A gentle day.

 I even saw a couple people today.    The Boykins, My neighbors across the street were out this afternoon so I got to visit a little bit and see their sweet granddaughter,Heavenly.

Bart stopped by with some protein for me too and we had a good visit.    I am always so glad to see him.   
Barb is doing well,  but after their shopping, which included my protein, was tired, so Bart let her stay home after they unloaded the car and brought the protein by himself.

Am working on my book again.    Want to get it ready to have someone edit it for me.    Have to remember how to input the pictures.

Went to Mass today.   I am so pleased that I cannot leave church anymore without talking to SOMEONE I know.   I am a part of the faith community!!!

Home all day tomorrow.    I think I will bake some Lizzies.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Would the star that led

The WISE MEN been in the news?

Would the angels singing to the shepherds

Been recorded

In our world today?

A week from Christmas

Can you believe it?   Today, I met with my Lawton Celtic at the Lawton Country Club.    Boy do they have good food.    I had a gyro with sweet potato fries and have plenty for tomorrow.    There were six of us there, not too bad with the virus and everything.    We shared  Christmas traditions and bread recipes and just enjoyed the time together.

This morning I was busy washing and discovered that the washer is not draining properly again.    Called American Shield and the plumber will be here on Monday.    Sure sick of that.

All else is well.

Dia Dhuit

Mary 

Joy will die if you allow.

Sorrow will block it out

Let memories of sweetness fall

Into your life as if a shout.

A sunny mild day

I feel good about today.

I saw a doctor, Dr. Bartlett, about my swallowing difficulty and he has scheduled a procedure for me on New Years Eve at 3PM.     I do not do anything anyway on New Years Eve and this will leave me with a good financial benefit that I would lose on January 1st.    My angel is watching over me.

Sent out a lot of Christmas cards today

Tonight went to Writer's Club.   The last one until Next Year.    All my groups are meeting next year.   It was fun.  I read an older Christmas poem that they had not heard.

Tomorrow is Celtic Club.

Dia Dhuit

Mary\

 

VITA

Vita;

Is this creature

That came to live with me

At my home:)

Neither Rain Nor Snow but Sunshine

 We were blessed today.    Rather cool, in the 40's but when I went out it felt good with the sun on my shoulders and here being hardly any wind.

Went to Bible Study today.    I told you we are reading., together, a book called The Jesus We Missed by Patrick Henry Reardon.     Love it - it does some explaining of what things meant in Jesus time which helps in understanding.

 I also did all my shopping today.

I was thinking today.   When we were children, at least the first few of the nine of us, Mom and Dad would put us to bed and then decorate the tree.   As I recall, that stopped eventually because as we do now, it was too much and the kids like to help anyway.    But I do know that each Christmas Eve, Dad drove to both grandparent's houses and picked up the presents which were arranged in little piles around the living room.    We all just had to look for our name:)

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I am so blessed with

My home full of memories

Of a Love-Of Life

It was a gloomy day

Vita and I were home all day except for our walks.     It there was a bit of a flurry this morning but by noon there was little if any precipitation.    A mist, we have agreed, is minor:)

Yes, I am talking to the dog.

Nobody else is here:)

I made a Waldorf Salad today.   Boy does that taste refreshing.   I am trying to eat more fruits and veggies.   It is hard because they spoil on me.   A head of lettuce, for instance, is several days of greens for one little old lady.

 

Cleared up my end of the year bookwork.   Soon enough it will be time to start thinking about taxes again.   EEEEEWWWWW 

All is well here.   Kind of afraid of the Christmas surge of covid.    Oh well, sufficient unto the day.   I am home anyway except for very thought our gatherings of less than 10 people.

Be well.

I miss you all.

Dia dhuit

Mary

If patience was a cure

Then I would surely lose

As it is hart for sure

For me to calmly cruise.

Too Busy today

But that is OK because I don't have to go anywhere  tomorrow.    Hallelulia

Today, I mailed all the gifts for out of state.   The post office news was saying they can't guarantee anything after the 15th.   But they told me at the post office that things would be there by next Monday.    Go figure.

Than this afternoon, I saw Dr. Toy.    Good thing, I was all out of adjustment and my back and legs were hurting.

Tonight was Quilt Guild.    We had a box supper together, showing of Bullseye Quilts and other things (I shared my Button  Christmas Stocking.)   and exchanged Dirty Santa Gifts.    I brought something for
Barbara too as she wasn't able to come.   So I have a gift to take over to her.

As I say, I can stay home ALL day tomorrow.

Vita will be a happy girl.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Christmas

A star and angels

Announced the birth.

Wise Men and shepherds

Came, saw and believed.

SNOW

Yes.   We had snow ALL day.    No accumulation.   First we had a mixture of rain and snow and when the rain tapered off the ground was still too warm to let the snow accumulate.

Vita was not happy.   Toward the end of the day, when it was just snow, it did not seem to bother her as much.   She just does not like rain, I guess.  We did OK.   

I did not have to go anywhere today, and I am glad,   The roads could have been slippery and I don't need that.  Got my Christmas packages ALL packed and ready to mail tomorrow.   The 15th is what they are suggesting as the last date to be safe, so I am really pushing it.

The advent calendar envelope stitchery is half used up now.  Only 12 days to go.   If you want to come over and take the candy and replace it with a candy cane, just COME.    I made my plumber and my cleaning lady do  the two days they were here:)   They seemed to like it but I can't have them come every day.

Watching the Disney Sing A Long.   So glad.   I need music and JOY>

Love you all

Be safe

Mary

 

Be safe

As you traverse

This world of such unrest

Sickness and riots and anger

Bring Peace

Hi There

 A clear day, sunny but chilly/    I was grateful for it as they are actually predicting a rain/snow mix with possibility of accumulation.     I thought I was in Oklahoma:)    Well, time will tell.   At least I am blessed with a warm comfortable home and plenty of food and am not sick.

Tomorrow I get to stay home all day anyway as I went to Mass tonight.    I told one of the deacons that I feel totally holy this week.    I have never attended mass more times than I did this week, since I was in the convent 64 years ago when went every day:)

I almost have my packages ready to mail.    Will take them on Monday.

Then Christmas cards.  I have sent some but have more to go.

Hope you are also all well and in warm and comfortable homes with plenty of food.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

She greets me with such joy

Even if I have only 

Left her for a minute

My special doggy friend.

She if full of unlimited love

So glad that she loves me

A SUNNY CHILLY DAY

 Wasn't fair.   We have gotten used to the 60s and 70s again.    Not chilly but not the stifling heat of the summer.

I am just home from Mass.  I probably would not have gone tonight, The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, but I got assigned as an Usher and thought I might as well.    Good thing,as Stan would have been ushering by himself.    It was quite a bilingual mass with
Mexican dancers and musicians so I enjoyed it.    But I am really tired.

Love you all

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Blessings

I thank the lord

For he has given me

Each sunrise one more day

To BE

Happy Hanikah

A special start to a special season for our Jewish brothers and sisters.

It was an unbelievably busy day today.    Vita had her yearly check this morning.   She is all up to date on shot, nails, and all other checks and has meds for heartworm and ticks and fleas for the next year.

This afternoon, I went to Miracle Ear and got my new hearing aid.    It think I told you I lost it a while ago.   Now I have to be VERY careful again.    It does help.    But with glasses and those stupid masks both looping over my ear, I have to be so very careful.    

 
Tonight was Writers Club.   All four of us were there and had something to read.   Wish we could get some more participants.    We all love to hear each other and to be able to be stimulated to write more.

A quiet day tomorrow until evening when I am ushering at the Mass for Our Lady of Guadalupe.   I have never felt so holy in my life:) :)

Dia Dhuit

Mary

SQUIRRELS

Backyard

Teeming with squirrels

Who tease the dogs each day

Spinning in circles then up the trees

Laughing.

Wednesday Bible Study

We had seven of us there today.    We are actually studying a book called The Jesus We Missed by Patrick Henry Reardon.     It is quite interesting in that it sometimes compares what we mean by words to what they meant in biblical times.   EG.   Jesus called many of the ladies, including his mother, WOMAN.    Woman at that time was a term of respect, which makes you think about it a bit differently.

As long as I was there, I went to the noon mass then did my grocery shopping and have been home for the rest of the day.   I was exhausted and took a little bit of a nap.   Am I ever lucky that I CAN do that.

I will be packing boxes to get to all the family tomorrow through Friday, then spend Monday at the post office getting them out.  They say that the 15th is the last day to guarantee delivery.   WOW>

Hope your day was as good as mine.   

Stay Well and Safe.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Staying in place

How long can people

Survive without a hug or kiss

We are learning now

 

Hello Time for bed

 I was actually home all day today.   It was another cold morning with a warm sunny afternoon.   Kerry came and cleaned the house.

Then I got a call from my friend, Judy.   She reminded me that today, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, is a holy day (which I had forgotten) and offered to pick me up for the Mass at 6:30PM so I went.   It was a lovely Mass, bilingual, with incense and everything.    Glad I got there.

Tomorrow is Bible Study and I will be shopping and going to the bank too.

All of you stay well.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

SQUIRREL

When I see my fat squirrels

Playing in the back yard

Climbing up and down the tree

I feel alive and whole

I loved today

It was sunny and warm.    Vita took me for walks without a jacket and I was plenty warm, isn't that nice.

I made my Cranberry Bread today.    Boy is it good.   Refrigerated it lasts forever and I can share with family and friends.  One of the loaves, had pieces fall off when I took it out of the pan.   Now I REALLY remember why I make it every year.     Got the recipe from a special neighbor from long ago, Joyce Nusser.    Her Chip and my Bret were best friends for years and little people

I was having a problem with plumbing again.    American Shield sent Shields Plumbing to fix it..  I asked Mike if there was anything I could do to prevent it.   He said, not really as it is the old iron pipes that let debris  stick to it, in this case lint from the washing machine.   So I guess it is a part of my maintenance.

I get to be home all day tomorrow too.

Good for me

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Social distancing

Leaves us alone and lonely

Wishing for others.

Another sunny day

Kind of a rough one though.    Barbara is still ill and needs prayer.    I talked to her tonight.  I know that she has a serious infection and is very delicate in the lung area.    We must all send prayers as I said for her quick recovery.

I went to mass this morning, a bilingual Mass.   I had not been to that particular mass before and found it quite refreshing.    Parts are in Spanish and parts in English, which gave me a chance to see how much of the Spanish (I should say Mexican) that Uncle Earl taught my mother in law, Lily and I 50 years ago remains in my brain.    Not a lot but I am pleased that it was not ALL that unfamiliar.

Sent my beer bread recipe that I got from Jacquie many years ago to the Deeleys who attended the virtual Wild Game Dinner.   Want it

Beer Bread

3 cups self-rising flour

2 Tablespoons Sugar

1 can beer

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.   Grease loaf pan.  Mix above ingredients in the loaf pan.   If you have time let it settle for a few minutes.    Bake for 1 hour in the 350 degree oven.

Enjoy

Mary

Boy, what a busy day

  :) Probably the most important accomplishment was finishing the peanut butter buckeyes.   I dipped them all today.    Now I just need to divide them, make the fudge and cranberry bread and get the packages off to my loved ones.

At four o'clock, my niece, Jessica, had arranged for a ZOOM meeting in lieu of the Annual Wild Game and Beer Tasting contest that my family has held for 43  years.     It was wonderful.   I was able to see my brothers and nieces and nephews and their kids on the computer and to communicate with them.   My e    equipment would not allow me to be seen but I promised that the next time we did this I would be upgraded.  I expect Jim and Bart to help me do this.    I feel so fulfilled seeing all these faces and being able to comment and interact with them.   
The are a couple of new people that I had not seen before.  So Blessed are we.

Thank God that I am so blessed.   What a wonderful beautiful family.

Keep us all safe.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

What a day weatherwise.

 When Vita and I went for her first walk, it was 27 degrees out there.   BRRRRRR.   Sure glad I got that stocking cap.     This evening it was in the low 50s and the sun was shining.   Tomorrow it may get up to 60   Sure will be nice.

I watered the yard this afternoon.   Dan had put feed and weed on it and told me to water if we did not get rain.    Sure enough, we DID NOT get rain.    Every year, the yard gets a bit better.   Hope Dan and Han are able to do it again next year.     He likes it but is getting older and has some physical problems.    Well, we will see.

I mixed and rolled the peanut butter balls for Buckeyes today.   Tomorrow I will dip them and set them aside as I prepare the other things I have to send.

Stay well everybody.

I miss all of you that are far away.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

GIVING THANKS

Express gratitude!

I told the trees this morning

That they smelled lovely.

Thank God for a warm comfortable home.

Home all day, this chilly damp day.     I got a lot of my Christmas decorations up.  Going to start making candy tomorrow.     Have to get everything ready to mail my mid next week.    According to the post office December 15th will be pushing it.   So if you get presents from me, hopefully they will be early and you can use your own discretion as to whether to open them or not.    Perhaps the food if you like:)

Love you all

Stay safe and well.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

 

 

Hugs are underrated.

And God knows

They save us!

You are getting two today.

 I guess I forgot to confirm my post from yesterday.   OOPS.

Today was busy but nice.   I went to Bible Study.   Today we just watched a movie called Fatima, the true story of Fatima.    That is, for those who do not know, an event where the Virgin Mary appeared to three children over a period of 6 months.   Lots of miracles were performed and it has been given credence by the Catholic Church.    I really learned a lot about an event I thought I knew about.

The rest of the day at home.   Solved a couple of problems and walked Vita too many times.   She was very needy today.

Stay well.   Remember the things we are supposed to do to prevent the spreading of the virus.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It is quite a feat to smile

When we are alone and sad

But life and love will improve in a while

And we will all be glad

27 degrees this morning - 55 this afternoon AND sunny

 I am sure glad I bought a stocking cap for that morning walk.

I WAS busy today.    Lots of phone calls, still have to follow up on a few.

Had lunch with a friend, John Kennedy, from the Irish Club today.    We went to a restaurant called Billie Sims, a BBQ restaurant.   Glad to get out of the house with some good company and good food other than turkey:)

Ran a couple of errands while I was out.

Dan and Han came and cut my lawn and put weed and feed on it.   I won't be needing them until spring, but we have become good friends and I will keep in touch..   Hope he will still be able to do it next year.

Heard from three great friends today.    What a joy it is to talk to people.

Please pray for my friend, Joe Ehren, a classmate, who has COVID really bad.

Dia dhuit

Mary

He still makes me smile

Although it is his memory

That brings me joy.

It was 27 degrees when I got up this morning.

Felt like I was back in Wisconsin when Vita and I went for our walk.    I had to buy a knit cap today, thought I had one, but can't find it so I found one at the grocery store.    I keep telling Vita when she gets impatient that I don't have her nice fur coat to keep me warm.\  We have been told that if we get a possible rain later in the week, it may include a few flurries.    EEEEWWW

Dentist and Chiropractor today both.    I have no problems with my teeth, I do take pretty good care and Dr. Toy has me back in line and gave me some hints to strengthen my hips and back.   Every visit he has something new.    I am glad.    He is really good to me.

Tomorrow I am going out to lunch with a friend.    That will be nice, I can count on my hands that I have been out to lunch this year.     John is a member of my Irish Group and an interesting guy.    I will give him his newsletter and the story of St. Andrew then.

Hope all is well with you.   Stay away from strangers especially now that so many people have been traveling and so on.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

 

What will come of it

This sheltering in place?

A nation of monks?