Where Did June Disappear?

We are still alive! As the restrictions due to the coronavirus start to be lifted, our workplaces seem to get more hectic. Our trout stream got greener (plus lots more bugs). I vaguely remember losing a couple of nice fish at the falls. Had some rock picking beach time. 

Even on a weekday we've enjoyed yakiniku. 

And Joe FINALLY got a haircut! It was a long wait, considering he needed one back in March. Such small normal things we appreciate.... Our favorite bakery is back in action as normal as we can ask for right now. Last Saturday we actually walked in, looked what's available, ordered (with masks on), and proceeded to sit and enjoyed our morning coffee and croissants. Mmmmmm.

When You Can't Get What You Want

We would have gone out for dinner tonight, or even had a takeout as our current choice, but it seems... between the remaining effect of the shutdown and soaring meat costs, our two go-to favorites were NOT available. So we ate in. Quite well actually. Grilled steak and asparagus with roasted veggies. The main event was the dessert. Rhubarb strawberry galette, basically a rustic pie, made from the first pick of our garden rhubarb. Everything was as good as eating out.

Good Weekend So Far

Still getting used to the new normal... our area  is trying to reopen.  We started on our trout stream this morning. Everything got greener,  and we caught a few trout. Nothing big.

 

The highlight was to have pints at our favorite brewery for the first time in 2 and a half months. 

 It was totally worth wearing the jacket and gloves in 48 degrees weather. 

Summer?!

Fortunately or unfortunately,  I am back to work with the store open to public and lucky enough to have 8 days of work. Of course, that's when weather decided to become really nice. This Memorial Day weekend was like perfect UP summer. The highlight was our first yakiniku opportunity... and we could actually wear sandals! 

Staycation IV

It's not often we walk into freshly snow-covered woods for fishing... the sun made it very pretty yesterday. Joe caught a nice 17.5" brown, the first keeper of the season. 

Today was much colder, grey, and actually snowed while we were on the stream. Joe caught another brown trout, almost identical to the one from yesterday, on his very first cast. No steelhead or any other fish.... 

But on this last day of our would-have-been vacation, we put together a tropical island themed dinner with Spam musubi, southeast Asian grilled fish, and Tahiti coconut dip for veggies. It just needed to be 50 degrees warmer! The final touch was, of course, tropical fruity drinks. Joe whipped up a batch of mean pina colada for dessert. We drove over 1200 miles this week, all within Michigan's upper peninsula. Our virtual adventures took us places near and far.... and yes, we wish all the moms, near and far, a happy Mother's Day!!

Staycation III

On Wednesday we took another road trip, this time to the farthest north in the UP. Though it was only in the upper 30s with northerly breeze, the sun was beautiful. We planned a social distancing picnic and drive with P&J, which was a success with walkie talkies. A much-needed mental health day for all of us.

Yesterday was the last warmer day around 45, so we checked to see if we could get to Apple Creek. We didn't have much hope for actual fishing, but I hooked on a nice steelhead and lost! I have a bent hook to prove it. Now both of us suffer from fishing fever.

Also last night we finally had a proper special anniversary dinner of takeout southern-style BBQ. 

As predicted we woke up to a couple inches of snow this morning... brrrrr. We are staying home, reorganizing our tackle boxes and dreaming of big fish!

Staycation II

Saturday and Sunday we drove over 500 miles to explore 2 different directions of the Lake Superior shoreline, including some new roads. Our Subaru and Joe had lots of fun driving! Amazing how the shores change one to the next.... The Pointe Abbaye was literally the end of the earth, in a good way!

Sunday was much colder and windy. Temps went from 70 the day before to 45, then kept going down to below 40. But the forecast for the rest of the week wasn't much warmer, so we put on our winter clothes and off to the east we went. 4 different frigid beaches... and that ol' north wind! This is why we usually go somewhere else for vacation this time of year!

Still we enjoyed checking out a few new places, one of which was the waterfalls below 168 stairs next to huge sand dunes. It was worth the climb down and back up and reminded us of those steep walks in Japan. Oh, and guess what? As we got close to home, it started snowing.

Yesterday we took a day off from road trips. Did some grocery shopping, cooking, and Joe replaced brakes on the Subaru. Also we celebrated Cinco de Mayo early with grilled pork and shrimp tacos. We thought we had a special takeout dinner planned for tonight on our anniversary,  but realized they readjusted their schedule due to Covid-19. So we don't know what we are doing today...but that in itself is an adventure! Happy Cinco de Mayo, everyone.