Sunday, 5 May 2019: Green Bay and Brussels

Justin went to the doctor this week.   His back and gut have been bothering him.  We both got the second shingles vaccine.  Hummer hurt; my arm was sore for a few days.  Justin also got a referral to see a dermatologist since he has a spot he’s concerned about.  Dr. Rachel said she’d do the biopsy if it was on his back but not on the end of his nose.  

The weather was described by a radio announcer as “unseasonably cool.”  I am finding more reasons just to curl up in a big fluffy sweater and socks.  I’m reading and watching tv way too much.  I simply am not going to start any outside projects.  Of course, I could be working on taxes.  We got an extension so I guess I really better get hopping on that.

We met Bill Dean at Hartung early in the week and then he met us here at Bayshore at the end of the week.  We are thinking we might put one or both properties on the market.  We weigh the options and go back and forth.  Bill has sold a couple of other houses for Justin so their relationship goes back a bit.  We will see. 

The sound of the waves used to be peaceful and soothing.  Today the pounding background sounds are a constant reminder that our shoreline is being beaten away.  Our breakwall failed at the south corner this week.  This is most depressing!

Lake levels are up and they continue to climb.  Lake Michigan is 9” higher than it was in December and it is only 19 inches from the 1987 high.   None of this is because the water is expanding from warmth!  Our shoreline is pounded daily.  Thankfully we have a different slip at Chadouirs Dock.  This year we will be on the south wall and inside a bit.  Last year we were on the west wall.  We will still need to watch carefully but this just isn’t good.   Justin was a Windjammers for the monthly meeting; water there is up to the flagpole.  Rich and Erica texted to say that the river was at capacity too.  (Deep breath)

We had our first fire of the season this week.  Jordan and his family spent the night at their cottage for the first time this season on Saturday.  They came over for an afternoon visit.  I was nice to take time to sit out by the water and visit.  

  

On Sunday we met Jordan and Kris and the kids at Mackinaw’s for brunch.  We’ve done this as a sort of “welcome back” for the past three years.  It was at Mackinaws where we first met Willow in 2017.  After brunch Jordan, Caleb, Jonas, and Justin and I went to see Avengers: End Game.  I don’t really know a lot of the history behind all the characters and I sure don’t need the hyper-violence but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the many, many big name actors and cameos throughout the movie.

A lone daffodil emerges

Justin and I are trying to walk each day.  It is nice to see the effect of spring not only on the plants and animals but also on the community.  More and more people are coming back to the area and setting up their cottages for the summer season.

Do I see rhubarb?

I’ve grown weary of the political bs that continues.  It just drones on and on.  I think the polls indicate that the American people might rather have a gay man in the White House than a woman.  I can’t get to riled up about that because I am totally excited about the idea that Chasten Buttigieg might champion for teachers!  

We have a new Emporer in Japan.  I was in Japan in 1989 when Hirohito died and Akihito assumed the Chrysanthemum Throne.  I read an article telling a bit of Naruhito growing up.  When his third grade teacher gave everyone English names, he informed her “I am a crown prince, I am not a Jimmy.”

Sunday, 28 April 2019: Bayshore

Justin and I worked this week and we played; we are pretty good at both, when we need to be (or when we get to be) anyway.

Tulips to welcome us home!

We worked in the yard and garage to start to undo the work we did in the fall to get the house ready to “lock and leave.”  I made arrangements for Lynnea to come to clean but that means I need to get everything out of the way so she can clean.  All the things that I’ve stashed here and there need to go back to their home like all the chairs that go at the dining room table in the gazebo have spent the winter in the front room in the house.  That means we need to set up the gazebo — uncover the table and the China cabinet, reconnect the gas heater, move the BBQ pit back out side and just set things up in general.  (The first thing I had to do was find the key to the gazebo since the one I had in my purse all winter was now gone!)

I do feel a little guilty getting someone to clean when our house is so small.  I can justify it because I was working and cleaning while they were here.  Actually, Justin and I both worked on the gazebo the entire time they were here; they finished, we didn’t.  Oh well...

I took Gemma to the vet for her rabies shot and bought cheese at Ron’s while I was in Luxembourg.  So Gemma has her new bling for three years and Justin and I have several pounds of Ron's two-year cheddar -- our favorite!

Asparagus is in season.  Justin found a recipe in the New York Times for asparagus and salmon pasta.  I was game and it was yummy, easy too.

As we walk around the property Justin shares his plans of how he will design and redesign beds.  When we left last fall Justin’s back, elbow and shoulder were all messed up from over-work.  I was ready to sell the Bayshore property because it was too much work and because it had “broken” Justin. Periodically throughout the winter I thought of this again and while my emotions have tempered a bit, it all comes right back when he talks about re-doing the beds yet again.  He has worked so, so hard.

The daffodils and the rhubarb are trying to come back out for spring.

The NFL Draft started on Thursday night.  We went to Green Bay distillery to watch.  Some say that Green Bay is like a college town in that everyone is so involved with the team.  It certainly is a fun place to be as we look forward to the new season.

Friday evening we went to check in at the bar/restaurant at Chadouirs Dock.  Jimmy was sloshed, Patty was cranky and Lee was holding down the fort.  In the grand scheme of things nothing had changed.  When we asked for a menu, Jimmy said not to worry, he’d take care of us — he made us a sampler plate.  He was sloshed, but it was a nice welcome home gesture.

No boats at Chadoir's Dock just yet.  A few fishermen 

go out each day, but it is just too cold for me.

Saturday it was just too cold to think about doing anything.  Justin made a big pot of pasta sauce and that was perfect for the freezing cold weather.  I think the high today was about 38’!!! Justin and I have been trying to walk each day.  Our longer loop is about two miles and we have a shorter trek that is just under a mile.  Today was too cold for me to do anything.  

Sunday I made my cheater’s omelet (I bake the eggs in a sheet pan with parchment paper then roll like a jelly roll.) and biscuits.  My new trick with biscuits is to grate frozen butter and then toss with the flour.  It may take even less time than “cutting” the butter into the flour and the end result is great.  I think Justin was pleased too.