun.   We will have lots of GOOD bread.

Mary

Well,this tuned out to be a strange day.

Started off a little weird.   Jody, the housekeeper, did not get here until almost 8:30AM.  I was beginning to think I should call Bonnie, her boss, as Jody has had health problems and we were a bit worried.  But she just dozed off and did not wake up as soon as she expected.  Whew.  She is an excellent housekeeper and we don't want to lose her.


I left at about 9:45AM.  I had to stop at Walgreens to pick up a prescription for Mother.  While I was there I saw that hearing aid batteries were on sale so I bought them too.   When I got to Mom's we left right away for her appointment with Dr. Hancock.   This was her yearly physical.   He checked everything.   He left her meds much the same.    Her blood pressure was a bit high when she got there but dropped to normal before he rechecked it.   A good thing.   He felt that she is a little pale but assured her that her weakness is PROBABLY because she is a year older.   He ordered urine and blood tests which we left before we went home.

By then it was after 12pm.  We were hungry.   I called Dick and told him to eat the half of a Tuna Sandwich that I had brought home from Antoinettes yesterday.    Mom and I picked up a Dairy Queen Grill Sandwich meal.   That is a BIG sandwich plush french fries and a coke.    We shared one.   Dick and I always share fries and I never finish the whole sandwich.   I don't know what those restaurants are thinking.   The one meal was more than enough for Mother and me.   We forced ourselves to finish the fries because there were just a few left after we were really done.

We are all caught up on the things that I need to do for her and I got to read Nora's letter sent JUST before she and Leif headed for France.   Such a great trip.    George and Betsy should be home from Argentina .   We will have so many adventures to be sharing.   Jeff and Kathy are in Branson.


We ate leftover hamburger helper for dinner.  (Dick is always happy with noodles.)  Now it is time to wind down and get ready for bed.   I ironed the 9 patches that I have sewed together for the lap robe and will square them up in the next couple of days.  I am going to make a disappearing 9patch,    New for me.  I will take a picture to share with you when it is done.

 Tomorrow is quiet.   I do want to to to Hallmark to take advantage of some specials.   I also will go to Mass at 4PM because Sunday is the day that Bobbie, Bill and I go to the Fireside to see the CHILD.  I am so excited about that.

God love you

Mary

Today was a shopping day.   I got up at 7AM.  Since our Chelsea is gone, I sleep until at least 7.   After I got showered and everything, I went to Mc Donalds to pick up breakfast.     We used to love to go out for breakfast and this is a good way to do it.   I like their breakfasts anyway.

Then I went shopping.  It was a good time.   LOTS of baking things were on sale so I stocked up for the Christmas baking.    Yippee.   Also had to go to Walgreens to pick up some prescriptions and other things.    I found a lighted magnifying glass for reading.   I think that is going to be a lot of help.  I think I will give Mom one too.

We had hamburgers and beans for lunch.   Then I took a nap.   Boy was I tired.  I slept over an hour.   We got Dick's leg coverings changed, his bath and his hair washed today to because we have an appointment for his blood coagulation test AND he is getting his hair and beard cut.    An awfully busy day for him.  Bobbie is coming to help us get him around.

I managed to get a bit of sewing done on the lap robe for the nursing home that we are donating as a Quilt Club.   Should have the top done by the end of next week.

So.   Another day gone by.   It is supposed to really be colder tomorrow.   They are talking a high of 41.  

Dick's sister Hazel is not doing too well.   She is 93.  Please pray for her.   And for the family. 

Love

Mary

Well,   my ribs were just a bit more sore this morning, but not enough to be miserable.   I must have pushed a bit too much yesterday.   It is so hard to not do the things that I see need doing.

Today was just gorgeous.  A perfect Autumn day,  the sun felt warm through the pleasantly cool air. 

I was home all morning.   Did a bit of housework, desk work and kitchen work.   Then we had lunch.

Shortly after lunch, I took off and did my civic duty.    I voted.    Dick had sent his absentee ballot in a week or so ago, so for better or worse, we have expressed our opinion.    Now we need to see how the chips fall.

I went directly from city hall to the library for the Kettle Country Quilters meeting..   We had a short meeting at the library.    We just had our announcements and show and tell and picked up the pattern for the second last square for this year's block of the month.  I have decided to make the blocks into a blanket for my half of the bed.   Dick does not like to have a blanket on so a smaller quilt would be very practical and useful.  Then we went over to the place on Factory Street  where Linda Wieck has established her Camo Quilting "factory" for making quilts for our servicemen overseas.    We went to help, but by the time Linda gave us the tour of the place and their history, I had to get home.    It is an amazing enterprise.   You should read more about it.  Check http://dma.wi.gov/dma/news/2009news/quilt.asp.   Linda has established shops all over the state and in several other states.   To date, they have made and distributed over 7000 camo quilts to all divisions of the armed forces and are expanding and continuing to pump them out.    What an inspiration.   All of the work is volunteer and the whole thing runs on donations.

Home again, I called Kate to tell her that I had a catalog for the Tupperware Party that I had told her about.  I can't go but we both wanted some things from Tupperware.   So I zipped over to Kate's and watched her and Patty cut out leaves for a Cornucopia and shared a cup of hot chocolate with them.   We have our order all done now.

Now we have supped and I am watching Dancing with the Stars which will end just about when the election returns start coming. in. 

Richard and Brenda called and we discussed the general feelings we all have about these elections.    EEEEUUUUUUU!  seems to be the consensus.   We will just have to hope that we voted to the benefit of all.   We all did the best we could and will find out as time goes on, how wise the choices were.

So another day that can change history.   Seventy years has brought many of them.  This is one of the little ones, at least at the onset.

I am really excited about the Fantasy Football.   I am still standing in the Survivor one and am number 5 in points in the big one.   As we get closer to the middle, it is getting more and more exciting.

God love you all   - I do

Mary

A very full Monday and such a pleasant one weather wise.   It was a bit cool but clear and still and easy to be out in.  For the first time in weeks, I actually felt better.    My rib still hurts a bit but I will concentrate of resting and using the heat until it is all gone.  It is just so good not to feel crummy.

Kate and Patty picked me up at about 9AM to go to Bible Study.    We had a full crew AND -  WE FINISHED the Gospel of Mark study.  SO  next week we are taking a break from a study and watching Barb's video of The Women at the Well.  Her women's group put it on and filmed it when she and Bart were in Green Bay and it is really touching and informative.    We will also kind of decide how we want to handle the study of Psalms that we are going to do next.    It is a different format so will be a challenge.  

The Kate, Patty and I stopped at Mother's.   I brought her a chicken dinner with rice and a deviled egg (the eyeball.)  I also gave her some cranberry relish and scones.   It was a good visit.  Kate brought her a trick or treat bag of candy.  (She took one in to Dick too.)   Mother said that she had over 100 kids at her door.   Eileen came to help hand out the candy.

When we got home, I invited them in because Patty may be looking for a home and liked the neighborhood so I wanted to let her see the inside of one.   She also got to meet Dick.

I took a short nap this afternoon and made a couple of phone calls.  I am invited to a Tupperware party on Sunday.   I can't go because I will be at the Fireside but still want a few items.   Kate had also expressed an interest, so she and I plan to get together for lunch and place and order with Jan, my neighbor.   I picked up the catalog and order blanks this evening after the Rhine Field and Stream meeting.    That went well, no sticky points, and we were even done a bit early.

So now it is finally bed time and I will apply heat and sleep as best as I can to continue my healing.

God love you all

Mary

Such a nice Sunday.  It was cool, dry and still as far as the weather.    I went for a nice walk at about 10AM.  I am not going too far and intend to increase the distance week to week.  It is strange walking without my sweet little Chelsea to lead the way and tell me when to stop and smell the roses.  I guess I just have to find my own roses to smell.

We decided to celebrate Halloween with Halloween food.  Dick picked Chili Dogs.   And I made a special treat.   Deviled Eggs.   Eyeballs.   I died the filling with some green food coloring and then put rip olive slices on them.    Fun  Fun Fun.

Again - We did not have one single trick or treater.   I always get one bag of treats just in case.   So we have a bag of Snickers I think I will take some to bible study tomorrow.

The Packers won again today.   Yippee!  I was in a win win situation.  They were the underdog.   NOBODY thought they would win.  I was tough and stuck to my system so - If they won, which they did - I was happy. But if they had lost, I would have gotten points in my Fantasy football league.   I am really glad that the Packers won.  It was worth the points.
\
I finished my name tag for the Kettle Country Quilters today.   I decided that 8 months is long enough.  They would be laughing at me if I did not finish it as Toni, who I introduced to the group last month has hers done.

And she has not yet officially joined as far as I know.So a new week has begun.  And a new month.    This is a month of Thanksgiving too.   Bobbie is cooking Thanksgiving Diner for the Kunerts.   All six of us.   I will be making a pumpkin pie and I already made cranberry relish. 

I sure will be glad to be rid of the political ads as of Tuesday.    I will be voting when I go to Quilt Club.  Dick is all set up for absentee ballets.   From now on, he should receive a ballot a couple of weeks before the election unless he misses one

It is definitely getting colder and there if a chance of light snow at the end of the week.  I am also starting to feel better.   My side hardly hurt at all today.   I will see if I can sleep on that side this week.

Take care and I love you all.

God bless you

Mary

Eyeballs. Happy Halloween! Enjoy.

Saturday. It was a pleasant day. A bit cool but the winds are much subdued so it was easy to live with. I took a walk this morning. I will try to do that three or four times a week and increase my distance each day. Since my sweet Chelsea is gone I have not been walking especially with the rib pain.

I made a batch of Cranberry Relish today. That lasts forever on its own and I froze part of it as I want it to last through Christmas. We had a bit with our chicken and rice and will enjoy it for the next few weeks.

I have enough cranberries left to make two loaves of cranberry bread before Christmas.

I sewed some pockets onto a couple of Dick's long sleeved shirts today. They are not beautiful but they will be utilitarian. He does not like shirts without pockets as he has nowhere to put his paper towels or to put the tv controllers when we go to bed. Otherwise we are rolling on them and losing them in the blankets.

Mass was at 4PM I was able to be a Eucharistic minister which always makes me feel very special. It is especially wonderful as I become familiar with the members of the parish. What a privilege to be able to feed Jesus to your fellow Christians.

Anyway.   We are safe and sound in our  own little house.   The week is dying down and I am so glad.   I plan on going to bed early and sleeping til I have to get up.   Tomorrow is Halloween.   We have decided to have Chili dogs as a special Halloween meal.  If you want to join us, show up at about noon   We have more than enough.

Otherwise, enjoy your Halloween.   It is the Celtic New Years Eve, you know.

God love you

Mary

Such a nice day. I was home for most of it.

This noon, I joined my bank friends for lunch and brought lunch home for Dick too. He thought a Dairy Queen Bacon Cheeseburger sounded good. We ladies had a nice visit. The weather was really pleasant today too. A bit chilly, but there was almost no wind, so it was easy to live with.

I dropped a couple of things off for Kate today on my way to lunch and we had a very short visit but a nice one. I said HI to Ron, Patty and the cat too.

Home again, I took a nap. I am all caught up on wash and changed the sheets on the bed. I am almost all done with my immediate necessary email contacts and feel quite proud of myself.

I am watching a biography of Bela Legosi. Quite interesting. Since we are close to deer hunting season I am enclosing an email I got a couple of years a go called Roping a Deer.


Have a Lovely weekend.

God love you,

Mary



Roping A Deer------- ( Names have been removed to protect the Stupid! )

Actual letter from someone who farms and writes well!


I had this idea that I was going to rope a deer, put it in a stall, feed it up on corn for a couple of weeks, then kill it and eat it.

The first step in this adventure was getting a deer. I figured that, since they congregate at my cattle feeder and do not seem to have much fear of me when we are there (a bold one will sometimes come right up and sniff at the bags of feed while I am in the back of the truck not 4 feet away), it should not be difficult to rope one, get up to it and toss a bag over its head (to calm it down) then hog tie it and transport it home.

I filled the cattle feeder then hid down at the end with my rope.

The cattle, having seen the roping thing before, stayed well back. They were not having any of it.

After about 20 minutes, my deer showed up -- 3 of them. I picked out.. ..a likely looking one, stepped out from the end of the feeder, and threw.. my rope. The deer just stood there and stared at me.

I wrapped the rope around my waist and twisted the end so I would have a good hold. The deer still just stood and stared at me, but you could tell it was mildly concerned about the whole rope situation.

I took a step towards it...it took a step away. I put a little tension on the rope and then received an education.

The first thing that I learned is that, while a deer may just stand there looking at you funny while you rope it, they are spurred to action when you start pulling on that rope.

That deer EXPLODED.

The second thing I learned is that pound for pound, a deer is a LOT stronger than a cow or a colt. A cow or a colt in that weight range I could fight down with a rope and with some dignity.

A deer-- no chance.

That thing ran and bucked and twisted and pulled. There was no controlling it and certainly no getting close to it. As it jerked me off my feet and started dragging me across the ground, it occurred to me that having a deer on a rope was not nearly as good an idea as I had originally imagined.

The only up side is that they do not have as much stamina as many other animals.


A brief 10 minutes later, it was tired and not nearly as quick to jerk me off my feet and drag me when I managed to get up. It took me a few minutes to realize this, since I was mostly blinded by the blood flowing out of the big gash in my head. At that point, I had lost my taste for corn-fed venison. I just wanted to get that devil creature off the end of that rope.

I figured if I just let it go with the rope hanging around its neck, it would likely die slow and painfully somewhere. At the time, there was no love at all between me and that deer. At that moment, I hated the thing, and I would venture a guess that the feeling was mutual.

Despite the gash in my head and the several large knots where I had cleverly arrested the deer's momentum by bracing my head against various large rocks as it dragged me across the ground, I could still think clearly enough to recognize that there was a small chance that I shared some tiny amount of responsibility for the situation we were in, so I didn't want the deer to have to suffer a slow death, so I managed to get it lined back up in between my truck and the feeder - a little trap I had set before hand...kind of like a squeeze chute.

I got it to back in there and I started moving up so I could get my rope back.

Did you know that deer bite? They do! I never in a million years would have thought that a deer would bite somebody, so I was very surprised when I reached up there to grab that rope and the deer grabbed hold of my wrist.

Now, when a deer bites you, it is not like being bit by a horse where they just bite you and then let go. A deer bites you and shakes its head --almost like a pit bull. They bite HARD and it hurts.

The proper thing to do when a deer bites you is probably to freeze and draw back slowly. I tried screaming and shaking instead. My method was ineffective. It seems like the deer was biting and shaking for several minutes, but it was likely only several seconds.

I, being smarter than a deer (though you may be questioning that claim by now), tricked it.

While I kept it busy tearing the tendons out of my right arm, I reached up with my left hand and pulled that rope loose. That was when I got my final lesson in deer behavior for the day.

Deer will strike at you with their front feet. They rear right up on their back feet and strike right about head and shoulder level, and their hooves are surprisingly sharp. I learned a long time ago that, when an animal -- like a horse --strikes at you with their hooves and you can't get away easily, the best thing to do is try to make a loud noise and make an aggressive move towards the animal.
This will usually cause them to back down a bit so you can escape.

This was not a horse. This was a deer, so obviously, such trickery would not work. In the course of a millisecond, I devised a different strategy. I screamed like a woman and tried to turn and run.

The reason I had always been told NOT to try to turn and run from a horse that paws at you is that there is a good chance that it will hit you in the back of the head. Deer may not be so different from horses after all, besides being twice as strong and 3 times as evil, because the second I turned to run, it hit me right in the back of the head and knocked me down.

Now, when a deer paws at you and knocks you down, it does not immediately leave. I suspect it does not recognize that the danger has passed. What they do instead is paw your back and jump up and down on you while you are laying there crying like a little girl and covering your head.

I finally managed to crawl under the truck and the deer went away.

So now I know why when people go deer hunting they bring a rifle with a scope to sort of even the odds.

The wind has finally stopped. What a relief. I can understand why people on the Great Plains went mad after weeks of the winds. It just wears on a person after a while. Now it is COLD. Not bitter cold but cold and the breeze just cuts through one's clothes.

I pulled the tomato plants and brought in all of the green tomatoes to see if they will ripen. Dick and I are tempted to try fried green tomatoes. We wondered if it was worth trying to contact Fanny Flagg.

I did get to be home all day. Somehow or other, usually something comes up, but not today. We had the Minestrone soup for lunch and fish for our dinner.

I did some wash today and baked scones. Lots of computer jobs and I rested. My cold is somewhat better. With any luck at all it willnot develope into a full blown one.

So that is today.

Bless you all. Have a great Friday

Mary

Hello.

I got an awful lot done today. I started with grocery shopping at 8:39 Am or so. That went quite well. I was home by 9:30and did not hurt any worse when I got home than I did when I left. A first.

I put the groceries away and started some wash. Then I prepared a couple of things that I had to take to the mailbox. Jeff arrived here at about 11AM with my part of the deer that he, Randy, Shane and I share. The husband of a teacher friend of his loves to go deer hunting but they do not like the meat, so he gives it to Jeff. All we have to pay for is the butchering. They cut it in such nice portions, steaks and chops. We also get burger and sausage. The freezer I got from Mom is filling up nicely. We won't go hungry, that is for sure.

After lunch, I went to the bank, to get some money, then to the post office and finally to Advanced Eye Care with Dick's glasses to have the new lenses installed. (He hasn't complained since I brought them back, so I assume they are OK.) With the horrible hurricane strength winds we have been having the past two days, there was no way he could have gone, even if I could have gotten him up and down the ramp and loaded the wheel chair.

The wind was supposed to be gone by 7PM but I heard it again just about 15 minutes ago. I hope that was it's last hurrah.

Home at last, I took a nap, then worked on several computer projects that I will HAVE to finish tomorrow as a couple of them are coming due or are time sensitive.

So that is the day. Dick felt pretty good today except that he was so tired. Hopefully he will have a good night's sleep, he is surely due for one.

Take care

God love you

Mary

My throat was still really sore this morning. So, I went to see Dr. Murthy. He said that my throat was red but no white spots. I am to drink lots of warm liquids, take Tylonol and if I develop a fever or am not better in a couple of days, I have a prescription that I can call for at Walgreens for an antibiotic.

I rested as much as I could today. The wind has been blowing like a banshee wailing all day and is supposed to continue through tomorrow. This is new.

I fixed steak and twice baked potato for our dinner. This afternoon, I did some sewing downstairs and cleaned the downstairs refrigerator.

Jeff called. He is stopping by on his way to Mom's tomorrow morning with my share of the venison from his friend. I also have liver in Mom's freezer which I forgot to pick up on Monday. Too distracted by the visit with Fr. Mike and Bridget I guess.

Thought you might enjoy the following:

1. If you migrate to this county, you must speak the native language.
2. You have to be a professional or an investor. No unskilled workers allowed.
3. There will be no special bilingual programs in the schools, no special
ballots for elections, all government business will be conducted in our
language.
4. Foreigners will NOT have the right to vote no matter how long they are here.
5. Foreigners will NEVER be able to hold political office.
6. Foreigners will not be a burden to the taxpayers. No welfare, no food stamps, no health care, or other government assistance programs.
7. Foreigners can invest in this country, but it must be an amount equal to 40,000
times the daily minimum wage.
8. If foreigners do come and want to buy land that will be okay, BUT options will
be restricted. You are not allowed waterfront property. That is reserved for
citizens naturally born into this country.
9. Foreigners may not protest; no demonstrations, no waving a foreign flag, no
political organizing, no bad-mouthing our president or his policies, if you do you
will be sent home.
10. If you do come to this country illegally, you will be hunted down and sent straight
to jail.

Harsh, you say? The above laws happen to be the immigration laws of Mexico!

God love you

Mary

Today was a quiet day weather wise. It was supposed to get up close to 70 degrees but I am sure it was less than 65 and it felt a bit cooler. Tomorrow we will be on weather watch for wind and rain. I was hoping to be home all day but will have to to to pick up a prescription for Dick.

It was a reasonably quiet day for a Monday. The morning was busy. I went to Bible Study at 9:30AM. I stopped at Mom's before to drop off some food and some information that she needed. Then I went back after Bible Study to visit. I knew that Fr. Mike Shea and his sister Bridget would be there and wanted a bit of time to visit with them. It was good that Mother was alone with them for about an hour though. She wears out so easily these days and one on one is much easier for her. She does treasure these visits with Fr. Mike. He looks and feels well and is kept busy by his "family" of over 160 children. Listening to him tell about his kids makes one realize that children are the same world over. They are good and naughty, they are jealous of attention and loving and kind and selfish and generous. They all deserve love and to know that they are special.

Home again, we had chicken, mashed potatoes and cabbage for our lunch, then I took a nap.

The afternoon was a rather lazy afternoon. I got my papers ready for the telephone conference and cleared out the email messages and that was about all. I did gather up the trash to put out in the morning, so I won't be rushing around then.

Then at 7PM I got on the CWI Conference Board meeting. We had all but three on the line and got a lot done. Roxie was a bit offended because I sit in HER chair in the old office for these calls.

Now I have a couple of projects that need to be done and the information passed on the the others.

Tomorrow will be a good day to start them.

Take care and stay warm, dry and out of the wind tomorrow.

Mary

I suppose you missed me last night. I was just plain exhausted and went to bed early. Friday night at Rhine just took the zip out of me.

Yesterday, I picked up SHARE at 9AM. Then I went to see Mother for a few minutes as I had some business to help her with. I had intended to stop on my way home from Bobbie and my day at the Wine event at Kohler. So I had to go anyway.

Imagine my surprise. I got to Mother"s. two of my cousins were there with their husbands. These were two of my Mom's brother George's daughters, Marcia and Ann and their husbands Mark and Jack. We had the nicest visit. Marcia is still in Two Rivers and Ann lives in Colorado.

Uncle George was one of Merrill's Marauders in WWII. That was a group of 800 soldiers that fought in Burma without resupplying or support. Of the 800 men sent behind the lines, only 100 survived. He is a true hero. He said that the movie did not convey the difficulty and horror of that march.

They were delighted with Mom's books and her wall decorations. I found out that Ann does not have any of her Dad's paintings. I told her that when I pass on, she can have the painting that he gave me. That was a sweet story. I was home for a visit with the boys. We had a family get together and Uncle George and Aunt Annabelle were there. I said that I would really like one of his paintings. He did not respond so I didn't know what to think. Then, before I flew back home, he brought me a painting picked especially for me. An Autumn scene because we did not have Autumn with all the colors in California. I treasure that painting, but if Ann needs it she will be willed it as my boys won't remember Uncle George. We will see. Marcia says that she has some at her house, in which case it will become part of my family history.

I went to church at 4PM and was a Eucharistic Minister. That is always a real privilege and I go home feeling quite special.

Today was really great. I did not have to go anywhere. So I finished a square for the Kettle Country Quilters Block of the Month, rested, fixed a couple of meals and just generally tries to do "nothing" (which is really hard for me) to let my body heal. We will see what happens. A quiet week is unfolding ahead of us. We have NO doctor appointments and I have nothing scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. So I am planning on doing great things. Dick won't let me do anything too physical. That is a big help t keep me in line.

Fr. Mike Shea called this morning. He is in the country and is going to see Mother tomorrow at about 9:30AM. His sister Bridget is coming with him. He called me to see what was a good time. I told him that her caregivers are always gone by 9:30AM to that is when he is coming. I called Mother to tell her that he will be there so she had something really special to look forward to. I will get to see him for a few minutes after Bible Study.

So that is the weekend. We are trying to figure out ways to be more mobile without my ability to lift wheelchairs and push up ramps. This week we have nothing but next week we have a anti coagulation meeting on Thursday. (Can you help then Bobbie.)

We always ask Bobbie and she is just a wonder, but one day she will have a commitment and we need alternatives.

Til tomorrow

God love you

Mary

Yesterday was SO quiet that I even forgot to blog. I rested so good and felt pretty good.

Today, was a disappointment because I did not feel as good as yesterday.

Yesterday, I mainly rested, though I did get the newsletter off to the Celtic Women. I did go for my first walk since the ribs. I did not go very far but it felt good and I KNOW I did not overdo.

Today, I had lunch at the Dairy Queen. We had a full crowd there today. Mary had her dogs with her as she and Barb were going out to the Kettles to run their dogs together. So I got to meet her new doggie, Roxie. Roxie is a boxer and just a lover.

Tonight I went to work at Rhine. Dick did not approve and I found out her was right. My ribs are really sore tonight. Bobbie and I were going to the Kohler Wine and Cheese event tomorrow but I called her to tell her that I don't think I should. That would be another walking and exerting event and I am just not up to it. I hate this.

I finally told Doc at 7:30PM that I was hurting bad enough that I thought I better go home and he took over the bartending for me. Now I just want to go to slelep.

Mary

Today was supposed to be a very quiet day. I was supposed to go shopping in the mornign and then have the whole day at home.

Did not quite work that way.

I went shopping and when I got home, Dick said that he had two prescriptions at Walgreens. Well, I was pretty sore from the shopping. So I put everything away and then rested with the heating pad for about an hour. When I woke up I fixed lunch. We had ham, colcannon and beets. All good. I called Kate to ask her to put Mary Ellen on the prayer chain and told her what Dick said about the Chili. Kate offered me Chili yesterday but I had so many leftovers that I said perhaps not this time. Dick said " You turned down Chili?" Kate laughed and said that she still had some to share so I stopped after I picked up the prescriptions and got it. Ron was coming home as I left so I told him why I was there and he thought it was funny too.

I took another nap this afternoon. I am really trying to get my ribs to heal. I don't like my body to be fighting me like this. Sometimes the ribs feel better, then my tummy starts rebelling.

We had a cup of Kate's chili for supper and it is very good.

Now I am ready to start settling down. As I said, I want to heal so I can get back to normal.

Take care of you.

Love

Mary

Today was supposed to be a very quiet day at home. It did not turn out that way exactly. As it happened, I had to take Mom her Vit Eyes (the only medicine that she is really avid about because it WILL help retard the advancement of macular degeneration.) and a couple of other meds that she was low on. So. I headed out at about 10 to take care of her errands and be able to spend a bit of time with her. I stopped at Kate's to drop off a book for her on the way.

Mom and I had a nice visit. There are so many people in need of prayer and encouragement.

I got home in time to prepare our lunch. We had hash and creamed cabbage. Boy was that good. I had made Mock Duck but the meat was tough so I ground everything up and added potatoes, carrots and onion and "boy" was that good.

I took a nice long nap this afternoon.

I also had nice phone visits with Nora and Jacquie. I called Bart too. I wanted to be sure that he was aware that Mary Ellen Kirby had passed away. That is why I called Jacquie too, I figured that the boys' father would like to know that. The Kirbys and we were very close for very many years. I am sure that Mary Ellen has been rushed into heaven with out too much fol der ol.

I have been pretty achy today. But tomorrow will be better. It is hard to keep from doing things. If I could keep my self amused without straining my ribs for a week, I probably would be healed. Like that is likely to happen?


Love

Take care of your self.

Mary

Busy Busy day. But very fulfilling.

Started off with Bible Study at 9:30AM. I picked up Kate and her sister Patty. I believe that they are going to be rather permanent members of the group. So nice since they have so much to contribute.

We are still finishing up Mark. We have the "other endings" still to do. History says that Mark actually stops with Verse 8 but there are two other additions from later that finish it off.

We were amazed at the ending through verse 8 that gave women apostleship. No other place are they treated this way.

Stopped at Mom's next. She had bills to be paid then were were able to have a visit, Mom,Kate, Patty and me. Mom looked beautiful, as usual. I go a kick out of her. She said she is not longer going to save her pretty clothes for "good of "special" times. She is going to just wear them when she wants to.

Home again, Bobbie was here transferring her beet wine into the primary fermenter (as I said, the gallon jug) I fixed ham and colcannon for our lunch. We drank a glass of Bobbie's Barola wine with it. That is a kit wine that is ACTUALLY supposed to wait two years but as Bobbie ended up with a small bottle, we decided to test it midway. We were impressed and cannot wait until next year to try it fully aged.

I left for writer's club a bit before 1PJ. We had a full house. Peggy was back AND Kate and her sister too. We had some good sharing. After I left there I took a run out to Rhine. I had forgotten several CWI things at the clubhouse when I left yesterday. Everything was just as I had left it, so I gathered up the things I had left and came home.

A nice quiet afternoon. We had chili dogs for our supper. Dick is liking warm things so just a sandwich doesn't work and he has not been in the mood for soup lately.

Without my nap, I was exhausted, so I took a nap after I cleaned up from dinner. I woke up at about 7:15PM. Fortunately, Dancing with the Stars had preliminary dancing before the contestants started, so I did not miss any of the dances. They are now down to 8 dancers and the competition is getting tough.

Bret called me tonight. Mark Kirby one of the boys his age from Huntington Beach (also the jeep club group) called him. Mark's mother, Mary Ellen died on Saturday. She and I were good friends. Had not been in touch much since I left California but that means nothing. She was a lovely woman. Her husband was also a dear friend. He serviced my car when Bart and I left California. He wanted us safe. He and Mary Ellen gave a good by party for us too. These were good friends and it is sad to think of them both as gone. Kirby died several years ago. Pray for Mary Ellen and her five boys along with me.

So what a day.

Tomorrow will be quieter, though I will be picking up some meds for Mom and taking them to her.


Take care of yourselves God love you

Mary

 

 

Here are two pictures that I took about a month ago when walking with my Chelsea. A caterpillar and a squirrel.

Pretty Cool. I thought.

Enjoy.

Love

Mary

A pleasant Sunday.

I slept a bit late which is always nice. I finished the place mat for the Samhain dinner before lunch. It looks pretty good. I dedicated it to Daddy, Uncle George, Aunt Helen, Tony, Matt, Tim and Courtney. I hope their spirits enjoyed our evening.

I made the colcannon right before and after lunch. I put it into the slow cooker on warm to take to the dinner tonight. I had to go to the drug store this afternoon to refill a prescription.

Then I left for Rhine at a little before three so that I could get the place set up and swept a bit before the Celtic Women got there. It was a nice gathering. There were fifteen of us there - 9 Celtic Women and 6 spouses. We had food that was spectacular. The colcannon, mushroom and Guiness pie, Irish meat sandwiches, bread, soup salads and pie. A feast fit for kings.

We pretty much set up the schedule for next year.

So. A new week is begun. Tomorrow will surely be busy but the rest of the week should be a bit quieter.

I am going to forward a couple of pictures for you.

Love and God love you

Mary