Day 121, Wed., 7/15/2020, Happy12th Birthday Jack! Melissa and Bruce had Jack's Party outside at our house

Happy Birthday to Jack....I love you so much!

Left to Right:  Connor, Caleb, Evan, Aiden, Jack, Tyler, Eli, & Hayden

Eli with his parachute

Jack and Eli

Hayden, Caleb, Aiden and Tyler

All the kids having fun

Melissa, Evan, Aiden trying to pick Hayden up with his head ...didn't work

Max, Jack, Evan, Eli, Adam and Jacob

Jacob...he looks so much like Papa Bill when he was young in this picture

Ate breakfast outside and then read my Bible out there and my book.  Such a nice morning.  Bill got the top rails on the pool deck.  It looks very nice.  He picked up the lattice boards for the sides of the bottom.  I picked more kale and dehydrated it and also made 3 loaves of zucchini bread.  Talked to Vikki, Kimmy and Melissa.  Melissa and Bruce had Jack's birthday party outside at our house. Kimmy and I helped make sure the kids social distanced while having fun playing laser tag.

The kids all had lots of fun.  Max, Adam and Jacob hung out together on the deck while social distancing.  Bruce and Melissa had lots of fun things for them to do.  Melissa threw each kid the kind of ice cream bar they wanted.  It was so nice seeing Kimmy and the boys before they go to Copper Harbor.  Jack had so much fun at his party.  I kept mixing him up with other kids because he has gotten so tall on me.  Nice party.  We all sure had fun!  Bill had to go to his Marine Corp. Meeting at the park by us.  He got home right when the party was almost over.  He helped me put everything away which was so nice.

Day 120, Tuesday, 7/14/2020, Picked lots of stuff from the garden, Bill worked on the railing of the deck, Vikki, Peyton and Isaac came for a swim, trimmed some bushes

Isaac singing Good Good Father for me.  He sang so good and was so cute!

Lots of good veggies from the garden!  Have also picked 2 tomatoes, 5 cucumbers and some green beans 

Bill working o the railing for the deck

Peyton and Isaac swimming

Dehydrated a batch of kale

Isaac with his first big book he read by himself

Peyton with her first big book she read by herself

Ha ha, Bill and I put our suits on the chair to dry.  Vikki thought maybe the rapture had happened lol! 

Isaac, me and Peyton.  Vikki straightened my hair!

Got up early and made us oatmeal.  Went outside and read my Bible, prayed and read some on my book "The Joshua Code and The Jesus Code".  Such a good book that Mykenzie gave me.  One of my very favorites so far.  Bill read his Bible inside.  I picked the stuff in the garden and then washed and put it away.  I dehydrated the Kale.  Bill cut down the posts on our deck to 36".  Then he mowed the lawn.  We both went for a swim when he was done.  He went and got wood for the railing and started putting the top rail on the posts.  The wire is supposed to come in tomorrow.    I trimmed some bushes in the front.  Vikki, Peyton and Isaac came over and we swam.  We had a zoom meeting with the state leadership for CMA at 7.  Bill worked more on the deck afterward.

Day 119, Monday, 7/13/2020, Bill & Wes went to Sebewaing, Roy and Marie came over, Vikki and the twins came over

Roy and Marie stopped in to see our pool.  She loved looking at my flowers too.

Moved our lounge chairs.  So much easier to enjoy now.

Read my Bible and prayed. Went to Jack's to get some groceries and bird food.  They didn't let anyone in without a mask.  I went to Aldi's afterward.  Everyone there had a mask on too.  Came home and wiped the groceries that had to be put away right away down.  Marie and Roy stopped in to see our pool.  Marie wanted to see all my flowers too.  We had a nice visit.  Nice that the humidity was low today.   The pool temperature was 85 degrees.  After they left, I went for a nice swim and swam 300 yards.  I didn't cover the pool because I figured Bill would want to go in after his long motorcycle ride.  He got home and said the meeting with the city council for our State Rally went well.  Wes rode with him.  I made plain chicken for Bill and barbecue chicken for me pm the grill.  Also made potatoes on the grill.  Such a yummy meal.  Vikki, Peyton and Isaac came for a swim.  I went in too and then Bill joined us for a swim.  The air seemed cool compared to the water.  Vikki helped me cover the pool so the water stays warm.  Watered the garden.

Day 118, Sunday, 7/12/2020, Went to church, Made brunch afterwards, Bill trimmed the boards on the bottom of the deck, went for a swim with Bill,

Bill trimmed all the boards so they are even 

Bill and I relaxing on the new deck

Bill relaxing after his swim

Read my Bible then we went to church.  Another amazing sermon and worship.   Gave Lisa her birthday gift outside after church was over.  Came home and made eggs, ham, bacon, hash browns, and homemade Amish toast.  I vacuumed the pool for the first time.  Bill went to backwash the filter for me, but we didn't have the part to connect the hose.  We went to Macksood's to get one.  They gave it to us for free since it should have come with the pool.  We went to Home Depot and everyone was wearing masks, and then we went to Meijer and everyone was wearing face masks.  I was happy to see this.  They had a sign up in the entrance of Meijer's saying no entry without a mask.  We came home and tried backwashing and it worked great.  The vacuum worked great too.  Bill trimmed the bottom of the deck so it's even now.  He did a great job.  We went swimming when we were done.  The pool was nice and clean and the sand that was on the bottom was gone.  The pool temperature was 86 degrees.  I found a pool thermometer in the maintenance box with the vacuum head that came with the pool.  There is another maintenance box which is the same, so now I have one to give Kimmy too.  Yay!  Vikki kept asking me why I didn't get a thermometer.  It made her happy to see I have one now.  Bill and I relaxed on the deck for a while.  Afterward, I picked a couple of tomatoes from our garden.  I made BLT's for us with the tomatoes, lettuce from our garden and bacon.  I used the Amish bread.  Yum!  I ate sweet cherries afterward, and Bill ate ice cream.  I talked to Melissa and Vikki on the phone today, and texted Kimmy and Adam.  Bill and I watched a movie .

Day 117, Sat. 7/11/2020, Kim reminder brought me a surprise, Bill went on motorcycle ride to Clare, Tractor is done and has a new fuel pump, I cleaned the house, Vikki and the kids came over

Me with surprise Kim Reminder brought me

Beautiful treats from Kim...sewing machine, thread spools, scissor candies she put in molds and a piece of banana bread 

Isaac and Peyton

Cute twins on the swing

Burned grass from solar cover is greening up again

Garden is growing...have picked cucumbers, kohlrabi, and lots of lettuce

Bill getting our score sheet ready for our card game

Got up early because Kim Reminder was coming to drop off a surprise.  She brought me a beautifully decorated bag of chocolates molded into sewing items that were so cute and also a piece of banana bread.  She is taking a bag to each person who worked on masks for our church to distribute to Correctional Workers.  She is always so sweet and thoughtful.  Bill went on a motorcycle ride to Clare with Faith Riders and Trinity Riders.  I stayed home even though I would have loved to go.  I am being careful with the virus on the upswing again.  He did bring me back a to go order which was very sweet.  I warmed it in the microwave and got two meals out of it.  It was so yummy.  Melissa called to let me know that they wouldn't be coming swimming today because Bruce got called in to work from 2-4 a.m.  He also got called in later again.  It worked out good for him, because he was able to take his trailer and dump it at his work.  Bill went to pick our John Deere Lawn tractor up.  They replaced the fuel pump.  Vikki and the kids came over to swim.   It was a beautiful day in the 80's.  We swam for a long time.  Rody and Bill sat on the deck but didn't swim.  I swam almost 1 1/2 miles in the pool according to my Apple watch.  Vikki swam lots too and we both set new records.  I will always remember this as the day Vikki flipped me over while I was on the air mattress.  Shame on that daughter of mine.  We put the solar cover on afterward.  Bill and I played 3-13 out on the pool deck.  He beat me pretty bad tonight.

Day 116, 7/10/2020,Yay it rained lots, Made Jacob pancakes, Jacob helped Papa, Played 3-13, Swam, took Jacob home

Jacob ready for our swim

Eli, Adam and Jacob

My Clematis is finally blooming

 I got up at 6.  Walked outside and looked at my plants.  Skimmed the pool.  Ate breakfast and read the Bible and prayed.  It rained a nice down pour at 8 a.m.  Jacob slept in.  When he got up, I made pancakes for us.  It was still raining, so we listened to worship music.  I love how Jacob sings and knows all the words.  He is a great singer.  Afterward, he helped Papa put the cover back over the basement entrance to under the family room, and move the freezer back.  They did some stuff outside when the rain stopped.  They had to go to Home DePot.  Vikki, Peyton and Isaac got here right as they were leaving.  They visited for a while, and picked up the dog treats and leashes they forget to get from the camper.  It started raining again, so we played 3-13.  Bill won, I came in second and Jacob was third.  We had lots of fun playing.  We warmed our left over pizza up for lunch. All three of us went for a nice swim after lunch.  The pool cooled off since yesterday.  It felt good.  We put the solar cover on so it doesn't cool off too much.  I took Jacob home and got to see Wyatt.  It's the first time since this virus started that I've seen him.  We walked around looking at Kimmy's nice plants, new flower garden, vegetable garden, deck, blueberries and pool.  I haven't been there in so long, it was lots of fun seeing how everything has grown and seeing the new plants she got from Jared's mom.  Their vegetable garden is huge and looks amazing.  Everything looks beautiful.  I love their deck with the wire rails.  Kimmy has started getting ready for their camping trip and had lots of crates filled and on the table.  I pulled some weeds that were in the bricks of the front walkway.  It got windy and rained more.  After it let up, I went to Melissa's and dropped off Jack's birthday money for his present they ordered for me and some other stuff.  It was nice seeing Melissa, Bruce and all the kids.  Melissa, Hailey and I visited longer on their porch when it started raining.  It really cooled down quickly.  It looked like the rain was picking up, so I ran to my car and made it just in time.  It down poured all the way home.  Made popcorn for Bill for Bill in the evening.  Worked on catching up on my blog.

Day 115,Thurs., 7/9/2020, Kimmy and the boys came to swim and so did Vikki and twins, Bill swam too. Jacob helped Papa put in new air conditioner and spent the night

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Shirt I exchanged for the one from Marie and Roy

Isaac, Eli, Peyton, Jacob and Adam...look how tall Adam is making himself look

Jacob and Peyton

Adam and Eli

Adam, Isaac and Eli

The kids all had so much fun playing together in the pool

Adam, Isaac, Peyton, Jacob and Eli

Woodpecker on my oriole feeder

Isaac

Papa in the pool after he, Kimmy, Vikki and Jacob took the step off and secured the ladder so it's easier to get into the pool.  Super easy now!

Peyton and Jacob

Jacob and Papa working on installing the air conditioner

Jacob in the frame for the air conditioner

Jacob and Papa by the air conditioner when it was in

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Bill and Jacob...we played 3-13 on the deck

Jacob and Bill in for a late night swim

Thurs., July 9, 2020…Hoed the garden while it was cooler out.  Watered some plants, then came in and ate and then read my Bible.  I went for a half hour swim to cool off.  I was so hot from doing the garden so if felt wonderful.  Kimmy and the boys came over again to swim and so did Vikki and the twins.  We had lots of fun and stayed cool.  Bill got in for a while.  He removed the step and secured the pool steps to two 4x4 pieces of wood.  It is so much nicer and easier for us when we get in the pool.  It didn’t take him long with Jacob and the girl’s help.  He put the screws in the step hand rails too.  Bill picked up a new air conditioner as the one we had was pretty old and kept blowing the circuit breaker and had brown on the back that looked burned.  The new one is a little bigger.  He had to have a new plug put in for it.  Kimmy was getting ready to leave.  She let Jacob stay with us to help Papa put the air conditioner in.  Vikki and I went to Old Navy and I returned my top Marie and Roy had got for me.  Vikki returned hers this morning.  We found tops and shorts we really liked that were 50% off. They were very safe and very social distanced there.  Even had hand sanitizer to use as you payed, also plastic protectors for them, face masks, and they wiped everything down between customers. We got pizza from G’s because we were going to our Faith Rider’s meeting.  Well when I got home, I mentioned we had better eat quick and leave for the meeting at the pavilion in the park by us and Bill had forgotten about it.  They had to get the air conditioner in, so we didn’t go to the meeting which I was happy about.  They sure did a great job putting it in.  We played 3-13 on the deck afterward.  Gayla called and they wanted to come see the pool and deck.  They stopped over and we visited at a distance outside.  So nice to see them.  We finished our 3-13 game in the house because it got dark out.  Jacob won by 2 points.  I was second and Bill was third even though he went out 6 times in a row at the end.  He and Papa went for a late night swim while I talked to Aunt Missy on the phone.  I was missing her and hadn’t got to talk to her all day, so I texted to see if she was awake and called her.  I sure love my family!