Wednesday - August 31

Another month has come and gone - August was full of happy memories and good times ending in Covid!  😔

Beautiful sunny, breezy 82-degree day.    The iron workers were hard at it starting at 7 AM.   My sore throat is gone - alleluia!    We're both still a bit congested and coughing (not as bad though)!    AND tired...hearing some symptoms can take weeks or longer to go away is NOT a comforting thought!

We opened Catrina's windows and let the fresh air blow in - try to air out this "sickie" place!  

Quiet afternoon (Mark napped), I read and played games (might've snoozed a bit, too)!     We are oh-so-ready to be sprung from this boat tomorrow???    🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞 

  Brooke told us about this Liquid IV so we ordered some from Amazon which came tonight!   It's to give our immune systems a boost!

Happy Hour....cheers!

 Speaking of boosts, Mark's energy level went up a notch tonight and we moved Big Red and Flo out of the storage building and parked next to Catrina - the next several days we'll be taking out time transferring stuff back to Flo.    So nice 'n handy! 

Our homes are together again

The culinary skills are coming back.....ha!    We had angel hair pasta with marinara and Italian sausage tonight!    👍

Tuesday - August 30

 Rainy morning but the iron workers were on raising the first beams in the new building - we have ringside seats here in Catrina looking out the window!   Our "littles" would love watching all this with the HUGE crane, man in the basket on another machine guiding the beam in place, etc.    And then the cross beams with 2 guys in 2 baskets.    Fascinating and our entertainment for the day!  😀

We both had a good night's rest and feeling better today - throat hurts just a little but still need to clear my head.   The coughing continues.    Brooke pointed out we need to drink LOTS of water - we have been but probably not as much as we should?  

I took a morning nap - seems we get a boost of energy and then zap....nap time!    Also had the hungries for something sweet this afternoon but not much here on board in that department.    A few cashews did the trick.

Very disappointed to cancel out on Allie and Owen coming this weekend for Labor Day fun and a last hurrah to summer.    We just don't have the energy to show them a good time and not sure they want to be with us if we're still coughing and suppose to wear a mask for 5 days? 

At 5:30 we went for a walk (the workers were all gone).   It was very windy and sunny this afternoon.   Mark wanted to check out what the iron workers did today!   

And the framing has begun....a good days work!

Lake James tonight - thank you Michael!

  

Monday - August 29

 Day 3 of Covid - same ole, same ole - gunk in the head and sore throat!    Mark is definitely doing better and we just hunkered down in Catrina with the rain which came and went all morning.    So appreciate the phone calls and texts from folks asking about us, wishing us well and some suggestions on what to make us feel better?

Mark texted Dave, the dockmaster here that we have Covid so we'll not be out and about.   He said if there's anything we need, he would be happy to deliver to the boat!    Nice guy!   A nice hot latte sounds good, but I can wait till Thursday!   Ha...

The afternoon was full of sunshine before the rain returns tonight.    Just another lazy day - stayed in my jammies, read, played games, and napped!   

Our last 2 grands started school today...they are growing up much too fast!    Best wishes for a fun, successful year!

Blair - 4th grade at new school - Salem Elementary

Brady (and Jinx) - junior at Patton High School

Mark and I shared a Marie Callender chicken pot pie - comfort food that tasted really good.

We've been under a severe weather warning for this evening and around 7, the sky got so dark and winds picked up (30 mph).   Catrina was rockin' 'n rollin' and the heavy rain came down!

Sunday - August 28

 Woke up with a sore throat,,,,I DESPISE sore throats!   Also slight fever that comes and goes.  But on with the day which was not doing much and very low key!   

We watched the livestream mass at Immaculate Conception with Father Jonathan - a definite bright spot to the day!

Slept off and on again....just dragging.   Late afternoon I went for a short walk (hot and sunny today) but just feel zapped!   Mark is a bit perkier today and hopefully each day will get better and better for both of us!

No zoom tonight for us!

Saturday - August 27

 After almost 2.5 years of escaping Covid, it finally caught up with us.    We both tested positive this morning.    Colds, coughs, headache (Mark), slight fever (me) and very tired.    No appetite ether - just ate toast and a few crackers all day.     All we wanna do is SLEEP!

We were to meet Bob and Linda on Monday in Shipshewana, IN (Amish community) and then come here to Port Clinton Tuesday/Wednesday, but......had to cancel those plans!    Big bummer!

Friday - August 26

 Mark needed/wanted a McDonalds fix for breakfast (no Hardees up here for biscuits and gravy), so he was off to pick that up and then we left with the laundry to get that task done.   

A quiet day on Catrina....reading, playing games, etc.   Mark finished waxing Flo - she's sparkling!  

Cloudy all day till 5:30 when the sun peeked thru.  The winds got very strong later in the afternoon.  Turned out to be a very nice evening.    I walked around the marina!    We are all by ourselves tonight!

Our NC indoor soccer kiddos

Luke 'n Maeve

Have a grrreat weekend!

Thursday - August 25

Mostly cloudy today but warm!   We moved at a much slower pace after a busy 5 days with Joe and Joan.    Mark worked on Flo and did more waxing.   I did some cleaning and organizing in Catrina.   Just 2 weeks from today we head to Kamp Komfort.

Today we started in on the many leftovers in the ole fridge - whoaaa.....too much good eating and now time to empty all those containers.

We both took a nap in the afternoon.   Mark is dealing with a cold that started yesterday! Argh!  Summer colds are the worst!

Congratulations to Jim and Lydia who are celebrating their 49th wedding anniversary today!

Happy to hear Joe and Joan arrived home safely this afternoon!   

Wednesday - August 24

 Another winner in the weather department - 80's and sunshine!    Mark went to Coffee Express and brought back coffees, quiche for him and muffin for me.

On with the day....we drove to the hotel near Fremont and picked up Joe and Joan for a full day of checking out Port Clinton and area.    First stop was the Portage Resale Shop which is a great consignment shop just down the road from our marina.    Joan and I each found some stuff.    Then onto the popcorn shop for goodies and out in the country to Catawba Island and showed them the beautiful Twin Oast Brewery.   We walked around the grounds oohing and aahing.    It doesn't open till 4, so we had the whole place to ourselves.

Pretty waterfall and flowers

Field of sunflowers

Here they are in front of the oasts (kiln for drying hops)

Beautiful grounds

Stopped at Tofts for ice cream...  

Experiencing Toft's for 1st time

  We browsed around West Marine and then more driving around,    We stopped at the Marblehead Lighthouse, toured the museum/gift shop and life-saving station.    Joe and I climbed the 77 steps (66' to top of lighthouse) - awesome views and so glad we did it!

Visiting this beautiful landmark

77 spiral steps to the top of the Marblehead Lighthouse

Joe and Pat at top of lighthouse

The siblings

Joan and I checked out "Lake Home" - a beautiful home decor shop (1st time for me).   We just sat and visited and laughed later in the afternoon and then went to Ciao Bella for some good Italian (1st time for us). 

Another fun and yummy meal together

 We came back to Catrina to gather their things and then to hotel.    They will head home tomorrow (8-hour trip).    We had such a fun, fun time!!!

Bye bye - safe travels!

Wishing Luke and Maeve a happy school year filled with fun + learning lots of new things!!

1st day of 4th grade

1st day of 1st grade

On this date....54 years ago tonight Mark proposed!    My oh my,,,,remember that night so well and here we are 53 years later!    We are so blessed and "Life is so GOOD!"

Also 2 years ago today we picked up my car "Little Navy" in Pontiac after returning from our 10 weeks out west in Flo.

Tuesday - August 23

 A beautiful sunny day - 80 degrees.     We had breakfast of fresh peaches from Steve and Sue and peach/blueberry coffeecake from Bergman's.    Delish!   

Joan and I ran several errands and when we returned, the guys had swabbed down Catrina and washed the breakfast dishes and we were soon underway to make the 11:00 bridge.    We cruised to Put in Bay and docked again at the Park Place Boat Club "Dock 'n Dine". 

We walked to The Boardwalk for another great lunch and then rented a golf cart.   We just wanted one for a few hours but because of the "Bash on the Bay" happening Wednesday/Thursday, the first 3 we checked wanted an all-day fee only.    Finally found a rental (they are everywhere) that we could get hourly.    And away we went with Joe as our chauffeur.    Drove all around the island, saw the airport where they were setting up for the big bash (5th annual)/   They are expecting 10,000+ folks who will be enjoying Brad Paisley, Zac Brown band and many other performers.    The concert starts each day at 3.   We want no part of that mob!

We had wanted to stop at the Chocolate Cafe for ice cream, but they are closed on Tuesdays.  We had a a really fun time showing them the sites and just enjoying this pretty day.  

Great way to see the island

Tah dah.....here we are!

Pat, Mark and Joan at the Perry Memorial Tower 

Joan and Joe are planning a trip to Key West in February - we decided they needed a picture of this northernmost bar in Put in Bay as they will be in the southernmost part in a few months!

Joe is driving us back to Port Clinton

Tonight we had dinner at Gideon Owen Winery - so nice to sit outdoors on their beautiful patio and we all loved our food +++this outstanding dessert (each couple shared)

Warm butter cake filled with cream cheese, topped off with vanilla bean ice cream and berry compote

HEAVENLY!!!!

Great dining at Gideon Owen

Back to Catrina and Joe and Joan loaded up some of their things and headed out on their motorcycle to their hotel in Fremont (11 miles).    

Tonight's sunset over the Portage River

           

Monday - August 22

 Cloudy start to the day - rain went south and north of us - we were right smack in the middle and only got a few sprinkles!    

Joe and Joan arrived on their motorcycle at 10:30, parked in our storage building and Mark and Joe were off to Jackson Center to bring Flo back.    Joan and I left with our first stop, Coffee Express,  more stops before lunch at The Orchard Farm Stand (very good) and such a pretty setting.    More errands and disappointed to see the popcorn shop and a home decor place closed on Mondays, but we'll just have to go back!!!   😀

On home and we just chilled with our I-pads for a bit.    Mixture of clouds and sun this afternoon with temps in the 70's.    We played 2 rounds of rummikube with each of us winning.   The guys and Flo got back at 4:30.    Got her settled back in storage for just over 2 weeks!   

At Dock's Beach House

Can't beat fun family times!

Sunset on the Portage River

Sunday - August 21

 A rainy morning but still had a great day with Joe, Joan, Steve and Sue.

Started out meeting Joe and Joan at Immaculate Conception for 10:30 Mass - they enjoyed Father Jonathan, too!   Mark and I stopped at Bergman's Orchard for some of their baked goods - cinnamon rolls and a peach/blueberry coffee cake.   Since the R Coffee Corner is very close by, we got our Sunday morning fix and then on home.   Joe and Joan went back to Sue and Steve's.

We left at 12:30 for Steve and Sue's summer home at Oak Harbor.    They prepared thee most delicious meal of fresh walleye (wonderful breading), sweet corn, Asian slaw, tomatoes all topped off with fresh pineapple and watermelon.    AWESOME!!!!    Later Steve took Mark and me on a golf cart ride around their marina/RV campground which is huge.    They are very big into fishing and have a nice Boston Whaler to take out on the lake and catch all this wonderful walleye (or perch)!

Back to their place and the gals sat and visited and the guys did the same with a little trip to check out their boat.

Sue, Joan, Steve, Joe

It was a delightful afternoon with these very nice friendly folks and so glad we got to meet them thru Joan and Joe.

A big part of the afternoon we kept hearing thunder and waited for the rain....had a few sprinkles when we left at 4, but...that was it!    More coming later tonight and tomorrow.   Joe and Mark are going to Jackson Center to pick up Flo tomorrow; Joan and I will check out some shops, play games and have some girl fun!

Zoom tonight with 9 siblings - laughing and reminiscing when growing up in a big family!  And planning a big family rendezvous in Fort Myers in mid February!!!   Also learned that hanging a red ornament from each tomato plant keeps the squirrels away - they think the ornament is a tomato!   

Have a great week ahead!

Saturday - August 20

 A fun day with family and friends.....Mark's sister Joan and Joe and their friends, Sue and Steve arrived at 10.    We met Sue and Steve in FL over the winter as they were neighbors in RV park in Arcadia with Joe and Joan.    They are from Ohio and spend a big chunk of the summer at Oak Harbor, about 10 miles from Port Clinton.

We had so much fun, many laughs and cruised to Middle Bass Island - wow, lots of boats here compared to when we were here a few days ago with Davis.   We had lunch at J.F. Walleyes and had wanted to have some coffees from The Island Grind, but they closed at noon today cause of a private party....bummer!   Steve is a BIG coffee drinker!

We were on the water about 3 hours - delightful, with lots of fishermen and other weekend boaters out having fun.    We were back for the 3:00 bridge opening and they left around 3:45.  We were so lucky as rain had been predicted but held off.   Joan and Joe are staying with Steve and Sue.....tomorrow, sounds like a rainy day but planning to all be together again - this time in Oak Harbor.

Sue and Steve

Joan and Joe

Steve, Sue, Joan and Joe

Friends and Family

    

All in the family!!!

The rain started at 4:45....it's to continue thru the night, tomorrow and Monday!

Annette, Luke and Maeve have been with her parents this week.   Here they are tonight having ice cream at Dairy Queen AND, getting a ride in "Pa's" (their other grandpa) 1957 Chevy!   

Having a fun time on the farm!

Friday - August 19

 Pretty day in northern Ohio.....up and at 'em, showered, dressed and on our way by 7:40 to the airport.    Dropped Davis off with good bye hugs (good luck wishes starting his junior year classes on Monday and we'll see him at Thanksgiving)!!!   We sure enjoyed our time with him.

 All the grands (except Davis and Maeve) had visited us and stayed a few days on Catrina at some point.    So happy to get Davis checked off that list....maybe next summer for Maeve?

 We drove to Elyria and had breakfast/coffee at the Erie Island Coffee Co. - cute place with good food/drink to get on with the day!    As we were coming into downtown (big courthouse on the square) and tons of pretty pink petunias, there were sooo many red and blue lights flashing - we were rerouted as ahead was a bad accident with a car overturned.    Not often do you see the underside of a car in a downtown area???

I drove rest of the way home....Mark hosed down Catrina (bugs/spiders have been awful)!   I unpacked, changed Davis's sheets and now looking forward to spending time with Mark's sister Joan and Joe who arrived yesterday on their motorcycle and visiting several days (they will be either stay in hotel or with friends they met in Arcadia this past winter at their RV park).

An oldie but a goodie from 7 years ago.....going into 4th and 5th grades - my how they've grown!

Blair got braces today!

Brady at work at Pelican's making snoballs!

We went to Dock's for their summer salad (shareable) ........this is just thee best!!!    Romaine, cucumber, watermelon, blueberries, grapes, candied walnuts, feta cheese with blackened salmon and raspberry vinaigrette.

Absolutely awesome "summer salad"

Have a great weekend!

    

Thursday - August 18

 We walked to Coffee Express for coffees (hot chocolate for Davis) and pastries.    Veteran's Park is next door and such a pretty park with special tributes to the armed forces, pretty flowers, flags, a cannon and army tank.   On home, loaded up the car and we were off to Cleveland on another very nice day.

Davis and cannon at Veteran's Park

Davis drove and we arrived at the Great Lakes Science Center (next door to the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame).    Davis thoroughly enjoyed himself trying out this 'n that on the 3 levels (a lot of it is geared for children and they were in abundance with big groups of kiddos.)   He was especially into the music section all thru the years - plus all about guitars, drums, keyboards, etc., etc......Patrick would've loved this place.  

Checking it all out

Playing the drums

and the Les Paul guitar like his Uncle Patrick had

 We then toured the William G. Mather (Cleveland Cliffs) freighter which was built in 1925 and retired in 1980.   It is 618' long and we were climbing many narrow steep ladders and got a real birds eye view of what it would be like working on this ginormous freighter.    

Walking around the cargo hold

Captain of the ship

Cleveland Cliffs

We so enjoyed our time (Tiger cruise) on the USS Stennis when Ryan was coming back from deployment - that air craft carrier is over 1100' long.

Davis decided he wanted to tour the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame but since Mark and I had just been there a few weeks ago with Marilyn, we told him to go and enjoy.   Surprised that he wanted to do this as so much of this music is way before his time.      We each had a hot dog at a food truck outside the museum and then sat in the cool confines of the science center with our I-pads.   

A favorite for Davis

There is a new robotic ice cream machine inside the science center - Mark and I shared a vanilla/chocolate twist dish with 2 different toppings - interesting how they make this!

New concept in ordering and serving up ice cream

When we picked Davis up from the airport on Monday, we saw a big billboard advertising that Cleveland was home to the "Largest candy store in North America"!    Really?    We know Davis has a real sweet tooth, so......after we left the science center, we drove to B. A. Sweetie Candy Co. - unbelievable that this humongous warehouse had every imaginable kind of candy and then some.....it was off the charts and been in business over 60 years.    We got some dark chocolate bars for Mark and Davis picked out this 'n that.  

What a "sweet" place

Davis and his stash

  Golfland was next door and Davis loves his golf (regular and mini), so we played another 18 holes....Davis had best score again with a 48; 53 for me; 64 for Mark.   However, Grandma got a hole-in-one on the last hole and got a little bank with candy inside (my prize after spinning the wheel).    More candy to pass on to Davis.

Checked into our hotel and then off to Imperial Gardens - we hadn't had Chinese in a long time and Davis likes sushi, so.....it was good, but not as good as Mandarin Garden in Normal.    Back to hotel - we are tired.....Davis went swimming!

Sushi (crystal)

After we pigged out!

Nighty night!