Day 124, 7/18/2020, Got up early and finished staining the deck stairs, dehydrated some kale, Went to see Kenzie and Travis at Vikki's, Went to celebrate Jack's 12 Birthday with Melissa and family

Stairs to pool deck all stained

The posts looked so nice today all stained

Post and steps from top view

Travis and Kenzie

Peyton

Isaac

Peyton and Kenzie

Peyton roller blading

Melissa, Bruce, Max, Jack, Evan and Hailey...ready to sing Happy Birthday to Jack

Me and Bill enjoying the shade while social distancing

Bruce, Max and Jack

Hailey

Jack with his cake

Evan and Jack while he was opening his gifts

Melissa taking a picture of Jack opening his gifts

Evan, Jack and Max

Evan handcuffed himself to the table lol!

Got up early and started staining the stairs to the pool deck.  It was a job doing the underneath part.  Happy to have that done.  Kenzie called right after I got done and said they were at Vikki's.  I changed my staining clothes and headed there right away, hair in a pony tail and all.  She and Travis were sweet and said they liked my hair in a pony tail.  I took some dried strawberries for Isaac and also some for Kenzie.  Took Kenzie some kalarabi, zucchini, and cucumbers too.  We had a nice time visiting and I sure was happy to see them.  I wore my mask and social distanced because their area has lots more cases.  I sure wish I could have gave them big hugs.  I came home and got Jack's Birthday Card ready and also a thank you note for Kim Reminder.  Took a nap and then ate nacho's with lettuce and tomatoes from our garden and also fresh green beans from the garden.  Yum!  We went to Melissa and Bruces and celebrated Jack's Birthday.  We had lots of fun visiting, eating delicious cake that Melissa made, eating yummy ice cream and watching Jack open his gifts.  Bruce had the camper set up with the awning, so we had nice shade to sit under.  They made everything so nice for us.  We went to Home Depot after we left there to get some clean stain for the part of the deck with cedar colored boards.  Bill exchanged some things he needed too.  We just made it and only had 10 minutes til they closed.  Came home and watered my plants.

Day 123, 7/17/2020, Kimmy, Jared and Boys left for Copper Harbor, Bill worked on the deck, Bill and I swam,

Jacob, Eli and Adam in front of my favorite place to get huge cinnamon rolls.  Yum!  Eli doesn't like cinnamon rolls, so just got french fries.  Can't imagine!

Adam, Wyatt, Eli and Jacob when they got in the U.P.  So happy to see Kimmy posted pictures on FaceBook, so I borrowed them

Papa teaching Isaac to use the staple gun

Nice getting to visit James outside with masks and social distancing

Bill and I got the posts all stained this evening and three of the steps.  Then it got to dark to see good so we stopped.  Will do the top rails tomorrow.  

This Bluejay was on the suet feeder so much today and really had a hard time eating.  It was huge and that made the feeder cage swing like crazy.  It was funny to watch!

Kimmy and Jared left in the early morning.  She kept me updated on their way with texts and phone calls which I sure appreciated.  She posted a couple cute pictures on FaceBook too.  I am missing them already, but am sure happy they get to go on their yearly vacation with the boys Grandma and Grandpa Russell.  I ate oatmeal and then read my Bible out on the deck.  Prayed and read my book out there too.  Picked lots of cucumbers, kale, zucchini and tomatoes from the garden.  Dehydrated blueberries and bananas.  Bill and I went for a nice swim in the pool.  I helped him a few times on the deck when he needed me.  Bill taught Isaac how to use a staple gun today.  He needed a kid to fit into a tight spot that needed the wood to be stapled.  We went to do an outside social distance visit with James and his mom.  It was so nice to see him and have him be able to come outside.  It was a nice shaded place to meet with comfortable outside furniture.  So happy to see both of them and spend time together.  We picked up stain from Home Depot and then came home and got the posts all stained before we put the wire in.  Much easier than doing it afterward Kimmy told me today.  Took the bananas and blueberries out of the dehydrated and put more kale in for overnight.

Day 122, Thurs., 7/16/2020, Went shopping,Went to Kimmy's, Went to Melissa's, Peyton went camping with Kaitlyn, Vikki and Isaac came to swim

Bill is getting the sides up on the deck

Nice little outside visit with my Hailey girl and Melissa

I woke up at 6 a.m., so looked up what time Kroger opens and saw it was 6.  I got ready and went to get some gift cards that were quadrupling gas points.  Also got some other groceries and found sanitizing wipes, so picked a big container up for Kimmy to take camping with her.  They limited it to one per customer.  I was so happy to find them, because Kimmy told me she was out.  There were only a few customers in the store so that was good.  I came home and put my groceries away and headed to Kimmy's.  I forgot my phone and couldn't get my Apple Watch phone to work so I couldn't call Kimmy to let her know I was coming.  I dropped the wipes off and talked to Kimmy for a minute.  Didn't want to stay because I know this is Kimmy's busy day getting ready to go camping.  Eli came and said hi, and Jacob came out on the deck and said hi when I was leaving.  I was very happy to see them.  Kimmy tried to call me after I left, so I could come back and she could show me where some things were so I can know where they are when I check on her place.  My phone still didn't work.  I can't wait to get that problem fixed as I'm not supposed to need my phone along to talk on my watch.  Kimmy called me when I got home and was so sweet.  I sure am going to miss her.  We got a good rain and it kept up all morning.  We got an inch of rain in the rain gauge.  I went to Melissa's and dropped off a face mask that I put new elastic on for her.  I visited with her and Hailey for a while outside.  She gave me the wonderful birthday cards the kids had made me and shown me on FaceTime.  So precious and so much love in those cards.  Their personalities sure come through when they make their cards.  They are treasures.  I took a nap when I got home, and when I woke up it was sunny and nice out.  I walked around outside and

looked at my plants.  Vikki called and Peyton went with her friend, Kaitlyn.  Vikki wasn't sure if she would really go, but Kaitlyn's mom was super nice and Peyton did.  Vikki and Isaac came swimming.  Please keep an unspoken situation in prayer for God's will to be done.  I read my Bible and prayed out on the deck after Vikki and Isaac left.  Gave Isaac a couple of strawberries I am dehydrating for him.  They weren't all the way ready yet.  

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.