Friday Morning...3 days until departure

Well its dad gum hot here and muggy as well but no precipitation which is all out in the mid west. Those folks could use some of our dry weather and we could use some of their over abundance of rain, oh well. I'm ready for some at least cooler mornings and the forecast for the mountains is just that when compared to the high 90's and low 100's we have been having.

I started the day on Thursday much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my cup of green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger root while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet moments with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting up several by name. All seem well as can be expected. I headed out around 8 on my bike to the rec. for over three hours of pickle ball play. I had to say good bye to several who have only been coming on Tue. and Thur. when we have the gym for 4 hours and hello to a couple new players who have moved her permanently. I'm looking forward to playing with them again this next winter when I get back from the mountains. We had some great play and I left with a wet shirt and plum worn down, but oh did it ever feel great.

I piddled around in the garden up rooting and cutting up the collard plants, the last of the tomato plants and lots of marigold plants composting them so my fishing worms will have some cover during this hot summer. Hopefully we will get some rain which should help to keep them fed and alive. Worms are the key to a great garden for producing veggies and this last garden season was one to the best and when ever I dug into the soil the worms exploded with activity and multitudes of them.

I had a bite of lunch then headed out for a hair cut and then to Sam's for some goodies and gas before coming home in 94 * temps, dang it was down right miserably hot. I stayed inside finishing up a James Patterson book then took a cat nap for about 10 minutes. We were eating supper at Amy's as she was preparing one of our favorite meals called "sour belly". It's delicious with boiled chicken, noodles, smashed taters, broccoli and corn, Yeow what a feast. Nancy made oatmeal cookies for the dessert and they too were delicious. We visited and had a grand time with the kiddos as they entertained us.

We headed home to finish watching the Ray's vs Twins ball game and bats for the Ray's were alive with 14-3 blow out, Yikes the Twins are leading their division and our team made them look like an A ball team. I hit the shower and it was lights out at 10, LATER

Thursday Morning..4 days to go

Well Wednesday was another brutal hot muggy day here in Florida but I also hear its been unusually hot in the mountains with temps in the middle to upper 80's. Wow that is hot and now I'm finding the investment in the mini-split A/C last summer will be a blessing. It's supposed to get back to normal the week we arrive which draws closer each day. It's hard to believe nearly 7 months have gone by since we said good bye on that cold November morning.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my cup of green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger root as always, while I post this ramble then spent some time with my Creator. All those I lift up daily seem to be doing as well as can be expected as I've heard nothing to the contrary. Life is Good at this point in time. I got ready around 8 and headed out on my bike for the rec. where I got in two solid hours of pickle ball play then headed home to hang a load of laundry, harvest and clean the last of the collard greens and got them in the pot for supper while Nancy was off to another doctors appointment and to get a heart monitor for the next 24 hours. She has some racing of the heart A Fib or whatever its called and the doctors find all kinds of ways to soak up with excessive medical bills but she seems fine so I'm thankful for that. I hand watered the seedlings which are surviving in this 100+  degree heat and no rain.

She got back after lunch with of course a stop at the grocery once again. I sure hope we do not have to carry this stuff to the cabin but we always have at least 3 coolers jammed full when coming or going. Seems we have no common sense when buying groceries a couple days on either end, oh well. I piddled around catching up on some small chores; I called Skybest in Sparta and had my services turned on for next Monday but we will have to be there before 5 in the evening to make sure we have TV and Internet that evening as there is a circuit breaker in the basement that must be activated due to having the power off for 7 months. I also had the local paper from Sparta stopped from coming to Florida and back to our mountain address. It was just too hot to do anything outside so I napped and read nearly finishing another good read of short stories by James Patterson. Son Bobby mentioned that a 7 book series titled DARK TOWER is a must read so I'll look into that at the library in Sparta this summer. I don't get to read as much there as I'm usually working or piddling around outside.

We just found out Amy and family are coming to the cabin in July the same time Bobby and family will be there. That will be fun for about a week as they go on to Kansas to visited Tyler family. Amy wants to stop and see Paw Paw on the way as it's been years since she last saw him. I think Sam was just a baby. They will travel several hours and miles out of the way but she feels its necessary due to his advanced age and health concerns.

Well we tuned into the Ray's game and once more the manager over manages and the game which they should have won was tied when I turned the lights out around 10:30. I'll check the boxscores later to see who won. It would have been a sweep if they had some good relief pitching, LATER

Wednesday Morning..6 to go

Well Tuesday must have been the hottest I've seen in many moons with temps at 101* around 4:30 in the afternoon as we traveled to Brandon for Gabe's practice baseball game. He is on the second Allstar Team and they were playing the first team and now we know why the first team is so named. The first couple innings were respectable but then the bats exploded for the first team. When we left the field around 8:30 it was still 91 *.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out. I'm wakening around 4 ish the past couple days and then I start to visualize all I want to accomplish before leaving Florida and then what I want to do first when arriving at the cabin which we last saw 7 months. I'll be this way until about the third night at cabin when I will finally stop my mind from running in over drive. It's almost like a week of a kid so excited about going fishing and this happens all the time when I'm going to head out from the cabin or in reverse when I'm leaving to come back to Florida, oh well.

I did my quiet time and got ready to head out on my bike to the rec. for what was 3 hours of pickle ball. The last hour was with only A players and the first hour wasn't an easy one either with good players but they weren't tournament players. I left around 11'ish and headed home to hand water the seedlings and grab a quick left over burger before heading over to the Ford place to have the truck serviced and then make a Sam's stop for gas before leaving out to Brandon around 3. Gas was 2.39 gal. at Sam's which despite Tampa have a an extra gas tax was the price we saw in Tampa. Seems Pinellas is being gouged again.

The toll road was congested in places due to volume and construction but we made it in about an hour and half which only took about half that time coming home after rush hours. The volume is just unbelievable in the bay area and I'm so looking forward to the rush hour in Sparta. We got back in time after a shower to watch the Ray's win again 3-1 over the Jay's. They are about even with Yank's in the standing's, LATER

Tuesday Morning...6 days to go

Well Monday was another hot muggy day here in Central Florida and from the weather forecast for the mountains it was rather hot there as well. I was hoping for some cool temps next week. We had an awesome day of fellowship with friends in the neighborhood that started around 1 and ended close to 9. We ate and play games and just had a great time. Many of them will come to the cabin later this summer where we will do it all over again.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my cup of green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger root while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator. I lifted up several by name as well as gave thanks for my many blessings. This was a holiday that celebrated our freedoms because of our military and those who fought to preserve and make America great. We are a blessed nation because of our love for the one true GOD we read about in the Bible. We now have politicians running around saying we are not that nation any longer and there are other gods we must acknowledge and we now see the mess they have created by taking the one true GOD out of everything. There is a resurgence of honoring GOD again with this POTUS Trump and we are seeing evidence of that despite what the biased news networks promote. They are part of the reason for promoting such a dichotomy within the nation.

The gym was closed due to the holiday so I got in a good workout on my bike riding through the hood then came back and did some chores that needed to be done as we start packing today. The plastic containers and the luggage all needed to be retrieved form the attic and washed out and dusted off. I mixed up a batch of weed and grass killer and sprayed the fence lines and around the gardens as well as hand watered the gardens and the new seedlings. It wasn't long until my shirt was dripping with sweat it was that muggy. We skipped any real eating except for a smoothie using using up some fruit and kale for a mid morning breakfast. I knew we were dinning on  finger food until around 6 when we had the usual holiday fare of burgers, potato salad, baked beans, Nancy's delicious squash casserole and then strawberry shortcake for dessert.

We arrived at the Botbyl's where Patrick, Kathryn, Tom and Elizabeth were already there around 1'ish. We brought con casio dip, guacamole and several games to play. There was vino as well. We snacked while watching the Ray's beat the Jay's and played Sequence. Well needless to say the GUYS were the big winners AGAIN in this raucous 2 out of 3 set. It was next a board game called Smart Ass. This game is individual participation and Tom was the big winner and then it was a "dice" game which he and Elizabeth were first and second,  neither of them had ever played before; beginners luck. Well it was still light outside but it was going on 9 o'clock. We broke up and said our goodbye's as we won't see the gang from Dade City until they all come to the cabin.

It was a great day and the time just flew by. Tom and I both were USAF and he retired from the agency and he came in several years after me. I did the Viet Nam era and he missed it and never served in that combat zone. I found out he was 12 years my junior as well is Elizabeth. Anyhow they fit right in and have become good friends with all of us and they live a couple houses down from the Tracy's.

Well it was shower time and then I read for the next hour or so before calling it a night, LATER

Monday Morning..Memorial Day Holiday and 7 days to go

Well this time next week I'm hoping to be somewhere close to Ocala, Fl. as I like to leave early in the morning around 4'ish if I can get Nancy moving, oh well. It's really getting exciting for me as I'm laying awake half the night planning on what needs to be done first upon arriving and what needs to be done this week before leaving.

Well Sunday was another awesome day of worship with our BridgePoint Family as we do what we can with helping those in our neighborhoods get closer to GOD. I find it so exciting that a smile, handshake or hug can make a difference in someone's eternity; not that I'm god or anything close to it but because I welcomed someone which may have been a reason to feel wanted and not judged by so many who call themselves christians. Nancy and I both love serving and it means a lot to each of us weekly. That part of leaving the many friends and associates this past year cause us such sadness but we have old friends in the mountains and leaving them each November produces the same results.

I did the 5:30 AM load in at the college and helped set up before heading back home to change clothes around 7 and then head back with Nancy around 8. Thankfully we are just a few minutes ride from the college and I usually bike there early in the mornings which I must say are very nice and beautiful. One of our dear sweet young lady friends who is studying to become a doctor was getting baptized and her family came down from Louisiana along with her room mate. It was nice to meet them as well as several other friends and many new faces visiting. We have been blessed with so many new faces here at this Seminole campus but many were missing the Sunday do to the holiday weekend.

Well we came home and had a frozen pizza doctored up with fresh mushrooms for our lunch. We are trying to eat down the freezer as much as possible plus pizzas do not travel well frozen. I vegetated on the couch after hand watering the new seedlings and the collards and kale. Everything else is just about gone or been removed except for the jalapeno peppers which continue to produce. The Ray's had a rain delay but managed in between showers to complete the game and win 3 out of 4 games in Cleveland and they play again tonight at the Trop. I watched our POTUS Trump live at the ceremony in Japan. So much pomp and circumstance. I read the rest of the evening up to lights out and its a very good story by Sandra Brown titled TAILSPIN, LATER

We must NOT forget those who gave their lives for the cause of freedom that we so

enjoy here in the USA. That is the reason for this holiday, blessings to all .

I thought I would add a couple pics one of the bounty this year I harvested last week and the front yard where the huge oak use to be. The Crepe Myrtle is looming and the grass has covered well. There is still a hump where I had the stump ground down.

Sunday Morning

Well I just got back from my next to last load in for BridgePoint Church until next November. It was a beautiful morning outside with the skies still dark and the bright half moon and the stars twinkling in the heavens. We had plenty of help as we unloaded two huge trailers and set up the college. We are doing baptism today so I helped with setting a small outdoor pool and its filling up as I make this post.

Saturday was a fund day that started with a before 6 roll out to my usual routines that start with the cup of green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger root while I posted the ramble from the day before's activities, attitudes and a few thoughts on life in general and honoring my Creator. Today we are celebrating a national holiday that honored those who served out nation and made the ultimate sacrifice doing so. We must never forget that freedom is NOT free and this great nation is so spoiled to have such freedoms that we take it for granted that some one else must pay the price.

I had two good work out hours on the pickle ball court then headed home on my bike to work in the yards and gardens until lunch time. I mowed both yards then began stripping down the old tomato plants as they have quit producing with the nematodes sucking all of the nutrients from the roots. They look like knots on the roots and they attack most plants here in Florida. Marigolds are a natural deterrent which does help as I had the best year for tomatoes in many years and the gardens look like a marigold patch.

I read during the afternoon and the hottest part of the day. Bobby and Katie stopped by for a visit on their way out to dinner with the Anderson's and Perry's. Amy, Tyler and the kiddos all came for supper and then we played the dice game which we learned is called Farkle. Little Eliza beat us all with her lucky rolling of the dice. It was going on 9 when they headed home and I tuned into the Ray's game and they won again in Cleveland. The last game of the series is today but we have now fallen back a couple games behind the league leading Yanks.

Well today is corporate worship day with other Believers. Take the day and honor our Creator and pray for our nation as we have those who want to totally ruin our culture with some idiotic plan by the dem's called socialism. It is a disaster and one where a few have power over many by promising them everything is free. There is nothing in life free. We would have to surrender everything especially our liberty and self esteem; so make no bones about rejecting this policy by those on the left who hate America and our constitution that guarantee's all of US(A) are equal. We do have those who have taken advantage of this liberty to institute a double standard of justice but we are finally exposing their duplicity and corruption. Pray for our Potus Trump and those who want to retain this liberty and freedom expressed in our constitution, GOD BLESS AMERICA, LATER

Saturday Morning...9 days until departure

Well Friday was another hot and humid day here in sunny Central Florida but I learned from our "mountain mom" it was in the 80's and hot in the mountains as well. She usually complains of being cold but not this day as she is contemplating on turning the a/c on, oh well seems as if summer came overnight in the mountains. It can not be as hot and muggy as it is here.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my cup of green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger root while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting several up by name. All seem well as can be expected and I've heard nothing to the contrary. I was skipping pickle ball due to grand daughter Eliza Faye's graduation from pre-school to kindergarten and it was a hoot to say the least. The program they put on was first class and the memorization from each child was awesome. It was a fun time and then we brought her home with us until Amy got off work and then she took Nancy and Eliza out to lunch.

I piddled around in the garden and yards until it got to hot then settled into reading the afternoon away until it was time to grill salmon filets for our supper along with fresh asparagus spears, yeow now that is some fine eatin'. I did venture out after supper to hand water the gardens and yards until it was time to settle in to the Ray's game in Cleveland and while they had numerous chances to win they blew a lead. There are two more game there before coming home and the Yankee's extended their lead in the division. Well that was about it for the day as Nancy was back at the mall for a couple hours shopping and exchanging blouses, LATER

Friday Morning ..10 days to go

Well the heat here is becoming almost unbearable after lunch until around 6 or so in the evening if your attempting to do any outside work and the humidity is back with avengeance. The mornings and late evening are pleasant enough but I'm looking forward to some 50's for lows and highs in the 70's. The time is moving right along and in less than two weeks I'll be mowing and getting the gardens rotor-tilled for planting. I love that kind of physical outside work and can hardly sleep these last few nights in anticipation of leaving and getting on the jobs.

Well Thursday was a busy day for the most part as I did 3 1/2 hours of pickle ball. My stamina has really been upgraded since working out every day on the court and I love the great feeling brought on by that exercise. I will surely miss my morning pickle ball at the rec. but hopefully reconnect with those fellers from the mountains for our weekly evening play. I started the day much the usual with my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger root. So many folks are having tummy issues and I've found that ginger will settle most anything in that area and of course the turmeric is a great anti-inflammatory which takes away most of the pain from the old back injury that required surgery in the 60's. I've been blessed with learning how to adapt using homeopathic remedies over the years and staying active which I think is the best of all for staying healthy. Good hard physical work is also good for the mind and seems to help with sleeping as well.

After pickle ball I piddled around in the garden and yards after eating the last of the leftover sauerkraut and dogs for lunch. I headed out to hand water the seedlings and the newly transplanted basil cuttings into pots that I had rooted in a glass of water seems to be adapting to the soil. It's amazing how many herbs you can grow from cuttings and basil is one of those which I love the smell of along with rosemary and thyme. There is a saying if you smell rosemary every day you will never get the alzheimer disease. I don't know if its true or not but I grow and use that herb on lots of my grilling of meats and oven tatters.

Well during the afternoon Nancy was gone again to the shopping mall; seems she is trying to store up some shopping time because once we get to the cabin its usually just once a week to the super Wal-Mart in Galax, Va and then after church on Sunday's in the town of Sparta which usually includes lunch out with church friends. It usually a couple hours or more whenever we head out for shopping so its not just jump in the truck and be there or wherever in 10 minutes or less and the choices are limited as well; but we love the change and of course the folks. They go out of their way to be friendly whereas you don't see that as much here except for our church family which we will sorely miss.

We tuned into the Ray's game after a supper of grilled rib eye's we don't want to haul to the cabin and they were whupping the Indians big time 7-2. Our old mountain top friends are from Cleveland and he watches or use to their games and now they have moved back to be close to family in their golden years. Joe just celebrated I believe 86 years young. We will surely miss them on our daily hikes up the mountain. Well that was about it for the day; however I just saw on Fox Cable News where our awesome POTUS Trump is declassifying the documents on the Russian hoax. This should enlighten the nation on what a corrupt obama administrations sycophants attempted to do with destroying then candidate and now POTUS Trump. The rats in the government will be jumping ship and lets hope into prison, LATER

Thursday Morning

Well Wednesday was a busy fun filled day with some work thrown in for good measure in the garden after pickle ball. We also had a great meal at the Botbyl's with the Tracys around 5:30 and the the best of 5 games in Sequence. Well for the record the guys won in the 5th game to start this new season of the game which will be carried on in the mountains this summer.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my hot green tea laced with turmeric and ginger root while I posted this ramble then did some quiet time with my Creator lifting several up by name for healing and comfort in their hour of need. Most all are doing as well as can be expected due to the nature of their issues. I also lifted up our Potus Trump and those in his cabinet who are trying to put this nation back on firm footing and to get to the bottom of the attempted coup on his administration by the dem's. It's treasonous to say the least that this could happen to our nation but when you have a press that is in collusion with the dem's to thwart his agenda and now we know the heads of the FBI, DOJ and NSA were also in collusion with the last potus and his cronies to bring this potus down because they wanted Hillary to win. It's down right corruption and now the congress is in on the collusion as well as they have become a do nothing congress and an obstacle to destroy this potus at the expense of the nation.

I had a great 2 hours of pickle ball and left around 10 whupped. It was a beautiful morning ride on my bike to the rec. a little before 8 but the temps had soared by the time I left and it stayed hot and humid the rest of the day until late evening. The evening are very nice once the sun starts to leave the sky and a nice breeze envelopes the area but during the afternoon it's really all you can do to leave the a/c of the house or the shade of the big oak in back. I did pull more weeds and hand watered the new seedlings keeping them as much as possible in the shade. The basil seems like it might make and the two sets  of different tomato seedlings and jalapeno pepper seedling are adding new leaves daily. I harvested another 20 or so peppers and gave most away and then took neighbors Dan and  Carole 5 seedlings for their garden. The peppers do well in the heat as long as you keep them with some moisture.

I read the afternoon away and started a new read by Sandra brown titled TAILSPIN. So far its has a great storyline and she does keep you interested. I have next week to read in my spare time but will but that on hold until I get things back to order at the cabin. I usually read in the afternoon here but there its a completely different routine. It's work from before sunup and after sun down until it after shower time and I can watch the Ray's on the internet. The Ray's blasted the best team in baseball last night with the bats and pitching at their best. It was a split between the Dodgers with a game a piece.

Well we had a delicious supper of grilled salmon, stir fried peppers, squash and onions along with some pasta and a warm fresh home made blueberry pie with ice cream. The vino flowed as well before supper. After the cleanup we settled into the game called Sequence which we haven't played all winter and it was a hoot with the gals winning the first game and the guys the next two; usually its the best of three but since that meant the gals lost they decided the best of 5. Well it was tied at 2 a piece when the guys prevailed in 5th and final game. What a start to a hotly contested guys vs gals game for this new season, LATER

Wednesday Morning ...12 days to go

Well the heat and humidity is back and I'm looking forward to those 50's in the morning. The afternoons are the worst here but by late evening it becomes tolerable again so I'm able to do some outside work as we get ready for the departure.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger root while I posted this ramble and spent a few quiet moments with my Creator. All of those I lift up by name seem as well as can be expected except for one mountain friend who fell and broke his wrist and at the age of 92 its not easy to deal with. We hope he can soon get back to his beautiful place in the mountains. Everyone else is holding their own as I've heard nothing to the contrary.

I headed out a little after 8 despite it being Tuesday as we have the gym until noon but I'm glad I did as one of the better players came early and was getting ready to leave when I arrived. We got in a good hour or so workout for him because he couldn't make the later time of play until noon. Now that so many players are gone I think we will start coming again at 8 and play until whenever on those two days. I played hard until 11'ish with 3 other good players and we all were whipped after several games of regular scoring.

I headed home to find Nancy back after her hair appointment so I had hand watered until it was time for some lunch. The high heat was back and it just cooks you in the direct sunlight. I did manage to move two basil cutting into pots as the roots were showing in the glass of water I had them in for nearly 2 weeks. Hopefully they will make and I'll take them with me along with a rosemary cutting which has now rooted. The small seedlings look could and have put on another leaf. I'm keeping them in the shade during the afternoon as the heat is just too much for them to survive. Little by little I'm cleaning up the garden of the weeds and dried up plants however the jalapeno peppers are still setting fruit. I'm going to hate to cut them down but they are too big to transplant, oh well.

We had some left overs for supper and Nancy is still not able to chew until the stitches come out on Thursday. She is still having smoothies, jellos and puddings and some minced to small pieces of meat. We tuned into the Ray's game after supper and they were getting beat when I turned the game off and watched Fox Cable News. The slime in D.C. is being exposed and the crooked players in the attempted coup by the deep state folks of the obama administration are now pointing fingers; we all know it was obama and hillary who set this fiasco in motion to destroy this duly elected Potus. Hopefully more folks who are the biased msm watchers will come to realize our republic and democracy is on the line because of their duplicity and corruption. Fox seems to be the closest to reporting the truth whereas the others are so far in bed with the corruption its becoming criminal. The press has lost its integrity except for a few pundits, LATER

Tuesday Morning---13 days to go

Well the count down on our proposed day to leave for the cabin is on. Two weeks from today (Tue.) I'm hoping to wake up in the stillness of the morning in our mountain cabin in N.C. It's been over 7 months since we left on that cold November morning and now I'm looking forward to some of that chill as the temps here in sunny Florida are now HOT and muggy.

I started Monday much the usual after a busy day on Sunday with a before 6 rollout to my usual cup of hot green tea; that is something I forgo on Sundays as I get up early wash my face and comb my hair, get dressed and jump on my bike for the ride to the load in at the college for BridgePoint. I just remembered missing my cup of tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger each Sunday morning. I think the anti-inflammatory properties of the turmeric is a blessing and while it does stain initially the mouth and tongue it usually wears away with the teeth being brushed.

Anyhow I lifted up several during my quiet time to my Creator and gave thanks for my blessings as well. Nancy is doing well with her surgery but is still wearing a patch over the incision. She stayed away from church as the doctor told her no smiling, excessive talking and no chewing. The stitches come out on Friday and then we hope that is it. The cost out of our pocket was unbelievable for a couple hours in a doctor office and we already are paying big each month for health insurance, oh well. I sure hope we never give in to the dem's and their idea of socialism in the health care market, at least we get good care now when we need in and not sometime in the future. That corrupt obamacare has raised the cost but at least we still have a choice as of right now.

I headed out a little before 8 on my bike to the rec. for two hours of pickle ball. It was a rather small group until 9 when we finally had three courts in action and the play was action packed. I headed home a little after 10 to hand water the gardens which have just about dried up except for a few veggies. The heat is cooking the tomato's on the vine as I see blisters forming but the jalapeno peppers are still producing and the new seedlings I think will make as well. I'll take those with me for my summer garden at the cabin. The kale and collards wilt during the day despite two hand watering and it won't be long until I take down the plants and mulch them for my worms to compose over the long hot summer.

After a lite lunch I settled into a new read by Patterson titled RED ALERT which is a good easy read. It's just too hot to do anything outside after lunch time. Nancy took off to the mall for some shopping while I tried to find some filters for her hand vacuum and could find none other than ordering them, but the shipping costs was more than the cost of the filter, oh well. We decided to work on some of the leftover sauerkraut, pork and dogs for our supper and then finished up the ice cream as well. I headed outside after the clean up as the evening are usually very pleasant after the hot afternoons. I hand watered the gardens and set the sprinkler on the front yard which is very lush and green and it filled in completely. I have the shrubs in good shape before leaving but they will grow while we are gone. Grand daughter Ava wants to mow again this year with the help of her dad Tyler, so she will have some extra spending money which benefits us both.

 The Ray's were off but I did watch the rally our duly elected POTUS Trump had in Pennsylvania and once again he rallied the state with his accomplishments and agenda of putting our nation first. It just blows my mind how far left and radicalized the dem party has become with the help of the msm. Never would I have believed in my life time the change in our nation with killing babies even after birth as a political platform, the idea of supporting illegals who kill and maim our citizens and drain our resources with open borders as their platform and the idea of a socialist society that is being showcased in Venezuela for the disaster it is. Where has common sense patriotic loyalty gone, LATER

Monday Morning..Two weeks from today we will be on the road

Well Sunday was an awesome day of worship with our Seminole Campus family at BridgePoint Church. I'm already tearing up just thinking how much I will miss them the next 5 months while we are gone but then again I always feel the same way when we leave our mountain church family at Cornerstone. It's a little bit different in Seminole as we participate in so many ways whereas in the mountains we are pew sitters(chair warmers)but the main thing is we are there to help folks get closer to GOD and we love it.

I started the day with 5'ish roll out to be at the college for the 5:30 load in. I ride my bike in the early morning hours and its so peaceful as the streets are quiet, the moon and stars were so clear this morning with a huge full moon. It was almost like day light out and I scattered a few critters crossing the neighbor hood streets. I'm not sure if they were cats on the prowl or some wild critters out foraging. We had the college set up by 7'ish then I headed home to get ready to head back around 8. We had the grand kiddos for the overnight sleep over and they were just starting to awaken. Nancy wasn't going to church this morning because of her surgery and again because of getting the grands ready for Amy and Tyler to pick them up for their church service. She was in the process of breakfast to order by the grands which I usually skip except for a yogurt.

I got back around noon and learned we had no hot water. I checked the breaker and it seemed funky so I checked with an old friend who wired the rooms I had added on years ago and he came right over and we thought the breaker was bad. So we headed to Home Depot and bought the one we needed and he installed it and it seems to cure the problem, Thankfully. What a blessing to have friends who are expertise in certain fields and in a moment will be there to assist. Our families have been friends for years and now that we both are retired, its a pleasure to help others when needed.

I helped Nancy through out the afternoon as we were expecting 18 people for Amy's birthday dinner. I vacuumed and did all sorts of honey do's before the crowd arrived around 4. Amy and Tyler kept all of the grands at their house as they all play great together so we could get ready. We had two huge roasters of sauerkraut and pork ribs with kielbasa and Nathan dogs as well as pounds of smashed taters. Meg Everett brought a delicious plate of cheeses, fresh baked bread with a cherry/jalapeno spread that was to die for and the vino flowed as well. We sat down to eat around 5:30 and finished around 6:30 with a chocolate cake with white icing and a couple dozen cup cakes and of course vanilla ice cream to accompany. What a feast. Everyone took desserts and plates homes as we had enough to feed an army.

We embarrassed Amy with stories about her child hood and showered her with love and attention which she has always shunned. It was a great time of family fellowship and food. The 7 kiddos played great and the two Everett boys and Eliza are close in age and as are the other 4 grands as well. They are so full of energy when together and have so much fun. They will be the hardest to leave but they will visit sometime this summer. Well the Ray's got blown out by the Yank's after leading at one time. The relief pitching was horrible to say the least, oh well, LATER 

Sunday Morning

Well Saturday was busy fun filled day with the grands coming around 4'ish and spending the night. Nancy is still restricted to what she eats because of the minor surgery to her chin. She was able to take off the bandage and take a full shower washing away some of the stickiness and apply a cream the doctor prescribed. She has several stitches.

We did take a WalMart trip to pick up some much needed items for the family dinner this evening. We will have 11 adults and 7 kids here so it will be a house full once again and this will probably be our last family dinner before leaving for the cabin on June 3rd. Tyler came by last evening and set me up with a new way of adding photos to my blog and I'm excited about sharing once again.

The day started much the usual with my before 6 roll out to a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger while I posted this ramble then spent some time with my Creator. All seem well that I lift up daily by name. It was such a beautiful morning and the gym was closed so I set out to work outside until it got to miserably hot. I mowed both yards and the weeded the garden and took down more dying tomato plants before calling it a day for outside work. I had a wet shirt in no time.

Well I picked up chicken strips from Publix and Nancy had tater tots along with carrots and cucumber for dipping in ranch dressing. They all had sundaes afterwards and then I popped them corn for the movie after their showers. I did get to watch the Ray's come from behind and beat the Yanks in extra innings. We watched the horse race and saw for the first time ever a horse throw the jockey off and run the race without a rider.

Well that was about it as I just got back from the load in at BridgePoint Church. Nancy is staying home. I picked another mess of collards for one of the load in volunteers as well as some for our fireman neighbor. Today is our beautiful daughter's 36 birthday and we will celebrate with a big family supper, LATER

I'll try this new picture adding

Pics from 5-18-19

Pics from Amy growing up as her birthday is tomorrow

Saturday Morning..16 days to go

Well Friday was another day of mixture with both play and work. It was certainly another hot humid day after about 11 AM but the early morning bike ride to the rec. was just gorgeous. I even entertained thoughts of playing pickle ball outside today (Sat.) as the gym was closed at 8 AM, but could only find one taker and then she backed out as we left the rec. later in the morning.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my cup of hot green tea lace with turmeric and fresh ginger while I posted this ramble then did some quiet time with my Creator lifting up several by name. All seem well. I got ready and rode my bike to the rec. for two hours of pickle ball with a small crowd but did get in a good workout despite only a couple of A players in attendance. I left around 10 and headed home to piddle around in the garden, hand watering and taking down some of the dried up tomato plants well as pulling weeds and harvesting the last of my carrots. I also harvested a nice mess of jalapenos many of which I will give away. I still have several on the two plants and will take them with me to the cabin.

I headed in around noon to grab a bite to eat and cool off as the temps were on the rise until late afternoon when things cooled down. Nancy is starting to feel better but is still limited on what she can eat due to no chewing for a week or so. It seems this surgery on the face has bad side effects from chewing so she is sucking much of her food through a straw and from a spoon. The bandage comes off today and then she must use a special cream on the incision and stitches. We are still planning on the overnight sleep over with kiddos but she is supposed to limit her speech as well. That may become an issue with 5 grands.

I worked outside in the yards and gardens after supper and it was quite pleasant with the off shore breeze. We didn't get any rain the past two days and things were dried out so I hand watered again especially the new seedlings. They look as if they will make it thus far. I buried the packs into the garden which helps with keeping them moist. I tuned into the Ray's vs Yank's game and it had a rain delay in the 8th with the Ray's up 3-1. I'll check the scoreboard on who prevailed, LATER

Friday Morning

Well Thursday was a day filled with a great workout at the rec. on the pickle ball court until lunch time, then some garden work and finally looking after Nancy as she had some surgery done on her jaw which means no chewing for a week so she takes most of her nutrients threw a straw. I went shopping for fruits, veggies, jello's and puddings and then made her a delicious smoothie for her lunch with some fresh kale from the garden.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet moments with my Creator. All seem well that I lift up daily for comfort and healing and I did get through to Paw Paw after supper. He seemed in good spirits despite a minor cold as I could heard it in his chest and he didn't repeat anything; quite lucid. The mountains had warmed up from the frost the night before and he mentioned it was rather chilly in W.Va. with cloudy skies. It has been the coldest Spring in memory for many despite all of the naysayers who promote this global warming hoax. There are seasons and cycles and for anyone to think man can change what GOD introduced into his creation is just another falsehood promoted by the liberals.

I had nearly 3 hours of pickle ball play with some of the best players I have ever played with and against. It was a total war with huge 15-20 ball rallies and the games were decided by one play or point. Needless to say I was whupped by the time I headed home on my bike a little after noon. Nancy was still at the dermatologist office having her chin checked for anymore basal cell cancers and thankfully none was found where she had the biopsy performed a couple weeks ago; they did however put several stitches in her jaw and bandaged it and told her no chewing for a week and no exercise as well.

She did well despite complaining about having no exercise for a week plus eating through a straw or food that can be blended or smashed down to spoon texture. We are planning on a sleep over for all the grands on Saturday night and then a huge birthday family dinner on Sunday so I'm not sure how she will handle that. I really think its too much to handle but she says I can do all the manual work as she is limited to any of that as well.

I ate leftovers on a bed of salad and she boiled fresh squashes down to tender pieces and was able to eat. She later had some ice cream. I think she has a chance to loose some weight but she doesn't think so anyhow she did rather well. The bandage comes off on Saturday and then she can get her face wet. We had to cancel our trip to Tampa for the grands school program which means we have to go next week for the awards ceremony oh well. I piddled around outside in the garden and yards after the supper cleanup, hand watering and pulling some weeds which are growing so fast. The new seedlings I moved into 6 packs seem to be doing well and now I must harvest jalapenos today as they are growing and reproducing. The tomatoes have slowed down to almost a couple every other day. The collards are starting to wilt and kale is starting to as well with this extreme heat. Usually by this time of the year the garden is finished due to the high heat, LATER

Thursday Morning..18 days to go

Well Wednesday was a work day after some pickle ball in the morning until 10. I wanted to catch up on some extra yard work as it was a some what cooler morning with high clouds which gave the impression of lower temps. It did get real hot after lunch when the sun came out in full force but I ran errands then which gave me a break.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger root while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator giving thanks and lifting up several by name. All seem well. Nancy was off to the cardiac specialist for her yearly check up and the EKG found a couple of blimps so she has to wear a monitor for a day and have an echogram. This happens every year the closer we get to leaving Florida for the cabin. I'm not sure if its the excitement of going or the dreading of leaving the kids and grands, oh well.

I got in two good hours of pickle ball and our campus pastor Scotty was back on the court for an hour or so. He loves the game and is very good of course he is 30 years junior to most of us. He is tough to beat as he is very athletic. Afterwards I rode my bike home and fired up the shrub trimmer and worked over the front yard. I hauled two huge wheel barrow loads of clippings to the back garden for my worms to work them down over the summer and help keep the moisture in the ground along with my grass clippings. That had me wet with sweat by the time I finished around noon and Nancy got back from her trip. We had a fresh garden salad for lunch then I headed out to Sam's for some articles and gassed up again as we travel to Tampa this evening(Thur.) for Annsley and Gabe school program.

I didn't set down much at all until after dark as I mulched the area along the front yard shrubs after spraying the area with roundup to keep the weeds and grass out of the front shrubs. I did spray the fence line with weed and grass killer as well. After a supper of deer tacos I headed out to transplant some tomato and jalapeno peppers seedlings into 6 packs to take with me to the cabin. All of the seeds I sowed came up but they will not live to maturity here in Florida during the hot summer. The peppers might as they love the heat. I tuned into the Rays vs Marlins game and it was a nail biter with a win for the Ray's 1-0.

I did catch up on the Fox Cable news in between innings and the lowly dem's are making it obvious once again they want to destroy Potus Trump instead of doing any thing for the nation. They are also on high alert because their investigators in the Russian hoax is now being investigated and it appears some high up's in the obama administration will be answering to their unlawful or at least criminal coverup and violations. It's about time the dem's face the music because they have been beating first the collusion drum and when that failed the obstruction drum and that failed and now going after the new AG Barr and his prosecutor. All the while they do nothing for the immigration issues which they can team up with the Potus and get it passed. But they will never do anything to help this Potus win again which he does despite their total denial or help. It a sad period in our history because of the hatred for this man by the dem's and the left while he has put the country first, LATER

Wednesday Morning

Well Tuesday was a mixture of fun and eating as we traveled up to the Tampa Bay Country Club near Dade City, actually I think the mailing is closer to St.Leo, anyhow our friends the Tracy's live there now and they introduced us to another couple from St. Louis, Mo.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6'ish roll out to my usual cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator in Thanksgiving and lifting several up by name. All seem well as I make this post. I headed out around 9'ish as this was one of the days we have the gym until noon so I go in an hour later and then play to noon. Now that we are getting short on players as many have headed to their summer homes up north I may start coming again at 8 on those two days for some extra work out.

We had some great play on the pickle ball court with 5 of us A players and we were all whupped by noon. I made a quick stop at the library for a couple reads before heading home to have a quick bite of lunch. We had a 1 PM meeting with our financial advisor who has become almost a family friend. He has made us some great investments over the years and been a great help with all of our decisions regarding our retirement. We are blessed.

The Botbyl's picked us up around 4 and we headed north on I -75 and the traffic at that hour was stop and go through Tampa at this rush hour and even north of the city the exit ramps were backed up for miles. It took us and hour and half which usually takes 50 minutes to travel the 50 miles or so. Anyhow we stopped briefly at the Tracy's to unload some fresh veggies from my garden then headed to their beautiful club house where the second Tuesday of each month an all you care to eat prime rib and shrimp supper is offered along with a beautiful salad bar and great veggies for 22 bucks a person. The food is prepared perfectly and I had my share of the rare prime rib and shrimp prepared two ways as well as you peel them.

 We met a new couple who live just around the corner from the Tracy's and after dining we came back and we taught them the game called "dice". Nancy was the winner with several being close. Dan and I where terrible in rolling the dice and never got any where near the 10,000 points needed to win. Marie and Ed are in our age bracket yet he still works part time at Lowes to keep busy plus he plays golf. They seem like really fun folks and are looking forward to visiting the mountains this summer at the Tracy's. I'm sure we will have an opportunity to have them to our place for a visit and dining as well.

Well we got back to Seminole around 9:30 so it was shower time for me and the last inning of the Ray's vs Marlins game in Miami and we won 4-0. We still keep a game ahead of the Yanks in our division. Fox News is keeping us up to date on the investigation into the investigators which looks as if some dem's and crooks in the obama administration are starting to squirm with the cover up of Hillary and the attempted to coup of our duly elected Potus Trump being exposed, LATER

Tuesday Morning

Well Monday was another hot and muggy start for the day and by late afternoon a monsoon came through the area which caused a river to run down our street. It also brought thunder and lightning for a couple hours. Just maybe this is the start of the rainy season.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator lifting several up by name. All seem well at this posting. We did speak with our "mountain mom" Helen for a few after supper and it was rather nippy there after much rain over the weekend. The mountain have had more than their share of wet weather this year so the fire danger should be at a low.

I headed out on my bike a little before 8 for the rec. and got in two solid hours of pickle ball play. An old friend who is a very nice player came by for a couple of matches which upped the caliber of play for the last hour or so. Our large crowds of B players are gone for the season as well as a few of the A's but we will still have enough for at least one full court and yesterday we had three courts in action at one time.

I headed a home in the full sunshine and was it ever muggy. I could see the clouds building and hoped it would stay dry until I mowed the yards. I completed that job then piddled around in the gardens while Nancy was shopping. She got back just as I finished a lite lunch of salad. The skies darkened and then let loose with a fierce rain storm blowing the rain side ways. The garden and yards loved this and by late evening the skies had cleared and the sun was shining. We sat and played "dice" for an hour or so while it rained before supper then ate leftovers from Sunday big meal. After the cleanup we tuned into the Fox cable News and it's despicable to say the least how the dem's in the congress will not concede that Trump was right; there was no collusion or obstruction with the Russians and the biased Mueller Report indicated as well that result. Now their wrath on the AG Barr who has started an investigation into the investigators and already has appointed a prosecutor.

I think we are going to see just how corrupt and biased the heads in several in the obama administration where to spy on Trump and cover up for Hillary. The biased MSM will never report the truth as they are so filled with the TDS that in and of itself is criminal.  Judicial Watch is uncovering the collusion and corruption with the FOIA requests of the text's and email's by those who perpetrated this attempt to take down this candidate Trump and now POTUS Trump. This should scare every America to the core that our constitution is being violated along with our individual liberties and rule of law. There seems to be a double standard for the elite and the dem's have proved that with their actions, LATER

Monday Morning

Well Sunday was another awesome day of worship with several great folks at BridgePoint Church at the Seminole Campus. We will surely miss the great teaching by Pastor Tim Whipple and of our praise band which changes weekly as they circulate between the now 4 campus's. I started the day there a little before 6 with the weekly load in and we left some where close to 12:30 as we helped with some of the packing up for the load out. Really it will be like saying goodbye to family when we leave for the summer but hopefully will return in November.

I recommend checking out the archive sermons on the internet at bridgepointchurch.fl. for the great weekly messages and to see what we are doing in our mission to help folks, all folks get closer to GOD. Our country needs to get back to our roots on which this nation was founded on and really why GOD has blessed the US(A) so richly. We have let those who are of the PC crowd destroy our basic Judeo-Christian tenents of the love that Christ Jesus had for fellowman in reuniting us to the Father and that we are to love others as we would be loved. We see so much division in our country brought on by this crowd while inserting their radical beliefs and actions toward fellow man. I'm seriously afraid our culture is being destroyed by the liberal left and the biased MSM is helping them do it along with several who have promoted the vile and cruel muslim faith which incites the chopping off of your head if you do not accept their beliefs. It's unbelievable this has been accepted by so many who have been allowed to migrate to our country and never assimilated.

We had 7 adults and 3 grands for a mothers day supper. I grilled marinated chicken breast slathered in fresh rosemary and brats.  Aunt Betsy brought a delicious Greek potato salad, Amy brought corn on the cob and brownies as well as ice cream. Nancy also had a regular salad and crusty bread plus a cherry pie. Needless to say we had a glass of vino before hand and then chowed down. Afterwards we played the card game(s) "31" and then "kings on the corner" another card game. The gals won both. It was going on 9 when everyone decided to head home. I was sinking fast after the meal and my early rising for the load in. It wasn't long after 10 I was in the horizontal position.

The Ray's lost 2 out of 3 to the Yank's when it should have been a sweep but some bad plays and poor coaching contributed to them being only a half game ahead in the division, LATER

Sunday Morning

Just got back from the load in for BridgePoint Church at St.Pete College. We have such a great gang of volunteers now so I'm getting done much quicker which allows me to be back home by 7 o'clock. Saturday was a day dedicated to grand kiddos Sam and Annsley as we ventured to the beautiful campus of USF in Tampa and then again at the Convention Center in Tampa. It was after 10 before getting back to Seminole last night which had us leaving initially around 8'ish in the morning. Luckily we caught a couple hours break in between trips to Tampa.

Sam wrestled great and is very tough although only winning one match. The other two losses were to larger more experienced kids who managed to win on points. Annsley managed an over all place among several contestants and did quite well. I wouldn't be surprised with her talent and drive that we could see her competing internationally some day. She is very talented and loves the competition. It was nearly 8:30 before we finished with the awards ceremony with Annsley and then we walked over to a high end eatery near the convention center for supper. It was Bobby's gift to Nancy and we dined outside over looking the area.

We saw the last inning or so of the Ray's game and they beat the Yankee's and the deciding game of the series will be this afternoon. We are having a house full of family for a Mother's Day celebration that will include Amy's family and Betsy's Family. Bobby 's family will not be able to make it. I'll grill marinated chicken breast and brats for the main entree and I'm not sure of what else will be on the menu.

Well is time to get ready to head out for worship on this beautiful morning so take so time and honor our Lord Jesus Christ by worshiping with others because He said "where two or more are gathered in His name He will be among us", LATER

Saturday Morning

Well did we ever get a gully washer last evening and the rain was much needed and appreciated. Maybe its the start of the rainy season here in central Florida which usually occurs around the 4 o'clock hour and this one was right on. There wasn't much to write about except for some pickle ball in the morning with a slim few players and then I piddled around in the gardens until Amy and Eliza came for a lunch.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger while I posted this ramble then lifted up several to my Creator during my quiet time. All seem well and we did speak with our "mountain mom" after supper. Spring or summer has come to the mountains but with April showers weekly. They are sick of so much rain this winter but everything is greening up and the weather has turned warm. We are getting excited about the transformation of "flat landers" to "mountain folks" in just about 23 days.

I harvested a beautiful egg plant and a large green tomato for our lunch with Amy and Eliza. Wow what a treat as both of them are delicious when fried in bread crumbs and olive oil then left to cool on a paper towel sprinkled with a little ground red pepper, fresh jalapeno pepper slices(for me)and some ranch dressing and fresh basil and parsley and or cilantro when available. My cilantro has gone to seed which becomes coriander. I saved the dried seeds and will sow them for them summer garden as we love cilantro in all of our Mexican style dishes as well as guacamole.

I spent the afternoon reading and finished a James Patterson non- fiction read. I checked the catalog for both libraries and he is loaded with reads so I should have a good inventory this summer in the mountains with Patterson and Burke as well as when I come back during the winter. We had a couple loads of laundry on the line and it dried quickly as the heat was almost unbearable to work outside which brought up the black clouds and then the thunder and lightning and the down pour started with gusty winds. I didn't have to water after supper for a change. The sun came out and you would never know it was a cloud burst just and hour before. Such as it is in this sandy soil called Florida.

Well we tuned into the Ray's game after supper against the Yank's and while we should have won the game with bases loaded a couple times we could not score. It was a close game  4-3 and the stands were filled always when the Yank's come to town. We did watch the Fox Cable news in between innings and our duly elected Potus Trump told the Chinese to stick it with their unfavorable trade talks. I love a strong potus who is looking out for America first and the AG Barr said the same to the dem's in the congress. They are on notice that an investigation of their corruption in the attempted coup is happening and they are scrambling with any an all efforts to derail this Trump train using the fake news networks as their point. The news reporters on CNN and MSNBC are pathetic with their attempt to sway American's who no longer are listening to their lies and pablum,  personally I've never liked either of those networks since they lied for the Clinton's and have become so liberal in their thinking. There are a few on the Fox network who needs to leave and go to these two biased shows but I get enough of their thinking to know what goes on in the msm, LATER

Friday Morning...24 days to go

Well Thursday was a busy day that started with 2 1/2 hours of pickle ball, then a dental cleaning and then out to supper at neighbor Dan and Carol's place with the Tracy's. Wow what a fun evening with great chow and games afterwards. The gals won both games called "Dice" and "31".

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger while I posted this ramble then spent some time with my Creator in prayer and thanksgiving for several. All seem as well as can be expected but we need to lift up those who love this nation and especially our POTUS Trump as he is bombarded daily by the fake MSM and those on the left. I must say he has a thick skin to be able to with stand these attacks by the liberal dem's in the congress who want to see this nation destroyed so they can blame this Potus. I'm so throughly disgusted with these who blame Trump for what they have been doing all along. It's their nature and God only knows how long the lawless obama administration has violated our constitution and the rule of law with Hillary and Kerry in the state dept.

I headed out on my bike around 9 ish to the rec. and got in nearly 3 hours of pickle ball. What a great workout and we had a couple really nice players with some very long rallies which have made up for the loss of our good players who have returned to the north for the summer. I headed home to hand watered mu new seedlings before heading out to the dentist. I had a sore gum a few weeks back and the x-rays revealed an infection which caused this sore gum so an antibiotic was inserted in the gum between the roots which feels better already. At first it was rather sensitive but it seems much better this morning. My teeth were in good shape so there was not much scraping involved; so I'm good until next summer. Hopefully no root canals this summer like last year.

Well I made a couple of stops on the way home then settled into reading until it was time to head out and hand water the gardens before heading out for the neighbors. Nancy had the last of the frozen jalapeno poppers in the oven and a pot os pasta cooking to take with us along with some fresh asparagus for the grill. Yikes what a delicious supper of grilled salmon, asparagus. pasta with cream sauce all followed some finger foods with some vino before hand. We caught up on our daily happenings and all seem a go for this coming summer as the Tracy's are renting again a cabin in the mountains at the same place. The Botbyl's will come up in the fall as of right now but they are tied down with watching their new grand daughter every day during the week.

We played games until nearly 9'ish before walking down the street. The Tracy's had an hour drive back to their house near Dade City. We talked about another all you care to eat prime rib/shrimp dinner at their club next Tuesday. That was the best meal out this summer and well worth the cost. Well That was about it for the day as it was shower time and then some FOX Cable News with Hannity and Laura until it was lights outs a little after 10'ish, LATER 

Thursday Morning

Well Wednesday wasn't anything to write home about except for the pickle ball first thing in the morning. I had a great work out then we decided since Nancy had her last get together with her women's Bible study class at a local eatery at 7o'clock we would have our main meal of the day at lunch time. I grilled delicious filets and with a rice pilaf and a fresh garden salad that held me the rest of the day.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger while I posted this ramble and then some quiet moments with my Creator in thanksgiving and intercessory prayers for several. All seem as well as I haven't heard anything to the contrary. I headed out a little before 8 on my bike to the rec. for two hours of continuous pickle ball play. Nancy eventually came up to the rec. to get a work out on the treadmill as she gets ready for our daily mountain hikes. That back trail at the cabin will get your respirations up and only a few can make it to the top without a stop to rest and I for one can still do it. The outside work there is quite the opposite of working here on a flat surface; every thing there is done on an incline especially the garden and yard work. It was in the 50's there to start the day and it does reach the low 70's which is just the opposite here in hot muggy Florida.

I've calling folks up there who do bathroom work as Nancy wants an upstairs shower in the bathroom at the cabin. I have another guy lined up to come out and give me an estimate on installing  a vinyl shower our first week there. I'm not sure which will be the best or the most cost effective; a tiled shower or a vinyl shower. The plumbing is going to be the big issue as I will have to tear up the wood flooring for the drain and water lines and then replace that with either wood or ceramic tile. Nancy wants this done right away because of family arriving in July as well as other guests.

Well the Ray's played an afternoon game so I vegetated on the couch for nearly 5 hours only to see them loose in 13 innings when they had the chance to win several times. They did make some bone head errors like getting picked off from first base, oh well the Yanks come to town on Friday so this will be their first big test against a team who is just a game back from them in the division standings. While Nancy was at her class I watched the FOX Cable News and watched our POTUS Trump deliver a speech in Panama City, Fl. This man is trying to do his best to save the nation and by the crowds who come out to see and hear him it's working. The biased MSM and the dem's are doing everything to thwart his agenda but he and his administration are carrying on to make America great again. The economy is booming as jobs are coming back and real money is flowing into the country with corporations who hire folks are returning. The dem's and those who support them have such vitriol for this potus,  whose main goal is to see him destroyed because he is draining the swamp. Now the dem's are going after the AG Barr who is law abiding after Mueller could not give them what they wanted. It's a total disgrace, oh well, LATER

Wednesday Morning

Well Tuesday was an uneventful day after Monday's exciting finish for the day at the Legacy Builders banquet sponsored by BridgePoint Church. It was another hot muggy day which found me inside at the rec. around 9 until noon on the pickle ball court with a couple new players as well as a husband and wife team who I have played with and against at the Walter Fuller Park and rec. in St. Pete. The last hour and half of play was the best in quite awhile with two courts of A players in action.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and fresh 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 the point. I did speak with Paw Paw on Sunday and while he is very repetitive he sounded strong and content with his age and his living with his middle daughter. Everyone else seems as well as can be expected. I do lift up our awesome POTUS Trump who despite the politicians in the congress and biased msm is working to keep America safe and prosperous. It really bothers me we have American's who want this nation to fail and take down this duly elected potus. What have we become as a nation. We have let the muslim's in the government whose idea is to kill those who do not conform to their ideology and replace our Judeo-Christian mores, we now murder the innocent babies as a platform to get elected, they promote socialism which is a total disaster as seen by every nation who fell for this idiotic idea and they want to take away our free speech and ability to defend our selves against tyranny by a corrupt few in the government and people actually love this. GOD HELP US(A).

I headed home to hand water the gardens before having a salad for lunch. Nancy was at the rec. on the dread mill as she wants to get ready for our hikes to the top of the mountain next month. I headed out and she followed about 30 minutes later on her bike. After lunch I headed out to run errands for her then headed to Lowes and Sam's Club before chilling the rest of the afternoon reading until supper time. We cleaned up some leftovers and then I headed outside to hand water the gardens and the front yard. The tomato seeds I sowed a couple days ago are up and showing colors. I'm hoping the jalapeno pepper seeds germinate but for some reason they take forever. My pepper plants are producing peppers like never before and I try to eat one a day along with an apple a day. The new seedlings should be about the right size for transplanting in the summer garden at the cabin.

The old tomato plants are regenerating and one had new small green tomatoes and lots of blooms. I'm sure spraying them with dissolved epson salts has made a difference this year. The collards are still producing but with this high heat they are starting to wilt a little during the day but recover overnight and the beautiful kale is also showing some wilt in the hottest part of the afternoon but also recovers overnight with a good watering in the evening. I stopped at Lowes for a new spout for my water heater which does not work properly at the cabin. When I opened it to drain the tank and the cabin last fall it leaked and I want to fix it before turning the water on when we get there next month.

I watched the Ray's play good ball against the Arizona team and they have won two in a row with good pitching and great hitting. We are still leading the division but the Yankees come to town this week end so that should be a good test for this young ball club. We are starting to finalize a few things as we get ready to head out for the next 5 months. We also need to start sorting out clothes for the Goodwill which we never wear any longer and for some of us never fit due to expanding with age. I've so far the last couple of months maintained around the 180-185 mark which is down from last fall's 196. My appetite is still good but I do not seem to need as much and I'm reducing my second helpings which maybe the reason for the steady weight. I know being in shape on the pickle ball court has helped with playing sometimes 6 days a week, LATER

Tuesday Morning...27 days to go

Well Monday was another warm muggy day which is typical for this time of the year here in central Florida along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. We are about 5 miles as the crow flies from the Gulf and in the evening we usually get an off shore breeze which makes it tolerable but during the day its an on shore breeze which brings heat and humidity and last evening was no exception. We attended the Legacy Builders banquet at the beautiful downtown campus of BridgePoint Church and what an evening of fellowship, delicious foods and a spirit filled talk on how and why we are so important on leaving a legacy for others after we are gone.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting up several by name. All of them seem well as I've heard nothing to the contrary. I headed out on my bike at 8 for two good hours of pickle ball play and then afterwards piddled around in the gardens hand watering until lunch time. Nancy was shopping which seems to be almost a daily occurrence as she will be limited to once a week when we get to the cabin. Every thing is so far away and we usually make the trip to Galax once a week for shopping at the super Walmart and Lowes.

I spoke with a fellow about the upgrade in the cabin with the addition of an upstairs shower and he seemed interested. It's hard to get folks this time of the year and of the two names given to me none called me back except one who no longer does tile work gave me the name of someone who does do the work. He is down on the coast of N.C. working after the hurricane last summer which caused so much destruction.

After lunch I read and did some catching up on calls and then we got ready to meet with the Nymark's as they were picking us up and another person for the trip to St.Pete at 6 PM. It was a fun time with Steve and Sheri and Bonnie as well. We are all in a life group and love our relationship with each other and the church. It was a business like dress code so no coats and ties but everyone was looking good and this building they meet in was build in the 20's with beautiful architecture and its very glamours to say the least. I think its used for many functions as the area is just gorgeous. We did some praise and worship then heard an interesting vision talk on Legacy Building and how we can be a part of this attempt to change not only our county but the nation and even the world to being Christ centered again.

We as a church have made remarkable strides in just our 12 short years of being in existence as we have leaders who are legacy builders with their attitude and its being passed on to us the members. I must say it's remarkable what can be done for the kingdom when we set aside our preconceived ideas and thinking and step out in faith. I love one of our founding ideas which is concentrate on the 1 and let GOD fill in the 0's. We have several ideas which make us a great force for reviving christianity in our nation which is being slowly given away to the PC culture. This was an awesome evening, sort of a pep rally to my way of thinking and how each of us who are on board can be a legacy unto ourselves with our participation in the movement of sharing the love of Christ to others in our neighborhoods.

Well it was close to 10 when we got home and I noticed the Ray's won big at home, LATER

Monday Morning...28 days until we head to the mountains

Well Sunday was an awesome day that started very early for me with the before 6 AM load in at St.Pete College for BridgePoint Church with several other volunteers, as we transformed the college into a church settings. These folks are so dedicated to our weekly event that if has become almost a part of life and sad to think this may stop once and when we are able to get a permanent building. I truly love the camaraderie. Nancy and I both love serving and worshiping with such fantastic folks who love helping folks get closer to GOD. We will miss these Sunday's with these great folks and besides missing our grand babies these will be missed most.

We served both services but did worship together in the first service. The praise and worship music was so inspiring and our associate pastor brought the message to day. He is a good speaker as well but there is something about Tim's messages that cut to the core. All of our leaders are good speakers and leaders and we are blessed to have the same message delivered to us each Sunday via tele- communications. Each campus which will soon be 4 starting later this year have exceptional leadership as we attempt to reach Pinellas County for Christ. This county needs the Lord as well as most of the nation as somehow the nation has allowed anti-christians into the government and into main stream liberal thinking. This nation was founded on Judeo-Christian principles despite what the last fraud and fake of a potus obama said in his speeches. This nation is in decay because of his muslim philosophy and radical thinking with the PC crowd. It has destroyed public education, respect for law enforcement and the military. Enough of my ramble but I love this nation as I traveled all over the world during my USAF days and the liberals dem's are doing their best to destroy it.

Well we headed to Outback which is just minutes down the road for our one meal of the  day with Dan and Carol. The food was delicious as always and we have so many eateries to choose from just minutes away from our house. That is one thing we will miss at the cabin as nothing is just minutes away but there are so fine down home cooking places and a great pizzeria in the town of Sparta which we usually visit after our church service at Cornerstone on Sundays. We won't know how to act as we become chair setters showing up at 10 in the AM and then leaving shortly before noon, oh well. We have some very close friends there and we do love our pastor there as well. It's just a slower atmosphere but we are the closet church to what we have at BridgePoint in the county. Our pastor is bi-vocational and while we do not have Sunday School they do have what we call is KidsPoint where all the youngsters meet during the message; they do have Sunday evening programs for the kids and some outside occasions and events we get to serve at. So we aren't completely chair setters.

We sort of napped and I read on a James Lee Burke book titled the Glass Rainbow for a couple hours since the Ray's game was postponed due to rain. We got ready around 5:30 and headed out to our old church at SFBC where daughter Amy and her family attend. Grandson Sam who is 9 was the main character in a spring program of the elementary kids titled Faith News Network. Eliza Faye our youngest grand daughter at 5 was one of the animals on the Ark along with other 3-5 year olds. It was a cute program and very entertaining with lots of memorization by the kiddos. I thought how apropos with the FNN as we could use more of and a whole lot less of than the biased fake network of CNN. We visited with several old friends and still members there as we once worshipped there and worked in the kitchen for most of our married life. We still have fond memories and many friends there.

We skipped the taco bar afterwards as the noon meal was huge and then we headed out just before dark. It was a great day with friends fellow lovers of the Lord and good eatin' for lunch. I watched a documentary on Magellan on You Tube by the BBC until it was close to bed time. I almost forgot to mention we had some severe weather around noon with tornado warnings, strong winds and heavy much needed rain which cooled things down just a bit. I'm afraid the summer doldrums are upon us with heat and humidity and just another reason to head to the high country in N.C. The mornings there are in the 50's with lows in the 70's. The pictures show green grass and lots of leaves and fresh air no one has ever breathed before, LATER 

Sunday Afternoon

Well Saturday was a fun day and ended with a family dinner at our nephew beautiful place on Snell Island as Nancy's brother was in town to nail down the estate of their mother who passed away in November. What a fiasco that has been but hopefully that is settled and she and her brother and sister will finally received the funds from the estate. We have decided to tithe one tenth of that off the top.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my usual cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and a slice of fresh ginger while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting several up by name for healing, comfort and safety, including our duly elected POTUS Trump, our military and those on the front line keeping us safe who wear the badge. I too carried a badge for 30 years as well as served 7 years in the military never giving a thought that what I did daily could result in a sacrifice for my country. All those I lift up daily seem as well as can be expected. I spoke with Paw Paw and his age is reflecting with his hearing and repeating of issues, but other than being nearly 92 he is still able to get about and carry on.

I headed out to the rec. on my bike for nearly 3 hours of pickle ball and had a great work out. I'm sure going to miss these daily workout starting in June as it will be pickle ball play usually one evening a week but I will make up for that workout with a mountain hike at least once a day and of course all of my mountain chores with the yards and gardens. Our mountain neighbor Gerald sent me some pictures of the cabin last week and the lilac's were blooming which are always gone by the time we get there in June. We have both purple and white lilacs and their fragrance is such a delicious smell. We do usually have some peonies still in bloom which are also delicious in smell and I equate the two aromas.

I did hand water the gardens and yards before a lite lunch as I knew we would eat hearty later in the evening. Nancy's sister Betsy decided to join us for the ride to Austin and Megan's place which is in northeast St.Pete on Snell Island. There are several small bridges out to their place in this beautiful section of the city. We had a grand time visiting and eating; grilled marinated flank steak, chicken breasts, asparagus, sweet taters and of course some vino while indulging. Nancy made a huge fresh garden salad and a decant chocolate cake. Amy our daughter made a delicious cheesecake and brought ice cream as well. It was a feast and afterwards we taught them a new card game called "31". We had 10 adults and 5 kiddos present so there was excitement through out the evening until nearly 9:30 when we headed home. We did stop and watch the Derby and was surprised to see the winning horse being disqualified for what was an apparent minor maneuver on a wet sloppy track, oh well!!!

Well this Sunday morning I was up early for the 6 AM load in at St.Pete College for BridgePoint Church. We had a great crew of volunteers to unload and set up the college for the 9:00 first service and then another service at 10:30. We will surely miss all of these fine folks who make life great as we help others get closer to GOD. Our volunteers are enough to man a regular church as we have that many dedicated folks. We see new faces every Sunday and both Nancy and I love our being able to serve each week with such loving and friendly folks. We do love our mountain church but we serve very little there as we already have a building which we are in need of in Seminole. I will miss the togetherness we have established with so many in our Life Groups as well as the volunteer team.

Well that was about it for Saturday and Sunday morning, LATER