Today was not a bad day overall. Most things went well. I baked Irish Brown Bread for the Irish program at the Plymouth History Museum.

I spent three separate times with Boots over at Jim and Michelle's. He is a lonely little guy and is sure glad to be let out of that little room. I have been trying to give him enough time to stretch. He is so cute but sometimes bites. I think he is so GLAD to be with that he gets carried away.

Then we went to the Condo Association meeting. We met a few people and helped approve the budget. On the way home we saw a man walking TWO dogs. I am really mad.

At 1:00 I went over to the Plymouth History Museum to help Beth and Katie, her daughter, set up the food and chairs and all. Dorothy Walsh Best, the harpist, and her husband, Jeff Best, a minister in the "Celtic American Catholic" church arrived almost immediately and she set up her harp. She does a wonderful program, playing traditional and Irish American music and Christmas too. She gives talks about the pieces she plays, the history of the harp and Irish history. The audience was transfixed.

It was fun talking to her husband too. He gives talks on Celtic Spirituality sometimes. I would find that interesting. I find it easy to incorporate many of the Celtic beliefs into my Catholic beliefs. Goodness is goodness. Goodness knows.

We had tea and coffee with cookies and my brown bread and Scripture Cake. All went over really well. Several people asked for the recipes, so I will give them to Beth to put into the next Sheboygan County Historical Research Center newsletter. I have just enough left for a good breakfast tomorrow.

Many people were asking when we will have the next one, so right after Christmas, Beth and I will plan another program.

When I got home, Dick told me to call Leslie. We have BIG news. Nora is engaged and will be married in about two weeks. Then she is planning to join the Air Force and take advantage of the benefits offered by the service. We wish her well. That is an awful lot to take on in only two short months. She had better grit her teeth and hang on for the ride of her life.

Mother is feeling better today. She is still weak as can be but has not felt nauseated since yesterday noon. She ate three light meals today, including a soft boiled egg and is doing her very best to drink 8 glasses of fluids. By trying hard, she will at least get more than she would have otherwise. She is going to lay low and stay home all this next week so she can get all healed.

Guess that is the day. Pretty full, wouldn't you say.

Love

Mary

Last night I got a call about 9:30 from Donna that they had taken Mother to emergency because she started throwing up and became very faint and was not too coherent. So not much sleep until after one AM when I received a final call from Jeff that they had taken her home after she received some intravenous saline drips. She was dehydrated from all the nausea which was a reaction to the anti biotic that they had given her for the bladder infection. What a circle this turned out to be.

She feels much better tonight after a somewhat rocky day. She slept a lot and still had trouble eating. However, tonight she ate a cup of soup and had a cup of tea and seemed a bit stronger. Someone stayed with her all day, but she wants to spend her night alone she says. I will call her in the morning as I am sure everybody else will.

This morning Dick and I went to Hunters Glen to check it out and run water and flush toilets. Then we proceeded to Bobbie and Bill's to feed Roxie and Oscar as Bobbie and Bill spent last night in Milwaukee and went to see the Cudahy Carolers. Roxie reluctantly let me cuddle her. She really just wanted her food. Oscar did not run away, but was only interested in food. I don't think he loves me any more. I sure miss them.

Tonight I went to Mass for the holy day at Blessed Trinity and sang with the choir. We sang Mary Did You Know which is really lovely. Then Cindy Dorn had us all over to her house for hor d oerves, wine and song. It was fun. I do miss singing with the choir but will have to decide if I REALLY want to commit that time at St. John's. I feel I can only pick one time consuming ministry and don't know what it will be yet.

That's all for now. I am really tired.

Michelle called Dick to tell us that Jim had made it to DC safe and sound and that they were going out for dinner. We are watching their kitty, Boots. We went over for about a half an hour this evening so he had some company. I will spend some time tomorrow and Sunday too. He is a cute little guy.



Subject: E-mail from God

One day God was looking down at Earth and saw
all of the rascally behavior that was going on. So
God called one of the angels and sent the angel to
Earth.

When she returned, she told God, "Yes, it is
bad on Earth; 95% are misbehaving and only 5% are
not."

God thought for a moment and said, "Maybe I
had better send down a second angel to get another
opinion."
So God called another angel and sent him to
earth for a time too. When the angel returned he
; went to God and said, "Yes, it's true The earth is
in decline; 95% are misbehaving, but 5% are being
good."

God was not pleased. So He decided to e-mail
the 5% who were being good, because he wanted to
encourage them...give them a little something to
help them keep going.

Do you know what the e-mail said?

Okay, just wondering; I didn't get one either.

Love

Mary

I got my blood test done this morning. One has to fast for 10 hours you know so I did that last night. Then Dick and I went to breakfast and grocery shopping.

I called Mother and she still sounds SO weak. She gets a reaction to the antibiotic. This evening Donna called because Mother was almost out of it after taking the pill tonight after dinner. She and Randy were almost ready to take her to the emergency ward. They called the pharmacist who said that the reaction is not uncommon but that the medication is still one of the best. However, can we leave her alone for that hour or so after she takes the pill? Donna called Dolores and she and Kenny will come out to be with her in the morning. She will eat breakfast and take the pill at about 7:00AM. I had told Donna that I could be there if I am needed but I am really glad that Dolores can come because she works with the elderly and will know what do do with odd reactions. She has been doing it long enough. That poor little lady. I hope this does not continue for the whole time she has to take the medication. She is not scheduled to see Dr. Hancock until Tuesday afternoon. Jeff is coming in to take her for her appointment.

I am going to church tomorrow for the holy day in Sheboygan Falls so will spend the hour before Mass with Mother. That will be a good time as she will be taking another pill about that time. I really don't want to tell her that I am coming because she MAY decide to feel guilty for not going to Mass ON the holy day. We don't need that on top of everything else that she is going through.

I made Scripture Cake today. In case you don't have the recipe, here it is.

We should always let the scriptures be our guide. It even works when making Christmas goodies - at least it works when making this delicious cake. Rad the scriptures indicated to find the ingredients and make this interesting and informative cake for a special family home evening activity.

1 cup Judges 5:25
1 cup Jeremiah 6:20
5 Jeremiah 17:11
1 cup Judges 4:19
2 cups Numbers 28:5
5 teasp. Amos 4:5
1 teasp. Leviticus 2:13
2 cups 1 Samuel 30:12
2 cups Naham 3:12
1 cup Numbers 17:8
Assorted 2Chronicles 9:9 to taste

Follow Solomon's directions for making a good boy Proverbs 23:14. Bake as a fruit cake about 350 degrees for 45to 50 minutes. Makes two standard loaves or five small loaves.

Have fun. I always do.

Mary

P. S. Please pray for my Mom.

I am exhausted. It was quite warm when I woke up this morning, in the low 30s. It still was not a great day for walking as there was a little film of something or other all over the roads. It was not especially slippery but it covered up ice patches. Then Chelsea wanted to go around the park but there were definite patches of ice on the sidewalk leading to the park. So I deferred. It is supposed to get very cold overnight again but warm up for the weekend.

I did some more decorating today. Got all the nativity sets placed around the house. I also hung a few things on doors. The only things left are the music boxes.

Mother called this afternoon and said that she was just unable to go to the play tonight. She sounded so weak. I asked her what was wrong and she said that she just felt weak and that that pain in her side that she suffered about three weeks ago was hurting again. I went right over there and we called the doctor. It turned out that Dr. Hancock had left for the day and the doctor on call, Dr. Willis, (he doesn't impress me. Hasn't for some time.) suggested that she wait for Dr. Hancock in the morning. When I told her that she looked so forlorn that I told her we should just go right away and I took her to the walk in clinic. Four hours later, with an exhausted little lady in tow, we left there with a diagnosis of a bladder infection (which has apparently been building since three weeks ago when the symptoms first appeared) after she received a shot of antibiotics and a prescription to take for the next several days.

As we were coming out of x-ray, Becky showed up. She had come to the clinic for her own appointment and when she talked to her mother, Donna, and found out that Grandma was there she looked for us. So she stayed, bless her sweet heart until we were all done and had Mom loaded into the car.

When we got Mother home it was almost 7:00. I fixed some cup a soup for both of us and some tea for her. Then I came home.

So now you know why I am tired. I found out that I should not wait so long to eat. My stomach started to bother me at about 6:30. Perhaps it would have been OK if I had not been so worried.
The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you.

Have a nice day.

Mary

Today it was 4 degrees when Chelsea and I got up. BRRR!. Needless to say we did not walk very far. Later when the temperatures had gotten up into the low 20s we went a bit further but her poor little paw got cold and I had to warm it up once so we could get home again.

We did not have to go anywhere today. I decorated the Christmas tree. It is really beautiful. We have it at the end of the living room in front of a window near the fireplace . It reflects off of everything. So it is doubly pretty and full of light.

I make Lizzies today too. Boy are they good. Now I just have the Scripture Cake to bake before Christmas. I still haven't found figs in Plymouth. Hopefully they will have them at Pick and Save. I need to get to work on Christmas Cards too. Time is a'wastin.

Saturday is the Irish Christmas gathering at Plymouth History Museum. I got an e-mail from Beth Dipple. We have 25 people signed up which is really good as we know it can only increase. We have to limit it to 50 anyway. I want to see if I can recruit a Celtic Women's group. Perhaps just a few ladies (and gentlemen if they want) would like to be a part of the Celtic Women.

Tomorrow, Dick and I will be taking Mother to see Beauty and the Beast presented by the Sheboygan Theatre Company. Beth Hoegger, my choir director friend, saw it and said that the Beast is magnificent. So I am really excited about seeing it.

Someone looked at the Hunters Glen House today and seem to be interested. They had questions about the well. Please keep your prayers going. Maybe this will be an early Christmas present. We must keep the faith. It is a lovely home and should be lived in. I just hope the new owners have as much happiness as we did there.

We will be taking care of Jim and Michelle's little Boots kitty while they are in Washington DC. Michelle has training starting tomorrow and Jim will be joining her for the weekend. He is a really cute little guy. I will have to spend a bit of time with him so he doesn't think he is totally alone. He will miss them.

A little Imponderable for you.

Why, Why, Why???

do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting dead?

Have a nice Wednesday.

Love

Mary

This was a very productive day. Started out with bible study. We had a very lively discussion on God's promise to make the path level. He speaks of leveling the mountains and straightening the paths and filling in the gorges for us. We decided that the Jewish people of the time did not understand that the straight way was to heaven, not necessarily and probably not to Israel itself. Perhaps they still don't. Perhaps we don't. Tom Keyes pointed out that Israel is withdrawing from some of the territories that they finally agree they should not be in. It would be nice, he said, that if instead of bulldozing the homes in the areas they vacate, would leave them standing for the reoccupying citizens. We were really hot today anyway.

By the way, please say special prayers for my friends, Dan and Shirley Moioffer's son, David who has been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that has attacked his liver. The only treatment right now is steroids which present their own set of problems but he will try. Anyway, please pray, this is a hard one.

I stopped at Mother's after Bible Study. We had a nice visit. She reminded me that tomorrow is St. Nicholas Day. Do you celebrate it? We did when we were young and my boys got visits from St. Nick too.

She told me a story. When she was a little girl and their family lived on a farm, she saw St. Nick. He came during the evening, a big man with a heavy old black coat made of animal hides and carrying a whip. He came into the kitchen where everybody was sitting around the kitchen table. There was the Bowser Family, Grandma, Grandpa, Mother, probably Uncle Noel and Uncle George AND a hired hand (they always had supper with the families they worked for.) He came in and started asking questions of everybody. He finally asked the hired hand if he said his prayers at night. The hired hand laughed and said that he never prayed. With that St. Nick took his whip and started beating that hired hand across the back and drove him right out the door. Scared Mother half to death. I could tell that the memory was still there.

She says that she knows NOW that "St. Nick" was one of their neighbors who did this every year, dressed up in the old carriage robes that people wore those days in the winter. But what good did that do then.

Poor little people, what we put them through. Bobbie told me that she never liked clowns. They scared her as a kid. She figured there was something suspicious with a grown person who dressed up like that and acted so silly.

After that I had lunch with my friend Beth in downtown Plymouth. We had soup. They had a chicken chili that was REALLY good.

Dick and I went to Sheboygan Falls to the Bemis store to buy a new toilet seat for our bathroom. It broke. Would you believe? We decided to do it quickly before one of us accidentally sat on it and pinched our bottoms or worse. Years ago, when I was young and Jacquie and I rented a house from Ron and Doris in Costa Mesa, I owned an old Chevy. Those old cars had chrome strip on them and the chrome strip on my car at the front fender was bent. Jacquie and her cousin Linda and I were going into the garage off the alley and when we pulled the garage door open, for some reason, I jumped back too fast and impaled the tip of that chrome strip in my right gluteus maximus. It was NOT good. When we checked it Jacquie and Linda decided that we had better get it checked. It took something like five stitches. I remember the doctor saying, that he and the nurses would not tell anybody. I told him that with Jacquie and Linda out there in the waiting room laughing their heads off, that his promise would not keep it off the streets.

I finished off the day with the last meeting of Rhine Plymouth that I have to take minutes for. They gave me a pin that says Rhine Plymouth Field and Stream - Secretary Four Straight. Wasn't that a sweet thing to do? They are a great group of people.

Have a great Tuesday. I get to stay home and decorate the tree.

Love

Mary

It was COLD all day today. When I woke up it was 11 degrees and I never saw it over 17. BRRRR! Chelsea and I went on VERY short walks off and on today and I started to get a bit testy about it this evening. As cold as it is, it becomes a big production each time. She finds it easy because she does not have to put on boots, gloves, jacket and hat for each trek.

Dick went to church with me this morning. We were testing it out. He likes to go with me once in a while but was avoiding Blessed Trinity because the seats were not padded and were very uncomfortable for him. So he went to St. John's today and was quite comfortable so he will start going again. He was going once a month or so. I like the company too. We went to the Family Restaurant for breakfast. That was a nice break in the day but Chelsea kept asking for her breakfast treats.

This afternoon, Bobbie and I worked at Rhine. We stayed until 3. There were all of three shooters who each shot two rounds. The rest of the people in the building were club members who all watched the Packers get creamed. They lost 38 to 10. What a mess. Sure glad that I chose the NYJets. I would feel guilty but THEY are the ones letting me down.

While I was gone Dick tried to get the tree up. He had called Jim and Michelle and they arrived shortly after I did. Between the four of us, we got it up. It is a new one, a prelit that rotates even. I put on the new Mary's Angel treetop and the tree skirt underneath. Tomorrow and the next day, I will get up the ornaments and finish. That is the FUN part of decorating. Taking out each memory and putting it on the tree. I love it.

Tomorrow will be rather busy. It will be the last meeting that I am the secretary of Rhine Plymouth. After four years, that will be a big load off of me.

Have a nice week and stay warm. We will have to really work at it from the forecast.

Love

Mary

We stayed home all day today. The driveway was solid ice, so Chelsea and I did not go for a walk this morning. I am starting to get a little restless myself and she certainly is. The sun was out part of the day and did melt some of the ice away. I went out and scraped a path so that we can walk to the street without slipping. Hopefully, It will still be clear tomorrow and we can go for a bit of a walk in the morning.

I packed the boxes for Leslie, Bret and Bart today. Whew. When we get those off, I always feel better. We DO have to get the gift certificates yet. This year Sara and Nora are out of school and on their own so we are using Mother's rule that they will no longer will get presents. We don't know their addresses either so it is a good cut off time. I hope they are doing well, we have not talked to them or heard from them directly for at least three years.


Leslie has sent pictures and some updates. They are good looking girls. One of my favorite pictures of them, however, is the one of them in the tea party hats that Bobbie made for them when they were just little. I enlarged it and hung it in this house. We had it in the office at Hunters Glen.

We were watching Who Wants to Be a Millionaire tonight. I was remembering that I have watched Regis Philbin off and on for over 30 years. He was a local celebrity in Los Angeles when I lived there and co hosted with Cyndy Garvey, Steve Garvey's now Ex Wife. She was a lovely blond lady. They used to refer to her and Steve Garvey as Ken and Barbie. They were a beautiful couple but that did not last. She has gone down hill from there I understand. Too bad. She and Regis were a good mix at the time.

It was snowing a bit this evening when I took Chelsea out before dinner. It is not supposed to be too messy though and will not get as low at the 10degrees that I woke up to this morning.

Talked to Mother this morning. Randy went to St. Louis on Wednesday and as of last night was still waiting to get out of the St. Louis Airport. He had spent the night before in the airport and was still waiting. I hope he is home now. He told Donna that it was useless to try to get a hotel room too because of the crowds, they were all full.

Take care and enjoy your Sunday. I am sure that we will. I do have to work at Rhine, but Dick is putting up the tree while I am gone so I can start decorating it this week.

Love

Mary

We got our first blizzard of the season. It was bad and we did not get hit as hard as Milwaukee and Chicago.

I did go to my doctor's appointment and did everything else that I planned in Sheboygan. Jim and Michelle started to work this morning but were back by 6:30AM. It was so bad when they hit Ozaukee County that they turned back so they drove into Sheboygan with me and they did an errand or two also.

I had my physical, my mammogram, gave blood and got my hair cut. Jim gave blood for the first time today. Michelle's iron count was a bit low so she has to wait. She is going to try again on Monday. We left Carina Capelle, the beauty shop, at about 11:00 and headed home. Michelle drove. It was AWFUL. The windshield wipers froze and were almost useless. Fortunately they did clear a nice spot for Michelle and after all the driver DOES need to see. There were at least 10 cars in the ditch including a couple of semis. None of them rolled. Three police cars were assisting some of the problem areas and probably had to move on the the next ones. I don't envy them their job. Hwy 23 was the worst. When we turned off on 57 the plows had been through and it was not too bad getting the rest of the way home. The snow was done by three and the sun actually came out. We are now plowed out completely.

I spent this afternoon clearing my desk, cleaning the kitchen and taking a nap.

We went to the Wilderness for supper tonight. We got the buffet. They did have perch on the buffet, and smelt. I think I much prefer on the menu items. I should really know that and just go for it. But it was good.

Time for bed. Tomorrow we are going to the house in Sheboygan to run the water and such.

Take care.

Mary

Prime Minister Tony Blair's words during a recent interview.
When asked by one of his Parliament members why he believes so much in America, he said:
"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in ... and how many want out."

That is my thought for today.

It DID cool down today and it is supposed to start snowing at 3:AM. Chelsea will like that. She loves nothing more that jumping around in the snow.

Dick and I started this morning with breakfast at Mc Donalds. Then we went to the clinic for his blood test. He is perfect again. Sue wants to see him in three weeks again, to be sure that we are REALLY back on track. Then we went directly up to see Dr. Hodous to have his feet checked. They are healing quite well, but we have real hope of the insoles that we have ordered that should take the pressure off of those sensitive areas.

Grocery shopping was next. Then we got to stay home the whole rest of the day. I finally got around to dipping the buckeyes and I made fudge so that I can get the Christmas packages for the out of towners ready soon. Hopefully I can mail them next Monday or Tuesday.

Tomorrow is MY doctor day. I have my annual checkup followed by a mamagram (ick). Then I am going to get my hair cut and out to lunch with the bank ladies. Guess what, Saturday, IU don't have to go ANYWHERE.

Tomorrow, Dick and I are going out to dinner with Jim and Michelle using our coupons from the Welcome Lady. That should be nice. I won't be cooking at all.


Guess that is all

Love

Mary

The weather - it is a'changin'. It was very warm this morning, so warm that I was able to wear a light jacket and a baseball cap on our walk. This evening it is cooling down and there is a possibility of snow showers tonight and tomorrow.

I had a dentist appointment today for a cleaning and checkup. I went right over to Mother's fromt he appointment and picked up the deer hide. Then after lunch, Dick and I drove to Hartford to W. B. Place to drop the hide off for tanning. I will have 5 hides. That will probably be enough for a jacket. they say 5 to 7 and I am not really very big. So maybe it will work. Otherwise, I will just have to wait until next year.

I made some Hello Dollies, or as they are sometimes called. 7 Layer Cookies. I made a few changes. I used chocolate graham crackers and substituted white chocolate chips for the butterscotch chips. They are REALLY good. I will have to rename them.

Tomorrow we take Dick to get the blood tested and to see Dr. Hodous for his feet. Then we will grocery shop and I will be able to stay home for the rest of the day.

I guess that is all for today. I am really tired and haven't much imagination left.

Have a good day tomorrow.

Love

Mary

It rained again today. Not too bad but it did rain. This is probably the last day that it will be warm enough to rain. Chelsea and I has a nice walk in the fog. Did I ever tell you that there are fairy rings in Lion's Park. Well there are. LOTS of them. I suppose the fairies like the fact that children play there.

After the walk I spent most of the morning on the phone trying to get some appointments scheduled and clear up some loose ends. Then this afternoon I went to Wells to talk to our investment broker about some stuff. Every so often I like to review a few things. Then I went to talk to Bill Cain, our real estate broker. We adjusted the sales price and will do a new push with the new price to see if we can drum up some action. Come on St. Joseph. Do your stuff.

Dick and I went over to K Mart and found a tree that is already lighted. That should make it very easy to get up for Dick. I want to start this week so I can be done by the end of next week. I started the Buckeyes today too.

I heard something on TV this morning about children who have imaginary friends. My Dad had two imaginary friends. Grandma Deeley and Aunt Helen told me about them. They were called Beanie and Ga Ga.

Jacquie called tonight. She liked the slippers that I sent her and wants to get some for Christmas gifts so I gave her all the information. I think I WILL get a pair for myself.

Tomorrow , the dentist and then Dick and I will take the deerskin down the Hartford for tanning.

This week is much too busy but it tapers off for the rest of the month.

Have a nice evening.

Love

Mary

We are experiencing rather steady rain tonight. This is supposed to continue for the next couple of days with temps staying "high" and then drop like a rock on Thursday.

This morning's bible study was rather lively. The commentary on the 2nd reading, one of Paul's letters, mentions that the early Christians expected Jesus to be coming back rather quickly. There were lots of problems because of that feeling. As an example, some people were not working ( why bother since they expected Jesus to come and get them soon.) It has been almost 2000 years now and He still hasn't come. Do you think He would have come sooner if we had listened and obeyed his message to Love God above all and to Love our Neighbor as ourselves. I mean REALLY did it.

This afternoon, I took care of several phone calls. A Christmas order, an insurance clarification and a conference call with the Celtic Women International Board and then tonight was the Rhine Plymouth board meeting. This is my last board meeting for Rhine Plymouth. So that will be one thing that I am done with by the end of the year.

Today I was thinking of a friend and old neighbor of mine who lived next door to us when I lived in Santa Ana Heights. Her name was Joyce Nusser and she had a boy the same age as Bret. Chip was his name. It was really Michael but he went by Chip. I remembered how we tried to get gardens growing in our back yards with dirt that was basically clay and almost impossible to dig in.

One year we sent for rosebushes out of a catalog and Joyce sent for a privet hedge. It should have been obvious from the price what we were going to face. Anyway when the privet hedge, which was supposed to consist of 50 plants, along with the roses arrived in a package weighing about 10 lbs, we DID know. We opened that box and took out what looked like a bouquet of sticks, some as small as a pencil. We laughed our heads of and later we laughed at ourselves even more because Joyce actually planted those sticks and not a one came up.

I am trying to find Joyce. Haven't seen or heard from her in probably 25 years. I found a Joyce Nusser related to a Michael D and Matthew D Nusser that might be her. I'll keep you posted.

Oh, Mom and I went out to Gibbsville and did some Christmas shopping there too. Love Gibbsville cheese.

Have a nice evening

Love

Mary

Chelsea and I had the nicest walk this morning. It was dark when we started out but the temps were in the 40s and it got brighter the further we walked. We started at 6:00 and got home about 40 minutes later.

I went to the 8AM Mass this morning and sat next to my friend Ceil. On the way out I ran into Pat O Reilly and his wife so had a bit of a visit with him. Pat is getting much older and said that when the snow comes he will be snowbound and have to stay home. (You have to see the twinkle in his eye as he tells this.) He then said that they had better plow him out for March 16 and 17. I told him that if it was snowing then I would come to get him.

This afternoon I worked at Rhine. We were unexpectedly busy. We ran 14 teams so did very will. I had fully expected it to be much slower because of the holiday weekend and the end of the deer hunting season. I am glad it was busy because the afternoon does not drag that way. I shot three pistol targets and was quite pleased with the results. I got, in this order, a 53, a 62 and a 68. And I even lost one on the last target so WOW.

A story: I took Bret and Bart to and Earth Festival at the Orange County Fairgrounds when they were quite young. I took them to the children's area where there was this giant sand pile along with other things to play with. The kids were supervised lightly and they were told to build sand castles. After a while Bart was just sitting there with this stick stuck into the ground. The helpers asked if he wanted help and he said he was all done. That the rooms and everything were underground.

I left Bret in charge for about a half an hour so I could zip though a couple of the tents. Suddenly I heard myself paged from the bandstand. "Could Bart Johnston's mother please come to get him." He had gotten bored, sneaked away from Bret and went directly to the bandstand and told them his name and that he was lost. No dummy that boy.

Have a good week.

Love

Mary

Another Warm day in sunny Wisconsin. Chelsea and I had a lovely walk. She was quite eager so we had a lot of fun. On the way back through the park, however, a noise was heard in the distance that sounded something like thunder and she made double time back to the house.

I put up the outside lights this morning and placed the Santa hat on the totem. The wreaths that we used on the garage lights fit just fine here too. So we are now very festive.

This afternoon, I went out shopping and found a timer, (by morning we will find out if we set it right. We want the lights to go on at dusk and continue for nine hours.) I also found four battery operated candles and some suction cup holders so that I can put them in the glass panels next to the front door. I will light them one at a time during Advent until all four will announce Christmas.

Tomorrow, work at Rhine. I thought it was last week but got there and the club was even closed for the opening week of deer hunting. THIS is the week I am substituting for Greg. I wonder if there will be many shooters this week. Oh well, we will just have to see.

I was thinking today of Dick's theory on raising children. He said that they should be kept in the basement until they are 35. Parents should feed and clothe and educate them. Then at 35 they can be on their own. I pointed out that he did not do that and he says that other parents should learn from his example.

Now, however, I think he knows that in order not to ever worry one can NEVER let them out of the basement.

Love

Mary

It has been quite a day.

Chelsea and I went for a very foggy walk this morning and she was raring to go so we went around the park. I did turn her around a bit early. We did not go ALL the way down and around. I am glad that she is feeling well anyway.

Then I showered and fixed scrambled eggs with chopped green onions and cream cheese for Dick 2 and Brenda and Dick and me before Dick 1 and I went to the Clinic to get his legs wrapped. That went very smoothly. A young lady named Angie did them for him this time. She is a very bubbly nice gentle young nurse and Dick liked her too.

When we got back I took off for Mother's to help butcher Five deer. That is the most that we have ever butchered in a year. Randy's deer was STILL BIG. A bad thing: I cut my little finger nail to the quick on the meat slicer blade. (Don't worry. It was not turned on at the time. I simply adjusted the meat and nicked the nail. That blade is obscenely sharp.) It seemed to take a long time, but with that many deer it is not surprising. Bobbie came to help today too and to get her ribbing for not being out there and "missing" the big buck. Actually Randy said that he was just as glad that she wasn't there.

The hunters again shared meat with Bobbie and me, even if we haven't contributed to the take yet. We split what they gave us and I also brought home a nice rolled roast to prepare for the wild game dinner. I also was given a deer hide to take to Hartland for tanning. In a year or so I will have enough for a coat or a jacket.

Then when I got home and checked my computer, I found that Jim has located my great picture of Waylon and now has it as my wallpaper on the computer again. I am so happy. I can print it out and frame it to put with Zero's picture.

Tonight Jim and Michelle joined us for leftovers and then we played a game of Rummy.

Tomorrow we are going to the new Cavella Store. Doesn't that sound like fun.

When Bart was just a little guy, he went through what I call his Kung Fu stage. He and Bret watched Kung Fu on TV and he was fascinated but he kept yelling Kung Fu and kicking people. One day we were at church and he yelled Kung Fu and kicked the priest before I could stop him. Another time on Ascension Thursday, they gave all the children balloons and led them out of the church to release the balloons. Everything went well until it was time to let go of the balloon and he started yelling. "God can't have my balloon." God didn't get it either.

Love

Mary

Well, Thanksgiving is almost over. We have finished the feast and the guests who are not spending the night have gone home.

The meal turned out just fine. We had the turkey and stuffing, stuffed squash, rutabaga, broccoli, mashed potatoes, fresh rolls, a molded salad and cranberry relishes. I got carried away again. I am my father's daughter. I still remember him in the kitchen when Mom was preparing meals for guests telling her to put in just a couple of more potatoes, or maybe one more loaf of bread or something. We always had too much food too.

What a wonderful life we have that we can prepare too much. I do make a point of not wasting but it does not seem fair that some family out there is probably hungry.

Leslie called today just as almost everybody was arriving. She picked the best time to talk to Jim, Michelle and Bobbie. Dick and Brenda came after she had gone on her way. She and Bill are spending the day with Nora who was cooking everything but the turkey. She figured that she was not quite ready for that.

It was gorgeous today, almost 60 degrees. Really too warm. I am sure that Randy and Jeff had to ice down the deer. Fortunately it has been dropping to freezing at nights so the garage is probably remaining very cool. We will butcher tomorrow. I will be a bit late because Dick gets his legs wrapped in the morning too. Bobbie is going to join us. She is prepared to be teased for not coming out but I suggested that she has a little bit of come back because she can ask Cory whether the rumor that he missed four shots is true.

I went to Mass this morning as it seemed that there was plenty of time. It is always good to thank the Lord for the good that comes to us. Fr. Van Beeck pointed out that this is one secular holiday that has crossed over to a national holiday with religious overtones rather than the other way around. He also said that married people should go home and thank their spouses for sharing their lives with them. The greatest love next to the love of God. As he said single people and priests never experience that committed kind of love which is very special.

Hope you had a lot to be thankful for today and that your tomorrow will be good

Mary

Well. It was a good day and a bad day.

It was a good day because I spent it cooking for tomorrow. I do love cooking and I had a LOT to do. I made two stuffings, a pie and Fiffy Hobbin and day ahead mashed potatoes and jello. It was fun and I was busy ALL day.

The bad is because Dick has changed his mind about letting us bring kitties here. He had said after I met with Mark Kleinhans, the builder, that he felt that put a different light on it and he would reconsider. Today he practically said that he was not going to. It looks like I will have to wait until Chelsea is gone and then what will he say about TWO kitties. The rules DO say one animal. I am so sad. Every person I talk to, resident of Tall Grass or not, says JUST GET THEM. WHO WILL KNOW. But Dick knows and feels that we are leaving ourselves open for lawsuits and what ever else awful could befall us.

I have no hope.

Chelsea,by the way, is feeling pretty good, but she did take a short walk this morning. She got a shower this morning too so she will be very pretty for the visitors tomorrow.

Jim and Michelle had their Boots declawed today. They brought him home tonight and he is a rather subdued little guy. He spent his time at the Vet's after the surgery trying to get out of his cage and getting his little paws bleeding. Now he is home and demanding lots of love and sympathy. Boy can that little guy purr.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I have SO much to be thankful for. I hope your day will be as nice as ours. We will be visiting and eating to the MAX.

Be. Happy.

Love
Mary

Such a nice day. It was rather warm. The temperatures climbed to 50.7 degrees at the hightest. Now they have dropped down to 31.5 again. Whew. Hope they stay that way. We need cool temps to preserve the venison. Randy will ice it down if he feels that there is any danger of it getting too warm.

I did preparing for Thanksgiving dinner today, mainly chopping and dicing things. Tomorrow I will be doing some serious cooking and baking.

Tonight Dick and I watched the Da Vinci Code. Jim and Michelle came over and made it through the first hour before they got too tired to finish. They will borrow it later for the end. That's what happens when you have to go to work. I remember those days.

We went to the Hub City Restuarant for breakfast. We had gone once before and thought it was pretty good. The ONLY problem then was that they serve way too much food. If you ask for one egg they give two and they have super sizes of potatoes and the meats.

This time, however, we found out that they allow smoking and there were two people smoking in the booth right next to us. It was just sufficating. As we were leaving we talked to the waitress and a customer. They were saying that most people say their food is good even if they don't like it. People don't want to make a fuss. I agreed with them and I told them that I had liked the food very much but found the smoke very bad. I am araid that we will not go back now, because it is iffy as to whether we can breath or not in there.

Guess that is all for now.

Mary

Went to Bible Study this morning. Sunday is Christ the King. All three readings were related to Jesus coming back at the end of the world for the final judgement. On a cloud they say. Sounds like we had better be ready. As I pointed out - we don't really have to worry about that. We just have to worry about our own personal judgment.

I visited with Mother for a while after the study. I brought her two of the frozen pasties that I made last week. She was pleased. That will be something she can just pull out some evening and not something that she would be likely to make for herself. We discussed the deer hanging and the fact that it is supposed to warm up during the days for the next couple of days. However, the deer are not in the sun, they are in the garage, it will be cold all night and Randy will ice their core down during the night to keep them cold. We butcher on Friday.

I went to the Cream City Writers Club. That is what the Plymouth group calls themselves. They meet on the third Tuesday at Book Heads, the local book store. A nice group. I really knew tham all, not well, but have met them. Sue and Sy from the Sheboygan Group were there also. I learned that somewhere in the bible it tells the farmer to leave the corners of his fields for the poor. Some cultures allow the poor to come through the fields after the harvest to gather the gleanings. Wonder why those traditions fell by the way. I guess that is what our Second Harvest programs are kind of replacing. There is plenty of food in the world and noone should ever have to go hungry. Distribution and good leadership are needed.

Tomorrow and the next day we will be cleaning and I will be preparing for the Thanksgiving feast.

ATTENTION:
ALIENS ARE COMING TO ABDUCT ALL THE GOOD LOOKING AND SEXY PEOPLE.


Have a great Tuesday.

Mary
YOU WILL BE SAFE; I'M JUST EMAILING TO SAY GOODBYE.