Justin and Paula Travel: July 2020

Sunday, July 12, 2020

Friday, 10 July 2020: By the Bay

I never tire of this view!

Tuesday, 7 July 2020: Bayshore

Our new love seat was delivered but not before we finished the floors and got the carpet down. It is too big and that's a problem but not for today.

Justin oiled all the furniture. The tansus are popping!

We have a totally new living room!

Talked to Lorayne.. she’s home! I am so glad she headed to Cleveland instead of Florida. Eager to be able to talk to her more often and maybe see her too!!!

Monday, 5 July 2020: Bayshore

Fourth of July!!! Great weekend to celebrate the 4th. Erich and the kids were here.

Justin and I went to Hartung leaving the house for Erich’s family but we came back for picnics, bonfires, swimming, fishing, boating, etc. Jordan and his family were here a bunch too. It is still so strange to be around family and friends but no hugging or touching. Together but still separate... strange.

Justin, Lilly and Fin and I went to pick rhubarb. Later, Lilly and I made a crumble. She was a great little helper. Unfortunately, she didn't particularly care for the crumble as she though it was too tart.

Caleb learned to ride a bike this weekend. Now this is a big deal. Jonas still isn't too interested but Caleb may have just found the key to independence.

Boating, fishing, swimming, sunshine! Fireworks at Chadoir's Dock Perfection!

Sunday morning Captain grandpa made French roast for everyone

On Sunday afternoon, Holly picked up the kids. Erich was bummed but he helped us look fr Justin's hone a bit before he left. "Find my phone" indicated the phone is somewhere on the property but we sure can't find it.

All in all, it was a great visit. The house was torn apart but it seemed to be ok. Loads of laundry to do now, but thankfully that is no problem.

Thursday, 2 July 2020: Brussels

I'm still cooking and having so much fun doing so.

A new treat this week was a savory gryuere - calamata bread. Oh this was yummy. Cheese in Wisconsin is superb and this was a great way to showcase the nutty, salty flavors.

Another treat this week was a japanese maridated porkchop along with wasabi potato salad. Yummy!

We are painting floors again. I haven’t ever liked these floors so we did them again. I also ordered a new carpet and we selected a new love seat -- recliner. Gotta get the floors done before the carpet and furniture arrive. The timing isn't ideal because Erich and his kids are coming again. He has five days off. Oh, well...

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Sunday, 28 June 2020: By the Bay

Today was a perfect day. Everything was in balance.

Justin and I hung out in bed in the morning; he read to me while I worked on a jigsaw puzzle on my ipad. We took time for another cup of coffee and just hanging out before we began our day.

We had salmon and cream cheese with capers and onions on toast for breakfast -- even without champagne it was perfect. We watched a little tv while we were enjoying our repast. Jordan called to say they'd be dropping anchor off our shoreline for a swim. They were here very soon so we headed outside to visit. The water is still too cold for me -- but the sun was nice and warm.

Since it was early afternoon, I decided to imbibe. I've renamed my blackberry concoction to "Blackberry Beret." Like the Prince song Raspberry Beret, my beverage makes me smile and often I feel the need to dance. Little alcohol, little sunshine... yep, I could dance. I did take time to water plants and I messed with the leaf blower to wrangle some of the cotton from the dang cottonwood tree into the trash. I am just tired of looking at all that mess. I also fixed the screen door since the screen got knocked out when the kids were here last week.

Somewhere in the course of the afternoon I made wasabi potato salad and put pork chops into marinade for dinner. Jason came over with Ashton and Parker for a nice long visit. Just a bit before sunset Justin and I came inside and decided we'd go with the leftover pulled pork and slaw rather than grill the porkchops. Hey, dinner is almost ready for tomorrow. We ended our evening with a bit more tv. We are watching Goliath with Billy Bob Thornton as well as Modern Love (based on essays from the New York Times). Yes, we are continuing our way through Netflix.

So, a bit of a lazy morning followed by two sets of visitors, a bit of alcohol, a bit of sunshine, a bit of work, a bit of cooking, a bit of TV. All in all it was a great day!

Wednesday, 24 June 2020: Hartung

Erich and the kids came to visit for three days. In an effort to stay safe we turned the house over to them and we headed to Hartung. We bought a new bed so we were all set to camp out there. We met back here for daytime swimming and dinners and bonfires. Justin broke out Cuban rum and cigars one evening. Jordan and Erich took the boat out fishing a time or two and when the water was just too rough, they fished from the shore. Caleb was thrilled to catch a few on his own; Jonas doesn't give two cents for the fishing thing. It was great for all the cousins to have time together. Justin and I were on duty at one point with all of them, so we headed to the playground at Chadoir's dock. I'm quite sure I don't have what it takes to have the six of them for too long all by myself.

Meanwhile, I've learned that Stephanie finally finished her 222 but she wont be travelling this summer. Lorayne has officially retired! She has one more pack out and she'll return to the states on 30 June. Dave and Susan Hemmer retired last year and they might be coming to visit us soon. Mary's granddaughter is coming to live with her dad for net school year so John and Mary will get to see Ariel much more often. Dellene is in the middle of a road trip to go to south Texas to see her brother. All of these are great things for the people I love.

On another front, our president didn't know about Juneteenth. States including Texas and Florida are trying to open up too early and the number of confirmed cases of Corona Virus are soaring. Trump continues to insult with new names for the virus. I am apprehensive about Joe Biden; I pray.

And most distressing of all is that Kris has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She's waiting for the results of bilateral biopsies then she'll be able to make decisions. They are looking at surgery early next week. Kris is 37 years old with three small children. I pray.

Tuesday, 23 June 2020: By the Bay and Hartung

Erich and the kids came back. Justin broke our Cuban cigars and rum by the bonfire. Yes, a fun time was had by all. I was the DD since we still needed to drive back to Hartung. It is ALL good!