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.

Sunday, 7 June 2020: Brussels

So, the property down the street has a rhubarb patch.  The folks who own the property don't come very often but the rhubarb grows.  We didn't have rhubarb when I was growing up so it is all new to me.  Earlier in the week when we were out for a walk, Justin popped off the seed heads so the fruit would continue to grow.  Today, we brought some home.    OK, we brought home 12 pounds!  

I broke off the leaves as Justin was picking it and we stuffed it all into a large paper bag.  At home, it the bottom of the sink I still had no idea how much we had so I started cleaning and chopping.  The recipe I favor calls for two pounds.  With freezer baggies and scale at the ready, I chopped and sorted and got five bags into the freezer and one into a mixing bowl and soon after, into the oven.  An hour later and the house smelled yummy!  Yes, I did go back to the house where I left a note explaining who I was and what I'd done.  I told the family to let me know when they were here and I'd drop by with a warm, bubbly Rhubarb Crumble made just for them.  

Thursday, 4 June 2020: Brussels

Back in Brussels, I found myself back in the kitchen.  Cinnamon Chicken for dinner but earlier in the day I made "bird Seed Bread."  Filled with all sorts of grains, this was a yummy treat. The dough hook on my Kitchen Aid mixer made light of the work.  Yummy!!!

The blooms on the split leaf peonies don't last long but they sure are pretty!

Wednesday, 3 June 2020: still in the garage

Three day time lapse -- before, during and after.  What a world of difference!  

Monday, 1 June 2020: the garage at Hartung

We’ve been spending long days at Hartung.  In just a week, the gardens are beginning to look spectacular.  Justin has planted a vegetable garden so we will have squash in the fall.  He’s also planted “kale-etts “ which will be a cross between kale and Brussels sprouts.  Of course there are tomatoes and a few other vegetables.  

We are painting the inside of the garage.  Two complete walls are covered with pegboard -- everyman's dream.  Now it will at least be a bit more bright and tidy.  This is nice but I can't wait to get to painting in the basement!

Jordan went back to work this week.  He had hoped his furlough would last more into the summer but no, more surgeries are planned and they need him.  Life goes on.  

Thursday. 28 May 2020: Brussels

Today was Jordan's birthday.  Jordan doesn't really like sweets and he doesn't care much for chocolate.  I've told him I think that is a character flaw but I love him anyway.  I'd found a recipe for a lemon blueberry ricotta pound cake so that was my contribution for his special day.  

The country tries to open.  They are even trying to open in Mexico we've heard.

The political mess has been commanding attention even through the pandemic but now our attention has turned to racial injustice.  George Floyd’s name may well be joining the ranks of Rosa Parks or Rodney King. We were already dismayed to learn of Arbry’s death and now Floyd had been killed by police in Minneapolis.  Riots have broken out all over the county.  

Not a day goes by that I am not truly grateful to be retired.  At the same time, part  of me is almost embarrassed when I think how little my life has been impacted with this pandemic.  Justin and I still do most of the things we typically do.  No, we doesn’t go out to eat or go to farmers market and I’m really ready for cheese curds and a Bloody Mary from the Dyckesville Bowl.  There once was a time when I said I didn’t care if I ever went to another fish fry but I am just about ready for some of April’s fried smelt or wall eye.  But we eat well, we certainly get the medical attention we need; we want for nothing.  I am truly grateful and most appreciative.  

Wednesday, 27 May 2020: On the road again? Only to Stevens Point

 

We've had a few, well, not really "firsts" in the last couple of days, but almost "firsts."  

After we met with Rich at Hartung so he could pick up tires and wheels and I continues with laundry (funny how pleased I am to be able to do that in my own washer and dryer!), and after a trip to Menard's, we had Thai for dinner.  There is a very small restaurant not far from our Hartung house.  We ordered take out and ate out on the deck overlooking the river  The Pad Thai was scrumptious!  This was the first time we’d eaten out for dinner since we had BBQ in Oklahoma when we were on the road back from Celestun.

Today, we were back on the road, albeit for only a couple of hours.  We went to Stevens Point to go to Jung Seed Store.  Justin had tried to order some items on line but then we decided we wanted to actually look at the stock.  Unfortunately, the only apricot tree they had was for zone four.  That's like South Carolina.  This was very disappointing.  

We stopped at a few antique/junk stores along the way.  At one store there were two black labs I so wanted to bring home.  They played with their golf ball bringing it back for you to throw again and again.  They were so very well behaved and there was no
slobber ball" at all.  Yes, Gemma was jealous.  

On the way home through Appleton we stopped at JDs.  Justin thinks their claim to fame is their turtle sundae,  yes it is good, even great.  But I’d tell you that they have the best burger in Wisconsin.  Probably just as well that it is more than an hour away!