Friday is even nicer than Thursday

The morning was a bit cool as I rode to the Rec. on my bike after my quiet time and a lite breakfast. After a couple hours of pickle ball and a stop off at the library I made it home to have a lite lunch. Nancy was at her Bible study and then off to the mall. I knocked down a load of dried dead tree branches for my neighbor who is a widow, broke them up and filled up 4 large garbage cans.

Nancy got back around 1 Pm so after she had lunch we took off for Home Depot. We bought a flat of red petunias, vegetable seeds and more potting soil as well as a roll of screen to replace some screens that holes in them. Now that the temp has cooled off enough to have the windows open it is marvelous to have the fresh air instead of the a/c running constantly. Hope this weather stays until next May.

We worked in the garden and yard until she took off to get her daily workout in at the REC. I sat out back and caught up on some much needed reading until it was time for supper. Baked talapia, rice and carrots was the cuisine; definitely not her most exciting meal; but eatable. Ava came by and we got to see her Halloween outfit. The shirt lit up with a flashing red light. They were off to a party at Danielle and Neil's house.

Well the little candy beggars are knocking on the door as its starting to get dark. So better go. Later, missing all our mountain buddies but not the cold.

What a Beautiful Florida Day

It's hard to describe the beauty of this day in terms of weather. This morning was cool in the high 40's with bright sunshine and deep blue skies. After my quiet time and a piece of homemade apple pie with milk for breakfast I ventured out to water my garden. I had to wear a warm flannel shirt as I rode my bike to the REC. My eyes teared up a little with the rush of cool air while pedaling, but I could tell this was going to be a magnificent day.

After a couple hours of team play I finished up with 3 other players; Jersey Jim, Judy and Mitsco in a hard played 3 sets of pickle ball. Near the end of play my pardner Judy dislocated her left knee. I reflected back to an old college course in "Care of Athletic Injuries" and promptly relocated her knee joint to its proper alignment and Judy finished the set. It was great to see her back on her feet and without any ill effects. That's how hard we play this game and to top things off I had a wet shirt.

After a great lunch of a fresh salad Ava and myself played out in the back yard. Ava wanted to see our neighbors(Jim, Laurie and Kayla) Halloween display of; skeletons, goblins and ghosts and their blow up haunted house on their front lawn. Ava is so cute and wants to touch all of these creatures. If you clap your hands one of the tombstones make a talking noise and moves its mouth, now Ava is a little afraid of that one and is always telling it bye bye, but at the same time is clapping her hands trying to activate it again. So Cute!!!

The temperature reached 7o with bright sunshine and was just great for being outside. We spent the entire afternoon out side playing and just enjoying Ava. After she left for her afternoon nap Nancy started cleaning windows and screens so I helped as well. We don't get much done after our workout except play with Ava and visit with Amy until they leave for Ava's nap usually after 3 or so. I managed to finish a book about an AFT agent who captured a wanted felon in California back in the 80's and did a little hand watering in the front yard before dinner.

Nancy made oven spuds from the last of my home grown 'taters and fresh yellow squash while I grilled a couple of nice rib eye's, medium rare. YUMMM!!!!

Will close for now and of course all have heard the Ray's lost last night so the World Series is gone for this year but I caution all others teams in MLB to be vigilant for the Ray's in the future. They will be back and most of the guys are in their early 20's. Later missing our cold mountain friends.

A Cold Morning with a Nice Warm up

WOW it was 43 degrees this morning and that is winter time for Florid. It's supposed to be cool again tomorrow but will be back in the 80's on Saturday with a low in the 60's, now that's Florida weather. I read where there was snow in the mountains of North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. Yikes!!! What happen to global warming???

After my quiet time and a lite breakfast I hand watered the garden and jumped on the bike for a cold ride to the Rec. We had 3 nets up for pickle ball with at least 5-6 teams. The play was fast and furious and while never getting the wet shirt completely it was a good continuous work out. Afterwards I hit the weight room for some work on the upper body, mainly the abs(flabby gut syndrome) along with some tendon exercised for the tendinitis I suffered a couple years ago.

I came back and helped Nancy with dusting all the ceiling fans, lamp shades and curtains with the vacuum cleaner attachments. I noticed my neighbor Jon had done some trimming on his huge camphor tree so I lent a hand with his chain saw and loading his trailer for a load to the dump. It was a great day for working outside.

After lunch Amy and Ava came by for a visit then took off for Target. I mowed the yard and did a little garden work. We had left over pasta fazoule for dinner along with corn bread. YUMMM!! Well we are getting ready for the completion of game 5 in the World Series hoping the Rays can bring the series back to St.Pete. Later missing all our mountain friends.

Tuesday Morning was a Record Setter for October in Florida

Wow was it a cool brisk clear morning. It was down into the low 50's and supposed to go down into the 40's tomorrow morning. That's unreal for this time of the year, but we love it. After my quiet time and a lite breakfast I actually had to put a flannel shirt on as I hand watered the garden before heading out to the REC.

There were only 2 of us for pickle ball, Doug and myself but we managed to work up a wet shirt in about an hour of hitting. I'm not sure the love of the game is still there as golf seems to take at least 2 morning a week from the group. When I get older I may take that game up but for now I love the exhilaration of chasing down a wiffle ball, while getting the blood flowing in a work out that leaves me with a wet shirt.

Riding the bike back to the house required pedaling into a strong northerly head wind. Nancy managed to get a good work out on the treadmill as well and she even walked to the REC. as well, Go Nancy!!! Amy and Ava came for lunch and we played outside until it was time for Ava to take her afternoon nap. Nancy made a great bean soup(pasta fazoule) for dinner and a fresh apple pie(from the last of Helen's apples) along with cornbread and a salad, YUMMM!!!! Amy, Tyler and Ava came for dinner as Tyler had a meeting regarding his mission trip to Costa Rica this January for a week.

Nancy has Ava in the bath as I write. She is such a cutie and is talking more every day. Well will close for now. Later

What a drop in Temperature for Sunday and Monday

Well we had a busy weekend that ended with another delicious pork roast dinner at Grandma Everett's. Sunday started out with a nice change outside with drier and cooler temps. But Monday morning was the absolute best. After our quiet time on Sunday we headed to church in Seminole. Nancy sang with the choir then came back to the nursery where I was doing duty. It was a tough one as we only had Ava. So we really enjoyed the morning.

fter lunch Nancy, Dan and I headed to the nursing home at Freedom Square. We pushed several in their wheel chairs for a church service at 2 PM. There were about 25 persons in attendance. I led the devotions on Galatians 6:7. We sang several songs and then we helped them back to their rooms.

Around 3 PM we headed to over to Nancy's mom for a dinner at 4 PM. Arrianne(Amys age) our niece had to leave for Miami and then we had Tyler's deacon ordination service at church at 6 PM, so we all had a busy Sunday. Finally headed back to the house around 7:30 just in time to get ready for game 4 of the Series. Sunday was not a real good day for; Buc's, Ray's, Bull's, and Lightening fans as they all lost this week end. Hopefully the Rays win tonight or its all over for the "boys of summer".

This morning I had a great workout at pickle ball as there were 4 teams of players. Another wet shirt morning. The rest of the day was spent outside with Ava and working in the garden. About 4 PM I sat outside and started a John Grisham book called"Playing for Pizza." Its a good read about a washed up NFL quarterback who goes to Italy to play ball with the Italians.

Nancy did potato pancakes, green beans , salad and I grilled marinated chicken breasts with fresh rosemary for dinner. Afterwards we got in a couple blocks of walking with neighbors Dan and Carol just before dark. Both girls wore light jackets. Later, missing all!!!

Friday on Saturday

Friday started out as a wet day with heavy rain during most of the night and into the morning hours. I drove the truck to the REC instead of pedaling my bike. After my quiet time and a lite breakfast I got in a couple hours of hard play on the pickle ball and badminton courts. Friday is the only day we split the gym so we can have 2 different games at the same time. Either game is a good work out.

Nancy was at her weekly Bible study. Amy and Ava came for lunch and it cleared off enough so we could play outside for a couple hours. Amy took off for home so that Ava could get her daily nap in before coming back for dinner. Tyler had to work late(his boss was in town from Reston,Va) and eventually got home around 2 AM and then left again around 9 AM on Saturday to go back to Tampa.

Dan and Carol brought down a sack of stone crab claws and Nancy fixed oven baked chicken, basil pasta and a fresh salad for dinner. Amy and Ava came back for dinner and stayed until after 8 PM. After eating we ventured outside so Ava could play with Phoenix until it was time for their baths.

This morning(Sat.) Nancy, Dan,Carol and myself had to be at Calvary Chapel in Pinellas Park at 8 AM to help with the Angel Food distribution where we served over 600 people. This church is huge with over 2000 members but I must say their volunteers did not equal or match up to the number of volunteers at little Cornerstone in Sparta, N.C.. Their program did not run nearly as efficient or smoothly. Nancy and I gave them some pointers as to how Cornerstone distributed their orders. Bigger is not always better. Any how this ministry is so worthwhile and a blessing to all.

Well we are waiting for Arriane(Nancy's niece) who drove up from Miami for the weekend along with G/Grandma and Grandpa Everett as well as Amy, Ava and Tyler for dinner. I think the GAB(Great Aunt Besty) and Braden are also coming for dinner as well.

Hopefully the rain will let up in Philly so the 3rd game of the World Series can be played tonight. Well will close for now missing Bob and his family as they had a prior engagement. The turkey is our next door neighbor. Ava just loves him and Nancy talks to him daily.

Great News For Nancy

Well as I mentioned in my earlier blog I had Nancy at the Imaging Center by 8:30 AM for a cat-scan. We were told it would be Monday before we heard anything; but the phone rang just after 4 PM and it was the nurse from the doctors office. Initially we were stunned thinking only the worse because of the quick response. The nurse informed Nancy there were no problems except she had evident of sigmoid diverticulosis(pockets in the colon that can become inflamed)at this time there was no inflamation. This disease can be treated or maintained with proper diet, plenty of fluids and exercise. There was no explanation for the burning during urination however his procedure of flushing the bladder took care of the problem or it was an answer to prayer. Thanks to all who remembered her in their prayers. Nancy hasn't had a problem since.

Amy and Ava came by and Grandma Nancy made her famous chocolate chip cookies with walnuts. Enclosed are a few pics of them sharing that special moment. Later!!!