Thursday

Well the morning started out a little cooler than the past few morning with temps down in the middle 50's but eventually it warmed up to the middle 70's. After my quiet time and a couple poached eggs with some grits for breakfast I headed out to check the gardens. I now have a couple hills of sweet corn poking through the ground as well as a couple squash plants and I can see some color in the beet rows as well. That lite shower of rain on Tuesday really helped.

I headed out to the back woods yard and threw down a couple oak trees and then sawed them up in wood stove lengths for my neighbors up on the mountain. I'm trying to get a little more sun on the grass in that area of the yard and I spent a couple hours working that project before we had a bite of lunch. We finished up the last 2 burgers from Monday along with some corn chips and an iced sweet tea. We sat on the front porch and ate soaking in the wonderful breeze. After lunch I worked on the stump of an earlier oak I sawed down a couple years ago and it's finally starting to rot. We decided to take Joe up on his offer to share his collection of private papers and pictures of the Hatfield Family so we headed up the mountain on the golf cart to visit with Joe and Jetta Browning.

I mentioned in yesterday's blog about learning that Joe is the great grandson of William Anderson Hatfield better know as Devil Anse who was the patriarch of the Hatfield Family in the Logan, W.Va. area. Elizabeth was the 7th child of Devil Anse and was Joe's grandmother who pretty much raised him when he was a youngster. The feud between the Hatfield's and McCoy's is probably the most celebrated feud ever recorded and publicized and it extended since the end of the Civil War to 2003 when a formal declaration was signed ending the feud. Joe was the first signer to witness the declaration. The feud it's self was the most bloody for about 12 years or so according to Joe which left about 20 people dead all total over the century. Joe goes back to the Logan area every Memorial Day and has done so for the past 39 years to put flowers on the graves of his three brothers who are buried in the same cemetery that Devil Anse and several members of the immediate Hatfield Family are interred.

We had a great visit perusing several books of letters, photographs and newspaper reports of this family and of course what brought this interest to me was the History Channel special on the feud the past three nights. It was uncanny how the cast of characters in the special resembled the actual family members from the photos Joe had of his family members. This was studying real history and it was just great to read correspondence that was hand written in the 1880's between the family members. I noticed several documents where Devil Anse and his wife made their x's on the documents as neither of them could read or write. Joe's grandmother Elizabeth  and his mother Osa Caldwell read and wrote letters for the Hatfield patriarch. Many thanks to Joe and Jetta for sharing their family history and memorabilia with Nancy and myself. I will enclose some photos of photos of Joe's that he has acquired from his grandmother Elizabeth's personal belongings.

After getting back from Joe's I transplanted some Zinnias seedling I started last week just before it started to rain. We had a nice lite rain shower for about 30 minutes which dropped the temps quickly into the 60's. After a lite supper of boiled buttered red potato's  and a garden salad with Greek dressing we headed out to the mailbox on foot. We missed our hike for the day so this nearly mile walk made up for the hike to the top. We stopped off and visited with Russ and Linda from Ohio. They along with a friend and Shirley from just down the hill were hanging wall paper at Russ and Linda's cabin. Well it was a good walk or hike when you consider the steepness of the hills on our road and we got back a little after 8 PM, LATER

A little update on the photos; the first pic is of the total family with his 13 kids plus some grandchildren, Devil Anse is on the second row on the left with the full beard and his wife is next to him; second is of our neighbors Joe and Jetta; third shows his grandmother Elizabeth top right with her family the Caldwells; fourth shows Elizabeth  with Joe's mother, Osa who later married a Browning thus Joe's last name and her brother; fifth is of William Anderson(Devil Anse) Hatfield. He received his nickname when he was promoted to captain during the Civil War and received the commission at a place called Devil Knob; sixth is the life size marble statue of Devil Anse shipped from Italy at a price of $3500 at his place of internment in Sarah Ann, W.Va.; seventh is Joe's grandmothers key chain(blurry)

Wednesday

The morning was the warmest yet at around 62 degrees but a nice gentle breeze made it feel cooler. There was a heavy dew and as I walked around the yard after my quiet time and a cup of hot green tea I dug out my gum boots that are about calf high which were covered in wet dew. The night before we had about a 1/4 inch of rain so it was soaked outside plus the grass was about 6 inches or so high and needed to be cut. The gum boots were a nice addition to the shoe box as in past years my shoes would be soaked in no time. After a lite breakfast of oatmeal and fruit we got ready to head to Gala, Va to order Nancy's new glasses at Wal-Mart

We stopped and gassed up again and the price is holding at around $3.32 or so a gallon and then headed to the store. It will take about a week or so to fill the lens prescription and we will use her present frames as they are nice and in good shape and then order her a pair of reading glasses later as well. We did some shopping for some necessities then headed to Subway for lunch before leaving town. It was close 1'oclock before we got back to the cabin. We headed out to the top on a hike and saw our friends and neighbors The Browning's for the first time this year. We began to talk about various things and somehow the topic came up about the series on the History Channel about the great feud between the Hatfield's and McCoys and Joe enlightened us with first hand knowledge as he is the great-grandson of Devil Andes(Anderson) Hatfield on his mothers side. Wow were we ever interested so on Thursday we are going back up to take some pictures of his pictures and look over his memorabilia.

After our visit with Joe and Jetta we headed back to the cabin after completing the first full cycle of our usual hike and walk on top of the mountain. I would venture to say its at least a couple miles from start to finish or close to it. I fired up the golf cart and we took off to Helen's(mountain moms) for a visit there as well. Her place is looking great and she has one of Allegheny County's quilts that are being placed on out buildings throughout the county. That a neat way to spruce up the county and to displayed local artist's handiwork. We took a walk around her flower gardens and saw the beautiful job Andy Dalton did on the outer walk of her garage that had been eaten away by black ants, yikes those pests really did a number on real log walls.

We sat on the front porch and gandered out onto Bull Head Mountain and the surrounding hills and what a majestic sight however the warm sunshine made me so sleepy I was ready for a nap when the sound of  jets woke me up. The Air Force was flying low level practice flights right along side of her cabin which suddenly woke me up. They were going so fast and so low that by the time you heard the jet engines the plane itself was over the next hill as the sound came down to us, yikes they are a magnificent site and earth trembling as well. We could see our mountain in the distance from Helen's and observed a couple jets fly right over our place and then into the open towards her place. Sometimes they are so low when they go over our mountain you can actually see the pilot.

Well we headed back and got a supper of fried Swaii fillets, yellow rice and canned mixed greens(mustard and turnip). These Margaret Holmes seasoned greens are the best tasting actually better tasting than home prepared ones and just enough peppery to add some spark. Dewisheous as Annsley would say. After the cleanup(I wash) I headed out to fire up the riding mower and spent the next hour so so mowing the front and back yards. I left the woods yard for later then mulched the upper garden. It was close to 8 PM when we headed in as we were initially under the impression the Feud was on TV, actually it was the re-run from last nights show. We got our showers and settled in to watch the last 2 hours of this mini series about the tragedy between these 2 families in W.Va and Kentucky. I'm really looking forward to seeing some of the real history today when I peruse the artifacts. The show gave you some perspective but I'm sure it was glamorized for the viewing audience. LATER

Tuesday

Well once again another beautiful day in the mountains and the morning started out with a 7 am wake up. After my quiet time and a couple poached eggs I headed out to check the gardens. It was in the high 50's with overcast and a slight fog in the area. After giving all of my new seedlings a drink with the hand sprayer I headed down to pull the blades off my riding mower and sharpen them. I spent the next hour or so working on the antique rotor-tiller which has a bearing going out on the drive wheel which runs the belt that turns the tines. I was about to give up when I think I may have corrected the problem of the drive wheel throwing the belt off; I mentioned out loud I was going to scrap the machine if it didn't work and suddenly it worked after trying several different methods of keeping the belt on; now I don't believe it heard me but whatever.

It was close to 11 so we took off on a hike to the top as Nancy was feeling much better after a cup of decaf coffee of which she has stayed away from due to her acid reflux condition. We stopped and visited with Helen a widow who lives on top but this winter she spent it off of the mountain at her daughters home on Greensboro and just recently came up to her place for a few days. She leaves again this week for an extended trip to Alaska aboard a cruise ship and traveled last summer to visit  her son who lives in New Zealand who had a production part in the movie Lord of the Rings. She is quite the gadabout at her ripe age of 90 plus. After our visit we headed on back to the cabin for a bite of lunch as hiking up that back trail helps in working up an appetite.

We sat on the front porch as we ate our lunch of potato salad and a burger, and the nice breeze was delightful, oh my what a setting as the air was so fresh and clean. I headed down to the basement after lunch and bottled the remaining wild blackberry vino and attached our private label to 6 bottles. I'm debating whether to make any this year but the wine berries bushes are loaded with fruit. I spent the next hour going through the bushes clipping out the dead limbs so when it comes time to pick in July I won't have to fight the prickly vines. I then painted the renovated fire circle seat as the threat of rain was non-existence at this time of the day. It was after 4 when Nancy got back from the mailbox on the golf cart so I decided to take the rest of the afternoon off and read until it was supper time.

Nancy made a large fresh salad and we finished up the potato salad on top with some Greek dressing and wow was that ever dewisheous(Annsley) After the clean-up I headed out to walk around the gardens when the rain finally fell. It is a nice soaking soft rain but wow did the temp ever drop dramatically. We closed the windows and put on flannel shirts and even though its a soft rain we hear thunder off in the distance; hopefully we won't get any gully washers.

We just got word our friend Eddie whose wife Kimberly called and said he made it through a 3 hour surgery to replace his ankle. I never knew you could replace one of those but he had it done in Salem, Va. I think he has had all of major joints replaced due to arthritis and old injuries from training and breaking horses.  Great to hear he is on his way to recovery once again. Well that was about it for the day as I'm finally getting these legs in shape from climbing this tilted property, LATER Enclosed are a couple pictures from our Memorial Day surprise visit from youngest sister Dee and her daughter Kelly.

Monday-- Memorial Day

Well we had a busy fun day with visits from neighbors and family and such good eatin' went along with each visit. The morning found us once again sleeping in until around 7'ish and an added blanket on the bed made it that much more snugly especially with the windows open in the cabin and the temp down around 6o degrees. After waking and listening to the quietness(I know that sounds weird, no pun intended) I headed out to the gardens after my quiet time and a cup of hot tea.

Nancy stayed under the covers as she has had sweat clothes on most of the time while I ventured out. This is a wonderful change in temperature to me and really great for being outside. My oldest grandson, Sam would love being here as he is the most content when outside. I checked on the gardens and found more lettuce poking through the ground also I planted my red seed potatoes in between the hills of the volunteers from last year. I don't think I will try to bring potato seedlings from Fl. again and transplant here as only 2 made it thus far, oh well nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I headed down to our neighbors around 11 and picked up their son, Gabriel and made sure they were coming for lunch before heading back to their home in the Raleigh area. Gabe and I got in a couple games of corn hole while the burgers cooked on the grill. Nancy had made a dewisheous potato salad from red potatoes and Jodi brought deer burgers for the grill as well a salad of mixed dried beans, olives etc., sounds different but very tasty. We had a sumptuous feed out on the side deck and the ambiance was intoxicating with the clean cool fresh air and Jodi sat in the sun area as she too has thermostat problems. After eating they headed out and hopefully will be back on weekends through out the summer.

We got ready for baby sister Dee and daughter Kelly who motored down from the Radford  area where Kelly is about to end her first year of teaching in a Christian School and is about to be married in July. Wow that will be a big celebration and we are so looking forward to this memorable event. They arrived around 3'ish and stayed until nearly 6:30. We never stopped chatting the while except to chase down their 2 pups who explored the yards, porches and whatever they could get into. We had a dewisheous supper of marinated chicken breasts, leftover potato salad, fresh garden salad, steamed yellow squash and leftover coconut cream pie, YIKES was that ever a feed.

 After hugs and good bye's we cleaned up the dishes then headed out on the golf cart to the top of the mountain then down the other side to visit with our old friends Audean and Ray Todd. Ray is still suffering from back surgery but at least the pain has subsided in his back and legs for now. Audean lost her 92 year mother a couple months back and she too is recovering from that great loss. It was great to see her and hug her neck and remember old times again. We saw the add for the Hatfield and McCoys special on the History Channel that was to start at 9 so we headed home just before dark to get quick showers before the show aired. It was a very interesting show and Ray mentions he had a distant relative who was associated with that clan from Salisbury, N.C. That show last until 11 and I missed a few moments as I nodded off at the commerical breaks but left you waiting to see what would happened on Monday nights show, LATER

Sunday

Well another busy day that started with a wake up around 6 and for some reason I've been programed at that time,but I managed to roll over and sleep in until nearly 7 before starting the day with a cup of hot green tea as I took a few minutes to reflect and give thanks for all blessings in life. After my quiet moments I headed down below to check on the gardens and give them a drink before getting ready to out to Cornerstone for worship. Wow was it ever great to see lots of old friends again, give and receive tons of hugs and handshakes. Pastor B had a great message and there was a tear jerker video tribute to those who now serve and once served our nation in the Armed Forces. After the service we headed to Lowes and the veggie stand for some goodies before heading home.

After a lite lunch of leftover chicken and rice we headed out on the golf cart to visit with Russ and Linda who are down from Ohio and are staying at their almost complete cabin. After there we stopped and visited with Joyce and Dan who are up for the long week-end  as well and live a couple hours away. We had good visits with them both as been nearly a year since we last saw them. We headed back to the cabin and I transplanted a cantaloupe and aloe plant that Jodi gave me. I then hand watered the gardens before we headed out to the Dalton farm for supper.

We had grilled burgers and dogs, baked beans, a fresh garden salad, chips and dip and Nancy made a coconut cream pie for dessert. The girls visited the horses and we got a few shots great pics of her new leopard Appaloosa horse as well as her other horses. Caleb and I played a game of corn hole and he whupped me good as did Gerald(Caleb's grand father). Its been awhile since I've last throw a bean bag but we had a good time and I finally made a few good throws towards the end. After eating we cleared off the table and got in the best of 5 games of Sequence. The guys won the first 2 games then dropped the next 3 in the first match of the season. Caleb filled in for his dad Andy who we missed and hopefully he will be back around the middle of June.

Well is was after 9 before got back to the cabin and it was just starting to get pitch black and when I say pitch black in the mountains its totally black, LATER

Saturday

Well it was another busy day after a 58 degree morning with the bird singing and the dew dripping from the tin roof of the cabin. We are situated down in the trees so the sun doesn't hit us directly until later in the morning but its a beautiful sight as the light filters through the tall oaks, maples and white pines. After a 6:30 wake up I did my quiet time and other than a few distant crows cawing and the singing of the birds it is quiet here. Nancy was still in the sack so I had the early morning to walk around the flower beds, gardens and just relish in the fresh air and stillness of the morning.

Nancy awakened and after her quiet time she made a splendid breakfast of buckwheat cakes with a banana in the batter and a couple home grown cackle berries from the Pickett/Freeze abode(mountain neighbors) adorning the top of them, Yeow was that ever good with a little black strap molasses on the side. After the clean up I headed out to put the work boots on and started the day.

I fed the seedlings with some liquid Miracle Grow and I now have lettuce and radishes poking through the ground which was sow 3 days ago also new Zinnias are poking through as well; I lost about half of them on the transplant from my Florida garden for some reason also lost most of the potato plants I brought up as well; but the 10 hills of spuds that are leftovers from last years potato's are doing fantastic and are about a foot and half tall. Walking up and down this tilted piece of ground is a job in its self. I next took the weed whacker and did the perimeter of the place and then headed down the driveway to clean up the side ditches. Thankfully Nancy came as I was about to finish down below and to give a lift back up the hill in the golf cart. We decided after putting a load of laundry in to take a hike to the top to see how many of the neighbors were there.

Well we saw John and Shirley Cottle's car so we stopped and learned some devastating news about Ann and Sandy Cline(who were visting as well). He has developed blood on the brain in several places and isn't doing well at all as he had just got out of ICU and is barely able to walk with a cane. We visited with them(Cottle's who we never saw last year) for awhile then learned that Vyonne Butzback across the road in the next cabin has breast cancer and is due for a double mastectomy ASAP, yikes !!! That news and catching up with our mountains friends was not very thrilling and exciting as we had hoped and while we were greeted warmly with hugs and handshakes those illness's dampened our reunion.

We headed home and once again never made to the end of the road on top where several other friends are up for the holiday. Hopefully tomorrow we can visit with them while on a hike. After a lunch of leftover chicken on a salad I headed out once again to do some little chores. I hauled the fire circle benches up and out from under the back porch and found one that needed some renovations due to dry rot. I spent a couple hours refurbishing it and by then it was 4:30 and I was wearing thin from all my trips up the hill and around the back yard plus I had worked up quite a sweaty smell. We were having Jodi and Gerald for cards at 6:30 so after a couple watering chores and a lite supper of green beans and sweet potato's I headed for the shower and then relaxed watching a little baseball before they arrived.

Well Gerald and I teamed up against the gals and won the first game of Spades and then we changed directions(Jodi idea to throw us off our game) and played Hearts of which Gerald won handily and then back to Spades where is was close in the final hand and I bungled it so at least the gals won something. We had a fun time and by 10 PM it was time to call it a day. We were keeping up with the score of the Rays vs the Red Sox game on her IPhone while playing cards and the Rays blew a 2-1 lead in the 9th and lost 3-2, Oh well its exciting to have your home team playing up there with the powerhouse teams.

We are excited about visiting with our Cornerstone family on Sunday and hope there is no news as devastating as what we learned from our mountain top friends. Keep Yvonne and Sandy in your thoughts and prayers as we will, LATER

Friday

Well it was once again another beautiful morning with temps around 60 and a little fog to start with but that soon burned off and it was a bright sunshine day. It did get close to 80  but with little humidity so it was a pleasant day. After my 6:30 wake up I did my quiet time with a cup of hot green tea then I had a couple poached eggs and the leftover brat from last night. After breakfast I headed out to check on all the flower and veggie gardens before heading into the basement to put a load of clothes in the washer. I then got ready to head out to the big town of Galax to do some shopping.

After hanging the clothes outside on the clothesline we took off around 9:30. First we made a stop at a local furniture store that specializes in cabin goodies and purchased a cabin warming gift for our neighbors then we headed to the local gas station for gas for the golf cart and to fill the truck at $3.34 a gallon. After the fill up we headed to Wal-Mart where we saw our good friend Kimberly who now works in the garden department. After our shopping we headed out of town and stopped at a local nursery where I purchased some cabbage seedlings, geraniums and some Ivy seedlings for the new arbor.

We got back around noon and found out we had missed 3 phone calls so I dialed up Paw PAw and got him just as he was leaving Winchester; all is well in that neck of the woods and he seemed excited that we would get up to see him this summer. I then heated up the last of the bean soup for lunch and Nancy ate something that would not aggravate her heartburn issues. Hopefully this to will pass if I can persuade her to eat right and stay away from coffee and chocolate for awhile.

After lunch I headed out to plant my cabbage seedling as well as 2 rows of onion sets and then in the middle patch I turned the ground over for some  beets. Hopefully these will make. I found that many of my seedlings were wilting so I hand watered them all when Ms Helen our "mountain mom" came by for a visit. She looked great and never seems to age and she must have visited for a couple hours and when I sat down to talk I had to fight to stay awake, yikes it was difficult as I'm not use to stopping and resting in the afternoon, plus the inside temp of the cabin was perfect for a nap. We decided to start supper shortly after her visit as we had purchased a rotisserie chicken at Wal-Mart and wow was it ever dewisheous along with some fries and a salad. After supper and the clean up we headed out to the yards as the sun had finally dropped below the tree level which made for a comfortable outing. I planted some beets and then I drug out the hoses so Nancy could water her flower gardens.

Well Jodi our neighbor below us came by walking 4 dogs on leases, of course all of them were small yippee type dogs; but she still had her hands full as she walked them up the back trail just before dark. Well its been a full day and I can barely keep my eyes open especially after my hot shower. I'm tuned into the Rays vs Red Sox on the Internet and we are winning 7-4 but was at one time ahead 7-1. Oh well, LATER

Thursday

Well it was another nice morning with temps in the high 50's and such quietness here its almost too quiet, anyhow after a 7'ish wake up I ventured out on the porch to do my quiet time with a hot cup of green tea. Afterwards I had a bowl of oatmeal with fruit before heading down to the basement to start the day. Nancy had pulled the vacuum head off the hose yesterday so I fixed that then I turned my attention to the dehumidifier as it was running hot and not taking much humidity out of the basement. Well after further inspection the front filter was coated with dirt and whatever so after cleaning it and putting it back together it ran fine once again.

I headed out to the back woods to cut some tall thin sapling to rebuild my arbor which had fallen down due to age and wind. It has become one of our favorite places to take pictures and I hope I can get something to grow on it this summer. I was wanting a vine that produced flowers but now I want something that produces green leaves and would prefer a perennial of some type. Anyhow I dug holes for the post and use a couple old locust posts for the base then used some maple and pine saplings for the ridge poles. We took a break for lunch then hit it again until nearly 4 o'clock when we finished. Our good neighbor Gerald came by and brought us a couple dozen homegrown cackleberries from his home chickens in the Raleigh area as well as a package of ground deer meat he killed out this way last fall.

Nancy has to watch what she is eating again as she is suffering heart burn so we will try to eat alkaline which means giving up many of her favorites like coffee, chocolate, 'maters, garlic, onions and meat that contains any fat and her ocassional glass of sangria, yikes!!! That's no fun!!!! Oh well this change in her life has left both of us looking for better days. Tomorrow we are planning on a trip to town(Galax, Va) for some necessities and to get off this hill for awhile plus I get to take part of the day off. My legs and back are toughening up finally from all the garden work and walking this tilted land, LATER

Wednesday

Wow, this is the weather we have been waiting for with temps this morning in the low 50's and it may have reached the low 70's in the afternoon when the sun finally decided to make a showing. Well the morning found me awake at 6 AM yet Nancy insisted I stay in bed for awhile longer as she wanted to sleep in; but I had lots to do so I finally rolled out about 7 to start the day. After my cup of green tea I wondered out onto the deck for that breath of fresh air and did my quiet time then I wondered out around the cabin checking on all the gardens before Nancy decided to make us a mountain breakfast of eggs, grits and bacon, yeow was that ever good.

After the clean-up I headed down to the lower garden and then set out to the lower woods to saw a small pine tree to replace the broken top rail of my garden fence. The sun was peeping occasionally but mainly it looked like rain showers with a little fog; but what a great day for working outside. I raked all the leaves from the fence row around the garden then took the riding mower and mulched them up and placed them around the blueberry bushes. That kept me busy as I raked and pulled weeds as well as fertilized them before we decided to take our first hike to the top of the mountain.

The top was like a "ghost town" except for stopping at Norman's and finding him in not very good shape. His legs have really gone out from under him and he can barely get around much at all. We sat and chatted for 1/2 an hour before it looked as if it was going to rain so we headed for home. Luckily we left when we did because the rain started to fall. It was nearly 1PM before got back and I was famished. Nancy heated up some left over ham and bean soup and did that ever taste great especially as the outside temp began to fall drastically. The rain was a cold one. I decided to rack the wild black berry wine that has been chilling for nearly 8 months in the cellar. Well the first two gallon jugs were undrinkable but the next jug was better even though it had no kick. I think I might get a ready made bladder of grape juice from the local winery and make a batch like that before I try making vino from scratch again with the local berries. I poured over 2 gallons of the bad wine out and managed to save about a gallon.

Well it quit raining but still stayed overcast so I decided to put my tomato's plants in the ground along with my pepper plants. I also planted 4 rows of sweet corn for the first time. When I was a kid we grew tons of sweet corn and along with fresh sliced tomato's there is no better combo for lunch or supper especially with butter dripping down your arms from eating corn on the cob, yikes I hope the deer stay away from the patch. After finishing up for the day we headed in for a glass of vino before starting on the last of the turkey, gravy, dressing, smashed taters and a salad, YUMM!!!

We took a golf cart ride out to the mailboxes after supper as we both were just to tired to walk anymore. Susan Kuyatt sent Nancy the whole first season of the Walton's and we cracked up when she opened the package. Seems Nancy has found the Walton's to be a real mood setter for her these past few months as she battles her health issues and the thought of not seeing our babies and grand babies as we made plans for this trip to the cabin. Anyhow thanks much Susan for creating a good lite moment after another hard working day. Well I had one more chore to do and that was to adjust the temperature setting for the new module in the shower/tub. Seems yesterday when Walt changed out the module the hot water setting was too low so our showers last night were warm and we like them hot especially on our tired muscles.

Well Philip Philips is the new American Idol but in all seriousness I don't think he had the best all around voice as did the young Jessica. Oh well!!! LATER Here are a couple pics of our first hike up to the mountain top this year, enjoy.  

Tuesday

Well did we ever have a good nights sleep and it was nearly 7 AM before we awaken, yikes having an extra quilt on the bed helped and there was NO rooster to crow at 5'ish in the morning. We were both whipped after that first full day in the yard and gardens. After my quiet time and a breakfast of oatmeal and fruit I headed out to work in the garden down below. I planted 2 rows of 1/2 runner green beans as well as 2 rows of bush green beans, a row of radishes, several hills of cukes, yellow squash and spaghetti squash along with 3 kinds of lettuce before moving up to the middle garden beds. I sowed a large row of black seeded Simpson lettuce as well as some parsley.

Walt called about 9 AM and said he was on his way to help me with the 2 leaks; one in the shower and the other was the spray hose in the kitchen sink. Well what seemed like would be rather simple turned into about a 4 hour job and a trip to Galax to pick up the needed parts. It seems the whole faucet system had to be replaced  in the shower as well as a totally new spray head and line. Wow was that ever a job and I never would have been able to do this without someone knowing and showing me what to do, many thanks to Walt for  coming out so soon to assist me with this project.

While Walt had gone to Galax for the needed parts I edged around the upper garden pulling the weeds and then planting several hills of sugar peas. I then hand watered some of the new seedlings and many had begun to wilt despite the ground showing lots of moisture. It took Walt and I nearly another hour to finish up once he got back from gathering all the parts needed to complete the job and by then it was nearly 4PM. I headed back down to the lower garden and dug a trench around the upper side in case we should get the heavy rain that was being fore casted; luckily we got just enough to settle the dust but the temp dropped from the middle 70's to the low 60's in just a matter of moments.

Nancy had been cooking a smoked ham bone to flavor a pot of bean soup, yikes was that dewisheous(Annsley) along with some cornbread muffins. It was after 6 before we sat down to supper and then our once neighbor and builder of the cabin, Ray Todd  came for a visit. He refused to have anything to eat but did stay and caught us up on all the happenings in the hood. He is still suffering from the back operation and fusing of several vertebrae in his back which has kept his legs from getting back their original strength. He has officially moved from the hood as he sold his remaining garage and land last month. He and Audean have always been great neighbors and friends.

Well its so much easier to write this post while sitting down and once again with having the leaks fixed helps to relieve some of the stress, seems we sometimes forget how the little things can make a big difference. Well I've been trying to keep up with the Rays and as I make this post they are head of the Jays 7-5; earlier they were winning 6-0, oh well. LATER

Sunday and Monday

Well Sunday was a very long day as I slept very little on Saturday night in anticipation of a 4 AM departure for the cabin. I set the alarm for 3 and all we had to do was pack the coolers and tidy up some last minute things before heading. It was 74 degrees and muggy as we pulled away from the house. I sure hope I woke Chester up when leaving,oh well we had an uneventful trip that found me stopping to walk for 10-15 minutes every 1 1/2 hours. We stopped in Starke, Fl at Mickey Dee's for breakfast and then again in Poller, Georgia at Sam's Club to gas up at at $3.34 and for a few goodies as well as we walked throughout the store; kind of like mall walking. It was 52 degrees there and raining so walking in store filled the bill and it cost me as well as Nancy found some stuff she just needed, Oh well.

We drove into the cabin road a little after 4 after a another couple stops plus a another shopping spree at Wal-Mart in Elkin, N.C. which is just down off the mountain from us. That was a 12 hours trip which use to take us 10 1/2 but still with all the stops we made really good time. Most all of Florida driving is divided highways plus most all of Georgia is now 6 lanes. When we arrived it was 71 and just delightful with dry air and bright sunshine, yeow is it ever great weather wise. Our mountain neighbor Gerald mowed most of the front and back yard which was a really big help as I had to mow other areas today at least 3 times to get it back to looking like a yard.

Sunday night found me awake most of the night once again as I contemplated on how to correct some areas that needed some special attention. First I has some faucets leaks which usually comes with having the water turned off for nearly 8 months and I have 2 that needs some special attention so my friend and plumber Walt(who plumbed and wired my place) is coming by on Tuesday to make the necessary corrections, also I could get on the Internet with my wireless router so I'm making do until Tyler gets here in July as he is the IT guru, next I had several mechanical problems with the rotor -tiller as well as the batteries needed charging on the riding mower and Golf cart. I worked outside after unloading the truck until nearly 9 PM.

Monday morning found we getting a little after 5 as I had lots to do and I wanted an early start, yiles it was 52 and a bit nippy but oh so quiet with just a few birds singing and the dew dripping from the tin roof was awesome. I headed down to the garden to get my seedlings in the ground. Its supposed to rain on Tuesday so I wanted them in the ground to take advnatage of it. I found about a dozen hills of potato's that came up from last and I planted about another dozen of red potato seedlings I brought from Florida. I potted my tomato and pepper seedlings but all the rest I put in the ground after working up the beds, wow were they ever covered in weeds. Nancy yelled that she had a hearty  breakfast ready about 8:30 and I had worked up a good appetite with all the digging, weed pulling by hand as the rotor-tiller was not working at all. I later in the evening gave it some attention and got it working again but with break downs every 20-30 minutes. I think its time to invest in one of my own as this one is a hand me down from the neighbor on top who wants me to till his patch in return for letting me keep this old tiller. I admit I like making these work but there is a price.

After getting all the seedlings in the ground I started weed whacking until it was lunch time then I headed into the back yard to pick up 2 golf cart loads of limbs and sticks before mowing. That took me 3-4 hours as some of it had to be mowed 3 times, finally I finished that in time for summer which turned out to be a salad with some cold turkey on top. I started to rain and thunder just as we sat down to eat but didn't last to long just enough to settle the dust. I once again repaired the tiller and did the upper garden as just as I finished it broke again. I repaired it again and started on the lower garden and almost finished it just before dark. The last chore was to plant the hydrangea in the ground so it to could take of the rain in the forecast.I think I sat down while eating lunch and while mowing and walking up and down these hills has just plum wore me out, LATER

Friday

Well once again the morning was much the usual with a 5'ish wake up crow by Chester next door and then my quiet moments before a lite breakfast and my bike ride to the rec for 2 plus hours of pickle ball. The knee is doing fine even though I continued to wear the brace just for psychic support. I headed home, by passing once again one of my favorite hangouts, the library.

That was the usual part of the day 'cause it all changed when I got home and started watering the garden. Nancy was contacted by her mom, GG that the doctors office called and read her x-ray and that she does have some impacted stool, Yikes. That meant since Nancy was cooking a turkey dinner with all the trimming that it would be up to me to drive her to the emergency room to have this impaction removed. I drove GG to Bardmoor ER and stayed with her for nearly 3 hours. I ran into one of the security guards who happened to be a former trooper buddy of mine and we sat and talked about our former buddy's and all that had happened to him since I retired 8 years ago. We had even worked together on a couple DUI manslaughter cases; seems he quit the patrol after 15 years and open a restaurant business which did well at first then it headed south with the economy so he was trying to get back on the patrol and was doing security work in the meanwhile. We had a nice visit and he filled me in all the inside info on those I use to work with.

Well after dropping GG off at her house I headed to Sam's to fill up at $3.36 a gallon wow that is better than the $4 bucks plus we thought we would have to pay on our trip north. I picked up some health aids for Nancy as well before heading back to pick up GG and bring to our house for the family dinner. It was after 4 pm by the time we got home. The house smelled of roast turkey, Ahhh what a dewisheous smell and the supper turned out every bit as good as it smelled with stuffing, smashed spuds, carrots, gravy and chocolate cupcakes for desert. We celebrated Amy's 29 birthday which is Saturday. Bob and Amy and with their fam's as well as aunt Betsy and Braden came so we had a house full. After the sit down stuff your face supper the kids and I played out in the back yard as it really was quite nice with a nice breeze blowing and the air seemed a little drier even though it was in the high 80's.

After kiddos baths everyone headed out around 9:30 and tomorrow Amy is cooking supper for us as we spend the day packing and making the house ready for our what we hope will be absence until November. There is lots to do and of course I want to head out early, like 4 AM to get up the road before the love bugs take over and cover the front of your vehicles with their guts. This is the time of the year for them and they seemed to be a Florida problem mainly.

I will be away from this post until sometime Sunday and hopefully will report that we had an uneventful trip to the cabin. We are looking forward to some cooler temps, less traffic and of course working in our gardens and yard and seeing all of our mountain friends, LATER

Thursday

The day started out much the usual way with a 5'ish wake up crow from Chester next door, then my quiet moments and a lite breakfast of fruit and oatmeal before pedalling out to the rec for a couple hours of pickle ball. The knee is holding up well and I wore a brace just for added support. I'm not quite back to acting 20 years old on the court but I'm starting to get back into the tournament mode. We had 6 players and the play was fast with lots of wet shirts; tomorrow will be my last play at the rec for awhile. Hopefully I can get the interest back in the mountains as I have several players there who have shown the desire and willingness to learn the game.

Well after the rec I pedalled home to learn I would have to drive GG to another doctor's appointment in Clearwater so Nancy dropped me off while she went to have her hair cut and colored. I drove GG's car and afterwards we stopped off at the library for her before heading back to her place where we had lunch.  Amy and the kiddos didn't come for lunch but did for supper. We had fresh asparagus and mushrooms sauteed in olive oil with fresh garlic then placed over Penna pasta, yikes was that dewisheous(Annsley). After supper and the cleanup we all took a long walk around the hood and the kiddos got to get up close to a talking machaw bird from Australia. Wow was he ever a beautiful bird as well as very intelligent. After the walk they headed home and I settled into the Rays game which they should have won but got beat by the Red Sox.

We went through some closets, packing some things that needed to go back to the cabin that we had brought down last fall as well as making lists of things to do. Nancy made chocolate cupcakes the real good ones for Amy's birthday supper we will celebrate on Friday night with all the family. (The kiddos had to try them out after we ate tonight). Well not much else is going on except trying to remember all of the things to do, to pack for our leaving on Sunday morning. For you gals don't forget that ALL the Artistry Products are BOGO this month of May only at our store Amway.com/JNTriplett, LATER

Wednesday

Well we finally got some much needed rain. The morning started out with Chester of course crowing around 5'ish, however I managed to tune him out until 6 then rolled out starting the day with a cup of green tea while I did my quiet time. After a bowl of oatmeal with some blackberries I had brought back from the mountains last year I pedalled out to the rec for some pickle ball for the first time since last Thursday when I hyper-extended the right knee. It was good to get back with the gang and into the swing of play again. I took it easy and wore a support for my knee but still won several games with different players. It felt good to exercise and strike the ball, again. I only did about an hour and a half before heading out for home.

I have a couple of books I'm finishing up before Saturday so I stayed away from the library and rode straight home. The skies were cloudy and overcast with just a slight sprinkle so I let the watering go and its a good thing as the afternoon brought thunder showers and a really nice soaking rain, wow did we ever need it!!! Amy and the kiddos came for lunch and afterwards we headed over to take GG's car back when she informed us she is still having problems with constipation and elimination. It looks as if we will be taking her to the doctor again on Thursday.

Well this evening is house church evening and we had 7 adults. I think our group is going to take the next couple weeks off as many are going on vacation and of course we will be gone until Nov. We had a lively discussion on the John Eldridge book Beautiful Outlaw about the many facets and personality traits of Jesus, interesting and one can see and learn why its important to have a relationship with this man/GOD. We will certainly miss our group and of course all our church family at Element; but we will once again be with a different group of believers and get to share our life together at Cornerstone. Wow are we ever blessed to have so many believer friends in two completely different locals.

 We had a steady rain all evening and right up until it was lights outs. Nancy tuned into Idol and I had the Rays on who were winning into the 9th inning. Tomorrow will be another big day as we have Amy and the kiddos for supper and we get to love up on Ava and Sam as Tyler is teaching ESL at church. LATER

Tuesday

Well once again it wasn't quite the usual morning as I missed my workout at the rec for pickle ball but I plan on returning in the morning for my workout. Anyhow after the Chester serenade with his piercing crow at 5'ish in the morning I managed to tune him out until nearly 7 before rolling out for the day. After my quiet time I made myself a lite breakfast of poached eggs and a leftover brat before heading out to the barber for an ear lowering session. I rode my bike to and from and the knee seemed fine while pedaling across a major 6 lane. Afterwards I headed back to water the garden and my seedlings I'm bringing to the summer garden at the cabin before heading in to go through some paperwork.

Nancy indicated we needed to go to GG's and do some bush trimming and then take her to another doctors appointment later in the day. Well I trimmed several bushes and cut down another one that was in the process of dying before heading home with GG's car. Nancy had a doctors appointment the same time GG had one so I was shuttling cars around to meet these appointments. We got back around lunch time as Amy and the kiddos were coming. They stayed and played until it was time to head out for all these errands to run. We were watching the kiddos later in the evening as Amy and Tyler had a date night.

I grilled a couple chicken breasts that had been marinating during the day and wow were they ever good over a bed of salad. We also fixed the kiddos some macaroni and carrots. After supper we played outside until it was time to head in and watch the Rays play the Jays. Well that was an interesting game as we came from behind to win and complete a 2 game sweep of a good team. We are still tied for first place with the Orioles. I want to get in as much baseball and hockey as I can as once we are at the cabin I'm limited to the Rays on the tube on ESPN.

I continue to make lists and pack to an extent as we prepare to be gone until Fall although Nancy is already prompting me with packing the whole house if we don't come back this summer so she can take her winter clothes, oh well it never ends as she takes so much clothing and then wears about 1/3 of what she packs. Lord get me through this. Well the heart doctor put her on a water pill in addition to her blood pressure medicine and told her she was fine and that she needn't come back for a year, so that was good news. Now if we can just get her mind to believe what the doctors have told her and all of her good blood test results have indicated, she is fine. I feel for all you guys who have post-menopausal gals. LATER

Monday

Well it sure is different not going to the rec each morning for my workout on the pickle ball court, but I guess its going to be that way for another day at least as I really want to not overdo this knee. It feels pretty good and after a slow start this morning after Chester woke us up at 5'ish I rolled over until 7 AM then started what turned out to be a busy day. I did my quiet time then poached a couple eggs and finished the leftover tenderloin for breakfast before starting on the carpets.

I vacuumed first then got out the Hoover shampooer and worked a couple hours on the carpets, while they dried I climbed up on the roof and took the blower to all the small twigs and leaves that have accumulated there in just a couple weeks. I want to make a valiant effort to keep the roof as clean as possible as a build up of debris actually holds moisture which if left long enough starts the rot under the shingles, that's what happen to my last roof even though it had been on nearly 20 years the areas that didn't hold debris was perfectly alright. Oh well I learned from that even at my stage in life.

After cleaning the roof I took the hedge clippers and worked on the azaleas, hibiscus and the vines on the fence in the back yard as I want to leave the yards looking nice. Jim my neighbor who is a fireman and also has a lawn service has offered to look after my place as well as do the yards when he does his each week. Jim and Laurie are the best and keep their place looking great as well. The neighbors on the other side is the complete opposite as their place is a junk hole and really an eye sore for the 'hood, oh well.

After the yard work I had a bite of lunch before getting ready to go with Nancy to the cardiologist for a stress test. Well she passed with flying colors and now I hope she will listen to me that all of these aches, pains and flip flops she has been experiencing are a result of the aging factor from menopause. Thankfully the doctors said her heart was in great shape and on Tuesday we will see another doctor, her cardiologist to explain this again. It now is a go for the trip to the mountains so I spent the afternoon putting our services on vacation here in Florida and starting up our services at the cabin along with address changes. I spoke with the power company rep at Blue Ridge Electric to have our bill sent to the cabin and it turned out she is a friend and church member we know from Cornerstone. It was great to be welcomed back by her and all the southern hospitality we find in this small mountain community, we just love it!!

Nancy made salmon patties for supper and along with some leftover smashed spuds it was dewisheous(Annsley). After the clean up I jumped on the bike to return some books at the library as well as pick up a couple I had ordered. These will probably we the end of my reading for awhile as by the time we head in doors its around 8-9 and starting to get dark and then with an update on the computer for the Rays its bed time. We never nap in the mountains and I'm usually up at the crack of dawn raring to go; boy am I so looking forward to a change in our routine and of course that cold water coming out of the ground and the air that's never been breathed before. Can you ascertain that I'm getting excited and yet on a more solemn note we will miss seeing our grand babies at least every week and some nearly every day. They all will of course spent a week or more with us this summer at different times so we have that to look forward to.

Well the Rays beat the Jays last night convincingly with a 7-1 score and will play again tonight. We will babysit Ava and Sam tonight as Amy and Tyler get in a date night before we go and then again on Friday night we will have all the family once again for a roast turkey with all the trimming supper as we celebrate Amy's 29th birthday, yikes where did that time go?? LATER

Sunday

Well it was another day filled with scrumptious food as we celebrated Mothers Day in the evening with family but the day started out with Chester waking us up at 5'ish in the morning with his loud crowing; I'm sure gonna miss him after next Saturday, NOT. Anyhow after our quiet time and a lite breakfast we got ready to head to Tampa for our last worship service at Element until next fall. Today was baby dedication day for 5 brand new babies some only a couple months old and of course their were lots of grand parents who visited to witness this ceremony. They had a table set up with fresh fruit, muffins, cheeses, etc for the mom's and a drawing for a beautiful hydrangea pot plant. Well Nancy's name was drawn from the hat and so we now another hydrangea to take and plant with us at the cabin; deer food as they love to nibble the leaves. Oh well!!!

After saying good-bye to several at Element we headed home with Dan riding with us as his wife, Carol is visiting family with her mother in New Jersey. We had a lite lunch of leftovers and then got ready for the big crowd coming around 5 PM. I vacuumed while Nancy made a salad with some garden kale and herbs plus store bought lettuces then I settled in to watch the Rays play the third game  in a series against the Orioles and we won it by the skin of their teeth. At one time we were ahead by 6 runs, oh well at least we are still ahead of the Red Sox and Yankees. Our division is the toughest in all of baseball with perennial winners and huge markets whereas we are the smallest market and truly a David among Goliaths. It makes for some interesting commentary.

I grilled fresh brats and Nathans for the kiddos, GG made her signature Greek potato salad to go with the garden salad, Amy brought fresh buns and Betsy brought a couple lemon pies from the Village Inn. I had to pass on the pies although I did taste the lemon filling and it was so yummy; but I was strong passing on both the buns and pies. The brats were excellent as we did them the way Tyler's folks do in Kansas; just plain grilling them as the juices ran free. After the clean up and while the kiddos were getting baths I tuned into the Survivor final and was surprised that Kim was awarded the million bucks by the those she blindsided during the game. She really was the best woman player at the end as she won immunity several times in a row and during the course of the game.

Well not much else is going on I'm passing on pickle ball on Monday and hopefully will be back starting Wednesday. The knee feels pretty good but I will need for it to be strong as I tackle lots of physical jobs starting in about a week. I' m so excited about seeing our place after so months and looking forward to whipping the gardens and yard into shape; 5 days until we leave, Yeah!!! LATER  Here are a few pics from the latest family get together!!!!

Saturday

Well it was another busy day with Chester starting it out with an early morning crow around 5. We managed to tune him out until 7'ish before rolling out to start the day. After my quiet time and a couple poached eggs we got ready to head down to Twill Auto where our house church reaches out to single moms, widows and wives of military men who are overseas with a Free oil change with filter,safety check their cars and give them a gift card to Wal-Mart for 10 bucks. We had 10 or so signed up but had only 7 to show up as its my appointment only. We started at 9 and we were finished by 11:30 after the last appointment.

We stopped off at the health food store to pick up some organic apple cider vinegar with "mother" in it as well as some probiotics for Nancy. After a left over pork tenderloin sandwich, Nancy took off with Amy and GG for the mall to shop for Amy's birthday which is the 19th. I chilled and read while resting my knee which is doing much better and I may even try a lite workout some on Monday as its feeling that good. Nancy was gone most of the afternoon so I cat napped, read and eventually wondered out to do some watering in the garden. It was another hot and muggy day with temps in the 90's, come on 50's in the morning at the cabin.

I spoke with Paw Paw in Winchester and they had frost this morning but warmed up to the middle 70's by the afternoon, great weather and we sure are looking forward to a change as well. GG invited over for supper which was a fresh salad and spinach pie Greek style, yikes was that ever dewisheous(Annsley). I forget how to spell it but it sounds like spanicoplous(sic) anyhow I could eat that often. After the cleanup we played a round of Phase 10 and Nancy won on the last hand as usual. We watched the Rays playing the Orioles in the background and we were leading at one time but wound up losing again by one run. We are still without a couple of our big hitters and its starting to show.

 Well not much else is going on except tomorrow(Sunday) will be our final Sunday at Element for awhile. We are looking forward to seeing all of our Cornerstone friends on the 27th and once again worship with that great group of believers. LATER

Friday

Well the morning started out with the usual crowing around 5'ish with Chester but anything usual from there on as I stayed in bed due to hyper-entending my knee on Thursday. It was still quite sore and I kept a brace on it most of the day, although there was no swelling. I'm probably going to miss most of my last week of pickle ball as I want a strong healthy knee for all the work I have at the cabin especially going up and down that hill, stairs and of course our mountain top hikes. I do have a brace for it which helps to some extent, Oh well!!!

After rolling out of the sack somewhere around 7,  I did my quiet time then had a bowl of oatmeal with some fruit. I had planned on running some errands after taking GG to the hair dresser but decided it might be best to do them before picking her up so I ran to Kmart, Home Depot and the library then gassed her car up at $3.45 a gallon, wow its been a while since its been that low. After dropping her off at the hair place I piddled around in the garden then read until it was time for lunch. Sam and I headed outside after lunch until it was time for them to head out for their afternoon naps and for mine as well. I read and napped resting my knee most of the afternoon until it was time to pick up GG and take her to the library then to our house for supper.

Nancy had a pork tenderloin roast in the oven along with a kielbasa and some dogs with sauerkraut, smashed spuds, salad and crusty bread. Bob came back around 5 and visited as his praise band was doing a free concert at one of his very first venue's near his old high school that's associated with the church at Indian Rocks. Amy, Tyler and the kids came as well and we had a dewisheous(Annsley) supper. After the clean up we took the kids out in the back yard and Tyler taught Ava how to throw a Frisbee and she was doing a great job. I think she is going to be athletic as she is easy to teach and is very stick to it ness.

After everyone left we settled in to watching the Rays get beat by the Orioles in a game we were winning in the latter innings, oh well we are now tied with them in the league standing. It was lights out around 10:30 as tomorrow is a busy day once again with a our house church project and Amy birthday shopping trip, LATER

Thursday

Well today started out much the usual with an early morning wake up crow from our next door rooster around 5. I rolled out a little after that as I couldn't go back to sleep with lots on my mine as we draw nearer to our target date for heading north. I did my quiet time then had a lite breakfast of fruit and oatmeal before heading out to the rec for pickle ball. Well after about the first 15 minutes of play everything was fine until I went back to hit an overhead and came down on my right knee at an awkward angle and I heard something tear or pop. I realized right away I had hyper-extended the knee. The pain was rather strong at first and I walked it off and even got on the bicycle to head home but the more I exercised it the better it felt so I headed back to the rec then continued to play but at a much lower level of play after wrapping it. I don't think its a major tear as I was still able walk although there is some discomfort while moving about. I think I will rest if from any major exercise this week end and see how it does next Monday.

Nancy took off to the rec to do her treadmill routine and I piddled around watering and then spent the rest of the morning reading and catching up on some paper work. We finished up the leftovers from house church for lunch and then settled in to read until Amy brought the kids by while she ran a couple errands. Sam climbed up on the couch and fell off which scared him and us but he didn't hit his head so we were comforted by that except later in the evening he began to complain his ear hurt him. Well Amy took him to the walk in clinic as he continued to cry and complain and found out he has an ear infection; so he is on an anti-biotic. This is his first I believe and Ava never had any which is unusual. I don't remember Bobby and Amy having any either or if they did if was very few, oh well!!!

We headed over to visit with GG and helped her with a few small problems then brought her car back as I need to run some errands with her on Friday as Nancy will have the truck at her Friday morning Bible Study; plus her car needs to be driven and gassed up. After GG's we read until it was time for supper so we baked a frozen pizza after doctoring it up with some fresh mushrooms, basil, oregano and green pepper from the garden, yikes does that taste good and just as good if not better than the real ones from the store. After supper and the clean up I sat around resting my knee and watching the Rays lose to the Yanks after having a 2-0 start, Oh well!!! LATER 

Wednesday

Well what a busy day with it starting early around 5 in the morning with our Chester next door crowing. After his wake up I stayed in the sack until a little before 6 then rolled out to begin the day. After my quiet time and a lite breakfast of fruit and oatmeal I headed out to the rec for a couple hours of pickle ball. We were very short handed today and played 2 on 1 for awhile before finally getting a fourth. We ended up with a few more coming a little later and managed to have at the most 6 players as many have left for their summer homes up north  and as far away as Canada. After the rec and a good wet shirt I pedalled home to piddle around outside in the yard and garden. Nancy was off to the drug store to stock up on her prescriptions and a stop at the rec for some treadmill exercise.

Amy and the kiddos went to Tampa to have lunch with Tyler so we never saw them today and thus we had a lite lunch of leftover pizza and a salad. I read after lunch as it really started to heat up so I chilled the rest of the afternoon until it was time to get ready for house church. We were having a meal tonight so I filled the smoker with marinated chicken legs and cut the last 2 heads of cabbage and Nancy made cole slaw. Several brought potato salad and slaw as well and a pasta salad. It was Maria's birthday so Carole brought a cake and we had a new couple come with a 3 week old baby boy. He is a veteran from the Marine Corp and just finished a tour of duty in Afghanistan. A real nice young couple and are neighbors to a couple other house church members. We had a house full with 13 adults and 2 kiddos. The smoked chicken was excellent as was all the side dishes and it was going on 9 before everyone left. I managed to catch the last 10 minutes of Survivor and then settled in to watch the Rays come from behind in the 9th inning to beat the Yanks 4-1, what a come from behind win with a home run from Matt Joyce with 2 on base. The Capital's also beat the Rangers in the NHL to create a 7 th game in those playoffs as well.

Well 10 days and counting until we can say good-bye to the big mouth rooster next door and hello to the cool mountain mornings. We sure will miss our family and friends here but will once again renew friendships in the mountains. LATER

Tuesday

Well the morning started with of course Chester crowing but with temp's in the 70's, yikes that is warm for over night lows which seem like temps for the hot summer months. After my quiet moments of reflection, thankfulness and thoughts for those who need uplifted and care concerns I had a bowl of oatmeal with fruit before pedalling out on my bike to the rec for a couple hours of pickle ball. Our group of good players are dwindling fast as we lost another one who heads off to Europe for a couple weeks and of course I'm leaving in about 10 days so we won't see him until November.

After my pickle ball workout which had me with a very wet shirt I headed home to work in the yard until lunch time. I mowed and edged  then pulled out the tomato plants that were finished. I noticed a little nematode damage to a couple but mostly where I had planted marigolds along side the plant the roots looked normal. I'm sure glad of that as I was about ready to give up on growing tomato's in Florida in my back yard. The grass in the back yard has really filled in this past 6 months and compared to the dirt hill from last year its marvelous. I took a couple bales of hay I had laying around and broke it up to help mulch the garden for next fall for when I start my winter garden when we return from the cabin.Hopefully this will help with holding the earthworms in the soil.

Amy and the kiddos came for lunch then we headed out into the back yard under the oak tree. Sam and Ava found some glass snake eggs that had been under the hay bales and she wanted to take them to school to show her classmates. I don't think the teacher would approve of them so we put them under some boards to preserve them. Sam was playing with rolly poly's and just generally playing in the dirt as he is a mud puppy. After they left for their naps around 2 we got ready to head out to the heart doctors visit.

 We met her cardiologist and its turns out she is an oriental women in her late 30's or there about. Nancy was hoping for that type of person as it seems they are very knowledgeable and very studious. Dr King is very personable and very interested in what you say as well. She described what the echo cardiogram shown as not normal and its doesn't seem to be a big issue at this time but because she is on hypertension medicine the heart does a few things to compensate and one is it get a little stiff and thicker. She scheduled Nancy for a stress test on Monday and then from that she can better regulate her blood pressure medicine as well as tell why she is having these chest fluttering. I still think its because of the anxiety of leaving for the mountains as this occurs every year as we make plans to leave and then with all the stress associated with the passing of her dad in January and now with having to care for her mother who doesn't drive and the fact we won't see our grand babies as often as we would like really puts added stress on your body. The doctor was very interested in that as well as and indicated that Nancy still has a strong heart and its functioning normally except for the high blood pressure which isn't that bad.

I had picked some collards and kale to take to our friends the Payne's who live near the doctors office so we stopped by afterwards and visited them. He is living with only about 25% of his heart functioning but has made a remarkable recovery and is now back home and walking on his own. He is in his 80's and has had several major attacks as well as congestive heart failure. He was thrilled to receive the greens and attributes that kind of food to his longevity.

Well we had a lite supper of tacos with lots of fresh tomato, lettuce, onion and all the other stuff like cheese, sour cream and hot sauce and of course ground meat which probably was the best for you especially if you have hypertension, oh well it was lite and yummy. After the cleanup I headed out to water by hand until dark then settled in to watch the Rays lose to the Yanks in a close game, probably one we should have won at the end. The Flyers were eliminated by the Devils in the NHL. LATER  

Monday

Well the days are drawing close for our departure and I'm getting in that mood of catching up on little things that I've postponed and can barely sleep at nights in anticipation of all the things that are on my plate at the cabin, yikes!!! The day started much the usual with Chester at 5'ish in the morning, of course I was awake already and so I just got up and did my quiet time and had a bowl of oatmeal and played around on the Internet until it was time to ride out to the rec for a couple hours of pickle ball. We had a good crowd considering many have left for the summer and another one tomorrow. The play was fast with some good rallies and all total we had 10 players for the day. I'm still not completely over this sinus drain so I cut out a little early but still had a wet shirt.

After a quick stop at the library to return a couple books I headed home to work outside in the garden. I repotted a couple tomato plants as they were getting to big to leave in the ground as these are the ones I will take with me as well as a new vine I'm growing for the backyard arbor. I want to get them root bound in a pot so that when I set them out in the garden they should take off. I fed my Zinnias with some Miracle Grow and planted more marigolds as the ones I have are getting so big and are all starting to bloom. I will have a limited amount of space for traveling and these are just getting almost to big. The peppers I'm taking to the cabin are also starting to bloom and set peppers so I hope I can dig them up successfully for transplanting as I've maybe gotten them to big, Oh well!!!

Nancy had taken her mom to the eye glass store and now Nancy has decided she needs new ones as well so we are trying to get that in as well plus all of her other doctors appointments. We see a heart doctor on Tuesday, yikes this post menopausal era is driving me nuts.Nancy brought her mother back here for lunch and Amy and the kiddos came as well. The kiddos are so cute and Sam is talking like a magpie and he and Ava play so well together. I set an listen to their conversations and they really do interact quite well. We took GG home on our way to Sam's Club for some meats that we are preparing for house church on Wednesday and for Mother's Day this Sunday as well as to check on their eye glasses. Well Nancy did not like their frames so it back to another store and an exam which is more costly of course, oh well!!

Her mother called after Nancy drove her back to the eye glass store and said her new glasses were blurry in the one eye so I guess we will have to take her back for a redo tomorrow. We ate lite for supper with a garden salad and a baked potato as we had eaten leftover's for lunch. After the clean up I headed out to water and go for a bike ride as Nancy was having some aches and pains. I think its heartburn but she is convinced its her heart, oh well!!! I wish she would give up coffee for awhile as I think its giving her acid reflux, thus causing heartburn and indigestion problems.

I stopped and talked with our friend and a/c man in the hood and he gave me a sack of tomatoes his step daughter picked down in Ruskin over the week-end. A 5 gallon bucket for a $1.00 whereas we are paying a $1.69 a package in the store and they taste like cardboard. I headed home and picked him a sack of collards and kale which he was thrilled with as well, besides I need to use up these two vegetables as the heat will soon cause them to wilt despite my watering twice a day. Well I've rambled long enough, LATER

Sunday

Well it was another HOT and humid day here in central Florida and the morning started with temps in the high 70's, yikes where did those cool crisp morning go that were here 2 weeks ago? Only 13 more days until we are in the high country and hopefully some sweater weather in the morning, Ahhh!!! The morning other than the warm temps was much the usual with Chester the 5 o'clock alarm sounding off loud and clear. We did manage to tune him out until 7'ish before rolling out of the sack(old military saying).

After our quiet times and a lite breakfast of oatmeal and fruit we got ready to head out to Tampa for worship at Element Church with son, Bobby. We rode with Dan and Carol and they brought their house guest Marie , who is from Sweden with them as well. After the service we headed over to Plant City where the annual blueberry festival was being held at the Curl and Kurley Winery which specializes in blueberry wine as well as u-pick berries. We walked around the grounds and it was the usual stuff found at these type events but the place was packed despite it being in the 90's and no breeze. Dan picked up their case of vino as they are club members and we headed back to Pinellas to have a late lunch at the Olive Garden.

We sat in the lounge area where we could watch the Rays playing and had a dewisheous(Annsley) lunch of Zuppa soup and bread sticks for starters then for entrees of chicken, salmon and I had mussels, shrimp and scallops on a bed of fettuccine, yikes was that ever good and the girls brought home their leftovers. There goes the spare tire but it was very tasty for a change. We never ate anything the rest of the day except for a handful of nuts about 7 PM. Back to watching the Rays play while we ate as they scored 4 runs in the first inning and and only one more the rest of the game and then got blown out by the A's 9-5, yikes what a let down as the pitching was horrible. They head to N.Y. to play the Yanks for 3 games on Tuesday. We are hoping for a sweep as that occurred last time we played them to start the season.

Well hoping in 2 weeks on Sunday the 20th I will be posting from a higher elevation of around 3000 feet and the temps will be drastically cooler. Summer is in full swing here and its dry as all get out. I'm hoping my seedlings that I plan to bring with me to the summer garden will survive until I can get them in the ground there. We are catching up on all the doctor appointments for Nancy's mom and herself and starting to pack some things as well as making a list of all the things we must do here before heading out for what we hope will be at least 6 months. We are filling the calendar with dates for those who are planning on visiting this summer and if your thinking of heading up our way drop us a line via e-mail and reserve your date or make sure we are there if you come by for just the day.

I'm getting excited about helping out the widows and widowers on our mountain with the garden tilling and little odd jobs for them and of course getting my own gardens in shape for the upcoming growing season as well as getting together with our very active church family and friends. We are saddened that we will not see our grand babies on a daily and weekly basis but we will have a big celebration when they all come in July at different times. There is a trade off but if we want to keep our cabin in the mountains for our kids and grand kids, we have to maintain it as it's been nearly 8 months since  we've last been there. Well I've rambled long enough, LATER  

 

Saturday

Well today started out of course with the rooster next door crowing his head off at 5'ish in the morning but I was able to put the pillow over my head and sleep in until 7'ish. We were planning on doing one final(only second time this year) beach day as the time draws near for our venture to the cabin and the week ends will be full with family dinners , birthday celebrations, etc. I called my old friend, Stacy who is caring for her sick dad and  offered to bring her a mess of collards, kale and some homemade blackberry jelly on our way to the beach. Her dad answered the door and he looks a lot better than when we last saw him at the rehab facility. That made our day as we saw the thankfulness for thinking of him on his face.

We got to the beach at Redington Shores around 9:30'ish and the water was just beautiful, very gently rolling waves and a gentle off shore breeze made it comfortable even though in was already in the high 80's. I managed to get a long walk in while Nancy and our friends Dan, Carol and Marie lounged. I ran into an old trooper friend and his wife who I hadn't seen in years but saw him last week at Sam's Club. We chit chatted for some time and got a chance to catch up on some old troopers who had worked with us at the Pinellas station. We exchanged e-mails and phone numbers as he is about to have his 30 years in in July.

I got a nice swim in when I got back to the loungers and then finally Nancy decided she was ready to stroll down the beach. After that we played in the water chasing the Frisbee with Dan and Carol; luckily I was able to get a little bit of a workout. It was close to noon and I was getting hungry as well as fried so we headed home. After lunch I wanted to use some of the left over roof paint on my old garden shed so I took the blower and cleaned the roof of it before painting the entire shed. I was in the shade of the oak so I was out of the sun but still I was getting redder by the hour. It was time to get out of the sun by the time that job was completed. I took the garden hose and cooled down completely.

We got ready around 4:30 to head to GG for a Derby party complete with grilling burgers, fries, baked beans and a salad made with dried Raman noodles, cabbage, etc that Amy made. It was tasty and different. We all decided to pick a horse and place a dollar in the pot for each horse picked and the winner would take all. I picked Bodemister as he was from my home town area of Clark County, Va which is the neighboring county of Frederick where I grew up. He ran a great race but faltered at the end and lost by the horse Amy chose for Sam; Just One More. Sam was the big winner and didn't even know what he won. We then played Phase 10 after the clean up and tuned into the Rays game in the back ground.

We headed home and by the time I was ready to turn out the lights the score was tied and into extra innings; naturally I stayed up to watch the dismal final. We had a chance to win in the 12th but gave up a homer to the A's and it was only our second loss at home for the season, oh well. It was a fun day and Nancy won the game of Phase 10 on the last hand, LATER