Life After the Western Trip

Life never stands still.  We've been busy ever since we returned home from our western trip.

Izzy came for her annual back to school shopping with Papa Jerry, and Landon is coming later today for his turn.  Visits are shorter this year since things to do are limited due to COVID-19.  No swimming at the Warren Pool and no movies at the theater.  But we found a fun alternative by going to Ray's Ice Cream shop in Clawson last night after dinner.  I haven't been there in a couple of years and had my taste buds set on their delicious pistachio ice cream, but there was a problem getting pistachios, so no pistachio ice cream last night.  Bummer!  Butter Pecan was a good fill-in.

The quaint soda fountain counter is empty due to COVID-19.  Everybody eats their ice cream outside these days.

Brooke is at Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois - but we're not sure for how long.  There's talk of suspending in-person classes and the students returning home.  The picture below was her first day of classes [Aug. 17th] to begin her freshman year.  Isn't she cute?  She celebrated her 18th birthday [Aug. 20th] at Olivet and her new friends threw a surprise party for her.

This is her dorm room.  She worked so hard to make it comfy and cozy.  It'll be a shame if she has to dismantle it and bring everything back home again.

Izzy came to spend a couple of days with her before she left for Olivet.  This photo was taken on Sunday [Aug. 9th] when we all went out to dinner together after church.

My aunt - the only remaining sibling of my mother's - turned 93 yesterday.  [My mother passed away two months shy of her 93rd birthday in 2014.  There was a six year age difference between them].  My cousins posted these pictures of my aunt yesterday.

In March they moved her into a nice senior independent living apartment, and a few days afterwards the COVID-19 quarantine took effect.  She was isolated from her children and friends, and had no opportunity to make new ones at her new apartment.  She hated it and asked to go back to her house.  My cousins had upgrades made to her house to make it safer for her and moved her back.  As you can see in the picture she's very happy to be home again.

A week after we got home from our trip, one of her daughters invited us to dinner where my aunt and her three children were all present.  It was a very fun evening.  My cousin knows I'm into tea so she went to a tea shop near her home and bought some loose-leaf tea for our gathering.  My aunt is a big tea drinker too.

They packaged their tea in vials which I thought was very interesting.  My cousin chose Lemon Ginger Snap green tea which was very good.

These were the cute favors at our place settings.

My aunt with her three remaining children.  Cindy, on the left, was the hostess.

One of Cindy's dogs took a liking to Jerry.  ;-)

My granddaughter, Tiffany, recently posted this picture of her and Evie while they were vacationing.

And below is a recent pic of their adorable "Hallmark" house - as I refer to it.  I think it should be in a Hallmark movie.  ;-)

Progress on our new church building continues.  In the meantime, we're worshipping in an open air tent to help lessen the fears of COVID-19.  It's different, but God isn't confined to a brick and mortar building.  It reminds me of special revivals and camp meetings that used to be held in tents when I was a kid.  [Really dating myself here! ;-)]

Jeremy and Samantha went to a friend's wedding over the weekend that was held in an open tent too.  Our way of doing things has definitely changed since COVID-19, hasn't it?

Samantha, and I went to a bridal shower for the girl next door on Aug. 16th.  [Sorry, no pictures.] It was very different too.  Because of COVID the banquet facility imposed many restrictions including no games, and the bride wasn't allowed to open any of her gifts while there. Basically we ate and visited with those at our table and went home.  The bride's mother said the banquet facility's rationale was games and gift opening are "party" activities, and indoor parties for 10 or more are forbidden right now.   But where there's a will, there's a way. ;-)  Everybody got a prize and favor to take home despite the COVID rules. 

In between the events and activities I've just written about, I've resumed scanning and editing old photos for more Shutterfly albums.  I have an orientation at The Whitney on Sept. 8th and the restaurant reopens after its lengthy COVID shutdown on Sept. 9th, so I'm trying to get as many photos done as possible.  I took over 60 negatives to the photo lab yesterday to be printed.

Now that I've brought you up-to-date on what I've been doing, how have you been spending your summer?