July 26

Left Chesterton this morning around 6:45 and drove as far north as Muskegon checking out 2 marinas and most likely will use one of these for storing Catrina this winter.    We stopped near Grand Haven for blueberries - they are beautiful and bountiful!   Then to another market and bought peaches, raspberries and plums.

Stopped in South Haven (many happy memories from boating over the years) and had delicious lunch at Clementine's .   We always have a good meal here and today I had the "Oh my Darling" which was good as ever (crab/shrimp on a toasted French roll with fresh tomatoes and then melted cheeses............deeeevine!) Mark had the fresh perch sandwich - yum!.

Michigan is one of our favorite states and really enjoyed this little outing - hopefully, we can do more exploring when we return in a few weeks on Catrina.

We returned home at 5:45 and after unloading all the fruit and unpacking, we were off to Liam's first T-ball game (been practices up to this point)!   FUN!

July 25

It was a pretty, sunny Sunday and my brother Bob and Linda came for a day of fun on the water!    We cruised to Starved Rock marina for lunch and then Linda and I shopped at Weeta's Boutique.    Back to the marina for more visiting, watermelon and cookies.

Linda and Bob

After they left, we decided to pack up our stuff and drive a couple of hours to get beyond  Chicago and avoid the hassle of rush hour traffic tomorrow.    We are going to Michigan to get some blueberries and also check out a few marinas for Catrina's winter storage.   Tonight we are in Chesterton, IN.

July 24

Woke up to rain this morning.    Seems every time we come to the boat, we get a nasty storm and heavy rain!    We went to get my Dad and drove all around (the flower garden in Mom's memory, the cemetery, out in the country, etc.)    And then stopped to pick up delicious gyros and went to the park for a picnic lunch.   He really enjoyed the outing and so did Mark and I.   Took him back to the nursing home for his afternoon nap and we came back to Ottawa.   Stopped for gas and heard about the damage last night (trees down and a power line fell on 3 cars with people inside.)

Did a quick washdown of Catrina (attempting to get the bugs off which are baaaad - you would think with all the rain, it would be clean and bug-free, but that's not the case).    Felt good to be scrubbing using that shoulder.   We went to 4:30 Mass at St. Patrick's and now just enjoying a quiet evening playing Sudoku and watching TV (Mark) and reading (me).    Hope you're high and dry wherever you are....the stories from all the flooding in Chicago and Milwaukee are quite something!

July 23

We are on Catrina tonight - after the hottest day of the year, or so they say (been a LOT of those this summer).  A storm blew thru here late this afternoon with high winds and heavy rain and really cooled things off (till the 90's are back tomorrow)!  We went for a walk and it was so calm, peaceful and refreshing after the storm!

At therapy today, Jim suggested I start coming just once a week beginning next week (this was a shock)!   There's not a whole lot more he can do for my shoulder at this point till after another manipulation which is still weeks away.   So, with all the exercises I do at home and seeing me once a week, he thinks this will work till I am manipulated.    Mark was really excited to hear this and already planning a little getaway on Catrina to Lake Michigan for late August.     Along with all the stuff I'm doing on my own, the main goal is to constantly keep my arm MOVING and doing anything and everything (I carried a heavy basket of laundry up the stairs today - not bad).    So, for now, I've got Wednesdays set up for therapy and we'll see how it goes?

Enjoy your weekend!

July 22

Hello...I'm baaaack and it feels so good to be sitting here pecking away at these keys.    The past 6 days have been kind of a blur - I slept sooo much and just felt awful, but Mark was a great nurse, running errands, cooking, acting as secretary cancelling my social activities for the week and providing lots of TLC - what a guy!

I'm sure I was a sight lying on the couch with the cold cloth on my forehead, heating pad on my back and ice pack on my shoulder, but you do what you gotta do and whatever comfort those little things brought was well worth it.   Kidney infections are serious stuff and a real wake-up call to drink more and more water.   My brother, Bob had laser surgery Tuesday to remove 2 kidney stones - whew.....know all about those little suckers, so hope we are on the mend with both our kidney issues (definitely in our family)

  I canceled therapy on Monday, but by Wednesday morning, it was time to get back at it and I was ready (well sort of)!     After very little on my own and 5 days since I had the last stretching with Lee, I knew it would be tight and stiff, but got thru that.   Just can't let this ole shoulder rest.    That afternoon we went to my orthopedic appt...............I may need to be manipulated again.   I told the doctor that I'm having more pain and less range of motion since the manipulation/screw removal 3 weeks ago.   Well, since the 2 incisions aren't completely healed, it's going to take more time, but he did prescribe Celebrex for the pain.     I'm to go back August 5th and we'll see about the manipulation (plenty of freezing still.......ugh)!!!!   Frustrating!!!

Okay....enough about my troubles.  Feels so good to "feel good" again and back up and doing stuff.     I'm so thankful this (infection) didn't happen last week when we had the boys!

Philip, Annette and Ryan are in North Carolina this weekend visiting Michael and family for some fun times!