Yes, this was one fantastic month. Lutz finally got his B2 visa to stay in the USA for six months. Yeehaw! The universe has a way of working things out when you get out of the way—a great lesson for someone who likes to get all her ducks in a row. So let’s recap and figure out where I left you last month.
In my October Newsletter, I shared that my mom had moved from the Rehab facilities to a super assisted living residence in Brookings; my sister was and still is dealing with medical challenges her husband is facing,
And that my brother was and is still facing his medical challenges. Plus, Lutz was in Germany with an appointment set for May 2022, yes, 2022, in Munich at the embassy to secure a B2 visa! Things were looking grim. I finally got mom settled and headed to San Diego to see my daughter and her family. My son, Jarrod, flew down to San Diego to hang out for a few days. It was so lovely to spend the time with my kids and grandkids.
This last month was fast and furious! Settling in with my daughter, her husband, and my two grandchildren in their two-bedroom and one-bath home was just what I needed. I felt useful and loved every minute of my stay. My daughter and her husband own a 28-foot pull trailer which they store in their gated driveway. This super spot became my hacienda for the past month. It was perfect! A great retreat and so comfy.
While Jericho worked from home, I helped with the cleaning, laundry, cooking (of course)…
Assisting the kids with homework and getting the girls ready for school functions was a blast. Below was a special day at their German School, and they were able to rid themselves of uniforms and dress in the German colors! I am happy I could help. I have a new respect for those parents who worked from home and also had to teach their children during the pandemic. To be in the center of the mix was like eyes wide open. Kudos to all the working parents who had to balance marriage, children, teaching, work, and housekeeping during these challenging months. I’m exhausted!
I am so pleased that my two grandchildren are attending a German immersion school. They are both learning German, and since their father is Mexican, they are also learning Spanish. Today was a special day, and I was able to help them dress for the occasion. They usually wear uniforms but this day was a celebration and of course in German colors! I was so excited to assist in getting them ready for the event!
I also got to spend the weekend with Sara at her cozie home in La Jolla. It was great to catch up and enjoy the sun by the pool with one of her great salads! Then it was back to my daughters and my girls!
After experiencing a week of my daughter’s day in and day out affairs, It was time for a road trip! Jericho, the kids, and I packed the car and took a trip to Camarillo near Malibu to visit my brother, his kids, and their family and close friends.
And especially my brother Boe! It was so good to see the family. Just a great shot in the arm! We both needed this, and the kids were in heaven. Beach trips and swimming in the pool were beautiful.
It was so great to see my brother Boe and his family. It’s rare occasions like these where we can all be together at the same time!
One of the highlights of this month was our 50-year high school reunion!
Holy moly, what a fantastic event. The work that went into this was amazing. It was held at a poinsettia farm with an old barn with catered Mexican food. Of course! Over 150 friends and families came. It was so great to connect with people I hadn’t seen since the 20th reunion. None of us have changed! Irene, Sara, Jennifer, and I spent some quality time over breakfast and coffee to catch up.
I thought since I was going to be here forever, at least a few more months, I’d renew my passport. I sent it two days after I arrived in San Diego. After four weeks, I started to get a little concerned since I paid for a rush job. During these four weeks, Lutz had sent a plea to the Munich embassy to ask for an earlier appointment, and they RESPONDED and rescheduled him for three days later. After driving to Munich three days later and a 15-minute meeting, they told him they would verify all his info and get back to him in 7 to 10 working days by mail. About a week later, I was getting ready to call about my passport and check on Lutz’s visa progress when I got my morning wake-up call from him! There it was, a picture of his new B2 visa! So exciting. I went inside for a cup of coffee and found the passport office number to track my passport when the mailman dropped a FedEx envelope in the mailbox! YAHOO, my passport came the same day as Lutz’s visa. We immediately made plans for his flight. Lutz finally arrived and had a huge welcome from the grandkids at the airport. Ruby and Eva were so excited to see him after two years of FaceTime. I must say I missed him too after three months of separation and uncertainty.
We finally rescued Opa from his hard life in the Black Forest and hot tub! Click on the “short movie” below to see how we welcomed Opa at the airport!!
We’re making the best of our time and planning some camping and traveling activities. But first, we had to visit Johnny and Cash (Johnny is our faithful Chevy and Cash, our fifth wheel, need I say more! Both Johnny and Cash had been in storage for two years without being moved or started up, and we had our fingers and legs crossed that Johnny would start. We were surprised but not taken by surprise when we attached the cables and turned the key. Faithful Johnny started right up.
We explored Cash for repairs and discovered that the refrigerator vent on the roof was missing. Apparently, it had been ripped off during one of our camping episodes from 2 years ago. No problem. The part was easy to find, and now Lutz has something to keep him busy for a few days. You can see why we named our fifth wheel Cash.
Later, we discovered the kitchen water faucet was leaking and needed repair as well. We’re still holding our breath this month for no more repairs!
After a wash and polish both, Johnny and Cash looked like new! We were fortunate to secure a campsite at one of our favorite spots in San Diego, Fiddlers Cove on Coronado Island. It’s a great place to do some barbecuing, walk on the beach, ride bikes into town, and relax! Fiddlers Cove is one of our favorite spots to stay and enjoy all San Diego has to explore.
The drive over the Coronado Bridge is breathtaking. This photo is from the bridge looking back at San Diego from the Coronado Bridge.
And this one is from the Island looking back at the bridge.
That’s the bridge in the distance! We’ve spent our days enjoying the views,
Walking on the beach, and
Of course, having the girls with us for the weekend proved quite productive. We had Opa’s skating practice,
Bike rides,
Ice Cream trips,
Opa’s annual pumpkin carving class, and
I must say they were spectacular! Plus,
Ruby lost two teeth in one night while Eva watched in excitement, wiggling her loose tooth frantically in the hopes of coming in second!
We were so excited to participate in their Halloween evening. Both girls chose their costumes, and their father, Albert, did their make-up. I think he has missed his calling. They looked amazing.
So that’s it for now. We will be heading back up to Oregon. We’ll make a stop at my brother Boe’s home then, on to Brookings to stay with my sister and her husband, plus visits with mom. We’ve got lots in store for the next two months, so I’ll chat with you all later. Thanks for taking the time to participate in our journey and my cooking! Here are a few ideas for the upcoming holidays.
Fave Recipes:
Fall is here, and I’m so looking forward to our family camping in Borrego. I’m taking a break from turkey and adding some savory Italian dishes this year! It gets chilly in the evenings so, I’m making room for warm Creamy Dairy-free Fish Soup!
How about a bowl of Creamy Dairy-free Roasted Mushroom Alfredo Sauce
If you’re want to stay with tradition, try this delicious Cassava Pumpkin Cake or muffins if you prefer!
Fave Resource: Seven Ways to do Intermittent Fasting
Lutz and I have implemented intermittent fasting for the past year and have discovered some radical changes to our energy and health. This article is so great. It presents several different protocols for implementing healthy fasting strategies and the importance of each. Check it out!
I'm Melinda Stevens and living the life of a beach bum was inevitable since my father was a lifeguard for the city of Los Angeles. My memories of growing up on John Street in Manhattan Beach, California were filled with joy, excitement and adventures; until my world, as I knew it, fell apart when we moved to Del Mar, California. My father was offered the position as Captain of the lifeguards and we started the slow migration to the small deserted stretch of beach in 1963. At twelve years old, this seemed like the end of my life. Remember, I’m writing with clear hindsight now, ok somewhat clearer… Little did I know this would be the beginning of a new journey and give a bit more clarity to many of the events that led me to this new cooking adventure.
So wonderful to have you and Lutz back together! And those beautiful granddaughters…what a joy!! Your Coronado spot is heaven. You SO deserve this!!! Safe travels north❤️