Friday Morning March 31

 Well the Ides of March are just about gone for another year and the doldrums of summer are upon as we head into April. The heat wasn't as bad as the day before with temps 10 degrees cooler to start the day but the a/c hasn't stopped either. I started the day out much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my routines that always start with some quiet time time to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and lift several up for comfort and healing. I've added another gal to the list who works at the REC and who is under going chemo for breast cancer, the rest are holding as I post. 

I got in two solid hours of pickle ball play and then headed home to work in the yards and gardens. I mowed both yards and then hand watered everything once again harvesting lots of 'maters both small and large. The Sevin dust has helped with stopping most of the damage to the fruit from the flies but I still find an occasional one deep within the vines they has destroyed. I gave away another couple dozen last evening when we had some friends over for a delicious supper of flank steak, shrimp, asparagus and garden salad with ice cream pie for dessert.

I did watch the opening baseball game with the Rays defeating the tigers at the Trop 4-0 during the afternoon and then the Lightning were winning their game at home as well. After eating supper we played a round of 6 hand Euchre and the gals won for a change. We had the Tracy's and the Botbyl's for supper and games afterwards. They both have made plans to visit at the same time this October for a week at the cabin. We always enjoy the company with good eatin' and games during the evening, LATER

Thursday Morning March 30th

 Well Wednesday was another hot day with temps in the middle 80's by late afternoon with no rain in site except for some clouds that looked like rain in the early morning hours. I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my routines that start with some quiet time after posting this ramble to honor my LORD give thanks and lift several up by name for comfort and healing. All are holding as I make this post. I wasn't playing pickle ball until 11'ish so I piddle around on the internet and then headed out around 9 ish to work in the gardens and yards until it was time to head out to the REC with a stop at the library on the way.

I harvested more tomato's, lettuces, collards and kale and gave the GAB (aunt Betsy) huge bags of each as well as neighbor Bobby next door. Those volunteer cucumbers are blooming so it may look like we will get some fruit from them and so are the potato plants that came up volunteer. I have close to a dozen of them up and we should get some taters. The volunteer squash vines are huge in the side yard with several fruits and one looks like it will be ready to harvest in a few days. The volunteer tomato plant now has several small green tomato's as well and tons of blooms. So we should have plenty of fruit up until we leave for N.C.

The grass is finally covering the bare spots in the front yard and i'm finally getting rid of most of the weeds that came up. The back yard grass is doing quite well also. Not much to report except we took a Sam's Club trip for gas and food and gas has once again gone up from 2.99 to 3.15 whereas across the street it was 3.49, some savings. We loaded up once again with goodies and headed home with a stop at Aldi's on the way for some smaller items. I read the read of the day until supper time then headed out after the cleanup to hand water the gardens and yards once again, LATER

Wednesday Morning March 29th

 Well Tuesday was so foggy to start the day even the birds were grounded until about 10'ish when the fog lifted and the sunshine brought on the heat. I started the day much the usual with a before 6 rollout to my routines that start with some quiet time after posting this ramble to honor my LORD, give thanks and lift several up by name. All seem to be holding as of today and our cardio friends is doing better and was most appreciative of our supper we brought as well as the tomato's. Speaking of tomato's I harvested another dozen large ones and 30 or more small ones which aren't all that small but so delicious. I gave away to neighbors at least 50 or more including several large beautiful ones.Wow, when they come in they come in. I also gave away and harvested lettuces and tons of kale and the new 1/2 runner beans are blooming as well. I harvested a nice mess of collards and we had them for supper. They soon will stop with the heat but thus far they are still growing and about 2 feet high.

I headed out to the REC a little before 8 and played two solid hours of pickle ball and was whupped upon returning home to hand water and once more dust the tomato plants as the fog rinsed some of the dust away. Those pesky gnats and fruit flies destroyed a couple while I was playing pickle ball. I worked outside until lunch time then settled into reading until supper time. We had those delicious collards and some leftovers and after the clean up I headed outside to work in the front yard and to set the sprinkler on the grass. I'm finally seeing some good grass runners start to cover the bare spots. I put bricks along the front shrub beds which set off the new shrubs. I need to add more cloth in the beds as I noticed some grass sprigs starting to come through and then add more mulch to help deter the grass coming in the bed where I don't want it to grow, Oh Well.

I turned on the hockey game and the Lightning were beating the Hurricanes 4-0 so I watched ALONE which is a survivalist show. I would  have loved to do that for a 1/2 a million if you stayed out there alone for a couple months and live off the land, LATER

Tuesday Morning March 28th

Well Monday was another hot and humid day and the mountains are calling my name but we still have 7 weeks or so to go before we head out. Its really dry here with no measurable rain for weeks or maybe a month or so. I'm hand watering every day a couple times to what is left in the garden and its still producing thus far with all of sudden a ripening of tomato's. It sure takes awhile for them to show some colors but when they do its plentiful.

I started the day with my usual before 6 roll out to my routines that start with some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks and lift several up by name. Nancy cooked a pot roast with all the fixins for one who we had on our prayer list and we took it by her home yesterday. She is doing quite well since the heart attack but whats strange there was no blockage despite what the doctor told her before the catheterization. She is back home on meds. Everyone else to our knowledge is holding.

I didn't play until 11'ish pickle ball but the two hours I did play were great with only good players. I piddled around outside in gardens and yards until 10'ish then headed off to the library and the Rec until after 1'ish when I got back to the house. Nancy was off to the dentist a she was having some issues with a tooth but after spending 137 bucks she was told it was a gum issue. Thankfully the tooth already has had a root canal which would have been big bucks, oh well.

After we dropped off the meal at a friends house we headed on over to participate in the 10 Days of Prayer at S.R.B.C. and there were several by the time we left. We decided to go by Culver's as they had advertised Walleye pike but when we ordered they had just ran out until next year so we ordered the cod which is good but its not as good as the Walleye. We brought the dinners home and ate. I headed out to hand water until dark then settled in the ALONE series on the History channel until 10'ish after hitting the showers, LATER

Monday Morning March 27th

 Well Sunday was a great day of worship first here at home with Gary Hamrick at Cornerstone  Chapel in Leesburg, Va. and then again at our local S.R.B.C. We went back to church at 5 PM for a volunteer recognition pizza supper which was fun and we got to meet and greet several folks among what looked to be around 300 folks attending. We met up with a younger couple who we met during our first class and who we hadn't seen since the class. We learned they volunteer and attend the 9 AM service whereas we attend the 10:30 service.

We worked the front table greeting new attendees as well as holding open the large front doors before and after the service. We renewed some old friendships from a couple of our past churches we attended with lots of hugs, handshakes and smiles. We both love being out front greeting and did that in our last role with BridgePoint Church. 

We met up with Steve and Sheri at Millers Eatery for a delicious lunch and then headed home to watch some NCAA basketball but in the meantime Ava was driving her dad's truck and hit a curb busting the front tire so they called and I went to pick them up and take them home. Luckily it was only a tire that was damaged but even that is still expensive, oh well she is learning to drive and hopefully will be her only poor judgement while behind the wheel.

I watched a close game before we headed off to church at 5 and then the second half of another close game to close out the weekend of basketball. Florida has two schools in the final 4 for a change which is unheard of, LATER

Sunday Morning March 26th

 Well it was another hot day here in sunny Florida and in Brandon it was another 5 degrees hotter as we watched grandson Gabe play ball. It was 90 degrees when we left the ball park around 3:30 and headed back to cooler Pinellas County at 85. What a difference with a gentle breeze. By the way we won 17-12 as Gabe had a 3 run homer over the left field fence to start the run scoring. They also had a kid to hit a grand slam over the same fence on 3 ball 2 strike count with 2 outs. It was a fun game and I ran the scoreboard once again.

I started the day with a 6'ish roll out despite no pickle ball to my usual routines that start with some quiet time to honor my LORD and to give thanks for another day as well as lift several up by name. All are holding. I headed out to hand water the gardens and once more harvest tomato's, lettuces and kale. I must have picked 30 or more small tomato's and 5 or more large ones the fruit flies hadn't destroyed. They did get in and ruin 3 huge tomato's despite being dusted with Sevin dust, oh well.

We got to see the twins at the game and they now are becoming very independent as they play and interact with other kids and adults. They love to run the bases after the game despite it being very hot. The trip over and back was filled with so much traffic I wondered what and where were all these folks doing on the road and of course there is always a couple who drive recklessly with high speeds and weaving in an out of cars. I feel the urge to pull them over from back in the days when I did just that and chew them out while writing them a hand full of tickets. Its no wonder there are so many wrecks these days and lots of fatals. The roads are full but thats something you have to live with when so many move here permanently plus the seasonal ones, oh well.

We were having Steve and Sheri for supper and then cards afterwards. We so enjoy their company and truly they are the most fun to be around of all our friends. Steve is always happy and cheerful and ready to play, eat and even have a glass of wine as is Sheri. They now live just a couple of doors down from Amy and Tyler's. They finally have received the last of their furniture so I'm sure we will be eating there in the near future. We ate well and then played some hearts and I ran them twice winning the game big time and then again with the game Oh -ell by just a point. It was a fun night with delicious eatin' and great fellowship. After they left I checked on the Lightning score and they lost by a goal to the best hockey team this year in Boston. I didn't watch but a 2-1 loss is a good game.

Well today is corporate worship day at S.R.B.C. and then lunch out at Millers in Seminole Center with the Nymark's and then back to church around 5 PM for a volunteer banquet which we are a part of. We throughly enjoy our new church home and now we learned the Nymark's have also left BridgePoint as the church leadership there is stalled into doing nothing with the new building and nothing for teenagers, Oh well. They will return to their once church where Bobby and Amy attended school at I.R.B.C. We would love for them to attend church with us but their oldest grandson has been involved with the youth group for a months there and they want to go where he is enjoying church. They have great youth programs as do our church, LATER

Saturday morning March 25th

Well this is the last weekend in this month and did time ever just fly by as we get closer to heading north for the summer. The temps have been so very unusual this past week with cold mornings to start the week and then the 80's to end with some humidity coming back into the picture. I started the day with my usual 6'ish roll out to my routines that start with some quiet moments to honor my LORD, to give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name. All seem to be as well as can be expected. We have a new name to add to the list as a dear friend suffered a stress heart attack who also needs a hip replacement as she has been keeping and taking care of her cousin who has severe health issues. This constant care caused her to have the heart issues among many others as well but at least she survived. Nancy is taking a meal over next week as neighbors and friends will keep them in daily meals.

I headed out around 11'ish on my bike to the Rec for some two hours of pickle ball with a hand picked group of good players and got in a great workout. Since I didn't go early in the morning I piddled around outside in the gardens and yards hand watering as we need rain. The new shrubs and plants are blooming which is a good sign they have taken to our soil and the grasses in the bare spots are showing some color as well. Nancy's Bible study class was cancelled due to the leader being sick with a cold as she could hardly speak on the phone.

We took off a little before 5 for the 10 days of Prayer being offered at S.R.B.C. of which we've participated 3 days this past week praying for our many folks and many needs as well as confessing our iniquities and sins and just spending some quality time in a sacred setting praising GOD as we lead up to Easter and the risen son of man which gives us all a life after death. It's been a good experience despite our daily quiet times here at home to honor our LORD.

Well after supper I tuned into the March Madness basketball and actually watched a couple game where both number one seeds were beaten which is very unusual. Today Saturday we head over to Brandon to watch grandson Gabe play and son Bobby who coach's the baseball team. We then entertain our dear friends Steve and Sheri Nymark later in the evening for supper, LATER

Friday Morning March 24th

Well Thursday was another very nice day to start but the temp's inched higher until it was a/c time once again towards the middle of the day. I started the day with my usual 6'ish roll out to my routines that start with some quiet moments to honor my LORD, to give thanks for another day and to lift up several for comfort and healing. All are holding as I make this post. I finished up my talk on the bike ride to the Rec for two hours of pickle ball. We had all really good players for the day and it was great play with some very long rallies and I left whupped. I did make a stop at the library on the way home.

Nancy was at one of her Bible study classes so I had the rest of the morning to myself so it was work in the gardens where I first harvested the dried up 1/2 runner bean pods as well as the dried up sugar pea pods which I will use for next years planting. I then hand watered the gardens after harvesting several turning tomato's. I only found one tomato the fruit flies had ruined but harvested a couple handfuls of the small tomato's and 4 or so large ones. I'm now eating a tomato with both lunch and supper either sliced or on a salad plus giving away several to family and friends.

I worked out in the front yards pulling some weeds and hand watering the new shrubs and plants as well as the grasses which are now starting to cover those bare spots. It's looking like we will have grass covering the yards by the time we will leave the end of May which will give Ava and Sam something to mow weekly once we are gone.

I sat and read under the oak tree in the back yard with the nice breeze keeping it comfortable for a couple hours and then settled into some briefing and congressional investigations on the internet. The government  lead by this corrupt potus is being exposed little by little and the radicals in all sectors are being exposed as well. I do not know how these less than America first people became so influential and had so much say in our daily lives. I know lots of folks hate Trump but we are now seeing the corruption in gov't that he exposed and how they are and have used the DOJ to go after folks who love America and our way of life. The globalist are in every aspect of the nation and are doing their best to destroy US(A) from within. I think Trump is the only man to stand up and tell the truth about these corrupt politicians and to save America. I love DeSantis but we need him here in Florida while Trump has been investigated and needlessly excoriated since he notified his bid for the presidency. I'll never cast the first stone against him.

After a supper of grilled pork chops, salad and peas watched some March Madness and the Kansas vs Michigan game was a great game. I checked on the Lightning game and they were losing once again. I don't think they will be a contender this year for the cup, LATER

Thursday Morning March 23rd

 Well Wednesday was another fine day since the cold left and its just beautiful temps that moved in after a some what chilly start with temps 10 or more degrees warmer than the past couple of mornings. It did reach the upper 70's by late afternoon before the breeze began to cool it down before sunset. I sat outside under the now leafed out oak tree for a couple hours reading the afternoon away. I may have cat napped from time to time as well after a busy morning.

I started the day with my 6'ish rollout to my routines that start with some quiet time after posting this ramble to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name. All seem to be holding as I make this post and I finished up my talk on my bike ride to the REC for two hours of pickle ball. We did go back to S.R.B.C. a little after 5 in the evening to once again participate in the 10 Days of Prayer before Easter. We prayed the A.C.T.S. stages for about 30 minutes or so before heading home for some supper.

Nancy had a salmon filet she broiled along with a fresh garden salad with our home grown tomato's for our supper, Yeow was that ever delicious. The Sevin dust has helped in saving the tomato's enough so I'm giving them away daily to our neighbors plus eating a couple a day. I still have tons on the vine and a new volunteer plant with blooms. Not sure what it is but it should keep us in fruit until we leave the end of May.

After getting back from the two hours of pickle ball I hand watered the gardens and yards and ate the last leftover burger with a ripe tomato then I headed in to change out the old bedroom fan which Nancy wanted changed. That kept me busy for an hour or so and until she got home. She has been on me to change out this fam which still worked on the low speed only, for months(years) but I saw no need since we usually leave in on the low speed over night, oh well. The new one is up and has three good speeds and she is happy.

After supper I read until 8'ish then headed in to shower and watch ALONE until lights out at 10'ish, LATER

Wednesday Morning March 22

 Well Tuesday was a bit nippy to start but warmed up into the upper 70's and was quite pleasant to be outside as the breeze was very lite. I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my routines that start with some quiet time to honor my LORD give thanks for another and to lift several up by name. All are holding as I make this post. I headed out on my bike for the REC for two hours of pickle ball then headed home after a stop at the library. After a snack at home I pedaled over to my barber's shop for an ear lowering before heading back home to work outside until noon in the gardens and front yard. I gave away several tomato's as all of a sudden they are ripening and I only found one the flies had destroyed.

Nancy got back from her doctor's appointment and shopping so we each had a leftover burger for lunch. I settled into reading the afternoon away until supper time when Aunt Betsy came by for a visit. We were planning on salmon but since she stayed so late we decided on a frozen pizza which was quick and easy. Not much going on after the cleanup so I sat and read until it was shower time and then some ALONE time with a new episode in South America's Patagonia, LATER

Tuesday Morning March 21 St

Well its winter time here again on this first day of Spring with temps in the 40's to start the day. Yikes it was cold and the stiff breeze made it feel even colder especially on my early morning bike ride to the Rec for two hours of pickle ball. I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my usual routines that start with some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks and lift up several by name. All seem as well as can be expected as I make this post.

The garden is holding with these cold temps but the tomato's are ripening daily with so many I'm starting to give them away, finally. I piddled around outside hand watering the gardens and the front yards after pickle ball until lunch which meant I was in the direct sunshine so it wasn't as cold by then. I pulled some weeds and dusted the tomato's once again as I found another tomato the fruit flies had ruined. They are devastating this year, ruining several nice tomato's that were sandwich size. I'm hoping to save some seeds from these large fruits for the N.C. garden.

After a lunch of leftover's and salad I read the afternoon away until it was time to head over to S.R.B.C. for the kick off of the 10 days of prayer leading up to Easter. Its called A.C.T.S. prayer method that stands for Adoration 1Kings 8:22, Confess 1John 1:9, Thanksgiving 1 Thessalonians 5 16-17, Supplication Philippians 4:6 & 1 Timothy 2:1. We were some of the first folks to arrive at 5 and it lasted until 7 and you could come and go as you wanted. We spent about 45 minutes going through the different stations before heading out for home and to some supper. We ate some leftover burgers and dogs along with a sliced tomato which was excellent. After the cleanup we spoke with Dee for a spell and all seems well there. Kelly and family came down from N.C. over spring break to see their new digs in the Tampa area where he will be stationing with the USAF at Macdill.

I finished another read after the cleanup until it was shower time then watched some Alone, a survival series in the wild until lights out at 10'ish, LATER

Monday Morning March 20th

 Well Sunday was a great of worship both here at home an on line with Gary Hamrick from Leesburg, Va. and then at our local S.R.B.C. The messages from both pastors delighted my soul and then after church we met up with an older couple who invited us to their house for a delicious lunch with all of the fine settings and again we talked about our lives and how GOD has been a big part of our living by sharing some Bible verses that mean so much to us. It was a great nearly 3 hours of fellowship as we got to know and meet this couple who served all over the world on the mission field sharing Christ, especially in Africa. They had some awesome stories to share.

Around 4'ish Bobby and Amy and their families all came for an evening of food and fun once again. I grilled burgers and dogs and with side dishes of salads and tater tots everyone had their fill and then Nancy made chocolate chip cookies. We put the boys in the tub and then PJ's for their ride back to Brandon which I'm sure they fell asleep as every one played hard outside after supper.

We tuned into the Lightning game and after winning the night before they fell to the New Jersey team in a tough loss. I watched a little of the March Madness games and those were fun to watch up until it was lights out around 10:30, LATER

Sunday Morning March 19th

Well Saturday was a fun day that started with a well before 6 roll out for some reason I'm waking up early despite losing the hour of sleep from last week. I seems since then I awaken early around 4'ish and stay awake until I roll out around 5:30, what's with that? Oh well this is something new but at least I'm not getting up in the middle of the night. After my roll out I did my usual routines that start with some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks and lift several up by name. All seem as well as can be expected due to ages and health issues.

I headed out to check on the gardens and found a huge possum in my cage which is the second one in several weeks. I loaded him in the back of the truck and headed over to Walsingham Park and left him/her go. It took off climbing a chain link fence like a cat into the wooded area. Hopefully it wasn't the same one I took a couple weeks ago to the same park. It's a couple miles away and a major roadway to cross but these critters are like a homing pigeon especially when they find something easy to get to and eat. They have been eating the rat poison which I find unbelievable in that it doesn't make them sick.

We headed out before noon to Brandon to watch Gabe's team play baseball and then over to Bobby's place for an early supper. Gabe's team made too many errors after being ahead in the last inning and they lost once again by a run after being up by 3 runs. It was a repeat of the last game we attended. Amy and family game as well as did Tammy, Rich and Brooke. We all met back at Bobby's after the game for food and drinks and to watch the twins, both Gabe and Sam and Eliza were in the pool and hot tub. It was a fun time but we all had to leave by 5:30 as Bobby and family were going to the Lightning game in Tampa. We headed home and did hit some rain on the way but we didn't get any here in Seminole. Thankfully I had watered early in the morning.

I tuned into the Lightning game and they won 5-3 after being behind most of the game and then watched some basketball in between periods. Another top seed got beat and that now is two in two days they have gone down to defeat. Today is church day at S.R.B.C. and then out to lunch with some church friends before Bobby and family all come for supper later in the evening. I'll grill burgers, tater tots and salads and then we will put up a new fan in the bedroom as Nancy wants a new one despite this one still working, oh well, LATER

This is the first photo I've able to put on the blog in months. It's Sam who is now 13. 

Saturday Morning March 18th

 Well Friday was quite a bit warmer than the previous two morning but still required a flannel shirt on the early morning bike ride about day break to the Rec for two hours of pickle ball. What a great week of play after being off the whole week before. I started the day with my usual well before 6 roll out to my routines that start with some quiet times after posting this ramble to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All are holding as I make this post.

Nancy was off to her Friday morning Bible class at S.F.B.C. where we use to attend with one of her old study leaders and teachers despite us no longer attending that church. We still keep in touch and attend lots of activities as Amy and family attend there and we love to visit from time to time. Nancy and I brought up both Bobby and Amy there until they reached ages and left home. Amy decided even after we left to stay there and raise her family in the church and now they have a new pastor with kids the same ages as their own and who is from Kansas where Tyler comes from. We are exited for them as they are excited with a new young pastor.

After getting back from the Rec I decided to mow the yards and then hand water the gardens and yards until lunch time. Nancy was shopping after her study so I finished up the leftover soup for lunch and settled into reading until she got home. She also got interested in a Nickolas Sparks book that I read so she finished it during the afternoon. We cleaned up some leftovers from the night before for supper which were delicious as well and then I watched a little of March Madness basketball. The number one team Purdue was playing the number 16 seed some unknown team and got whupped despite having a 7 foot plus center, Wow what a game. Our dear friend graduated Purdue and has kept me updated on their play this year. Two number one seeded teams were both eliminated by number 16 seeded teams as Virginia was the other team to fall, Oh well.

I hit the shower and was soon watching some ALONE before lights out a little after 10, LATER

Friday Morning March 17th

 Well Thursday started out chilly once again but soon warmed up to the low 70's by lunch time with a nice breeze and plenty of sunshine. I started the day with my well before 6 roll out to my usual morning routines that start with some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks and lift several up after posting this ramble. All seem as well as can be expected.

I headed out on my bike for the Rec as day break was occurring with this time change for two hours of pickle ball with mainly good A players. We had a couple of newbies that came in on this morning with mostly advanced players but I was able to stay on the court most of the morning with wins. I left a little after 10 with a stop at the library. Nancy was off to her S.R.B.C. Bible study alone as Carol was under the weather with what she described was a severe cold or the flu.

After a lunch of left over soup we headed out to run some errands and ended up at Sam's Club to gas up at 3.09 whereas the station across the street was 3.49, yikes what a savings. We picked up a fresh salmon filet and had that for our supper which is always delicious along with some pasta. We had got a new router and TV box from Spectrum which caused us some grief at first for getting on the TV but that is usually Nancy area and she was on the phone with technical support a couple of times but got that worked out while I read until the Lightning game came on in the bedroom. I watched it until bedtime and they won finally in an overtime shoot out against a very good New Jersey team.The season is winding down and if they continue to win they should make the playoffs again.

Just a  note our oldest grand daughter Ava Mae got back from Alaska with her school choir who had been there for a week in the frozen north. She had lots of pics on the snow depicting what the folks there live in for several months of the year, LATER

Thursday Morning March 16th

Well Wednesday started out on the rather unusual chilly side for this time of the year after having the 80's and higher the past several days. It was 55 degrees and the wind chill made it feel even colder on my bike ride to the Rec at 7:30. It was just breaking daylight. I had started the day with a before 6 roll out to my routines that start with some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name. All seem to be as well as can be expected due to ages and health concerns.

I headed out for two hours of pickle ball play at the Rec and stayed on the court for two hours with out a real break. It was mostly B players with a couple of A's in the mix but the action was constant. It had warmed up a tad by the time I left a little after 10 with a stop at the library on the way home. There was a touch of rain in the area with some sprinkles but nothing major. I didn't hand water until late afternoon. I did notice blooms already on some of the recently planted shrubs and flowering plants. They are a beautiful blue/purple on the iris and a gorgeous yellow/orange flower on the hibiscus. These plants/shrubs are supposed to require less care and are drought resistance since we will be gone and not be there to maintain them throughout the summer months.

Amy, Sam and Eliza came for a lunch of leftover soup on this chilly day and for some fried egg plant which we all love. We knew we wouldn't be eating until late as Amy had invited us for supper which is one of our fav's called sour belly. It's noodles flavored with chicken over smashed taters and it a carb feast but oh so tasty. There is always a second helping with this dish. We stayed and visited until after 8 and then headed home. It soon was shower time for me and then by 10 it was lights out, LATER 

Wednesday Morning March 15th

Well a cold front came through on Monday and it was in the low 60's for a change on Tuesday which felt great after those upper 80's last week with high humidity. I started the day out much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my routines that start with some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and lift several up by name for comfort and healing. All seem well as I make his post. 

I headed out on my bike for the Rec just as daybreak became evident since the time change. I do like the extra daylight in the evening but now we are eating supper a lot later which probably isn't good. It stayed down in the coolness throughout the day so Nancy used up some frozen prime rib bones and meat from Christmas and made a beef barley soup which was perfect for the evening meal.

I had a great workout on the pickle ball court with mainly good players for a full two hours and then made a stop at the library for a couple of reads I had on order then headed home to harvest greens and egg plants once again for neighbors. The potatoes and cucumber that came up in the compose are doing good after replanting them and the Sevin dust seems to be helping against those pesky fruit flies that can ruin a beautiful tomato over night. Yesterday I only found one ruined tomato but did harvest a couple for the table. They are so tasty in a salad.

I still have a fruit rat that continues to gnaw on my poison sticks I place out each night. I do not believe its a possum again but rats from the neighborhood. Thankfully they haven't eaten anymore seedlings. The beans continue to climb the fence and are starting to bloom. Maybe I'll get a mess before the heat returns. The newly planted shrubs look good and I gave them a good watering. I have some more yard work that I will work on this week but the grass is finally starting to spread around the bare spots.

Thats about it for the day as we both read until shower time, LATER

Tuesday Morning March 14th

 Well. Monday was another warm muggy day with a few rain clouds around which made in tolerable to work outside after lunch planting the 8 large plants we bought at a nursery after an early morning trip to the Rec for two solid hours of pickle ball. It felt good to be back on the court. I was definitely whupped after pedaling home around 10:30 and hand watering the gardens. We took off to a nursery recommended by neighbor Bobby and they had just what we wanted on a sad noter those dad gum fruit flies are still ruining my large tomato's despite applying Sevin dust.  I picked another 4  or more they had eaten into and laid their eggs.

I started the day much the usual with a 6 ish roll out to my routines that start with some quiet time honoring my LORD, giving thanks for another day and lifting several up by name for comfort and healing. All are holding. I did learn an old pickle ball player passed over the weekend who I hadn't seen in a year or so and wasn't priviy to his circumstances. One of his friends who still plays with us mentioned it to me yesterday at the Rec. Everyone else is holding.

Grand daughter Ava Mae is having a wonderful time in Alaska with her school group. This is her third trip there and so some of her friends she made on prior trips came and visited her. Not much else going on except I finished the landscaping in front of the house in the heat of the afternoon as it looked like rain and I wanted to get the plants in before hand. It never did rain except for maybe a minute but nothing measurable.

I gave away another sack of collards and egg plants to neighbors and picked an egg plant and a green tomato for frying for our supper, Yikes were they ever good. Its a good year for egg plant. So far the new beans are climbing the chicken wire and the new lettuces are ready for harvesting. I don't know how much longer they will survive these hot afternoons, LATER 

Monday Morning March 13th

 Well Sunday started out of course with an hour earlier than usual with the time change to my usual routines after a 6'ish roll out. I did my quiet time to honor the Lord after posting this ramble and lifted up several by name. All of whom seem to be holding on. Since it was still very dark outside I spent some time on the internet watching a church service from Leesburg, Va. before we headed out with the Botbyl's to our new church home at Starkey Road Baptist Church or better known now as S.R.B.C. for future posts. We worked the welcome table outside during the second service where we get to shake hands and give hugs. Some of our old friends from BridgePoint are now attending there as well and its like a reunion at times.

After the great message by Pastor Derek we were called up front to be presented to the church and several folks came along welcoming us into their midst. It was a great time and we were humbled and look forward to making this our church home during the winter months until we head back to the mountains where we will continue to worship at Cornerstone during the 5 months we are there. We love having a live pastor each Sunday and the praise music is awesome. We had several groups from the church gone for this Sunday on mission trips but the auditorium was nearly full as well. Lots of new faces and it seems the guest parking lot is full each Sunday as the 800 plus seat place was nearly full this second service.

After church we met up with Steve and Sheri our dear friends who also is leaving BridgePoint and are going back to their old church who is getting a new pastor as one of their grandsons is involved in the youth ministry. They do love and know many folks at S.R.B.C. but feel they should go back to I.R.B.C. on his account, anyhow they had made plans several weeks ago to take us out for a brunch at the Island Way Grill on Clearwater Beach. This place required a reservation and once we got there we knew why. This place was a buffet with some of the most amazing delicious food that I ever ate starting with seafood and and all breakfast cuisine as well as sushi and desserts of all flavors. I had oysters on the half shell, boiled shrimp, crab salad, salmon, Caesar salad, lots of sushi, shrimp and grits, bacon etc. It was a never ending mixture of delectables that entered my plate and it was their treat. It seems we did have them for dinners and lunches several times since they have had no house and they wanted to prepay us but I would go there again in a heart beat for the brunch despite the pricey tab. It was that delicious despite the heavy traffic heading to the beach.

That fare held me the rest of the day and evening as the chocolate or something in the desserts had me wide awake ALL night long, Oh well. We read the rest of the day except for me hand watering the gardens and blessing one neighbor with a couple of bags of collards and kale. What a great day of food and fellowship, LATER

Sunday Morning March 12th. DST starts today

Well Saturday was a really nice day after the hard down pour on Friday evening. The humidity had dropped with the stiff breeze which kept it so comfortable that I sat outside after lunch under the back yard oak tree and read, weeping occasionally from Sparks book titled THE WISH. Dang he writes tear jerkers but puts so much real life situations that its hard to put down despite knowing the out come, oh well. I finished the book in just a few setting and shed many tears.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my routines that start with some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks and lift several up by name. All seem as well as I make this post before hand. We were heading out early for a dinner date with some old/new friends from S.R.B.C. to play a new game which takes some intelligence and ingenuity to get to the outcome and then eat some fare based on the country the game was played in. Its like escaping from a room that you must find the password to fulfill the ending and it took 6 of us 3 hours or more to satisfy the results with supper in between. Our kids are into this type of intrigue and I think we will order it and keep it on hand. It's not a cheap experience but one I think everyone with find interesting.

I worked outside in the gardens after breakfast and then took a nice long bike ride for several miles before having a lite lunch of humus and chips as I knew we were having a theme supper at Nancy and Brian's house sometime after 4:30. They live in Largo and have been at S.R.B.C. for 30 years or more. Their son and Bobby were in school together for 8 years at I.R.C.S. until he opted out for public school. We had a meal of yellow rice with chicken with a Spanish name, green beans and salad. Very tasty. We then sat and talked until it was close to my bedtime before heading out for home and then dropping neighbor Dan and Carol off on the way.

We got word that Bobby's team won with Gabe hitting and pitching as we weren't able to make the game. Today we join S.R.B.C. to make it our home church here in Florida and then we meet up with the Nymark's for lunch out in Clearwater. Should be a fun day as we worship and play together with friends, LATER

Saturday Morning March 11

Well Friday was a day filled with several different emotions as we attend the funeral of Katie's grand father who every family member called Papa or to the rest of us Don. What a celebration of his life at 95 years young. We got to meet several cousins who flew in from around the country in person and so many through the hundreds of photos shared on the screen. It was a military internment at the grave side which was very impressive as well as Navy personnel played tapes and folded the flag and handed it to the oldest of his 4 son's.

I started the day with my usual before 6 roll out to my routines that start with some quiet time after posting this ramble to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing; all seem as well as can be expected due to ages and health issues. I headed out to hand water the gardens before we left for Tampa around 9'ish. We met at the funeral home in Riverview which took us over an hour to get there due to traffic which is so congested this time of the year. We had a great time meeting several new folks who had been on his late wife's side of the family who flew in from different cities and after the grave side service we headed over to Bruce and Lynn's huge house for a cantered luncheon around 1'ish. We stayed there until after 3 before heading back to Pinellas. We met some really interesting and great folks and it was awesome to be a part of the family which Don so enjoyed during his life.

It was another dry day until late evening when we got a huge rain storm which was welcomed but it washed all of my Sevin dust off the tomato plants. I'll have to redust them again this morning because the fruit flies are very destructive. We will miss Gabe's baseball game this afternoon as we have dinner plans with a new couple from church along with the Botbyl's. Tomorrow we lose an hour as the DST starts once again, LATER

Friday Morning March 10th

 Well Thursday was another work day or at least during the morning hours as the heat once again took control of what I did during the afternoon which was read and stay mostly inside until close to supper time when I ventured out again to hand water the gardens and yards. On a sad note I picked 5 large tomato's that were turning and the fruit flies had invaded them and they were a nasty mess, so much for those ripe tomato's that was calling my name. More on that later as I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my usual routines that start with some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks and lift several up by name. All seem to be holding.

I'm still not on the pickle ball court this week but in the yards and gardens, hoeing, weeding and turning over lots of areas that have now been devoid of mature veggies. Most all of the old lettuces are now gone and turned under but the new seedlings will soon be ready for harvesting. The leafy kale also is just about done but the dwarf curly kale seems to be doing well in this heat. This is the first year the Swiss chard never made here in the Florida garden but did do well in the summer garden in N.C. I finally have 6 beets that are going to survive the transplant and will give us some greens as well for the salad bowl.

Well I got out the Sevin dust and gave the tomato's a heavy coat of dust in hopes to thwart anymore intrusion into the large green tomato's. I was shocked to see 5 large tomato's starting to show some color when I notice one had some mush from underneath and then I checked 4 others and they to were mush from these nasty fruit flies. The flies haven't thus far bothered the cherry ones but I dusted them also. I need to dust the Roma's as well as they are in a different garden separated by the shed. I once again pulled weeds in the front yard and hand watered the newly sprigged areas that were bare. I blew all of the leaves out of the gutters and off the flat roof and then raked up all of the small twigs and leaves and added them to the gardens to rot and break down for worm food and eventually plant food.

Nancy was off to her Bible study with neighbor Carol for most all of the morning so I kept busy throughout until lunch time. Afterwards I settled into some videos and finished up a good read before heading to the library for a book I had on order. I read until suppertime and then Nancy cleaned out a couple small packages of steaks, oven taters and some frozen veggies. It was Fox News after supper and then some Lightning in Tampa but they lost again. The playoffs may be out of their reach if this continues.

Well today we head over to Tampa for Katie's grand dad's funeral who passed away this week. He was 95 and it good shape until recently when he contracted covid and then went down hill fast. He was a good man and well loved by his family, he would come to all of Gabe's ball games and he just loved the twins as well and will be missed. He was a strong Believer as was his wife whom we never met but passed several years ago who was greatly loved by her family as well. It will be a celebration of his life and their togetherness, LATER

Thursday Morning March 9th

 Well Wednesday was another work outside in the front yard day, digging and working up the new bed to plant shrubs in next week. It started out with mild temps and some overcast but that soon gave way to brights sunshine and heat so after lunch I called it a day outside and settled into reading the rest of the day away.

I started out with my usual before 6 roll out to my morning routines that start with some quiet times to honor my LORD, give thanks and lift several up by name for comfort and healing. All are holding as I make this post.  After a breakfast of pineapple and a banana I headed out around 8'ish to begin work before it got too hot outside. I did sweat a bucket by the time I called it quits after pulling and hoeing weeds and grasses and even transplanted some of the grasses into some of the bare spots in the yard. I had a full wheelbarrow load of weeds to put in the back yard gardens. They make great plant food once they are buried and begin to rot and decompose; plus its food for my fishing worms which are a must for the gardens.

The tomato's are showing a little more colors for the small ones but I still have loads of large tomato's that are still green and the new beans are starting to climb on the chicken wire I have on the back yard wooden fence. The sugar peas are finished and I'm just waiting for them to dry completely so I can save the peas inside for next year planting. I headed to the library after lunch for a couple of new reads and then settled into that world until supper time.

We cleaned up the leftover egg plant parmesan which was as good if not better than the night before. I could eat my weight in this dish and while its a job to complete the results are well worth it. I still have several on the plant and will give away to neighbors as they mature. 

Keep Ava Mae in your prayers as she and her choral group from school go to Alaska for several days on a mission trip. This will be her third trip to that state and she loves it there. The kids are on spring break this next week. We head to Brandon on Friday for Katie's grand dad's funeral which is not something I look forward to, but we all must face this in our life times. He was a grand man and very much loved by his family, LATER

Wednesday Morning March 8th

 Well Tuesday was another warm one with temps in the 80's but a nice breeze kept it comfortable as I worked outside until lunch time in the front yard. That was a chore I've been putting off and I filled three large rolling trash cans full of the shrubs and debris from around the front of the house. Nancy wants new landscaping so I'm getting it ready for a trip to the nursery for shrubs.

Not much to write about except I started the day with my usual before 6 rollout to my routines that start with some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and lift several up by name for comfort and healing. All are holding as I make this post. Since I'm not on the pickle ball court this week I'm catching up on some honey do's. I hand watered the gardens and picked 3 nice egg plants for our supper which was so delicious as we fried some and then Nancy made a delicious parmesan loaded with cheese and marinara sauce, yikes was that ever delicious. This plant has another 8 or 9 ready to harvest in a day or so so I'll be giving them away.

The recently transplanted lettuce seedlings are growing as is the new green beans plants. I'm noticing a few more tomato' showing some color and of course the leafy greens are maturing rather fast with these hot days. They soon will be gone as the heat destroy's them. Thankfully the well is strong with the new pump I installed last year and there is plenty of water for both the yards and gardens. I watched video during the hot afternoon and found on You Tube some FHP pursuits. I remember the days when I would give chase and eventually catch the bad guys but we never used the PIT maneuver which is now what they use when one will not stop. It works but can be dangerous if not use in a good area away from other motorist as the patrol car turns the perp around in a circular motion after making contact with the rear. There is usually some damage to the patrol car which was why this was never authorized when I was a trooper, oh well.

I tuned into the Lightning game after supper and they were finally winning over the Flyers before I hit the shower. Nancy got her new Ipad and was piddling around with it, she is happy once again as the old one lasted several years, LATER

Tuesday Morning March 7th

 Well Monday was a honey do day since the Rec is closed for the week and I have a couple of must do jobs to get done this week. I ordered a new fan and light fixture from Home Depot but they were out of the fixture so we may just put that on hold until later. I now have some yard work to do which means digging out the front bushes and replacing them with some shrubs. I got the front porch floor scrubbed and then painted which looks really nice.

I started the day much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to my usual routines that start with quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and lift several up by name. All are holding as I make this post. I headed out after a lite breakfast of Cherrio's to clean the front p[orch as I wanted it good and dry and clean before painting. Wow, did it ever get hot in the sunshine while painting and I had to constantly wipe the sweat off from dripping on the painted surface.

We took a ride to Home Depot and saw none of what we wanted on the floor so we came back and ordered it on line. All was well at first but got a text later saying the light fixture was not available, oh well. We've had this one over the dining room table for years and I like but she thinks its out of date; I think with brighter bulbs it would be fine, oh well.

I grilled chicken breast for our supper for fajitas and black beans. I pulled a couple of my green onions from the garden and they were ndelicious. I did earlier in the day transplant  a couple of beet seedlings that made it as well as a couple volunteer tater plants into the area where I used up the lettuces, LATER

Monday Morning March 6th

 Well Sunday was an awesome day of worship first here at home on line with a church in Leesburg, Va. whose pastor was in Israel speaking and then again at our now home church in Seminole called Starkey Road Baptist Church. Both messages were explicit and down right heart felt along with the praise music that accompanied both. 

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 rollout to my routines that always start with some quiet time after posting the ramble to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and lift up several for comfort and healing. I mentioned a new name and a family member yesterday who had been in hospice for just a day and who did pass away during the day. He was 95 and lived a good life up until the end which went quickly for him and the family. He was a Believer and now will be reunited with his wife whom we never met in heaven. She has been gone for years and he missed her so.

After the church service we headed over to Miller's in Seminole Center for a delicious lunch with 3 other couples and afterwards headed home to read the rest of the day except to hand water the gardens and piddle around in the garden as evening drew near. It had cooled down considerably with the sea breeze as the sun set. I won't be playing any pickle ball for the next couple of days since the Rec is closed for Pow Wow which starts this weekend so there is a list of honey do jobs that start with painting the front porch, a new light over the dining room table and a new fan over the bed. That should keep me busy for a few days, LATER

Sunday Morning March 5th

Well Saturday was a hot day but very windy and little humidity but hot. Makes me dream of those cold temps at the cabin in the 40's to start the day and upper 60's which they are now getting. We still have over two months to go of this hot weather.

I started the day with my usual routines after a before 6 roll out for some quiet time with my LORD, give thanks and lift several up by name. I have a new name on that list and its our daughter in law Katie's grand father who is now under hospice care at 95 years young. Don is a great man and we have know him for several years now but has declined rapidly the last couple of months. His wife we never met passed several years ago and he is lonely for her so this will be a celebration for them in the next couple of days. We are sadden for the family but its expected of all of us one day and if we are Believers it will be a celebration to be reunited with love ones in presence of our LORD.

Well we headed out to Brandon around 10'ish for an 11 o'clock game and Gabe's team was up 4 runs in the last inning but made some costly errors and lost the game by a run. Some of the players were late in arriving so it wasn't one of their better games all around but they played a good team as well who made some great catches in the out field and held onto for the win. I worked the score board and it was hot and windy and a chore as well. It was good to get off the field and back in the AC truck on the way home in stop and go traffic for 30 miles on the interstate. Even the local roads were congested with wrecks as we neared home. Thankfully we made it safely home.

We headed over to Amy and Tyler's around 5'ish for supper. Bobby and his 4 kiddos were there playing with the Ross kiddos. They were having a grand time and we had a delicious supper of grilled wings and pizza. Nancy brought a huge garden salad and a birthday cake she make especially for the occasion. Everything was awesome and the twins were so cute and playing with the big kids as well as Rocky who must have seemed so huge to the little ones. We all left around 8'ish and headed home, LATER

Saturday Morning March 4th

Well Friday was a busy fun day with warm temps once again and very windy. At times it was blowing like a hurricane and I was beginning to wonder if the tomato plants were going to withstand it. I wasn't playing pickle ball until 11'ish so I piddled around the house and gardens until then after starting the day with my usual before 6 rollout. I did my usual routines that start with some quiet time to honor my Lord and to give thanks for another day while lifting several up by name for comfort and healing, all seem to be holding. Today was Nancy's birthday so we had plans to go to the Bonefish Grille in Largo but when she told her phone to call the restaurant it put her to the Bonefish Restaurant in Maryland. So we got there at 5:30 with no reservation. The gal at the front desk say's this happens frequently, but she was able to work us in after about a half an hour.

I had a great workout for two hours on the pickle ball court and pedaled home in a wind storm. I had eaten a late breakfast around 9 so I skipped any lunch as we had BLT's with tomato and lettuce out of the garden and I knew we would be eating early around 5:30 at the restaurant. The place was packed but a party of 10 failed to show so we got their tables; maybe they to had placed their reservation and it went to Maryland. Unbelievable.

I finished up my taxes and emailed them off for a small refund and that is one less thing to burden me until next year. I read until it was time to head out and pick up the Botbyl's for the trip to Largo. I had my usual soup and bang bang shrimp which was delicious but getting so pricey while Nancy had her grilled freshwater trout. There were 8 of us and we were celebrating Carol's yesterday birthday as well as Jim's whose big day is next week, so they gave us three free desserts which was nice, but Carol had made a lite chiffon strawberry dessert as well.  We came back to our house and played games until 10'ish. I won the Smart Ass game for the first time ever and Carol won Logos. It was a fun evening with good friends.

Today we head over to Brandon for an 11 o'clock baseball game with Gabe and Bobby and then to Amy and Tyler's for a birthday supper for Sam who turned 13, wow a teenager, LATER

Friday Morning March 3rd

 Well I must say or sing Happy Birthday to Nancy my bridge of 44 years who will be 66 on this day. I love you and the two kids she gave birth too and to our 7 grand children all as a result of our life together.

I started the day on Thursday with a well before 6 rollout to my routines that start with some quiet time to honor my LORD and give thanks for another day as well as lift several up by name after posting this ramble. All seem as well as can be expected. I got word from oldest sister Josie that a friend of her who we all knew had passed away at the age of 82. He was a close companion of hers for years when she lived out on the farm and before marrying her now present husband.

I headed out to the Rec around 7:30 and finished up my talk with the Creator on the way while riding my bike on this beautiful morning which got a little hot by noon. I played Pickle Ball for two plus hours and left whupped once again only to come home and piddle around in the garden. I harvested more lettuces and a bag of leafy greens for the Nymark's as well. I did harvest a half dozen small tomato's and saw where a few more are showing some colors. The garden is showing some promise as I have egg plants to harvest as well as new beans up and sending out runners and the squash plants are blooming as well.

We cleaned up some leftovers for lunch and then again for supper before I headed out with neighbor Dan to S.R.B.C. for a mens Bible study with several guys where we had a discussion on evangelism. I'm really enjoining this group and the time together. It was going on 9 before we got home and then it was shower time for me and soon a few wild life documentaries until lights out for me at 10, LATER

Thursday Morning March 2nd

 Well Wednesday was another busy day with nice temps to start and end the day but the middle of the day was quite warm with tons of sunshine blue skies and humidity. I started the day much the usual with a well before 6 roll out to my routines that start with some quiet time to honor my LORD after posting this ramble to give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All seem to be holding as of this date. Wednesday is one of those days which I don't head to the REC until 11'ish for Pickle ball so I piddled around here at the house working in the gardens, pulling weeds and hand watering it.

The garden is producing so much leafy greens I'm giving away tons almost daily as I hate to see it go to waste. We've been eating salads and using as much kale as possible in soups to use up all that is coming mature. The tomato plants are loaded with fruit but only a few thus far have shown any color, I'm sure once they start to ripen there with be a ton of them all at once just like the leafy greens.

I headed out for the Rec around 11 and got in two solid hours with an invitation only group of all A players. I won every match with different partners and played well. My game has so improved I'm thinking about some tournaments once again but maybe that just in my mine because of age. The Rec will be closed for a week starting next Monday so I will have to find an outdoor facility to play at best, but would rather play inside where its cooler, oh well.

We cleaned up some leftovers for lunch and then again for supper and then headed out to Sam's to fill up at 2.99 a gallon. Its about 15 cents cheaper than the market here and then we headed over to the Nymark's newly refurbished home a couple doors down from Amy and Tyler's. Wow what a difference that made for this 3/3 house. Everything is new including all of the furniture and house hold items including dishes, etc. They saved nothing from when they sold out last year except personal items because they didn't want to have to pay for storage. Smart move in my opinion except now this move must have been expensive with all of the renovations and buying all new appliances and furniture, oh well

That was about it for the day, LATER

Wednesday Morning March 1st

 Well Tuesday was a rather nice morning but it warmed up considerably by noon and then by late evening once again it became rather nice outside. Mid day's are hot and humid here on the suncoast of Florida. I started the day much the usual with a before 6 rollout to my usual morning routines that always start with some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and lift up several by name after posting this ramble. All seem as well as can be expected. I headed out around 7:30 on my bike to the Rec finishing up my talk with the Creator on my ride for some two plus hours of Pickle ball with mostly all good players. I left whupped and worn out for the ride home on my bike.

I worked in the gardens harvesting more leafy greens for another friend and then moved some lettuce seedlings into a different area so they could grow and expand as well as hand watered the gardens. The heat has really brought on the egg plants and I now had 11 on one plant in various sizes. I believe I have enough large ones for cooking. I found a recipe last year for parmesan which is so delicious and I'm excited to try it. No frying involved which is usually how we eat egg plant for that dish but this one is baked instead so no grease.

The recently sowed 1/2 runner bean seeds are up and sending out runner for climbing. I saw a couple of volunteer cucumber seedlings in the compost so I will set them out in hopes they will make. I haven't had good luck with them this year so far. I do have a few beets seedlings that are growing as well. The tomato plants are just loaded with fruit since I've been keeping them trimmed from suckers and growing out of control tall. I believe that has helped putting the growth into the fruit instead of the plants. The couple of Roma's we sliced thus far are delicious in taste and juicy.

We ate leftovers for supper tonight and will have them again for another supper since we prepared too much when we had company. Dee and Mike made it safely to South Carolina for an overnight stay and will head back to Woodstock today, LATER