Well Saturday turned out to be a rather nice day with temps reaching the low 80's and the humidity stayed rather low. I did a total work day outside and the shade of the big oak helped with keeping me cool when I got too hot and sweaty. The sunshine was so bright at times it was blinding. I sure miss the ambiance off stopping to look out into the surrounding woods and seeing only GOD made things but at least the land here is flat which means I can work a little longer and later not having to trudge up the hill or the steps inside the cabin. I can see why folks my age retired to these small houses in these neighborhoods that didn't require any extra effort just to get around or keep the yards up on these postage stamp size lots, oh well.
I started the day with a 6'ish roll out for my first morning back. I didn't really sleep all that well as its quite a change in altitude from 3K feet to sea level and the outside noises are much more prevalent here in a neighborhood with motorcycles, ambulance and or police sirens and just street traffic that is constant throughout the night plus there are street lights as well. The beauty of the dark quiet mountain nights are gone for awhile and it takes some getting use in this environment but there are some great things to make up for the loss of this solitude and that is gardening in the winter months. I managed to get all of my plants that I brought back from the cabin into the ground. While I did have to turn over the soil by hand it was done with a shovel as there are no rocks here, not even pebbles. I did find some weeds, grasses and vines growing but they soon went into the compost pile. It takes a lot of water for the gardens here as the sandy soil quickly dries out but I have a shallow well so I can use it for all of my outside watering. They haven't had any measurable rain in nearly a month and I noticed the front yard grass is starting to turn brown.
I sowed carrots, onions, okra and half runner beans in the ground plus set out the parsley, thyme, collards and rosemary in the ground and then potted up the cilantro and small tomato seedlings. I need to head to Home Depot or Lowes next week for some more seedlings as well as some bagged cow manure. I did see a few earthworms which survived the heat and lack of rain this summer. The watering of the gardens will bring them back along with all of the grass clippings and peelings, egg shells and coffee grounds from the kitchen. I need to make some repairs to the privacy fence in the back as some of the posts were broken at ground level from the summer storms and hurricanes that affected the area.
I'm hoping to get back to pickle ball on Monday for a short workout before tackling more garden and yard chores as well as helping to paint GG's house. I had to make an emergency repair on the kitchen faucet as the Moen kitchen faucet began to drip and then spurt water. Luckily this faucet has a life time guarantee and I had a replacement cartridge in store which is rather easy to change out if you follow the directions. Normally I'm at a loss with this procedure but did manage to successfully accomplish this feat and now must call for a replacement to keep on hand.
We were initially meeting with neighbors and friends Dan and Carol to head out to a local eatery but they called and decided to fix supper for us instead which included the vino and healthy appetizers. Well here was the menu and what a delicious feed that included smoked fish and lobster spread on celery and cucumbers slices along with some very smooth Australia red fruit of the vine, even Nancy liked it as she usually doesn't consume anything but sweet vino. Dan oven fried fillets medium rare and pan seared sea scallops accompanied by fresh asparagus spears, acorn squash casserole and sautee'd fresh mushrooms for the fillet, yeow what a delicious feed. We sat and chilled the rest of the evening until the yawns started to overtake us around 9:30. Dan and I did deliver after eating a trailer for the local church that meets in a bowling alley on Sundays and they keep their instruments in this trailer along with the other necessities. This body of Believers are from ETC program which helps offenders in the crimial justice program straighten out their lives and become a productive member of society again. It's usually drugs that have destroyed them. Carol is one of the staff there and where Nancy and our friend Kathryn volunteered last year. There is a Christian aspect to this program which they can decide to become a part of or not to become a participate; but the choice is there and several of those who have graduated are no leaders giving advice and direction.
Well today we are heading out with Botbyl's to Bridgepoint Church in St.Pete. There is talk and actions being made to start a campus here in the Seminole area and we are looking forward to being a part of this start up campus that will feature a simulcast presentation. Bridgepoint is an action group of Believers who are letting their talk do the walk with another campus already in downtown St.Pete. They want to have several campuses in this area instead of one mega church facility. We are so privileged to be in on this movement to bring the Gospel to lthe ocal areas instead of being centralized with huge overheads, oh well.
After church the Triplett Family with meet on the beach at the Redington Pier for a professional photo shoot and then All will come back for a supper of grilled marinated flank steak, baked taters, green beans and fresh beets from the mountain garden as well as a fresh salad. I know I will stay away from the bread and desserts as I'm wanting once again to drop some of this extra 10 pounds I accumulated this summer. I dropped 6 pounds yesterday from being outside and on my feet all day. I did sweat but was shocked to see such a reduction in weight in one day, oh well.
That is about all that is going on here in hot sunny Florida. I did notice the cold has finally enveloped the mountains with some frost and coat weather. We have the a/c on here but the humidity is tolerable. Don't forget to honor our Creator this day with corporate worship at the place of your choice with other Believers. We have been such a blessed nation in the past and its because GOD has and was honored in all aspects of our lives. The past few years its obvious the disregard of His influence in all areas of our society has led us to such moral decay and the breakdown of our families in this society. GOD said in His word if we repent and change He will heal our land and we definitely need some healing. Please vote this next Tuesday as our kids and grandkids lives depend on making America Great Again or we will go the way the once great Roman Empire that vanquished under the lack of any political and moral conscience. I pray that GOD will heal our land and now we must honor Him at least one day a week, LATER
