Friday Morning..the last day of Nov 2018

Well Thursday was down right cold for Florida with temps in the upper 40's and the stiff breeze made it feel even colder. I had to put long britches on after pickle ball while working outside and the high clouds kept the sun from shining brightly. But we are nothing like at the cabin in the mountains with teens and 20's, yeow. Not for me, give me heat over cold any day, oh well.

I started the day with a little sleep in until nearly 7'ish for a change. The warm blankets had me snuggled in plus I didn't need to be at the gyn until 9: 30 or so as we play later and longer on Tues. and Thurs. I did my usual routines that start with the hot cup of green tea laced with turmeric and ginger while I post this ramble and then spend some quiet moments with my Creator. All is well with those I lift up daily for healing and comfort. Nancy left early as she had to do a fasting blood draw so I fixed some oatmeal for my breakfast and had the coffee pot perking for her when she got back around 9. I soon headed out on my bike for the rec. bundled up with a flannel shirt and ball cap.

We had a great 2 plus hours of pickle ball play and I left at noon with a wet shirt. Thankfully the temps were back up to the low 60's after an early morning cold start. That was the warmest it got for the day but in the shade you needed extra clothing. I piddled around in the gardens loosening up the soil and watering as the breeze dries out this sandy soil. I have some good color on where I sowed carrot seeds and I did notice a couple half runner(second sowing) bean seeds were sprouting so maybe I'll get a mess or two from them. The pesky squirrels are still in the garden but the chicken wire has them confused on how to get to the leafy greens. I got a couple shots off at them with BB gun as they ran up the back fence. Hopefully this will deter them and they will stay away from my garden.

We got ready around 3'ish to head over to pick up Amy and Eliza Faye and head to Ava's basketball game at Northside Christian. Keswick won big by 20 points over them so they are now 1-1 with their record. Ava is very good on defense but needs to work on her dribble and shooting technique. She is first string and is one of the taller girls on the team. The coach and her husband play pickle ball with me occasionally as well as do their adopted girls who are quite athletic and who are part of the team. We got word that UPS delivered a Christmas gift at our door while we were away so we didn't tarry after the game. We ordered Gabe a new bike as he had out grown the one we got him a couple years ago and we didn't want someone to take the box off the porch while we were away. Thankfully it was still there so we decided to heat up a couple frozen pot pies and have a salad with them for our supper.

I watched a little of the FOX Cable News then hit the shower and turned on the NFL game until 10'ish then it was lights out for me. Nancy put an additional blanket on the bed which kept us quite cozy through the night. It's supposed to warm back up to the low 80's this weekend which will feel great after these past couple of cold nights, LATER

Thursday Morning

Well Wednesday was a fun day with a little gardening thrown in to keep the pesky squirrels at bay. It was probably our second coldest morning this winter with temps into the high 40's or low 50's but by the afternoon we were back to the low 60's for a high with plenty of sunshine. We went Christmas tree shopping after I got back from pickle ball and found one a little different than years past but it's beautiful. I put up the out side lights and now we are officially in the Christmas spirit.

I started the day with a 6'ish roll out to my routines of washing down a handful of Nutrilite vitamins and supplements by the way our team leaders just did a special for a couple days of bogo on everything on the website but if you missed that on the first day of every month for one day the special exists but you have to purchase 50 Pv's of items whereas the other special there was no minimum purchase. I had my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and ginger while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet moments with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting up several by name. All seem well at this point in time as I've heard nothing to the contrary

I had a great workout for two hours on the pickle ball courts as we (A players)were able to maintain a challenge court. Today we will meet later around 9:30 and play until noon as most of the B players will have vacated the gym and we are left with 6-8, A players for a good workout. This schedule seems to be working for us as we get two days without having to mingle as more and more snow birds come to the rec. for the game. I'm slowly getting back into shape but do have some sore muscles from the daily play and I've actually dropped a few ounces toward a pound of excess fat around the waist.

I've been working in the yards and gardens pulling weeds, hoeing and transplanting. I now have cucumbers up for two hills which I will soon put in the ground and I have several tomato seedlings in small packs ready to be moved up to larger containers before transplanting into the ground. This cold snap is going away starting later today and by the weekend we are back into the 80's once again. The cabin looks to be very cold with some snow on the ground but the teens gives me a chill just thinking about it.

We finished up the last of the smashed taters, dressing and gravy from Saturday and they were delicious for lunch and then we had leftovers from the salmon broccoli and pasta for supper and they were even better than the night before. After the cleanup we watched a little FOX Cable News and then I hit the showers around 7:30 and curled up with the third book by Greg Iles titled Mississippi Blood in this trilogy. He is a fantastic writer and this series has a lot of historical facts about the deep south.

Well I read until 10'ish then turned the lights and I did not hear Nancy come to bed. She has become an HGTV junkie staying up until midnight watching those fixer upper shows, LATER

Wednesday Morning

Well we finally got some chilly temps with some high clouds but mainly sunshine. Whenever the sun was clouded over the temps seem to drop another 10 degrees or more with the stiff breeze. But it was awesome to be able to work outside and not sweat for a change. I would not want to be at the cabin as it was high for the day in the low 20's with snowing and overcast. We entertained the Kool Peoples Klub(the Botbyl's and Tracy's) for supper which was very tasty and enough for left overs for lunch.

I started the day much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to my routines and the hot cup of green tea laced with turmeric and ginger was so satisfying on this chilly morning. I did my quiet time lifting up several and giving thanks for so many blessings to my Creator. Afterwards I did all of the social media plus check the news as I was not playing pickle ball until later in the morning when we have the gym for 4 hours which is just on Tue. and Thurs. Nancy suggested a breakfast of grits and eggs and did they ever help with my energy level instead of my usual morning start with an apple. I played hard for 2 plus hours and never sat down or took a break for over an hour of play. We broke up at noon and I headed home on my bike to hand water the gardens.

Nancy decided she needed some items from the grocery so off she went and I stayed and vacuumed the house for her and then worked outside after a lunch of the last of the Thanksgiving turkey we had last Saturday. I suggested to her instead of buying lunch deli turkey to just once a week or so prepared a turkey breast and we use that instead as we both love cold turkey sandwiches and its so much better for you and a lot less expensive plus we get a good turkey, smashed tater and gravy supper more often. She was in agreement with that idea for now. I worked out in the front yard once again weeding and planting plugs of zoysia grass which is so much better and easier to care for than St. Augustine which died last summer due to cinch bugs and whatever.

The gang came around 5'ish and we let the vino and snacks flow. I skipped the snacks I'm trying to get rid of these 5-6 pounds I put on this summer in the mountains. I grilled a huge fresh salmon fillet and along with garlic butter pasta and fresh broccoli and a fresh salad we feasted. Carol made a poppy seed lemon cake for dessert which I did partake, but the dinner was fabulous to say the least. Nancy had it marinating in soy sauce, honey and some herbs for a couple hours and the grilled fish was the best ever. I grilled it on low heat for about 20 minutes then gradually brought up the heat and it flaked perfectly. We had a 4 pound fillet which left us enough for lunch today.

After eating the guys whupped the gals in Euchre and then Nancy won Kings on the Corner another card game which takes some concentration. Patrick made a beautiful Christmas  CD which we had playing in the back ground. Well the moon was bright on this chilly night as they all headed for home going on 9. We plan a get together this Sunday evening for the Tim Tebow concert at the Trop and then have supper before hand, LATER

Tuesday Morning

Well Monday was a fun day with a good workout at the rec. on the pickle ball court then some garden work. It's still hot and muggy here but we got a front move through in the late evening with some rain and wind and the temps dropped down considerably, wow what a relief finally. We headed over to Brandon for Gabe's game but the front caused that game to be cancelled due to rain so we headed back to Pinellas in heavy traffic on the toll road.

I started the day much the usual with a 6'ish roll out and to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and ginger root while I spent some quiet time with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting up several by name. All seem well at this time. I headed out a little before 8 on my bike to the rec. and got in several games of pickle ball and left with a wet shirt around 10'ish. Today(Tues.) we will start at 10 and go to noon as we have the gym all morning and we won't have to mix with the B players. Some of them are getting better but they do change how you play the game and of course it's just they aren't experienced yet. Many will get better and some will never change no matter how much instruction you give them, oh well.

I piddled around in the garden weeding and feeding and did harvest our first batch of bibb and romaine lettuces for a salad to take to Bobby's later in the day. I headed to Home Depot after lunch and bought a 50 ft roll of chicken wire to make cages for my collards, Swiss chard and kale in one of the gardens to keep the pesky squirrels out. I'll just have to let them chew on the other side of the gardens but I have two rows of kale and chard but just one of the collards and they have just about ruined three of the plants with their chewing. I have carrots popping through on both sides of the yard and now if the half runners germinate I will have the garden totally planted with tomato plants to follow as they grow in pots to be transplanted later. I have tons of marigold seedlings and will put them around the tomato's when transplanting as well to ward off the nematoads.

We headed to Bobby's around 3 ish and made it on the toll road in an hour and half which is good considering the time of the day. We see more cars in one day than we see all summer in the mountains. It's unbelievable how congested the roads are this time of the year and the upgrades are now out of date. There is new construction off the toll road which should help with moving through parts of Tampa but the toll costs about 5 bucks one way on a trip to Bobby's. Well we made a stop at Sam's for fuel and food on the way home and got rained on. We surely needed the wet weather as it hasn't rained in quite some time. The temps are supposed to only be in the 60's the next couple days so I shut the a/c off this morning. We are having the Tracy's and Botbyl's for supper tonight, LATER

Monday Morning

Well Sunday was a busy day and then basically I chilled the rest of the day except for chasing squirrels out of my garden through out the afternoon and evening and occasionally getting a shot off towards them with the BB gun. As soon as they hear the back door open they high tale it up the fence an into the neighbors trees. I haven't hit one yet this year but they know to run when the door opens. I'm heading to Home Depot for another roll of chicken wire as this is the only method I know to keep them from actually chewing and stripping the leaves from the kale, collards and Swiss chard and from chewing my tomato plants in half.

They have just about ruined three collards, one tomato plant and chewed the leaves from one row of Swiss chard. I never ever thought they would be green veggie eaters but they have and are becoming so obsessed with eating them they are driving me crazy chasing them out of the garden. If I work outside they stay away but as soon as I go in the house down the trees they come 2 and 3 at a time. I cheer every time I see one smashed in the street and I try to run them over when biking as they are that much of a pest, oh well.

Worship was awesome at BridgePoint after the 6 AM load in. Nancy and I sat in on the first service which had only a few vacant seats whereas the second service at 11Am was just the opposite with lots of empty seats. We worked the front doors as greeters as the first service let out and the second one began. I met the daughter of a couple who I played tennis with 35 years ago as she remembered me playing tournaments with her mom and dad who have now passed on. She and her husband have been attending for quite some time and I would have never recognized her until she mentioned my name and it I knew her last name; small world. We had a nice reunion.

Well Nancy took off shopping for an ugly sweater which we need for an upcoming Christmas party; she found one but I think I'll just wear one of my old sweaters with a ribbon of some sorts, oh well. I stayed home and shot at squirrels and watered the gardens while watching some football. I did finally call my half sister in South Carolina as the last two emails were not delivered as I had copied her address incorrectly. We caught up on our last visit and I'm going to investigate who our bio fathers are as Uncle Frankie mentioned a name who could make us full siblings. I need to find out before all of my uncles pass on.

We had turkey sandwiches for lunch and passed on supper with just a bowl of pop corn. I piddled around on the computer before finally hitting the shower as it was an early start for me and then I fell asleep watching the late game on TV in the bedroom. Today Monday we will travel to Brandon to watch what maybe Gabe's last baseball this season until spring baseball starts. They play a team which has beat them both times we attended and if they loose they are out for the season. I'm not thrilled about fighting all of the traffic to and from there, but that goes with being a grand parent, LATER 

Sunday Morning

Well Saturday was a busy fun filled day with pickle ball in the morning for a couple hours and then a stop at the library before heading home to piddle around in the yard hand watering and hoeing some weeds. This warm weather and me watering everyday has the garden looking good but the weeds also are doing well. The dad burn squirrels are really becoming a nuisance as they continue to eat my green leafy veggies, chewing on the Swiss chard, collards and kale. I must have ran them out of the garden a dozen times with BB gun but as soon as I leave the back yard they are back at it again. I've never known them to eat anything other than acorns and nuts but these pesky critters are wearing thin my patience. I need to head back to Home Depot for a roll of chicken wire it seems to fence off some of my plants or get lucky with the BB gun.

Nancy had another huge 20 pound turkey roasting in the oven and we did Thanskgiving dinner all over again minus a few folks. The Ross Family and Betsy so we sent home tons of foods with them as well as kept enough leftover for another night. Bobby just called and mentioned Gabe is playing a tournament game on Monday evening so we will make the trip over again in the early afternoon for the game.

Sunday morning found me at the college for the 6 AM load in for Bridgepoint Church and then we worked one service and sat in on the first service. It was a great day of worship. I spent Sunday afternoon on the couch watching some NFL and our local Buc team won for a change over the 49 niners. Well that was about it for Saturday and Sunday, LATER

Saturday Morning

Well Friday was another beautiful day here in sunny Florida. The temps hit the low 80's once again and the humidity isn't too bad for a change. It was a work/fun day for the most part and in the afternoon I sat outside in the shade and read for a couple hours. Nancy still has laryngitis which at times is rather nice for me as I can't hear her ordering me around, 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 and ginger while I posted this ramble and then spent some quiet time in thanksgiving to my Creator for my many blessings as well as lifted up several by name. All seem well at this point. I did speak with our mountain mom for a few and it was in the 30's there with the threat of snow and ice as a front moved into the area. She mentioned only one eatery was open in Sparta yesterday so she and her sister ate there for Thanksgiving dinner. Her brother Joe was with his daughter in Tennessee.

I had a mobile windshield repair service come to the house around 9 to fix a small chip in the truck's windshield as a pebble stuck it the other day and left a quarter size crack. He was here about 45 minutes and the crack was fixed and not noticeable any longer; such technology today. I hand watered the gardens and notice where a squirrel had chewed off my one large tomato plant about half way up the stalk. I put chicken wire around it in hopes to save it and then just about dusk another squirrel came into the garden and started chewing on a Swiss chard plant. I ran him off with my BB gun. Now I know whats been eating and chewing off my collards as well. These squirrels have really become quite a pain and so I might start trapping them again and then dispose of them across the road near the college which has a forest area.

I got in a good 30 minute bike ride and then worked in the front yard pulling weeds and hand watering the grass as I'm trying to get the zoysia grass to spread. It's looking good thus far. We had tacos using ground venison for our supper which was delicious. It is so good and hormone free and I thank our mountain buddy Caleb every time I eat this fabulous meat. After the cleanup we watched the Fox Cable News for awhile then I tuned into the Lightning hockey and some college football in the bedroom while Nancy flipped and basically watched HGTV. I do love this extra TV here in Florida but was soon ready for some horizontal lab at 10'ish, LATER

Friday Morning

Well Thursday, Turkey Day was just awesome with some of the finest cuisine ever at son Bobby's and Katie's beautiful home in Brandon with tons of family. The weather was one of a cool morning and then it reached the low 70's for the afternoon and evening and mild enough we men sat outside until 9'ish by the pool watching football games while digesting. Some were smoking cigars and having a libation or two but since I had been coughing for the past two weeks I passed on both. The grand kiddos along with the Everett two boys were having a blast running, playing and enjoying the freedom this huge house offers.

I started the day much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and ginger while I posted this ramble them spent a few quiet moments with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting up several by name. I did speak with Paw Paw and he sounded as if he was enjoying life now living with his middle daughter Pat who is now retired and living full time in Wardensville West Virginia. They were having a big dinner as well with her boys who weren't in the woods hunting deer. All seem well there and now he is rid of the house on Picadilly Street in Winchester which gave him some independence but also was the start of his many health issues when he fell down the steps a few years back. This was such a smart move in my opinion but one he still regrets to some extend as it limits his independency, oh well at his age of nearly 91 he is needing someone to over see his decisions.

I piddled around the gardens for awhile and then took a nice 30 minute or more bike ride through the hood and did need a flannel shirt due to the chilly breeze which had the temps into the low 60's. There was some high clouds but basically a sunshine day and it stayed that way the rest of the day. Nancy had pies baking in the oven and the smell was intoxicating to one's taste buds. We weren't leaving for Brandon until 2:30 with Betsy riding along so we had a lite lunch then I read for a couple hours before getting ready for the nearly hour drive. We were pleasantly surprised the interstate was moving quickly for a change and had no issues on the way over but did encounter a disabled vehicle in the left lane with no way for it to get out of the travel lane on the way home, but I saw it in plenty of time to navigate around it. I'm sure someone plowed into it before it was removed from the roadway as it was in a blind spot with lots of vehicles on the road.

We watched football throughout the evening and visited with family as Katie's folks and grand parents arrived for the big meal around 5:30. The food was not only delicious but beautiful to look it. The huge turkey was cooked outside in what is referred as the egg cooker and the flavor was very good. We had dried stuffing which Betsy brought and was a big favorite of everyone especially the kiddos who had seconds. There was yams, smashed taters, green bean casserole, another dressing type of casserole, a fruit dish with cranberries and a very tasty gravy and the vino flowed as well. There were 8 pies with two of each kind of pumpkin, pecan, apple and chocolate chip with ice cream for those who wanted. I did sample the apple and pecan which were so tasty. I think we had 18 to eat and then a couple relatives of Katie came by for dessert later in the evening. What a great time of fellowship with family.

Well it was going on 10 before we and Amy's family headed out for the drive across the bay. The kiddos played hard and I'm sure they were all asleep on the long drive home. Lee Lee had her pj's on and I'm sure she was asleep. Austin and family were still there along with Katie's folks. Her folks live just a few minutes away but Austin had an even further drive to south St. Pete. Well Nancy wants to do this all again on Saturday for leftovers and we will have plenty as Bobby and Austin's family won't be able to make it. We are hoping Arianne's family will come up from south Florida but Betsy will attend and take leftovers home. Bobby sent three plates home with her last night, LATER

Thursday Morning..Thanksgiving Day

Well I must say the weather has been a little on the warm side despite the cool mornings but the sunshine has even been brighter than ever. I played pickle ball for 2 solid hours in the morning from 8-10 and then worked outside the rest of the day until dusk, wow what a fantastic day for working outside as there was very little humidity. We eventually shut the a/c off by evening as a front moved into the area with cooler temps and a brisk breeze.

I'm going to reflect back from when I was growing up on the farm and what we did every year for as long as I can remember on this Thanksgiving Day; we butchered at least 4 to 5 large hogs which started before day break and usually lasted well into the late evening hours by the time the last hog was processed, sausage made and the hams and shoulders prepared for curing. It was a busy fun time that saw me with lots of hard work around the many fires we needed for heating clean water, heating the scalding tank, fire under the many huge black kettles that cooked the meat for the pudding mixture, cooking the fat meat for the lard which we used for shortening or grease and the fires under other kettles for various procedures in the butchering operation.

I usually spent the evening before heading to a small bridge with a steady stream of water and a couple 55 gal barrels for transporting water back to the farm for the butchering which takes lots of water. The water was picked up from the stream bed using a rope and bucket and it was usually so cold the water that splashed in the truck bed froze on contact. It also used to snow that day or the day afterwards it seemed every year. The fresh pork liver was our Thanksgiving Day meal which was delicious and fresh meat was distributed to all of our helpers which was George and Clarence Sine and Miss Beulah plus Nannie(grandmother) and the Bucher Boys, Brian and Pud. We killed the first hog just at day break and then every hour or so another one.

We shot them in the head between the eyes then bled them out with a butcher knife to the throat. I know it sounds gruesome but that was the humane way of butchering our fresh meat that would last the year out. The meat was so good and of course I always loved the cracklings which is like the pork skins or rinds you buy in the store. The fresh heart was delicious when pulled right from the black kettle and cut up and sprinkled with rock salt. Such were the times when we seldom bought meat at the store. Later in the year we would cut the hams curing with salt, red and black pepper and brown sugar. Delicious to say the least. The sausage was filled into the cleaned intestines and hung in the smoked house and also stored in freezers. The fat or lard was stored in cans and kept in the cold smoke house for use throughout the year.


Well Wednesday here in Seminole was gorgeous and I got a lot of yard and garden work completed before dark after a great two hour work out on the courts. I mowed all of the yards and them mulched up a couple wheelbarrow loads of grasses, weeds and debris from the shrubs and mulched all of the rows in the garden. I also sowed some bush and pole beans turning the ground over with a shovel. I fed all of the seedlings and then transplanted some lettuces as well as tomato seedlings in to 6 packs for future transplanting. The yards are looking good and the zoysia grass is running and will soon cover the area where the St.Augustin grass died this summer. The Crepe Myrtle tree is looking good and the trunk of the tree is expanding as well. The bug man came during the afternoon as Nancy saw two small ants in the house and we known she gets livid when that occurs so he spread more ant killer granules around the house at no charge as we paid them a hundred bucks earlier during the summer to kill the ants and they guaranteed that would occur. I think I'll contract with them to come once a month while we are gone next summer to spread the ant killer mixture around the outside of the house.

Nancy had some yellow squash that needed eating so she fried up a couple which is always a treat for me and we garnished them with ground red pepper and fresh basil, yeow where they ever delicious and then she pan fried some ground venison for burgers, Oh My what a feast. This meat was processed by Caleb(who killed it) and myself in the mountains and then we froze it and kept it frozen until we put it in the freezer here in Florida. I would never eat beef again it I could get this meat in its place it was that tasty and since we processed we didn't need to worry about bone chips which sometimes happens when butchers process deer. After the clean up we settled into the Fox Cable News until 8'ish then I headed to the shower and watched some Discovery Channel before reading the last hour until 10'ish. It was lights out for me until Nancy started her snoring around 3'ish which kept me awake the rest of the night, LATER

Wednesday Morning

Well Tuesday was a fun and work day as I got in a good workout on the pickle ball court and then some yard and garden work in the afternoon. It's still rather hot here around lunch time until about 3'ish when the on shore breeze starts to cool down the air and makes it great for working outside.

I started the day much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to my usual routines that start with the cup of hot green tea laced with fresh ginger root and turmeric while I posted this ramble and then spent some quiet time with my Creator giving thanks and lifting up several by name. All is well with those as I've heard nothing to the contrary. It's a lot colder up north than here but it did get into the 50's for a change which is really rather nice when compared to the low 30's at night. We still have the a/c on here despite the cool night temps. I didn't head out to the gym until 9:30 as we A players have the gym from 10 to 12 on Tues. and Thurs. which gives us a break from working in the lesser skilled players during our morning work out but on MWF we only have the gym for 2 hours so we have to play with them, oh well at least we are getting some workout and exercise.

I played hard for an hour and half then gave it up as I'm building back my stamina after this last session of a cold and cough. I'm just about over it but now Nancy is hacking and having a runny nose. I hope she doesn't reinfect me, oh well. She and Amy and Ava went Christmas shopping for clothes for the grand kiddos and then they all came here for lunch and cookie baking. I piddled around in the garden before heading to pickle ball hand feeding all the new seedlings which are quickly becoming plants. I did harvest some kale for the salads and soon will be harvesting lettuces.

 I did sow another couple small rows of carrots on the side garden and did notice sugar peas up after just 3-4 days. I want to sow a couple rows of bush beans and then with the new tomato seedlings the gardens will be full of growing veggies. I will plant the cucumbers on the fence which doesn't take up much room and if the half runner make on the other fence I will have every available space planted. I do want to pick up some thyme and parsley for my herb space as well.

Well Nancy made a delicious broccoli soup for our supper which was the best ever. I piddled around in the front yard until dark hoeing weeds and transplanting some grass runners which I hope will take the place of the St. Augustine grasses that died this summer. I have a front yard with mainly weeds and some grass which seems to die in the winter months so I'm raking it out and transplanting some grass sprigs that have run into the shrubs. It was the grass I planted several years ago and is found on golf courses and does well in the heat and less water. I do not know the spelling but it sounds like zoysia grass.

Well that was about it for the day as we get ready for two thanksgiving dinners. Nancy says we must do a turkey the traditional way on Saturday despite eating at Bobby's on Thursday. She wants leftovers so we will eat the bird again just two days later and have the family here again, oh well, LATER

Tuesday Morning

Well the day started much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to my usual routines that always start with my vitamins and a cup of hot green tea laced with fresh ginger root and turmeric while I post this ramble and then some quiet time with my Creator. All seem well except I haven't heard any news on Paw Paw in a week or so.

I headed out to the Rec. around 8 and got in an hour of pickle ball play before calling it a day as I want to work myself back into shape and build my stamina. I had a wet head before heading out around 9'ish for home on my bike. Today(Tue) I'll head over around 10 as we A players have the gym from 10-12 which excludes all of the B players who holds back your game. I came home and ran lots of errands as I needed some veggie seeds and herbs seedlings. I made a stop at Sam's Club for a gas fill up 2.13 a gallon . Wow its been awhile since I've seen it that low in price. I next stopped at Lowes for my seeds and then Audi's for Nancy before heading home with several items.

I piddled around in the garden feeding my new seedlings and will be ready to harvest some lettuces and kale the next day or so. I sowed my carrot seeds as well as some cucumber seeds and set my herbs; cilantro and dill into the ground as well and moved some tomato seedlings I brought back from the cabin into the ground. All are doing well except the collards and Swiss chard which has either a worm or the squirrels nibbling away on the leaves. I dusted them last night with some Sevin dust in hopes that will deter them from eating.

I have some more lettuces up that need transplanting and the egg plant has two blossoms already. The tomato seeds I brought back from sister Dee's and the Brownings are up about an inch or so. I should have plenty of tomato's if they make. I've just about filled up my gardens except for the transplanting of my tomato's which will fill up. Amy and grand kiddos came by in the afternoon and finished off the chocolate cake and cup cakes, thankfully. I did not want to break down and eat any as the sugar is not great for fighting any illnesses. I've still got a little cough but nothing to worry about and I feel stronger each day. We cleaned up the leftovers from Sunday's dinner and I must say lamb gravy is the most delicious ever over smashed taters. We watched the news until 8 then I headed into the shower and watched a little MNF before lights out at 10 for me. I need a head start as Nancy snores and keeps me awake after about 3'ish, LATER

Monday Morning

Well Sunday was a busy day with great worship, a family dinner and lots of sunshine. It was just gorgeous but with a house full of family by late evening we had the a/c on again. I started the day very early as I headed to the college across the highway for the load in for BridgePoint Church and then we each worked one service and then sat in together on the second service and got home by 12:45.

Nancy was busy in the kitchen preparing a birthday celebration meal for Annsley and Gabe and then we found out that today was Megan's birthday as well which made it even more special as she and Austin have moved from Charlotte to take a CFO job with a huge corporation here in St.Pete. They have always been a special couple to us and they became a couple at our mountain cabin many years ago when their families visited together. She turned 31 today and Austin has been fascinated with her since she was 11. They have two adorable little boys and now will be included on our family dinners as both Bobby and Katie have a great relationship with them plus they have no other family here in the area except for in Miami.

Nancy prepared a delicious roasted lamb along with smashed taters and gravy, corn, broccoli, crusty bread and salad as well as a chocolate cake with chocolate icing. I passed on the dessert as I had several pieces of bread. The vino flowed as well before and during the feast. Gabe opened his laser tag present and the boys along with Bobby and Tyler played hard before supper was served and Annsley and Ava had a fun time with Annsley's presents. Little Eliza Faye was not feeling well so she slept through the whole party.

Well after the cleanup which was extensive everyone left for home as Bobby had close to an hour drive and Austin lived in south St.Pete which is probably a good half hour or more. They will move into their rental home on Snell Island tomorrow which they started unpacking today during the day. Bobby and Katie helped while the kids all played together and they have already met their neighbors who have children the ages of their two boys, Wesley and Tyler. They are thrilled their school is within sight from their house. Megan wants to garden so I will help her with getting that started as well.

Well after a hot shower I hit the sack just before 10 as it had been  an early start for me. Nancy now has a head cold which isn't too bad and I'm still recovering from my cough which is lingering but nothing like before. I need to get back on the pickle ball court today and start working out. We are all heading to Brandon on Thursday for the big Thanksgiving dinner with our family, Katie's family plus Austin's as well as Betsy. She joined us last night as well, LATER

Sunday Morning

Well Saturday was a fun filled day as we headed to Tampa to watch Gabe play baseball. It was a chilly start to a beautiful day which ended with temps in the low 70's, almost perfect weather. I did get in a little garden time and so yard work in the late afternoon and then we headed out to Millers Ale House for a supper with neighbors Dan and Carol. This will be a short up date as I was up at 5:30 for the load in for BridgePoint Church at the local college which is just about 5 minutes by bike from the house. I just got back from that and getting ready to head out for the 9:30 first service which we both will be working. It's great to be back serving our church and helping folks get closer to GOD. It's such a privilege and joy to serve plus we get to know so many folks.


We are celebrating Annsley and Gabe's birthday with a huge family dinner this evening with the family and that too with be a great time of food and fellowship. The weather is a bit warmer this morning so I'm sure the a/c will be back on with a house full of family. The sun is shining brightly and we are so thankful for the warm sunshine, LATER

Saturday Morning

Well Friday was our coldest day to start this winter and it was a welcomed relief after days of hot humidity and bright sunshine. I love the sunshine but the 46 degrees was so good and the gentle breeze made it feel even cooler in the shade. I donned long pants for a change as we attended a school function for Eliza Faye at 9 and they were needed as the school sits among large trees and it brought goose bumps to your arms after finally finding a parking space.

I started the day with my usual routines that start with a 6'ish roll out after sleeping in so many days with this chest cold which kept me down for about a week. I'm still hacking occasionally but nothing like before and I'm regaining my stamina and desire to work and be active after laying around with none of the aforementioned. This cooler temps which by 10 AM was back into the low 60's was perfect for working outside with the bright sunshine. Our mountain friends were under a severe weather warning with ice everywhere and cold temps but they too had bright sunshine after a day of overcast skies with rain and snow mixture but their temps were in the 20's, yikes.

Chris, Nancy's first cousin was still here after a week but she was flying home in the early evening to Pa. which had several inches of snow and cold temps there. She wasn't thrilled about that but she left wearing sandals in the mid afternoon with temps nearing 70's and bright sunshine. In the morning we took off for Keswick School where granddaughter Eliza Faye was in her first school program and she was a hoot with her movements to the short songs they sang. She was blowing kisses to us and bowed after each song. She is just a cutie and so animated as were most of the kids in this program. We skipped Sam's program out on the football field as I had a 10 o'clock appointment with the truck for service.

The appointment fell through as I made plans to have it done after Thanksgiving but Tyler sent pics of Sam's program. Ava was playing basketball later in the day in Tampa with her first game of the season against a much older team of girls but they did well despite losing their first ever organized game against another school. What great experience for her in competition sports. Amy called later in the day on their way home and said Ava was pumped after her first game.

We dropped Chris off at 2 ish then headed home. The small airport was packed with new arrivals as well as many leaving for the cold climate. This airport is under new construction again and does offer some respite from using TIA which is always packed with constant activity. We headed home so Nancy could clean house and I worked outside in the yard until dark. I had two loads of clothes on the line as it was a perfect day for drying clothes outside in the bright sunshine. I hand watered and fed the new seedlings and did notice a couple new tomato seedlings popping through the ground which I will move up to bigger pots. I need to find some carrot seeds as Home depot has already moved their seeds out of the store for Christmas decorations. Everything in the garden is doing awesome as well, especially all of the fixen's for fresh garden salads which will start this next week. All of the Swiss chard, beet greens, kale and three kinds of lettuces will make for great fresh salads for the next months and I should have plenty to share with family and neighbors.

I do have a problem with nematodes so I wanted to do something natural to ward them away from the roots of my Swiss chard which they love to attack. I know that marigolds are natural deterrent to them so I brought back lots of dried marigold heads from the cabin and decided to sow the dried heads in the ground when I set the seedlings out. I'm wondering if this will help but it a good way to use the heads anyhow. I have lots of marigolds seedlings up already to be planted around the tomato plants as well when I set them in the ground. I'm missing my abundance of earthworms as the garden dried out during the summer and I'm trying to keep the ground wet to bring them back as well as add compost for them to eat.

Well we were expecting an old friend from Nancy' high school days who is visiting from Colorado to come by but she never showed. We ate light for supper with a chicken pot pie after a large lunch of grilled sandwiches and chips. We sat and watched the news then I headed in to shower and watch the bedroom TV and the Gold Rush show which Nancy cares nothing about but instead check HBO and the movie Dillinger was on and I watched that until it was lights out around 10'ish.

Today we leave here and travel to Tampa to watch Gabe play baseball around 10 then head back to get ready for tomorrow big birthday dinner and celebration for Annsley and Gabe with a roast lamb dinner and all the fixen's. The kiddos wanted this and it's funny I never ate lamb until Nancy's mom GG, prepared it and now its become one of our favorite meats for special family dinners. It's expensive but oh so good especially the gravy over smashed taters, LATER

Friday Morning..A cold snap at 46 degrees

Well we finally got some rain which brought some breezy cool temps to the bay area. Its 46 as I make this post which is rather nice but by 10 it will be back into the high 60's or even warmer which is usually the case. I know this is a heat wave for the mountains as it's snow and ice every where with tons of cancellations and power outages and the northeast is snowed in as well. Christine our cousin flies back to Pa. this evening or at least that is the plan, we will see.

I think I'm finally getting over this chest cold and the coughing has really slowed down, thankfully. It's been a miserable couple days but I did get out yesterday morning and do some yard and garden work especially to the front yard bushes and shrubs. Everything is looking prim and proper at last. The heat has been so extreme, one just did not venture out after lunch to do any outside work but yesterday was an exception as a front moved it with a nice cloud cover and much cooler temps. I accomplished a lot. I still had a wet shirt from the humidity but at least I didn't cook in the sun.

The girls met up with Betsy just before lunch and they took off to the mall and had lunch out, then to Sam's Club and then Publix during whole afternoon so I did some hand watering after the sun came out and read for the most part of the day. They got back our supper time and we treated Chris to her first venison supper which she really enjoyed. Nancy chicken fried some cubed venison back strap steaks and they were delicious. I made a milk gravy from the skillet fixin's and it was great as well along with some fried leftover baked taters and fresh asparagus. Betsy ate with but refused to eat the venison except for one bite which she chocked down. Its all in her head as the meat was awesome so fresh and free of hormones and other stuff injected into cattle feed. Nothing but natural and organic when it comes to wild venison.

We sat around and watched the Fox News for awhile then I headed into the shower and to some football for awhile before it was lights out for me before 10. Nancy is having some symptoms of acquiring a cold as well with a sore throat and runny nose but I never had any of that as mine was pure and simple a chest cold. Today we have to be at Eliza Faye's school at 9 for a program she is in and then I'm to have a recall on the truck fixed at 11 and then we take Chris to the airport around 3'ish, LATER

Amy is back to work and is back to normal as she adjusts to this medicine she is on to help regulate her tachycardia she inherited form Nancy.

Thursday Morning

Well Wednesday saw us with some overcast skies until close to lunch with lower temps in the upper 80's so I was able to be outside for a couple hours working in the garden as the chest cold(coughing) has subsided to just an occasional hack. I'm still going to go slow especially in the heat of the day until I regain my full stamina and stay off the pickle ball until next Monday. Nancy first cousin Chris is still here and has been a big help with keeping Nancy occupied since I'm under the weather and not much fun. They have been on the road, went to the beach and last night we all went out to a small eatery on the beach which we had attended many times with her and Nancy's folks over the years. The fare was decent but nothing to write home about and I think Bonefish Grille is much better.

I had taken another large dose of expectorant the night before so I slept like a log for 10 hours which has helped immensely with fighting this chest cold and hacking. I did my usual morning routines that start with a cup of green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger root while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time lifting up several by name for comfort and healing. I haven't heard any status change with Paw Paw as he now is doing better with living with his middle daughter who has retired and is living in W. Va. which is close to the area where he grew up. It's supposed to snow in the mountains where our cabin is located with a couple inches according to Ray's Weather over the next few days.

I piddled around in the garden for most of the morning cleaning out this pesky vine in the shrubs, transplanting some lettuces that were too close together and hoeing weeds. The garden is looking great despite the minimal care but with setting the sprinkler a couple times a day and adding some lime when I transplanted the seedling they are looking fantastic. I'm still waiting on some of the tomato seeds I sowed to germinate which may not happen as they usually pop up within a few days so I resowed more yesterday as well as sowed a row of half runner beans on the fence and a two rows of sugar peas on the side fence. We will have plenty of greens for salads as I have a ton of lettuces, beet greens, kale and Swiss chard growing. The collards look great as well as do the egg plant and jalapeno peppers.

Well I chilled after lunch as the cloud cover burned off until late evening when we finally got our first rain since being back. It was showers at first but by late evening we did get a down pour which was  greatly appreciated by the lawn. It's starting to come back despite the cinch bug damage to the St Augustine grass this summer while we were gone. The Crepe Myrtle tree is still green and growing so thats a good sign. I need some fill dirt for a couple low places around the base where the oak stump was ground down but all in all I'm pleased with how the yards look.

We headed out around 5'ish for Keegan's on the beach and I had some she crab soup and a Mahi-Mahi grilled sandwich with Cole slaw, Nancy and Chris had the grouper sandwiches which were edible but its the wrong time of the year due to the red tide and heat of the summer for good seafood in my opinion. We choose this eatery for sentimental reasons and while the service was great and the food hot to your mouth it seemed to lack something special. Anyhow Chris treated us as well as Betsy who came along and slept most of the evening which is customary for her. The three of them spared me having to sit and watch HGTV so I read the evening away until shower time and then some horizontal lab around 9. I'm catching up on my rest with 9 plus hours nearly every night or more, LATER

Just an update on daughter Amy who spent the night in the hospital due to a racing pulse. All of her tests showed no heart damage but she is now on a betta blocker which will help with the racing pulse which one time was over 150 per minute or more. Nancy is on the same medicine for this issue so it maybe hereditary and the other solution in to go into the heart called ablation which does something with the electrical impulses within the heart. It's becoming a common procedure now a days. She is back home and back to work as I write.

Wednesday Morning

Well I must say the day started out much the usual with me still hacking but not nearly as much as I've just about done nothing but eat and sleep; but by late afternoon we got a call from Amy that she was at the urgent care facility with a racing pulse and that she needed to be taken to the hospital either by ambulance or private vehicle. I quickly hopped in the truck with Nancy and we headed over to their house where Tyler was getting Sam and Eliza ready to go with us and then he was taking Amy to Morton Plant to be admitted. I went with him to bring their second car back and pickup Ava at school from basketball practice. They did admit Amy for an overnight observation after bringing the pulse back to normal limits. There is nothing in her blood results out of the ordinary but this seems to a common thing around her age and of course Nancy has the same issues so maybe its hereditary as well.

There isn't much more to the day for me as we brought the kids here and I picked up their favorites at Chic Filet for their supper as we had planned on eating out with cousin Chris. We will change our plans on heading to Brandon this coming evening due to our being here for Amy and the kiddos if she is released today from the hospital. We helped the kiddos with their homework and then got them ready for bed before I left for the evening around 9'ish as I was fading fast with this coughing. I took a big dose of expectorant after a hot shower then hit the sack. Nancy awakened me some time around midnight when she got home.

Well its cloudy for a change and there is some rain in the making we hope as I've been watering the gardens and yard daily and the veggies sometimes twice a day due to the high heat and dryness. Everything is looking good despite the minimum care as I've stayed away from working outside until I get rid of this cough. I'll take the rest of the week off just to build back my stamina as I really think thats what set me back in fighting this chest cough. Prayers and thoughts up for Amy if you get the chance and the Ross Family, LATER

Tuesday Morning

Well Monday was one Veterans Day we won't forget as we buried Nancy's mom who fought to live but her heart just gave out. We put her in a mausoleum with her husband who passed about 5 years ago in Safety harbor. The gardens were so manicured and beautiful for their final resting place. Bobby our son conducted the service and a couple of folks spoke and Eric the son who is Catholic had a priest to do a ritual service as well. We saw some folks we hadn't seen in several years and the health and condition of some were startling.

All of the family minus a few who could not attend met at the Olive Garden near by for a lunch meal which would have pleased GG as well. We did the same thing when we buried her husband which she thought was honorable. After a delicious lunch I drove Eric and his son Austin who is relocating to St.Pete next week as a CFO for a huge corporation in the area to the Tampa Airport as they traveled on different flights to Detroit and Charlotte. We are so looking forward to Austin and his family as they are just special to us. Eric heads back to Michigan to put GG's trust into action for the family for Betsy and Nancy and settles up her outstanding obligations as he is the executor of the trust and will.

Betsy and Braden drove Nancy and Chris home and stayed several hours visiting and playing Kings on the corner a card game. I'm was still somewhat under the weather with this chest cold and hacking so I took a good dose of expectorant and hit the sack about 9'ish and slept until nearly 7 this morning. We all said our goodbye's to a great lady yesterday and she will be greatly missed but she lived longer then her mom, father and husband and was in good spirits throughout these last couple years when she suffered these heart related issues; but what is remarkable she never complained of any pain throughout this ordeal, LATER

Monday Morning..Veterans Day

Well Sunday found me ferrying Nancy and Chris to church as I stayed back due to this chest cold. I did manage to hear the message on line which was awesome. I mainly tried to get a few things done for Nancy as she wanted the house spic and span for the house full of family coming for supper later in the evening. She and Chris took off around 2'ish for the funeral home where there was to be a viewing for her mom until sometime close 8.

Bobby and Katie came and they took off around 3'ish and then came back around 5'ish or so and started putting together wonderful meal for around 15 folks that started with roasted Brussel sprouts which were fabulous, orzo, roasted marinated pork tenderloins and some other concoctions I had no idea how to pronounce but were so delicious. We were eating around 8:30 which is quite late for me but the wine was flowing and tales were being told that started to lightening up the solemness of the occasion. I wasn't the only one suffering from a cold as Betsy's Gus was sick as well but he went to the viewing and will skip the funeral. I'm going to try to make the funeral this morning as I had a good nights sleep after taking a dose of expectorant and hit the sack before 10. I put in my ear plugs and tuned out the crowd that was still in the party mode here until who knows when.  Apparently Errol was putting together a video of pictures of GG to be shown today at the funeral and they all viewed that several times during the evening after I went to bed.

Well it was great to see Austin who travel down from Charlotte alone but will be moving to our area later this month as he is just an exceptionally fine young family man who now will be the CFO of one of the largest businesses here in the bay area. Bobby is just such an organizer along with Arianne as they made lots decisions to make this sad occasion a joyous one, LATER

Sunday Morning

Well since I'm under the weather which does not happen very often so I've been a slacker when it comes to fulfilling my duty to report daily but here goes. I'm somewhat better this morning after a really good nights sleep. I think my biggest issue was that I just got worn down with the 2 hour work outs on the pickle ball courts the past 4 days and then the garden work in the heat every day for a couple hours and then two nights out to ball games and baby sitting; anyhow I do seem to be on the mend.

Saturday pretty much found me inside napping after a hearty breakfast until lunch time. I was coughing and bringing up now some colored phlegm which was an indicator of the infection down deep in the lungs. The head was still clear but the voice was quite changed and really over all I did not feel achy as some do when fighting the flu. It was just the dry cough which changed to the wet cough, oh well. Enough of my issues. We had a house full of company on Friday night and then again for meals through out the day on Saturday. Christine is the only one left at our house last night but all came for a supper of macaroni salad, burgers and dogs with lots of extras. Most everyone else left for a motel around 9'ish or so. I grilled the supper then headed into the shower and with a spoon full of some decongestant was soon knocked out by the time everyone headed out.

I tried to stay away from Arriane new baby boy, Anthony as he was the star attraction and he is just so cute. Eliza Faye is just smitten with him as is everyone else. We were so surprised to see how much Errol is so attentive to his needs as well. People were coming and going through out the day and evening as plans were being made for the viewing today (Sunday) at the funeral home and then again for the burial tomorrow morning in Safety Harbor. Bobby is coming today after church and preparing food for everyone and then tomorrow we will visit the Olive Garden for a lunch after the internment. I'm hoping I'm not coughing much tomorrow but I will stay away today from the viewing. I cancelled my attending BridgePoint this morning but did drop off Nancy and Christine so they could attend, LATER

Saturday Morning

Well Friday found me at Keswick Christian School at 8:30 to meet up with grand son Sam who invited me to be a part of a school program the school was having to honor veterans. There was around 15-18 of us representing the 5 branches of the military. It was quite an honor for Sam and me and school made us feel very important and so thankful for our willingness to sacrifice our lives along with so many who did the ultimate deed.

I'm somewhat under the weather as the chest cold has progressed probably due to my weakening of my ability to fight it off because of the extreme heat and activities, anyhow I made a stop for some cough syrup with decongestion additives which has helped immediately. I'm still nasally and not up to par but I'm feeling some what better after a good nights sleep. I'll nap today and hope to be better on Sunday. I'll skip church just because I don't want to infect anyone.

Well we have a house full of company with Nancy's brother Eric and his Down Syndrome son Matt who is 19, along with niece Arianne and Errol and new born son Anthony who is three months old and cousin Christine who is down from Pennsylvania and who is here for a week. Most f these will be gone by Monday except for Chris and we all did have a somewhat discombobulated supper last evening as the airlines kept pushing back the arrivals on two these flights plus the traffic from Miami was terrible as well. I think it was close to 8 before we dug into dried our grilled marinated chicken breast, baked taters, broccoli and salad with crusty bread. I didn't hang around much after supper as I needed some rest after eating and a hot shower. The Ross family was still when I checked out for the night and Chris was yet to be picked up after her flight was delayed from 9'ish until after midnight.

Everyone seemed in good spirits this morning (Sat) as Nancy was up before 7 and I slept in needing my beauty rest. She had a semi-mountain breakfast with eggs, bacon and toast with nut breads and muffins. I'm feeling some what restored but not completely after breakfast so I'll nap later and take it easy, LATER

Friday morning

Well Thursday was a busy day that ended up with us watching our three Ross grand kiddos and what a fun evening that was. I have developed either an allergy or a chest cold which has caused me to cough and now a deep voice which I hope is just a minor cold, oh well.

I started the day much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to my morning routines that start with a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and now a slice of fresh ginger root while I posted the this ramble and then lifted up several by name to my Creator during my quiet moments to reflect and give thanks. All seem as well as can be expected due to certain circumstances. We are getting ready for loads of company over the weekend as we have Nancy's mom GG's funeral. We will have overnight guests for a few and then one being here a week. I certainly hope I don't infect anyone especially Arianne's new baby boy.

I headed out for the Rec. for two hours of continuous pickle ball play and left whupped by 10 AM. I think with all of this workout on the court the past 4 days in a row and then 3-4 hours in the sun in the garden after my workout has worn my resistance and allowed this whatever to invade my body. I'm hoping with taking some decongestant medicine and lots of Vit C as well as other supplements I can shake these symptoms before everyone gets together later on Friday and for the weekend.

Nancy wanted a couple new fans in the guests rooms as well as new smoke detector so I headed out and purchased all three and replaced the old fans through out the afternoon. She was at the store loading up on groceries as usual. I did hand water the gardens early in the morning before pickle ball and then again before heading out to the Ross hacienda around 5'ish. I did manage to watch the lightning win big in Tampa last evening. It wasn't long after a hot shower and a good dose of decongestant syrup I hit the sack and slept rather nicely despite the constant coughing throughout the evening, LATER

Thursday Morning

Wednesday was another hot muggy day with temps almost to 90 by early afternoon. We headed out to Brandon which is a just eat of Tampa around 3 and by taking the crosstown toll road we made the 50 mile trip in about an hour and half. The traffic is terrible and despite lots of interstates they are bumper to bumper now with all the snow birds returning. I kind of wish they would bring some cooler temps here as we are cooking. We met up with Bobby and family then attended Gabe's ball game.

The day started with my usual 6 ish roll out to my cup of green tea laced with turmeric and ginger root while I posted this ramble then lifted up several by name for comfort and healing. All seem well as be expected as I've heard nothing to the contrary. We here in Florida were lucky with the failure of the socialist who was beaten in the election last night for governor as well as the long time do nothing Democrat senator Nelson. We now have two Repub's who will keep the state in tune with our potus. However the house went to the dem's which seems to be precedent at the mid terms but we conservatives made significant gains in the senate which will give hopefully our potus some strong bargaining power in legislating bills that will enhance our nation. The radicals on the left in the dem party will self destruct because all they know is impeach Trump at the expense of the American people. I've never seen so many suffering from the TDS.

I headed out to pickle ball just before 8 on my bike and got in two hours of continuous play as was whupped by 10 AM. I've played more in three days than nearly all summer so I'm back today for another round of getting in shape on the court. I'm taking tomorrow off as I'm meeting grandson Sam at Keswick for a tribute to veterans. I need the break for a couple days as I'm still doing yard and garden work in the afternoon, oh well. I love being busy. I did stop off at the library for a new Greg Iles book titled the BONE TREE and did manage a few chapters while Nancy got ready for our Tampa trip. He is a fantastic writer and is story line is historical fiction.

Bobby's renovations at his place are awesome to say the least. Everything is coordinated and the taking out walls and adding some made such a huge difference and really added value to his home. It's such a beautiful large piece of property and now with these additions it's picture book ready. He made pork tacos in the crock pot which were delicious as well and we ate beautiful heading to the ball field which is just 10 minutes or less from his house. We guys headed up first to get ready as Gabe's team was the home team and is responsible for getting the field ready. The other team had some great hitters and made fewer errors in the field which all made for a long evening on the home team. It was 8:30 before we finally headed for home and for a change the interstates were moving at a decent speed.

I soon hit the showers and was relaxing in the horizontal position before 10 watching some news. It was soon lights out for me, LATER   

Wednesday Morning

Well it was another hot day with temps in the high 80's and lots of humidity but it sure beats the 30's with wind and overcast skies. I can always find a shade tree and cool off but it tough to stay warm when its cold outside. I hit the pickle ball courts again with sore stiff muscles for a couple hours as I've played more pickle ball in the past two days that I did all of last month in the mountains. We had good play and I seldom got a chance to rest during the period. After leaving the gym I headed home on my bike to work outside the rest of the day until dark in the gardens and yard. I'm finally starting to get the garden into shape and now have about half of it planted and sowed.

I started the day with a 6'ish roll out to my usual routines that start with the cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I post this ramble then spend some quiet moments with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting up several by name. All seem well as I spoke with Paw Paw and our mountain mom Helen. It was a rather nice day in the mountain after a chilly but its definitely winter time and now the trees are really shedding their leaves. They will soon be stark and bare of any foliage and another bleak sign of the cold months to come.

I pedaled out just before 8 to the Rec. and played hard for two hours with several other good players. We are finally starting to get our group of advanced players coming again and it should be a good winter of play as more snowbirds come down. The play and attendance was very sparse over the summer as the gym was only open for limited play due to the summer camp; but now that school is back in session we have the gym almost 6 days a week and a couple nights and the interest is growing again. We have some new players as well as several returning ones.

I planted my collards and the small beet seedlings for a second row of them. The first ones I set out already have a new green leaf as do the kale and Swiss chard. I'm watering 2-3 time a day as the ground was so dry and with the high heat. Even the lettuces seem to be making it despite them being a cooler weather plant. I set out my egg plant and a Big Boy tomato plant. We have such terrible nematodes that love tomato's and Swiss chard so I brought back a bunch of the dried marigolds heads and sowed them into the ground with these veggies. They are a natural deterrent to these pesky microscopic worms. I hope this works as I have plenty of these dried heads from my cabin flower beds.

I finished weeding the one garden and then mulched up the weeds for compost. That kept me busy until late afternoon and near dark. Nancy was off shopping and getting ready for a crowd this coming weekend when several of them will be here at the house for the funeral on Sunday and Monday. I'm not sure where everyone will sleep as we only have two beds but I understand some are bringing air mattresses. Plus we will have a newborn among us which should make things interesting, oh well.

Well I haven't heard all of the election results but according to Fox when I turned the lights off at 10 the dem's had retaken the house which is deplorable to say the least. So now what our Potus was doing in righting this ship will now become a stand still. The house will block and do everything to stall the attempt to make America Great Again and instead push their socialist agenda, LATER

Tuesday Morning..Voting Day

Well Monday was a "get back to the morning routine day" as I headed out for pickle ball at the Rec. at 8, after my usual routines that start with a 6 'ish roll out to my usual cup of 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. The arrangements are being made for Nancy's mom's funeral this coming Sunday and Monday. She will be interned here in Florida. Everyone else seems to be doing well considering their ages. It back to being rather unseasonably warm here in Florida but at least we don't have the heat on and we've left behind those cold windy damp days. I can always cool off in the shade of the big oak and head inside to the a/c. It really hasn't been too bad thus far with temps into the low 80's.

I was warmly welcomed back to the pickle ball gang and we had 2 hours of some great games and action. I feel a little stiff this morning after not having played in over a month; but it will take a week to work out these issues; of course I've hoeing, raking and digging the weeds and grasses from my garden for hours thus far and planting which is sort of back breaking at times. I stopped off at the Home Depot on our way to Sams Club yesterday and picked up some collards, jalapeno peppers, egg plant and a Big Boy tomato plant. I'll sow some home grown tomato seeds today that I brought back and some cherry tomato seedlings from the cabin. All of my seedlings thus far have survived the replanting but I did lose my Thai Basil seedlings and plants which some lived over the summer last year here at the Florida garden, oh well. No one liked it but me so now I will purchased some sweet basil, cilantro, and thyme and get them in the ground in the next couple days.

We met up with the Tracy's at the Botbyl house for pizza and salad and then just caught up on the summer travels and all that's been going on. The upcoming funeral was the big topic and what all that entails. Kathryn is back to Chicago today. A best friend is not doing well and may be close to his end as well. Bobby and Amy both came for lunch and Nancy played doll house with LeeLee for an hour or so. We are heading to Brandon on Wednesday afternoon for supper and then to watch Gabe play baseball. This will become a weekly routine as well as is going to basketball and soccer games at Keswick weekly. The grands have really shot up in height in the last 5 months and all re participating in some form of athletics except for Lee Lee who is doing dance.

Our two different house holds make for an interesting lifestyle. Here everything is flat with no vistas except your neighbors house 10 feet away whereas at the cabin we have no visible neighbors and the wildlife occasionally visits your backwoods yard and nothing there is flat. But now its cold there whereas here its still a/c all the time but the grocery stores are just minutes away as is our church. We love the change in the seasons with the leaf colors there but here everything stays just about green except for a few weeks. I do love the gardening here as the warm nights make for great veggies. You do hear sirens and the dull noise associated with vehicle traffic plus the traffic congestion is really severe this time of the year as snowbirds like us are back for the winter, LATER

Don't forget to vote as our culture may be totally changed if the socialist left wing radicals get a hold in the congress and state houses. Look at the rest of the world and see what this socialist agenda is doing in Europe and South America. I would never have thought this could occur in America but the progressive left wing globalist like the Democrat Party has become is now being touted by the biased main stream media like CNN, MSNBC and NBC and academia in the higher places of education. Their hatred for this duly elected POTUS Trump is so obvious its almost frightening if they get control of our government. Lets hope with the help of GOD and your votes this does NOT occur. Their desire to bankrupt the nation with open borders is mind boggling. We finally have an elected leader who is doing something for the nation and the elitist are having a melt down as they are losing power with him in office. What was once right and good has now become wrong and evil and vice versa. It's down right despicable how biased a hated filled this media is towards this POTUS except for the FOX News outlet.

Monday Morning

Well since I made a post last evening there isn't much to tell except Sunday was awesome at Bridgepoint Church as we received many hugs, handshakes and welcome back plus several condolences for Nancy's mom. I helped with the 6'ish load in at the college campus where we hold our services. I worked both services but did get to set in on the second one where we got to hear our campus pastor Scotty to a live talk with our main pastor Tim visiting with his wife for a change. He too offered his condolences and mentioned if there was anything he could do or the church to let him know which was very thoughtful.

After the second service we left around 12:20 and headed to Willie Jewels for a lunch of smoked brisket and chicken. The service was very slow which doesn't usually happen but the food was very delicious and plentiful. We brought some of our brisket and smoked chicken home for another day. We headed home so I could work in the garden while Nancy took off to load up the fridge and the cupboards. I spend the next 4 hours or so in the garden and yard and managed to plant almost all of my seedlings I brought back except for some small beets seedlings. I want to plant them on the other side of the garden(yard) which needs to be cleaned of the weeds, so I put them in a bunch in the ground and watered them. Hopefully I can get them in the ground tomorrow.

It took me a good hour to clean the first side of the garden, hoeing and raking grasses and weeds which thankfully Tyler weed whacked down during the summer but the shrubs, vines and bushes were so over grown it took a while to clean them out before planting. I took the clipping from all and mowed them up into a mulch which I will use once it dries out for compost. The front yard had some very bad spots where the weeds took over and either a fungus or cinch bugs destroyed the St.Augustine grasses so I fertilized and set the sprinkler to give it a good drink. I noticed the gardens were quite dry despite the rain just the day before which had a small tornado in the storm which caused lots of damage just a mile or so from the house.

Well I skipped supper except for a cold beer and some salted nuts after the big lunch and did watch a little NFL with the Rams being the only undefeated team to fall to the Saints which had their only lost was to the Bucs. They(Bucs) got destroyed by the Panthers in Charlotte. Well I was whupped after missing a good nights sleep on Friday and being up before 6 for the load in so I hit the shower and was laying bed watching the Lightning lose in Canada until just before 10 when it was lights out for me, LATER

Sunday Evening

Well we made it back to Florida in record time at 11 1/2 hours, now that 301 in Florida being almost completed with 4 lanes. The traffic was light as we breezed through Charlotte at 5:30 in the morning after a 4 'o'clock start. We got word just as we entered I-77 that Nancy' mom, GG had passed away about the time we were leaving the cabin. Nancy spoke with her brother Eric for the next hour or so which made the time go fast. We did stop just south of Old Mill S.C. for fuel and a walk around the inside of the Flying J truck stop. It was 37 degrees when we pulled out from the cabin and it stayed cold all the way to south Georgia.

We stopped in Orangeburg S.C. for breakfast at Mickey D's before stopping again in Pooler, Ga. at the Sam's Club for fuel and a walk around the inside of the place as it was still in the 40's. We made it all the way to the Florida line before stopping at the welcome center for some fresh juice and temps in the 70's. It was perfect weather conditions. Our next stop was just north of Ocala at another Mickey D's for a light lunch before driving on in to Seminole. It was about 3:30 when we pulled into the drive and started to unpack. I checked on the seedlings I brought from the cabin and they did fine as did all of the frozen meat in the coolers, nothing showed any thaw at all as we had one cooler almost to the top.

I did a little yard and garden work before we headed over to the Ross house hold to visit and eat supper with them. Amy's has become a great cook and she blessed us with cube steak in a gravy with smashed taters and veggie, delicious. We headed out around 8'ish which was actually 7'ish as the time changed over night. After a hot shower I was ready for some horizontal lab by 9'ish as I did not sleep the night before. Many thanks to those who remembered us in your thoughts and prayers for safe travel, LATER

Friday Morning..Last post from this venue this year

Well Thursday was a drab overcast day with the threat of rain except for the late afternoon when we saw glimpses of the sun for brief periods. I thought well just maybe the rain would stay away but around 7'ish it came down for most of the evening. This morning (Fri) I checked out side when I awakened around 6'ish and the temps were in the low 60's but wet. At present the rain has stopped and hopefully for the day. The yards are just littered with heavy leaf fall from the wind and rain over night.

I started the day on Thursday with my usual roll out around 6'ish to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric; I'm out of fresh ginger root but will start that again once we are back in Florida. I posted this ramble and then spent some quiet moments with my Creator in humble thanksgiving and lifting up several by name. Nancy's mom is still in the hospital but has seemed to improve considerably over her condition yesterday. Nancy spoke briefly with her and she sounded like her old self which is a miracle after her blood pressure dropped along with her oxygen levels, Oh well at 90+ she is a holding on. Everyone else seems as well as can be expected.

It was a work morning for me until lunch time when we made our final trip to Sparta this year for lunch with old dear friends, Walt and Theia at the Pines eatery. Then we made several stops in town before heading back out to the cabin. I spent the rest of the day doing some last minutes small chores but the big one was digging up my seedlings and wrapping them in wet newspaper for the trip to Florida and eventually transplanted into my garden. I have several beets, Swiss chard, kale and two kinds of lettuces along with some tomato's from my compost pile. If all of these make I will have a third of my garden planted.

We took a hike to the top of the mountain and stopped and chatted with Billy briefly before heading across the top where we stopped and chatted with the Brownings for a few. They are set with enough split wood for their stove for a month or so and until his son arrives from Cleveland to help with splitting the rest. We headed on down the mountain as I had several more small things to do to make leaving Saturday morning easier. Today I will remove the batteries from the golf cart and mower and store them in the basement out of the cold temps as well as visit our mountain mom Helen one last time and take some things we won't take back to Florida with us. I would like to get in another hike sometime today before loading the truck for our 4 AM departure in the morning. There is so much to do before heading out, LATER

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers for traveling mercies and I will be back at this key board in a day or so. We are already booked to serve at Bridgepoint Church this Sunday as well as grand baby functions in Tampa and at Keswick Christian School where all three of the Ross kiddos attend. We are never bored and I love it. I will be back on the pickle ball court on Monday at 8 AM and then drop off my absentee ballots at the library. PLEASE VOTE as our nation is under attack from the progressive left who want to change our culture and we saw how they will stop at nothing destroy good people as we saw in the Kavanagh hearings. Our duly elected POTUS has done more for this nation in the past two years than did the fraud Obama do in 8 years.

Thursday Morning Nov 1 2018

Well this year is just flying by and it seems to go faster the older you get, oh well. Wednesday was an awesome Spring like day with temps nearing the 70 degree mark by late afternoon with just a slight breeze which made it great for working outside. It was a day that brought out the bugs once again as well as lots of termites coming out in swarms. I noticed lots of them up near the fire circle and I did a number on them with some Spectricide spray.

I started the day much the usual with a 6 ish roll out as the old internal alarm was working again after the day before's sleep in with my proverbial cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator. Nancy's mom GG is back in the hospital after she aspirated while taking a pill. The lungs may have some pneumonia as well which isn't good at her age as the heart is only functioning at about 30 % or so, oh well, she is a tough cookie and we will just have to wait and see how she does. Everyone else seems to be fine as I've heard nothing to the contrary.

I headed out after breakfast to work in the yards and gardens once again. I raked leaves for the top dressing for the gardens as well as raked pine needles for the blueberry bushes. I defrosted the basement fridge and got it ready for when I shut the power off on Saturday morning to the cabin. I kept busy right up to just before lunch when we decided to take a hike. The weather awesome with bright sunshine and blue skies. We came back and had some lunch before heading out on the golf cart to the the top of the mountain to help neighbor Joe and Jetta split some of the wood I came them a few weeks back. We worked for a good hour and half before calling it a day. We carried the wood inside their garage and onto their porch to keep it out of the weather. They sure were appreciative of our help but they too help so many folks here on the mountain and its like what goes around comes around. We were delighted to help them.

Nancy pan fried a couple rib eye steaks which were perfect along with fried sweet taters. Delicious is all I can say and pan frying this cut of meat is the way to go especially if you like it medium rare. We settled into some Fox Cable News and then it was shower time around 9'ish. We have been trying to do a little each day so Friday which was usually our get everything ready to leave day but now I've just about completed everything but packing the truck. We will head to Sparta for lunch out with some old friends, go to the dump and Post Office then head home. Tomorrow we will visited with our "mountain mom"  and then pack the truck. Hopefully the rain will hold off while I do so as its in the forecast, LATER