November 1st. All the goulies and ghosties are gone until next year. Today was All Saints Day. I would like to pay tribute to all the saints that I know that are in that land beyond the sky. My Grandparents, my Dad, my Brothers and all the wonderful Aunts and Uncles who were such great examples of good people for me as I grew and became the person I am. Pope John Paul II won't ever canonize any of them.

Keep well.

Love

Mary

From Goulies and Ghosties
And long legged beasties
And things that go bump in the night.

Dear Lord, Deliver Us.

Happy Halloween


Mary

This has been a really hectic week. It is THURSDAY already and I have not posted since Sunday. Monday we shopped and I nursed a headache, a remainder of the concern that Bret's illness gave me. Tuesday, I sewed a square of the Birds in the Air that I am incorporating in to the quilt I am assembling that was inspired by the Gee's Bend Exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Wednesday, Dick and I picked up Mother and we went to the Senior Center in Sheboygan Falls. (It is really heard to believe that I am a Senior, but I am.) We all got our flu shots and I got a pneumonia shot. I will never do that again. The pneumonia shot has caused my arm to swell and get red around the point of needle entry and red sore streaks are spreading down to my underarm. I had MORE trouble sleeping last night.

Today we went shopping and then I napped because I was exhausted. This afternoon, I went with several other people to play bingo at Rocky Knoll with some of the patients there. This was the third time I have done this and it is really a fun thing to do. I like helping those people and a person does come home so grateful for health and healthy families.

Then tonight was choir and Parish Council meeting. So It has been wild.


Retirement is not for the lazy. Though Dick has learned the trick. When you ask him what he does, he says, " I am retired, that is what I do."

Love

Mary

Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles. Bret is HOME and OK. He did not have a heart attack after all, despite what they told him at the hospital in Blythe. (Probably why the fact that he drove himself from Blythe to Lakewood did not cause him to have another one.) The doctor said it was stress. The stress caused his blood vessels around the heart to constrict causing the pain. He is sounding WONDERFUL and obviously relieved. This Mother is just starting to get over her headache.

Thank you all for your prayers. I know that is what brought us through.

Love

Mary

My boy, Bret, called tonight. He is in the hospital, having experienced a mild heart attack. It isn't right, you know. My children should not be experiencing adult illnesses or problems and he, at 36, is much too young anyway.

Anyone who reads this, please, pray for Bret. Tomorrow, he will have the results of the tests and they will know the extent of any damage and what he needs to do to heal. Bart happens to be in California for a week. That is a comfort. At least, Bret has some family and I am grateful for all his good friends. And he does have many.

Please pray for health.

Thank you

Mary

What a night. Bobbie and I went shooting for our regular pistol league. I am doing SO much better with the new Buckmark than I did with the Colt Trooper. The Buckmark is a single action and so much easier to handle. I will keep practicing with the Trooper until I get it but not for league.

Doc, one of the Rhine Plymouth members, the one who nominated me for secretary, had purchased one of the decks of playing cards with all the "wanted" people from Iraq. When Bobbie and I were going down, he gave us each one to "practice" on. We pasted them on our non league target and both did very well. I had the 6 of hearts, Mohammad Mahdi Al-Sahib the Minister of Trade. I got him right in the middle of the forehead. Will Jim ever be impressed. All the guys at the club were.

Love

Mary

My Aunt Mary Ann Bowser shared this soup with me when Dick and I made our trip to Texas several years ago. I has turned out to be a keeper. My grandaughters call it Pizza Soup.

Zucchini Soup

1 ½ lb. Mild Italian Sausage (no reason you can't use hot if you like it better)
1 Cup Onion Chopped
1 Cup Green Pepper Chopped
1 Cup Celery Chopped

Saute and drain the above ingredients.

Add
1 16 oz can of Italian tomatoes
1 28 oz can of stewed tomatoes
1 quart tomato juice
2 cans chicken broth
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp basil
½ tsp sugar
8 oz carton fresh mushrooms, slices
1 lbs Zucchini sliced


Simmer for one hour. FANTASTIC. This soup also Freezes well which you may have to do because it is a really LARGE recipe.

It will be in the cookbook I am writing.

Love

Mary

Dick and I sang Happy Birthday to Jim when he woke up this morning and he ran away and hid. But he liked his pasta dinner and chocolate birthday cake this evening.

I have finished the items that I am donating to Festival of Trees. The SWAK Advent Calendar looks pretty good. The envelopes will hold little jungle figurines and have a candy cane hanging from the envelope. Sandy from the Festival Committee came over tonight to look at it and really liked it so I feel more confidant.

Barb and I will go to the Festival and to Kristkindlmart in Elkhart. We LOVE those things.

Mary

Tomorrow is Jim's birthday. He is taking tomorrow and Thursday off, so he and Dick are going to go gambling tomorrow. I will bake a cake for him while they are gone and I am fixing a rather nice Italian Pasta dinner too. While they are gone (I love it when they go gambling because then I am sure that Dick will not ask me to go. He doesn't often but he does enjoy it and I do not.) I am going to do a bit of shopping and drop some things off at St. Vinnies.

Tomorrow I go to Bible Study and I actually finally got the chapter from Mark read and the notes read too so feel rather prepared. We are on the 12th chapter which ends with Jesus telling the apostles that the poor widow's two coins were worth so much more than the large contributions of the rich people. I want to share a line with the group from my friend Sy Regan who wrote a poem he shared with Blessed Trinity Parish in his deacon's message. It is as follows: "And so we pray in churches, While Christ is on the mountain we avoid."


Mary

I am working on a cookbook and am rediscovering lots of recipes and cooking tips that I have gathered over the years. I used to be able to put a meal on the table in less than a half an hour. Now, though I still can provide the quick stuff, I love to spend time and care in preparing meals. I do love to cook.

I am working on the soup chapter and found a vegetable soup I used when I was really dieting. It was filling and provided two veggie servings in one bowl so was really good. I will share it with you here.

It is called

SLIM Veggie Soup

3 sups water
6 beef or chicken bouillon cubes
2 cups canned tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped onions
2 cups chopped celery
2 cupps shredded cabbage
Salt and Pepper

Put water, bouillon and tomatoes in a kettle. Bring to a boil and add the vegetables. Bring back to boil, cover and reduce to simmer. Simmer till vegetables are done. Makes 6 one cup servings at 66 calories each.

Nummy Nummy in my tummy.


Mary

Dick and Brenda were in town for the weekend and took us out for lunch today. We went to the Horse and Plow and mercifully missed the Packer Game. They lost again. This time to St. Louis. Such a disappointment - glad we were doing something more fun. We also went to the Kohler Design Center as Dick and Brenda are planning on doing some bathroom remodeling and wanted Ideas. If you have never been to the Design Center it is a MUST. Totally free and just a marvelous experience. Who would have thougth that bathrooms and plumbing fixtures would be fun.

I liked my little reading from the Cadfael Book of Days. it was from The Hermit of Eyton Forest Chapter 6 and read.

"A pity, a great pity there should be so much hurrying on of death, when it's bound toreach every man in its own good time."

Have a good week and live for joy.


Mary

Such a great day. The weather is "to die for." It was in the low 70s this afternoon which is really easy to take in October. The Sheboygan County Writers Club sponsered a Poetry Reading at the John Michael Kohler Art Center this afternoon from 1:00 to 3:00PM. We did not have a BIG crowd, but we had a wonderful crowd. Five people from the club and as many readers from the community. We may have gained two more members for the club or more. Such talent.

I read several poems as we did a round robin. Some, I have featured on this site, some not. But they were well received. I ended with the poem that I printed for my kids at Christmas. Not mine, but I found it - attributed to an "anonomous Norwegian." I will repeat it for those who might not have heard it.

May you always find light on a cloudy day.
When you need to be home may you find the way.
May you always have courage to take a chance.
And never find frogs in your underpants.

Slainte


Mary

I had my annual mammogram last week and was called back today to check an irregularity in one area. I was not happy about that at all. They are all so cheerful and very solicitous and reassuring and after an hour and a half, two mammograms and a sonogram, decided that it is nothing to worry about but they want to recheck in 6 months instead of the usual year. Now, how is that supposed to read.

As I said, for all the discomfort, they are really very kind and generous in that area of the clinic.

But I am still nervious.

Here is a funny quote, I read by ANON. (he really wrote a lot, didn't he?)

"If Jesus was Jewish, how come he has a Mexican name?"

Mary

I neglected to mention yesterday, that Britt said the Quilters of Gee's Bend came to the opening in Milwaukee and only had three requests.

1. They wanted their quilts treated like Art.
2. They wanted to tour the City of Milwaukee.
and
3. They wanted to sing at the opening.

They did all three. I purchased a copy of their CD which is a two disk of gospel music. I listened to the first disc today. It is very nice. All a capella and very low key. They JUST sing.

I will share if anyone wishes to hear it.

Love

Mary

I would recommend the current exhibit of the Quilts of Gee's Bend that is the main exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum to ANYONE who can go. I went today with my Mother and had the extra icing on the cake of being able to lunch and be guided to the Georgia O'Keefe section and through part of the Gee's Bend exhibit with my niece Britt Salvesen and her husband Brian , who are employees of the museum. Britt is the Assistant Curator of Prints and Brian works in the Graphic Arts Department. We had SUCH a perfect day. Mother and I really got into the quilts and enjoyed the accompanying video immensly. I was so impressed with the women and what they had to say. One of them said that when she were growing up they had nothing and were really poor but were happy. Now people have everything and are not happy. And what a wonderful laugh she gave after her statement.

I was sorry that I could not have been there for the opening. The ladies were there and even sang. I did buy their CD so we will be able to enjoy their music.

Love

Mary

I guess yesterday's post didn't POST. I told you all about going shooting with Jim and Bobbie and sighting in my shotgun and letting Bobbie and Jim shoot my 243 Page rifle. Did I tell you about that rifle? It was a gift from my first husband before Bret was even born. Before Bret was born, I did go deer hunting a couple of times with him.

The gun was made for me by our friend Ralph Winchester. He hand carved the stock out of a piece of black walnut he had brought back from his Grandfather's farm in Arkansas. Then he fiberglassed it so it doesn't scratch easily. He put in a 240 Page action. It is an easy gun to shoot. Hardly any kick at all.

Today I went to Writer's Club and learned a new kind of poetry called Pantoum. It is kind of complicated. But this is the example that we did as a group.

Autumn in Wisconsin

The leaves of color
Yellow birch leaves glistening
Cover the forest floor
Eludes Jack Frost's bite

Yellow birch leaves glistening
Musty smell under the trees
Eludes Jack Frost's bite
Children hide in the leaves.

Musty smell under the trees
A carpet fro God's creatures
Children hide in the leaves
Squirrels scurry with acorns.

A carpet for God's creatures
Covers the forest floor
Squirrels scurry with acorns
The leaves of color.


Interesting isn't it. I'm going to try my own.

Mary

Saturday. It was really foggy when Chelsea and I went walking this morning. The temperatures were nice anyway.

I am much better today and went out on the deck to pull some more of the plants that are dying off as Autumn moves on in to Winter. I also went out front and harvested my Marigold seeds for next years planting. I have a whole snack bag stuffed FULL and must try to remember that I really have enough. I could get many more but don't need them. I have a tendancy to think like my Dad and always figure that more is better when you are harvesting.

Dad was always that way. I still remember him "advising' Mom when we were having guests for dinner. He was always pushing her to add a couple of more potatoes or a few more carrots or another couple of burgers or whatever. That is probably why I overcook for company and even for the three of us.

It is getting a bit easier to find meals that are all eaten up at the table and not still there for two more days.

See you Sunday

Mary

Bobbie, Jim and I went shooting tonight. The new gun is really making my scores better. With it, I hit the target every shot. My scores are 40 and up. (Last week I got a 68.) With the Colt I was lucky to be getting scores in to the 30s.

I am feeling much better today but will lay pretty low this weekend to make sure I have shaken this cold. I went to the doctor and he said this particular virus seems to last one to two weeks and I have no intention of having it for two weeks. He gave me some cough medicine whtich really helps me sleep.


My sister Dolores has wild grapes in her backyard and called to see if I would like to have them to make wine. Naturally I jumped at the chance. We picked enough that I will be able to make 2 gallons of actual grape wine from scratch. I am really excited about that. I will start it as soon as we get the acid tester I seem to need to begin. This winemakeing is really fun.

Happy Saturday

Mary

Today the cold seemed better but I felt queazy most of the afternoon. There is NO justice. I have missed two meetings and bible study, all because of this cold. Tomorrow there had better be an improvement. I have been able to take Chelsea for a walk the past two days which should get my blood to healing and keep her from going crazy.

I have my physical tomorrow too so if I am not better, I will tell the doctor that he had better do his job.

Have a great day.

Mary

I caught a cold. I am not happy about it but It really is a dilly. I started with a sore throat and have now progessed to congestion and tiredness. Anyway, that is why I did not post yesterday. Tomorrow I have to be better because I have an appointment at 11:00 and want to go to my sister Dolores's before the appointment to pick wild grapes that are growing in their backyard to make wine with.

That should be fun, an actual grape wine from scratch.

Later
Mary