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Friday, December 1, 2006:
Chuck splitting lots of wood and Bob whacking lots of small dead branches into kindling.
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The full haywagon was tractored up to the patio entryway, and Chuck and Bob used two wheel-barrows to stack it all in the Sunrise Room, to dry out more.
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A good day's work done by all.
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We baked the leftover venison hash in the wood cookstove, and it turned out quite tasty, (which means that it is all gone!).
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Compost, burnables, cats watered and fed.
.
Kathy made more of our "Bumpity, A Road Less Traveled cds", to share with all of you!
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Chuck and Kathy peeling apples for apple pies. :-) Mmmmm, mmmm, there
is nothing like it, fresh apple pies.
This is the blessing of American Pie!
.
Thank you Phil and Mary, for bringing the apples over! We are surrounded by Angels!
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Miss Monarch has done an excellent job of warming the kitchen, all day and evening long.
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A good feeling of tiredness, because of a busy day of work accomplished.
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Soon, we shoud be able to smell that pair of apple pies. :-)
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Saturday, December 2, 2006
Deb brought her daughter Autumn up from Madison for an overnight with us, while Deb accompanied Paul to a dinner and dance for Paul's helicopter unit.
.
Autumn helped Kathy with baking pastries.
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Chuck and Bob split and loaded more wood, an even bigger load than Friday!
.
Mom Helen called, so Bob picked up Mother Superior, and the three of them spent a few hours together, slinging cards.
.
Bob was the top card-slinger, (third time in a row!).
.
The card-slingers sampled Kathy's home made pie.
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Chuck finished unloading and stacking the rest of the wood, so the Sunset Room is now, also, a woodshed!
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Much snow, east and south of us, but none here!
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We added a large venison roast, browned and then slow-cooked in a crockpot, for supper.
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Chuck made an incredible venison gravy, that was yummily delicious.
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Sunday, December 3, 2006
Dragan arrived from Illinois to pick up his four processed deer from a local butchershop.
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We also made a hotplate of venison, mashed potatoes and gravy, along with homemade apple pie, so that Dragan could sample one of the six deer he harvested.
.
Bob and Kathy took Autumn to her home in Madison, chatted with Paul and Deb, and then drove to Waukesha to spend the evening with trave club hosts, Jon and Liz.
.
We had supper with them at their beautiful and inspirational home, and then accompanied them to their church for a joint program of readings, hundreds of great art slides, and Handel's music from The Messiah.
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A most impressive, truly awesome blending of art, music, and the human voice.
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We chatted with many of their church members before church, during intermission, and after the incredible presentation.
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Bob had a chance to enoy speaking Spanish with the minister's wife, who is a native of Nicaragua.
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Arriving back home with our hosts, we chatted and sang for them, till late.
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The accomodations were sumptuous.
.
We saw our hosts' interactions with us, and others, as a ministry in action!
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Monday, December 4, 2006
A great beakfast with Jon and Liz, and then off for Kathy's dental appointment at the Marquette University School of Dentistry, in Milwaukee.
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We arrived back home (113 miles from the dental school), by early afternoon, to finish the venison and gravy leftovers, etc.
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Then Chuck and bob went back to work in still another wood pile, carrying about a dozen loads in their wheelbarrows, and stacking it in the Sunrise Room.
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Chuck grilled cheese sandwiches for us, and that along with many leftovers, left us all very full.
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There was hardly any room for Kathy's freshly baked apple-pumpkin cake (made with our winter squash).
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We sampled the cake, but did not touch the freshly baked apple pie.
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It was a nice feeling to arrive home and have the wood stove going in the Sunrise Room to welcome us.
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Chuck is an easy person to be around, whether working, meal prep, cleaning, or just chatting.
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A Wood Pile Angel!
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And, also a good cook!
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Tuesday, December 5, 2006:
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Chuck and Bob took the six foot wide cultivator blades off the big Allis Chalmers Tractor, which was a relatively easy job.
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And then we put very heavy duty chains on both of the big tractor's rear wheels, which was quite a challenge.
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And then, a six foot wide snow plow blade on the back of the tractor to plow out our driveway after heavy snows.
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And a teeny bit more of splitting and carrying in wood (so that we wouldn't forget how to do it!). :-)
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Chuck made Southern Chicken Style Fried Venison Butterfly Steaks for supper, with gravy, which were very tasty.
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Followed by a quiet evening of Pumpkin-Apple Cake and Dutch Apple Pie.
:-)
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Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Chuck kept both wood stoves going while we went to MATC Dental Hygenist School for Kathy's final appointment.
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We then went shopping for groceries at Aldi's on Madison's East side, meandering up and down the food aisles like gawking tourists. :-)
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Then back to Portage to sling a few cards with Mom Helen, and her sister, Mother Superior (a.k.a. Aunt Eva).
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Then home to a toasty warm house (thank-you, Chuck), and unloading groceries.
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Kathy made tasty, meaty, grilled cheese sandwiches, while Bob put more anti-freeze in the big tractor in the pole barn.
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It is really cold outside!
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Going down to about 5 degrees tonight.
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Apple-Pumpkin Cake, and Dutch Apple for dessert.
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Lots of cold, but no snow, for us, as yet.
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The two teapots are singing their duet on the wood cookstove.
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Like two lovers, crooning to each other.
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And us! :-)
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Thursday, December 7, 2006
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Chuck has both of the woodstoves burning and Kathy has turned off all the electrical baseboard heating in The Kitchen and Sunrise Room.
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Very freezing outside.
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Four lionesses and two half grown cubs came out of the dog house this morning for their food and drink.
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Joseph, so named, because she has a coat of many colors, :-) is very
heavy this morning.
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She probably consumed an antelope, or some other large mammal last night, as she has been hunting here for about a decade now, and is a very efficient predator on mice and rabbits.
.
Chuck finished loading logs on the haywagon for cutting, while Bob picked up woodstove parts for Miss Atlanta (the wood stove in the Sunrise Room).
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Bob also went to the potato farm and picked up 50 pounds red potatoes, and 50 pounds, also, of yellow potatoes (total price for 100 pounds ot taters=$16.00).
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Bob hunting from a tree stand for deer in the late afternoon, listening to the wild geese, relaxing in the stillness.
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Chuck getting ready for his trip to Illinois tomorrow.
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Pasta, pesto, salads, and french fries for supper.
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Kathy baked an apple pie and Steve showed up in time to have dessert with us.
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We watched some of the incrediblely creative antics of The Blue Men on Public Television, chatting away over apple pie, during the fundraising breaks. :-)
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Friday, December 8, 2006
Steve, Chuck, Kathy and Bob, chatting in the early morning over coffee, etc., before Chuck left for Illinois.
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We are verrrrrrry grateful thank you for the days that Chuck has spent with us here, at Bumpity. He has wholly accepted the invitation, and shared lovingly in community. Thank you, dear friend.
.
A very warm and sharing time between the four of us. :-)
.
In the late afternoon, Steve and Bob spent some time in the trees, waiting for deer, and Steve harvested our eighth deer this season.
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We drove the Caddy out into the garden area, tagged and loaded the deer, and took it over to Kountry Korner's to register it.
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Then back home again, and Steve began "dressing" the deer.
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Bob had made a venison roast with red potatoes, yellow onions, carrots (thank-you, Cuzzin Billy!), and rutabagas.
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Kathy made a pumpkin pie, using our homegrown winter squash, which proved to be exceptionally tasty.
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Delightful phone conversations this evening with Kathy's dad, Randy Martin (down in Florida), and Peter and Lisa (in Pennsylvania).
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And so we have pumpkin-pied our way towards another quiet dream. :-)
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Saturday, December 9, 2006 :
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We went to Portage to attend Bettina's last art showing of the year at Roger's Flowers.
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Five artists were represented on display, and all of them did beautiful work.
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Kathy had a goodly chat with Bettina while Bob selected 8 books from the Portage Library for Mom Helen.
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Joel joined us when Bettina's public art showing was over, and we had great sharings, surrounded by Bettina's inspirational paintings.
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Sharing with Bettina, is always very inspiring for us. Bettina lets Spirit guide her, in creating the art that she shares. Thank you Bettina.
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After delivering the books (Mom Helen was not home?), we leisurely drove home and Steve continued working on Friday's deer, and Bob wrapped and froze a large rump roast, a smaller front quarter roast, and six smaller packages of ribs.
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The baked leftover vegetables from the venison roast, simmered in the crock pot, all day, and were even tastier, and tenderer, than the previous day. Mmmm, mmmm. Thank you, Chef Roberto! :-)
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Sunday, December 10, 2006
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Steve was out deer hunting by 6:30 a.m.
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Kathy and Bob were in the house all day doing lots of tasks, including meals, washing, phonecalls and e-mails, and a jillion other little tasks.
.
Bob shared a letter of appreciation that he wrote to his mom, with his mom.
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Kathy shared the letter of appreciation that she wrote to Bob, with Bob. Thank you Angel Bob, for all the opened hearted inspiration, that you give to me and everyONE!
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Bob also sent a letter of appreciation out, via e-mail, to over 200+ other people.
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And.......responses are starting to come back already.
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Lots of different pizza for supper (thank-you, Steve).
.And now Bob, angeling off to get some angel food cake....
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Monday, December 11, 2006
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House work and woodpiles.
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Both woodstoves were burning all day.
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Steve feeding Miss Atlanta in the Sunrise Room, and Bob feeding Miss Monarch, in the kitchen.
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Steve made an excellent supper of roast pork, gravy, smashed potatoes, carrots, onions, cabbage, etc.
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The gravy was very tasty.
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It was an interesting cooking experience, because all the cooking was done on the electric stove in the Sunrise Room, in the oven, and on the electric stove's burner tops.
.
We have always done the major part of all meals in our kitchen, usually using Miss Monarch, our wood cookstove during the five winter weekdays (thus avoiding our peak electrical rates), otherwise using the Frigidaire electric stove in the kitchen, although sometimes, we have used both at the same time, for multiples of cookery.
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But this SunRise Room cooking has worked out quite well, expanding our culinary flexibility, considerably! :-) Yay!
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With all the windows open in the summertime, the SunRise Room could also be used as a "summer kitchen!"
.
Yay! :-)
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Tuesday, December 12, 2006
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Steve off for a "massive" pizza run to Wisconsin Dells, and a visit with Le Roi.
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Kathy got her Squash Pie and Brownie Squares baked for the Master Gardeners' Christmas Party tonight.
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Bob brought more wood in and then landscaped part of the driveway with the big tractor and plow, to further bury our telephone line, (which is buried along the length of our driveway). :-)
.
Shana (Laura Moy). and Kent stopped by, after Shana had tuned a piano in Reedsburg.
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Shana commented numerous times on the brotherly physical resemblances between Kent and Bob.
.
We look forward to spending more time with them in January here, and also talking to Kent about his herbalist experiences.
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Shana played the bagpipes here on October 9, 2004, and lead the procession of the12 of us to our little orchard, where we did our Holy Union Ceremony.
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Thus, our teachers and extended family members, our mentors and inspirations, continue to spice the soup of our days with the blessings of themselves.
.
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Wednesday, December 13, 2006
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Lots of attention to the two wood stoves today, making the house nice and comfy.
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Steve packing up to return home and getting that last deer on top of his little car. :-)
.
Alphabetization of e-mail lists (by the beginning letters of the e-mail addresses), by Bob, has now got about 145 e-mails alphabetized.
,
Steve left by dark and then Mary M. arrived and we had a nice chat about a myriad of topics, topped off with Chocolate Bronwnies and Squash Pie.
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Kathryn has been working on her Mediteranean Bean Soup, in between a jillion other little chores, and numerous conversations. :-)
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And after Mary left, back to the soup, and back to the alfabetizing of e-mail addresses.
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Thursday, December 14, 2006
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Off to Milwaukee for Kathy's appointment at the Marquette University Dental School.
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Bob worked on the first draft of a new song, titled, tentatively: "Millie."
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Then back to Portage after dark, out to Henry's to purchase a used compressor to pump air into a large rear tractor tire in our steel barn.
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Then home to unload the compressor (from the trunk of the Saturn, where it reall din't fit), and then sample yet again, Kathy's Mediterranean Bean Vegetable Soup. :-)
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An unusually early turn in to slumberland for us.
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Friday, December15, 20056
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What a flurry of housecleaning and organizing through the morning and afternoon: trips to the barn for storage, feeding both wood stoves, rearranging wood and kindling (lots and lots of kindling), sweeping, mopping, pressurizing a large tractor tire, mail, e-mail, phone calls, compost out, burnables burned, etc.
.
Bob in to Mom Helen's to meet with Brother Ron and Sister Rose for a 4-way card-slinger shootout, with lots of laughs and hilarity for hours.
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Then back home for supper with guests Catherine B, Lois, Aurora, and Joel, and then a 3 hour Dream Interpretation Session in the Sunrise Room!
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What an interesting and inspiring group!
.
The three ladies stayed over, helping with dishes, or keeping the dishwashers company.
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Lots of additional stimulating conversation with all!
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We are looking forward to breakfasting with them all tomorrow.
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Saturday, December16, 2006
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Lots of great pre-breakfast conversation with Lois, Catherine, and Aurora!
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Then Lois and Catherine took a walk before we breakfasted on (16) eggs, scrammmmmmmmmmmmbled with cheddar, oregano, celery salt, coarse black pepper, and a hint of sea salt.
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Along with different toasts, juices, etc.
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Then our goodbyes, and then the three Madisonian angels left for their nests in Mad City, Wisconsin's capital.
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Ken and Rafe stopped by after dark for a few hours, and Bob was unable to stop eating Rafe's homemade candies.
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Lots of chatting, continuously, with Rafe expressing himself enthusiastically, and with great acting skills, on a variety of subjects.
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Then we set our alarm clocks (on both of our cell phones), for the early departure tomorrow for Pathways of Light. :-)
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Sunday, December17, 2006
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We had finished those leftover scrambled eggs and were on the road to Keil, Wisconsin, by 7:30 a.m., arriving at pathways about 9:30 a.m.
.
After coffee and cookies, we greeted the arrivals for the 10:00 a.m. "quaker type" meditation and service.
.
After (and during), the meditative part of the service, most of those present shared interesting, profound, and/or inspirational experiences.
.
Mary and Don, who drove all the way up from Middleton, shared about their Oblate experienes at the Saint Benedict Center, now renamed since its movement into the eucenemical field, to Holy Wisdom Monastery.
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Jerry and Marilyn were both moving and articulate also, in everything they shared.
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Plus our ongoing inspirations, Robert and Mary.
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And Breadmaster David and Angel Linda.
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Laurie, Julie, and Martin rounded out the group for the fascinating and moving discussion afterwards.
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Ten of us then went to the Grand Central Restaurant, where Steve was waiting for us.
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We gave our State of the Union Matrimony Message, which began with the enthusiastic word, Absolutely!"
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We recapped humorous and profound experiences during the year, whidh also included our experiences with those present at the dinner.
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The food was outstanding!
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It was such a pleasure to dally for two hours over our noon lunch, chatting in various groups, and making new friends.
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The service was great, and so, by 2:30 p.m., we were "on the road, again," heading for home, arriving home after dark.
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Kathy sampled a slice of our last watermelon (we found another one tucked away in a hidden corner of the fridge, just waiting for December), and Bob sampled leftovers from Ken's handcarried gifts from England, Mini Mince Pies, and Christmas Pudding.
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This was our third consecutive year of attending a Pathways Service on the third Sunday in December.
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After the first one, two years ago, we had our legal ceremony performed there by Robert Stoelting.
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Before which, we asked the 25 of us present in the chapel, to share comments about Kathy and/or Bob.
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That proved to be a hilarious, profound, and teary 70 minutes.
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We have the video here, of our wedding, which transformed our concepts of weddings.
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It is a happy and profound sharing from the audience of witnesses, friends, and family members.
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And today, we shared our appreciation and gratitude for all the friendships and mirrorings from those present, that had impacted our lives.
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During the service, during the dinner (or lunch?), it was heartwarming to know that members of the tribe, the family, the community, had assembled, to honor each other, with the gift of their presence!
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Monday, December 18, 2006
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A casual day of bringing in firewood and hopping around doing housework in the kitchen and Sunrise Room.
.
Left Kathy's White Saturn car with Doctor Kirby.
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Sent an s.o.s. out for Doctor Jerry, the "Skunk Whisperer," for elecrtical and tractor work.
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Also into some of our 8 clothes closets!
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Where did all those clothes come from?
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Jeepers!
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Finding things I've never seen before!
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Numerous trips to the barn, reshuffling where things are stored.
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Steve's haywagon of wood still clamoring for more of my attention.
:-)
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Tuesday, December 19, 2006
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Dr. Jerry worked on both of our tractors, and his dad, Cuzzin Billy, helped Jerry locate an electical short in our lights, that was found, of all places, in a ceiling fan!
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After the repairs, sandwiches, soup, coffee, and dessert, for the two Wilson Cuzzins.
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We, the Tn'T team (Thompson and Thompson), cleaned numerous wheelbarrows of wood off the haywagon, and stacked lots of more wood inside the house.
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We are really ready for a long cold winter!
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If we don't get one, there is alot of wood that will have to be moved back outside in the spring! :-)
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Bob landscaping the driveway to further protect the telephone line that is buried under the driveway (for about 400 feet or so).
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Several tasty meals of Kathy's Mediterranean Bean Soup today.
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And Ken's hand-carried-from-England, Christmas Pudding.
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It is like a fruit cake, except that it has three alcoholic beverages added to all the fruits and cake, and is then required to sit for a year before being eaten.
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Also hazel nut cookies made in Germany, thank-you, Bettina and Joel.
:-)
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Wednesday, December 20, 2006
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Breakfast at 0830 at Dino's in Portage, with eighteen highschool classmates and spouses
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This was Kathy's first experience with Bob's Highschool Class of '53.
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We had a chance to talk to nearly everyone and were the very last to leave the reunion breakfast, which has been held every month for years!
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Our longest conversation, by far, was with Wayne and Sherry, who were seated next to us.
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Wayne had been a barber in Portage for over 40 years and had many interesting stories to share, including Wayne's dropping out of our highschool in 1951, as a Junior, to enter the navy for the final years of the Korean War.
.
After visiting Mom Helen, the library, and health food store, we picked up 8 dozen eggs from Dorothy on our way home.
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Doctor Kirby is replacing the right front wheel bearing on the Saturn today, so our little white horse should be up and running well again.
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Kathy off to Lodi to spend an evening with Patty Cakes, while Roger is out of town on company business, and Patty Cakes is babysitting her little granddaughter, Nicole.
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And Bob curled up next to the wood cookstove with a couple of novels for the evening.
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Thursday, December 21, 2006
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Rainy and sleeting.
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Wood cookstove burning.
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Cats fed (twice).
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All 4 of the lionesses in the lion pride greeted me this morning, along with two of this year's cubs, (black with a tiny white bow tie), Midnight, and (solidly, smoky gray), Puff of Joy.
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Brought our little white horse back from Dr. Kirby, major surgery completed on right front wheel bearings, and so our little horse is ready for the trip to Illinois, tomorrow.
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Santa Peggy bought Eva, and Billy and Jerry also joined us for a large venison roast, with potatoes, rutabagas, onions, and carrots.
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Lots of chatting about Aunt Eva's experiences in life, (and several romantic ones!), including lots of laughter.
.
This was followed by 10 card games of Euchre, which prompted much more ongoing hilarity!
.
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Friday, December 22, 2006
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Bob was at Mom Helen's in Portage by 10 a.m. to join Mom, brother Ron, and sister Rose, for a 10 card-game session of Sheepshead.
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Lots of laughter, teasing, and joking!
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Until 3 p.m.!
.
Then Bob drove to Bumpity, loaded the car, and off we two angels went, to Libertyville, Illinois.
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It rained most of the way, but the trip was enjoyable because we could now talk to each other while travelling. The noisy worn wheel bearing being replaced, enabled us to hear each other.
.
Among the guests at grandson Blake's Birthday Party, was the family of Dragan Vidovich, Dragan of local fame, for harvesting six deer at Bumpity on the opening day of the deer rifle season on Saturday, November 18, 2006. (Bob spent nine hours high up in a tree that day, enjoying nature, and peacefully letting his mind wander from chickadee, to feral cat, to nuthatch, to wild geese, etc.),
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Dragan's wife Melissa, and their son and daughter were also there, among other guests.
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Many children at the party until nearly midnight, and also a handful staying over till the morning.
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Juan (from Argentina) and his wife. Laura, gave Bob and Bob's son, Gary, lots of oportunities to speak and hear Spanish.
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Gary and his younger brother, Todd, spent the first two years of their lives, with their grandmother, Senora Elvia Coronado de Morais, en La Republica de Panama, thus, Spanish was their cradle language. Live in babysitters (from Panama), during their early years in Chicago, also reinforced their Spanish, including that of their older sister Linette, who will be here in a few days with her family!
.
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Saturday, December 23, 2006
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We breakfasted, chatted, and relaxed, prior to starting the three hour journey home.
.
Twenty minutes from that lovely house in Libertyville, and we were crossing the state line into Wisconsin, heading north towards Milwaukee.
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We stopped for a special introductory purchase of ice cream in Portage and picked up 12, five quart pails, of chocolate, neopolitan, chocolate chip, vanilla, and chocolate mint.
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(Perhaps), enough ice cream to last until spring? :-)
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Then home to dine on grilled cheese sandwiches on pumpernickel rye.
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Kathy baked raisin cookies and pumpkin pies.
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And then .......we had a nightcap......of chocolate mint ice cream!
:-)
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Sunday, Christmas Eve, 2006
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We rested in a while, and then aroused, to embrace the miracle of Now!
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Kathy continued baking banana bread and getting the turkey ready for roasting.
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Plus, cleaning and straightening things up here at Home, for everyONE to come and celebrate.
.
Bob organized and cleaned areas that need attention. Thank you for your willingness to do this, Roberto.
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We played Christmas concerts and watched shows that share in this celebration of Love.
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Monday, Christmas Day, 2006
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Merry CHRISTmas Everyday is how we live here, at Bumpity Rd.!
.
Paul, Deb, Sarah, Ally, and Auty arrived from Madison to JOY'n with us, in the Christmas celebrations.
.
It is great, that Ally and Sarah are able to be here, during the holidays. They are a treat, to embrace in Love.
.
Bob took Paul, Jerry and the three sisters on a tractor ride, pulling the cushion packed hay wagon around the fields, and through the trees, etc.
.
EveryONE shared, in preparing the feast of JOY. It was a lot of happy fun and Oneness.
.
It was a beautiful reflection of JOY'ning in the joy of living in Love.
.
Jerry and Peggy joined us for the meal, to add to the laughter, of sharing our experiences of the miracle of living now.
.
EveryONE shared their extraordinary life opportunities, which was a lot of fun.
.
Jerry talked about his fun experiences with animals, for the Humane Society.
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Peggy also talked about living on the farm, and what happens when one is open to anything. Her enthusiasm is contagious.
.
We helped with the grand clean up, and that went quickly.
.
Then, Bob, Kat, Deb, Paul, Autumn, Allison, and Sarah talked about the mystery of living and experiencing dreams that come to mind, to see that inner peace is what truly matters.
.
Thank you for celebrating Love with us, once again, and for coming down the Bumpity Rd. of Love, to do so!
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We feel all of you here with us eternally, so thank you sooooo much for BEing in the blessing of Now!
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Tuesday, December 26, 2006
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Bob and KAThy were up early, to go to Madison, so Bob could see the Orthopedic Angels at the VA hospital.
.
They say that his knee is doing well, and the doctor says that he doesn't look 70. So, that's fantastic!
.
KAThy told him the same, that he is a vibrant miracle, and that's great.
.
We ran a few errands in Madison and Portage, and came back home, to Bumpity Rd.
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We snacked a bit, and both felt ready to rest. So, we did, and that felt great.
.
Now, we are having a quiet night, enjoying and looking at the miracle of what it means to BE together NOW!
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This sometimes happens by looking deeply into One another's eyes, by BEing in silence, writing, reading, and embracing what is NOW!
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Thank you God, for everything!
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Wednesday, December 27, 2006
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We fed both our woodstoves a hearty meal, and they then rewarded us with comforting warmth all day.
.
Of course, they were always hungry, but it wasn't a voracious hunger, just a continual grazing, just wanting a little bit more to kindle their appetite. :-)
.
Wood----n't you? :-)
.
Indoor-outdoor chores were followed by a trip to Canal Seeds and Feeds, and then a visit to Mom Helen.
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More afternoon and evening chores, interspersed with e-mails and phone calls.
.
Daughter Linette Marie and family's arrival, postponed till tomorrow.
.
Doing our Library Book Discussion reading assignment, STICKEEN, by John Muir, a short story of about 20 pages, telling of Muir's experiences on an Alaskan Glacier, with the little dog, named Stickeen, that underwent a rather remarkable canine personality change, also resulting in some thought changes in John Muir himself, and, becoming one of his best known writings.
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And so the evening is dwindling away, and the two little resident owlets, (who really do give a hoot!), preen their feathers as they nestle into their common nest.
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Thursday, December 27, 2006
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David and Linette arrived with angelita Gabriella!
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Gabriella is gorgeous!
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We took them for a wagon ride, around all the gardens and also through the little woods just north of the house.
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After Kathy's tasty turkey-barley-vegetable soup, etc., we started a big hot campfire in the stone-lined firepit, just east of the house.
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David became the sacred, "Tender of the Fire."
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Cuzzins Bill and son, Jerry, arrived, followed by Peggy, sampling savory soup and many desserts (especially Jerry!) .
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Brother Ron and wife Deb showed up with a Large Santa Tray of Deb's Delicious Desserts.
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Lots of stories and laughter, a most impromptu gathering of loved ones on very short notice.
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Gabriella's 22 month old energy and curiosity, have been a great joy to watch, and, interact with. :-)
.
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Friday, December 29, 2006
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Onion and cheese omelets, followed by a relaxing morning and early afternoon of chattings, and, outside walks with Gorgeous Gabriella.
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The two wood stoves were burning all day and into the evening.
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The mild Wisconsin winter so far has not diminished our woodpile very much, so we are well prepared for a long cold spell, or the isolation of a snowy blizzard, should we recieve such blessings. :-)
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We enjoy all kinds of weather.
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But it does seem strange when the ground is usually white by Thanksgiving, to see it snow free after Christmas.
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We ended the evening, reading our Portage Library Book Discussion Group reading assignments:
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Kathy reading the January assignment, John Muir's "Stickeen," and Bob reading the February assignment, John Steinbeck's "Travels With Charlie," each of them stories about the authors' personal experiences with the two dogs, Stickeen (on a glacier in Alaska), and Charlie (in a drive across the U.S., and back).
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Saturday, December 30, 2006
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Now that the weekend has arrived with the low cost, off-peak, electrical rates, we have given both the wood stoves a rest, and also ourselves, (from bringing them continual platters of wood to keep their warm and radiant appetites satiated).
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It is relaxing and kind of exciting to begin a weekend with nothing that has to absolutely be done!
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A quiet day with a trickling of e-mails, phone calls, and venison stew (with lots of rutabagas!).
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Kathy finished the evening answering e-mails, and Bob read, "MUIR," the life story and nature writings of John Muir, occasionally reading spiritual and mystical excerpts out loud to Kathy, words which were actually Muir's legacy to us of his feeling of Oneness with everything.
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It is interesting to note that the only thing in nature that John Muir did not wax enthusiastic about (in a positive way), were domesticated sheep.
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His writings about wild Mountain Sheep are glorious, enthusiastic, and admirable.
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But Muir's writings about the sheep that Muir helped successfully herd up and down the western mountains......well, those are very "exceptional" writings. :-)
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Maybe some "sleepy sheepy shadow" material in there?
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About Muir?
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And the reader?
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Sunday, December 31, 2006
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UP IN THE MORNING
PACK UP THE DESSERTS
OUT ON THE ROAD
BY MID-DAY,
LIKE THAT LUCKY OLD SUN
WE'RE OUT TO HAVE FUN
WITH DEAR FRIENDS
AS THE YEAR SLIPS AWAY!
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On our way to say goodbye to Rebecca, who lives in the Dells area.
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Christer, Trinity, Gill, and Toad, hosted the farewell for Rebecca, who leaves on New Year's Morning, to drive to Sedona, Arizona.
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Great to see some of our Bumpity Road Family, Jim Hondel, Leroy, Pam, and other new friends.
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Lots of goodies, including Kathy's pie and banana bread.
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Then off to Mom Helen's to play three games of Sheepshead, and then drop Aunt Eva (a.k.a. Mother Superior), off at her country home.
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A quiet New Year's Eve, listening to Public Television musicals, while working at our desks and in the kitchen.
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A Wonderful Year of inspirational sharings with a diverse and extensive, extended family, not only across this nation, but also in other countries.
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The Continuance, of the Wealth of Friendships, and the aBunDance of simultaneous Teaching and Learning, move us into a Speechless State of Grateful Awe.
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Our prayerful intent is that 2007 be for you, a peaceful, inspirational, and challenging, NOW.
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Bob and Kathy Thompson
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