Friday

No rain through the night so it made for working conditions very favorable this morning. I awakened around 6:30 grabbed a hot cup of green tea before settling in to do my quiet time. Nancy was still in bed as I always check the rear of the property for wildlife and thar they were; 2 large deer. Anyhow I grabbed the .22 rifle and pulled off a round over their heads. One deer took off but the other one just jumped and spun around facing me(towards the back porch). I went into the bedroom(of course this woke Nancy up) and grabbed the box of .22 shorts and reloaded. That deer just stood there and as if to say "that's the best you can do." Well I pulled off another round while not trying to hit him but to scare him from the gardens. Well it just jumped up and turned around again and stood there watching me on the porch. (Actually I was in the buff). Nancy got up and said she wished she could have taking a picture of me with that rifle and me on the back porch nekkid. Well I shot a third time over his head and that deer had the gall to jump off into the woods and snort back at me.

After the "shots were fired" and my quiet time I settled into finally finishing the mowing. I then spread 150 pounds of fertilizer mixed with grass seed on the yards. I did not need to take a hike today(by the way I haven't been to the top yet, for a variety of reasons) as walking behind the spreader was about the same as a hike. I'm hurting from all this up and down on the stairs and hills. I thought pickleball would have helped to get me in shape, was I mistaken.

The lower garden had dried out enough to get in there and do some more weeding and to plant some potato's. I had about 15 hills(potato plants) that had come up as volunteers when I failed to gather all last fall. They had stayed in the ground all winter and are up about a foot. That gives me an idea for next fall that maybe I will leave or plant the little 'taters(nubbies) and next May when I come up I will already have a 'tater patch. Unbelievable they came up as this was a very cold winter.

I finally with Nancy's help managed to get all of the porch furniture out of the shed and basement. What a job that is and to think I use to carry all of this in a wheelbarrow up and down the yard; but now with the golf cart its a lot easier. Just like mowing this huge yard by hand(which I did until last year) but now with the riding mower it actually a fun job. Only once did nearly go over the steep bank; Nancy helped me push it back on level ground while "blessing me out." Oh well!!

We had our "mountain mom" Helen and her brother Joe for supper this evening. Nancy made a superb bean soup(northern and pinto's) with ham stock, fresh salad, a Martha White cornbread and a homemade banana cream pie. Yummm!!! Now that's good country eatin.' After supper the wind came up and the temp's began to drop. It was nearly 60 degrees at 7 PM. Good snuggling weather. LATER

Thursday

Well its sure good to be in touch with everyone again. After a night of rain we finally saw a little sunshine this morning. After a hot cup of green tea and my quiet time I headed over to Virginia to pick up a load of fertilizer. I got back around 9 Am and Nancy was just starting to make one of my favorite breakfast's; buckwheat pancakes, smoked turkey bacon an 2 eggs. Wow was that ever a tasty meal.

The sun was finally shining brightly so I finished up the fence around the upper garden and then decided the grass was dry enough to start mowing the back yard. Well I was finally getting the grass under control when huge black clouds began to move in and by the time I got the mower and golf cart in the shed there came a "gully washer." So I was finished for the day with mowing.

After a late light lunch I did some catching up on the Internet. The rain continued so there wasn't much to do outside so I sharpened my chainsaw and sowed some flower seeds in pots. By this time it was shower time as we were heading to Walt's place for a barbecue around 5 PM. We had another great meal with grilled rib eye's, burgers and dogs plus potato salad, cole slaw and chips as well as fruit salad and homemade ice cream. We visited until after 9 PM when a huge storm was headed our way. We managed to make it home just before the clouds once again opened up with heavy rains, thunder and lightning.

Well its getting on towards 11 PM so I can feel these walking up stairs and hills muscles. LATER

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

Well we made it here on Sunday afternoon around 3:30 after an 11 hour trip. The trip was uneventful with lighter than usual traffic with practically no 18 wheelers. Last week I made arrangements to have DSL in place when we arrived but as usual we were not able to get on the net until around 4 PM today Wednesday. The technician stated they had to change out a port at one of the sub-stations. Oh well we are thankful to once again to be in contact with the outside world.

When we arrived on Sunday we were greeted with 2 foot tall grass, weeds in all the flower and vegetable gardens; however the cabin its self was in good shape after sitting empty for nearly 7 months. Nancy found a few dead bugs but none to worry about. We had covered all the furniture and beds with sheets. There was a little rust color in the hot water line at first but after a few minutes it cleared up. We were so pleased and thankful.

Our next door neighbor's Jodie and Gerald invited us as well as Ray and Audine(neighbors) to eat dinner with them Sunday evening. Wow was that ever a good meal of chicken on the bar bee, cast skillet spuds, a black bean with corn dish and salad. Thanks again, guys. That gave us a little more time to unpack and check out the gardens before dinner.

We learned it had rained off and on all day and more was in the forecast. That night (Sunday) it started to down pour and really has only stopped a couple of times since we've been here. It rained so hard you couldn't hear the T.V.(tin roof) There is local flooding and some schools were delayed in opening because of the flooding on Tuesday. I was so keyed up from traveling and sitting in the truck for 11 hours I had trouble sleeping Sunday night.

Monday we had to spend most of the day in the cabin but there were moments when I was able to get outside and work on the high grass. I took the weed whacker and mowed the grass down to about half of its original height so when I got the chance to use the riding mower it wouldn't clog from all the grass. Monday afternoon about 2 PM Joe(Helen's brother) invited over to his house for a cook out. Once again the food was great with grilled steaks, baked potato's, salad and a fresh pound cake(Joe baked) with strawberries and ice cream. We were so full we could hardly walk around his beautiful yard inspecting his flowers and plants that he takes care of at the ripe age of 81.

After we got home the rain let up for a couple hours so we worked outside weeding in the flower and vegetable gardens until it once again rained us out. Monday night brought severe rain showers and some thunder. I slept a little better Monday night after walking up and down these hills and stairs. I did manage to completely weed 2 of my herb planters before the heavy rains once again wiped us out for the day. It rained all night and at times a "gully washer."

Tuesday found us once again cabin bound because of the heavy rains so we went to Sparta to exchange the modem(thinking that may be the problem) but after getting back home we learned the problem was on the phone company's side of the line and not ours. While in town we ran a few errands; phone co., grocery store(Lowes), newspaper office, vegetable stand back to Joe's to pickup my camera and then home to lunch. The rained stopped long enough to get a couple hours in the yard with the riding mower. I got about 1/4 of the yard mowed before the rains came again. Out of the rain up under the back porch I managed to sow several varieties of seeds and re-potted lots of the seedlings I had brought from Florida. Nancy heated up a pot of Zuppa des Conta soup for dinner that we had brought with us from Florida.

Wednesday morning once again brought heavy down pours and during the night a river began to flow down a dry ravine at the rear of the property. This river flowed for over 24 hours and is still flowing but not nearly as strong as I write. The morning would be a complete washout if we stayed home so we needed to stock up at Wal-Mart in Galax. We had originally planned on doing this on the weekend but the forecast is for pretty weather(no rain) starting late Friday and through out the weekend so we decided to make a trip to Galax. We loaded up on groceries, annual plants and grass seed. Yeow 2 carts full !!!

After driving through some very heavy downpours we arrived back around 1 PM to some bright sunshine, YEA!!!. After a quick lunch I decided since it was too wet to mow; so I replaced the fence around the upper garden. I sawed down 4 small pine trees about 20 feet tall and 5 inches across to use as a frame for the wire fence. In between rain showers I managed to dig the post holes which quickly filled up with water and got the frame poles attached. Tomorrow I will put the wire on the frame. Just as we finished the frame the skies opened up again. Nancy made a couple of hamburger(fresh ground chuck) steaks, salad, peas and some mashed spuds and gravy. It continues to rain heavy at times. So much for the drought that had plagued all of N.C. for the past couple years and especially this area.

Well I just spoke with and old friend Walt Hampton who invited us tomorrow evening out to his house for a cook out and to visit with his nephew Ryan who is visiting from Minnesota. We met Ryan when he helped Walt wire and plumb our cabin while he was down for the summer back in 1996. Well I will close for now, LATER.

Friday Night and Saturday Morning

Friday afternoon was a busy one after pickle ball and lunch. Amy and Ava came and stayed until it was time for her nap around 2 PM. By then I even needed a 15 minute snooze. The pickle ball was fast and furious with wet shirts every where. I surely will miss you guys and gals. All that loafing around after lunch is gonna change come next week, with a vegetable garden, flower gardens, lots of mowing, edging and general clean up to the mountain property after 7 months. I find doing that kind of busyness is a form of relaxation. I'm looking forward to the cool mornings, the loudness of the birds singing, quietness of being secluded in the woods and the scenery of trees, mountains and flowers. Most of what we see daily is GOD made.

The family dinner Friday evening to celebrate Amy's 26th birthday(was actually the 19th)was absolutely delicious with 2 roast chickens, smashed potato's and gravy, dry stuffing, broccoli casserole, corn, salad and Nancy's superb chocolate cake with white icing. We had a house full and to top off the evening we cheered the Ray's to a 15-2 victory over state rivals the Florida Marlins. After all left around 9:30 we did a few clean up duties, showered then hit the hay for a pretty good sleep. Usually I'm so keyed up about heading north I sleep very little for the last couple of nights before heading out. Maybe the sound of rain on the roof helped to put me to sleep. Wow we sure have been getting our share of rain this week after many weeks of no rain at all.

This morning, Saturday found we wide awake around 6 AM with lots of chores to do before we head to Amy's for dinner around 4. She is cooking her famous spaghetti and meatballs(G/G's recipe) for us. We will get our last little bit of time with them for almost 2 months as we plan on coming back to Florida the end of July for a wedding and some grand daughter time. Those girls sure were cute together last night and each looked out for the other. We are thankful they live close enough they get to visit each other a couple times a month.

Well I've just about got everything ready to load,the last of the cleaning chores and items to take with us; so that after dinner we can rest until its a 3 AM wake up(I usually don't sleep a wink) and a 4:30 AM pull out. We will really miss all of our family, friends and church families. We hope to see many of you this summer as we have several on the calendar for a mountain visit. I'm looking forward to heading up to the Shenandoah Valley to visit with my relatives in that neck of the woods this summer as well. All take Care, LATER.

I will be away from this keyboard for at least a couple days.

Thursday and Friday Morning

Well we have really been getting the rain this week.The area was so dry that even though its been raining off and on for about 5 days it hasn't got annoying, yet. But its getting close!! Thursday was a usual morning with my quiet time and lite breakfast then off to the rec. for 2 plus hours of pickle ball. Afterwards I took the truck in for service and came back to get some last minute cleaning and packing. I vacuumed all the fan blades and cleaned out several clothing drawers sorting clothes to take for to work in the mountains. Amy and Ava didn't visit today as Nancy needed to catch up several chores for Friday's birthday dinner like making Amy her chocolate cake with white icing. Thursday evening we headed out around 6 PM for the GTD(going the distance) banquet in Pinellas Park.

The fellow who started this adventure/missionary non-profit program I have know for years. He worked at Sports Unlimited there when I use to do off duty store security. Doug is a great kid and a strong believer in building relationships for CHRIST through this program. Tyler our son-in-law went to Costa Rica with his group last year and Bobby has done several adventure trips to the mountains as well. I hope maybe in future to incorporate his knowledge in setting up missions trips to one I have in mind to Alaska next summer. That's another story for a later date but keep that notion on the back burners in your mind if your into meeting, helping and working with different folks in a setting far from the comforts of home, like Alaska.

The GTD banquet was a fund raiser for 8 interns going to Costa Rica for several weeks this summer and we were honored to be a part of that mission trip. Bobby prepared the meal of marinated grilled strip steaks, grilled corn on the cob, grilled zucchini squash, yellow rice and black beans and salsa. The dinner was excellent. When Nancy and I arrived we found to our surprise the Performing Arts Center for the city of Pinellas Park was now housed in the very building that once was the First Christian Church. The very church we were married in nearly 30 years ago. Wow we were taken back, of course the inside had been remodeled but the outside was still the same without the steeple. Its a small world.

Friday morning found me riding out to the rec. for my last pickle ball play for quite awhile. I'm sure going to miss the wet shirt work outs and of the course the laughs and cut ups we have with one another. I got home and mowed the yard before another down pour. Well will close for now as its lightning and thundering. LATER

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Morning

Well I must say I've become a little lazy the past few days about writing, especially since I'm on Face book. There are the doldrums that are associated with routine. I have been in a routine which quite frankly I enjoy; up at 6:30 AM, quiet time, a lite breakfast of oat's either Cheerios or warm oatmeal, on the bike to the rec. for 2 hours of pickle ball, a quick stop at the library and then lunch with Ava and Amy. But that is about to change so hopefully my entries will be filled with at least some renewd interest and diversity.

We celebrated Amy's 26th birthday on Tuesday however it wasn't that pleasant for Nancy. A couple years ago she had a lower molar giving her some pain so the dentist capped or crowned it for nearly a grand. Well it never felt right for months so back she went to the dentist and he recommended a root canal, another grand. She suffered with the tooth for nearly 2 years going back to both dentist's several times and neither could find or correct the problem. They thought something was wrong with Nancy. Anyhow just this week the tooth became very painful and the gum around the tooth as well, so I suggested she have it pulled. So luckily we were able to get in to see an oral dentist and he had to saw the tooth in half to extract it and at the root was an abscess. Well there went another 400 bucks. Anyhow she is recuperating and to think this could have happened in the mountains. She is starting to mend.

Nancy fixed(just after having the tooth extracted) Amy's favorite pasta dinner with loads of fresh Roma tomatoes, fresh oregano, basil, parsley and tons of fresh garlic in a butter sauce.Yumm its better than Olive Garden. Nancy didn't get to eat any but we sure enjoyed it. G/G and Pap brought over a homemade chocolate mocha pie for dessert. Nancy did well through the night and used only Tylenol for pain. The bleeding has stopped and its starting to heal over and now she is ready to eat.

We are slowly getting ready for our trip to the mountains on Sunday. I have 2 more pickle ball morning and today I told Nancy and Judy(pickle ball players) good-by until we get back in July for a week. I will surely miss the great play and friendships developed from this game. Well will close for now LATER.

Friday and Saturday Morning

The usual happened on Friday morning with our quiet time, lite breakfast and me heading out to the rec. for pickle ball. It's so funny that Nancy does her quiet time on the front porch since its rained a couple times this week. Well a rather large tree frog has taken up residence on the bench she sets on. I heard her squeal the other morning and she came in the house to announce to me to get rid of this creepy feller. It reminded me of the Geico commerical of the 2 eyes as this little feller was peeping over the edge of the bench peering at Nancy. Long story short when Amy and Ava came later they moved him to the bushes. I found another small frog in my potting soil bag and Ava just loves playing with him.

Nancy invited our good friends Dan and Carol down for dinner so we pigged out on chicken fajitas, black beans and rice as well as a salad. She also used a frozen bag of wild blackberries I had picked last summer to make a cobbler. We were so full we forgot to eat it.I had a bowl with cold milk on it for breakfastthis morning, YUMMM. We are getting ready to head out to Riverview and spend part of the day with Bobby and Annsley as Jill has to work a long shift today. Then when we get back we will babysit Ava this evening as well. We have to get as much grand baby time in as possible.

After dinner last night we played Mexican Train domino's as that's Carol's favorite and I smoked everyone by a couple hundred points. Lookout N.C. the "champ" or "king" is looking to rebound. LATER