Thursday Morning Nov 30

 Well Wednesday was the coldest day we've had here in a year and it was down right chilly despite the gauge reading 47. It stayed down below 50 for most of the morning then it warmed up to the 60's but that was about as high as it got, but there was plenty of sunshine which made great for drying clothes outside on the line. I started the day much the usual with a before 6 rollout to my quiet times to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift up several after posting this ramble. All seem to be holding. I headed out on my bike bundled up with an extra long sleeve shirt to the REC for two hours of pickle ball play with some decent players. We are getting a few more back from up north who are decent players and while many of the beginners stayed away except for a couple, the play was fun and fast.

I came back and piddled around outside in the gardens in the sunshine which by now had warmed up a little and the breeze had died down which made a big difference. I worked outside until lunch time then had a nice fresh all garden salad for lunch. Afterwards I headed to Sam's Club to fill up which was 30 cents a gallon cheaper than the station next door. They make getting a membership at Sam's almost a must just on the price of gas as well as other goodies.

It was clean the house for Nancy as she is having a cold or flu issue so I vacuumed moving out the couches which had collected tons of dust bunnies since I last moved them as well as the whole house. Afterwards it was watching the news in Israel until supper time which was some leftovers and then I headed out to church for the Wednesday night meeting with about 60-75 other folks. Pastor Derek brought a message on the heart issue that usually is the reason for many of our problems we face today. What we think about a situation comes from our own ability to reason instead of letting the love of Jesus be the factor that controls our emotions i.e. the heart factor.

I got back a little before 8 and we watched Amir with Gary at Cornerstone Chapel give some insight on whats happening in Israel and how the world is judging this nation and the consequences of this war against Hamas. We as Americans must never turn our backs on GOD's chosen people and while we aren't mention in bible prophecy we are a major supporter of this country and those who are of this race, LATER 

Wednesday Morning Nov 29th

 Well it turned much cooler overnight and never got much out of the lower 60's for the day and no sunshine except maybe a glimpse or two. The breeze kept it feeling cooler than it actually was and after sunset it really cooled down. I started the day with my usual before 6 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've heard nothing different. I headed out on my bike before 8 to the Rec for close to two solid hours of pickle ball play with mostly all good players. I left whupped and with a wet head and shirt.

I got home and changed into some dry clothes and then worked outside in the gardens hoeing and weeding as well as hand watering the gardens. It was over cast and looked like rain but none fell. I think this major cold front up north is what we are feeling here in central Florida. I piddled around outside until Nancy got back from shopping before noon and then I unloaded all of her goodies and then had the rest of her sandwich from Sunday's lunch. After lunch I had a meeting with my financial advisor for an hour and so far all looks good despite this poor economy that idiot Biden has laid up on US(A). Ava had a 5 o'clock game at Keswick so we decided to leave around 4:30 to watch the last of the first game and then watched her game and the first half of the varsity boys game. It was a basketball evening and we enjoy being there to support her and the team. Amy and the rest of the family was there as well.

Ava's team blew out the team from Sarasota by 40 some points. She played awesome while scoring a bunch as well as on defense causing turn overs and her rebounding was the best on the team. The other two teams from Keswick were not doing so good as the JV boys team lost in the first game and varsity boys were losing by 10 when we left at half time. It was going on 8 when we got home and then I hit the showers after checking some emails and a lite snack. I tuned into the ALONE show after the shower until lights out at 10'ish, LATER

Tuesday Morning Nov 28th

 Well Monday was a busy fun day that ended with watching grand daughter Ava play great in the teams first basket ball game at Keswick. She played hard and fouled out with just minutes to go and they won by 30 points. 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 several up by name for comfort and healing. All seem to be holding as of now. I headed out on my bike to the Rec for close to two hours of continuous pickle ball play with good players and left with a wet shirt. 

I piddled around in the gardens transplanting some radish seedlings I start in a pot. It seems they do better than starting the seeds in the ground and they transplant easy. I also transplanted some lettuces seedlings into the ground as well and now have more to transplant today that have added a leaf or two. The Roma's plant is adding small fruit almost daily as it grows in height. Over all the garden is doing as well as I expected if not better. I hoed everything loosening up the rain packed soil from over the weekend and gave it some milorganite which is a plant food. 

We decided to have our big meal around 4 ish as we would leave for Keswick around 6 for the 7 o'clock game as Nancy isn't sure how her tummy will act. We had some already cooked brisket she purchased at Costco last week which was delicious and there was enough leftover for a lunch. It was smoked to perfection and great for a change. I had an all garden fresh salad from the first batch of the season along with a baked tater loaded with jalapeno pepper and sour cream. What a feast. I had fasted for most of the day except for an apple after getting back from the Rec as I'm trying lose a few pounds.

I spent the afternoon sorting some hand me down clothes from son Bobby and managed to find some that fit and was to my taste and the rest I'm donating to the Viet Nam Vets charity who will pick them up today from the porch. They are beautiful and high price but most are either too long in the leg or I'm too fat in the tummy, oh well I got enough to last me for another year that fitted. I grew up wearing hand me downs and loved them and some I can wear and use to piddle around in the garden or work in.

Well that was about it for the day as we got home around 9'ish and I hit the shower and then some ALONE on the TV before lights out at 10 for me, LATER

Monday Morning Nov 27th

 Well this month is about over and we finally started seeing some liquid sunshine for a change and some cooler temps, thankfully. Sunday was mostly overcast with some sunshine to start but it ended around mid morning and stayed wet the rest of the afternoon and evening with heavy down pours at times.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 rollout to my usual morning routines that start with some quiet times to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift several up by name for comfort and healing, all seem to be holding as of this post.

We headed out to SRBC a little before 10 to work and greet in the front new guests area but had no new first time folks this morning. The message was awesome from Pastor Derek and he introduced several new members who had recently joined the church afterwards. We headed out before noon to a new eatery in the Seminole area and had to wait nearly an hour to be seated, but the wait was worth it despite the higher prices. We all had something different and while it was tasty I wouldn't order again what I had for the price. Nancy brought part of hers home for another day at lunch.

I vegetated on the couch the rest of the afternoon as she and Betsy headed out to shop in the Tyrone area despite the heavy rain at times. They brought home a truck load of packages for Christmas gifts once again. I watched the hapless Bucs play football but thats all they did was play and lost again to a team they should have beaten.Their play calling is awful as is the whole team effort, especially on defense; how they have won 4 games is beyond me and next they play a 1-10 team and I'm sure they will lose again as they are just a team to get a pay check, so sad to see such ineptness, oh well I've vented for now.

The large lunch held me the rest of the day except for some nuts with a glass of vino around 6'ish. I watched some good football with other teams who I'm not fond of but the Eagle players play to win and they did just that in overtime. That was an exciting game for the fans who pay big bucks to attend an event. Too bad the Bucs don't reward their fans with such good effort on the field and at least try to win games. Oh well there I go again, LATER

Sunday Morning Nov 26th

 Well Saturday was a fun day with some once again great Thanksgiving Day eatin' at son Bobby's beautiful home in Brandon, WOW what a spread as many of the guests brought some of their specialties to share. More on that event later in this post. I started the day with a well before 6 rollout to my usual routines that always start with some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All seem to be holding as of now. I headed out on my bike to the Rec a little before 8 and got in a great work out on the pickle ball court and left with a wet shirt after an hour and half as so many started arriving and it was a mixture of intermediates and strong players, but just too many to wait to get on one of the three courts in action. I left with a wet shirt.

I headed home and worked in the gardens hoeing everything and then feeding all of the plants and finally hand watering which kept me busy until lunch time. It turned out to be a beautiful day with tons of sunshine and cool temps, enough so I wore a flannel shirt on my bike ride to the Rec but quickly shed it as I hoed the gardens. After a lite lunch of some red pepper cheese and a leftover turkey sandwich I headed in to watch the big game between Ohio and Michigan. I was pulling for the Wolverines and they were ahead at half time and I finished up watching the second half at Bobby's in Brandon. They won in a nail biter.

We pulled out from Seminole and picked Betsy up in Clearwater and headed across the Courtney Campbell parkway to Tampa instead of our usual route which was a little longer but very different than our usual route. The traffic was heavy but at least we were moving at a steady pace. We encountered a couple of rain drops but nothing enough to use the wipers. Well it was great to see old cousins and to meet Annsley's new boy friend Wyatt. He come from good stock and is quite handsome and she has blossomed into a sweet beauty as well. What a change from a year ago.  Old family relatives and their kiddo were looking great as well and the hugs were in abundance as was the food. The turkey Bobby prepared in a hibachi pot was delicious and beautiful to look at as was all of the dishes. Megan made some of the best tasting herb bread ever and of course we had the usual smashed taters and gravy, stuffings, roasted Brussel sprouts, salads, cranberry stuff, cheese cake and pumpkin pie and a little fruit of the vine flowed as well.

We stayed until close to 7:30 before heading out as did most everyone by them after getting there around 3'ish or later. It was a fun time and all the kiddo played great together and the older kiddo's spent some time together as well. Sam was getting over a cold so he stayed home with Rocky and got some rest sparing us any of his cold symptoms. We took Betsy home then got back to the house before 9 and then it was shower time and lights out for me at 10. 

Today is church day and then lunch out with the Botbyl's at a new eatery and then Nancy and Betsy head off to the mall for Christmas shopping and I'll vegetate on the couch with the NFL, LATER

Saturday Morning Nov 25th

 Well Friday was a some what relaxed day with no real physical activities as a lite sprinkle and cooler temps kept me mostly inside except for one period of time for hand watering the gardens and transplanting some seedlings. It was rather chilly most all day long with little or no sunshine to brighten up the area. I started the day with my usual before 6 rollout to my quiet time to honor my Lord, give thanks for another day and to lift several by name up for comfort and healing. All seem to be holding as of this post.

Nancy made a breakfast of sausage and eggs with toast to start the morning and then I piddled around vacuuming after the large dinner party here last night with the Thanksgiving Day dinner crowd. We decided it was time for me to get the large containers out of the attic that hold our Christmas decorations and put up the artificial tree. It looks great and while it was once expensive it has now paid for itself with this being the third year we have saved by not spending a hundred bucks on a real tree. I love it plus no mess and no watering every day plus no needles on the floor. It looks great and the only expense is usually new lights as they don't seem to last after a couple of years. One of the new boxes of lights already lost half a string when we plugged them in, oh well. We made do with 4 boxes and the tree looks great. Actually last year we had so many lights you couldn't see the tree and all the other decorations.

Well after a lite lunch of a piece of red pepper cheese we brought back from West Jefferson which was a spicy brand and some summer sausage and crackers I headed in to watch the Israel news channels and see where some of the hostages were released in the four day cease fire. I sure hope the army knows what they are doing by this cease fire which in my opinion is a mistake but they know best. I sure hope our military takes out the Iranians proxies who continue to lob missiles into our bases, we need to show them we aren't taking this action any longer. They only know one thing and that is peace comes from being strong militarily by bombing these rag heads into oblivion.

We cleaned up some leftovers for our supper around 5'ish then headed up to neighbor Botbyl's along with Steve and Sheri to play hand and foot. We split on games with one each as it was going 9 o'clock. It was a fun time to say the least and we made a promise to play more often together as we all love this game. I came back and hit the shower and watched a little of ALONE until lights out a little after 10. Today we will pick up Betsy to take with us to Bobby's in Brandon for his Thanksgiving Day dinner with several cousins on both side of the three families. It should be a gastronomic delight once again. I'm heading to the Rec for some pickle ball this morning and then a stop at the library on the way home, LATER 

Friday Morning Nov 24th

 Well the day started out with chilly temps for the first time this fall or winter as I had to wear a flannel shirt for the first trip outside of the morning. It was down into the lower 50's and it never quite reached 70 for the hottest part of the day. There was plenty of sunshine and the gentle breeze made for a great morning to work outside which is just what I did; working in the gardens and taking a nice long bike ride before calling it a day outside around lunch time. It was a day of gastronomic delights as Nancy put a huge turkey in the cooker around 1'ish, but earlier on my bike ride I could smell the many delicious aromas through out my ride.

I had started the day with my usual before 6 roll out to my routines that start with some quiet times to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All seem to be holding as of this post. I piddled around outside after having an apple for breakfast as I knew I would be eating large later on in the evening. I moved up some more seedlings into 6 packs as well as hand watered the gardens and doing some hoeing as well. All seem to be doing well. It was chilly to start but as the morning progressed I took off the flannel and took a bike ride through the hood for a couple of miles before coming back and finishing up the last leftover burger for lunch.

I tuned into some NFL games through out the day as well as some college basketball after the Ross's came by. Ava is into basketball and she will be attending on Saturday the tournament game in Ft.Myers with her team mates that we watched on TV. She will miss another turkey day at Bobby's that we all will attend and do it all over again. We had a delicious supper of: roast turkey which was cooked perfectly and oh so tender, smashed taters and tons of gravy, candied sweet taters, dried stuffing, broccoli and corn as well as rolls and 2 types of pies. I stayed away from the dinner rolls and pies and did only one helping of the rest as I need to eat less and lose a couple of pounds an inches off this gut. I did do a glass of Pinot with Tyler before eating.

After the clean up which I washed pots and pans for nearly an hour we settled into a game of "catch phrases" which was a hoot and it was gals vs guys as we sat around in the living room playing. We had the windows and doors open through out the day and evening but Nancy suddenly got a hot flash so on went the A/C for the rest of the evening and night. They all left after the last game which the gals pulled out in the end around 8:30 or so. We packed up left overs for everyone plus three dinner plates of food for Betsy's boys and a room mate. We still have enough leftover for another supper which we will likely do this evening, LATER

Thursday Morning Nov 23rd Thanksgiving Day 2023

 Well this year is coming to a close with Thanksgiving being the start of the holiday season and of course New Years Day the end of it, albeit the start of a new year. Where has this time gone and now so quickly. I started the day on Wednesday with my usual before 6 roll out to my routines of a quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and all my blessings which are many for my age and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. Speaking of my age about 1/3 or more of by graduating class have passed on so I'm a very blessed man that I can still run, play, work and have my faculties and thats just what I did around 8 AM. I headed out to the Rec on my bike for the half mile or so ride to play pickle ball for two hours non stop. It was a great workout with three other really good players and I left with a wet shirt and made a stop at the library for a couple of reads by J. A. Jance on the way home. I love the way she writes with great down home life experiences set in the modern day world.

I came back and since it had rained during the morning I didn't need to water the gardens but did move some plants out of pots in to the garden proper and then hoed everything. I'll say one thing my garden has rich soil because the weeds and grasses grow over night which require almost daily hoeing. I need to harvest lettuces and collards this morning to add to the salad bowl as well as move more seedlings into 6 packs from where they germinated. I love keeping busy with gardening and if all make we will be giving away veggies.

After lunch I headed into the computer room where I spent the rest of the afternoon watching the news from Israel on the effort to eradicate the terrorists Hamas as well as the USA bombing some terrorists who are supported by Iran who have been attacking US in the middle east. We saw where the bridge between Canada and USA had an attack which maybe the start of the home land being attacked by terrorists who have come in with the open borders by this inept potus and his administration led really by the first muslim potus in America, Obama. We must seek real patriots to lead the nation who love the USA and not their pocketbooks which it obvious Biden and his crime family are doing. I'm not sure if we will ever have an honest election again but maybe we need a revolution to take back the nation from our enemies like the democrats, China and Russia as well as north Korea. It unbelievably how we have not stood up to the wokers in the congress and this nation, Oh well.

Amy had us over for a delicious grilled salmon supper and afterwards a game of hand and foot. We didn't play the fourth round as the guys were whupping the gals and it was getting too late for the older kids to maintain their interests. We will have tons of folks here this evening for a turkey supper and all the fixin's. It will be a day of football as well. We did watch the Lightning lose in overtime but saw some good college basketball before supper, LATER

Wednesday Morning Nov 22nd

 Well Tuesday was another very warm day with no rain but there was a decent breeze which kept it bearable to be outside except after lunch. I started the day with my usual routines with a before 6 rollout to some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name. All seem to be holding as of this post. I headed out early to the Rec as I wanted to get in at least an hour on the pickle ball court since I missed Monday's play and I had a doctor appointment at 9:45 to see a dermatologist for a check up. All went well there and I got a few tips on how to rid this fungus that is athlete's foot that has moved up onto my lower leg at times, plus she took a biopsy of a place on my shoulder. 

I was back home by 11 and hand watered the gardens and now I have more lettuce seedlings showing some color from seeds as well as onions and dill seedlings in pots. The Roma plant has a few green tomato's and tons of blooms. I lost one hill of cucumbers for some reason. We are supposed to get some rain today and cooler weather which will be a plus for tomorrow's Thanksgiving dinner.

We will have the Ross Family plus aunt Betsy and just us for a change as we go to Bobby's on Saturday for another turkey day with tons of family and friends, but mostly our immediate family and lots of cousins from my side and Nancy's side of the family. It should a gastronomic rest of the week with tons of carbs and desserts which I'm going to try and hold off except for slivers, oh well.

I watched the war in Israel after lunch with all of the news networks in Israel and they are kicking butt eradicating these barbarians who the woke college crowd loves. I think we should send these idiots over to the middle east to live and experience what evil barbarians they are along with the four congress women who sympathize with them. Unbelievable we have them in the congress representing a state of this country.

Well no much else going on except shopping on line for presents for the grands and of course Nancy went with 3 other girl friends shopping at Costco yesterday afternoon, bringing back tons of goodies. We are stocked up hopefully for the next several weeks as the freezers are full as well as the cupboards and now the garden is starting to produce some leafy greens which are a blessing, LATER

Tuesday Morning Nov 21st

 Well Monday was a most different morning after my usual routines that start with some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. I headed out with Nancy after she had been up most of the night sitting on the commode for a clean out as she had a morning colonoscopy and then down her throat to see what was giving her so many issues. We sat for an hour and half in the waiting room for what ever reason before they took her back and I headed home to piddled around in the gardens. They mentioned it would be close to two hours so I thought I had plenty of time, but it was only about an hour when they called and said to come pick her up. Seems she had no major issues but more of the common ones seen for most folks; some ulcers from acid and a small polyp which they removed which we are thankful it wasn't worst. Now she has to watch what she eats and drinks and take an acid pill daily until the ulcer heals.

I spent the afternoon reading and watching the war in Israel until it cooled off enough for a long bike ride through the hood. Betsy came by for a visit later in the afternoon and then it was suppertime of chicken pot pies by Marie Callander which are delicious. We were both tired after not much sleep on Sunday so it was a hot shower and bed time by 9:30. We did watch a little of the hockey game in Tampa before the shower which was a close one, LATER

Monday Morning Nov 20th

 Well Sunday turned out to be a beautiful morning to start with nice temps and a few high clouds which helped while watching grandson Gabe play ball just down the road from where we attended church. We got to watch him play for a couple innings before we headed home. They lost in the final game but he got on base and scored and made a nice running catch in the outfield.

We started the day much the usual on Sunday mornings after our daily routines that start with some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift several up for comfort and healing. All seem as well as can be expected. We headed out to church and I worked the front desk outside for first time visitors as well as kept an eye out for any security issues. The service was awesome as was our early morning message on line from Cornerstone. The praise and worship music was awesome as well.

We stopped by the ball park on the way home and while last evening it was quite chilly watching the game it was just the opposite today with rather hot temps but a breeze kept it bearable. After the game and our good byes we headed home for some lunch which Nancy was only allowed clear broth and jello as she was starting her cleanse for the colonoscopy this morning. She was on the commode all night long flushing. Bless her heart. She is exhausted but hopefully we will see what is bothering her bowl movements with this procedure. Hopefully its nothing serious so keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

We got back around 1'ish and saw our neighbor Bobby out in his yard and he came over to tell us he and his wife split for good and divorced last week and that she moved to Pennsylvania to be near her son who had moved there. She did this once before but now that they are divorced he isn't having her back, so sorry for him as he is a great neighbor and looks after our place as well as edges the yard when ever he edges his. You just never know what goes on behind closed doors. He has a new grand daughter which will keep him busy and fill the spot she leaves. She was always friendly to us and we are surprised she never said good bye, oh well. He gave her their car and some cash and she left the rest to him.

Well I watched the Bucs lose again but they didn't get blown out and a couple dropped end zone passes would have made a difference in the final score. I had the TV with football until lights out for me around 10'ish. I'll drive Nancy to her appointment then head back home to await the call to pick her up some time during the morning, LATER

Sunday Morning Nov19th

 Well Saturday was mostly a fun day except for some garden work in the morning as we attended two of Gabe's base ball games in the afternoon. They should have won both but split the two and now they play again this morning at 11 not far from the house. We will miss most of the first game as our church service lets out around 11:30 and then we will head home to change clothes and attend the last game if they win the first one. We had everyone here once again for a supper of burgers and dogs and all the fixin's with tatter tots as well. The kiddos all played together and we all had a great time of family fellowship and made plans for turkey day this coming week.

I started the day with my usual before 6 rollout to my routines of some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. Keep Nancy in your thoughts and prayers for this coming Monday as she is going in for a colonoscopy to determine why she is having some tummy issues. I think they are also doing one down into her throat as well. Hopefully they will find what the problem is and correct it with out any major issues.

I headed to the REC for some pickle ball at 8 but it was closed for a craft fair so I rode the neighbor hood on my bike for some cardio and then came back and worked in the gardens until lunch time transplanting the last of the potted seedlings that were large enough to put into the garden proper. I then hoed and weeded as the weeds grow over night here which is a good sign the soil is fertile. I have lettuces ready to harvest as well as collards and now have several small green jalapeno's almost ready to harvest. So far every thing is doing better than expected due to the drought.

Gabe made some awesome catches in the out field and scored the first run of the first game but they lost with some bad base runnings by a run and the second game they won big as Gabe once again scored and made a couple nice plays in the outfield. It turned chilly in the second game with the wind and the clouds despite it being warm when we got there. We left in the last inning to get the burgers made and the oven ready for when everyone showed up to eat around 6:30. They all stayed until after 8  and then it was put the house back in order by 9'ish and I hit the shower and was ready for some horizontal lab by 10, LATER

Saturday Morning Nov 18th

 Well Friday was another busy work and play day that started with a before 6 rollout to my routines of some quiet times to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All seem to be holding with this post. We did get a phone call from one of our mountain neighbors who checked our mailbox and found several pieces of mail, one piece I had been looking for, so she is mailing it back to us here in Seminole. Whats with the USPS? Its another gov't agency and we see how inept they are along with their leaders and this is just another example, oh well.

 I headed out on my bike to the Rec for two hours of pickle ball with some good players and while I didn't leave with a wet shirt like the day before I still had a great work out and was bushed by the time I finally left and rode home. I piddled around in the gardens transplanting some beets and Swiss chard into the garden proper as well as did some weed hoeing and feeding the plants. I'll harvest lettuces and collards next week and now noticed I have green tomato's set on the Roma plant as well as tons of blooms. Hopefully they will make as I have several more tomato seedlings to transplant into the garden. The grass has started to grow a little after the rain which wasn't much but it did stay overcast for a couple of days with some lite showers at times.

Nancy was off shopping once again and brought home tons of foods for Thanksgiving which is next week as well as she starts baking for Christmas cookie give aways. I'm sure hoping they find what is giving her tummy such issues on Monday when she gets a colonoscopy. Hopefully its nothing to severe but something that can be corrected or at least give her some relief. I spent the afternoon on line watching the war in Israel and how much the world hates the Jewish people and embraces the jihadist that are terrorists. What is happening to decent folks in this world and especially among college campuses. Its unbelievable but of course so is gender transformation for youngsters and abortion at any time. The left is evil and it show with the members even in our government who are so biased and uniformed. The world has gone completely wacko, LATER

Friday Morning Nov 17th

 Well Thursday was a busy fun filled day that started out with a before 6 roll out to my routines that start with some quiet times 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 on my bike to the Rec for two hours of pickle ball play with all good players and left with a soaked shirt around 10'ish. Nancy was off to another doctor appointment in the northern part of the county so she picked up her sister in Clearwater and they shopped afterwards until late in the afternoon.

I ate the leftovers for lunch from the supper the night before which was delicious and then again we had fresh salmon at the Nymark's for supper last evening as well. I'm a fish lover and could eat it a couple times a week. I piddled around in the gardens after getting home from the Rec until lunch time. I'm ready to put the beets and Swiss chard seedlings I started from seeds into the garden proper the next couple of days. The rain which wasn't really all that much but it kept the ground damp and with hand watering finally made the soil moist and hopefully bring back the earth worms. They are the best ever for producing plant food with their casings.

I spent the afternoon watching videos from Israel as they destroy these barbarian terrorist called Hamas and hopefully save the real folks who have been held hostage by these animals. I read for a couple hours and this new found author writes awesome stories. J.A. Jance is great and I love her stories which many are based on real life issues. 

Nancy got home around 4'ish from shopping and we soon got ready to head to the Nymark's for supper and cards with their long time close friends Jim and Sandy. Supper was tasty and plentiful and afterwards we settled into hand and foot which we split with a game each. It was after 10 before we headed out and I finally after a hot shower hit the sack around 11, LATER

Thursday Morning Nov 16th

Well the wet weather continued through out the day with a lite soaking rain which was much needed. There is more in the forecast as well and the temps dropped down considerably as well which was much needed. I started the day with a before 6 rollout to my quiet times to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift several up for comfort and healing. All are holding as of this moment.

I headed out on my bike to the Rec for close to two hours of continuous pickle ball play with some great games with some good players. I left with a wet shirt and hopefully some less weight. I'm down to a constant 193 thus far since getting home. Staying away from extra helpings and less bread and desserts has helped also. I need another 5 pounds to be some where near my goal, oh well. It's so much easier to add the pounds and inches than removing them.

I came back around 10'ish and worked out side in the gardens until lunch time then had a lite lunch before getting ready to head out to meet my new primary doctor with BayCare at the Bardmoor clinic. He is oriental and very young but seemed more on the holistic side of medicine than a pill pusher. I appreciate that and he did seem to think I needed to see a dermatologist as its been many years since I last saw one for a check over. I scheduled one for next week after Nancy has her colonoscopy on Monday.

It was early afternoon when I got back to the house so I watched the news out of Israel on the web until supper time when we had some salmon, pasta and a salad for me then I headed off with Dan to S.R.B.C. for the Wednesday night meeting as our wives were under the weather so to speak. If we had remembered it was about fostering and adoption we would have skipped the meeting but it was very well presented and there are several in the church who have their licenses to foster as well as does our pastor Derek and his wife Stephanie. It takes a special love for usually rowdy or unloved kids with issues and to bring them into your home. When I think about it I was fostered by my aunt and uncle who was family to take me in at 4-5 years old and raise me until I left home at 17 and who his 3 kids call me their brother. That's a little different but the same concept as I never knew who fathered me and there was very little contact with my bio mom through out the years. She never seemed interested in me or her grand kids which was a shame.

Well I tuned into some ALONE on the TV until lights out around 10'ish, LATER 

Wednesday Morning Nov15th

Well Tuesday started off dry and very warm with some cloudy skies and then for the first time since being back to Florida we got some much needed rain and it did rain well into the late evening which caused massive traffic issues with back ups from crashes etc. We got caught up in as were were heading to Wesley Chapel for Ava's game which took us 2 1/2 hour where is usually takes less than an hour. What a fiasco to say the least with the interstates shut down or just stop and go for miles. Ava's team won and she scored the first points to start the season. We were so late we missed the first half of the game, oh well.

I had started the day with my usual before 6 rollout to my routines that start with some quiet moments to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift up several for comfort and healing. All seem as well as possible. I headed out a little before 8 on my bike to the REC for close to two hours of pickle ball then came back and worked in the gardens hoeing and transplanting new seedlings in to larger pots. Everything seems to be doing as well as can be expected with the lack of rain but that should change when I check the gardens this morning after that nice soaking rain.

Not much else going on except another doctor appointment for Nancy who now is scheduled for colonoscopy on Monday morning as she is still having some tummy issues. Hopefully its nothing serious. I'm going for my 6 month wellness checkup with my primary doctor today but the blood results from the VA were promising with good results. We had a late lunch early supper before Tyler picked us up around 4:30 for the drive north which usually takes less than an hour but that all changed with the late afternoon rain which was needed since they have had no rain since June. The roads were slick with oil and it showed with all the crashes. We got back home around 9:30 after the game and I hit the shower and was soon out for the night at 10, LATER

 

Tuesday Morning Nov 14th

 Well Monday found me once again up well before 6 as my body still is adhering to the old time internally but I did manage to do some extra quiet moments to lift up several for comfort and healing. All seem to be holding as of this post. We are still dry and hot here in Florida but there was some cloud cover for most of the day that sure looked like it could rain at any moment. I headed off to pickle ball a little before 8 and while most of the players were intermediates there were a couple decent players so I stayed and worked out for close to two hours and then made a stop at the library on the way home.

I piddled around in the gardens hand watering and then moving some seedlings up into larger pots as well as put some kale seedlings into the ground proper. Everything is doing as well as can be expected despite losing a couple of spinach seedlings. For some reason I've never had much luck with spinach but with the other leafy greens its just the opposite. The one Roma tomato plant has tons of blooms despite the plant only about a foot in height and I have two jalapeno's peppers already growing on my one plant. The collards are almost large enough to harvest but I think I'll add them to the salad bowl to start along with some lettuces that are large enough to harvest.

I had a 1 PM VA appointment and then another one at 3 PM so I had a bite of lunch then hit the showers as I had worked up a sweat both on the court and in the gardens. The VA eye exams was great once again with both eyes still doing well and no progression on either of the glaucoma or macular degeneration. They did let me order another pair of readers so now I will have a spare instead of having to carry that one with me both in the truck and having one at home. The 6 month primary checkup was decent as well with a drop in the the cholesterol by 20 points and the good HDL was awesome despite a rise in the LDL. I can correct that with eating less and not so much red meat. PRAISE GOD  everything else was normal.

I got back around 4 in all that evening traffic and then we headed out to our first community group from church to the Waters House in Largo around 5:30. We picked up neighbor Dan as he rode with us.There are 7 couples who will do this journey twice a month as we talk about the Sunday's sermon and fellowship together. Carol was the only MIA as she is recovering from a bad head cold and cough. We met 2 new couples for the first time and one was a fireman who recognized me from FHP. All are younger than me but older than Nancy and we had a delicious supper of Mexican food and ate outside on their back patio. It was a great evening and we throughly enjoyed the fellowship and study. This coming evening we will travel with Tyler to Ava's game in Dade City area, LATER

Monday Morning Nov 13th

Well Sunday was another hot and dry day with lots of sunshine and no rain. We sure could use some as everything had dried up. Thankfully my well seems to have plenty of water as I hand water the gardens daily some times twice a day and I even set the sprinkler on the front yard last evening for an hour in hopes to get a little green in what grass is left.

The morning started out much like most morning except it was worship day so after my routines that start with some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift several up by name for comfort and healing I tuned into Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, Va. to hear Gary Hamrick. He along with our pastor Derek at S.R.B.C. give us great messages of hope and reality. Nancy and I worked the new guest welcoming table outside where it was blazing hot. They want me to work there as much as possible due to my law enforcement experience and even asked me if I would work both services at least once a month as well. I agreed I would as we already have at least one uniform officer on site and several plain clothes volunteers who are prior LEO's inside as well. Churches will be the next to attract shooters and evil in this society as now all schools have increased their security on campus. Sad to say but the evil in our culture is rampart.

After the service we met in the fellowship building which use to a whole church building many years ago and its huge with a great kitchen. Nancy and I have helped with a Christmas program there last year and it holds tons of folks and yesterday the church catered a meal for all veterans and their spouses from Sonny's barbecue. The food was excellent and delicious which held me the rest of the day. Their was recognition of all the branches of the service and we had a WWI veteran who was a 105 years young who gave a talk and answered many questions and who acted like a young 80 year old. He had a walker but pushed it himself and was quite spry for his age and his mind was excellent. What an honor to greet and meet him who was in the service before Pearl Harbor was bombed.

We came back and I vegetated on the couch watching the Bucs actually win a game as well as a couple other games. I did head out after the game to hand water some seedlings and to set the sprinkler on the front yard. Amy and Tyler came by and brought Rocky who we hadn't seen since being home. He is a bull in China closet when he comes in the house and he loves to ride in the back of their pickup truck. It seems the family entertained a new boy friend of Ava's last evening for supper and now we learned Sam even has a girl friend. We met a nice 4th grader at church who is in Eliza's class at school. I'm so glad they are attracting opposites unlike what this woke culture is promoting with their gay lifestyle.

Well Nancy made a carrot cake for our small group meeting Monday evening and we are soon to start watching Ava and the girls basketball team play on Tuesday evening in an away game. We will ride with Tyler. I have a couple VA appointments this afternoon after pickle ball this morning, LATER

Sunday Morning Nov 12th

Well Saturday was a fun day and once again very dry and hot. Oh how we could use some rain but that not looking good in the future. I started the day with my usual before 6 rollout to my routines that start with some quiet times to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name. All seem to be holding since neighbor George passed away a couple days ago. We got ready and headed out to Brandon which is east of Tampa at 8 AM to watch the twins play in their last T-ball game at 9. It was a hoot and we so enjoyed seeing them learn a few skills and to which hand to actually wear the ball glove on as Huck came by to ask his mom a couple of times.

We spent an hour or so there then headed back to Pinellas to fill up at Sam's Club at 2.94 a gallon then headed home for a bite of lunch despite it just being around 11'ish. I knew we were heading to the Olive Garden for supper for my free meal around 5'ish. By the way they treated me very honorably as they did many of the veterans who were taking advantage of their offer. The meal was first class, hot and plentiful as was Nancy's meal. Our server was awesome as well and we tipped him generously.

I spent the afternoon watching some college football after hand watering the gardening until it was time to head out for supper. The Botbyl's cancelled on us as she came down with a head cold and will probably skip church today for the same reason. The church is honoring us vets as well after the second service with a luncheon for us vets and we only had to pay 5 bucks for our spouses or whom ever we brought with us. On Monday we are having our first small group meeting and dinner at the Walters House in Largo so we will be eating out again. So much for losing weight but I did get on the scales this morning before heading to Brandon and I was down 7 pounds. Now if only I can get that off and add a few more pounds to the lost it will be awesome. I feel it while playing pickle ball which cuts down on my ability to bend over or go after drop shots, oh well. I'm thankful I can still run and play and hold my own against players much younger than I, LATER

Saturday Morning Nov11th... Veterans Day

 Well Friday was a busy day that started out with a before 6 roll out to my morning routines that start with some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. I got word that a neighbor in the mountains passed away overnight. He had suffered severely with that awful disease alzheimer for a couple of years and went down hill fast. George was a fine feller and would often come by to just sit and visit before he slowed down.

I headed out on my bike to the Rec a little before 8 and got in a good hour plus workout until too many beginners showed up to play which is OK for a few but just too many at one time takes away from your game. I headed out for home and then began working in the back yard and gardens. I transplanted some radishes I had grow in a pot into the side garden proper and then a couple of tomato seedlings in the same row that I will eventually once they start to leaf out transplant into a larger area of the garden. I had so many seedlings come up from the seeds I had saved from last winters garden that germinated and did not want to throw them away. I next transplanted some cucumber seedlings into the garden along with some kale seedlings and then hoed all of the plants already in the ground for a week or so. I'll soon have lettuces next week for the salad bowl despite no rain. Thankfully the well is doing great thus far.

I came in from the gardens with a soaked shirt as the day was getting hotter by the moment. It must have reached the upper 80's or more by the afternoon which kept me in the house after a lunch of cheese and crackers we brought back from Ashe County that is made there. Delicious and so creamy. That held me the rest of the day as Nancy was off with sister Betsy shopping once again. She decided she wanted a frozen pizza that she doctored up with fresh mushrooms for supper and with the last of the romaine we made a caesar salad to accompany. I watched all the news channels and videos on the war in Israel and they are kicking butt in the middle east. They need to totally eradicate the vermin called Hamas and Hezbollah as well as Iran and Yemen who are behind these Islamic terrorists.

Well after supper I tuned into the FOX network for a change for an hour then headed into to read until shower time at 8. Afterwards I watched some ALONE on the Roku until lights out for me at 10. This morning we leave at 8 for Brandon to see the twins in their last game of T-ball for an hour before heading home. We are heading to the Olive Garden for my Veterans Day free meal which we did last year with friends and the Botbyl's will accompany us again this year, LATER

Friday Morning Nov 10th

 Well Thursday was another hot and dry day that started out with a before 6 rollout to my usual routines that begin with some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift several up by name for healing. All seem to be holding as of this post. I headed out on my bike to the Rec for close to an hour and half of constant pickle ball play with really good players. I managed to win most of my games with different partners as I'm getting back into the swing since not playing all summer. The stamina is doing much better as well as I've dropped a couple pounds with several more to go to reach my goal.

I came back and ran to Ace Hardware for some gas for the grill and then Home Depot to return the wrong valance clips and then back home. I stayed away from the garden department for a change as now with all of the seedlings and seeds finally germinating I should have plenty for the garden. After getting back it was work outside hand watering the gardens until the pest control guy came and spread some ant poison around. Nancy saw a couple ants in the house and she goes bonkers, oh well. She was off once again with the sister Betsy shopping since she is off the rest of the month. 

I grilled chicken thighs for supper along with a caesar salad which was delicious. Neighbor Dan and I headed over to the church at 6'ish for a mens class which lasted until 8:30. That was two nights in a row to be at S.R.B.C. Oh well that is good for me. After a hot shower it was some NFL which has lost most of its interest to me because the Bucs are so terrible this year, except the two teams playing on TV are really worst than the Bucs so I watched until half time then some ALONE before lights out at 10, LATER

Thursday Morning Nov 9th

Well Wednesday was another warm almost hot day with still no rain in site which we could use. Thankfully the well is still producing as I'm watering by hand twice a day and last evening I set the sprinkler for an hour or so on the front yard.

I started the day with my usual before 6 rollout to my routines that start with some quiet times to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing, all seem to be holding as I make this post. I headed out on my bike a little before 8 to the Rec for close to an hour and half of pickle ball. I'm slowly getting my stamina back. I worked outside in the yards and gardens until lunch then settled into the news from Israel on the war effort and it seems they are winning the war against the barbarian Hamas. That is awesome news and now lets wipe out the other Iranian proxies as well and Iran if they make a fuss.

Nancy was off to a couple doctors appointments and when she got back it was a lunch of quesadillas which was delicious to say the least. I spent an hour or so afterwards digesting on the internet then picked up a new true crime book and started on it by Gregg Olson about a woman who killed her husband by inserting cyanide in Tylenol capsules to collect his insurance money. In the process she killed an innocent woman in the same town by putting a bottle infected by the capsules back into a store.A very page turner on how they caught her.

I grilled a couple rib eye's we brought back from the mountains that needed fixing and along with a baked sweet tater as we dined high on the hog for our supper. After the cleanup we got ready to head over to S.R.B.C. for a Wednesday night meeting  called 242. I'm not sure what that means but the pastor Derek leads it and then we breakup into small groups for a discussion. It was going on 8:30 when we got home and I hit the showers and read until 9:30 the watched a little of ALONE before lights out at 10 for me, LATER 

Wednesday Morning Nov 8th

 Well Tuesday turned out to be another rather warm dry day after a cool start. I wore a flannel shirt on my bike ride to the Red around 8 for close to two hours of pickle ball. I'm starting to regain my stamina on the court as well in the garden and yard work despite to the heat which arrives by mid morning.

I started the day with a well before 6 roll out to my usual morning routines of some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift several up by name for comfort and healing. All seem to be holding but we have a friend of a friend whom we have met several times and is in the hospital. Pray for Jim and his wife Sandy. Jim and I are close in ages and he too was once a officer but seemed to suffer some memory loss and of his whereabouts after giving blood yesterday.

I headed out on my bike and got in some good continuous pickle ball play with several good players. An old friend and player returned from Canada and we always had some good times on the court with him. I headed home after a quick stop at the library to drop off a book. I worked outside until lunch time in the gardens transplanting more seedlings, hand watering and pulling some weeds in the front yard which has just about dried up. Even the weeds are coming up nicely from the lack of rain and I pulled a wheel barrow full of them which I will compose in the garden once they completely dry out.

We had a nice salad for lunch with tons of greens, beans, beets and 'maters and croutons. Afterwards it was the heat of the day so I headed in to the computer and watched the Israel news stations to get the real scoop on the war with the barbarian Hamas terrorists. Israel is wiping them out and I hope to every last man who is involved with this faction. I hope we also wipe Iran off the map for supporting these evil folks and the other group in Lebanon as well. I know if Trump would have been our potus this never would have happened. We need real leadership in America or we will be fighting them here on the home front. 

Well I tuned into the Lightning game after a supper of baked cod and tater tots which was delicious and the Bolts were up 4-0 in the first period so I watched some "mountain men" show on the Roku until lights out at 10, LATER

Tuesday Morning Nov 7th

 Well Monday was another nice day with low humidity and tons of sunshine. I started the day really awakening with my internal alarm clock at 5'ish instead of the new time, but I'll adjust in time(no pun intended). I did my usual morning routines that start with some quiet moments to give thanks for another while honoring my LORD and lifting several up for comfort and healing. All seem to be holding as of this moment.

I headed out on my bike to the Rec for close to two hours of pickle ball. We had a few good players but mainly intermediates which I helped by giving them pointers. I did get in a workout before heading home to work outside in the gardens and yards. I transplanted some tomato seedlings into 6 packs that I had saved from last years plants and then hoed all of the new seedlings and giving them some plant food. Everything seems to be doing as well as can be expected with no rain since before we got home from the mountains. The well is doing great thus far with plenty of water and it has no smells or iron in it.

Nancy took off with her sister the GAB(great aunt Betsy) for the rest of the day as she is on vacation the whole month of November from the post office, so they had lunch out then shopped bringing home new dinner ware in the form of plates and bowels which now at least can be used in the microwave. We finished up some leftovers for supper after she left.

I watched some of the Israel War during the hottest part of the afternoon on the internet until it was time to head out and hand water the gardens around 5'ish. After supper we watched some Fox News but I soon headed in to get the real war news on the internet and the hate Israel idiots in this nation especially in the congress and on college campus is mind boggling. They had better wake up because these who hate the Jews and Christians will see their inhuman actions toward US(A) if they are not destroyed forever. Such hatred all in the name of their religion, disgusting to say the least. We even had a former potus who is of the same mind set and who helped with this division to further this war and these who hate Israel, LATER

Monday Morning Nov 6th

 Well Sunday was an awesome day of worship first with Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, Va. on line and then with our local S.R.B.C. and afterwards a luncheon on the grounds for new members with their assigned deacon. We got to know a little about Steve and his wife Bonnie who have been members for over 20 years and met at the church as young adults, married and now have 3 kids. We were privileged to get know him and her as well as our pastor Derek and another pastor Tom who all sat with us at our table for lunch.

We started the day of course an hour later which means its now get dark starting much earlier, oh well. I was up at my usual before 6 time which is now 7 but the body doesn't adjust as quickly as it once did. I did my usual routines that start with some quiet moments to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All are holding as of this post.

I came back and hand watered the gardens then watched the sad Bucs football team which are looking worst each Sunday and losing after being ahead with a minute to go. The whole team is a loser and they should fire the whole bunch and start over in my opinion. I did watch some other games and at least these teams acted like football players and tried to tackle and make plays, oh well.

They had a catered lunch from Carrabas which was excellent in flavor and I would say there were close to 100 folks in attendance including deacons and staff. The meal held me the rest of the day except for a banana split around 6'ish. I was able to find some of Nancy's shows on my Roku TV so she could watch it in the bedroom while I had the big TV in the living room, so everyone was happy.

The garden seems to be doing well despite no rain but I'm watering twice a day with my well and its holding everything in good order. The mornings are little crispy but warms up to nice temps in the afternoon. beautiful weather but we need some rain, LATER

Sunday Morning Nov 5th

 Well Saturday started out with an early roll out as we were to be in Brandon which is about an hour away to watch our twin grandsons play T-Ball and it was a hoot. Our other grandson Gabe was playing in a tournament about another hour away so we skipped that drive and decided to attend his next one much nearer in Plant City next Saturday after the twins last t-ball game. Anyhow the twins were so cute in their uniforms and are learning some skills that come with the game as well as learning how to run the bases and where and what they stand for. Both Huckson and Ryder show some love for the game and Huck is a crowd pleaser with is antics. Ryder is the more subdued and serious player but both are just adorable. It was going on lunch time before we got back to the house after a grocery stop on the way as we were having Amy and Eliza for a supper of tacos which everyone loves. I had mixed a pack of ground deer with the hamburger meat and it was so delicious and Eliza never new the difference except she ate three tacos which is a first for her.

I had started the day with my usual routines of some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name after posting this ramble. It was still pitch black outside and now with the time change it will be even darker later in the morning and get dark earlier in the evening. I headed out to hand water the gardens before we headed out to Brandon and there was a bit of a chill in the air but was supposed to warm up it to the 80's by the afternoon. We still have had no rain since we've been home and it seems its been dry for weeks before that. Thankfully my well seems to have plenty of water and it producing.

The recently transplanted seedlings are doing fine despite the afternoon heat and now I have some green showing from old tomato seeds and from beets seeds. The new kale seedlings are doing fine as of yet. I'll soon have most of the garden filled with new seedlings. I want to sow some carrot and radishes seeds and get them in the side garden. I did pull some grasses from the front flower bed which despite mulch and a cloth thats supposed to keep the weeds and grasses out. This grass has the deepest rots ever and I'm afraid I'll have to use a grass killer on it. Well that was about it for the day as I watched some NCAA football and the Lightning hockey game later in the evening. I made myself stay up an extra hour because of the fall back on the clock but my body was awake at the usual time which of course was an hour earlier than I wanted, oh well.

Today we get to worship corporately at our S.R.B.C. and then there is a luncheon afterwards for all new members which we are basically. It will be good to see some old faces and meet new folks as well, LATER

Saturday Morning Nov 4th

 Well Friday was a  busy day both with work, fun and great fellowship in the evening with some new friends as well as with old friends. I started the day with my usual 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 to lift several up by name for comfort and healing as well as those in Israel. All here at home are holding but those in Israel are still fighting the bloody savages who attack them without any mercy.

I headed out to the REC in the truck as I had to give blood at the VA after playing pickle ball for and hour or so. The VA is usually packed but I walked right in and was in and out of there in 30 minutes or so. I made a stop at Home Depot on the way home and picked up more potting veggies and some cow manure for setting the veggies in the ground. I worked outside until lunch and now have about half of the garden planted. I'm waiting on some seeds to germinate before repotting them and then into the garden proper once they mature.

After lunch I spent the afternoon during the heat of the day watching the news reels in Israel about the war effort which they are kicking tail and killing and capturing these barbarians from Palestine. Good riddance to these animals and now I hope we can get rid of the ones on the northern border also supported by the Iranians. Terrorism has no place in civil societies to promote their ideology and false god.

Well we walked up to neighbor Dan and Carol where we met a new couple Bill and Cindy along with old friends Nancy and Brian for a delicious supper of white chicken chili, home made bread and then apple cake. Afterwards we played two games of hand and foot and the guys swept the gals big time. We had lots of laughs and fun as well as ate high on the hog. It was after 10 before we walked home and then it was shower time and some horizontal lab as we leave early this morning for Brandon to see the twins in T-Ball. Today we will entertain Amy and Eliza for supper as the other kiddos are on retreat with Tyler, LATER  

Friday Morning Nov 3rd

Well Thursday started out on the chilly side, enough so I had to wear a flannel shirt on my bike ride to the Rec a little before 8. It was down right chilly but the stiff breeze made it feel even cooler. By the afternoon it had warmed up enough the a/c went back on in the house. I started the day much the usual with a before 6 rollout to my routines that start with some quiet times to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name. Joe our mountain mom's older brother has moved to Tennessee to be near his daughters place who is a doctor and hopefully rehab from his ankle surgery. Everyone else is holding as of this post.

I got in a good hour and half of pickle ball play with good players winning a few games with different partners and losing a couple of games with different partners. It's taking me awhile to get my stamina back from the constant play but I'm feeling it coming back with the daily play, plus I'm working on the yards and gardens until lunch time when I take a break from the heat which is usually the strongest. I've been watching the news directly from Israel and keeping up with the IDF and their attempt to eradicate the barbarian terrorists from Gaza and hopefully from the earth. They are sub humans in my book. So far the IDF seems to be doing a good job while losing a few soldiers in the process. I'm disgusted with these college kids and professors who stand up for the butchers of innocent civilians, especially the murdering of kids and babies.

Nancy was off to her Bible study group who was having their last meeting with a luncheon until after the new year, so I had a lunch of her macaroni salad which was delicious and then we ate at 5 as I was attending the mens group at S.R.B.C. at 6:30 with neighbor Dan. That lasted until going on 9 when we finally got home and it was hit the showers for me and then some NFL until lights out at 10, LATER

Thursday Morning Nov 2nd

 Well we finally felt some coolness in the air with a stiff north breeze and lack of humidity for a change that maybe the sign of things to come with the cooler temps. We now need some rain as its very dry. I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my 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 of now.

I headed out on my bike to the Rec a little before 8 for some pickle ball play with mainly beginners but did help them with their game and in doing so got in some exercise for an hour plus. I came back and worked outside until lunch time mowing up all of the grasses I had uprooted from the gardens which kept me busy for an hour or so them trimmed all of the shrubs and manicured the back yard. I was done basically for the rest of the day outside despite it being a day when we actually had the windows and doors open to air out the house.

After a lunch of leftovers I watched the news in Israel about their war effort to rid the barbarians from Gaza who have no regard for life as a human. What these terrorists have done is despicable and inhuman and are worst than vermin and should not be considered human beings. How the college idiots in America actually support these killers is unimaginable and they should be exported to live with these vermin. The world is in denial to these terrorists who want eradicate a human race and install their muslim beliefs that all who don't believe as them are infidels and should be eliminated. If Israel doesn't stop them they will next target christians until they achieve world domination and we have an ex-president, Obama who is one of them. The leaders in this administration are taking their orders from him because Biden is so inept. 

Well we headed over to the Nymark's recently renovated house which is gorgeous and had a delicious supper of salad and chicken and dumplings. Very tasty and then afterwards we played Skipbo and Hand and Foot. It was the guys night to shine as Steve won Skipbo and then he and I whipped the gals in two games of Hand and Foot. It was after 9 before we got back to the house and I turned on the World Series and the Rangers were winning in what could be the final game of the series as I turned the lights out around 10:30, LATER  

Wednesday Morning Nov 1st

Well it was a week ago we were traveling back from the mountains of N.C. to hot sunny and very dry Florida. A lot has been done this past week since getting back; gardening, yard work and now pickle ball the past two morning. The month of October has now gone and we are embarking on some cooler temps I hope. I started the morning with my usual before 6 rollout to my usual routines that start with some quiet moments to honor my LORD, to give thanks for another day and to lift us several I know and love for comfort and healing. All seem as well as can be expected at this posting.

I headed out on my bike to the Rec around 7:45 for close to two hours of good pickle ball play with all good players. Tue. and Thur. are supposed to be for advanced players and I'm still invited despite being the oldest one there. I came back and then rode my bike over to the barber shop for an ear lowering to my favorite female barber who has been cutting my hair for 25 years. Patty is the best and she runs the shop alone since her daughter moved onto another job.

We headed out to Sam's Club to stock up on some goodies as well as some for Amy. We then made a stop at Publix for Nancy and I headed next door to Lowes for some seeds, cow manure and glue. We came back and had a delicious lunch of a hot dog and kale salad. I spent the biggest part of the afternoon on the internet with the war news in Israel as I'm able access their news bureau. Israel is killing many of the radical Hamas terrorists and their leaders and hopefully will destroy that whole network of barbarians. I do feel sorry up to a point for the civilians in the area but they voted these radicals into power and let them take over their gov't and culture.

We picked up Dan and Carol at 5:30 and headed to Outback for a delicious supper then came back and played cards until 9'ish. We played Skipbo and Euchre and gals were winners. After they left I tuned into the World Series and it was a blow out in the third innings so I watched a documentary on Prime after a shower. It was lights out at 10 for me, LATER