Monday, 23 September 2019: Manatoulin Island

Our journey today found us on the Trans Canada Highway where we enjoyed magnificent views of Lake Huron.  It was rainy and dreary at times but we did enjoy seeing lots of color in the trees.

Gemma might have worms.  We took her to the vet before we left and they called to say she had elevated white count and that "might" indicate worms.  Her anal glands needed to be expressed and she's been very interested in what's going on back there so we will treat the "maybe".  Aargghhh! We tried to buy a general de-wormer but it seems we can’t buy that in Canada. We learned that diatomaceous earth might do the trick.  So, seven days to get rid of symptoms and 30 days to totally get rid of them.

Right about 6pm, we checked into Maple Grove Cottages on Manatoulin Island.  Manatoulin is the largest freshwater island in the world.  The island is just over 1,000 square miles and has are over 100 inland lakes.   Justin was eager to explore.  I chose our lodging because it is on Big Lake and promised to be cozy and quiet.  Our cottage was rustic and quaint, ok, provincial, but on a lake a beautiful.  I’ll take pics tomorrow.  




We stopped at a cute little grocery store for milk and a few essentials.  It was just too cute!

We were headed to dinner in town at local Mum’s Restaurant and Bakery.  But first, we needed gasoline. We pulled up to the pump and a super old-fashioned store front.  We were studying the pumps since they didn’t have the option of using credit cards after hours. We thought the store was already closed but then a lady came out to the car.  It was full-service!  We get that in Mexico all the time, but now in Canada too!  

We read today that Vice President Pence and his eight vehicle motorcade travelled on Machinaw Island.  Really?  Eight vehicles?  Machinaw Island?  Now admittedly, a few years ago I wouldn’t even have know where Machinaw Island is much less would I have known that the island has been vehicle free since 1898.  Ford was the last president to visit and he travelled in a horse drawn carriage.  Today Pence needs 8 vehicles.  Guess the law doesn’t apply to him either.  

In the aftermath of a storm, a couple of barges crashed into I-10 at the San Jac river.  That will impact our travel into Texas.  

Sunday, 22 September 2019: Sault Saint Marie, Ontario CANADA

We had an alarm set for 5:30 but I was up before 5:00.  We had almost everything done except to blow out the water lines and winterize the plumbing of the house.  It was raining, of course.  oh, wait, we still needed to trim the branches from above the roof and plant bubs, and do the mushroom plugs, and....

Our odometer was at 39,575 when we left the house.  





We met Jesse in Niagara, Michigan to handoff the radar ball and cushion — parts that went with the Bayliner he bought a month or so ago. 

He gave me a cupcake rock that is kind of like a Flat Stanley.  I’ll take it to Mexico I think.  

We had planned to be settled somewhere for the noon Packergame but we were driving. We did however get to see some of the Texan game when we stopped for a late lunch at Big 10 Sports Bar in some little town along the way.  We sat at a table with a map nearby.  Kinnick Stadium was right in my sights.  It was an omen, right?  I know exactly who that stadium was named after.  I know that he went to University of Iowa and was a he is an trophy winner...yes, I do!

Shiner Boch was on the beer list.  Yes, Justin had to ask the girl “is that a local brew?”  As expected, she said she’d go ask.                   I just shook my head.  

Packers are 3-0 — looking good!

We crossed the border into Canada just after 10pm.  The border guard was rather harsh asking why we were crossing at this hour and why we were crossing at this spot.  Oh well, he’s at work and we were not.  We quickly settled into our hotel for the evening.  

We’ve been working like dogs the last too many days... Gemma has known that something was up for a few days and hasn’t let Justin out of her sights.  She’ll be disappointed when she realizes she has to get back in the car tomorrow, and the next day and the next day.  My shower felt great.  

Saturday, 21 September 2019: Brussels

Justin cleaning then packing the car

Today was a day for working to close down the house and packing.  

The EOS is in the garage with the battery disconnected for winter.

We did take time for dinner with Jordan, Kris and the kids and one last trip to Chadouir’s Dock and to say goodbye to Jimmy.  We had planned to go to April’s one more time; Justin wanted a last Rueben for the season and we both wanted to say goodbye but when it got down to it, we couldn’t spare the time.When we were at Jimmy’s, Jonas and Caleb’s took advantage of the opportunity to play pool.  The table there is new and the boys are oh, so green.  Tomorrow is Jonas’ ninth birthday. Kris says she already sees him as a teenager ... because of his attitude?... well, ...

Willow kisses her new baby doll.  

We had agreed with Don that he’d turn off the water at 9pm. We texted him to beg for more time.  After dinner we dashed back home.  Jordan and Kris got all the stuff from our frig and freezer as well as the goods from the pantry that won’t winter.  (I am sure they’ll have a grand time going through all that stuff.). As soon as they left I jumped in the shower and barely got the dishes done before don turned off the water at 10:30.  Thankfully the dishes from one last batch of banana bread and brownies for the road won’t have to sit there all winter.  (Of course, I would have found an alternative but this was better.)

Much later, we just stopped since we were no where close to finished.  We fell into bed for a quick rest.

Friday, 20 September 2019: Green Bay

I picked up the electric Mantis earlier in the week. Then we worked outside all stinking week.  We finally got some of the straw down.  

First you till, and till, and then you remove stones.  Then you lay down the landscape cloth and then you put dirt on top.

Then you spread the soil out neatly.  Then you drop the grass seed and roll the straw out on top.  

Don't forget to put in the staples to hold down the straw.

I tried a new recipe for dinner. It was an Alfredo made with cottage cheese. I served it with shrimp cooked in garlic and white wine. It was really yummy even though we were both too tired to enjoy it. 

We had planned to leave right after the Viking game but there is always more to do.

Three more full days before we bolt!  Talk about “miles to go before we sleep!”

Justin got his new computer!  That's resolved...now I only have to retrieve the data...

Today we went to see the Downton Abbey movie with Terry.  Terry wore pearls -- I missed my opportunity.  She also brought us fancy Lindt chocolates inside a Royal Worcester egg coddler.  She said we couldn't have just any chocolates for Downton Abbey!  I love coddled eggs so that will be a fun treat when we return.

Tuesday, 17 September 2019: Northeast Wisconsin

I am going to burn my tennis shoes at the end of the season. These shoes have a bit of paint on them from two years ago and a bit of concrete from last year too.  This year, they were my first choice of foot ware for moving stone.  And now, they are so caked in mud I’ve forgotten what color they were initially.  Next year I am going to get a cute pair of strippy little sandals. 

I turned in the electric mantis for repair yesterday to Justin’s Small Engine Repair in New Franken. He said it would be a 10-14 days. Then he called today to say it was ready. He said he felt sorry for us when I explained our need to repair our lawn after breakwall work along with our timeline for departure so he went ahead and looked at it.  Seems some wires were pinched during factory assembly and the finally wore through.  

Hector came to get the second concrete mixer.  I must take the Craigslist add down so we won’t get any more calls.  Justin offered him work if he'd come back this weekend.  I doubt he will but it sure would be nice.  

First you till.  And then you till some more.  

Then you lay down the landscaping cloth and you till some more.  

Then you load dirt into the wheel barrow and place on top of the cloth.  

Oh, and you must remove stone at each step.  

Gemma supervises and we continue to have spectacular sunsets.  

Sunday, 15 September 2019: Lambeau Field

We finally got outside to work in the yard yesterday and Justin’s electric Mantis failed.  Is everything working against us here or what?  We put together the new electric Mantis that we’d found recently at a resale shop.  The tiller sells new for almost $400 and Justin found one still in the box for $75.  He snatched it up with the plan of leaving it at Hartung but it was a good thing we still had it in the garage.

The only thing more futile than rolling your hair before a football game is rolling your hair before a football game when it is going to rain. Oh well, a girl has to do what a girl has to do. The game started at noon so there really wasn’t time for much of anything in the morning. We made it there and through security in plenty of time to see the national anthem and the flyover before the Packers and Vikings took the field.  There was a couple next to us from Leander. They were die-hard Cowboy fans and going to Lambeau Field had been on their bucket list.  I told them about Billy’s on Burnet in Austin as our favorite Packer bar in Austin. They said they might see us there later in the season when the Packers play the Cowboys.  

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This was the alumni game where they paid tribute to Bart Starr.  Wife Cherry stole the show at pre-game.

 This was the only game we get to go this year -- good thing Packers came out on top!

After the game we went to Best Buy where I worked again with my new best friends.  At least Justin is getting a new computer out of the deal.  

Friday, 13 September 2019: Brussels

Like my favorite mornings, today was a lazy morning.  I love being retired!!!

The Democratic Debates were last night.  Funny how I am so much more politically aware than I ever was.  Hmmm, my how things do change.

Jordan and Kris really want to  buy that property across the street and goodness knows, if you start looking for property, you will find something.   

Dave and Jerry from Pier and Water Solutions came over this morning.  Justin wanted to have a sort of out-briefing with them.  By the time you spend this much money, you need to have your voice heard.  There are a couple of things we weren’t happy with at all and we’d still like to get a few more things done.  We wrote them a check for $10,000 and told them we’d pay the balance after the first of October.  

It was uber windy today and just  impossible to get any work done outside.  We really need to work on getting our yard back together and getting ready to leave.

Mushroom risotto was the chef special for dinner this evening.  This was the first time I’d tried my hand at risotto and it was fabulous!!!  The recipe is definitely a keeper.

Wednesday, 11 September 2019: Brussels

18 years ago. I had just moved to Okinawa.  I was in my new house but I didn’t yet have my house-hold goods (meaning, I did not have a tv).  My mother called to tell me what had happened, or actually what she knew at the time.  Minutes later, Ruth Hatcher, my new boss, called to tell me we were in ThreatCon Delta and that we were essentially confined to our quarters.  At the exact same time we were in Typhoon Condition One Emergency (imminent danger and you are confined to quarters) while a Typhoon Nari circled over our island for three days. Our world had changed.

It rained again today.  I am stinking sick of rain.  Justin and I worked on cleaning out the garage.  Now that was fun.  I took a break and made a few hotel reservations in getting ready for our honeymoon.  

Justin has a hand-made pottery pot; he knows the artist, Tom Krieger quite well.  He's had it for a while and it had been missing since we got home from Germany.  We never found it moving out of the storage unit.  He said some snarly things about quite a few people in wondering what could have happened to it, and today he found it, repacked and safe.  Thankfully!

Tuesday, 10 September 2019: Green Bay

We went sailing this afternoon on Merlin.  Mark and his wife Roseanne joined us.  Roseanne is Philipina.  She’s adopted and she has a great story.  She and her two sisters are natural siblings; they were all adopted at the same time.  She is the oldest of the three.  She is delightful and I look forward to going sailing with them again.  Justin lost his favorite hat during the sail.  He bought it in Germany and it folded up tidily.  Oh well.

Jason Steadman got married!  Stephanie sent pics — how fun!