It was a perfectly lovely day.

I DID have to get up at 3:30 again. I met Kenny out at the field at 4:30AM and we walked in. Jeff arrived sometime later. It was colder than on Friday, but with clear skies and a nice warm sun, it did not seem so. Another day of hens tromping around and feeding on the alfalfa until about 9:15 when I heard a shot from Ken's direction.
I waited a few minutes and then called him on the walkie talkie. I said "Did you get it?" He said " I sure did." We folded up at about 10:30AM. The only bird that got close to me all morning was a hen that almost joined me behind my blind. AND I wanted to be sure to get home to get a nap so I could be ALIVE for the rest of the day.

Anyway, I packed up and walked to Kenny's stand. He was folding up when I got there and had a nice 20 to 22 pound Tom lying there. Between us, we loaded his stuff and mind and walked to the cars with only two stops to let him rest a bit. (Dead weight turkeys are HARD to carry.) Then Ken and I waited for Jeff who had been unable to communicate with us on the walkie talkies and took a bit longer because he walked over to OUR sites from his own before making his way to the cars.

I got home at noon and with a shower and one errand managed to get down for a nice nap at about 1:30. I slept for about an hour so was rested for the evening.

Tomorrow is Dick's birthday. He will be 76. Dick and Brenda, Bobbie and Bill and Jim and Michelle took us to Rupps on 8th Street in Sheboygan for dinner. Such a lovely evening. The food was good, even though the waitress tried to burn Michelle, ( a way to hot plate) and some of the potatoes came in time for dessert. Good company is what makes the meal and we had plenty of that.

Then we came back here to enjoy a bit of the Baileys and a cup of de caf before calling it a night.

For some reason, I remembered the incident where my dear departed mother-in-law, Lily, served marguaritas to her sister,Ruth, and some of the ladies her sister worked with at the school lunch program.

Lil made a round or two of marguaritas and then ran out of tequila - SO - to "fill in" she took some 150 proof alchohol that Victor, my father-in-law had gotten in Mexico and used that in place of the tequila. Needless to say these ladies got bombed out of their minds. So Lily piled them in her jeep which did not have a top and drove them around Costa Mesa for a while to sober them up. We asked her later why she wasn't drunk too and she said that she had more sense than to drink that stuff.

Happy Sunday

Mary

We spent a bit less time out in the fields today. Just Randy and myself. I went to the same spot that I was at on Thursday, Randy went over where Jeff saw the big one. We sat and watched for four hours. Then Randy said he was getting restless and my feet were cold so we left at about 9:00.

Jeff called tonight. He got there at about 10 and stayed until about 1:00. He used Ken's tent and said that he saw a huge Tom up by my spot and near Randy's Thursday spot just a'dancing and preening and prancing. It was too far away for him and he could not get it to come with his calls. Ya just never know. If I could have held out, just MAYBE I would have my big Tom.

Tomorrow, Jeff, Ken and I are going out for one more try. I am not going quite as far in. I am going just above the creek in the planted field. I chased one out of a roost this morning there and just hope that he will be back.

I was really tired and took a nice nap this afternoon. Dick and I had leftovers for supper, so I was able to relax today. Good thing because tomorrow I will hunt in the morning and then the kids are taking Dick (and me) out for his birthday dinner. We are going to Rupps Downtown. Should be nice, I haven't been there in quite some time but they have always had good food.

Haven't seen Dick and Brenda since Christmas. It will be great to be with them again.

Have a nice weekend. All my love

Mary

Well, the first of my three turkey hunting days is over. I got up at 3:30AM to meet the guys out at the field. BOY AM I TIRED.

All we saw were a bunch of hens. And there were a bunch of them. Actually, Jeff saw and got a shot off at a tom early in the morning, but he missed. This is the first year he has ever gone turkey hunting, so that was a real thrill for him.

After I got home, I took a shower and then Dick and I went grocery shopping. It really was our only chance and we were running short of milk and a few other things.

Tomorrow, I have to get up at 3:30AM again to meet Randy out there. We will try again.

Went to choir tonight too, thank heavens, we had a short practice.

Anyway, I am too tired to be very creative tonight. So I will just say. Have a nice Friday and perhaps I will be more awake tomorrow night.

Love

Mary

A wonderful day in Milwaukee.

Our tour was totally different than we thought. We thougth we were going to spend the whole day at the Museum but as it turned out, this was our itinerary:

We left Sheboygan at 8:00AM and were taken directly to the Basilica of St. Josephat. Dick and I had seen it once before when we went on the Church tour a few years ago. Then they still had quite a bit of scaffolding up as the renovation was still being done. It is absolutely beautiful. Maybe on Sunday, (after hunting and
Dick's birthday weekend is over) I will send a picture of their rose window and also a picture of the rose window from the National Cathedral. They are both so beautiful.

We left the Basilica and were taken to the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum & Renaissance Garden. This is an old home on Lake Michigan that was once owned by Lloyd Smith who was owner of the AO Smith Company. It was a beautiful home and the view is spectacular. They do rent out for weddings and special celebrations. Our docent was very knowledgeable and full of fun facts.

THEN we went to Giovanni's Restuarant for a meal that was quite good and very pleasant, though Dick was not really too impressed with the sauce on their pasta dish, I thought it was quite good but he was very indifferent about it. Their tiramasu was VERY good.

Lastly, we were dropped off at the Miwaukee Museum to experience the St. Peter and the Vatican exhibit. Actually we had free run of the museum, but by the time we finished that it was almost time to go. The pieces displayed and the history behind them provided was wonderful. It is so special to have things like this so close to us. AND even better that the bus companies have the tours. We love them because we don't have to worry about ANYTHING. Driving, getting there on time, parking, meals. All handled by very capable experts. Such a deal.


"The problem with the designated driver program, it's not a desirable job, but if you ever get sucked into doing it, have fun with it. At the end of the night, drop them off at the wrong house."
--Jeff Foxworthy

Wish me luck at the turkey hunt tomorrow.

Love

Mary

It was in the mid 60s today. Very good for the lawn after the wonderful rain. It really will go crazy when we get more sun. I actually had to cut the morning walk short because it was still raining a bit.

Went to see Dr. Casey today and my arm is getting better. I will go back in three weeks instead of the two that we have been stuck at since the darn thing started hurting. I can tell it is better because my pistol shooting in staying pretty steady and getting better overall.

Today was Market Day too. Those were my only two outings. As long as I was out I went to the post office to mail a quilting pattern to Barbara and an entry in a poetry contest and to the bank. With the gas prices at the highs they are it is best to consolidate errands as much as one can.

The rest of the day was spent gathering things for tomorrow's trip to Milwaukee. I am going to take the camera. I hope that we can take pictures of the items in the Vatican exhibit. We are spending the whole day at the museum. First the exhibit, then lunch, then the IMAX theatre and then the rest of the museum. I assume that the museum has good lunches.

I also got everything together for my Turkey hunting on Thursday. Do you believe that we meet at 4:20AM? Uncle Kenny says we need to be in place before 5:00 as we can start shooting (If we see something of course) at 5:10. However, it is pretty difficult to tell if it is a Jake or Tom that early as it is still rather dusky.

I received word the other day that the two poems that I sent to the Wisconsin Poet's Calendar were not selected so I will share them with you. I still like them and will include them in the book that I am thinking of self publishing this summer.

Laughing Spring

If all the trees could laugh and sing
And all the clouds could dance
And rabbits all grew furry wings
And squirrels wore underpants.


If dogs meowed and kitties barked
And birds crawled on their bellies
Then all the tales that nature sparked
Would not be worth the telling.

I got a message from Jim's Michelle who is all the way in Richmond VA on a business trip. She told Jim tonight that she got the President's Award for innovation tonight. Quite an honor.

Love

Mary

Chelsea and I had a very nice walk this morning. It was not raining then, but did pick up as the day went on. The only problem I had was that she woke me up WAY to early. 5:25AM. The trouble with digital clocks is that you know the EXACT time.

Bible Study was very stimulating this morning. We even got into the immigration issue and we all agree that the important term here, that seems to have been forgotten by the media is that we were talking about ILLEGAL immigrants. Illegal is illegal. I have no problem with immigrants. I also believe that if they intend to live here they need to speak English. English is our language. I also think that they can learn our National Anthem in English and should fly the United States flag not a foreign one. It should be flown it in a proper respectful manner. People who cross the borders illegally into our country should be either imprisoned or deported. I heard that Mexico handles the illegal immigrants from their southern border by imprisoning them for two years and then deporting them. I don't see massive protests about peoples rights in Mexico.

We had some great rain midday. It is nice to see everything turning green again. Now we will get a warm day and everything will go bonkers and I will have to be out trimming and weeding like a crazy person.

Tonight I joined Ken, Randy and Jeff out at the 57 and J to check out the lay of the land for Turkey hunting. Part of the fields are planted in alfalfa so it is a bit easier walking out. My feet got all wet and muddy anyway. We did see a couple of hens working their way accross one of the fields. I can't go on the first day so Jeff is going to sit where I usually do and I will go there on Thursday. It is supposed to rain on Wednesday BUT Thusday they are predicting just a cloudy day. On the way out Jeff stepped on a bunny. It squeaked just like a squeaky toy and ran away. I am sure it was not hurt badly because the ground is so soft and wet. We also found the carcass of a deer. The coyotes have been feeding on it and someone has taken the horns.

Did I tell you that I have my own decoy and my own camo half fence this year? Every year I get a little more equipped.

Have a nice day tomorrow. It is a quiet one for me.

All my love

Mary

It has rained gently all day today. A welcome rain that is soaking into the ground and will result in rampant green as soon as it stops and the sun sends a little warmth upon this earth of ours.

However, it has left me rather tired and feeling sludgy (is that a word). I am minded of a turtle who kind or plods along just slowly looking left to right and not being feeling any urgency no matter the flurry and hurry around him. Bobbie and I went out to work at the Rhine Club today but we were able to come home early because of the rain and the fact that the only people hanging around were a few members playing cards. They can get their own beer and lock up as easy as we could have. SO we were home about 2:00 and I took a nap for all the good that did.

We pretty much finished up the chili and ate the last of the rhubarb pie for supper. An easy day altogether. Nice on such an overcast day.

Stopped to see Mom after Mass this morning. We had a nice visit, as usual. We were discussing how Courtney seemed to be drawn to the neediest of God's creatures, both animal and human and how much this was like her Grandfather.

Mother remembers Dad, when he was the president of the union at Gilson Industries in Plymouth. These union members would come to talk to Dad about their problems. Mom said that sometimes their problems were so silly or so self imposed or so stupid. But Dad would listen to them. He would patiently sit as they went through their problems and he would advise them or help them as best he could. I have NEVER met a person that knew Dad as the President of that Union who did not consider Dad his "best friend." They adored him and it was because of his ability to make the person talking to him feel that what he was presenting to Dad was important and that Dad felt that he was important. I tried to remember that lesson when I was a mortgage banker and sometimes the people who came to me to buy their first home were really kind of pitiful. I think because of Dad's gift, I was able to help many people get homes that might not otherwise been able to do so.

Have a lovely week

Yours

Mary

This was a stay at home day. Such a pleasure after busy weeks. I feel better today too. My cold seems to have subsided somewhat. I hope so because the coming week is starting to get filled up.

Jim's Michelle came to Sheboygan for the afternoon. It is nice that he has his area with the den downstairs because they can just do their thing and listen to their music and WE can do ours. I know that Jim was getting his laptop ready for her to take with her on a training business trip that she is taking early next week. Actually, she leaves tomorrow and comes back Wednesday. We enjoy having her around. She likes pork and lima beans and rhubarb pie.

Pork and lima beans is really good. Even Jim was surprised when he first had it. He was prepared to be unhappy but found out that it is good. It is VERY simple.

Four pork chops or pork steaks (preferably boneless)
1 large package of frozen green limas
2 cans of cream soups (I use the reduced fat and any variety like cream of mushroom
or chicken or celery)
1 small can of French's Fried onions
Velveeta cheese

Spray a casserole or baking dish. Layer the chops in the dish. Salt and pepper. Put a few slices of Velveeta on top of the chops. Spread the limas on top of all. Then mix the two cans of soups together and pour over the whole thing. Top with the onions and bake for one to on and one half hours at 350 degrees.

I did my research so I believe that I can fill out the paperwork for Rhine Plymouth's tax status. However, I am going to ask Bobbie and John to agree with me before I continue as the packet is 26 pages long. Granted, most of it does not relate, but one has to go throuth the whole darn thing to find that out.

I, also completed the workbook that I am preparing for Blessed Trinity's Environment Committee as far as I can at this point.

AND I sent some poems to two writing contests. One through Writer's Digest and the other through the WI. Regional Writers Association. So, whew! I was busy.


I decided to end with one of my poems. I sent it to the Milwaukee Art Museum. I don't THINK I ever put it on the blog, but if I did, you will have to read it again.

ORGANIZED CHAOS

Organized Chaos
Frenetic Frenzy
Intel dropped two
The sky is falling
Sweet juicy Mangos
Picked fresh this morning
A dozen eggs – (brown are best)
One million shares - at market
Trade you mangos for chicken
Oil is up – Buy – NO! Sell
Hand woven shawls in corner stall
Fingers stab the air – one – two – three
Red, green, blue shirts - fluttering birds
Red, gold, green, jackets - prowling foxes
Just like a hen house
Throw food and they swarm

We are getting a welcome rain and I think it is to continue for a day or two. We need it. Maybe it will warm up again too.

Love

Mary

It was a strange day today. I think I feel worse tonight than I felt when the I was sneezing and congested. I will be going to bed as soon as I finish this, if I ever do, I already goofed up my first try. It is not very forgiving.

Dick and I went out for lunch and then over to Richardson's to discuss the redoing of our kitchen cabinets and a new sink. We decided to go Coreon for the resale value. Hopefully we will be done with that in a month. It is looking as if we may be looking at rejoining condo life in the next year or so and we want things easy.

Jim and Michelle are in Madison tonight at a Kansas Concert. They were very excited about the event. I vaguely remember the group from when the boys were young. I'm sure they both do. Apparantly they have been going strong since the 70s. Should be a really neat night for the two of them. Music from their time.

I will close with a story that I am SURE you have seen before but it is special and feel good and motivational and I reread it once in a while because I like the message.

NEED WASHING??



A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Target.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypn! ! otic trance we were all caught in "Mom, let's run through the rain," she said. "What?" Mom asked.

"Lets run through the rain!" She repeated.

"No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied.

This young child waited about another minute and repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain,"

"We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.

"No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.

This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?

"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!"

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one ! ! came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.


Have a wet weekend. We might and it will be a good time to rinse off.

Love

Mary

The temperatures have warmed a bit. It was in the 40s when Chelsea and I walked. Chelsea seems to tire a bit lately when we walk. This morning, she pretty much chugged along, but sometimes she will just sit down an look at me for a bit. Like she is catching her breath or something. One morning, she seemed pleased to just shut it down early. Well, she is getting old. She is 84 in people years now.

Dick and I went for our usual breakfast and then grocery shopping. We racked the Marigold Wine today. Now it just has to settle a bit and then we can filter and bottle it. I think I will let it sit for one month because I detected a bit of fizz and that means that the yeast might be working a bit. Better to be ALL done before one sticks a cork in it.

I went to choir tonight and stopped at the Humane Society on the way.

They had told me that they would have the etching for Courtney done by tonight which was their Open House. Then I got a call just before 6:00 telling me they didn't get it done because they had been called on a rescue to Adams County on Monday and it took all evening. So I tried to call Randy and Donna who were going to the open house to take a picture for George and Betsy. They had already left.

Now you know why I went over there. I did manage to be there when Randy and Donna arrived and explained. The Society will call when it is done. They did send a letter of thanks and acknowledgement to George and Betsy. I heard the story of the rescue mission that they had gone on.

There was a couple in Adams County that the Society called dog hoarders. They had 75 dogs in their home. There was a job loss and apparantly the people were running out of funds to feed the animals. They had accumulated them over time from many sources - never had an animal spayed, so they were breeding. The animals had never been on grass. They were out is was only occasionally during the day and then on concrete. It is not known if they are housebroken. The dogs knew only their owners. Apparantly this rescue was done while the animals were still well fed and they are gentle creatures. I saw one of the dogs, a mother with several puppies, in the reception area. She looks well cared for, is very shy and has the cutest litter of nice rolly polly puppies. She is what you would call a sled dog. Her name is Ginger ane I watched as one of the helpers was trying to socialize with her. She was not at all against it but very shy and became very submissive as she accepted petting, literally plastering herself on the ground in front of the volunteer. What a story.

That was my day. How was yours?

Be healthy and happy

Mary

This was a pleasant day.

This morning was so special. Dick and I went to Rick's Flower Shop this morning and picked up a bud vase with four perfect pink roses and baby's breath to take out to Courtney. Then we picked up Mother so she could go out with us. The day was pleasant. The temperature was a bit low, probably in the low 40s, but it was still and the sun was shining. The yellow roses were pretty much done, so Mother and I replaced them with the roses. A fitting bouquet to give to a lovely girl from HER mom.

Mother and I walked over to say Hi to Grandma and Grandpa Bowser. There is a Legion medallion on Grandpa's grave and the Legion always gives him a flag, though Grandpa Bowser actually never served in any war. Grandma was always very active in the legion and they had three sons who served in WWII so I guess they figure that he deserves it.

Want to hear a cute story about Grandma Bowser? One year my ex husband and I were visiting Wisconsin and stopped at Grandma and Grandpa Bowser's for breakfast the morning that we were leaving. Grandma placed some fresh blueberry muffins on the table, and my ex said. "How come you never make fresh blueberry muffins?" Grandma said that it was really easy and she went into the kitchen and brought in the empty Duncan Heinz box. Needless to say, I got a box or two after we got home.

Now I make them from scratch.

Grandma was quite the woman. Whenever I want to know how to behave like a lady and with dignity, I use her for an example. Did you ever see the picture of her as a young woman? She was a beautiful woman.

I do seem to have caught a cold. I was supposed to go out to Rocky Knoll tomorrow to play bingo with the residents, but cannot go out and infect those people. Now I am going to head for bed.

Have a great evening or morning, whenever you happen to read this.

Mary

I think I am getting a cold. (Darn it). I have been sneezing all day and my throat feels funny too.

Today was quiet. I got my hair cut early, then came home and cleaned my desk. I took a nap after lunch and did a bit of sewing. After that I stuffed and sealed 300 envelopes for the Senior Saints at Blessed Trinity. I sent them a little cover letter summarizing what will be happening the rest of the year, an invitation from St. Mary School for them to attend the annual Spring Sing put on by the students and a brochure that I made up for them that lists all the services they can get from Blessed Trinity parishioners and committees in times of need and a few important Sheboygan County Resource numbers.

Tomorrow I will pick up the flowers Betsy wants for Courtney. Tomorrow would be her birthday and she asked that I put pink flowers, preferrably roses on the grave. I called Rick's and he is going to have a bud vase with four pink rosebuds and baby breath ready for me in the morning. Dick and I will then pick up Mother and take her with us. She would like to go out. She said that she wanted to also visit Grandma and Grandpa's graves across the path. I mentioned that when we were leaving the cemetery on Saturday, I mentioned to Dick that I hoped that Grandma & Grandpa weren't hurt that I had not walked over to greet them.

It is comforting to have so many roots in this community. And so many relatives and friends. Our friend Lucy Carderelle says that you can't talk about ANYBODY. Everybody is related or tied in SOME way. She came from somewhere else and is a wonderful person. She seems to be a big mother hen to lots of little old ladies, my Mom among them. She takes them to the Senior meals and several of them shopping and other errands too. There sure are a lot of kind people in this world. Most of them unsung.

I am going to take some nighttime cold medicine and "hit the sack" as Dad would have said. When I was a little girl, Mother used to say "Up the wooden hill to four corners."

Til Tomorrow

Mary

I forgot to post yesterday. Guess was so tired, and I just forgot. Last week was SO exhausting.

Yesterday was busy busy busy. I stopped at Mother's before the Volunteer Dinner at church an was able to say goodbye to Nora, Leif and Stenn and to George and Betsy. A bittersweet parting. Mother was really tired. She decided not to go to church for the dinner as she was not up to all the people who would have been trying to comfort her and talk about it. I am really glad she did not go. It was hard enough on me.

George and Betsy had gone out to the cemetery Sunday Morning and were so comforted to see that the hole was all filled in and smooth and whoever had done it had carefully arranged the yellow roses on top of the grave. I talked to one of the guys that works out there and was able to thank him for the care. He actually got teary. The crew out there is so caring and helpful.

Today, I took the money that we, as a family, had collected over to the Humane Society. They will etch Courtney's name and a statement about her on the glass of a door in the "cat house". It will be ready by Thursday when they have an open house and Randy and I will go an take pictures. George wants pictures of the building, the yards, the animals and Courtney's dedication. We will get them all.

The Volunteer Dinner was a great success. We had 150 to 170 in attendance. The meal and companionship were pleasant. And the cleanup was a snap. It is nice to cater to volunteers - While we were washing the silverware, they were policing the hall and had it done before we knew it. I was home by 8:00PM. Good thing. I was, as I said, exhausted.

Today, Bible Study, the trip to the Humane Society and Rhine Board Meeting.

Tomorrow, will be quiet. Darn good thing. It will be nice to cave up. I mentioned that I had made chili on Friday. The guys had it Sunday and Dick and I ate it tonight. Boy is it good. I had enough venison, so I just used it and chorizo for the meat.

Jim went to have supper with Michelle tonight. She was quite sick on Sunday but was feeling better and in need of company. That way he can see that she DOES eat and is OK.

"You'll never get to be a saint if you deny the bit of devil in you." from the Cadfael Book of Days.

Have a great Tuesday.

Love

Mary

The long sad day is over. We all gathered at St. Mary's Cemetary at 12:00Noon. A big crew with all the aunts and uncles and as many of the neices and nephews who could get here. It rained a bit on the way to the cemetary, but stopped before we all got out of our cars, so though it was a bit cool it was not an unpleasant time to be spending gathered around the grave.

We were there perhaps an hour. Shawn's father in law was a gentle and knowledgeable shepherd for the service. He kept us on track and pointed out the goodness of God which will follow the Good Friday that we have felt this past week and the Holy Saturday that we experienced today. He reminded us of the legacy of Courtney's goodness to the misfortunate of this world, she was like a magnet and always kind to them. I read my little story and told some of my memories of Courtney and then finished with the Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem that George requested be read. I finished but made sure that Dick was right there, because I knew that when I was done, I would need to be held. I had practiced the poem a couple of times at home because it needed to be read correctly to convey his message. Then George placed Courtney in Grandpa's arms and added a few things that were important to her. Two collars from her favorite cats, a windcatcher that Betsy made her using a couple feathers from the famous chicken that she spent $700 to try to save and her Aggie ring from college that she was VERY proud of. I put in a birthday card. Those who wanted took a yellow rose from the plastic tub that was waiting there and placed them next to the grave. We all went directly to Randy's to celebrate Courtney with pizza and beer.

It is NOW almost 11:00 I got home about a half an hour ago. It is hard to say goodby to each other.

I had the most wonderful surprise, Jim stopped by to comfort me and to express his sympathies to George and Betsy on his way to see Michelle. That meant the world to me and SO much to them.

I went to church tonight as it seemed like a good idea. The choir was singing and for an hour noone really missed me as there were conversation groups all over the house. I was glad I went. We sang You Raise Me Up and another song from the Unity Festival with Jim Wilsing playing the penny whistle for Joan and Don Otto on their 50th anniversary. Joan was in tears (of joy). So I am super glad that I did go over.


Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glint on snow
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there - I did not die.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain
When you awake in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight
I am the soft stars that shine at night
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there - I did not die.

Traditional

The above was on the prayer cards at my Dad's funeral. Courtney LOVED it and had several copies around her condominium. Randy read it for her today.

Tomorrow we will be fresh. Thank you all for your concern and prayers and love.

Mary

Today I went on a cooking frenzy. I had to do something to keep busy. As we will be eating at Randy's after the funeral, and Sunday is the Volunteer dinner at church, I made a big pot of chili for the guys and to enjoy part of next week too. I made carrot raison salad, cucumber salad, two pans of bars, (rhubarb and mint brownie) and the Kinert Spinach Noodl Casserole for dinner.

Michelle and Jim both got off work early today, so Michelle came up to spend the afternoon and evening with us (mainly Jim of course) they are watching movies downstairs. She passed another test, she likes the Kunert casserole.

It was beautiful for most of the day, though this afternoon it has become cloudy and a few raindrops are falling. George and Betsy and Nora and Leif arrived this afternoon. Stenn (Nora's son) and Shawn and Sara (George's son and wife) came too along with Sara's parents. Sara's Dad, Dwight, is going to conduct the graveside service for us.

It is good for all of us to be together and we are glad that they brought Courtney home to us. All the people do tire Mother, is is so important fo us all to be here, despite that.

I saw the workers getting ready for tomorrow night's spaghetti dinner fundraiser for St. Mary School, so I went over and gave the tickets that Dick and I had purchased to my friend Cindy to see if she could find someone who could use them as we will not be able to go. Cindy said that she would give one to her sister who is coming and planned to buy a ticket but is on rent assistance and this would be a nice surprise. Perhaps they can find another person who has a need.

Cadfael's reading for the day was thought provoking. "If I have guessed right, there is here a problem beyond my wit or yours to solve. I promise my endeavour. The ending is not mine, it belongs only to God. But what I can to, I will do."

Special

Mary

A beautiful sun shiny day. It was in the high 60s with a mild breeze wafting around. There had been rain last night and the streets were covered with worms. The robins should be very full tonight.

Dick and I went out to breakfast as usual on Thursdays, followed by the weekly grocery shopping spree. I cleaned the bathrooms when we got home. This afternoon, I went and picked up some groceries for Mother. George will stay with her while they are here and though she will not make any major meals, she really needed a few things in order to be able to supply breakfast and a lunch if necessary.

I also had to stop in church and replace one of the banners on the St. Francis Chapel wall with the Divine Mercy tapestry. Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday and my friend Esther, got permission to have the tapestry purchased and the Legion of Mary is celebrating a Holy Hour on Sunday in honor of the Divine Mercy. I thought I might need help but it was surpisingly easy to haul the ladder over there and switch the hangings.

Tomorrow, I am going to go on a baking and cooking frenzy. I will be making chili, spinach-noodle casserole and two pans of bars. The bars are for the gathering after the interment on Saturday and the meals are for Dick and Jim as I will not be here to prepare Saturday or Sunday meals.

Whose cruel idea was it for the word "lisp" to have an "S"
in it?

I hope I sleep well tonight. I am VERY tired.

Love

Mary

Today was better. The weather was lovely. Chelsea, however, seemed to be tired on her walk. She kept sitting down about when we got to the end of the street and did not want to go the full distance. I did not make her either. She is getting old, after all, and should have some choice in the matter. And frankly, usually she is the one dragging me the last half mile or so.

We racked the second batch of wild grape, the one without the bananas in it, to the secondary fermentors. I have to remember to check the specific gravity tomorrow. It is the most beautiful color. A deep deep purple.

Tonight, Rocky Knoll put on a thank you dinner for the volunteers. I have helped throughout the year by going with the church group to play bingo with the residents. They alway have a nice dinner, give out cute party favors, lots of door prizes and have entertainment. This year the entertainment was a Celtic Harpist playing a wirestrung Celtic Harp. I could not understand the introduction. Then when I went to see about getting a tape or CD (which I knew I would have to send for because I didn't bring that kind of cash with me) Imagine my delight when I discovered that he is Jeff Pockat. I have a CD of his that I got almost 20 years ago from Heather in Wausau. She thought I would enjoy his music and lent me the tape. I did and eventually purchased one for myself and another one for a gift to Fr. Mike Moran who loved traditional Irish Music. He gave nice introductions to his music and played a lot from way back when, including two from Carolan.

A nice break. Tomorrow we begin again.

We are going to pool our money that would be used for flowers or such and donate in a lump sum to the Humane Society. They will then engrave Courtney's name on a glass door in the Cat Room. Kathy and I started to laugh as we remembered the when Courtney worked at the Shelter in Texas, Betsy used to say that her daughter worked in a Cat House.


Love

Mary

The weather was lovely today. The temps were in the mid to high 50s and we were out in it for a bit.

Dick and I went to the funeral of Wally Horvatinec, who worked in maintenance at the library for MANY years. Jim came also, because Wally was his boss for 14 years or more and Jim was very fond of him.

Then we drove out to St.Mary Cemetery so I could get a lay of the land as far as how the graves are situated in the Deeley area. On the way home we stopped at Walgreens to pick up a couple of prescriptions and went to Harry's Diner for lunch.

When I got home, I called George and told him all that I had found out and they finalized their plans for the interment on Saturday at noon. Courtney will rest right on top of her Grandpa Hutz Deeley's coffin, just about in his lap. That will be comforting to George and Betsey as she and Dad had a really close relationship. Courtney lived out of state, most of the time, but they wrote letters in between visits. It was special. Dad wrote a poem especially for her too.

You might enjoy it.

Courtney dear you make me happy
A joy, a cheer to your Grandpappy
Cute as a bug, I love your hug.
Pretty and sharp you'll always be
One thing I don't like, you are so far away
And I don't get to see you grow up every day.
But when you come here a thrill it's to me
To see that you are still as sweet as can be
So bigger or not what difference Really
To me you will still be my Courtney Deeley.

Now, we mainly have to wait. Such a sad time.

Til tomorrow

Mary

Went to Bible Study this morning. It is comforting to have a group of people who pray and study with one. When we have a need, we know that people are praying with and for us.

After we were done, I stopped at Mother's to visit with her and Jeff and Kathy who were there to help get her gardens ready for planting and the trash hauled off to the dump. It was a good day for them to be with her anyway. We are all rather numb about our Courtney. I ended up staying for lunch and Aunt Kathleen called while we were eating and came to stay for a while. I left at about 2:00 and came home.

I had a message from George when I got in so I returned that call right away. Betsy and George want Courtney buried here in St. Mary Cemetery, close to her Grandpa. Our Dad, her grandpa and Courtney did have a special bond. When she was a little girl and did not live close, they wrote letters to each other and had a wonderful communication. They would like to have the buriel on Saturday, if all goes well in Texas. I was able to get the information and will call George and Betsy tomorrow for their decision. I do want to stop at the cemetery to get a visual before I call him and confirm Mother's ideas. Maybe I can convince Dick to go out to breakfast with me tomorrow and we can take a swing by there.

Aside from that I sewed today. I made some progress on the Hand of God wall hanging that I am designing. That was a relaxing project and I also watched Walk the Line. I recommend that movie just for the music. I liked it a lot.

A friend is someone who knows
the song in your heart
and can sing it back to you
when you have forgotten
the words.

-- Unknown

Love

The sun will come up tomorrow and we will all be OK. We will remember the words for each other.


Mary

Last night the phone rang at 10:00PM. This is a bit unusual under any circumstances, but when I heard my brother George's voice, for some reason, I was thinking, perhaps Houston was in a different time zone. I now remember that it is not. However, the news that he called to tell me was heartbreaking. Their daughter, Courtney, took her own life that morning. They had tried to call her all morning, then called work and though she WAS supposed to be there, had not showed up. So George and Betsy called the police to check and the police found her. Randy, Donna and I met at Mother's at about 9AM so someone would be with her when George called to tell her the news. It is heartbreaking and watching Mother hear the news was one of the most difficult.

We, Randy, Donna, their girls, Mother and myself all went to Mass. I asked Fr. Gene to ask the congregation for prayers, so a lot are being said for Courtney and for the family. We need them to get through this difficult acceptance. So you can help us out too. George told Randy that he should hug all three of his girls and then go back and hug them again.

The rest of Easter and I am exhausted. Jim picked up his girlfriend, Michelle, and she spent the afternoon and had dinner with us and Bobbie and Bill. I guess menitoned that she was coming yesterday, but just in case you just tuned in.

Michelle is fun, charming and lovely. We had a wonderful time and hope to spend more time with her in the future. Dick even gave her his chocolate bunny.

Jim, Michelle and I went out to Rhine to shoot in mid afternoon. Michelle chose to just watch, but I think she will join us the next time. She did like the club and the people she met. Not too many as Easter was a dud for business. Only about a dozen people, including us, and all were members who could have come anyway.

My first target was a dud again, only a 36, the other two were better 52 and 62 so I think from now on, I will shoot a practice target. (Then it will probably be my best one but we have to try.) I also shot a round of trap with Krunch as the Falls Club will start their league sometime in May and if Rosalee will shoot with me I would like to try again. Remember, I was Most Improved the last league there.

Today I only got a 14 in trap today, but after a whole winter of not shooting, I figure it will only improve. I was not following through - Need to reestablish my rythum.

The meal turned out really good. I will be reheating different combinations all week.

It is now time to call it a day. Remember our sweet Courtney and my brother and Betsy in your prayers. They need SO much comforting.



Love and Happy Easter


Mary