What a weekend, what a day today.    Both were wonderful

As you now, Felicia, Luann and I left between 1 and 2PM on Friday for Chicago and IBAM.    We got to our hotel at about 5PM.   I called my friend Maureen.   She was just leaving the Irish Center, so came to our hotel and the four of us has dinner at Harry Carey's which is attached to this particular Holiday Inn.  What a pleasure to spend and evening with Maureen again.   We have been Celtic friends and personal friends for over 12 years now.   We met at one of the early Celtic Women conferences and have been close ever since.

We got to bed fairly early that night which was good because Saturday night was late (for me anyway).   Luann, Felicia and I got up at about 7:30AM or so, got all dressed and ready and then went downstairs for breakfast.  Joan and Richard Kramer joined us for breakfast.   We all caught the shuttle to the Irish Center provided by the hotel at 10:30AM.  I met some great new (hopefully) friends on the shuttle.   Rob, a sweet man from Ohio, who had come to see Phil Coulter and connect Bat Burns, a seanache,who was also at IBAM with his CDS , books and story telling presentations.   I did not get to a presentation but met him (also on the shuttle) and at breakfast on Sunday.  I bought two of his CDS and the three of us listened to them with great pleasure on our drive back home from Chicago.   Great stories.   Anyway, Rob kindly carried my bag, full of my props for my presentation to the shuttle, and into the center for me.    Ran into him several times during the day too.  

I also met two men, muralists, Mark Ervine and Martin Levine from Ulster who painted two murals LIVE during the event.   I fill show you the murals as soon as I figure out how to download them from my phone.

I gave my presentation at 2PM in the Literary Salon, right after Mary Pat Kelly of Galway Bay fame.   My presentation was on how I envision,  design and put together the wall hangings that I create sporadically.  I brought several of them and Maureen liked that as we had something to hang on the walls to brighten things up.    I am always so flattered that people like them.   The talk went well, I was told.   And I felt so also as I had a good time doing it.  

I went to the awards dinner with Maureen and her husband Marty.    It was up in the top floor that used to be a gymnasium.   The room has been completely remodeled and was nicely set for a grand dinner.   Awards were given at the dinner - Phil Coulter for music, Morgan Llywelyn for literature,  Matt Lamb for visual arts, Stephen Rea for performing arts and Richard Moore for the Person of the year.   Richard Moore was blinded by a rubber bullet fired by a British Soldier at the age of nine.  He forgave him personally and in 1996 founded the charity Children in Crossfire.  

The next day started with mass in the auditorium with the Irish Center choir singing (Much of the mass in the Irish).  Then on to more lovely programs, most of them in the Literary Salon where I gave my talk.   I did join the children when the Fairy Queen let them make Magic wands.   I wanted one too.   So I now have one.

Today was busy.  Bobbie came this morning and I went to bible study and then over to Mom's to pay her bills.   Then home to start putting things away and catching up around here.

Quite successful, actually but there is always SOMETHING left.  Seeds for tomorrow, I guess.

So rest tonight and tomorrow will be another great day.  I am going to see Mother tomorrow night.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I am so tired.    Got up at quarter to 7 this morning.   Should have gotten up earlier but it was not the best night as Dick woke me up twice to help him.

Anyway, I had a dentist appointment at 8AM.  That went well.   I have no new cavities and my teeth are now glowing.




The above is as far as I got last night.   We were both SO tired that when I got Dick to bed, I crashed too.   BUT we both slept like logs last night so I feel better about this morning than last.   Good thing, as I will be heading to Chicago in three hours. 

Dick had his Anti Coagulation check yesterday and he is still right on, so we don't have to change the dosage of the Warfurin .  We also both got our flu shots.   This is very important to Dick so I am glad that that is done.   We have been able to keep his health appointments to only one a week which is a lot easier on him.   Maybe we should be trying to make things a bit more difficult, this might stretch him and get him more enthused.    I am really concerned with his weakness.   But he seems content.






I am leaving now.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It was a very very FALL day today.  Nice and crisp after a light rain overnight.

I left shortly after Heather got here this morning to spend some time with Mother.   She looks wonderful and has started her therapy.   She is still weak and disgusted by all the pills, (I think a lot of them that she is disgusted with are the same vitamins she has been taking all along.)  I sat with her through breakfast and a bit longer.   She knows that she wants an OK from the doctor and the therapists before she goes home.  

Home again, Dick was all ready for the day but so tired that he begged me to put him to bed at 10:30AM.  He slept until 1:30PM or so.  So I spent the day getting ready for IBAM.   I will be leaving between 1 and 2PM on Friday.  We will return shortly before 9PM on Sunday.   I am so looking forward to those two and a half days of not having to take care of anybody.   I know that I will come back much refreshed and ready to dive in again.

I have a bunch of green tomatoes so looked on the net for some recipes and found a recipe for Green tomato bread.    I made it tonight and BOY is it good.   Still have several green tomatoes though so I will have to research some more.

Well, It is about time to head for bed.   Tomorrow will be a busier day than today and I need to be rested.

Dia Dhuit
Mary

I got to sleep in a bit this morning, for all the good it did.  I was still tired and took a morning nap instead of an afternoon nap.  I did get a lot done today.   Some wash, made a stew, LOTS of computer stuff.   My desk is wonderfully clean.

Tonight I did the grocery shopping.   

Tomorrow morning, when Heather comes back, I will go to see Mother at Meadow View.   As I have not heard from anybody, I am sure that she is doing just fine.

So. until tomorrow,

Dia Dhuit

Mary



I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

Fall is in the air.

Bobbie was here to be with Dick this morning.   I went to Bible Study, then over to Mother's house to be sure that all of her mail and bills were taken care of.   I will do this until she comes home.

Home again, Bobbie and I had mushroom pie for our lunch and Dick had a hot dog and beans.   I have been busy with CWI stuff this afternoon and generally cleaning up the things that got let go while I was galavanting at the Plymouth Arts Center with the Caim concert.

Tomorrow, I should be back in the groove and be able to get things in order for the weekend at IBAM.  I am so excited.  Two nights without having to worry and three days to be with friends will give me a boost.   A boost much needed.  This morning, for instance, I wanted to stay in bed so badly.   But had to get up much too soon.  

We did well this afternoon.  

Hope you can all say the same.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This has been an unusual and mostly superfabulous weekend.

Yesterday was the CAIM concert at the Plymouth Arts Center.    Heather and Jacynth arrived at the condo at about 10:30AM.  This was good.   They were able to get settled downstairs and ready and I prepared grilled cheese sandwiches with a fruit salad for our lunch.    Dick was pleased to meet them as I knew he would be.   

As soon as Heather from Embrace arrived, we zipped on to the Arts Center so that they could get set up and do their sound checks and all, and we Celtic Women could set up the tea table and heat the water for the tea.

There were about 30 people there to enjoy CAIM.   The performance was just super.   One wonders how two voices can produce the wonderful sounds that these two do.   There music runs from whimsical, to Celtic folk to religious and the Sound,  ah the sound.

And also  AH the tea breads and cookies that our Celtic Sisters provided for the guests.  I would say it was a successful event.

We got home at about 5PM.    I had a mushroom pie ready to put into the oven and a pasty for Dick who doesn't like mushrooms that much.    With a green salad and a piece of the pumpkin cake that I the four of us were quite happy.

Heather and Jacynth sang several songs just for Dick.   They also sang our grace before the dinner.  Dick loved it and told them that it was like they brought a piece of the world in to him.    They are SO nice and I was glad to be able to put this together and to have them as guests for the night.  

It was an at home day.    We had a late breakfast with the ladies around 9:30 and they left for De Pere at about 11:30AM.    Then Dick needed a nap.    I rested for a while too but Dick kept waking up and needing things so I am hoping for a quiet night tonight.

When Heather, from Embrace, got here at 6:30PM, I drove to Meadow View in Sheboygan to visit Mother.    She looks great but admits she is very weak.    She would rather be home but is accepting of the fact that she has to listen to the doctor and see what the therapists have to say about her strength.   As she and I agreed, she has to be safe.

So that is a summary of the past two days.    Hope you are all well.   I will be spending the week getting ready for IBAM next weekend.   I can hardly wait.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This has been a "longest" day.

Dick seemed to be extremely tired and a bit "off" today.   I can't describe it well but Heather, the care worker noticed too.     I am hoping that a good night's sleep will reset him.

Jody was here at 8AM to clean.   I baked scones and made cranberry relish.  Then I baked the Barm Brack for the Caim concert tomorrow.

Mother was transferred to Meadow View Nursing home today.    Hopefully, she will recover quickly and be able to go home.  She will not be content until she is home. 

Tonight I went to shoot pistol league at Rhine and now it is time to get ready for bed.    I am so tired and tomorrow will be busy what with the house guests and the concert.

Fall is in the air.   The trees are absolutely spectacular this year.

Barbara called tonight to see how Mom is doing.   She is working much too hard what with her job and school.    She will be done with school by Christmas then can ease up a bit.

Dia Dhuit

Mary 

First of all.  Mother is doing quite well.   She had hoped to leave the hospital today, but Dr. Hancock kept her for a few more tests and to be sure of her stability.   Tomorrow she will be transferred to Meadow View Nursing home for some rehab.   She is anxious to get started because she wants to go home.

I did several errands on the way home.  When I got home, Dick was all bathed and had done everything but eat breakfast.   So we had a nice late morning and afternoon.   We are eating up leftovers, so cooking is easy.    I am getting ready for the weekend, however.   I made a nice main dish pie crust that needs to be refrigerated for a Guinness Mushroom pie for Saturday's evening dinner.   My house guests are vegetarian.   Dick does not mind vegetarian but does not care much for mushrooms so I have a pasty for him.   I also am soaking the dried fruit for the barm brak that I will be taking to the concert for the tea part of tea and cakes.

I am thinking of a stew for Sunday.  I think I have everything I need for that.

I had a little adventure today.

While I was waiting for the Plymouth Arts Center to open, I stopped in at the Exchange Bank,one of my favorite places, for a cup of coffee.   All of a sudden, people were pointing at the building across Stafford Street.   There on the ledge or the second story was a cat.   Apparently the cat had managed to push its way out of the window onto the ledge and couldn't get back in.  A big white cat was inside and kept encouraging him.

Somebody apparently knew how to get into the units next to the apartment that the cat came from.   First they tried to coax the cat to a window about four down from the one he was trying to get back into.   He kind of told them that he thought they were crazy to think that he would fall for THAT one.   Then somebody managed to get to the window right beside the one he was at.  That was apparently not so much of a stretch and he zipped right in there.  We all cheered mightily.   I was sure relieved.   Kitties are so able to get themselves into so much trouble.   Curiosity, you know.

So that was my excitement for the day.

Hope you had a good one.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It has been a long two days.

Last night, when I got home from shopping, at 8:00PM the phone was ringing.   It was Donna.   Mother had been taken to the hospital.   The evening caregiver came at 7PM and found her in her chair semi conscious and not able to communicate.   She called Randy and 911.

Heather, our caregiver, was able to stay with Dick.   I went to the hospital right away.    She was really out of it.  She did not recognize us.   And she was distressed.   But as time went on, she started to settle down and by the time I left, she was settled in a room and knew all of us. 

I went back this morning for an hour.  She is MUCH better.   She is weak as a kitten, of course.  But they have decided that she did not have a stroke but a seizure.   Jeff and I started laughing as she was reminding US that we had to cancel Meals on Wheels for a while and let Companion Care know that she will not be needing them for a while.

She will be given meds for that the seizures and will have to start taking a baby aspirin a day.   Today she had a round of therapy.  I believe that tomorrow will be the day she will go to Meadow View until she is strong enough to be home again.     We hope this will happen.   Of course, she wants to go home now.   But, as I explained to her, this is just like when she dislocated her shoulder.  This time the seizure "dislocated" her ability to care for herself and we have to get her to the point that she can do so again.  She did it before.   I hope she can do it again, but - if Dad comes to get her, that is OK too.   We will be lonely but what joy there will be in heaven.

This afternoon, Dick and I drove to Fond Du Lac to get his updated prosthesis.   This has been a long time coming.  We went up two times that the thing was just not working.  So this is really a relief.   Dick told me that he plans on trying to stand again now that the leg is steady.
Pray God that this happens.

So now you know the story of the past couple of days.   I will run to see Mom in the morning and am sure that I will be pleased with the improvement again.

Bless all of you /

Dia Dhuit

Mary 

Monday, Monday.

Everybody was at bible study this morning which always makes a nice discussion time and gives us a lot to pray for.   Psalm 90 does stress the importance of community prayer.   We have personally all know how our little group praying together does a lot of good.   And the power of prayer in a big group such as Mass is super.

Mom was fine this morning.   She said she was "just the same" which sometimes I have found to be that she is feeling weak.  Today, she perked up really quickly.   I think perhaps she was a bit tired but it was such a good tired.   Britt was or is in Wisconsin and drove from Madison to spend time with her yesterday.   What a lovely gift for Mom.

We got all of our errands done and I even went out and cut the "last rose of summer" to float in her rose bowl.  I picked up sub sandwiches for lunch for Bobbie, Dick and me.  I got the same sub with three different dressings.   That turned out to be a really good idea.   Bobbie got to eat one of my decadent pumpkin cupcakes.  

The rest of the afternoon was quiet but busy.    Now I am settled down to watch Dancing with the Stars.   I missed last week because the Packers are much more important.   So this is my first week of the season.   I do enjoy the show.

Tomorrow is a "home all day."   I will have Embrace here in the evening, and will do the grocery shopping, but the day is MINE.

So, until then. 

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I spent a whole day with no agenda.   It was great.  

We both slept until nearly 8AM this morning and we had gone to bed very early last night also so I feel that I am pretty well set for the week.    It is not too jammed, but will culminate on Saturday with the concert at Plymouth Arts Center.

We had leftover fish  for lunch and Irish bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches for supper.   I made some absolutely decadent pumpkin cupcakes with maple frosting for a dessert.    I want to take  something to Mom tomorrow and have a good dessert around the house.   I can freeze part of it.

Tomorrow is a normal Monday.   I will enjoy Bible Study and the visit with Mother before settling down to an agenda again.

Bless you

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I have a new Mantra  = "I choose peace and tranquility throughout my day."

I had hoped to stay in bed for a long sleep this morning, especially since I didn't get to bed until almost 11PM last night.  BUT between the cat, who has decided that the water left on the bottom of the shower is the best water in the world, and Dick, I did have to bet up sooner than I wanted.

I have a feeling that tonight will be rather disjointed too because Dick had to go to bed early because his right foot was hurting so bad and sometimes taking off the prostheses and lying down relieves the pain.

It was a quiet day.  I was able to get some cleaning done downstairs and even practice the flute for a bit.    Did a load of wash, fixed a nice chicken casserole for our dinner and generally cleaned up around here.

Heather,from Embrace, came at 3:30PM and I left for Mass.   I stopped for a couple of prescriptions on the way home.   We had a light mac and cheese dinner and then I put Dick to bed.

I will not be far behind him.   Perhaps a head start will help.

So "A Blessing on your head" and good night.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

What a day.   Not too exciting but not too stressful.   It was a perfect Fall day actually.  I convinced Dick to let me leave the doors open for a couple of hours this afternoon.   It smells to fresh now.  I LOVE it.

Jody was here at 8AM to clean.   I spent the morning on the computer paying bills, and sending emails and trying to be sure everybody is on the same page for next weekend and the weekend after.

Next weekend will be the CAIM Concert.  I need to be sure that everybody who promised brings their "cakes" for the Tea table that we will be setting up along one wall.  I also want to be sure that enough of our members come to make it an event.

Then the following weekend is IBAM when I will be in Chicago for the whole weekend.  That requires lots of planning.

We had haddock, boiled potatoes and veggies for supper.   Really good.  I  oven roasted the fish.   Num Num.

I spent about an hour downstairs working on some sewing and cleaning up as Heather and Jaclyn of CAIM will be staying there next Saturday night.   I will do some more tomorrow and Sunday and hopefully have all of that ready.   I talked to Heidi today and have next month's changes in care time set, I hope.  

Tonight I drove to Rhine Plymouth for shooting as soon as Heather came to take care of Dick.   I was pretty not great but my arm feels better and I hope as it improves, my shooting will too.   Had a nice visit with Nancy Coenen and her husband Jerry.    Nancy just got back from Ireland.   We had a great talk.   She loves Ireland now too. 

So overall it has been a good day.    Got home and Dick was seated on the bed ready for my care.    He is having trouble getting comfortable,  I hope his body will settle down soon and we can both sleep.

Tomorrow will be another quiet day with just Mass away from home.    I am feeling rather organized these days.   Wonder how long that will last.

Dia Dhuit

Mary


When you feel like you're drowning in life, Don't worry -- your Lifeguard walks on water. 


 "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.  It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."  John Adams  

It was a lovely day.   The temperature never went over 69 but the sun shone and there was no wind. 

Last night was a pretty good sleep.   I got up at 8AM.   Kay came at 10:30AM so that I could go to Aurora for my appointment with Jon Niewolny, Physician Assistant, about my shoulder and arm.  He had a new set of Xrays taken and believes that it is spurs in the shoulder that are irritating the rotator cup.   I am no longer supposed to do the neck stretches and he gave a shot of cortisone in my shoulder that should in the next week provide some relief.  At least there is some hope.

The rest of the day was quiet.   We napped, I payed bills, I cooked and I caught up with emails and stuff like that.

Tomorrow, I have to drive to Valders to have Dick's lift seat in the van repaired.   I will leave at 7:30AM.   Going to be a long morning but with any luck at all the afternoon will allow me to recover.

So.   things are coming together.

Update you tomorrow. 

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I just got home from a meeting for Extraordinary Ministers at church and from grocery shopping.    It was a long and busy day.  

Roxie is telling me that it is time to go to bed and I believe she is right.

So a hello to you all and I wish you a grand tomorrow.

I go to see another doctor about my sore arm and neck.    Perhaps there is something.    I think I am running out of doctors.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This was a nice usual Monday.    The night was very disrupted, so I stayed in bed until 7:30AM.   I was able to get everything done for Dick and me before 9AM when Bobbie got here.    Dick still needed his breakfast, but Bobbie doesn't mind doing that for her Dad.   She likes cooking too.

We had a small group at Bible Study, but an enthusiastic one.  We are a pretty good prayer group too. 

 Peggy, one of our members, has a friend whose daughter has a baby due in late December.   A tumor was discovered in the baby.   Surgeons were able to remove little Ethan from the womb, remove the tumor and put him back.   Please pray hard for this little man and his mother.   Only 20 such operations have been performed in the United States.

Also our prayer buddy, Ione, was not there.  I called her this afternoon and found that she had a minor heart attack last Wednesday.   Tomorrow she will have stress tests etc.   Pray for her too.

Then on to Mother's house.   She is a bit weak but doing quite well.   We got her bills all paid and filled her pill box.  and visited for a bit.   I am so glad that she is so content at home and can be there.   We know that her weakness is a risk but she wants to be home and deserves to be there as long as she manages as well as she does.

I had intended to pick up tacos and burritos from the Taco Shop on Eastern Avenue, but they were closed for a family emergency so I drove across the street to Chesters and picked up steak sandwiches and fries for our lunch.   I promised Bobbie and Dick Mexican food next week.

The rest of the day has been very quiet.    We rested,  I took care of Dick and cleaned up the kitchen and my desk area. 

Now the Packer game is about to start.    I have to confess that I am having trouble getting enthused about the season this year.    I am in the fantasy football league and that is helping but I thing because I have trouble staying up late for games it is hard to get too excited.    But Go Pack Go.   I am wearing the proper attire tonight.  One of my Packer shirts.

So I hope this is a quiet night and I can sleep straight through.  The past three nights have been broken.

Until tomorrow

Dia Dhuit

Mary

"Poetry is one of the most fugitive arts: it can be assigned to memory, taken and hidden in the mind, smuggled into smoky cabin back rooms, recited there and then conveyed only by speech to another person. It is therefore the most likely to survive colonization." by Irish Poet  Eavan Boland

It was a nice quiet Sunday.   The night was rather disjointed so I was glad. 

We are now watching the Emmies and then will be in bed.   Actually I intend to go soon.

Just wanted you to know that all is well.

I have been printing like crazy, Richard and Brenda, thanks again.

Dia Dhuit
Mary

Woke up this morning to 46 degrees.   They say that there could even be a frost tonight.   I believe we are too close to the lake and my suseptable plants are close enough to the house for this first one.

Richard and Brenda called this morning and helped me with the computer.   I had been unable to print from my machine.   This is a real problem for me and I am SO grateful that they can step in (from Madison even.   Like a Miracle.)  and repair things.

We had just plain good old cheeseburgers with a salad four our lunch.   Then we both took a short nap. 

I had intended to do more sorting and sewing today but last night was not a really good night for sleep so I felt like a slug all day.   Just a movin' slow.   Hopefully tonight will make up for last night.


I talked to both Bret and Bart yesterday and today.   I am worried about their Aunt Jacquie and since their Dad lives with her this could impact them.    They will both to their best to check on Jacquie.  Also, their cousin Vikki is more in the mix as her mother, Doris, also lives there.  Wish I could help but I am just too far away.

Take care of you.    I don't want to worry about anybody else.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I had a rather difficult night.   It was one of those nights that I felt that I did not sleep at all but every time I looked at the clock it was a couple of hours later.So I HAD to have slept.

I was busy all day.   Jody came at 8AM to clean.  I baked some basil/marmalade scones while she was here because she really likes my baking.   Then I prepared chicken with gravy and mashed potatoes and salad for our lunch.  We ate lunch very early because Dick could not keep his eyes open any longer.   We both took a nap.  When we got up, I went downstairs and moved all the medical stuff like wheel chairs and bath benches to the area under the stairs.  My next project is to gather all the computer stuff and putit into one spot so that when Richard and Brenda come they can tell me what we need to keep and how to dispose of what we do not need to keep.  

Perhaps if I knew more life would be easier.

I did a bit of sewing while I was downstairs.   I have several UFOs and find that they seem to change their importance from day to day.     I need to prepare all I need for IBAM in the next two weeks.  Maureen said she would get a flyer printed if I need it.   I am not at that point and need to get there.  This is a quiet weekend.  Perhaps it will  work out.   Somehow or other things seem to come out all right.  I hope people will like my presentation.   I NEED to get my printer working.   Or else figure out how to get two posters printed for my "show".   I really want the people to see the "Hand of God" and the "Maid Mother Crone" wall hangings as a part of my talk.

So here we are.  The end of another day.   I can't believe that it is Friday night again.   And that we are at the Autumn Equinox.   I got to change the Celtic Calendar tonight. 

A whole weekend to kind of get my act together.   What a joy.    In two weeks CAIM will perform and in three weeks I will escape to Chicago for the IBAM weekend.   I need some time for me.   Actually a weekend just me would be nice but I am so grateful for IBAM.  This will keep me through Christmas.Bless you all and I pray for you all. Pray for Robin Roberts and for Jody's sister and for Jacquie and Doris and Dick and for Todd who is trying to care for them all.   I wish I could be there for them too.

Dia Dhuit
Mary

It was a nice clear Autumn day.  I know that technically Autumn starts on Saturday but today was a preview.

Kay, from Embrace, came this morning to get Dick up. dressed. fed and medicine dispensed.  So I was able to let the good night's sleep extend a bit later in the day.  Yes, last night was a good night.

I went out for a bit while Kay was here and dropped some items off at St. Vinnies, and distributed some more posters about Caim.

We had chicken and rice for our dinner then took a nap.   

I finished cleaning the "wine room" today so it was a productive day.   Tomorrow I will consolidate the various medical equipment that we have in the at area so it is all together and out of the furnace room.    The furnace room will be next.   I intend to gather ALL of the old computer boxes into one area and eventually hopefully get advice as to what do do with it.

Tomorrow I am going to try to figure out why I cannot print from my computer too.   I am not sure how I will do this but will start with connections and go from there.

Tomorrow we get to be home ALL day.  Yippee.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

What a day.   It was a pretty bad night.  Dick had trouble getting to sleep and it was midnight before things really settled down.    Fortunately, Roxie waited until 6:30AM to wake me up.  

Heidi, from Embrace, came at 7:AM.  I was still unwashed and feeling lazy but put her in charge of Dick and I proceeded as I wanted too.   I left at about 8:30AM to pick up some vacuum cleaner filters.  I also found some shirts for Dick and a purse at KMart.   On the way back I got our last corn of the season.   This has to be the end.

Home again, I found a very needy kitty.   Roxie seems quite lost today.  She wants something and I can't understand her.

At. 12:15PM Tim 2 from Custom Care and Transport picked us up to go to see Marty at Actra for a fitting for Dick's new right prosthesis.   It did not work again.   We are pretty discouraged at this point.  Marty is making adjustments and will call us when we can come up for another fitting.  

It was almost 3:30PM when we got back home.  We are both exhausted and will go to bed as soon as is REASONABLY possible.  Not before 8PM as there is too much risk of waking up in the middle of the night.   I need a night straight through from 9 to 7 actually.

Perhaps two or three nights.

Ah but I am the dreamer.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Woke up this morning and it was cold in the house.   So I turned on the furnace.   Air came out but it was cold.  So I called Steger AGAIN.   Rene, the receptionist, said that she would have someone out quickly.   Guess who came.   Greg, the owner.   He got it fixed and knows what was wrong.   I think his guy will get a talking too.

Anyway.   The rest of the day went quite well.    I got the trash out and cleaned half of the wine room.   I hope to have it all cleaned up by the weekend.   Then I am moving all of the medical equipment  into that room.  It will be easier to clean the furnace room next.

I did a bit of work on the wall hanging that I am going to make out of the four squares of crazy quilt that Mother put together.   They are too precious not to use.

Grocery shopping tonight.

Whew,  I am tired.

Hope your day was productive and happy too.

Dia Dhuit

Mary









~Concerns for animals is a matter of taking
the side of the weak over the strong. Something
the best people have always done ♥

*Harriet Beecher Stowe*

Finally, after three weeks,  A normal Monday.

The night was very broken up so after I fed Roxie, I went back to bed until 7AM.  I was still able to get everything done for me and Dick before Bobbie came at 9AM.   She did have to fix her Dad's breakfast, we did not get quite that far.

It was good to be back at Bible Study.   We had a pretty full table.   Nine of us.  They said that they had missed me.  The 85th Psalm, a psalm of lament, is not nearly as dreary as the others we have been discussing.   As a matter of fact, it is almost hopeful.

Next on to Mother's house.   She was quite well today.  I think the visits from George and Betsy were very good for her.    They came every day but for short visits.   This is good as she doesn't get so worn out that way.   We had a nice Monday visit.  We got all the bills paid and I put out her pills too.


Dick, Bobbie and I had spaghetti and apple cake for out lunch.   Bobbie had warmed the sauce so we just had to wait for the pasta to cook and I made a salad.   Sure was good to have Bobbie here.   Roxie was VERY excited when she came in.   They had a nice vacation up north as usual.    She said that it was nice at this time of year, just like Dick and I always did.  Everything is still open but the crowds are down because kids are back in school.

Tonight is the CWI Board Telephone Conference call.   As it starts at 7PM and I will be helping Dick get ready for bed as soon as it is over, I decided to do the blog now.

Happy IVGLDSW Day!   Today is International Very Good Looking, Damn Smart Woman's Day, so please send this message to someone you think fits this description. Please do not send it back to me as I have already received it from a Very Good Looking, Damn Smart Woman! And remember this motto to live by: Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, totally worn out and screaming 'WOOO HOOOOO what a ride!'  

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A serene Sunday.   I was able to stay in bed until almost 8:30AM.   This was a good start.   Dick was a real sleepy head all day.   He kept falling asleep even when he was performing a task, like nebulizing.   This, of course, made the day even more quiet..

I fixed the mac and cheese that I had planned for our dinner with Richard and Brenda, but halved the recipe.   That and a nice green salad made a supper lunch.

We both rested after lunch.   I made the reservations for the lodging and the admission to IBAM next month.   The only thing I am not sure of is if  I want to go to a Phil Counter concert on Friday.  This would be another healthy cost and I am not sure.   I need to find out what others are doing.   There are other things to do at the center besides that concert and it will be good to be with my CWI friends.   Also - a good night's sleep would be a blessing for me.

-Kay came at 6:30PM.   We had finished a supper of Irish bacon, tomato and lettuce sandwiches.  Boy were they good.   I spent the next couple of hours in the lower area working on the wall hanging of Mom's crazy quilt squares and the Kevin wall hanging.   Then I called Jacquie.  I just suddenly missed her.  We have been friends for almost 50 years.   A friendship like that is priceless.  

Bless you ayou and yours and keep you safe through the night.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This was a beautiful day.   Comfortable dry weather with just a hint of a breeze.

I did go back to bed after feeding Roxie, but that did not work too well.   I had trouble getting comfortable and then Roxie decided that this is not what she had in mind for the morning anyway.  She was a real pain.   She went so far as to get onto Dick's table next to the bed and drink water from his glass.   Naturally, this made me think she was perhaps out of water.   But she was just toying with me.

We had a pretty quiet day anyway.   And tomorrow looks as good.   I may get myself centered again.   I called Tim from Custom Care and Transport and he is coming to take Dick to Fond Du Lac for his prosthesis appointment on Wednesday.   So we are set for that.    The part for the converted seat in the van will be at A & J sometime next week.    But, as I told Tim.    When it gets here, I will make arrangements to have someone here to stay with Dick while I take it for the repairs.    It will have to be when I can do it and Wednesday is all arranged and I won't change those arrangements.  It will be good to see Tim again anyway. After all this time of needing his help, we miss him.

Kay came to watch Dick while I went to Mass this afternoon.    It was a nice Mass.   Fr Dan does a nice job and has tightened up the ritual a bit.   There is a meeting for "ministers" on the 25th in the evening.   I will have to ask that the help come a bit early but will be able to attend.   Being a Eucharistic Minister is about all that I am able to do at church at this time.

Richard and Brenda were going to come for a visit tomorrow.  Suzi had Kunert family get together this evening and they were going to take the long way home.  BUT they had some car trouble so the visit is off.   We are all so disappointed.   What the heck is happening to machines lately?

Jeff, Kathy, George and Betsy had supper at 52 Stafford tonight.    After supper, they stopped by here.  Jeff and Kathy shared some veggies from their garden.   Lovely tomatoes and three kinds of peppers.    Should be fun.   George and Betsy are in Wisconsin for just four days and will be leaving tomorrow.   Time is so short when visiting.   I was so happy that we had a few minutes with them.

George has been retired for 2 months already.

Tomorrow should be a good day too.  

Take care of you

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Another rather fruitless day.    I got up at 6AM because help was coming at 7:30AM and shortly afterwards.

Jody came at 7:30AM and Heidi from Embrace came about 15 minutes later.     I had to take the van to A & J to have Dick's seat checked.  After three hours of them checking it and them communicating with the factory, they decided that a shaft was broken and one has to be sent from the factory.   So sometime next week,they will call and I will have to go back there for the repairs.     I am sick to death of new things not working properly.    

I got home at about 12:30PM.   Dick waited for me to eat lunch, then we both napped for a bit.

We had a nice quiet rest of the day and then Kay came at 6:30PM and I drove out to Rhine to shoot pistol league.    That was a nice break.     I brought a present home for Dick.   They always have beer left from the beer blast fundraiser and I bought an assorted pack.    Perhaps Richard and Brenda might like to try one on Sunday.  It is just for the fun of experimenting.

If George, Betsy, Jeff and Kathy stop tomorrow night, I have something fun to offer too.

Tomorrow should be very quiet.   All I have to do is go to Mass in the evening.   Sunday too.   I need the rest.  Pray that nothing else breaks.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It was a cool and misty day weather wise.   Not TOO cold but certainly fall like.   Did I tell you that I have seen trees with leaves turned already.   Not many but I think the hot dry weather has everything mixed up.

Heather came at 7:30AM and I left at about 8AM to do some errands.   I picked up Mother's vitamins from Walgreens, then went to the Plymouth Art Center to leave a poster and some tickets for them to sell for the Caim Concert.   Do you have it on your Calendar.   Saturday, October 6th at 2PM.

I stopped at the Sewing Basket and picked up a "sky" for the new wall hanging about St. Kevin and the bird that I will be doing next.   I want the pieces so that when I am at IBAM giving my talk, I can show them what I do to get ready to put it together.   I also got some fabric to use to make a wall hanging out of the last four quilt blocks that Mother made.  She doesn't do any more because of her eyes.   I want to prepare it and give it to one of the girls.   It is so hard because there is just one and I would like to give a special thing to all of them.   They are all so beautiful and I know they would all like anything that Grandma made.  Becky is out of the draw because I gave her the quilt that Mother found from the Deeley garage that she repaired.   Sorry Becky.  But there are six other granddaughters.  I do have one quilt that I need to pass on also.

Anyway, I got back from my errands and Dick was a bit behind schedule.   We did get to his appointment at the Anti Coagulation Clinic, JUST on time.   His count was great.   2.6.   Leslie, you know that that is almost as good as it gets and he does not have to to back for a month.

At this point, the day fell apart.

We went out to the car.   We transferred Dick from the chair to the car seat.   I started working the controls and the chair stopped with Dick suspended halfway in and halfway out.    I checked all around the chair and there was not impediment that I could see.  I tried to bring it all the way out again. I tried everything I knew and finally called A & J.   By then the maintenance people, bless their souls, from Aurora were there trying to help me.  I gave  them the phone figuring that maintenance guys speak a language, right? 

After about an hour and the help of one of our local policemen, we were in the same situation that we were to begin with.  We had managed to get Dick into his motorized chair and into the building.  As it was misty and cool, I was pleased with that.

At this point, A&J said they would come to fix it.   So we went into the clinic to the restaurant.  Dick was too distressed but I had a sandwich because I was hungry.   Then a call came and A&J had decided that it would be better if we drove to their shop at Valders to get it fixed.   YEAH!   Did they have catheterizing capability, and really Good handicap restrooms with lots of help?   I think not.

I called our special transportation guy, Tim, from Custom Care and Transport.  Bless his soul, he was able to have his helper over to pick Dick up and take him home within 20 minutes.    I was unable to get someone at that short a notice to be with Dick.  So  Heidi from Embrace will be here at quarter to 9AM tomorrow and I will go to Valders to A & J to see what in the Sam Hill is wrong.

Poor Dick was just spent and very confused.    I was not far behind him but got him cathed and down for a nap.  He is much recovered after that.    I am afraid that I will have to get ready for bed and have him wake me up when he is ready to be put to bed.   I am exhausted and tomorrow, which was supposed to be a quiet day is now a double whammy.

So pray for your frustrated friend.  I keep remembering my Bret.    Years ago, his father had broken his arm and things were rather stressful around the house.   I was hanging out clothes in the back yard. (I did not have a clothes dryer at this point in my life.)  Bret was swinging on his swing set.   He was just a bit over 3years old. With each swing he was saying.  "Don't worry, Mom.   Everything will be OOOKay.    Don't  worry.  Everything will be ALL  right."   After all these years whenever things are rough.  I remember that sweet voice reassuring me.    One of those very special gifts from God.   And it is still reassuring.

Don't worry.   Every thing will be OOOOKAY.
Dia Dhuit

Mary

A very busy day and I felt very productive.   I had to get up at 6AM but the night's sleep was pretty good.   Dick had a fairly good night too.   BUT he was so tired this morning that he had me put him to bed for a nap at 10:30AM,shortly after I got back from my morning "adventure".   I left home at about quarter to eight after Kay got here.   I went to the Exchange bank for coffee and a bagel.   I left one of the CAIM posters there and they put it up for me.   Then I went to the two Christian schools in the area, St. John the Baptist and St. John Lutheran and asked them to post it on their board.   They were very pleased to do so. 

I drove up to the bank and got some money and deposited a check for Mother, then back downtown to the Plymouth Library to leave another poster   Then Home.

Dorothy Rose had called while I was gone.   She dropped by this afternoon and picked up several posters and will get them out for me.    All I have to do, that I am aware of, is to get the tickets and a poster to the Plymouth Art Center and then go to Dear Old Books and ask her to post one in the store.  I will get to Blessed Trinity on Monday and to Book Heads next Wednesday.   (They are closed for a week.)

Yea.   I love it when a plan comes together.   

When I got home, I made a batch of spaghetti sauce.  Dick had mentioned  last week that he wanted some.    I made it this morning so it could cool down and be reheated for our supper.    It was worth it.

This evening, Kay came at 5:30PM.   I picked up Sy Regan on my way to Mead Library for Karl Elder's Poet's Corner.   It was a full table and a nice bunch of readings.   I read two poems,  One of them was the Haiku I shared with you yesterday.    I read it after Georgia read a poem describing a hurricane from the eyes of a child.   The experience was really rather exciting and fun for her.   Noone was hurt.   There was a lot of destruction on their property but not their little cottage so it was and adventure.   She confessed that for years as a child she wished for another one.

Home again, Dick was ready, in bed, to be settled down for the night.   His feet and legs are hurting.   Please pray that this ebbs so that he can get a good night's sleep.   Tomorrow he has to to to Aurora for his anti-coagulation count.  A little rest will made it much easier for him.

I am ready for bed myself now, as it it 9:30PM.   I believe that Roxie wishes that I would get to it.  She is bathing herself right now.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A very productive day, I believe.    I have been home.   It was pleasant outside but windy as heck for most of it.

I got up a bit later than usual.   I was trash day but they never come before 11AM and I had everything out by 8:30AM.  Then I got Dick up and we had a nice morning.  

I finished several computer projects, emailed several people and made a phone call or two. 

We had Chicken Marsala for our lunch.   That was surely good.

Tonight I will be going grocery shopping while the person from Embrace is here.  

My friend Joan Brigham and her husband came over to pick up a 5 gallon jug and some bottles for winemaking.  I still have lots of bottles and lots of gallon jugs.   I will check with Ron K before I dispose of them.

Tomorrow will be the first of Karl Elder's Poet's Corner at Mead Library.    I will pick up Sy Regan on my way to Sheboygan.   He is legally blind and can't drive any longer so if I go, he can too.    The Sheboygan County Writer's Club has the display window at Mead for a while.   I am looking forward to that.   I wonder if they found my book that I donated to the library.   I am still a member of that club but just don't get to meetings.  Of course, I am not getting to the Cream City meetings either.  

Here is a little poem about wind - a haiku

Wind Music

A strong wind blowing
Plays the house until it hums
Like a happy child.


Have a lovely evening.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It as a whole day at home.

I had hoped to stay in bed a bit later than usual, but Dick woke up at 6AM and his back hurt so we both had to get up.   UCK.    As I explained to him if he gets up, by the time I have him all ready to get up, there is no way that I can go back to sleep.   Besides , then I have to get the pills, and the nebulizer and breakfast.

So we had an early morning.   I got a lot done today.  

Tomorrow I will have to get up fairly early because it is trash day.  but then we will be able to just go along until 6:30PM When Heather will be here and I can go shopping.

Mike from Accessability came at about 11AM this morning to replace the batteries in the wheel chair.  For the past week the chair seemed to be running out of steam any time after 6PM. Mike said that this should take care of us for a while.  The batteries are guaranteed for 6 months and these lasted almost 15 months so we should be OK.  Roxie simply ignored him today.

We had Chili for lunch.  

Then we both took a nap.   I did get at least a half an hour.   So that will help.   I just hope Dick sleeps tonight.   He has been having a problem sleeping at night.   Have him lie down at noon and he will sleep for two hours.  Put him down at 9PM and he can't sleep all night.   Doesn't make any sense to me.   Keeping him up, if you are going to suggest that, doesn't work because he just sleeps in his chair all day.   

So I am getting ready for bed now.   Hope things go well tonight.   My fourteen angels keep watch over you.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

A very quiet day indeed.   I was home for the whole day except for about an hour and a half this evening when Heather arrived.    Then I drove to Sheboygan Falls to Mother's.

Bobbie and Bill are on vacation so I won't be able to go tomorrow as I am not going to bible study and can't leave Dick alone.   Mom and I had a nice visit and got her bills paid and the pills put into the pill box before her evening help came.    She had a nice day with visits from Erin and John and from John and Holly.  

I worked on gathering things for the projects and events that are coming up fast.
It is now only about a month until I get my break at IBAM in Chicago and it is less than a month until the CAIM Concert.

Nothing really exciting.   I made some Irish Brown Bread this afternoon because I am sick of white bread and that is all that is left in the house.

Hope your day was good.  The weather was beautiful.   Low 70s, a gentle breeze and sunny.  I opened the doors for a couple of hours and Roxie was delighted with a sunny spot on the floor in front of the front door.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I slept until almost 9AM this morning.  Not solid sleep but a good relaxing rest.    So I felt pretty good today.

Today is Bobbie's Birthday.   Happy Birthday Bobbie.   Hope your card got there before you left.

Yesterday, a shipment of Irish sausages and bacon arrived.   SO today we had Irish bacon, tomato and lettuce sandwiches for our lunch.   Boy are they good and this is the season for super tomatoes.   We were eating Jeff and Kathy's tomatoes today.   SO WONDERFUL.  Thank you Jeff and Kathy.

I went to Mass this afternoon.  A very nice mass.   Heather from Embrace Care was with Dick.   I was a Eucharistic Minister today which I still find such an amazing privilege.   This was the week with the readings that referred to healing the deaf and mute.  

The next two days will also be rather quiet so I hope to get a lot done as to the IBAM weekend and hopefully Ancestry.   I got a nice letter from my Cousin David Bowser who wants to work with me and whomever about the Clifford part of our roots.

So, I am glad of the quiet and will take advantage of it.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This was a nice day.   I did have to get up at 6AM.   I was still tired, but at least had had a fairly good night.  The beginning of the night was a bit rough as Dick had trouble getting to sleep.   His right leg and foot hurt.   Then he just has to kind of wait because there is nothing that actually makes it go away.

Kay got her this morning to take care of Dick for me.   I originally had a PT appointment but when Jaren said that he couldn't help me, I just kept the time slotted with Embrace and decided to spend two hours just on me.   I emailed several friends and told them that I was going to be at the Exchange Bank from 8 to 9AM if anyone wanted to get together for just a coffee clutch.   Three came.  Two Joans and a Janet.    We had a great hour just visiting and having a coffee and or breakfast.  I had a scone and I actually drank a whole cup of caffeinated coffee.   Kept me going all morning.

We had hamburger patties, French fries and creamed peas for lunch.   Then since a pound makes four patties, we ate hamburgers on buns for supper.   An each cooking day.

I cooked the pie pumpkin that I bought last week so when I am ready to make a pumpkin pie, I will be ready.

Tonight at 6:30 Kay came again for the usual Friday Night care.   Nancy and Warren picked me up  and we drove to Rhine for the first day of  pistol league.  None of us have shot all summer.   I felt pretty good about it.   I missed the target once on 2 of three but the pattern was not too bad and I can improve.

Saw a lot of friends.   This will be a nice weekly break.

The weekend is very quiet.   Tomorrow I will go to Mass but the rest of the two days is at home.  Though I may go to Mother's on Sunday evening as Monday I can't.   Bobbie and Bill are on vacation and I won't have anyone to stay with Dick.

Until tomorrow

Mary

Dia Dhuit

Today turned out to be a much better day.    It is better not to worry about things until they actually are confirmed.     I went to the dentist today about my sore back lower molars and received the good news that all is OK.   Apparently, I got something stuck between the gum and tooth.   I had with my flossing, brushing and use of the water pik dislodged the problem but not before there was a sore area there.   I am to continue what I am doing and rinse with salt water to completer the healing.   Whew!

Then, Dick had an appointment with Dr. Kream at Aurora Plymouth.   We have good news there also.   The inhalants and medications are keeping Dick's lungs pretty clear and the coughing has about ceased, so we won't have to see Dr. Kream for almost a year.   We have an appointment for next July unless, of course, that he has breathing or coughing problems again.

I spent the afternoon communicating with my Celtic Women on the CAIM Concert that we are hosting in early October and reminding them of the other events that we will be celebrating through the end of the year.

My sister Nora called this afternoon.  We had the nicest visit.   Did I tell you that Leif sent pictures of their visit with us.    One of them is so cute.   It looks like Roxie and I are sharing a glass of wine.   When my printer goes back online and I can bring it into Picassa, I will post it.

So tomorrow I can start off even.   I have been behind on some things.    Hopefully I can stay up for a week or two.  Over the weekend I want to start getting ready for IBAM.   I have a couple of projects downstairs that I would like to finish.

So.  Happy Thursday and have a happy Friday.

Rest easy tonight and pray for a full night's sleep for me too.

Dia Dhuit.

Mary

What a frustrating day.    I did get a good haircut but was pretty ineffectual the rest of the day.

My computer refuses to connect to the printer or vice virsa.   I checked all the connections and everything else that I know how to do.    Dick called Richard tonight.   We went through several things but were unable to pinpoint it.    It is too late now so we hung it up.   He and Brenda will check further and get back to me when they have time.   They will be here for lunch on the 16th.  Yea.   Suzi is having a Kunert gathering on the 15th and they are going to take the long way home.

I had a PT appointment today.   Not very happy about that.   I had to tell Jaren that the treatment last Friday did nothing and that I am in a lot of pain.    As a matter of fact, last night was really kind of funny.   I kept dreaming that I was making my way to a doctor to help with the arm and the people I ran into kept touching it and it hurt.   Then I would wake up and find that my arm was hurting.   Sometimes I found that Roxie was poking me in the back wanting me to get up and feed her.  Sometimes I was just laying funny.

Anyway,  Jaren says that he can't help me.   He told me to call Dr. Murthy for other alternatives.    I am rather sick of alternatives and actually Dr. Murthy thought that this was the only option except for stopping any physical stress.   But I will call him tomorrow.

Tomorrow I have to go to the dentist and Dick to see Dr. Kream.   Pray that they are more encouraging.

Dia Dhuit

Mary


Thought for the Day

Women are angels
And when someone breaks our wings
We simply continue to fly........on a broomstick.
We are flexible like that.  

My Sweet Niece Vikki sent this to me.

A hot muggy day.   Fortunately we did not have to be out in in for any length of time. 

I was busy all day.   I have the poster and tickets all ready for CAIM.    I have make a dentist appointment for Thursday morning.    Then I called Embrace Care to be sure that I had someone here then to be with Dick.   I have the appointment for 8AM and have to be back by 9:30AM to get Dick to the Aurora by 10 AM for his appointment with Dr. Kream.

Tomorrow morning I have PT and a haircut.    I have been sore all day so I don't know whether this PT is helping or not.   It is still early in the treatments but I am a bit disappointed.   The treatments for my ribs seem to be wearing off too.   Oh Well.  

Tonight I am hoping to get to bed and sleep through the night.    That would be a change from the past two nights.

I called my Bret this evening to sing Happy Birthday to him.   This is the day.   He turned 45, can you believe?    The people in the park where he has his mobile home threw him a BIG party.    He said it was great.   Everybody was there and there was SO much food and celebrating.   I am so happy that he is so cared for.

Dia Dhuit
Mary

What a lovely Labor Day,   We got to have a meal with Bobbie and Bill, our children.   A goo meal too and it was a nice diversion from the daily ritual.

Bobbie and Bill came early so that I could spend time with my Mother.   This was good for both her and me as I was able to be sure that everything financial was up to date with her and we could spend some time just visiting.   Just as I was leaving,  Uncle Pat and Aunt Joan came in just to spend a few minutes with her.  So good to spend just that greeting with them.  

Uncle Pat and I are only about 5 years apart in years.   He was a surprise for Grandma and Grandpa Bowser.   Then his son, John and I are the oldest and youngest of Grandma and Grandpa Bowser,s grandchildren.  We are, I believe 40 years apart and delight in getting pictures together whenever we can as the oldest and youngest of the grandchildren.   He is so sweet.

The afternoon was very quiet.   I finished the work I need to do on The CAIM concert.   Now I just have to fax and email it to Beth at the SCHRC to get it printed.  Then we have to get the posters and information out to the public as soon as possible.

I hope this works out well. Caim is so super to listen too and such an accomplished group.  They are one  of the few that I say.   "I don't care if you like this music or not.   These performers are so good that you love the performance anyway."   Please come if you can.   Contact me for more information.

Dia dhuit

Mary

It was indeed a quiet day.   Dick had to get up at 8:30AM so I had to get up too.   But that was a nice sleep in.   The trouble was that he had a terrible time getting to sleep last night and I had to get up twice to help him settle in.   Poor guy.   His right leg and foot were hurting.

I now have the tickets for the CAIM concert ready to print and am working on the poster.     We had haddock with rice and beans and a wonderful cucumber tomato bacon salad for lunch.  

Tomorrow will be another laid back day.  Bobbie will come to stay with Dick in the morning when I go to see Mother.   Bill will be here for lunch too.     I have a good lunch planned with chocolate pound cake for dessert.

So until tomorrow, rest easy and enjoy Labor day.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Today was a pleasant day.   A bit muggy but not too hot and their was a rather brisk breeze.  I am sure happy we have a few trees left after the railroad came through and cleared their land.  

I slept until 8:30AM which was rather nice.   I have been trying to assemble the poster and the ticket for the Caim Concert.    I wish I had Print Shop.   I could do SO much with that program that I have difficulty with other programs.    But I WILL get it.

We had Swedish Meatballs and mashed potatoes for lunch.   Num Num.  

At 3:30PM Kay from, Embrace  came to stay with Dick while I went to Mass.   A nice Mass and a quiet time for me to regroup.  I picked up some prescriptions and supplies at Walgreens on my way home.    We had one of our famous leftover meals.   About four different small portions of things for supper.  Now we are going to just relax and wind down for the evening.

Tomorrow will be quiet too so I can finish that Caim project and do some communicating.

So rest well

Dia Dhuit

Mary

WHEN INSULTS HAD CLASS

A member of Parliament to Disraeli: "Sir, you will either die on the

gallows or of some unspeakable disease." "

That depends, Sir," said

Disraeli, "whether I embrace your policies or your mistress."

Friday.   All Day.

I got up at 6AM to feed Roxie, and Dick was awake.   As it turned out , I had to get him up and all ready for the day because his back was hurting him.  So when Heidi came to  help us, her job was much easier than she thought it would be as I had him up, his legs on and at his desk.

She got here at 7:30AM and Jody got here at 8AM.  I left at 8AM to go to my PT.   I was glad to be able to tell Jaren than my arm DOES feel a bit better after his treatments.  So he did the same thing today and we will continue with the exercise he has me doing until Wednesday.  

After PT, I drove to Sheboygan Falls.  I stopped at the bank for money.   One needs that to function and I was running short.   Thank God it is the beginning of the month and the "Money starts rolling in."   We made it through the month without having to go into the capital.   So I am very happy.  Hopefully, we have all the equipment that we need and won't have any more big expenditures for a while at least.

From there I went to see Mother and to pick up a few bits of information that I needed from her for a form that I am filling out for her.

We had a nice short visit.  She is a bit frail but doing quite well.   We discussed birthdays.  There are SO many this month.

Erin, my goddaughter, has a birthday on September 3rd.   Then the next day Bret's birthday.  He will be 45 years old.   I am not old enough to have a son 45 years old.   Forty five years ago, September 4th WAS Labor day.   Jacquie  took me to the hospital because Dick, Bret's father was out on the desert.   This was no criticism of him.  We had been to see  Dr Roper on Thursday and he did not think that things would happen that quickly, though he did not guarantee it.   Our Jeep Club the Orange County Four Wheelers was having a big event out in the desert and Dick and I decided together that he should go.  

So Jacquie had to take me to the hospital on Monday morning and sure enough.  here came Bret.   I remember the nurse, who was checking in at least four women in labor wailing.  "Just because it was Labor Day didn't mean that you had to all come in at the same time."

So lets go into the Labor Day with JOY.   Birth is JOY>

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Hello.   

I had to get up at 6AM again this morning.    At least it was  really good night.  I slept well.  Heidi came to take care of Dick at 7:30 and I left right away to go to my last flute lesson from Jim Wilsing.    He gave me some really good tips, a website for music and lots of instructions.    He is quite the guy.   He has two really great kitties too.

I stopped on the way home and picked up some sweet corn for our lunch.    I got home before the "great parade" started.    First, Rob, from Preferred Computing, came and installed my documents and Quicken and Picassa back on to my computer.    While he was her, Matt, from Home Care Resources came and tightened up the bolts and stuff on the stand lift.      He left first and shortly after Rob left,  Neil from Steger Heating came to check the air conditioner - again.    Neil has determined that it is the coil.   There have been several leaks before.   This is a unit less that three years old.   Closer to two.    We have had them out four times this summer.    They are replacing the coil at no cost and are really apologetic about the problem.     Hopefully this will solve the problesm.   I told them I am not a happy camper and am not impressed so far.

The rest of the day,we got to be alone, just us.   We had the sweet corn and Kate and Ron's tomatoes for lunch and creamed egg and toast for supper.

I have to tell you.   While I was gone this morning, Roxie went into the kitchen where Heidi was working and fussed at her until Heidi gave her more food.    What a little con artist she is.

So - I am glad that this day is done.    A lot was accomplished but two days in a row of really busy days is a bit hard on us.    

Tomorrow I have PT in the morning but after I get home things will settle down.

So Rest Easy tonight.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Tomorrow is supposed to be very hot again and also Saturday.    Today was really rather pleasant.   I had to got out twice.  

This morning was my PT Appointment.   Jared told me to keep up his recommended excercise  with modifications.  He spent a lot of time trying to relax my poor crunched up tendens and muscles.



When I got home this Morning, Rob, from Preferred Computing came to get the hard drive from the old computer.  He is going  to be back tomorrow to hopefully reinstate my data from Open office and Microsoft Works.   He is also going to try to reinstate my Quicken.

I was home in time to get Dick down for a short nap while I got dinner prepared.  It was important that he got that rest as we were on our way to Wisconsin Prosthesis this afternoon to try to get Dick's right prosthesis exchanged.    It was not a good session.  Marty was unable to get the prosthesis to set.  By that I mean putting it on and making it stable and ready to go.   I am not too happy with that but we  have no real choices right now.  I like Marty, but see no reason why this was not working.

We got home at about 3:30PM.  Just in time to greet Matt from Home Care Resouces.   Matt is going to come back in the morning to snug up the Stand Lift so that it will not be so jiggly and seem "off" to Dick.  

Tomorrow at 10AM.  Rob,from Preferred Computing, Matt from Home Care Resources and Neil from Steger Heating are all converging on our home.   I hope they all fix the things that have been malfunctioning around here.

Tomorrow morning, I will leave as soon as Heidi, from Embrace Care, gets her to go for my flute lesson with Jim Wilsing.   I THINK I have my lesson down pat.   He is a hard taskmaster.

I love the sound of that flute.  And hope that I can at least make it pleasant to others.

I want to learn "For Ireland I won't say her Name."  Ar Eireann Ni Neosaihn Cehi"   the most beautiful Irish melody I know.

After all the influx of people, we can rest in the afternoon.   Whew.

I intend to be productive tomorrow.  I will try to completer some projects while all his is going on.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It was a rather warm day.   I stayed in most of the day anyway, so it didn't bother me much.
 I spent the day working on the CAIM concert preparations and filling our forms for Dick, Mother and myself.

I told you about CAIM, I think.    I have seen this duo twice.   Once at Mead Library and once at the Kewaskum High School.    They are two ladies  Heather from Scotland and Jacynth from N. Ireland who sing Scottish and Irish Folk songs and Celtic Prayers set to music. I had told them that if they had another Wisconsin tour to let me know and I would see if I could arrange a place for them.     It took a while, but, yippee, the Plymouth Art Center will host it.    I had a heck of a time pinning Donna down because they are  SO busy, but at the end, the only Saturday they had open was the one day of their trip that they could come here.   They have a concert in Green Bay on both Friday and Sunday and will stay here on Saturday.   I know that Dick will like them.     Look on  http://www.cluniemusic.com/  to find out more about them.

When Kay got here, I zipped out for grocery shopping and to pick up supplies at Walgreens.

Now the day is done, Dick is in bed and I intend to follow as soon as I finish sipping my tea.

Take care.   Those of you being affected by the storm - stay dry and safe.

Dia Dhuit

Mary









"One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words."by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

A VERY busy day.   I couldn't go back to bed after feeding Roxie because I had to be all ready and have Dick all up and ready before 9AM.   Bobbie came then to stay with Dick when I went to Mother's.    AND Rob from Preferred Computing came to switch my computer.    I stayed home from bible study so that I could be here to answer any questions he might have.

I did leave before he did so that I could bet to Mother's before 11AM so that we could take care of her bills and set up her pills for the week.    She looked very good today.

I got home before noon and Bobbie, Dick and I had chili that I had made yesterday for our lunch.   It turned out good.   Even if I had to substitute one can of pinto beans for red beans because I was short.   Dick said that it made a difference.    I myself really liked it.

A quiet afternoon.   Roxie is quite miffed.   The new computer tower is much smaller and she has to be very careful how she places her feet to get off the desk.   The funny thing was that when she started down from sitting on the printer, she took one look at it and mewed in protest.    She is quite the vocal girl.


Tomorrow we will be home alone all day until 6:30PM when Kay will come and I will go grocery shopping.   It is however trash day so I can't sleep late really.  Shucks.

The evil tree killing machine came back and ripped down the trees on the other side of the railroad tracks, the side adjacent to the park.   Bobbie was here and got to see the machine working.   It is really almost obscene and much too easy.  

"Progress" is not beautiful.   I remember how upset I was many many years ago when Wells Fargo bought First Interstate and they did the signage change on the side of the building.   Birds had built their nests in the letters of the First Interstate sign.   And they ripped down the signs, the nests and the eggs and/or babies.    The most pitiful thing I have ever seen was those poor mama and papa birds flying around trying to find their nests and accept that they were gone.

Can you believe that August is almost over already?   Do you know that there are a few trees whose leaves are turning?

Have a lovely sleep and enjoy your Tuesday.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

John Buchan said, "Without humor you cannot run a sweetie-shop, let alone a nation."

 A wonderfully quiet Sunday.   We had quite a bit or rain today.   A good day as far as I was concerned because I did not have to to ANYWHERE.

I spent today mainly on CWI stuff.    I sent some information to my friend Maureen for the IBAM event which is October 12 - 14.

I contacted CAIM, a wonderful duo singing Celtic music and religious music, who I am arranging to perform at the Plymouth Art Center on the afternoon of October 6.   Mark your calendars.    You will not be disappointed, I promise you.   I have seen them perform twice and can't get enough of them.

I practiced my flute too.   Soon I will, with confidence, be able to play my very first whole song,   Song of Little Bear.   

Now Kay from Embrace is here and I can just wind down and do what I want to do.  She will get him all ready for bed and I just have to be sure that he is cathed and content.

So.   Let's hang onto today and be safe and settled for tonight .  Bless us as we sleep and bring us refreshment to the morning.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

We slept late this morning,  AND I got a nap this afternoon but I am still tired.   I think it is because so many spots ache and it wears me out.

We had pork, zucchini au graten and cole slaw for lunch. 

I went to Mass at 4PM so I am centered for the week.  

And that was the day.     Pretty dull.   I hope that tomorrow is just as dull

Enjoy your Sunday.

Peace

Mary 

It was a pleasant day at home.   I got up at about 6:30AM as Jody came at 8AM.   We had a nice breakfast.   I had leftover potatoes. 

It was a very warm and humid day and the air conditioner stopped working properly.   I realized it this afternoon when the temperature had risen to 79Degrees and I had it set at 74. 

The most exciting thing was the arrival and quick work of the crew that are tearing down the trees along the railroad track.   I was amazed, awestruck and horrified at the power and ease with which all of those beautiful trees were just engulfed by the monster machine that gripped them, sawed through their trunk and then picked them up, literally, and flung them in piles in back of the machine.   One of my neighbors was almost sick.   It is hard to see all the trees just destroyed but as we all know the railroad "has to go through".    I still do not understand the economical benefit of it.   The idea of a working track in back of us does not bother me however.

I have just about firmed up a concert by CAIM, two ladies from Ireland, who sing delightful music and have performed at Mead several years ago.    The Plymouth Art Center will host us and will sell tickets at their ticket counter.    We have to take care of everything else.   The concert will be on October 6th in the afternoon.   I have to decide if it will start at 1PM or 2PM.   We want to be done by 4PM to help the art center with their staffing.  I have three volunteers from the Sheboygan County CWI who said they will help.  I need to get some advertising out early next week and each week after that.

Tonight I drove to Jim Wilsing's house for a flute lesson.    He said I am doing well and must keep practicing.   I now will be playing a song.  The Song of Little Bear.   I learned one part tonight and will learn the second part next week.   I still need to do the notes and the rythem exercises, which are much like songs.
So Tomorrow will be the beginning of a nice quiet weekend.   Between now and Monday, the only place I have to go is to church tomorrow afternoon.

The airconditioner is not working properly again.   Neil came and got it working but will be back Monday or Tuesday to finish the job.

So that was our day.   How was yours?

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I started out the day at Yoga Class.   Felicia and I met, as we like to do, at the Craverie for coffee and a croissant.   This was not a successful class for me and I have determined that I am not going any more unless I heal.   Everything was hurting and that is not a good thing.

Home again, the new computer was here.   So I called Rob and he can come on Monday Morning to install the new one.    I will be going to bible study and to see Mother, but Bobbie and Dick will be here and I can't do much anyway.     I may end up changing my mind and skipping bible study and just going to see Mom.   We will see.

I did get a nice nap this afternoon.   Good thing because I have been really sore today.
I am almost all caught up on phone calls, emails and newsletters. 
 Should be able to finish in the morning.

Tomorrow, the only place I have to go is to Jim Wilsing's in the evening for a flute lesson.

I like that.   The weekend will be quiet too.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Boy, has this been a mixed day.  The night was not too bad but I did not get to sleep through.   I got up at 6AM because my first PT appointment was at 7:30AM at Aurora in Plymouth.   Heidi got here at 7AM so I was able to be there.    Jaren is my therapist.   He was Dick's therapist when we were doing therapy before he lost the first leg.  I hope this will help because there is no way I can accomplish the sure cure - which is doing nothing for 4 weeks or more so that I can heal.
 
I got some breakfast and went to the bank before I came home, and was here by 9:30AM. 

I spent the morning making potato salad for the Tall Grass Picnic that was in Lions Park tonight.  I also made some cole slaw and cleaned strawberries so my refrigerator is in order.   
We had the last of the chicken salad that I fixed yesterday for lunch.

 As the afternoon progressed, (I was able to get a nap) it became apparent that there was no way that Dick was going to be able to go to the picnic.  So I made a few calls and, bless her heart, Marilyn Bordeau, picked up the potato salad and then called me when the chicken got there.  I was able to just go to the park and load our plates for dinner.   Sure missed the camaraderie but at least I didn't have to figure out what to fix for dinner and the potato salad will be mainly eaten. 

So now you know why the day was mixed.

You all know that my computer crashed.   Richard has been in touch with Rob, the guy who tried to fix it, and they have determined that it needs to be replaced.   Richard and Brenda have ordered a new Dell for me.   I am so grateful.   It will be my Christmas present.   As a friend once said to me.  "how do you thank" a son (daughter, brother, sister) for such a generous gift.    I am lost without my computer.  It will be here tomorrow.    I will be so happy.   I am grateful for the laptop but it does not have all my functions.   I am so far behind on Quicken and on my writing.

The roses that Richard and Brenda sent for our anniversary, a whole week ago, are still slowly opening and are beautiful.   What a joy.

So I think today is over.   I am glad of the chance to go "up the wooden hill to four corners."

Love that expression.   Of course, it is much more impressive in a two story house with the bedrooms upstairs.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Today was a lovely day.   And very quiet.   I went back to bed after I fed Roxie at 6AM intending to sleep until 7:30.   The next thing I knew it was 8:30AM so I got up and dressed and took the trash out.   Then Dick woke up so we were finally on our way to the day between 9:30 and 10. 

I got a lot of things done around here. A load of wash.  The poncho that got all wet in the parade at Irish Fest was dry and ready to be folded and put away.   Cleaning out email.   Fixing lunch.

I will be grocery shopping tonight when Embrace Care is here.  I decided to do this now so that you know that all is well.

Tomorrow I will be going to my first PT session.   I am really sore in my neck and arm right now and hope that this will help.   It is my only option except for doing nothing for three or four weeks which is impossible at this point.

Tomorrow evening, Dick and I will  be joining our neighbors at Lion Park for the annual picnic.   I will be bringing potato salad.  We will drive over,   I think it will be easiest.   Then he can take sidewalk to the picnic area.

So have a lovely evening and I will tell you about the picnic.   We all know what a party boy Dick is.

Dia Dhuit

Mary




ot seem interested.

Yesterday was quite the adventure.     You all now know an official member of the Ancient Order of Leprechauns.

Joan, Rosemary and I left for Milwaukee at about 8AM.  We arrived at the Summerfest grounds at about 9:15 AM.   In just the right time to find a good seat in the amphitheatre for the Irish Mass.   An Archbishop Malloy from the Rockford Diocese in Illinois was the celebrant.   He originally came from Milwaukee.   We were informed that this Mass each year is the second largest in attendence in the United States.   Wow.   It is a wonder to watch how efficiently they distribute communion to that many people. 

After the Mass, we had a snack and then I led them to the Gaeltech area for Jimmy Keane's concert.  It is such a pleasure to reconnect with old friends.   I thank heavens for Irish Fest.   I introduced myself to Mick Maloney at his lecture on the influence of Irish and African music on Hillbilly music.   Shortly after that, the rain came down.   It POURED.   Fortunately, I was in the Moore street Market and just stayed there until it stopped.

Next was the Theiss and OConnor concert in the SNUG.   Ran into Gail and Tom Mc Aleese there and assured her that the three of us, Rosemary, Joan and I would be there to march for CWI.

Good thing.   As it turned out, only the four of us were there.  But I had the banner and we marched proud.  Halfway through the march, it started to pour.   We put on our ponchos and braved it out.   We were right behind the dogs, Irish Wolfhouds, if you were there and missed us.

And we saw a rainbow.

The last concert I attended was Maloney, O Connell and Keane.  I got to see my friend, Robbie O Connell here,  Such a Joy.   Got to talk for a bit and send my love to Roxanne.

Then we grabbed another snack and headed home. 
It was my first long trip with the van.   A perfect time.  A nice long freeway drive with minimal traffic, so I could get used to it.   The gas mileage seems  great.

So I was home by 9:15PM.   Dick was waiting, as I expected.   I had hoped that he would be in bed and need me for his last procedure, but we had to get him to bed and then the caregiver left because it was past her time and I had to finish the prosthesis removal and all of that.   I do get discouraged.  Why do we have them is I have to do it anyway?   But of course, someone still needs to be with him when I am gone.   I just wish he would let them do some of the grunt work.

Today,  was a typical Monday.   Bible Study and a nice visit with Mother.

Bobbie, Dick and I had pizza for lunch.   Bobbie took all the bottles and jugs that she wants for making wine.   Now I will find homes for the rest of it.

We were home the rest of the day.  A nap and then this afternoon, a Patty Lehrer and Mimi Connery called me.   They are cousins on the Clifford side being my generation from Great Grandma MaryAnn Clifford Bowser's sister Bridget's family.   We are going to share a lot and I will hook them up with David Bowser.

Tomorrow we will be home all day.   In the evening when Kay gets here, I will go grocery shopping and to the drug store.

A whole day at home where I don't HAVE to be up by 6AM is a great bonus for me.

Dia Dhuit

Mary