Illinois and Wisconsin 2010

We left Indiana on August 7th and spent a week in Foxriver, Illinois. It was hot and humid and we had stayed here before so we worked on cross stitch and reading. We took a trip to Ronald Reagan’s boyhood home in Dixon, Illinois. We had never studied anything about his boyhood so we learned a lot. His family lived in a number of homes as they always rented but he graduated from high school here.


We also saw the movie Tooth Fairy one afternoon at the resort.

We went to Door County, Wisconsin on the 14th, driving right by the PGA tournament and along the edge of the city of Green Bay. This time we stayed in Fish Creek which was out the peninsula. We had a beautiful condo in the woods. It was furnished very nicely and had a wonderful kitchen and living area.



During the week we traveled around through the county stopping at the many farm markets and wineries, a candle store and a coffee store.

We saw the Sherwood Lighthouse in Sturgeon Bay

and from a distance the old Bailey’s Harbor Lighthouse which is now privately owned. The area is noted for cherries and also fish boils. We went to a fish boil one evening and found it fun with delicious food. It takes ½ hour for the meal to cook. It is boiled in a very large pot over a fire.


First the baby red potatoes are cooked for about 15 minutes and then the onions are added.

The white fish pieces from Lake Michigan are added the last 10 minutes.


The fish oil rises to the top and diesel fuel is thrown on the fire to make it extra hot so that the water boils over and the oil comes off.


The pot is then removed and the food is served.

They also added bread, coleslaw and cherry pie.

One morning we left early and drove to the north end of the peninsula and took the car ferry to Washington Island.


We saw the Plum Island Lighthouse

and Pilot Island Lighthouse from the ferry. When we landed we drove across Washington Island to another ferry (passenger only) and went across to Rock Island State Park where we hiked 1 ¼ miles each way to the Pottawatomie Lighthouse.





We have now finished the lighthouses that we can easily get to in this area. The week was great and the weather was warm and comfortable.

June and July 2010

June 2010

June was a busy month. We continued to organize and get adjusted to our house. We bought a TV, signed up for cable (and got connected and had a service call all within 15 minutes). We bought a router and now have wireless internet in the house. I had minor surgery on the 11th to remove a lipoma on my left back shoulder blade. There were no complications and my recovery has been quick. We spoke at our church on June 13th about our call to missions and our three years in Thailand. We drove to suburban Chicago to spend 3 days with friends and watch their daughters play softball. Both Holly and Amber pitch and we were able to watch 7 games.




While we were gone they put in some plants and shrubbery around our house. We bought some additional perennials and just a few annuals. The lawn will not be done until sometime in August.

July 2010

Debby came to visit us for the holiday weekend.

We watched the Warren parade, went to the library book sale and wandered the streets looking at the booths. Then we had a week of Bible school at church. Bob & I were the mission teachers for Saddle Ridge Ranch and we had a great time. It was challenging but very rewarding. I was able to get some mending done and started working on some sewing projects. I began a quilt that I make one block each month. In sorting through all of our boxes I found quite a few that we have labeled “quilting” but they were not organized. I have started ironing, strip cutting and then cutting squares using each box. This way I can begin to make quilts that will be scrap quilts. Since we have had time to unpack and arrange I now have the most organized house I have ever had. I have all of the containers in the pantry labeled and a list of DVD’s posted in the storage cabinet. We drove to Ohio for a few days to see Mavis & DeVon and also had wiring put in the van so we can pull a trailer. We drove to Indianapolis to see part of Lloyd’s family and spent a couple of hours on the lake water skiing.
Nick


Alec


Bob


Coleen



Now Bob did ski but I was just pulled on a tube for a little bit. At least I got cooled off in the water.

We drove back to Ohio on August 1 taking my dad with us to celebrate Eden Franklin's 2nd birthday.

Wedding & 2 Graduations

We have had a busy month of May. We left Indiana on April 30. We spent a week in Branson and saw a couple of shows. Then we spent a weekend in Grand Prairie, Texas with Jo and David, a few days in Waco with Phil, Susan and James and then stayed in San Antonio for 2 weeks. We spent a wonderful day with Eric and Martha and Mavis and DeVon just talking and visiting. Then Saturday, May 15 was Kevin (my brother Eric's son) and Malia's wedding and reception. It was lovely and great to see everyone and for us to finally meet Malia as well as her parents and brother.

Saturday, May 22 was the University of Texas at San Antonio School of Medicine Graduation at 2:00 for Kevin and Malia. Now we have 2 doctors in the family. At 7:30 Sean (Eric's son) graduated from TMI - The Episcopal School of Texas High School. He is going to Southwest in Georgetown, TX and will play basketball. We even sandwiched a very nice dinner between hosted by Eric and Martha and Sharon and Chuck. Below are some of the best pictures that I was able to snap.















We drove to Fredericksburg on Monday with Eric and spent the afternoon at the National Museum of the Pacific War. It was excellent, informative and very well done. We went one afternoon to the Mexican Marketplace in San Antonio. The evening we spent with Eric & Martha at Trinity University seeing the University of Pennsylvania Glee Club.

New House - April 2010

Well since I have not updated this for so long I will start with the current and then hopefully post the back 5 months. We traveled a lot in Nov - March. We stayed our first night in our new home on April 1, 2010. It was great and Deb was able to be there too. We had beds and a functioning kitchen and baths. She helped us unpack a lot of the additional boxes. We went to my sister's in Ohio the middle of April and at Ikea bought our bookcases. So then we unpacked the books. We still have the living room to furnish but that will come later. We are on slow dial-up for the internet and no TV yet. Since we are again traveling we will wait for those items until June. Here are some pictures from the house.
The Front


The Back

The Library

The Master Bedroom


The unfurnished Living Room


The Sun Room

The Guest Bedroom

The Kitchen and Dining Room