Well after a soggy morning with fog and an overnight rain the day turned out to be a rather typical summer day and the temps stayed very nice despite the humidity. Dan went with me over to our "mountain moms" place and did a few "honey do" chores for her for the morning. The rest of the day was basically playtime with the exception of me throwing down the huge oak tree that had a limb break off and was hung up in another tree along our hiking path. We entertained the Tracy's for games and a delicious supper eaten out on the deck.
Well the day started much the usual for me with a 6'ish roll out to my routines that always start with my handful of best vitamins and supplements manufactured in the USA. Nothing comes from overseas or produced there but only in our land on organic farms are the Nutrilite Products produced and they only be purchased or distributed through the Amway Corporation of which I'm an IBO. This corp has been revamped from the bad leadership at the top which is a multi level business to one with their bearing based on the Christian ethic of doing business with the best products and not selling membership.
I did my usual cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and a slice of fresh ginger root while I posted this ramble then spent some time with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting up several by name. All of those are doing as well as can be expected considering their situations. On a sad note the mother of an old friend and fellow trooper passed away in her sleep at the age of 90+ overnight. I had got to meet her several times back in the 70's when she and her husband had visited their son who I "broke in" on the patrol. She was a classy southern lady and set the mark high for women of integrity and class. It was a privilege to have known both her and her husband.
I fired up the grill and fried thick cut bacon outside on the deck and then we had W.Va. eggs(fried in the grease) along with grits for me and some hot sauce, toast and homemade black raspberry jam our neighbor blessed us with. After a semi mountain breakfast(no buckwheat cakes) Dan and I rode over to Helens on the golf cart to take off her outside door which sticks. That kept us busy as we had to remove it twice for the sanding and planeing. That was one heavy door and a two man job. After we fixed that so she could open and close it without sticking we trimmed her bushes and cut limbs and piled the clipping. It was after noon before we got back to the cabin and Nancy had a pot of Zuppa toscano on the stove, yeow did that ever smell and taste wonderful.
After lunch I managed to get a rope over the broken limb of the tall oak which was cowering over our hiking trail but was unable to pull it loose from the tree it was caught up in; so I fired up the chain saw and brought down the big red oak and then sawed up the limbs blocking the trail. I will work up the rest of the tree after company leaves and get it ready for our neighbor Joe on top of the mountain as he burns wood during the winter. That will give me some work to look forward to doing as I love to run the chainsaw and split wood with the aul and steel wedges. I'm a sucker for hard work but find it relaxing.
After cleaning up from the sweat and saw dust Nancy and I got in an abbreviated hike to the top of the mountain as we were expecting the Tracy's around 4. We did most of the hike and got back in a half hour before they arrived. I harvested our first real mess of Swiss chard for sauteing and it was delicious in just a little water. It accompanied the grilled marinated chicken breasts, baked sweet taters and corn on the cob and it is so good for you. I have another row of the chard that I pick just for salads as they are grown quite close together and I mix them in with the lettuces, beet greens and kale all of which are so good for the body. We guys did get into several games of corn toss on the side deck for an hour or so and again today I threw a 4 bagger for only the second time ever.
Well afterward the cleanup we got into a game of Kings on the Corner which we taught the Tracy's. It took a while but they caught on and then left before dark. Everyone here wanted to watch the tube so I listened to some music while watching the Ray's lose to the Yanks then hit the shower and was soon in the horizontal position around 10'ish awaiting the sandman with soon came calling. It was a fun filled day of working, playing and eating, LATER
