Tomorrow I leave for Texas and the fun with family at the Irish Fest.

I was home all day and am pretty ready to go.    I haven't packed but have my clothes etc selected.   As I am leaving shortly after noon, I am in good shape.    Have Nicky's things ready to take over to Bart and Barb's on the way out of town.

It was a nice day today, in the 60s and not windy.

Richard and Brenda called tonight.   We had a nice visit and will see each other next month when I go to Wisconsin for the Wild Game Dinner.     Nora, Leif, George, Betsy, Stenn and Bing are all planning on being there also.   THis is a banner year.

Anyway, travel tomorrow, Irish Fest of Saturday and drive home on Sunday.

So you will not hear from me until Sunday evening.

Be safe and pray for safe travel for me.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Friday I leave for Nora and Leif's and the North Dallas Irish Fest.    Yea.    I need an Irish fix. 

I am going to have to be very careful.  Driving doesn't bother me, but I have injured my ribs coughing so sudden movements are very OUCH.    Lots of people are praying for a safe trip.   So I know I will be OK.

Today was Ash Wednesday.    I ushered at the noon service.   As we had bible study at 10AM, I just left the study a bit early so that I could be greeting the early people.    It was very well attended for a mid day service especially.

Can't believe that Lent has started already.

Sleep well.

Dia DHuit

Mary

Just got back from writer's club.   The president is still speaking.   I think he started at 8PM.  It is just after 9PM

Writer's Club was productive.  We had four readers which is always good.   I read a memoir that I had uncovered and got good comments on it.

Was home really most of the rest of the day.   My new lawn cutter came and mowed today.   He figures he'll come back in about a month and WILL keep an eye out for weeds and fertilizer needs. 
I am pleased.  He is a retired vet and his wife helps him sometimes. 

So it is my bedtime.Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday.   I will be ushering at the noon service right after bible study.   Then Dr. Toy at 3PM.   I am going out for a fish dinner with a new found friend at 5PM so that will be a full day.    Hope Dr. Toy can relieve the pain in my ribs.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Haiku

In the morning rain
The earth was washed free of care.
I wished to join her.

It was a gorgeous day.  This is the temperature and wind level that his just IDEAL.   Unfortunately  this is not what our world offers us.:)

I got to be home all day.   I had a person come to offer to be the person who mows my lawn.  Winter is drawing to a close.   I cannot do it.   I think I will be OK with the person recommended.  He is retired and will be on a similar plane that i am on.  

I cannot go back to last years person because Bart and Barb have dismissed him.     Difficult but Life is what it is.   I am new here and need to find vendors that will be good for me. Now and in the   future.

]Dia Dhuit

Marty

I liked today.

Went to the 8:30AM Mass and donuts after.    A good way to start a Sunday.   It was pretty cold when I left home but warmed up nicely to the mid to upper 60s during the day.    Nicky and I had a couple of really good walks.  

My cold/allergies are better but I made a real point of staying quiet and resting so that my body heals.   I went to the Salas Urban Cantina for dinner tonight.   A gathering of those members who are participating in bible studies in the Holy Family Parish.   Had a good meal and excellent company.  Visited with people I know and met some new people.

Carl Sandburg said:  "I am the people - the mob - the crowd - the mass. I'll probably die propped up in bed trying to write a poem about America."

I felt I should say something to edify you all tonight:)   Until tomorrow.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A productive day.    It was not cold and not hot.   From what I hear, warm for this time of the year in Oklahoma, but what do I know as I have been her a bit over a year..

Things are getting "complicated" as to how "approach" Lend as a Catholic Christian.  You know me, the worrier.   I am trying to get my mind wrapped around it.  What was wrong with meatless Fridays and fasting from midnight on until receiving communion?    Are we Christians supposed to actually THINK:)    Guess so.  (Is there a symbol for "Heavy Sigh".   I know that  some of you are not Christians but I KNOW that your respect my right to believe or not to believe as I respect yours.   Love me anyway.

Dr. Toy adjusted me today.  My ribs are sore from coughing. He is going to adjust me on Wednesday before I head for Plano and the Irish Festival.  He wants to send me off in the best possible shape.

I think getting away will be a good thing.  Just a break from the daily grind.  

I took Sy Regan's Psalms to Go in to be printed for my Holy Family Bible Study.  Will Pick that up tomorrow and then send at the end of the week a nice check for Sy.   He is a dear friend, My blind Irish woodcarver deacon and just plain friend and family history friend.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A whole day at home.   I rested, read and tried to heal.


I still don't know if I have a cold or allergies or a combination of both but I do feel a bit better.

Dia Dhuit

mary

This is of course, my buy day, with bible study in the morning.  I also had an appointment with Dr. Toy, my chiropractor, this afternoon, thank heaven.    I have been SO sore and am suffering from either allergies or a cold or both.  He told me to drink a lot of lemon water.   I am doing that.   Lemon water is very refreshing and if it will help my aches and pains and perhaps my allergies, I am grateful.   I will see him on Friday for an update.

We finished our study of Acts today at bible study.  As of Ash Wednesday, we will join the parish in
a study of the Eucharist.  

At any rate, I have been sneezing and coughing like crazy and will drink a lot of that lemon water.  I am exhausted to say the least.

Tomorrow I do not have to go any where and intend to pamper myself and hope to heal a bit.

Nicky will be glad that I don't leave him.    He is patient but sees no reason for such treatment:)

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I think I have a cold.  I have been fighting allergies for weeks, but now have a sore throat too.  No fever though.    I decided to skip the writers club meeting and have been resting.

I need a quick recovery.   I am not a pleasant sick person:)

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Hi - I was just too tired to post last night.  Being busy from Thursday through Sunday really took the sap out of me.

Sunday, I went to Mass in the morning, of course.   Had coffee with my church friends, then came home and finished the Friday Chili for the Chili Cook off at Holy Family.    Then during the afternoon a very severe thunderstorm came through the area.   It thundered - It lightninged and it POURED.    The Dish TV kept going off and on so it was hard to keep track of its progress, however, at 6 when I had to take my Chili to church it had died down a bit ( at least the thunder and lightening).

I didn't put my chili in for judging because I thought that chili with no meat and with pasta (Sheboygan Chili) would confuse the judges.    It was one of the three chilies there not judged.  So the non judges were able to get at it quickly.   Everybody who ate it said that they loved it which made me feel good.   Every drop was gone anyway.     I gave some to Fr. Ron, who was at the judges table scoring.   He does not eat meat chili so was not able to really judge.    I had told him about my Mom's Friday Chili and he said that he liked it.

Got home at about 8:30PM.   It was pouring again.   One of the kids helped me get my crock pot out to the car.   It was an altogether lovely evening.

Today, Nicky went to the Veterinarian for his blood test.   His liver functions are pretty normal again, so he won't have to go again until he needs his heartworm meds renewed.

Bart and Barb invited me over to dinner.  Barb fixed schnitzel 9(Nummy)   They fed the missionaries tonight.    Their church does that.  They sponsor missionaries and the members take turns feeding them dinners.   Isn't that a wonderful thing.   Great meal and a great visit with nice meditations and discussions.

So I am glad that things were quieter and tomorrow will be also.   My cleaning lady will be coming and Writer's Club in the evening, but manageable 

Sleep tight

Dia Dhuit

Mary


Never throw stones at your mother,
You'll be sorry for it when she's dead,
Never throw stones at your mother,
Throw bricks at your father instead.

Brendan Behan

Quilt Show again.    I went over to the Coliseum shortly after noon.    I worked in the Club Booth until closing at 4PM then stayed to help shut down until my joints got too sore.   Barb was there too.  She pushed herself too far also.   Will we ever learn?\

I think I told you that she got an honorable mention ribbon for her entry.   It was indeed beautiful.  You saw it Leslie,   Not the Abby quilt, the smaller one.   She was so moved by the scores that she got.   The judges were really good and she got nothing short of really great scores.   The quilts this year were beautiful.  Maybe I will actually enter one for judging in two years when we have our next show.   I did have my President's Challenge,  my Aunt Helen's Flower Garden (as an antique) and three wall hangings, my Celtic Saint trio, in the show just to fill space.

Tomorrow, the Knights of Columbus are hosting a chili tasting event.   I am not entering for competition but will be bringing my Mother's Friday Chili for eating.   I made it today except for adding the pasta.   (Very Wisconsin or Sheboygan chili, as I call it. has pasta)   I did not realize this when I was young.  The only chili we had was Friday Chili which is more of a soup.   In California, I got a great Chili recipe from my mother in law, Lili which is  SO GOOD.  And Dick had his own chili, as most of you know.    ( He measured?   What is that?)  I make whichever suits my fancy as I love all three and they are in my cookbook.

Dia Dhuit

Mary 

It was a lovely Oklahoma Day.

I was home until 4PM when I joined Barbara at the Coliseum so that we could enjoy the Quilt Show as attendees.    Barbara's entry got an honorable mention.  So proud of her - it defitnitely deserved more.  In my opinion.   What a show.   If you are in the area, please come tomorrow between 9 and 4 to see the spectacular pieces of art displayed for your enjoyment.   I will be helping out from 1 to the final shut down.  The first part sitting at a table, the last part, wherever they need me that I am capable of doing.

I also have to get my Sinner's Chili ready for Sunday, except for adding the pasta.  I will do that on Sunday after Mass.   The Chili Cookoff is Sunday at Holy Family at 6:30PM.  

What a week and weekend this has been!!!!!


Dia Dhuit

Mary

I spent the morning at the Coliseum helping the Wichita Quilt Guild get ready for their biannual quilt show.   I had the pleasure of working in the room where the quilts were being judged and learned SO much about what is involved in judging and in what is expected.   The judges are looking for perfection but are so intent on letting each quilter know what might improve their work.

Then I came home to find that my Celtic Club was down to two people.   So I called the Center and cancelled it.   I did to to Robbie's house for tea as it would have been her and me at the Center anyway.  We had a nice tea and I gave her a Brat Bhride clothe.

Then I swung by the Coliseum to see if they still needed help.  They were all set up which is WONDERFUL.  The sooner done, the better.

Tomorrow, I have NOTHING planned.  I do want to go to the show, Just as a visitor.

Dia DHuit

Mary

What a lovely day.   It was not hot, not cold.  The sun was shining for most of it.  What more can one ask?

Went to Mass at 9AM then to Bible Study.

Had an appointment with Dr. Toy, my chiropractor.   He wants to see me next week, but thinks that the insert in my shoes are really helping to stabilize me.   Except for the rainy days, I have been feeling a bit better.

Just have to keep working on it.  

Tomorrow will be helping to set up the Wichita Mountain Quillt show.  Come if you can on Friday or Saturday:)

Dia DHuit

Mary

A rainy cold day in Lawton.   I understand that there was even snow, which did not stay on the ground and I personally did not see.  I rained unto the evening.

Happy St. Valentine's Day.   Barb's mom, Marliese, took the four of us out for dinner tonight, so it was a celebration and a truly pleasant evening.   

Aside from that it was a quiet day.    Good thing, I will need the rest as the next few days are really busy.  My normal things (Bible Study, Celtic Club and a doctor appointment) and then Quilt Guild.

Anyway, hope your day was full of joy.

Dia Dhuit
Mary   

It has been raining since shortly before noon.    Nicky is not thrilled.   We really really need it though and it is not an icy cold rain with lots of wind.

Went to quilt guild with Barbara this evening.   They were just registering quilts for the show and finalizing things.   Remember, If you are free and in the area on Friday and/or Saturday, our show is at the Coliseum.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A lovely Sunday.   Much cooler than the 90s of yesterday, but not too bad, except for a fierce wind.

I went to the 8:30AM Mass and visited at coffee afterwards.   Then home until 4PM when Bart picked me up to go for dinner at Adam and Lexie's for Adria's birthday dinner.  A lovely evening with great Italian food.   I brought a dip for my share.

Tomorrow will be quiet except for the Quilt Guild meeting in the evening.  A busy meeting, I know, as the big Quilt Show is this weekend.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

We had a very warm day.     My thermometer said 86 degrees.   Very nice.   A cold front is coming through so this IS an anomaly.   And from what I hear, with my only one year of residency, very unusual.  The whole area is under a drought advisory.  No burning allowed.  But.  At least, we are supposed to get rain in the next week.

Tomorrow I will go to Geronimo for an Italian party for my step great granddaughter's birthday.   That should be fun.  I like contact with PEOPLE.   Those of you who know me well know that.

I will be going to the Dallas Irish Fest on the weekend of March 6.  I desperately need an Irish FIX.  I am trying to make a place   but this community is hard to breech.  I am pleased with my Celtic Group.  We are small but mighty.

Dia  Dhuit

Mary

Never throw stones at your mother,
You'll be sorry for it when she's dead,
Never throw stones at your mother,
Throw bricks at your father instead.
From Brendan Behan's The Hostage




A Quiet Day.   Good news though.  Barbara's medical tests came back OK.  We are ecstaticc.   Thanks for all the prayers.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

The sun was shining again today and the temps were in the 70s.   Nicky and I had a nice walk this afternoon.   It was a little chilly this morning but no wind so that was OK too.

Was home most of the day.    My house cleaner came, so I am set again.  I had a couple of errands after she left but that was all until this evening.   Writer's club soon.    I will be leaving in about a half an  hour for the meeting.    Always good to have people to talk to in the evenings.
I have been working on my book.   Not as hard as I should, but I have been back at it.

Dia Dhuit
Mary




Edith Wharton said, "There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that receives it."