Mom had this article also. These are her three brothers who served in WWII. Uncle George, the first pictured, was with Merrill's Marauders in Burma and received a Purple Heart.

Hello World.  I slept until after 8AM this morning.   Then the phone rang.  It was Dolores calling for the number of Mother's caregivers.  They had not showed up this morning and Mother called Dolores, who couldn't find the number.   So I found it for her and Dolores took care of it.   They sent someone out right away but we are quite irritated. 

Dick and I had a great breakfast.   Egg sandwiches.  Egg with cheese and Dick had sliced tomato on his.  Nummy.

I spent the day working on Ancestry, cutting out fabric for a couple of projects and answering emails.   I took a nap this afternoon and went to Mass at 4PM.

In the Ancestry program, I think I figured out where I got names for Jeremiah Clifford's  and Johannah Horrigan Clifford's parents.   One of my other relatives Christopher Clifford was wondering where I got it and I had trouble tracing it.   I finally found the trail and have emailed a Tim Mc Laughlin, who had the information to see if he can let me know his sources.   This is really fun.  I wish I had tons more time to spend on it.

So this day is done and I am going to wind down and get ready for bed.

Tomorrow is a day at home and will be more of the same as well as preparing for this coming week which is quite full.  I called Bart tonight.  He and Barb are OK. 

If it the same weather wise tomorrow I am going to go for a walk.    It is time I start.   I know that I will feel better if I do.   I do miss my little fuzzy Chelsea.

Til later then

Mary

Well, I did feel better this morning but was tired and still felt a bit squishy, so I stayed home all day and took a couple of naps and worked on the computer mainly.

I did bake some cookies.   Really good ones.   They are coconut raspberry.   Got the recipe from Taste of Home online.   I also made a tuna casserole for our lunch.   It is after all a Friday in Lent and my system is just  not ready for fried food yet.

Jody came this morning to do the cleaning.   She told me that she thought Mom seemed exceptionally tired yesterday.   But some days she is more weary and among us all, we are checking her more often.

I have been working more on Ancestry.  Mainly the Ziegler side but am also trying to trace the source of some of the Clifford information.     When  I was visiting Mother on Monday, we were talking about the Auntie Brandl Salve.  

That is an interesting story.  Mom has a small sample of the salve - it is all dried up, of course, because it has to be at least 40 years old.   My brother George said that some of the ingredients are now illegal to have and there is at least one that nobody is sure what it is.  It was supposed to be a super healer for bad wounds and I don't know what all.

Auntie Brandl was Walburga Klimmer Brandl.   Thus, she was my Grandma Helen Ziegler Deeley's aunt.  She was a sister of Magdelena Klimmer Ziegler my great grandmother  who was married to Alois Ziegler, my great grandfather.      I need to print this out for Mother for Monday.   We were trying to figure out who Auntie Brandl was.   I remembered Aunt Helen talking about her coming to visit when Helen was just a little girl and she remembered that Auntie Brandl was all hunched over, probably severe osteoperosis.   Since Helen was born in 1905, this certainly fits with the records.

Anyway.   I am going to put the recipe here for you all.  It is kind of fun.  Mother has the one that Helen had in either her or Grandma Deeley's writing.


Wonder Salve - Auntie Brandl

This salve was used for healing sores.  Auntie Brandl sent some of this salve to Grandma Deeley when Dad had Tularemia (contracted from contact with rabbits.)  He had a sore that would not heal.   The envelope with the recipe had a note on it to "put on Hutz's toe."   My dad, Hutz, swore by that salve and after it was gone, always tried to get Mom to make some more.  Some of the ingredients are no longer available and according to my brother, George, who has his PHD in Water Pollution (Chemistry) some of them are poisonous and illegal anyway.   Mom had a bottle of sweet oil (which was probably too old to be of any use) and a small sample of the original salve. 

I am not sure if is was able to interpret the handwriting accurately when I transcribed it.   Olebaum may be oledaum or even olebalm.   If I ever find out, I will correct the recipe.

8 ounces Sweet Oil
4  ounces Red Lead
3 drams Olebaum
2 drams burnt Alum
2 drams camphor

1. Heat oil to boiling.   Add all ingredients except camphor.

2. Boil until the lead turns brown.

3. Take from fire and immediately add camphor.

4. Beat until cool.







So Now you have it.   Lots of history and I will take this to Mother on Monday.

God love you,

Mary

I really don't have anything to report at all.

I woke up sick this morning and spent most of the day sleeping.    I am feeling much better but intend to go to bed early. 

Tomorrow will be a better day.

Mary

A pretty typical Wednesday.    I got up before 7AM because it is grocery shopping day.  We had grapefruit (I got two from SHARE and was it ever good) and a sweet roll for our breakfast. 

Shopping went very well.  I got some pretty good deals, including a bag of Texas grapefruit.    Hope it is the season because that is the best.    California naval oranges and Texas grapefruit and Wisconsin sweet corn.   Heaven on a plate.

I went to the bank to take care of a couple of things and then, as a last stop, drove to Advanced Eye Care with my Drivers Liscence renewal form to have Dr. Cheryl completer the eye section for me.   I have to renew by my birthday, May 21.   I figure I will go next month.

Home again, I put all the groceries away and spent the day fixing a wonderful fish dinner.   (Actually the fish was frozen flounder and was not bad but was not good either.   As Dick said, he would not turn it down if it was offered but would not order it.)  I prepared cauliflower and hash browns too.

Then I tried to take a nap because I went to the Poetry Circle that Karl Elder from Lakeland College hosts during the winter and spring months at Mead.   I have been picking up Sy Regan, a friend that I am sure I have mentioned before.  His relationship with me goes back to before I was born.   My Dad was his Scout master and Sy spent most of his life in Scouting, he may still be active in it for all I know.    He is also a woodcarver and made me my Queen Maeve spear.   Sy is almost blind and I am pleased to be able to be his driver to this monthly event that he enjoys and we enjoy together.   Tonight Kate Herman went with us.  I think she enjoyed it a lot.

I read my "Hag" poem which you cannot hear yet because I may do something with it.

It was an exciting meeting.  Did we ever hear some good work!   AND they treat my work with seriousness which makes me feel that it is not all for nothing.


Now we are winding down.   Tomorrow I will be home all day and have a lot of things that need to be taken care of.

Be good and take care of yourself.



Haiku

As I now see it.
The trouble with winter is
Slushy Icky Snow.

Love
Mary

It was nice to be home all day.   I had to get up before 7AM because it is trash day, but I had a pretty good night/s sleep anyway.

I spent about an hour and a half downstairs, ironing fabric and cutting out a bit for future blocks.   I should be able to do some more on Thursday and then get to sewing again.   The prep is the tedious part.

I spent a bit of time working on the genealogy,  mainly on Grandma Deeley's family.   I figured out who Auntie Brandl was.   Mother and I were trying to determine that on Monday.   She was Grandma Deeley's mother's sister Walburga.   She married a man named John Brandl.   Aunt Helen remembers her coming to visit the Deeleys and being very old and hunched over and this would fit age wise.

I also copied several newspaper articles about my uncles during WWII.  I will put one of them on after I finish this.   Uncle Jack, Joseph Deeley, was in an article by Ernie Pyle, which was incorporated in his book Brave Men.   I was able to copy the article that Ernie Pyle wrote with Uncle Jack's picture.  Wow.

So that was my day.


A good one.

Take care of yourself.

And God love you

Mary

A quiet Sunday.   The sun was shining and the sky was blue.

Dick slept most of the day and I worked on the computer on my Ancestry program, (inputting the information I have on the Ziegler branch of the family) and sorting one of the baskets of papers in the closet in "Roxie's Room".  That was our old office and there is a lot in there that needs weeding and sorting.

We had our main meal this evening.  I slept close to 9AM.  Dick said that in all of the 24+ years we have been married, I have never slept that long.   I stayed until my back started to ache.   It sure felt good.  

We had a late breakfast of corned beef hash and eggs so a light lunch was in order which made us put our usual noon dinner off til evening.  I fixed a great chicken dish with fresh green beans and potatoes for our supper.

I have enough for another meal and will be able to share with Mother and our neighbor Dick.

So enjoy your evening and I hope your week is comforting.

A Haiku for you


Empty Nest

The house rememberes
Busy days of family
Joy of belonging.

God love you

Mary

I could not sleep in today because I postponed my haircut from Wednesday, the icky day, until this morning at 8:30AM.  I showered but kept my hair dry somehow or other.  That meant that I could not exercise though, hope that does not make a difference, as tomorrow I am home all day and will sleep all day and just not shower at all.   Remember that, you may not want to visit a stinky house.

Tomorrow, I fully intend to stay in bed until I am too uncomfortable to be there any longer.

I had lunch with my friend Kate at Dee O Malley's this noon.    That was a nice break.   I prepared a bowl of soup and cheese and crackers for Dick's lunch.    I ordered a small pizza with spinach chorizo and etc.  for my lunch at Dee O'Malleys.    We had a great visit. I share the Brigid Flame and well water with her.  We will be going to Galena for the Spring Gathering and rooming together at the end of April.   I need to start getting Dick's care in order.   I will be leaving at about noon on Friday and return on Sunday, probably by 6PM, so it involves two nights, which is OK but it would be good if someone was here at least part of Saturday and Sunday so he is not alone too long.  I always have plenty of meals ready and get him all cleaned up so he is OK until I am home again.

I took a nap when I got home from lunch.   Then it was time to go to Mass.   The folk choir sang tonight but they had the congregation singing along with most of the song s which is very nice.    Fr. Van Beck's sermon was on the Gospel of the Samaritan  Woman at the well.   Father talked about communication,  Especially communication between God and us.   We need to spend more time listening than asking.

Dick and I had leftovers for our dinner and now I am watching a scary movie that I never saw before to ease my way into bedtime.

Tomorrow will be a day at home.  I have several things that I want to do for ME>

Have a good Sunday yourself and God love you

Mary

Today was a funny weather day.   It as cold when we woke up and cloudy.   There was even some snow sometime just before noon.   Then as the afternoon wore on, the sun came out though it did not warm up very much.   According to the weather people, there is no sign of warm weather through next week Thursday.   Good Grief!   It is almost April.    Where is some warm weather and when will the snow be gone long enough to see how the daffodils are doing.

Jody cleaned this morning.   I washed our sheets and my towels.  I also got Dick's legs all doctored.  

Had lunch with the Wells Fargo ladies this noon.   Dawn was there today.   We had not seen her for a long time so that was nice.  I fixed Dick a Grilled Cheese for his lunch as that is what I was having at the Dairy Queen. 

Home again, I took a nice nap.   Then at 4, I picked up fish fries from St. John's for our supper.   An early dinner but we like our Lent fish fries and I went to shoot pistol league with Nancy at 5PM.   Nancy did pretty good but I was really off tonight.   Jerry says I am not squeezing.   He is probably right.  I must learn to be patient and more deliberate and not to JERK my finger.

I have fun anyway and perhaps some day will be better.

So that was today. 

A small Haiku:

The snow is melting
Under the snow - daffodils
Are awakening.

Love
Mary

I had an eye doctor appointment this morning.  It was my annual checkup.   It seemed like just yesterday that I had my last one but with all the appointments that Dick has had this past year I guess I am thinking of his.   Anyway, my eyes are healthy and there is very little change in my ability to see.

Mark Miller had our taxes done, so I drove into Sheboygan to pick them up today.    We are getting refunds on both, which is helpful.   I picked up a book at Dear Old Books on the way home and then have been home the rest of the day.

Nothing else to report.   I have been sorting and doing some writing and getting ready for the CWI Spring Gathering when I will turn over my president hat to my friend Debbie.  

I have been tearing the house apart for the small notebook that I took to Ireland with me.   I have several email and snail mail addresses in it that I have not transferred or responded to as yet.   I cannot figure out where I put it.   ST. ANTHONY HELP ME>

Have a nice Friday.   At least we are not supposed to have snow for the next few days.  

God love you

Mary

What a day.   I went grocery shopping in the morning and it was very slippery.  So I decided that it was not a wise thing to do the other things that I had scheduled.  

I canceled my hair cut and postponed it until Saturday.

I called Sy Regan to tell him that I was not going to the Poetry Corner at Mead tonight and then later I received an email from Karl Elder postponing that meeting until next week.  So I had a whole day at home.   I did a bunch of sorting of my CWI papers and tried to find a notebook that seems to have effectively disappeared from the face of the earth.

My Bret called me tonight.  He took my email and is going to have his friend Shannon send me some pictures of his place at the river after all of his painting and landscaping.   I am exited and then I can send him some pictures of my trip to Ireland and other things.

I will print out a picture of mother with her birthday cake to send to both him and his brother.

Tomorrow I have an eye doctor appointment early and then will be home the rest of the day.  Hope I can keep up the pace and get as much done tomorrow as I did today.

How sad to hear that Elizabeth Taylor died.  I posted a note on the obituary site.  I felt that I owed it to her after her foundation gave $20,000 to Sarnelli House, Fr. Mike Shea's , home for Aids orphans and his outreach for families affected by the virus.   She was an amazing women and I know that God has a special place in heaven for her.

God love you

Mary

A fine Tuesday except for the weather.   It was rainy and sleety and snowy all day long.

Fortunately, we had to go out only once to take Dick to get his anti coagulation count checked.  Bobbie came to help get him up and down the ramp.   He had to have some antibiotics at the Dentist last week and we always have to check when that happens.   His count was a BIT up but Deb decided to just let it go this time and see him in two weeks to double check. 

We had burritos for lunch today and Bobbie and I had a cupcake for dessert.   The burritos were really good.  I have not make Mexican for quite some time because it is so much and we get overwhelmed.   This worked out quite well.  I was able to send a couple of burritos home with Bobbie and we will have another meal.  

I spent the day organizing the CWI information after the telephone conference.   I still have a couple of small items to complete but am pretty much caught up.

 Now I want to go to bed early and read for a while.

God love you

Mary

A very busy Monday, as usual.  

Started off, of course, with Bible Study.    Our school worker Mary was there as it is now spring break.    We were sure glad to see her.   We finished Chapter 2 of our Psalm Study.   The study of Psalms of descriptive phrases.    Descriptions of God's love for us and his creation of the world among so many other VERY descriptive and poetic readings.   We are challenged to write a Psalm ourselves.   That should be interesting.  

Then I went over to see Mom.   She is just fine.  I helped her with a couple of things she needed done and we had a lovely visit as usual. 

Home again, I warmed up corned beef and cabbage for our lunch and then zipped off to the Writers Club.   That was very nice.   Good readings and good news.    Our members Bill Krauter and his lady Shirley are engaged and plan on being married on 11/11/11.   Isn't that exciting?

I did a couple of errands on my way home and then worked around here until supper.  

The CWI Telephone conference was at 7PM.   I think it went quite well.  A bit long, but well.   It is the last one that I have to coordinate as after our Gathering, I will be on the board as past president and not an executive as such.

Now I am watching the last bit of Dancing with the Stars.   Just the last bit.   I will not be able to vote this time.   Maybe next week.  I guess that I can vote then and not be too far behind.   The first elimination will be next Tuesday.     This is the only "reality" of talent show that I watch.

Tomorrow was supposed to be an at home day but we have to have Dick's blood tested because he was given antibiotics by the dentist.  Bobbie is able to come to help.

Our kitty has been quite needy today.   She seems to be kind of distressed.   Of course, I did not lie down for a nap today and that always throws her off.

Take care and God be with you.

Mary

It was hard to tell what kind of a weather day it was today.     I had to work at Rhine for a Lewis Shoot that we were hosting.   As it was snowing pretty steadily at 11:00AM, I came home.  I had planned on staying until noon but that seemed rather silly as there were more members that participants and Dick needed me more than they did.

I warmed up some leftover pork chops cooked with apple and saurkraut for our lunch with mashed potatoes.  Sure was good.   Now I have saurkraut for the coming week.

I took a nice long nap this afternoon.  That was probably the most exciting part of the day.

So, I will let the pictures I posted be the excitement.  

It is raining very heavily tonight and we are hearing thunder for the first time in MONTHS.

God love you.  Have a good week.
Mary.

"Queen Maeve"

The poster of Queen Maeve with the spear that Sy Regan "found:" for me in the corner of his workshop.

Another week over.    Can you believe it?

This morning, I got up between 6:30AM and 7AM to be ready to go to pick up SHARE at 9AM.   Dick and I had scrambled eggs for breakfast.   Dick couldn't eat anything crunchy because of the antibiotics in his tooth. 

I also had to get the corned beef in before I left because it needed to cook for at least three hours.  

Got a good selection of food from SHARE.  Chicken, ham for sandwiches, frozen pasta, fish, potatoes, red onions, oranges, apples, and grapefruit.

Then Bobbie and Bill came to see us shortly before lunch for the corned beef dinner which was really really good.   As I think I said, I will never buy a prepared brisket myself again.   It is so easy to prepare your own and it is so much better.

Bill changed the light bulbs in the kitchen.   They were all kind of lit but were fading and flickering.  So now I can see in the kitchen again.   Yippee.

I went to Mass at 4PM and was Eucharistic Minister.   I love that job.   It is so good to be able to present the sacrament to the other members of the community.

Tonight we were watching a show on El Toro Marine Base in Irvine California.   That base was still open when my boys were little and we got to tour it a couple of times.    Did you know that they had hangers on that base that were so big that under the right circumstances it would actually rain inside of them?

How does one dismantle something like that?

God love you.  Until tomorrow

Mary

Another Friday and another beginning of a Trap and Pistol League at Rhine Plymouth.   I had to work tonight.   We were very busy.    We signed up nine 3-man trap teams this first week of the trap league and already have 14 in the pistol league.   I didn't shoot until the end of the shift as I was expecting Nancy to come.   Then when I got home, there was a call from her saying that she could not come because she got bogged down in tomorrow's plans to go see her granddaughter.  So I am a bit ahead of her but we will do just fine.

It was an active day.    Jody came to do the cleaning this morning then  we had to get ready for Dick's dentist appointment at 10:40AM.  Bobbie arrived at about 10:15AM to help us get him there.    He was fine except for a pocket in his gum that they had to treat with antibiotics.  He said it is not painful and does not have to go again until his usual 6 month checkup.

We stopped and picked up Chinese food on the way home.   The three of us all like Chinese and Bill is not too thrilled with it so it makes a nice treat.

Then Bobbie and I went down to the "winery" and did a lot of work there.   We racked both of Bobbie's Beet wines and racked, filtered and bottled, the parsley, persimmon and lemon balm wines.   Roxie was quite irritated with us.   I finally figured out that I am sure that she really wanted for me to take a nap so she could rest.

Bobbie and Bill are coming tomorrow so that 'Bill can change the bulb in the kitchen ceiling light.  I told her they might as well come for lunch as I am going to make corned beef and cabbage with my own corned beef which is now ready to cook.

Now it is after 10:30PM and you know that I am a 9 o'clock wonder so it is WAY past my bedtime.

So I am winding down and going there.   Tomorrow is another day.

God love you

Mary

Happy St. Patrick's Day.   And a wonderful day it was.    

I slept until almost 7aM because I spent last night at 52 Stafford until almost 9PM.   I met Jeff and Kathy there a bit before 7PM so that I could enjoy a night of music by Blarney.   I don't know how much you know about Blarney but they are a musical group that we have enjoyed for more years than I can count.   Last year one of their members, Chuck Ward, died of cancer but the remaining two are still performing and doing a very commendable job.  I purchased their most recent CD.  As I told them, I do have and old 33.  They laughed and said they had found a whole bunch of them down in one of their basements.  Ran into a lot of friends there.   Nancy Roehre and her friend Warren were there.   I also met Joan Brighan's sister who I found out is married to a Wieser and Wiesers are relatives of Zieglers an therefore relatives of ME.    I have to gather up the information that I have on them for Joan's sister.  Her son Louie was there and I told him that he had better find a bride outside of Sheboygan County as everybody here is related.

This morning I left close to 9:30AM to meet the Celtic Women at the Exchange Bank.    I had a cup of tea and their last scone.   It was quite good and kept me going during the parade.   We had a meeting at the Exchange Bank then walked or carpooled up to the Family Video for the Irishman's Walk back to 52 Stafford.   I wore my Connemara Shawl and carried the spear that Sy "found" in his workshop.   What a lovely day again.  This is the third year that the weather has been good for us.    With the winter we had I think we should be very grateful.

I am too tired tonight but will check my pictures to see if I have one of me in my shawl and with my spear.   My friend Jan came from Milwaukee and walked with us and joined us for lunch.   (I had a lovely corned beef sandwich with mashed potatoes.)  She brought the pictures of me in Dublin with the corn snakes that we were introduced to by a resident of Dublin and his sons.   I definitely will share them with you.

So a day done and a nice St. Patricks day indeed.  Hope yours was as much fun.

God love you

Mary

St. Patrick's Eve has arrived.    I believe that I am ready for the meeting and then the Irishman's Walk and then the fun after the walk.

Today was a grocery shopping day.  I always go at about 8AM when there are fewer people in the store.    Didn't need a lot but I did get a couple of bargains and stocked up on them.  Then a trip to the drug store and home for the day.

Jeff called this morning to tell me that Mom's visit to Dr. Nytes, the ear doctor, went well.   She was able to tweak the hearing aids and give Mom some tips as to how to best use them.    Jeff and I have a couple of ideas too.   We MUST all practice talking a bit more slowly and when there are swarms of us to speak one at a time so that she can hear everything.

Jeff and Kathy are going to be at 52 Stafford tonight to listen to Blarney and Nancy and Warren will be there too.  So I am going over there at about 7PM and will enjoy a couple of hours of the music.  

I decided that the wise thing to do would be to write the Blog this afternoon so I don't forget or find that I am too tired when I get home.

So - here it is.


Here is a Haiku I wrote on a misty day in Ireland.   No name but discriptive.

A soft liquid day
We run between the raindrops
Faces to the sky

God love you and wake up happy on St. Patrick's Day

Mary