Indiana
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The Ovcharovs invited us to spend a weekend at their house in Michigan City, and it was awesome in every way possible. The house, the backyard opening to a pond with ygrittes and blue herons, the food, the parks around, the dunes - we really loved it all.
House on the Rock
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Finally we made it there. I've been wanting to take the girls to the House on the Rock for a couple of years, but we couldn't get there for a number of reasons, despite the fact that it's just about an hour from Devil's Lake. Girls, who are big fans of American Gods, were ecstatic, especially around the famous carousel.
Myrtle Beach
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Just returned from South Carolina. Well, it WAS worth it. The ocean was HOT. Temperature-wise, I mean. Not even warm, but hot. It's a shame I don't enjoy splashing in hot salty waves anymore. Ladies had a really good time though.
Foxcroft Park
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Girls were volunteering at the Foxcroft Park: the pond needed some fish restocking, and instead of just pouring fish into the pond the village made it a kids' event with some assistance from the Glenbard South HS Key Club.
Lena’s Rafting
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Lena's dream came true: she went rafting to lower Gauley, loved it, and now she wants to go to upper Gauley, which is way more difficult. That girl is a real adrenaline junkie.
And here is a pretty long video:
Mackinac Island
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We've visited Mackinac Island many years ago, courtesy of my cousin Boris. Just the two of us, couldn't bring boys along for some reason that I don't even remember. It was 2004, I believe, and photos from 2003 to 2006 are still not posted here. Some day I will do it, I swear.
The island looks and feels the same: the fort, Grand Hotel, fudge stores, even the seagull on Marquette's head, but this time around our entire family had a chance to enjoy it all. Despite being ungodly touristy, it's a unique place with a very special vibe, as Annie put it. Girls loved it, and boys had some good time as well. And so did we. We really need to do things like this more often.
Devil’s Lake
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The day before our departure for Devils Lake Liza decided to get sick: mild usual symptoms and positive COVID test. We considered not going, or going partially - I was to stay home with Liza, and Yelena would go with Annie, - but decided to go as planned. It looked like a good idea to get Liza out into the sun instead of leaving her to marinate at home. Since Isa was supposed to join us, we warned her parents about the positive test, and they didn't mind. Nor did Isa.
After we got to the lake, set up the camp, and hiked to the Devil's Doorway, Liza did get better. Yelena got worse though, and so did Annie. I even had to take Yelena to the hospital in Baraboo; they did the test, treated her dehydration, gave her some pills for nausea, and discharged her with instruction to take lots of fluids and use Tylenol for everything else. "There's not much we can do for Covid, you see." After the hospital Yelena felt so much better that we stayed for another day, and in the end went home on Thursday instead of Friday because of rain. There was no more hiking, but the kids still managed to have fun. I taught them to play Durak, and they enjoyed it. For some reason that game is unknown here. All in all, as Yelena put it, it was the "best way to have Covid."
So we are home now, and both Yelena and Annie are still sick. Hope it will not last long. I also wonder when it is supposed to be my turn; weird how this stuff works.
Herb Garden
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Annie was asking me since forever to build raised beds for her herbs and tomatoes; the problem was we couldn't find the proper spot for them. Finally, we destroyed a giant old stump and a couple of bushes in the backyard's furthest corner, got two ready-made raised beds from Costco, and now we have a great little herb garden. Our friendly neighborhood rabbits will appreciate it a lot, I am afraid.
Got to do something about the neighbor's fence, since it is very visible now. Not sure what exactly, there's not much of that fence left to paint. Will probably plant some climber there.
Eugene and his bike
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Boys decided to stop by; girls got a chance to ride a motorcycle, and they are ecstatic about it. Now I have to worry about them getting bikes too, as if Eugene was not enough. God, I am afraid of these things.
