Yard work and a deck - finally!

 The effects of covid are still in full force and the word is now that it won't get better anytime soon and in fact they are expecting things to get much worse. I've even heard talk of it lasting years....oh wow - I hope not.

I'm still in isolation however with the weather warming up I've been spending time outside always with a mask on though. And I can see my family now, but only outside with a mask on and six feet away.

Jimi has been picking up the groceries at Hogelands and spraying everything with rubbing alcohol when he brings it home. I'm guessing people are stocked up on toilet paper because people aren't buying as much and we've been able to stock up.

Jimi has really dove in to the renovations. He's working on the railing on the stairs and the loft. 

After three summers I've finally convinced him to build or let me build a deck out back. I was determined I could do it all myself. We figured up the design together, made a supply list and a plan. Jimi got all the supplies from Menards and I began digging the holes.

After I got the holes dug, he came out and helped - so really he built the deck and I was a hand. I'm so grateful.

I also made a small flower garden off the end of the deck. Both turned out so pretty.

I added another flower garden on the North East corner of the building.

Before building the deck and adding these gardens I helped my mother, who lives next door, take our some gardens and she gave me the bricks. They turned out so nice.

Jennifer gave me a bunch of flowers for Mother's Day.

Jimi and I drove the LTD to Norton for cruise night. It was just a way to have a no contact outing. It was nice.

After we finished the back yard, I started on the South West corned of the front yard. I started by trimming the lilac bush.

We finally decided to remove the old school marquee sign for church services. It was a big job, but Jimi tackled it.

I got in to making some homemade bread. Yum!

I made my first Tutu with success and am adding the item to my booth.

Jim bought a canoe.

Since we couldn't have a birthday party or a memorial day bbq. I made myself cupcakes.

Jimi got a customized mask.

It was a very good month; we got a lot done.

Home in Nebraska

 We arrived in Nebraska the middle of March. Much earlier that the norm for us. After Sanibel was buttoned up in dry dock storage, we hightailed it to Nebraska with only fuel stops. I was really sad we couldn't stop at Melody's, but I understood why.

When we got to Nebraska I stayed in isolation. It was two weeks before I even saw my parents and then even then it was through the window of the back door.

I got busy right away making masks are anyone and everyone that wanted one.

I was also pretty quick getting in to embroidery, Since I couldn't go shopping I ordered all my supplies on line and Jimi sanitized them when they arrived. The system worked out pretty well.

Jimi pretty quickly got involved in the renovations and we were sure to get an updated video tour of our church.

I sure hope this pandemic doesn't last too long because I am itchen to sign up for craft fairs this summer. 

Stay safe!

And the tables turn

 After our month on the mooring ball in Marathon was up we made our way down to Marco Island. We had only been there a short time when the news of the covid-19 virus sprang up. We did our best to distance ourselves and yet still go for walks and the grocery store.

Here are some owl nests we came upon. It turns out these are protected and all over Marco Island. We were fascinated.

Within a week the covid threat spread rapidly. Supplies like toilet paper and hand sanitizer were impossible to get. Jimi kept me on the boat deciding I should avoid contact with anyone.

It wasn't long that Jimi predicted that the situation would only get worse and he didn't think it would be wise to be stuck on the boat in Florida. It sounds isolated and a good place to be however access to food, water and essential supplies could be difficult to get. That's when Jimi made to decision to head up river to the boat yard. And so we are now making we our way inland.

I'll update you more.

Sanibel Again

 I flew in to Key West from McAllen. Jimi took the bus from Marathon and met me on the bus at the airport bus stop. He spent a couple of hours on the bus round trip, but for me if was only an hour. I was glad he made the trip and met me and after a month it was good to see him again.

Sanibel was anchored up against the mangroves while we waited for a mooring ball to come available. Jimi had been on the list for two weeks. We got on a ball a week after I arrived.

We spent the next month in Marathon and tried to make the most of it. 

We spent a day in Key West. After taking the bus Jimi rode his electric skateboard and I road my bicycle. I was fun, but the traffic and amount of people were sometimes hard to dodge.

We attended a couple of events around the Tiki hut. Met some new folks and ran in to some long time friends. I attended church services on another boat. The Pastor was a retired Navy Pastor. I tried to get in to the yoga classes but it was too difficult with working. We explored old boats in the mangroves and spent plenty of time on the beach.

It was so good to back on Sanibel and in Marathon.

And a New Year Begins

Happy 2020

There's not a whole lot to report so this will be short. As you know we had a busy November and December traveling and it doesn't really end there. But first, we started 2020 with a spectacular dinner at a Thai restaurant in Punta Gorda called Mint Thai Cuisine and then a movie at the Port Charlotte mall. We saw Tom Hanks in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. It was a great movie; one I would watch again. 

 On January 4th I flew to McAllen, Texas for the month of January. I didn't get any pictures...well other than the rental car that I completely fell in love with. 

I only took this picture because I was describing it to my husband.

I spent the month concentrating on working at the office during the day and walking the treadmill in the evenings to get my steps recorded on the Fitbit Jimi gave me for Christmas.

I did some light shopping, had dinner with coworkers and binge watched cable TV, since it's not something I'm accustomed to. 

Here's a Texas size waffle from the hotel's breakfast.

I'll end this post with a picture of our undeniably precious grand-daughter 

Aubree who will be turning 3 in two months.

And this is our daughter Jennifer with Aubree.

A Finland Business Trip

Jimi flew home from Paris alone and I stayed for a couple of days before flying to Helsinki Finland.

I met my co-worker Keith at the airport and we spent the next ten days together working by day at the office and sight seeing at night.