Saturday Morning May 30th

Well this will be my last post until we meet again from the cabin especially looking out over the yards and gardens into the trees and hills from the kitchen table. Its been awhile since I last posted from that morning position but with the heat and humidity I'm looking forward to some cool mornings.

Friday we awakened at Bobby's in Brandon which is a really nice neighborhood. We have been going over to help with the care of Ryder and Huck for the last couple of months. They are doing so good and their reflux is about gone. We never had one spit up from either all day long. They are drooling however and thats from teething. They want to chew and gum on anything they get close to their mouths and at times that is your finger which they chew down on. They ate great and slept through out the day. It seems an hour after eating they nap for close to an hour and then we do tummy time, read books and watch them now rolling over at will. They seem to love this new found exercise.

We didn't do anything outside as the heat and humidity was fierce and then it rained every evening as well with thunder and lightning. We got to spend some fun time with Annsley and Gabe Friday afternoon playing domino's which both of them love to play. They all will come in July for a week and we will have a grand time entertaining the boys as well as them. I'm sure Bobby will have them lined up for some zip lining and some horseback riding and hopefully we can get in a kayak flow with them as well.

I got a couple pics from mountain neighbor Gerald and the backwoods yard is cleaned out of several big trees that Jake and Kaithlyn cut down for their use in heating their place. I now have to rent a stump grinder some time this summer and grind down the stumps. I should be able to get grass to grow where moss seemed to be the most green thing under the shade of the trees. Everything else looked good on the yards and surrounding area of the cabin. The grass is somewhat high but I should have the yards and gardens in shape within the week. We are looking forward to seeing our mountain friends as well as connecting again with our local church family. It seems most everything has been cancelled for the town of Sparta due to this pandemic but I understand most of the eateries are open.

We will head over to Amy's this evening for supper and to say good bye with them. Little Ryder last evening as we left Bobby's driveway was told we were going away for awhile and he pouted out his lower lip which sent all of us into hysterics. You often wonder at this young age if they really understand what your saying. We always have such a great time with our grand kiddos and they will be surely missed along with Bobby and Katie and Amy and Tyler, LATER

Friday Morning May 29th

Well we are in Brandon at Bobby's home as we spent the night after caring for the boys during the day and evening. They are such a joy and are showing some great maturing as well. Both boys like to roll over and stand up as well as dance and are in constant dance mode; I think they have developed some of my moves for the dance floor especially Huck who loves to move to music. We had a great day with them as well as with Katie. Bobby worked late all day and got home sometime after 9'ish just as we were bathing the boys. His boss was in town along with several other higher ups in the company.

We got a thunder storm late in the day so there was no swing time or a walk through the hood. It's very hot and humid here during the day and its starting to look as if the late afternoon summer storm season is upon the area. I'm hoping we got some rain in Seminole as my seedlings were without any care from me. We will spend the day here until after supper then head back to Seminole to start the big pack and last minute chores before leaving early Sunday morning for the cabin. It will be a sad evening as we say good bye to Bobby's family until July when all of them will arrive for a week or so at the cabin. Amy will have us for supper on Saturday as we say good bye to them as well. They are planning on coming up in November for Thanksgiving and then Bobby's family for Christmas, LATER

Thursday Morning May 28th

Well Wednesday showed us just what heat and humidity will have on your body during the mid day hours, Yikes it was awfully hot with bright sunshine and just walking outside you sweated. Now I know why we are heading to the mountains.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll rollout to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator giving thanks and lifting up several. All seem as well as can be expected. I got ready and headed to the Rec. on my bike just before 8 for nearly two hours of pickle ball play outside. We had two courts going at one time and I left with a wet shirt as the play was continuous. The humidity was rearing its head and we all were drenched in sweat.

I headed home to do some piddly jobs as we started packing food tubs, cleaning out some things we weren't taking with us for Amy. I stopped by the barber shop but learned that was by appointments only until Saturday so I'll try again then. I headed to Sam's Club for some items and gas up which has gone from 1.58 to 1.76 a gallon. It's still better than the price a few years back at over 3 bucks a gallon.

We cleaned up some leftovers for supper then I headed out to do some more yard work as the evening breeze helped a little with the heat but I still came in just before dark drenched in sweat. We settled into the Fox Cable News until shower time. There wasn't a whole lot to write about as we cleaned, packed and got ready for the big leave day on Sunday. We did see where a storm was bringing some rain to the mountains which was definitely not needed after the past week and several inches of the wet stuff.

Well we head over to Brandon today to care for the "boys"for the next two days and then its packing and loading the truck on Saturday as well as last minute garden and yard chores, LATER

Wednesday Morning May 27th

Well Tuesday was another busy day with high heat and humidity which is now the norm for this time of the year. I'm so looking forward to cool mornings and the 70's for a high which is the fore cast for when we arrive on Sunday. They have had tons of rain so I'm sure the grass is high which is always a challenge for mowing the first time in 7 Months.

I started the day much the usual with an early start around 5:30. I'm doing my usual at night of running through a check list of all I need to do here before leaving and then where to begin once arriving after such a long spell. It does cut down on my deep sleeping and the night before leaving here is almost no sleep at all, oh well. My excitement is analogous to a kid going fishing the next day. I did my quiet time and lifted up several before catching up on the news and social media while I had my early morning cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric. I soon got ready and headed out to the Rec. on my bike for close to two hours of pickle ball. Thankfully we had a couple extra players which gave you a break in the heat and humidity. I left with a shirt you could wring out the sweat by hand.

I piddled around outside until lunch time and then took a break until after supper then headed back outside to trim shrubs and get the garden broke down for the summer months. The only thing left is the bell and jalapeno pepper plants and the volunteer tomato's which are now ripening. I'm hand watering my new seedlings a couple times during the day as the heat is becoming almost unbearable. They are still doing as well as can be expected. I hope they make it the two days we are in Brandon as they will go without water for nearly 48 hours. I'm going to take a mature rosemary plant as well as the jalapeno plant from my garden here and try them at the cabin along of course with all of these baby seedlings which look rather well in the mornings and evenings after the sun gets off of them.

Amy is out of school this week so she and the kiddos all came for lunch and then spent the rest of the afternoon. Nancy made her mother's famous bacon, egg and onion sandwich which is delicious with tomato, pickle and mayo. We ate some of the Sunday's leftover fajitas for our supper.

Well we are learning more and more about the criminal activities of the Obama administration in their attempt to destroy this duly elected potus Trump and put the nation in peril to our enemies along with the help of the fake and bias MSM and the democrats in the congress. Our democracy and constitution is at stake if we allow the dems to retake the white house and they are trying their best using this pandemic to change the way we vote. I'm not convinced they didn't have something to do with this virus being spread out of China to disrupt our economy and take down Trump. They are a corrupt party led by globalist who want socialism, LATER

Tuesday Morning May 26th

Well the count down is at 6 days until we leave for the cabin. It's been a long 7 months since we headed back to Florida from the mountains but my heart is yearning for the natural in eye sight, yet my heart will be saddened from not seeing our son, daughter and grand kiddos until they come for a visit this summer and hopefully again for the Thanksgiving holidays.

Monday was a different kind of day with rain clouds in the area most all day. We did see a few sprinkles early in the morning but by 8 it had stopped and I was able to get in nearly two full hours of pickle ball play outside as the Rec is closed and their hours do not blend in with mine. I'm enjoying early morning play and the loss of some weight is good in the hot muggy atmosphere of playing outside. I was whupped as I rode home on the bike and then hit a hot shower as we were heading up to The Tracy's near St.Leo's for the afternoon and evening.

The Botbyl's drove so I got to relax and even cat napped at times on the ride up and back. We spent nearly 8 hours eating, visiting and playing games as well as did a little gun shopping for Patrick. He is interested in getting some protection because it Trump loses this election by fraud we will have to protect ourselves from the radical Left who want to take over our lives, take away our right to protect ourselves and create a world where we are subservient to their socialist ideology; in other words treat us like the Nazi's did the Jews in WW II. No way am I letting them control my life and Patrick has my way of thinking as well with protecting our selves with a firearm. We shopped shotguns which I think are better for making a statement when loaded with buckshot which leaves a wide path of destruction and so much easier to not miss your target, plus it makes a big bang and its not considered a concealed weapon.

We took finger food for our mid day snacks and then sat down to a beautiful delicious supper of chicken breasts, yellow rice, black beans and a fresh salad with brownies and ice cream for dessert. The girls had gone off to shop Cato's after lunch which they all like but they were told they could not try any clothes on in the store due to this virus; such an idiotic rule since you could take it home and then return it if necessary. Well neither of the gals purchased anything due to that rule. We didn't purchase anything either but got some good info for both Patrick and Dan who does not have a weapon either. We old fellers need to start thinking what the dem's will do to US(A) if they steal the election away from Trump which we pray GOD will forbid.

We did play a game of 6 handed Spades and the guys prevailed big and then after supper ,a best of 7 Sequence games and we(guys) won again in the 7th game. It was a nail biter at times but raucous as well. It was after 8 when we headed out for Seminole. There were dark rain clouds everywhere but our area looked bone dry, Oh well, LATER

Monday Morning May 24th

Well Sunday was another great day of worship, family fellowship and some fine eatin' as usual with both our Life Group before worship at their house and then again later in the day with Bobby and Amy's families minus Annsley and Gabe. What a great day and we are so blessed and so thankful for all.

I started the day with a well before 6 rollout as it was one of those nights where I was so involved with my schedule of work before leaving here and then again after arriving in the mountains. I get so excited about making this change that I stay awake and have difficulty sleeping, Oh well. We got ready and picked up neighbors Dan and Carol a little after 8 and headed over to our friends house along with close to 20 or so other Bridgepoint folks for a breakfast and then to watch the worship service from our Tyrone Campus. We are hoping to get back to in house services soon for the 4 campus's; we of course will be gone before that happens here in Seminole. Cornerstone in Sparta was back in the house yesterday for the first time since March for a live service.

We mingled after the service and headed home to get ready for the family arriving around 2'ish. The boys were so cute and everyone loved playing with and watching them eat. Eliza is just taken by them and wants to hold and cuddle with them constantly. She uses her little baby voice when talking to them and its so cute as well, since she is just 6.We had salsa and guacamole to warm up the taste buds as were having chicken and steak fajitas, black beans and Jasmine rice and Amy made a cheesecake which was so delicious with blueberry and strawberry toppings, oh my what a feed we had. We will need several hikes to the top of the mountain next week to wear off these delicious meals we have been eating lately. Seems everyone wants to fatten us up before we leave next Sunday.

It was a great day and while it was a cloudy day which brought us a little rain it wasn't scalding hot, just real muggy. I'm beginning to believe maybe the evening showers maybe on the agenda here which usually happens during summer months here in Florida. I sure hope all of the rain that fell last week in the mountains has cleared out and allowed the ground to dry up enough for gardening next week. I'm bringing 5 different leafy green seedlings as well as a couple volunteer tomato plants and some herbs with me when we come.

I'm hoping to get in some pickle ball each morning the next three days and then of course we will be in Brandon all day Thursday and Friday so we will be packing and doing some house cleaning before we head to Amy's on Saturday evening for supper. I'm looking forward to some cooler mornings and some wide open spaces. We do love our neighbors despite being within spitting distance and the stores are located close to the house which means we will go to town once a week for necessities instead of nearly everyday which Nancy does, oh well its a different life style but we love the change and the folks we know there, LATER

Sunday Morning May 24th

Well this time next week I'm hoping we will be on our way north to the mountains of N.C. and somewhere in northern Florida after leaving around 4'ish.

It was another hot day in central Florida on Saturday and while we did get some rain the night before the air was thick with humidity. I started the day with a well before 6 roll out to my morning routines that start with the cup if hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then did some quiet moments with my Creator giving thanks and lifting up several by name. The list grows each day but all seem to be holding their own. We have a brand new baby girl amongst us, to the birth of our sweet friends in the mountains new addition after losing their infant boy last year. What a blessing for them and to us as well. Everyone else seems well. I spoke with middle sister Pat who is the full time caretaker for Paw Paw and he is doing as well as can be expected or 92 years young.

I continue to lift up our Potus Trump who is finally being exonerated by the releasing of documents which showed all of this fake collusion with Russia and that is a made up hoax by the dem's and the Obama administration to take down this duly elected potus. He was right to vocalize his concern that he was being spied upon by the less than honest folks who wanted Hillary to be potus. We see what happens in third world countries and this is a perfect example of corruption at the highest levels by the dem's and the MSM. Anyhow the truth is being exposed and we can only hope that justice will prevail and give by to the nation the rule of law and equal law for everyone. There has been a double standard of justice since the Clinton's were in the white house.

I headed out on my bike a little before 8 and met up with three other pickle ball players at the Rec on the outside court for two hours of continuous play in the hot muggy morning. I sweated off a couple pounds during the play and then pedaled home to mow both front and back yards before calling it a morning and basically the day. It's just too hot to do much outside after lunch. I continued watching the series on Hunting Hitler which documents that he did escape Germany and lived in South America until his death and was attempting the building of a Fourth Reich to bomb America with an atomic bomb after destroying the Panama Canal. The Germans had lots of patriots on this continent and were well received as long as dictators prevailed in the various countries giving them protection. This investigative series is mind opening and well documented.

Well we are starting on eating light with salmon, cauliflower and asparagus for supper which we must do upon arriving at the cabin next week. Today, Sunday we will have the family over for our last get together for awhile with both Amy and Bobby and their kiddos minus Annsley and Gabe. We will grill marinated chicken breasts and a flank steak for fajitas. I have so many garden bell peppers as well as jalapenos to add to the plate. We are looking forward to one last supper before heading to the mountains next week, LATER

Saturday Morning May 23rd

Well we are back in Seminole after two busy days in Brandon with Bobby and family as we helped with caring with the "boys". My oh my how that are growing and maturing. They are truly a blessing and will bring much joy to our family. It's a job just keeping up with their scheduled feeding times as we are now trying to keep them feeding and napping as close together as possible. They are sleeping good at nights so Bobby and Katie can rest which helps since both are still working mostly from home. Bobby still does some road trips and will next month do a couple nights away as he travel throughout the nation with his job.

We has such a fun time with Annsley and Gabe as they were there during our stay until after 3 when their mom picked them up. We taught them domino's and Annsley won every game we played and Gabe loved the game as well. We played in the pool with them and the boys and they are very affectionate with them as well. Gabe is a real lover of the boys and is looking forward to being a big brother and teaching them about baseball. Annsley is a big help as well as she helps entertain them at times.

Bobby made a delicious Vietnamese pork burger which awakened your taste buds for our supper and soon after we headed out for Seminole. We are now feeding the boys fruit mixed with oatmeal and now rice cereal in the bottles of formula a couple times a day. They are growing and Huck is only about an inch or less than Ryder in length. He is still a couple pounds lighter but he is showing lots of fat and muscle now in his arms and legs where before he looked emaciated. He will soon catch Ryder. He seems to be the most active of the two where Ryder seems to be stronger in his stance. Huck loves to dance like his grand dad and move around like a jumping bean and smiles constantly. Both boys are such different personalities but at the same time very similar in their ability to follow with their eyes and study what ever your doing or showing them. They are getting so strong and Huck held out his arms for you to pick him up and Ryder held his bottle with both hands today for the first time. Such little things like that are so endearing.

I had them in the outside swing for a spell but the heat and humidity are pressing. They did nap several times throughout the day and now we are trying to get them close to 4 hours in between feeding. Their reflux is so much better with very little or none at times and they love being fed with a spoon. They wake up with smiles and cooing which is so beautiful. They do have many bowel movements which is great for their digestive system but tough on us changers. Huck hates to sit in his movement where Ryder doesn't seem to mine as much. Well that was about it for the past couple of days. We have one more week there(two days) before we leave. These boys melt our hearts and we will surely miss them, LATER

This bridge in Sparta is where we put the kayak's in for a drift down the river during the summer. It is up at least 20-30 ft in height from all the rain

Friday Morning May 22nd

Well Thursday was a busy fun day as we headed to Brandon to help with the care of our Triplett twins;Ryder and Huckston plus we got to spend the day with Annsley and Gabe. It was a busy day that found us changing diapers, feeding the boys some fruit with oatmeal and playing with them. We had them in the pool and in the basket swing and they love both as well as a long walk through the neighborhood after supper.

We taught Annsley and Gabe "chicken foot dominos" and they love it and Annsley won both games against Nancy and I and then against everyone but Katie. All seem well with them as they are very loving and attentive to the boys as well. Bobby made great a lunch and supper. We have one more overnight stay with them before we head to the cabin. The boys are so cute and wake up with smiles. I'll cut this short as they are now awake and wanting their morning bottles. With of them it takes two people to get them going. They went down around 10:30 last evening and are now up just before 7:30, LATER

Thursday Morning May 21st

Well we are 10 days out from leaving and with so much to do but we will travel to Brandon this AM for the next two days to assist with the care of Ryder and Huck while Bobby and Katie work. It's a night of mostly no sleep as its an unfamiliar bed but good eatin' as chef Bobby prepares two dinners for us each evening. We are going to miss watching the maturing of these two boys as well as the diaper changing, bottle as well as spoon feedings and the smiles and cooing sounds. These boys are growing and will soon be crawling and then walking, oh well.

Well it was another hot and humid day here in central Florida. I'm so looking forward to the change that comes with the mountains. We are barely above sea level here and will go to over 3000 ft living the next 5 months or so. I started the day on Wednesday much the usual although I'm starting to awaken earlier each day. It's a little after 5'ish instead of just before 6, oh well. I get this way every year as we draw closer to leaving. My mind works constantly throughout the night of what must be done before leaving and what I must do to get the cabin, gardens and yards in shape, but I love it.

I headed out around 7:15 for the Rec. on my bike to play at least 2 plus hours outside on the pickle ball court. I'm sure cleaning out the pores as I sweat so much during this period. We had good play and two players who quit because of this fear of the virus are now back with us as well and the play was great. I was whupped by the time I got back to the house around 10. Nancy was off for another doctor's appointment so I piddled around in the yards and gardens. I did spend some time after lunch on the History Channel's show Hunting Hitler while she was gone. It's a very intriguing investigation and one that shows Hitler did escape to Argentina.

Well we cleaned up the smashed taters and gravy along with a frozen chicken pot pie for our supper and I must say it was delicious to say the least. I piddled around outside after the cleanup, hand watering the gardens and yards until we could take a bike ride through the hood so Nancy could get some exercise. She of course was on the phone with friends and family until we took off on a good 30 minute power bike ride through the 'hood. We came back and I cut lettuce and cleaned it for the salad bowl. The heat is really taking its toll on the garden but the tomato's are finally showing some colors. The seedlings are growing and should be large enough to take with me when leave in 10 days. Its looking like the corrupt Obama administration is being exposed as well as his minions in the FBI and NSA. Such vile folks who undermined this duly elected potus Trump and destroyed the lives of so many as well as attempting a coup. I hope all of them go to prison at least and a few are hung, LATER

Wednesday Morning may 20th

Well we are now 11 days and counting until we leave for the cabin. Its really starting to heat up here with high humidity so I'm ready for some cool morning and dry days. Tuesday was a big day for our beautiful and sweet daughter Amy as she celebrated 37 years of life She is a great mother and is a tireless house keeper as well as a teachers aid at her children's Christian school. We could not have asked for any better daughter or any change in her demeanor or attitude. We celebrated her day with a family supper and family games afterwards.

I started the day with a before 6 roll out to my usual routines that start with the cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and then did some quiet time with my Creator and Lord in thanksgiving and lifting several up by name to Him for comfort and healing if it be His will. I've heard nothing either way as to these folks conditions but so far nothing dreadful. All have some major health and age issues. I got ready around 7:15 and headed out on my bike to the Rec. where 4 of us played outside pickle ball until nearly 9:30 before calling it a day. I left soaked through and through with sweat as it was that humid. The play was decent and all of us hope to get back into playing daily or at least 3-4 days a week for me as I skip Thur. and Fri. as we are in Brandon. We are hoping to get back more players who have stayed away due to their concern for this virus.

I piddled around in the garden hand watering the new seedlings which are showing good colors. I'll dig these up and wrap in wet newspaper and take to the summer garden. I also noticed the tommy toe tomato's are ripening that I grew from the compost pile and transplanted them. I worked on Nancy's bike as the rear wheel hub needed tightening which turned out to be a 2 person job and Tyler helped me ft the gear changer after supper. I spent the better part of the afternoon watching the History Channel's Hunting Hitler and what a great investigative job these folks did in determining he did not commit suicide but escaped to Argentina along with many of his inner circle and that he was attempting to regain power and make a nuclear weapon.

Nancy had two whole baking chickens in the oven and then smashed taters with delicious chicken gravy, asparagus and carrots from the garden. She also made a chocolate cake with white icing which kept me awake most all night. I just can not handle caffeine and this cake had a whole cup of coffee in the batter, oh well. I should have known better than to eat cake at 7'ish in the evening. We played a game of spoons which was fun for the kiddos and then a game of Sequence which the girls beat us  boys handily. They all left about 9'ish and then it was shower time and some Fox Cable News, LATER

Tuesday Morning May 19th

Well today is my only daughter's birthday and it was also my aunt who took me in as a small lad and raised me as her own son. It is and was quite a blessing for me to bring Amy back to Virginia to visit her every year and celebrate their special day together; its much like Sam and Nancy share the same birthday as well.

Monday was a busy day that started with rain clouds in the area but I did head out on my bike to the outside pickle ball court for maybe an hour of play after my esaly morning routines. We had a large group for the first day back to the Rec. but after several games the storm clouds rolled in and washed everything out. We will try again today at 7:30 and hopefully everyday or at least 3 days in a row until I leave the week after next. I managed to get home just as the rain started in a heavy down pour. We really needed the rain and it did stay cloudy for most of the day with an occasional shower.

Nancy was off for some shopping once again so I filled up a bucket with floor cleaner and gave the vinyl plank flooring a good scrubbing after all of the foot traffic and kids eating and spilling throughout the day and evening on Sunday. This floor is easy to maintain and I only have to wet clean every couple of weeks as vacuuming usually keeps it clean. That chore kept me busy for an hour or so until lunch time.

The rain and clouds kept the direct sunlight reduced and the breeze made it quite comfortable for an evening bike ride after supper. We cleaned up the corn on the cob and heated up some left over pulled pork from yesterdays big family dinner. We are doing it again today(Tue) as we celebrate Amy'd big day with a roast chicken, smashed taters and gravy with cooked carrots from the garden and asparagus. Nancy made a chocolate cake with white icing which in my opinion is the most taste full of all the cakes for her birthday. We will also have ice cream to accompany it as well. I don't think Bobby and family are coming so it will just be the Ross's and us. I won't know how to act after the big dinner on Sunday with 10 adults and 11 kiddos. Wow what a houseful to break the quarantine which in my opinion was a farce created by the dem's to destroy our booming economy. Oh well.

I watched a little more of the History Channel's series on Hunting Hitler and its a fantastic investigative series. There is eye witnesses who are still alive who puts Hitler in South America after he was supposedly dead by suicide in his bunker and this team of investigators are proving how he managed to get out of Berlin as the Russians were taking the city and who bungles the recovery of a body that was burned beyond recognition that was supposedly Hitlers.

Well our nation is on the road to recovering with phases being ushered in that allowed some relaxing of the social restraints. This pandemic is a man made fear and panic effort by the MSM, China and the dem's to make this potus look bad in hopes it will help the dems regain power in the gov't, but I do not think most Americans will fall for their hoax's and vile attempts to excoriate this non politician who is our potus. We can only hope with the assistance of patriotic Americans and the grace of GOD's they will not succeed, LATER

Monday Morning May 18th

Well Sunday was a day of worship, food and family as we met with 5 other couples of our church at one house to eat and worship via the on line service and then we had the boys with us for the next 3 hours while Bobby and the rest of the family were at the beach with Amy's family. The boys did great we fed them and they napped and then everyone came back around 2'ish and we waited for Amy's family to arrive then the Everett Family arrived around 5'ish and the Arriane's family came around 7'ish and stayed until 10'ish. So we had a house full of family.

I had put on 20+ pounds of pork butts on the smoker around 7'ish in the morning and it smoked for nearly 10 hours. These butts were huge and made for some awesome pulled pork and I harvested the last of the beets and with some carrots they made a nice roast dish along with corn on the cob, salad, tater tots and homemade sourdough bread. The food was plentiful and we sent several bags of leftovers with all went they left. It was a full day and I was whupped went I finally hit the showers past by bedtime, LATER

Sunday Morning may 17th

Well two weeks from this day we should be on the road towards the cabin. Its been a long haul not seeing our unique mountain place that we so love and love to share with so many throughout the summer. The leaves are out and the grass is green from what I've seen from pictures our friends share with us from the area. The days are warming up but there is still a crispness in the night air; quite the opposite of what we are now facing here in hot central Florida.

Saturday was a busy day as it started out much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble, then spent some quiet time with my Creator in thanksgiving and intercessory prayers for many by name. All seem as well as can be expected at this point in time. I ate light for breakfast as I've put back on a couple pounds. I'm trying to maintain 185 and thus far I've done so within a pound or two but I can tell when I carb up which we do when in Brandon. I took off on an early morning power bike ride which is probably 4-5 miles in length or just about 30 minutes or so. It felt good after not riding the past couple days. We did another ride together later in the evening around 8 which now seems to be the best time to ride as the heat is reduced and it becomes quite pleasant to be outside in the evening.

Nancy was busy in the kitchen most all morning and part of the evening as she makes dishes to go with the family dinner later today(SUN) when we have a full family house plus another 4 cousins. I did finally find a couple pork butts which were very expensive to say the least at Winn Dixie. They were nearly 25 bucks each but we will have enough to feed 8 adults and 7 kiddos. We are having fresh corn on the cob and cold slaw as well as fresh baked bread which Megan bakes from scratch. Actually we could all make a meal on it as its just delicious. Nancy also made a 7 UP pound cake which is very tasty as well. There goes my spare tire but at least the Rec has now opened with limited usage. Hopefully we pickle ball players will be able to use the outside courts daily until its time for us to head out.

Well that was about it for the day. I did do some more garden work clearing out and turning over some areas with a shovel. The biggest problem with it is the weeds and grasses that grow over the summer. Hopefully Tyler will keep it weed whacked down while we are gone. I did noticed that some of the seeds I sowed a couple days ago are up and they should be big enough to take with me to the summer garden in the mountains. I'm looking forward to a garden there as the huge trees which keep the patches shaded are now out in the open with plenty of sunshine. I'll purchase some tomato and pepper plants when I get there as well as some onion sets. I have beets, Swiss chard and kale up thus far and some dill seedlings. I'll take a rosemary plant I started from a cutting as well.

The tomato plants here are loaded but show no sign of ripening as the collards and kale are still looking good as well but the garden season is about over for me as I did harvest the last of the one type of lettuce yesterday which surprised me with its growth. I still have a few Bibb lettuces that are still maturing. Well that was about it for the day. We could use some rain as I set the sprinkler on the front yards last evening, LATER

Saturday Morning May 16th

Well Thursday and Friday were busy days as we took over the care of the boys during the day and what a relief to be back in our own bed last night. We had a fun day despite all the diapers changes, feedings that now have us using a spoon to poke in the mouths of the boys with oatmeal mixed with banana which they open widely for and of course bottles and then the burping process. Their reflux seems to be improving but occasionally either of us will get a wet burp with a mess down the side of your shirt. The boys are smiling, trying to talk and very attentive to anyone or anything that comes into their view. Their personalities are developing and each have their own little smiles which are very endearing as well as an occasional low lip protruding.

I did a swing fest after lunch for nearly two hours as I had them laid out on a thick blanket under the back yard tree and they napped or a good two hours despite some of the noise from the road traffic which is just beyond the back yard fence. They got a little sun tan as well despite being under the shade tree. Bobby and I took them in the jacuzzi for awhile and Huck never stopped kicking the whole time. He is very active and is a total wiggle worm even when trying to feed him. Ryder is more laid back and of course the larger of the two but he is so sweet and coo's with tons of smiles as well. They both seem to be over any of their infections from a month or so ago.

Bobby prepared a delicious supper of chicken on the grill, zucchini slices and brown rice and Annsley and Gabe ate with us. They came around 3 for the weekend and will come over on Sunday afternoon to spend the day with the Ross Kiddos at the beach and then all will have supper at our house along with a cousin and their two boys. It should be a rowdy good food fest with family. That will probably be our last family supper before we go except for celebrating Amy's birthday with just us on the 19th.

We made a stop at Sam's on the way home and they have very little meat and no pork butts. We also checked Wind Dixie and they too were short on meat and no butts. I'll check Publix today for butts and if none will do beer can chicken, LATER

Friday Morning May 15th

Well here it is with just 16 days to go until we head out for the mountains. We awakened here in Brandon at son Bobby and Katie place as we help with the care of Ryder and Huck. They are sleeping through the night until nearly 8 in the morning which is finally giving Bobby and Katie some much needed rest as they are maturing into smiling active boys. They love their spoon foods especially when the oatmeal is mixed with banana. They are still eating around every 3 hours or so and Huck is finally catching up to Ryder. We are finally seeing some rolls around his thighs and tummy and while Ryder is a couples inches longer I believe Huck is the more active of the two as he is a wiggle worm and loves to stand up and dance. Ryder too loves standing and his legs are so strong. Both just melt your heart with their smiles and endearing sounds.

It was an uneventful day as it was basically changing diapers bottle and spoon feeding but we did take them out after lunch to the back yard basket swing and they enjoyed that for over an hour in the shade with a nice comforting breeze until the yard folks came then we headed inside. Bobby and Katie managed to tear Gabe's room apart as they are getting them new furniture for their birthdays. I helped while the boys slept their afternoon naps. We took off on a good hike through the hood with the boys while Katie went with her sister to visit their grandfather via a phone through a large glass window. The pavillion where he lives is still under quarantine from outsiders as a precaution against the virus among the elderly.

Bobby prepared a delicious stuffed peppers with bowtie pastas for our supper. He knows how to mix his herbs and spices for wonderful tasting meals which border on the exotic in flavor. It wasn't long until I hit the shower around 10'ish which is my now normal bedtime. They were giving the boys their final feeding and baths as I headed in for the spare bedroom/office off the garage for a decent nights sleep. W
e head back to Seminole later this evening after supper. Annsley and Gabe come this afternoon so we will visit with them and play games, LATER

Thursday morning May14th

Well Wednesday was another good morning for pickle ball, as I along with 5 others managed to get in 2 1/2 hours of play in the hot sunshine until close to 10. We started at 7;30 and the play was continuous throughout the morning. I sure miss the every day play and how it kept me in good shape but will settle for at least twice a week plus a daily bike ride or two.

We are getting antsy and excited about the move to the cabin for the next 5 months. I'm looking forward to a couple trips to northern Virginia to see family and friends as well. We of course will have some new friends from Florida visiting later in September for the first time and we are excited about having them and then of course we will have our son, Bobby and all of his kiddos in July and then hopefully Amy and family for Thanksgiving this year for the first time and if plans stay grounded we will also do Christmas here with Bobby and all of his kiddos once again. I'm sure we will have others throughout the summer who come every year.

After pickle ball Nancy wanted to dye her grey hair so I helped with that and it did do some good but not nearly what she is accustom to so she will have her hair lady do the real deal when we get to the mountains in June sometime. There wasn't much going on except we did a zoom which is like skyping with our campus pastor and a couple on the load in team just to keep up to date. The campus we help with at Bridgepoint will not open before we leave so we will continue on line for now and then again when we get to the cabin. I piddled around and then watched more of the videos on the History Channel on Hunting Hitler. What a great investigative series and its for real; he did escape to Argentina and lived there for some time as there were many eye witnesses plus the team found out and explained how he was able to escape Berlin.

There was a huge German population in South America and he had many contacts as well as sympathizers to the Third Reich living there and many of them still live there today. What was most interesting was how Spain who was neutral during the war was a big supporter of Hitler, giving him refuge before he was shipped off in a submarine or U-boat as it was known by then.

Well we had fried flounder, yellow rice and broccoli for our supper and then after the cleanup I headed out to hand water the gardens and then the front yard. It was too breezy for Nancy to ride but I took our normal route on the bike for a good workout and then came back and watched the FOX Cable news with Tucker, Sean and Laura. The proof is in the documents and there was criminal activity among the top folks in the Obama administration. I just hope some of them go to jail and give back to US(A) a sense of the one standard of justice for all which typically the dems to not honor or are ever held accountable. We are now seeing the corruption Obama brought to the for front with using the various departments and bureaus within the gov't to carry out his political plans on his opponents and this Potus Trump. He was setting himself up to be a dictator if Hillary won the election but all of that was spoiled when America spoiled his plans by voting Trump into office. They now are having to support the crook Biden who I think may be indicted for his unmasking of Flynn which is a federal crime and we all know he got pay for play throughout his many years in the gov't.

We head to Brandon this morning for two full days of caring for our twin grandsons Ryder and Huck and then spend the night before coming back home late Friday evening. We so enjoy caring for them but I must say its a good thing we had kids early because at our ages its a full time stressful job, oh well. Its worth it and we just love seeing how they mature weekly plus our down time with the family. We will get to see Annsley and Gabe weekly as well, LATER

Wednesday Morning May 13th

Well Tuesday was a stay at home day that found me working outside until after lunch when the heat and humidity took over. It was a blue sky, bright sunshine kind of day. Not a whole lot to write about except I'm getting antsy about getting to the cabin after nearly 7 months being away.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and then spent some quiet time with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting up several. My class of 1964 lost a couple more classmates this week and while I checked the obituary it remarked they died from this virus which was false. They may have acquired the virus while in the hospital but both entered with life threatening illness and succumbed to that, not the virus. It's amazing how this virus is being politicized to garner extra funds, oh well.

I took out my bean vines and egg plants which both had nematode damage and harvested a gallon or so of carrots. I also sowed some leafy green veggie seeds in hopes they will sprout and be large enough to take to the cabin. The dill seeds I sowed last week are up and showing some colors. The volunteer tomato plants are loaded with small fruit and they should give Amy and family some tomato's after we are gone. The collards are still producing as it the Bell peppers and jalapeno's. The garlic plants haven't changed much in the last couple of months so I'm out on growing them here in Florida and will stick to their production in the mountains.

I've been watching another History Channel series on Hitler's Escape during WWII to Argentina and this video reports the evidence that someone of his stature did make it there after he was supposedly found dead in a bunker. This is very interesting and the investigation is very precise that leaves no doubt he escaped and lived under a different alias until his death, which was manufactured to look like suicide as the Russians entered the city. No one saw him commit suicide and the bodies were wrapped in a carpet and set on fire by the Russians when they found the bunker, but Hitler was smuggled out on a sub and then later lived in a well furnished hacienda in Argentina.

The FBI had hundreds of documents listing the sighting of him after his escape but was not made public until 2014 when the papers were declassified and now and exhaustive investigation is proving true that he and possibly Eva escaped. No one is for sure about her but they are definitely positive he did. Oh well so interesting and well documented.

We took a bike ride after a supper of grilled chicken fajitas and the temps were much warmer than the evening before. I came back and hand watered until 8'ish then we settled into the Fox Cable Shows until shower time. It's looking more and more like I was correct the Obama administration was the deep staters to take down and out the duly elected Potus Trump and now he and his sycophants are on the hot seat and being exposed for their criminality. Not only is and was Obama corrupt but the whole democrat party is once again proposing another bill to destroy capitalism and enter in socialist programs to destroy the nation, unbelievable these are Americans. We must vote red in November, LATER

Tuesday Morning May 12th

Well time is just moving right along at a pace I'm hoping to keep up with. Here it is almost the middle of May and just 19 days until we head out for the mountain cabin. Monday was a rather boring day except for the couple hours in the early morning on the pickle ball court with three players. The four us left around 10:30 after playing at least two sets each with regular scoring which makes for much longer games; however with heat and humidity we all were soaked and worn out and could have used a couple of the no show players to give us a break in between sets, oh well. We will do it again on Wednesday morning starting at 7:30 if the weather holds.

I had started the day with a well before 6 rollout to my routines; a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric, my quiet times lifting up several by name after giving thanks for my blessings and the briefly checking the news before driving over to a local church for pickle ball. I got word two more class mates passed away over the weekend, one whom I knew quite well. After getting back home I decided since there was such a nice breeze that I would wash/wax the truck and give it a good cleaning inside and out. We park under Bobby's big oaks at his house and when it rain the leaves and junk from them just make my white truck look awful; even when it doesn't rain the stuff falls on the truck and leaves a mess, oh well. That chore kept me busy until lunch time when we had a leftover burger from yesterday get together with family. We also cleaned up some leftover salad as well. I piddled around in the gardens after lunch hand watering what is left of the gardens.

It started to get rather hot out so I settled into the internet watching more videos on the History Channel on the final episodes of the American Farmer. It was very informing and you got to know the families of these farmers and what they face on a daily basis and how much they depend on a successful harvest each year to continue what they do best. It was heart warming to see the efforts and hard work that is the backbone of our nation and really of the world as we feed so many people around it.

On a more somber note its starting to look as if those who attempted a coup of the duly elected potus Trump is being found out and exposed. We who love this nation and try to live within the laws and norms that have been set forth in the constitution that guarantee equal justice for all legal citizens which has made this nation's gov't the model for the rest of world. Well its seems those who tried to change that with their double standards of justice and inequality are final being called out for their duplicity in their attempt to destroy our duly elected Trump. We can Thank GOD for his intervention and help in that election because it the other criminal candidates became leaders we would never have known of their deception and deceit.

We still have a long way to go to preserve our heritage because the corrupt complacent MSM is in bed with these criminals who attempted this coup to destroy our culture, our justice system and constitution. We must ALL see the evidence of the failed leadership of the last potus Obama who caused so much division and sold the nation out to those who want to destroy our way of living. His whole party is corrupt and America must wake up in November if we still will have a valid election by the citizens. His party is trying to steal that election with ballot harvesting and with mail in votes. We must be firm America and vote out the democrat party candidates and vote in term limits and those republicans who stand with this potus Trump to Keep America safe and American Great again, LATER

Monday Morning ..May 11th

Well Sunday was a great day of fellowship first with our dear BridgePoint couple along with neighbors, the Botbyl's at the Nymark's beautiful home. They always have a delicious spread laid out  with fresh fruits, egg and a French toast casserole with all kinds muffins and juices. I tried both casseroles as we were having the family over for a late lunch around 1'ish and I didn't want to over eat. We had our worship service via on line outside on their patio and left around 11'ish for the house. The Botbyl's rode with us as usual.

Amy and family came around 12'ish and Bobby and family closer to 1 as the boys had to be awakened for the trip over after eating. They of course were the center of attention for the Ross family. Eliza and Sam helped a lot with entertaining them, reading books and playing on the floor while a few of us ate. I grilled burgers and brats and we had corn on the cob, tater tots, a couple different salads as well as ice cream pie for dessert. Nancy and I passed on the dessert until later in the evening which was our supper. Everyone left around 3'ish as Bobby and Katie had to make two more appearances with Katie's side of the family. Amy and her family just wanted to rest since she now works everyday.

We chilled the rest of the day and I finished up the season on ALONE on the history channel and found another series titled the America Farmer. It turned out to be very interesting with 5 different farmers and their families throughout the country and what they face on a daily basis. Very entertaining and informative as well. We started a bike ride around 7 ish but only made a couple streets when it began to sprinkle and then a few minutes later a down pour with winds and thunder. We needed the rain.

I mentioned that 3 weeks from this day we would be on our way to the cabin so everyone wanted another family dinner next Sunday along with a cousin family. I'll smoke a couple pork butts as Bobby will have Annsley and Gabe and the cousins can play together, LATER

Just a few Mothers Day pics of the Triplett and Ross Families

Sunday Morning May 10th

Well Saturday was another bright sunshine blue sky day with high heat and humidity and by the afternoon you had to be inside the a/c. I spent the morning outside working in the gardens and yards; mowing , pulling weeds, clipping shrubs and doing away with old cucumber vines and huge egg plant stalks. The garden is just about gone except for some volunteer tomato plants which are head high and loaded with small green 'maters. The kale and collards are still making leaves and the lettuces I sowed from seeds are going to produce some edible leaves despite all of the heat. The grass is growing several inches each week and looking green with those couple rain days last week.

I started the day much the usual with 6 'sh roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting up several by name. All seem as well as can be expected. Ava Mae made some cinnamon buns from scratch and we each had one and shared a second. They were the tastiest buns ever and she did all of the mixing and baking on her own. I headed out shortly after breakfast to work outside until lunchtime.

We cleaned house as we are expecting both Amy and Bobby and kiddos for a mothers day supper. We are keeping it simple with burgers and brats, corn on the cob and salad and Nancy made two ice cream pies the old fashion way with crushed oreo cookies for the base or crust. She use to make those at church years ago when she prepared the fellowship meal on Wednesday evenings and they were always a hit.

We got invited up to the Botbyl's along with the Tracy's for an evening supper and then the best of 7 games in Sequence. Well for once the guys prevailed in a 4-1 slaughter and its been many a moon since we've even played the game let alone win. We headed home around 8 and then settled in until shower time. It was a busy fun day once again with some fine eatin' and company.

Three weeks from today(sun) we will be hopefully on the road for the cabin for at least until November. It will have been nearly 7 months since we were last there and I'm getting excited especially since Jake and Kaitlyn sawed down most of the large oaks surrounding the back woods yards. I'm anxious to get a garden in and to see how the grass does without all the shade from the big trees. I could never get a good stand of grass due to all the moss which thrived under the shade.

Well we will meet once again with another BridgePoint family along with the Botbyl's this morning for worship via on line. The Nymark's are awesome hosts and are very sweet folks whom we have got to know over this past year. They are the couple whom we are going to Alaska with next year since this summer's trip was cancelled due to the virus. We have such fun and great times of serving and worshiping together, LATER

Saturday Morning May 9th

Well Friday was a buy but fun filled day as we woke up in Brandon at Bobby and Katie home with the "boys" and Annsley and Gabe. Wow are we ever blessed to be able to spend some quality time with the grands. The boys are growing and it seems they eat about every 3 hours except now during the night when they are sleeping anywhere between 6 and 8 hours. It depends on which one awakens early but its usually Ryder; Huck slept almost 9 straight hours the first morning we were there.

We started the day with a 6 ish rollout and we did our abbreviated morning routines however we did get some down time while they napped and was able to check on and do our quiet times as well as catch up on some emails. All seem well with those we lift up daily to our Creator for healing. I did see where an old classmate and fellow football player I played with passed away in Winchester. He was a year older than me and had married one of my 1964 classmates. She passed a couple years back. He also was in law enforcement as well during his career.

We ate well at Bobby's as I fried up left over taters and eggs for breakfast, something we seldom do unless there is left over taters. Annsley I learned is an onion lover as me and so we added onions to our taters and then for supper Bobby made a seafood dish which was very tasty with shrimp, fish and mussels in a red sauce and a potato noodle. Wow was it ever delicious and I brought the leftovers home for lunch today(Sat). It was a basically; change diapers and bottle feed, plus some cereal a couple times a day by spoon for the boys. They are so funny as they attempt to swallow the mix. They do put it away but both have some reflux yet; not nearly as evident as once was but both occasionally will spit up.

Bobby and Katie both work from home now until he starts to fly around the country again. There were big furloughs and layoffs with his company but hopefully the economy will pick back up. Katie is in a new job with the same company and she is upstairs the biggest part of the day; but does come down for lunch and a quick visits from time to time. We took the boys outside in the early afternoon and laid them in the basket swing for nearly an hour where they napped. They really like being outside under the big shade trees and they are holding hands and touching one another.

We stopped by Amy's on the way home as Ava Mae made from scratch cinnamon buns and saved us 4 for our breakfast. They looked beautiful and she is becoming quite the cook and baker. We are planning on all of the family minus Anns and Gabe for Sunday afternoon Mothers Day get together  with a big meal. That was about it as we both were worn out with the stress of being the care takers during the day for these little fellers. They are such a joy with their smiles and alertness and can go from crying to smiles in an instant. They are both really good babies unless their diapers are soiled and or hungry, LATER

Ava Mae made these delicious cinnamon buns..Oh my were they tasty..and the pic with the sun setting is around 8'ish after we crossed the big bridge from Tampa.

Friday Morning May 8th

Well Thursday found us in Brandon all day and we are still here this morning as I make this post. We left after our morning routines that start with a before 6 rollout and then our quiet times before packing up for the two day event which keeps us busy with the boys. Annsley and Gabe were there also which made it even more of a blessing. They will leave this afternoon to go back to their moms place and then we will leave after supper and head back to Seminole.

We fed, changed diapers and had a grand time with the boys. We took them out after lunch to the big swing and they napped while we pushed them for about an hour. They love being outside and then again after supper we took them on a long hike through the neighborhood.. Bobby prepared a delicious supper of baked taters, salad and grilled chicken wings and Nancy had brought a huge container of my favorite oatmeal with raisin cookies.

Both Bobby and Katie worked from home except for some short forays throughout the day. Katie is mainly in the upstairs office on the computer or on conference calls. The boys are adding so much personality day by day as well as adding some weight. They are very attentive to you when your reading a book to them or playing with them on the floor. They are now getting some cereal a couple times a day. Well that was about it as I hear them in the nursery, LATER

Thursday Morning May 7th

Well Wednesday was another warm sunny day with a few clouds around which kept the temps in the upper 80's, yet the humidity is ever present. I left the house around 7:15 to play pickle ball with 5 others at a local church as we tried to beat the heat and the sunshine. It was a great 2 plus hours of non-stop play. We are hoping the Rec opens up soon so we can have more players on the court where the sunshine is off to the side instead of head on with this court at the church. It's blinding to say the least as the court lays east to west instead of north to south. I left with everything soaked and had to wring out my shirt when I got home from the sweat. I dropped a couple pounds despite drinking lots of fluids.

I started the day with a well before 6 rollout to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and now Nancy got some green tea extract from the health food store which I add as well. It's supposed to give me added energy, just what I need. Anyhow I did my quiet time lifting up several by name to my Creator for healing and comfort as well as giving thanks. I checked on the news of the day and the weather in the mountains and its perfect for this time of the year. I believe the real cold is gone for the year but there are some 30's in the forecast with some 70's from time to time. I'm getting excited about the move there the end of this month.

There wasn't much to write about for the rest of the day except some hand watering of the garden and yards. Nancy was off once again to the grocery and I did head out to gas up the truck as we head to Brandon this morning(thur.) for a couple of days. My white orchids are blooming and I found 8 more buds about to open that will give me around a dozen blooms on this one plant. I do absolutely nothing to these air plants except maybe hit them with the hose once in a blue moon. They are the easiest plants ever and I've had them for years. They were our "mountain moms" plants when she moved to N.C. and she gave them to me when she left for good. I need to separate this white orchid plant next year as its expanded out of the clay pot.

Well we cleaned up leftovers for lunch and supper and then took a bike ride for about 30-40 minutes. I was a bit tired after playing pickle ball but Nancy needed the exercise and I knew she needed me pushing her to ride. It was a beautiful evening with a gentle breeze. Thats one thing about the hot days here as the evenings turn beautiful and very comfortable to be outside. We watched some FOX Cable News and then I hit the shower about 9 and was soon watching the History Channel until 10'ish, LATER

Wednesday Morning May 6th

Well Tuesday was a work day outside in the yard and gardens. There isn't a whole lot of garden left but the weeds are still growing and I have this weed or grass that produces these seeds pods on top and they spread like wildfire through out the yards. So I take a shovel and loosen the soil then pull them out through the St Augustine grass which is a good ground cover but difficult to remove anything that grows within it. My fingers are sore this morning but I removed a couple 5 gallon buckets of this weed with its seed pods ready to drop into the grass.

I started the day with a well before 6 roll out to my usual morning routines; handful of vitamins and supplements, cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and then my quiet time giving thanks and lifting up several by name. All seem well as can be expected due to ages and prior health issues. Several areas of the sate are opening up slowly; the beaches here in Pinellas County are now open and Outback Restaurant opened as well in the Seminole Center. The nation needs to get back to work and bring this economy back so folks can get back to working. The market is back in the green and hopefully will regain the losses that will cement the election in November for our Potus Trump. We can only hope all of the injury the Dem's have done to the folks of this nation are exposed for all to see and how they have tried to destroy what GOD ordained in the last election when the Dem's were defeated.

Many of the less than honest governor's like N.Y. have lied and put their elderly at risk moving them into less than a healthy environment and many have died as a result and then fabricating the need of material when it was stockpiled to make this potus look bad. These Leftest will go to any means even causing the death of many to destroy this potus. We are now seeing just how bad the once honorable FBI was used to bring down this Potus as well by the deep stater's. It's almost unimaginable this could happen in America but when you have corrupt career politicians this happens and so many in the congress are in that category. We need term limits and we need them next election.

I got in two bike rides; one before breakfast alone and then again after supper with Nancy. It got rather hot after lunch so I settled in the internet watching several episodes of the series on the History Channel called "ALONE". It is a man vs nature show but at times its man in a battle with his self. I wish I could have been a participant in this, just to see how I would have handled their situations. I do believe I could have survived to the end; but its fun to do it vicariously from the secured setting of being home and well fed, oh well.

Today, Wednesday I have pickle ball again and then tomorrow we travel to Brandon to spend a couple days helping with the "boys". Since our Alaskan cruise was cancelled in September our friends who are going with us and she is a travel agent is making arrangements for next May's cruise to the same areas. We will leave out of Tampa and come back in time to pack up for the mountains in June. I can hardly wait, LATER

Tuesday Morning... May 5th

Well this month is moving right along at a fast clip as we will soon be packing for the mountains and hopefully stay through Thanksgiving this year as daughter Amy and family want to come to the cabin during that time and then we will come back up for Christmas with son Bobby and family as Amy's family head to Kansas. I'm excited about that prospect only a little nervous in case we get one of those snow winters when everything was snowed in for days and even weeks getting out of our private driveway which is a mile long, oh well such excitement to look forward too.

I started the day on Monday with my usual well before 6 roll out to my routines, quiet times and social media comments. During my quiet time spent with my Creator and Lord I lift up several by name for comfort and healing; most all are holding their own but a few are having some health issues due to old age. I got ready and headed out a little before 8 driving to a local church where a member had the basketball court painted for pickle ball. We had 5 players and the play lasted for 2 1/2 hours non -stop. My shirt was soaked when I left and headed home. It was a bright sunshine morning and the humidity was evident as I lost a couple pounds from sweating and the constant action.

I didn't do much the rest of the day except some hand watering and closet cleaning while getting rid of some things I've had stored away and actually forgotten about. I was on the phone with a anesthesiologist office about a 1800.00 bill for a routine colonoscopy Nancy had done in February. With our co pay it was over 2 thousand dollars just to put her under. They wouldn't budge at first nor would our health insurance BCBS. I wasn't pleased with the BCBS either as they just raised our rates once again yearly to over 700 a month for just Nancy. I thought what is insurance doing for me but I paid it despite my desire to cancel the coverage. Anyhow the anesthesiology office gave me 25 % discount if I paid it over the phone so I saved a couple hundred bucks but still that charge according to the doctors office was way out of line for a routine colonoscopy; yet we give free health care to illegals who break the law and come here for benefits and care at our expense.

The power brokers in the dem party are having a fit because people want to get back to work and get the economy going again. They are ruining the nation's GDP to destroy Trump and it just makes me livid with their duplicity, yet more and more of their corruption and criminal behavior is seeing the light of day with the Flynn saga. Obama was behind this FBI setup to take down Trump through Flynn whom they ruined and threatened his family with prison if he didn't admit to a lie without his knowing he was being set up. Despicable to say the least. The "deep state" is being exposed a little by little each day and we can only hope all of the truth, the deception and corruption by those involved will see the light of day.

We had leftovers for supper then took our usual 4-5 mile power ride through the 'hood so Nancy could get some exercise. It was a very pleasant evening with little or no humidity by dusk. A nice gentle breeze kept the skitters away as well, LATER

Monday Morning May 4th

Well Sunday was another beautiful day in May with the humidity at a distance, but lots of bright sunshine and temps in the low 80's. We once again worshipped on line this time with friends from our church on their beautiful patio. So there was lots of fresh air and no enclosure to help with the spreading of any germs, if we had some. According to the stats I'm the most at risk due to my age with these friends but I had no fear of that happening. The service was awesome and the morning menu was even better with lots of fresh fruit, pastries, egg and ham biscuits with tater cakes and coffee, tea and orange juice.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and then spent some quiet time with my Creator and Lord in thanksgiving and lifting up several by name for considerations. All seem as well as can be expected due to ages and health issues. I'm hoping these suppression of our civil liberties will be lifted today which was ingrained in the nation by the fear and panic of the msm to destroy this economy thus destroying our potus Trump who made America great again. The left will go to any end even if it means cutting off their nose to despite their faces because of their hatred for this man who has only been in office less than 4 years; whereas they have corrupt politicians who have bled the nation dry but still they honor them and now have one who is less than honest and competent for their choice as a candidate. It's the power breakers and one world order globalist who are behind this candidate.

We came back around noon and took it easy until 2ish when we walked up the street to meet with our long time friends and neighbors for a pizza/salad lunch and then we did a video of the the real Abby Johnson who was the planned parenthood director who jumped ship and became an advocate for the pro-life movement after seeing what happened to the unborn during an abortion. It was a question and answer session for an hour and half and she was quite candid as was the leader of 40 Days of Life movement who confronted her everyday outside the clinic. She had written a book about her experiences in this criminal enterprise which was backed by powerful people who now use the pro-choice as a political platform; but this movie UNPLANNED has taken the nation by storm and its being seen all around the world. I must say this is a well made movie about a diabolical act of killing the innocent and unborn while in the birth canal. They are sucked out in pieces to their death and thus leaving the women with scars and regrets for many, they will bear forever.

We got back to the house around 5 and chilled until 7'ish when we took a good 30 minute power ride on our bikes through the neighborhood. I hit the showers around 9 and once more tuned into the 4th season of ALONE on the History Channel until 10'ish, LATER