Well Wednesday started out much the usual with a wake up crow from the feathered critters next door, they sure start early. I've become so accustomed to be awake at 5:30 that's is very difficult to linger in the sack. I won't know how to act when we get back to the cabin as sometime we stay in bed until after 8 AM, ahh!!! Anyhow after my few quiet moment, a cup of hot green tea and a lite breakfast I got ready to pedal out to the rec for some 2 plus hours of pickle ball. It had cooled down a little from the previous mornings but still was t-shirt and shorts temps.
We had a smaller crowd to start with but eventually several late comers made for some good continuous play. A few of the guys decided to check out another facility to see how their players played. We have played most of their good players at one time or another in the Good Life Games and our players have usually beat them. After PB I headed home to work outside the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon.
I transplants several Bib and Romaine lettuce seedling but first I had to turn over the ground and get it ready. That was done with a hand shovel; thankfully Florida has no rocks to contend with like the gardens in the mountains. I then transplanted my small green scallions into to the garden as well as set out several hills of tomato plants. Most of these new tomato plants went into the side garden where I had to get it ready for planting as well. I kept busy right up to lunch time.
Nancy was off to the hair dresser after her workout at the rec and then she was to shop at Sam's and stop off at her mothers on the way home. After a salad for lunch I headed back out to the garden. I noticed where fruit rats are once again attacking my plants. Seems last night they munched on 3 egg plants as well as bit into several tomato's. I have D-con out but will have to set rat traps baited with peanut butter tonight. I took a rest and sat out under the big oak in the back yard and read for awhile before a neighbor from the mountains called about her health.
She remembered Nancy talking about how amalgam filings that were placed in grand daughter Ava's teeth caused her so much discomfort and personality change. Shirley has been having all kinds of health issues and after all kinds of tests the doctors were unable to render a diagnosis. She is over menopause so that was ruled out and she thought maybe the filings which she said has been in her mouth for 40 years or more maybe the culprit. Well we shared what our dentist is doing with all of our amalgam's and how those filings are causing the teeth to crack and even break off. While mercury has probably leeched out after all these years once the tooth breaks off I'm sure some of the residual mercury can be released back into the blood stream. We shared there is a substance called chlorella that can be ingested that will bond with the mercury and then be excreted. She sounded at a loss of what to do or what was causing all of the maladies she is suffering with.
Well I picked fresh snow peas(sugar) and along with fresh mushrooms, celery, garlic, onions, peppers, cabbage and we made a stir fry with chicken and put that over Jasmine rice for supper. Wow are we ever eatin' healthy. We got word that Uncle Junior is doing great after his open heart surgery on Monday; already up and walking in the hospital just 2 days afterwards. That's great especially at his age of nearly 80. Well after the clean up from supper we tuned into the Fox News and then to the Idol. I headed for the bedroom where I could flip and get in some of O'Reilly between the actual contestants singing. I can't take a couple of the judges as their ranting and remarks are so way out there. We watched Duck Dynasty's first 2 new shows for this season and they are such a hoot. Well that's about it for Wednesday; we missed seeing Amy, Sam and GG today. Nancy is taking GG to run her errands today and then all will come here for lunch. I have a few more small jobs in the yard after pickle ball, LATER
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Wednesday Morning
Well Tuesday started out with overcast skies and by mid morning it rained and rained hard at times. So hard it knocked by beautiful tomato plants to the ground and caused several limbs to break off. We had a some strong swirling winds and a tornado was seen in the bay of Tampa(water spout). The morning was much the usual except for the rain with an early wake by the feathered critters next door, my quiet time then a lite breakfast of fruit before heading out on the bike for a couple plus hours of pickle ball. We had a large crowd with 2 courts going all morning a couple folks waiting to get on. A good work out was had by all.
I got home basically dry between the rain showers then settled in to a book by Bill O'Reilly THOSE WHO TRESPASS. It's his first novel and a page turner at that; he reminds me of Grisham's writings. Well the rain finally quit around lunch time when Amy and Sam came. Sam is such a cutie and is exhibiting little people actions. He loves to be read to and also watching monster trucks on the Internet. After they left to pick Ava up from school Nancy took off to the rec to get her workout in and I just chilled reading then headed out to the garden as the sun came out. It's still warm outside but another cold front is heading our way for the week-end. Supposed to get down into the low 40's and even some 30's further in land.
Supper was one of those where it wasn't all that exciting but good for you as we went meatless for a change; baked sweet 'tater and steamed broccoli. We are trying to cut down these spare tires and love handles and get in shape for our mountain hikes in about 3 months. We spoke with our "mountain mom, Helen" and she can't see out her windows as the rain has frozen them over. Their weather is terrible with sleet, snow and freezing rain. The snow hasn't amounted to much but the freezing rain and sleet has everyone in the house by the heater, yuck on that!!!! There is no getting outdoors at all. Well that's about it for this evening as we both flipped channels; she with dance moms and me with the Lightning hockey,they lost again, LATER
I got home basically dry between the rain showers then settled in to a book by Bill O'Reilly THOSE WHO TRESPASS. It's his first novel and a page turner at that; he reminds me of Grisham's writings. Well the rain finally quit around lunch time when Amy and Sam came. Sam is such a cutie and is exhibiting little people actions. He loves to be read to and also watching monster trucks on the Internet. After they left to pick Ava up from school Nancy took off to the rec to get her workout in and I just chilled reading then headed out to the garden as the sun came out. It's still warm outside but another cold front is heading our way for the week-end. Supposed to get down into the low 40's and even some 30's further in land.
Supper was one of those where it wasn't all that exciting but good for you as we went meatless for a change; baked sweet 'tater and steamed broccoli. We are trying to cut down these spare tires and love handles and get in shape for our mountain hikes in about 3 months. We spoke with our "mountain mom, Helen" and she can't see out her windows as the rain has frozen them over. Their weather is terrible with sleet, snow and freezing rain. The snow hasn't amounted to much but the freezing rain and sleet has everyone in the house by the heater, yuck on that!!!! There is no getting outdoors at all. Well that's about it for this evening as we both flipped channels; she with dance moms and me with the Lightning hockey,they lost again, LATER
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Tuesday Morning
Well Monday turned out once again to be another warm and muggy day; thankfully a strong breeze kept it bearable. After my quiet moments and a lite breakfast I pedalled out to the rec for another good 2 plus hours of pickle ball. We had a huge crowd today with 3 nets going and several waiting to get on. There were lots of wet shirts today. After the workout I headed home to work in the garden.
Amy, GG and Sam were coming for lunch so I cut the last 2 heads of bib lettuce as well as romaine and Simpson, along with some kale and a head of cabbage. I cleaned the lettuces and Nancy made the salad. I also picked a nice mess of green beans, a handful of half runners as well and a nice mess of snow peas. Nancy had bought a huge egg plant so we got that really to fry for lunch. Tyler doesn't care for that veggie and Amy loves egg plant as do we and GG. I picked fresh cilantro, basil and thyme to garnish the egg plant and wow was it delicious. We ate it right out of the frying pan. The girls had a salad to go along with the fried egg plant but I ate some leftover Cole slaw.
After the clean up they all headed to the back yard and I headed on the Internet as I'm still trying to run down old air force buddies to write me buddy letters about my service in Vietnam. I received one letter today and now I have 2 and hopefully a couple more on the way. I'm going to try the finance department at USAF tomorrow to see if any of my old pay records are still available as that would indicate combat pay as well as not paying income taxes during the war. Hopefully those records are still available and will generate some evidence of being in Vietnam during those years.
Well after Nancy got back from her workout at the rec we loaded up the lawn mower and headed over to GG's to mow and suck up her leaves from the oak tree. We gathered up 4 big bags of oak leaves and then I fixed her mailbox as it had come loose from its mooring. GG had a pot of beef-a-roni cooking so she invited us to stay, visit then eat with her. After that cleanup we headed out around 6:30 for home after a detour to CVS for a couple of prescription refills for Nancy. It was close to dark by the time we got home.
I finished the Grisham book then settled in to the Alaskan State Troopers show. They have some really weather issues there. It wasn't long afterwards until it was close to lights out. I almost forgot to mention by Uncle Junior went in for open heart surgery on Monday for a triple by-pass. Keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers as he is 79, LATER
Amy, GG and Sam were coming for lunch so I cut the last 2 heads of bib lettuce as well as romaine and Simpson, along with some kale and a head of cabbage. I cleaned the lettuces and Nancy made the salad. I also picked a nice mess of green beans, a handful of half runners as well and a nice mess of snow peas. Nancy had bought a huge egg plant so we got that really to fry for lunch. Tyler doesn't care for that veggie and Amy loves egg plant as do we and GG. I picked fresh cilantro, basil and thyme to garnish the egg plant and wow was it delicious. We ate it right out of the frying pan. The girls had a salad to go along with the fried egg plant but I ate some leftover Cole slaw.
After the clean up they all headed to the back yard and I headed on the Internet as I'm still trying to run down old air force buddies to write me buddy letters about my service in Vietnam. I received one letter today and now I have 2 and hopefully a couple more on the way. I'm going to try the finance department at USAF tomorrow to see if any of my old pay records are still available as that would indicate combat pay as well as not paying income taxes during the war. Hopefully those records are still available and will generate some evidence of being in Vietnam during those years.
Well after Nancy got back from her workout at the rec we loaded up the lawn mower and headed over to GG's to mow and suck up her leaves from the oak tree. We gathered up 4 big bags of oak leaves and then I fixed her mailbox as it had come loose from its mooring. GG had a pot of beef-a-roni cooking so she invited us to stay, visit then eat with her. After that cleanup we headed out around 6:30 for home after a detour to CVS for a couple of prescription refills for Nancy. It was close to dark by the time we got home.
I finished the Grisham book then settled in to the Alaskan State Troopers show. They have some really weather issues there. It wasn't long afterwards until it was close to lights out. I almost forgot to mention by Uncle Junior went in for open heart surgery on Monday for a triple by-pass. Keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers as he is 79, LATER
Monday, February 25, 2013
Monday Morning
Well Sunday started out with warm humid temperatures so much so the a/c is on full time once again. It's amazing that blizzard conditions are raging in the middle of the country and cold temps are blanketing the northern half of the nation, while here in Florida it has turned very warm and muggy. It's not HOT, HOT yet but the lows over night are in the high 60's to low 70's. All of the trees have the fuzzies and many trees are completely leafed out and its still February, oh well.
The morning started with the usual rooster wake up around 5:30 but we managed with the windows closed to stay in bed until 6:30 before rolling out. We did our quiet times, then the lite breakfast before getting ready for our ride to Tampa for worship with our son at Element Church. Dan and Carole carpooled with us and we had a jolly time with their company. The message once again was inspiring and right on point with our relationship and intimacy with the LORD. The music was "bless your heart"style.
Shortly after the service we headed out for Seminole as Dan was delivering a message at a church service in the early afternoon at the local nursing home. We heated up a frozen pizza for lunch before accompanying Dan to assist with pushing wheelchairs to the service. We saw many old familiar faces even one from our neighborhood who is recovering from back surgery and many from our old church. Mainly these elderly are so incapacitated and have no family that this becomes their last stop in life. Tyler our son in law was also there and he helps leads the music as this is an out reach from our old church where Amy and Tyler attend.
After getting back from the nursing home I tuned into the Daytonia 500 and it was a pretty good race right up to the end; while I like for the Fords to win at least the Lowes car and Jimmy Johnson are great competitors. Nancy headed off to pick up GG and bring her over for supper. We were having venison tacos and guacamole dip and wow what a delicious meal and rather lite as well. I used lots of fresh cilantro, dill, thyme as well as peppers, tomatoes and green scallions from the garden. I retreated after the cleanup to the reading room and computer while Nancy drove GG home. That was about it for the evening, LATER
The morning started with the usual rooster wake up around 5:30 but we managed with the windows closed to stay in bed until 6:30 before rolling out. We did our quiet times, then the lite breakfast before getting ready for our ride to Tampa for worship with our son at Element Church. Dan and Carole carpooled with us and we had a jolly time with their company. The message once again was inspiring and right on point with our relationship and intimacy with the LORD. The music was "bless your heart"style.
Shortly after the service we headed out for Seminole as Dan was delivering a message at a church service in the early afternoon at the local nursing home. We heated up a frozen pizza for lunch before accompanying Dan to assist with pushing wheelchairs to the service. We saw many old familiar faces even one from our neighborhood who is recovering from back surgery and many from our old church. Mainly these elderly are so incapacitated and have no family that this becomes their last stop in life. Tyler our son in law was also there and he helps leads the music as this is an out reach from our old church where Amy and Tyler attend.
After getting back from the nursing home I tuned into the Daytonia 500 and it was a pretty good race right up to the end; while I like for the Fords to win at least the Lowes car and Jimmy Johnson are great competitors. Nancy headed off to pick up GG and bring her over for supper. We were having venison tacos and guacamole dip and wow what a delicious meal and rather lite as well. I used lots of fresh cilantro, dill, thyme as well as peppers, tomatoes and green scallions from the garden. I retreated after the cleanup to the reading room and computer while Nancy drove GG home. That was about it for the evening, LATER
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Sunday Morning
It was so humid today we had to turn the a/c back on although the temperature stayed right around 80. There was lots of fog this morning which eventually gave way to clear skies. I started the morning much the usual way with a early wake up by the feathered fellows next door, then a cup of green tea while I had my quiet moments before pedaling out to the rec for a couple hours of pickle ball. I usually don't play on Saturday but since I missed Monday and half of Friday I decided I needed the workout and it was a good one. There were just 4 of us for about an hour so no one rested and then a fifth came for a half hour and by then we decided we had enough besides it was nearly 10 AM.
I headed home to a late breakfast of bologna boats and eggs(Nancy's favorite as a kid) and then I spent the next hour or so in the garden. I moved some tomato seedlings up into bigger pots and then fed all of my lettuces with a light feeding of Miracle Grow. We decided to take off to Home Depot as I needed to replace the other ballast on the fluorescent lights in the kitchen. We made a stop for some probiotics at the health food store for Nancy then came home to chill the rest of the day.
Amy, Tyler, GG and the kiddos all went down to the Bradenton area to a specialty restaurant called Yoders, it's Amish in orgin with family style dishes. We haven't heard how that trip was as we went to Dan and Carols for chicken fried rice and another stir fry dish. We made a huge bowl of fresh Cole slaw with cabbage and green peppers from the garden to go along with the oriential dishes. After eating we played 18 rounds of golf(card game) before heading home; Carol won big. It was really starting to get foggy and the moisture was so thick you could cut it with a knife. We settled into the tube; she with HGTV and me with kick boxing before we decided we needed to read.
I had a long conversation with an old USAF buddy Wally Beisser who now lives in Wilmington, N.C. He is having all kinds of health issues and now he is totally disabled from the issues that he received in the military. He is also going to write a letter supporting my cause of trying to prove to the VA, I had boots on the ground in Vietnam for over 7 years. We flew in there together for 4 years and were roommates as well. Luckily he saved much of his military orders and other papers so that he had no problem proving he was in country. Now he is going to assist me with my issues as he had a set of orders that had my name, rank and serial number that went back over 45 years ago. A big Thank You to him. We reminisced about old times we shared together both while on duty and while carousing the California area. It was great to hear from him and he now has 5 grand children, LATER
I headed home to a late breakfast of bologna boats and eggs(Nancy's favorite as a kid) and then I spent the next hour or so in the garden. I moved some tomato seedlings up into bigger pots and then fed all of my lettuces with a light feeding of Miracle Grow. We decided to take off to Home Depot as I needed to replace the other ballast on the fluorescent lights in the kitchen. We made a stop for some probiotics at the health food store for Nancy then came home to chill the rest of the day.
Amy, Tyler, GG and the kiddos all went down to the Bradenton area to a specialty restaurant called Yoders, it's Amish in orgin with family style dishes. We haven't heard how that trip was as we went to Dan and Carols for chicken fried rice and another stir fry dish. We made a huge bowl of fresh Cole slaw with cabbage and green peppers from the garden to go along with the oriential dishes. After eating we played 18 rounds of golf(card game) before heading home; Carol won big. It was really starting to get foggy and the moisture was so thick you could cut it with a knife. We settled into the tube; she with HGTV and me with kick boxing before we decided we needed to read.
I had a long conversation with an old USAF buddy Wally Beisser who now lives in Wilmington, N.C. He is having all kinds of health issues and now he is totally disabled from the issues that he received in the military. He is also going to write a letter supporting my cause of trying to prove to the VA, I had boots on the ground in Vietnam for over 7 years. We flew in there together for 4 years and were roommates as well. Luckily he saved much of his military orders and other papers so that he had no problem proving he was in country. Now he is going to assist me with my issues as he had a set of orders that had my name, rank and serial number that went back over 45 years ago. A big Thank You to him. We reminisced about old times we shared together both while on duty and while carousing the California area. It was great to hear from him and he now has 5 grand children, LATER
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Saturday Morning
Well Friday was a busy day that started with the birds crowing next door at 5:30 in the morning; whats with these guys as its dark outside. I did manage to stay in the sack until 6:30 but I never fell back asleep, oh well!! After my quiet moments and a grapefruit for breakfast I pedalled out for a short workout at the rec with some very good pickle ball play for about an hour. If wet shirts indicate a good workout then I had a good one. I stopped by the library on the way home to pickup the latest Grisham book THE RACKETEER which the library was holding for me.
Well we were scheduled to be at Keswick Christian School for Ava's grandparents day at 9:45. So I quickly got cleaned up and we headed out. Ava was so excited we were going to be there and the program was awesome. Her class sang a song with lots of animations about grandparents. The whole program which included kindergarten through 5th grade did an excellent job. What a different atmosphere these kids enjoy and the teachers were above and beyond in their attention of their pupils. We are so thankful Ava has this opportunity to attend this christian school.
Afterwards we brought Ava with us and she wanted a happy meal from McDonald's so we stopped and brought one home for Sam as well. I think she just wanted the fries and apple as well as the toy in the meal. Amy and Sam came a little later and we all had lunch together.
Well I was able to made contact with my plumber buddy who informed me the leak from Moen faucet sounded like just an O-ring problem. Well he was right and I just happened to have an O-ring in some of my Moen goodies from years ago. Problem solved for now. I did call the Moen Company as he reminded there is a life time warranty on their products. I called them and they are sending me a new cartridge plus new O-rings as well at no cost. What I thought was going to be a huge headache as well as expensive turned out to be just a nuisance for a couple hours. Many thanks to Eddie for his expertise and his ability to relate it to me over the phone. It's funny how when Eddie was a young lad I taught him how to water ski along with his brothers and sisters. He turned out to be one of the good guys in his family whereas the siblings have all been in jail for various reasons.
Well, today Saturday morning the temperature is 70 degrees outside to start the morning. I plan on shampooing the carpets then I think we are going out with our friends and neighbors to celebrate the girls birthdays which are within a day of each other. That means we will break our one day diet of not eating carbs with proteins. We did eat healthy yesterday with salad for lunch and boiled home grown cabbage with a baked potato for supper. Oh well, what is it they say"one day at a time" and then maybe we will begin to lose these spare tires we have accumulated. LATER
Well we were scheduled to be at Keswick Christian School for Ava's grandparents day at 9:45. So I quickly got cleaned up and we headed out. Ava was so excited we were going to be there and the program was awesome. Her class sang a song with lots of animations about grandparents. The whole program which included kindergarten through 5th grade did an excellent job. What a different atmosphere these kids enjoy and the teachers were above and beyond in their attention of their pupils. We are so thankful Ava has this opportunity to attend this christian school.
Afterwards we brought Ava with us and she wanted a happy meal from McDonald's so we stopped and brought one home for Sam as well. I think she just wanted the fries and apple as well as the toy in the meal. Amy and Sam came a little later and we all had lunch together.
Well I was able to made contact with my plumber buddy who informed me the leak from Moen faucet sounded like just an O-ring problem. Well he was right and I just happened to have an O-ring in some of my Moen goodies from years ago. Problem solved for now. I did call the Moen Company as he reminded there is a life time warranty on their products. I called them and they are sending me a new cartridge plus new O-rings as well at no cost. What I thought was going to be a huge headache as well as expensive turned out to be just a nuisance for a couple hours. Many thanks to Eddie for his expertise and his ability to relate it to me over the phone. It's funny how when Eddie was a young lad I taught him how to water ski along with his brothers and sisters. He turned out to be one of the good guys in his family whereas the siblings have all been in jail for various reasons.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Friday Morning
The morning started out much the usual with the roosters crowing around 5:30 way before daylight hours. I'll be glad when they get on DST, anyhow after my usual quiet moments and a lite breakfast I pedalled out for a couple hours of pickle ball play. Afterwards I headed home to pick lettuces and water the gardens. Amy, Sam and GG were coming for lunch so I made a huge salad while Nancy was at the rec for her workout.
Well it seems the cartridge in Moen kitchen faucet is starting to malfunction so its time to replace that as well as the kitchen sink. Its been in there for 25 years so I guess I've got my money's worth. Nancy and I have to attend grand parents day at Ava's school this morning(Friday) so on the way home we will stop at Home Depot and pick out a new sink, faucet and all the accessories. I just hope I can get the old fittings off without any further damage.
I grilled a couple pork chops for supper along with sauteed Swiss chard and a salad. We both have to make a valiant effort to lose a few pounds by eating no starches with proteins and to limit our intake of carbs that turn into sugars. Yikes that will be hard to do especially with birthday dinners coming up in the next couple weeks. I can forgo the sweets but the smashed taters are hard to leave in the pot. After the cleanup which saw some water leaking down below the sink and into the cabinet we got ready and headed up to what will become our weekly get together for our house church. We are doing a study by Charles Swindoll titled THE GRACE AWAKENING. We got back to the house around 9 and then settled into American Idol. Wow what a few misfits in both contestants and judges, oh well!!! I guess I need to show grace but what has our society turned into. LATER
Well it seems the cartridge in Moen kitchen faucet is starting to malfunction so its time to replace that as well as the kitchen sink. Its been in there for 25 years so I guess I've got my money's worth. Nancy and I have to attend grand parents day at Ava's school this morning(Friday) so on the way home we will stop at Home Depot and pick out a new sink, faucet and all the accessories. I just hope I can get the old fittings off without any further damage.
I grilled a couple pork chops for supper along with sauteed Swiss chard and a salad. We both have to make a valiant effort to lose a few pounds by eating no starches with proteins and to limit our intake of carbs that turn into sugars. Yikes that will be hard to do especially with birthday dinners coming up in the next couple weeks. I can forgo the sweets but the smashed taters are hard to leave in the pot. After the cleanup which saw some water leaking down below the sink and into the cabinet we got ready and headed up to what will become our weekly get together for our house church. We are doing a study by Charles Swindoll titled THE GRACE AWAKENING. We got back to the house around 9 and then settled into American Idol. Wow what a few misfits in both contestants and judges, oh well!!! I guess I need to show grace but what has our society turned into. LATER
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Thursday Morning
Well Wednesday turned out to be once more another beautiful day with spring like temps. There were some high clouds which kept the temps down into the middle 70's but splendid after a cloudy drizzle early morning start. The roosters were in form with early morning crowing so I was up at 6:15 and on the computer writing this post with a cup of hot green tea. Our grand kids I hope will one day read these posts and learn what we were all about on a daily basis.
After a grapefruit for breakfast I pedalled out for what turned out to be nearly 2 1/2 hours of pickle ball. It seems the caliber of play has gone up with most all the players as well as some of the temperament of a couple of the guys. There are a couple guys who show such disdain for some of the weaker players and even refuse to play with them at times, oh well. We had a good turnout and for most of the morning there were great rallies and good matches.
I came home to work in the garden while Nancy was at Dr. Beirl's office for more dental work. I must say he is one fine dentist and he and his staff quickly become your friend as well. We got to know him through our once next door neighbor who is his hygienist. I picked more tomatoes, then watered and fed my new seedlings as well as the whole garden. It's still producing tons of good things to eat.
I got in touch via Face Book a couple of my USAF buddies about validating my many missions into Vietnam during my career as a loadmaster on a C-141A aircraft. I even spoke with my old NCOIC(non-commisioned officer in charge), Boston Sizemore who is up into his 80's, and he remembered me as well after all these years and said he would also write a letter for me. It's a darn shame the military failed to recognize my war time service on my discharge DD214, but the VA is now going to assist me in that correction along with my "buddy letters" that attest to the fact we all flew into the war zone. Seems many of the young airmen have faced the same problem I'm facing when signing up for a registry for the Agent Orange exposure that occurred during the Vietnam War.
Well since we had no one for lunch but Nancy and I we took off afterwards to run some errands at Home Depot and Sam's Club. We shopped then stopped off to bring some goodies to GG and visit for awhile before heading home. It was after 4 by the time we got back and unloaded. We decided to finish the delicious deer chili and Cole slaw for supper so that was easy and not much involved. After the cleanup it was Fox News time then Nancy switched to the Idol while I ventured between commercials to O'Reilly. It wasn't long after that and my shower until it was lights out for me, LATER
After a grapefruit for breakfast I pedalled out for what turned out to be nearly 2 1/2 hours of pickle ball. It seems the caliber of play has gone up with most all the players as well as some of the temperament of a couple of the guys. There are a couple guys who show such disdain for some of the weaker players and even refuse to play with them at times, oh well. We had a good turnout and for most of the morning there were great rallies and good matches.
I came home to work in the garden while Nancy was at Dr. Beirl's office for more dental work. I must say he is one fine dentist and he and his staff quickly become your friend as well. We got to know him through our once next door neighbor who is his hygienist. I picked more tomatoes, then watered and fed my new seedlings as well as the whole garden. It's still producing tons of good things to eat.
I got in touch via Face Book a couple of my USAF buddies about validating my many missions into Vietnam during my career as a loadmaster on a C-141A aircraft. I even spoke with my old NCOIC(non-commisioned officer in charge), Boston Sizemore who is up into his 80's, and he remembered me as well after all these years and said he would also write a letter for me. It's a darn shame the military failed to recognize my war time service on my discharge DD214, but the VA is now going to assist me in that correction along with my "buddy letters" that attest to the fact we all flew into the war zone. Seems many of the young airmen have faced the same problem I'm facing when signing up for a registry for the Agent Orange exposure that occurred during the Vietnam War.
Well since we had no one for lunch but Nancy and I we took off afterwards to run some errands at Home Depot and Sam's Club. We shopped then stopped off to bring some goodies to GG and visit for awhile before heading home. It was after 4 by the time we got back and unloaded. We decided to finish the delicious deer chili and Cole slaw for supper so that was easy and not much involved. After the cleanup it was Fox News time then Nancy switched to the Idol while I ventured between commercials to O'Reilly. It wasn't long after that and my shower until it was lights out for me, LATER
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Wednesday Morning
Well Tuesday was just fabulous weather wise that started with the high 50's in the morning and nearly reached 80 by late afternoon. Bright sunshine, blue skies and just enough of a breeze to make it comfortable for working outside in the garden and reading under the big oak in the afternoon.
The morning started with the usual dueling by our residence roosters next door and thus a roll out around 6:30. After my quiet moments and a lite breakfast I pedalled out to the rec for some 2 plus hours of pickle ball. We had a good crew of players and lots of wet shirts. The play has recently improved with a tune up for the up and coming Good Life Games in March. I think I will pass this year as I still have tendinitis in my right elbow. I'm able to play daily but when I have a pardner that would depend on me for possible 4-5 matches in a day during the tournament; I'd best not let them down. Anyhow its taking longer than I want to heal and that's because I don't want to rest it for weeks. Oh well!!!
I came home and worked in the garden transplanting some onion seedlings I started from seeds. These will be scallions only for eating. I then fed all of my new seedlings with half strength Miracle Grow and then picked tomatoes. The 2 huge ones I picked to keep the fruit rats from biting into are finally turning in the window sill. At this time I'm getting a half dozen or more large cherry type tomatoes but the Celebrity plants are just loaded with nice size 'maters. I cut a beautiful head of cabbage for Cole slaw for supper to go along with our chicken fajitas. Wow were they ever tasty.
Amy, GG and Sam came for lunch and we dined on the fresh salad as well as used up some of the leftover crusty bread which Nancy toasted in the oven with garlic butter. No wonder I can't lose this spare tire; just too much consuming going on here. Sam played outside after lunch and before he left for the day he likes for me to show him "monster trucks on the 'puter" he says. We read the rest of the afternoon and I caught up with trying to get in touch with some of my old Air Force buddies. It seems I will need some buddy letters to say I was flying into Vietnam during the 60's as my discharge papers did not indicate I had ever been there, WHAT!!! I'm sitting here looking at the AIR MEDAL award for 35 missions into the combat zone and I have several oak leaf clusters for each additional 35 missions; and there is no record of that. I'm sure glad I looked into this as I must set the record straight; not that it's going to make a huge difference for my family. I wonder how many other men were not treated right when they discharged from the service?
Well after those yummy fajitas we did the clean up and spoke with our "mountain mom" Helen in the mountains. The weather there is awful with snow, sleet, rain and below freezing temps and more is on the way. We keep trying to get her to come south for a couple months or at least until the weather gets better. It tough on being weathered inside that cabin for days at a time with no sunshine or the chance to get out an exercise. She is an outside person and quite the worker.
We tuned into Fox News then I watched the Lightning beat the Maple Leafs in Hockey and it wasn't long for lights out, LATER Here are a few fresh herbs from the garden and last nights supper!!!
The morning started with the usual dueling by our residence roosters next door and thus a roll out around 6:30. After my quiet moments and a lite breakfast I pedalled out to the rec for some 2 plus hours of pickle ball. We had a good crew of players and lots of wet shirts. The play has recently improved with a tune up for the up and coming Good Life Games in March. I think I will pass this year as I still have tendinitis in my right elbow. I'm able to play daily but when I have a pardner that would depend on me for possible 4-5 matches in a day during the tournament; I'd best not let them down. Anyhow its taking longer than I want to heal and that's because I don't want to rest it for weeks. Oh well!!!
I came home and worked in the garden transplanting some onion seedlings I started from seeds. These will be scallions only for eating. I then fed all of my new seedlings with half strength Miracle Grow and then picked tomatoes. The 2 huge ones I picked to keep the fruit rats from biting into are finally turning in the window sill. At this time I'm getting a half dozen or more large cherry type tomatoes but the Celebrity plants are just loaded with nice size 'maters. I cut a beautiful head of cabbage for Cole slaw for supper to go along with our chicken fajitas. Wow were they ever tasty.
Amy, GG and Sam came for lunch and we dined on the fresh salad as well as used up some of the leftover crusty bread which Nancy toasted in the oven with garlic butter. No wonder I can't lose this spare tire; just too much consuming going on here. Sam played outside after lunch and before he left for the day he likes for me to show him "monster trucks on the 'puter" he says. We read the rest of the afternoon and I caught up with trying to get in touch with some of my old Air Force buddies. It seems I will need some buddy letters to say I was flying into Vietnam during the 60's as my discharge papers did not indicate I had ever been there, WHAT!!! I'm sitting here looking at the AIR MEDAL award for 35 missions into the combat zone and I have several oak leaf clusters for each additional 35 missions; and there is no record of that. I'm sure glad I looked into this as I must set the record straight; not that it's going to make a huge difference for my family. I wonder how many other men were not treated right when they discharged from the service?
Well after those yummy fajitas we did the clean up and spoke with our "mountain mom" Helen in the mountains. The weather there is awful with snow, sleet, rain and below freezing temps and more is on the way. We keep trying to get her to come south for a couple months or at least until the weather gets better. It tough on being weathered inside that cabin for days at a time with no sunshine or the chance to get out an exercise. She is an outside person and quite the worker.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Tuesday Morning
Yeow, was it ever cold here on Monday morning with frost everywhere except our back yard which was spared from the heavy concentration; I was glad I covered the plants which old sheets that were susceptible to the killing white stuff on Sunday evening before dark. The only damage was to a couple new cucumber plants that were just about a foot in height; despite having them covered. I took the new basil seedlings into the shed as they really don't like the cold.
We slept in until 7'ish as the rec was closed for the holiday despite the big beak's next door with their crowing; somehow I don't think they were quite as active early due to the cold. Our heat came on several times during the night but by 9 AM you could tell a great change in the outside temp's as the warm air moved in and by late afternoon we had windows open and it was short sleeve weather with bright sunshine. I think it went from in the 30's to almost 70's by late evening. No wonder there is so much sickness around.
I worked outside in the garden for awhile then Nancy and I took a long hike through the hood and came back for a late lunch of leftover roast beef sandwiches. I had mine slathered in fresh ground horse radish and piled high with fresh lettuce. We ate pickled cauliflower on the side, yikes was that ever tasty. After lunch I retreated to the reading room and started a new book by Walter Mosely. Mosely is a black author who really puts you in touch with the everyday life of his ethnic group. He writes a good mystery story as well and I find his writing very entertaining.
Nancy took off to take her mother(GG) to have her income taxes done and then brought her back to our house for supper. She made a pot of chili using ground venison, yeow was that ever delicious and I made a huge fresh garden salad and to top the meal off we have Martha White cornbread slathered with homemade apple butter(on mine). Now that was some country eatin'! GG hung around until after the cleanup then Nancy drove her home. It was starting to cool down but nothing like the night before and the fore cast calls for continued warming in the 80's by Friday and Saturday. Florida winters are great except for when you have to run the a/c or the heat and sometimes that occurs all in the same day which happens more frequently than imaginable, LATER
We slept in until 7'ish as the rec was closed for the holiday despite the big beak's next door with their crowing; somehow I don't think they were quite as active early due to the cold. Our heat came on several times during the night but by 9 AM you could tell a great change in the outside temp's as the warm air moved in and by late afternoon we had windows open and it was short sleeve weather with bright sunshine. I think it went from in the 30's to almost 70's by late evening. No wonder there is so much sickness around.
I worked outside in the garden for awhile then Nancy and I took a long hike through the hood and came back for a late lunch of leftover roast beef sandwiches. I had mine slathered in fresh ground horse radish and piled high with fresh lettuce. We ate pickled cauliflower on the side, yikes was that ever tasty. After lunch I retreated to the reading room and started a new book by Walter Mosely. Mosely is a black author who really puts you in touch with the everyday life of his ethnic group. He writes a good mystery story as well and I find his writing very entertaining.
Nancy took off to take her mother(GG) to have her income taxes done and then brought her back to our house for supper. She made a pot of chili using ground venison, yeow was that ever delicious and I made a huge fresh garden salad and to top the meal off we have Martha White cornbread slathered with homemade apple butter(on mine). Now that was some country eatin'! GG hung around until after the cleanup then Nancy drove her home. It was starting to cool down but nothing like the night before and the fore cast calls for continued warming in the 80's by Friday and Saturday. Florida winters are great except for when you have to run the a/c or the heat and sometimes that occurs all in the same day which happens more frequently than imaginable, LATER
Monday, February 18, 2013
Monday Morning
Well Sunday was an awesome and busy day. It started out cold with a strong Northern breeze and the thermometer at 40 degrees; felt like low 30's, but it eventually warmed up to the low 50's but with bright sunshine and blue skies. Our trip to Tampa was uneventful but Bobby's message had the gathering in tears. What an awesome message about knowing the Father and he used PAP(grandfather) as the analogy as how he, Bobby got to know him by just by seeing an old war photograph of PAP and then asking, seeking and knocking(invitation into his life). We were all moved by his message and the way he used scripture in validating HIS desire to have a relationship with us. Just an awesome message. Check it out on his podcast at Iamelement.org.
We headed out shortly after the service as we were having another family meal at 2 PM. GG was cooking a beef roast and we had to get the rest of the meal together for the gang as Errol and Arianne wanted to be back in Miami tonight and they had to drop Corrine off in Naples on their way home. Nancy peeled spuds and carrots and I made another huge salad from the garden. The meal was awesome once again especially with the gravy over the meat and taters'. Yikes I will never lose this spare tire. We had a fun time and with a houseful there was plenty of excitement. Lots of picture taking and after the clean up we talked the southbound gang into staying for a couple rounds of domino's. A fun time was had by all.
After Errol, Arianne and Corrine took off GG, Betsy, Nancy and myself finished out the game of domino's then they headed out before dark. I headed out to cover my garden with old sheets as we were expecting frost over night and it did occur. All of the roof tops were covered in frost this AM when I checked. Luckily the large trees around the back yard seems to have kept most of the killing stuff off of my plants. Amy and Tyler took off after eating to a special concert in Tampa of a African children's choir that was noted for saving young children from the ravishes of war in Africa. They were very impressed with the music plus the emphasis on saving the young children; some as young as 8 were conscripted to join roving bands and forced into killing innocents by these terrorists gangs.
Nancy and I gave Ava and Sam baths and then they watched a movie while I headed in to watch on National Geographic the Killing of Lincoln. The 2 hours documentary is very realistic with awesome portrayal of this vile deed that was perpetrated by the fanatic actor Booth. It's very realistic and is narrated by Tom Hanks. Well that was about it for this busy Sunday of worship, good eatin' and family visits and fun, LATER
We headed out shortly after the service as we were having another family meal at 2 PM. GG was cooking a beef roast and we had to get the rest of the meal together for the gang as Errol and Arianne wanted to be back in Miami tonight and they had to drop Corrine off in Naples on their way home. Nancy peeled spuds and carrots and I made another huge salad from the garden. The meal was awesome once again especially with the gravy over the meat and taters'. Yikes I will never lose this spare tire. We had a fun time and with a houseful there was plenty of excitement. Lots of picture taking and after the clean up we talked the southbound gang into staying for a couple rounds of domino's. A fun time was had by all.
Nancy and I gave Ava and Sam baths and then they watched a movie while I headed in to watch on National Geographic the Killing of Lincoln. The 2 hours documentary is very realistic with awesome portrayal of this vile deed that was perpetrated by the fanatic actor Booth. It's very realistic and is narrated by Tom Hanks. Well that was about it for this busy Sunday of worship, good eatin' and family visits and fun, LATER
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Sunday Morning
Well Saturday morning was just like a spring day and by dark it felt like the onset of late Autumn. What a swing in temps in just about 8 hours but that's Florida weather. Anyhow the morning started out with clear skies bright sunshine with just enough moisture in the air to make it feel like one of those morning you spend outside working. The air has such freshness to the smell so after my cup of tea, quiet moments and a couple buckwheat cakes with banana in the batter I headed out to the back yard and gardens.
Nancy got a load of laundry in and I mowed up the oak leaves that covered the back yard so she could hang her clothes on the line while I mowed up the leaves in the front yard. I gathered about 3 large trash cans of the little leaves then mulched them with the mower and spread them around in the gardens. The fishin' worms love it when I do the leaves that way and they breakdown into great soil in no time with their help. I turned over the side garden with a shovel as I'm going to have to plant some lettuce and tomato's that are an overflow of seedlings in with the sugar peas that are climbing on the fence.
Well after the yard work I headed in to relax but before I took it easy I cut more lettuce for another large salad we were taking to GG's for supper; another family supper get together with Arriane, Errol and Arriane's other grandmother Corrine(Diane's mom). Corrine lives down in Naples with her new husband about 5 months out of the year then returns to Michigan. Her first husband(Diane's father) passed away about 5 years ago.
The gals all went to the bridal shop where Arriane was fitted after trying on her dress. This gown is custom made and none other like it so the high society in Miami will take notice. Arianne teaches in a private school where the community is old money.
Well we had layered enchiladas, egg plant Parmesan and lasagna along with our salad and crusty bread for supper, Delicious. Afterwards we played games and the last game was Balderdash which concluded around 11. Ava and Sam finally crashed and were asleep on the couch and I came from behind on the last name to sucker 4 people into vote for my explanation of who this person was; I whupped Nancy who lead all of us all night long. It was a raucous night with 9 adults at the table and everyone trying their best to outdo the other.
Well today is worship in Tampa at Element Church and then afterwards the gang from last night will meet at our house for another meal of roast beef(GG is cooking while we are in church) and all the fixin's, LATER
Nancy got a load of laundry in and I mowed up the oak leaves that covered the back yard so she could hang her clothes on the line while I mowed up the leaves in the front yard. I gathered about 3 large trash cans of the little leaves then mulched them with the mower and spread them around in the gardens. The fishin' worms love it when I do the leaves that way and they breakdown into great soil in no time with their help. I turned over the side garden with a shovel as I'm going to have to plant some lettuce and tomato's that are an overflow of seedlings in with the sugar peas that are climbing on the fence.
Well after the yard work I headed in to relax but before I took it easy I cut more lettuce for another large salad we were taking to GG's for supper; another family supper get together with Arriane, Errol and Arriane's other grandmother Corrine(Diane's mom). Corrine lives down in Naples with her new husband about 5 months out of the year then returns to Michigan. Her first husband(Diane's father) passed away about 5 years ago.
The gals all went to the bridal shop where Arriane was fitted after trying on her dress. This gown is custom made and none other like it so the high society in Miami will take notice. Arianne teaches in a private school where the community is old money.
Well we had layered enchiladas, egg plant Parmesan and lasagna along with our salad and crusty bread for supper, Delicious. Afterwards we played games and the last game was Balderdash which concluded around 11. Ava and Sam finally crashed and were asleep on the couch and I came from behind on the last name to sucker 4 people into vote for my explanation of who this person was; I whupped Nancy who lead all of us all night long. It was a raucous night with 9 adults at the table and everyone trying their best to outdo the other.
Well today is worship in Tampa at Element Church and then afterwards the gang from last night will meet at our house for another meal of roast beef(GG is cooking while we are in church) and all the fixin's, LATER
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Saturday Morning
Well Friday started with overcast skies which eventually by the afternoon once more saw sunshine and temps into the middle 60's. The ground stayed damp so it was the first day I hadn't hand watered in quite a spell. The morning started out with the dueling roosters around 6 AM. I lingered until 6:30 then started the day with my usual cup of tea, quiet time and then a lite breakfast before pedalling out to the rec for some 2 1/2 hours of pickle ball. We had a good crowd so the play was fast and continuous and lots of wet shirts. We will miss PB play on Monday as its a holiday.
After PB I headed home to piddle around in the garden; pulling weeds and feeding some of the new seedlings. The plants really loved that nice soaking rain. I found where I have 5 small egg plants on the 3 plants. There is nothing quite as tasty as fried egg plant, yeow!!! All of the new lettuce and tomato seedlings have added another leaf almost overnight. The cukes are blooming like crazy as well as are the sugar peas. Since I didn't have to hand water I decided to turn over the soil in the areas where I had lettuce growing and the fishin' worms were everywhere; they are the best soil fertilizer ever.
Nancy was at her Bible study and Amy and Sam weren't coming for lunch so it was quiet around here. I finished KILLING KENNEDY and what an awesome read. There is so much history in this book as well as some very interesting tidbits about the power brokers that were in D.C. This book along with KILLING LINCOLN should be a mandatory read for all students in high school and college. Excellent reading as well.
Well I decided to tackle the taxes for 2012 and spent the next 4-5 hours getting everything ready and then E-filed on line. I like turbo tax and its reasonable as well especially when itemizing; plus I managed a small refund as well. Nancy took her mother grocery shopping then headed to the rec for her workout. I got in a couple phone calls to Paw Paw and Uncle Junior. Paw Paw said Uncle Junior has been having some health issues so we decided to ring him up for a chat. He sounded good and didn't seem to be overly concerned about his health. It had been awhile since we last made contact with one another. Paw Paw sounded good and he and his friend Adeline were down to his Winchester house for the night.
We decided to have fried Swaii(fish) for supper to go along with rice and sweet peas and I must say that is the best fried fish ever. It's a type of catfish but very mild. After the clean up we headed in to watch Fox News then retreated to our respective tubes to flip channels. I like the Friday night fights as well as the gold mining shows and of course Nancy is into HGTV, LATER
After PB I headed home to piddle around in the garden; pulling weeds and feeding some of the new seedlings. The plants really loved that nice soaking rain. I found where I have 5 small egg plants on the 3 plants. There is nothing quite as tasty as fried egg plant, yeow!!! All of the new lettuce and tomato seedlings have added another leaf almost overnight. The cukes are blooming like crazy as well as are the sugar peas. Since I didn't have to hand water I decided to turn over the soil in the areas where I had lettuce growing and the fishin' worms were everywhere; they are the best soil fertilizer ever.
Nancy was at her Bible study and Amy and Sam weren't coming for lunch so it was quiet around here. I finished KILLING KENNEDY and what an awesome read. There is so much history in this book as well as some very interesting tidbits about the power brokers that were in D.C. This book along with KILLING LINCOLN should be a mandatory read for all students in high school and college. Excellent reading as well.
Well I decided to tackle the taxes for 2012 and spent the next 4-5 hours getting everything ready and then E-filed on line. I like turbo tax and its reasonable as well especially when itemizing; plus I managed a small refund as well. Nancy took her mother grocery shopping then headed to the rec for her workout. I got in a couple phone calls to Paw Paw and Uncle Junior. Paw Paw said Uncle Junior has been having some health issues so we decided to ring him up for a chat. He sounded good and didn't seem to be overly concerned about his health. It had been awhile since we last made contact with one another. Paw Paw sounded good and he and his friend Adeline were down to his Winchester house for the night.
We decided to have fried Swaii(fish) for supper to go along with rice and sweet peas and I must say that is the best fried fish ever. It's a type of catfish but very mild. After the clean up we headed in to watch Fox News then retreated to our respective tubes to flip channels. I like the Friday night fights as well as the gold mining shows and of course Nancy is into HGTV, LATER
Friday, February 15, 2013
Friday Morning
Well Thursday was definitely a total weather change with us not seeing the sun all day. There was overhead clouds to start the morning after what appeared a be a drizzle or light rain most of the night. It had cooled down 10-15 degrees but still comfortable with a sweater or light jacket. Around mid-morning the light rain started again and continued throughout the rest of the day and into the night. What a welcomed rain as the garden and yards with be showing some relief from the drought.
The morning started much the usual with the roosters dueling their crowing way before any dawn or daylight around 6'ish. I rolled out at 6:30 to start the day with my cup of green tea, quiet moments and then a lite breakfast of grapefruit before pedalling out to the rec for some 2 1/2 hours of workout on the pickle ball court. What a great workout if the wet shirt is the indicator. I headed home after a quick stop at the library for a couple new reads.
I then headed out to my new dentist Dr. Brian Beirl office in Seminole at 10:15 for what seemed the rest of the morning and early afternoon to have some work done. This man becomes your friend and with us it was special as he started his dentistry career where I had my major dentistry work done when I entered the Air Force; the only difference was he came to Travis AFB in '75 and I left there in '73. I was having him replace a crown and install a new one on a tooth I had another dentist work on a couple years ago and this guy botched the tooth by not having the crown fit properly thus allowing bacteria to enter on the post where the crown sits and as a result decay started under the crown. Well since I had another molar on the other side of my jaw that needed a crown we decided to do both at the same time so it saved me a little money as well as another trip. It was after 2 PM before I was finished. This is the most thorough dentist, completely painless and he uses all the new techniques in dentistry as he also teaches at the local college through the University of Florida dental program; plus the guy is doggone friendly.
Well anyhow it was a one of those days when you get what you pay for and I learned the hard way by this other dentist who botched that tooth. Nancy just loves this guy and feels she finally will be able to eat without pain in her mouth and so far its working. This guy called me later in the evening to find out how I was doing from the days procedures. By the way his practice allows for referrals for a cash discount so if you use him he will not only discount your visits but the person who refers as well; not much but a little. So if you want thorough dental work call him and mention my name.
Nancy got home after working at GG's all morning with Amy putting her kitchen back in order after the remodel. I had a snack of a peanut butter sandwich then an apple for a late lunch. Carol our neighbor invited us for spaghetti for supper and we made a huge fresh salad from the garden, yeow was that ever tasty. Afterwards we played a game of Oh -ell and Dan slaughtered us with the girls being third and fourth. It drizzled all the way home as we walked into the cooling night air. We watched Idol and then got ready for some horizontal lab, LATER
The morning started much the usual with the roosters dueling their crowing way before any dawn or daylight around 6'ish. I rolled out at 6:30 to start the day with my cup of green tea, quiet moments and then a lite breakfast of grapefruit before pedalling out to the rec for some 2 1/2 hours of workout on the pickle ball court. What a great workout if the wet shirt is the indicator. I headed home after a quick stop at the library for a couple new reads.
I then headed out to my new dentist Dr. Brian Beirl office in Seminole at 10:15 for what seemed the rest of the morning and early afternoon to have some work done. This man becomes your friend and with us it was special as he started his dentistry career where I had my major dentistry work done when I entered the Air Force; the only difference was he came to Travis AFB in '75 and I left there in '73. I was having him replace a crown and install a new one on a tooth I had another dentist work on a couple years ago and this guy botched the tooth by not having the crown fit properly thus allowing bacteria to enter on the post where the crown sits and as a result decay started under the crown. Well since I had another molar on the other side of my jaw that needed a crown we decided to do both at the same time so it saved me a little money as well as another trip. It was after 2 PM before I was finished. This is the most thorough dentist, completely painless and he uses all the new techniques in dentistry as he also teaches at the local college through the University of Florida dental program; plus the guy is doggone friendly.
Well anyhow it was a one of those days when you get what you pay for and I learned the hard way by this other dentist who botched that tooth. Nancy just loves this guy and feels she finally will be able to eat without pain in her mouth and so far its working. This guy called me later in the evening to find out how I was doing from the days procedures. By the way his practice allows for referrals for a cash discount so if you use him he will not only discount your visits but the person who refers as well; not much but a little. So if you want thorough dental work call him and mention my name.
Nancy got home after working at GG's all morning with Amy putting her kitchen back in order after the remodel. I had a snack of a peanut butter sandwich then an apple for a late lunch. Carol our neighbor invited us for spaghetti for supper and we made a huge fresh salad from the garden, yeow was that ever tasty. Afterwards we played a game of Oh -ell and Dan slaughtered us with the girls being third and fourth. It drizzled all the way home as we walked into the cooling night air. We watched Idol and then got ready for some horizontal lab, LATER
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Thursday Morning
Wednesday morning was much the usual with a wake up by the noisy roosters next door then my quiet time before pedalling out to the rec for a couple hours of pickle ball. We had a large crowd with 3 courts going at one time with a couple folks waiting to get on to play. Afterwards I headed home to work in the garden.
The humidity level headed upwards despite the morning fog and overcast skies so the A/C went back on. There was moisture in the air and by sundown we experienced some light rain. Wow did we ever need that for the yards. I transplanted my sweet onions that are supposed to make a bulb from the 9 pack containers into the ground and did they ever have some nice big roots. The secret to growing onions is to not plant them to deep or all you will have his scallions and they are voracious eaters as well; so use lots of fertilizer or what I use is a time release osmocote. I took our new neighbors another large head of bib lettuce and she was thrilled plus I picked several more tomatoes. I'm cleaning out a row of matured lettuce as I have several more seedlings that will go in the ground in a couple weeks so I made a nice large salad for lunch which Nancy and I shared along with the last of the rotisserie chicken on top, Yeow was that ever good.
I picked up KILLING KENNEDY by Bill O'Reilly at the library yesterday and wow is all I can say about this read. I did about half of it yesterday and it's awesome the way he writes and puts things into perspective. This should be a history book along with KILLING LINCOLN and a must read for all students. My family was Roosevelt Democrats and loved Kennedy and they were severely upset over his death. I was in high school and I remember sitting up over night to watch the election returns when he won the election as well as in just a few short years later he was assassinated. While I was never a fan of Teddy Kennedy's politics and his personal life decisions I did like JFK's ideals for America and thought that Bobby was somewhat of a decent person as well.
We headed over to pick up GG around 5 then headed for Amy and Tyler's for supper. She had roasted a small turkey along with smashed tater's, green beans, gravy and GG brought her famous dried stuffing. Wow what a feast that was and even Sam cleaned his plate. Ava is a little more finicky with her eating but she too ate well. Nancy and I brought their Valentine's Day gift bags with cars for Sam and little ponies for Ava along with clothes and candy. We stayed and played with the kids until nearly 8 when it was time for their baths.
Well it was home in the rain after dropping off GG to watch Survivor and Idol. I flipped in between shows and finally watched a show of Duck Dynasty. DD is my favorite all time reality show and it is a gut buster of laughter, LATER
The humidity level headed upwards despite the morning fog and overcast skies so the A/C went back on. There was moisture in the air and by sundown we experienced some light rain. Wow did we ever need that for the yards. I transplanted my sweet onions that are supposed to make a bulb from the 9 pack containers into the ground and did they ever have some nice big roots. The secret to growing onions is to not plant them to deep or all you will have his scallions and they are voracious eaters as well; so use lots of fertilizer or what I use is a time release osmocote. I took our new neighbors another large head of bib lettuce and she was thrilled plus I picked several more tomatoes. I'm cleaning out a row of matured lettuce as I have several more seedlings that will go in the ground in a couple weeks so I made a nice large salad for lunch which Nancy and I shared along with the last of the rotisserie chicken on top, Yeow was that ever good.
I picked up KILLING KENNEDY by Bill O'Reilly at the library yesterday and wow is all I can say about this read. I did about half of it yesterday and it's awesome the way he writes and puts things into perspective. This should be a history book along with KILLING LINCOLN and a must read for all students. My family was Roosevelt Democrats and loved Kennedy and they were severely upset over his death. I was in high school and I remember sitting up over night to watch the election returns when he won the election as well as in just a few short years later he was assassinated. While I was never a fan of Teddy Kennedy's politics and his personal life decisions I did like JFK's ideals for America and thought that Bobby was somewhat of a decent person as well.
We headed over to pick up GG around 5 then headed for Amy and Tyler's for supper. She had roasted a small turkey along with smashed tater's, green beans, gravy and GG brought her famous dried stuffing. Wow what a feast that was and even Sam cleaned his plate. Ava is a little more finicky with her eating but she too ate well. Nancy and I brought their Valentine's Day gift bags with cars for Sam and little ponies for Ava along with clothes and candy. We stayed and played with the kids until nearly 8 when it was time for their baths.
Well it was home in the rain after dropping off GG to watch Survivor and Idol. I flipped in between shows and finally watched a show of Duck Dynasty. DD is my favorite all time reality show and it is a gut buster of laughter, LATER
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Tuesday Morning
I find it hard to believe just a few hours from here the weather is such a force in one's life; record snow falls along with severe storms and tornadoes causing such havoc. We here in Florida must be due for a major hurricane this coming year as our weather has been spring like for weeks. Oh well!!!
Monday was a busy day with nothing exciting except for a trip down into St.Pete to deliver some Artistry samples to a bridal consultant for daughter in law Jill. Wow has St.Pete changed since we've last been there and Nancy made an appointment for me with her dentist to have a tooth that I had capped then a root canal and it still doesn't seem right after a couple years. So that's for today Tuesday after pickle ball.
Speaking of pickle ball, on Monday I got in nearly 2 1/2 hours of play before heading home to work in the garden. I picked lots of lettuces, beet greens, kale and dill for a beautiful salad along with a dozen or so tomato's. While the 'maters are of the cherry type in size that are ripening I have some soft ball size ones that are still green. This year so far will be the best for a garden as we've had no real sustained cold weather. I have all kinds of new lettuce seedlings up and they need to be transplanted today as well as new tomato seedlings.
Nancy drove her mother to the dentist and afterwards she along with Amy and Sam came for lunch and we dined on that beautiful salad. After eating we headed out to sit in the back yard so Sam could play when we observed 2 racer type black snakes mating on the back wooden fence. That's a first for any of us as the ritual they went through was interesting. It was amazing to watch their ability to stay on the fence on such a narrow space with their performance. After Amy and Sam left we took GG with us back to where she bought her appliances, then to St.Pete for the drop off, then to Sam's Club for some goodies then we took her home. We picked up a rotisserie chicken and along with the last broccoli from the garden and a baked 'tater and salad we had a feast for supper.
I spent a couple hours trying to update or correct my service record on line but that seems to be a feat I will personally have to spend some time at the VA later this week. Well after supper we chilled on the couch watching the news then it wasn't long before shower and eventually some horizontal lab(sleep), LATER
Monday was a busy day with nothing exciting except for a trip down into St.Pete to deliver some Artistry samples to a bridal consultant for daughter in law Jill. Wow has St.Pete changed since we've last been there and Nancy made an appointment for me with her dentist to have a tooth that I had capped then a root canal and it still doesn't seem right after a couple years. So that's for today Tuesday after pickle ball.
Speaking of pickle ball, on Monday I got in nearly 2 1/2 hours of play before heading home to work in the garden. I picked lots of lettuces, beet greens, kale and dill for a beautiful salad along with a dozen or so tomato's. While the 'maters are of the cherry type in size that are ripening I have some soft ball size ones that are still green. This year so far will be the best for a garden as we've had no real sustained cold weather. I have all kinds of new lettuce seedlings up and they need to be transplanted today as well as new tomato seedlings.
I spent a couple hours trying to update or correct my service record on line but that seems to be a feat I will personally have to spend some time at the VA later this week. Well after supper we chilled on the couch watching the news then it wasn't long before shower and eventually some horizontal lab(sleep), LATER
Monday, February 11, 2013
Monday Morning
Well Sunday was an awesome day of worship with the message about our assumptions and the music really lifted your spirits in praise. We got to visit with Annsley and Gabe and gave them their Valentine gifts as we won't see them before. Dan and Carol decided skip church so we drove alone and then stayed afterwards for a brief E-kids meeting. Once again there were several new faces and lots of kiddos in attendance. We got back to the house around 1 PM.
The morning started out a little cool with temps in the high 50's and eventually warmed to near 80 with bright sunshine and a gentle breeze. I checked on my garden and it loves these days and nights. I cut some lettuce and made a nice bed for some chicken salad for lunch. Afterwards we just chilled with me watering the gardens and planting another hill of cucumber seedlings that were about 6 inches in height. I noticed my sugar peas are finally blooming so I will soon have them to add to the fresh salads. All of the seeds from Bobby's tomatoes came up so now I have about 6 or 7 seedlings that I have to find a place to put them in the garden, oh well!!!
We just snacked for our supper with soup and chips for me and Nancy did a cheese roll up with pickles. We just stayed around the house after getting back from Tampa. I read a little, spent some time with an old USAF buddy on FB and then we both took a T.V. each and flipped, LATER
The morning started out a little cool with temps in the high 50's and eventually warmed to near 80 with bright sunshine and a gentle breeze. I checked on my garden and it loves these days and nights. I cut some lettuce and made a nice bed for some chicken salad for lunch. Afterwards we just chilled with me watering the gardens and planting another hill of cucumber seedlings that were about 6 inches in height. I noticed my sugar peas are finally blooming so I will soon have them to add to the fresh salads. All of the seeds from Bobby's tomatoes came up so now I have about 6 or 7 seedlings that I have to find a place to put them in the garden, oh well!!!
We just snacked for our supper with soup and chips for me and Nancy did a cheese roll up with pickles. We just stayed around the house after getting back from Tampa. I read a little, spent some time with an old USAF buddy on FB and then we both took a T.V. each and flipped, LATER
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Sunday Morning
Well Saturday was just a slight bit cooler and the air was very dry; seems the big storm Nemo in the northeast sucked all the moisture out of the south causing the big snow fall. Any how it was most pleasant all day and you could really tell a difference in the shade. Ava and Sam woke up to the crowing of the roosters next door around 7 AM. They were so cute together sleeping in their mother's bedroom in her bed. They got a kick out of knowing she slept in that bed when she was a little girl. I hope they enjoy this rambling of mine in this blog when they grow older and have families of their own; because I want them to remember Nancy and myself on a daily personal bases.
We had purchased a couple frozen pastries from Annsley for a school fund raiser so we had the cinnamon one thawing out over night and Nancy baked it this morning. Sam had two large pieces whereas Ava didn't care much for it. She did like the juice from my grapefruit and so Nancy scrambled eggs for her. Both of them started out with each eating a banana. They were wound up after their sleep over at our house. After the breakfast cleanup Sam and I watched monster trucks on the Internet and Ava and Nancy were doing something. Amy and Tyler came around 9:30 to pick them up as they where going to a birthday party at 11 so after they left we got ready to travel to Oldsmar to the Tampa Bay Downs Racetrack. It was such a beautiful day and the crowd was huge.
Well we stayed for 8 of the 11 races and we did wager very sparingly. We did manage to pick several winners but bet them in a way where the winners were paired with losers so we won no money until the 7th race when Nancy recognized one of the horses was studded by a Derby contestant. This horse was not even listed as one of the favorites by all the track picks. Well the odds were 26 to 1 and this horse blew the field away by at least a length. Our first win of the day that paid $52 bucks for a $2 bet. We then decided to just pick horses and bet them to win. We did pick the winner of the next race but because the odds where 9.5 we only won $5. Not bad and that caused us to come away with $20 of their money after enjoying all the horses and the thrill of the races. We had a great time and the weather was fabulous. We headed out around 4 PM.
We made a stop at GG's house to see the nearly finished kitchen remodel and its looking good. She needs some tile work and painting done which I will probably do after she decides the colors all can agree on. Seems everyone has their opinion and none are agreeing with the other, oh well!!! We then made a stop at the Dollar General for coloring books and then we headed home.
I cut 2 heads of fresh Romaine lettuce from the garden for a Caesar salad and Nancy doctored up a frozen pepperoni pizzas with fresh mushrooms and green pepper. Yeow what a treat as both the salad and pizza complimented one another. After eating we decided to check on how Uncle Mike Dillon was doing since his open heart surgery a couple weeks ago. He is healing nicely and is talking about going back to work in a couple weeks. He sounded great and of course he was in good shape physically before the operation which is helping with his recovery. We had a nice visit on the phone and all seems well there with them and their 2 girls.
Well the sunshine and fresh air whipped us so after our showers we chilled and were soon in the sack for the night before 11. Today is church day in Tampa at Element and we will get to see Annsley and Gabriel as well as the rest of the church family. We will drive today as it's our turn carpooling with neighbors Dan and Carole, LATER
We had purchased a couple frozen pastries from Annsley for a school fund raiser so we had the cinnamon one thawing out over night and Nancy baked it this morning. Sam had two large pieces whereas Ava didn't care much for it. She did like the juice from my grapefruit and so Nancy scrambled eggs for her. Both of them started out with each eating a banana. They were wound up after their sleep over at our house. After the breakfast cleanup Sam and I watched monster trucks on the Internet and Ava and Nancy were doing something. Amy and Tyler came around 9:30 to pick them up as they where going to a birthday party at 11 so after they left we got ready to travel to Oldsmar to the Tampa Bay Downs Racetrack. It was such a beautiful day and the crowd was huge.
Well we stayed for 8 of the 11 races and we did wager very sparingly. We did manage to pick several winners but bet them in a way where the winners were paired with losers so we won no money until the 7th race when Nancy recognized one of the horses was studded by a Derby contestant. This horse was not even listed as one of the favorites by all the track picks. Well the odds were 26 to 1 and this horse blew the field away by at least a length. Our first win of the day that paid $52 bucks for a $2 bet. We then decided to just pick horses and bet them to win. We did pick the winner of the next race but because the odds where 9.5 we only won $5. Not bad and that caused us to come away with $20 of their money after enjoying all the horses and the thrill of the races. We had a great time and the weather was fabulous. We headed out around 4 PM.
We made a stop at GG's house to see the nearly finished kitchen remodel and its looking good. She needs some tile work and painting done which I will probably do after she decides the colors all can agree on. Seems everyone has their opinion and none are agreeing with the other, oh well!!! We then made a stop at the Dollar General for coloring books and then we headed home.
I cut 2 heads of fresh Romaine lettuce from the garden for a Caesar salad and Nancy doctored up a frozen pepperoni pizzas with fresh mushrooms and green pepper. Yeow what a treat as both the salad and pizza complimented one another. After eating we decided to check on how Uncle Mike Dillon was doing since his open heart surgery a couple weeks ago. He is healing nicely and is talking about going back to work in a couple weeks. He sounded great and of course he was in good shape physically before the operation which is helping with his recovery. We had a nice visit on the phone and all seems well there with them and their 2 girls.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Saturday Morning
Well Friday turned out to be another spring like day with some high clouds but with temps into the middle 70's. It felt like a cabin morning as I pedalled out on my bike to the rec for a good 2 1/2 hours of pickle ball after my quiet time and a lite breakfast. What a great workout I had with 2 courts going and a few waiting to get on to play. It was a wet t-shirt morning for me. I headed on home afterwards to spent the next couple hours working in the garden as Nancy was at her Friday morning Bible study at our old church at SFBC.
Nancy got home a little after 12 and I settled down to a lunch of fresh made Caesar salad but she opted for the regular salad. After lunch she took off to pick up GG and take her to Home Depot where they could look for paint and tile to finish up her kitchen remodel. It seems the new cabinets and appliances are installed and just a few finishing touches are all that is left. I read most of the afternoon and piddled around the yard and garden. We were having Ava and Sam spend the night so we had plenty of Thursday dinner leftover and all we had to do was heat it up. The kids ate it up and I licked the platter clean as it was that good.
Well Nancy played Go Fish and Old Maids and entertained the kiddos while I showered then I read 10 plus books for Sam while Ava and Nancy watched some show then they both watched Avonlee after their baths before bedtime. They slept all night and the rooster woke them this morning around 7 AM. A good time was had by all, LATER
Nancy got home a little after 12 and I settled down to a lunch of fresh made Caesar salad but she opted for the regular salad. After lunch she took off to pick up GG and take her to Home Depot where they could look for paint and tile to finish up her kitchen remodel. It seems the new cabinets and appliances are installed and just a few finishing touches are all that is left. I read most of the afternoon and piddled around the yard and garden. We were having Ava and Sam spend the night so we had plenty of Thursday dinner leftover and all we had to do was heat it up. The kids ate it up and I licked the platter clean as it was that good.
Well Nancy played Go Fish and Old Maids and entertained the kiddos while I showered then I read 10 plus books for Sam while Ava and Nancy watched some show then they both watched Avonlee after their baths before bedtime. They slept all night and the rooster woke them this morning around 7 AM. A good time was had by all, LATER
Friday, February 8, 2013
Friday Morning
Well we finally got some rain last evening and into the night. Lots thunder and even some lightning and I'm sure the yard and garden will be most appreciative. Thursday was a day that I was back at the VA Center for a checkup and to meet my primary physician. He is a young doctor with some Asian decent, very personable and interested in my physical condition. I really like him and he will be my physician while I'm in Florida and then I will use Doctor K while in the mountains. Hopefully I won't need much from either of them but he did suggest that since I smoked heavily during my formative years I should have an aneurysm scan which I have agreed to and that maybe I should have a colonoscopy depending upon the fecal test I just mailed into the VA lab. I did receive my first ever pneumonia shot as well as a flu shot today. I sure hope I don't get sick again but I feel fine this Friday morning.
I spent most of the morning at the VA getting my photo taken for an ID card and also learning that my DD214 failed to show my participation in the Vietnam campaign. I'm making steps to correct that as I have nearly 5000 flying hours on a C-141 and lots of missions into southeast Asia which included Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. I learned of the mistake when I went to sign up for the registry of being exposed to Agent Orange. While I was never directly sprayed by this defoliate we transported it from the states to Vietnam on the C-141 and several of my load master buddies suffered ill effects from this agent. Many have cancer as a direct result of just being aboard the aircraft with this highly carcinogen agent. Luckily I've never seemed to show any affects but I know of one veteran who led a terrible quality of life before his death.
I'm getting paper work to correct my DD214 to show that I was flying into a combat zone several times a month for 7 plus years. I have an Air Medal hanging on my wall that shows I had at least 35 missions in Vietnam from July '66 to Oct of '67. Once you reach the 35 missions you receive an oak leaf cluster for any additional 35 missions and if my memory serves me correct I have at least 4-5 clusters, oh well!! They don't award the Air Medal for flying stateside.
Well I got home just before lunch so I watered the gardens and then Amy brought GG along with Sam for lunch. The girls ate chicken salad on a garden salad and I cleaned up the black beans and rice from last nights supper. We all sat out in the yard an watched Sam play and read as well. After everyone left Nancy headed to the rec for her workout and I chilled reading.
GG came for supper and Nancy made chicken Kiev as well as fresh green beans from the garden to go along with a fresh Caesar salad. Wow was that ever delicious. The rain started about supper time and last until about bedtime; nothing to hard but it seemed at times to be steady. We were certainly dry here in Florida. I guess its part of the big front that's supposed to hit the northeast today with major snowfalls of 2 feet or more, yikes!!! LATER
I spent most of the morning at the VA getting my photo taken for an ID card and also learning that my DD214 failed to show my participation in the Vietnam campaign. I'm making steps to correct that as I have nearly 5000 flying hours on a C-141 and lots of missions into southeast Asia which included Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. I learned of the mistake when I went to sign up for the registry of being exposed to Agent Orange. While I was never directly sprayed by this defoliate we transported it from the states to Vietnam on the C-141 and several of my load master buddies suffered ill effects from this agent. Many have cancer as a direct result of just being aboard the aircraft with this highly carcinogen agent. Luckily I've never seemed to show any affects but I know of one veteran who led a terrible quality of life before his death.
I'm getting paper work to correct my DD214 to show that I was flying into a combat zone several times a month for 7 plus years. I have an Air Medal hanging on my wall that shows I had at least 35 missions in Vietnam from July '66 to Oct of '67. Once you reach the 35 missions you receive an oak leaf cluster for any additional 35 missions and if my memory serves me correct I have at least 4-5 clusters, oh well!! They don't award the Air Medal for flying stateside.
Well I got home just before lunch so I watered the gardens and then Amy brought GG along with Sam for lunch. The girls ate chicken salad on a garden salad and I cleaned up the black beans and rice from last nights supper. We all sat out in the yard an watched Sam play and read as well. After everyone left Nancy headed to the rec for her workout and I chilled reading.
GG came for supper and Nancy made chicken Kiev as well as fresh green beans from the garden to go along with a fresh Caesar salad. Wow was that ever delicious. The rain started about supper time and last until about bedtime; nothing to hard but it seemed at times to be steady. We were certainly dry here in Florida. I guess its part of the big front that's supposed to hit the northeast today with major snowfalls of 2 feet or more, yikes!!! LATER
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Thursday Morning
Well Wednesday turned out to be another spring day with temp's nearing the 80 degree mark. There were a few high clouds which kept it quite comfortable but we desperately need some rain as the front yard is drying up. The morning started much the usual with a lite breakfast after my quiet time then a ride out to the rec on the bike for nearly 2 1/2 hours of pickle ball. Afterwards I dropped off at the library a couple books then headed home to work in the garden.
Once more I hand watered the garden and then cut several heads of lettuces for salad for lunch. Amy was bringing GG and Sam for lunch. After eating we sat outside under the big oak in the shade while Sam entertained us with constant make believe jabber. He is all boy and seems to be doing good on potty training, finally. Amy took GG to the library and then to Publix before taking her home. Nancy took off to the rec for her workout on the treadmill and now the stair stepper. I chilled and read until it was time to start supper.
Nancy picked up GG around 4:30 and brought her back to our place to eat with us as her kitchen is being remodeled. I grilled pork chops and Nancy made black beans and Jasmine rice to go along with a salad, yeow was that ever good with a few hot home grown peppers stirred into the black beans for me. After the clean up Nancy took GG home then we settled into the news and then Idol came on. I have a few reservations about the idiot female judge with the different wigs, oh well!!!
Well today Thursday I'm heading down to Bay Pines for a consultation with a V.A. doctor then to finally get my veterans I.D. so I will miss pickle ball play but hopefully be back on the court tomorrow, Friday, LATER
Once more I hand watered the garden and then cut several heads of lettuces for salad for lunch. Amy was bringing GG and Sam for lunch. After eating we sat outside under the big oak in the shade while Sam entertained us with constant make believe jabber. He is all boy and seems to be doing good on potty training, finally. Amy took GG to the library and then to Publix before taking her home. Nancy took off to the rec for her workout on the treadmill and now the stair stepper. I chilled and read until it was time to start supper.
Nancy picked up GG around 4:30 and brought her back to our place to eat with us as her kitchen is being remodeled. I grilled pork chops and Nancy made black beans and Jasmine rice to go along with a salad, yeow was that ever good with a few hot home grown peppers stirred into the black beans for me. After the clean up Nancy took GG home then we settled into the news and then Idol came on. I have a few reservations about the idiot female judge with the different wigs, oh well!!!
Well today Thursday I'm heading down to Bay Pines for a consultation with a V.A. doctor then to finally get my veterans I.D. so I will miss pickle ball play but hopefully be back on the court tomorrow, Friday, LATER
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Wednesday Morning
Wow it was cold when I rode out Tuesday morning to the rec. I know 40's isn't cold by some standards but the humidity was back and the breeze just sent the cold right to your bones at 7:30. By 10 AM it was short sleeve temp's again and stayed that way most of the day right up until about 5 o'clock when you could feel the temps dropping once again.
After my quiet time and a lite breakfast I pedalled out for over 2 hours pf pickle ball. We had a full court but several left early for various reasons so by 9:35 all but a couple were gone. I headed by the library to pick up a new read before heading home. Nancy was getting ready to run a couple errands so I worked out in the yard and gardens. The new seedlings are showing some growth so I think most all will make it. The new lettuce seeds I planted are popping through the ground and the basil seedlings have put on a new leaf as well. I'm still waiting on some seeds I took from one of Bobby's tomato to come up. He has some of the sweetest patio size tomatoes which look like Roma's in shape but about a 1/3 of their size. They are the best tasting small tomato so I'm hoping I can get them to grow here. They came up volunteer in his garden the past 2 years and just produce unbelievable amount of fruit.
Amy decided since Tyler was working from his office at home and that it was their 8th wedding anniversary she would not come for lunch today, so when Nancy got back from her errands I made a guacamole. I took 2 ripe avocado's, 6 cloves of garlic( I grew in the mountains), 1 lime, a bunch of cilantro(from the graden), 1 sweet onion, 1 ripe tomato and a tablespoon of olive oil; yeow was that ever delicious and we ate that on tortilla chips for our lunch.
We sat out in the back yard in the sunshine for a couple hours reading; alternating occasionally for the shade of the big oak as the sun was hot. I sauteed a large bunch of Swiss Chard cut fresh from the garden for our supper to go along with a fresh garden salad and grilled salmon; yeow once again we ate "high on the hog". That's an old country saying for eatin' good. After the clean up we headed in to watch the news then I headed for the bedroom as the Tampa Bay Lightning were playing the Flyers. They lost by one goal in the later stages of the game as well as did #2 Florida Gators in round ball against the Razorbacks big time. I now must change my mind set from football to college basketball and hockey until next summer.
Well that's about all that's going on in sunny Florida today. We are fore casted for 80's the rest of the week and only a possibility of some rain. Seems we are getting back to the drought conditions once again. My little shallow well seems to have plenty of water thus far, LATER
After my quiet time and a lite breakfast I pedalled out for over 2 hours pf pickle ball. We had a full court but several left early for various reasons so by 9:35 all but a couple were gone. I headed by the library to pick up a new read before heading home. Nancy was getting ready to run a couple errands so I worked out in the yard and gardens. The new seedlings are showing some growth so I think most all will make it. The new lettuce seeds I planted are popping through the ground and the basil seedlings have put on a new leaf as well. I'm still waiting on some seeds I took from one of Bobby's tomato to come up. He has some of the sweetest patio size tomatoes which look like Roma's in shape but about a 1/3 of their size. They are the best tasting small tomato so I'm hoping I can get them to grow here. They came up volunteer in his garden the past 2 years and just produce unbelievable amount of fruit.
Amy decided since Tyler was working from his office at home and that it was their 8th wedding anniversary she would not come for lunch today, so when Nancy got back from her errands I made a guacamole. I took 2 ripe avocado's, 6 cloves of garlic( I grew in the mountains), 1 lime, a bunch of cilantro(from the graden), 1 sweet onion, 1 ripe tomato and a tablespoon of olive oil; yeow was that ever delicious and we ate that on tortilla chips for our lunch.
We sat out in the back yard in the sunshine for a couple hours reading; alternating occasionally for the shade of the big oak as the sun was hot. I sauteed a large bunch of Swiss Chard cut fresh from the garden for our supper to go along with a fresh garden salad and grilled salmon; yeow once again we ate "high on the hog". That's an old country saying for eatin' good. After the clean up we headed in to watch the news then I headed for the bedroom as the Tampa Bay Lightning were playing the Flyers. They lost by one goal in the later stages of the game as well as did #2 Florida Gators in round ball against the Razorbacks big time. I now must change my mind set from football to college basketball and hockey until next summer.
Well that's about all that's going on in sunny Florida today. We are fore casted for 80's the rest of the week and only a possibility of some rain. Seems we are getting back to the drought conditions once again. My little shallow well seems to have plenty of water thus far, LATER
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Tuesday Morning
Well Monday was a day that started out cold and chilly and although it did warm up to the high 60's it was cool in the shade. I actually had long pants on most of the day. The morning started with the usual quiet time and then a lite breakfast(meal replacement shake) before heading out to the rec for a couple plus hours of pickle ball. The ride on my bike was chilly with my breath visible and eyes were a watering from the cold breeze at 7:30, yikes!! We had a large gang to today with 3 courts going and a couple waiting to get on and play.
I stopped off at the library for a new read on my way home and found out from Nancy the power was off in the 'hood. Our whole block was down for a couple hours and one neighbor said she thought it was for the tree trimmers; but they cut our trees a couple weeks ago, Oh well!! Nancy took off for her moms so I just sat and read as I couldn't even water the garden. I did manage to co-ordinate the tow truck to pick up the car from my friend who was donating it to a needy family by using a neighbors phone. My friend is 94 and on his final leg of life and wanted help getting rid of his '86 Lincoln. It was nice vehicle with close to 100K miles.
The power came back on a little after noon so Nancy, GG, Amy and Sam came for lunch after finishing up at GG's. She is all ready for the workers to tear out her kitchen as the cabinets are empty. She will eat with us for a few days. Well I watched Sam all afternoon as Amy had to take Ava for a dental appointment after school. We played outside in the sunshine until he got hungry for a snack then we headed in for him to watch monster trucks on the Internet. He sat on my lap for an hour mesmerized by the noise and the action these trucks make. He finally got tired of that then Nancy read several books to him when she got back from the rec.
I picked a nice mess of green beans for supper to go along with grilled marinated chicken breasts and a garden salad, yeow was that ever tasty. After the clean up it was Fox News until shower time then I read until lights out at 11, LATER
I stopped off at the library for a new read on my way home and found out from Nancy the power was off in the 'hood. Our whole block was down for a couple hours and one neighbor said she thought it was for the tree trimmers; but they cut our trees a couple weeks ago, Oh well!! Nancy took off for her moms so I just sat and read as I couldn't even water the garden. I did manage to co-ordinate the tow truck to pick up the car from my friend who was donating it to a needy family by using a neighbors phone. My friend is 94 and on his final leg of life and wanted help getting rid of his '86 Lincoln. It was nice vehicle with close to 100K miles.
The power came back on a little after noon so Nancy, GG, Amy and Sam came for lunch after finishing up at GG's. She is all ready for the workers to tear out her kitchen as the cabinets are empty. She will eat with us for a few days. Well I watched Sam all afternoon as Amy had to take Ava for a dental appointment after school. We played outside in the sunshine until he got hungry for a snack then we headed in for him to watch monster trucks on the Internet. He sat on my lap for an hour mesmerized by the noise and the action these trucks make. He finally got tired of that then Nancy read several books to him when she got back from the rec.
I picked a nice mess of green beans for supper to go along with grilled marinated chicken breasts and a garden salad, yeow was that ever tasty. After the clean up it was Fox News until shower time then I read until lights out at 11, LATER
Monday, February 4, 2013
Monday Morning
Well yesterday started out with cool temp's down into the low 40's but eventually warmed up to to high 60's. The sun was shining with blue skies as we headed out to Tampa for church at Element with our friends and neighbors Dan and Carol. They drove this Sunday and after the service we came back to the house and finished the leftovers from last nights supper. Wow that lasagna is finally finished after 3 big meals off of it. Nancy still thinks she is still cooking at the church for the Wednesday night fellowship meals for 50 plus folks. We had a good message from Bobby and the music was inspiring and upbeat.
I headed out to the garden after lunch to hand water the new seedling and to cut lettuce for Carol to take home plus lettuces, cabbage, dill and beet greens for another salad we were taking to Amy and Tyler for supper. You would think all of the salads we've been eating we would be thin as rails but that's not happening; just the opposite. Oh well!!! We headed outside to sit in the sun and read until it was time to pick GG up and head to Amy's around 5 PM. It was very warm in the direct sunshine and just enough of a breeze to keep the it comfortable.
Sam and Ava were so excited to see us and were in their active mode all evening. I don't know where they get all of this energy but I was worn out just watching them. Tyler grilled a couple marinated flank steaks to perfection and along with baked potato's, green bean casserole and a fresh salad we once again feasted. The gals baked cookies afterwards but I refrained from those at least. We settled in to watch the big game and when we left to take GG home it was a blow out thus far for the Ravens.
I removed an under the counter radio for GG as she is having her kitchen remodeled and cabinets are being removed this week. She and Nancy will clean out all the canned goods, etc tomorrow from them as well.
Well after getting home and once again tuning in to the game it looked like I could flip to other channels as it was no longer interesting especially with the power outage when suddenly the 49'niners came to life with the lights back on at the dome. The second half made for an interesting game and once more the west coast team looked as if they were using the birds as skeet targets. They came all the way back to within a play of winning the game much like they did against the Falcons; but as luck would have it the east coast team prevailed, barely. It was lights out for me after the confetti starting falling and grown tough men began crying. I sure hope the home town fans didn't burn the towns down either from losing or winning, LATER
I headed out to the garden after lunch to hand water the new seedling and to cut lettuce for Carol to take home plus lettuces, cabbage, dill and beet greens for another salad we were taking to Amy and Tyler for supper. You would think all of the salads we've been eating we would be thin as rails but that's not happening; just the opposite. Oh well!!! We headed outside to sit in the sun and read until it was time to pick GG up and head to Amy's around 5 PM. It was very warm in the direct sunshine and just enough of a breeze to keep the it comfortable.
Sam and Ava were so excited to see us and were in their active mode all evening. I don't know where they get all of this energy but I was worn out just watching them. Tyler grilled a couple marinated flank steaks to perfection and along with baked potato's, green bean casserole and a fresh salad we once again feasted. The gals baked cookies afterwards but I refrained from those at least. We settled in to watch the big game and when we left to take GG home it was a blow out thus far for the Ravens.
I removed an under the counter radio for GG as she is having her kitchen remodeled and cabinets are being removed this week. She and Nancy will clean out all the canned goods, etc tomorrow from them as well.
Well after getting home and once again tuning in to the game it looked like I could flip to other channels as it was no longer interesting especially with the power outage when suddenly the 49'niners came to life with the lights back on at the dome. The second half made for an interesting game and once more the west coast team looked as if they were using the birds as skeet targets. They came all the way back to within a play of winning the game much like they did against the Falcons; but as luck would have it the east coast team prevailed, barely. It was lights out for me after the confetti starting falling and grown tough men began crying. I sure hope the home town fans didn't burn the towns down either from losing or winning, LATER
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Sunday Morning
Well Saturday was another busy day which started out with temp's in the 40's and progressively got warmer until it reached the high 70's. Just another typical Florida winter day. The sun was bright with just enough of a breeze to keep it pleasant with no humidity. We slept in until 7 AM to start the day(that sounds weird).
After our quiet times Nancy fried up a couple cackleberry's, some left over 'taters and a sausage patties. Yeow was that good and held us to suppertime with just a fruit snack in the early afternoon. We did the leftover lasagna, salad, bread and cheesecake all over again with our friends and neighbors, Dan and Carol and we still have enough lasagna for a supper or lunch for two of us. I need to regulate Nancy estimates for food preparation or I will never lose this spare tire; but the taste was awesome again.
I worked outside in the yards and garden and once more gave our neighbors Darlene and Tina some fresh lettuce and once more planted some red lettuce seedlings for a change. Its a Bib lettuce that has red along the leaves and makes salads very colorful. My new basil seedlings are starting to add a new leaf and my tomatoes are getting huge; some as big as a small grapefruit, yikes now if only they would ripen. I sowed more radish seeds as its the right sign of the moon; waning. Always sow seeds that will produce veggies underground during this sign and sow seeds that produce veggies above the ground during the waxing sign. I know it sounds weird but it works as the last radish seeds I planted were 10 inches in heights but no radish on the plant.
Well Nancy and I got in a nice 3-4 miles hike through the hood and afterwards we sat out in the sun and read for an hour or so. Today(Sunday) is our son, Bobby's 32 birthday and also Superbowl Sunday. It looks as if we will once again chow down with family and watch the game. We will be heading to Tampa this morning for worship at Element Church where Bobby is the pastor; plus I think there is a big surprise for him by the congregation, LATER
After our quiet times Nancy fried up a couple cackleberry's, some left over 'taters and a sausage patties. Yeow was that good and held us to suppertime with just a fruit snack in the early afternoon. We did the leftover lasagna, salad, bread and cheesecake all over again with our friends and neighbors, Dan and Carol and we still have enough lasagna for a supper or lunch for two of us. I need to regulate Nancy estimates for food preparation or I will never lose this spare tire; but the taste was awesome again.
I worked outside in the yards and garden and once more gave our neighbors Darlene and Tina some fresh lettuce and once more planted some red lettuce seedlings for a change. Its a Bib lettuce that has red along the leaves and makes salads very colorful. My new basil seedlings are starting to add a new leaf and my tomatoes are getting huge; some as big as a small grapefruit, yikes now if only they would ripen. I sowed more radish seeds as its the right sign of the moon; waning. Always sow seeds that will produce veggies underground during this sign and sow seeds that produce veggies above the ground during the waxing sign. I know it sounds weird but it works as the last radish seeds I planted were 10 inches in heights but no radish on the plant.
Well Nancy and I got in a nice 3-4 miles hike through the hood and afterwards we sat out in the sun and read for an hour or so. Today(Sunday) is our son, Bobby's 32 birthday and also Superbowl Sunday. It looks as if we will once again chow down with family and watch the game. We will be heading to Tampa this morning for worship at Element Church where Bobby is the pastor; plus I think there is a big surprise for him by the congregation, LATER
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Saturday Morning
Well Friday was another one of the days that is remembered around the dining room table with lots of family. The morning started with chilly temps into the middle 40's but with bright sunshine as I rode my bike to the rec after my quiet time and a lite breakfast. I got in almost 2 hours of pickle ball play as on Friday's I watch my oldest grandson, Sam starting at 9:45. Amy and Nancy both attend a Bible Study so instead of putting Sam in the nursery he comes and stays the morning with me. We had a great time together as he is quite the imaginative one. He loves to set over by the chain link fence where the neighbors chickens congregate and talk to them and play with them through the fence; of course he digs in the dirt like I did as a child and entertains himself until he gets hungry.
Amy picked up Sam around noon and headed home and then I picked lots of lettuces, beet greens, kale and dill for the salad and the evening supper. I cleaned, dried and broke up enough for a huge bowl and then Nancy added the finishing touches just before we ate. Since Amy wasn't eating lunch with us we had one of our favorite lunches; sardines on a cracker with fresh sliced onions and mustard, Yeow is that ever good and I found some with green chiles in olive oil; delicious. We polished off 3 cans between us and of course I get the bones from Nancy's can as well. What a tasty lunch and good for you as well.
We learned our son did a pound rescue 6 month old pup which is part Scotty and Yorkie. They brought Sugar with them so we all could meet her. Her hair reminds me of a warthog the way it tufts out; of course that brought lots of boos, but she is cute and seems to be smart and laid back. With 4 kids petting, chasing and being inquisitive she did really well and there were no accidents on the floor. She does have a nice personality with the puppy biting stage of sharp needle teeth gone. She curled up in the back seat between Annsley and Gabriel as they travelled.
Well I must say making lasagna is a big messy job but the results were awesome as we had 2 large pans; enough in one pan to have our friends Dan and Carole down for supper tonight and play cards. The meal was fantastic with the garlic bread, fresh home grown salad, lasagna and of course Bobby wanted homemade pumpkin cheesecake. The cheesecake was awesome as well as I didn't past this one up. We sang to Bob and Nancy put candles on his cake; wow 32 years old on Sunday and where did that time go?? Amy's birthday is in May and she will be 30 so our kiddos will both be heading for what I use to think was middle age.
Well after baths, hugs and kisses we starting picking up toys and saying good-byes for the night as it was going on 9 so everyone started heading out for home as Bob and the family have a long drive back to Riverview. Betsy took GG home and then Amy and Tyler corralled Sam and Ava for their short ride home. It was a fun evening and I will post some pictures if possible. Picasso has been acting weird lately, LATER
Amy picked up Sam around noon and headed home and then I picked lots of lettuces, beet greens, kale and dill for the salad and the evening supper. I cleaned, dried and broke up enough for a huge bowl and then Nancy added the finishing touches just before we ate. Since Amy wasn't eating lunch with us we had one of our favorite lunches; sardines on a cracker with fresh sliced onions and mustard, Yeow is that ever good and I found some with green chiles in olive oil; delicious. We polished off 3 cans between us and of course I get the bones from Nancy's can as well. What a tasty lunch and good for you as well.
We learned our son did a pound rescue 6 month old pup which is part Scotty and Yorkie. They brought Sugar with them so we all could meet her. Her hair reminds me of a warthog the way it tufts out; of course that brought lots of boos, but she is cute and seems to be smart and laid back. With 4 kids petting, chasing and being inquisitive she did really well and there were no accidents on the floor. She does have a nice personality with the puppy biting stage of sharp needle teeth gone. She curled up in the back seat between Annsley and Gabriel as they travelled.
Well after baths, hugs and kisses we starting picking up toys and saying good-byes for the night as it was going on 9 so everyone started heading out for home as Bob and the family have a long drive back to Riverview. Betsy took GG home and then Amy and Tyler corralled Sam and Ava for their short ride home. It was a fun evening and I will post some pictures if possible. Picasso has been acting weird lately, LATER
Friday, February 1, 2013
Friday Morning
Well Thursday was a very different day with nothing being routine. I awakened early as I had an appointment at the Veterans Hospital at Bay Pines for an introduction into the system. Wow what a beautiful and very large campus with tons of new construction going on as well. I've never been made to feel so welcome as there. If I heard our in take nurse correct a 175 thousand veterans use this facility yearly. While I'm already a partially disabled veteran due to an injury I occurred while serving in Vietnam I never registered to use the facilities in the VA and that was one of the reasons I wanted a veteran I.D. card as well as a new law passed in Florida where your service connected injury during wartime will help with adjusting your property taxes. I have to go back next week to see a primary care doctor for an intake exam.
It had rained on Thursday night and while the temps were in the 80's during the day by Friday morning it was down into the high 50's by mid-morning and windy which made it feel even colder. Thankfully the sun was shining brightly, so it was sweater weather the rest of the day and evening. It was supposed to go down into the 40's overnight and it feels as if it may have reached those lows. One day its beach weather and the next it long pants and a jacket, Oh well!! I got back to the house just before lunch so Amy, Sam and GG came and ate with us. We cleaned up the fresh garden salad along with tuna fish GG brought. Sam and I headed outside to hand water the garden and in the sun it was nice but the wind made it uncomfortable in the shade so we headed inside. Nancy was preparing for Friday nights family supper.
We are going to celebrate Bob's birthday early as he has a commitment on the actual day so he wanted lasagna and pumpkin cheesecake. Well the house sure smelled great with the cheesecake and then the afternoon the tomato sauce with all the fresh herbs smelled even better as well as the Italian sausage added another wonderful aroma. I received an e-mail from and old friend(94+ years) that his daughter and granddaughter were in the north Clearwater area and was leaving Friday to head back to S.C. Well its been several years since I had seen him as he suffers from prostate cancer and other old age ailments. He is still very sharp and lucid and we had a good visit for an hour. It was great to see both Judy(daughter) and Jennifer(grand daughter) and they seem tickled to see me as well. We were once related in another life but as life would have it we all moved on. We were always civil and stay friends despite moving to different areas of the country and I will always be Uncle Butch to Jennifer. She was an infant when we brought her from California across the country to Florida in '73 in a pickup truck with 3 dogs in back. She now has 2 boys of her own in the 10 and 12 age group and now lives in S.C. It was great to visit and share whats going on in our lives.
Well the drive to north Clearwater reminded me that all the snowbirds are here in Florida. It took me nearly and hour to maybe go 15-20 miles. I saw more cars on the road than I see all year in Sparta, N.C. I go back to the house around 5:30 and we decided it was Swiss Chard night. This is the first cutting for this delicious green. If you have never tried it you are in for a treat. Here's how you fix it; strip the center stem and then chop the leaves in bite size pieces, I do that by rolling the leaves and then cutting cross ways, next you cut several cloves of garlic into small pieces and add to a skillet that has 2 to 3 tablespoons of heated olive oil, then add the chopped greens and flavor with some sea salt and black pepper, stir until the greens have wilted down then serve. Utterly the best green you will put in your mouth.
Well we had the Swiss chard to compliment a couple Italian sausages grilled along with spuds covered with fresh parsley. I added fresh red pepper to mind on the plate and we licked the plates clean. After the clean up we headed in to watch Fox News then we turned the Idol on. I headed into the bedroom so I could flip when they showed idiots on the Idol, LATER
It had rained on Thursday night and while the temps were in the 80's during the day by Friday morning it was down into the high 50's by mid-morning and windy which made it feel even colder. Thankfully the sun was shining brightly, so it was sweater weather the rest of the day and evening. It was supposed to go down into the 40's overnight and it feels as if it may have reached those lows. One day its beach weather and the next it long pants and a jacket, Oh well!! I got back to the house just before lunch so Amy, Sam and GG came and ate with us. We cleaned up the fresh garden salad along with tuna fish GG brought. Sam and I headed outside to hand water the garden and in the sun it was nice but the wind made it uncomfortable in the shade so we headed inside. Nancy was preparing for Friday nights family supper.
We are going to celebrate Bob's birthday early as he has a commitment on the actual day so he wanted lasagna and pumpkin cheesecake. Well the house sure smelled great with the cheesecake and then the afternoon the tomato sauce with all the fresh herbs smelled even better as well as the Italian sausage added another wonderful aroma. I received an e-mail from and old friend(94+ years) that his daughter and granddaughter were in the north Clearwater area and was leaving Friday to head back to S.C. Well its been several years since I had seen him as he suffers from prostate cancer and other old age ailments. He is still very sharp and lucid and we had a good visit for an hour. It was great to see both Judy(daughter) and Jennifer(grand daughter) and they seem tickled to see me as well. We were once related in another life but as life would have it we all moved on. We were always civil and stay friends despite moving to different areas of the country and I will always be Uncle Butch to Jennifer. She was an infant when we brought her from California across the country to Florida in '73 in a pickup truck with 3 dogs in back. She now has 2 boys of her own in the 10 and 12 age group and now lives in S.C. It was great to visit and share whats going on in our lives.
Well the drive to north Clearwater reminded me that all the snowbirds are here in Florida. It took me nearly and hour to maybe go 15-20 miles. I saw more cars on the road than I see all year in Sparta, N.C. I go back to the house around 5:30 and we decided it was Swiss Chard night. This is the first cutting for this delicious green. If you have never tried it you are in for a treat. Here's how you fix it; strip the center stem and then chop the leaves in bite size pieces, I do that by rolling the leaves and then cutting cross ways, next you cut several cloves of garlic into small pieces and add to a skillet that has 2 to 3 tablespoons of heated olive oil, then add the chopped greens and flavor with some sea salt and black pepper, stir until the greens have wilted down then serve. Utterly the best green you will put in your mouth.
Well we had the Swiss chard to compliment a couple Italian sausages grilled along with spuds covered with fresh parsley. I added fresh red pepper to mind on the plate and we licked the plates clean. After the clean up we headed in to watch Fox News then we turned the Idol on. I headed into the bedroom so I could flip when they showed idiots on the Idol, LATER
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