I got a bucket of fertilizer and started giving what's left of the garden plants some much needed nutrients as the constant rain leeched the soil. I did pick a nice cucumber and saw where several more are starting to develop. I had hilled them up so their roots weren't constantly in the water as they don't like wet feet(roots). I then headed to the berry patches and with a cup of water began to hunt for Japanese beetles. I captured about 75 of them from the berries and flower gardens and anything else it seemed to have new growth. They aren't particular as they will eat anything. After my cup runneth over, I did away with them with the big boot(a nice way to say I squashed them).
Nancy had hung a couple loads of laundry on the clothesline(they (beetles)even were on the clothes) and then we got ready for our daily hike to the top of the mountain. It was magnificent with the deep Carolina blue skies and bright sunshine. We stopped and visited with Joe and Jetta and their 3 grandsons who were down with their father for a few days from Ohio. Wow have those boys shot up in height since we last saw them. We headed on back down the mountain for a bite of lunch then I warmed up the riding mower and mowed the yards. Afterwards I spread new grass seed, lime and fertilizer on the backwoods yard as well as limed the just mowed yards. (I know that may seem confusing but the front and back yards are without trees whereas the backwoods yard has many trees).
It was going on 4 o'clock by the time I finished and I had a 6:30 pickle ball match so I rested on the back porch with a book for an hour or so before eating some leftovers for supper. Bob called and we had a nice long conversation while he drove home. He and the family will be here 2 weeks from today for a week's visit. He wants to ride horses and possibly let Annsley and Gabe set on one as well, so I need to contact my horse owner friends and set that up. I'll set up the trout fishing at the trout farm up off the parkway and we should get some good pictures of the kids as they fish as well as enjoy an excellent supper of fresh caught mountain trout(even if we don't catch any the owner can scoop enough from his holding tanks with a net). That has always been a must for all our company when they visit here, but the last couple years we heard they went out of business and just recently got a new number to call from the owner.
Well pickle ball was awesome at the outside court in Roaring Gap. There were 4 of us and we wore each other down for nearly 2 1/2 hours. Ted, Rick, Craig and myself played several sets until nearly 9 PM and set up another match for next Sunday evening. It is such a beautiful setting and the court is perfect for pickle ball despite it being built for paddle ball. It's the same dimensions and has high metal screening(fencing) surrounding the playing area so there is very little of chasing the ball. I headed out after dark and saw lots of wild life on my home; rabbits, raccoons and deer were out in force alongside the roadway into the cabin.
Well it was a fun filled day with lots going on with us. Nancy had her camera out taking lots of photos and today I'm going to get out a many paneled window frame for her to set up a collage of pictures, LATER
