Well, I had a whole day at home today.

Mr. Nicky did not let me sleep late, but he did not get me up early either.

I spent the day on wrapping Christmas presents and cleaning .   I also made a famous Kunert Spinach Egg and Cheese casserole.   I made it in two casseroles and gave half to my neighbors Bob and Peggy.   Peggy just got home yesterday from rehab for her double knee replacement.

I talked to my sister Nora and my granddaughter Sara tonight so I am not lonely.   Isn't that nice?

Dia dhuit

Mary

Today was a nice day.  It rained during the night but was dry most of the day.

I baked some gluten free cookies to take to the Kettle Country Quilters.    (I had all the ingredients for them and they are REALLY good.)  Helen and Lucy, two of my friends from the club suggested that I come for the Christmas Party.   I haven't been there in such a LONG time but so many of my friends are there and it seemed like a good way to see them again and to say goodbye.   Had a great meal and a wonderful party. 

I brought home a real Yule Log as a door prize.   Now I need to find a fireplace to burn it in.

I did some grocery shopping and went to the post office for stamps and for boxes to mail stuff in while I was out.

I don't have to go anywhere tomorrow.   Yippee.   I am not even going shower.  Tee Hee.

Talked to my niece Suzi tonight.  Sure good to hear her voice.  She is a pleasure.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Well,  It has been a while.   Has anybody missed me.    

Thanksgiving was just wonderful.     Richard and Brenda came and picked me and Nicky up about 3:30PM to go to Bobbie and Bill's for a really scrumptious meal.  Turkey, squash casserole, green bean almondine  and on and on and on  - finished off with hickory nut and pumpkin pie for dessert.  Nicky did well but left doggy hair on Bobbie's rug.   Tsk Tsk.   It was a great day despite the fact that we watched the Packers lose so stupidly.   It was nice to see Farve's number retired though and to see Bart Starr, still hanging in there.

Richard and Brenda stayed the night with me, as usual.   We had breakfast and more of a visit in the morning.  They left when they figured there was little danger of icy roads any longer.   After they left, I drove to Jeff's place in Hilbert and helped finish butchering the deer that was harvested in their party.   I donated my meat slicer to the crew as for the past several years, the only time I use it is for the deer anyway.   I also gave them the electric knife which I never use.  So I have some venison steaks and also some liver which Bobbie and I will share soon.

Friday night I went to meet some friends at 52 Stafford to listen to Blarney and have a drink or two.   It was fun.  

Today, Bobbie and Bill took me to Memories to see the dinner theater presentation of an L. M. Montgomery Christmas.  Always a good meal and a nice feel good Christmas play to start the season off.

The other big news is that I have sold the condo.   I am selling it on a lease option which I considered long and hard, but it will work for me, so I decided to go for it.    I will be in Oklahoma from the 13th to the 19th, hopefully to buy a home.   I have several to look at that I have explored on Zillow.  I will have to be out of here by January 23rd.   A lot to do and little time.

So that should catch us up -   I'll try to be more consistant.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It is still cold, but the snow is behind us for the foreseeable future anyway.

I baked some more today.   Promised cookies to the Plymouth Historical Society for their cookie sale that they have right after Thanksgiving.   I made Lizzies and Scottish shortbread.

Then at 3PM, I drove down to the Cozy Bar on Mill St. in Plymouth.   Alison's mom, Barb had won a Pack Party and was hosting it there.    It was fun.   I have not watched a whole game since Dick is not here.   It has just not been as much fun.   This was a blast so maybe I will be ready to watch the whole game again.   They won handily after the past three weeks of terrible losses which made it worth it, even without the wonderful company.

Alison also called to tell me that the guy that has looked at the house twice is still interested but has some difficulties that he is trying to over come.    Another couple are coming to see it a second time tomorrow afternoon.   Not bad.   I thought with Thanksgiving we would be dead in the water for a couple of weeks at least.

So until tomorrow

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Yesterday, when I got to the end of it, I was just too tired to post.   Full of contentment because it was a glorious day.

Spent the morning with Bobbie.   We went through the Kohler Craft  Fair at the American Club.   It is always fund to do that.   Not alone, but Bobbie and I enjoy it.     We didn't buy much.  I got some Alpaca yarn and sox and that is about it.  But we always like it.   There seemed to be an over abundance of jewelry this year and we know that ponchos are back in style.   I can't even count how many of them I made during the 70s.    Too bad I didn't keep one or two:)

Then I went to see Peggy.   The  swelling is down in her knees and she feels better.  So does Bob who is now in therapy after his heart trouble.  We had a good visit.

I met a friend, Sonya for coffee at 2PM.  We met at the Exchange Bank.   I bought coffee beans and enjoyed a cookie and coffee with a friend.  She gave me apples.

Today I cooked.   I made applesauce and Apple Crisp with the apples Sonya gave me.  I also made a batch of Lizzies (Cookies from a recipe from Mom) for the cookie sale at the Plymouth History Museum the day after Thanksgiving.

I will bake some more cookie tomorrow.

Tonight I went to Mass.  We had a guest priest who has been here before.   A Fr. Jockie.    He told us the following which I would like to share with you all.     He got it off of a Marquis at the Christ the King Lutheran Church in his community.   He said:   "God only has three answers.  1.  Yes   2.   Not right now and 3.   I have a better idea."

God never says no to us.

Wow.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Another windy day.   Still in the upper 40's and 50's but the temps are supposed to drop dramatically the next couple of days and we will get snow on Friday night and Saturday morning.   Just in time for the hunters.   Sure glad I stopped.   My poor old achy bones would not let me sit there all day.

Today I went to see Dr. Wiegand, my chiropractor.    I am somewhat better, but still have a way to go.   She is helping and I think that the MSM/Glucosomine is building up in my system is helping also.   I still ache but it has eased up.

Choir practice tonight.   Went very well.    Scott bribed us with cookies and juice.   We do have a hard road ahead as there are not too many weeks til Christmas and we have some really beautiful but somewhat difficult pieces to conquer.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It was windy all day.   Still in the 50s but felt colder just because of the wind.   I kept busy today.    I wrote the newsletter for the Sheboygan CWI.   Wrote a couple of items for the Poets at Mead meeting tonight and tried to get my printer to work.

I also did editing on my Patron Saint book, then spent tons of time trying to find the book in Open Office.    I STILL haven't found it and am baffled.

Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

The meeting at Mead was really fun.   We had wonderful poems written and a young man, I think of High school age joined us.   He is very good and seemed to enjoy being with us.

Here is one of my little poems.

JAMISON

Irish coffee - hot and sweet
Beer with whiskey chaser
A shot - Neat
SMOOTH


Dia dhuit

Mary

Well.   This was a nice day.

Nicky and I went grocery shopping this morning.   He did not get to go into the store and was a bit miffed, but he loves rides and this time of year is perfect for taking him along.

I was busy all day getting the pumpkin cooked and pureed for the Thanksgiving Pumpkin pie.   We must, you know have this year's pumpkin for our pie.

So.  I had to roast pumpkin seeds too.

I practiced a bit for the St John's choir this afternoon too as Scott, our director, is really ambitious and some of our music is really  quite difficult.

Got some writing done too.  Not as much as I wanted to but each day I try and perhaps will  get back my "Muse" soon.

So.  Until tomorrow\

Dia dhuit

Mary

I liked today.

Nicky and  I went to our first walk under iffy skies.  It started to mist twice while we were walking and made me nervous.   Not Nicky.  But I did cut our walk shorter than normal.  Talked to a couple of other Tallgrass Residents as they left in the morning.  I find it interesting that Nicky is not barking at people in cars who stop to talk.   He must be feeling more secure.

Went to Bible Study in Falls next.  There were 7 of us today.  See how it fluctuates?   John is certainly interesting.  We were able to really relate the message to what is happening in our world today.   We may eventually get beyond John 3:)  Trust in Jesus is so important.   But I believe that Jesus is much nicer than we are as far as accepting EVERYBODY.

I went from there to Rocky Knoll to visit my friend Peggy who had the double knee transplant.   I found her in the middle of PT so cheered her on through that.   Then we visited until lunch time.    I told her to ask for anything that I can to for her.  As she and I know,  this is hard for strong women.   But I hope she will call if she needs anything.   Bob came in with a lunch that she may be able to eat.   (Her appetite is really down and her son, Rob, the chef, made her a salad.)  Bob is starting his therapy too.  They both need to get well to help each other.   It is not fair to get ill together!!!

The rest of the day has been quiet and after the weekend, I am SO glad.  Tomorrow, I will go shopping but aside from that am home all day.    I need to settle.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

The past two days have been extremely full.   I did not get home until almost midnight Saturday which is why you did not hear from me last night.

Yesterday, I baked scones in the morning.   I am out of white flour so I made wheat scones.   I found a super recipe for Cranberry orange wheat scones.   However, it called for wheat germ to go with the wheat flour.   I did not have wheat germ either.  So I looked up substitutions for wheat germ.   One of them was ground nuts, so I used some pecans that I had and ground them in the blender.   They turned out pretty good.    I took them to the 1:00PM meeting of the CWI Literary Exchange.    Everybody there said they loved them so I guess it is a keeper.

We were discussing the book Trinity by Uris.   A super book if you want to learn the background that lead up to the Irish Rising.  It starts back in 1885 or thereabouts and you see the journey through families on both the Irish and the British sides of the issue.

It started out with me and Joan Kramer and was looking pretty pitiful.  Then Debbie O'Grady and Felicia Roslund Reindl and Luann Cleary Beninghaus came in followed closely by Kathy Paul and Barb Fishbaugher and finally Sonya Prichard.   We all brought food too so it was quite a wonderful event.

After the meeting. Felicia, Luann and myself went to my house to feed Mr Nicky and head out for Milwauke to the Milwaukee ICHC (the IrishCenter) via some shopping that Luann wanted to do.   The Center was hosting a concert by Liz Carroll accompanied by Pat Broaders with Jimmy Keane as a special featured guest.    I would have even gone by myself.   It was so good to spend a few minutes with Jimmy.   We have been friends since that first Ireland trip.   He is an amazing musician as ar Kuz and Pat.   What a glorious evening.   So many Celtic friends who volunteer at the Center were there working and just being friends too.    I felt all warm and fuzzy.

Today started with the choir singing at the 9:30AM Mass.  Then at 3:00PM I left the house for Fleet Farm.    I picked up Jeff and Kathy there.  He was having something done on his truck and we were heading to Blessed Trinity in Falls for a Memorial service hosted by Wenig Funeral home for the families of people they had helped bury their loved ones in the past year.   As Mother was one of them, I wanted to be there and Jeff and Kathy were able to come also.     Wenig does a lovely service and follows it with refreshments afterwards.    They do this every year at different churches.  I believe this was the first time at Blessed Trinity.   It was lovely.  They always give an angel ornament to the families.    About a month ago, the ornament I got for Dick fell and broke.   So now I have one to represent both Dick and my Mom.    I have it in my office keeping an eye on me.

Now you know how busy I was.   Tomorrow I have Bible Study and intend to visit Peggy at Rocky Knoll.  The week is otherwise generally quiet.   And next weekend is quiet.   I am so glad.

Love you all

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Spotty rain all day and it was windy as all get out.   They say we could get a few flurries tomorrow morning.   Hope not, but I guess that is OK.   It is after all November and this weekend it is going to get up into the upper 50's so what do we have to complain about.

I was really busy today.   Can't tell you exactly why though.  Except for this story.

Nicky and I went out for his walk.    He was really perky and we went around the Lions Park Baseball fields off of Valley.  We can't go over the railroad tracks because of all the rocks and stuff so I have figured out a way that works.    HOWEVER,  Mr. Nicky was a literal stinker today.   He was sniffing the weeds along the top of the ridge when he suddenly make a really impressive "Poop Dive".   He was smeared from neck to hip.     So I got him home as quickly as I could and stuck him in the tub.    He was not too happy about that but does not really argue with me and is not the terror stricken creature that Zero was.  He did not get breakfast until he was clean either.   Had to wash is collar and leash too.   What a mess.  He also found a chicken bone in the yard this afternoon.   I took it away and tossed it down (wrong move).   Tonight he looked carefully until he found it again.   This time I carried it in to the trash.   What a funny little guy he is.

There was just a lot to do this morning anyway, part of it getting my football picks in.  I had several calls and emails to work on too.   Shanna came to clean the house.

I made a really good meat loaf for my dinner.   Will be eating that for a bit.  I will freeze part of it.

I drove over to Rocky Knoll after lunch to see my neighbor Peggy, who just got there this morning after her double knee replacement.   She is pretty medicated but has experienced a lot of pain from the surgery.    I will go back tomorrow to see if there is anything I can do.   Thought I would call her husband and see if he would like a meatloaf sandwich and cole slaw or a meal tomorrow too.

Choir practice tonight.   We are working on some of our Christmas music now.    New stuff.   One of them is really hard.  Timing wise anyway.  It is fun to be singing again.   And they are such fun people to sing with.

Til tomorrow.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Boy was this a great day.  

Not only was the weather STILL pleasant.   Sunshine and no wind.  (That is supposed to change over night and we may even have flurries by Friday morning.)  But good things happened all day.

I went on a baking frenzy again.  If anybody wants to come to eat, I have pie and will have fresh sour dough bread on Friday.  Come on down.

Today was a red letter day.   I had a hair cut appointment today.   That is always fun because I like Teri.   She does a great job for me and has become a very close friend.   Then I drove to Fleet Farm to pick up some raisins.     While I was there, as always, I checked for 22 shells.   There was a guy looking for the same thing.   We commiserated for a bit as we looked at the empty shelves, then we happened to look down to the bottom shelf and there were 6 - 100 round boxes of 22 Long Rifle 22 target load shells.  Wha La -   We couldn't believe it.  We read the description about 6 times then divided them and went on our way.      I feel like I discovered gold.

The Sheboygan Press, today, has an article written by my friend, Beth Dippel.   She runs the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center and does regular articles for the Press on Sheboygan County's History.  This week she wrote about the end of WWI.   Sheboygan Falls virtually shut down when the word came of the truce.   I remembered that Aunt Helen, who was born on May 20, 1905, and would have been 12 years old when the war ended  in October of 1918, told me that when the news came that the war was ended, all the people of Sheboygan Falls who were able, marched down the Lower Falls Road to Sheboygan en masse.   Beth has a picture of some of the crowd.  It was one of Helen's vivid memories and I am so glad that she shared it with me.

Wouldn't it have been lovely if that war HAD ended all Wars.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This was a productive day.    There was frost all over the grass when Nicky and I went out for his walk.   He woke me a bit early today, but really meant it.   There were swarms of geese flying over head.   Nicky never did figure out where the noise was coming from.

We had 11 people at our bible study this morning.   We are now on the third chapter of John.  We have such interesting discussions.    Great people.    We have been meeting over 12 years now.  

I picked up a shower curtain liner today.   The other day I looked a the curtain in the hall bathroom and remembered that I had cut a hunk out of the liner for Dick when he would sit on the bench that went over the side if the tub to take his shower.   Not a good thing.   I would have been embarrassed had I not caught it.

I am packing all the Crooksville China today.   Then I will just leave the crystal and glasses in the cabinet under the breakfast bar.   It will look nicer and more elegant.

Tomorrow night the choir at St. John's (Me too) will be singing at the memorial mass for all those in the parish who died this past year.   My cousin Greg is one and I called Mother in.   Lots of church events this week.

Until tomorrow.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

What a great day.    The sun shone.  It was rather chilly but the sky was as blue as Mary's Mantle.

Bobbie and Bill picked me up at 11AM to go to Memories in Port Washington to see Murdered to Death, obviously a comedy.   It was funny, one slapstick after another.   You had to keep listening and watching so as not to miss anything.


Ralph Maffongelli, who ran the Sheboygan Theatre company for many many years, before retiring, directed the play.    Well done, Ralph.

The meal is always good and the dessert today was to die for.    It was supposedly Elvis' favorite dessert, peanut butter, banana, chocolate torte.    OMG!!!

We always enjoy these days and I am so happy that Bobbie and Bill like to take me along.

Another busy week ahead- probably will get busier as we get into the holidays;

The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps - We must step up the stairs.
- Vance Havner











Dia Dhuit

Mary


   

It is chilly.   Don't know why we should expect anything more from November.   At least the sun was shining and the breeze was mild.

As I was gone all day yesterday, I did my wash today.  I mentioned that there was another showing of the condo yesterday.   They were done before Edie, Nicky and I got back from our drive.   The realtor called Alison this afternoon.   The people are trying to decide between this one and another.   The railroad is a consideration.   To back they didn't put it in a couple years ago.   Nobody would even be thinking about it.

I went to St. John's this morning to their annual Craft Fair.   Ran into lots of friends.   I got one of the items in the silent auction.    Really thought I would get outbid:)   It is a lot of items to sort and store photographs.    I will eventually use this when I go through those boxes of pictures.   Not here though.

After lunch, you will laugh, I went over to Edie's to clean all the dog hair out of her car.   SHE laughed.   She said I didn't have to but I couldn't see leaving her with that mess.    Nick is a shedder.   I don't like it but don't really mind either because he is my dog.   Edie likes him too.

I was a communion minister at mass tonight.   As you know, I always love doing that.

I was thinking of baking something today, but there was a bake sale at the Craft Fair also and I have a super coffee cake and fresh wheat buns.

Tomorrow Bobbie, Bill and I will be going to Memories to see Murdered to Death and eat.   A busy weekend.   How fun is this.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It was chilly today, but sunny.

I rode up to Gills Rock at the northern part of Door county with my neighbor Edie.   She does some Christmas shopping up there and just wanted company.   Sounded like fun to me. and it was.   Edie is good company and she took me on a super scenic tour of Door County as she and her husband spent lots of time up there enjoyed it so.  She still has time shares that she enjoys.

She said that Nicky could come along.    It worked out fine and now I know that the trip to Oklahoma, whenever that may be, will not be a problem.   He is a good traveler.   Sleeps most of the time, is fine about walking when we stop.   I brought water for him but he doesn't drink much anyway.   I told Edie that when he got home he would be exhausted.   We both laughed as he slept so much, but I was right:)

A nice day.  Edie and I are good companions.

Someone came to see the house this afternoon.   Don't have a report yet.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A busy day.    Lots to do.

Tomorrow I am going to drive to Door County with my neighbor Edie.   I think she just wants company.   She picks up some jams and stuff for presents and her own use up there.   Sounds like a nice break.   Nicky is going with us.

Today I saw the chiropractor.  my neck does feel better.   I hope the impending rain doesn't get it all riled up again.

This evening we had a really fun choir practice.   We are starting Christmas music.   Scott is very good at picking out really good music too.  

Tomorrow there is a showing and a past looker is still considering.   I have a feeling I will be here through Christmas.  Darn.   Was hoping to get there before the cold hit.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Just got my computer back from getting just cleaned up.  It was moving so slow that I figured I had better do something.   No viruses but lot of clutter.

Now I have to catch up on Quicken and everything.

It was a generally good day.   Met my fellow high school graduates at Holiday, a restaurant that started out as a teen bar called the Patio.  It was a good time.   I have enough salad left for lunch tomorrow.  It is sure good to see everybody that can come.   There were 24 of us.   Some with spouses, some alone, like me.   We are a close group.   I will miss these lunches when I move.

I'll watch the CMA awards as I go to sleep tonight.   I am really tired.

Nicky is still trying to adjust to the time change.  He can't understand why I wait until what he considers 5:30PM to feed him. I figure that by the end of the week he will be ok.   Then we just have to go through it all again in spring in the reverse.

Well,  until tomorrow.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This was one busy Monday.

I had Bible Study at 9:30AM.   There were 9 of us there.   We have started the 3rd chapter of John's Gospel now.   He and Nicodemus have just met.  We don't move too fast as we all try to bring the gospel into our lives and do.  

I went from there to Redeemer Lutheran Church in Sheboygan for my neighbor, Lois Kolberg's mother.    Several of the neighbor's were also there.   The service was lovely.   The last time I was in that church was when Julie Gross died, many, many years ago.   I did not drive out to the cemetery for the interment but waited with some of the other neighbors at the church and we had lunch with with family and friends.   It is nice to do that so the family is not just deserted after such an emotional time.    Lois's mom, Emma, was 94 and had a very full life.   She had been at Sunny Ridge for several years.

I saw Bob Hurrie, my friend today too.   He had wanted to come with Peggy to the funeral but decided that it was a bit much as he just got home yesterday after his heart attack.   He looks a bit frail but seems strong and is taking care of himself.   He is so blessed to have Peggy to help him.   She is such a nurturer.

So I just worked on the "books" and communications this afternoon.   Seemed like the morning and early afternoon were quite enough.

Tomorrow I am taking the computer to ExcelNet for a "tune up."   It is running a bit slow and Firefox keeps crashing.   Which is very annoying.

I will manage with the laptop.

A small unnamed Haiku.   I need to be writing more.  

 

I wake up gently

In the cocoon of my bed

And glide into day

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Wow.   A whole day without any appointments or responsibilities.

I did not even take a shower!!!

Got a lot done though.   I did not even have to really cook as I had the greatest leftovers.

Tomorrow will be busy.  One of my neighbor's lost her mother last Friday.   I will be going to the funeral tomorrow right after Bible Study.   Pray for her family.

Also pray for my friend and neighbor Bob, who had a heart attack on Friday.   He is home but Peggy and he need all the prayers they can get for his healing.

Dia Dhuit

Mary