I had so much trouble getting to sleep last night.   Then Miss Roxie started pestering me at 5AM.   I wish she would learn to look at the clock.  I got one with really big numbers for Dick to see as his eyes are not as good anymore.    She could look if she wants too.    I fed her at 6AM, helped Dick and then went back to bed until 8:30.  

We ate breakfast right away.   It was a lost day.   I got some wash done and made a super dinner, Peppers, onion, tomatoes and Italian sausage stewed "forever" with fresh oregano added about 10 minutes before serving.    Serve over spaghetti.    1 sausage and the sauce over the spaghetti.

It was really good.   Dick asked for more for supper.

I tried to take a nap after lunch but that did not work well.  I had trouble sleeping.

So.  I finally got up

Heather came to take care of Dick at 3:30PM and I took off for Mass.   That was great.   I was Eucharistic Minister which always makes me happy.   Then I stopped at Kate's on the way home to pick up something and to drop off a jar of my green tomato jam.    I thought she and Ron might enjoy that.

Home again.   We have had our dinner and both of us are like limp rags so I hope he will want to go to bed early.  I sure would like to.   Tomorrow I have to make the cocannon and gather up the things I need for the Samhain dinner.  We are gathering at 4PM and I want to get there at 3:30PM to help set things up.   I hope we have a good turnout or at least a happy trunout.   I have not gotten a lot of response.

Oh Well.   What Is, Is.  

So.  the sun shone today and it was rather beautiful.   A bit chilly but with no wind it was easy to take.

Again, I am glad we are not living in the northeast where Sandy is dut to land and join up with the cold front that passed over us yesterday.   Could be a real mess out there.

Until tomorrow

Dia Dhuit
Mary

It was chilly today.   We looked at the weather around the nation and Lawton was just about the same temperature as it was here today. So the midsection is in the same chilly stream.   We are surely better off than on the east coast where they are bracing for Hurricane Sandy.    I hope they are wrong, but it seems to be coming into its own as the "Perfect Storm."  That was quite the movie.   Did you see it?

Speaking of movies, I watched The Way with Martin Sheen that was directed by his son Emilio Esteves.    It is a story of a man who walked the Way of St. James in Galatia.   I wanted to watch it for the flavor as I am writing a book about the Patron Saints of the Celtic Nations and St. James the Greater is the patron saint of Galatia.   I want to watch it one more time as it will give me the flavor a that part of Galatia and help with the writing.   I wish I could tour all of the 7 Celtic Nations.   I have it on my bucket list/

Jody cleaned this morning.   I baked a box of the Tastefully Simple Beer Wheat bread this morning.   It really does taste good.   I sent some home with her and have enough to share with Mom on Monday and for Dick and Bobbie and I to have with our lunch on Monday.

We had stew for dinner with a nice green salad and some of the pineapple orange salad.

I took a great nap this afternoon.  Best in a long time.  Then I worked as much as I could on Ancestry.   I need days and days to do the things that I want to do.  Unfortunately, I need to be able to spend periods of time without interruption and that just doesn't happen much around here.  I must do better myself about setting a time and sticking to it.   It is hard and sometimes impossible to say No or Later to Dick if he needs something.

Tonight I drove out to Rhine at 6:30PM to shoot Pistol League.   I did not do too badly.   Considering all the discomfort I have in my ribs and shoulder, I think I am doing quiet well.  If I do really super on my last two targets next week, I just MIGHT be able to take my class.

I had a great visit with Nancy and Jerry Coenen.  They are good friends.   Jerry is going to clean my gun for me when league is over.  I love these little breaks.    Sunday the Samhain dinner will be a nice break.   I will be visiting with several of my Celtic women and their spouses or friends and I invited my friend Bob Fleming to join us too.  

Tomorrow I need to gather the things I have to bring along.    I am making a super batch of colcannon for my contribution to the pot luck.   If you want to come, just let me know and I will give you the address.   You don't have to bring anything but yourself..  I will have extra plates and PLENTY of colcannon to feed everybody.  I will bring some wine and tea also.   

Dia Dhuit

Mary

From Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

"Do not wait: the time will never be 'just right.' Start where you stand, and work whatever tools you may have at your command and better tools will be found as you go along."

A very odd day in my opinion.    It was very warm this morning.  I stayed in bed until close to 8AM but it was not easy with Roxie seeming to feel that I should get up EVEN after I had fed her.    She was a first class pest.

We had a nice egg scramble and toast for our breakfast.  I started a load of wash and as it went into the spin cycle, It stopped and started growling at me.   So I had to call Mike's Appliance.    He has saved us several times since we moved here to Plymouth.    He was able to come this morning.   There was a broken part.    He replaced it and pulled out the machine so that I could clean under it too.   He is such a great guy and has never failed us.

We had leftover Hamburger Helper and some of a pineapple/orange/coconut/marshmallow salad that I made last night.    It was quite good. and then I took a nap.    Actually, Roxie was ready for a nap too.   No surprise.

I finished the wash and did some much needed cleaning.  Kay arrived at 5PM.   I got myself ready for going to The Department of Aging for a workshop on Communicating with Health Care Providers.  Marsha Vollbrecht gave the talk.    I know I have run into her somewhere in this journey that Dick and I have been on the past 5 years.   I got some good hints anyway.

Then, on the way home, I stopped in at Mom's just to say Hi and see how she was doing.  She looks great and is so glad to be home..  Mary, her caregiver, was there helping her get ready for bed.   I knew that would be, so I just planned on staying for a few minutes as she likes her routines.  

Home again, Kay had Dick ready for me to cath and then she finished getting him ready to sleep for me.  I am so grateful as my ribs and neck are quite sore, probably a result of the rain and cold spell that swept in this afternoon, and this was one time that I did not have to do the physical maneuvering of the stand lift. Thank you, Kay.

So it is time to settle in for the night.   Tomorrow will be busy as I am not spending enough time doing some of the creative things that I have in the works.

DiaDhuit

Mary

Men in Heaven

When everybody on earth was dead and waiting to enter Heaven, God appeared and said, "I want the men to make two lines. One line for the men who were true heads of their household, and the other line for the men who were dominated by their women. I want all the women to report to St. Peter."

Soon, the women were gone, and there were two lines of men.

The line of the men who were dominated by their wives was 100 miles long, and in the line of men who truly were heads of their household, there was only one man.

God said to the long line, "You men should be ashamed of yourselves; I created you to be the head of your household! You have been disobedient and have not fulfilled your purpose! Of all of you, only one obeyed. Learn from him."

God turned to the one man, "How did you manage to be the only one in this line?"

I think I actually took care of Dick perfectly today.  There are so MANY things to remember that some days I get overwhelmed.

Heather came to take care of Dick at 7AM.   I left shortly thereafter and did all of this:

I dropped a box off at St. Vinnies.

I went to Van Horn to have the car mainenance done.]

I went to the post Office to mail a package.

I went to Mother's to drop off her pills and to set them up for the week.
(Yea.  She came home today.)

I got gas in the car.

I went to the bank to make two deposits.

I went home.

I got there at 9:59.   Yea.   Heather was supposed to be there until 10.AM.   So I was just right.  She and Dick had a good morning. I came home to a nicely settled day.

I was busy the rest of the afternoon.   I did several emails and finished my Fantasy football.

Tomorrow, I will be home until 5:30PM so I will abain be able to get caught up.

So let's be strong until tomorrow.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Another day at home.  I got up a bit earlier today though because it was trash day.   Got that out fairly early.    A good thing because it started raining a bit later in the morning and I was not about to go out in that weather.   It was fairly warm though.   We are supposed to have two days in the 70s before the cold weather comes back in.

I did some wash today, and I cleaned the kitchen as I made lunch and dinner.    This afternoon, however, I decided to just sit and watch a movie.   I have The Way with Martin Sheen and have been wanting to watch it as I am working on a book that will tell the story of the patron saints of all of the 7 nations.   The way features Galacia and St. James the Greater and I figured it would be a good background to the reading and research that I am doing.

Tonight I did our grocery shopping.  And that pretty well wiped out the day. 

Tomorrow I will be taking the car in for maintenance.  Early, so I want to get to bed early.   I picked up some prescriptions for Mother at Walgreens tonight too.   So, after the maintenance, I will run them to her house so she is set when she gets home.

Dick was pretty perky today.    I have started giving him his iced tea made with caffeine in the mornings.   He and I think that perhaps that will help wake him up a bit.   Can't hurt.

So tomorrow Mother comes home.    Pleas pray that all goes well for her.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This was a rather unique Monday.  I was home all day.   I slept until 8AM and then we got ready for the day.

It was a day to sweep the deck, clean around Roxie's litter box ( which she approved of by the way.), clean and load my pistol for the pistol league at Rhine, do a load of wash and fix a couple of meals.

Today was Jim's birthday.   Yesterday was their anniversary and the day before was Michelle's birthday.  They sure planned that well, didn't they.  Bless them on these three special days.

Had a nice visit on the phone with Barbara tonight.  She is trying to finish her last class for her Masters and cope with work struggles at the same time.   She is a tired girl.  So keep her in your prayers.   By the way, Bret's friend Lance, did pass away.  Pray for him, his family and those who loved him so dearly.  I hope they know that he will never  really leave them but will be with them is another dimension.  The Rainbow bridge does not only apply for humans.

Mother is going home on Wednesday afternoon.  I spent another portion of my day resetting her support staff.   How cool is that.   Mother has a "staff".  I hope we have it all in place.

Tonight I watched Dancing with the Stars, the only 'reality" show that I watch and now am watching the debate.

Until tomorrow then.  Dia Dhuit

Mary 













The banana cannot reproduce itself. It can be propagated only by the hand of man.  (wonder how it started in the first place.) 


In 2012, December has 5 Saturdays, 5 Sundays and 5 Mondays. This apparently happens once every 823 years!

I like Sundays.   Since I go to Mass on Saturday, it is truly a day of rest.    It often is the one day of the week that I can stay in bed late and I did.    I did not get up until almost 9AM this morning.   Of course, this does not count getting up to feed the cat at 6AM.  She was a real pest about it too.  

Lately we have to watch where we put glasses of ice water.   Along with discovering the "good water" in the shower stall, Roxie has discovered that ice water in a glass is a real treat.   If a glass is left unattended within reach of her tongue, we suddenly hear noises of drinking and she will drink until her little tongue won't go any more.

Because it was so late when we got up and organized, we had a fancy brunch at about 1AM.   I fried some bacon, there was sausage already cooked.  I made potato pancakes and eggs and I had a piece of Racine Kringle to add to the plate.   Pretty fancy.  Right?

I have had the pleasure of reconnecting with some old neighbors from Orchid Street in Santa Ana Heights in the past two days.    Joyce and I were SO close when her son, Chip and my Bret were born the same year.    I have communicated with Joyce and am so pleased that she seems to have the same affection as I do.   I also am in touch with her older son Mark who was and obviously is a wonderful boy.  (I don't especially care if he is 50.  he is a boy to me.)

Tonight I drove to Meadow View to visit Mother.   She looks wonderful and is "way" ready to come home.   She is now walking by herself to meals and can get up in the night without calling for help if she needs to.   I see no reason why she should not be home.   Of course, she could fall, but she could fall there too and at home she will be happier.   Jeff will be working on this during the week.

Home again, Dick is all settled for the night and I am just writing this while sipping a glass of wine.

Hope you had a nice weekend too.    Tomorrow we will be home all day as Bobbie and Bill are in Virginia on vacation visiting relatives of Bill.   Hope the weather is OK for them.   That is the only thing that could be a problem for them.  

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A lovely Saturday.    I had to get up a bit earlier than I had hoped but still got to be in bed until 7:30AM.    I treasure every hour.

The day was busy with a lot of things, I couldn't give you a rundown, but it was a lot of emails, some phone calls, sending some poems to a contest and that kind of thing.

I called Bret. His friend, Lance is not responding and all his friends are gathering to say goodbye.   I could hear the sadness in his voice.     I tried to reassure him that whatever happens is for the best.   Lance's wife game a DNR because she knew that he would not want to live as a vegetable.   Pray for his easy ride into eternity if that is what is to be or else, that all the prayers bring a miracle, which is always within the power of our God. Please pray for Lance, his family and friends.

I have decided that I must get back to writing.   I have the bones of a book I want to do on the patron saints of the Celtic Nations.   This morning, I chose Galatia as my first section to get serious about.   The patron saint of Galatia is St. John The Greater.   This weekend's Gospel is the story of James and his brother John asking Jesus to be seated at the right and the left of him  Mark:10:35-46.  Somehow that is weird and I think a sign that I need to do this project.    I have been getting these signs lately.   I think perhaps they are my relief from the daily grind.  God's giving me signs.   I have always said that when I don't know what to do, I travel as far as I can see and then another vista is revealed.
\
I left for Mass at 3:30PM.    It was a lovely Mass and I feel renewed.   I stayed a bit to visit with my friend Kate.  She called me this afternoon to tell me that her daughter, Dawn, called.  Dawn has an Immune Deficiency disease and is in a lot of pain.   Please pray for Dawn.

Dick and I are having a nice quiet evening together.  We had a bean tostada for our supper.   Really good.  I had not fixed Mexican for quite some time.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I received this as a part of a bigger email stating the differences between men and women.   I  have seen it before, but this time, this particular paragraph really tickled my funny bone.  Hope you like it as much as I do.


OFFSPRING
· Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.
· A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

A dreary rainy day today.   I don't know if it was enough to help the water table but I don't want to water any more. 

We had a 'show" outside the windows today.  They finally came and pulverized the trees that were cut down for the coming of the railway.    It was a spectacular as the killing of the trees was.   There were two big machines.    One of them picked up most of the trees, the ones that had branches it seemed, and shoved them into its craw and spit out the remains of them along the old tracks.  The other big machine picked up the big logs and took them down to the ends of the road.  They were again done in ONE day.

I still have a pretty clear desk as I have been able to almost keep up with things.  I called a couple of people about CWI stuff and cleared up emails.

I also have become "friends" on Facebook with my old friend Joyce and her son Mark.   This weekend I will email them to catch up a bit.

Bret called tonight too.  He was checking on his Grandma.   I am so glad that I am able to tell him how well she is doing.    He also mentioned a friend of his who was injured early this week in a motorcycle accident.   He has severe head injuries and they still don't know if he will make it.  Pray for Bret's friend, Lance.

I shot pistol league tonight also.  My arm and ribs are pretty sore, BUT I shot pretty well anyway.   That was a relief.   Perhaps I can get my score up a bit before the end of league.   I had a nice visit the Nancy Roehre and Nancy and Jerry Coenen.   Jerry said he will clean my gun for me next week.   I don't like to take it apart because I have trouble getting it back together.  I do clean all the exposed surfaces and all the spots I can get to with rags and q tips and stuff. 

Home again, Dick was in bed already, but he seems restless.  I think it is going to be a goofy night.   Good thing tomorrow is a quiet day.   All I have is Mass at 4PM.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A small haiku

Heavy lies my soul
I dream of flying way up
Beyond the rainbow.

A mixed day for me.   Roxie let me sleep until 6:05AM.  This is a milestone as she is often telling me at 5:15AM or so that she feels that I should be feeding her.

As I wanted to be up this morning,  (Kay from Embrace was here at 7:30AM). I was a bit disappointed om her.   But this was way close enough.  I was able to get everything I needed to do before Kay got here.

While Kay was here, I zipped over to Walgreens to stock up on some supplies and to pick up three prescriptions.  I believe that if I did not show up for a week,  Walgreens would send the emergency crew to find out if we were all right.

We had to be at Joseph and Joseph for Dick's dental visit.  He is still doing well.   I don't know if you all know this but we both still have all our teeth but one.   We have root canals but only one tooth each had to be removed.   Our dentists tell us that we are doing a great job.   Brushing, flossing and general care.   Yea for us.

We were home at about 11:30AM.  We had mac and cheese for lunch and then took a nap.

This has been a quiet afternoon.  I got a call from a friend, Jana Hertz to tell me how to get in touch with a family that used to live next door to my first husband and me when our children were all young.   Michael(Chip) and Bret were born the same year.   I have thought of Joyce,the mother, often in these recent years and now have connected with Mark, the older son, and hope to reconnect with Joyce.   Our sons, Chip (Michael) and Bret were like brothers when they were little boys.

Dick is in bed.  It is only 7:30PM but I think I will take advantage of it and go to bed too.  This was a painful day for me and perhaps some extra rest will help the healing.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Not a bad night.   Only had to get up once during the early hours of the morning.   Of course, that does not include pesky Rosie trying to get me up shortly after 5PM.   I had to get up at 6AM anyway.   Heather came at 7AM to take care of Dick from 7 to 10.   Of course --- Dick had to get up at 6:30AM so I ended up getting him partly dressed so that I could take care of his needs and we could ease an achy back.  

I left shortly after 7AM so that I could do the grocery shopping before my haircut appointment at 9AM.   The hairdresser that I have had since we moved to Plymouth, Jessica, has gotten a full time job with a bank and is no longer doing hair.   I am trying the new owner, Terry.   I like her and it seems that she has done a good job.  

Home again, I had a sleepy husband all day.   Dick took two naps.   One this morning and one this afternoon.   We had ham, beans, Brussels Sprouts and salad for our lunch.    Good ham.  I just bought a steak as I didn't want a ton of it and we will have at least one more meal out of that steak.

One of Bret's friends, who I knew as a little girl, posted a ton of pictures on Facebook, several of my Bret.   I loved it.

For some reason, I was thinking of dogs that have meant the most to me through the years.   The ones that will be waiting beyond the Rainbow Bridge.   I can list,   Chip, Clancy 1, Clancy 2,  Spook, Tara, Zero and Chelsea.   There are a few in there that I loved but may not remember me.  Beau and Buddy.  Buddy we gave to a friend that adored him.  Beau died, sick with hip displacia.   Anyway, I expect to be tackled by sweet puppies and licked and welcomed with joy when I pass into the other world.   I cannot believe that they will not be there.   Tomorrow I will list the cats.

Dia Dhuit

Mary





Jimmy Breslin said that writers used to go to the bar to listen to old-timers tell stories, but now "they all go to health clubs and then go home. They're in fantastic health, but they wish they were in the bar, and their wives wish they were in the bar, too."

Last night was a rather difficult one, but Dick and I were able to stay in bed until after 8AM.   This helped a lot.   It was trash day, so that was about the latest I felt safe being a slug-a-bed.

I have everything put away from the weekend.  That and cleaning took most of the day.   We had sausage and eggs for breakfast, a late breakfast.  We snacked in the early afternoon and then I prepared a t-bone with fried potatoes and salad for our supper.

Heather came tonight at 6:30PM and I took off for Sheboygan to visit Mother.  She looks wonderful and is figuring that the doctor and therapist will give her the go ahead to go home in a week or so.   As well as she is doing, I have no doubt that this will happen.  We had a lovely visit and I gave her the little gifts that I picked up for her at IBAM.

Roxie has been very happy to have me home.   She misses me when I am gone.  That is OK because I miss her too.

So winding down as I have to get up at 6AM tomorrow so that I can shop early and get my hair cut while Heather is here in the morning.

Not an especially busy week but something every day.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

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