Wednesday and Thursday

Well as you can tell I'm a little late in putting Wednesday activities to press but first I was lazy after getting back from house church last night and second there was a good Lightning hockey game on TV as well. The morning started out the usual with my quiet time and bowl of oatmeal but with cold temp's and a stiff a breeze. The heat ran all night and day with temps still in the 40's. Finally by afternoon it hit 50 but quickly dropped back into the 30's after the sun started to go down. I once again had to cover my tomato's, cuke's and a few beans as well as move most all my herbs into the shed.

Nancy took off after lunch to take GG shopping and was gone most of the afternoon. I settled in to a good book and just did nothing except for hand watering the gardens and front yard plugs. We were having house church later in the evening with finger foods and ornament exchange. No one guessed our ornaments as each person was supposed to bring an ornament depicting something that pertained strictly to them. Nancy wrapped up an airplane, actually a bi-plane for me as I use to fly in the USAF and a Santa figurine for herself as she collects Santa's. We had fun with a full house including 9 kids present. Wow the food was good with a layered taco dip and chips, chicken wings, meat balls, jalapeno poppers, vegetable tray with dip and some dessert which I stayed away from. We had a good turnout even though several folks were away.

Well we received some sad news today as our old mountain buddy Norman lost his wife on the 10th of this month. She has been in real poor health the past couple years and was on oxygen full time and could barely get around unless Norman was there to help her. Anyhow he just called us today and let us know that he was going to stick it out on the mountain for right now. Norman has really become quite a friend and neighbor to us as we saw him about everyday that we hiked. I really enjoyed helping him out from time to time with some of his more strenuous jobs like rotor-tilling his gardens and getting his firewood in for the winter

Well not much else is going on for Wednesday so I will comment on today's(Thursday) activities. The frost was heavy this morning when I rolled out about 6:30 to get ready and head out to the rec for some pickle ball. I'm back today for the full 2 1/2 hours workout for the first time in nearly 2 weeks. We had some great play with a couple new players one of which was visiting from Ashville, N.C. Sue was a complete player and we had some really fun matches with her as well as against her. She was a delight to play with and she also plays in Ashville inside a gym, she acclimated quick to our game. It was cold this morning with frost thick on all the roof tops but I had covered my 'maters, beans, peppers and moved the herbs once again inside. A few of the limbs were touched but I think the plants will survive.

It has really warmed up outside with temps pushing 70 degrees with bright sunshine so I worked out in the garden after lunch; feeding, hoeing and watering as well as trimming the dead limbs and leaves. I turned the heat off as its very nice outside. We are having friends Carol and Dan for supper this evening and then a few games.

I wanted to update all on Annsley and Gabriel health conditions. Seems Gabriel contracted the same virus Annsley had that effects the lungs but they diagnosed it in time so he is on a regiment of medications while Annsley seems to be finally getting over her illness as well. We are planning on spending Sunday after church with them. Ava and Sam are doing well and didn't contract the bronchitis from me which I'm happy about and that both of them are doing well. Sam is now standing by himself for seconds at a time and is just a great kid. He and Ava are so much fun together and she plays with him constantly. She just show's so much concern for him and is another mother to him as well as a super playmate.

Well not much else is going on LATER

Tuesday

Brrr is all I can say from the usual hot and sunny Florida. It was in the 30's this morning with a stiff wind blowing from the north as I drove out to the rec after my quiet time and lite breakfast for some pickle ball. We had a full gym once again this morning but I kept my workout to about an hour an a half so as to keep my strength up as I'm still hacking. After my workout I stopped by the library for a couple reads before heading home.

Amy and the kids were coming for lunch so we got ready for them then played with Sam and Ava until it was time for them to head out for their naps. After they left we took off to run some errands. It was to Sam's for a gas fill up and groceries and then to Publix, next was a stop off at GG's house to deliver some goodies then to the veggie stand and finally a stop at Amy's. We drove by a house in our neighborhood which burned last night from what appears to have been started by an electrical short in the attic. Seems this house was newly remodeled just recently and the owners were out of the country. The roof was completely burned through over the entire house.

Nancy headed to the rec to get her 30 minutes in on the treadmill after getting home from our errands. I headed out to cover my tomato's, beans and peppers with sheets and to move all of my herbs into the shed. Looks like we are headed for a heavy frost in the morning and once again parts of the bay area is under a hard freeze warning. The winds have finally subsided. Hopefully we can once again escape this deadly freeze another night as the temps are supposed to be back up near 70 by the week end. Wow are we ever looking forward to those temp's.

Well we had some good old fashion cooking for supper; mustard greens, turnip casserole and baked sweet potato's with a couple home baked cookies with hot tea for dessert. LATER

Monday

Well it was definitely a "frost on the pumpkin" kind of morning in here in whats supposed to be hot and sunny Florida, what happened to all those who are crying the earth is warming out of control?? The winds never let up all day and with the 40's and 30's overnight it was down right cold. Nancy and I feel for our " mountain family" as they are below zero with the wind chills and down to single digit temps. I see where more snow fell on them over night and more is predicted for the week. We are supposed to see warmer temps by weeks end but my garden whats left is looking pretty ragged. The cold wind has just about destroyed the beans, tomato's and basil.

I started the morning out with my quiet time and a bowl of oatmeal with a banana before heading out to the rec for pickle ball. It was good to see so many new faces and there were 24 total for the day as the cold weather drove lots inside off the golf courses and other venues to the warmth of the gym. I only played for an hour or so as I'm still hacking a little and didn't want to wear myself down and weaken my resistance to this bronchitis. The play was good and I quickly worked up a sweat. After leaving the rec I stopped off at the library for some new reads before heading home to play with little Sam while Amy took Ava for her first dental checkup. She had a good report and was instructed to keep on the routine she is doing as her teeth look great. I show her some of my lack filings and explain to her if she doesn't brush her teeth daily she will get those black teeth like mind. I think that really impresses her when she brushes as she says I don't want teeth like grand dad.

We had the rest of the veggie soup for lunch, my was that ever good on such a cold windy day. Amy and Nancy baked cookies until nearly 3'o'clock and I think they finished baking for this year. Amy took several dozen to give out to her neighbors and post man as well. I delivered 6 plates of cookies to the neighbors as well as to our postman. I've tried to stay away from them some are so darn good its nearly impossible.

I headed out to water whats left of the garden as there was a prediction of freezing temps to the area but we may be spared because of the water that surrounds our county. Just north of our area there were 20's overnight with a hard freeze but if we don't have below 32 for more than a couple hours maybe the plants will come back with a little warmer weather and lots of water. Tonight Tuesday is supposed to once again be as cold as last night. It was 38 this morning but the wind has calmed a little as of now and there is bright sunshine.

We attended a funeral last night at SFBC as the wife of a friend passed from a brain tumor, she was only 53. The church was packed as she was an administrator with one of the middle schools in the area. Well not much else is going on except little Gabriel has contracted the virus Annsley had but so far it just seems to be cold symptoms only. Keep them in your prayers as little Gabey is so young. LATER

Sunday

Wow a day of temperature changes. The morning started out with sunshine and in the high 50's. After our quiet time and a lite breakfast we got ready to head out to Tampa for worship at Element. It was really breezy but with a long sleeve shirt you were comfortable. While at Element the clouds rolled in and the wind and rain were heavy and strong. After the service we hung around as Nancy had and E-Kids volunteer worker meeting. We have so many new children and we need more volunteers with some changes to make in how we register the little ones and make it a safe place as well.

We headed home in the rain and wind, the bay waters were being blown into white caps as we cross the big bridge and the temp's were falling fast. After a quick lunch of the delicious homemade veggie soup we headed out to the nursing home to help with the service we do twice a month. It really gives us a chance to love on those who are infirmed and many are without any families as well as hear a short message and sing. We had several 1-5 graders who came to sing Christmas Carols and we had a good time.

We came home to watch the Bucs beat the Redskins and then about 4:30 we headed over to Nancy's folks to celebrate Garrett's 14 birthday with a dinner of roasted chicken, mashed spuds and green bean casserole. It was good eatin' and by the time we got home I was ready for a rest. I watched a little football before deciding it was time to call it a night. The bronchitis seems a little better with not a lot of coughing so I decided it was time to get back on the pickle ball court.

Overnight the wind increased to near gale force with the leaves, limbs and acorns striking the roof during the night and the temp's were continually falling. Well I headed out to the rec this morning and I took the truck as the winds were to high to ride the bike. We are getting ready for Sam as we are babysitting while Ava has her first dental checkup this morning, LATER

Saturday

Well last night was one of the first nights in quite awhile I didn't wake up coughing, aha sleep was great until about 5 Am; then I turned over and slept in until nearly 8 AM. The temps here are still quite chilly with 40's and a stiff wind until late this afternoon when the wind stopped and the sun finally showed its face for the day. It warmed up into the 60's for a change so I set the sprinklers on the back gardens.

We had a mountain breakfast of grits, eggs and toast after our quiet times. I phoned our old cabin neighbors The Todds to get their new address and then rang up Kimberly as today was her birthday.Nancy decided she wanted to bake more Christmas cookies so she can hand out to the neighbors and the post man as well as our family members. She spent most of the day baking and made 3 different ones today to go along with the one she made yesterday. I just took it easy and read and did a few little honey-do jobs.It sure was quiet around here today as Amy and the kids spent the day with Tyler. We spoke with her by phone and Tyler seems to be getting better from his bronchitis as well. I found a couple of antibiotics that Nancy had leftover and looked up their protocol and they are used to fight bronchitis which is what I have so, I will take other one tonight before going to bed. Hopefully this is the boost I need to get over the top. I started feeling much better as the day wore on and the coughing has slowed down considerably.

It seems little Annsly has contracted a very contagious respiratory infection and she is on quarantine from little Gabriel as he is staying with his other grand parents(Jills folks) until Monday. Keep all of them in your thoughts and prayers as well. Well Nancy and I made a huge pot of vegetable beef barley soup for supper and we used lots of my home grown veggies; green beans, beet greens, parsley and thyme. Wow was that ever good eatin' on this cool day. We still have our heat on and its supposed to get really cold on Monday, somebody tell me this is Florida!!!

Well not much else is going on except tomorrow is worship at Element, hard to believe Christmas is less than 2 weeks away. LATER

Friday

Not much is happening except I'm still coughing a little although I seem to feel better since I've layed off working out with pickle ball. I slept in until 8 AM then did my quiet time and had a bowl of oatmeal before venturing out in the back yard to set the sprinkler for my gardens. So far the cold has only touched a few of the leaves but nothing too serious as of yet. This next week on Monday is supposed to be the coldest night this year so I may have to drag out the sheets to cover a few plants but we will see as the weather is updated almost hourly. It did get into the 60's today but the cold wind made it feel colder especially when your not completely up to par.

Amy and the grand babies came for lunch and stayed until after 2 as Amy and Nancy made "buckeyes", its a round peanut butter cookie dipped in chocolate. I try to stay away from them especially since I have not exercised in a week. I did have a piece of Amy's cheesecake she made for the deacon dinner which they skipped because Tyler also has this crud in his lungs as well. He was given antibiotics and some other medicine for his condition and they skipped the dinner so they wouldn't spread it around. We watched the kids at their house last evening as they when "Santa" shopping. We had a grand time with them.

Well it looks as if Winchester got some more unexpected snow and the mountains are forcasted with some snow as well. We are forcasted with some much needed rain and cooler temps as well. LATER

Thursday

Well it was a little warmer this morning but not by a whole lot. After our quiet times and a bowl of oatmeal with a banana I decided once again to for go any kind of workout specifically pickle ball. The cough is still lingering and has so most of the day but I feel like I'm going to just take the whole week off and start fresh next Monday with my usual workout. I did catch up on some reading this past week and have enjoyed the warmth of being inside out of the cold wind.

Not a whole happened except just playing with the grand babies for lunch and again tonight as Amy and the babies came for supper as Tyler is teaching ESL(English as a second language) at church so we have what he usually doesn't care for such as; fresh squash casserole and salmon patties. Well I will get out of here for now, LATER