How we spent our Summer 2025 . . .

     We arrived back in Castle Harbor on Tuesday, 5/20, just before Memorial Day Weekend. Friday night, we joined a bunch of friends on dock C for an "O-Dock" reunion. These are friends we made while over at Mears/SH Narrows Marina, who have also left due the high prices and the attitudes. We had a great time visiting with everybody and look forward to doing a couple of things with them over the summer. The rest of the weekend, we just relaxed and did only the necessary chores. Shopping and laundry needed to be done as well as some light cleaning, but will get into the heavier stuff shortly.

      Unfortunately, you know what they say about the best laid plans . . . On Tuesday afternoon, I was talking with Chris on the phone as I was going into Safeway, I tripped over a “boulder” that was about an inch square and went down hard. When I tried to get up, my left foot really hurt. My right wrist was also letting me know that something wasn’t right. I couldn’t figure that one out at all. I braved it, going in to complete my shopping. I was able to load my groceries into the car, but by the time I got back the marina, I had to ask Pete to come help me. Walking is really uncomfortable. I figured: OK elevate it, ice it and take some Tylenol. I’ll feel better in the morning. Wrong!

      The following morning the foot was swollen. I’ve had many sprained ankles in the past, but this did not feel like a sprained ankle. Pete and I decided it was time to head over to the emergency room. I expected a severe sprain or maybe a torn ligament. No! For the first time in my life I broke not one, but two bones! I fractured the fifth metatarsal on the left foot and fractured my right radius at the elbow. After being placed in 2 soft casts, the Doc handed me a pair of crutches and told me to use them. I couldn't help but laugh! I really thought he was kidding. I can't put weight on one foot and can't move the right arm.. How am I supposed to use crutches??? On the way home, Pete stopped at Walgreens to pick up a transporter/wheelchair. There’s a substantially angled approach to the dock and then a long walk to get to the very end, where PEKABU is docked. No way could I do that! Pete was able to back me down the rain-covered, slippery approach to the dock and to the boat. It was interesting attempting to hop on one foot and use my non-dominant arm to stabilize and jump onto the boat. We decided not to try. Instead, Pete lifted me onto the boat where I, very carefully, managed to maneuver to get down into the cockpit. We did the same getting over the lip of the companionway. I then I sat on my bum and went down like we taught the kids to first come down steps . I don’t recommend getting on and off a boat with such a condition, but at least once the boat, I have plenty of hand grasps, which made my life a lot easier. It took about a week before I got into the rhythm and I felt comfortable doing it myself.

Tillie trying to
make it all better

     Once initially onboard, I called a number of local orthopedist. My discharge directions were to be seen as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the earliest anyone could see me was in 10 days, even as I explained they were new fractures! In desperation, I called First State Orthopedics in Dover. They were able to get me in at 8 am the following morning. I was put into a tall, hard walking boot for the foot and only a sling for my arm with directions to keep weight off the foot and baby the arm until I am seen in three weeks. Things progressed as they should. At the six week mark my elbow is completely healed. However, the foot is still tender, and I was told that was to be expected. It will probably take 'till Thanksgiving before I don’t have any discomfort on the healing part of the small bone.

     Tillie is almost 3 years old and showing signs of finally calming down.  It is slow, but she is getting better. the best part is that she is doing a lot more snuggling. 

Snuggling with Rubble, The Dad and getting comfy on the sofa . . .

 
. . . helping The Dad with work, hiding from loud, unfamiliar noise and 

a new place to watch while The Mom is at her appointment.

    

     Chores might have been sidelined, but seeing family, friends, flowers, fall foliage emerging, having some fun and watching the sky, definitely was not!

• Hadley and Riley had their last games of the spring season. They are getting so tall and mature, and growing so fast.
• We met up with Melissa and Mike, MV BOLD RASCAL from I-Dock, Ft Pierce, They live in  Seaford, Delaware, where Pete's mom lived.  Her and our favorite eatery is Laurel Pizza. We had a great dinner with special friends.
• We headed to Jim and Effie‘s for a great time with Eleni, Brandon, James, Victoria, Pat and Mitch. While enjoying time in the back yard, Bova, the dog, upped the excitement level. He was so proud to show off the dead squirrel to all of us.    We decided to celebrate Mom's birthday by heading up to Warwick, NY the on her birthday weekend next month. We stopped at the cemetery, then headed to Ochs Orchard for some apple picking (but James was a bit too young to cooperate.) Instead, we visited with the animals, and got our apples and cider donuts as well as strawberry rhubarb preserves, apple butter and strawberry pancake syrup from the store.
• We enjoyed catching up with Rita & Craig, our neighbors in Newark for dinner at Bridges over at the Narrows.
• Once again, we were able to see the Drum Corps International Eastern Division Competition in Allentown, PA.  We dropped Tillie at Carolyn's, where Tillie kept  her dogs, Molly and Stella company as Caroline joined us for the 3 hours of great music and showmanship. 
• While walking the dog before bed on August 12th, I looked up hoping to see a meteorite from the Perseids meteor shower that was to peak early tomorrow morning. Instead, I saw a rocket "jellyfish" trail heading north.  Having seen quite a few rocket launches in Florida, There is no mistaken the unique trail that when it's lit by the sun. This flight wasn't on the launch schedule, Pete, the master of Google searches, finally identified it as a  top-secret launch from Wallops Island, VA with a trajectory over the north pole (instead of east over the Atlantic.) It caused quite a stir on the Kent Island Happenings on Facebook.
• The new Steiner tradition continues. . .When we gather, we do pizza so there is no fuss, no muss, no craziness. Deneen, Joe, Pete and I had a nice relaxing evening. 
• We had a crazy and frightening experience heading up to Deneen's. We were only about 10 minutes past Princeton and watching the approaching, ominous, grey-green, clouds quickly approaching from the southwest. The wind kept increasing and leaves and large branches were being tossed about.  Soon the trees were bending and thrashing due to the increasing winds and the rains were torrential.  We guesstimated that the winds exceeded 60 mph and were definitely swirling! There was lightning and thunder. I was constantly checking radar, and for tornado warnings as well as checking the breaks in the trees in what little we could see above them for trouble. On the two-lane highway, that was lined with trees, all cars were now traveling at a crawl. Some were pulling over to the sides of the road. As we were about to pass a car stopped in the incoming lane, there was suddenly a loud bang, a bright flash of light and a shower of sparks tumbled onto the car from a blown transformer. A tree fell across the street behind us, so we continued only about 100 feet where suddenly a 2nd transformer blew and we drove through the shower of sparks. We finally found an open spot to park.  We only sat there a minute or two, when Pet saw a large branch fall to the street about 3 cars behind us.  We decided to continue on in hopes to get out of this mess. Believe it or not, it was only 10 minutes of hell before we emerged into cloudy skies, gentle winds and light rain.  There was no report of a tornado, but definitely of strong wind damage, possibly form a down draft. Thankfully, no one was injured.
• Lunch with Carolyn is always special. Since we met in late September, the town was decorated with Delores Dragan’s spooky and unique sculptures.
• We met with Amy and Brian, SV RENA, before they started their summer cruise to Nova Scotia. There is always plenty to talk about. This will be their first cruise since retiring, selling their home and prepping the boat. We will be following their location on a new-to-us app for cruisers: No Foreign Land.
• The CCYC “South” group met twice this summer. Jeanne, Gerry, Bev, Mike, Betty, John, Martha and Dan were able to join us at The Boatyard in Annapolis and later at Keratsini Greek Kitchen. We discussed lots of things, including the new Catalina 48. Bev and Mike hope to take possession of Hull #1 this fall!

 

  

   

     

  

       

 

  

   

  

   

                              

        

Fall is coming!

     The summer passed quickly. Both of us did a lot of of reading, but my list of chores only shortened by one item. Well, there’s always next year.

     While staying with Greg and Jenn, we were able to go attend a couple of our granddaughter’s fall softball games. Chis is assistant coaching both girls’ teams. This is the first time they are on traveling teams. With my foot doing better, I grabbed my good DSLR and long lens. I was able to get quite a few great photos of all the girls on the teams. I put them in a shared album on my iCloud. Chris and Kel will then share them with the parents. It is fun to see how much the girls have progressed since the spring games. Hopefully, we will be back north to see some of their spring games.

         

  

         

                                             

         

     September is also the month when our medical appointments were scheduled. They were made thinking we would be on Kent Island. Instead, we traveled down from NJ 5 times for the medical appointments and my hair appointment. Thankfully, they were just yearly check-ups with nothing serious. YEA!

  

Fall spent at Jenn & Greg's

  

Tillie knows who is Queen of all things ~ Buns 

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Carolyn and I in Lumbertonville, NJ along with Delores Dragan’s spooky and unique sculptures.

 

     The end of  September is upon us. We are anxiously awaiting the call that the engine is being installed.  We are more than ready to begin our cruise south!

~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~  K & P