Hello.   This was Monday.    I got up at 6:30AM.   I really wanted to stay in bed longer but had to get things ready for the day.  Of course, I had to get to Sheboygan Falls by 9:30AM for our Bible Study.  I was a great bible study.   We finished up Psalm 45 which was about a Royal Wedding which did seem to center on the wonderful attributes of the bridegroom, the king, the "god", in small letters, as opposed to God, which seems to be logical as one reads the Psalm.   We, all women today, as Joseph was unable to attend, had a great time with thatt.   All to the good, I must say.  We were so glad to see Felicia, Joseph's wife, who joins us when she doesn't have to work.   This was nice because we were all girls.
.

Then I went over to Mother's.  We got all her bills paid and still had time for a nice visit.   I am hoping to be able to introduce some of my CWI friends to Mother after the Gathering at the end of April.  

Home again, I prepared Chili for our lunch then went to Book Heads for the Writers Club meeting.  There were 8 of us there and we heard some pretty good poems and stories this month.

Then Home again to get Dick ready for his appointment with Dr. Sharon.  We got there at about quarter to four and he was able to see Dick almost immediately.   He can see how run down Dick is and changed the antibiotic for the UTI.   He believes that the bacteria has become resistant to the antibiotics he has been using and prescribed a different one that may help.   He has also referred Dick to a urologist.  Thank heavens we can see him tomorrow morning at the Plymouth Aurora at 10AM.  He is so very weak.

I had a conference call with the CWI board at 7PM.   We finished at about 8:30PM after covering a LOT.   They are such a wonderful uplifting group of people.   I am honored to be a part of the organization.   I look forward to the annual gathering/meeting and being with them in person.   I am glad that it will be at Kohler.   I can make arrangements for Dick during the days and be home at night for him.

Good night now and be strong in your ways.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This was a rather lovely Sunday.   I slept until almost 8AM after getting up to feed the Roxie at 6AM. 

It was a quiet morning.  I did a couple of loads of wash, worked on several projects for CWI and just sort of puttered around on other things to get the house in order.  

I went to Mass at 2PM this afternoon as they had needed Eucharistic Ministers for that Mass.   I am always glad to be a communion distributor and especially at such a special event.   Fr. Van Beck celebrated the mass and confirmed the young people.   There were 72 young men and women being confirmed.   Quite spectacular.  It is always SO nice to see so many beautiful, handsome, healthy and good children all gathered together. 

I got home at about 4PM.   Just in time to give Dick his canapes for the afternoon.

Then I finished the wash, worked some more on the newsletter for our Sheboygan CWI group and fixed our dinner.    Lasagna Soup.   That goes back to Jim.   My lasagna is usually very soupy the first day so it is known as my famous lasagna soup.    It tastes great so I won't change the recipe.

Dick has gone to bed now and I am close behind him.   Tomorrow is a very busy day for me and Dick has a doctor appointment in the afternoon.  Pray for us, especially him.   He is so weary and I am worried about him.

So until tomorrow.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

       I am sending this one out because so many do not

                   know this truth...

 

                   *And also because she was on 3 times this week

                   talking about her new book...

                   *

                   *And how good she feels in her 70's... She still

                   does not know what she did wrong..her book just

                   may not make the best list if more people knew...

                   *

                   Barbara Walters said: Thank you all.

                   Many died in Vietnam for our freedoms.

 

                   Then She said "I did not like Jane Fonda then and

                   I don't like her now."

 

                   She can lead her present life the way she wants

                   and perhaps SHE can forget the past, but we DO

                   NOT have to stand by without comment and see her

                   "honored" as a "Woman of the Century."

 

 

                   (I remember this well)

                   NEVER FORGIVE A TRAITOR.

                   SHE REALLY WAS A TRAITOR!!

We did a lot of sleeping last night.     Dick  was in bed by 8AM.   This was really good as he was totally whiped.   Tired is not a big enough description. 

He did wake up at about 4AM, but we got him back to sleep and he slept until I woke him up at about 8:30AM.   So he got somewhat rested.

After yesterday, we are trying to figure out how to keep this going.    He is heading to bed, as we speak, at shortly after 7AM.   I hope to convince him that if he wakes up before 5:30AM, he should always go back to bed to try to finish the night.    We will see what happens tonight.

The CWI Sheboygan. meeting was today at my friend Joan's home.   It was great we had 10 of our members in attendance.   We had a lively discussion on our chosen books.   Wild Girls, and any of John O Donoghue's books.   Joan was an over achiever as far as hostessing.  I LOVED it.   We have decided on The Last of the Donkey Pilgrims by  Kevin.O'Hara.   I have read this so I am one ahead.   I am trying to get to reading more lately.

I loved today.

Hope that you are ready for this week.   I am trusting that I am.
Dia Dhuit

Mary

So far a very productive and a very distressing day.

Dick woke up very early and seemed to feel fairly well though it really was much to early.   But he seems to be able to sleep later if he gets up in the night for a bit.

I stayed in bed a little longer and got up and showered before 7AM.     Here is where the problem started.   I fixed Dick his breakfast and he started to choke.   It was a really bad spell and left him very very weak all day.  Fortunately, Rachel, the nurse came this morning to draw blood and to check him over, so we are sure he is OK.   He has been started on another antibiotic for another UTI and I changed his appointment with Dr. Sharon to this Monday.   It was set for a whole week away,

Jody got here to clean at 8AM.   I had to leave for a breakfast meeting with my friend Dorothy Rose at the Roadside at 8:30AM.   But I knew that Rachel was coming and that Jody would be there til I got back.

Dorothy and I had a nice breakfast and a very productive meeting.  We are forming the committees for the Spring Gathering which is at the end of April.  I am going to take charge of the Welcome Bags for the attendees.   I can do most of that at home.

I got home at 10AM.  Rachel had been here and gone but Jody was still here.    He was still terribly weak from the coughing spell but was resting in his chair.   

At 11:AM Nancy, the Home Health Aid came and got him all washed up.  

Marty from Wisconsin Prosthesis called to see how he is doing with the new leg.   I told him it was loose so he said to add sox until it is stable but comfortable.   We started with a size two but will definitely have to increase the ply.  Tomorrow.   He is just going to rest the rest of the day.

I managed to get downstairs to finish cutting out squares for the baby quilt I am making for Kettle Quilters and to lay out the wall hanging I have in my vision.   I will tell you about it and show it to you when I complete it unless it turns out crumby then it will just disappear.

Warren and Nancy picked me up at 4:45PM to shoot league.    We got there at 5PM and the only person there was Greg.  He was setting up the traps so we hung around, as they officially don't start until 6.   Greg came in after someone came to help him set the traps up and asked me to set up the cash drawers.   I reminded him I was no longer a member but he gave me a hug and said it didn't matter.   You know me and a hug so I set up the drawers and then sold Nancy and me our targets.   So we went down to shoot.   I was not TOO bad this week, though things have gone better.

I was home by 6:30 and now we have Dick settled in bed.    I am sure we will be up at least once during the night but I hope it is early enough that he can get back to sleep and sleep until morning.   He is totally exhausted.

I will be going in myself soon as I didn't get a nap today and have been quiate busy.]

So til tomorrow,  I love you all. Pray for us

Dia Dhuit

Mary

We were almost home all day.  I did have to go to the Aurora Clinic once to drop something off, but I figure that a half an hour away is NOTHING.

We both slept late.  I got up at 8AM or thereabouts and Dick got up shortly after 9AM.  After yesterday, we both needed the extra sleep.

It has been a very uneventful day.    I started corning the beef for St. Patrick's day today.   Yesterday, I bought a lovely rump roast to do this with.   Dick likes my corned beef much more that the processed briskets that one buys in the store.   It is not that red color but is REALLY good.  Anyone who is interested.  I will have it available on St Patrick's Day.  Probably the day before.     St. Patrick's day is quite busy with the parade and it seems a Deeley celebrations Nora and Leif will be home.   I hope they will walk in the Irishman's walk with us.They could meet my CWI friends. 

Would you believe that I took a two hour nap this afternoon?   I think yesterday was hard on me too.

Dick is doing much better with the quiet day, but I notice that as the day goes on, he becomes more short of breath and is experiencing more phantom pain again.   He is wearing his new prosthesis today and so far all is well.  He will wear it for a couple of days and then we will see Marty again to fine tune things.   It is quite a nice leg and it is nice to see him looking like a real person.

Pray for us.  This has been a really tiring week.  Thank God! We have each other.   

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Hello It was a day of one thing after another.    The weather was lovely though.  Which is always an upper.

I got up at six when Roxie woke me.   Dick woke up then too, so it seemed just as easy to just stay up as I grocery shop on Wednesdays, as you probably have figured out, and I like to get there early.  I did get there early and did quite will.  I have a lovely rump roast that I am going to corn for St. Patrick's day.   I will get it started tomorrow.  Four weeks should make it REALLY good.

I got home to find that we had had a phone call.  It was from the VNA and this is where things started to get really wild.   The call was from Stacy, who wanted to do an evaluation to see if perhaps we need a nurse again for a while.   I told her that we had not had a home health aid for over a week.   Stacy was a wonder, she came at 10AM and had a home health aid, Nancy, who was the first home health aid we had, here at 10:30AM.   So Dick is all cleaned up and there are no sore spots anywhere.    We are, however, very concerned about his breathing problem, so she arranged for Ashley, a nurse, to come this afternoon at 4PM to do a full evaluation.

BUT, before that, Bobbie came for lunch and we took Dick to Sheboygan to Wisconsin Prosthesis to pick up his permanent left prosthesis.  He was too exhausted to walk in it but Marty fitted it and sent it home for him to start wearing tomorrow.

We got home in time for Ashley's visit.   She has made arrangements for someone to come to do the blood test that I would have had to take Dick over to the clinic for.  This will give him a few days at home to rest and we see Dr. Sharon on Monday.  

So,  We are two very tired people.    He went to bed at 7:30PM.   I am only up because I was participating in a telephone seminar at 8PM.  It is now over and ended with a meditation.   So I am going to to to bed while I am still relaxed and ready to sleep.

I will end with a lovely quote I got during the seminar from the Dahli Llama.

"Western woman will change the course of humanity."

Let us do our job.

Dia Dhuit.

Mary  

We woke up to a snow covered world.   I had to get out of my warm bed at 6:30AM so that I could get the trash out by 8AM.   They don't come THAT early, but the lady that I give aluminum cans to does, and it seems easy to just get everything out at once.  One of my neighbors, Kathy, was out scraping her driveway off.  I don't do that.   I have enough trouble with my ribs and am not doing anything to agrivate the discomfort.

We do get plowed and shoveled but only if there is over 2 inches.   Less than that and I rely on the sun and the wind.

Bobbie got her at 10AM so that we could take Dick for his Eye Doctor appointment.  We did pretty well.   It was a full exam so it was after noon when we got out of there.   Dick has had a change in his left eye that can be corrected so he will be getting a new lens in about a week to 10 days.  Aside from that and the persistent lash that keeps growing in his right eye, his eyes are doing OK.

We picked up Chinese food for our lunch and Bobbie, Dick and I enjoyed that together along with the annual heart valentine raspberry cookies that she brought for us.

The afternoon was quiet.   I got  a present wrapped, packaged and ready to mail.   I am prepared for a meeting on Friday morning.   I did a load of wash.  And I went to Walgreens to pick up and ointment for Dick's right eye.  

Now we are watching the Westminster Dog Show.    We LOVE that show and it makes us miss having a doggy.   One day we will have one again.   I just want a yard that I can let it out in when I don't have the time to walk it.  But I want it to force me to walk.


So Until tomorrow. 

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I got this as an email today.   It is really funny.

Dear Customer,
Just a little note to let you know we understand your
anger in the recent price hike. But it should be noted
that you have no choice. We are a big company and you
will pay what we tell you. You have no choice We have
the power, you need the power.   So sad....too bad.
We have enclosed a little picture to help
outline our response. Have a nice day and keep those
cheques coming!

      Sincerely,

      Your Local Power Co .

Today was a nothing day.    We slept late.  I did not shower or anything.

I cleaned out some shelves in Roxie's room.

We had a nice lunch of leftovers and a dinner of the same.

So I really have nothing to report.   I did talk to Bret, Bart and Barb and Leslie during the day.

Now the day is done.  I hope your week will be wonderful, productive and happy.

Dia Dhuit
|
Mary

A day mostly at home and it was a good day to stay home.    The temperature never got over 13 and it was only 5 degrees (at least plus) when we got up.  A good day to stay home.   And Dick had the fireplace on this morning which really took the chill off of things.

I did three loads of wash and fixed a really good dinner of turkey breast with gravy, colcannon and a nice green salad.   I made a cole slaw with half to the cabbage.   Good thing I have it because we are out of lettuce. 

Dick's feet are really hurting him today.  That phantom pain is really difficult thing to cope with.   There is really nothing that will ease it.   Because it is the fault of his brain, not accepting that the limb is gone, medication does not help.   He is so tired tonight.   Actually he has been tired all day.    He did walk once and did his seated exercises, but he has no oomph.   I am sure that it has something to do with the congestive heart failure.  I hope as the change in medicine gets into his system, he will start feeling better.

I went to Mass at 4PM.  It was a nice mass.  I saw a couple of friends too and dropped a book off at Kate's on my way home.

Now I am home until Monday morning, the Good Lord willing and the Creek don't rise.

So I hope your Sunday will also be serene.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It snowed and the wind was blowing all day and I had to be out in it.  

To bad my bone scan was not scheduled for yesterday which was sunny, clear and still.   I got up at 6AM so that I could get ready for the day as I had to be at Sheboygan Memorial for the shot to make me radioactive.   I hope I don't glow in the dark tonight and keep Dick awake.   After the shot, I had to keep myself busy until 12:30PM.   So   I drove to Gander Mountain to stock up on 22 bullets and then went across the street to JoAnn;'s Fabric to pick up a rotary cutter blade, then I found a couple of fat quarters that might work for the wall hanging that I have in mind.

Then I filled up the tank and stopped at the bank.   (A poem - I just can't help myself.)  After those errands, I drove to Field and Fork to shop in their cute grocery and have lunch.   I bought biscotti, portabella mushrooms, wonderful dates, a watermelon radish,  hummus and Stephano;s Glop.    We will be snacking royally for the next few days or so.

I got back to the hospital at 12:30PM for the bone scan.   That went well.  I was able to take a little nap during the process.  He said that the bones showed up well.   Less body fat makes it easier to do their job.

I got home at about 2:30PM.   Too long, but not as long as I had thought so Dick and I were very happy about that. 



Now, the next time I have to go out will be to Mass tomorrow afternoon.  I should be able to sleep later tomorrow.   That will be nice unless something comes up.   When I got home there was a package for "Dick".  He had ordered some decaf Barry's tea for me so I am well stocked now.  What a guy.

That's all for today.   Did you like the picture of my deer horns?   I treasure that.   The Wild Game Dinner was like Christmas, with the horns AND the picture of the guys at the sausage tasting.  To see my brother Tim and Jim Karls is a real treasure.  It will be framed.

Love

Mary

Isn't it cool. I felt like it was Christmas.

A picture of the deer horns that Jeff mounted for me close up so you can see the engraving.   I will send a second further away so you can see the whole set of horns.

"It doesn't matter if it is a black cat or a white cat, if it catches mice it is a good cat." a Chinese saying.

I read the above today and decided to share.   This was as planned a nice quiet day at home.   I actually slept until 7:30AM with two interruptions,   One to get Dick up at about 5AM and one to feed the cat at 6AM.   But I was able to get back to sleep both times.    I went to bed at 7PM last night too.  So I must have really been tired.

I did well all day.  I got the label on the quilt I finished, and cleaned my desk and the kitchen.   I am pretty well ready for tomorrow when I will be having my bone scan.   I am leaving Dick a meal of spaghetti to heat up in the microwave when he is hungry at noon.   You see, I have to be there at 9:30AM for a shot and then come back at 12:30PM for the test.   I will do some things in Sheboygan to pass the time.   I just don't see driving all the way back to Plymouth in between.

Sara came to do Dick's PT this afternoon.   He is still pretty tired, but he did pretty well.  He walked and did balance exercises.   She came at about 11AM so we had the whole afternoon to ourselves.   I rested and he napped in the early afternoon, then we just puttered and discussed things.  Yes, we do talk.

So the day is gone and we are both starting to unwind for going to bed.    My goal is to be there by 9 and then read for a bit.

So.  God love you

Dia Dhuit

Mary 

This was quite an eventful Wednesday.    We started off quietly enough.    I got up at 6Am so that I could get to the grocery store and back before 9AM.  

That was because I wanted to get Dick's hair washed before 10AM when the VNA Therapy supervisor came to be sure that all is going well.     After she left, we had another VNA come at 11AM.   The health aid who gave him his bath.    He is all healed up from any tender spots so we were celebrating today.

Bobbie got her at about 11:30AM.   We had a super dinner of steak, fresh asparagus, roasted potatoes and salad.   Then, Bobbie helped me put a hanger on the back of the mounted deer horns that Jeff gave me and I put it just inside the front door.     I am so proud of those horns.    I felt like Christmas at the Wild Game Dinner.

We left at about 1:30AM for Wisconsin Prosthesis for a fitting for his right leg.   Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, he will have the permanent leg next Wednesday.


So that was our day.   I am going to bed early as this day and last night have really worn me out.    I will take a picture of the horns to post for you all tomorrow.

In the meantime

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Today became much more full than I had intended.    I got up a bit before 7 so that I could get my shower done and a few other things before Dick woke up.  I had to leave by 9:15AM to get to JMKAC to pick up my flag and cds and still get to the Sheboygan Clinic by 10AM for my doctor appointment. 

Things went well, though I had to leave a bit later because Dick was not settled as soon as I had hoped, and then when I got to the Art Center, I had to wait for Mary Calvey to bring down my things.   Then, of course, I had to visit a bit with Mary and found out that one of the young ladies that was killed in that horrific accident near Campbellsport was the daughter of her best friend.   How sad is that event.   To think of all of those young ladies affected so deeply.   Three, who have finished their lives on this earth, and 5 that have to live their lives without therm. 

My appointment with Dr. Leben went quite well.  I still have to see if the medication that she prescribed for me is going to work now that I have gotten it up the the dosage that she says will show results if it is going to.   One cannot just start off with a full dose apparently but must build it up.  She has also ordered a bone scan which may help further diagnose what is going on.

I dropped off Beth Dippel's books at the Research Center on my way home.  She also knew all those girls that were in the accident.   She told me that the road that the accident occurred on was a road with many dips that kids liked to travel a bit fast because of the roller coaster feeling.    It reminded me of a road that we took out to the sand dunes in my previous life.   The boys always called it the Whoop de Doos and begged their Dad to go faster.    There was also a place out at the Back Bay in Newport that the kids would go to ride their bikes that they called the Whoop de doos.    How sad that a fun road and youth could cause such a tragedy.   We must pray for their souls and their families who will miss them so.

I got home at about noon and boiled spaghetti and heated the sauce for a good old spaghetti meal.   I still have some left and will make lasagna one of these days.

Then at 1AM, I went to the Quilt Club.  It was a nice meeting.   I showed the quilt I finished yestereday to them and they liked it.   One of our members is moving and is getting rid of lots of fabric.   She brought some in this month and I took some of it.    It is really pretty, now I need a project for it.

Then I stopped at the Pig so that I could get .69 eggs and .99 asparagus.   They are doing their sales very goofy for me.    But I wanted the asparagus.   I will still do my regular shopping tomorrow morning.

I also picked up three prescriptions at Walgreens.  I believe that all of them are now updated.

Tomorrow was going to have a quiet morning, but now we will have the home health aid to wash Dick, and Ellen who has to check on how Sara is doing.   Then we have an appointment at Wisconsin Prosthesis at 2aPM.  Bobbie will be here for that and she comes for lunch with us those days.   We will be having fresh asparagus and steak for our lunch.  Want to join us?

We split a Marie Calendar pot pie for supper.   And now I am exhausted and after I finish with Dick will go to bed and read.


Take care and sleep well.

Dia Dhuit.

Mary



From an Email

PLEASE, READ THIS TO THE END.  IT IS VERY INTERESTING!!!

Wal-Mart vs. The Morons

 
1.  Americans spend $36,000,000 at Wal-Mart Every hour of every day.

 
2.  This works out to $20,928 profit every minute!

 
3.  Wal-Mart will sell more from January 1 to St.  Patrick's Day (March 17th)
than Target sells all year.

 
4.  Wal-Mart is bigger than Home Depot + Kroger + Target +Sears + Costco +
K-Mart combined.

 
5.  Wal-Mart employs 1.6 million people, is the world's largest private employer,
and most speak English.

 
6.  Wal-Mart is the largest company in the history of the world.

 

7.  Wal-Mart now sells more food than Kroger and Safeway combined, and keep

in mind they did this in only fifteen years.

 
8.  During this same period, 31 big supermarket chains sought bankruptcy.

 
9.  Wal-Mart now sells more food than any other store in the world.

 
10.  Wal-Mart has approx 3,900 stores in the USA of  which 1,906 are Super
Centers; this is 1,000 more than it had five years ago.

 
11.  This year 7.2 billion different purchasing experiences will occur at Wal-Mart
stores. (Earth's population is approximately 6.5 Billion.)

 
12.  90% of all Americans live within fifteen miles of a Wal-Mart.

 
You may think that I am complaining, but I am really laying the ground work for
suggesting that MAYBE we should hire the guys who run Wal-Mart to fix  the economy.

A busier than usual Monday today.   

It started off with Bible Study for me in Falls.  We had 5 of us there, including a friend Ruth who was being encouraged to come.   I think it was good for her but she has been under a big cloud lately and I do ask that you pray very hard for her as she is such a lost little soul.  We finished up Psalm 72 today and I shared with everybody a piece of the Brad Bhride, the Brigid cloth for healing in their home.    I can share with anyone else who is in need of a piece.  Just let me know.

Then I went to Mother's.  She seems just fine.   She admits that she is weak but her spirits are so good and we just enjoy the time we have together.    We got the bills caught up and I filled her pill box while I was there.   She had a doctor's appointment today.  Jeff was coming in to take her.  Jeff and Kathy leave for Hawaii on Thursday.   They will be gone for a month.   Such a deal.  

I got home at about 11:45AM and fixed a lunch of teryaki chicken, rice and beans.   Pretty good.   Then Sara came at 12:30PM for Dick's therapy.   He has not been feeling too well, so they did the walk and some balancing then finished with chair exercises.  

We had his appointment with Dr. Sharon at 2PM.   We have a new medication to try.  I sure hope it will help.   Tomorrow, he gets to be home all day again with no visitors.   I hope he will just exercise as he can and heal.

I have a doctor appointment in the morning and will be picking up the Irish items that I lent to JMKAC for the Family Irish.   Then after lunch I will be going to the Kettle Quilters meeting.   I finished the quilt I have been working on.this afternoon, so I can bring it for show and tell at the meeting tomorrow.   I do have to prepare a label for it yet but that won't be a big deal.

So.we had grilled cheese and bacon sandwiches for supper.   And a bit of the lime cheesecake pie that I made yesterday for dessert.  As my brother in law, George Hiner used to say.  "Wonder what the rich folks are eating tonight?"

Hope you sleep well and have a super Tuesday.  

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A quiet day.    I did not have to go anywhere.   We slept a bit late and then had a nice Sunday breakfast of fried potatoes, bacon, eggs and toast.  

It was a nice sunny day.  I have finished the quilt that I have been working on except for the label and the binding.  I will bind it tomorrow so that I can show it at the Kettle Country Quilters on Tuesday and do the label during the week.

We had spaghetti and garlic biscuits for our lunch and I had made a lime pie with was a nice light dessert.

So that was our day.   We are finishing it by watching the Super Bowl.   I am in the last ditch playoff league.   I decided to take a risk and picked New England.   Nobody expects them to win, but if they do, I do too.  How about that.

So this is the day.   Dick and I cleaned out his closet too.  I always feel good to get a project like that out of the way.

Til tomorrow

Dia Dhuit and I love you all
Mary

It was rather gloomy and dank today.  Not too cold but it felt cold because of the dampness and clouds.

I got up just before 7AM and kind of rushed around a bit as Jody comes to clean at 8AM.   We were just finishing breakfast when she got here.   I fried some bacon because it is good AND because I needed bacon grease to cook our noon pork chops in.   I sometimes like to fry them in bacon grease with fresh garlic and black pepper.   Nummy.   We had mashed potatoes, diced tomatoes and a salad of watermelon and cottage cheese with the pork chops. 

Andrea came to give Dick his bath right after lunch.    I had hoped to get Dick's closet gone through but he wasn't interested so I cleaned the cheese drawer in the fridge and the cupboards above the washer and dryer.

I also got quite far on the quilt that is almost done.

I am almost ready with the taxes.  I called to find out about two forms that I am missing and should have them by the end of next week.  Well, before my appointment with Mark.   We have scads and scads of medical this year.   I still feel better with him doing them because of the newness of my taking the draw on my 401K and all the medical.

I went to Rhine with Warren and Nancy to shoot pistol league.   I was better than last week but still well below what I finished at last league.   I don't know if it is because of the aches in my arms or just lack of concentration.   Oh. Well.   I will keep plugging at it and will probably get it back in a week or two.

I am now watching Who Do You Think You Are- Ancestry's program of celebrities searching for their roots.   I hope it inspires me to get back to work on my tree.    It has been months since I was regularly working on it and I am home more now.   I also have to do some followup for my cousin David Bowser.   He sent a picture of Ed Bowser,  A great Great Great uncle (I think).  David is so good at genealogy but does not do computers.

So I will be signing off as I still have to set up Dick's pills for tomorrow and then get ready for bed.

I love you all and hope your first few days of February were as pleasantly uneventful as mine.

Dia Dhuit.

Mary

Our neighbor Jean, brought over flowers from Church again.   When there are funeral flowers left, she always takes some and is nice enough to share with us.   These are big and lily like with huge yellow daisies to set them off.

I spent the morning washing clothes then left at 10 to pick up Kate.   We went to the Pig for their big meat sale. I have been out of pork and beef so stocked up on pork chops, sirloin and ground chuck.  We took much less time than we thought so took our haul to our refrigerators to keep them cold, then went to the Taco Stop on Eastern Avenue for lunch and a visit.    I had tacos and beans.   I had them made with chorizo and shredded beef.   Kate and I had not had a chance to visit for some time.  With her difficulties and mine it gets tricky.   She has been having trouble getting to CWI meetings.  She was all ready to help at the Family Irish Day at JMKAC when she hurt her back, badly.    She is still somewhat uncomfortable.   But we are now opting for better days.

I brought a chorizo and hamburger burrito for Dick's lunch.   It is so big that he could only eat a third of it. 

Then I finished the wash, worked on the quilt and made several phone calls.    We had dump soup for supper.   It is a really good one.   To bad it will never again be made.   We do have two more lunches of it  to eat.

So today is winding down and Roxie is starting to hang around for bed time.  She gets pretty disgusted when she and I get all settled and then Dick needs something.   But we finally do manage to get to sleep.

Almost the weekend.   Wow.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

EXERCISE FOR PEOPLE OVER 50
Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.
With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.
Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags.
Then try 50-lb potato bags and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute (I'm at this level).
After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag.
 
 

Another warm day in Wisconsin.   Hard to believe that one year ago, I was in Ireland and one of the biggest storms in ages hit the Midwest while we were over there.   Chicago was literally brought to its feet.

But this year is wonderful.   I put the Brat Bhride out last night on a bush to the side of the house and brought it in this morning all blessed by St. Brigid and ready for healing during the year.

I went grocery shopping as soon as I could get Dick and me both out of bed and put together.  I left shortly before 8AM and came back shortly after 9AM with fritters for our breakfast. I spent the rest of the morning working on getting the taxes ready.

We had venison quesidillas and salad for our lunch.   Then I rested for a while.    I had a haircut (finally) this afternoon at 2:30PM.   At the Wild Game dinner I was trying to keep the hair out of my eyes and Shane said that I had a Justin Beiber cut.   At least it was a cut and not just overgrown hair.

Andrea, the home health aid was there and giving Dick his bath when I got back.   And that was the extent of the day.

Kind of nice.   We were both commenting that it was really one of the easiest that we have had for a while.
Tomorrow should be just as good.

Sleep tight and have a good tomorrow.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

From an email that I received today.

FRIENDS  ARE ANGELS WHO LIFT US TO OUR FEET WHEN OUR  WINGS HAVE TROUBLE  REMEMBERING HOW TO  FLY  

This is the first weekday in such a long time, that we have not had someone coming in to work with Dick in some capacity.   That was kind of nice, as much as we appreciate and need these wonderful health workers.

We finally got tumbled out of bed and ready to face the world today at about 8AM.

I had a dentist appointment at 11:00AM so left at about 10:00AM to do several errands.   I had to pick up a prescription and some other things at Walgreens, go to the bank and stop at The Sewing Basket for thread and some fabric for a wall hanging that is developing in my brain.   A vision, you know.   Dick worries about my visions.

The dentist appoint went well.  My teeth and gums are healthy, but I promised to get back to the water pick as I had been having some gum bleeding in the past couple of weeks.  Good thing the rest of my mouth health is good.   I am a regular flossier and brusher so that should count for something.

Home again, we had a nice quiet afternoon.   I washed Dick's hair and took a nap.

Now we are heading into the night time and the time to sleep and refresh our souls.

I am going to copy a poem by Elizabeth Barret Browning that I found on Garrison Keillor's site.  I took it to Bible Study for our prayer and you may find it inspirational also.

Love you all
Dia Dhuit

Mary

Going to Heaven

by Emily Dickinson

Going to heaven!
I don't know when,
Pray do not ask me how,--
Indeed, I'm too astonished
To think of answering you!
Going to heaven!--
How dim it sounds!
And yet it will be done
As sure as flocks go home at night
Unto the shepherd's arm!

Perhaps you're going too!
Who knows?
If you should get there first,
Save just a little place for me
Close to the two I lost!
The smallest "robe" will fit me,
And just a bit of "crown";
For you know we do not mind our dress
When we are going home.

I'm glad I don't believe it,
For it would stop my breath,
And I'd like to look a little more
At such a curious earth!
I am glad they did believe it
Whom I have never found
Since the mighty autumn afternoon
I left them in the ground.
"Going to Heaven" by Emily Dickinson. Public domain.

Mother looked beautiful this morning with her new permanent.   I think it perked her up too.   There is nothing like a good haircut or perm to make a woman feel like a woman.

Bible study was sparsely attended, but we don't worry about that.   Those who can come, come and we are praying for each other and those who cannot come.  We are trying to figure out a means of transportation for our Jan, who is 87, and needs rides.  Her ride couldn't come today.  We are going to fix that.  

We did have great discussions and will still be studying Psalm 72, a royal Psalm, next week if you want to join us.  We meet almost every Monday at Blessed Trinity in the rectory at 9:30AM.  We are trying to become more aware of our "kingly" obligations to care for those who are in need in any way.

Then I went to Mom's and we had a lovely visit and took care of her bills again.  That weekly visit seems to take care of them.  Mom gave me two cinnamon rolls for our breakfast tomorrow.   She still has some of those liquor filled candies.   Eat your heart out, Bobbie, she had the whiskey filled ones out today.  If you get over there in the next couple of days you can probably get one.

Home again.   Today, Sara, the PT, came at about 12:30PM and put Dick through his paces.  He did very well actually.   Tomorrow I have some paces for him to got through.

Then at 2PM or so, Robbie from the VNA came with Dick's new CPAP machine.  It is really neat.  The mask seems much more comfortable and the machine records daily use on a disc that can be taken to the doctor for an immediate sleep study.   How cool is that.

We had tbone steaks and twice baked potatoes for supper tonight.   A totally super meal

Thursday is the semi annual Meat sale at the Pig.   I am picking up Kate and we are going to shop for meat, go to the Taco Stop for lunch and take our leftovers to our husbands for lunch.   (THey will really get their own meals but doesn't that sound wild or something.)

So another busy day.   Tomorrow is quiet except that I have a dentist appointment.   Ich.  But we must keep out teeth in good shape too.  

Have a super Tuesday yourselves.   I love you all. Big hugs.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A beautiful day in the neighborhood.   The temperatures never got over 25 degrees, but no wind and Lots of sun.  There is a lot of melting going on.

I worked the morning just at home getting things in order.   Then at 10AM I left to got to Mother's.   Irene, a beautician, came to her house to give her a permanent.   I stayed until 11:30AM, then Donna walked over to be there for the rest of it.  Mom was getting pretty tired, but she will feel so much better with her hair done.   That is such an uplift.

I cam home, stopping at St. John's to pick up a couple of brats from the KC Winter Brat Fry for our lunch.  Then I took a nap,  pinned the front and the back of a quilt together and wrote a couple of notes that needed to be done.

So it has been a fairly quiet day and I am glad of it.    This week is a bit quieter so hopefully I won't get as worn out as I have been.

I called Nora to wish her a happy birthday tonight.  I is always so good to talk to her.   They will probably be home for St. Patrick's day and I hope to be able to host them for a brunch or dinner or lunch or whatever.   Then they can spend some time with Dick too.

So a new week is under way - let us go forward with hope and excitement for what lies ahead.

God love you

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Today was a very special day.  

The only visitor we had today was Andrea, the health aid, who gave Dick his bath.   We were pretty well rested when she got here as both of us had a reasonably good night's sleep.

I DID have to get up at 5AM to put the venison roast in the crock pot.   I fixed it as a pot roast this year and it had to cook for at least 9 hours.   After I got it started, I fed the cat and went back to bed until 7AM.

When we got up, we had breakfast and then I baked some Irish Brown Bread to take along too.  

I left for Eileen's house at about 12:30PM.    Everybody gathered between 1 and 2PM.   We had a nice crowd.   Randy and Donna,  all three of their girls, Erin and her Jon, Becky, Brian and Elizabeth and Jessica,   Jeff, Kathy and Shane, Dolores, Ken, Kurt and Jody with Evan and Sean and Todd's Morgan, John and Holly (who came late) and, of course, Eileen and Fred.

Jeff brought me two of the greatest presents EVER.    Remember when I was deer hunting.   The last year, Jeff set me up closer to the road than I had been and just over the hill from his stand.    A perfect buck came over the ridge from my left and ran across in front of me.  I got three shots off at the darn thing but he ran faster than I could shoot.   BUT, I drove him over the hill right to Jeff who got him.   Jeff always said that that was OUR deer and I loved that.   He proved it today by bringing me the antlers mounted on a plaque for hanging.   It has the year and our names carved above and the names of all my fellow hunters on the bottom.   I will take a picture and post it soon.   He also gave me a picture from 1993 of one of the first sausage tasting days after rabbit hunting.  Kenny, Jeff, Randy, LeRoy Kramer, Jim Karls and  wonder fully, Tim are on that picture.    I will treasure it and frame it.

Only 15 contestants were in the beer tasting contest.  There were 21 beers.  Since Bing and Bobbie weren't there, Eileen helped me serve the beer to the enthusiastic crowd.    When we were about half way through, Jody arrived with Evan and the two of them helped wash the glasses as the rounds finished.   We really could have used more glasses.  

Little Elizabeth was a lot of help too.  She helped put the glasses on the trays for us.    Her only question was why we did not have root beer.  

The final winner was Kurt with a taste off with Becky and Jon.    Jon and Kurt tied on the taste off and since Jon and Erin aren't going to get married in the next 24 hours,  Kurt was declared the winner.

The we dined and we dined and we dined.   We had the pot roast, vegetarian taco soup, turkey in gravy, pheasant enchiladas, Brunswick stew, beans, potatoes, 7 layer salad, smoked fish, chips and dip and steak sandwiches.   I hope I didn't forget anything.  Everything was spectacular.   I told everybody that if they send the recipes, I would be glad to put together a little family cookbook for us.

I was done eating and able to leave at about 5:20PM.   So I got home very close to the 5:30PM that I told Dick would be the time.    He did OK while I was gone.  That is comforting, but of course, I don't like to be gone for quite that long a time.

So it was a perfect day from my point of view.  I found out that Nora and Leif will be in Wisconsin for St. Patrick's Day so that will be another family get together.     So cool.

Tomorrow will be much quieter.   I will go to Mass at 9:30AM and pick up a couple of Brats from the KC's Winter Brat Fry.   So I won't even have to cook.  

Ken and Dolores gave me an absolutely delicious hunk of smoked trout.   They got it from a friend.   It is SO delicious.   Bobbie, I will share if you would like.

So. until tomorrow.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A lovely sunny winter day.    The sun shining with blue skies and no wind, made it very pleasant.   Altogether enjoyable for the last week in January.

I baked some scones this morning, just because I felt like it.

Jody came to clean at 8Am so I was able to share some with her and then this evening share some with Nancy and Warren when we went shooting.

Rachel, the RN, came for her last visit unless something should change.    We are pleased with his overall health these days.   After she left, I prepared some cheeseburgers sans buns with beans and salad for our lunch.  

Then at 12:30PM, Sara, the PT came and put him through his paces.  He did very well, but his right heel and knee are really hurting today.    We took off the right prosthesis to see if there is a pressure that is causing it.   I don't know if we really know yet, but this evening, he is feeling better.

I spent the afternoon cleaning out "Roxie's" room.   I went through the bookshelves, dusted everything and  cleaned the windows.  I still have to go through everything in the file cabinet and in the closet but this is a good start.


Tonight I did go to pistol league.   It was rather a disaster.  I could not hole my arm steady for anything.  Oh Well.  There will be a next week.   Now I have finished all the evening preparations for tomorrow and am almost ready to start getting myself ready for bed.   Tomorrow is the annual Deeley Wild Game Dinner and Beer Tasting Contest.  I have to get my roast in the slow cooker very early in the morning.    I am depending on Roxie to wake me up early to do that.  She had better not let me down.

I am bringing roast and brown bread.   We always have way too much food and way to much beer.

Goodnight all

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It seemed like a very long day today and I only had to leave home once.

I slept until almost 8AM.  Dick wanted to get up when Roxie did at 6AM, so we got him all put together, I gave him his meds and some tea and juice, fed the cat and went back to bed.  That extra time really meant a lot.  

When I got up, I fixed breakfast and did some sewing and cleaned under the refrigerator (I hadn't really planned on that, but one of Dick's wheelchair wheels popped the refrigerator vent below and as long as it was off, it seemed like a good idea.)  I also gave Dick a sponge bath as the home health aid had not been here for a few days and we knew he would feel better.   Good thing I did, there was one little sore to be tended to.

Sara, the PT, came at about noon and put Dick through his paces.   For some reason, his right heel was very sore today.   We are trying different ply sox on that stump to see if different pressure will help.

I tried a nap when Sara left but it did not work.

So I went to Walgreens to pick up the prescriptions that were waiting there and a couple of things for Mom, then on to the bank for money, then to the post office.   Jim and Michelle, your Christmas Box finally came back and I have relabeled it and sent it to the RIGHT address.   You should be getting your Gibbsville box any day now,  after the post office, I stopped at Plymouth City Hall to pay the RE taxes, then finally a run into the police station to dispose of some meds that we are no longer using. WHEW.   But it was all one nice convenient circle and now ALL those errands are done.

A nice quiet evening.   And I am winding down and almost ready for bed.    I am enjoying a perfect Irish Coffee.  Decaf, of course, with Jamison, of course.

Are you jealous?

Until tomorrow
Dia Dhuit

Mary

Today was quite a nice day despite the fact that we had to take Dick to Wisconsin Prosthesis this afternoon in a rain snow mix.

I slept until 7:30AM and then went grocery shopping.  Dick was still sleeping, I woke him enough to tell him that I would be gone for an hour.   He was willing to sleep more, so that worked out quite well.

I got home and he was still sleeping, so I put the groceries away and caught up in Quicken.  Then he was sitting up in bed, so we got him all ready for the day.   And a busy day it was.   

Bobbie got here at about 10AM.   We had wine to work on.  We bottled two gallons of beet wine.   It sure is a pretty wine.   We hope it tastes as good as it looks.    So far one of them just tastes like beet juice, but it has to age for a while to find out its potential.    As the saying goes.   "No wine before its time."   Bobbie got a new siphon which really works well.   It stops when the bottle is full so that you can switch bottles without drips and spills.

We had hamburger helper for our lunch.   Dick has been asking for that.   I picked up a box of cheesy hamburger flavor.    We had that, a salad and lavender cookies for lunch.

Dick's Health care worker was supposed to come to give him his sponge bath but could not because her daughter had the flu.   So tomorrow, I will wash him down in the morning.    Bobbie and I took Dick to Wisconsin Prosthesis at 2PM.   He had his "second fitting" for the permanent prosthesis.   We go back in two weeks for another and then hopefully two weeks later he will have it.   It is a long process but has to be I guess.

We got home at about 3:30PM.   Tomorrow will be a quiet day.    Sara for PT at about noon and I need to go and run several errands at about 3PM.  

I accidentally shut Roxie in the wine room downstairs for about 45 minutes.    I thought she might have followed me downstairs when I took the potatoes and onions down but did not realize that she had gone in there.   I even left the door at the bottom of the stairs open so that she could come up.   When Bobbie got here we started looking and heard her meowing.   She was quite indignant.

So now you know the day.   Now I will be signing off.   I will share with you a St Bridget tradition that continues to this day in Ireland.   St.Bridget's day is February 1st.   I will be doing it myself.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Brat Bhríde

In Ireland there has been a custom down through the centuries of putting a white cloth out on a bush beside the house on the Eve (31st January) of St Bridget's Day. This cloth was left out over night and it is believed St Bridget passed over it during the night and blessed it. In the morning the cloth was taken in and folded away for the year. People believed in had powers of curing sore throats, headaches and toothaches. If someone developed any of these conditions they wrapped the cloth around their heads to help cure whatever was the problem. This cloth was known as Brat Bhríde and in many parts throughout Ireland the custom still exists of putting out the white cloth on the night before St Bridget's Day. The custom is still widespread throughout the country.

The day is over and what a day.

We had Dick's first appointment with Dr. Kream at 10:30AM.   So we both slept a bit late.   The trip there and back went very well.   Dick is really good at getting in and out of the car.   The appointment went well also.   Dr. Kream is pleased with Dick's improvement, is asking the VNA to update his CPAP machine.   After 8 years there are much improved machines, and he is adjusting his meds a bit.   We will go to see him after Dick has used the new CPAP for 30 Days.

Then this afternoon, we saw Dr. Phillips, a throat specialist.   He checked Dick's throat because we have been concerned that Dick's voice seems so weak and a bit rough.   He says that the throat looks great BUT age is causing a bowing of the larynx.  This causes weakness and hoarseness of the voice but is not a problem unless we feel it is.   There is a surgery but as long as we know there is no tumor or inflammation, we would certainly not opt for surgery.

So Yea! is has been a good day.

So we hope to sleep well because tomorrow is also a busy day.

Dia Dhuit.

Mary

A typical busy Monday.  I got up at 6:30AM.    There is always so much to do before we just get "even". 

I left at about 9Am because I had to get gas in the car before heading out.   I had actually let it get a lot lower than usual so was getting worried in this cold weather. 

Then I went to Bible Study at Blessed Trinity.  There were 7 of us there today.    A nice group, especially with three of our intrepid attendees off to warm parts of the word.   Ione is in Hawaii for another couple of weeks and the Keyes will be gone until almost Easter.   We miss them but what a blessing that they are able to get away during the worst part of the winter.

It was a good bible study.

Then I went to see Mother.   She is fine but the weekend was tiring for her.    Her birthday Saturday was busy with visits and calls.   And Sunday was quite active too.    She handled it quite will and got lots of presents and calls and visits on her 96th birthday.   We got her bills caught up and I explained the Cindy Matyi/Dolores Whelan perpetual calendar that I had purchased for her for her birthday.     She loves the Irish Spirituality so this was a fun sharing for us.

I got home by noon because the PT was coming then.   I have told them that Monday mornings are mine.  Then I get a call last night that someone wanted to come at 11AM.   I flat out told them no.   I could be back by noon, but not before.  I keep hearing how the caregiver has to take care of him or herself.   One would think that one morning a week would not be hard to work around.    Anyway, she agreed to come at noon.  

This afternoon, I finally got my kitchen uncluttered and a lot of other things sorted.   I finished a baby quilt top,  Now I have to get to work assembling it. 

We had scalloped potatoes made with mushroom soup for our lunch and leftover pizza for supper.

A nice day altogether. Spending time with Mom always makes it good.   Tomorrow Dick has two doctor appointments.   Pray for good weather.

All my love

Dia Dhuit

Mary

So.   Here it is.   Getting towards late on a Sunday evening.   It has been a quiet day.   I went to Mass this morning as I was not up to spending another hour away from home, AND Bobbie needed to get home to her Bill.

The Family Irish Day was wonderful.   I suppose you expected that ,as I usually find that the things I enter into are wonderful. 

The Celtic Women hosted a High Tea which was very successful.   We served over 200 people and it was a super Irish event.   We were located to the right of some of the best Irish music available in this area,  Mary Calvey and Jim Wilsing.      I was able to share the Icon that Jim Fleming did for me of Bridget of Ireland.   Jim Wilsing was awed.  When I told him that I was buying it and did not know how much it would be, he said "It does not matter." and he is right.  I gave it back to Jim to have him put the final coat on it and sign the work.   But it is MINE.  As I told Jim Fleming.   I want an original of an artist that I admire.    I do have two from a friend who has probably for gotten that I exist.  And I have an original painting from my Uncle George Bowser.    When I was visiting from California one year, I told Uncle George that I sure would love one of his paintings.   Before we headed back, he sent one of his paintings, an autumn scene because he said that since I did not have that season in California, I should have something to remember it with.   I treasure this painting SO much.

But I digress.   The Irish day was super.   Mary Calvey and Jim Wilsing performed just to the right of us.   In back of us was a table where people were learning how to make Brigid Crosses.    They used Raffia and ribbon to teach people.   In Ireland we used the reeds and rushes but sure as shooting someone would have said they developed an allergic reaction if we tried that here.

In the ARTery, Children were making potato stamps and learning how to write their names in Ogham, an old Gaelic Alphabet.     I love it .   It was fun to be able to convey this information to the Art Center and to give them a picture of a stone carved in Ohgam.  

I was able to try my wings as a storyteller.    Only time will tell if it was worth the effort.  I know that it was worth it for me.    The first session, had two little girls in attendance.  First they asked if they could sit on the chairs next to me and then one of the girls crawled up on my lap for the end of the session.   I figured if she was comfortable and happy with my "gig".   I was happy too.

The second session was fun.  Several close friends were there.  Then when I was really done, a woman came and asked if I would mind doing a bit more for four young people who were disabled.   I said sure and told  about Fairies, how to idientify a Fairy Field and the story  of Liam Clancy trapped in the Fairy Field.    When we were done, I had four "coins" with shamrocks, clovers etc.that I was able to give to each of them (After I asked if it was OK Of Course.)  I was rewarded with a lovely hug and thanks from one of the four little people so I felt that the whole day was worth it.


What a day, wouldn't you agree.   I am glad that today was quiet.  I was able to get MOST of little Marcus's quilt done today.   I like it.  I hope he does.   (It will be nice if his Mom and Dad do too, but it is most important what he thinks.)  I mainly want it cuddly.

So tomorrow starts another day.   Monday is reasonably busy but Tuesday and Wednesday are even more so, because Dick has to leave the house.

Take care of you and be happy

Dia Dhuit

Mary

The weather held out quite well.   It was cold a a witch's nose, but the sun shone and there was no wind to speak of.

The event, Family Day Ireland, was very successful.   I am really a little too tired to tell you the whole scenario, so will save that for tomorrow.   Let us just say that  our Celtic Women International High Tea was very well received.   I did OK with my first storytelling attempt and the music and other amenities were super.

I got home at 4PM and we had leftovers, mainly from the Ireland day.    I brought home colcannon and potato patties and Mulligatawny soup which was left from my lunch.   I am glad that Dick got to share it.    He would have liked the event.    I will  go into more detail tomorrow.

Be happy and rest for tomorrow.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Whew!   This day our house was like a revolving door and I had to be part of the revolving.

Jody came at 8AM to clean.   We got the Santas down from above the kitchen cupboards and she cleaned up a storm.    I had to leave at 9:30AM to be at Blessed Trinity before Wally Dobrzynski's funeral so that I could hug the family before Mass.   As it turned out, the choir of five of the members that I had sung with several years ago was singing for the service with Zack Holzer playing and leading, asked me to join them.   I thought that was OK, as I had been in the choir for so many years with them and with Wally and his family too.   It seemed a fitting tribute and way to honor Wally.    I teased Zach in the fact that the least he could have done was have a Mass that I did not have to sight read.

I had to leave in the middle of Judy's Eulogy, as it was very Wally.   I had to get home because Rachel, the RN was coming at 11:00Am.   Fortunately she was a bit late so I even beat her home.    We got blood drawn for the anti coagulation clinic and a urine sample to see if his infection is gone.   Both came out very well.   The coagulation count was 221.    Which is as close to perfect as one can get and his urine infection is apparently healed.   Thank God.

I cooked up some grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch.   We were just finishing lunch at about 12:30PM when Sara, PT, came.  Then Dick got a coughing spell.   It was pretty bad.    We finally got it settled and had him do a Albuterol inhalant, which seemed to provide some relief.    He was pretty weak by then but was able to walk and do a  number of the exercises that will keep him strong.
 
At 1:30PM Andrea, the home health aide came to give him his bath.   He really needed it after the coughing spell.    I took advantage of that time to switch the sleeve of his right prosthesis and wash the other one.   Tonight I will clean the left sleeve and have it ready to put on in the morning.

Shortly before 3PM, my Scottish friend Mike, from Accessability came to check out the chair.    He took the stump rests, as we don't need them any longer and showed me how to tighten the foot rest when it gets loose, as it has been.  He also told me that there is a Highland Games in June.   I will be in communication with him as to when that is as I would like to see him in action.   I will probably need a break from the action here about then.

So now you know why I am saying WHEW!

This was a really crazy day.    Tomorrow I will be spending about 6 hours enjoying my Irish heritage at the John Michael Kohler Art Center.   I baked scones to add to the Barm Brack and Lavender Cookies that I am taking for the Celtic Women High Tea we are hosting.    I won't be able to do much with the tea as I am being a storyteller poet for at least an hour probably more.     I just hope that I make a good storyteller/poet.

Pray for me.


So I want to get to bed early tonight so that I can finish gathering stuff for tomorrow.  I feel like I am taking half the house with me.   

I will let you know how it goes tomorrow after I get home.  Bobbie is coming to spend the day with Dick while I am gone.   So I won't have to worry about him at all.

God love you and bless you this weekend.

Mary

A day spent totally at home.    I slept until almost 8AM and Dick slept until 8:30AM which worked out quite well.

We had breakfast and then I started baking.   I made the country bread that I had started yesterday and Barm Brack and Lavender cookies.   The Barm Brack and cookies are for Saturday.   Tomorrow I still have to make scones.   Then I will be all ready.

I did some wash, sewed and took two naps.   

The only visitor we had was Sara, the PT, shortly after lunch.  He did very well with the therapy, including showing him how well he is getting in and out of bed using the bed pull up.   That device was Sara's suggestion and since we got it, I no longer have to get up to help him sit up.   This is such a relief as I can get a much better night's sleep.    Dick is one to wake up of and on during the night and if he can sit for a while he can usually get back to sleep.

So that was the day.   Tomorrow it is going to be like Grand Central here.  So I am going to bed early and trying to get ready for it.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I would have been able to stay home all day except for one thing.    As I wanted to start a batch of Barm Brack for Saturday,  I needed brown sugar.   Imagine my surprise when I looked in the cupboard and was out of it.  

I did not bet up until 8AM and Dick slept til 9AM.   I kind of like him sleeping later than me because I can get myself ready for the day and do a couple of things before the second wave hits.

We had a good late breakfast, washed Dick's hair and then I zipped off to the store to get the brown sugar before we had to think about Andrea, Health Aid and Sara, PT, coming.    I mixed up the raisins, sugar and tea for the brown bread and made a few phone calls while all of that was going on. 

He is all sparkly clean.  He informed me that he ALWAYS sparkles though.   And his exercises went very well.  He walked and did several balance and strengthening routines.   Sara says that he is definitely getting stronger as we go on.   I know he is working hard between sessions as we have goals to meet.   We may have slightly different goals but they aim for the same targets.

I accomplished a lot of other things.    I got more done downstairs on the quilting projects that I am working on. I have a box of tea pots and tea cups and saucers ready to stow in the car for Saturday and I have started a batch of country bread.

So it has been a very satisfying day.    Tomorrow I get to stay home also.   Then Friday will be a day from hell.

Please pray for the soul of my friend Wally Dobrzynski, who went to be with Our Lord yesterday.  His funeral is Friday at 10AM so I have fit that into the day along with everything else.    I sang in choir with him and his daughters Debbie and Judy and son Tim.   His wife, Ruth, is a dear person too and I know she will miss him.

So that is the day.   We are having Chicken Breasts stuffed with Spinach for supper tonight.  

Hope you are eating as well.   My brother in law, George Hiner, used to say when sitting down to a great meal. "I wonder what the rich folks are eating tonight."

Dia Dhuit

Mary

EXERCISE FOR PEOPLE OVER 50
Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.
With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.
Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags.
Then try 50-lb potato bags and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute (I'm at this level).
After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag.
 
   

It was a snowy day almost all day.    I left for grocery shopping before it started, hoping to get home before it was slippery.    That did not really work.   By the time I finished, the car was white and so was the parking lot, but as I am not far from the store, it was  a slow but careful and safe drive home.

My friend, Bob Fleming, was coming for lunch.  I called to see if he felt safe coming because of the slippery roads but he was already on the road for another errand so DID come.    We had a great visit.   He has been working on an Icon art piece of Bridget for me and is done unless I want some embellishments.    It is so great.   I will share it with the other Celtic Women on Saturday.   But I told Bob, that I want to buy the original.   I want it to be mine.    We had salad, chili and strawberry shortcake for lunch.    A great visit, now I am worried about him as he was going to call when he got home to let me know he made it.   I am sure he was just running late and went right to work.    I left a message on his phone and will call again in the morning.

The rest of the day was quiet as will be the next couple.   I need to be gathering up things for Saturday and baking.   I have no other outside commitment until Friday Night.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

An extra busy Monday.

I got up reluctantly, as my night's sleep was rather broken, at 6:30AM.  As Dick was sleeping, I took my shower and got dressed and cleaned the cat box and got the medicine out before he  wakened.  Then we finished up the morning things and had our breakfast before I had to leave for Bible Study at 9:15AM.

There were 5 of us there this morning and it made for an intimate discussion.of what integrity means to us in the royal sense.   We all have a royal obligation to be truthful, the  sweep the wicked from our lives and to love one another and cherish one another.

  Did you know that God expects us to follow a royal code of conduct?  Read Psalm 101.

Then I went to visit Mom.   She is doing well but seems tired to me.    We got her checkbook and bills updated and had a nice discussion of everything, as we are wont to do.   Just before I left Aunt Kathleen called.   She wanted Mother to know that she was coming out to visit her.   That will be good for both of them.    Mother and Aunt Kathleen have always been close and it is good for them to be together this close to losing Uncle Bob.

I got home in time to fix a good meal of ham and mac and cheese for our lunch before picking up Lynn and Jena and Kate to go to Beverly's home for our Cream City Writer's meeting.. Beverly fell and broke her hip just before Christmas and ended up with a hip replacement.   She just got home from all the rehab and everything last Friday and asked us to come to her home for the meeting as she is still healing and shouldn't be doing a lot of traveling and/or moving.    We had a nice meeting, reading what we had written in the past month and discussing what we want to do in the next.   

I have more little cuts and wounds on my hands and arms and managed to cut my index finger on a soda can tab tonight.   Good Grief.   One \would think that as one gets older one would get more adept at things.

I received the following from a friend today and thought you all might get a kick out of it.

To help save the economy, the Government will announce next month that the Immigration Department will start deporting seniors (instead of illegals) in order to lower Social Security and Medicare costs. Older people are easier to catch and will not remember how to get back home. I started to cry when I thought of you. Then it dawned on me ... oh, crap ... I'll see you on the bus.

A good rest to you and Dia Dhuit

Mary 

A whole day at home with nobody coming in to disrupt the flow.

I spent the morning working on preparing a quilt or two.   I have two that have to be done by the end of the month.   At least the top assembly.   We had meatloaf, roasted potatoes and veggies for our lunch.

Then I took a nap.

I actually did not get to sleep but did gt a bit of rest.   I made some very important calls this afternoon and then baked some beer bread for my friend Beverly and for Mom.

Then we watched the Packers lose.    BOOOOOOO!!!.   Where was our defense?   Aaron did the best he could but with all those dropped balls by the offense what could he do?    Oh Well.   There will be a next year.

I am drowning my sorrows in a glass of Bailey's and then will go to bed.

Hope you had a good weekend.   I will be busy all week getting ready for the Family Irish Day at John Michael Kohler Art Center.   It is next Saturday from 11AM to 3PM.   Cost $8 for non members and $6 for members.  The Celtic Women will be hosting a tea and I will be doing poetry reading and story telling.  There is music by Ceol Cairde and dancing lessons and much more.
  Hope you can come.

Joy to you and a super week.

Dia Dhuit

Mary