Well Friday was a mixture of play and work and the temps were once again on the rise with increasing humidity but tolerable to say the least for the end of the month. The a/c is on despite the cool mornings. The trees have all leafed out in the hood and there is green everywhere with the pollen finally gone. The garden is loving these temps but the east wind has really caused me to water heavily as the garden dries out so quickly.
I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my usual cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting up several by name. I spoke with Paw Paw and he sounded good but his memory is failing and did say the weather up his way is improving with some warmth. GG is doing better than expected and our "mountain mom" sounded good there also. They are all waiting for some Springtime weather and are done with winter.
I headed out to the rec. for my usual two hours of non stop pickle ball play which has helped me finally hit the 183 mark for the first time in over a year. It varies from time to time but is consistently down to the middle 180's from the the high of 197 last fall. It helps with staying away from the carbs and smaller potions but the exercise is the real reason for this weight loss. I'm loving both the exercise and the work outside but now from noon until 4 it's too hot to be outside except for in the shade which has now been cut in half with the big oak gone, oh well.
I harvested lettuces, kale and other greens as well carrots which were enormous some as long as 10 inches and big around, plus green beans and sugar peas as well as 7 tomatoes but the fruit flies had caused three of them to go bad. I hate to use any pesticides but I may have to dust them with SEVIN if it continues. I gave away to several bags of greens and green beans. So far with the twice daily waterings everything but the Swiss chard is surviving.
I spent a couple hours reading after lunch as Nancy took the grand kids shopping for Easter clothes. I'm thrilled she isn't purchasing tons of candy as is usual and getting them something they need instead of contributing to dental bills. I'm about finished with THE ROOSTER BAR which has taken many twists and turns. Grisham is a really good story teller but a hopeless liberal which I find him interjecting his philosophy into his writing in a subtle way. I grilled salmon fillets for supper and along with a fresh garden salad we dined superbly. After the cleanup I settled into the Rays and Lightning game in the bedroom and watched the Ray's lose 1-0 to Boston in a good game and the Lightning destroyed the Rangers in New York after a lost to Boston on Thursday night.
Well today is going to be a busy day with an hour of pickle ball at the rec. then a load in at SPC at 9 for BridgePoint and then back to the rec. from 11-2 for a Family Day which BridgePoint Church is sponsoring for free to the communities. There will be an Easter Egg Hunt, laser tag, bounce house and more at ALL three campuses in the county. We at least don't have to load in on Sunday at 6 AM, LATER
Happy Easter to ALL and hopefully all will gather together at a place with other Believers to honor and celebrate the Risen Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ.
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Friday, March 30, 2018
Friday Morning..Good Friday
Well Thursday was a busy day that saw us with Amy and the grand kiddos for most of the afternoon and then again the kiddos for the evening as Amy and Tyler had a date night. They are so full of energy and growing so fast they just wear you out but are just awesome kids and we so enjoy having them around. I grilled their favorite chicken drumsticks for supper and they chowed down and then of course later while watching a movie with grandma I made them popcorn. She had made cutout cookies all afternoon with them as they loaded on the decorations and sprinkles to the cookies as well as the kitchen floor.
I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and then spent some quiet with my Creator. I still haven't heard from Paw Paw in several days as his phones go unanswered but all is well I suppose. GG is doing good and she is now quiet the talker and has lost all of the signs of the stroke she suffered months ago. All of those I mention by name are hanging in there at this point in time. Nancy was off to a dermatologist for a check up and all seems well except for a couple areas which can be taken care of this summer with our doctor in the mountains.
I headed out around 8 for two hours of pickle ball play at the rec. and then stopped at the library for a couple books I had on order for months and one of which is titled THE ROOSTER BAR by Grishman. I read about a third of it during the course of the afternoon and evening and its very interesting. I did take off for an ear lowering after pickle ball and then again after lunch to look for sod and a tree to replant in the front yard. I found a beautiful Crepe Myrtle at a reasonable price and the sod should be here by Monday so I can start on the front yard. I've been watering and now need to fertilize the grasses and get it established before we head out to the mountains in June.
After the supper cleanup I headed into watch the Lightning lose in Boston in a physical game that was close and I did learn the Rays beat the Red Sox at home in their opener. We are planning on a trip to a game with our Life Group in the next couple of weeks. Well it was a busy day and by 10'ish I was ready for some horizontal lab, LATER
I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and then spent some quiet with my Creator. I still haven't heard from Paw Paw in several days as his phones go unanswered but all is well I suppose. GG is doing good and she is now quiet the talker and has lost all of the signs of the stroke she suffered months ago. All of those I mention by name are hanging in there at this point in time. Nancy was off to a dermatologist for a check up and all seems well except for a couple areas which can be taken care of this summer with our doctor in the mountains.
I headed out around 8 for two hours of pickle ball play at the rec. and then stopped at the library for a couple books I had on order for months and one of which is titled THE ROOSTER BAR by Grishman. I read about a third of it during the course of the afternoon and evening and its very interesting. I did take off for an ear lowering after pickle ball and then again after lunch to look for sod and a tree to replant in the front yard. I found a beautiful Crepe Myrtle at a reasonable price and the sod should be here by Monday so I can start on the front yard. I've been watering and now need to fertilize the grasses and get it established before we head out to the mountains in June.
After the supper cleanup I headed into watch the Lightning lose in Boston in a physical game that was close and I did learn the Rays beat the Red Sox at home in their opener. We are planning on a trip to a game with our Life Group in the next couple of weeks. Well it was a busy day and by 10'ish I was ready for some horizontal lab, LATER
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Thursday Morning
Well Wednesday was rather nice in the morning but it did get a bit warm in the afternoon especially now since the shade from the big oak is completely gone and on another note two guys came with a bigger truck to finally remove the trailer that had been parked in the street with the two huge pieces of the trunk that broke the hitch on the last truck.
I started the day with my usual before 6 'ish roll out. I did my usual morning routines that start with a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and spent some time with my Creator in thanksgiving and intercessory thoughts and prayers for several. I still haven't heard from Paw Paw after calling him on both of his phones for the past several days. Nancy spoke with GG her mom and she sounded good. Everyone else is doing as well as can be expected for their age and our neighbors daughter with the brain tumor turned out to be cancer but the prognosis is good as the doctors think they can cure it, she is only 37.
I headed out on my bike to the rec. a little before 8 for two solid hours of pickle ball. My shoulders and arms were a little stiff from all the shoveling the day before, but I played well and left with a wet shirt at 10'ish. I headed home as a friend from church and his young son where coming by to get some fishing worms for his garden. He is all excited about gardening after seeing mine and wanted some secrets or some hints on how to garden and I mentioned worms are one of the best things to have for making compost into plant food. Every shovel full had all kinds of worms from breeders to tiny wigglers. His little boy, Orin was right in there picking them up and putting them in their bucket.
I piddled around in the garden hand watering and feeding the tomato's and peppers with some miracle grow as well as harvesting 5 nice size green tomato's for lunch. Ava loves fried green tomato's and these were exceptionally delicious as they went from the vine to the pan within 30 minutes of picking. We also love fried eggplant but the tomato's don't seem to be as filling or as greasy as the egg plant. Speaking of egg plant I have one started on one plant about the size of your thumb. I headed to home depot to pick up dirt and some sod but they didn't have the type that I wanted so I will check out some sod places today.
I worked outside after 4'ish when it started to cool down and raked the front yard to get it ready for sod hopefully today. I bought some dirt that had composted cow manure in it and wow does it ever stink, but should help with getting the grass to grow over the stump area. There is a large hole where I'm going to replant another tree in the middle of the old stump below ground which will be perfect. I set the sprinkler out front as well and gave the front yard a good soaking. We sure could use some rain, LATER
I started the day with my usual before 6 'ish roll out. I did my usual morning routines that start with a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and spent some time with my Creator in thanksgiving and intercessory thoughts and prayers for several. I still haven't heard from Paw Paw after calling him on both of his phones for the past several days. Nancy spoke with GG her mom and she sounded good. Everyone else is doing as well as can be expected for their age and our neighbors daughter with the brain tumor turned out to be cancer but the prognosis is good as the doctors think they can cure it, she is only 37.
I headed out on my bike to the rec. a little before 8 for two solid hours of pickle ball. My shoulders and arms were a little stiff from all the shoveling the day before, but I played well and left with a wet shirt at 10'ish. I headed home as a friend from church and his young son where coming by to get some fishing worms for his garden. He is all excited about gardening after seeing mine and wanted some secrets or some hints on how to garden and I mentioned worms are one of the best things to have for making compost into plant food. Every shovel full had all kinds of worms from breeders to tiny wigglers. His little boy, Orin was right in there picking them up and putting them in their bucket.
I piddled around in the garden hand watering and feeding the tomato's and peppers with some miracle grow as well as harvesting 5 nice size green tomato's for lunch. Ava loves fried green tomato's and these were exceptionally delicious as they went from the vine to the pan within 30 minutes of picking. We also love fried eggplant but the tomato's don't seem to be as filling or as greasy as the egg plant. Speaking of egg plant I have one started on one plant about the size of your thumb. I headed to home depot to pick up dirt and some sod but they didn't have the type that I wanted so I will check out some sod places today.
I worked outside after 4'ish when it started to cool down and raked the front yard to get it ready for sod hopefully today. I bought some dirt that had composted cow manure in it and wow does it ever stink, but should help with getting the grass to grow over the stump area. There is a large hole where I'm going to replant another tree in the middle of the old stump below ground which will be perfect. I set the sprinkler out front as well and gave the front yard a good soaking. We sure could use some rain, LATER
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Wednesday Morning
Well Tuesday started out early for me as I had trouble sleeping while thinking about getting rid of the huge pile of oak tree much from the grinder. I tossed and turned with excitement about the fact I had a trailer from a neighbor and a place to dump it at no cost. I just needed to figure how I was going to get rid of the mulch pile in one day.
I started with a well before 6 roll out, did my morning routines with my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and spend some quiet time with my Creator in thanksgiving for another day and then lifted up several by name. I called Paw Paw a couple times the past couple of days but no answer on either phone but Nancy spoke with GG and she seems almost back to normal with her speech and thought processes. She is walking now with a walker which I never thought would happen. The other we lift up are holding their own. We did speak with our "mountain mom"Helen and there is still snow on the ground despite the above freezing temps. They are so ready for warm weather and for winter to be over.
Well I had the trailer hooked up to my truck by 7:30 and was shoveling mulch soon thereafter and had my first load nearly completed by myself when a neighbor came up and helped around 9'ish. He mentioned he wanted the mulch at his stables not too far from where I was going to dump it in the park. So with his help we headed over to dump the first load and then had the trailer nearly loaded with the second load all before lunch. Thankfully there was a breeze which kept it rather nice for working in the direct sunlight. I had another neighbor come by and he shoveled for half and hour and then Dan came down and helped with finishing up the pile and unloading it. Wow, what a day and all of our backs, arms and shoulders where aching by supper time.
I came the man who let me sue his trailer a nice mess of collards and jalapeno peppers from the garden. I did some hand watering as the wind had dried out the gardens. I did pick 5 tomatoes that were turning but not completely red. I found three that bugs had caused to rot before turning red so I didn't want anymore to rot from bug bites, oh well. They are still delicious despite not completely turned on the vine. The plants are loaded various size fruit.
Well its back to pickle ball today after a day off. I think all of the exercise has kept me in good shape to be able to handle that job yesterday and it was a job to say the least. I will have to take the stump down a little more with a saw but that shouldn't be too difficult. Now its dirt and then grass plugs and watering to get the lawn in shape before we head out in June. I have to plant a tree as well to replace the big oak, LATER
I started with a well before 6 roll out, did my morning routines with my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and spend some quiet time with my Creator in thanksgiving for another day and then lifted up several by name. I called Paw Paw a couple times the past couple of days but no answer on either phone but Nancy spoke with GG and she seems almost back to normal with her speech and thought processes. She is walking now with a walker which I never thought would happen. The other we lift up are holding their own. We did speak with our "mountain mom"Helen and there is still snow on the ground despite the above freezing temps. They are so ready for warm weather and for winter to be over.
Well I had the trailer hooked up to my truck by 7:30 and was shoveling mulch soon thereafter and had my first load nearly completed by myself when a neighbor came up and helped around 9'ish. He mentioned he wanted the mulch at his stables not too far from where I was going to dump it in the park. So with his help we headed over to dump the first load and then had the trailer nearly loaded with the second load all before lunch. Thankfully there was a breeze which kept it rather nice for working in the direct sunlight. I had another neighbor come by and he shoveled for half and hour and then Dan came down and helped with finishing up the pile and unloading it. Wow, what a day and all of our backs, arms and shoulders where aching by supper time.
I came the man who let me sue his trailer a nice mess of collards and jalapeno peppers from the garden. I did some hand watering as the wind had dried out the gardens. I did pick 5 tomatoes that were turning but not completely red. I found three that bugs had caused to rot before turning red so I didn't want anymore to rot from bug bites, oh well. They are still delicious despite not completely turned on the vine. The plants are loaded various size fruit.
Well its back to pickle ball today after a day off. I think all of the exercise has kept me in good shape to be able to handle that job yesterday and it was a job to say the least. I will have to take the stump down a little more with a saw but that shouldn't be too difficult. Now its dirt and then grass plugs and watering to get the lawn in shape before we head out in June. I have to plant a tree as well to replace the big oak, LATER
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Tuesday Morning
Well the heat has come back somewhat and with a little humidity but the gentle breeze has kept it tolerable but we can really tell the difference with the big oak tree gone and the lack of any shade. Nancy has the a/c back on after nearly a week of cool dry temps. Today I will load up the tree trunk shaving and haul it off. I found out there was a place not far from us that allows you to dump the mulch and then others can pick it up for free; at least the big oak will benefit some one as mulch. I've offered it to all the neighbors as well.
Monday was much a routine day that started with a 6'ish roll out to a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and then spent some quiet time with my Creator in thanksgiving for another day as well as lifted up several by name. I called Paw Paw but got no answer and I did notice where the snow has started to melt in the mountains after their two snows this past week. The almanac was right on about it being a severe winter with lots of snow which really is a plus when it comes to keeping the forests from drying up and fire prevention. It should be a good growing season there this year for gardens as well as the hard freezes have decimated the insects that are a bother to vegetables.
I headed out to the rec. for two hours of pickle ball play and left with a wet shirt around 10. It had really warmed up from the early morning and the overcast skies were now clear and blue. I pedaled home on my bike after a quick stop at the library for a couple new reads I had ordered. I was waiting to see if the tree guys were coming to remove the big trailer still in front of the house with the two tree trunks in the back as the trailer hitch on the towing truck broke last Friday. They still hadn't come by for the trailer. I decided to save some money by removing the ground up debris myself which would have cost an additional 5-6 hundred bucks. A neighbor up the street offered his trailer so I can cart the mulch away and that's what I will do today; thus skipping pickle ball this morning.
I grilled peppers and onions for fajitas for our supper then headed out to hand water the gardens and parts of the front yard which was torn up from all of the equipment used to remove the tree trunks. I'm hoping to remove all of the mulch today and work on getting the "hump" really for some grass plugs. The hump is where the tree root bulb had raised up the yard but the stump grinder went down quite aways. I will need to fill in the area with some dirt before planting plugs, oh well.
I worked outside until nearly 8 before heading in to a hot shower and then some Lightning hockey. They were losing big time to the Arizona team when I shut the lights off at 10, LATER
Monday was much a routine day that started with a 6'ish roll out to a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and then spent some quiet time with my Creator in thanksgiving for another day as well as lifted up several by name. I called Paw Paw but got no answer and I did notice where the snow has started to melt in the mountains after their two snows this past week. The almanac was right on about it being a severe winter with lots of snow which really is a plus when it comes to keeping the forests from drying up and fire prevention. It should be a good growing season there this year for gardens as well as the hard freezes have decimated the insects that are a bother to vegetables.
I headed out to the rec. for two hours of pickle ball play and left with a wet shirt around 10. It had really warmed up from the early morning and the overcast skies were now clear and blue. I pedaled home on my bike after a quick stop at the library for a couple new reads I had ordered. I was waiting to see if the tree guys were coming to remove the big trailer still in front of the house with the two tree trunks in the back as the trailer hitch on the towing truck broke last Friday. They still hadn't come by for the trailer. I decided to save some money by removing the ground up debris myself which would have cost an additional 5-6 hundred bucks. A neighbor up the street offered his trailer so I can cart the mulch away and that's what I will do today; thus skipping pickle ball this morning.
I grilled peppers and onions for fajitas for our supper then headed out to hand water the gardens and parts of the front yard which was torn up from all of the equipment used to remove the tree trunks. I'm hoping to remove all of the mulch today and work on getting the "hump" really for some grass plugs. The hump is where the tree root bulb had raised up the yard but the stump grinder went down quite aways. I will need to fill in the area with some dirt before planting plugs, oh well.
I worked outside until nearly 8 before heading in to a hot shower and then some Lightning hockey. They were losing big time to the Arizona team when I shut the lights off at 10, LATER
Monday, March 26, 2018
Monday Morning
Well Sunday saw us change with the weather as the heat and some humidity came back into the picture after a rather beautiful start of the day and my day started around a 5:30 roll out. I had to be at the SPC for the load in of BridgePoint Church which we do every Sunday Morning to get the facility ready for worship. We had a nice crowd with several new faces during the two services and while I greeted at the front doors for the first service I attend the second one then afterwards we headed out with the Botbyl's for lunch at Miller's Ale House in Seminole.
I tried something which always looks so good and colorful but wouldn't order it again as it was huge plate of taco chips with salsa, chicken, sour cream and whatever but mainly chips and I didn't come near finishing it and then Nancy ordered something close to it and she brought half of hers home. We should have ordered two bags of corn chips and condiments much like we make at home but I had to try it but never again, oh well that held us the rest of the day except for a bowl of pop corn the old fashion way on the stove and in a pot with olive oil.
I piddled around in the back yard raking and then using the blower to clean off everything while the sprinkler watered the gardens. I checked with several neighbors offering them as much mulch they could use as I want to get rid of this pile as soon as possible despite the assurances of the firm that removed the tree. I hate to see the mulch not be used instead of being burned up, oh well. I sure have a huge pile and would guess several truck loads. Afterwards we watch a close Duke vs Kansas game for the slot to the final four in basketball. Duke almost won in regulation play but lost in overtime.
We settled in on the couch with our pop corn until then end of the game then I hit the showers and finally watched a little of a survival show which Nancy hates but I find interesting. Anyhow at 10'ish I was ready for some horizontal lab after an early morning start, LATER
I tried something which always looks so good and colorful but wouldn't order it again as it was huge plate of taco chips with salsa, chicken, sour cream and whatever but mainly chips and I didn't come near finishing it and then Nancy ordered something close to it and she brought half of hers home. We should have ordered two bags of corn chips and condiments much like we make at home but I had to try it but never again, oh well that held us the rest of the day except for a bowl of pop corn the old fashion way on the stove and in a pot with olive oil.
I piddled around in the back yard raking and then using the blower to clean off everything while the sprinkler watered the gardens. I checked with several neighbors offering them as much mulch they could use as I want to get rid of this pile as soon as possible despite the assurances of the firm that removed the tree. I hate to see the mulch not be used instead of being burned up, oh well. I sure have a huge pile and would guess several truck loads. Afterwards we watch a close Duke vs Kansas game for the slot to the final four in basketball. Duke almost won in regulation play but lost in overtime.
We settled in on the couch with our pop corn until then end of the game then I hit the showers and finally watched a little of a survival show which Nancy hates but I find interesting. Anyhow at 10'ish I was ready for some horizontal lab after an early morning start, LATER
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Sunday Evening
Well I'm finally getting around to a post about Saturday as I was up at 5'ish this morning due to the load in at BridgePoint Church, so here I am after a long day already. Saturday found us up early or at my usual 6'ish roll out. I had a grinder for the tree stump coming at 8'ish and we had to leave by 9 ish to pick up Amy, Sam and Eliza as we were heading to Tampa for Gabe's baseball game. It was down right chilly to start the day with temps in the upper 50's with a nice breeze.
I did my usual morning routines that started with the cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator. We had a lite breakfast before getting ready to head out. I had cut some fresh lettuces and made a huge salad to take with us to Tampa as we were having lunch with Bobby and family and then Katie's folks came to lunch as well along with her grand dad. I also brought enough garden green beans for a nice mess as well. We stayed until nearly 3 o'clock letting Sam and Eliza play in the heated poole area with Annsley and Gabe. The traffic was terrible on the way back with the interstates clogged with such high volume. It took us almost two hours to finally get home.
The tree trimmers where still in the back yard finishing up with their job. They really gave the tree a nice look and hopefully it will not be such a problem with limbs clogging up the yards if we have another storm this summer. They earned their money and now I have to get rid of the huge pile of mulch from the tree stump as I need to start on getting grass to grow where the old oak once stood. This grinder was a an unbelievable piece of machinery as it would grind down a house it was that big and versatile. The operator used a remote control and the blade moved up and down as well as back and forth. Well it was sad to no longer see the big oak and already I can tell a difference with the lack of shade no longer on the house and the a/c is running, oh well, LATER
I did my usual morning routines that started with the cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator. We had a lite breakfast before getting ready to head out. I had cut some fresh lettuces and made a huge salad to take with us to Tampa as we were having lunch with Bobby and family and then Katie's folks came to lunch as well along with her grand dad. I also brought enough garden green beans for a nice mess as well. We stayed until nearly 3 o'clock letting Sam and Eliza play in the heated poole area with Annsley and Gabe. The traffic was terrible on the way back with the interstates clogged with such high volume. It took us almost two hours to finally get home.
The tree trimmers where still in the back yard finishing up with their job. They really gave the tree a nice look and hopefully it will not be such a problem with limbs clogging up the yards if we have another storm this summer. They earned their money and now I have to get rid of the huge pile of mulch from the tree stump as I need to start on getting grass to grow where the old oak once stood. This grinder was a an unbelievable piece of machinery as it would grind down a house it was that big and versatile. The operator used a remote control and the blade moved up and down as well as back and forth. Well it was sad to no longer see the big oak and already I can tell a difference with the lack of shade no longer on the house and the a/c is running, oh well, LATER
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Saturday Morning
Well Friday was the big day for removing the big oak in the front yard which took all day with about 10 men working and a couple will come back today with the stump grinder and then the "climber" will trim the oak in the back yard. Wow, what a job that was and it sure gave the the house an all together different look; but the neighbors seem to be happy especially since the threat of a storm blowing this behemoth over onto their houses.
I started the day much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to once again chilly temps. I did my routines that started with the cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator. I got ready then headed out on my bike for some two hours of pickle ball play at the rec. before getting home a little after 10. The tree guys were there and had started with a couple limbs down. Finally three other crews came and the one man who was the "climber' came and put on spurs that linemen use to climb poles. Well he was the experienced one who was 30-40 feet in the air on limbs while sawing off portions and then lowered them to the ground with ropes.
Around 3 they had all of the limbs down and was ready to saw the trunk down and what a job. The chainsaw had a huge long blade and it took several cuts to get through and topple the trunk which did damage the sidewalk when it fell. They had brought a bobcat to help with lifting the trunk which was finally sawed in several pieces to fit in the back of a trailer but when that occurred the weight was so great it broke the hitch on the truck. They had to leave the trailer with the tree over night along the road.
Today they will grind the stump and cart off the chips while the "climber" will trim the oak in the back yard. We have to leave for Gabe's ball game around 9'ish so they will be on their own. Hopefully they will do a fine job and not damage the roof in the back yard. It was close to 5 when they all headed out after a hard day's work as they all live in Hillsborough County. It was a great day for working with no humidity and a slight breeze. I helped as much as possible with the cleanup on the yard and the loading of the pieces with directing traffic around the area. The street was closed at times.
Well after a light supper of baked cod fillets and green beans from the garden we settled into our usual cable news and then I watched some of the "March Madness" game with W.Va, losing in a hard fought game. It wasn't long until it was a hot shower for me as the sun wore me out being outside for most of the day, LATER
I started the day much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to once again chilly temps. I did my routines that started with the cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator. I got ready then headed out on my bike for some two hours of pickle ball play at the rec. before getting home a little after 10. The tree guys were there and had started with a couple limbs down. Finally three other crews came and the one man who was the "climber' came and put on spurs that linemen use to climb poles. Well he was the experienced one who was 30-40 feet in the air on limbs while sawing off portions and then lowered them to the ground with ropes.
Around 3 they had all of the limbs down and was ready to saw the trunk down and what a job. The chainsaw had a huge long blade and it took several cuts to get through and topple the trunk which did damage the sidewalk when it fell. They had brought a bobcat to help with lifting the trunk which was finally sawed in several pieces to fit in the back of a trailer but when that occurred the weight was so great it broke the hitch on the truck. They had to leave the trailer with the tree over night along the road.
Today they will grind the stump and cart off the chips while the "climber" will trim the oak in the back yard. We have to leave for Gabe's ball game around 9'ish so they will be on their own. Hopefully they will do a fine job and not damage the roof in the back yard. It was close to 5 when they all headed out after a hard day's work as they all live in Hillsborough County. It was a great day for working with no humidity and a slight breeze. I helped as much as possible with the cleanup on the yard and the loading of the pieces with directing traffic around the area. The street was closed at times.
Well after a light supper of baked cod fillets and green beans from the garden we settled into our usual cable news and then I watched some of the "March Madness" game with W.Va, losing in a hard fought game. It wasn't long until it was a hot shower for me as the sun wore me out being outside for most of the day, LATER
Friday, March 23, 2018
Friday Morning
Well Thursday was a chilly day all day long with a stiff breeze but it made for a good day for drying clothes outside on the line. You needed a long sleeve shirt or light jacket in the evening hours as we attended the FCA banquet which is a fund raiser. It was our first time there and we saw so many familiar faces as well as met some very interesting folks especially a retired pro football player who sat at our table.
The day started much the usual with a 6 ish roll out to a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I spent some quiet time with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting up several by name and the posting of this ramble. All is quiet with those I mention by name and especially GG as she is now carrying on a conversation like old times and is moving about albeit with a walker which is fantastic. I soon got ready and headed out on my bike for the rec. for two hours of pickle ball and left around 10'ish with a wet shirt. What a workout as 5 of us had one court for two hours which was awesome. I made a stop at the library before heading home to water the gardens.
I did some reading before lunch, paid some bills on line and caught up with the social media and saw where the snow and cold weather was still in the mountains and beyond. Wow what a winter they are having and put to shame the global warming nuts who have made a ton of money on this concept. It's a cycle as we look at the records from decades ago and to think that emissions cause climate change is ludicrous. One active volcano spews more emissions into the atmosphere in one day than all of the vehicles put together over time but we have those who believe this nonsense and make fortunes from it, oh well.
Amy and Eliza came for lunch and she did some of her ballet moves for Nancy instructing her on each stance. She is a hoot and very much in control as well as demanding to do it right. We headed out around 6'ish for Fellowship of Christian Athletes(FCA) banquet in St.Pete at a huge church building where we met several from our old church and the one we presently attend. It was like old home week and the new director of FCA invited us to the event. We also met Steve Young(not the QB) who is a former Buccaneer lineman who was drafted the same year that Leroy Selmon was drafted and who eventually became a hall of famer with the club. I shared some stories with him how I personally met Leroy and his brother Dewy on the highway one morning. Mr Young is close to 7 feet tall and still in good shape and very much involved in this organization as a regional director. There must have been close to 500 folks at this event and it became not only a fund raiser but an awesome time of worship with great music and speakers. It was after 9 before the meeting ended.
Well we made a stop at Walmart on the way home for drinks for the crew that is coming to remove the big oak that has been in our front yard since we bought the house in '79. It will be sorely missed as the shade has brought welcome relief at times but its rotten in the center and now termites have made it a hotel as well. It a Laurel Oak and usually they live about 40-50 years and this one has lasted beyond it healthier years. I will be sad but the Nancy and neighbors will be glad for it to be gone, Oh well, LATER
The day started much the usual with a 6 ish roll out to a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I spent some quiet time with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting up several by name and the posting of this ramble. All is quiet with those I mention by name and especially GG as she is now carrying on a conversation like old times and is moving about albeit with a walker which is fantastic. I soon got ready and headed out on my bike for the rec. for two hours of pickle ball and left around 10'ish with a wet shirt. What a workout as 5 of us had one court for two hours which was awesome. I made a stop at the library before heading home to water the gardens.
I did some reading before lunch, paid some bills on line and caught up with the social media and saw where the snow and cold weather was still in the mountains and beyond. Wow what a winter they are having and put to shame the global warming nuts who have made a ton of money on this concept. It's a cycle as we look at the records from decades ago and to think that emissions cause climate change is ludicrous. One active volcano spews more emissions into the atmosphere in one day than all of the vehicles put together over time but we have those who believe this nonsense and make fortunes from it, oh well.
Amy and Eliza came for lunch and she did some of her ballet moves for Nancy instructing her on each stance. She is a hoot and very much in control as well as demanding to do it right. We headed out around 6'ish for Fellowship of Christian Athletes(FCA) banquet in St.Pete at a huge church building where we met several from our old church and the one we presently attend. It was like old home week and the new director of FCA invited us to the event. We also met Steve Young(not the QB) who is a former Buccaneer lineman who was drafted the same year that Leroy Selmon was drafted and who eventually became a hall of famer with the club. I shared some stories with him how I personally met Leroy and his brother Dewy on the highway one morning. Mr Young is close to 7 feet tall and still in good shape and very much involved in this organization as a regional director. There must have been close to 500 folks at this event and it became not only a fund raiser but an awesome time of worship with great music and speakers. It was after 9 before the meeting ended.
Well we made a stop at Walmart on the way home for drinks for the crew that is coming to remove the big oak that has been in our front yard since we bought the house in '79. It will be sorely missed as the shade has brought welcome relief at times but its rotten in the center and now termites have made it a hotel as well. It a Laurel Oak and usually they live about 40-50 years and this one has lasted beyond it healthier years. I will be sad but the Nancy and neighbors will be glad for it to be gone, Oh well, LATER
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Thursday Morning
Well it was a bit chilly Wednesday morning as I rode out to the rec. on my bike with a strong wind out of the north. I'm shocked it's this chilly at this part of March especially after having such hot humid temps a couple weeks ago, oh well.
I started the day much the usual with a 6'ish roll out and the cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric was a welcome on this chilly morning. I did my usual routines of posting this ramble and then a few quiet moments in thanksgiving with my Creator while lifting up several by name. We spoke with all of those during the afternoon and while snow and cold temps are present all seemed in good spirits. Nancy was anxious and excited about having her women's Bible group for a fellowship at 6:30 so she was doing last minute cleaning and prep. We had the house looking good and of course we had done some cleaning out of cabinets and closets which for some reason made the getting ready for them more of a priority. We need to have them more often as we tossed lots of accumulated stuff, cleaned out clothes and games to give to the thrift stores, etc. It's amazing how much stuff one can collect over time that is never used or played with.
I headed out for the rec. before 8 for two good solid hours of pickle ball play and left with a wet shirt and head. Luckily I had a flannel shirt and a ball cap to keep me warm until I got home. I did change out of those wet clothes and then headed out to hand water the garden. The wind was really drying it out. Everything still looks good despite the cold dry wind. Amy and Eliza came for lunch and afterwards I chilled to the reading room for a couple hours. Once they left I did some touch up paint in the kitchen where little grands nick the window seat and then we had an early supper of a frozen chicken pot pie. I hit the showers and then headed out to neighbor Dan's place where we chilled together for the next 3 plus hours. His wife Carol was at the fellowship so we headed over to his daughter house to check out a vehicle that was making a weird noise in the engine area.
We came back and flipped channels watching the Ray's getting beat bad by Boston, some NIT basket ball and a couple car fixer up shows. Finally around 9:30 we got the call the guests had left so we headed down to the house to help with cleaning up and then I got ready for some horizontal lab, LATER
I started the day much the usual with a 6'ish roll out and the cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric was a welcome on this chilly morning. I did my usual routines of posting this ramble and then a few quiet moments in thanksgiving with my Creator while lifting up several by name. We spoke with all of those during the afternoon and while snow and cold temps are present all seemed in good spirits. Nancy was anxious and excited about having her women's Bible group for a fellowship at 6:30 so she was doing last minute cleaning and prep. We had the house looking good and of course we had done some cleaning out of cabinets and closets which for some reason made the getting ready for them more of a priority. We need to have them more often as we tossed lots of accumulated stuff, cleaned out clothes and games to give to the thrift stores, etc. It's amazing how much stuff one can collect over time that is never used or played with.
I headed out for the rec. before 8 for two good solid hours of pickle ball play and left with a wet shirt and head. Luckily I had a flannel shirt and a ball cap to keep me warm until I got home. I did change out of those wet clothes and then headed out to hand water the garden. The wind was really drying it out. Everything still looks good despite the cold dry wind. Amy and Eliza came for lunch and afterwards I chilled to the reading room for a couple hours. Once they left I did some touch up paint in the kitchen where little grands nick the window seat and then we had an early supper of a frozen chicken pot pie. I hit the showers and then headed out to neighbor Dan's place where we chilled together for the next 3 plus hours. His wife Carol was at the fellowship so we headed over to his daughter house to check out a vehicle that was making a weird noise in the engine area.
We came back and flipped channels watching the Ray's getting beat bad by Boston, some NIT basket ball and a couple car fixer up shows. Finally around 9:30 we got the call the guests had left so we headed down to the house to help with cleaning up and then I got ready for some horizontal lab, LATER
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Wednesday Morning
Well Tuesday everything changed with regards to the weather as another cold front is heading for the area preceded by some much needed rain. We didn't get much but the wind picked up as we were under a tornado watch for most of the afternoon. So Nancy and I did a house cleaning, floor scrubbing and closet cleaning and a couple paint touch ups after my workout at the rec.
I started the day much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and spent some quiet moments with my Creator in thanksgiving for another day and to lift up several by name. All is well with them as I've heard no difference in their status. I headed out a little before 8 on my bike for a good 2 hour workout on the pickle ball court then left at 10 with a wet shirt and head. I made a stop at the library for some new reads I had ordered then headed home to piddle around in the yard and gardens hand watering and pulling some weeds.
It looked like rain from time to time but we never really got much as the road did look wet a time or two. Bobby called and came by for lunch as Amy and Eliza was at church helping with setting up their new pre-school area. We had a short visit with him then he headed out so we started on the house cleaning chores. I finally finished up some where around 3'ish and then settled into some reading until supper. Nancy had a pot of half runner beans cooking with some smoked bacon which was our main dish along with a leftover meat ball.
After the cleanup we settled into the Fox Cable News until the Lightning game came on so I headed into the bedroom to watch them go down by three goals but they came back in the third and won the game by a 4-3 score over the Maple Leafs, wow what a come back and they have done this 7 times this season which is almost unheard of in hockey, LATER
I started the day much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and spent some quiet moments with my Creator in thanksgiving for another day and to lift up several by name. All is well with them as I've heard no difference in their status. I headed out a little before 8 on my bike for a good 2 hour workout on the pickle ball court then left at 10 with a wet shirt and head. I made a stop at the library for some new reads I had ordered then headed home to piddle around in the yard and gardens hand watering and pulling some weeds.
It looked like rain from time to time but we never really got much as the road did look wet a time or two. Bobby called and came by for lunch as Amy and Eliza was at church helping with setting up their new pre-school area. We had a short visit with him then he headed out so we started on the house cleaning chores. I finally finished up some where around 3'ish and then settled into some reading until supper. Nancy had a pot of half runner beans cooking with some smoked bacon which was our main dish along with a leftover meat ball.
After the cleanup we settled into the Fox Cable News until the Lightning game came on so I headed into the bedroom to watch them go down by three goals but they came back in the third and won the game by a 4-3 score over the Maple Leafs, wow what a come back and they have done this 7 times this season which is almost unheard of in hockey, LATER
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Tuesday Morning
Well Monday started out very nice with mild temps but by the afternoon the humidity had crept back with high temps so the a/c is back on after being off for over a week. We had the Ross Family over for a stuffed green pepper supper which was delicious.
The day started with my usual 6'ish roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator. Those whom I lift up every day by name are doing as well as can be expected and the old deputy we visited on Sunday at the hospital has been moved out of ICU onto a floor so thats a good sign. The mountains are getting some much needed warmer temps and the snow is gone for now but the forecast mentioned another Nor'easter later this week for parts of the country. Where are all the global warming nuts?
I headed out on my bike for the rec. around 8 'ish and played hard for two hours on the pickle ball court. We had a new player and he fit right in with his play so we are now having plenty of good players for the challenge court. I headed out at 10'ish for home and worked outside in the garden and yards until lunch time. Amy and Eliza Faye came for lunch and we chowed down on a huge fresh garden salad. The lettuces are doing great once again and except for the Swiss chard which the nematodes have attacked causing them to wilt in the heat and eventually shrivel up and die. The tomato plants are loaded with various size fruit and we are occasionally getting a ripe ones but when these do ripen I will be giving lots away. I picked another bucket of green beans and the little ones and blooms are many. I'm still waiting on the egg plants to bloom as for the sweet onions to bulb but I do see a few starting towards that end. The cukes didn't make it which is understandable.
Well after the supper cleanup we settled into the Fox Cable News network and see once again the hypocrisy of the left and the dem's as they condemn our potus for doing what was right with the draining of the corrupt higher up in the FBI. I'm convinced most of those who were appointed by Obama are involved in this "deep state" movement to thwart this potus and his agenda to right the nation and invoke the rule of law. Such attempts to undermine this administration is unbelievable and to think that if the dem's had won with Hillary none of this would have been uncovered. There is no doubt a double standard when it comes to the corruption within the Obama government and promoted by the MSM. GOD only knows how deep this corruption goes, LATER
The day started with my usual 6'ish roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator. Those whom I lift up every day by name are doing as well as can be expected and the old deputy we visited on Sunday at the hospital has been moved out of ICU onto a floor so thats a good sign. The mountains are getting some much needed warmer temps and the snow is gone for now but the forecast mentioned another Nor'easter later this week for parts of the country. Where are all the global warming nuts?
I headed out on my bike for the rec. around 8 'ish and played hard for two hours on the pickle ball court. We had a new player and he fit right in with his play so we are now having plenty of good players for the challenge court. I headed out at 10'ish for home and worked outside in the garden and yards until lunch time. Amy and Eliza Faye came for lunch and we chowed down on a huge fresh garden salad. The lettuces are doing great once again and except for the Swiss chard which the nematodes have attacked causing them to wilt in the heat and eventually shrivel up and die. The tomato plants are loaded with various size fruit and we are occasionally getting a ripe ones but when these do ripen I will be giving lots away. I picked another bucket of green beans and the little ones and blooms are many. I'm still waiting on the egg plants to bloom as for the sweet onions to bulb but I do see a few starting towards that end. The cukes didn't make it which is understandable.
Well after the supper cleanup we settled into the Fox Cable News network and see once again the hypocrisy of the left and the dem's as they condemn our potus for doing what was right with the draining of the corrupt higher up in the FBI. I'm convinced most of those who were appointed by Obama are involved in this "deep state" movement to thwart this potus and his agenda to right the nation and invoke the rule of law. Such attempts to undermine this administration is unbelievable and to think that if the dem's had won with Hillary none of this would have been uncovered. There is no doubt a double standard when it comes to the corruption within the Obama government and promoted by the MSM. GOD only knows how deep this corruption goes, LATER
Monday, March 19, 2018
Monday Morning
Well Sunday was once again an almost perfect day for temps and weather on the Suncoast of central Florida. Yeow what a fantastic day but by late afternoon the sun's radiant heat was creeping back into the picture as we could feel it while just walking across the road to the new neighbors house with a plate of homemade cookies to welcome them to the hood. It was very strange to know that both of the new neighbors were engaged to their gals and both were very young. The one house is completely redone whereas the other house is being gutted and updated.
I started the day out with a 5'ish roll out as I had to be at the college at 6 for the load in for BridgePoint Church along with several other volunteers. I was back home by 7:30 to get ready to head out at 8:30 for the morning meeting and then getting ready for the crowds at 9:30 and then again at 11:00 for our two services. I worked the front doors the beginning service then set in on the second to hear a great message by Tim on "Dangerous" vs stupidity. Tim is such a speaker that leaves you craving for more in such a short time. It's almost like is it time to end whereas some speaker you wonder when will it ever end, oh well. Afterwards we met up with the Botbyl's at Pieology for pizza and salad. We saw an old friend of Bobby and Amy's who played baseball with Bobby in middle school eating there as well in the Seminole City Center.
We then headed up to Largo Medical center to visit an old deputy friend from when I first came on the patrol. He is suffering the effects of being a heavy smoker and not taking care of his physical body and now has all kinds of health issues. I hadn't seen him in at least 25 years as he retired a couple years before me and had moved not to far from us near Seminole High. We invited him to church with us when he gets medically cleared and out of the hospital. I vegetated on the couch with some March Madness while Nancy went shopping. We didn't eat any supper because of the late lunch but I did pop some corn the old fashion way around 7'ish.
That was about it for the day as I headed for the bedroom to watch a close game between the team that upset the number one seed Virginia and almost beat Kansas for another upset. Tyler's team from Kansas prevailed in a real hard fought game. It was soon lights out for me after the early start of the day, LATER
I started the day out with a 5'ish roll out as I had to be at the college at 6 for the load in for BridgePoint Church along with several other volunteers. I was back home by 7:30 to get ready to head out at 8:30 for the morning meeting and then getting ready for the crowds at 9:30 and then again at 11:00 for our two services. I worked the front doors the beginning service then set in on the second to hear a great message by Tim on "Dangerous" vs stupidity. Tim is such a speaker that leaves you craving for more in such a short time. It's almost like is it time to end whereas some speaker you wonder when will it ever end, oh well. Afterwards we met up with the Botbyl's at Pieology for pizza and salad. We saw an old friend of Bobby and Amy's who played baseball with Bobby in middle school eating there as well in the Seminole City Center.
We then headed up to Largo Medical center to visit an old deputy friend from when I first came on the patrol. He is suffering the effects of being a heavy smoker and not taking care of his physical body and now has all kinds of health issues. I hadn't seen him in at least 25 years as he retired a couple years before me and had moved not to far from us near Seminole High. We invited him to church with us when he gets medically cleared and out of the hospital. I vegetated on the couch with some March Madness while Nancy went shopping. We didn't eat any supper because of the late lunch but I did pop some corn the old fashion way around 7'ish.
That was about it for the day as I headed for the bedroom to watch a close game between the team that upset the number one seed Virginia and almost beat Kansas for another upset. Tyler's team from Kansas prevailed in a real hard fought game. It was soon lights out for me after the early start of the day, LATER
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Sunday Morning
Well Saturday was a perfect day for being outside as the temps were just a little on the cool side to start the day but warmed up nicely to the middle 70's with very low humidity. I started the day much the usual with a 6'ish roll out and then my usual routines as the gym was open at the rec. for pickle ball. So I headed out a little before 8 and got in two solid hours of play and left with a wet shirt around 10. It was so nice out with the trees all adorn with new leaves and the fuzzies seem to have blown away this year with the cold front last week.
I piddled around in the garden for few hand watering then decided to wash the truck which had a coat of grime from the light rain last week. That kept me busy for a couple hours as I did the inside as well. We were planning on supper out and then a movie with our Life Group in downtown St.Petersburg along the waterfront area which has been refurbished with quality shops, restaurants and a huge movie theatre where we went to see the movie "I can only imagine". Well let me say take a handkerchief or a box of tissues as you will need as the movie is based on a true story by writer and singer of this most popular Christian song ever recorded. It is one of the finest movies ever and you will love it.
We dined at a place called Bella Brava with 10 of us and then we met up with another 15 or so at the theatre for the showing at 6:45. It was good to meet new folks as well as our life group continues to grow at BridgePoint. We are expecting around 1500 folks for the several services on Easter Sunday as we make plans for the three campuses. It's an exciting time and the harvest is plentiful now that we have a Potus in the white house who shares his belief in Christianity and that we were a Christian nation to start with by our founders. We just need the workers to help with folks to get closer to GOD, LATER
I piddled around in the garden for few hand watering then decided to wash the truck which had a coat of grime from the light rain last week. That kept me busy for a couple hours as I did the inside as well. We were planning on supper out and then a movie with our Life Group in downtown St.Petersburg along the waterfront area which has been refurbished with quality shops, restaurants and a huge movie theatre where we went to see the movie "I can only imagine". Well let me say take a handkerchief or a box of tissues as you will need as the movie is based on a true story by writer and singer of this most popular Christian song ever recorded. It is one of the finest movies ever and you will love it.
We dined at a place called Bella Brava with 10 of us and then we met up with another 15 or so at the theatre for the showing at 6:45. It was good to meet new folks as well as our life group continues to grow at BridgePoint. We are expecting around 1500 folks for the several services on Easter Sunday as we make plans for the three campuses. It's an exciting time and the harvest is plentiful now that we have a Potus in the white house who shares his belief in Christianity and that we were a Christian nation to start with by our founders. We just need the workers to help with folks to get closer to GOD, LATER
Saturday, March 17, 2018
Saturday Morning..Happy St.Patty's Day
Well Friday was almost a repeat of Thursday except for the weather which was several degrees warmer and less wind which helped with the making it almost a perfect day for being outside except for the chilly start of the day. There was frost on every roof top in the hood and the cars parked on the street. Luckily the big oak in the back yard kept the frost away from the garden and the thermometer read in the high 40's according to one station. I never could understand how it could freeze thus frost with it being above 32 degrees, oh well.
I started the day much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and then some quiet time with my Creator in prayers for several by name before getting reading to head out to the rec. for a couple hours of pickle ball. We had a great workout with one particular player who was only here for a week from Nashville and was leaving after the play today. He is probably on the road with his family as I make this post. He was of course 30 years younger than most of us but brought lots of power shots to the game. It took us some time to adjust to his over head shots but we did eventually and enjoyed his play.
I left at 10'ish with a wet shirt and headed home on my bike and the outside temps had warmed up to be very pleasant after the chilly start. I even turned the heat on to take the chill off when I awakened to the house at 69 degrees but turned it off when getting home and opened the windows and doors it was that nice. Much like the summer mornings in the mountains that start out in the 40's and quickly warm to the middle 70's. Oh how I miss the mornings at the cabin where there are no sirens, loud motorcycles and of course fresh invigorating air, ahhh. It is getting closer by the day when we leave for the summer but today made you want to stay here longer.
I hand watered the gardens then pulled weeds in the back yard until lunch time. I pulled another tomato' that was showing pink and loosened up the dirt around several of the plants. The earthworms are multiplying and in every shovel full there are all sizes digesting the compost into plant food. Once again this looks like a banner year for veggies and the new lettuces are just beautiful another the my first crop of Chinese cabbages. I've been adding the leaves to the salad and they make a wonderful green leaf as the Swiss chard is on the way out. I'm still getting a little but the nematodes are sucking the life out of them as they wilt and droop. Oh well we had some much this year we ate and gave away tons.
Amy and Eliza came for lunch and they chowed down on some leftover soup from last nights supper and Nancy made a guacamole from two avocados which needed using so hat was my lunch on a wrap, yeow so good and good for you. Nancy made a batch of chocolate chip cookies per Amy and Elizas request and then she sent a plate next door for our neighbor whose daughter was having brain surgery and she was keeping her two grand kids for several days. Such a tragedy as her daughter is but 36 with a boy and girl around our Ava's age. The daughter came through the surgery fine but the tumor was so large they couldn't get all of it so they won't know for several days what the tumor was a result of. I spoke with Paw Paw and he sounded good despite losing his short term memory at times or maybe its because he is losing his hearing. Today was Pat our middle sister birthday.
I sat outside for the next couple hours reading and cat napping in the sun and shade of the oak. The front yard big oak goes next week and it will be missed in the heat of the summer with its great shade but Nancy was determined it must go as Amy and family had to pick up lots of down limbs last year when the hurricane came through but the tree stood tall despite lots of huge trees in the hood being uprooted and down, oh well. I finished up the soup for supper and Nancy had a garden fresh salad and we settled into the Fox News and I found some NCAA March Madness basketball while she did the social media. It wasn't long until it was shower time for me then some horizontal lab at 10, LATER
I started the day much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and then some quiet time with my Creator in prayers for several by name before getting reading to head out to the rec. for a couple hours of pickle ball. We had a great workout with one particular player who was only here for a week from Nashville and was leaving after the play today. He is probably on the road with his family as I make this post. He was of course 30 years younger than most of us but brought lots of power shots to the game. It took us some time to adjust to his over head shots but we did eventually and enjoyed his play.
I left at 10'ish with a wet shirt and headed home on my bike and the outside temps had warmed up to be very pleasant after the chilly start. I even turned the heat on to take the chill off when I awakened to the house at 69 degrees but turned it off when getting home and opened the windows and doors it was that nice. Much like the summer mornings in the mountains that start out in the 40's and quickly warm to the middle 70's. Oh how I miss the mornings at the cabin where there are no sirens, loud motorcycles and of course fresh invigorating air, ahhh. It is getting closer by the day when we leave for the summer but today made you want to stay here longer.
I hand watered the gardens then pulled weeds in the back yard until lunch time. I pulled another tomato' that was showing pink and loosened up the dirt around several of the plants. The earthworms are multiplying and in every shovel full there are all sizes digesting the compost into plant food. Once again this looks like a banner year for veggies and the new lettuces are just beautiful another the my first crop of Chinese cabbages. I've been adding the leaves to the salad and they make a wonderful green leaf as the Swiss chard is on the way out. I'm still getting a little but the nematodes are sucking the life out of them as they wilt and droop. Oh well we had some much this year we ate and gave away tons.
Amy and Eliza came for lunch and they chowed down on some leftover soup from last nights supper and Nancy made a guacamole from two avocados which needed using so hat was my lunch on a wrap, yeow so good and good for you. Nancy made a batch of chocolate chip cookies per Amy and Elizas request and then she sent a plate next door for our neighbor whose daughter was having brain surgery and she was keeping her two grand kids for several days. Such a tragedy as her daughter is but 36 with a boy and girl around our Ava's age. The daughter came through the surgery fine but the tumor was so large they couldn't get all of it so they won't know for several days what the tumor was a result of. I spoke with Paw Paw and he sounded good despite losing his short term memory at times or maybe its because he is losing his hearing. Today was Pat our middle sister birthday.
I sat outside for the next couple hours reading and cat napping in the sun and shade of the oak. The front yard big oak goes next week and it will be missed in the heat of the summer with its great shade but Nancy was determined it must go as Amy and family had to pick up lots of down limbs last year when the hurricane came through but the tree stood tall despite lots of huge trees in the hood being uprooted and down, oh well. I finished up the soup for supper and Nancy had a garden fresh salad and we settled into the Fox News and I found some NCAA March Madness basketball while she did the social media. It wasn't long until it was shower time for me then some horizontal lab at 10, LATER
Friday, March 16, 2018
Friday Morning
Well the month of March is about half gone already and its still rather nippy here on the Suncoast of Florida. It's very unusual this time of the year to have the heat on to take off the morning chill. It was a cold ride out yesterday morning on my bike to the rec. for two hours of pickle ball play.
I started the day with my usual 6'ish roll out to a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble after my morning handful of vitamins and supplements washed down with a glass of V-8 juice laced with some hot sauce. I spent some quiet time with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting several up by name. All is well with those except for some issues in dealing with old age and stubborness which isn't helping with the care and welfare of that certain person being Paw Paw. He has locked himself in that old house and doesn't seem to be getting the right nourishment despite groceries bought for him which according to Josie she throws out much of which spoils, oh well.
I got in two good solid hours of pickle ball and left with a wet shirt around 10 and headed home to work outside in the yard and gardens. The air was cool in the shade but nice out of the wind in the sunshine. I harvested another tomato which was turning and then pulled and chopped weeds as well as feeding some of the peppers and tomato's. Both are loaded with little fruits. Amy and Eliza came for lunch and afterwards Nancy put on a pot of soup. It was new type with ground chicken balls loaded with herbs and spices and zucchini and yellow squash were the noodles. It was very tasty but seemed like a lot of work. We have enough leftover for lunch today as Amy and Eliza both love soups.
I finished up the Lee Child book and while it was interesting in my opinion it wasn't his best story as Reacher was rather mild and not quite up to his calculating mind. The plot was somewhat far fetched but not unheard of coming from a military stand point. It's worth reading but I wouldn't go out of my way to read this one again in the future. The rest of evening was rather usual with watching the Fox Cable channel and finally more of the onion is peeled revealing the corruption in the higher up in the FBI, DOJ and the other departments within the Obama administration. This past potus had so many crooks working to undermine our constitution and rule of law its almost unbelievable to think this could happen in America. The reckless disregard for citizens rights is so alarming and the double standard for justice is criminal. He was right when he said he was going to fundamentally change America and he nearly succeeded with his lawlessness in these bureau's and with collusion with our intelligence leaders. I would love to see all of them go to jail and lose their pensions for their corruption in undermining the constitution, LATER
I almost forgot to mention today is my middle sister (PAT) birthday. Happy Big Day to you love ya lots.
I started the day with my usual 6'ish roll out to a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble after my morning handful of vitamins and supplements washed down with a glass of V-8 juice laced with some hot sauce. I spent some quiet time with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting several up by name. All is well with those except for some issues in dealing with old age and stubborness which isn't helping with the care and welfare of that certain person being Paw Paw. He has locked himself in that old house and doesn't seem to be getting the right nourishment despite groceries bought for him which according to Josie she throws out much of which spoils, oh well.
I got in two good solid hours of pickle ball and left with a wet shirt around 10 and headed home to work outside in the yard and gardens. The air was cool in the shade but nice out of the wind in the sunshine. I harvested another tomato which was turning and then pulled and chopped weeds as well as feeding some of the peppers and tomato's. Both are loaded with little fruits. Amy and Eliza came for lunch and afterwards Nancy put on a pot of soup. It was new type with ground chicken balls loaded with herbs and spices and zucchini and yellow squash were the noodles. It was very tasty but seemed like a lot of work. We have enough leftover for lunch today as Amy and Eliza both love soups.
I finished up the Lee Child book and while it was interesting in my opinion it wasn't his best story as Reacher was rather mild and not quite up to his calculating mind. The plot was somewhat far fetched but not unheard of coming from a military stand point. It's worth reading but I wouldn't go out of my way to read this one again in the future. The rest of evening was rather usual with watching the Fox Cable channel and finally more of the onion is peeled revealing the corruption in the higher up in the FBI, DOJ and the other departments within the Obama administration. This past potus had so many crooks working to undermine our constitution and rule of law its almost unbelievable to think this could happen in America. The reckless disregard for citizens rights is so alarming and the double standard for justice is criminal. He was right when he said he was going to fundamentally change America and he nearly succeeded with his lawlessness in these bureau's and with collusion with our intelligence leaders. I would love to see all of them go to jail and lose their pensions for their corruption in undermining the constitution, LATER
I almost forgot to mention today is my middle sister (PAT) birthday. Happy Big Day to you love ya lots.
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Thursday Morning
Well our dinner party was reduced to four as the Tracy's never made it as Patrick called in sick, oh well. The food was extra plentiful and delicious to say the least and afterwards we got in three games of cards before calling it night.
The day started much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to a chilly morning and the cup of hot tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then lifted up several by name during my quiet time with my Creator. All is well with those which is great. I then got ready to head out to the rec. on my bike for two hours of pickle ball play and left with a wet shirt once again. I stopped off at the library for a couple of reads before heading home to set the sprinkler on the gardens for a couple hours while I put together the new over the commode shelf in the spare bathroom. Well it was made in China and the directions were somewhat confusing I managed to do it right the first time which took me nearly two hours to complete with the hanging on the wall. It fit perfectly and Nancy has loaded it with spare towels and whatknots.
Amy and Eliza Faye came for lunch and then I settled into a new read for a couple hours. It was still chilly at 60 degrees for the girls but I found it almost perfect with the bright sunshine. I read with a small catnap in between until 4:30 then fired up the grill to cook some peppers and onions before grilling the marinated chicken breasts for our fajitas. We planned on eating at 5'ish so we each had a pre mixed margarita we had picked up from Sam's Club. We know Patrick likes them but since he didn't show we all decided to have one instead of our usual vino before eating. Well they were rather tasty with a little salt. The meal was to perfection along with black beans and Jasmine rice and lots of fresh herbs from the garden. Carol brought a chocolate cream pie for dessert which we finally ate sometime around 7:30 as we were stuffed from the fajitas, oh well there goes the spare tire and it was up a few pounds from 185 in the morning.
I hit the shower after they left then read until 10'ish with Fox News on in the back ground. I started a new book by Lee Child titled The Midnight Line and its a real thriller as Jack Reacher is his old self getting involved in something which is totally personal from the onset but gets more involved in a more than personal level. I'm about half way through after picking it up today.
There isn't much else going on except daily pickle ball and gardening and now with the removal of the big oak in the front yard about to happen next week. Bobby and family had a wonderful time in Disneyworld with Katie's folks as the school's are on spring break. The Ross kiddos are on break next week. It's still cold in the mountains with snow on the ground and they too are awaiting warmer weather but its not looking to good until this weekend as we too start to warm up again, LATER
The day started much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to a chilly morning and the cup of hot tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then lifted up several by name during my quiet time with my Creator. All is well with those which is great. I then got ready to head out to the rec. on my bike for two hours of pickle ball play and left with a wet shirt once again. I stopped off at the library for a couple of reads before heading home to set the sprinkler on the gardens for a couple hours while I put together the new over the commode shelf in the spare bathroom. Well it was made in China and the directions were somewhat confusing I managed to do it right the first time which took me nearly two hours to complete with the hanging on the wall. It fit perfectly and Nancy has loaded it with spare towels and whatknots.
Amy and Eliza Faye came for lunch and then I settled into a new read for a couple hours. It was still chilly at 60 degrees for the girls but I found it almost perfect with the bright sunshine. I read with a small catnap in between until 4:30 then fired up the grill to cook some peppers and onions before grilling the marinated chicken breasts for our fajitas. We planned on eating at 5'ish so we each had a pre mixed margarita we had picked up from Sam's Club. We know Patrick likes them but since he didn't show we all decided to have one instead of our usual vino before eating. Well they were rather tasty with a little salt. The meal was to perfection along with black beans and Jasmine rice and lots of fresh herbs from the garden. Carol brought a chocolate cream pie for dessert which we finally ate sometime around 7:30 as we were stuffed from the fajitas, oh well there goes the spare tire and it was up a few pounds from 185 in the morning.
I hit the shower after they left then read until 10'ish with Fox News on in the back ground. I started a new book by Lee Child titled The Midnight Line and its a real thriller as Jack Reacher is his old self getting involved in something which is totally personal from the onset but gets more involved in a more than personal level. I'm about half way through after picking it up today.
There isn't much else going on except daily pickle ball and gardening and now with the removal of the big oak in the front yard about to happen next week. Bobby and family had a wonderful time in Disneyworld with Katie's folks as the school's are on spring break. The Ross kiddos are on break next week. It's still cold in the mountains with snow on the ground and they too are awaiting warmer weather but its not looking to good until this weekend as we too start to warm up again, LATER
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Wednesday Morning
Well Tuesday was another chilly day with winds that were gusting at times but ever present. It didn't get much out of the 60's and on the shade it brought shivers. I know its nothing like up North but still a couple weeks ago I never would have figured we would see cold again until next Nov.
I started the day with a 6'ish roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent some time with my Creator in thanksgiving for another day and to lift up several by name. All is well with everyone and now we know Helen's brother Joe will not be moving from his beautiful mountain top home as the deal fell through and the buyers backed out. He will be able to stay for awhile but he isn't capable of living alone with his walking being so unstable. It too bad he couldn't find someone to live in with him. Paw Paw and GG are doing as well as can be expected and we are looking forward to visiting with them this summer in Michigan and Virginia. Seems we will be on the road a lot this summer.
I got in two good hours of pickle ball at the rec. after a cold ride on my bike. We had three courts in action as was able to keep one court for the advanced players and had a couple of the better gal players mix in with us. I was whipped by 10 and headed out with a stop at the library before heading home to water the gardens and pull weeds. The tomato's are loaded but not ripening very fast and the one we did have was oh so delicious. Just what a vine ripe 'mater should taste like. The jalapeno's peppers are producing as it the lettuces once again and I pulled my first carrots which were picture perfect. I had a yellow carrot mixed in with the orange ones which was sort of an anomaly. It's supposed to have more of flavonoids than the orange ones, oh well.
Amy and Eliza Faye came for lunch and she is so grown up with her vocabulary. Afterward they left we headed to Sam's Club to stock up on some goodies as well as fuel. It was down to 2.28 a gallon there. It was starting to warm up a little but still very cool in the shade. The big oak goes away next week as the tree man called and I will pick up the permit today from city hall. I settled into some reading while waiting to grill a couple fillets medium rare and along with fresh broccoli we ate simply. It's starting to pay off as I'm now down around 186-187 mark daily; only 5 more to go and then I will be where I want to be. We are having our Cool Peoples Club this evening(Wed) for marinated chicken fajatis and black beans and rice.
Well that was about it except our POTUS is shaking up D.C. once again which is driving the libs crazy and I love it, LATER
I started the day with a 6'ish roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent some time with my Creator in thanksgiving for another day and to lift up several by name. All is well with everyone and now we know Helen's brother Joe will not be moving from his beautiful mountain top home as the deal fell through and the buyers backed out. He will be able to stay for awhile but he isn't capable of living alone with his walking being so unstable. It too bad he couldn't find someone to live in with him. Paw Paw and GG are doing as well as can be expected and we are looking forward to visiting with them this summer in Michigan and Virginia. Seems we will be on the road a lot this summer.
I got in two good hours of pickle ball at the rec. after a cold ride on my bike. We had three courts in action as was able to keep one court for the advanced players and had a couple of the better gal players mix in with us. I was whipped by 10 and headed out with a stop at the library before heading home to water the gardens and pull weeds. The tomato's are loaded but not ripening very fast and the one we did have was oh so delicious. Just what a vine ripe 'mater should taste like. The jalapeno's peppers are producing as it the lettuces once again and I pulled my first carrots which were picture perfect. I had a yellow carrot mixed in with the orange ones which was sort of an anomaly. It's supposed to have more of flavonoids than the orange ones, oh well.
Amy and Eliza Faye came for lunch and she is so grown up with her vocabulary. Afterward they left we headed to Sam's Club to stock up on some goodies as well as fuel. It was down to 2.28 a gallon there. It was starting to warm up a little but still very cool in the shade. The big oak goes away next week as the tree man called and I will pick up the permit today from city hall. I settled into some reading while waiting to grill a couple fillets medium rare and along with fresh broccoli we ate simply. It's starting to pay off as I'm now down around 186-187 mark daily; only 5 more to go and then I will be where I want to be. We are having our Cool Peoples Club this evening(Wed) for marinated chicken fajatis and black beans and rice.
Well that was about it except our POTUS is shaking up D.C. once again which is driving the libs crazy and I love it, LATER
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Tuesday Morning
Well Monday was a busy day that ended with a big celebration at our home campus for BridgePoint Church in St.Pete at the Tyrone Church, yeow what an evening of great food, worship and assembly of all three campuses. The morning was much the usual with 2 hours of pickle ball back at the Rec and we had 6 really good players that kept one court for the time period and I left with a wet shirt around 10.
The day was rather nice to start the morning but the cold front came through around lunch time with strong gusty winds and dropped temps 20 degrees to where you needed a jacket by the time we left for BridgePoint around 5:30. I had my usual cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator. All is well with those we lift up every day. The gang in Sparta or in the mountains were getting a major snow storm with several inches and cold temps and Winchester was snow free at the time I spoke with Paw Paw. He sounded good and we caught up on some old family members. Everyone else was doing as good as can be expected.
I harvested a huge mess of green beans and noticed several green tomatoes in all sizes on my plants. I also have a nice crop of earthworms which is really the key to a good garden. The mulched oak leaves are giving them plenty of compost to digest and turn into plant food. I'm thrilled with the garden except for the Swiss chard which the nematodes have latched onto and are slowly sucking the live out of the plants. I should have sowed some marigolds as they are a deterrent to their existence but my seeds never germinated, oh well.
There were 5 or 6 food trucks at the Tyrone campus and we could get whatever we wanted for our supper with the voucher the church provided. I would estimate between 4 and 5 hundred of us volunteers who work the three campuses each Sunday were in attendance and we were loved on by the staff. The message was awesome and filled with so many worshipful songs which lasted almost 2 hours. Lots of raffle tickets were given out as well as several gift cards and the biggie was a Ruth Crisp one for 200 bucks plus everyone's meal. We are making a big push for Easter as we try to reach however many we can to help folks get closer to GOD. What an awesome ministry, LATER
The day was rather nice to start the morning but the cold front came through around lunch time with strong gusty winds and dropped temps 20 degrees to where you needed a jacket by the time we left for BridgePoint around 5:30. I had my usual cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator. All is well with those we lift up every day. The gang in Sparta or in the mountains were getting a major snow storm with several inches and cold temps and Winchester was snow free at the time I spoke with Paw Paw. He sounded good and we caught up on some old family members. Everyone else was doing as good as can be expected.
I harvested a huge mess of green beans and noticed several green tomatoes in all sizes on my plants. I also have a nice crop of earthworms which is really the key to a good garden. The mulched oak leaves are giving them plenty of compost to digest and turn into plant food. I'm thrilled with the garden except for the Swiss chard which the nematodes have latched onto and are slowly sucking the live out of the plants. I should have sowed some marigolds as they are a deterrent to their existence but my seeds never germinated, oh well.
There were 5 or 6 food trucks at the Tyrone campus and we could get whatever we wanted for our supper with the voucher the church provided. I would estimate between 4 and 5 hundred of us volunteers who work the three campuses each Sunday were in attendance and we were loved on by the staff. The message was awesome and filled with so many worshipful songs which lasted almost 2 hours. Lots of raffle tickets were given out as well as several gift cards and the biggie was a Ruth Crisp one for 200 bucks plus everyone's meal. We are making a big push for Easter as we try to reach however many we can to help folks get closer to GOD. What an awesome ministry, LATER
Monday, March 12, 2018
Monday Morning
Well Sunday was another gorgeous day but we could feel the heat and humidity creeping back after what was supposed to be a cold front which brought just enough rain to mess up my truck with road crime while coming home Saturday night. We had a great day of serving folks at BridgePoint Church both at the college and next door at the Rec. center where we had a tent set up to meet folks to make them aware of our church next door and mainly to invite folks to our Easter Service next month. This was Paw Wow weekend in Seminole with a carnival type atmosphere with several rides as well as lots of food tents along with many business sponsors.
We had a shorten schedule with just once service at 9:30 them several of us moved to the Rec. where met lots of folks and old friends from our past. I had helped with the load in at 6 AM so I missed many of my usual morning routines but did catch up with my blog after lunch. We helped with setting up "bumper soccer" which was a hoot. People put on these huge air filled plastic barrels and then they try to kick a soccer ball into a goal but the real purpose is to run into one another and they in turn are usually rolling around on the ground on standing upside down inside this plastic barrel. It is a scream and we had some older folks do it, I would have if I had changed clothes after church as it looked like fun. We greeted folks with info cards and gave out lolly pops to kids and only a few rejected both. Many asked questions and were shocked to know we were holding services in the college next door. Hopefully it will be a success in helping folks get closer to GOD.
W worked the tent until 1 PM then headed home to eat a bite. I set the sprinkler on the garden and then took a 15 minute power nap. It seems after the "spring forward" time change it takes me a day or so to adjust..The Botbyl's invited us up to pulling a supper together as they supplied the salmon and us the salad. I picked fresh lettuces, kale and cabbage for the salad and it was superb to say the least as was the salmon. Afterwards we settled into a couple of card games; golf and Oh -ell. It was going on 9'ish before we finished and headed out for home. It wasn't long until was shower time and then some horizontal lab, LATER
We had a shorten schedule with just once service at 9:30 them several of us moved to the Rec. where met lots of folks and old friends from our past. I had helped with the load in at 6 AM so I missed many of my usual morning routines but did catch up with my blog after lunch. We helped with setting up "bumper soccer" which was a hoot. People put on these huge air filled plastic barrels and then they try to kick a soccer ball into a goal but the real purpose is to run into one another and they in turn are usually rolling around on the ground on standing upside down inside this plastic barrel. It is a scream and we had some older folks do it, I would have if I had changed clothes after church as it looked like fun. We greeted folks with info cards and gave out lolly pops to kids and only a few rejected both. Many asked questions and were shocked to know we were holding services in the college next door. Hopefully it will be a success in helping folks get closer to GOD.
W worked the tent until 1 PM then headed home to eat a bite. I set the sprinkler on the garden and then took a 15 minute power nap. It seems after the "spring forward" time change it takes me a day or so to adjust..The Botbyl's invited us up to pulling a supper together as they supplied the salmon and us the salad. I picked fresh lettuces, kale and cabbage for the salad and it was superb to say the least as was the salmon. Afterwards we settled into a couple of card games; golf and Oh -ell. It was going on 9'ish before we finished and headed out for home. It wasn't long until was shower time and then some horizontal lab, LATER
Sunday, March 11, 2018
Sunday Afternoon..hope you jumped ahead if not your late for whatever
Well Saturday was busy fun filled day that found us with a delicious smoked rib lunch with the family at Amy and Tyler's as we got to celebrate what Sam wanted on his birthday supper before we all headed out to St.Pete to watch Annsley perform in her last gymnastic's meet for this year. It was a bit nippy to start the day but eventually warmed up and by late afternoon the clouds and a lite rain had moved into the area. Nothing like we needed and wanted but just enough moisture on the road to dirty up the truck as we drove home last evening so now it needs washed.
I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to a lite breakfast after my usual routines that had me with my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted the ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator. Afterwards I heated up some grits and a couple soft boiled eggs and mixed the two with some hot sauce and then headed outside to work in the yards and gardens until noon. I knew we were having a late lunch which turned out to be delicious with smoked ribs, potato casserole, Cole slaw and corn on the cob and then cup cakes and ice cream for dessert. That held me the rest of the day until 1'ish this Sunday afternoon except for a donut at church about 10'ish this morning. After lunch we headed out around 3:30 for the venue where several hundred folks were meeting to watch this all girls meet meet. Annsley did a great job and took second place in the floor exercise and a couple 4th out of 16 girls and in her level she got 4th overall for the meet. What a great job she did as she participated in four routines; the beam, floor exercise, vault and bars. The meet took about 3 hours and then another hour for the award ceremony.
After a hot shower I was soon ready for some horizontal lab as we had moved the clocks up an hour when getting home around 9'ish. I was up at 5 the morning as I helped load in at the college for BridgePoint and then we were working a tent at the Seminole Pow Wow festival at 11 AM as we passed out info on the church and welcomed folks to the campus for Easter. It's time for a quick power nap before harvesting greens for a salad for supper with the Botbyl's this evening, LATER
I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to a lite breakfast after my usual routines that had me with my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted the ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator. Afterwards I heated up some grits and a couple soft boiled eggs and mixed the two with some hot sauce and then headed outside to work in the yards and gardens until noon. I knew we were having a late lunch which turned out to be delicious with smoked ribs, potato casserole, Cole slaw and corn on the cob and then cup cakes and ice cream for dessert. That held me the rest of the day until 1'ish this Sunday afternoon except for a donut at church about 10'ish this morning. After lunch we headed out around 3:30 for the venue where several hundred folks were meeting to watch this all girls meet meet. Annsley did a great job and took second place in the floor exercise and a couple 4th out of 16 girls and in her level she got 4th overall for the meet. What a great job she did as she participated in four routines; the beam, floor exercise, vault and bars. The meet took about 3 hours and then another hour for the award ceremony.
After a hot shower I was soon ready for some horizontal lab as we had moved the clocks up an hour when getting home around 9'ish. I was up at 5 the morning as I helped load in at the college for BridgePoint and then we were working a tent at the Seminole Pow Wow festival at 11 AM as we passed out info on the church and welcomed folks to the campus for Easter. It's time for a quick power nap before harvesting greens for a salad for supper with the Botbyl's this evening, LATER
Saturday, March 10, 2018
Saturday Morning... last morning before we spring forward
Well Friday was another busy day that saw me without an afternoon nap. The day started much the usual with a before 6 roll out to a cup of hot green tea on this chilly morning. I of course had it laced with turmeric for the joints and constant back pain that come from the wear and tear on one's body especially since I had a back operation many years ago. This herb has done wonders for the inflammation associated with that procedure as well as from pickle ball play and just plain hard work over the years. Never would I have thought an herb could have such healing properties and it natural and so inexpensive and I've read where it called the "foundation of youth herb" as well.
I got ready after posting this ramble and spending some quiet time with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting up several by name in my prayers as I honor Him. All is well with those I mention and except for the cold and snow there isn't much to write about up North or here in usually hot Florida. I headed out a little after 8 to meet up with another player who was giving me a ride over to The Forbes Rec in Pinellas Park for some 2 plus hours by invite only with other A pickle ball players. I had a good workout and left with a wet shirt and several victories with other good top shelf players. I'm honored they would include an older player like myself as most all of them are in their 50's and 60's.
I got back to the house around 11:30 and since Amy and Eliza were not coming for lunch at their usual 12:30 time I ate early and finished up the leftover Zuppa Soup, Yeow so delicious. I mentioned we needed to eat the last of the sea scallops as well as the fish and we had a seafood supper accompanied by sauteed Swiss chard and fresh kale. That was the first time we had done those two greens together and they were perfect as both wilt down much like cooked spinach. So tasty and good for you. After the cleanup I settled into the Fox News and then a couple other shows like Gold Rush after hitting the shower. We did put back together the spare bedroom as I had finished another coat of paint on the head and foot boards. The room looks so much more updated with the light gray paint instead of the dark oak wood and the night stand looked great as well as Nancy picked up a glass knob for the drawer. That job is complete finally.
Well it wasn't long after the hot shower I was reading and trying to finish up a good read by Ed McBain titled Fiddlers that I turned the lights out at 10'ish. Today (Sat) promises to be another busy gastronomic day as we have a late Sam's and Nancy's birthday celebration lunch with Bobby and Amy's families at Amy's. Sam wanted smoked ribs and there just wasn't time last week with having Bobby's clan and plus Annsley was having her last gymnastics meet in St.Pete at 4 o'clock today so we all decided to do a lunch instead of a supper and then go to her meet.
Well don't forget we lose an hour tonight to DST which I personally like except for in August its almost light out at 10 and that's when I usually head in for some horizontal lab, LATER
I got ready after posting this ramble and spending some quiet time with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting up several by name in my prayers as I honor Him. All is well with those I mention and except for the cold and snow there isn't much to write about up North or here in usually hot Florida. I headed out a little after 8 to meet up with another player who was giving me a ride over to The Forbes Rec in Pinellas Park for some 2 plus hours by invite only with other A pickle ball players. I had a good workout and left with a wet shirt and several victories with other good top shelf players. I'm honored they would include an older player like myself as most all of them are in their 50's and 60's.
I got back to the house around 11:30 and since Amy and Eliza were not coming for lunch at their usual 12:30 time I ate early and finished up the leftover Zuppa Soup, Yeow so delicious. I mentioned we needed to eat the last of the sea scallops as well as the fish and we had a seafood supper accompanied by sauteed Swiss chard and fresh kale. That was the first time we had done those two greens together and they were perfect as both wilt down much like cooked spinach. So tasty and good for you. After the cleanup I settled into the Fox News and then a couple other shows like Gold Rush after hitting the shower. We did put back together the spare bedroom as I had finished another coat of paint on the head and foot boards. The room looks so much more updated with the light gray paint instead of the dark oak wood and the night stand looked great as well as Nancy picked up a glass knob for the drawer. That job is complete finally.
Well it wasn't long after the hot shower I was reading and trying to finish up a good read by Ed McBain titled Fiddlers that I turned the lights out at 10'ish. Today (Sat) promises to be another busy gastronomic day as we have a late Sam's and Nancy's birthday celebration lunch with Bobby and Amy's families at Amy's. Sam wanted smoked ribs and there just wasn't time last week with having Bobby's clan and plus Annsley was having her last gymnastics meet in St.Pete at 4 o'clock today so we all decided to do a lunch instead of a supper and then go to her meet.
Well don't forget we lose an hour tonight to DST which I personally like except for in August its almost light out at 10 and that's when I usually head in for some horizontal lab, LATER
Friday, March 9, 2018
Friday Morning
Well its down right nippy here on the Suncoast of Florida with temps staying down into the low 60's with a rather strong breeze but the sun was shining amidst the clouds at times. It seems more like January than March but I will be looking forward to this weather in another couple of weeks as the heat and humidity will be back once again, but what a nice change from just a few days ago.
I started the day out with my usual 6'ish roll out to a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent a few quiet moments with my Creator while lifting up several by name. Nothing new on anyone of those but the cold and snow had affected where they live and what they do. I didn't have any pickle ball plans as the Rec. is still closed in Seminole and it was too blustery to play outside so I painted the bed frame and head board a couple of coats of paint and it looking really nice. I did piddle around in the garden for awhile with a coat on as it was that chilly and then I read for the rest of the day. I finished one read and started another of Ed McBain's books which are action packed about the 87th New York City detective bureau and the men who make up that section.
Amy and Eliza came for lunch and we chowed down on the leftover Zuppa. Eliza loves this soup as do all of us. After they left I caught up on some paperwork and read until supper which was a grilled bone in pork chop and fresh beets from the garden and accompanied with some fresh asparagus we feasted, yeow so delicious and not many carbs which we are trying to stay away from. So far we are down and inch or two around the gut and a pound or so as well. I really missed my morning workout but it was too cold to even ride the bike around the hood with the strong breeze. The wind is supposed to drop today and be less chilly but still be below the normal temps for this time of the year. I'm really not complaining because I know what is in store for us later this month with the high heat and humidity.
I tuned into the Fox News channel after the cleanup and the corruption never ceases with the Dem's and lib's in California as well as with the past administration. All the MSM can report is some salacious story about some stripper who our POTUS has an affair with before he even ran for the presidency. Give me a break as they throw stones while living in a glass house. We had a major break through with North Korea as reported with their dictator who wants to talk with Trump and make some amends. Trumps embargo and military threats has this bully on his heels with what to do and we will see if Kim comes through with his willingness to denuclearize his country. Teddy Roosevelt always said walk softly and carry a big stick and that is what our Potus is advocating and its working as well as he wants fair trade and he is making that happen with the tariffs. I whole heartedly agree with his decisions to get our steel and aluminum mills back to full production which benefits American workers and our economy. The left is having a fit with his proclamations and executive orders as there must be some kickbacks to those in democrat party. I never put anything crooked and corrupt out of their reach.
I tuned into the Lightning vs Rangers hockey game and we were winning 5-2 when I shut the lights out at 10, LATER
I started the day out with my usual 6'ish roll out to a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent a few quiet moments with my Creator while lifting up several by name. Nothing new on anyone of those but the cold and snow had affected where they live and what they do. I didn't have any pickle ball plans as the Rec. is still closed in Seminole and it was too blustery to play outside so I painted the bed frame and head board a couple of coats of paint and it looking really nice. I did piddle around in the garden for awhile with a coat on as it was that chilly and then I read for the rest of the day. I finished one read and started another of Ed McBain's books which are action packed about the 87th New York City detective bureau and the men who make up that section.
Amy and Eliza came for lunch and we chowed down on the leftover Zuppa. Eliza loves this soup as do all of us. After they left I caught up on some paperwork and read until supper which was a grilled bone in pork chop and fresh beets from the garden and accompanied with some fresh asparagus we feasted, yeow so delicious and not many carbs which we are trying to stay away from. So far we are down and inch or two around the gut and a pound or so as well. I really missed my morning workout but it was too cold to even ride the bike around the hood with the strong breeze. The wind is supposed to drop today and be less chilly but still be below the normal temps for this time of the year. I'm really not complaining because I know what is in store for us later this month with the high heat and humidity.
I tuned into the Fox News channel after the cleanup and the corruption never ceases with the Dem's and lib's in California as well as with the past administration. All the MSM can report is some salacious story about some stripper who our POTUS has an affair with before he even ran for the presidency. Give me a break as they throw stones while living in a glass house. We had a major break through with North Korea as reported with their dictator who wants to talk with Trump and make some amends. Trumps embargo and military threats has this bully on his heels with what to do and we will see if Kim comes through with his willingness to denuclearize his country. Teddy Roosevelt always said walk softly and carry a big stick and that is what our Potus is advocating and its working as well as he wants fair trade and he is making that happen with the tariffs. I whole heartedly agree with his decisions to get our steel and aluminum mills back to full production which benefits American workers and our economy. The left is having a fit with his proclamations and executive orders as there must be some kickbacks to those in democrat party. I never put anything crooked and corrupt out of their reach.
I tuned into the Lightning vs Rangers hockey game and we were winning 5-2 when I shut the lights out at 10, LATER
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Thursday Morning
Once again it was rather chilly and dry to start Wednesday with a breeze that kept us inside the Walter Fuller Rec in St.Pete for pickle ball whereas on Tuesday we could play outside. I managed to get in an hour or so play as there were so many players waiting to get on one of the three courts that you never really could stay warmed up. I sure miss our Rec in that winners split and if your playing well you can stay on the court for most of the morning, oh well.
I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator. The up dates are good on everyone with no major issues except our friend Joe in the mountains is having to soon leave his home and he isn't exactly happy about that but his kids have forced the issue and it's true he isn't able to live alone with his health. Everyone else is doing well except for Paw Paw really starting to lose his short term memory. Nancy drove Amy around in the morning and afternoon as she was having Twill Auto work on their SUV but other than that everything else was much the norm. Amy and Eliza came for lunch and I painted the bed frame and head board two coats of primer and intend to give it a final coat of light gray paint today which had changed the look all together of the once oak motif.
The tree man texted and said it would be a two day job removing the big oak and he should get the final O.K. sometime in the next week or so from the city to do the job. You would think I'm having a sometime major done to the street with the city influence on the tree removal. Nancy made a huge pot of Zuppa Toscana and I harvest all of the fresh kale she needed and was it ever delicious especially on this cool evening which was in the 60's. The mountains have really cold temps once again with snow during the early morning hours but eventually melted as it warmed up above freezing. The northeast is getting another major winter storm and I haven't heard much from the "climate change" folks who predict the earth is warming.
After supper we tuned into the Fox News and then I found a movie on HBO titled the Zookeeper's Wife. I had read the book a couple years back and once again this was a well done picture and how sp many Jews were saved by this person based on a true story much like a Schindler's List movie. Such brave people in the face of the brutality of the German's and their hatred for this race of folks. I headed into the hot shower soon afterwards and then watched Hannity until it was lights. I'm learning the Obama's administration used the DOJ and the FBI to carry out violations of the constitution into the rights of Americans to surveil them and especially the Trump campaign and post election to thwart his election. Wow, are we seeing just how pervasive Hillary and Obama violated every right we have to privacy while using the government to intrude on our privacy. I would like to see another investigation into the IRS scandal where it was used by his cohorts to discredit and subvert the conservatives who opposed this fraud of a potus Obama. Never would I have believed there were so many who signed on to these "banana republic" tactic's in our government, LATER
I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator. The up dates are good on everyone with no major issues except our friend Joe in the mountains is having to soon leave his home and he isn't exactly happy about that but his kids have forced the issue and it's true he isn't able to live alone with his health. Everyone else is doing well except for Paw Paw really starting to lose his short term memory. Nancy drove Amy around in the morning and afternoon as she was having Twill Auto work on their SUV but other than that everything else was much the norm. Amy and Eliza came for lunch and I painted the bed frame and head board two coats of primer and intend to give it a final coat of light gray paint today which had changed the look all together of the once oak motif.
The tree man texted and said it would be a two day job removing the big oak and he should get the final O.K. sometime in the next week or so from the city to do the job. You would think I'm having a sometime major done to the street with the city influence on the tree removal. Nancy made a huge pot of Zuppa Toscana and I harvest all of the fresh kale she needed and was it ever delicious especially on this cool evening which was in the 60's. The mountains have really cold temps once again with snow during the early morning hours but eventually melted as it warmed up above freezing. The northeast is getting another major winter storm and I haven't heard much from the "climate change" folks who predict the earth is warming.
After supper we tuned into the Fox News and then I found a movie on HBO titled the Zookeeper's Wife. I had read the book a couple years back and once again this was a well done picture and how sp many Jews were saved by this person based on a true story much like a Schindler's List movie. Such brave people in the face of the brutality of the German's and their hatred for this race of folks. I headed into the hot shower soon afterwards and then watched Hannity until it was lights. I'm learning the Obama's administration used the DOJ and the FBI to carry out violations of the constitution into the rights of Americans to surveil them and especially the Trump campaign and post election to thwart his election. Wow, are we seeing just how pervasive Hillary and Obama violated every right we have to privacy while using the government to intrude on our privacy. I would like to see another investigation into the IRS scandal where it was used by his cohorts to discredit and subvert the conservatives who opposed this fraud of a potus Obama. Never would I have believed there were so many who signed on to these "banana republic" tactic's in our government, LATER
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Wednesday Morning
Well Tuesday was almost a perfect day with temps in the 50's to start and maybe reached 75 for a high; no humidity and a gentle breeze which is actually drying everything up especially the gardens. The yellow pollen is everywhere from the oak trees sending out new leaves which is covering cars, windows and everything outside. Spring is here which will shortly become summer although we are enjoying these days of cooler temps.
I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and then spent some quiet time in thanksgiving and lifting up several by name. Paw Paw is doing as well as can be expected according to him and someone his age as he reminds me each time I call him. His short term memory is gone as he repeats the same thing over again during the same conversation. He did go to the funeral home for visitation for our cousin Mary Velma Ashwood who passed at the age of 94 last evening(Monday). GG is doing much better as she is now getting about with a walker which means she is getting some exercise after being bed fast for so long. Our "mountain mom" sounds good and is doing well at the age of 90 and her brother Joe who at a year older is getting ready to move out of his home as its been sold and will move to Tennessee to live near a son.
I met up with three other pickle ball players and we headed down to St. Pete to play outside as our Rec. is closed all week. We will head back there again this morning to play inside for a couple hours. We met up with another Canadian who plays very well and he joined our group for an hour or so. I invited them to BridgePoint for the Easter Services as they are here for about three months. I headed home and Nancy was gone again shopping so I gave the night stand another coat of paint and now its ready for a new knob and then I will work on the bed frame as it's oak as well. I hate taking beds apart but this job will have to be done in the garage so I will start on that later today.
Amy and Eliza came for lunch and we had roll ups and then Nancy prepared one of my favorite dishes using the fresh batch of half runner green beans and the last of the deer meat that neighbor Gerald blessed us with in the mountains last Fall. Wow, was that ever a delicious meal and we usually use beef but used venison that I had cut into small pieces for stew meat. After the cleanup we settled into the FOX Cable News until the Lightning game came on and I headed to the bedroom to watch the game. We were ahead most of the game but when I shut the lights off at 10 the score was tied with the Panthers from South Florida, LATER
I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and then spent some quiet time in thanksgiving and lifting up several by name. Paw Paw is doing as well as can be expected according to him and someone his age as he reminds me each time I call him. His short term memory is gone as he repeats the same thing over again during the same conversation. He did go to the funeral home for visitation for our cousin Mary Velma Ashwood who passed at the age of 94 last evening(Monday). GG is doing much better as she is now getting about with a walker which means she is getting some exercise after being bed fast for so long. Our "mountain mom" sounds good and is doing well at the age of 90 and her brother Joe who at a year older is getting ready to move out of his home as its been sold and will move to Tennessee to live near a son.
I met up with three other pickle ball players and we headed down to St. Pete to play outside as our Rec. is closed all week. We will head back there again this morning to play inside for a couple hours. We met up with another Canadian who plays very well and he joined our group for an hour or so. I invited them to BridgePoint for the Easter Services as they are here for about three months. I headed home and Nancy was gone again shopping so I gave the night stand another coat of paint and now its ready for a new knob and then I will work on the bed frame as it's oak as well. I hate taking beds apart but this job will have to be done in the garage so I will start on that later today.
Amy and Eliza came for lunch and we had roll ups and then Nancy prepared one of my favorite dishes using the fresh batch of half runner green beans and the last of the deer meat that neighbor Gerald blessed us with in the mountains last Fall. Wow, was that ever a delicious meal and we usually use beef but used venison that I had cut into small pieces for stew meat. After the cleanup we settled into the FOX Cable News until the Lightning game came on and I headed to the bedroom to watch the game. We were ahead most of the game but when I shut the lights off at 10 the score was tied with the Panthers from South Florida, LATER
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Tuesday Morning
Well Monday was another busy day and it was a bit chilly to start the morning with temps near the high 40's yikes was it ever cool with the breeze blowing and it was very dry out. I started the day much the usual with a 6ish roll out to a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and then spent some quiet time with my Creator in thanksgiving for another day and lifting several up by name. All is well with those I mentioned except for a distant cousin who at 94 passed away a couple days ago. She lived near us in the Mt. Williams Store area and attended church with us at St. Johns. She was the same age as my mothers oldest sister aunt Elsie who passed away when Bobby was just a baby.
I got ready and headed out in the truck around 8 to play pickle ball with some other A players at Forbes Rec. in Pinellas Park for nearly 3 hours. This facility has two days a week set aside for only A players and since our Rec. was closed I headed over and won with different partners for most of the morning. I left with a total wet shirt and head and made a stop at Sam's for fuel on the way home as we were going to Tampa later in the afternoon. I got home around lunch time when Amy and Eliza came to eat with us. Amy brought some of the leftover noodles and chicken from Saturday night and oh was that so delicious. I had set the sprinkler on the gardens and had that running while I gave the light stand in the spare bedroom a couple coats of primer. It was an oak finish but Nancy and Amy thought it would go better painted a light gray color; now I need to give the bed frame a coat of primer before matching it to the stand as well. That means I have to take this bed apart and paint it in the garage.
I harvested greens for a huge salad which we took with us to Bobby's. The traffic is unreal during rush hour so we left a little before 4 which usually takes about and hour. We took the toll road and made it before 5:30. Bobby had pork meat ready for tacos and along with our salad we feasted. Katie's mom and dad came for supper as well then we all met at the park for the start of Gabe's game at 6:30. They were winning at first but too many throwing errors cost them the game against the best team in the league and they lost by 3 runs after the two hour time limit. It was going on 9 before we got away from Tampa and made the long drive home. It wasn't long after a hot shower I was ready for some horizontal lab, LATER
I got ready and headed out in the truck around 8 to play pickle ball with some other A players at Forbes Rec. in Pinellas Park for nearly 3 hours. This facility has two days a week set aside for only A players and since our Rec. was closed I headed over and won with different partners for most of the morning. I left with a total wet shirt and head and made a stop at Sam's for fuel on the way home as we were going to Tampa later in the afternoon. I got home around lunch time when Amy and Eliza came to eat with us. Amy brought some of the leftover noodles and chicken from Saturday night and oh was that so delicious. I had set the sprinkler on the gardens and had that running while I gave the light stand in the spare bedroom a couple coats of primer. It was an oak finish but Nancy and Amy thought it would go better painted a light gray color; now I need to give the bed frame a coat of primer before matching it to the stand as well. That means I have to take this bed apart and paint it in the garage.
I harvested greens for a huge salad which we took with us to Bobby's. The traffic is unreal during rush hour so we left a little before 4 which usually takes about and hour. We took the toll road and made it before 5:30. Bobby had pork meat ready for tacos and along with our salad we feasted. Katie's mom and dad came for supper as well then we all met at the park for the start of Gabe's game at 6:30. They were winning at first but too many throwing errors cost them the game against the best team in the league and they lost by 3 runs after the two hour time limit. It was going on 9 before we got away from Tampa and made the long drive home. It wasn't long after a hot shower I was ready for some horizontal lab, LATER
Monday, March 5, 2018
Monday Morning
Well Sunday was a rather chilly morning with the low's in the 50's yeow unheard for this time of the year but oh so nice after a couple of weeks of high temps that set records. The humidity is very low and the breeze has really dried out the gardens. I did set the sprinkler in the afternoon while I finished cutting up the down oak branches in the back yard and took a load of the sawed wood over to Tyler's for their bon fires next fall.
The day started early for me with a 5'ish roll out to a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric before I got ready to ride my bike out to the college for the load in for BridgePoint Church along with several other volunteers each Sunday morning. My eyes watered on the ride there from the cold breeze, yikes I didn't think I would see these cold morning again until we got to the cabin. I was back home by 7:30 to get ready to head out again with Nancy at 8:30 as we got ready for the 9:30 service. We have such a great group of volunteers on the First Impressions Team for the church. We had the auditorium nearly full for the first time and the second service had more than usual as well. I met several new folks and showed them around. I love being a greeter while shaking hands and hugging necks especially for new folks who are seeking both a new place of worship or just seeking the Lord.
We stayed through the second service which lets out a little after 12 and then by the time we get away it close to 12:30 before we got home today. I had a delicious cream donut around 11:30 which we provide free to all who come along with coffee and bottled water embossed with the church logo. That held me until around 3:30 when I had a handful of mixed nuts. I knew we were meeting at a new eatery for me called the E & E Stakehouse with the Botbyl's and Tracy's to celebrate both Carol and Nancy's birthdays at 5. I had eaten big the night before at Amy's which was still wearing heavy on my midsection.
I worked up the last of the branches Tyler and I cut off the day before and loaded the wood in the truck for a trip to his house. I had two full wheelbarrow loads of wood which should last them for several bon fires. Afterwards we headed to Largo Mall to look at Lowes, Michaels and Bed, Bath and Beyond for some items before getting home to get ready and head out to the restaurant. I must say this is a really nice cozy eatery and the food was awesome and the presentation was beautiful. A little pricey but we got in on the early bird special which was comprobable to Miller's and Outback but so delicious. Nancy and I had the beef short ribs which were so succulent with veggies that had a asparagus, broccoli and a half broiled tomato and smashed taters; I had a soup bisque instead of the salad and there were rolls with dipping oil before hand all for 15 bucks. Perfect amount as all of us are trying to reduce our intake of calories which means no seconds which is hard to do. They did bring out a small platter of a cake, whipped cream and ice cream for the birthday gals of which we all tasted and it too was homemade and oh so good; nothing store bought even for this entree.
We left the eatery around 7:30 after saying our farewells as the Tracy's headed back to their house about an hour north of us. We made plans to visit next week at the Tampa Bay Downs for an afternoon of horse racing fun and then dinner out somewhere in the Palm Harbor area. We haven't watched the horses in a couple years and always have fun as we bet our 2 bucks on horses we think are pretty or with good names. Well that was about it as it was a gastronomic weekend and the pounds added up once again but oh so good with family and friends. I'm back on the pickle ball court at a new venue this morning as the Rec. is closed all week for the Seminole Pow Pow festival, LATER
The day started early for me with a 5'ish roll out to a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric before I got ready to ride my bike out to the college for the load in for BridgePoint Church along with several other volunteers each Sunday morning. My eyes watered on the ride there from the cold breeze, yikes I didn't think I would see these cold morning again until we got to the cabin. I was back home by 7:30 to get ready to head out again with Nancy at 8:30 as we got ready for the 9:30 service. We have such a great group of volunteers on the First Impressions Team for the church. We had the auditorium nearly full for the first time and the second service had more than usual as well. I met several new folks and showed them around. I love being a greeter while shaking hands and hugging necks especially for new folks who are seeking both a new place of worship or just seeking the Lord.
We stayed through the second service which lets out a little after 12 and then by the time we get away it close to 12:30 before we got home today. I had a delicious cream donut around 11:30 which we provide free to all who come along with coffee and bottled water embossed with the church logo. That held me until around 3:30 when I had a handful of mixed nuts. I knew we were meeting at a new eatery for me called the E & E Stakehouse with the Botbyl's and Tracy's to celebrate both Carol and Nancy's birthdays at 5. I had eaten big the night before at Amy's which was still wearing heavy on my midsection.
I worked up the last of the branches Tyler and I cut off the day before and loaded the wood in the truck for a trip to his house. I had two full wheelbarrow loads of wood which should last them for several bon fires. Afterwards we headed to Largo Mall to look at Lowes, Michaels and Bed, Bath and Beyond for some items before getting home to get ready and head out to the restaurant. I must say this is a really nice cozy eatery and the food was awesome and the presentation was beautiful. A little pricey but we got in on the early bird special which was comprobable to Miller's and Outback but so delicious. Nancy and I had the beef short ribs which were so succulent with veggies that had a asparagus, broccoli and a half broiled tomato and smashed taters; I had a soup bisque instead of the salad and there were rolls with dipping oil before hand all for 15 bucks. Perfect amount as all of us are trying to reduce our intake of calories which means no seconds which is hard to do. They did bring out a small platter of a cake, whipped cream and ice cream for the birthday gals of which we all tasted and it too was homemade and oh so good; nothing store bought even for this entree.
We left the eatery around 7:30 after saying our farewells as the Tracy's headed back to their house about an hour north of us. We made plans to visit next week at the Tampa Bay Downs for an afternoon of horse racing fun and then dinner out somewhere in the Palm Harbor area. We haven't watched the horses in a couple years and always have fun as we bet our 2 bucks on horses we think are pretty or with good names. Well that was about it as it was a gastronomic weekend and the pounds added up once again but oh so good with family and friends. I'm back on the pickle ball court at a new venue this morning as the Rec. is closed all week for the Seminole Pow Pow festival, LATER
Sunday, March 4, 2018
Sunday Morning
Well Saturday was birthday celebrations for Nancy and Sam at Amy and Tyler House with Betsy coming by after work to eat. Amy had prepared a delicious meal of chicken with noodles over smashed taters, broccoli and corn and a Ding Dong cake. Wow, everything was delicious.
I started the day much the usual with my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and it tasted great on this somewhat unusual chilly morning with temps at 52 degrees. Wow did that ever feel great which was 20 degrees cooler than all of last week when we were in the 70's at 6 in the morning. We headed out after a lite breakfast and our quiet times to Keswick School to watch Ava win her first game in the final tournament of the season in kids basketball. She scored several times and was really aggressive in her defense on the court. She is one of the taller girls and really played quite well but they lost to the best team of the season in the second game. So they placed second out of four teams which was good as there are several boys on the winning team who were outstanding ball handlers.
Tyler came by after lunch and helped me to to saw several limbs down on the backyard oak which were hanging over the roof. I have a huge brush pile in the yard that I will need to finish cutting up today and hauling the wood over to his house for their bon fires. That kept me busy until it was time to get ready and head over to the Ross's for supper. Nancy went shopping at Dress Barn for her birthday so she loaded up again with dresses and blouses. We got back to the house around 9 and it wasn't long until I was ready for some horizontal lab after a hot shower as 5 AM comes early on Sunday morning with the load in at the college for BridgePoint Church, LATER
I started the day much the usual with my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and it tasted great on this somewhat unusual chilly morning with temps at 52 degrees. Wow did that ever feel great which was 20 degrees cooler than all of last week when we were in the 70's at 6 in the morning. We headed out after a lite breakfast and our quiet times to Keswick School to watch Ava win her first game in the final tournament of the season in kids basketball. She scored several times and was really aggressive in her defense on the court. She is one of the taller girls and really played quite well but they lost to the best team of the season in the second game. So they placed second out of four teams which was good as there are several boys on the winning team who were outstanding ball handlers.
Tyler came by after lunch and helped me to to saw several limbs down on the backyard oak which were hanging over the roof. I have a huge brush pile in the yard that I will need to finish cutting up today and hauling the wood over to his house for their bon fires. That kept me busy until it was time to get ready and head over to the Ross's for supper. Nancy went shopping at Dress Barn for her birthday so she loaded up again with dresses and blouses. We got back to the house around 9 and it wasn't long until I was ready for some horizontal lab after a hot shower as 5 AM comes early on Sunday morning with the load in at the college for BridgePoint Church, LATER
Saturday, March 3, 2018
Saturday Morning
Well Friday was a busy fun day that started with my usual before 6 roll out to my usual cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric after a handful of Nutrilite Vitamins and supplements washed down with a spiced up V-8 juice. Wow does that ever wake up the gastric juices that sends me to the bathroom. I did my quiet time and then posted this ramble not necessarily in that order but then got ready to ride out to the rec. for a two hours of non-stop pickle ball play. When I finally left around 10'ish my shirt and head were soaked with sweat and it was a job pedaling home after a stop at the library. You would think I would be as thin as a rail after all that activity but I'm still got the spare tire around the middle and holding around 187 in the mornings, oh well at least I'm having fun and enjoying this middle age spread.
Nancy's dear friend Carol and who is a neighbor turned 62 today(Fri.) and Nancy herself turns 61 today(Sat.) so we celebrated with a supper out at Miller's Ale House which has really good food at reasonable prices. She had a steak grilled to perfection and I did the seafood combo which had shrimp, fish, clams and scallops fried but very tasty. We all shared a huge frozen chocolate dessert which was decadent and then came back to our house for a game of "chickenfoot" dominos of which Carol being the birthday gal won.
I finally gave the vanity in the one bathroom its final coat of paint and it really turned out quite well. I love using a sponge roller which leaves no brush marks and covers so well when painting any kind of furniture. I gave it a coat of primer and three coats of white semi-gloss paint and now will add the new knobs. Amy and Nancy have now decided I need to paint the bed frame we brought from GG's house which was a regular size bed instead of the queen we had for Amy which we donated to the Keswick Thrift Store. It gave us so much more room in that bedroom for the kiddos to play in. I think they want me to paint the bed frame and the small night stand gray, oh well here it goes again. Anyhow it keeps me from laying around reading and get fatter.
The night time temps have dropped a few degrees and the humidity has stayed away with this new front coming through. It was actually a little chilly last night leaving the restaurant. The garden is loving these cooler nights and warm or hot sunny days. The beans are ready to pick and the tomato's are starting to ready get large but none are ripening yet. The lettuces are ready for harvesting again as is the collards. I need to give some away and I have this new type of "heading" collards which look almost like a cabbage head. I peel the leaves off as the head forms so they continue to produce but it really unique how they grow. They taste the same but the regular collard grows with the leaves separated and you just break the leaves off from the lower leaves and there is no head, oh well.The sugar peas are out of control with a dozen ready for picking daily. I used a little manure compost with them and they love that as do most any and all plants.
Well this morning we are heading out to Keswich Christian School to watch Ava play her last basketball game for the season and then we will head over to Amy and Tyler's for Sam's birthday dinner and gift opening in the evening for supper. He is 8 today and one of the best birthday gifts Nancy has ever had. We certainly love our grand kiddos and family time with all of them. On Monday evening we will travel to Brandon to have supper out and then watch Gabe play baseball and next Saturday we will go to the Trop in St. Pete where the Ray's Baseball team plays to watch Annsley in her last gymnastic's tournament this year and then of course in June to watch Eliza Faye in her ballet recital, phew are we ever busy with grand kiddos activities but love every minute of it.
Well today is the big day for Nancy and Sam as we all love birthdays and reasons to celebrate with food and family time. Nancy always cooks everyone what they want for their birthdays and today Amy is cooking for her with a specialty chicken dish that both her and Sam like. Last night they took Sam out to a Japanese eatery which he likes in his honor, LATER
Nancy's dear friend Carol and who is a neighbor turned 62 today(Fri.) and Nancy herself turns 61 today(Sat.) so we celebrated with a supper out at Miller's Ale House which has really good food at reasonable prices. She had a steak grilled to perfection and I did the seafood combo which had shrimp, fish, clams and scallops fried but very tasty. We all shared a huge frozen chocolate dessert which was decadent and then came back to our house for a game of "chickenfoot" dominos of which Carol being the birthday gal won.
I finally gave the vanity in the one bathroom its final coat of paint and it really turned out quite well. I love using a sponge roller which leaves no brush marks and covers so well when painting any kind of furniture. I gave it a coat of primer and three coats of white semi-gloss paint and now will add the new knobs. Amy and Nancy have now decided I need to paint the bed frame we brought from GG's house which was a regular size bed instead of the queen we had for Amy which we donated to the Keswick Thrift Store. It gave us so much more room in that bedroom for the kiddos to play in. I think they want me to paint the bed frame and the small night stand gray, oh well here it goes again. Anyhow it keeps me from laying around reading and get fatter.
The night time temps have dropped a few degrees and the humidity has stayed away with this new front coming through. It was actually a little chilly last night leaving the restaurant. The garden is loving these cooler nights and warm or hot sunny days. The beans are ready to pick and the tomato's are starting to ready get large but none are ripening yet. The lettuces are ready for harvesting again as is the collards. I need to give some away and I have this new type of "heading" collards which look almost like a cabbage head. I peel the leaves off as the head forms so they continue to produce but it really unique how they grow. They taste the same but the regular collard grows with the leaves separated and you just break the leaves off from the lower leaves and there is no head, oh well.The sugar peas are out of control with a dozen ready for picking daily. I used a little manure compost with them and they love that as do most any and all plants.
Well this morning we are heading out to Keswich Christian School to watch Ava play her last basketball game for the season and then we will head over to Amy and Tyler's for Sam's birthday dinner and gift opening in the evening for supper. He is 8 today and one of the best birthday gifts Nancy has ever had. We certainly love our grand kiddos and family time with all of them. On Monday evening we will travel to Brandon to have supper out and then watch Gabe play baseball and next Saturday we will go to the Trop in St. Pete where the Ray's Baseball team plays to watch Annsley in her last gymnastic's tournament this year and then of course in June to watch Eliza Faye in her ballet recital, phew are we ever busy with grand kiddos activities but love every minute of it.
Well today is the big day for Nancy and Sam as we all love birthdays and reasons to celebrate with food and family time. Nancy always cooks everyone what they want for their birthdays and today Amy is cooking for her with a specialty chicken dish that both her and Sam like. Last night they took Sam out to a Japanese eatery which he likes in his honor, LATER
Friday, March 2, 2018
Friday Morning
Well did March ever creep up on us as February just flew by, yikes it seems the older we get the faster time just slips away almost unnoticed. Thursday was a busy day that started with my usual routines of rolling out before 6 to a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and then spent a few moments in thanksgiving with my Creator an in prayer for others. The update on GG is good as it is with Paw Paw and our "mountain mom" Helen. Her brother Joe is still having leg issues so keep him in your thoughts and prayers and also for his having to move out this month as his beautiful mountain top home has been sold. He worked so hard for years keeping the grounds groomed and now he will have to live in a duplex; doesn't seem right to me, oh well.
I headed out a little before 8 on my bike to the Rec. for a good solid non-stop two hours of pickle ball action on the court, yeow was I ever soaked with sweat by the time I left at 10 and pedaled home to set the sprinkler on the gardens. I wanted to give it a good soaking as I made a quick trip to Home Depot for some paint primer as I started on the bathroom vanity and cabinet mirror. Nancy has now decided the oak look is out and she wants the same look the kitchen cabinets have; stark white. I managed to use some liquid sander and then gave it a coat of primer after taping off the walls, floors and mirror. Later in the afternoon I gave it its first coat of finish paint and will probably give it two more coats before I'm finished. It really has changed the look of the bathroom already and I must admit to the good.
Amy and Eliza came for look and she is such an actress as she play acts all through the afternoon either as a doctor or ballerina; what a combo. I thawed out some sea scallops which I love but Nancy isn't a fan so I thawed out a Salmon fillet for her and then grilled them both as Nancy sauteed fresh Swiss chard from the garden. It's holding it's own since I've been setting the sprinkler which gives it a better drink than hand watering. I now have cherry tomatoes as well as big boys and the green beans are almost big enough to pick. We however will be eating out the next couple of days as we celebrate Nancy's and Sam's birthdays also neighbor Carol's tonight at Millers Ale House and then again on Monday as we travel to Brandon for Gabe's ball game. Yeow their goes the spare tire just when I got it down to 186. Oh well such joy with family and friends.
Well we tuned into the Fox News and then I hit the shower about 8 and found a movie on HBO that caught my interest on an old C-119 airplane that crashed in the Gobi Desert and eventually the passengers where able to fly it out ahead of desert killers; rather obvious but the dynamics held my attention as there was no hockey games on the tube, LATER
I headed out a little before 8 on my bike to the Rec. for a good solid non-stop two hours of pickle ball action on the court, yeow was I ever soaked with sweat by the time I left at 10 and pedaled home to set the sprinkler on the gardens. I wanted to give it a good soaking as I made a quick trip to Home Depot for some paint primer as I started on the bathroom vanity and cabinet mirror. Nancy has now decided the oak look is out and she wants the same look the kitchen cabinets have; stark white. I managed to use some liquid sander and then gave it a coat of primer after taping off the walls, floors and mirror. Later in the afternoon I gave it its first coat of finish paint and will probably give it two more coats before I'm finished. It really has changed the look of the bathroom already and I must admit to the good.
Amy and Eliza came for look and she is such an actress as she play acts all through the afternoon either as a doctor or ballerina; what a combo. I thawed out some sea scallops which I love but Nancy isn't a fan so I thawed out a Salmon fillet for her and then grilled them both as Nancy sauteed fresh Swiss chard from the garden. It's holding it's own since I've been setting the sprinkler which gives it a better drink than hand watering. I now have cherry tomatoes as well as big boys and the green beans are almost big enough to pick. We however will be eating out the next couple of days as we celebrate Nancy's and Sam's birthdays also neighbor Carol's tonight at Millers Ale House and then again on Monday as we travel to Brandon for Gabe's ball game. Yeow their goes the spare tire just when I got it down to 186. Oh well such joy with family and friends.
Well we tuned into the Fox News and then I hit the shower about 8 and found a movie on HBO that caught my interest on an old C-119 airplane that crashed in the Gobi Desert and eventually the passengers where able to fly it out ahead of desert killers; rather obvious but the dynamics held my attention as there was no hockey games on the tube, LATER
Thursday, March 1, 2018
Thursday Morning
Well Wednesday was another busy day that found me with out an afternoon nap or read time. I did get in some good exercise at the Rec. in the morning with a couple ours of pickle ball play and an arborist came by and said my large Laurel Oak had cavity rot which I already knew but it's official after a 75 buck diagnosis and a 25 buck permit from the city to remove the tree. If this happened at the cabin it would be chainsaw time and no questions ask and certainly not the thousand bucks(which is a bargain) to remove it. There were estimates of 3500 bucks to saw it down. I love to run a chainsaw and would have been a whole richer as well.
I started the day out with my usual before 6'ish roll out with a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and then spent some quiet moments with my Creator in thanksgiving for the many of life's blessings and then lifted up several by name. The updates on GG are promising as she now is getting about with a walker which is awesome as I never thought she would ever walk again but she was out on the town shopping and running errands with Diane. I spoke with Paw Paw and while he is losing his short term memory he is still living alone in the old house in Winchester going up and down the stairs which nearly caused him his life the last time he fell down them and laid there for who knows how many hours; but he is stubborn and will not leave the place. He sounded good and we talked for a rather long time and reminisced about some old folks and times. He says the stairs is his exercise and helps keep him in shape which is true.
After a lite lunch I got ready to head over to Walker Ford where I purchased the truck nearly a year ago for a free service on the truck which is perk from the company. I have one more free service which saves me about 40 bucks or so. They rotate the tires, change the oil and filter and top off the fluids as well as check the brakes, etc. I saw our sales gal and she was glad to see us and has become our friend on FB. She is a go getter and a great sales gal as well.
It was going on 3'ish by the time I made the drive home and Amy came by to pick up Eliza Faye as Nancy was watching her while Amy had an employment interview at Keswick School in the pre-school department for the next Fall semester in a part time position since Eliza will be in school there. Hopefully this will help with the tuition of having three in school. After they left I headed out to water the gardens and then Nancy wanted an early supper as she and Carol were attending the start of a new women's Bible Study class that started at 6:30. We had a frozen Callendar chicken pot pie which is just so delicious. We get them at Sam's Club and they come in individual pies which are perfect for one.
After they left I set the sprinklers on the front lawn to water the grass/weeds. I'm holding off on any real lawn work until the big oak is gone. I learned the oak in the back yard has bores as well and it too will probably die in the next few years; but its not as large as the front oak and I can probably take it down in time without city approval. I want to trim it this Saturday as I can stand on the roof and cut many of the low hanging limbs with Tyler's help.
Well the Lightning loss a game in overtime to the Sabers in a hard fought game they should have won after leading the whole game except for the final moments, oh well. They are still the best team in the NHL in their division. Nancy got home some time after 9 and she was excited about the new study and from being out with the gals. It wasn't long until I was ready for some horizontal lab around 10'ish, LATER
I started the day out with my usual before 6'ish roll out with a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and then spent some quiet moments with my Creator in thanksgiving for the many of life's blessings and then lifted up several by name. The updates on GG are promising as she now is getting about with a walker which is awesome as I never thought she would ever walk again but she was out on the town shopping and running errands with Diane. I spoke with Paw Paw and while he is losing his short term memory he is still living alone in the old house in Winchester going up and down the stairs which nearly caused him his life the last time he fell down them and laid there for who knows how many hours; but he is stubborn and will not leave the place. He sounded good and we talked for a rather long time and reminisced about some old folks and times. He says the stairs is his exercise and helps keep him in shape which is true.
After a lite lunch I got ready to head over to Walker Ford where I purchased the truck nearly a year ago for a free service on the truck which is perk from the company. I have one more free service which saves me about 40 bucks or so. They rotate the tires, change the oil and filter and top off the fluids as well as check the brakes, etc. I saw our sales gal and she was glad to see us and has become our friend on FB. She is a go getter and a great sales gal as well.
It was going on 3'ish by the time I made the drive home and Amy came by to pick up Eliza Faye as Nancy was watching her while Amy had an employment interview at Keswick School in the pre-school department for the next Fall semester in a part time position since Eliza will be in school there. Hopefully this will help with the tuition of having three in school. After they left I headed out to water the gardens and then Nancy wanted an early supper as she and Carol were attending the start of a new women's Bible Study class that started at 6:30. We had a frozen Callendar chicken pot pie which is just so delicious. We get them at Sam's Club and they come in individual pies which are perfect for one.
After they left I set the sprinklers on the front lawn to water the grass/weeds. I'm holding off on any real lawn work until the big oak is gone. I learned the oak in the back yard has bores as well and it too will probably die in the next few years; but its not as large as the front oak and I can probably take it down in time without city approval. I want to trim it this Saturday as I can stand on the roof and cut many of the low hanging limbs with Tyler's help.
Well the Lightning loss a game in overtime to the Sabers in a hard fought game they should have won after leading the whole game except for the final moments, oh well. They are still the best team in the NHL in their division. Nancy got home some time after 9 and she was excited about the new study and from being out with the gals. It wasn't long until I was ready for some horizontal lab around 10'ish, LATER
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