Mother's Day in July

 Friday, July 19, 2024

Laura called to arrange their Mother's Day dinner at Buttermint.  I was shocked to read that Buttermint will be closing; Jay was, too, when I called him.

I was uncomfortably chilled at our table; thankfully, Laura let me wear her sweater.  I must remember to bring a cover-up no matter how hot is it outside.  Our meal was wonderful.  Jay and Laura shared appetizers; I had medallions of beef with rock shrimp in a delicious mound of something I could not identify.

It was still early, so Jay suggested we end the evening with a nightcap at Char'd.  Annika was happy to see us. 

Shorewood restaurant announces closure this month

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Jessica Rodriguez

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

USA TODAY NETWORK – WISCONSIN

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Buttermint Finer Dining & Cocktails, at 4195 N. Oakland Ave. in Shorewood, will close permanently.

The last day of service for the restaurant and cocktail lounge will be Saturday, July 27.

'After much consideration, it was determined that closing Buttermint is the best decision for the entirety of Black Shoe Hospitality,' the press release reads.

Black Shoe Hospitality operates Maxie’s, Blue’s Egg and Story Hill BKC on Milwaukee’s west side. It’s owned by Joe Muench, Jason Kerstein, Amy Kerstein and Dan Sidner.

'We have been very proud to serve Shorewood and the North Shore community and this decision was not made lightly,' Jason Kerstein wrote in a press release. 'We appreciate all the support we have received from our neighbors and friends over the last two and a half years.'

Buttermint Finer Dining and Cocktails opened in December 2021. The restaurant opened after a year of renovations to the former Blue’s Egg in Shorewood.

Door County 2024

Friday, July 5, 2024

Claude and I left SRS at about 1:15 p.m.  Laura said Aleksei and Anton called them to say they encountered torrential rain around Manitowoc; we had plenty of it most of the way.  It began to clear as we approached Door County.

It is breezy and quite cool. The place is gorgeous. 

https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/826070200771282542?source_impression_id=p3_1720834807_P30xAAjYcFPmXUID&modal=PHOTO_TOUR_SCROLLABLE&modalItem=1587141645

As Jay entered he heard a buzzing sound that he traced to the septic system; my hearing did not pick that up. Then there was a leak under the sink next to the stove.  Jay and Brad tried tackling that problem, but it seemed beyond their ability without the right tools.  Jay called the emergency maintenance manager for the fourth time and now a plumber will come to fix it.  There was no water in the upstairs toilet when Janice tried flushing it; the water had been turned off.  Janice noticed there was no hot water as she was getting ready to retire; the hot water tank was shut off.  Jay fixed both problems.

We made our preferences for pizzas and the men went to get them.  We could not preorder because the place was too busy to answer the phone. 

While the men were shopping, the plumber came and replaced a cracked  valve.  We needed a lot of paper towels to get rid of the water.  Jay also noticed mold in  the rear of the cabinet.  

Let's hope the rest of the week goes better.

Saturday, July 6

For breakfast Janice prepared baked pancakes with a lot of fruit.

    

Jay took Aleksei and Anton into Sister Bay and bought some wine glasses at Goodwill, they also picked up some groceries.

Laura and I spent most of the day reading on the deck, shifting our chairs in and out of the sun.  I found relief under the overhang, and also did some knitting.

Aleksei bravely took a dip into the lake.

Laura assembled a buffet of shrimp with cocktail sauce, barbecue meatballs, vegetables, liver pate and a baguette, cheese, crackers, sausage and fruit for our "casual" supper that we ate on the deck.

In the evening we had fun playing Just One Word.

Sunday, July 8

Janice, Claude and I went to Stella Maris Parish (Star of the Sea) in Baileys Harbor for the 8:00 a.m. mass.  After I climbed all the steps, the deacon said that I could have used the elevator. The church was packed.

Jay had a breakfast buffet ready for us when we got home that we enjoyed either indoors or out on the deck. I had a toasted bagel and cream cheese, fruit and yogurt with delicious coffee on the deck.

It was overcast, but glaringly bright.  I did some knitting while sitting under the overhang.

Colin arrived at about 1:00 p.m., after attending a bachelor party in Michigan.  It was great to have him join us.

Claude went on a hike around our area; Jay, Laura, Aleksei and Anton went hiking to Newport State Park.  Brad, Janice, Colin and I picked up Claude from his hike and drove to the Door County Brewery at Baileys Harbor.  We sat outdoors and enjoyed our beers; Janice had root beer and drove us home.

We finished the evening playing Just One Word.

Monday, July 8

Aleksei and Anton left after breakfast.  It was so very nice having them with us.  Colin decided to stay one more day.

It was a perfect day to visit The Ridges Sanctuary.  My walker was a big help walking on the boardwalk which was nice and level.  The day was overcast and comfortably cool.  We had a leisurely walk up to the lighthouse with a docent couple that live there for a week with no charge as a result of being docents. 

I bought two boxes of notecards.  It started to rain as we were leaving, perfect timing 

Claude filled the gas tank, and the rain subsided by the time we got home.

Janice brought out a 500-piece puzzle that she, Claude, Laura and I worked on.  I might have added about 10 pieces, they did the rest.  They had most of it finished before our dinner at Lure.

We were seated promptly for our 6:45 p.m. reservation. Walker provided excellent service and we had wonderful dinners.  My filet was done to perfection.  It was a marvelous dinner.  We just beat the rain coming home.

Janice, Claude and Laura finished the puzzle.

We finished the evening playing Say Anything.

Tuesday, July 9

Janice prepared baked oatmeal with an abundance of fruit; we also have a lot of bananas that we have to eat before they get too ripe.

Colin left for West Bend after having breakfast.

It's great having three cars.  Brad and Janice went golfing at Peninsula State Park, Jay and Claude went hiking at Newport Beach State Park and Laura and I hit the shops.  Laura knew just where to go for unique merchandise.  I bought some lavender and lemon essential oils, and a scented bulb to put in the shower.   Laura found some cats and dogs lounging pants to give to Aleksei, Anton and Annika for Birthday presents.  We bought some groceries before heading home.

Jay and Laura paid a visit to Barb Pederson.

We sat outdoors long before suppertime, just enjoying the beautiful day.

Laura put out fixings for do-it-yourself taco salad, with Janice's refried beans to have a very satisfying meal.

Wednesday, July 10

A promise of another beautiful day.

We read, relaxed and enjoyed the day.

Janice's friend Sue and her husband Paul paid a visit from Fish Creek.

Laura fixed spaghetti with garlic bread and salad.

In the evening we saw "The Angel Next Door" at the Peninsula Theater.  When I had arranged for tickets there were quite a few vacancies.  The theater was full tonight.  We enjoyed this play.

Thursday, July 11

I was up to see the sunrise at 5:12 a.m.  I solved Connections in 4, Wordl in 2 with CAMEO, Strands with Loaded Lunch and got to Genius level in Spelling Bee.

We are using up and improvising the breakfast menu, but it's always delicious and wholesome.

Brad and Janice went biking.  Jay drove Laura, Claude and me to the north tip to see ferries load.

                          

And then to Charley's Smoke House for smoked whitefish; I also bought a deck of cards and some postage stamps before the rate increase. We stopped at Piggly Wiggly for some bread to make smoked fish sandwiches.  Very delicious.

Since I was up so early, I took a nice nap in bed.

Claude noticed that my car license sticker is expired, so we looked up how to renew it. The web site said that I owe a fee, so we'll renew it in Sheboygan on our way home.

Dinner tonight was at Harbor Fish Market and Grill. I started with six oysters on the half shell then seared scallops; delicious.  Again, there were not too many diners on a Thursday, which happens to be their slowest day; tomorrow they have reservations for 200.

We played a trivia game called I Should Have Known before calling it a day.   I'm starting to pack for our departure tomorrow.

Friday, July 12

We arranged the house just as we found it before leaving at about 9:40 a.m.

Claude and I stopped at Cave Park, but the lake was too calm to see the waves crash against the rocks.

We found the DMV in Sheboygan to renew my car license.  Because I had not renewed it in a timely manner, I had to pay $420; what a shock.  

We had something to eat at Culver's, filled up the gas tank and were on our way.

Claude helped carry in my bags.  He also put the sticker on my car.

Bass Bay and Much More

 Wednesday, July 3, 2024

A young lady was standing on the corner across from Pick 'n Save juggling bursting bags of groceries, plus a package of diapers.  As she tried carrying them, some fell and she would start over, with no luck gathering them in her arms.  I stopped and asked where she was going.  She said that she was going home.  I told her that she'd never make it with that load of groceries.  I told her I'd take her to her home, which she said was on Marshall Street, not too far, but incredibly far with those groceries.  Her name was Jenny and was most grateful for my help.

Only three tables at sheepshead, with not much luck.  Poor cards and weak partners didn't help.  I left early for my 4:00 p.m. hair appointment for our trip to Door County on Friday.

I told Peter to meet me at Salon Marie about 4:30 p.m. where I'd leave my car and we'd drive to Bass Bay Brewhouse for dinner.  With the weather rainy and cold the past few days, I wasn't sure we'd be going, but today was absolutely perfect: sunny, warm and calm.  Peter called as I was waiting for him that he was at Culver's.  He sounded very upset, and would not move from Culver's.  He was too upset to give me the address, like I failed to give him the address of Salon Marie.  He described where he was, and I though he meant the Culvers close to Greenfield Ave.  I managed calling him back and he said that I drove by where he was, on Forest Home Ave.  He had already left and was on Bluemound Road, heading home.  I told him to turn around and we'd meet at the Park & Ride on Hwy 100. That was a perfect arrangement and worked out very well.  We met as though nothing happened.

We waited about 45 minutes with gin and tonics for our table.  Peter had a Friday fish fry, I had grilled salmon with vegetables.  Peter took some of his home; my plate was clean.  We both enjoyed an almost perfect evening.

Walmart Madness

I needed to bring something for the pot luck tomorrow.  I did not want to buy more than I'd need, since I'd be leaving for Door County the following day.  Rupeena's was closed; I went into Walmart in West Milwaukee.  The place was crowded.  I found the recipe for grape salad that I thought I could manage and bought what I needed.  I proceeded to check-out and could not believe the long lines with overflowing carts, about 20 people in line before me, winding around the aisles.  I left my cart and left; no way did I need anything that badly.