Last night my computer took its last breaths.   I have given up on it and am working very hard to learn all that I need to be comfortable on the laptop.   My main problems are that I have no access to Quicken and I don't have access to a printer and I don't have a program to compose things.   I don't know if I can get to these programs on my laptop and haven't had time to think about it.

We got up at 9AM this morning.  The extra sleep did not do me much good.   I tried a nap at about 1:30PM and could not sleep.    I got a call from the Plymouth Art Center that one of the items that I bid on in the silent auction was mine.   I always bid on things that I think I can afford if no one else has placed a bid.   This time it was great.  For $50, I got a "bling the " watch, a pair of sterling silver earrings, a lovely sterling silver ring in a beautiful blue swan from Allechant Boutique,, LLC in Plymouth..

At 3:30PM I left home and picked up my auction item.then I went to Mass.   I brought along a new statue of the Infant of Prague that arrived this week.  I believe that I told you about the Infant of Prague statue that we have had in our bedroom "forever".  When my dear Aunt Helen died, we all went through the old Deeley house and found several statues of various sizes and conditions of the Infant of Prague.   We remembered that Grandma Deeley had a great devotion to the Infant.  So I picked one of the statues and brought it home and put it on a sconce that Bret made for me when he was in shop in high school.   It has a small shelf and a mirror to reflect the item on it.

All went well until we got the hospital bed for Dick this last spring.   Moving the old mattress out , we must have shifted the sconce.   Several nights later,  as we were sleeping SOUNDLY in our beds, we were awakened by a very loud crash.   I jumped out of bed and turned on the light to find the the sconce, with its precious cargo, had fallen off the wall.    The sconce and the mirror were undamaged but the statue was badly broken.     I have decided that it was those mischievous little people that caused the crash.

Anyway, Dick told me to find another statue to replace the other.  So it arrived last week and today, I packed it up again to take it to church and have Fr. Dan bless it for me.   I figure those little people are going to think twice about messing with an object that has been blessed.

I picked up a rotisserie chicken and some broasted potatoes for our supper t9onight.    That was a good idea.   Now it is bed time and I am really really ready.  Dick has been all prepared and just has to take his last pills and have his CPAP mask put on.

Tomorrow will be a whole day at home.  Good thing as the week ahead is super busy , even for Dick as he has three appointments.

So until tomorrow.  Dia Dhuit.   When I go to Irish Fest, I am going to find out how to pronounce that.

Mary

Guess what I did today.  

I went to Jim Wilsing's house and bought a American Indian Inspired flute.    Jim is such a dear.   He spent an hour with me.   First he had me listen to the four flutes that he had available.  (I did tell you that these are carved of wood and individually created by Jim.)   I picked out the sound that I liked the best.   It is an aromatic cedar flute.

Then he showed me how to finger the holes in the flute and gave me an exercise to do to be sure that I get used to using the pads of my fingers, not the tips.   Then he had me play it.   He says that I should do OK IF I follow his instructions.   This week I must spend at least 15 minutes every day just playing the notes.   Starting from the bottom.   Holding each note as long as I can and finding my best sound on each note. 

Next week, I will go to see him for another lesson.   I love that flute.  It is such a haunting sound.   Jim has used this particular flute, as he uses all of his creations, at Sharon Richardson and it has helped people transition and brought peace to families and staff.  So I know that it has a good spirit to begin with.

I will keep you posted as to my progress.

I got home from my adventure to find that Dick was still sleeping.   I am beginning to get a bit concerned about this sleeping thing.   I had hoped that the mornings that help came would not just be someone being here but would be some of the grunt work of getting him up and his legs on.  This is the second morning this week that he has not gotten up before 10AM.    Perhaps it is time to be checking with a doctor.   We are in bed by 9PM and that should be really quite enough sleep by 8 AM or perhaps 9AM.

So he got up in time for lunch.   Then I napped for a while.    It was a nice rainy day.    Jeff called to tell me that Mom's physical went very well.   Dr. Hancock told her to aim for 100.    She was pleased with that.     He said that now they are really getting too much rain all to once.  We are doing well in Sheboygan County, I believe.   Everything is looking green and I have actually had a couple of tomatoes set on my plants.  I have begun harvesting my herbs.   They have done exceptionally well this year.   They like hot weather I guess.  They have between my efforts and the help of the help been watered enough.

We will go to sleep watching the first Packer Pregame at San Diego.   Should be interesting


Dia Dhuit

Mary

Hello on a beautiful Monday evening.   It has been seasonably warm and not too humid.   What more can one ask in Wisconsin in the early days of August.

Probably didn't have to but after the night I had, it was almost a relief to just GET UP.  

I got hold of the VNA Medical Supply department to tell them that they had sent the wrong CPAP supplies to us.   One would think that they would know what we are using, wouldn't you?   Apparently this is not so.   After I thought I had it straightened out, they called me AGAIN.   I will hold my breath to see what comes this time.   Where are RECORDS?

Rob came and picked up my computer again.  It seems that the new hard drive is failed.   He is going to work on it and keep it for a couple of days to be SURE that all is OK.   It just failed last night.   I was going into Bing and it just crashed.   So I am using the laptop.  Thank you kids for the laptop.   I would be lost without communication.

I left at 9AM for Blessed Trinity and the Bible Study.  We were discussing Psalm 44, which seems to imply that God has turned his back of the Isrealites.  We are finding the lament Psalms kind of interesting.   We all have experienced praying and praying and nothing seems to happen.    I blurted out that sometimes I just say "Hey God,  Where are you.  This is Mary."    They all laughed and said that perhaps I had an IN Just because of my name.   Think about it.

Then I drove over to see Mom.   She is fine but weaker.   We got her bills all paid.  We still had time for a nice visit.  I brought her a scone and a piece of cheesecake.   With Meals on Wheels I don't bring meals any more but a dessert here and there or a scone is welcomed.

Home again, Bobbie, Dick and I had terriaki steak and rice for lunch with cheesecake for dessert.

Then I took a nap.   I really slept today.    Naps are nice.

We are planning on going to bed early tonight.   I hope it is more peaceful than last night.   Last night is not usual.   

I did not sleep well last night and it was my own darned fault.    When I was out grocery shopping, I stopped to have a cup of latte and forgot to ask for decaf.   Boy was that a mistake.    I was comfortable in bed but sure did not get to sleep very easy.

I had to get up at 6AM because Heather came at 7:30AM.    I had several errands to do.  


First, I went to Walmart.  I found a clock with nice big bright numbers so that Dick can see it at night.  I got him a watch with bigger numbers too.  Hopefully the time will not be 88:88:88 anymore.  We are both getting a kick out of that.

Next stop was at Walgreens to pick up some pesrcriptions and OTC meds.   From there I went to Cappelle's, the fresh food market, to pick up fresh sweet corn and whatever else looked good.  I am going to have to find a source for fresh eggs when they close for the season.

Then I stopped at the bank to cash a check.  My friend, Ceil,  was there so I got to update with her.  I do miss the Friday lunches at Dairy Queen.  I just can't see changing the help from Embrace for an occasional fix.  Oh. Well.  They do think of me once in a while.  Ceil told me so.

This afternoon, I got the best nap.  I know I slept for over an hour.   Roxie was a happy girl.   She loves it when I get settled and actually sleep.

We were watching a game show that asked that your pilot could do that would make you feel nervous.  I remembered a time when Dick, my ex husband, had to travel to Baja to put a boat together for a client.   He and his companion got into the plane and into the air.   As they were traveling along, the pilot asked Dick to take over the controls because he wanted to check his manuals.   Not very encouraging.  True story.

So sleep tight.  

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I slept until 8AM this morning.   Dick slept until almost 11AM.   He didn't seem to want to wake up so I thought I would just see how long he WOULD sleep.   I just hope that this does not screw up tonight's rest. 

Last night I got to sleep through so it was more restful than the night before.

I grateful for the time alone between the time I got up and Dick finally came too.  First, it was trash day, so I got that all out to the corner. Then I finally got the newspapers reviewed and out for recycling.   Then I prepared salmon croquettes, actually in time to refrigerate before frying, which is the proper way.  Roxie was beside herself with the salmon water cocktail that she received.
After lunch, I did get a chance to rest, twice.   The first time I had to get up to help Dick.   Then he decided to nap again (go figure)so I did get to rest for another hour.

We had leftovers for supper.   Heather came at 6:30PM to get Dick ready for bed.   I went to do the grocery shopping.   It was a light week.   Finally, I am stocked up on most things again.   I will stop at Capelle's tomorrow for corn for our lunch.   I dropped some cheese off at Kate and Ron's house.   Kate had gone off to the neighbor's for a porch consultation so  I didn't get to see her.   Ron has been fighting bronchitis but says he is feeling some better.  Pray for him.   He heals slowly.   He gave us some fresh tomatoes from their garden.

My tomato plants look lovely but the tomatoes are not setting on them at all.  I will have a bumper supply of herbs though.

Did I tell you that Nora bought me a bar of Lime Basil & Sweet Orange soap when she and Leif and Eileen and Fred were in Bayfield.   She is so sweet.  It was a tribute to the basil scones that we shared when she and Leif came to visit.

Now the day is done.   I am trying to kill one mosquito that got into the house and then I will go to bed.

Til tomorrow

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This is the most frustrating thing.   I am using the laptop and is does not have the same keyboard as the PC.   I am constantly ending up where I do not WANT to be.  It is also not as sensitive to my touch.

I am now redoing what I already did once and lost.

It was a rough night last night.  I got awakened four or five times and finally got up before 6AM because it was not worth trying any longer.     Rob came to pick up the computer at about 8:30AM.  It is SOMETHING with the new hard drive.  God knows what and I hope Rob can figure it out.   He will keep it for a couple of days to be sure that all is well.

I called VNA.   They sent us the wrong CPAP replacement mask and filters.   One would think that they would know what they sent last time.   I am pretty disgusted with that.

So I left at 9AM for Bible Study.  We are reading Psalm 44.  Another Lament.   Boy those old Prophets did a lot of lamenting.    We were saying, though,that we understand the feeling that perhaps God is not hearing us.   I mentioned that often I just say.  " Hey God,  This is Mary.   Can you hear me. "   They all started laughing at me and commented that perhaps I actually had a heads up because of my name.   Think about it.

Had a lovely visit with Mother.   She seems just fine,though kind of weak.   Jeff will be taking her to her doctor tomorrow for a checkup.

Got home and Bobbie, Dick and I had teryaki steak and rice with Cheesecake for dessert.   It was pretty good actually.   I sent a piece of cheesecake home for Bill.

Dick and I both had a nice nap this afternoon.    Then I spent the rest of the day cleaning up a couple of hot spots in the kitchen that had been bothering me.

Tomorrow is an at home day.  I do have to get up to get the trash out but it does not have to be out there before 8AM so that is a blessing.

I talked to my friend Maureen last night.  She wants me to talk at the Literary Circle again but asked if I would mind doing a talk as to how I do the story quilted wall hangings.   I kind of like that idea.   Perhaps I can guide others to use their imaginations and get stories of "visions" as I call
them into a form to share with others.    It can be quilting, painting, collage, anything that expresses your feelings.  I will bring my examples and perhaps will have another "vision" by then and have it in the process.


So,my day is almost over.   Dick had a mixed day.   He is always easy to get along with but was leaning to the right today.   It reminded me of a friend of mine, Ronnie Heinze.  They had this big Great Dane/Shepherd mix.   His name was Tucker.   They always took him out on jeep runs and when it came time for a run, Ronnie's wife, Connie, would make Ronnie take Tucker with him.   Ronnie would beg her to please keep Tucker in camp.   "Please, Connie, He LEANS on me."   Tucker would sit nest to Ronnie between the seats in the Jeep.   The longer they drove,the more Tucker would  lean on Ronnie's arm.   Ronnie could take it just so long and then he'd pull his arm out from Tucker who would collapse and then sit up for a while before starting leaning again.

One run, a very hot one,we were driving long the All American Canal and decided to stop for a swim to cool off a bit.   Ronnie decided that Tucker needed to cool off too and pushed him down the side to the water.   Tucker did NOT want to be there.   He pulled himself up on to the concrete side of the canal and walked up that wall ON HIS TOE NAILS.   (They no longer needed to be clipped. )  He got up to the top of the canal, walked over next to his "master" and shook all the water onto him.


So have a lovely sleep.

Until  tomorrow

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Sunday, Sunday.   The song actually goes Monday Monday.   But Sunday it  is.  

We slept until almost 9AM.  WOW.    I hope this is enough to get me through the next week. 

It was a busy day for me, only because  had SO many things to catch up on.   I am caught up  on CWI, Quicken and my desk is clean.

We ate well today and are happy and content.
 My week will be fairly quiet.   There are no doctor appointments or anything like that.


I have a cousin, Michael Shea, who  has established, in Thailand, a home for children of AIDS infected parents.   Some of the children are also infected, some are not.   He has an outreach that provides medication and help to AIDS infected parents who are able to care for their own children.  I am so proud of his work.   Some of my people do not feel that way,  I have no idea what they feel is not to be proud of but I hope that they will understand that I feel that these children, the lost ones who would have no place to  grow up and to be real kids if it wasn't for him realize that anyway I can help him provide for this group of kids is my mission and I will not be dissuaded.  

So There

This is the end of my Sunday Discourse.   I am sure you are ready for it to be done.   Hope Nora and Leif are home and safely ensconced in their sweet little home.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This was a peaceful Saturday.    I did get to sleep a little late.   Dick wanted to get up at 8:00AM, but that was at least a couple of extra hours.

We had a good breakfast and I worked on getting the Celtic Women Sheboygan Branch newsletter out.   I have to mail the hard copies on Monday but most people have email. 

Irishfest is in two weeks.   I am so excited.   Just have a few details to work out as far as who is here with Dick when.   I am always nervous to leave him but know that the help that comes in and Bobbie take good care of him.    The thing is that he is kind of distressed that I am gone.    It will be interesting when I go to IBAM for the weekend.    By then I will be overdue for a real break as it is in October.

Heidi got here at 3:30PM so that I was able to go to Mass.    I am so glad that we have that all set up.   I really get replenished by that hour in church.   I was able to gove out the wine today.   I always love that.   I feel so privileged.

We had soup and sandwich for supper and some ice cream.  I make a cheesecake for dessert for tomorrow.  Then I will  have a piece to take to Mom on Monday.

Tomorrow will be even more sedate.   I should not have to go anywhere at all.  

It rained this afternoon, starting while I was in church.   The birds are just beside themselves on the lawn in front of the condo.   There was just enough to drive the worms up, I guess, and they were having a feast.

Happy Birthday again, Richard.   Love you

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A warm rainy day in the lovely city of Plymouth.

I went to yoga this morning.   I met my friend, Felicia, at the Craverie for a cuppa and a croissant before the class.    It was a nice class,  very gentle.   The Thursday morning is advertized as a "gentle class" and I needed gentle today. 

Last night was OK - except.   We got to bed and I turned off my reading light at about 8:45PM.   Before 9PM, yes, you are reading correctly,  Dick had to get up to go the the bathroom.   I don't know which is worse,  having to get up just when I am settled or when I have had an hour or so to rest.    And I mean for both of us.  Oh well,   what is.  Is.   We were back in bed around 10PM.   I got up at 6:30AM.

 I took my shower and did what I had to for me.   Heather from Embrace was here at 7:30 to help Dick get up and take care of him so I could meet Felicia at 8:15AM.

Dick and I  have had the rest of the day at home..   I was exhausted  when I got home, so took a nap late morning instead of after lunch.  

Dick is trying to get me to tell him what time I want to go to bed.    I told him that from now on I would rather that he just go when he is tired.   He knows what time I WANT to be there, but we are dependent  on his needs anyway.    I just want him to be READY so that when we do settle in, we can stay there.

I baked some fresh blackberry scones today.  I shared with our neighbor and have three for Jody for tomorrow.  It is Jody's birthday.

I also make potato salad which made Dick a very happy camper.

Tomorrow should be fairly quiet.   I won't have to go anywhere during the day.   I may go down to Mother's in the evening if Nora and Leif are there for their last visit before heading back to Texas tomorrow.

So.  May you sleep well and May I too.

I am minded of a song called John O Dreams which is a very soothing lullaby.

This is the third verse:

[3]

Both man and master in the night are one

All things are equal when the day is done

The prince and the ploughman,the slave the free man

All find their comfort in old John O'Dreams

All find their comfort in old John O'Dreams

 

Sleep tight

 

Dia Dhuit

 

Mary

Well, we had a ride for the heck of it today.   I thought that the proshesist appointment was today but it is tomorrow.   Yikes.   I don't know if I write it down wrong, or if Marty told me wrong, but it doesn't matter much now.    We have filled out all the papers they need, so tomorrow we can concentrate on the prosthesis.  Marty is in Oshkosh on Tuesdays so I am inclined to think it was me putting it on the wrong day.  It was much easier getting Dick in and out of the van this time.   Practice will make perfect. 


The above paragraph is what I started yesterday.   I realized after I was in bed and not ABOUT to get up again, that I had not finished and published the blog.    I hope you all missed me.

Today was fun.   When Heidi got here this morning, I left to go shopping at Gibbsville.   I just wanted to stock up on some really good cheese factory cheeses.   Boy are we set for a while.   Nora  and Leif, If you want to share some really good cheese canapes.  Come on by.   (Anybody else too.)   We ALWAYS have canapes at 4PM.

On the way home I stopped at Cappelle's for fresh sweet corn.  I also picked up some berries and some fresh beets and fresh farm eggs.    Boy are we in the nation's breadbasket.

Now I will spend the next few days using these fruits of the field.

We had fresh sweet corn and sliced tomatoes for our supper.   Boy is that good.   I have several packages of corn preserved int he freezer for the winter.

This afternoon we went back to Fond du Lac to meet with Marty.   The in and out of the van IS getting easier.   The meeting went well.   Marty took a cast of Dick's right stump.   He is replacing the socket as he feels that the leg is now pretty much done shrinking.   He is also going to have it go on the same as the left one, which seems much more secure and is easier to get on.  It will take a month or so but it will be worth it.

So it has been a busy day.   I have to call Mike at the wheelchair place.   He put foodrests on the motorized chair which do keep his feet and knees where they should be but we discovered today that the stump rests will not fit on the chair now.    As Rosanna Rosanna Dana used to say.  "It's always something.'

A busy day coming to an end.   I HOPE to get to bed early to read a bit before going to sleep.

Until tomorrow

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I really love Mondays.

The night was not great, but I was able to go back to bed for an hour after feeding Roxie, which helped a bit.   We were all up and ready when Bobbie got here at 9AM to stay with Dick.

I dropped off some coats and stuff at St Vinnies on my way to Blessed Trinity for Bible Study.   There were 7 of us there today.  

We have been discussing Psalm 69 which is a really a crabby Psalm with the writer feeling very sorry for himself and asking God to send lots of awful curses on his enemies.  Lots of the questions were about how we feel about that.   It isn't easy to wish well to the people who have offended us and yet it is difficult to understand people and peoples who carry offenses  to the grave or from one generation to the next. 

We see the latter in the relations between Israel and Palestine and in Ireland and in many nations around this world.    Hate seems to come through the generations.    I shared a song that Mary Black sings about hate and forgiveness.   Here are the lyrics.   I copied them off of the internet.   There is no person listed as the author so I am assuming that it IS Mary Black.   If you would like to hear it, get in touch with me.

A POISON TREE

I was angry with my friend
I told him so and my wrath did end
I was angry with my foe
told him not and my wrath did grow

and I watered it in fears
night and morning with my tears
and I sunned it with smiles
and with soft deceitful wiles

and it grew both day and night
till it bore an apple bright
and my foe beheld it shine
and he knew that it was mine

was a poison tree
beware of a Poison Tree
Poison Tree
growing inside of me

and into my garden stole
when the night had veiled the pole
in the morning glad I see
my foe outstretched
beneath that tree

was a Poison Tree
beware of a Poison Tree
Poison Tree
growing inside of me

Poison Tree
beware of a Poison Tree
Poison Tree

what happened to you
and me


After the study, I went to Mother's house.  We got her bills all paid and her pills set up for the week and had a nice chance to visit again.  She was a bit tired but is so enjoying the time with Leif and Nora.   We shared our visits.   Families need to treasure time together.   Nora and I were remembering times with Auntie Marge and Uncle Elmer.   Auntie Marge never had children and was such a fussy person that Nora and I were a bit stunned by the fact that we were supposed to be clean all the time and just observe and not get into things.   However, I remember Aunt Helen telling me that when Auntie Marge would come home and hold the babies, both Dad's and Uncle Jack's and Uncle Jim's, she would look at them and cuddle them and Helen saw a tear in the corner of her eye.    I wonder, but we will not know until we reach the gates of heaven, if she and Uncle Elmer were unable to conceive. 

I was home by 11:45 and we had soup and grilled cheese sandwiches with pesto for lunch.   (Dick did not have pesto.)   Then a nap and I actually took time to read this afternoon.   I have a book I HAVE to finish so that I can get it to a friend of mine for a book discussion in November.  It is a rather long book so I want to give her some time.

We had leftovers for supper and now are starting to wind down for the evening.   Roxie is quite content on my desk but will amble in to the bedroom when I go to bed.  She does not stay the whole night but likes to be there when we settle in.

So rest easy tonight

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Sundays are nice.    We stayed in bed until after 9AM this morning.    I am still tired.  But at least it was a rather quiet day.   I baked a new kind of scone,  Basil/orange marmalade.     They are really good.   I am trying to fine recipes to use my beautiful fresh herbs in.

Leif and Nora stopped in for a visit this afternoon at about 2PM.   They had been at Mother's and were giving her a chance to rest and us a chance for a super catch up visit.    It was a lovely couple of hours.  We shared a glass of wine and some of my herb recipe attempts and just talked.    Dick loves having Deeleys come to visit and enjoys Nora and Leif a lot so it was a welcome Sunday afternoon.  

We always have SO much to talk about.   They are going up north to the Apostle Islands with Eileen and Fred tomorrow and will return on Thursday.    Leif and Nora are planning on visiting special Wisconsin places every time they come back for a visit.   Dick and I have turned them on the the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo.

We had leftovers for our supper and Kay is here to put Dick to bed for me.    Tomorrow starts another week.    It will be rather busy.   On Tuesday,  Dick and I will got to Fond du Lac to meet with the prosthesist.   I hope we can resolve the problems with the right leg.

So.  Time to wind down.    Can you believe that July is almost over.   August 1st will begin the Celtic season of   LUGHNASADH,the harvest season.    Hope the blessed rain we have received in the past week or so makes this a better season than it looked like.

Dia Dhuit

Mary