Sunday

Well Saturday started out chilly and Nancy ran the heat to take the chill off and by late afternoon she had the a/c on as the temps reached the 80's with high humidity, unbelievable weather here at this time of the year in central Florida. I think also because we had a house full of people and 5 grand babies with 4 of them running around like wild Indians may have contributed to her heated stage. Bobby brought Annsley and Gabe with him around 2 PM as he was performing a wedding out near Fort Desoto Park and then Amy brought Ava, Sam and Eliza so we had a house full when GG and Tyler showed up as well Betsy later on. It finally cooled off a little about bed time.

The morning started with us sleeping in until after 7 for a change. I was going to take another day off from pickle ball to built my strength from this chest cold. I'm still coughing but very little and I think the deep congestion is finally dissipating. I stayed clear of the little ones as I didn't want to share any of this as I think Sam shared it with me a couple weeks ago. I worked out in the garden and then got a 13 pound turkey ready for the smoker. We seasoned it up with olive oil and dried herbs and an apple in the cavity then I sat it on a stand with a beer in the rear. I load the smoker up with apple and hickory wood I brought back from the cabin and let it slow cook for nearly 7 hours.

I could pull the bird apart from the bones and golden skin was beautiful. Such a mild and moist bird and to go with it I had a pot of collards cooking for nearly 5 hours at a simmer. Yeow were they ever delicious to go along with GG's special mac and cheese recipe and a fresh garden salad and crusty bread. Amy made a jello pie and Nancy made a banana cream pie as well. The eatin' was awesome country style with down home fixin's.

We gave the kids a bath and got them ready for Bobby when he returned about 8:30 so they could just be put to bed when they got home after the nearly hour long drive and their inexhaustible energy. We somewhat watched the Duke vs Syracuse game on the tube until it was time to hit the shower after everyone left for home. We got some nice pictures of the 5 grand babies all together for the first time. Eliza was a hit as she slept most of the time through all of the noise waking up occasionally to nurse. Ava and Annsley are into making bracelets with rubber bands and that kept them entertained nearly the whole time here. I put together a train set for the boys and they played much better together with little or no whining about toys.

Well today (Sunday) is worship day in Tampa at Element Church. It will be another day I'm sure of many tears for the passing of little Joey but the start I hope for some healing as well as many within the gathering once more draw on the blessings that come with being a family. I must say we are privileged to be a part of this group of believers that rally when a need is known and the love and care showed to Joey's family was remarkable, LATER   Pictures to follow of my first cabbage this year and some of the beautiful lettuce I'm harvesting and the 7 hour smoked turkey and our son and daughter holding Eliza.