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!  

 Bolton’s book will be released

Trump's rally in Tulsa has less than 20,000 people when they said there would be more than one million.

Europe will reopen on 1 July and they may deny enter to Americans since we haven’t responded responsibly to the epidemic.

Death ... suffering ...economic collapse.  I need more rum.  

Sunday, 21 June 2020: Bayshore

Father's Day.  Jordan and his family came over for a visit and a swim.  Perfect!

I roasted garlic this morning and made garlic-rosemary no knead bread.

It isn't really breakfast food.  Guidance tells you to wait one hour after you take the bread out of the oven.  Who can do that ?  

Saturday, 20 June 2020:

Grace and Nathaniel are local kids from a farmette down the street.  They have been helping us with yardwork and cleaning up the boathouse mess a few times.  They are hard workers and we so need the help.  Their dad is a rather fundamentalist preacher.  Justin and I have proven that we can still work around kids, watch our language, and serve as good role models.  We still got it!       Before and after pics of the boathouse -- can you believe it?

 

 Rain was looming.  Grace and Nathaniel were supposed to come help us out today by working in the yard but they brought cookies instead.  How nice was that!  No nuts, but yummy!

Taking advantage of the inclement weather, Justin and I headed to the granite place to see about our new kitchen at Hartung.  Jason had mentioned that wed probably be able to use remnants and he just may be correct.  That will certainly help with costs and since we really, really like one of the selections  (brown fantasy) we might just have a plan.  This is the fourth kitchen we've done in granite together -- Bayshore, two in Mexico and now Hartung.  Is this enough?

Since we were that far out, we drove into Suamico to go to Windjammers Sailing Club.  This is the first time Justin had been there this season.  I was prepared for him to be gloomy after but he wasn't really.  Maybe he really is done with that...for now.  I know he misses sailing though.  We will still look for alternatives.  

Sunday, 14 June 2020: Boathouse

Erich and Jordan came to help their dad save the boathouse.  It was tough at times with three guys who all know the best way to get the job done.  Thankfully there was no bloodshed.  

The cousins certainly enjoyed their visit.  Justin and I turned the house over to Erich and his family and we headed to Green Bay while they were here.  We'll also let the house air out a bit and let all the corona die off before we come back.  Will we ever get to hug people again?  Even shake hands?  Thankfully I still know how to execute a perfect Japanese bow.  

Meanwhile, Janet has taken to making wine.  Since Celestun is still dry, she's testing the waters of a cottage industry.  So far, her product is only for her own consumption though.    Let's just hope she doesn't blow anything up!

Saturday, 13 June 2020: By the Bay

I was finally able to take pictures in the boathouse.  Didn't really matter because, as we suspected, insurance doesn't cover any of the damage.  We had to try though right?

Erich and his kids came to town! 

Erich and his kids came to town to visit so Justin and I turned the house over to them while we camped out at Hartung.  We have a bed there so we were fine.  We started working on the kitchen — prepping the ceiling for painting, cabinets, etc.   --  the list is endless.

We joined Erich along with Jordan and his family for a bonfire.  The weather was perfect for just hanging out by the water.  Jimmy Buffet has a line about the best parties at my house and I wasn’t there.  This was sort of like that for me in that I didn’t go in the house.  I was there but it wasn’t my house.  Strange, but wise to not let our guard down with regard to covid 19.  

Kris has been diagnosed with breast cancer.  After the initial scare the information seemed promising in that the cancer was confined to the ducts and one side.  They thought she could be treated with radiation and hormone therapy.  Now, after multiple MRIs, ultrasounds and biopsies, it is on both sides, it may be in her lymph nodes and she’s probably had it for up to two years.  Today she waits for results from biopsies.  Prayers are going her way. 

 Cheese curds and burgers from the Dyckesville Bowl!!! 

Thursday, 11 June 2020: on the phone

Today was insurance day.  Yesterday I got a letter from Bellin Health letting me know that my insurance had declined payment because "patient could not be found."  I knew I needed to call my health insurance to settle this matter.  Also, we had a hail storm in Texas a couple of weeks ago and our house there has hail damage.  I knew I needed to call those insurance folks to see about a new roof.  

However, the remnant of storm Cristobal have been causing high winds here in Wisconsin for the past two days.  (Yes, this is the same storm that cause high water in Celestun just last week.  Thankfully everyone and everything there is fine.)  High winds mean high water and waves pounding along our shore.  Our boathouse took the brunt of the storm here.  The wall closest to the water was knocked in by pieces of the breakwall that broke loose.  I am just sick looking at it.  I called the insurance folks... in hopes.  I still couldn't get out there to take adequate pictures as the waves are still too rough.  What a mess.  

On a more positive note, Jason, Amy and their kids came over for sunset.  Yes, we were all socially distant, but it was a nice visit nonetheless.  

Kris met with her doctors on Tuesday.  Seems as if we now have more questions than answers.  

Meanwhile, the United States is suffering the the worst civil unrest since 1968, the worst economic times since Great Depression and the largest health crisis since 1918.  I pray.