Monday Morning...Last Day of April 2018

Well Sunday was an awesome day of helping folks get closer to God as we both served at BridgePoint Church at the Seminole Campus. I was there at 6 AM to help with the load in and set up and then again back at 8:30 as we got ready for the 9:30 and and then again in the 11 AM services. Nancy was working in different areas as I ushered both services. The attendance was fantastic as was the message Tim brought to us via live video hookup from the main campus in St.Pete.

I started the day with a 5'ish roll out for the load in and rode out a few minutes before 6 on my bike to SPC. We had a couple new volunteers and one I had known from many years ago when I walked around Dillard's Dept. Store while as a trooper doing off duty security. Bill worked in the mens clothing area and he has been coming to BridgePoint since we started this campus. He will be doing what I do each Sunday morning with the load in and set up when I leave for the cabin in June. He lives close by the college as I do and walked there.

After the services around 12:30 we met up with the Tracy's and Botbyl's for the leftovers we had on Friday. Delicious as always and then they came by to see the new garage door and I gave them a mess of collards and some Chinese cabbage to share with our newest friends Elizabeth and Tom who are their neighbors in Dade City. They came down to meet their son Ryan and take him to church at Mission City to introduce him to a younger crowd near where he lives. Their son is still single and it doesn't look as if any relationship is evident in the near future. After they left Nancy took off once again to the store as we are planning another supper for a shut in this evening(Mon).

Well I vegetated on the couch watching the Ray's losing a very close game after an 8 game winning streak 4-3 against the best team in baseball, oh well. I then watched hockey playoff's until Legends and Lies came on at 8 on the Fox channel about the Civil War. It was about the strategy Gen. Lee was using to win the war in the Battle of Gettysburg but without the leadership of Gen. Stonewall Jackson who had died from friendly fire. This was the turning point for the North in the war.

Well I watched the final period in a close hockey game and the Nashville team won and tied the Canadian team at 1 game apiece in a close game. The Lightning play tonight and lets hope they play better than on Saturday night, LATER

Sunday Morning

Well Saturday was another fun day that started with a trip to Brandon which is a bedroom community east of Tampa to watch son Bobby coach a baseball team which his son Gabe plays on. It was an exciting game throughout except for one inning in which too many errors caused them to lose by two runs. Amy and family came out to watch them play as well.

I started the day with a sleep in until nearly 6:30 after a long physical day on Friday and a late night with hitting the sack around 11 the night before. It was much the usual to start the day with a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent a few quiet moments with my Creator. All is well with those I lift up daily as I've heard nothing to the contrary. I headed out to hand water the gardens before we took off around 9'ish for Brandon. The weather was almost to perfect for this time of the year as the humidity is very low and the temps were in the low 80's which is almost non heard of for nearly the first of May. It was even better as the evening hours found us downtown St.Pete along the waterfront dining outside at an upscale eatery around 6'ish with the Tracy's and the Botbyl's. The food was delicious and very reasonable and the ambiance was delightful to say the least. The park across from the eatery was filled with lots of folks in various stages of dress from evening gowns to work out clothing.

After eating we walked over to the Vinoy Hotel which was constructed in the early 1900's and has since gone through major restoration and renovations since then. It is absolutely beautiful both inside and out the building and the grounds and its right on the waterfront. We walked the area which has now become a very upscale and clean touristy area with huge water crafts docked along the foot paths. Work has begun on a cruise ship docking terminal coming to the area as well next year and so the place will be filled with lots of visitors to the city's eateries and hotels. We seldom go down there but its very clean, modern and safe as the area has been renovated with major attractions at the Mahaffey Theatre as well the Dali Museum and with the new pier coming.

Well The Ray's won again against the division leading Red Sox in Boston after a dismal start. The Lightning did not do as well against the Bruins in a rout for them at 6-2. This is the first game of a 7 games playoff and its not looking good as of yet. Nancy made a delicious dinner for one of our BridgePoint families who just had their first baby and we took that by on our way to the restaurant around 5'ish. Well we got back from St.Pete around 9'ish and it was soon shower time then some horizontal lab for me as 5 ish came early for me this morning(Sun.) with the load in at the college, LATER

Saturday Morning

Well Friday was a total fun day with some good eatin', lots of exercise both at the Rec. and then again on the outside pickle ball court, a good swim and hot tub afterwards and then card games that all began with my usual before 6 roll out to start the day. We traveled up to Dade City area to the Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club where the Tracy's and our newest Cool Peoples Club members live Tom and Elizabeth Martin.

I started the day much the usual with my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent some in prayer for several while giving thanks for all of life's blessings. All is well with all of them. Nancy was at her Friday morning Bible Class at SFBC so after my two hour workout at the rec. I headed home to mow the back yard and then hand water the front yard and gardens. I knew we were having a late lunch so I grabbed a beer and the rest of the turkey breast to hold me as I'm only having an apple in the morning plus my vitamins and supplements. I'm down to a constant 180 in the morning which I'm thrilled with and most of the belly roll has dissipated finally, except the loss of muscle tone which winds up around the belt line, oh well. I feel great and my energy level in awesome.

We headed out with the Botbyl's at 1 and arrived despite the traffic back up on the interstate around 2' ish at the Tracy's hacienda with the Martin's who live two doors down, anxiously awaiting our arrival. We all had some libations while snacking on salsa, guacamole, con casio and chips while the main courses were in the oven. Kathryn knows how to put on the feed bag as she is a marvelous cook. The libations flowed as we sat down to barbecue chicken, pork and baked beans; delicious to say the least and that held us the rest of the day. We had picked up these decant cupcakes at 4 bucks a piece for our dessert or 38 bucks a dozen; I know that's pricey but oh so good. Anyhow after relaxing the forks shoveling food into our mouths we played the best of 7 games of Sequence. The girls are either great players or as they put it we are bad cheaters as they slaughtered us 4-1 for bragging rights thus far with new players. It was a shout down at times for who was accused of cheating the most.

After we conceded to no more games and they were winners, the girls took off shopping and the 4 of us headed to the outside pickle ball court converted from a tennis court. Tom had injured his foot this week playing so he just stood basically in one place while he and I slaughtered Dan and Patrick. We eventually played Canadian with two on one for what seemed like hours and all were wet with sweat from playing outside on the asphalt heat reflecting court. The pool was so relaxing at their club house which is magnificent in structure and size and then a visit to the hot tub was a real pain and ache reducer in between dips in the pool. We left the club house around 8:30 and headed back to the house where we introduced Tom to the card game Euchre.

We got in a complete game and a partial before the girls showed up with bags of whatever from the mall around 9:30. We soon said our good byes and headed home which was a little quicker than the trip up. It wasn't long I was ready for some horizontal lab an hour later than my usual 10 bedtime. I saw where the Rays are on a 7 game winning streak with a win over the league leading Boston in Boston. Today the first game of this second round in the hockey playoffs begin in Tampa, Go Lightning, LATER

Friday Morning

Well Thursday was another busy day and the weather was close to perfect with some clouds but mostly sunshine but the humidity was almost non existent with a breeze. A great day for working outside and I did quite a bit of that plus had a fantastic work out on the pickle ball courts.

The day started much the usual with a 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 in lifting up several by name as well as just being so thankful for all of the blessings that I enjoy. At my age so many are unable to run and play as well as work outside with regularity. I did mow the new grass for the first time since removing the big old oak and placing sod down over the ground down stump. Its still a little high where the root ball of the oak was but with soil and sod you would never know the tree once reigned in the yard. I think it going to look great with the Crepe Myrtle tree and the St. Augustine grass.

I got in two good hours of play at the rec. before heading home on my bike to hand water the gardens and then mow. That kept me busy until Amy and Eliza came for lunch. Afterwards I read for a couple hours which is now becoming my usual after lunch routine if I have no big project going. I read until 4 ish then we usually start our phone calls that begin with Paw Paw, GG and Helen. Sometimes I get through with him or he sees where I call and he calls me back. I don't think he remembers me speaking with him a couple three times a week or more but nothing chanced as I heard the same story about some feller jerking his arm out of place while in a nursing facility a couple years ago.

I grilled pork ribs that we had brought back from the cabin which was still good after Nancy boiled them in a pot and then I put sauce on them while grilling despite the time line and along with fresh yellow squash it wasn't one of our better suppers but it sufficed. Maybe it good to have one of these once in awhile to appreciate the usual great meals we have almost daily. Today(Friday) we travel up to Dade City and spent the afternoon with Patrick and Kathryn and their new friends. We will "pig out" as is usual with them preparing the food and we(the Botbyl's and us) bringing the desserts. We have met their new neighbors and are now in with the gang so it should be fun. He is an USAF retiree as well as both of them play pickle ball. The only ones of us who do not play are Nancy and Kathryn.

Well I headed to Home Depot after supper to find a fixture for one of the cabinets drawers which broke after some 25 years. Luckily I matched up a piece that would work and Nancy is back in business with a sliding drawer for her pots and pans. She was actually out front watering the new tree and recently mowed grass when I got home. I fertilized earlier in the day and now I'm sure we should have a good cover of grass in all of the yards. I even helped a neighbor repair her gate who will undoubtably set her sprinkler if need be on my front yard grass while we are gone this summer.

Well the Rays were winning big when I shut the lights off after watching the Penguins beat the Caps in their house in the playoffs. Hopefully if the Lightning beat the Bruins we will play one of those teams later in the playoff scheme. It was lights out for me at 10'ish, LATER

Thursday Morning

Well Wednesday was another busy day except for after lunch when I got into a new read by Ed McBain(a.k.a.) Evan Hunter. The Streets Of Gold is a fantastic read from the perspective of a blind from birth Italian youth born in New York City. I spent a couple hours during the hottest part of the afternoon reading.

The day started out much the usual with my before 6 roll out to a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent some with my Creator in thanksgiving for another day and all of the blessings of life while lifting up several by name. No news from Paw Paw but GG and Helen are doing fine as can be expected and Dee is home from her surgery on Monday. It's been a miserable winter in the mountains with cold, snow and now wet weather for days. The Farmers Almanac was correct in its prediction about the winter and now I read where the predictor of the "global warming crowd" are saying they may have been mistaking. Well I don't believe man can change the atmosphere especially when there are huge volcano's that can spew megatons of carbon into the air and having been doing so since creation, oh well just another liberal ideology to transfer our wealth to someone else's pocket. Personally I don't give any credence to any liberal thinking especially the special interest groups who are only looking to take away our manifest destiny and individualism.

I had a great workout for two hours on the pickle ball court and then made a stop at the library on the way home. Nancy was off to the doctor for her eye infection and was prescribed an anti-biotic drop for them. It's supposedly very contagious so I'm keeping my distance and I think using all of that eye makeup she uses doesn't help either. She was supposed to attend a girls meeting but she cancelled out so we cleaned up the leftovers from the night before for supper; delicious turkey, tater cakes, broccoli and gravy.

Well I worked outside after supper until nearly 8 o'clock hand watering, pulling weeds and making grass sprigs for the yard. New runners are finally appearing from the sod pieces and I'm hopeful with daily watering they will cover the front yard by the time we leave in June. There is much new growth on the tips of the Crepe Myrtle tree as well, so I'm thinking it is getting established. I watched most of the hockey game until the Leafs fell behind with the Bruins then shut the lights out at 10. The Lightning will play the winner on Saturday in Tampa and the Ray's beat the Orioles in Baltimore with their 6th straight win, LATER

Wednesday Morning

Well Tuesday was another play in the morning day and then it was work the rest of the day. After the hot and humid day on Monday a front passed through and the temps dropped as well as the humidity took a leave. It was actually very nice outside and you could almost feel the dryness in the air.

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 spent some quiet time with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting up several by name. The update on sister Dee is awesome as she was up before dawn dressed and ready for her PT after having her hip replaced just the day before. GG is doing fine and now is back to her old self as well as reading again. She was a prolific reader before the attack and never read anything for several months afterwards. Helen isn't happy with all of the cold rain that has settled into the area and keeps her in the house. Paw Paw is doing as well as can be expected as I haven't heard from him since the day before. He use to call at least once a week but either doesn't remember to call but will call back when I leave a message on either of his phones.

I got in two solid hours of pickle ball play at the rec. before heading home to scrub all of the new floors with a mop. I even did the garage floors while I was at it. That kept me busy until after lunch time and then again I headed out to work in the gardens and yards. The tomato's are ripening and while I'm getting a couple everyday I'm still fighting those fruit flies that lay eggs in them and cause them to rot. The heat promotes that activity much more quickly than in the mountains. I'll need to dust them again today as I have several still coming on. The egg plants have really grew in height and now the blooms are starting to set fruit as is the bell and Jalapeno peppers.

I worked outside again after our supper of roasted turkey breast, smashed taters and gravy with broccoli, wow what a feed and enough for supper tonight as Nancy has a meeting with her Soul Sisters which is a Bible Study group. She also spent most of the morning getting her new haircut and color job to cover the gray. She visited the Botbyl's after supper while I worked outside until nearly 8:30. I hit the showers then watched some Fox Shows and once again we are finding the "deep state" is evident with those in the FBI and DOJ. I'm sure hoping they expose all of the corruption in the last Obama administration and then they are brought to trial. All of my liberal friends are besides themselves with these revelations and they hate our duly elected POTUS even more. They hate him more than they love the country which is a crying shame. If we allow them to get back into the congress in November elections we are doomed for sure. So please be sure to have everyone you know to vote and preserve the progress made for the nation and save our culture as well, LATER

Tuesday morning

Well Monday saw us with the start of some very strong humidity and it came on with vengeance about mid morning. We did get a shower with sudden down pours for a few seconds but then it stayed cloudy until late afternoon. I did a mixture of two hours of pickle ball and 4-5 hours in the garage as I put it back together, threw our junk and mended a large book case that I had been using to store articles. I brought this book case back from California in '73 when I moved permanently to Florida. It needed some supports and new shelving but despite it age it's still is functional for what I need in the garage to organize my "stuff".

The day started 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 with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting several up by name. I spoke with Paw Paw later in the day and he was much the same, asking the same questions and giving me the same stories about his health. Everyone else is doing as well as can be expected except Joe is still having some issues with his legs and feet. Our "mountain mom" Helen amazes us with her tenacity and ability to do all she does outside at her age of 90+. She and Paw Paw are about the same age but he does almost nothing but nap and sleep he has even lost his interest in baseball whereas she is on her tractor mowing, doing flower beds and riding her golf cart as well as helping her brother Joe do so much as well. The update on baby sister Dee is good as the hip replacement was successful today and she was out of surgery and in recovery. Will update later but thanks for those who remembered her in thoughts and prayers.

Amy and Eliza Faye came for lunch and every now and then she gets stubborn which is a sign of growing independence. Amy is stern with her and makes her tow the line but she will sometimes rebel and sulk. She is so cute with her cast and does most everything pretty good despite it. I finally finished in the garage around 3'ish after being there since getting back from pickle ball at 10. I was soaked with sweat and worn out in the heat and humidity. I had change clothes as these were soaked. I sat in the a/c and read for an hour before heading out to hand water the gardens. A nice breeze made it comfortable to be out side after a supper of tacos. The new Crepe Myrtle has put on new growth as many of branches are showing light green leaves. The grass plugs are starting to send out runners as well. Hopefully the bare spots will be covered by the time we leave in June for the cabin.

Well I tuned into the hockey playoff game between the Leafs and the Bruins and what a game which the Leafs sent into a 7th game on Wednesday. The winner will play the Lightning later this week which gives them a few extra days to rest and recover and hopefully an advantage in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup, LATER

Monday Morning

Well Sunday was an awesome day of worship that actually started with me being at SPC at 6 AM for the load in for BridgePoint Church along with several other men and women. What a great group of volunteers who weekly help with putting on this service in hopes of helping folks get closer to GOD. Our attendance has nearly doubled in this last year with both services and several have committed to making this their church home and are now part of the volunteer team. WOW is this ever exciting and we are thrilled to have been part of the launch team for this campus in Seminole.

We worked both services but was able to attend the service once the music started and most everyone had entered. Tim our lead pastor is such a dynamic speaker and you hang on every word and are so shocked and some what disappointed when the 30-40 minutes message is complete. Our band is amazing as well with great vocalist. There is always fresh free donuts, coffee and bottled water each Sunday and the kiddos love their sweet delights as do most of the attendees. We are looking seriously for a building we can call home and stop these weekly load in's and load out's in the Seminole area.

We got back to the house around 12:30 and had a fresh garden with a grilled chicken breast on top for lunch which held us the rest of the day except for some pop corn done the old fashion way around 6'ish. Nancy took off to do some shopping while I vegetated on the couch watching the Ray's sweep the Twins for their first of the season. The bats finally came to life for the Ray's and while their pitching is not the best they managed to win three in a row. We then tuned into an old movie title Spaceship Cowboys which had some big name male actors; Eastwood, Garner, Jones and Sutherland in a some what far fetched story about these over the hill astronauts who went into space after being retired.

We watched the Civil story on Stonewall Jackson and how he was a hero to the South and was winning the war until he was shot by his own sentries during a night time mission and eventually died from complications and then the South went on and lost the war. It was very interesting and I learned a ton about his character, love of family and his deep faith and what he meant to Gen. Lee in the cause of the war effort. He had a brilliant mind when it came to war strategy.

I hit the showers around 9'ish and watched the Nashville hockey team annihilate the Colorado team which is probably who the Lightning will play next in the run to the Stanley Cup and at 10 turned in for the night, LATER

Sunday Morning

Well Saturday was a fun filled day with the exception of a tire issue we experienced on our way to Brandon. Seems I picked up a screw in the r/rear tire which caused the sensor on the dash to reveal a lack of tire pressure. I drove it until I could check and sure enough a screw had punctured the tire near the edge which made the tire unusable as no one would patch or plug the tire because of where the screw entered, oh well I spent a couple hours later in the day finding someone who would change out the tire and lots of bucks but we are back in business.

Gabe played great at his game making his first ever fly ball catch and he did knock in several other base runners despite losing the game by a couple of runs. It was perfect weather for a baseball game. We then met up at Einsteins for lunch before heading home around 2'ish and then I dropped Nancy off to work on getting food to take to Amy's for Ava's birthday party at 5:30. (I had pulled the screw out to see if it has punctured through and sure enough the tire began leaking air which meant I had to resolve the issue immediately). I got back in time to grilled a couple dozen chicken wings while checking on the Lightning score and they were leading the whole game and finally won their first playoff match and now await the second team to play the best of seven games.

The food at Amy and Tyler's was plentiful and delicious with smoked and grilled wings, egg rolls, jalapeno poppers, con caso, salsa and chips and ice cream cake for dessert. Oh my I gained 5 pounds according to the scale during the day with a bagel sandwich and chips for lunch and then all of the fixin's for supper. We headed out around 9'ish for home. I hit the shower as I had to be up at 5'ish for the load in at SPC for BridgePoint Church. I checked the scores and the Ray's bats came to life with a 10-1 win over the Twins, LATER

Saturday Morning

Well Friday started out beautiful weather wise and then got a little hot and humid as the day progressed. It was a mixture of play for me in the morning on the pickle ball court and then work around the yards, garden and garage as I got ready for the new door to be installed after lunch.

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 and then spent a few quiet moments with my Creator in prayer and lifting several up by name. All is well with those as I've heard nothing to the contrary. My old friend and at one time brother in law Bruce turned 81, wow where did that time go. I've known him since the middle 60's when we use to fly together in the USAF and then I helped raised his son Bruce, Jr. for a couple years while he was overseas and when I came on the patrol in '74. We go way back together and I'm thrilled he has his health issues under control.

I had a great workout on the courts with a few other good players. Many have left for the summer but we still have a couple good ones around which will give me a good sweat. I stopped off at the library for a new read I had ordered then headed home on my bike. Nancy was at her Friday Bible study then was meeting her sister, Betsy for lunch at the Seminole Center and then for some shopping. She got back around 5'ish. The garage man came about 1:30 and left just as Nancy was getting home. The new door lessens my space for the truck a few inches which will be close getting outside the side door from within but we managed to get the truck inside safety. I thought I was going to need a shoe horn but it went in because this new door is hurricane proof to an extent and the ribs of the supports are a few inches thicker, oh well it works and now we have to use a key to open the door which will take some getting use.

I grilled salmon fillets which were so delicious along with a garden salad for our supper. I cleaned up the leftover half runner beans for my lunch and I'm sad to say that's all for them in this garden. Hopefully I can get their seeds in the ground when we get to the cabin in June and get a mess or two. The tomato's are coming in and I only found a couple with bug holes so that's a good sign after dusting them a couple days ago. The two plants in the one garden has numerous green ones and the three plants in far side garden are huge in size but limited on the number of the fruit, oh well. The garden is winding down with the heat and of course its been in the ground since Nov. or there a bouts.

I watched the Ray's lose a 4 run lead in the later innings due to lack of relief pitching and will have to check the scores to see how they did. The Lightning play this afternoon in Tampa and with a win they move on to the next round in playoffs for the Stanley Cup. This morning we head to Brandon to watch grandson Gabe play baseball and then this evening we head over to Amy's for Ava's 11th birthday party and supper. It will be another family day filled with good eatin' as well, LATER

Friday Morning

Well Thursday was a mixture of cool morning temps then hit some high temps and by late evening it was almost perfect with bright sunshine and blue skies. The weather here in central Florida is much like N.C. in the summer.

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 spent a few quiet moments with my Creator in humble thanksgiving and lifting several up by name. All is well as can be expected due to their advancing ages and losses of memory which comes as a result. I didn't hear anything to the contrary this day so that is good. We need to keep my baby sister Dee in your thoughts and prayers as she is having a total hip replacement on Monday in Virginia.

I headed out on my bike for the rec. for two solid hours of pickle ball play as we only had two courts in action. Many of the players are heading back up north for the summer but we still have a good group of A players so I left whupped with a wet shirt by 10'ish or a little after. I headed home to hand water the front yards and the tree. I'm hoping for a good stand of grass before we leave in June. The sod is looking good but I noticed a couple leaves on the tree had curled and looked dried out and I found out the Crepe Myrtle is susceptible to cold temps and last week we had some after it being so warm for weeks. Hopefully it will bloom but I see no buds yet.

The garden is slowly being used up except now the tomato's are really coming in. I had to dust two of the plants which are head high and so big around it unbelievable. One has over 100 fruit set on it which also is out of the ordinary. My sweet onions bulbs are not doing as well as expected as I pulled one the size of a baseball and half of it was rotten. I think I'll not plant them again as they just require too much time to mature. These that haven't rotted are not making bulbs like they should, oh well. The peppers both green and jalapeno's are producing exceptionally well and I'm giving lots away. The egg plant is setting fruit as well and I noticed several blooms that should set as well.

I grilled onions and peppers for chicken fajitas fo our supper and they were delicious along with fresh garden cilantro and jalapenos for me. Yikes were they ever tasty as I did the onions and peppers in the grill basket. After the cleanup I headed outside to hand watered until dark. We watched some Fox News and now have learned that Comey was a lying leaker to the press and said one thing to our Potus but did something behind his back to exonerate Clinton. The deep state exists in the higher heads of both the Obama administration, the Clinton DNC as well as the DOJ and FBI. It's unraveling for these heads and now some criminal referrals are coming out on many who thought she would win and they never would be exposed. Thank GOD Trump was elected or we would never have found out the collusion and corruption within our government to bring down a political opponent and candidate. This only happens in third world banana republics and it all started with the worst potus ever, Obama and his minions, LATER

Thursday Morning

Well Wednesday saw the return of some heat and humidity enough that we turned the a/c back on but the morning and evening where nice to work outside. It was a rather mundane day except for the workout at the rec. and then watching the Lightning win in New Jersey over the Devils to take a 3-1 lead in the playoffs.

I started the day after a rather uneasy night after the ball game on Tuesday. I had difficulty falling asleep and then over slept for a really unusual occurrence until nearly 7'ish. I thought I would be exhausted after the sleepless night but felt refreshed after the work out on the pickle ball court for two hours. We said good-bye to a Canadian friend and new church attender, John and Ann who left out for their home until next November. We had really enjoyed his play on the court and they really fitted right in at church as well as bringing several of their neighbors and family through out the winter.

I worked outside until lunch time feeding the new tree, sod plugs and what's left of the garden. I harvested the last of the bibb, romaine and black seeded thompson lettuces but I'm still getting some Chinese cabbage and kale for salads. The tomato's are turning almost instantly and I'm picking them before they turn red as the fruit flies are really wrecking havoc this year. I even picked several large green ones and put in a brown paper bag with a green banana to help with their turning. I understand the gases from the turning banana help with this process. I'm losing one for every two I find in the tomato plant which has such thick foliage.

Amy and Eliza Faye came for lunch and then afterwards I grabbed a quick nap while reading until supper time. I grilled bone in pork chops slathered with fresh rosemary  and Nancy had fresh broccoli on the stove. I'm maintaining around the 180 mark give or take a pound depending on the time of the day. I've stayed away from the heavy carbs and eat big at lunch instead of the late evening, LATER

Thursday Morning

Well Wednesday was another brisk morning but no nearly as chilly as the day before; however it was not of the ordinary morning for Florida in the middle of April. It did warm up into the upper 70's by late afternoon but chilled of again after dark. I started the day much the usual with the 6'ish roll out to a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I spent some time posting this ramble and some quiet time with my Creator. Everyone is holding their own as we spoke with all of our folks and friends who we mention everyday in our thoughts and prayers for comfort and healing. I got in two good hours of pickle ball play at the rec. then piddled around in the garden and yards before lunch. Amy and Eliza Faye came and after they left I got in some reading and a short nap.

I'm cutting this ramble a bit short as I over slept which is only because I could not get to sleep last night after getting back from Tropicana Field in St.Pete where Tyler and I went to watch the Ray's get beat by the Texas Rangers. It's been awhile since we took in a ball game together and one of my BridgePoint friends blessed us with two really great seats around the third base side of the diamond. It's a eally beautiful venue on the inside and I have no idea why the team wants to move to Hillsborough County and play in an outside stadium, oh well, LATER

Tuesday Morning

Well Monday was a mixture of play and work as I had a good workout at the rec. then came home to work in the garage and get ready for the new much needed garage door on Friday. It was another rather chilly day here in Florida especially for this time of the year but I shouldn't complain because most of our northern friends are experiencing freezing temps and some with snow flurries. I haven't heard much from the global warming group except for some weird comment that all this cold and snow is because of the warming of the earth. How ridiculous.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6'ish roll out to cool temps and the hot cup of green tea laced with turmeric was a welcome. I spent some quiet time with my Creator after posting this ramble then got ready for the cold windy ride out on my bike to the Rec. for two hours of pickle ball play. I was whupped by 10 o'clock and then had to fight the wind on the ride home. I did get a chance to speak with those who I had lifted up in prayer during my quiet time and all seems well. Most of them are up north and they too are experiencing the cold and snow.

The storm that came through on Sunday blew over several of my huge tomato plants and broke of some limbs of them and my jalapeno peppers. I had a couple nice green tomato's on the ground so I decided to grill them for our supper with some worchester sauce and parmesan cheese. I hadn't had them prepared that way in years and while they could have been a little more well done I thought the taste was o.k. Nancy wasn't thrilled with them. The dang fruit flies are a real pain this year as they ruin about 2 out of 3 ripening tomato's. I picked the last of the sugar peas as the wind blew the vines around and broke them off. The lettuces are about gone as well but the green peppers are starting to really produce with several on the plants I brought back from N.C. last fall.

Well I didn't have to water much but the wind really dried out the gardens and the new grass plugs so I gave it a hand watering in the afternoon. I tuned into the Ray's game and they won big against the Texan's and tonight I will attend the game along with Tyler my son in law the game as a church friend gave me two tickets. The Lightning were losing in a close game when I shut the lights off at 10, LATER

Monday Morning..Tax Due Date

Well Sunday afternoon was a very interesting day after an early start for me as I was up at 5'ish and out the door to the college to help with the load in for BridgePoint Church. Today was our one year anniversary to the day for our Seminole campus and we have double our attendance from that first date. We had helium filled balloons for the kiddos as well cupcakes and of course our weekly free donuts, coffee and bottled waters. It was quite a day and the message that our lead pastor Tim delivers is so inspiring and goes so fast you don't want it to end. The message is still a video but everything else is live and in house.

We got back to the house going on 1PM when it began to cloud up and strong winds approached the area and then all of a sudden it poured rain in sheets and then lightning struck a power pole in the neighbors yard causing the house to suddenly go completely dead; powerless. Well we called on Nancy's cell phone and got through to Duke Energy and around 5 'ish a large truck came by and reset with a new fuse on the transformer which once again gave us power. It blinked one time after that but we are back with everything running in good order. Thankfully the transformer did not have to be replaced as there was no way except by hand for replacing it as the back yards where completely unaccessible by this huge truck with a boom, oh well.

We stayed home and read and watched this line if storms hit the area with much needed rain and the wind was so fierce as well. I noticed a few smaller branches from the back yard oak in the yard despite having it trimmed a couple weeks ago. What a storm with tornado warning throughout the state as it moved from the Gulf to the Atlantic. I did finish a good read by Evan Hunter a.k.a. Ed McBain titled Criminal Conversation. A real page turner and a surprising end to the book. We didn't do much after getting the power back and skipped any supper after the huge Chef salad for lunch except for a hand full of mixed nuts with my glass of vino around 6'ish. I found some playoff hockey on the tube and watched that until lights out for me at 10'ish, LATER

Sunday Morning

Well I just got back from the load in at SPC for Bridgepoint Church which started at 6 AM so that is why this post is late.

Saturday started with a sleep in for me which is quite unusual until nearly 7 o'clock, yikes that's a first in awhile. We were heading over to Brandon around 9 to see grandson Gabe's baseball game which by the way they won 12 to 7 or something like that. At least they played very well with some three up and out for change. I think their record puts them in the middle of the pack. Bobby our son is the teams manager and he does a good job but some of the kids are rather small and are stilling learning about where to throw the ball. Most of the runs for both teams comes on errors but we did see some good hitting today.

We left the field around 12:30 and headed home as Bobby and Katie didn't have the kiddos this weekend and he had to perform a wedding in the afternoon so we headed home via the cross town toll road. The backups on the interstate are terrible still this time of the year when usually the snowbirds have headed north. I think more and more of them are staying year round permanently with the congestion on the roads as a indicator, oh well. We stopped for lunch at a new chain called PDQ which is much like ChicFilet and its comparable except for their fries which doesn't compare. It's supposed to be fresh chicken grilled and it OK but I like ChickFilet better. Anyhow after lunch we made a stop at Sam's for a fill up and some goodies. Gas is going up as the summer driving season begins.

I chilled after getting home watching the Lightning team whip the new Jersey team in hockey for a 2-0 start in their best of seven playoff games. The Ray's looked terrible in the loss to the Phillies later in the evening and then I watched a little of another playoff hockey game. Amy and Tyler had a date night so we fed the kiddos tacos which they loved and then got them their baths. Amy got back around 9'ish and it wasn't long until I hit the shower and then watched a little of Fox News before lights out, LATER

Saturday Morning

Well Friday was a complete different weather day from Thursday, yikes the heat and humidity was back and at times after lunch it was too miserable to be outside. By the late evening it cooled down with a breeze and I was able to work outside in the front yard digging, watering and planting new grass plugs.

The day started much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and then some quiet time with my Creator. Those whom I lift up each day are still kicking but are having some health issues related to old age. Paw Paw was taken to the VA Hospital at Walter Reed where he had his yearly check up with the hip doctor and he has been cleared for the next four years with out a checkup for the hip. I spoke with Josie and she is beside herself with his refusing to care for himself as he has lost more weight because of not eating correctly and has told him he will have to move up with Pat in W.Va. in the near future so she can at least look after him and that the house will be sold. I will believe that when I see it as he is very stubborn.

Everyone else is hanging in there but Joe seems to be getting once again very difficult to remain mobile and Helen is having to drive him as well as do menial duties of which just wears her out. He needs assistance as his legs and feet are a constant worry. Helen who is 90 herself is holding up but the extra concern for him is wearing her to a frazzle. He needs a ramp which would help so much in his getting in and out of the house but he refused my help last summer on building one. Hopefully his son will get one built soon, oh well such is the issues with long living. Paw Paw is losing his memory and probably doesn't remember if he eats or not but is still quite mobile.

Well I headed out to the rec. for two solid hours of pickle ball play and left with a wet shirt at 10'ish. Nancy was at her Bible study group and wouldn't be home until after 12 so I harvested and cleaned lettuces and kale for a huge salad. The lettuces are about used up except for a few Romaine heads as the heat is causing some of it to bolt. I've given away to all the neighbors before it went bad. I may get another cutting before turning the garden under as the heat is taking it toll on the leafy green veggies. I'm finally picking tomatoes but the fruit flies are leaving their larvae in so many that is the exception to get one not infested. I suppose I need to dust them again with Sevin.

Amy and Eliza came for lunch and it was salad and frozen pizza. I took the afternoon off from working outside as the heat was just too much and read. I even took a short nap as I've been burning the candle at both ends getting the yard and gardens in shape for our departure in June for the cabin. I need to get the garage ready for a new door later next week as well. I hand watered the tree and the new sod and then set the sprinkler after supper while hoeing and pulling unwanted grasses and weeds from the front yard as well as edging some new St.Augustine grass runners and planting them. I worked outside until 8 then hit the shower and watched the Ray's lose another game to the Phillies in a close one that was tied into the last innings. The Ray's have no pitching from the bull pen, LATER

Friday Morning

Well Thursday was a work day after my usual morning work out on the pickle ball courts at the rec. for two hours. Afterwards I worked in the gardens and yards and dug out around the rear foundation of the house for oak tree roots and found only very small ones. It was years ago I cut the big ones that extended under the house and they have never come back.

The day started much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to my cup of hot green tea lace with turmeric while I posted this ramble and then spent some moments with my Creator in prayer and thanksgiving for many. All is well as I've heard no different and GG especially is doing so much better. Nancy talks with her mom every day and she has noticed some great improvements. Her mind is still sharp while Paw Paw's is starting to slip with his short term memory. Our "mountain mom" is beyond comparison as she is extraordinary independent while living alone and her mind is sharp. All three of these are within a few months in age of each other.

I headed out a little before 8 for the rec. on my bike and once again it was a chilly morning but the birds were singing and it felt just like a N.C. morning with the clean fresh cool air. It did get a little warmer but very little humidity was evident and the breeze kept it quite nice all day. We had the windows and doors open until it was bedtime then turned the a/c on. Amy and Eliza did not come for lunch so we chowed down on a huge salad from the garden which was great and then I headed back outside to work. I harvested a nice mess of fresh collards and got them ready for the pot which then Nancy put on the stove with smoked bacon, onion and chicken broth, yeow what a delicious dish that accompanied some fresh corn on the cob for our supper around 6.

I headed back outside after the cleanup to hand water the new tree and grass plugs as well as pulled and hoed weeds in the yards. I worked out side until nearly 8 then headed for the showers. I found a couple more ripening tomatoes as the bushes are so leafed its hard to see them. I turned on the TV and saw where our Lightning were beating the N.J. team in the first game of the playoff's in hockey. They went on to win 5-2 over this team they had not beat all year. It wasn't long until it was lights out for me at 10'ish after a few minutes on Fox news, LATER

Thursday Morning

Well Wednesday turned out to be a fun day all together as we met up with our Cool Peoples Club plus another couple in north Pinellas County(which is about half way between where the Tracy's live) for a movie and then supper out. It was just a very nice day and the food was excellent.

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 some quiet time with my Creator. No word on any changes with the several I lift up every day. I got ready and headed out on my bike to the rec. for two hours of pickle ball. I almost put on another extra shirt as the front brought some very cool and dry temp's and it stayed that way throughout the day. A garage door salesman came to give me an estimate on replacing my over 40 year old door and then Amy and Eliza came for a lunch of fried green tomatoes which were so delicious. Nancy then made a batch of ginger snap cookies which also were very good right out of the oven and still very moisture, yikes I had several but I was down to 181 this AM, so I indulged and then again last night after supper I shared a decadent dessert at the eatery with Nancy.

I showered before we left at 3'ish to pick up the Botbyl's then we drove to the northern part of the county called Oldsmar. When I use to patrol this area at times it was not built up but now its starting to look like southern Pinellas. This huge AMC theater had 21 shows and we saw the movie Paul, The Apostle. It was alright and the acting was good but the dialects of most of the actors was hard to understand from my perspective. It was nothing like I Can Only Imagine which although it was a tear jerker, but this movie was based on hard facts and suffering mentioned in the Bible. I wouldn't see it again as at time it was so dark; of course Paul was in prison in Rome where the setting was for the movie and most of his writing took place.

We met this new couple who is an USAF retiree and then we got to know them at the small eatery in Safety Harbor called Southern Fresh, yeow the food was excellent and it specialized in fried chicken, wild caught fish and veggies. Our meal was delicious and its just a hole in the wall but the place was packed and we sat outside on the veranda. Everyone's meal was great and the service was good for 8 folks. We had an enjoyable time and the new couple Tom and Elizabeth are neighbors of the Tracy's and I found out they love and play pickle ball. So we hit it off right away. I would say they are in their late 50's early 60's at the most but have 6 grand children.

We got back to the house around 9'ish and since I had already showered it was some Fox News for me until 10'ish, LATER

Wednesday Morning

Well we finally got some rain that started about 11 o'clock and lasted several hours and at times with gusts of wind. There were periods when the rain stopped but the clouds stayed around all day and into the evening. I awakened during the night to the sound of rain falling once again. What a blessing as we have been so dry for so long.

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 spent some time with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting up several by name. All is well with those thus far. Afterwards I got ready and headed out on my bike to the rec. for a good workout on the pickle ball courts and left with a wet head and shirt before 10. A garage door rep was supposed to come by at 10 so I left a few minutes early but we some how had our times crossed up and no one showed or called until around 4 when a rep called and said he noticed the mistake on the times and would be here this morning around 10:15. I wanted to make sure I got in my two hours of play today(Wed.)

The rains came so there wasn't much to do except read and do social media. Amy and Eliza Faye came for lunch and we finished up the leftover beans and taters which were once again so delicious from the night before. This rain will bring on another bean pickings and I did find two ripe tomatoes within the vines the wind had parted during the storm. These tomato plants are so large and dense I was having trouble finding ripe ones. We did get in a hike through the hood after supper and the large puddles of standing water was a great site to behold as its been dry since we got back in Nov. from the cabin with just a few minor showers.

I got out and pulled a few weeds in between rain showers at times but basically read the afternoon away. The newly planted tree and sod loved this rain and the grass has grown an inch as well as have the plugs. Well that was about it for Tuesday as we settled into Fox News and once again the biased special counsel is digging up dirt on Trump and his associates as they try to divert attention away from the crooked Dem's in the Obama and Hillary administration. Trump is going to have to clean up another mess in the middle east promulgated by the inept last administration, LATER

Tuesday Morning

Well Monday was a work day all day long after a great work out at the rec. for two hours of pickle ball. I headed home to get Nancy and then go to the tree nursery/sod place to pick up our 15 foot Crepe Myrtle tree. I love the shape of it and it supposed to bloom purple sometime in May and stay like that most of the summer. It fit nicely in the center of the old oak stump that had rotted out with just enough room to spare for several bags of composted cow manure and garden dirt to enclose it in the ground and then I placed two pieces of sod on top to close the gap. The leaves were a little wilted but after a good watering they perked up so I knew I was getting nutrients and water to the root bulb. It was about a foot and half or more across and about the same in depth which fit nicely in the hole.

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 and spent time in thanksgiving for another with my Creator as well as lifting several up by name. I spoke with Paw Paw and he seemed about the same except to say he was going back to Walter Reed Hospital on Friday with Josie to have his shoulder and knee checked out. Nancy spoke with her mom, GG and all is well there and then we talked with Helen "our mountain mom" and she is really for some warm weather. It snowed off and on for the past two days but didn't amount to much since the ground was so warm.

Bobby and Amy came for lunch and Eliza Faye was in her finest outfits as she danced for us despite the cast on her arm. She is such a cutie and so smart. Bobby helped me set the tree out of the back of the truck and then I got the hole ready for planting. I managed to drag and wrestle the tree into the hole then tied ropes on to the trunk and staked to keep it steady as there was a stiff breeze. It looked great and has already made a difference in the look of the front yard. I watered the rest of the new grass plugs both in the front, side and back yard as well as hand watered the gardens. I harvested lettuces again for salads as well as pulled some beautiful large carrots and picked a bunch of sugar peas and found one large tomato that was turning without any fruit fly damage.

Nancy had a pot of half runner green beans with smoked bacon on the stove and the smell was awesome. She added some taters and then we made a meal as she used chicken broth to give it the soup like texture, yeow was that ever delicious and there is enough leftover for another day. We took a walk after supper when the air had cooled down considerably with a nice breeze out of the east. The humidity is back as there are clouds around but no more rain which we need. I stayed outside working in the yards pulling weeds and watering until dark then hit the shower. I watched some Fox News and flipped between that and baseball and actually saw the Ray's finally win their second game of the season in cold Chicago. It looks as if the Mueller Team is going after our POTUS outside the scope of what his mandate was to investigate Russian collusion. What a total witch hunt and he has done nothing about the Obama and Clinton collusion with the Russians. There is definitely a two tier level of justice in this country and I'm starting to think there maybe an uprising if they try to impeach our POTUS, LATER

Monday Morning

Well Sunday was a great day of worship at BridgePoint that started with a 5 o'clock wake up as I headed out a little before 6 to the college on my bike to help with the load in and set up for the service that started at 9:30 and then again at 11. We had a great group of both men and women who volunteer every Sunday Morning to assist with this endeavor. The work was meant for one thing and that is to "help folks get closer to GOD"and we had a good turn out for both services. Not as many as on Easter Morning but many new faces and volunteers.

We served the first service and then sat in on the second one too hear a great message titled "mixtap"by Tim our lead pastor. It's archived if your interested in hearing it at bridgepointfl.com. The worship music was all inspiring as well.We didn't stick around after the service to help with the load out as I had been there since 6. I'm already looking to teach someone to take my place in June during the load in as each of us volunteers do certain things as well as helping out with different tasks when needed. It's usually takes and hour and half before we head back home to get ready for the 8:30 meeting before the 9:30 service. The band comes as do the production team and sets up the stage as they run through their musical parts. It's quite a production and each volunteer is much needed to make this weekly program work.

We left around 12;30 and settled into a garden fresh salad for lunch at home as the Botbly's were unavailable for lunch out and then I settled in to watch the Ray's blow a 7-2 lead in the 8th against the Red Sox. It's going to be a long season this year as they have no pitching staff. It down right shameful the team let almost all our good pitching staff and players go. I really could care less about attending a game this year but I think our life group is planning on an outing so I may be forced to go and watch this hapless team.

We settled into an old movie on HBO called Private Benjamin with Goldie Hawn and it was a hoot to say the least and then we took off on a hike through the hood. The humidity is back with rain clouds but no more rain but it was pleasant outside. We invited the new neighbors over for a garden seminar and they invited us in to see their remodel so far in the old Heckman house. The mother of the young woman went to school with Nancy at Seminole High back in the day and they are very delightful folks. I set the sprinklers on the new grass and plugs in the front yard. It looks as if it's really starting to take off and grow.

I hit the shower then read until it was lights out for me around 10'ish. Today is pick up the new Crepe Myrtle tree at the nursery and plant it hopefully in the rotted out section of the old oak stump. That will at least give the yard some decoration which looks so bare, LATER

Sunday Morning

Well Saturday was a fun filled day as we traveled to Brandon to watch Gabe play and Bobby manage their baseball team called the Angels. They lot in a close contest with just too many errors, but their hitting was quite good for a change. It was a rather windy day as a front moved into the area and finally just before dark we got some much needed rain. It's cloudy this morning with rain clods around and the humidity has moved back into the area with vengeance. I just got back from the college where I assisted with the load in and set up for BridgePoint Church this morning.

We got back from Tampa around 3:30 after visiting with Bobby and Family for a couple hours. We had a lunch of sandwiches and dip out on the pool/patio. It was still very pleasant but the wind was evident for the approaching front moving out of the west. The traffic was stop and go on the interstate on the way home. I was hoping most of these snowbirds(including us) would be gone by now but the roads where so full, anyhow it was good to be home after being gone since 9. We actually sat and watched a civil war movie on HBO with a surprised ending called The Beguilded with Nicole Kidman. Boring movie and now I know why I don't go to movies.

I did watch the Lightning get beat by the N.C. Hurricanes in the final regular season game before the playoff's. The Lightning was the best team in their division all season but let this team out hustle them for their final game as they did not make the playoffs. The Lightning move on next week in hopes another Stanley Cup win. That was about it for the day as it was a 5'o'clock roll out this AM, LATER

Saturday Morning

Well Friday was another busy day filled with fun on the pickle ball court and then again outside cleaning up the neighbor's tree I sawed down on Thursday and getting it to the curb for the trash pickup as well as working once again to enlarge the hole for the new tree I'm planting next week.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6'ish roll out to my standard cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and the gave thanks for another day to my Creator as well as lifted several up by name. I spoke with Paw Paw and he definitely is losing his short term memory and complained of pain in his shoulder and knee all of which came from falling down the steps in the house he say's he will never leave. Our mistake was to let him go back there to live after his rehab from the hip replacement. Our "mountain mom" is doing well as is her brother Joe who is now back permanently in his house as the sale fell through. Spring has finally come through but there is another cold front coming through later this weekend with rain and possible snow showers. I would like to see some rain here in central Florida as we are very dry.

I got in two good hours of pickle ball play before stopping off at the library was a couple new reads I had ordered. After getting home I decided to clean up the limbs and leaves from the Mango tree that were left in my neighbor Carol's back yard. She is such a worker and her son is not very helpful but he does work every night at a pizza place on the beach and goes to school. I remember the biblical saying we should help the widows and orphans and she is that trying to raise her son on her own. So I headed over with clippers and black bags and chopped up the limbs and loaded up 5 huge black bags of limbs and leaves then stacked the wood in a corner so she could eventually give away to the neighbors behind her who are always having bon fires. I got these out to the curb and then helped to load them into the garbage truck later in the morning. We also had 6 cans of the chopped up tree they took away as well.

I spent the rest of the morning enlarging the hole in the middle of the stump in the front yard as I want to plant a rather large tree next week. I once again fertilized and watered the new grass through out the day as well as the back yard and gardens. I now have a small bunny rabbit in the gardens as I thought I saw one the other day but mistook it for a rat. Amy saw it while looking out the bay window in the kitchen at lunch. He is so little and I'm at a lost as to how he got in the yards through the chain link fence. We watched him or her eating some greens and he did in one of my cilantro plants. There isn't much except lettuces and kale that he can eat but I will keep an eye out for further damage. I may have to trap him and take him to the park. This is the first time in 39 years I've ever had a rabbit in the garden. He must have slipped through when we left the side gate open one night after watering with the hose, oh well.

I worked outside until dark once again after supper and I notice lots of the patches of St.Augustine grasses that were dormant have come to life where there use to be only weeds. The big oak sucked so much of the water from the yard and now that its gone the grasses are coming to life. The daily waterings are really making a big difference. Today (Sat) we head over to Brandon to watch grandson Gabe play baseball, LATER

Friday Morning

Well Thursday was another busy day that had me outside working after a good work out at the Rec. on the pickle ball court for two hours, yikes what a fun time which left me with a wet head and shirt. The weather was perfect for working outside with no humidity and to start the day there was a chill in the air as I rode my bike. I was able to help my neighbor Carol with cutting down and sawing up a largo Mango tree which she wanted removed from her yard as well as enlarging the hole in the center of the stump area where the big oak once stood.

I started the day with my usual before 6 roll out to my usual cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and then spent some time with my Creator lifting up several by name. I haven't heard any change to those folks except Nancy's eyes seems to be improving somewhat. She over uses something to take away the redness when she should be using a lubricate, but they do look better since she stopped using a new eye liner.

I headed out a little before 8 on my bike and it was actually chilly. I almost went back to the house for my flannel shirt but by the time I left around 10 it had warmed up to perfect conditions with bright sunshine. I decided to work in the front yard watering the newly laid sod and enlarging the rotted out center of the stump where I plan to set a large Crepe Myrtle tree which is around 2-3 inches in diameter. I want to make sure the hole is large enough and to give the roots some growing room. The center of the stump is gone but about 10 inches below the ground it has rotted out back beyond where the stump grinder didn't go deep enough, anyhow I used a drill and the chain saw cutting out small portions where the stump was still very hard and solid. I noticed some of the sod had already started to sprout from the bottom of the large pieces which is a good sign over the stump area which I had placed dirt and composted cow manure.

Amy and Eliza Faye came for lunch and we dined on some leftovers from the night before dinner, Mexican food always seems to be as good or better the next day. After lunch I did take and hour or two to read as it was the hottest part of the day. Around 3'ish I headed out to set the sprinklers once again on the new sod then headed next door to cut down and cut up a rather large Mango tree. The wood is soft so the electric chain saw worked perfectly. I had it down and up in about an hour then decided to stuff several trash cans with the sawed up limbs and leaves. It will take several more stuffed cans to rid the yard of the tree remains. She was pleasantly surprised when she got home from work to see the tree down.

 I decided to finish up the last of the yellow rice and black beans for supper along with the salsas and fresh onions on top then headed out to the drug store to pick up a script for Nancy. I stayed outside piddling around in the yards and gardens then picked a huge mess of half runner green beans. The tomato's are loaded with fruit but are slow in ripening. I'm beginning to wonder if maybe I should cut back on the water as the plants are over my head in height. I'm watering twice a day as the sun is very hot and the wind has it so dry. I stayed out until 8'ish then headed for the shower. Afterwards I watched a little UFC and Fox News before shutting off the light at 10, LATER

Thursday Morning

Well Wednesday was a day or evening of gastronomic delights as we has the Cool Peoples Club over to celebrate the Botbyl's 43rd anniversary with Mexican ordures', drinks and entrees, yeow what a feast and now I know why you seldom see thin or skinny hombres.

The day started with my usual before 6 roll out to a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and spent some quiet moments in thanksgiving for all of my blessings and mentioning by name several for comfort, healing and for helping them get closer to GOD. That is our BridgePoint motto and I'm on board. All seem well with those but Nancy is having some eye issues and we aren't sure but suspect she may be allergic to a cosmetic eye liner or the over use of eye drops to take out the redness; anyhow her eyes are very sore and extremely red.

I headed out a little before 8 on my bike to the rec. for two hours of constant pickle ball play with really good players. Wow what a work out and I left with a wet head and shirt. I was down to 183 this AM and I just have three to go until I reach my goal or there about; of course the meal last evening was 5 lbs worth and the delicious lemon chiffon cake was another pound or two; oh well. We started the feast with salsa, layered bean dip, guacamole and a melted cheese dip (con casio)with red peppers and chips while everyone but Kathryn and myself had margaritas; we stuck with cabernet. After a game of Euchre of which the gals came back from a 7-3 lead by the guys to win 10-9, yeow. What a come from behind win. I fired up the grill and roasted sliced red, yellow and green peppers along with sliced onions for our grilled chicken fajitas accompanied by black beans and yellow rice.

While letting the digestive juices work we got into a game of OH -ELL which is another fast moving card game before having a delicious slice of cold lemon chiffon cake. The icing is so mild and just enough lemon flavoring to excite your taste buds that Carol made and brought. Kathryn brought all of the ordures' and we supplied the rest. What a celebration as we made plans for next week's getting together and for some plans this summer while in the mountains. It wasn't long after they left around 8:30 (as the Tracy's had to drive back north for an hour) to their hacienda.  We cleaned up the kitchen and soon got ready for bed around 10ish for me.

I did finish up the sod after pickle ball and cut up the huge slabs of sod to replant along the barren side of the house. Hopefully it will now grow since we have lost the shade from the big oak tree and the one in the back has been trimmed to allow in more sunlight, LATER

Wednesday Morning

Well Tuesday as a mixture of play and work that started with a rather nice morning with low or no humidity and temps in the high 60's and it did get rather hot in the mid afternoon which required me to stay inside and read for a couple hours. After supper I ventured out to work in the front yard planting sod plugs in the areas that have no grass or where the weeds have taken over. I feel sure these plugs or chunks of sod will take but I'm still not sure about the sod over the large area where the huge oak use to stand despite the grinding of the stump. There is still a lot of wood below the ground level and despite the adding of dirt on top of that area I'm wondering it the sod will take.

I started the day with my before 6 roll out to my usual routines of hot tea with turmeric while I posted this ramble and then spent some quiet moments with my Creator in thanksgiving for another day and all the blessings of life as well as lifting several up by name. All is well with those folks and Spring has sprung in the mountains with temps up into the middle 60's but another cold front is moving though later this weekend and there is a chance of the frozen white stuff again, yikes. While the sun is hot and it's dry its not unbearable outside and the evening are almost perfect. So far the humidity has been scarce and I'm hoping this cycle with remain for sometime, but we could use some rain.

I had a tremendous workout on the pickle ball court for two hours with all good players and left with a wet shirt on my bike for home. Nancy was wanting to do some Sam's Club shopping as well as a stop at Audi's upon my getting home. We loaded up from both places before heading home and having Amy and Eliza for lunch. The fresh garden salad was awesome to accompany a doctored up frozen pizza, yeow such good eatin'. Afterwards I became a patient for Eliza Faye as she loves to pretend to be a doctor. She has the routines down for all of the checks and administered a couple shots which has "good medicine" to make me feel better. I think she may have found her niche for what she wants to do in life; we will venture back to this writing in about 20 years(if I'm still around) to see if this comes true, but she loves pretending to be a doctor. She is managing quite well with her cast on her primary right arm but does need some assistance on eating from time to time. She is the first grand child to experience a broken bone.

We finished up the Sunday Easter meal of leftover smashed taters and roasted carrots from the garden along with that delicious lamb gravy and of course lamb. This is one of my favorite meals ever and to think I never ate it until I met Nancy's folks. GG use to make the best lamb roast and then of course we would occasionally have lamb chops which are to die for. This evening(Wed.) we are entertaining the Botbyl's and the Tracy's for a chicken fajitas supper as we celebrate Dan and Carols anniversary. Should be a fun evening of good eatin' and games.

I headed out to work outside until dark as it was that nice outside. I set the sprinkler on the new sod and then cut up a couple of left over pieces and planted them in the bare areas. It wasn't long afterwards I was in the shower and then watching the Lightning destroy the first place Boston Bruins in hockey. Lights out for me was 10'ish with some horizontal lab, LATER

Tuesday Morning

Well Monday was a busy day right up to dark as 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 moments with my Creator. All is well with those I lift up so there isn't much to report on them except GG is getting along very well with her speech and thoughts which is remarkable due to her mini stroke.

I headed out a little before 8 on my bike to the rec. for two hours of pickle ball. We had a couple visiting players who are quiet good players and invited them to play on the challenge court. I brought one of the players home with me who attends church with us and who is from Canada for some fresh veggies. He was amazed I could grow such a garden in the city and so much variety. I loaded him up with three kinds of lettuces, herbs and some carrots.

I hand watered the gardens and then headed off to the sod place for a half pallet of St. Augustine grass which was just unloaded off a truck from the Miami area. It was beautiful in color and texture. Well after a bite of lunch that project kept me busy until nearly suppertime. Amy had brought Sam and Ava by to watch while they took Eliza Faye to St.Pete for her casting of the right arm. She got a bright purple one which she will have to wear for 4-6 weeks. This new type of cast is made from fiberglass and they encourage you to get it wet with either showering or bathing. You just need to let it air dry afterwards which helps with the itching. Nancy made a delicious lamb/barley vegetable soup from the lamb bone and we all emptied the pot. Ava and Sam had several bowls and Amy and I finished it up, yeow was that ever good and we have another leg of lamb in the freezer for another time.

I spent the rest of the day light hours hand watering the gardens, yards and the just laid sod as well as fertilizing the yards. I had 7 pieces of sod left over so I will cut them into 4 squares and lay them where it's just dirt and weeds in the front yard and along the side of the house. I put composted cow manure and some milorganite in with the sod to help it get a start over the stump area. Hopefully it will take as there is still lots of wood below the ground level. I have a nice hole that goes down several feet in the middle of the stump that I will plant a Crepe Myrtle tree.

I came in just before dark and hit the shower as I was plainly covered in dirt. The shower felt good after a double scrubbings and then I watched some T.V. waiting for the big NCAA final. I tuned out with Villanova leading in the first 10 minutes or so as I was bushed, LATER

Monday Morning

Well I must say Sunday was another awesome day of worship with our BridgePoint Family and a great time with our son Bobby and his family and our daughter Amy and her family. All of the grand kiddos were so excited to see each other and they played hard for the couple hours they had together. There was some much special care for Eliza with the bandaged arm but she was right in there with them and never let her arm hold her down. The roasted leg of lamb dinner was very good along with everything else.

I started the day much the usual in spite of it being Sunday when I usually help with the 6 AM load in at the college; we did that on Saturday so the load in wasn't necessary. I did my routines that started with a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and lifted up several by name to my Creator on this Easter Morning. We headed out after getting ready for church at 8:30 for our regular meeting with the volunteer's at church. We had over 400 chairs for each of the services and there were just a few empties through out the auditorium. What a great mixture of folks with over a hundred kids in the Kidspoint area. We actually ran out of the 20 dozen of donuts which we give away free to all who want them as well as coffee and bottled water and then headed out to pick up another 4 dozen for those who linger after the second service.

The message Tim our lead pastor delivered was so simple but also so in depth about our relationship with the Risen Lord and the difference that makes in one's life. Check the message out on the web page as it's archived. I saw several we had invited and some old friends and families from years past. It was a great day as many only worship on these special holidays and I hoped we made a good presentation in helping folks get closer to GOD. After the first service I helped in the parking lot getting the first service vehicles out as well as getting the second service attendees in safely and as close to the building as possible. Luckily the parking area at the college is well above our needs with vast areas.

We stayed and helped with a little of the load out but it was close to 1:30 before we got home to have a bite of lunch. I set the sprinkler on the garden for the rest of the afternoon while cat napping during the Ray's game. They lost another close one to the Red Sox's and are now 1-3 to start the season and head to N.Y. to play the powerful Yankees. This division is the strongest in all of baseball it seems. Well the family came around 4:30 and all of the grands played until it was time for the Easter egg hunt outside in the back yard. Nancy had filled plastic eggs with nickels, dimes and quarters and even a dollar bill to the one special hard to find egg. Well they cleaned up with several dollars each in change and I think Sam found the special egg. They had a good time and let Eliza find several obvious one in plain sight.

Dan and Carol came down with green bean casserole and salad to add to our already plentiful table. The roast lamb was cooked to perfection and the flavor was so mild the kiddos actually wanted seconds. We have enough leftover for another meal tonight. The lamb gravy is the most flavorful of all gravy's in my opinion and I even had some over the crusty bread which was so delicious. Bobby was whipped after a busy weekend of his interim leading worship at Ballast Point Church in Tampa for several Friday and Sunday Services. I think he did 5 services over the weekend and three yesterday and was ready for some down time, so they headed out after Amy's apple pie and ice cream for dessert around 8. Everyone else began to leave shortly thereafter which gave us some time to clean up the kitchen and put the house back in order.

We watched the Lightning get their rear's kicked by the Nashville team 4-1 in Tampa and then it wasn't long that I too decided to get ready for some horizontal lab a little before 10, LATER 

Sunday Morning..Happy Easter To All

Well it's hard to believe it the first of April and of course Easter as we believers honor this day as the foundation for our belief that JESUS rose from the grave to atone for us before GOD the father and if we have that faith then even after our bodies in the flesh are long dead we will live forever in heaven.

Saturday was a busy day that started with my usual roll out around 6 to a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and spent some quiet time with my Creator. All seems well with everyone who are in our thoughts and prayers and now we have one more to add; our little Eliza Faye fell yesterday at the park breaking both bones in her right arm between the wrist and elbow. Amy and Tyler brought her by after leaving the E.R. to pick up Ava and Sam who stayed with us while they attended to her. She has a sling on for now and they will probably cast her arm the first of the week. She was so brave and pitiful at the same time. Pray that she recovers completely with no surgery.

Well I headed out to the rec. a little before 8 for an hour of pickle ball then rode over to the college to help with the 9 AM load in for BridgePoint Church. We had a ton of folks for a change which made the set up so much faster and easier. Afterwards I pedaled back to the rec. to help with the Family Day our church was sponsoring for the community. The weather was not the best but despite the cool wind and overcast we still had several hundred. We were prepared for 1500 attendees but didn't come close. There were several egg hunts depending on the age of the kids as well as several bump houses also depending on the ages of the kids as well as laser tag and several different varieties of food trucks which produced some very delicious food until 2 PM.

I saw lots of folks with their kids from the hood as well as several grand kids from my pickle ball friends. I'm hoping we have a good turnout this morning (Sun) at the two services as we help folks get closer to GOD. Lots of folks who don't attend church regularly do so on the big holidays of Christmas and Easter. I headed home around 2'ish to rest and read for an hour before we got the news on Eliza Faye. The rest of the day was spent watering the gardens and getting ready for the family dinner with Bobby's and Amy's families as well as Dan and Carol. Betsy's family decided to stay home this year. Nancy has a nice leg of lamb ready to roast as well as smashed taters and gravy and carrots from the garden, the Botbyl's are bringing a salad and a veggie and Amy is making apple pies for dessert.

Well I tuned into the NCAA games and both teams I was rooting for got blown away as did the Ray's vs Boston. It's good to begin the baseball season again. Hope all have a great day and to remember the importance of this special holiday as all of us some day have to meet our Creator, LATER