I stayed in the neighborhood all day today. 

I spent the morning working on my Bridget wall hanging.  It is really coming together.   Good thing because I have to be finished with it by Thursday.   I am really getting excited about it.

At 10:30AM, I went over to Dick's house to help Alison and her "crew" empty and clean the house.   Salem UCC is having a rummage sale on Saturday and much of Dick's things will be sold there.   Some clothes are going to Rocky Knoll, some things will be going to Haiti, some things to St. Vinnies and some to Salem Green.

Then we swept the basement and vacuumed the bedrooms before I had to leave.  Alison and her friend finished the kitchen and living room after I left.   Alison ordered pizza and we had wine, from Lee, and soft drinks, coffee and cookies to go with it.   Nice people from the church.

I have a little story for you.   I told you that Lee, Dick's son and his fiance Lindsay, took Katrina, Dick's dog.  They got a carrier for her that would fit under the seat in the airplane and everything started off pretty well.   The put it under the seat so that they could lean down and talk to her through the mesh.    Well,   after a bit, they heard something of a commotion some rows in back of them.   The heard phrases like  "Oh, isn't she cute!"   They wondered what it was and after a bit looked back and there was Katrina.   She had managed to unzip the carrier with her teeth and nose and went off to meet friends.    They got her back easily enough, of course.   She would be glad to come back to therm.   Then the stewardess came and very sternly said that Katrina had to stay in her carrier.   Lee suggested that they tell Katrina.

Pretty ingenious.   Guss what happened to Roxie tonight.  I got the small ladder out of  the closet in the hall leading to the garage to replace the Bridget Cross.   Then I put it back and shut the door.   Some time later I heard a cat mewing and couldn't find Roxie,  I finally narrowed it down to that closet.   Sure enough, she had wandered in when I was busy and I didn't see her.   She is just like Waylon was when I shut him in the door, though.   She thinks I rescued her.    So she still loves me.

God love you all

By the way,  I keep forgetting to put the website of my Irish Caterer, Lynne.   Here it is.  http://www.lynnesgoodfoodguide.blogspot.com/.

Mary

This was a very strange day.   It was cloudy and cool and tonight it even rained.  It was raining pretty well when I  drove out to Rhine so that Nancy and I could shoot.   We were grateful that we shoot pistol downstairs in the pistol range rather than trap out in the rain and cold.   We both did pretty well this week.   At least I did MUCH better than last week.


I was busy this morning preparing to fix a new chocolate dessert that I got from my vegetarian caterer in Ireland.   I really need a decent food processor is I intend to do more of these type of recipes. It is very good.   I hope Dick likes it.   The amazing thing is that there is no fat and no processed sugar at all.

 It is Good Friday.    I went to Church at noon and discovered I was a half hour early, but I had plenty of people to visit with and then spent about 15 minutes of the wait finishing my daily prayers.  It was a typical Good Friday service.   First the readings, then the Passion from Matthew, then the devotion to the Cross followed by Holy Communion.    I was a Communion distributor so was able to be an important part of the celebration.

I was home by 2PM and able to rest a bit before going downstairs to work on the Brigid stitchery that I am trying to get done by next Thursday so that I can take it to the Gathering.  Why do I do this to myself?   But Ik have this vision of what I want to do and the Gathering is the place it should be presented.

We had salmon bites from SHARE for supper with tater tots and salad.   They are quite good and I have one more meal of them. 

Tomorrow I will be working on the stitchery and helping Alison get the trash from Dick Kastberg's house ready for Tuesday.   Lee, Dick's son, left us some wine to drink when we finish.   

So you rest well and I will be praying for all of you.  

God loves you

Mary

It is 9PM.  I almost forgot to do this.   As it is my bedtime, this will be quick.

I had a very busy day.   Started off the morning by going to Volkswagon Motorville in Sheboygan to have them check the car to make sure that nothing is wrong after the dead battery incident.    We have decided that the problem is probably that I don't drive enough.   The many bells and whistles on the car do a steady slow draw on the battery and I seldom do drive long enough to really get it fully charged.   The battery was a bit down so they charged it full and next week it will get a workout when I drive to Galena.   After that the service department AND the service man who came out to charge the car both suggest getting a trickle charger.   I will start looking for one.   That should solve the problem.

Then I went to the DMV and renewed my drivers license.   I am good until 2019 now.   Wow.   I swung by Gander Mountain and got some ammo for the pistol so I can finish this league.   They did not have what I wanted so I am trying another brand.   Idon't like Federal.   I get a lot of mis fires on those bullets.

This afternoon, I met Alison, the Condo president over at Dick's. Dick's son, Lee, wanted us to come over ant if there was anything we wanted to remember Dick by , we should take it.    I took some small glass topped brass tables and some frames.   Mainly I chose three framed photographs that Dick took.   I did not know until the obituary that he was an avid photographer - that is a nice memory.

Katrina is in Colorado now with Lee and Lindsay.   They took her with them on the plane home.   She was a happy girl to be with them and I am so glad that she will be taken care of.

So a busy day and now it is time for a good night's sleep.   Tomorrow is Good Friday.  Can you believe it?

Good Night until tomorrow.

P. S.  I just discovered I did everything but publish yesterday which is why you have two tonight.

Love

M ary

I slept very well last night.   The blankety blank snow was still on the ground and all over when I woke up and shows not sign of leaving.   Is this not a good thing as far as I can see.   It is April after all and almost the END of April.

I can't believe that this Sunday is Easter already.   Bobbie is cooking the Easter Dinner.   She said she will make Chicky Roll.   (Leslie and Jim must have their mouths watering now.) It is something their mother made that is really good.   Nothing to do with chicken however.    I can be the Easter Bunny.

Today, I kept myself busy most of the morning and have a very clean desk.   Then at about 10:30AM I went grocery shopping.   I forgot my cloth bags so had to be non Green.   However, I was in need of a few paper bags as I use them for papers and magazines and ended up getting four so I am a bit stocked for a while.   Fresh asparagus was on sale, so I got some of that too.   Nancy was shopping too, so I was able to thank her again for yesterday and tell her that I am doing well.

I still have a bit of a sore throat but that will pass.   I am gargelling morning and evening and it will go away.

Bart called this afternoon for Jim and Michelle's phone number.   The one we both have is disconnected.  I hope I didn't miss any email telling me of a change.   So I gave him the cell phone that I have.   Jim and Michelle,  if we are confused let us know and Bart and Barb would like you to have Easter with them if you can.

When I got home from shopping Dick was sleeping - I let him sleep because he has so much trouble.  I ate lunch and tried to take a nap.  I got about 30 minutes in when the phone rang.  It was Archbishop Liscecki  thanking me for my contributions and wishing me a Happy Easter.    A nice touch.   Of course, I had to say Hello twice to start the recording.  But it is a nice touch.

\

Just lost power with a BIG BOOM of THUNDER.    We lost connection on the TV but apparently not on the computer.  

Today I had my colonoscopy.   My friend Nancy took me over at 9:30AM and picked me up about 1:30PM to bring me home..  I was supposed to go in at 10:45 but it was about an hour later as Dr. Sharon was running behind.   All went well.   I kind of remember part of the colonocospy, it was rather uncomfortable, but it was more like a dream.   That sedation is quite effective and doesn't make me sick.    My throat is a bit sore.  I hope it is all better by morning.  Dr. Sharon said that all looked good in the colon area and also in the Endoscopy, though he did take a couple of biopsies in the stomach just to be sure.   I will hear on that in about a week.

There, now you know all is well and I am going to sign off until tomorrow.  There are 3 or more inches of icky wet slushy snow.   Icky!

God love you

Mary

 

Well, up until 3PM this afternoon it was a nice day.    

Everybody but Helen Maurer and Shirley Moioffer were at the bible study so we had lots to talk about.  Helen Morgan is back from their trip to Florida.   I think it was Florida.   She was gone several weeks.

I had a light breakfast this morning and just drank stuff during the day as they said I should.  

The Writer's Club meeting was at 1PM.   That was very nice too.   We had wonderful winter poems read for us and a chapter from Don's book.  I mentioned that my bible study had written our own Psalms and Lynn thought it would be nice if we all wrote a Psalm for our next meeting.  Peggy Gasiororski was there.   I was so glad to see her.   Her husband was the man who was across from Dick at Plymouth Rehab.

I got home and settled by 3PM and started taking all the pills and stuff that are needed to clean me out for tomorrow,

My friend Nancy is going to pick me up.  I have to be there at 9:45AM.  She will take me then pick me up again at about 12:30 or 1PM to bring me home.

So I think I will stop writing at this time and just concentrate on getting through until tomorrow.   The actual procedure is the easy part.

Til tomorrow

God Love you

Mary

Libby Tournour

Meghan, Libby and Kelsey

Kelsey

The Irish Dancers with Mary Kunert in their midst. We sponsored a wonderful demonstration of Irish Dance by Meghan and Kelsey Long and their little cousin Libby Tournour. They were wonderful teachers of their journey, the art of the Dance and the ins and outs of competion and advancing in the craft. We were so delighted with them and they answered all of our questions. We dined on cucmber sandwiches and barm brack with tea and lemonade. Next event is May 15, Sunday. A book sharing. Please call 910-893-5139, if you are interested and want to join in the fun. Mary

Sunday come and almost gone.   The wind was hard and steady tonight but we had sun a good chunk of the day which took away the chill.  Now they are telling us we may get snow tonight.    The old saying says that one should not plant before Memorial day because there is danger of frost til then.   That was true in California too believe it or not.

Dick got his bath today and all changed on bandages.  We had ham, colcannon and orange pineapple salad for lunch.  All really good.  I got a Cook ham.   They are usually dependable.

At 3PM, I drove over to Suchon Funeral Home to give my sympathies to Dick Kastburg's family.   I have now met all of his children and his brother.    They are such lovely people.   Lee and his sister will be here for a couple of more days to start going through things.   So I will take Dick's mail over and visit a bit more tomorrow.   Lee is going to take Katrina with him.   He loves her and she means everything to him because of his father and he knows her little excitement problem.   I know that she will be loved and cared for until her end.  I was so glad to be able to tell them how peaceful the house was and how I am sure that their mother was there to lead Dick to heaven.

We had leftovers for supper.  I don't want a lot of food around as I am supposed to be having my colonocopy on Tuesday.   They have not called me to schedule a time yet.  I realized that late on Friday after it was too late to talk to anybody so I am not really sure, but I have to start my prep in the morning anyway.  I will call first thing in the morning and then see if Kate is still willing to take me and bring me back, otherwise, I am going to be searching for a driver, at least for a ride home.  I can drive myself there but will not be able to drive for 12 hours after the procedure.  What a bummer.  

At least I am fairly busy until I start all the pills and stuff for the prep.   Then I won't care as I will have to stay close to the bathroom.

Bible Study,  a visit with Mother and Cream City Writers.  That is tomorrow's schedule.

Hope you have a good week.  I will post before I get too goofy tomorrow and my may get a really strange message on Tuesday.

God love you all

Mary

Meghan Long, Mary Kunert, Libby Tournour and Kelsey Long. They were wonderful.

I slept until 7 AM.   Quite a change.   I might have stayed a bit longer, but I had to go and get Share at 9AM and did not want to be rushing.

So that was my first errand of the day.   It was raining pretty good when I went to pick up SHARE.   We got a pork tenderloin,  chicken drumsticks, chicken strips, salmon and beef for sandwiches.    Plus apples, tangerines, lettuce, onions and potatoes. 

Home again, I fixed dinner. took care of Dick's wounds, (yes he does have wounds again), and gathered things up for the CWI program this afternoon.

After lunch, I drove to the Sheboygan Falls Memorial Library for the Sheboygan County Celtic Women's meeting and presentation of Irish Dancing.   Bridget Long, a friend of a friend of Debbie O' Grady, brought her two daughters and a niece who attend the Cashel Dennehy School of Irish Dance in Wauwatosa.   Megan and Kelsey are her daughters and Libby Tournour is her niece.   They have been dancing for more than 6 years and were so patient with us,   They started by explaining how they got interested in Irish Dancing and then walked us through the basic steps and into the now.    I have pictures.   Tonight I will just send one of them and me.   Because I was so pleased to be there.

Tonight I  went to Mass for the Palm Sunday Celebration.   This is long mass because it involves the reading of the whole Passion of the Christ by one of the Evangelists - tonight, John.   And we also have the blessing of the palms for the next year.    I was s delighted.   As I was leaving, one of the ladies in a pew in back of me, handed me a palm that she had woven into a cross.   I am so delighted.  What a lovely gift.   It will be in back of the crusifix in the living room.   Please look for it.

So now it is time for bed, almost.   I am going to download the pictures I took today and will post one or two.

God love you

Mary

Boy was I every busy today and I did not leave the house until 12:30 for lunch at the Dairy Queen.  We had a pretty full table again.   Karen Ruh, who used to work with us, was there for lunch and joined us for a while.   She is going to try to come sometimes as she is still working, somewhere else, but has lunch at about that time. 
Dairy Queen has a new item.   It is a chicken OR vegetable quesidilla.   As it is Friday in Lent, I got the veggie one and it was delicious.

Jody, the house cleaner was late today, her son's truck broke down on the way here.    That family is having MORE trouble with vehicles lately,  But she got here at 9AM.   So I baked the brown bread for tomorrow before she got here.

I did some updating on Ancestry.   Kurt Thuemmler has accepted my invitation to get into the file.   I think he will enjoy it as he seems to have a strong interest in genealogy and is passing it on to Brandon, his son.   And I also have a lot of "leaves" to check out.

I worked at Rhine tonight.   It rained quite heavily so I got home a bit before 8PM and will try to go to bed early.  My nap got interrupted because Dick woke up from his nap just as I was getting settled.   It was a very strange day.  My friend, Nancy Coenen, is back from her trip to Israel.   She brought me a small stone from beside the Sea of Galilee and is going to share some water from the River Jordan.  Boy am I delighted about that.

At least Roxie seems to be all back to her normal self and a happy girl again.   She really had us worried.   Dr. Pat loved Jim's description of the.   "She ends too soon."

Have a great weekend

God love you

Mary

Yesterday was totally beautiful.  Warm and Sunny.   We woke up to a wet deck and temperatures in the 30s.   Of course, this is the day that Dick had to go out.   He had an appointment with Dr. Cheryl, the eye doctor.   Bobbie helped us get him there and back.    Dr. Cheryl was very pleased with his eyes.   That errant lash was again poking its way into the world, so she plucked that and we will go back in three months to check it again unless he gets uncomfortable if and probably when that lash grows again.

We picked up steak sandwiches from Chester's.   I had forgotten how GOOD they are.  In case some of you don't know,  Chester's is a drive in restaurant here in Plymouth.  It is open from March to November.   It used to be an A & W but changed during the past years and is unique and famous around the county.   They have the BEST steak sandwiches in the world.   So that is what we had for our lunch.  

We were quite concerned this morning as Roxie is still quite subdued and as the day wore on, we found that she is uncomfortable and/or in pain somewhere on her little body.   I had a call into the veterinarian regarding a supplement that we are supposed to be giving her anyway, so I asked if they thought she should come back in.  They told me that often when a cat gets two shots it can take up to 48 hours for them to recover.  So we have decided that if she is still mopey and sore in the morning, I will call Dr. Pat.   

This afternoon, when I lay down for my lap, I decided not to call her.   A couple of minutes later, I heard "mew,  mew, mew."  And here she came. So I lifted her up onto my legs and we both slept and/or rested for two hours.   She does seem much better and ate her supper but I am being careful not to pick her up until tomorrow.

I went for a walk in the cold and saw two geese who watched me with kind of a bored demeanor as I walked by them and a squirrel that had enough sense to be afraid of me.  It was chilly but I am sticking to my vow to walk at least three times a week.   Now I have this week, so if it rains as they predict, I won't have to walk in the rain.

I went downstairs and finished the Strawberry Basket Square and laid out my Brigid wall hanging.   I only have three weeks to get that done and a couple of days are already shot as I will be getting my colonoscopy on Tuesday.  

I read a poem today that a man wrote about walking with his father and it reminded me of walking with my Dad.    When I was very young, we did not have a car and often, I would join Dad walking to church, or downtown or to my grandparents.  I remember that we would often take a short cut through a woods that was between the Old Red House and Park Street.  It is all developed now.   Dad would point out bits of trees and nature to me as we walked.  One day, he stopped and said quietly, to look at the rabbit.   I could not see it until he actually flushed it out.   He had a great eye and loved the land and its inhabitants.

God love you

Mary

I took Roxie for her annual physical today at 8AM.   She has gained about 7 ounces which I am concerned about, of course.   Dick and I have a plan of action. - We are no longer giving her any people treats and cat treats will be doled out very carefully.   I think I will cut back just a bit on her two meals also.

Her teeth were not full of plaque, but it looks like she has a cavity and will have to have that tooth pulled.  Darn it.   So on the 26th, she will have that tooth removed and they will take care of any plaque that is there,,  At least that should put off any more dental work for three years or so. 

Poor Baby, she was just a bag of mush all the time she was there.   Not a sound and she acted like a stuffed animal.   We decided that she figured if she was really quiet, we would not see her and if we did at least we wouldn't kill her.

Home again, I fixed Dick's breakfast and then headed out to the bank, the Sewing Basket and grocery shopping.   By the time I got home, at last, it was eleven AM.  I put the groceries away and then fixed us a lunch of bratwurst, beans and cole slaw. 

By then I was exhausted so NAP TIME.   

When I woke up, it was SO beautiful outside, that I went out in the back yard and racked and weeded the garden and moved the bird bath back in place.   When they cut part of the tree down last fall, they had moved it and never moved it back.  The rhubarb, the lemon balm, the thyme and the oregano are coming up.  So spring is indeed arriving.   I must look at the boxes that I brought into the garage last fall.  Then I will know what I need to replace.

I have the quilt top assembled and ready for the borders and have one more seam to sew on a Strawberry Basket block.   Next I want to assemble a Brigid wall hanging that I have in my head and want to take to the Gathering in three weeks.   When I finish it , I will share a picture.

I went to church tonight for Benediction and the Stations of the Cross.   I have not been to Stations in more years than I care to think about.   It was really special.   Fr. Van Beck said that we should all try to go just once during Lent and I am glad I did.

So April 13 is over .   Why has the IRS given people until Monday to get their taxes in, when Friday is the 15th?  A puzzle.

God love you

Mary

Trash day.    I got up close to 7AM.   Roxie was very hungry.   Dick fell asleep at his desk and didn't get her fed.   We are still trying to figure out why she was not raising a real ruckus.  She is not exactly known for her patience.

Dick decided to take a morning nap, so I went to the den and did some sewing on the quilt and a square that was half done.    I had to stop because my iron stopped heating.    I thought it was broken and decided to go as far with the sewing as I could without ironing and go find a new iron tomorrow.    I also cut out another two squares for this years Kettle Quilters projects. 

Then, after my nap, it dawned on me that I should probably try another plug.   By golly, it worked.   So apparently the upper part of that outlet is for some reason broken.   How can one recipticle in an outlet break?

When I finished downstairs, I took a walk.   Perfect day for one.   I visited with a couple of neighbors on the way and got back to find that Barb Mac Ewen, my friend and Mary Kay dealer, is back from her winter stay in Florida and had my product.   She felt sorry for me because I was desperately out of most everything so she dropped it off this afternoon.   Roxie liked her.

We had soup for our dinner and then I went to church for a Penance service and for confession.   It was a very nice communal service.   It took quite a while to get to see the priest for the private confession, however, even when Fr. Van Beck actually got four other priests to help.   Good thing everybody doesn't do the private confessions or I'd probably still be there.

Now we are watching the results show of Dancing with the Stars.  Then bedtime as tomorrow morning well be very busy.   Poor little Roxie has her annual checkup.   She was so afraid last year when I took her.    She is not used to going anywhere.   Dick says she probably figures that I took Oscar away and he didn't come back.   Then we took Chelsea and she didn't come back.  So she doesn't trust us.

Be good and take care of yourself.   Dick's son, Lee called this evening.   He will be here on Friday and wanted to be sure that I knew when the service was and when he would be here.

Pray for that family.

Mary

A much cooler temperature to start.   And it did not get up to 80 again, but the sun shone most of the day and after the windy night it was pleasant.    We got none of the really dangerous weather they predicted and we got no rain either.

Another goofy day.  I got in the car to go to Bible study and it was DEAD with capital letters.  I called the dealer service and he suggested that perhaps the steering wheel had locked.  So I tried to get it to release but it would not work.  Then he said to call the roadside service which I did.  They sent someone out within the hour with equipment to check things AND to tow if necessary. However,  as it turned out the battery was just totally dead.   So he told me to run it for at least 20 minutes and perhaps have Motorville check it out.   I had already canceled bible study which was over by so I drove to Falls to visit Mom and bring her the pills and hearing aid batteries that I had for her.  I will get an appointment with Motorville to have it checked within the next week.

Mom and I  had a great visit, as usual.  She had a couple of bills to write checks for and I will cash a check so that she has cash at home.   Then we tried to solve the problems in the government, both state and federal, during our visit.    Now if they will just ask for help we can do something about it.

I got home and Dick was still napping so I let him sleep as we had lots of easy food for lunch and I could offer him choices when he woke up.   Then Kurt from Mike's Appliance called.   The part for the dishwasher was in and he came right out and installed it.   So that is ANOTHER thing out of the way.

I did remember to take the newspaper clippings that I had scanned into Ancestry back so I could transcribe the stories.   Old clippings are just kind of faded and do not scan too well.  

Thursday, June 1, 1943

STATE COLONEL NOT UNFORGETFUL OF SECURITY TALKS, PYLE FINDS

by Ernie Pyle

SOMEWHERE IN ENGLAND - The commander of the tank destroyer battalion I have been visiting is Lieut. Col. Joseph Deeley of Sheboygan Falls, Wis.   He used to run a wool carding mill there.  I like his attitude toward things.   When I first showed up he was perfectly courteous but he made plenty sure that I had proper credentials and what not.   As he said, they have had plenty of security preached into them back home and this indeed is a critical period and he isn't taking any chances.

But one he had assured himself I was all right he called in his sergeants and told them to go around and tell their men they were perfectly free to show me any and all equipment they had and talk to me as freely as they wanted to.

As I told him later, I don't think he need have bothered.  for these boys, approaching war for the first time , pumped my so thoroughly on what war is like that I hardly got a chance to ask any questions of them.   Maybe I;'ll have to write some security regulations of my own just out self-protection.   Who the devil is reporting this war, anyway.



In the lower right hand corner of the story about Uncle Jack was this - part of an article about Ireland - strange.

"ELECTION IN IRELAND
WON BY  de VALERA

Dublin Ireland - (AP)- Prime Minister Eamon de Valera won a clear cut victory in Eirie's general Election Tuesday with the incomplete count of returns Thursday showing his Fianna Fail party with 68 seats in the dial (parliament) only three"

Interesting)

You might enjoy one of the family transcriptions too so here it is:

THEY ARE SERVING IN THE U.S. AND OVERSEAS

Sheboygan Falls Couple Has Three Sons In Service

Three sons in the army, two of them overseas- those are the contributions of Mr. and Mrs. John Bowser, 404 Washington Street, Sheboygan Falls, toward the nation's greater war effort.

Their two youngest sons have been in the longest, both leaving with the national guards in October, 1940.  Roman, now 21, and George, 23, left at that time together but their paths have since separated.   Roman decided after more than a year of regular military training that his real interest lay in flying, and so in March he transferred to the air corps beginning training as an aviation cadet.   He is nearing the end of that schooling now, and by January he expects to have his wings.

In the basic flying school at Bainbridge, Ga. he is classed as a pilot and all of his letters home express the utmost enthusiasm about flying before he entered service, Roman was employed by the Pure Oil Company.

George, who decided to remain on the ground, has gone into the infantry and is now stationed in Australia.   His letters home indicate a liking for the down-under continent and he has the utmost in praise for the many fine people he has been meeting there.   He has been writing regularly and the letters come through without difficulty.   In Sheboygan Falls he had been employed at the Bemis Manufacturing Company.

Their oldest son, Noel, who is 25, is a technical sergeant in the army and is doing radio communications work with the field artillery at some Atlantic overseas point.   In service since August, 1941, he had been stationed in New York, when in August of this year he left for his unknown destination.   It is believed that he went to Africa but he can't reveal his whereabouts.  He emphasizes, however, that he is keeping plenty busy with his communications duties, and since leaving this country he has attained his present rank of technical sergeant.  At the time of his entry into the army, he was employed in Milwaukee at the Stolper Steel Company.

All three of the Bowser boys are graduates of Sheboygan Falls High School.

I remember when I was about 5 and the uncles were all in town fresh from the war and most of them were not married and I was probably their sweet little niece.   We would be at the church festival and if I ran out of money to play the games, all I had to do was go see one of them and look cute and they would give me coins to play more.

Great memories and they were all SO handsome.

God love you
Mary

It got all the way up to 81 degrees today and we opened up the doors.    Roxie found that to be amusing for a while.   She does like smelling the air and the creatures outside.  She will be going to Kettle Moraine for her annual checkup on Wednesday.   Last year she was a very frightened little kitty when I took her.   I think it was the first time that she had EVER gone anywhere without Oscar.

I spent about an hour and a half in the den while Dick napped sewing on my quilting projects.  I think I can finish assembling the quilt that I am making for my bed, except for the border on Tuesday.

This noon, I prepared the Leek and Broccoli Tart from Lynne's Blog.   It turned out so good.   I will be sharing it with Mother tomorrow.   Dick really liked it.   The whole wheat crust with herbs is really tasty.

I did get a nap this afternoon.   Then with the threat of a storm this evening, I decided to go for an afternoon walk.   This is the fourth walk that I have had since I started again.   My goal is to get out three times a week minimum and more if possible.   I still miss my little white motivator.  I did meet up with some of the other residents who asked about Dick.   I was glad that I could tell them that he was a peace.  He was a good neighbor and a good friend and will be missed.

Dick and Brenda called tonight.   They are doing well, kind of getting their spring chores done after a birthday trip to Milwaukee last weekend.   They went to the Milwaukee Art Museum.   That is a great museum.   Britt used to work there.  The Gees Bend exhibit was there when Britt was there and I took Mother.   The three of us had such a nice day.

So today was a good day.   I am much settled down and grateful the quiet.

God love you

Mary

Today I felt a bit melancholy and weary so I mainly rested.  There are always plenty of not demanding things to do around the house and I kept myself reasonably active with them.

I received the strangest message on the answering machine.   It was from city hall telling me that I was lat paying Chelsea's dog license.  Strange.   Apparently one is supposed to go and tell the city if you have a dog die.   I didn't have to do that when Zero died or any other dog before them.   Weird  Weird Weird.   That clerk must be calling on her own time too.  I will call them Monday and thank them for reminding me that I don't have her anymore.

I went for a nice walk this morning right after I baked a pie.   Decided to try a cherry peach pie and it is quite good.  It was a bit chilly but really felt good walking.  I met the lady who has moved in across the street today.   Her name is Peggy and she seems very nice.

I think I told you that our next door neighbors, Don and Jan, are home from their winter in Arizona.   It is really nice to have someone there again, but, of course, remember that we don't have two extra parking spaces any more.

I went to Mass at four and was Eucharistic Minister.   I was really glad to be there and the readings seemed to fit my prayers for Dick.   Ezekiel 37:12-14, Romans 8:8-11 and the story of Lazarus all talked about resurrection which is why I myself am not horrified by death.   I will miss Dick, he was a good neighbor and a good friend but I know he is not really gone and is no longer lonely and ill. 

I saw his sister in law Jan today and she said that Dick's previous girlfriend,still a friend, is pleased and happy to take Katrina so she has a home with someone who loves her and knows her "little leaking" problem.  She will be less confused this way as she often stayed with Tammy when Dick visited his children.

We had a Chicken Chef's Salad for our supper.   And now I am slowly getting ready for bed.    It seems a long day.   Tomorrow I am making a Leek, broccoli and wholegrain mustard tart.   We had this at the Benwisken House in Ireland.   The cook Lyn MaGuire, has a blog that she sent me where she is posting her healthy recipes.   This was really good.     Here is the site if you are interested.  She is strictly a vegetarian cook.

http://www.lynnesgoodfoodguide.blogspot.com/

Enjoy.

God love you.

This is a day that I will not forget.   I will take it as it unfolded as it turned out to be very productive and fulfilling in the morning and then quite traumatic in the afternoon.

I got up at 6:30AM to get my shower over with and breakfast before Jody came to clean at 8AM.  Jody is all excited.   One of her granddaughters, who she has not seen for a while, is spending the weekend with them.  Apparently a custody thing and her son now has visitation.

So I did my usual computer catchup and straightening then went down into the den to work on my quilt projects for a while.    I also took the dried apples out of the dehydrator.  They are a bit overdone, not chewy, but are more like chips and really taste pretty good.  While downstairs I sewed one more strip on the quilt top that I intend to be MY quilt and assembled the Broken Dishes square for this year's two block of the month club.   Now I am only 1 behind as I have til next month to do that one and the two we received the patterns for on Tuesday.

I joined my friends at Dairy Queen for lunch, stopping at Pick and Save for a couple of minor groceries.  Do you know that they don't seem to make Delicare soap anymore which I use for Dick's leggings and stump covers.  I did find Ivory Snow in a powder which I will try for a while.

EVERYBODY was at lunch for the first time in MONTHS.  Dawn was there for the second week in a row.   Mary came and Joyce is back from Arizona.   So we filled the table and got caught up on a lot of gossip.

This is where things get traumatic.   When I got home I stopped to get the mail and decided to take our neighbor Dick his mail and walk his dog Katrina as I told you he has been sick.   Last night I had told him that he ought to go to the doctor and he assured me that he had eaten something.  

Well, I opened the door, which he has kept unlocked while he has been sick, and Katrina came to greet me but ran right back to the bedroom.   I called but there was no answer, so I went in to drop the mail and gather the dog, calling louder as I went into the house.   Dick was lying on his bed looking very much asleep but he did not respond even when I hollered and Katrina was even kind of bumping him.  So I walked around the bed and touched his cheek and found that it was cold.   

I picked up the phone and dialed 911 as I took Katrina on her leash out of the house.   The 911 response was very professional and quick.  The police and paramedics were there within minutes.   I told them as I told the 911 operator that I was sure that he was deceased.   They went in, with equipment, and confirmed my findings.   As it turns out he probably died sometime early this morning.    I am sure glad that I went in so he did not go unloved for too long.    He looked very peaceful lying there, like he just fell asleep.  There was not sign of any trauma at all.   

Poor Katrina, I don't know what will happen to her.   She is a loveable little dog but does "piddle when excited".   I am hoping that Tammy, Dicks ex girlfriend and still his friend, will take Katrina as Tammy often watched her when Dick would visit his children.

So now you know the traumatic event of today.

This evening, Nancy and I went shooting.   Neither of us set any records.   I hope that next week is better.

So pray for my friend Dick tonight as he makes his way to God.  Perhaps he will stick around a bit until his son and daughter get here.  

God love you

Mary

Today seemed much busier than I expected it to be.   I slept until 7AM  then got up and got ready for the day.

We changed Dick's tube-a-grip and re doctored a small sore that he has on the back of his left knee and got him all spiffed up for his blood test.  We had grapefruit and toast for breakfast and picked up burgers and fries for lunch.
 
Bobbie was here to help get Dick up the ramp, the only thing I can't do.  It is handy to have wheelchairs at the clinic.  This means that we don't have to load the wheelchair into the car. 

His count was exactly 2.0, just perfect so we do not have to go back for a whole month.

Then our neighbor Dick called.   He is sick and wanted me to give him his pills and pick up a prescription for him today.   I also walked Katrina a couple of times so she got a bit of exercise.    He really needs to get to a doctor or to get someone in who can really help him.   He says he is eating.   I think the dog has done some stuff in the house because it smells but I don't feel that I should be in there as I could pick something up myself and don't want to endanger Dick.

I think I will ask Jean if she has his son's phone number.

I figured out how to use up the extra apples that I have accumulated.   I am drying them in the dehydrator.   They do make the house smell good and will be ready by morning.


I went for a walk again this afternoon.  Yesterday and today, I walked about a half an hour.  I hope this will tighten up my flab after a bit.    It really is nice outside albeit a bit chilly.   That's all right though, with little wind and a jacket, it is really rather refreshing and I am running into neighbors as I go.   I sure do miss my little fuzzy friend though.  We made a lot of good memories on our walks.

Have a good Friday.   Can't believe that another week is almost over.

God love you

Mary

Shopping day.   It went very well on this absolutely beautiful Wednesday.   Actually it was a bit misty when I was shopping, but it quickly warmed up.  I had a whole bunch coupons today so stocked up on a couple of things. AND I got the ingredients to make a Leek/Broccoli Tart that we had at the Benwisken Centre in Ireland. 

That will be a weekend treat so I can bring some to Mother on Monday.   I also stocked up on Bratwurst and want to cook some of them this weekend too.   I am getting so hungry for bratwurst and it is going to be warm enough.   

Dick decided to nap this morning and I went downstairs and started doing some sewing on the quilt top that I want for me.  I got about a third of it assembled, not too bad, a couple more days and it will be ready for the edging.   I also started sewing a square for this year's project together.   My UFOs are piling up.

I was watching a game show Deal or No Deal that had 26 pregnant ladies on it.   The contestant was trying to get money for her unexpected pregnancy.   I got to wondering what it does cost to have a baby these days.   It made me remember something that will absolutely knock your sox off.   When my Tony was born in 1963, my sweet little preemie, he was in the hospital for a couple of months until he was big enough to come home.   I think back in amazement to remember that the daily charge for his room was $10.00 with an additional $1.00 for the isolet that he was in and later for the incubator.      I went to see him every day but the nurses had the fun of really taking care of him.    At least I had him for a little while.  He would have been 48 this year.   Where have all  those years gone.   And I still miss him.

Did I tell you that I called Bart on his birthday and when he answered, I started singing Happy Birthday.   He asked if I was going to do that every year and I said Yep.

I still have him and his brother so feel very lucky.

Tomorrow Dick is getting his anti coagulation test so Bobbie will come and then have lunch with us.   We really like that.

God love you

Mary

This morning was a nice quiet day at home.   I cleaned the cat's corner of "her:" bedroom.   And sorted through some more papers in that room.   All I have to do is sort out the boxes and items on the top shelf.

Roxie really kind of liked that as I sat with her in her chair.   She does not approve of vacuuming.

We had a light lunch because Dick had slept late and had a late breakfast.   Today we changed his leggings and dressings too.  This afternoon was the quilt club meeting.   I did not have a thing to bring along with me.   Then after show and tell, somebody asked about the candle we were supposed to have and I realized that I forgot that too.   I was going to bring the Brigid prayer and the candle and share the flame with this group too.   So, I put it on the calendar for June.   One of the members, Sandi, is subscribing to an Irish Quilting magazine.   When whe is done, she is giving them to me.  What a nice treat.   The issue she gave me today has a series of Brigid Wall Hangings developed by a Mary O' Reilly.  I am going to adapt the idea to one for the Gathering.   And I will bring the magazine for any that are interested.  Boy to I have my work set out for me.

In May we are going to join the Elkhart Lake Club for a tea on May 4th instead of our usual meeting.   I am going to have last year's blocks all assembled by then to share.   As many of us who can are going to bring our tops to share with Elkhart Lake.

I also voted today before the meeting, then went to Walgreens to pick up a couple of things, Fleet to get raisins and dried cranberries and to the bank to deposit a check for Mom.  So I got home after 3PM and spent the afternoon sorting more things for writing and the Gathering, quilting and genealogy.  I think Dick is right, I have too many things that I try to do.  But I love them all.

Til tomorrow.   I just have to shop and have the rest of the day for home.

God love you

Mary

Monday,  Monday. 

They are all busy.   And I am still a bit tired from last week.   Oh Well.  That too shall pass and this WAS a good day all in all.

Bible Study at 9:30AM.   We stayed with the 23rd Psalm this week as we barely touched it last week and had all the questions to discuss.   We read the references in the commentary in the Old Testament that referred to the shepherd theme.  We were surprised how hard the prophets message was against the leaders of that time.  We are convinced that the message is as true today as it was then.   Example.   Jeremiah 23. 1-2 You leaders of my people are like shepherds that kill and scatter the sheep.  You were supposed to take care of my people, but instead you chased them away, So now I'll really take care of you , and believe me, you will pay for your crimes!

Wow.

Mom and I had a nice visit and got a lot done.   She will be seeing Dr. Fehrman tomorrow and probably will be cleared on her shoulder.   It does not bother her anymore so she is confident.


I took her information from Wikipedia on Unicorns.   She was pleased.  I printed it with big letters so that she can read it easily.   Lots of people think they are Irish, but the legends actually started in India and Greece and legends of the unicorn are common throughout Europe.   People think they are an Irish legend because the Irish Rovers recorded the Unicorn Song which is really a song of Noah.    Unicorns ARE mentioned in the Bible by the way.

Tonight I had to go to Rhine for our meeting.  It was rather interesting.   I have tickets to sell for our second annual Beer Blast in June.   Any takers?

So have a nice sleep and a good tomorrow.

God love you

Mary

A very nice Sunday.  

I cut out some more pieces for two of the quilting projects that I am working on.   Now the next step will be to actually do some sewing.

I played with Ancestry and Facebook and intend to do more of that before I go to sleep.   I have found out that my Great Great Grandmother Margareth  Brielbach Klimmer  married again after Joseph Klimmer died to a George Fruetchel (Fruechtl)  which explains why I found a prayer card for an Anna Fruechtl in Aunt Helen's things.  It is fun to tie these loose ends up.


Guess what our grand daughter Nora has done - I am going to just post the message we received from out daughter Leslie which tells the story.

First she was Airman of the Year for her medical group, I believe, then for Vandenberg AFB, then for the 14th AF, which was 5 bases, and now Space Command, which is a 10 base competition.  Next she goes to Washington DC to compete for Airman of the Year for the entire FREAKIN' AIR FORCE! 


This is a link that you can go to to read and see pictures.   She is in picture's 1 and 8.


http://www.afspc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123249727



Wow, are we ever proud of her.   She certainly has grown up to be smart as well as beautiful.

God love you all.

Mary

Mom had this article also. These are her three brothers who served in WWII. Uncle George, the first pictured, was with Merrill's Marauders in Burma and received a Purple Heart.

Hello World.  I slept until after 8AM this morning.   Then the phone rang.  It was Dolores calling for the number of Mother's caregivers.  They had not showed up this morning and Mother called Dolores, who couldn't find the number.   So I found it for her and Dolores took care of it.   They sent someone out right away but we are quite irritated. 

Dick and I had a great breakfast.   Egg sandwiches.  Egg with cheese and Dick had sliced tomato on his.  Nummy.

I spent the day working on Ancestry, cutting out fabric for a couple of projects and answering emails.   I took a nap this afternoon and went to Mass at 4PM.

In the Ancestry program, I think I figured out where I got names for Jeremiah Clifford's  and Johannah Horrigan Clifford's parents.   One of my other relatives Christopher Clifford was wondering where I got it and I had trouble tracing it.   I finally found the trail and have emailed a Tim Mc Laughlin, who had the information to see if he can let me know his sources.   This is really fun.  I wish I had tons more time to spend on it.

So this day is done and I am going to wind down and get ready for bed.

Tomorrow is a day at home and will be more of the same as well as preparing for this coming week which is quite full.  I called Bart tonight.  He and Barb are OK. 

If it the same weather wise tomorrow I am going to go for a walk.    It is time I start.   I know that I will feel better if I do.   I do miss my little fuzzy Chelsea.

Til later then

Mary

Well, I did feel better this morning but was tired and still felt a bit squishy, so I stayed home all day and took a couple of naps and worked on the computer mainly.

I did bake some cookies.   Really good ones.   They are coconut raspberry.   Got the recipe from Taste of Home online.   I also made a tuna casserole for our lunch.   It is after all a Friday in Lent and my system is just  not ready for fried food yet.

Jody came this morning to do the cleaning.   She told me that she thought Mom seemed exceptionally tired yesterday.   But some days she is more weary and among us all, we are checking her more often.

I have been working more on Ancestry.  Mainly the Ziegler side but am also trying to trace the source of some of the Clifford information.     When  I was visiting Mother on Monday, we were talking about the Auntie Brandl Salve.  

That is an interesting story.  Mom has a small sample of the salve - it is all dried up, of course, because it has to be at least 40 years old.   My brother George said that some of the ingredients are now illegal to have and there is at least one that nobody is sure what it is.  It was supposed to be a super healer for bad wounds and I don't know what all.

Auntie Brandl was Walburga Klimmer Brandl.   Thus, she was my Grandma Helen Ziegler Deeley's aunt.  She was a sister of Magdelena Klimmer Ziegler my great grandmother  who was married to Alois Ziegler, my great grandfather.      I need to print this out for Mother for Monday.   We were trying to figure out who Auntie Brandl was.   I remembered Aunt Helen talking about her coming to visit when Helen was just a little girl and she remembered that Auntie Brandl was all hunched over, probably severe osteoperosis.   Since Helen was born in 1905, this certainly fits with the records.

Anyway.   I am going to put the recipe here for you all.  It is kind of fun.  Mother has the one that Helen had in either her or Grandma Deeley's writing.


Wonder Salve - Auntie Brandl

This salve was used for healing sores.  Auntie Brandl sent some of this salve to Grandma Deeley when Dad had Tularemia (contracted from contact with rabbits.)  He had a sore that would not heal.   The envelope with the recipe had a note on it to "put on Hutz's toe."   My dad, Hutz, swore by that salve and after it was gone, always tried to get Mom to make some more.  Some of the ingredients are no longer available and according to my brother, George, who has his PHD in Water Pollution (Chemistry) some of them are poisonous and illegal anyway.   Mom had a bottle of sweet oil (which was probably too old to be of any use) and a small sample of the original salve. 

I am not sure if is was able to interpret the handwriting accurately when I transcribed it.   Olebaum may be oledaum or even olebalm.   If I ever find out, I will correct the recipe.

8 ounces Sweet Oil
4  ounces Red Lead
3 drams Olebaum
2 drams burnt Alum
2 drams camphor

1. Heat oil to boiling.   Add all ingredients except camphor.

2. Boil until the lead turns brown.

3. Take from fire and immediately add camphor.

4. Beat until cool.







So Now you have it.   Lots of history and I will take this to Mother on Monday.

God love you,

Mary

I really don't have anything to report at all.

I woke up sick this morning and spent most of the day sleeping.    I am feeling much better but intend to go to bed early. 

Tomorrow will be a better day.

Mary

A pretty typical Wednesday.    I got up before 7AM because it is grocery shopping day.  We had grapefruit (I got two from SHARE and was it ever good) and a sweet roll for our breakfast. 

Shopping went very well.  I got some pretty good deals, including a bag of Texas grapefruit.    Hope it is the season because that is the best.    California naval oranges and Texas grapefruit and Wisconsin sweet corn.   Heaven on a plate.

I went to the bank to take care of a couple of things and then, as a last stop, drove to Advanced Eye Care with my Drivers Liscence renewal form to have Dr. Cheryl completer the eye section for me.   I have to renew by my birthday, May 21.   I figure I will go next month.

Home again, I put all the groceries away and spent the day fixing a wonderful fish dinner.   (Actually the fish was frozen flounder and was not bad but was not good either.   As Dick said, he would not turn it down if it was offered but would not order it.)  I prepared cauliflower and hash browns too.

Then I tried to take a nap because I went to the Poetry Circle that Karl Elder from Lakeland College hosts during the winter and spring months at Mead.   I have been picking up Sy Regan, a friend that I am sure I have mentioned before.  His relationship with me goes back to before I was born.   My Dad was his Scout master and Sy spent most of his life in Scouting, he may still be active in it for all I know.    He is also a woodcarver and made me my Queen Maeve spear.   Sy is almost blind and I am pleased to be able to be his driver to this monthly event that he enjoys and we enjoy together.   Tonight Kate Herman went with us.  I think she enjoyed it a lot.

I read my "Hag" poem which you cannot hear yet because I may do something with it.

It was an exciting meeting.  Did we ever hear some good work!   AND they treat my work with seriousness which makes me feel that it is not all for nothing.


Now we are winding down.   Tomorrow I will be home all day and have a lot of things that need to be taken care of.

Be good and take care of yourself.



Haiku

As I now see it.
The trouble with winter is
Slushy Icky Snow.

Love
Mary

It was nice to be home all day.   I had to get up before 7AM because it is trash day, but I had a pretty good night/s sleep anyway.

I spent about an hour and a half downstairs, ironing fabric and cutting out a bit for future blocks.   I should be able to do some more on Thursday and then get to sewing again.   The prep is the tedious part.

I spent a bit of time working on the genealogy,  mainly on Grandma Deeley's family.   I figured out who Auntie Brandl was.   Mother and I were trying to determine that on Monday.   She was Grandma Deeley's mother's sister Walburga.   She married a man named John Brandl.   Aunt Helen remembers her coming to visit the Deeleys and being very old and hunched over and this would fit age wise.

I also copied several newspaper articles about my uncles during WWII.  I will put one of them on after I finish this.   Uncle Jack, Joseph Deeley, was in an article by Ernie Pyle, which was incorporated in his book Brave Men.   I was able to copy the article that Ernie Pyle wrote with Uncle Jack's picture.  Wow.

So that was my day.


A good one.

Take care of yourself.

And God love you

Mary

A quiet Sunday.   The sun was shining and the sky was blue.

Dick slept most of the day and I worked on the computer on my Ancestry program, (inputting the information I have on the Ziegler branch of the family) and sorting one of the baskets of papers in the closet in "Roxie's Room".  That was our old office and there is a lot in there that needs weeding and sorting.

We had our main meal this evening.  I slept close to 9AM.  Dick said that in all of the 24+ years we have been married, I have never slept that long.   I stayed until my back started to ache.   It sure felt good.  

We had a late breakfast of corned beef hash and eggs so a light lunch was in order which made us put our usual noon dinner off til evening.  I fixed a great chicken dish with fresh green beans and potatoes for our supper.

I have enough for another meal and will be able to share with Mother and our neighbor Dick.

So enjoy your evening and I hope your week is comforting.

A Haiku for you


Empty Nest

The house rememberes
Busy days of family
Joy of belonging.

God love you

Mary

I could not sleep in today because I postponed my haircut from Wednesday, the icky day, until this morning at 8:30AM.  I showered but kept my hair dry somehow or other.  That meant that I could not exercise though, hope that does not make a difference, as tomorrow I am home all day and will sleep all day and just not shower at all.   Remember that, you may not want to visit a stinky house.

Tomorrow, I fully intend to stay in bed until I am too uncomfortable to be there any longer.

I had lunch with my friend Kate at Dee O Malley's this noon.    That was a nice break.   I prepared a bowl of soup and cheese and crackers for Dick's lunch.    I ordered a small pizza with spinach chorizo and etc.  for my lunch at Dee O'Malleys.    We had a great visit. I share the Brigid Flame and well water with her.  We will be going to Galena for the Spring Gathering and rooming together at the end of April.   I need to start getting Dick's care in order.   I will be leaving at about noon on Friday and return on Sunday, probably by 6PM, so it involves two nights, which is OK but it would be good if someone was here at least part of Saturday and Sunday so he is not alone too long.  I always have plenty of meals ready and get him all cleaned up so he is OK until I am home again.

I took a nap when I got home from lunch.   Then it was time to go to Mass.   The folk choir sang tonight but they had the congregation singing along with most of the song s which is very nice.    Fr. Van Beck's sermon was on the Gospel of the Samaritan  Woman at the well.   Father talked about communication,  Especially communication between God and us.   We need to spend more time listening than asking.

Dick and I had leftovers for our dinner and now I am watching a scary movie that I never saw before to ease my way into bedtime.

Tomorrow will be a day at home.  I have several things that I want to do for ME>

Have a good Sunday yourself and God love you

Mary

Today was a funny weather day.   It as cold when we woke up and cloudy.   There was even some snow sometime just before noon.   Then as the afternoon wore on, the sun came out though it did not warm up very much.   According to the weather people, there is no sign of warm weather through next week Thursday.   Good Grief!   It is almost April.    Where is some warm weather and when will the snow be gone long enough to see how the daffodils are doing.

Jody cleaned this morning.   I washed our sheets and my towels.  I also got Dick's legs all doctored.  

Had lunch with the Wells Fargo ladies this noon.   Dawn was there today.   We had not seen her for a long time so that was nice.  I fixed Dick a Grilled Cheese for his lunch as that is what I was having at the Dairy Queen. 

Home again, I took a nice nap.   Then at 4, I picked up fish fries from St. John's for our supper.   An early dinner but we like our Lent fish fries and I went to shoot pistol league with Nancy at 5PM.   Nancy did pretty good but I was really off tonight.   Jerry says I am not squeezing.   He is probably right.  I must learn to be patient and more deliberate and not to JERK my finger.

I have fun anyway and perhaps some day will be better.

So that was today. 

A small Haiku:

The snow is melting
Under the snow - daffodils
Are awakening.

Love
Mary

I had an eye doctor appointment this morning.  It was my annual checkup.   It seemed like just yesterday that I had my last one but with all the appointments that Dick has had this past year I guess I am thinking of his.   Anyway, my eyes are healthy and there is very little change in my ability to see.

Mark Miller had our taxes done, so I drove into Sheboygan to pick them up today.    We are getting refunds on both, which is helpful.   I picked up a book at Dear Old Books on the way home and then have been home the rest of the day.

Nothing else to report.   I have been sorting and doing some writing and getting ready for the CWI Spring Gathering when I will turn over my president hat to my friend Debbie.  

I have been tearing the house apart for the small notebook that I took to Ireland with me.   I have several email and snail mail addresses in it that I have not transferred or responded to as yet.   I cannot figure out where I put it.   ST. ANTHONY HELP ME>

Have a nice Friday.   At least we are not supposed to have snow for the next few days.  

God love you

Mary

What a day.   I went grocery shopping in the morning and it was very slippery.  So I decided that it was not a wise thing to do the other things that I had scheduled.  

I canceled my hair cut and postponed it until Saturday.

I called Sy Regan to tell him that I was not going to the Poetry Corner at Mead tonight and then later I received an email from Karl Elder postponing that meeting until next week.  So I had a whole day at home.   I did a bunch of sorting of my CWI papers and tried to find a notebook that seems to have effectively disappeared from the face of the earth.

My Bret called me tonight.  He took my email and is going to have his friend Shannon send me some pictures of his place at the river after all of his painting and landscaping.   I am exited and then I can send him some pictures of my trip to Ireland and other things.

I will print out a picture of mother with her birthday cake to send to both him and his brother.

Tomorrow I have an eye doctor appointment early and then will be home the rest of the day.  Hope I can keep up the pace and get as much done tomorrow as I did today.

How sad to hear that Elizabeth Taylor died.  I posted a note on the obituary site.  I felt that I owed it to her after her foundation gave $20,000 to Sarnelli House, Fr. Mike Shea's , home for Aids orphans and his outreach for families affected by the virus.   She was an amazing women and I know that God has a special place in heaven for her.

God love you

Mary

A fine Tuesday except for the weather.   It was rainy and sleety and snowy all day long.

Fortunately, we had to go out only once to take Dick to get his anti coagulation count checked.  Bobbie came to help get him up and down the ramp.   He had to have some antibiotics at the Dentist last week and we always have to check when that happens.   His count was a BIT up but Deb decided to just let it go this time and see him in two weeks to double check. 

We had burritos for lunch today and Bobbie and I had a cupcake for dessert.   The burritos were really good.  I have not make Mexican for quite some time because it is so much and we get overwhelmed.   This worked out quite well.  I was able to send a couple of burritos home with Bobbie and we will have another meal.  

I spent the day organizing the CWI information after the telephone conference.   I still have a couple of small items to complete but am pretty much caught up.

 Now I want to go to bed early and read for a while.

God love you

Mary

A very busy Monday, as usual.  

Started off, of course, with Bible Study.    Our school worker Mary was there as it is now spring break.    We were sure glad to see her.   We finished Chapter 2 of our Psalm Study.   The study of Psalms of descriptive phrases.    Descriptions of God's love for us and his creation of the world among so many other VERY descriptive and poetic readings.   We are challenged to write a Psalm ourselves.   That should be interesting.  

Then I went over to see Mom.   She is just fine.  I helped her with a couple of things she needed done and we had a lovely visit as usual. 

Home again, I warmed up corned beef and cabbage for our lunch and then zipped off to the Writers Club.   That was very nice.   Good readings and good news.    Our members Bill Krauter and his lady Shirley are engaged and plan on being married on 11/11/11.   Isn't that exciting?

I did a couple of errands on my way home and then worked around here until supper.  

The CWI Telephone conference was at 7PM.   I think it went quite well.  A bit long, but well.   It is the last one that I have to coordinate as after our Gathering, I will be on the board as past president and not an executive as such.

Now I am watching the last bit of Dancing with the Stars.   Just the last bit.   I will not be able to vote this time.   Maybe next week.  I guess that I can vote then and not be too far behind.   The first elimination will be next Tuesday.     This is the only "reality" of talent show that I watch.

Tomorrow was supposed to be an at home day but we have to have Dick's blood tested because he was given antibiotics by the dentist.  Bobbie is able to come to help.

Our kitty has been quite needy today.   She seems to be kind of distressed.   Of course, I did not lie down for a nap today and that always throws her off.

Take care and God be with you.

Mary

It was hard to tell what kind of a weather day it was today.     I had to work at Rhine for a Lewis Shoot that we were hosting.   As it was snowing pretty steadily at 11:00AM, I came home.  I had planned on staying until noon but that seemed rather silly as there were more members that participants and Dick needed me more than they did.

I warmed up some leftover pork chops cooked with apple and saurkraut for our lunch with mashed potatoes.  Sure was good.   Now I have saurkraut for the coming week.

I took a nice long nap this afternoon.  That was probably the most exciting part of the day.

So, I will let the pictures I posted be the excitement.  

It is raining very heavily tonight and we are hearing thunder for the first time in MONTHS.

God love you.  Have a good week.
Mary.

"Queen Maeve"

The poster of Queen Maeve with the spear that Sy Regan "found:" for me in the corner of his workshop.

Another week over.    Can you believe it?

This morning, I got up between 6:30AM and 7AM to be ready to go to pick up SHARE at 9AM.   Dick and I had scrambled eggs for breakfast.   Dick couldn't eat anything crunchy because of the antibiotics in his tooth. 

I also had to get the corned beef in before I left because it needed to cook for at least three hours.  

Got a good selection of food from SHARE.  Chicken, ham for sandwiches, frozen pasta, fish, potatoes, red onions, oranges, apples, and grapefruit.

Then Bobbie and Bill came to see us shortly before lunch for the corned beef dinner which was really really good.   As I think I said, I will never buy a prepared brisket myself again.   It is so easy to prepare your own and it is so much better.

Bill changed the light bulbs in the kitchen.   They were all kind of lit but were fading and flickering.  So now I can see in the kitchen again.   Yippee.

I went to Mass at 4PM and was Eucharistic Minister.   I love that job.   It is so good to be able to present the sacrament to the other members of the community.

Tonight we were watching a show on El Toro Marine Base in Irvine California.   That base was still open when my boys were little and we got to tour it a couple of times.    Did you know that they had hangers on that base that were so big that under the right circumstances it would actually rain inside of them?

How does one dismantle something like that?

God love you.  Until tomorrow

Mary

Another Friday and another beginning of a Trap and Pistol League at Rhine Plymouth.   I had to work tonight.   We were very busy.    We signed up nine 3-man trap teams this first week of the trap league and already have 14 in the pistol league.   I didn't shoot until the end of the shift as I was expecting Nancy to come.   Then when I got home, there was a call from her saying that she could not come because she got bogged down in tomorrow's plans to go see her granddaughter.  So I am a bit ahead of her but we will do just fine.

It was an active day.    Jody came to do the cleaning this morning then  we had to get ready for Dick's dentist appointment at 10:40AM.  Bobbie arrived at about 10:15AM to help us get him there.    He was fine except for a pocket in his gum that they had to treat with antibiotics.  He said it is not painful and does not have to go again until his usual 6 month checkup.

We stopped and picked up Chinese food on the way home.   The three of us all like Chinese and Bill is not too thrilled with it so it makes a nice treat.

Then Bobbie and I went down to the "winery" and did a lot of work there.   We racked both of Bobbie's Beet wines and racked, filtered and bottled, the parsley, persimmon and lemon balm wines.   Roxie was quite irritated with us.   I finally figured out that I am sure that she really wanted for me to take a nap so she could rest.

Bobbie and Bill are coming tomorrow so that 'Bill can change the bulb in the kitchen ceiling light.  I told her they might as well come for lunch as I am going to make corned beef and cabbage with my own corned beef which is now ready to cook.

Now it is after 10:30PM and you know that I am a 9 o'clock wonder so it is WAY past my bedtime.

So I am winding down and going there.   Tomorrow is another day.

God love you

Mary

Happy St. Patrick's Day.   And a wonderful day it was.    

I slept until almost 7aM because I spent last night at 52 Stafford until almost 9PM.   I met Jeff and Kathy there a bit before 7PM so that I could enjoy a night of music by Blarney.   I don't know how much you know about Blarney but they are a musical group that we have enjoyed for more years than I can count.   Last year one of their members, Chuck Ward, died of cancer but the remaining two are still performing and doing a very commendable job.  I purchased their most recent CD.  As I told them, I do have and old 33.  They laughed and said they had found a whole bunch of them down in one of their basements.  Ran into a lot of friends there.   Nancy Roehre and her friend Warren were there.   I also met Joan Brighan's sister who I found out is married to a Wieser and Wiesers are relatives of Zieglers an therefore relatives of ME.    I have to gather up the information that I have on them for Joan's sister.  Her son Louie was there and I told him that he had better find a bride outside of Sheboygan County as everybody here is related.

This morning I left close to 9:30AM to meet the Celtic Women at the Exchange Bank.    I had a cup of tea and their last scone.   It was quite good and kept me going during the parade.   We had a meeting at the Exchange Bank then walked or carpooled up to the Family Video for the Irishman's Walk back to 52 Stafford.   I wore my Connemara Shawl and carried the spear that Sy "found" in his workshop.   What a lovely day again.  This is the third year that the weather has been good for us.    With the winter we had I think we should be very grateful.

I am too tired tonight but will check my pictures to see if I have one of me in my shawl and with my spear.   My friend Jan came from Milwaukee and walked with us and joined us for lunch.   (I had a lovely corned beef sandwich with mashed potatoes.)  She brought the pictures of me in Dublin with the corn snakes that we were introduced to by a resident of Dublin and his sons.   I definitely will share them with you.

So a day done and a nice St. Patricks day indeed.  Hope yours was as much fun.

God love you

Mary

St. Patrick's Eve has arrived.    I believe that I am ready for the meeting and then the Irishman's Walk and then the fun after the walk.

Today was a grocery shopping day.  I always go at about 8AM when there are fewer people in the store.    Didn't need a lot but I did get a couple of bargains and stocked up on them.  Then a trip to the drug store and home for the day.

Jeff called this morning to tell me that Mom's visit to Dr. Nytes, the ear doctor, went well.   She was able to tweak the hearing aids and give Mom some tips as to how to best use them.    Jeff and I have a couple of ideas too.   We MUST all practice talking a bit more slowly and when there are swarms of us to speak one at a time so that she can hear everything.

Jeff and Kathy are going to be at 52 Stafford tonight to listen to Blarney and Nancy and Warren will be there too.  So I am going over there at about 7PM and will enjoy a couple of hours of the music.  

I decided that the wise thing to do would be to write the Blog this afternoon so I don't forget or find that I am too tired when I get home.

So - here it is.


Here is a Haiku I wrote on a misty day in Ireland.   No name but discriptive.

A soft liquid day
We run between the raindrops
Faces to the sky

God love you and wake up happy on St. Patrick's Day

Mary

It is still a bit chilly but the sun shone today and all was good with the world.   Dick is having trouble staying awake the past two days.   Of course, he is still up for hours during the night.    His body is just not cooperating.

I was home all day.    Got caught up on the wash.  I am so glad that I got Gary to fix that washroom closet door.  It is such a pleasure to be able to slide it open and close it without slamming it into the side to make it move.   It is a wonder that I did not destroy it.

I am really starting to get excited about St. Patrick's Day and out CWI presence in the Irishman's Walk here in Plymouth.  We should have a pretty good group and will spend the afternoon at 52 Stafford for lunch and the festivities.    We will be gathering for shuttle service at the Exchange Bank.   We will be meeting between 9:30 and 10AM and will have a short meeting before the walk.    The Exchange Bank is at the corner of Mill Street and Stafford Street.     The parade starts at 11AM at the corner of Highland Ave and Eastern Ave,  kaddy corner from the High School (In case you cannot make it for the gathering at 9:30AM)  

I hope that Shawn has gone back to real corned beef and red potatoes for his corned beef and cabbage.   I have been corning a beef roast for the past two weeks and will cook it of Dick and me on Sunday.   I HAVE small red potatoes.   Dick likes my corned beef better than the commercial product one buys.

I disposed of a lot of miscellaneous trash today.  It is amazing how much STUFF one keeps that one things is important at the time.    I also got things ready for the Writers Club on Monday.   I do have a lot to share with the group what with the literary items I gathered in Ireland and the Writer's Conference in Kewaskum.


I am starting to receive St. Patrick Day cards.   I have not sent any out this year.   I decided not to add anything else to my super busy schedule.   So my Blog and St. Patrick's day will be one big St. Patrick's day greeting.

Love and God Love you

Mary

Today has been a blessed day.  The trouble is that  I am telling you about the day after two glasses of wine.

Are you ready.

Bible Study was really very special.   We discussed Psalm 145, fascinated by the concept of God as both male and female and then into John 1 - 18 which I had not realized was probably a hymn from the time of Christ.  I need to think about that. I always feel that a hymn is best received if it is sung.

I left from there to Mother's house.   We took care of all of her bills and things that needed to be done.  We still had a bit of time to visit.   I hate to be restricted as to time with my Mom but life deals the cards and I had to stop at Walgreens and went to Sy Regan's house to pick up a spear that he made for me.

I got an email from Sy about a week ago telling me that he had discovered Queen Maeve's spear in the corner of his workshop.   We decided that I really needed it before the Irishman's Walk on March 17.    He was gone to the dentist today, but left the spear for me  on his front porch.   I cannot begin to tell you the beauty of that spear and what it means to me.    I will be carrying it in the Irishman's walk and will have a picture for you.   I will also be wearing a Connamara Shawl which should convey a message of the history of the Irish.  

This spear touches me.  Sy really went all out for me and for my story.   Thank you Sy.   You are a special person.  My prayers will include you for your understanding.


God love  you

Mary

A Sunday and a whole day at home.   I liked that.   I am almost done changing all the clocks in the house.   I still have to hit the lower level.   Do you know that we have 9 separate clocks JUST upstairs.   Thank heavens some of them correct themselves.    That still amazes me.

We had pork chops with apples and boxty for our lunch.    The boxty was my first attempt and was rather non-discript.  I will try again.

Nothing else exciting, but I did send a little story that I wrote about Chelsea to a librarian at Kewaskum who was at the writers conference.

I will share it with you. So this won't be too boring a blog

Love

Mary

Chelsea & the Little People by Mary Kunert

Chelsea, my dog, was terrified of my Mother's kitchen floor.

The first time I took her with me to visit Mother, she zipped into the house, greeted Mother enthusiastically, ran around the living room and came to a screeching halt right at the doorway to the kitchen. But she would not set one foot on that kitchen floor no matter how we coaxed her, or chided her or begged her. She was trembling in fear.

One Sunday, my husband and I were going to be gone much too long for a little doggie to be shut up in a house without a potty break. Mother said she would watch her for us. They got along just fine, but Chelsea spent the entire day in the living room. Mother put her water just inside the kitchen door so that Chelsea didn't have to go in there to drink and she was able to be taken out to potty through the front door.

It is pitiful to see an animal so distressed. However it is also very funny. Mother and I decided that the Little People must be inhabiting the kitchen. What else would cause that poor dog to be in such a state of panic.

Irish Little People are generally leprechauns. Leprechauns, tradidionally shoemakers, live very solitary lives. They don't like to be distracted from their shoe making even for the tailoring of their own clothing. And they are not especially fond of dogs, you know.

Then, one spring, my son Bart, his wife Barbara and I went on a driving tour of Ireland. We drove around the country in a rented car. That was an experience in iteslf. Bart refused to drive as I had gotten a stick shift and he has a back injury. Barbara left it up to me. Driving on the “wribg sude if tge riad” is terrifying, especially when the roads are narrow, bordered by stone walls and populated by big wide trucks, all going the other direction. We had a memorable trip, traveling from Dublin to Athlone to Cork to Avoca and back to Dublin.

As Barbara and I were strolling down a cobbled Street in Cashel, stretching our legs and enjoying the city, we spotted a tiny little jacket on the ground. By tiny, I mean Barbie size. But it was a man's jacket. Barbara and I decided that this jacket must belong to the Little People and scooped it up to take home with us. Our Barbara is German, but Germans have their Little People too. The Irish have their leprechauns and the Germans have their gnomes. Everybody seems to have fairies.

Upon arriving home from Ireland, I took the little Jacket to Mother's house. She and I carefully placed it in a convenient place in the kitchen as a gift for the Little People. This may seem odd to you.

I am not going to tell you that that little jacKet disappeared, but the next time took Chelsea to visit Mother, she ran right into the kitchen and started exploring. You believe as you choose, but we decided that the gift of the jacket left the Little People feeling friendlier, even towards the dog.

BE GOOD TO THE LITTLE PEOPLE AND THEY WILL NOT DO WICKED THINGS OR TERRIFY YOUR ANIMALS.