Wed 30 Jun

Sunshine and summery out today, temps already at 68°. I wonder if we'll have pump outside this morning? Food: 7:50 am Cinnamon roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 29 Jun

Looking forward to my "free" day today, though the weather looks wet so I'll have to get exercise indoors. Didn't eat enough good food for lunch yesterday, so got very tired after walking Schmeeckle in the evening. Was grateful that Bob suggested getting Rocky's as I needed food and didn't have much energy to cook. Food: 8:10 am Morning bun, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 28 Jun

Took a nice walk out to Mead Wildlife Sanctuary yesterday afternoon. Saw several birds, a couple of large leopard frogs, some critter in the water wrestling with a catch (might have been a large muskrat?) Enjoyed our leftovers from Biaggi's for dinner. Discovered that scraping off the excess cinnamon sugar from the bottom of the Clasen's morning bun is making it much less sickeningly sweet. Food: 8:05 am Morning bun, 106 g blackberries, coffee

Sun 27 Jun

Rain. Started lightly yesterday morning en route to the Market and doesn't seem to have stopped very long since. We needed moisture for the crops, but if it doesn't stop soon, they'll drown! Actually, the sky does look a tad lighter now, so maybe it's finally done. Food: 8:10 am Morning bun, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 26 Jun

Walked to the Farmer's Market in the rain today, with umbrellas and raincoat. David wasn't there so we bought some cinnamon rolls from the Mielke's. Got a couple of dozen eggs as we go through them much faster hard boiled, especially in the warm weather. Food: 8:50 am Cinnamon roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee Exercise: 7:50-8:40 am Walk to Farmer's Market in the rain

Fri 25 Jun

Can't get the new Kindle to turn on because I unplugged the charger without ejecting the icon from the computer first. It said I should eject it if I wanted to use it while continuing to charge with the USB, but I thought it had charged long enough so I didn't think it was necessary. Obviously, I erred. Now I'll have to search to figure out how to get it to turn on. Damn. Food: 8:00 am 2 Bill Knapp dunkers, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 24 Jun

Started raining quite hard as I was finishing up my shower this morning with rumble-bumbles in the distance. Not too likely that I'll walk with Kathy this morning, even though it's stopped for now. Forecast looks bleak. Food: 8:00 am 2 chocolate dunkers, 101 g strawberries (fresh-picked by Joann), coffee

Wed 23 Jun

Sunny and 60° this morning, supposed to get gradually warmer for the remainder of the week. Had a nice hike at Rib last night while it was still a bit cooler followed by dinner at the Dane. We had the lower beer garder area to ourselves. Food: 8:00 am 1/2 cinnamon twist, 1 chocolate dunker, 105 g blackberries, hard boiled egg, coffee

Tues 22 Jun

Back to sunshine today, still only 55° though. The cooler temperatures are a bit of a relief from what we had pre-vacation so no complaints. It is scheduled to get somewhat warmer in the days to come, but we could do without the more extreme heat. Food: 7:55 am 1/2 chocolate chip danish, 101 g blackberries, hard boiled egg, coffee

Mon 21 Jun

Yesterday was solstice so we're on the downside of the light equation already. Skies are grey today and temps are 56° at this time of day, so quite a bit cooler than before we went up north. Food: 8:00 am 1/2 lingonberry danish, hard boiled egg, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Sun 20 Jun

Had a really wonderful week at the North Shore with pretty perfect weather, nice hikes including some new ones, overall a great time. Safe travels made it all the better. Travis and Joanna Slattery's two twin sons were baptized this morning at Mass, so we got to catch up with all the Hofer/Slattery gang after Mass at the social. Food: 8:20 am Chocolate croissant, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Sun 13 Jun

It's here! We are finally leaving for our week at the North Shore today! Looking forward to the cooler temperatures so that we really feel like hiking. It's been just too hot here this past week to walk for any distance comfortably. I was so tired last night that I didn't have the energy to do my last minute organizing, so I'll have to do it this morning before we can leave. Food: 7:55 am Cherry danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 12 Jun

Last warm day at home before leaving for the North Shore. Will stock up on pastries for our breakfasts in the cabin, need to pack and prepare for our week away. It was nice and cool when we started out to walk to the Farmer's Market, but by the time we walked home, it was getting pretty sweaty again. Thermometer only says 72° now, but sure felt warmer. I missed my lunch date with Heather on Thursday, likely because I was so tired after my walk with Kathy that I wasn't really thinking very clearly. Food: 8:35 am Berry danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 11 Jun

The heat continues, with possible thunderstorms this evening. I believe there were some thunderstorms last night, though not real close. I saw lightning flashes in the distance and heard thunder. These hot streaks don't usually end without a light show. Food: 7:50 am Strawberry croissant, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 10 Jun

Had a nice meal at El Mezcal and a much-desired margarita after talking about them at my hair appointment with Sue and Cherie. Our waiter called himself "Nacho" and did a little banter with us in Spanish which was fun. Food: 7:45 am Honey bear, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 9 Jun

The heat and somewhat the humidity has definitely been turned up. I was embarrassed at my massage yesterday because skin from my back was exfoliating and flaking off under Mary's fingers. I think she was a little grossed out. It was only on my back in the area covered by my merino shirt, so I wonder if it was a reaction to sweating in merino. She also said the eucalyptus oil may have been a mild exfoliant, but it didn't occur on my legs and has never happened before when it wasn't hot. Weird. Food: 7:55 am Chocolate croissant, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 8 Jun

Massage this afternoon, followed by car service. Will try to make quinoa salad this morning. Things to fill a normally free Tuesday. Food: 7:55 am Almond croissant, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 7 Jun

Heading into a hot week at home in preparation for a cooler week next week at the North Shore. We'll appreciate the change in temperatures after being sweaty this week. Last night we just had ground meat sandwiches and cantaloupe for dinner - couldn't manage anything heavier. I really didn't feel too well most of the day after having slept very poorly. Hopefully I have learned not to keep consuming caffeine steadily all day. Food: 7:45 am Kouign amann, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Sun 6 Jun

Hopefully I have learned that I cannot consume things containing caffeine all day and still hope to sleep at night. It certainly didn't work for me yesterday. I expect the coffee ice cream loaded with chocolate-covered coffee beans after the hike did the final damage. Fitbit gave me a sleep score of 59 which was probably pretty accurate. Food: 6:55 am Chocolate pecan snail, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 5 Jun

Weather has definitely taken a turn for the warm. Bob felt the need to turn on the A/C yesterday. I walked Schmeeckle alone last evening as he was too tired from work. Nice to walk to the Farmer's Market in the breeze and partial shade. Food: 9:00 am Berry danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 4 Jun

Heading into a very warm weekend. Expect we'll have pump outside this morning. We would have on Wed, but Nicole wasn't in the groove yet, but she plans to do so today. Since it's already 70°, I don't mind today. Food: 7:55 am Apricot danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 3 Jun

Kathy is heading to visit Eddie in Chicago this morning, so I'll be walking alone today. Sent a resignation email to Michelle yesterday, though I will stay on through the walk if I'm needed. Haven't yet had a response. Feels like summer is really underway with the warmer weather and more things to do. Food: 7:50 am Blueberry almond danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 2 Jun

Married 37 years today, though we've been celebrating since Sunday. Had a very nice getaway to Door County, staying for the first time at the Liberty Lodge in Sister Bay. It is owned by the Nueske family and the staff was extremely gracious. They left a lovely molded Door Co chocolate bar on our bed as an anniversary gift and even replaced the coffee maker in our room for the second day as I had mentioned I couldn't get the previous one to work. We had two lovely celebration dinners, one at LURE and one at CHOP. We took a wonderful guided hike at the Ridges Sanctuary and saw many, many wildflowers. The second day, we hiked at the Mink River Estuary on a tip from Joe in the breakfast room at the Liberty Lodge. It is near the entrance to Newport State Park, and we continued our wildflower appreciation weekend. Stocked up on numerous Piggly Wiggly scones and two containers of meat spread from Valmy. A very successful two-night getaway. Food: 8:00 am Chocolate pecan snail, 101 g blackberries, coffee