Well Thursday was a busy fun day with some good friends, great eatin', beach time and card games before bedtime and the Tampa Bay Lightning won again in a shoot out. They are the best team in all of the NHL and hopefully will win the Stanley Cup this year.
I did my usual morning routines that always takes time to honor my Creator and lift up several by name and give thanks for another day, our country and of course our Potus and those who love GOD and our freedom's and liberties. We are so blessed in this nation as our guests just got back from Cuba where there is abject poverty for most of the folks except those in power in this socialist nation. They said it was a filthy place with the building in disrepair and then everywhere they went on a tour it was utter slum like with no infrastructure. They were amazed a cruise ship would dock there and show the world how poor they are for a third world country and we have those in the democrat party who want to bring this type of culture to our nation with this type of economy.
I started the day much the usual with a 6'ish roll out despite not having to get up early as I was once again staying away from pickle ball due to guests and the muscle pull in the lower back. I was able to function without severe pain but I can still feel the knot in the muscle, hopefully that will eventually work its way out. I was able swim, fish, walk a couple miles in the surf and do most everything but did limit myself from any heavy lifting. We got the call to pick up Mechelle and Allan some time around 9:30 at the port so we headed to Tampa and what a traffic jam near the area as another ship was loading to head out and of course this ship had unloaded 2500 folks.
We got back to the house around 11:30 and had a bite of lunch before loading up beach chairs, umbrellas, fishing poles, towels and a cooler with some drinks. We spent the next 2-3 hours enjoying the beach as Allan and I fished in the surf(no bites) while the girls sat under the umbrella. I got in a good swim which felt great to the back muscles and then Allan and I walked a couple miles up and back the beach before we called it a day around 4'ish. It was a perfect beach day with just enough of a breeze where the kites were flying over head and enough to keep the heat down to where it was bearable in the 80's without frying from the sun's reflection off of the white sand. There were lots of beach goers and I mentioned we may come a couple times a year while others spent thousands of bucks to do what we did.
We got back and I washed things off and then hand watered the gardens while they piddled around getting supper ready. I picked my first tomato and while it was just starting to turn I did not want a squirrel or the bugs to get it. It is huge and then I pulled a couple carrots as well and while they are about the size of quarter they were only 4-5 inches or so in length but oh so delicious in flavor. I pulled several jalapeno peppers as well as fresh parsley for taters for supper and rosemary for the beautiful bone in pork chops. Oh my what a feed we had with a fresh garden salad.
After the cleanup we settled into couple games of Kings on the corner card game and then we taught them how to play Euchre and the guys whupped the gals after a close game. They really seemed to enjoy the game after learning about the jack's and their importance. It was going on 10 when I hit the shower then watched the last period of the hockey game and t went into overtime still tied at 1 each. Well the Lightning scored twice in the shoot out and beat the Sabers from Buffalo in a hard fought game with lots of hitting and fistacuffs, yeow everyone wants to defeat our team but they are so talented with a great goalie and should be the team to go all the way this year.
Well today Friday is grand parents day then we are off to the Tampa Bay Downs to watch the ponies(horses) run for a couple hours then having three other couples here for supper. Should be a fun day with lots of good eatin' on this beautiful winter day, LATER
