Well it was the coldest morning since last winter we have had here in central Florida except of course the cold mornings we experienced at the cabin before coming home in November. It hit close to the freezing mark, but I saw no evidence of any frost or any real damage to the garden. The tomato plants looked a little touched but only the most tender leaves and I think by tomorrow when the temps get back to the 70's they'll be fine.
I started the day with my usual before 6 roll out and to my routines that always have the cup of hot green tea with turmeric while spending some time with my Creator which was delightful on the cold morning. I checked the thermostat and it was 67 in the house so I turned the heat on for the first in over a year and it did come on occasionally during the day after getting the house warmed up to a mild 73. I headed out on my bike with an extra shirt and a ball cap but I must admit it was a cold ride against the wind until I got it behind me with my eyes watering from the chill.
I got in two solid hours of pickle ball with good players before heading out at 10. I had one of my players come by for a sack of leafy greens that included a couple lettuce heads, Swiss chard, kale and beet greens. He was thrilled and was amazed that I could grow such healthy looking vegetables in my back yard and grow so much as to give away almost daily to neighbors and friends. I must say its been a fantastic growing season thus far and I don't think this cold snap will effect anything except the cucumber plants which have already died from something, oh well.
We got ready and headed to the local post office for our passport appointment. We had all the necessary paperwork with us as well as my old official military passport which helped with my information. It was over a 300 hundred bucks visit for the two of us which included them taking photos on scene; anyhow we are all set with our cruise arrangements come next September to Alaska. We headed back home after a banking stop. The outside air was still in the upper 40's but plenty of sunshine. I headed out to hand water the gardening after a lunch of leftovers.
Well I read until it was time to leave for our local barbecue house where we met up with friends from Michigan who use to live across the street and whose folks were our dear friends before passing. I did try to watch the hearing in the senate but after about 30 minutes of the Schiff lies I tuned out and read the newest book by Stephen King titled THE INSTITUTE. Wow what a great read and besides some of his more "out there" stories that were about the occult and its players this is not so scary as of yet but I do see some vestiges of the "twilight zone". Anyhow it interesting thus far.
We met Toni and Mark at the Willy Jewels for their special which was fantastic; an appetizer, two platters of your choice and two banana puddings for 19.99. I brought half of my pulled pork home and the puddings for another day. The amount of food was filling and we waddled out of the place. We came back to hot drinks and games. Mark won both of the dice games and then we guys played against the gals in a game of spades to 1000. It was nip and tuck for the next couple hours but the guys prevailed at the end. It was after 9 when we finished and everyone was yawning. I blessed them with a huge bag of Swiss chard which is funny because Mark is a very picky eater as he doesn't eat leafy greens but does love Swiss chard sauteed. Toni loved the leafy greens that I gave her last week but still had plenty from the last batch. I'm slowly eating down and giving away the lettuces which are heading up. I'll take some to Bobby's on Saturday when we head over for a visit with them and the "boys" as they were released from the Nicu unit today(Wed.) around noon. Bobby was out of town on business but her sister and mom where there to support Katie and the boys for their first night at home, LATER
