Well Friday was the coldest morning so far this year with temps into the low 30's but no frost or freeze. We are fortunate the freeze line is just an hour or so north of us and to the east more inland. The strawberry farmers are watering all night to get that thin coat of ice on the plants and berries to protect from the deep freeze which will cause them to rot. I covered my tomato's, peppers, cucumber and herb plants and one row of half runner beans. The beans so far show the cold wind burn more than any other of the plants.
I started the day off much the usual with a before 6'ish rollout with a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent a few quiet moments with my Creator in thanksgiving for another day and all of the blessings of life while lifting several up by name. The update on GG is better each day as she is quite lucid and is now carrying on a conversation instead of just answering questions posed by Nancy. Everyone else is doing O.K. as I've heard nothing to the contrary. The weather is just so cold in the mountains with below zero wind chills and actual temps in the single digits. I hope our little cabin is faring well as we tried to move anything that would freeze and break apart into the basement which usually doesn't freeze; hopefully it's staying above that level. There is a warm up coming this weekend with temps just at the freezing level for a change.
I headed out on my bike to the Rec. for a good two hours of pickle ball. My eyes watered the whole 10-15 minute trip it took on the bike. Yeow was it ever chilly and I had on three layers along with my ball cap. I need to wear gloves next time as my hands were freezing on the cold handle bars, oh well. I left with a wet shirt and worn out legs and the outside temps had warmed up about 10 degrees but was still in the low 40's despite the bright sunshine. I quickly changed clothes into some dry ones and then uncovered the plants in the garden. I waited until after lunch to hand water the plants as a wet soil seems to be better on plants during a cold spell especially for the roots that will freeze when its dry.
Amy and the kiddos came for the leftover veggie beef soup for lunch and they chowed down. They are so full of energy and little Eliza is right in there with them. I managed to read for a couple hours despite all of the noise as they ran between the toy room and the kitchen. Ava tried to talk grandma into baking cookies but once a week is plenty when you have no will power to not eat them as Nancy has none. We sent the last batch home with them thankfully and I managed to not even try one for a change. We are trying to lose a pound or two but it very difficult.
Toni and Mark Dalchow who are neighbor Carol's daughter came by for a visit as they are down from Coldwater, Michigan. We use to get together with them over the years for games and eats when they would stay with Bill and Carol across the road from us. She passed away this summer at the age of 91 and Bill has been gone since '01. We made arrangements to meet next Thursday for supper and games. They are renting a condo down on St.Pete Beach area.
It was after 4 when they headed out and we decided to eat earlier than normal. I fired up my new grill and cooked some raw peppers and onions in a grill pot and then some marinated chicken breasts which we made into fajitas without the tortilla. Delicious to say the least with some hot sauce and sour cream. After the cleanup we settled into the Fox News channel and then around 8'ish I headed in to the hot shower. There were no sports that interested me on the TV so I perused one of the 4 HBO channels and watched a little of a movie about Botswana in S. Africa back in the 30's based on a true story of how the British tried to regulate the nation and it government. The king was a black man who had married a white British woman and they had children together. It was a tribute to their legacy of rule which after some controversy within the kings family. I only saw part of the storyline but the British were finally defeated and democracy ruled within the country.
Well it wasn't long after 10'ish I was ready for some horizontal lab as Nancy was flipping channels in the front room. The flannel sheets are so comfy and warm and just delightful, LATER
