Sunday, April 26, 2020: Living Room

We've been back a month now.  
We are in a routine to get groceries on Thursdays.  That started because that is the day they get deliveries at Marchant's and TP was such a high priority.  That's not such an issue any more but it seems to be a reliable pattern -- there's not many other indicators of what day it is.  And, it doesn't really matter.  

We had two days of 40-50 mph winds.  It seemed more like two weeks.  Last year, when we lost maybe 35 trees, we wanted to leave those trees on the beach to help prevent erosion.  Now, with the weather finally warming up, it is time to clean up some of the mess along with the debris that washed up on the shore during the winter and spring thaw.  

I made masks.

We visited with Jordan and his family at their cottage.  We all wore masks and practiced social distancing.  

We cook, read the news, work outside, watch tv.

We read about the NFL draft with interest.  Will we have a season?  We just finished watching Friday Night Lights.  That may be all the football we have for a while.   

Thankfully we like each other -- no bloodshed yet.
We have everything we need.  At a time when so much of what we came to know as "normal" is in flux, Justin and I are just fine.  We are indeed blessed.

Sunset and a fire -- what could be better!

Wednesday, 22 April 2020: Front yard

There was snow this morning when we woke up.  SNOW!!!

Today is the 50th Earth Day.  They say that with so many things shut down and with people driving so much less that it has had positive effect on the atmosphere.  At least one good thing is coming out of this.  

Thankfully it warmed up in the afternoon.  We worked outside a bit and had a fire after we had an asparagus quiche.  

We should be getting a new pump at Casa Colibri today.  Abraham had been without water from the main pump for about a week.  He still had access to running water from the secondary pump but it isn't as convenient for him.  It took Ivan a bit longer to get the replacement pump given that Celestun is "shut down", but it should all come through today.  

There have been protests lately against the shut-down.  The economy is in dire shape, yes.  But folks are worried about getting their hair done!!!  Georgia will begin to re-open.  We talked to Mimi today; I do worry about her.  

Saturday, 18 April 2020: Green Bay

Justin and I made a trip into Green Bay this week.  We went to Woodman's, Sam’s and Menards’s.  It was really our first trip out.  We wore masks and gloves; we followed our protocol.  It's rather strange, but we are good.  Best of it all -- we found TP!!!  I'd ordered some from Amazon so with that order and what we bought this week, we will be good for a while.  

My most recent cooking inspiration has been related to brownie mix.  This week I decided I didn't need to buy brownie mix.  Instead, I made my own.  Why haven't I been doing this for years?  I made five "mixes" -- chocolate chips and nuts are already added.  I add eggs and oil and the aroma of delicious, homemade brownies fills the house!

On the paperwork/financial side of the house, we cancelled Justin's Medicare part B. When we moved money around last year (from investments into property), we had a huge whammy on income taxes.  We got hit with a double whammy since the cost of Medicare Part B skyrocketed...and now we aren't eligible for stimulus money either if the go off 2018 taxes.  Good thing we've already submitted 2019 taxes...maybe ... just maybe.

Tuesday, 15 April 2020: Brussels

The waves are relentless.  It has been just blustery outside.  And cold!  The ice that formed last night was really spectacular.   

Justin and I had a big outing today when we went to Tony and Mo’s to pick up eggs.  First time we’d been in the car in almost a week.

We worked in the yard.  I got the rest of the rocks out of the boathouse.  The door is jammed but at least the rocks are out.

Justin’s working on projects inside when it is so bitter outside.  He completed the Kotetsu table project (turning it into a lamp), he rehung pictures and he polished shoes.  

Me?  I've been working on papers.  We finished our taxes -- that was huge!  Even though there is an extension this year, we got them finished on time.  

I found out that OPM never notified my health insurance that I had retired.  Hmmm.  I tink I got that sorted out so then I began chasing the fact that I still have leave on the books.  We will see where this rabbit hole leads us.

Justin took his turn in the kitchen and made some fabulous pork chops  with plum sauce for Easter dinner.  I made a Moroccan chicken and eggplant Tagine and I tried a new recipe for zucchini oat bread that was a keeper.

Monday, 11 April 2020: The kitchen

I got an email from Mimi for a recipe exchange.  Mary figured she didn't have twenty friends (I know i don't) and Dellene said she didn't have twenty friends who cooked anymore so we sort of did our own thing.  My contribution to the cause was this recipe for Irish Soda Bread.  

Wednesday, 8 April 2020: Brussels

Day ten of quarantine.  
Date-nut muffins with streusel topping were a great way to start the day.  

Yesterday Wisconsin held their primary.  My summation of it all -- Major SNAFU!   Voting was scheduled for months.  The reports indicated that only five out of 180 polling places in Milwaukee would be open.  There were two in Green Bay!  With more than 100,000 people -- two places to vote!!!  Most of the shut down was because polling workers weren’t going to show up.  Five!?!?  Two!!!  At the eleventh hour, the governor said voting would be postponed.  The federal Supreme Court said yes they would.  Was that a political decision?  

Like too many others, Jordan had to wait in line for several hours to vote.  He didn't apply for mail in since no one knew... he thought he'd be off work and all would be familiar.  Instead...  we saw a "cartoon" with a tombstone that read "I voted."  Dark humor and too real.  

Saturday, 4 April 2020: Brussels

We talked to Ken and Eileen a couple of days ago.  That was a pleasant walk down memory lane.  They are in Washington state and seem to be doing quite well.  

Justin continues to work in the yard.  It is still a bit too cold for me so I only get out there in small spurts.  

Quote of the week.  Ruth says to Marty in the most recent season of Ozark, “I don’t know shit about fuck.”   It is so succinct and has oh so many applications.  

But the saying does not apply to Plumber Justin.  We got our new kitchen faucet connected.  It wasn't quite right from last year so we just ordered a new one.  Justin got it connected with apparent ease.

And, it doesn't apply to Paula in the kitchen.  

We watch TV, read, catch up on the news, work on jigsaw puzzles.  We try to go for a walk each day -- weather permitting.

In Celestun:

 Attention port of Celestun.

The H. City Council in coordination with the government of the state gives you a careful notice and informs them that from today Thursday April 2th from 9:00 p.m. you must remain at your home,

We will have the surveillance of the National Guard in coordination with police of the state, person who is wandering the streets for no reason will be invited to pass to your home, avoid the penalty of drawing attention, all this is to prevent them before the contingency being lived, we hope to have your support.

The people still can't buy any alcohol Celestun and there is a 9pm curfew.    We wonder if we will be able to get back to Celestun for the winter ?????


But, Katherine found the motherload of TP at Costco in Merida.  No shortage there!  

Here at home, when days at a time can go by when we don't even leave the house, gas prices are so, so low.  We haven't seen these prices since high school.  Wow!!!

Thursday, 2 April 2020: Brussels

Day six of self-quarantine.  Actually, the day looked a lot like Day five and Day four.  
We got a new router delivered from Century Link.  And, here was another first for me today ... I ordered groceries and picked them up from Marchant's.  The fire department would have delivered but I said I'd pick them up.  I don't think I like this.  Sure, it was convenient, but ...substitutions and all ... To quote the line from The Military Child Coalition , this is "living in the new normal."  

Justin had the first fire of the season

Yesterday I started cleaning up around the boat house.  We have a huge barn door on the water ide of the boat house.  When we leave, we close the door and then Justin screws 5-6" wood screws through the frame for security.  Well, Mother nature decided those screws were just fluff.  The continual wind and pounding waves stripped the screws out so that the entire door was tilted back, rocks were washed inside and then the entire mess froze.  There was still a good bit of ice in the floor of the boathouse so I started moving the stones on the outside.  And then I moved some more and then some more.  I figure this task will take at least four days... once the ice had all melted.

I didn't take any pictures before I started.  This photo was at the beginning of the second day.  And, once I get all the stones out of the way so that the door can fall back into place, I still have that many stones that were washed inside.  

All these stones were washed up beside the boathouse and deposited in front of the passage door on the side.  This too needs to be cleared so the grass can grow.  

 

 Looking up and down the bay from our shoreline there is still lots and lots of ice.  

Bulbs we planted last fall are trying to emerge.

 Today, I switched locations and worked on raking near the driveway. 
Justin says "scratching the grass"  is good.  Hmmm?  We left early last year and all the leaves hadn't fallen so there were plenty of clean-up.  That along with all the debris in the yard from the bay... we will be cleaning up for a long long time. 

Tuesday, 31 March 2020: Brussels

Day four of self-quarantine.

Justin took the shutters off the front windows a couple of days ago so now we can see the the bay.  Ok, we can see the ice in the bay.  We've been going for a walk each day.  I've been cooking and enjoying it.  I am trying to make sure i use the fresh produce first.  Shrimp can stay frozen and grits can stay in the pantry so that dinner will wait.  Instead, we are enjoying pasta with fresh zucchini, an eggplant dish and one of our favorites, berries and yogurt for breakfast.  We've aso got delicious eggs from Tony and Mo.  

I found out that Marchants will deliver or, if you'd prefer, they will pull your order and you can pick it up curb-side.  I'll place my order on Thursday since that is the day they get their delivery.  Last week, they didn't get any toilet paper so we will hope some comes in this go-round. 


Jordan, Kris and the kids stopped by yesterday.  They didn't even get out of their truck but is was a nice visit.  It was a special day since it was Willow's third birthday.   

When we went through the mail, we found Justin's driver's license along with this note.  What a great guy to have taken the time to mail this back to us.  Faith in mankind?  Restored!

Like so many others, Justin and I are watching all sorts of things on Netflix.  We' saved the final season of West Wing; Ozark has a new season out; we are continuing with Vikings and we are about to give up on Blacklist.  Schitt's Creek is an easy "go to" when I want mindless diversion. 

 We've found a few cooking shows that serve to break things up and I am still looking for something light, cheerful and not bloody.  


Oh how I long for the days when I was worried about impeachment and jury duty.  Sure I could clean the house from top to bottom, but that will come in time, right?  For now, I'll enjoy the sunset from inside.  

Thursday, 26 March and Friday, 27 March 2020: Austin to Brussels

We made the quick hour drive from New Braunfels to Austin to Dellene's house.  We needed to pick up mail and our rings.  I still think that it is wise not to wear good jewelry when travelling so we leave our rings at Dellene's house.  If I am gone half the year, I want my bling when I can.  

We stood outside in her front yard and visited for about an hour.  Justin was there for a bit and then took Gemma for a walk so we could have some much needed girl time...such as it was.  She brought out chairs but I stood since I felt like there were roots sprouting out of my butt for sitting in the car seat so long.  

We left Dellene's house about 10:00  morning and we drove... and we drove... and we drove.  I had the first shift so I drove all the way through Texas and well into Oklahoma.. I relished in every single bluebonnet I saw.  I am sure Justin got tired of me exclaiming "Look!  Look!"  

And, boy oh boy, the roads sure are good in Texas...especially compared to Mexico!

What's this with the price of gasoline?  We saw gas as low as $1.44!  Last year in Wisconsin we were paying over $2.60.  Even though I am pumping our our gasoline (gone are the days of full service like in Mexico), but the low price is nice.  

We don't flush TP in Mexico and we don't flush it in Brussels either since we have a holding tank there.  I am totally out of the habit of flushing it even when I can.  

We stopped somewhere in Oklahoma for BBQ.  It wasnt Texas BBQ but it was still 1000 times better than anything we will get in Wisconsin.  And, even though it was take-out, we totally enjoyed our dinner... as we kept driving.  

Justin talked to Erich and Jordan almost every day we were on the road.  Erich is in the middle of his divorce so that pretty much monopolizes the conversation unfortunately.  Equally unfortunate is Jordan's take on the Corona virus.  He says it is not "if" but "when" we will get it.  Most disconcerting.  

My first grocery list for the season

 We got into Green Bay about 10:30 am.  After very quick stops at Costco and Pick n Save we rolled into our driveway in Brussels to begin our 14 day self quarantine.

Getting the house up and going is always a challenge.  I’d made the phone call from the road to get our phone and internet connected.  Thankfully we arrived in the daylight and, thankfully, I could access my keys easily and quickly.  Justin got the water and gas going... or so we thought.  The water works enough to flush but it isn’t quite right in the kitchen.  Jordan turned on our heaters and plugged in the frig a couple of days ago thankfully.  

We’d been in the car for three weeks it seemed but we were home...safe and sound.  3,124 miles door to door.