01-31DEC20 - Sultan, WA (so-so holidays to end the year)

Because of the ongoing covid situation this December was very subdued compared to past holiday seasons.  Almost all public holiday activities were cancelled (or online only), but one nice thing was no fighting holiday shopping crowds.

So when we weren’t complying with the governors Stay Home, Stay Safe, order we made some short trips for medical, limited holiday decorations, Dan helping Habitat for Humanity with small house repairs, small projects around the shop & house; learning our son Joe had covid 19 (successful recovery); have our septic pumped & AC/heat serviced; one day of skiing for Dan; & snow on 21DEC.

Our limited big events even during pandemic were - Another reoccurrence of Dan’s angioedema & another trip to local emergency room for observation on 15DEC.  Celebrating our 39th anniversary with take out from one of the few restaurants open in Monroe even for take out.  Exchanging xmas gifts with Rebecca, Raymond & grandkids on the 24th in their driveway before driving back home.  Although we never make it to midnight on New Year Eve, our “celebration” this year was even more low-key.

01-30NOV20 - Sultan, WA (so-so turkey day🍗)

November was definitely a blah month combining Covid issues with miserable weather.  All month we sort of just putter around the house & yard between bad weather:  Corrie gardens; Dan reconnects with Habitat for Humanity; cut down one our trees now blocking the solar array; minor repairs/mods to RV; Dan modifies pool solar heat system; plus throw in lots of medical & dental.

Of some interest on the pool solar heater was that diy pools & parts are still in short supply!?  As we noted in our June BLOG we purchased the solar array in June right before diy pools & accessories were sold out for the entire summer into fall.  One thing that makes the solar array more efficient is the valve we just installed now, but we wanted to do it early summer & it was sold out.  When we went online now to buy the valve we noted that the diy pools, accessories, & solar arrays are still out of stock!  Luckily the bypass valve was in stock, but more expensive.

Turkey Day definitely different, no family dinner & no turkey spread.  In fact Rebecca & Raymond drop off Gracie for dog sitting & they head to Leavenworth, WA, with the grandkids Jaxson & Mason to view the famous xmas lights & play in the snow for a few days.  Corrie makes lots of little snackies (no big entrée); gives some to the kids/grandkids for their drive; & then we nosh throughout rest of day as we become couch potatoes.

Friday nice weather; Corrie runs errands & has medical; Dan modifies RV trailer hitch.  Then we chop down one of two trees on south side of house by garage that was leaning into house. Saturday around noon Pitres return & pick up Gracie.

And the month comes to a quiet, uneventful close.

22-31OCT20 - Sultan, WA (the passing of mike kiesel😥)

Thursday, 22OCT, Dan starts emptying & cleaning the RV before parking it in the garage. Corrie keeps working on the garden thru the rest of October – harvesting more jalapenos, kale & other fall crops.

Saturday Rebecca, Raymond & gkids come over to spend the night in celebration of Corrie’s b-day tomorrow.  Nice family dinner after they arrive, & hours gaming & reminiscing afterwards.  On Sunday we head to PFChangs for her b-day brunch.  After PFChangs we all head to our house, before the Pitres returned home.

Thursday AM, 29OCT, Dan jumps in the truck and heads to cousin Steve & wife Bonnie Kiesel’s to help w/Steve’s brother Mike Kiesel’s passing yesterdayL  Dan meets up w/Steve & Bonnie & assists with moving Mike’s possessions to Steve’s barn; taking other items to Habitat for Humanity; some cleaning; & garbage run to county transfer station.  Steve & Mike’s sister Eileen was also there to help.  A sad situation which was eased a little because Mike had made many preparations because of his weakened health condition.

Friday AM Dan helps Steve move the “big” stuff out of Mike’s apartment.  Then it was breakfast at Wild Huckleberry in Ellensburg with Steve & Bonnie before hitting the road back to the house.  One of the saddest side effects of Corona Virus is in dealing with the passage of loved ones, that there often will be no, or limited, memorial or “celebrations of life” for surviving family & friends because of social distancing.  So the month ended on a very sad note.

http://wildhuck.com/ellensburg/