Monday- Good Maggie News

 The weather was a bit on the ugly side over the weekend, but today is beautiful!!

We are blest to be able to have another few hours of Eucharistic Adoration each week. Now on Mondays. I am so glad! I look forward to it whenever I can go. 

I did some work around the house this morning, after Mass, and then went and got Lilly. She was up and ready! She appears to have gotten all her work done for the day, so that's good.

Today Maggie went to the vet for an evaluation. He talked to me about her quality of life, and we decided to try a treatment to get her hips and spine back into a little bit better shape. We aren't going crazy. This is in the hopes that she will have more mobility and be more comfortable. He said that we should see improvement within two weeks. If we don't then we have to talk about how much longer to push her along. Glad we don't have to make that decision now....

Cora is growing like a weed, and they have begun eating solid food and playing all the time! They are very busy!

Life is good!

 April is always tricksy. You just never know what the weather will throw at you. 

Yesterday I had my coffee and a book out on the deck and I had to take off my hoodie because it was too warm. Today it is in the 40s with a wind chill in the 30s and it SNOWED this morning. Yes. 

I went to Mass and Adoration, but I came home afterward and didn't go to the grocery store like I should have because it is just too dang cold. There is time for that tomorrow, and we have leftovers for dinner.

Maggie is really having a tough time. We are going to have to stop taking her downstairs to go into the yard. She just needs to go out front where it's flat. I know that she will kill the grass, but we'll just have to make sure that she goes in the same spot and then fix it later. I don't know how much longer she is going to want to keep going. It is so hard to even think about it. I can't imagine life without our girl. I don't want to. She is such a big lovebug. I hope she can make it through the summer, but the vet will have an idea on Monday. I really want our new addition to have a chance to be around Maggie. 

I bought the crate for her today, and I will gather supplies as needed. I will probably put the carpet and the table in this office up in storage so that she can have a bare floor. Hopefully potty training will go well. 

Love Our Home!

 We had a lovely time at Miss Molly's, and it has given me ideas. Lots of ideas about the future for our humble home after the nest empties. 

We live in a really good area for renting vacation rooms. Havre de Grace is busy all summer, and there really aren't all that many places to stay. There are the big old houses that have been made into Bed and Breakfast places, but they are pretty expensive, and when there is a festival or other event, and there are a lot of those, there really aren't that many places to stay. 

We could convert the upstairs into guest space and rent it as a suite. One room would be a bedroom with the bathroom, and the other would be a sitting area with a TV, and wifi and all the things that are popular on Airbnb. I would love to do the decorating and fix it up real "Havre de Grace". 

We have the decks for sitting and eating outside, and we have the yard for playing yard games and having fires. In the summer we have such a great little town. Every bit as cute as Chincoteague, I think.

It wouldn't cost that much to get started, and we could turn any profits back into the house. 

Yeah Big Dreams.

It is really windy out today and it is supposed to be really cold over night. 

Still waiting to hear about Brendan's Covid test. Paul's was negative. I guess I will miss Mass and Adoration tonight. We are going to do small group on Zoom.

Oh, and Cora is adorable.

Last Day on Chincoteague

 Today we said "good-bye" to Miss Molly's, but not before a truly yummy breakfast!

We also had a chance to meet some of the other guests and that was a treat! One couple is from The Shannendoah Valley and the others, newlyweds, are from near Virginia Beach. We had a nice visit.

We went for a drive to the end of the island and I got a few pictures, and then we went to buy gifts for the kids.

The drive home was very rainy but the traffic wasn't bad at all. 

It is good to be back home! We are having fish for dinner and I got the laundry caught up. I went out on the deck and enjoyed looking out at the yard. My flowers are starting to bloom!

 Maggie is also very glad that we are back. 

Vacation Sunday

 What a wonderful day we had today!! 

We got going around 7 and went down to breakfast at 9. It was a yummy Crescent with roasted veggies and hollandaise. The food here is fantastic! I ate quick because I wanted to get back up to the room to watch the Italian Formula 1 race that started at 9:00. Glad I did. It was a win for Max Verstappen, and that was a good thing. 

Then we headed over the Assateague Island to do some exploring. We walked a loop that meanders through several tidal areas and spent a long time on the beach. It was delicious! We came home and Tim had a long phone conversation with James Waltenburg, while I grabbed my Kindle for some reading time on the upper deck. A couple of cups of coffee and a chocolate chip cookie too. What a perfect day.

We went back the Don's Seafood for dinner tonight and it was just as good as last night! I had shrimp and fries and Tim had broiled flounder. I am going to have to do some serious cutting back this week!!

We are all tucked in for the night now. 

Chincoteague Getaway!

 What a glorious day it has been!!

Tim and I are so blest to be able to come to this wonderful island and spend a few days away together.

We left home around 11:30 and we got here around 3:30. I had a little mishap with my purse and a cup full of creamer...So the first order of business was to get a small purse that I can put the barest essentials in. 

Then we explored a little bit before heading over the a sweet little church, St Andrews, for Mass.

We had a reservation at Don's Seafood for dinner and it was fantastic!!

Now we are tucked into our room for the night.

We will have a great day tomorrow!

End of the Week!

 It's chilly today as well.

Lilly and I went to Freedom Hills to walk the pony for J, our little hero. That kid is doing so well!

Lilly had her first Nature Class today. It was great to walk around in the woods and look at the different plants and the water in the early part of Spring.

Skunk Cabbage!

Then I dropped Lilly at home and went to see sweet Cora....Sleeping, of course...

News

 Cloudy and rather chilly today. 

I went to Mass this morning and the homily was so good! God is so good! I want to be a better witness to His love. I want to give Him all the glory and let Him teach me and show me what He desires. I want to give up control. I surrender. 

What a beautiful life this is! We have so much. We have love. We have a place in the Kingdom. What else is there? How can I share it?

Went to Adoration and then came home to make sure that Lilly is coming along with school. She says she is! After I had some lunch I walked to Weis to get ingredients for Jambalaya. It's really nice out.

Jambalaya was yummy!

Tim and I met the new couple that we are going to be helping to prepare for marriage. They are really a great pair! 

After that meeting I sat back to watch a movie and crochet...

Good day!

Missed a Few Days

 It's been a busy few days around here! 

The weather was rally nice Monday and Tuesday, but today it is raining. Tim Mowed again yesterday. That lawn is growing so fast!! I have to get out and do some work out there as well. I was weeding this morning and I can see that the Holly trees need to be trimmed back again. I pulled out a whole bunch of volunteer daffodils this morning. My Rhubarb is all coming up! I transferred it to the other side of the house and I wasn't sure what it would do, but all three plants appear to have survived. I am so glad!! I have been enjoying the crisps and the pie that I make in the summer. 

I had a small group meeting here last night! Our first in-person for that group. The other group is meeting tonight at the Pojunas home. I am so glad that we are all getting some things back to normal. 

I went to the grocery store this afternoon while Lilly started school. She got done really quick today. Apparently she and Ivy had a little disagreement on how fast and which direction they should travel, and Ivy won. Oh well. I told her if you don't get dumped, you aren't really riding.

And then there's THIS news flash...

Looks like there really is going to be a puppy in the Merkel family this summer! I have filled out the contract and I will pay Danielle a deposit tonight. I have a couple more questions, but I am confident that she will be ours! Can't wait! 

I got my Kindle Paperwhite yesterday and I love it! I got it
for my birthday but I wanted to use it while Tim and I are away, so started using it early. 

Well, early dinner tonight, because we have Mass and Adoration. 

Happy 21 Brendan!

 Brendan is 21!! 

What a wonderful person he is too. He is always generous, thoughtful and honest. Three attributes that are very hard to find in this world right now. 

I know he is looking forward to this semester being over. He has worked really hard. 

I can't wait to see what life has in store.

Divine Mercy Sunday!

 What a wonderful day!

Today is the Feast of Divine Mercy, and what a wonderful day it was.

The weather started out really nasty, rainy and wet, so Mass wasn't outside. I went down early to save some seats. Corrie was there and the music was wonderful! 

After Mass we had a Divine Mercy celebration with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, our Consecration and reciting the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. It was just so wonderful!

Then we went up to our friends, Barbara and Ron Pojunas house for a wonderful lunch! It was so nice to be together again! The sun came out and it was so warm! 

After we got home I took a walk and found myself at Danielle's house looking at puppies. 

Sweet little puppies. This girl is just so doggone sweet!!

Sometimes the Tiniest Things....

 Today was a dreary and rainy day. Very Rainy.

It turned out quite well though! 

I went to Wegman's to get fruit and some sushi. I got a few more things as well. 

Then I came home and got a few things done around here. 

Then I went to Aberdeen and got my 1st vaccine! I will have the other one in May. I am so glad to be getting started on immunity! They had a great system. Very fast.

After I got back I went down to the Church, went to Confession and Adoration, and then Mass.

After Mass I went up to Danielle's to see the puppies again. I have to say, I am certainly taken with little Haley. She is so sweet! I may be weakening....

Nice day so far.

Went to Mass and then came back. Lilly isn't feeling too well, so she is getting the day off.

I wanted to go to Adoration, but the hall was locked so I took a walk, and when I got back it was open, so I was able to go in for half an hour. What a blessing on my day.

The weather has been just amazing! 

Have to get ready for a Harford County Respect Life meeting, but off to grill chicken first!

It's Warming Up!

 Today is a very nice day! Sunny and 70ish. Such a lovely Spring day!

I have been listening to the book "News of the World", that the movie of the same name is based on. It is just excellent. I love the voice of the reader and the story is so good!

Lilly has finished school for the day. We had a little group here this morning so that people could be ready for what we will be seeing on Friday when we hike. It looks like the rain has pushed back to Saturday. I can't wait to see what waits for us to discover. I will be sure to take lots of pictures. 

I have an eye appointment tomorrow! Finally! I am looking forward to new glasses. These are really old. 

I had a wonderful walk downtown! It was so beautiful!

Easter!!

 Easter is the most wonderful season! Of course it is!!

He is Risen!! Alleluia!

Yesterday was so wonderful! We went to the first outdoor Mass of the year and the weather was perfect! Fr Dale was so happy to have everyone there, and it was a wonderful turnout! 

Then I came home and got to work on dinner. We had a huge leg of lamb! It turned out perfectly.

I also did Pilaf, Brussels Sprouts, Jello, and a red velvet cake. We also had apple pie from Paul's birthday the night before.

Paul is 19!! And what a great guy he is. He has so many ideas and interests. This year it was travel, school, racing a car, investing, Who knows what will be next on his horizon?

Brendan will be 21 next Monday. Wow. This happens really fast. 

Oh and Saturday I rode Ivy. That was awesome. She is lovely.

Maggie also went to the groomer. That was a huge improvement in life for her and us.

Anyway, back to Easter. It was nice all afternoon and everybody got to enjoy the deck and good company. 

Tim gave my some great chocolate, and enough that I will have it around for a long time!

Today I mowed the lawn and got the back yard in shape. I have to feed the grass one of these days. I am hoping that there will be less moss now that there is more light back there.

I also got a lot of stuff done around the house and got Lilly's lesson plan made up for the week. I am so excited for what we are going to do now that the weather is getting better.

Paul is 19!

Wow! My youngest son is 19 years old!

He's such a good guy! I am so excited for him. 

He has so many options and choices ahead of him. He is trying to decide whether he will be going to Franciscan in the fall. If he does, I am sure that it will be a very good year and that he will get so much out of it! 

Happy Birthday Son! 

Good Friday

 It's too beautiful out. 

It's super cold, but the sun is shining and it just seems too nice out to be Good Friday.

I went up to the farm to see Ivy this morning and we had a nice little walk around the barn, and through the barn. There were no lights on, and so it was very dark, but aside from a little blowing, she seemed pretty relaxed. 

I am going to stations at 2:00 and I hope to get in the the church for the service at 3:00, but it may be "sold out". We'll see. 

We'll be having a small dinner tonight.

Tomorrow Maggie will be groomed, thank goodness. She will be lovely for Easter!

Well, we did get in for the Good Friday service! It was wonderful!

I went shopping and got what I need to cook for Easter, so now tomorrow we just have to get Maggie to the groomer, and I need to figure out Easter dinner.

Holy Thursday

Wow. It is freezing. 

The wind blew all night and kept me awake. I was thinking about all kinds of things and I wish I had slept better. 

A couple of big branches came off the tree which is sad.

I got to see Comet's puppies last night on the day that they were born! It will be so much fun watching them grow!

The big new for today, so far, is that Ivy is all settled into her new home! What a beautiful place it is! She has her own stall and the grounds are lovely! I can't wait to see how she and Lilly do in a ring with a fence. 

She was pretty good about getting into the trailer. A little silliness, but honestly about half the time that it took the first time. 

I really feel like she will be much better off now. 

It's Holy Thursday already!! We ended up getting spots for Mass and I am so glad! We will go at 7:00 and I plan to stay for Adoration after Mass. 

Tomorrow is good Friday.