September 5

We are sitting in the car-ferry terminal in Milwaukee waiting for our 7:00 cruise to Muskegon (2.5 hour trip).

Woke up this morning to hear the very sad news that Russ, husband of my friend Anita died of pancreatic cancer after just a 2-month diagnosis.   Our hearts and prayers go out to her....

Had a good chat with my Dad and also the nurse.

After visiting with Mark's parents and sisters at the hotel, we packed up and left for Racine.   So good to be back as we have many happy memories of our 11 years of boating here.    We stopped at Borzynski's (a favorite shop) and browsed around - sooo awesome with all the gourmet foods, fresh veggies/fruit, and fall decor galore!   It is wonderful!

Vistited with 3 long-time couples on E-12 where we docked Catrina all those years - lots of catching up.

Laura, Pat, Carol with Molly and Cathy

Ken, Mark, Bill and Bob

Met Paul and Kathy (we had both been to Chicago weddings yesterday) at the Yardarm and had a really good lunch and visit.    They went to their boat and we stopped at a few more spots,including Milaeger's (another favorite) - oh, great, fun, pretty stuff including all the Christmas!!!

Paul and Kathy

And now...waiting for the ferry to take us back to Catrina!

September 4

We left Ron and Vicki's and went to hospital to see Dad who was doing pretty good - he had eaten a good breakfast, and while he was getting his bath, Mark and I went to look at paint samples for the kitchen, dinette and family room.    Dad was in his recliner and enjoyed lunch and we left around 1:15 for Chicago.   He told us to go and have a good time!   

Our nephew Tim married Nicole and it was a lovely wedding and reception.    So much fun visiting with Mark's family and celebrating this special day!   The weather was perfect - breezy, sunny and upper 60's.

Tim and Nicole

Wanted to share some cute pics of our grandsons and their Daddies taken yesterday!

Michael and his boys enjoying the water at Lake James

Liam and Connor helping their Daddy wash his big truck

September 3

What a day....started off with a great report from Lee at therapy -"Hip Hip Hooray"..."Yeah"..."Tah Dah"!!!   All of my measurements showed big improvements in my range of motion and I am now at 75%.    Lee was pleased, I was pleased and will just keep truckin' on!!!   YIPPEEEEE!

Came home and did some laundry, started packing for the wedding and for back to the boat next week.    Had lunch with long-time friend and fellow boater, Carolyn at Destihl..   We had not seen one another in over 2 years so lots of catching up over a really yummy lunch.

Carolyn and Pat

Back home and  changed into grubbies and washed off the walls in dinette as Mark was stripping wallpaper in kitchen.   I got a manicure/pedicure and then my sister-in-law, Linda called to tell me Dad was in the hospital.   He has some pneumonia and breathing issues going on. 

We had planned to visit Dad tomorrow morning before going to our nephew's wedding in Chicago, but quickly finished packing and left late this afternoon.  Dad was alert and had good visit with him - he's on  oxygen and getting antibiotics, so....we're hoping and praying for the best.   We are staying with my brother, Ron and Vicki tonight.   Bob and Linda stopped by - had pizza and now settling in and will be back at the hospital in the morning!

Wishing you all a safe, fun Labor Day weekend!

September 2

Rain, rain and more rain.    We left Muskegon at 7:20 (eastern time) this morning and drove thru rain almost all the way home.  Stopped in Ottawa to pick up our truck, dropped off the rental car in Streator and on home. We emptied out 1.5" from our rain gauge.

Got the washer and dryer going full speed and unpacked.  The family room looks good - fireplace is gone, new drywall is up and ceiling finished.    I got a burst of enegry and started stripping wallpaper in our dinette.   Picked Liam up from school and he was a big helper, too.   We talked about kindergarten and how tthings were going.....I told him I was going to pay him for helping me and he said "Oh NO, you don't need to do that".   And I said: "but you were such a good helper" and he looked at me and said "No Gandma, I'm serious".   I just cracked up!  

Liam working away at getting that paper off!

Anne and Connor came for supper (pizza) and the boys stayed with us while she went to open house at school.   And then the heavens opened up again and another 1.5" of rain fell in a very short time!    Streets flooded, hail in some places, etc.   Connor helped with stripping, too, and was a good "cleaner upper" after we finished!   Big job out of the way....now onto the kitchen!

Grandma will be giving her "helpers" some fun $ for being such good doobies.

September 1

Welcome September and the happy thought that fall is coming soon!   Today with rain and cooler temperatures, it felt that way!    As much as I love spring and summer, fall still gets my vote for favorite season!    Bring it on...

Mark got a haircut this morning and I started gathering our stuff to take home.    We spent a wonderful afternoon/evening with long-time boating friends Ron, Pat, Helen and Leon at Ron and Pat's super neat clubhouse at their Lakeshore Yacht Harbour.   We laughed and reminisced about all the boating memories, our families, etc.   We've known these folks since 1986.  

Ron and Pat served us a wonderful meal with Ron grilling cornish hens marianted in an orange/brandy sauce.   Oh my.....and Pat prepared all these other wonderful dishes and all topped off with blackberry/raspberry pie a la mode.    We said our good-byes

 and plan to get together next week when we return.

The "Gulls" - Pat, Helen and Pat

and

 

The "Buoys" - Leon, Mark and Ron

Mark got the rental car and tomorrow morning, we are going home.  I have therapy on Friday; nephew's wedding on Saturday, etc.   We plan to bring our bikes back as there's a great bike/walking path right past the marina.