A Beautiful Tuesday

Wow !!!! is all I can say about the weather. It was in the 70's today with low humidity and tomorrow its going into the 80's; however there is supposed to be increased humidity. Another cold front is coming through later this week. After my quiet time and a lite breakfast of cheerios and banana I biked to the REC.

We had 4 players today and wow did we ever get a wet shirt. The play was fast and furious as only guys showed for about 2 1/2hours.

Amy and Ava came for lunch and stayed most of the afternoon; Ava even took her nap here and I joined her as well. We got a little garden work in and I read a little, an Ava picked a few flower heads and shredded them. After Amy left for home; Nancy made a pot of homemade chicken noodle soup and they came back for dinner around 5:30. Ava loves noodles and bread with butter and jelly. The soup was delicious as well as a fresh garden salad with lots of my; beet greens, mustard greens, kale and basil. There was fresh crossiant rolls as well.
Amy just left with Ava to get her ready for her bath and bed. Ava was so cute after dinner and totally wound up.

Well, will close for now. Later.

Saturday and Sunday on Monday

Well let me first say Nancy and I had a super time watching, loving and once again being a full time care giver for little Ava Mae. I had or we had forgot what a full time job it is being a stay home mom or dad. Needless to say we thoroughly loved every minute and every minute she was awake was great. Amy and Tyler got back this morning and Amy left with Ava after lunch. Our house is so QUIET. Nancy took off with the GAB(her sister) after Amy left and is still gone as I write.

Saturday as I'm trying recollect started out with Ava up early, as a matter of fact she was up early every morning. She is quite an eater except she isn't a great lover of meat but loves buckwheat pancakes with our homemade jelly and a fried egg. She loves macaroni and any kind of beans, but especially loves chick peas(garbanzo),black eyed peas,etc. Yesterday, Sunday at Element Church(Uncle Bobby's Church she ate 3 doughnut holes before we headed out to Steak and Shake for lunch. Ava and Annsley where so cute in all the goodies they provide for children;coloring papers and crayons, bibs,cardboard cars, free lunches and hats. Well both of the girls were in their glory entertaining us. The food wasn't bad for a fast food place and reasonable. I had never eaten at one but their burgers were delicious

We had G/G and Pap (Nancy's folks whom Amy loves) for dinner on Saturday and they in turn had us for dinner on Sunday night as G/G made her fabulous spaghetti and meat balls along with an angel food cake and strawberry's. Well, Ava loves her pie's,cakes and cookies and of course spaghetti.

Well the morning(Monday) was another cool one and a light frost was evident around the neighborhood. I drove this morning to the Rec. after my usual quiet time and and light breakfast(leftover cornbread with peach butter). I got in 2 plus hours of pickle ball as there were 11 players today. I then drove to Tampa Airport and picked up the kids then dropped Tyler off at his place of work and went by Amy's and dropped her and their luggage and car seat seat off before heading back home. Amy was so glad to see this little punkin but Ava didn't seem overly excited about their reunion at first,however that changed as the time worn on. Ava was out with me in the back yard as the temps once again hit the low 70's and I opened the windows for a good airing out. We got a little garden work in, Ava picked several flower heads and tore them up(that's her thing) before she and Amy headed back to their house.

Well we are glad the kids had a great time in D.C.; I think they really missed Ava a lot and besides the weather was in the 20's the whole time they were there. We are also glad they are back safely. Watching little Ava sure makes one appreciate the joys of motherhood(fatherhood,too).

Well I will close for now as the house is not the same with all this quietness and everything in its place. I really like the atmosphere of toys everywhere and the look of little ones being around. Until tomorrow when Ava comes for lunch the house is back to its sterile look with everything in its place and Nancy with her channel surfing and me watching sports and reading is BORING. Later!!

Uncle Bobby and Cousin Annsley came for a Visit

Another beautiful day with temps reaching the middle 70's. After my usual breakfast and quiet time I headed off to the Rec. Ava was watching Disney's Wiggles's while Nancy did her morning routine when I left. We had 8 players; 4 of which had to play badminton because the Rec. advertises badminton on Friday. It was a good workout however we did get a little pickle ball in before we had to switch over.

When I got home I opened all the windows as the morning air was warming up rapidly. Nancy had the heat on early for Ava as the temp was 69 in the house when she awakened at 6:45 but by 11 AM it was really nice outside. No shirt weather. Nancy and Ava picked up fresh fixin's for lunch as Uncle Bobby and Cousin Annsley was coming for a late lunch.

They arrived around 1 PM and the girls played hard for about 3 hours.We all had lunch and the girls grazed through out the afternoon as Grandma Nancy made 2 kinds of cookies. We played kick ball and Annsley fell into the rose bush. She never cried but did require some attention with peroxide and a band aid. She's a tough one. By 3:45 both girls were showing signs that a nap was in the making. We will see Annsley again on Sunday as we will visit Uncle Bobby at the Element Church.

I climbed on the bike and headed over to Ava's house to get the mail and water Tyler's garden while Ava napped. She was still sleeping when I got back; the girls played hard and really seemed to enjoy each other. Nancy was starting to get our dinner of oven fried chicken, black eyed peas, fried spuds , green beans and of course macaroni ready. Ava loves black eyed peas and macaroni and did a number on them. Later she had a bowl of jello.

Well she just went down after her bath time and prayers. She is such a sweet thing and doesn't fuss when it comes to her bed time. Later as Nancy and myself relax. Its been awhile since we have had a little one around all day.

Fantastic Weather for Thursday

Wow is all I can say. We had the windows open and sunshine was very warm with no humidity. It reached into the middle 70's. Well after my usual breakfast of Cheerios and banana and quiet time I climbed on the 10 speed and headed to the REC. We had 8 players today and the action was hot and heavy especially the last game.

I managed a few crunches and a few upper body exercises before heading by the library to pick up some night time reading. Amy and Ava came by for lunch and Ava stayed the day as I took Amy to T.I.A. for her evening flight to Washington, D.C. Amy and Tyler are flying back on Monday morning so we will have Ava for the next 4 days. She is such a sweet little girl and so smart. She loves boiled macaroni with butter, salt and pepper and Grandma made it for dinner. Needless to say she ate a great dinner as some times she gets a little fickle with eating dinner. She does eat a good breakfast and lunch and of course drinks her milk.

Well we are hoping Uncle Bobby brings Cousin Annsley by tomorrow for lunch and a play time in the afternoon. Later!!

Wednesday was a Frosty Morning

Wow was it cool last, really it was cold enough to have a spotty frost. There was none in my garden or yard but on the way to the Rec. I saw several large patches frost. YIKES!!! That getting to close for comfort for us gardeners. After my quiet time and the usual cheerios with banana I headed out for pickle ball. We had a another crowd of 14 players. It sure doesn't give one any time to sit around and we played for a good 2 hours and managed a wet shirt.

When I left the Rec. around 10:30 the temperature had risen by at least 25 degrees and by early afternoon the sun was so warm you were looking for some shade. It turned out to be a very nice day after a frosty start. I came home to an empty house as Nancy cooks the fellowship meal at church on Wednesday's. This week she cooked Shepherds Pie, mixed veggie's, salad and home made chocolate chip cookies and ice cream. YUMMM we had about 60 plus and we were out of there before 7 PM. I spent the rest of the afternoon finishing up a Nicolas Sparks book "Nights in Rodanthe". Its a good read but a tear jerker. All of his books are down to earth, real life situations but they make me cry.

I managed a couple pics of Ava in the back yard when she and Amy came for a short visit after lunch. You can tell how bright the sun light was by how the pics are so washed out. But any how she is picking up on every word your saying and on top of that she now counts to 5. So smart!!

Well, will close for now missing our mountain friends but not the cold. LATER

Tuesday is a Cool Day with Sunshine

Well the rain during the night was a welcome relief to the watering ban for lawns. I have a shallow well that I water my garden with but with the drought conditions the yard has turned brown. After my quiet time and a lite breakfast of cheerios and a banana I headed to the Rec. The air once again felt like a Spring morning with the damp coolness. Actually it was warmer this morning than it is right now.

I got in 2 1/2 hours of play then about 15 minutes of crunches and weight lifting for the upper body. Amy and Ava came for lunch then Phoenix came over to play with Ava for about an hour. I caught up on some reading an a little garden work before Ava had to go down for her afternoon nap around 3 PM. Amy and Ava came back for dinner as Tyler flew off to Washington, D.C. I grilled some fresh pork chops, Nancy made parsley red potato's, fresh broccoli and canned beets. YUMM!! I was looking up on line and checking out the health benefits of beets and they are amazing. What a cancer fighter especially for colon cancer; plus all of the other benefits. We love beets in any form especially the green tops when pulled young are excellent in a fresh salad. We love canned sliced beets on top of a fresh salad. Our mountain buddy, Helen likes to make pickled beets and they are great on a salad as well. Oh, well thought you might like to know that.

After dinner we played with Ava until it was time for her to head home and get her bath. She is talking so much now and just gets sweeter every day. We are looking forward to having her this weekend. Maybe we can get together with Bob and Annsley for lunch and a play day for the girls this weekend.

Nancy and I are having lots of fun on Facebook. Check it out!!! Well will close for now.LATER!!!

Finally Got a Little Rain

Well Sunday morning was a little on the warm side with lots of rain clouds in the area. After our quiet time and buckwheat pancakes in the microwave; Nancy and I headed off to SFBC. I worked in the toddlers this morning with Ava and 5 other little ones up to the age of 3. Nancy came to help after she sang in the choir. I must say those little guys and gals never sat down. Ava is really too young at 1 1/2 tobein there, but she held her own with the 3 + year old's. Normally she would be in a separate group but she is now the only one in that age group and besides we were short of workers. Oh well!!!

We made it home before the black clouds rolled in and we got a good rain. The first rain that was measurable in many weeks. The grass surely needed that moisture as it was beginning to turn completely brown. I then settled in for an afternoon of NFL. Once again the BUCS came through and defeated the SAINTS. Go BUCS!!! We still lead our division as of now but must go to one of our favorite parts of the states next weekend; North Carolina and play the Panthers. Go Bucs!!!

We headed back to church around 5 PM to help put up Christmas decorations, help judge a chili cook off and get ready for a fellowship afterwards. We had a good crowd with Approx. 100-125 folks, 10 different crock pots of chili and hot dogs as well as tons of desserts. We were back home by 7: 30 after cleaning up.

Monday morning brought coolness in the air much like a spring morning in the mountain with the dampness. I hopped on the bike after breakfast and my quiet time and headed to the Rec. (for the first time since last Wednesday)there were 10 of us and we played hard for 2 hours. I stopped by the library and picked up a couple books for my spare time. Ava and Amy came for lunch and I made a fresh garden salad for myself while the girls had left over turkey sandwiches. The girls then took off for Target for a couple hours while I caught up on some reading and a did a little garden work. After shopping, Ava and myself played outside until it was time for her nap at her house. Amy will have dinner with us tomorrow as Tyler fly's to D.C. on business then Amy will fly there on Thursday until next Monday. Nancy and I will have Ava for the week end and 4 nights.

Better go for now. Many thanks to Mechelle and Andy(Dalton Gang) for the beautiful homemade wreath we received in the mail today. It smells so fresh and clean and reminds us of the mountains. Missing all. LATER.