A whole day at home.   I did go over to visit with a neighbor this afternoon, but at least I was able to stay in the neighborhood.

I spent the day writing and I started taping things off for the priming that I have to do in the kitchen and hall.  I did some rearranging in the second bedroom.    I intend to have the carpets cleaned and the living room rearranged by Thanksgiving.

So That was it.   Nothing at all exciting.   Perhaps tomorrow which has turned out to be a real rat race will be more fun to report on.

My neighbor that I visited with gave me one of her paintings.   I am so thrilled.    All I need is another painting but as you know all of mine mean something.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It was windy today

The wind was colder than the temperature today.   Is that the chill index?

I went on a cooking frenzy today.   Sometimes I just plain want to cook so - I made andouille and turkey gumbo.   I had a box from the New Orleans Cooking School.   The kit says to mix the package in the box with water then add cooked chicken and the andouille sausages.    I decided to add the Cajun trinity too and used my leftover turkey instead of chicken.   It is good.  

I also made blackberry scones and Scottish shortbread cookies. AND I have a loaf of no knead bread in the oven.   It did not rise like it really should have.   I think my yeast is just too old.   But it did rise so I will have a hearty bread.

I went to the 4PM mass so I can stay home tomorrow.   I am working on my Brigit chapter and she is difficult because there is so MUCH on her and the stories vary.   Too many legends.   To top it off the saint and the goddess stories are all mixed up.

So now it is time to settle in bed with a good book.


Here is something I found in a newspaper somewhere.

HOMEWORK
From a real teacher

Please do one of the following by Tuesday.

1. Master Kung Fu
2. Switch religions for a day.
3. Wear a fake mustache for 24 hours.
4. End world hunger.
5. Find your nemesis, earn their trust, then vanquish them (Preferably with magic.)
6.  In the shower, use conditioner first then shampoo just to see what would happen. (I'm curious)

Dia Dhuit

Mary

The end of a super day.

It was SO cold.   I did not realize how cold it was until I left the house with a comparatively light jacket and started walking around the Lakeland College Campus.   

Today was the first day of Karl Elder's Great Lakes Literary Festival at the campus.    It started at 11AM with two speakers, a poet Nick Lantz and a fiction writer, Allyson Goldon Loomis.  Then at two thirty each of the speakers held a workshop.    I went to lunch in Elkhart Lake with Beverly Shellhaass from the Cream City Writers and a few ladies from Karl's Poetry Circle at Mead.   Then most of us returned to participate in a workshop by one or the other speaker.

I went to Nick Lantz's workshop and found it quite helpful.

When I got home, I had received a call from my neighbor's, Bob and Peg.   This is Thursday and they invited me over for a glass of wine.    Evie, one of our other neighbors, came over too.   The even fed us.   Was a lovely hour.

Lastly, I drove over to church for the 2nd talk by Rich Curran about Catholicism, Creating Stronger Families.    A lot to absorb but the main thing I got out of it is that it is so very important to extend blessings and love to those we care about.    Not just thinking about it but actually expressing it.   So. to each and every one of you.   You are my greatest blessings from God and I pray that you will be safe and that you remain healthy and strong in body and spirit.  And I love you so much.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A good Wednesday

Eileen, Dolores, Nora, Me, Mother
For those that might not know.

Just looking at old pictures and found this one.   Can you believe how young we were?

Bobbie and Bill just left.   We had dinner and they changed the bulbs in my kitchen light.    They had been blinking for a week or so.   Yesterday the blinking stopped but when Bill took the cover off, two were burned out.

We had Venison and beer stew with salad, beer bread and pumpkin cupcakes.    That is such a good stew.    I remember when I couldn't make a stew to save my soul.     Dick and I bought the best stew meat and veggies.   I cooked it all up.   It looked beautiful but was totally tasteless.   It is the beer that saved me.

I do love feeding people.    This way, I could fix a stew.   Sent some home with them, could freeze some and still have a meal or two in the next week.

Bobbie brought me a jar of fresh lemon curd.    I must make some scones but it will taste good on the beer bread tomorrow morning.

So.  Time to get ready for bed.  Tomorrow will be busy.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Well, this has been a very busy Tuesday.

To start with, is is trash day, so I had to get the last of that gathered and out to the pick up place.

Then I filled out a couple of forms and cleared a whole slew of "questions" off of my desk before calling Norton because of two charges for service.   I have that all squared away now.

Then I went to the post office to pick up the Condo mail, the Kettle Country Quilt club's meeting to turn in my placemats that we are donating to the Plymouth Meals on Wheels, then to church to drop off raffle tickets.

On my way to the grocery store, I stopped at Kate's to leave two local newspapers that had her picture in them.   She invited me for a cup of tea.   Nice visit and she also gave me a container of fresh cream of veggie soup.   I had that for my supper.  It was SO good.

I did the grocery shopping next and for my last errand, went to the Kettle Moraine Vet Clinic to get Roxie's supplement.

Whew.   I am glad I get to stay home tomorrow.   Still, as always, lots to do and Bobbie and Bill are coming for supper.    I will be putting a Venison Beer stew into the crock pot in the morning.    I love that stew.

So until later

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Dinner with Bobbie Bill and John Mc Givern

Yesterday was so busy and rather disjointed.    I went over to St. John's to peruse the annual Craft Fair.   It was even bigger than last year.   There were lots of people there, I hope it turned out to be a profitable venture for St. John's and all the crafters.

I bought $5.00 in raffle tickets and made a bid on a basket in the Silent Auction.   I did get the silent auction bid.    All of you will probably EVENTUALLY enjoy the fruits of it.   I have there mini-Christmas Cake pans.   SO CUTE.

Then I went home, did a few things and went to Mass at 3:30PM, picking up the bid that I had won on the way.   Took my friends Tom and Rita communion, fed Roxie and then drove to Grace Episcopal church to have dinner with Bobbie and Bill at the Friends of Mead dinner.   Bernie Markevitch prepared the meal which is always a treat.   Then we were entertained by John McGovern talking to us about his growing up days.   He is a total hoot.

Home again, I was just too tired to do anything but go to bed.   I did remember to change the clock that I look at.   It has really big numbers.   I got it for Dick so that if he woke up he could see it well.  

Today was much quieter.   I started writing St. Brigit's chapter and moved St. Anne's chapter from the laptop to the desktop so they are all together.  I went to Tom and Rita's to view a show that they wanted to share with me.

Then home and I just did a couple things like wrap and sort for the day.   It is now 8PM which was 9PM last night so I am feeling the sleepy coming on me.  

Til tomorrow

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Rain

It was a gloomy rainy day again.   I felt better today though.  

I got up at about 7:15AM.   Jody came to clean at 8AM. 

I had an appointment to have the car serviced and winterized at Van Horn's at 10AM.  Everything went well there.   There were friendly people in the waiting room.   I decided to have lunch at the Dairy Queen with the bank ladies.    Hadn't been there for three weeks so had a lot to catch up on.    A cheese burger tasted good too.

I spent the afternoon writing on the Saints book.   Got a lot done.

I was just thinking about warming something up for dinner when my friend, Nancy called.   She was going to the bust up party at Rhine and wondered if I would like to come along.    I figured, why not.   Got to see a lot of friends.  I believe I am healed enough to shoot in the winter league which starts on January 4th.

   Tomorrow morning I can work on the book again in the morning..   Then will be going to church to look at the big craft show.   After Mass I am meeting Bobbie and Bill at Grace Episcopal Church for the Friends dinner.

Sunday should be an at home day.  I will be ready for that by then.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Thursday

I didn't like today.    It was gloomy and made me very funky feeling.

I did attend a meeting at Holiday Inn Express on the changes in the AARP Medicare supplement that Mother and I both have.    I know they send these massive books with volumes of writing but it is so much more useful to be able to have the highlights pointed out to you.

I got home at noon and took a nap after lunch.   See, a gloomy day and I was beat.    I am still beat.   Tomorrow I have to do something to perk myself up.   I will be taking the car in for maintenance.  Maybe that will help.

I am working on St. Anne tonight.   I am behind now.   I wanted to have the first draft of her chapter done BY November 1st.   But I can adapt.   I have extended the deadline to Sunday.

So until tomorrow, perhaps I will be perkier.

Dia Dhuit

Mary


"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." St Augustine of Hippo

Home late - for me anyway.

Today was a day at home until tonight.    I got a lot done on the Saints book.    Tomorrow I will tackle another segment of the chapter on St. Anne.   She was supposed to be "easy" because there is not much documentation on her.   Sure!   It is terribly interesting though.   I want to finish her by Monday so that I can start on Brigid.    I have agreed to give a talk on Brigid on her feast day eve or the day for the Milwaukee branch.  Her feast day is February first so I want to have her done by the end of the year.   Once I have things in perspective, I can talk about her.   Unlike Anne, there are a lot of traditions connected with her.   Though Anne is revered in many cultures because of her status at the mother of Mary and the grandmother of Jesus.

Tonight I went over to 52 Stafford to enjoy the music at 7:00.  Next time I will go at 7:30 which is when the music officially starts.   Peg and Bob Feider joined me with some friends and Kath Schemrich and her husband David were there also and a friend from Wells, Sandy.  I always send out notice to the Celtic Women when I go.  But if nobody comes, I just have a glass or two of wine and enjoy the music.  They let me sing a song during the sets which makes me very happy as I think of my Dad and how he loved the Irish music and would have been right up there singing too.

This was a special night with all the friends there.

So now it is after 10PM and you know what an early to bed gal I am.

Until tomorrow.  I have an appointment in the morning and then want to work on St. Anne again.

Dia dhuit

Mary

Cold

It was COLD this morning.    Bed felt really good, but I got up at about 7:30AM so that I could be ready to leave for bible study.    I also stopped by the city drop off with a couple of bags of weeds and tomato plants that I had cleaned out of my gardens.   It was a busy place this morning. Guess lots of other people got busy this weekend.

We had a pretty full group at bible study.    Please keep praying for Helen's husband.   He is getting antibiotics four times a day but at least is out of intensive care and Helen said that the doctor told her that things are looking good.  We are still at the beginning of ACTS and discussed the part that tells of the very early days when everybody was pooling their resources and taking care of everybody from the pool with kindness and the love of Jesus.    As we discussed, even then it only worked for a while.   Eventually human nature seems to always goof up the very best of intentions.   Somebody feels that they are not getting their share, or that they are working and someone else is just sitting around or somebody wants to be in charge.   The glow of good intentions fades and somehow it just doesn't work.   We remember times in our life when all seemed perfectly balance, the love of God, family, work, whatever - Perfect - but we are always in a state of "living" and things change.  

One only needs to  remember that if you keep coming back to the good, it all works out.  Love is the most important thing.

Enough of my preaching.

Mom was fine.   We got her bills paid and discussed the Deeley family tree of Grandpa Mike's brother John.   She was able to clear up a bit but much the dates that I do have were before she and Dad were together.

Home again.   I finished clearing up from Samhain.   You see, a bag of things that I had brought to IBAM, came home with my friends, Dick and Joan.   So I had all of that to go through and put into their proper places.

Dancing with the Stars tonight.   I have missed so many, but tonight I can really be involved.   I have to really pay attention, or I miss the dances, then I feel I shouldn't vote.

I was going to sweep leaves off the deck this afternoon, but when I looked out, God sent to wind to do it for me.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Samhain Sunday

The sun was shining, it was chilly, but not windy.    By the time late afternoon came, it was in the mid 50s and quite nice.

I worked this morning on Condo stuff, and ancestry.   Then after lunch I prepared the colcannon for the Samhain Dinner with my CWI friends this evening.

We started gathering at about 4PM.   There ended up being an even dozen people around the table.   We enjoyed wine and/or coffee/or tea while we caught up with old friends and introduced ourselves to new.   The food, as in all potlucks, was exceptional.   Good harvest foods.   The colcannon, a veggie casserole full of fresh veggies, a harvest soup, a potato casserole, fresh wheat bread, scones and for dessert an apple bar, a pumpkin bar and a cheesecake.    Anybody who went home hungry had noone to blame but themselves.  This is a fun annual event.    I should have thought to invite you all.   I carved a rutabaga into a Jack O Lantern and them read the legend to the attendees.    I have a nice container of rutabaga for my veggie this week and the Jack O Lantern will last until then.  

In case you don't know the legend of the Jack O Lantern, I will end with it.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

The tale—and there are variations—is of a no-good drunkard named Stingy Jack who invited the Devil to have a drink.
Stingy Jack, not wanting to pay, convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin so he could pay the barkeep.
The Devil did so, and Stingy Jack promptly dropped the coin into his pocket, where he also kept a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from retaking his original form.
In order to free himself, the Devil promised to leave Stingy Jack alone for a year and to swear he would not take Jack’s soul upon death.
A year later, Jack again tricked the Devil. This time, Jack convinced the Devil to climb a tree to fetch an apple. Jack trapped the Devil in the tree by carving a cross into its trunk.
The Devil promised to leave Jack alone for 10 years so Jack would free him from the tree.
Time passed and Jack died. Because of his ne’er-do-well lifestyle, though, Jack was turned away from Heaven. The Devil, remembering Jack’s tricks, kept his promise and wouldn’t claim his soul.
Banished to walk the world as a spirit trapped between life and death, Jack was given one burning coal to light his way. Forlorn, he placed the coal inside a hollowed out turnip and was left to wander for all eternity.
Stingy Jack soon became known as Jack of the Lantern. The name was eventually shortened to Jack O’Lantern, and the Irish and Scottish began the custom of carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes to decorate their doors and windows in order to ward off evil spirits.
The tradition made its way to the United States and soon pumpkins—larger and easier to carve—replaced potatoes and turnips as Halloween’s most notable decoration.

More from New Orleans

A Memorial in one of the St. Louis Cemeteries.

Street Musicians

The St. Louis Cathedral  I went to Mass on Saturday evening here.

More street musicians

It was pretty easy to feel comfortable in the French Quarter of New Orleans with all the music and food smells and friendly people.  

Today was a pleasant day.   The sun was out most of the day but it was cold and kind of breezy.   The wind was really really loud last night.  
I was home all morning working on some writing then at 1PM, I went over to Reed Street for the dedication of two houses by the Plymouth Historical status.   One was on Reed, then the second dedication was my friends, Ron and Kate Herman's lovely home.   There were articles in the Plymouth Review about it.    Kate, as usual had to be the perfect host, she is a wonder, and had cake and punch for the people who came to hear the dedication.   She had a beautiful cake made with the house pictured on it.    It was absolutely perfect and tasted wonderful.

After that I went to Mass.   Home again, I am here until tomorrow at 4PM when the annual CWI Samhain pot luck will be celebrated.   I have no idea how many people are coming.  Haven't heard from many but we will see.   I am making Colcannon at any rate and I LOVE that.

So. another day done.   My headaches are coming back.   I am not very happy about that.   Well, maybe it is just an adjustment thing.

Dia Dhuit

Mary 

Louisiana near New Orleans

Look at this beautiful old tree I loved whole avenues of them

Alligator on the Bayou Tour

The Bayou - A new beauty for me

"Gator Bait"  Think about it.

He greeted me with joy at the Aquarium


More tomorrow.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Gators, Leslie, Bill and me

Me holding Baby Alligator

Bill with Same Alligator.   The gator liked me best.

Leslie feeding goats at the Gators and More place.

I have decided to post a couple of pictures every day for a while of my trip south.

These were at the Gater and More place.   I should send the one of me sliplining over the gater pond.   Tomorrow.  The only way you will know it is me is because of the green pants.

Today I had to go and get the permanent filling put in my tooth.    It only took about a half an hour including the drive.   Everything was fine with the xray and Dr. Tim just had to dig out, smooth and fill.    He has a clingy kitty too.    His snores very loudly.   My Roxie has a very lady like snore.

My desk is finally down to a managable level again.   It is amazing how things pile up when there is noone EVEN HERE.   But they do.    I also am caught up on my wash and general cleaning.    Tomorrow I will also be home most of the day so can write and continue cleaning.

I sure wish I could find a home for Dick's desk.   I have to get this carpet cleaned and will have to do it twice if the desk is not gone and things are not rearranged.

Til Tomorrow
Dia Dhuit

Mary

Under the Oaks and a carved tree

 

 

I was home all day today.  It was so nice.    Tomorrow I have to go to the dentist.  I tried to sleep in this morning but the yard people started trimming bushes and trees very loudly at about 7:30, so that became impossible.

Nothing too exciting today.   My  desk is clearing.   I made some green tomato/bacon soup with the green tomatoes left on my plants, and some cranberry scones with fresh cranberries that my neighbor gave to me.  

After the dentist, I will catch up on the desk work so that I can get back to my book.   I was able to do some while I was at Leslie's but need to get busy if I want to stay on my schedule of one saint a month.

So til tomorrow.

I am going to send a couple of pictures of the trip.

Dia Dhuit

Mary




Robert Bridges wrote the lines:
My delight and thy delight
Walking, like two angels white,
In the gardens of the night:

My desire and thy desire
Twining to a tongue of fire
Leaping live, and laughing higher;
Thro' the everlasting strife
In the mystery of life.

I am home save and sound.   I arrived at the door at about midnight and it took a couple of hours before I was able to settle down enough to sleep.

I got up at about 7:30AM and spent my time at home today putting things away and starting the wash.   I went to see Mom at about 10:30AM.    Wanted to be there at abut that time because I could check her bills etc and keep her on her lunch schedule and let her get her after lunch nap.

She looks beautiful.   She seemed a bit tired and is so frustrated because of her sight problems. 
When I got home, I ate lunch myself then went to the grocery store.   I had to.   Roxie had just enough canned food for tonight.    Now I won't have to go anywhere until Thursday.   Yea.

Tomorrow I am going to upload my pictures to the computer and will start putting some of them on the Blog.   I had SUCH  a good time.    You know most of what I did with Leslie and Bill.   

I went on a city/cemetery tour and a bayou tour in New Orleans.   I attended a Cooking School and toured the Aquarium.   I went to Mass at the St. Louis Cathedral and I at at Emeril's restaurant Nola.

It was great.  But I am so glad to get home to my sweet Roxie.   Thank you, Bobbie and Bill for having her here for me.   She was glad to see me and we have been catching up on petting and such.

Til tomorrow.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Gators

This was such a cool day.    We went to the Gators and Friends park to see alligators and loads of other creatures.      Sheep, camels, goats, donkeys, llamas, ostrich, etc. etc.    We got to feed them and know them very well.   I also did my very first Zipline.   WOW.   I did a four section Zipline and next time will do ALL THEY HAVE AVAILABLE.   It was so very wonderful.   The two guys who were my guides were so cute and took such good care of this older woman.    I loved it.

Then we went to dinner at Les and Bill's favorite restaurant,  Ralph and Kacoo's.   We ate such Good Cajun dishes.   I ordered Bacon Wrapped Shrimp with Cajun Rice and Cajun potato.   We have enough for lunch tomorrow.   We decided that  we will just enjoy our time together tomorrow. and be.

I will be leaving for New Orleans in the afternoon.   The adventure continues.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A great day.

We have had a great day.    We lolled around most of the morning.   I made a batch of Cranberry Orange scones which we had for breakfast.

Shortly after noon,  the three of us drove over to the Red River Boardwalk.  We ate at Copeland's Cheesecake Restaurant.   I ate my first jambalaya  with a salad and garlic bread.   Then we wandered through the stores.   I found a new tea ball.   I had ruined my old one.

We got home shortly after 4PM.   Leslie fixed a great supper of pork. carrots and salads.  The for dessert, we shared a piece of pumpkin/pecan cheesecake that we brought home from Copeland's.

Tomorrow I will get to hold and alligator.

Dia Dhiuit

Mary

Hi

Already Tuesday of my week of adventure.  

Chicago IBAM was great.  I reconnected with so many people and met so many new friends.   My presentation in the Literary Corner went very well.  I had a reasonable sized crowd, you never know.   Perhaps, blessing bundles piqued some curiosity.    People liked the IDEA of them.    I have lots of the papers for presentation cones, so am going to make them for the Samhain dinner on the  28th.  If you want to come to the dinner, let me know.   We will have a harvest potluck.   Bring a dish and your ancestors.

I also had the opportunity to read three of my poems at an Open Mike.   Mary Pat Kelly was the moderator.   It was so cool.   I read SHE WAITS,  SUMMER EVENING MUSIC and THEY SOAR.   I will be contacted to become a part of an Irish Author's group.  I am just all atwitter.

Arrived safely in Shreveport with my welcoming committee there to meet me.   Bill, Leslie and I arrived at their lovely home and sat up until MIDNIGHT catching up.     

Yesterday we went antiquing.  I found the cutest little Celtic Tea service.   The teapot is probable less than an inch tall and you won't believe the cups and saucers.   I also found a broken teeny tiny manger set.   All of the figures are intact and so cute.   I will revamp it and add it to my collection.

Today we just went to lunch a a favorite deli and grocery shopped.   I love this vacation.   It is new things with different places but still a lot of "hanging out" .    So fun

Each evening we are connected to Colorado Springs and our Marcus, Nora and Ernie.    Marcus is turning into such a little BOY.   The baby has almost disappeared.    He is so smart and so cute.

That's it.   I am not guaranteeing when I will post again.   So don't worry if you do not hear for a day or two.

I love you all

Dia Dhuit

Mary