Tuesday Morning April 30th

 Well this month is in the books and we are now just 18 days until departure for the mountains. I'm getting excited but now I know there is lots to do before that date with many appointments, buying expenses for the remodel and of course visits and dinners with family and friends here as well. These next few days will be busy which I love and just the thought after 6 months of being flatlander's, we will see the mountains once again and breathe that fresh air never been breathed before.

I started the day on Monday with a well before 6 rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet time to honor my lord JESUS, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All are holding but we did learn one of our friends that use to live on top of our mountain passed away last week. She and her husband Mike built a beautiful real log home that is now occupied by other friends of ours. Nancy was from Winston-Salem and they sold out 7 years ago from our mountains to Billy and Paula on my 70th birthday.

I headed out on my bike for the Rec and played a couple pickle ball games inside before so many came that 4 of us went outside and played several sets. It was beautiful play to start but the sun and slight breeze made it challenging as the morning wore on. We were hot and whupped by 10 so I headed out with a quick stop at the library before heading home. Nancy was getting ready to head out for one of her many scheduled doctors appointment before we leave. I piddled around in the gardens and checked the news on Israel until lunch time and then started a new read by Gregg Olsen titled IF YOU TELL. Well this is a true story of evil in a woman from birth and how she terrified her folks, family and was the cause of murder and cruelty to many. Its a page turner.

I headed out after lunch for a hair cut and then settled into reading the rest of the afternoon, even sitting outside under the now leafed out huge oak tree. It was very nice in the shade with the breeze for a couple hours. I harvested more tomato's and then gave away a half dozen or so to neighbors and some I took with me to pickle ball for friends. I'm still getting a couple a day from the side garden plants which I planted several weeks late from tomato seeds and they have produce magnificently.

We had a meat loaf for supper as we try to eat down the freezer and now will have sandwiches for lunch for a day or so. After the cleanup I settled into the Lightning and Ray's games on TV. The Lightning lost and are now out of the playoffs but the Ray's held on to win the Wisconsin in a close game1-0 over the Brewer's, LATER

Monday Morning April 29th

 Well Sunday was another great day of worship at our local SRBC with huge crowds and also great worship on line with Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, Va. In just about 4 weeks we will hopefully worship with our local church in Sparta once again for the next 5 months or at least that is the plan. After church we came home and changed clothes and grabbed a snack on our way to Largo to watch Gabe play again in a baseball tournament. He played awesome in the field and scored a couple times but they lost the first and only game today. Needless to say it got rather hot on the field and we were glad to get back to the house.

We decided to just eat a frozen pizza for supper and chill the rest of the evening watching some on line videos of the war in Israel and many updates on what's happening in this pro hamas rallies on our college campuses. What in the world is happening to this generation that has been handed everything to them, even their college debts have been eliminated and they are holding barbarians in high esteem. It's sickening and so demoralizing to think they have chosen our enemy Islam, over our own GOD and these who shout death to America and Israel.

Well today Monday Nancy has a doctor's appointment and we must start getting ready for these next couple weeks to make all of our purchases for the remodel on both bathrooms which Nancy wants. I always say if it isn't broken don't fix it but she wants new bathrooms which are functioning perfectly, oh well, LATER

Sunday Morning April 28th

 Well Saturday turned out to be another warm day with temps in the upper 80's and mostly cloudy skies but as the day wore on the sun came out and made it rather hot at the ball games. I had started the day with my usual rollout well before 6 to my routines that begin with some quiet moments to honor my lord, JESUS, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All seem to be holding. I wasn't planning to play pickle ball but instead wanted to work over the one garden in the back yard and I did just that with my new electric rotor tiller. Wow, does it ever do a great job and I probably used it for an hour to turn over that area. It will be so much easier when we come back next fall to get the gardens ready for planting with this tool. I hope Tyler uses it this summer to keep the weeds and grasses from taking over these garden patches.

I did harvest another hand full of tomatoes the fruit flies never ruined. The Sevin dust works wonders in keeping them in check.  I still have egg plant, herbs, collards and a tomato plant in the right side garden as well as carrots which I will take out over the next couple of weeks before turning that garden area over with the rotor tiller. Things will start to get busy here as we make final purchases for the new bath rooms and store them in the house this next couple of weeks.

We headed out around 2'ish for Largo where Gabe was playing baseball. His team won the first game 9-3 and then tied in the second game against the best team in their league 3-3. with Gabe's 2 run hit and come back in the last inning to tie. That game timed out so they will play around 12:30 today so we will come home from church and then head up to Largo to watch the game. Next Sunday Bobby purchased tickets to the Ray's game at the TROP and we will head down with Tyler and Sam to watch the game with him and his family.

We had delicious supper at Amy and Tyler's as we celebrated Ava's 17th birthday. She had become a beautiful smiley young lady and we are so proud of her and all of our grand kid's. Each one has their own personality and interests, but all are family loving and love get togethers. We dined on grilled marinated flank steaks, roasted Brussel sprouts, tater tots, garden salad and orso with grandma Nancy's chocolate cake with white icing, Yeow what a feast. We watched snippets of the Lightning game and they finally put it together with a 6-3 win over the Panthers, LATER

Saturday Morning April 27th

 Well Friday morning found us at Keswick School for the Spring Music event for 3rd-5th graders of which Eliza is a part of and they did a great job both in coral and band. She will be a 5th grader next year and its hard to believe that Ava will be a senior and Sam a freshman. We left the school and ran errands to both Wal-Mart and then to pick up the third order of shower tile all the way north of Clearwater at a high cost compared to what I liked at Lowe's, oh well. Thanks to Betsy and her suggestions which get in the way at times.

I started the day with my usual well before 6 rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet moments to honor my lord, JESUS, give thanks for another and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All are holding with this post. We had to be at the school by 8:30 so we left around 8 as parking is hard to find with these school events. We saw some old church friends from BridgePoint whose kiddos attend there and it was great to hug their necks once again and catch up, albeit briefly.

We did some shopping at Wal-Mart then headed north to the tile place where we picked up 3 heavy boxes of tile and then made a stop on the way home at Sam's Club in Clearwater for a change. I gassed up at 3.26 a gallon and then purchased 3 sacks of solar salt for the water softner before we got back to the house and had a bite of lunch. I headed out to hand water whats left in the garden and harvested a couple of tomato's as well as an egg plant for our supper which was excellent. The rest of the day was spent watching the war in Israel and reading a James Patterson novel titled HONEYMOON. It's a real page turner as well with lots of intrigue.

Nancy was in the kitchen making a birthday cake for Ava Mae's 17th birthday party and supper today as we celebrate with family. We will attend a baseball game in Largo with Gabe and Bobby then the supper later in the evening with all of the family. Annsley will also attend after leaving work in Brandon and driving over by herself which will be the first time for her on the interstate alone. I tuned into the NHL game and the Ray's game in Chicago and they were losing once again to the Cubs 5-1 in the 7th. Their pitching needs some help in a big way, LATER

Friday Morning April 26th

 Well Thursday saw us with another nice day until late evening so I had the windows and doors open for the breeze and no humidity which is very unusual for this time of the year. It did get warm later as evening progressed and of course Nancy closes the house up at night as I was off to my mens Bible study course at SRBC with neighbor Dan.

I had started the day with a well before 6 rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet time to honor my lord, JESUS and to give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All are holding to my knowledge. I headed out shortly thereafter on my bike to the REC for two hours of pickle ball play with mostly all advanced players and left around 10'ish with a wet shirt and head and whupped. It was a chore pedaling home against the wind.

I piddled around in the gardens hand watering and found the Sevin dust I had applied on the side gardens tomato plants worked, as I harvested 4 nice ripening 'maters with no fruit fly damage. That kept me busy outside until lunch time as Nancy was off with her women friends for lunch and then shopping. I spent the next couple hours on the laptop watching video's and keeping up with whats happening in Israel and on our college campuses with these radical terrorist loving students who biden just forgave their debts and are now calling for death to America and Israel. What has happened to these skulls of mush who hate their country and ally. The educators of this nation have gone woke and are so hate filled I'm afraid they are becoming like Nazi Germany with their ideology.

Its looking more and more like the dems are going to try and steal this election but I'm praying GOD intervenes and saves US(A) and sends these terrorists to hell and anyone who supports them. Everything that was once good has been influenced by evil and now our own people are turning against good for evil in our own nation. Its disgusting and these flames are being fanned by the dems to stay in power. These truly are the last days of this civilization and a civil war is coming with all of the illegals who are Islamic terrorists and who are openly supported by people in the congress who hate the nation and the people they were elected by to support this country over our enemies. It's traitorous to say the least.

Well on a sad note the Lightning lost at home against the Panthers from south Florida and now are down 3-0 in a 7 game series and with one game to play in Tampa. It could be all over on Saturday for them. The Rays were off and they aren't doing much better with their relief pitching either, oh well. We are still planning on leaving the 19th of May for the cabin if we still have a country but I'm beginning to wonder with all of the unrest in the nation and the corruption in this gov't, LATER

Thursday Morning April 25th

 Well we are down to our last week here in Florida for this month and we soon will be getting ready to pack up for 5 months at the cabin. I'm excited about that prospect and making plans for what needs to be done outside once getting there. Our friends Jake and Katelyn are mowing a couple times for us before we get there so that will be a big help.

I started the day with my usual before 6 rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet moments to honor my lord JESUS, give thanks and ask for forgiveness for my issues and to lift up several by name. All seem to be holding with this post. I headed out around 8:30 with a friend down to St. Pete to play pickle ball but their gym was closed so we played outside there with really good players and I left with a wet shirt around 11'ish and whupped. It was good play all around.

I came back and Nancy was gone so I hand watered the gardens or whats left which isn't much and I will soon work it up with my rotor tiller and spread some oak leaves into the ground as well to help keep the earth worms fed over the summer months and to help keep the weeds and grasses at bay.

Nancy got back from her chiro visit and we had the last of the deer burgers for our lunch then I headed in to watch videos on the war in Israel and how the IDF is kicking the terrorists rears but our potus is wanting them to have a cease fire which is giving in to these barbarians. I hope the IDF destroys Iran's nuclear facilities in the mix because we all know they are sponsors of terrorism around the globe and if they get the bomb they will let some proxie have it and will be used against them and US(A). The only way to win is destroy them first despite what the biased UN says or this corrupt biden administration.

Well we had a lite supper of frozen pot pies then headed out to SRBC for our Wednesday evening service. It was after 8 before we got home and I read until shower time around 9:30 then a few minutes of "mountain men" on the ROKU before lights outs around 10'ish, LATER

Wednesday Morning April 24th

 Well Tuesday was just another beautiful day with very nice temps that allowed us to have the windows and doors open all day until late evening when we shut them for the night, so much for global warming which I personally think is a hoax and a scam to deplete our bank accounts for the rich and powerful elites who promote it, oh well. 

I started the day with a well before 6 rollout to my morning routines that begin with some quiet time to honor my lord, JESUS, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing; all seem to be holding. I headed out on my bike to the REC for two hours of pickle ball play and left whupped around 10'ish with a stop at the library on the way home. I'm back to reading the afternoons a way until its time to start with packing and putting the Seminole house in order for 5 months. I forget we are having lots of remodeling done while we are gone so I'll not over do the cleaning aspect of the house.

I harvested a nice mess of collards and had them on the stove cooking and then harvested a mess of collards for our bug guy who came by for his two months inspection and putting out granules for the ants that seem to have stayed away. He was most happy for the greens and tomato's I blessed him with. I read until supper time then headed out to hand water whats left in the gardens as every thing is winding down. I pulled a mess of carrots for neighbor Bobby and blessed him with more tomato's as well and he blessed me with another container of his honey which is delicious.

Nancy pan fried a couple N.Y. strip steaks we had brought back from the mountains and they were delicious as well along with collards that had been cooking all day long at a low heat. We settled into the Ray's and the Lightning games after the cleanup and the Ray's bombed once again with their lack of pitching and it was tied into OT with the Lightning. I'll check the scores after posting this ramble, LATER

Tuesday Morning April 23rd

 Well the schedule changed for today due to Nancy's UTI and being on an antibiotic, so no endoscopy so then I'll head back to the Rec for some pickle ball play. I started the day on Monday with a well before 6 rollout to my routines that start with some quiet time to honor my lord, JESUS, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All are holding. I headed out on my bike to the Rec for over two hours of continuous play with a couple of decent players as it was open play, many of those winter snow birds have fled the area back to the north so we don't have as many on the wait list to play and actually a couple waiting would have given me a rest at times.

I came back around 10'ish an piddled around in the gardens as it was rather on the cool side with a stiff breeze. It's supposed to be down into the 50's tonight here which is very unusual for this time of the year as just a couple days ago it was hot and humid. I actually sat outside after lunch in the shade reading for a couple hours. I hand watered whats left of the gardens and then cleaned out the fridge in the garage as the drain pipe was allowing water to collect in the crisper drawers.There was so much ice in the top of the freezer which wasn't allowing the drain to be open. Hopefully after removing all of the frozen foods and putting them in a cooler and letting the fridge dry out and all of the ice to melt that I've solved that issue.

I drove Nancy to a couple grocery stores getting what she needs to prepare another cake for daughter Amy on her birthday which we will celebrate before leaving on the 19th (which is her actual birthday) and if we get to leave with all of the health issues Nancy is having and the reschedules, oh well. We still have lots to do before and if we leave, much of it surrounds purchasing items for the bathrooms redo's and putting the house in order. Just to mention, the last cake she made for the youth fund raiser sold for 150 bucks and the buyer called Nancy said it was the best they had ever eaten.

I picked up the Botbyl's around 5:15 and headed up to the Walters place where we were having our life group supper and meeting. Everyone was there for a change except Cindy's husband Bill who had an issue at their house. Thirteen of us ate outside on their patio as it was that nice and actually very pleasant. Everyone brought a dish to share and Nancy Walters made the main dish which was delicious. We had a good discussion on last weeks sermon at church and then we departed around 8'ish. I came home and tuned on the Ray's game which was a blow out for the Tigers, so I turned it off. Amy called and said they purchased a new used vehicle and was bringing it by for us to see. It's a 2017 Toyota Highlander and it looks brand new and the grands were so excited to get it. Wow what a great buy for them and now it should be great for their ride to Kansas the end of May, plus they will have room for Rocky in the very back.

Well that was about it for this day so I hit the shower and watched a little of the Mountain Men show on the ROKU until lights out at 10 for me. Nancy seems to be responding to the pill for the UTI and hopefully recovers, LATER

Monday Morning April 22nd

Well Sunday morning started out with my usual well before 6 rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet times to honor my lord JESUS, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All seem to be holding at this time. Nancy wasn't a 100% with her UTI and she needed a different antibiotic but decided to wait until after church and lunch to purchase a different one from Publix since Walgreens now closes here on Sundays, oh well.

We headed off to SRBC after watching Cornerstone Chapel on line where we both volunteered at the door and guest connections. Afterwards we met up with the Botbyl's and Tracy's at Outback for a delicious lunch then headed over to Publix to pick up her new prescription. Hopefully this one works better than the last once which really upset her tummy but did cut the edge off her pain. I'm sure hoping she is cured by the time she sets in the truck for a 12 hour ride to the mountains. We will make plenty of stops along the way but setting that long is quite a chore. We are down to just 3 more Sunday's at SRBC as time is moving right along.

Nancy decided to not attend the SRBC volunteer supper so I went alone and met up with several new friends as well as some old friends. All wondered and were concerned about Nancy's issues, but when I got home we decided to walk up to the Botbyl's for a card game which the gals won big again. I had watched the Ray's and The Lightning lose during the afternoon. Amy came by for the cake Nancy made and it sold at auction for 150 bucks for the fund raiser for the youths. I blessed Amy with some already cleaned lettuces and tomato's as well.

That was about it for Sunday as we start a new week with some pickleball this morning and then Nancy back to the doctor's office on Tuesday for an endoscopy to see if her ulcer has healed. We are supposed to go to Bradenton for Ava's game on Tuesday evening but not sure if she is up for the trip but this evening our life group meets at the Walters place in Largo for supper,  LATER

Sunday Morning April 21st

 Well Saturday was a busy day with the heat and humidity rearing its ugly head and which makes me even more ready for the mountains. I started the day with my well before 6 roll out to my routines that start with some quiet moments to honor my lord JESUS, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. I did learn from FaceBook where an associate of mine from SFBC had passed away and I'm thinking he was several years younger than myself. Everyone else seems to be holding and Helen sounds so much stronger and I'll bet she goes back to her cabin to live out her days.

After breakfast I fired up the lawn mower and mowed both front and back yards and worked up a sweat as well. The humidity is back with vengeance. I piddled around hand watering and harvesting 4 heads of lettuces that were maturing and then headed in to clean and spin them dry for the salad bowl. I have one more head to harvest in a couple days but that will just about do it for this season except where I cut the heads off a week ago they have begun to sprout new small leaves, so just maybe I'll be able to harvest a few leaves as they mature. That is a first for me, so next year after cutting the heads off I'll leave the roots in the ground and water them for more lettuce leaves. I usually pull the stems and roots out but I know better next year, oh well.

After cleaning and spinning dry the harvested lettuces I headed in to check on the world and see where the FBI is actually notifying us that Chinese hackers have the ability and where withal to disrupt our infrastructure, but this inept administration is doing nothing to keep us safe. Its biden and obama's plan all along to destroy America and we are seeing that daily in our nation. I'm so sick and tired of these corrupt politicians in this administration who are selling out the nation and doing every thing possible to keep Trump from running the nation and exposing their corruption. I'm beginning to think even the republicans are in collusion with the democrats to keep him out of being Potus once again. They just just make me ill and disillusioned with politics in general. Are there no one with any love of country anymore in higher places of gov't.

Bobby and Katie came by with the twins for a short visit as they were meeting up with two other couples for a day on the water in a new boat and a house boat. The twins were so cute and were full of hugs and love. They were here for just an hour or so and we filled them up with snacks. After they left I tuned into the Ray's game and they won in extra innings over the Yank's in N.Y. 2-0. They finally got some decent pitching especially with a closer. Nancy was in the kitchen making two cakes for the youth fund raiser at SFBC as the first cake didn't do well coming out of the pans.

She was back to having some UTI issues later in the evening and we almost headed out to the E.R. but she decided to wait until this morning to see if she could get a different anti biotic as this one gives her diarrhea, oh well. She already has tummy issues and may have to forgo some events if she continues with this pill. She is hoping once the urgent care opens this morning they can call in a different pill for her and if not she will wait until Monday to see her regular doctor.

Well I grilled some delicious deer burgers for our supper and have enough leftover for a couple of lunches. I'm hoping when we get to the mountains neighbor Gerald will bless us with more venison which he usually does, since he hunts them on our property each fall. The meat is so delicious and I say its because they eat my garden through out the summer months, LATER

Saturday Morning April 20th

 Well less than a month and we should be at the cabin with some coolness in the air. Its starting to really heat up here despite nice mornings but the middle of the day has become very hot and humid starting yesterday, oh well. We do need some rain as the lawns are turning to straw. I started Friday with my usual well before 6 rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet times to honor my lord Jesus, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. Nancy needs some prayers as she is having a UTI and she believes it has to do with the kidneys due to the back pain. I took her to an urgent care facility near us and the urine test revealed that was the cause of the pain, so they prescribed an anti-biotic for her to take for a week. Hopefully that takes care of her problem.

I headed out around 8 ish for the REC to meet up with two other players and we carpooled down to Walter Fuller Rec in St. Pete to play indoors with some very nice players on their pickle ball courts. We played several matches and when we left around 11:30 I was whupped with a total wet shirt. Nancy was still off with sister Betsy shopping for more shower floor tile which is the third time and the price was 3 times what I really liked and we had purchased and took back again, oh well. Betsy has to have her way when it comes to shopping with Nancy and is constantly pushing her ideas, oh well.

I fried up a pound of bacon we had frozen and brought back from Virginia last summer. Wow is the bacon ever the best and we made BLT's for a late lunch using her whole wheat bread she baked the day before. I used our tomato's and lettuces from the garden and the BLT's were excellent which really held us the rest of the day except for some snacks after getting back from the clinic. The bread is heavy and hearty and we each had two for lunch around 1:30 so we weren't hungry. We headed over around 3 ish to play cards with Steve and Sheri to teach them the new version of hand, knee and foot and we finished the third round when Nancy's pain became so bad we left early and headed to the clinic on the way home. We were there a good hour and half before we were able to leave and then I later went out for her prescription. She seemed a little better as the evening wore on with heating pads around her back area.

I watched the Ray's lose again after pulling the starting pitcher and the two errors led to scores by the Yanks and they held on to win 5-3, oh well, LATER

Friday Morning April 19th

Well we are exactly one month until departure for the mountains and I'm getting antsy with the move as there is lots to do before we leave for 5 months. The heat and humidity was back yesterday which makes it easier to leave for the coolness of the altitude of over 3k feet.

I started the day with my usual well before 6 rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet time to honor my lord JESUS, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name. All are holding and Helen sounds much stronger and is doing rehab quite well according to her. Rick her son is back home but will head back up in a week or so according to her and get her into some place as she continues rehab. From what she says she might be able to go back to her cabin but she will need some assistance at least at first, oh well.

I headed out on my bike to the REC and got in once again two good hours of inside pickle ball play and left whupped with a wet shirt. The knee still aches a little but I'm keeping in wrapped and hopefully it will stop aching completely while playing, before we head to the mountains where I will hike daily even if its just up and down the steep driveway. I will have lots of work to do once I get there and want the knee strong.

I piddled around in the gardens harvesting more lettuces as they mature and bagging them for future salads and did harvest a vey nice egg plant for our supper which was awesome with some of Nancy's home made baked whole wheat breads. She did a fine job on a new recipe and it was beautiful but didn't have a whole lot of taste and I think thats because we are so use to eating bakery bread which has tons of fillers, oh well. I headed out after supper for the mens Bible class at SRBC along with 15 or so other men. Dan didn't go as he had a family event. I did watch the Ray's beat the Angels in an afternoon game 2-1, so they are still above .500 baseball but they head to N.Y. and play the lead leading Yanks tonight, LATER

Thursday Morning April 18 th

 Well Wednesday morning was just beautiful to be outside in the crisp air and then again as evening wore on. Just beautiful. The middle of the day was a bit hot but not unbearable just yet with little humidity. I started the day with my well before 6 rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet time to honor my lord JESUS, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All seem to be holding at this time.

I headed out on my bike to the REC for two plus hours of pickle ball play, all outside with 5 other good players and got in a great workout leaving whupped with a wet shirt. I made a stop at the library for new Jeanette Walls read titled THE SILVER STAR. Wow, what another page turner as was the last book titled HANG THE MOON. She is a fantastic writer and story teller. I read nearly half of this book throughout the afternoon.

I hand watered the gardens and once again gave away lettuces that were maturing as well as some tomato's that had ripened and the fruit flies didn't destroy. They were mainly a lot smaller ones but oh so tasty. I still have a couple large ones ripening for sandwiches which aren't as tasty as these smaller ones I use for salads, etc. The fresh beets we had were so delicious and two made enough for two meals after Nancy had sliced them thin and cooked them win butter, yeow so tasty. I have three more smaller ones to harvest and eat along a couple egg plants. They are still on the plant and we will fry as well.

Well we took back the flooring tile for the new bathrooms for the second time after Betsy came by and convinced Nancy she needed a different one. I'm starting to hate this project as this woman is a pain in the rear with her ideas and Nancy goes along with it. I'll be glad when its over as its becoming an event that's no longer fun or interesting to be a part of. We took back the tile at Home Depot and headed to Ava's regional playoff game at Keswick against a school from Lee County, Fl. We beat them 53-0 in a game that saw us with several interceptions and run backs for scores. What a whupping and lets hope we can continue next Tuesday as we travel across the Skyway Bridge to Bradenton. The Ray's lost again after being ahead in the last inning with poor pitching, LATER

Wednesday Morning April 17 th

Well the count down continues with 32 day until departure and I'm getting antsy about all I want to accomplish before we leave and then again once we get there. The garden(s) are a major issue both here and there as this one is slowly giving up this season. I'm still harvesting a few tomato's, collards, lettuces and egg plants but most everything is going away for this year as its dry and hot. Not real stifling hot but up into the upper 80's low 90's. I'm still hand watering twice a day.

I started the day with my usual well before 6 and sometimes before 5:30 rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet moments to honor my lord JESUS, give thanks for another day and to lift up several we know who are hurting. All seem to be doing as well as can be expected with their health issues. Nancy seems to be doing better after a bout of something on Monday evening. She cancelled her chiro appointment for Tuesday but rescheduled for today. 

I headed out around 7:30 for the Rec and played both inside for half an hour but ended up outside for close to two hours of play with all really good players. What a different game outside than inside especially when dealing with both the sun and wind. I left with a wet shirt and whupped and had to face the stiff breeze on the way home. I quickly recovered and hand watered the gardens and hoed some weeds as well as harvested a couple tomato's the fruit flies had destroyed. I covered some other fruits with Sevin dust in hopes of saving them.

After a late lunch of leftover bean soup and corn bread I headed in to watch the war in Israel and listened to some of the hearing on this idiot in home land security who is impeached by the House. He and biden have made it their job to open up the borders for those who hate US(A) and are destroying our economy and who they will give voting rights to because patriots of this nation would never vote for these crooks, so they have imported voters. Its criminal and treasonous and now they are doing everything to cripple Israel in their response to the Iranians who biden also supports. GOD HELP US(A).

Well I tuned into the Ray's game after supper and they have no pitching and their bats have gone cold as well so I switched and watched a Mountain Man show on the Roku until lights out at 10, LATER

Tuesday Morning April 16th

Well Monday was a busy day that started with my well before 6 roll out to my routines that begin with some quiet times to honor my lord JESUS, give thanks for another day and to lift up several we know who are hurting. Most are doing well but one of those had a heart attack yesterday and is in the hospital and my Nancy is having some issues after having an MRI yesterday with her back and now some other issues. Everyone else is holding as of this post.

I headed out on my bike to the Rec at 7:30 for over two hours of pickle ball play with the first half hour inside until so many intermediates filled the courts, so 4 of us advanced players headed outside and played for another close to 2 hours. It was a beautiful morning but the sunshine soon had our shirts wet with sweat and I left whupped a little after 10.

I did some honey do's after getting home as Nancy was off to her appointment and then I worked in the gardens getting rid of the tomato plants that were through and chopping the plants up in to small pieces so the worms can work them down into plant food. I'll soon put the several large bags of leaves on the garden and work them into the ground as well when I finish with harvesting the lettuces and carrots which need to be dug up. I have a couple tomato plants on the side garden which came in late and still has several nice green 'maters so I dusted them with Sevin as the fruit flies found several over the weekend and tuned them to mush. I dug a couple beets and we will have them tonight for supper.

After a lunch of a garden salad I headed in to watch the news from Israel and see where this current potus is warning Israel not to go against the Iranians after these terrorists lobed over 300 bombs at Israel. What is his thinking and I sure hope the gov't of Israel doesn't listen to him because these terrorists will only become more embolden if they are not put down for their incursion into Israel. We have such a corrupt potus that its almost laughable for his ineptness and we all know Obama is pulling the strings because he is a devout muslim and the Iranians are muslim or at least the leadership is. Such brutal animals that suppress their own people along with their proxies Hamas, Hezbollah and the group in Yemen.

Well after a supper of dried beans and ham with corn bread we headed in to watch the Rays lose the opener against the Angels after leading for most of the game, once again our manager changed pitchers and the relief one gave the game away with walks and homers, oh well its still early in the season and we are still above .500 in the league, LATER

Monday Morning April 15th

Well Sunday was almost another perfect day with moderate temps and a breeze that seemed to keep the humidity at bay with lots of Florida sunshine. We could use a little rain as I''m hand watering the gardens at least twice a day, what little I have left. I did take several veggies to some older folks at church whom we have adopted. I gave them an egg plant, lettuces, collards and tomato's. I started the day with my 5:30 ish rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet time to honor JESUS, give thanks for another day and to lift us several by name for comfort and healing. All seem to be holding with this post.

We got ready and headed out to SRBC after watching Cornerstone Church on line and heard a missionary give a great message, who invited any and all to the mission field with no age limit. Nancy and I both worked the front door greeting, hand shaking and hugging those who came through that main door. We love our jobs and I also act as a safety or security officer with my expertise on suspect persons who may not be followers of christians. We have several who do that as well as a uniform deputy on the premises. Occasionally we ask folks to leave and one in the first service caused a ruckus and was escorted away by the deputy. So far I haven't noticed any terrorists at our church.

We met up with Dan and Carol at a new eatery in the Seminole mall called Cava which specializes in mediterranean food and it was rather nice and a little pricey but so healthy for you. We ate outside on their patio. It was fast as you go through a line and they fill your bowl with whatever you want. Afterwards we came back and cleaned house as we invited them down to teach us a new card game which is a modification of hand and foot but so much more detailed called hand, knee and foot. It takes a couple hours to play the game and the score was in the upper thousands as the gals slammed us. A lot of strategy involved in this game using extra decks of cards as well.

The Rays came back after losing big on Saturday to win big on Sunday with lots of homers against the Giants. The Lightning start their Stanley Cup playoff series this week against Boston who is rated number one and we are counting down to departure for the mountains at 34 days, LATER

Sunday Morning April 14th

Well this month is half gone and we are looking at just over 4 weeks until we leave for the cabin. I'm getting excited about heading north into higher elevation and getting the yards and gardens worked up for planting and sowing. The heat here hasn't been too bad but its dry and the garden is starting to come to its  end as two tomato plants have died and dried up but I did harvest most of the fruit the flies haven't destroyed. I'll give away another sack of collards, lettuces, tomato's and an egg plant this morning at church.

I started the day on Saturday with my usual well before 6 rollout to my routines that start with some quiet time to honor my lord JESUS, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All seem to be holding and even Helen sounds much stronger almost daily. Just maybe there is a chance she can return to her cabin but probably only with a live in help or some one who comes daily to assist and help her.

We had to be the other side of Tampa to Brandon at 9 AM so we headed out at 8 and made it there in about 50 minutes to watch the twins t-ball game. I actually helped in the field as one coach was absent to remind the kids to run the bases and where to throw the ball. It was fun and Bobby's team has some good players who are learning from his coaching skills. Both boys hit the ball while he was pitching and they made some glove stops as well. It was a fun time for an hour then we headed home around 111:30 for a bite of lunch before heading to north Clearwater for Gabe's game. They lost the first game and then the game we attended after some costly errors in the field by a single run. I'm not sure on their coach's skills and teaching, who use to help Bobby coach the teams in the past but because Bobby is gone so much he couldn't coach this team, oh well. It got rather warm with temps in the low 90's but a nice breeze kept in bearable.

We made a stop at a flooring place that Betsy pointed out to us, but despite the shower flooring tile she picked out it was too slick for us to change out so we are going with the one we had already purchased. We still have several purchases to make before we leave for our friend who is redoing both bathrooms while we are in the mountains. We got back around 4:30 and I settled into the Ray's game which turned out to be a blow out by the Giants and then the Lightning lost as well in D.C. It wasn't a good day for Tampa sports.

I did watch some of the war in Israel which the Iranians are now bombing with missiles and drones. So far they have failed as Israel has in place great defenses. Now I hope Israel takes out these terrorists and destroys their nuclear capabilities of making a weapon. They are such radical muslim terrorists who are evil. Today is church day at SRBC and I believe we have 4 more Sundays to welcome folks at the front door before we leave on a Sunday which is the 19th of May, LATER

Saturday Morning April 13th

 Well Friday was a busy day that started with a well before 6 rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet moments to honor my lord JESUS, give thanks for another day and to lift up several for comfort and healing. All are holding as of this post. We spoke with Helen and she seems to be getting stronger daily and she mentioned she has just two more weeks in the rehab place and then she must make other arrangements.

I met up with another pickle ball pal and I rode with him to the St. Pete Rec gym and got in another couple hours of good play with advanced players there. I'm welcomed there by many players and won most of my matches before leaving around 10:30 and headed home. Nancy was off to her chiro visit and then shopping so I worked in the gardens, hand watering and harvested leafy greens for the salad bowl. I cleaned them and then broke them up and made a nice salad. I gave away another bunch of tomato's to neighbors and will take a sack of them to church on Sunday. They are winding down but on the side garden I still have a couple plants producing green 'maters. The garden proper is just about over as the vines are dying along with several other plants. It's that time of the year when the heat takes over, oh well.

Neighbor Dan called and needed some help for an hour after lunch in moving a couch/love seat into one of the apartments for ETC, so I headed out to help him and then afterwards I made a trip to Sam's to gas up at 3.43 a gallon. Outrageous once again with the cost of a gallon of gas. This corrupt administration is doing all it can to destroy US(A). I only hope all those who love this nation, stand up and vote this inept man and his minions out of power in November; if that doesn't happen then we will have lost this nation forever until there is another civil war, which looks like it may happen with all of the illegals pouring into the land. Most all of them are young males, fighting age.

Today we head over to Brandon for the twins t-ball game and then to Clearwater to watch Gabe play baseball. It will be another busy day no doubt. We headed up to play cards after supper with the Botbyl's and the gals won in Euchre big. We got back in time to watch the Ray's win over the Giants 2-1 in a close game at the Trop, LATER

Friday Morning April 12th

 Well Thursday brought us all kinds of weather some at times severe with winds and down pours of rain and then bright sunshine and clear skies and very calm. The temps were cooled off to make it quite pleasant by days end. I had started the day with my well before 6 rollout to my usual routines that begin with some quiet times to honor my lord JESUS, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for healing. All seem to be holding with this post. We spoke with Helen and she sounded a little stronger each day and is now up and walking with a walker I'm sure, but going to the bathroom on her own which is fantastic for her age and health issues.

I headed out on my bike to the Rec for two hours of good pickle ball play with all decent players for a change and got in a great workout.I headed home with a strong breeze to my back which made for great pedaling for a change which the wind usually hit me head on from the north. I think our severe weather heading our way was coming from the south. I did piddle around in the gardens hand watering briefly as the skies did look like rain which stayed away for another couple hours. I harvested a couple more tomato's that were starting to turn before the fruit flies lay their eggs in them.

I have a couple egg plants that need harvesting as well as several heads of butter crunch lettuces. I'm giving away collards, lettuces, and tomato's on Sunday for friends at church as they need to be eaten before over maturing. Its been a great abundance of veggies these last couple of months and I will fill our salad bowl again today as well. Then I will break down whats left and add the sacks of oak leaves and then turn them under with my new electric rotor-tiller before we leave for the cabin the 19th of May. So much to do before then but I'm looking forward to getting there and putting the cabin in order once again as we have the Ross Family towards the end of May and to get my summer garden planted.

I finished the book HANG THE MOON and it a real page turner about life back at the turn of century and I'm sure most of it is based on real life adventures and stories from that era and while its set in the time frame much of it fits in today's family issues and society. It just a great read and she is a great story teller. I started a new read by J.D.Robb which is also turning out to be a good read. I'm not sure I've read much of his works but he tells a good story as well and this one is about LEO's and issues in a large metro department that is either a murder or otherwise a suicide which happens frequently with that career, oh well.

I had my mens Bible study with about 15 or so other fellers at 6:30 so Dan picked me up as we take turns driving which is just 10 minutes from our houses. It was a good study on grief and hope as presented to us by a pastor on video that both are gifts from our Creator. It was nearly 8:30 before getting home and watching the end of the Lightning game which was a tough one and they lost in a shoot out to a Canadian team from Ottawa. The Lightning are still in the mix to make the playoffs next week, LATER

Thursday Morning April 11th

 Well Wednesday was a busy fun filled day with a great mid week message from our pastor on envy or covetness which happens to be the last commandment GOD gave to Moses. I had started the day with my usual well before 6 rollout to my usual routines that begin with some quiet times to honor my lord JESUS, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name. We spoke with Helen and she is doing awesome for one at her age. She manages to get out of bed and use the bathroom on her own which is unbelievable for her age and health issues. We spoke with her and her son Rick and he is taking it one day at a time on what will happen to her once she is out of rehab. I know she wants to go back home but that will be a big issue on whether she can be alone again, oh well. 

I headed out on my bike to the Rec for some two plus hours of great pickle ball play. The first half hour was inside then 4 of us moved to the outside court for some great play despite the wind which got stronger as the morning progressed. What a great workout and today we will be inside with all advanced players whereas yesterday it was a mixture but a wait time which is when we decided to forgo that and head outside.

I came back and piddled around in the gardens harvesting green beans and tomato's the fruit flies haven't destroyed. They are back with vengeance and I buried several tomato's they had ruined. I did manage to harvest a handful as well before they ripened totally which helps with keeping the flies from ruining them, oh well. I'm trying not to use in Sevin dust but my have to if they continue to destroy so many fruits. Nancy didn't go anywhere today so we had lunch and then I settled into reading the afternoon away and have just about finished the new read which is an awesome read on real life back at the turn of the century and really what life is like today with all of the family issues we face many of which are so true today.

We had an early supper of fresh green beams, squash and ham and then our neighbor brought over a plate of fried fish, hush puppies and key lime pie as we pulled in the driveway from church at 8'ish. Wow did that ever smell great and we decided we would reheat it today for our supper before I head off to my mens Bible class at 6:30. Nancy has her women's Bible class this morning while I'm at pickle ball.

On a sad note we got word that Dee and Mike's pup Bonnie had passed away yesterday at the age of 15. She had slowed down when we just saw her a week or so ago. I know they are heart broken as are we because she was a major part of their lives, but such is life, LATER 

Wednesday Morning April 10th

 Well we are down to 39 days before leaving for the mountains and I'm ready, although the heat and humidity hasn't been bad but the skitters are back as we sat out at the stadium watching Ava's flag football game. They lost their second game of the season by a point after winning the night before by 45 points, oh well. What's the old saying "on any given day any team can win". 

I started the day with my now usual before 5:30 rollout, it seems that's when I have to use the potty for the first time during the night which is a blessing so I just stay up and do my quiet time to honor my lord JESUS then lift up several by name for comfort and healing before getting ready to ride out to the Rec at 7:30 for pickle ball. We had a good crowd of players all are some what advanced. I got in several matches or sets with different partners winning most all of them and left whupped around 10. I made a stop at the library for a couple of new reads and found one female author I had read a few years back who writes very well. Jeanette Walls has a new read titled HANG THE MOON which is a page turner that is set round the turn of the 20th century in rural Virginia. Great read thus far and I can not put it down.

I worked in the gardens pulling some weeds that grow despite the dryness which I'm back to watering twice a day. I need to harvest green beans and beets today as well as more lettuces and tomato's. All of the above are maturing daily as I make this post. I gave away more 'maters and leafy greens as well as egg plants yesterday and will take a sack of 'maters to give away to my pickle ball buddies this morning. Nancy was off to her chiropractor and then to the hair dresser so I had the morning to myself until early afternoon. I had a fresh garden salad for lunch and then some leftovers for an early supper as we headed out to the game at Keswick. It was a hard fought game with some questionable calls by the ref's who were teachers at the school we were playing. A conflict of interest there, I think so but I think we are still in the playoffs despite this loss, oh well.

It was going on 9 before we got home so it was shower time and then some ROKU before lights out a little before 10, LATER

Tuesday Morning April 9th

 Well it looks as if this eclipse held no surprises as the moon covered the sun for a few minutes. There were some big predictions but it seems as if it was just another day in time, sort of reminds me of those scammers on climate change and all of their dire predictions, oh well. I started the day on Monday with a 5:30 AM rollout which has me awake at that time daily now for some reason, so I get up and do my morning routines that begin with some quiet time to honor my LORD JESUS, give thanks for another day and then lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All are holding as of this post. We did speak with Helen and she seemed in good spirits unlike the last time we spoke with her.

I headed out around 7:30 on my bike on this some what cool morning to the REC for some two hours plus of pickle ball. It was a mixture of some good players with some intermediates but mainly I was there for the exercise and got plenty. I came home and piddled around in the gardens once again harvesting some tomato's and finding several the fruit flies had made their presence known. I buried at least a dozen they had ruined into the ground. I harvested some lettuces and then gave away another egg plant as well as more lettuces and tomato's last evening to some in our life group.

Nancy was in the house cleaning mode as we were hosting 10 folks for supper and then talk about Sunday's sermon with our life group. Our group had everyone at least once to the cabin over the years except for one couple whose son played in our Bobby's band back in the days when they were in high school, so many in our group go way back in history together. I helped with the house cleaning by vacuuming and some other honey do's.

I grilled burgers and dogs for the main entree and everyone else brought a dish to add to the plate; tater salad, Cole slaw and baked beans and Carole made a delicious lemon cake which I had top pieces. Lemon is a weakness for me and I just love it. Well it was after 8 before everyone finally left and we put the kitchen back in order and I hit the shower and then watched some basketball on the ROKU in the bedroom. I managed to make it through to half time but then it was lights out for me at a little after 10, LATER

Monday Morning Apr 8th..Eclipse Day

 Well Sunday was a busy fun filled with the twins and a worship day at SRBC. I started out the day with my usual well before 6 rollout to my routines that start with some quiet times to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All seem to be holding with this post. The twins slept in until 7'ish then it was on the go the rest of the day with them as they are bundles of energy. They eat rather well but are opposites of each other as one likes sweets and the other one doesn't, one likes meat and the other fruits and veggies, etc. I could go on and on as they are almost polar opposites even with one left handed and the other right handed. But they are sweet boys and just that at times boys as they like to rough house and carry on with jumping on the couches, etc. We played in the back yard before church to help get rid of all their energy after watching the cartoon show Paw Patrol which is a good mellow show unlike the cartoons we grew up with, like the Road Runner, oh well.

They did great at church in their class with several other kids their ages and seemed to have a good time and didn't really want to leave. We took them through the main church to show them the size of the auditorium. We heard a great message from our pastor Derek before heading home and giving the boys a snack lunch of frozen pizza and fruits. Bobby and Katie came around 4'ish and we later had a fresh salad along with hot dogs on the grille and tater tots. They finished up the leftover cheesecake from Friday which saved me from eating it. They stayed until close to 7 before heading home as he right now is on the way to the airport for a flight out to Houston this morning with his job. Thankfully he still he has a job as the high interest rates are hurting his company, but his division is successful so he is hanging on despite several layoffs in the company at corporate level.

Well I watched the Iowa gals lose in a good game to S.Carolina and now the Purdue team plays tonight in a tough game as well. The Ray's held on to win in Colorado as their pitching staff is suspect this year thus far, LATER

Sunday Morning April 7th

 Well Saturday started off on a sad note as we had no internet for over 8 hours and I was down in the dumps. That's how much we have become dependent upon it and if I were an enemy of America I would disable that first. I couldn't check any of my usual morning activities plus was unable to post my blog and check any accounts, yikes. Seems there was an accidental cutting of some lines which shut down our area and it took some major efforts to get us back, plus we had no TV either, oh well.

I started the day with a well before 6 rollout to my routines except for any lap top work. I did my quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift several up for comfort and healing. We did speak with Helen who seemed a little better at the rehab place and we could tell she is still on pain relievers. Rick her son had come back up from Florida to be with her and that seemed to help with her healing as well. Everyone else is holding to the best of my knowledge.

I headed out to hand water the gardens and to harvest once again more ripening tomato's. I'm starting to see some fruit fly damage on some of the tomato's as well and I had to pick and bury the damaged ones in the garden. I did harvest a couple egg plants for neighbor Carol and then took a sack of lettuces and tomato's across the street for Andrew and Melissa who bought and now renovated Carol and Bill Heckman's place. It sure is beautiful inside the new kitchen.

I read where I usually do lap top perusing and send messages via Facebook and Twitter. It seems this Biden administration is now turning its back on Israel which is understandable because they have turned their backs on us Americans as we plunge deeper in debt with the economy and crime in the streets. The border continues to be so open thousands of now mostly criminals are descending into our land. I'm sure there is going to be another civil war if this continues with Biden and Obama running the country. The whole democrat party is corrupt along with several rino's who only care about getting re-elected and packing their bank accounts.

Well we got the twins around 4:30 and we played outside both before and after supper. We took a hike around the block with one of them running and the other on their scooter. We did some soccer ball kicking in the back yard and then visited with neighbor Bobby who likes to show the boys his bee hives which they found interesting. We learned their is a wild bee hive in the huge tree behind our yard and its filled with a huge nest as well. After a supper of green beans, noodles(they call linguine) and shrimp which they love we took the hike and played until nearly dark. After baths Nancy read several books to them and then around 9 we put them down on a pallet for sleep. They are sleeping this morning as I make this post.

We will take them to our church today and then Bobby will pick them up sometime around 3'ish when we will have a late lunch/early supper. Thats about it for the day, LATER

Saturday Morning April 6th

 Well Friday was another busy fun filled day with very nice temps, actually I wore a flannel shirt on my 7:30 bike ride to the Red as it was quite cool but by the time I left around 10 it had warmed up considerably. The breeze kept it very nice to be outside even during the afternoon when its usually unbearable to be outside.

I had started the day with a well before 6 rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name. All are holding at this moment. We didn't hear back from Helen today although we left her a message on her phone. She had been having some bad days with pain the last two so maybe she didn't feel like calling us back, oh well. I headed out on my bike to the REC for two plus hours of pickle ball play first inside until so many came that you had to wait, so 4 of us headed outside to play 6 sets and by then I was worn down and whupped. It was a struggle to pedal home against a breeze which came on stronger during the morning.

I piddled around in the gardens hand watering and then harvesting left greens for the salad bowl and then cleaned them after washing a load of laundry and hanging them outside on the clothesline. Nancy was off to see her chiropractor and would get back just before lunch. I cleaned the leafy greens and spun them dry before breaking them up into the salad bowl and then we had some lunch after she got back.

After lunch I vegetated on the lap top watching the war in Israel which this inept potus of ours wants them to stop and let Hamas regroup. What these terrorists did to innocent folks is appalling and to think they should not be eradicated is appalling. Biden needs to be replaced immediately for treason to his own country and now to Israel our only friend in the mid-east. Obama is behind is decision who a muslim and most of the mid-east is just that, muslim who hates anyone that doesn't bow down to their false prophets edicts in their ideology

Friday Morning April 5th

 Well Thursday started out much the usual with a well before 6 rollout and it turned out to be a very nice day with moderate temps, a breeze and very little humidity. I started the morning with some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name, all seem to be holding even Helen who is in the rehab facility. Its been nearly 10 days since she fell and had her hip replaced.

I headed out on my bike around 7:30 to the REC for close to two solid hours of pickle ball and got in a great workout. I made a stop at the library on the way home for a couple new reads. Nancy was off to her women's Bible study group with a luncheon afterwards, so I was on my own for lunch. I hand watered the gardens despite the rain the day before and gave away some lettuces and tomato's to neighbor Carol and Michael. They were pleased and they to loved the ugly tomato's and their taste. I'm not sure what they are called but I had some seeds from some plants at the cabin and while they grown large its almost like they are in segments but their flavor is very good.

Tyler was picking me up after 12 to help with bringing back the new truck for Ava. She wanted a Toyota Tacoma and he found one in Plant City which was pristine for a 14 year old vehicle with almost 160 k miles. The fellow who sold it to us had all the paper work on its history and had kept it in great shape which will be perfect for her. We took it for a test drive and it ran smooth and was tight in the frame as well with no oil or fluid leaks and the a/c blew cold as well. He was asking 13K but sold it to us for 12 1/2 K. It has a topper on it but they took that off and hopes to sell it later. The owner mentioned he may want it back at a later date.

I got back home around 4'ish after huge traffic delays on I-4 as the roads are just so congested with all the folks moving to central Florida. We were having our men's Bible class at 6:30 so I picked up Dan and we headed out and got home around 8:30. I tuned into the Lightning game and they were beating the Canadians by a huge score. I soon hit the shower and was ready for some horizontal lab at 10, LATER

Thursday Morning April 4th

Well Wednesday was another nice day and we got some much needed rain in the afternoon and evening, so much that we were relegated to the house from noon on until we headed out around 6:30 for our church meeting. We entertained sister Dee and Mike during that time period with a delicious lunch then some card games of which the gals won 2 out of 3 games. It was a fun time as we always enjoy each other and of course their pup Bonnie who is now 15 years old and is slowing down. 

I started the day with a well before 6 rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet times to give thanks for another and to honor my LORD while lifting up several by name. Helen is still hurting and in much pain at the rehab as we spoke to her in the afternoon. Everyone else is holding as of this post. Nancy was off to her chiro appointment so I caught up on some issues on line with social media and of course voiced my concerns for whats happening to our great nation with this corrupt administration. Its such a shame and down right despicable what they are doing to destroy the very fabric of our country. Thankfully we still have some great speakers and preachers who are not afraid to speak out against these woke libs in the gov't and the vile MSM which are complicit with the corruption of these career politicians. Now we are abandoning Israel and caving to these barbarians who want nothing more than to wipe us and our friends and allies from the earth. Its unbelievable, oh well I must keep the faith that GOD will intervene and save the nation.

Our time with Dee and Mike is always great and fun as they are down visiting with daughter Kelly and family in Tampa and then they are heading to Nebraska to visit daughter Halley Jo and family. At least our kids are close which saves us a lot of driving. She brought with her a bracelet I bought for her in Thailand back in the 60's when I was flying with the USAF and gave it to her as a kid. She had it cleaned and made a present of it to our grand daughter Ava. I thought that was so sweet and so sentimental for her to do that.

 After a delicious lunch of chicken salad, crusty bread and fruit salad we settled into playing Euchre and the guys came from behind to win the only game of the day. The two hand and foot games were just a beat down to the guys as we didn't finish either game as the gals were that far ahead by such a score, oh well. It was a great time of family fellowship and we hopefully will see them at the cabin this summer, LATER

Wednesday Morning April 3rd

 Well we are getting closer to a date for leaving for the mountains which is about 46 days or less if I'm correct, anyhow I'm ready for some less traffic on the road and of course less heat and humidity which is starting to show its appearance. I started the day with my usual well before 6  rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet time to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name. All are holding as of this post. We spoke with our "mountain mom" and she was hurting and miserable but she did get a beautiful bunch of flowers from us which helped to cheer her up and by late evening we spoke to her again and she must have received some pain meds as she seemed much better. I sure hope she survives this being inactive which usually results in pneumonia, especially at her age.

I headed out on my bike round 7:30 for some two plus hours of good pickle ball play with all good players and left whupped and with a wet shirt. The knee held up after twisting it sometime last week but I'm wearing a knee brace to give it some support. I've done this before but now I'm using more precaution with taking a day off from time to time, so today Wednesday I'll give it rest so I can play with good players again on Thursday.

We didn't leave the house on Tuesday as Nancy washed clothes and I hung them outside on the line then picked green beans for supper along with some parsley(from the garden) tatters and leftover Easter ham,  delicious to say the least. I had a delicious garden salad for lunch with one of my many 'maters which I harvested 30 yesterday. I'm giving away them again today when Mike and Dee visit from Tampa and for them to take back to Kelly and family who are now stationed at MacDill AFB.

After supper we watched the Ray's beat the Rangers at the Trop and then headed in for some horizontal lab after a hot shower around 10'ish, LATER

Tuesday Morning April 2nd

Well Monday was another very nice day with just a slight chill in the morning and without any real humidity as it stayed in the low 80's. Almost another perfect winter day or now should I say spring day. I had started the day with my before 6 rollout to some quiet times to honor my LORD, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name. Helen is holding in the rehab facility in Elkin as we spoke with her after lunch. She still has a great sense of humor and chuckles several times through the conversation. Everyone else is holding as well.

I headed out on my bike around 7:30 for the Rec for two plus hours of pickle ball most of which was outside on the one court with a mix of 6 really nice players. We played hard in the sun and slight breeze which was awesome. I left around 10:30 for home with a stop off at the library to return a book. Nancy was off to her chiro appointment in St Pete so I hand watered the gardens then harvested lettuces and some other leafy greens for the salad bowl and then harvested a mess of collards and lettuces for Amy who was coming by later in the day. 

I read the rest of the day after lunch and finished a Greg Olsen book titled CLOSER THAN BLOOD what a page turner that is and I'm sure its based on a true crime story about a black widow psychopath who kills for money. I read until supper time which was leftovers of squash casserole which was so tasty and left over grilled salmon. We still have ham leftover from Sunday so we will eat that along with some fresh green beans from the garden tonight. I had a nice garden salad for lunch with some home grown tomato's which are ripening as I speak. I gave away another sack full and have more to harvest today.

Well we tuned in to the women's college playoffs in basketball and watched the Iowa star beat the winners last year from LSU in a tough fought game. The final four is next week and we are pulling for this team and this gal. She holds all collegiate records in the game for points scored in a single season as well as assists. She and the team believe it or not are mainly composed of white players which is unlike the LSU team and many college teams which predominantly are of color, Oh well, LATER

Monday Morning April 1st

Well a new month and now just about 7 weeks or so we will be heading out for the summer to the cabin. We had a very nice Easter with awesome worship both on line and at our local SRBC. We had lots of new folks for the first time and nearly every seat was filled in our 800+ auditorium. Nancy and I worked the front door for the second service, meeting and greeting, which we both enjoy doing.

I had started the day with a before 6 rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet time to honor my LORD. give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name. All are holding as of this moment. I quickly vacuumed the house as I knew we didn't have much time before Bobby and family came around noon and when we got home from church. We were having both Bobby and Amy's families for lunch as he didn't have Annsley and Gabe only until 4 then they were headed for Jill's. Things seem to be working out between them in regard to the kids and when special days are shared, such as Easter. We ate and then the kids looked for plastic Easter eggs that Sam and Gabe hid in the back yard and opened their baskets  filled with goodies and candy that Nancy insists they all get each year, oh well. We had a gun time with them and they headed out jut before 3 along with Amy's family. I once agin vacuumed and helped put the hoiuse back in oder for the second group coming around 5'ish.

I grilled marinated chicken breast and Nancy had tatter tots for the kiddos as well as a huge fresh garden salad, tons of cheese's, eggs and beets and some vino flowed as well. The lunch was delicious and yet we knew we were doing another large meal around 5:30 with Amy's family and Tammy's family that featured squash casserole, mac and cheese, green bean casserole salad for some and huge carved ham. All was delicious to say the least and then Amy had made a 7 up pound cake with fresh strawberries and hipped cream for dessert. After cleaning off the table we played a couple of family games all of which was fun as we laughed and shared. Megan the oldest girl of Tammy's girls had to leave as she was dog sitting and it was after 8 when her, Rich and Brook headed back across the Skyway Bridge to home. We had a fun time and the eatin' was awesome.

I soon cleaned up the house putting it back in order and taking out the trash of which we filled several bags and then watched a little ROKU before lights out at 10, LATER