Day 88, 6/12/2020...Garden is dry today, Picked up some sticks that blew down last night, Made four more face masks

 Peyton and Isaac

Vikki and Peyton working on my wind chime

Book Rody's Mom wrote

Covid-19 Cases

Cooler day!  In the 60's.  At least the wind isn't as wild.  Checked the Milkweed for Vikki today.  Didn't find any caterpillars.  I picked up some sticks that blew down with last night's wind and rain.
Made four more face masks.  Bill washed the motorcycle and then mowed the lawn.  Did some walking outside for my exercise.  Vikki and Peyton came over to check out Milkweed plants again.  Didn't find any.  Vikki took my wind chime home and re did it.  It was in pretty bad shape.  She put pretty beads on it and fixed it up so nice.  Peyton sanded the wood pieces and shined up the metal.  She did a great job helping!  Thank you Vikki and Peyton.  They came back and Vikki hung it up for me too.  Rody's mom called me to thank me for the face masks for her and Ann.  She said they loved them and Ann had hers on.  She was so sweet.  We thanked her for giving us each a book she wrote and her sister published for her.  We are each reading it tonight.  So sweet of her to bless us with one.  Our daughters sure have wonderful mother in laws!  We are blessed to have them be part of our family now too.  I worked at digging out weeds in the woods by the garage.  It was easier since we had all that rain.  Still a big job.

Day 87, Went to Aldi and Jacks, Vikki and Peyton came over, Melissa, Bruce and the boys came over and cleaned up all the branches

Peyton lost her first molar today

I was face timing with Vikki and took this picture of her peony she was showing me

Nice to have Melissa visit with me while Bill, Bruce and the boys worked.  It was windy and cool so we started the fire

Max, Evan, Bill and Jack

Bill,  (Jack & Evan in the wagon), Max was the driver of the tractor and did great

Max driving the boys in the wagon

Bruce was so nice and helped too

Max and Jack just finishing up

Evan

Jack, Evan, Melissa and Max

Faith Riders Chapter meeting...Met at Wes and Gayla's church pavilion

Kevin did a great job teaching a safety class for motorcycles

Lots of people rode their motorcycles including Bill.  

Beautiful Rainbow at the end of the storm!  There was another light rainbow to the left but it didn't show up in the picture 

Beautiful Crown of Thorns Plant Bev Flickinger gave me tonight with a paper telling about it.  So sweet of her

We ate our oatmeal and read our Bibles.  I put worship music on and worked on Face Masks.  I walked outside and looked at the garden and my plants.  My corn and Tomatoes aren't under water now.  Bill had some errands to run, so I kept working on things I wanted to get done.  It was much cooler today.  Vikki stopped over with Peyton and we looked for caterpillars on my milkweed, but didn't find any.  They left and later Melissa, Bruce and the boys came.  Bruce and the boys worked hard helping Bill with all the big branches and picking up all the other branches all over our big yard.  They are sure hard workers now and stayed right at it.  Max did so good at driving the tractor with the big trailer behind.  Those boys sure are handsome and sure are growing up quickly.  I loved being able to spend time visiting with Melissa.  Bill came up and sat with us for a while too.  After Bruce and Melissa left, Bill and I got ready and went to our Faith Riders Chapter Meeting.  He wanted me to ride on the motorcycle with him, but it was so windy out, I told him I didn't want to.  I sure am glad since we got a downpour we weren't expecting and also more high winds.  On my way home, I called Melissa to tell her a storm was coming.  They weren't home and Evan said they were on a walk.  I called Bruce's phone to warn him and he said they were watching the sky.   They got caught in that wind and the heavy rain.  Lots of people were opening their doors and offering Melissa a ride.  They continued to walk and Bruce ended up giving her a piggy back ride.  I went by Charlie and Sue's and the front trees that fell were all cleaned up.  Some company was there and must have been working in the backyard when the storm hit.  Bill was so wet when he got home, he threw his clothes right in the washing machine and started it.  He said the wind almost blew him off the road.  After we got home, a beautiful rainbow was in the sky.  I made biscuits and had strawberry shortcake.  

Day 86, 6/10/2020…Severe weather watch today! Hot and humid already in the morning

We were putting things away...the sky was starting to look pretty wild

These pictures are at Charlie and Sue's. These were in the front yard and 7 trees were down in their back yard

Knock out roses are starting to bloom and are beautiful this year

Yurro Plant Kimmy gave me is starting to get ready to blossom 

I was going to dig this up because I thought it was dead.  Today I looked and new shoots are coming up...glad I didn't pull it out

We had a couple of big branches break off but that was all, other than lots of broken branches all over the yard

When I came out to check how my ferns and flowers did, I saw all the weeds I have been working at digging out flattened.  My ferns were still standing and so was my milkweed and other flowers

Made three more face masks

Kody working very hard

We read our Bibles.  Had oatmeal for breakfast.  Bill hooked the air conditioner upstairs up.  I hoed around my tomato plants.  Picked some Peonies because we are supposed to get storms, and they usually fall over after heavy rains.  It was so hot and humid this morning and was in the 70’s when we got up.  The storm came with forceful winds and heavy rain.  We lost a branch and lots of sticks are in the yard.  I walked to check the woods by the garage side of the house.  All the weeds were completely flattened.  My two ferns were both standing nicely, My sensitive ferns were doing great and my Milkweed was a little bent but pretty upright.  It was amazing to see.  All my other plants were doing great out there too.  Both ends of the garden are under water, but look like they will make it again.  We have to level the ends out.  For some reason the tiller put big dips at the ends when Bill tilled it.  Corn is kind of blown sideways, but last time that happened it straighten up so praying it does this year too.  Made some more face masks.  Put new elastic on the Marine face masks Bill got at the VA.  The other elastic was too tight on him.  Took a ride to look at downed trees in our area. Charlie had 2 trees and a big branch down at his house, plus 7 trees in the backyard.  Stacy had some trees down and lots of branches.  We pulled in their driveway.  Kody was in the middle of the turn around working busily. We told him hi, and told him what a good job he was doing.  Stacie and DJ were working way out back, and didn’t see us, so we told Kody to tell them we said hi.  She called us when we were about 15 minutes away from their house.  Vikki sent us pictures of the city close to her house. It was really bad with lots of trees falling on houses where she was.  She had to keep turning around because power lines were over the roads, and trees were blocking roads.  Everything at her house was fine though.  All the family and their places were fine.  I prayed for protection and then I sure thanked God for keeping them all safe.  Went to church to listen to Pastor preach Sunday’s message. There were only 50 chairs set up and only about 20 of us there.  All had to wear face masks and social distance in the church. Pastor said he’s not a doctor, so is taking the advice of the CDC and following their guidelines.  Doesn’t want to have to close the church after it reopens. Tonight was a test!  Rody was there helping with the sound and the new live-streaming.  

Day 85, 6/9/2020, Bill went on a motorcycle ride with Ralph Louks, i did some filing, vacuumed the deck off, trimmed some dead branches off my bush

Isn't Kim Reminder's kitty so cute!

Adam is 1/4" taller than Jacob now!  He sent me this picture this morning...Both tall, handsome boys....and such wonderful boys, they can't be beat as grandpa always said.

This camper was pulled out of Sanford Lake today.  Bill  took this picture.  The person who lived there said this was the only remote crane in the world

We listened to the morning devotion online.  Ate oatmeal and then read our Bibles.  Bill met Ralph at the SportsZone and they rode up by Edenville to Ralph's property to check things out.  Afterward they rode to Sanford and Wixom Lake to check things out since Ralph and the friend that was with him hadn't seen it.  I vacuumed off the deck and then picked up all the pieces of Deck over that flew  into the bark up.  I trimmed dead branches off from the bush by the shed, and trimmed down my hyacinths.  Very hot day, 93 degrees.  When Bill got home, we put things where they won't blow away if we get the severe storms they say we could.  We sure are praying they don't come.  Praying for all of the poor people displaced by the flooding.  They are opening up some shelters for people who have had flooding and whose houses may not be safe.  I talked to Vikki today and also talked to Melissa.  Texted with Adam.  Praying for poor Abby. She is not feeling well and is acting nervous if anyone comes near or talks to her.  Not eating good either.  I thought of my mom and dad's friend Ruby who is 95 this morning and prayed for her.  I decided to send her an email to let her know I was thinking of her, not knowing if I would hear back from her or not.  I got the nicest email from her.  She is such a sweet person and was such a great friend to my parents.  She is healthy, driving and still very active.  

Day 84, 6/8/2020...Worked on the deck, Went to get sand paper for the electric sander, got a new rain gauge, Adam is taller than Jacob,

New Rain Gauge we got...needed one that goes in the ground

My happy place...love reading my Bible on the deck, love watching the birds here and love sitting by the fire pit here

After all the work the last few days, we decided with all the cracks in the wood from Deck Over, we will just be replacing the wood now.  Never use Deck Over! The piece of wood is to protect my plants while I power wash lol

It is hard to get off, especially where it is covered and protected from elements

 

Covid cases

So happy the curve is down so far.  Hopefully people can be careful a while longer, so we don't have any more cases

This is what's left of the deck...stayed tuned to see the new project when it starts.  Bill has been working hard

Watched online devotion on Psalm 2 which was very good.  Ate oatmeal for breakfast, then went outside and read my Bible.  Bill read inside.  I got a text from Jacob saying he was sad, Adam was taller than him now.  Got a text from Adam saying he was 1/4 inch taller than Jacob now.  They aren't done growing yet so this should be interesting.  They are both very tall and way past me now.  Handsome boys too!  After I prayed for my grandchildren, I texted Hailey and told her what touched my heart in my prayer book.  "Love gives meaning to everything you do!  She sent me a sweet text back.  Did two loads of laundry and hung them outside.  Worked on the deck.  Bill worked on sanding the other posts and taking the rest of the pool deck down.  We went to Home Depot to see about renting a big sander, but they only rent in Midland and Birch Run.  Bill cut the grass and I took the laundry down and folded it.  Talked to Marie and caught up with them.  They got a new car that I am excited to see.   Talked with Melissa and Face Timed Vikki.  Melissa told me Evan prayed last night and thanked God for calming the Coronavirus a little every day.  So precious!  

Day 83, 6/7/2020, Watched church online, Bill took old pool deck apart, I hoed the garden,

The cushions Vikki picked up for me are so comfy and look so nice 

Nice to have the fence down and the garden hoed

Sat by the fire tonight

Cool big tent Evan made

I picked some of my peonies and an Iris...They smell so good.  I got that beautiful card from my best friend, Vikki.  I always want to remember it.  She is such a great and caring friend.

Even Melissa fits in it comfort with Evan

Melissa, Jack and Evan in the tent.  Jack and Evan are sleeping in it tonight

Isaac was helping Vikki make a wind chime

Read our Bibles and Prayed before church.  I sat outside in the sun and read mine.  It was a beautiful morning, but cool out.  We watched our church service.  Great worship and a great message today.  We watched it in the living room on our big tv.  I made bacon, ham, eggs, hash browns, and toast (with my homemade strawberry jam) for brunch.  I went to Vikki's to see if I could find her lettuce and spinach in her garden.  Sometime they are hard to find when there's weeds around them.  I just found my carrots today.  I did find some spinach and lettuce plants coming up in her garden.  It was nice seeing Vikki, Rody, Peyton and Isaac.  Isaac showed me how he does flips on the trampoline.  He sure can do them good now.  Peyton can too, but didn't want to show me today.  Vikki has her back yard looking so nice now with all of her bird feeders, bird bath, wind chimes, furniture, plant stands and beautiful light.  I visited with her for a while, then came home.  Bill had the fence around the garden all down, and had the garden tilled.  He was working on taking the old pool deck apart, so I went to start hoeing.  He came out and asked me if I wanted to ride to Standish with him.  He sold our deck rails to our big deck and also the fencing he took off from around the garden.  $150 for deck and delivery and $15 for fencing.  I started rolling the fencing up and Melissa called.  She said Evan was making a super huge tent.  I told her to send me pictures.  I talked to her for a while and then Bill was getting impatient because he wanted to get going, so I hung up and we left.  It was kind of in a run down neighborhood right by the water.  We finally found the house and they had us back in.  There were three guys there to unload it all.  I think Bill can sell anything.  He sells things I wouldn't even think of selling.  There were a couple of house right on the water and the water was right up to both of the houses.  It would be pretty scary to live there with those waves washing the water up.  We went to town and got ice cream.  Came home and I finished the garden and Bill got lots more of the deck and steps apart.  He sure has been working hard.  He's doing much better with his eating too.  He's getting slim and trim.  We sat by the fire pit on the deck for a while and then came in and watched Mask of Zorro and he had popcorn and I had strawberry shortcake.