Back in Wisconsin and enjoying the summer spending time with old friends.  Just like the winter,  time goes by quickly.  We are a month plus back here and we think we have found where we put most things when we moved in last September!  I have had opportunities to work on my golf game with my friend John.  We still get out early in the mornings and I have been feeling better about my game.  

Chris and I did an overnight in Door County and enjoyed the chance to be in some of our favorite places.  While there we saw the new observation tower in Penninsula State Park.  They had to take the old one down due to age and structural issues and replaced it with a handicap accessible one that is impressive.  Our old friend Judy and the friends of the park were involved and this is an engineering feat with better views than before. 

We also have had a chance to spend time with our homebrewing friends and participated in the clubs 30^th anniversary party.  A good time was had by all!

We had a chance to see a concert with the lead being a hammered dulcimer.  Certainly a first for us but highly enjoyable!  Ted Yoder had a percussionist and marimba player with him that were also super talented.  Get the story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFHkE3uQV8U  .  They play a wide variety of music with their own slant.

Chris and I also made it to the Detroit area to visit MJ and John.  John is working hard to empty his Dad’s house and they are trying to navigate the State of Michigan systems to get his sister placed in a quality home.  We had some fun and good times together.  This time through the UP of Michigan we stayed overnight in St Ignace both ways.  One time the temps were probably around 90 and the next time it was a high of 57!  While we were there we received a text from old friends Dave and Stacey who now reside in Georgia/Florida.  They were in a hotel 2 doors down, so we got together for a beer!

Chris and I are still unpacking from Michigan, and starting to pack for Door County again.  We will be heading there for our usual 2 weeks and looking forward to it.  MJ and Denise will join us plus our chance to see lots of camping friends.  When we get home then we will be thinking about Irishfest weekend in August.  We hope you are enjoying your summer!

Peninsula Park

Quite a structure

Great view

Bottle cap cake

President Mike retiring

a bunch of SOB’s

Lake Huron on a nice day

Lake Huron at 57 degrees

We started our trip home on time, Sunday the 23^rd.  We took our time getting the condo prepared to be vacant and left around 10am.  The first day was one of the ‘long’ days driving, over 6 hours.  I know, for a lot of our friends they are driving all day, which we don’t understand!  We had a good drive and arrived in downtown Savannah in time for cocktails and dinner.  We stayed at the Andaz, which is in the historic neighborhood we liked last time we were in Savannah.  And right next door to a restaurant which was a favorite last time, the Little Duck Diner.  That evening and the next day we did some walking around the squares and River Street shops.  River Street runs along the the river of course, which brings in major ocean going ships.  Savannah is still a major seaport.  The shops along River Street are in buildings originally built to handle the sale and shipping of cotton.  Lots of history dating from the 1700’s.  And lots of good food and drink. We also toured the Prohibition Museum which was full of interesting facts.  We did a lot of walking and being close to the hotel could make multiple breaks back to the room. 

2 good nights in Savannah and then back on I-95 for the start of the trip to Asheville NC. A good breakfast before we left and another good ride, this time into the mountains.  This time in Asheville we stayed right downtown at the Aloft, since we had plans we wanted to be close to some food and drink we were going to revisit!  The first night did not disappoint.  The full day in Asheville we had planned to visit the Biltmore Estate for the first time.  Built by the Vanderbilts at the end of the 1800’s and open to visits for close to 100 years.  Over 240 rooms in the house, and recognized as the first estate to utilize modern forestry techniques it is also home to a conservatory and multiple gardens.  Chris had noted we could catch the end of Spring Blooms in the gardens and even though they were finishing it was well worth it.  The conservatory was full of beautiful flowers and trains, the rose gardens were well on their way to full blooms, and the spring flowers were finishing and new plantings started.  Of course the house was pretty spectacular also.  We did the audio tour, self paced with an audio device you can turn to designated channels for explanations of different rooms and areas along the way.  The Estate is over 8000 acres with scenic drives and several areas to visit, including the winery.  We agreed it was well worth the visit, and we put down our share of steps!  Back to the hotel and Wicked Weed Brewery (closest to the hotel!) for some great beers and dinner, then rest in the room. 

After a couple of nights and breakfast from the café across the street it was on the road again.  This time some delay for bridge maintenance in the mountains, closing down 1 lane of a major 2 lane interstate does that!  A pretty and interesting ride we have done before, this time heading to Bardstown KY.  Along the way a pit stop in Danville KY to visit a distillery we had been at 4 years before (Wilderness Trail).  At the time of our first visit they were new and had no bourbon yet.  This time a lot of new rick houses filled with 10’s of thousands of barrels and multiple bourbon choices.  I had tasted some thanks to it being distributed in Michigan, and MJ and John.  Plus something new to try.  Since I had on my Wilderness Trail hat (thanks MJ) and our story of last being there I received a quick private tasting.  Oh, and I bought a few bottles.  I had picked Bardstown for our next stop because I enjoy bourbon and Bardsown is one of the oldest homes to bourbon and has a number of distilleries.  A lot of people are traveling so most tours were booked weeks in advance, but Chris has already seen distillery tours!  We did book one tasting and did some visits to others.  Bourbon is similar to the late 1800’s breweries in that they were local, were hit hard by prohibition, and in the mid 1900’s many closed in favor of the mass produced popular beverages.   But the late 1900’s saw a resurgence in people wanting more taste and cared about who made the beverage.  So distilleries have greatly expanded and old names have been brought back to life. While there are large businesses that own a lot of labels, there are still the smaller distilleries contributing to the whole.  Willet is still family owned and producing great bourbons, 1792 is part of Sazerac but still producing great whiskey, some shipped elsewhere for bottling while other bourbon comes here to be bottled where the bottles better fit their bottling line.  Heaven Hill is another distillery that encompasses a lot of labels and is finding a way to make them all fit under the umbrella.  Most are expanding their distilleries and gift shops.

It was our rainy day so had to scrap a visit to the civil war museum since it included walking outdoors, but we filled in time!  The area is fairly easy to go from place to place and I started to know my way around.  We found a great restaurant in a bourbon museum; well,  we had a hard time finding it because we didn’t know it was in the museum building.  Kentucky hot brown is a well known sandwich/plate started in Louisville.  The Rickhouse restaurants’ is covered in an 11 cheese sauce; how can you go wrong? 

Day 7 back on the road.  Last year we went through Tennessee and into Illinois bypassing Chicago and we liked that route.  This year being further north in Bardstown we followed I-65 up to Indianapolis and then west to Bloomington IL.  We left Bardstown in a light rain but arrived in Bloomington to sunshine but a cool breezy 60.  Time to get the jackets out.  On the downside of the trip now, so pulled off after 5 hours of driving and saw the end of the Bucks sweeping the Heat and will check out some local Mexican food.  Then in the morning the short stretch home!

Day 8 left Bloomington and headed straight north on I-39.Some construction on the way but most opened up for the holiday weekend, and Sunday is a nice quiet day to travel. We only had 4+ hours to drive which was a nice end to the trip. 

We had only been in our apartment a short time before leaving for Florida in the fall, so it is a new experience finding where we put things.  But we are back in Oshkosh, Mark kept an eye on the apartment for us while we were gone and filled our refrigerator with beer we had brewed last fall.  So there was something for us when we returned (maybe for me).  So now settle in for our summer life and looking forward to seeing old friends. 

Savannah Harbor

Prohibition Museum

Prohibition Museum

Savannah breakfast at Goose Feathers. Birds nest= grits, Vermont white cheddar creates nest, homemade salsa, 2 poached eggs. I never knew grits tasted so good

Biltmore Estates

The conservatory gardens at Biltmore were spectacular

Wilderness Trail original visitor center and new rickhouse behind

Willet distillery in Bardstown

Almost Memorial Day!

The winter has gone by quickly.  We have been in good weather and we spent time with a number of neighbors outdoors.   Most of us here now have had our 2 shots and are feeling free and comfortable.  Things are opening back to normal in Florida.   We have missed many friends who were not here though.  Covid and health issues have gotten in the way.  We very much look forward to next season being much more ‘normal’  And there were family and friends that we have lost the last 6 months which reminds us that life keeps changing, enjoy it.

Wisconsin weather looks to be getting more consistent so maybe it is time to head back?  We have put together a rough itinerary for our trip, planning on 7 days on the road.  Savannah, Asheville, and Bardstown KY all in the plans. 

This week more cleaning and decisions on what needs to go back with us. I have a new tooth, got a last round of golf in, and had another grill out with neighbors.  If nothing changes we will be on the road next Sunday the 23^rd.

Happy Easter!

We continue to enjoy life here in South Florida.  Weather has continued to be good and Chris, Marie and I have had our 2^nd Covid shots.   There is a good feeling to that.  We have been out to a few places to eat and enjoying it.  Most of our neighbors have had their shots also and we all feel better for it.  Some short term side effects but well worth it.  I also received my 1^st and 2^nd shingles shots so my doctor should be happy I am all caught up.  Now once I get my new implant tooth I will be a new man.

We have tried to keep up with some old friends.   An old workmate was in South Florida and we were able to meet up for a fun afternoon.  We were also able to visit Chris and Marie’s cousin Jackie for an afternoon.  Chris’s Swiss cousin Charles keeps us updated on the Europe front.  Cousin Walter is still skiing with his Alpine group and we saw some beautiful pictures of that.

Marie has headed back to New Mexico,  MJ is here for Spring break.  We try to enjoy the blessings that we have been given.  We hope Easter brings you blessings and a wonderful year ahead.

Being near the water has its benefits

Passing boats keep us entertained

Golf keeps me entertained, even if I can’t lower my score

Someone peaking out of the pool

I probably could not make it!

Walter is in red and blue

Chris, Jackie and Marie

You would think when you stay home most of the time you could get a lot done.  But it seems the time keeps rushing by me, and I have not done an update for awhile. My daughter has been here several times and Marie is in Florida and doing well.   Another week and we will get our second Covid shot which we are looking forward to.  We have not visited many of our favorite spots, still doing take out and a little outside dining.  We do have almost weekly gatherings with the neighbors to share some grill out and good conversation.  And doing my best to get some golf in, but it seems I can’t find the secret to making my golf game any better!

January was cool for south Florida with lot’s of days in the 60’s and low 70’s, but we did manage to survive.  Our association pool was closed a number of months due to some repairs and then issues found in the seawall on the intercoastal.  That became more annoying as the weather warmed up but eventually a contractor was found to do some repairs and the city finally gave its blessing to move forward.   Now the pool is open and happiness has returned.  The repairs are short term though and in the next 5 years a plan will be needed for some very expensive repairs.  I do like to have repairs done before they become critical so we have put in a new AC unit, south Florida salty air takes its toll on rooftop units and ours was over 10 years old, which is the average life span of the units.  So we won’t have to worry about that while we are not here during the summer. Other than that no major projects this winter just small ‘tinkering’.  I did have a broken tooth extracted and now have an implant in place that is healing, a couple of more months to having a tooth.  Chris had started seeing a chiropractor for her back in Oshkosh, and found one down here that has helped her a lot.  With some exercise she is seeing him once a month and feeling better.  So life remains very good.  We kept track of the cold days up north and had no desire to experience it.  We will continue to live the ‘good life’ and see our Wisconsin friends at the end of May!

Get that gator off the tee box

Super Bowl

Man O War

the intercoastal, we are on the left

Neighborhood Grill Out

Merry Christmas to all!  This year especially we celebrate Christmas giving thanks for our blessings, which are many.  We have no worries about our jobs and payments.  Our health is good and for our age our problems are minor.  MJ had Covid and is still recovering but overall came through pretty well and has come to Florida for Christmas.  So as we get ready to celebrate Christ’s birth we count those blessings. And our prayers are for you all to have blessings this Christmas and for 2021.  God bless us everyone.

Sailing on the ocean

Grilling out with friends

Breakfast at the Diner

Happy Thanksgiving all.   We pray you are well and will continue that way.  It has been a crazy year.   But we are closer to the end of 2020, the election is over, the political ads are off the TV, it has to keep getting better.   Chris and I came through Covid well, her taste and smell is still coming back slowly but neither of us had serious side effects so we were blessed.  After quarantine we packed up and left Wisconsin,   after I had to scrape ice and snow off the car.

 We took a leisurely trip although not as much as we would like.  We took a couple of days to go to Detroit to visit MJ and John.   From there we headed south and stopped in London, Kentucky.  Hurricane Zeta was just in front of us, so we scrapped plans to go through the Carolina mountains and stayed on wide open 75 through Georgia.  Less chances of trees and scrap down on the highway.   While it started as a very rainy day it turned out fine and we made it to Cordele, Georgia.  We carried snacks and cheese to snack at night or got take out.  The hotels did a good job of cleaning and distancing, so all worked out well.   From Cordele the next day was to home in Florida.  Then unpacking all we brought and finding a place for everything, so a few days later we started relaxing!  Florida had a hot rainy fall and was that way when we arrived.   Good to keep the fires down!   November has gotten drier and cooler.  Presently around 80 with breezes, next week a major cold front and only getting to around 70.   The winter coats will be out.  We are enjoying it.   I have planted some flowers and catching up with some small landscape work.  Not many people here for the summer and with the heat the landscapers are here less often, so a few things to catch up on.  Just enough to keep busy.

Thanksgiving will be quiet, not like the old dinners with family or traveling for weekends in Michigan.  But we will have one friend over and enjoy the day.  Whatever your day is this year we hope you can count your blessings and look forward to a better time next year.

Back home in Snug Harbor

Time for golf, but I need more practice

new lights on the palms

Walk to the ocean

Pushing 3 months since my last update, things have gotten away from me!  I am pretty sure this getting older thing makes it easy to lose track of time. August was time back from Door County, unpacking, winding down.   We had plenty of things going on to keep us busy.  We had rented a new apartment, but because of Covid could not tour the actual apartment.   We were told we could look after September 1, and they woud have September to renovate the apartment with us moving in Oct 1 (which is when we had to be out of the present apartment).  So we started packing!   We also have discussed upgrading our car, since we do spend a fair amount of time traveling.   I liked the thought of the new safety features available on today’s cars, I realize that age does affect our reaction time.   What we did not anticipate was even though we were ready to spend a lot of money it would be hard to buy a car.  Apparently with Covid a lot of people have decided to spend money upgrading their car and we found that most dealers do NOT have the cars that they show on their website.  An older salesman told me he has not seen a year like this in over 20 years of selling Lexus.  We had decided to stick with Lexus and our secondary issue was that the cars the northern dealers did have access to centered around the 3 or 4 different blacks that Lexus produces.   Not at the top of our list for a Florida car.  But 90 miles south we were able to find someone who had a line to a car that fit our wants.  So we ended up committing on a car we did not see (like our apartment) and I didn’t know you could qualify for a loan on line and have a blank check overnighted to you.   So that project helped keep us busy in August!  By Labor Day we still couldn’t see our apartment and our car hadn’t arrived, so we headed to Detroit to see MJ and John.  We had a nice long weekend and then back to Oshkosh.   Things started to fall into place.  We did get our car, and we viewed the apartment and were able to have access to our garage early.   So before the end of the month I was able to move a lot of our things to the new campus and have them ready to move in when we received the keys.  We had movers move the large furniture, everything went smoothly and the young guys did a tremendous job.  September was better weather than we have had in Wisconsin for several years,   I was able to continue golf and we spent time outside.  To start October we planned to take our annual trip to Door County Wisconsin with friends, out on the island.  A number of people canceled out and the owners said our group would be the only ones at the resort, they shut down any other rooms.  So we felt good going up, and had a wonderful time with friends.   Some biking, hiking, and lots of food and drink.  Nice to have a private resort.  Unfortunately something went wrong with the plans, as most of us have now tested positive for covid.   We feel fortunate we all seem to be coming through without serious complications. Not comfortable but getting through it and Chris and I will both be cleared by next week.  Good thing, it is cold here and snow flakes close by.   Our plans would have had us in Florida already, so retooling our plans. Unfortunately, there will be no sightseeing on this coming trip, so a pretty straight trip south.   But we will limit our hours in the car and make it as enjoyable as we can.  Florida has been wet but we look forward to sitting out in some sunshine.   You all take care and be safe.  We have known people who have gotten very sick from the virus so don’t take it lightly.

This summers skies were marked by smoke from western fires

our small resort group

Hike along the water

cornhole tournament!

We didn’t go out for Island tradition so replicated it ourselves

Yes!

car ferry rides to the island

sunset at Sunset Resort

June and July were fun and we are doing well.  There was some very hot weather but July has finished very comfortably.  Some very rainy days and the corn fields seemed full grown by the start of July.  The corn loved the hot wet weather.  We have been out to a local Winery in Ripon several times and gone past the farm fields.   Sitting in the vineyard with a glass of wine is very enjoyable.  We are still doing some take outs and visited a few restaurants.  Ruby Owl here in Oshkosh is a good example of one we feel comfortable with.  All employees wear masks, some tables shut down, half the bar stools taken away.  Staff is disinfecting tables, bar, stools and chairs each time a customer leaves.  And downstairs from us Cranky Pats is only open Friday, Saturday, Sunday.  But also doing a good job of cleaning and we are enjoying the pizza or Italian sausage sandwiches on weekends.   I have been trying to get some golf in, usually a couple of days with old friend John, and have added some 9’s with Mike and friends on Fridays.  I am playing OK, I would like to be more consistent, but that’s golf!

For July 4^th we were in the Detroit area with MJ and John.  We try to be there for MJ’s birthday, this time doing grill outs and some take outs.  I helped with some projects and we had a fun week.   We headed home the northern route after struggling through Chicago traffic on the way there, it was much more relaxing.  Then home and unpacking and start to repack, as we kept our annual trip to Door County for 2 weeks to finish July.  There are lot’s of outside venues in Door so we felt comfortable keeping our reservations.  MJ and my niece again joined us sharing a motel room while Chris and I had a small condo.  We had a very fun but very different time this year.   We did get to briefly see some old friends which was worth the trip.   We wish it was more time but this year just feels so different it didn’t always feel comfortable to be out.   Again we did more grilling and inside condo eating than usual for us, as there are many good restaurants we enjoy.  Door County was still very busy and we spent less time in the towns especially on the busy weekends.  Chris mentioned she had thought that 1 week may have been OK to go up for, but the 2 weeks went by quickly and she was happy we did.  What was the same is that I am sure I ate and drank much more than I should have!  I will try to cleanse a little this week, with some planned golf and dentist appointment.  We were tracking the hurricane heading to our condo and friends and were very happy to see it weaken and head north.  It will be more than OK to see the storm season slow down.  We had made a decision to move from our downtown apartment this year, we love it and the location but are paying a premium for a place we don’t spend a lot of time at.   So we have spent a fair amount of time searching.  We had decided on a complex as our first choice but had to join a waiting list and wait a couple of months, but while we were on vacation received a call that a unit opened up that matched our specs so we took it.  We will be moving to Havenwood Heights on the west side of town.  By the time we are moved in October we will be thinking of leaving for Florida.  So even if we don’t like the apartment thoroughly, we can deal with that next Spring!

We hope you are staying safe and healthy!

view of Ephraim from the Peninsula Park course

Denise on the green

Hugel Haus dinner and German beer

MJ and Denise

Fox River into Lake Winnebago

Well we are back home in Oshkosh.  The travels went well, we held to around 6 hours in the car per day.   First day to Valdosta GA.   I had a call from old friend VW who happened to be on his computer when I mentioned Valdosta, and he was anxious to take a trip anywhere and was just looking at Valdosta.   He picked out a local brewery so when we decided to leave Boynton he decided to meet us.   More like a couple of hours from Jacksonville for him.  The brewery was open only with outside seating which was perfect.  Good beers and we had a pizza delivered while we got caught up.   We had had rain most of the day through Florida but Valdosta was dry and it was nice sitting out.   The next morning back in the car and off to Tennessee.   Most of the day traveling Georgia then headed West to Murfreesboro.   There is a National Park there we will get back to at some point but missed it this time.  One of the bloodiest most decisive battles of the civil was took place near there.  We had a very nice room in a Hilton Garden which had just opened their restaurant.  So after a little relaxing we went down to the restaurant, we were two of just a few people there and the only ones sitting at the bar so it was fine.   The bartender was also the cook (apparently they did not expect a lot of people) with a limited menu, but everything was tasty.    The next morning on through Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois stopping in Champaign Urbana.   A college town so rather quiet, staying at a Home2 Suites which was a multiple room suite.  Right next store was a Harvest Market (think Whole Foods)  which we picked up some dinners to go from the deli and had our own dining table in the room.   So another night of rest then on to Oshkosh the next morning.  Lot’s of heavier rain for that ride, but luckily not for too long an extended time.  All the hotels usually had  a buffet style breakfast and now feautured prewrapped grab and go in the mornings.  So we would get something to take back to the room, eat and have some coffee, then shower and hit the road.  Along the way no issues with gas or rest stops.   We like Love travel stops so I had mapped out a few along the way.  Generally clean and large restrooms. 

But now back in the apartment, we were anxious to get back even though we were enjoying Florida a lot.   But weather is good here now. A great day today and lot’s of people out biking and boating.   Most bars/restaurants are open to some degree.  Cranky Pat’s downstairs still just for takeout but a limited opening next weekend.   We met a few friends at our favorite bar Oblio’s on Friday night.  Their first time out also and we were all a bit tentative.   But not crowded and we were able to be on our own while we got caught up.  I picked up some groceries and am surprised at the number of people not wearing masks while in stores, but this area has been relatively few in the number of visrus cases.   Our bedroom TV gave up when we tried to get it working again, so a new one on order.  Best Buy has large TV’s in stock but not small !    And the next day when we tried Netflix in the living room we found Netflix has stopped support because that TV is too old.  So it looks like a fire stick to fix that.   The Jeep needed a tire pumped up and a jump start, but the landlord helped with that and everything else working OK.   Chris and I are determined to do some more downsizing of what we have,  so we are already at work on that!  No grilling yet because of the birds nest with eggs inside the grill (can I turn it on for breakfast?).  And we will give the bird some time to finish(better hurry).  Weather looks good this week as we work on settling in, so will try to get some walks in and I will get my bike tires pumped up.   Hope you all take care and find a way to enjoy life!