05.29.2023 Memorial Day

52⁰F overcast SR@0525 SSE@6mph SS@2035

Morning Offering given

Village peaceful

Coffee good

There is a plethora of birds in the yard; mourning doves, purple finch, chickadee, sparrow, Robin, Baltimore oriole, Redwing blackbird, and the list continues.

Birdhouses, feeders, flowers, shrubs, and bird baths contribute to their existence.

Their joyful calls welcoming the morning start the day. Peaceful harmonies fill the day making for an enjoyable front porch or patio moment.

Overcast and haziness fill the skies today. Canadian wildfires make this so. Sunrise and sunset are glorious moments in the day due to that.

My S-i-l celebrated a birthday yesterday. Hope her day was beautiful.

My letter to the editor was printed in yesterday’s tribune.

Plants went out last evening for a good watering. Will need to rehang them today.

Weeding needs to take place on the other side of the gate. A hosta needs splitting.

The man and I have achey muscles from all this.

Perhaps it is time to sit on the patio and discuss fixing world issues.

Have an awesome day.

Know you are prayed for.

Before 2011 After 2023

05.28.2023 Pentecost

47⁰F sunny SR@0526 SE@6mph SS@ 2035

Morning Offering given

Village quiet

No coffee

The man awake making coffee. I told him this morning I was looking for a new boyfriend as the old one forgot to make coffee twice this week.

Aches and pains… they come in the “Golden Years” with little effort. 5 reps on the machine for upper arms yesterday made for them in the upper arms today. I suppose weeding yesterday helped. I know weeding is the cause of today’s achy hands and knees. Just think of those people in the Old Testament like Methuselah who lived into his 900s… I bet he wasn’t weeding.

Nice to have Kris & Sessi here this weekend. Was nice to have nephew Joe ride along to Mass last evening.

The plan is to have a slow, easy day.

Niece Sonia delivered an art piece I’d commissioned. It is “stunning” more than I’d expected. Now to mat and frame it. Oops the photo is crooked. Let’s blame that on the “Golden Years” too.

Coffee has arrived! Time to porch sit and bird listen.

Know you are prayed for.

05.27.2023

39°F clear SR@0527 SSE@6mph SS@2034

Morning Offering given

Village peaceful

Coffee leftover…okay

the man sleeps

the mulching finished

New gravel added to the driveway by the street. Slow but sure the honey-do shrinks.

Interesting experience yesterday with the local sheriff’s department dispatcher (she was a bully on the phone to me) when I called to ask a question. I have yet to decide if I plan to file a formal complaint or not. Prayers for discernment, please.

The office area is in definite need of cleaning and decluttering. I’m not quite sure how it gets this way.

Copy job to get to today.

Know you are prayed for.

05.26.2023

36°F sunny SR@)0527 SE@7mph SS@2033

Morning Offering given

Village peaceful

Coffee good

the man still sleeps

Great conversation with my sil Cheryl last evening. We need to connect more often.

the mulching is almost completed, it got to be a larger and larger project as we went along. Well worth the time and effort…mostly the man’s time and effort…think of me as project manager.

Do you love me? John 21:16 Jesus asked this question of Peter and he asks it of you and me as well. Do you love me? Immediately I think of the poem Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

We’re all prone to thinking love between a man and a woman, Jesus isn’t talking about that kind of love.

I’d best get a move on

Know you are prayed for

05.25.2023

49°F clouds SR@0528 ESE@9mph SS@2032

Morning Offering given

Village peaceful

Coffee, very good

The man sleeps, he should be. He worked too hard again yesterday in the yard.

Check out this link! Only 6.5 hrs from us, really want to go but not possible. I am putting it on our bucket list.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254384/a-miracle-in-missouri-body-of-benedictine-sisters-foundress-t hought-to-be-incorrupt?fbclid=IwAR2AEivGV66_0shirMyiVrJ6GDgyy3tjVtrEPzPSyl6Jf_Q3HGG7ThLQYk0

Remembering my friend Kathy H who passed from this life to the next in 2007. May she rest in peace.

1st Holy Communion anni for my dd#1 Kaylee, this day 1986

Baptism anniversary for my niece Claire S in 1997

We head to LaCrosse today, the man for his hearing aid appt, me for PT. So glad it worked out we could go together.

In John 17 Jesus prays for his disciples. It is a beautiful prayer. He is praying for us (vs 20) isn’t that exciting to know that Jesus is specifically praying for us.

I read this letter to the Editor yesterday…

https://lacrossetribune.com/opinion/letters/camille-degaz-trump-wasted-taxpayers-time-and-money/article_3554c6ee-f8bf-11ed-9fad-83f4ff5648b5.html

I responded with a letter of my own. The parameters of the newspaper didn’t allow me to fully state what I think because they are afraid of being sued or hurting the feelings of some “woke” person who obviously believes she is entitled to take, yes I say take, steal, use at will someone else’s hard-earned money to ease her lack of funds. It doesn’t matter that she is on disability. That isn’t what is preventing her from living a full, happy life. Her idea that someone (albeit a rich someone) should take her clothing $$ and give that to her so she doesn’t have to live on assistance… ludicrous thinking. Where does this thought process come from?

This brings me to wonder why anyone would think their college loans should be forgiven? After all, THEY decided to go to college. THEY applied for and listened to the terms of the loan BEFORE they got it and signed for it. Why is it now taxpayers who must foot the bill? It DOES NOT MATTER if they changed their mind about their career, failed the course, or didn’t find employment in their field. THAT IS NOT MY PROBLEM! Nor should it be, EVER my problem.

This nation is raising thousands of entitled young people, THAT is the problem with what is going on now.

Young adults who want to make more money than they are willing to put forth work for. They want to carry their water bottles and cell phones everywhere they go. If they don’t feel like showing up for work they just call in. Makes no sense. Not a clue why employers put up with this.

Yes, I know, I’m an old fuddy-duddy who probably made their children pay for their own college classes, probably expected them to GET A JOB and buy their own toys, probably expected them to do chores at home BECAUSE THEY ARE PART OF A FAMILY UNIT. Also probably expected them: not to swear, to attend church each week, to help out a neighbor without compensation, to wait for things they couldn’t afford until they had the money to afford it. Yep, that’s me. I also didn’t get too excited when they got hurt (unless it was serious) didn’t care if they got dirty, and didn’t allow them to come and go as they pleased.

Yep, that’s me. I even packed lunch when they ran away so they didn’t have to worry about getting hungry.

All of which is probably child abuse today.

Okay rant over.

I’m off and running to get my responsibilities taken care of so that I don’t infringe on other people’s responsibilities.

know you are prayed for, even if I don’t agree with your thought process, God will sort it out the way that gives glory to him.

05.24.2023

52⁰F sunny SR@ 0529 E@13mph SS@2031

Morning Offering given

Village peaceful

Coffee strong…going to need it like that.

The man sleeps…he should, lots of hard physical labor went into the yard yesterday. The hope is to finish today.

Slept in this morning. Drove too long/far yesterday. I’m paying for it today.

Bridal wreath shrubs are blooming. They are going to be spectacular. Actually, all the flowers this year have been exceptional.

Need to find a new book today.

Mt. Washmore needs climbing.

Clutter Cove needs a good straightening.

Birthday & Anniversary greetings to all celebrating today.

Prayers for the repose of souls who have gone before.

Hmmm… looks like birdseed should be added to the shopping list.

The pond needs cleaning. The garage needs to be set up again. You know, if I sit here long enough, the list will become unmanageable.

Have an awesome day.

Know you are prayed for.

05.23.2023

48°F clear SSW@7mph SR@0530 SS@2030

Morning Offering given

Village quiet

Coffee good

the man sleeps

Happy Birthday Kathy D hope it’s an awesome day.

Remembering Dick M today may he rest in peace

Mulching is happening in the yard. I’m liking the way it looks. Bridal wreath shrubs have started flowering. They are so beautiful in full bloom. The pond, the porch, and the fountain need cleaning. It is a never-ending battle. I peruse the todo list knowing it is so long and we are so slow.

Sort of like repenting, we know our list of faults, sins, etc grows long, and we look at it and think oooh that will take too long, that one will be too painful, I want that one gone but I don’t want to do what I know God is going to want me to do. Jesus asked in the garden to let the cup pass Matt:26:39 And going a little further, he fell upon his face, praying, and saying: My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from me. Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. He then shouldered his duty and continued with God’s will. We wimp out. Today I pray to do what I know I must do without complaint or wimping out.

Know you are prayed for.

04.22.2023

49⁰F clear SR@0530 SSW@7mph SS2028

Morning Offering given

Village sleeps

The man sleeps

Headed south this morning,a few are going to see relatives and a couple of other drops along with a couple stops at the girls.

Need to be back before noon as I have a 1 o’clock.

Excellent weekend. A couple of unexpected things came up. All worked themselves out or will as time moves on.

Got to thinking about the choices we make in life. I don’t know about you, but I always seem to be a bit daring with little thought of “what could go wrong?”

I find, at times, little consideration is given to the long-range ramifications of my bold, hasty, emotion filled choices.

Which brings me to what is really on my mind… critical thinking. Does anyone teach that these days?

Know you are prayed for.

05.20.2023

39°F clear SR@0532 NNW@9mph SS@2027

Morning Offering given

Village sleeps

Coffee good

Happy Birthday greetings to Cecile G 1954

Happy Anniversary greetings to Austin & Mary M 2017

RIP Joanita H who passed this day 2017

From the Margin…To be ashamed is a virtue of men and women who are humble. It’s a virtue that helps prepare us for God’s forgiveness. Pope Francis

Our “mistakes”/or “shortcomings’ don’t define us, keep us from God’s love, or disqualify us from sharing the gospel. Stay open, hopeful, and positive when someone offers advice on how we can improve. Respond graciously, receive their advice, and take it to prayer. It could change your life. Accept your imperfections, embrace spiritual growth, and expect the Holy Spirit to continue to change you.

Alan & Anna M have a new son, Jonathan, 9# 10oz, I was very fortunate to bring them home yesterday.

Rehearsal dinner was a fun time. Seeing faces I hadn’t seen in ages and meeting people I’d never seen before. I’m looking forward to the day.

On another note, how’s it going? We’ve been so busy around here that we haven’t seen or spoken with many for some time. I’ve found the only thing I miss about FB is knowing what friends/family are doing. I could remedy that by dropping a line, however, in many instances I no longer have a snail mail address. Perhaps one day I will send a text asking for email and snail mail addresses updating my contact book. You could save me some time (if you are reading this) by sending your contact information to me so that I can update it.

Book...”The Catholic Family in the Modern World” by John A Hardon S.J. I purchased this book in 1991 when it came out. I’d been married for 17 years. Several years previous to the purchase I had the privilege of hearing Fr. Hardon speak in a Catholic Church in Iowa City, IA. This man’s talk changed my life. I began searching for more. When the book came out I had to have it. It changed the way I viewed marriage and children. It changed the way I view Mother Mary. In simple language, his talk and the book saved me from certain hell. The introduction sucked me in. I’ve read this book so many times the cover had to be taped on. Excerpts…(Introduction) “the survival of whole nations is at stake as we see family life disintegrating.” (p.9) “When we speak of the fall of man, we must remember this means not only the fall of man as an individual but the fall of man as a social being.” (p.36) “We can be only as much at peace with others as we are at peace within ourselves. We cannot give what we do hot have.” You can find this book in the Marian Catechist Bookstore at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, WI 54601, pbx# 608/782-0011. The last time I purchased it, the cost was around $4. If you purchase it online from a used book store you will pay triple that.