Day 25, "Every picture has a story"

I saw this the other day as I was walking the aisle in Home Depot.  The first thing I noticed was the price tag, $499.  The second thing I noticed was the size of the box.  As one looks at the contents it is amazing that a person would want to buy a sawsall, a portable saw, a compact drill, two other drills, a grinder and one other tool ALL in one big box.  So I have my share of battery powered tools and I do really like them BUT that many in one box for one HUGE price???  Not for me but it certainly tells of our current tool craze in battery powered tools.  I also noticed, as I walked around the store that there were many battery powered blowers, mowers, weed whips, chain saws etc.  I would say that one had better have a lot of outlets in the workshop to charge EVERYTHING.  Having said that my newest battery powered tool, the 15 ga finish nailer, is one GREAT tool.  Amen!!!

It is game day #2 today.  We travel to Belle Lago, a community that I have not been to.  They have 2 teams and we played the other team last week.  I am guessing this team today is the better team.  I am so short of players and one guy let me know Monday night that he would not be able to play.  I was able to add a player yesterday so we do have 6 guys.  I just do not like to forfeit a court.  I have never had to do that and do not want to start now.  We will see what happens today.  Our match is at 11:00 so I am thinking that the sun will not be an issue.  Our home matches are at 1:30 and serving south is a challenge.  Another good thing about an early match is today it should be 79 when we start but IF we were to start at 1:30 it would be 85--big difference.

No I need to get going here.  Terry is currently on a walk and shortly after she returns she has an 9:15 appt and we may just finish that in time for our 10:15 departure for the match.  So time to sign off and drink that last strong sip of FP.

Yikes, we are short a player for tomorrow.

Day 24, "Every picture has a story"

This isn't so much of a story as it is a picture that is unlike any other picture I have.  I do not know some of the people in the picture but I do know it is a Sampson picture.  Grandpa Sampson is in the back holding a baby.  I am guessing it is Ronald standing by him.  It looks like Janet is in the white blouse with her hair parted in the middle.  I think Joan is standing in front of her with Dave and I kind of in the front.  I have NO idea who the little girls are and maybe the 2 boys in the back to the right of Ronald are Arnold's boys.  He and Mulla(sp) had Donald, Dean and ??.  The picture looks like it is on Obert and Bertie's farm.  That is all I know!

We have three lights in the entry hall way and into the area leading to the living room.  I am sure they are the original lights and a bit dated.  Terry saw these very nice fixtures at Costco and purchased one so that we could see how they would look.  The good part is I put it in yesterday and it really is nice.  The bad part is it looked so nice we purchased 2 more and they need to be put up!!!  Well that is not a bad part but it is a bit of work.  I did get the first one installed and the first time I turned it on it worked so there is hope.  I still do not plan to get my electrical license!

I had an interesting experience yesterday.  The long story!  I started playing tennis in the winter of 2011.  Well I kind of started.  2012 came and went as did 2013 and 1014.  In that time I broke my wrist and had a couple of other injuries.  The problem was there was no Tarpon Cove team to be on as I was a beginner and all the teams were at the 3.0 level.  So I talked to the pros and started a 2.5 team in the winter of 2015.  At first it was difficult to get enough players on the team.  To fast forward to the season of 2017----I had too many guys wanting to be on the team and that winter we went undefeated.  What do you do after that?  Well you move up to 3.0 and have a rough first season as we did in 2018.  Well the story---Terry and I went over to the courts yesterday to watch our 2.5 teams and in my mind it was kind of MY guys.  As I sat and watched I took some satisfaction in the fact that these guys are out playing on a team and having a good time.  A few years ago they would not have been able to play team tennis.  They lost all 3 matches yesterday but court  #1 took it to a match tie breaker which was fun to watch.  Fun to see the fruits of one's labor.  

I received a note from one guy on my team yesterday and he can not play tomorrow.  That means I have to add a new player today or forfeit a court tomorrow.  I will see what I can do this morning.

Not much more today.  I have too much tennis today.  I have a 7:30 morning match, a 30 minute lesson at 10 and then I agreed to hit for about an hour with a team guy at 3:00.  I do not like to do that much in a day BUT I will kind of take it easy during the morning match and the afternoon is just hitting the ball rather than a match.  Should be fine, I THINK!

FP is already down to the last drop and it is just 6:10.  I must have gotten up tooooo early.

The picture brought back memories of my pay cycle in 1970.

Day 23, "Every picture has a story"

As I ate my breakfast, with FP as the staple, I had memories of 1970 when I read this in the Wall Street Journal.  PAY CYCLE was a big thing back then at the North Dakota School for the Deaf.  There was no such thing as "direct deposit" and your paycheck came once a MONTH!  There also was not the choice of getting paid year around so a person was stuck with once a month pay for the duration of the school year.  I had worked at Lake Ready Mix during the summer driving one of their red trucks with yellow 6 yard drums which had red polka dots.  There actually was a purpose for the polka dots, it was so you could tell if the drum was going around or not.  My pay for delivering cement in this huge truck was $1.90 an hour.  (The next summer I walked out of the office when Duane would not raise my pay to $2.00.  He did catch me before I drove away and said OK.)   Even with costs back then that was a low paying job.  It helped us pay the summer bills but barely.  I worked as many hours as I could, usually 45+ a week, but still the money was hard to come by for groceries etc.  I worked through the Saturday before the start of school work shops.  We started work on Monday the 24th of August.  For some reason the state or the school administration didn't count our workshop days as school so our first paycheck was the September check which would come on the first Monday of the next month--October 5th!  If one wants excitement try working at a $1.90 per hour job until August 22nd and then living on fumes for the next 6 weeks!!!  I do not remember what my salary was in the school year of 1970/71 but I do remember signing a contract for the 1969/70 school year for $6000 for the year.  That was a full time teaching job plus helping to coach football and basketball!  Oh, I should add that I was asked to get my bus driving license, which I did, so that I could drive the team bus to away games.  No extra pay of course.  I am NOT complaining in any way as that was a time of a more simple life BUT it certainly reflects the difference between yesterday and today!  I stopped at Starbucks yesterday to get an Americano, medium size, and at that cost I would have had to work for 2 hours in 1970.  I know one would not get paid 70 wages today but still it is kind of fun to think about it.  By the way it is my first Starbucks stop this season and we have been here 3 weeks.  Way to go Carmen.

I forgot to mention that Terry and I voted Saturday.  We had about a 20 minutes wait and the judges said during the week the wait was about 90 minutes.  Of course we voted for the RIGHT things and the RIGHT people.  Often when I vote I think of Judi and John as I think they often cancel each other out when they vote, at least they used to!

Tennis schedule today is 9:00 and then tomorrow it is 7:30.  Wednesday we have a match away and then I will not play tennis until the following Tuesday as I will be sitting in a deer stand Saturday in MN.  I have asked Terry, a guy who usually schedules our weekly matches, to not put me in everyday.  I may be sitting on the sidelines a lot before I can get in with some of the 3.0/3.5 players.  That is IF I can get in at all!

We are in a bit of a cool down weather wise.  It is supposed to be a high of 81 today and there is not a 90 in the 10 day forecast.  The hardship that causes is one is chilly when you get out of the pool!😟

No this is about it for now.  I may go over to the courts a bit early as there are 2 open at 7:30.  It is good to practice my serve.  If a person has ever heard of the saying, "practice makes perfect" I want you to know in my case I have not seen it to be true!

I just walked into the kitchen and drained the FP pot and now I have about 4 delicious sips before I start the day. 

There is actually a bit of coolness in the air this morning.

Day 22, "Every picture has a story"

In the summer of 2014 Terry and I embarked on our 15,000 mile camping trip to Alaska.  We headed west through Fargo and then angled NW towards highway 2 which runs across northern North Dakota and Montana.  We spent some time in Havre MT with my best friend Larry and then headed west again.  We entered Canada just east of Glacier National Park and headed north through Banff and Jasper parks.  From there we headed towards Dawson Creek BC which is mile 1 of the Alaskan Highway.  That took us to Delta Junction AK where the highway ends.  We spent 5 weeks visiting places in AK and taking in the 8 national parks there.  We flew from Fairbanks to Kotzebue which is where the visitor center for Kobuk Valley Nation Park is.  We asked about actually stepping in the park and found out that to do that one needed to hire a bush pilot and fly in as there are no road.  That would cost several thousand $$ and we did NOT do that.  We spent the day in Kotzebue and it turned out to be a fun day.  Some of the fun things to do or see were:

• As we walked around there were 100s of broken down snowmobiles just piled up.  We were told that when a snowmobile was trashed it cost to get it out as the only way was plane or ship.  So they just kept piling up.  
• We stopped for a bit to eat.  An elderly couple were there and he came over to us and told us we should have more to eat.  We said we were fine.  He then went and paid our bill.  He shared with us that he had been a welder on the Alaskan Pipe Line and after that was finished he became a fisherman.  He and his wife left the cafe on a small 4-wheeler!
• As we walked alone the Arctic ocean shore there were little kids swimming and having a great time!  Kotzebue is above the Artic Circle and the water was NOT warm!  
• When we left Kotzebue we flew into Nome and then back to Fairbanks.

We took the Alaskan Marine Highway out of Seward on our way back to the states.  After we arrived in Bellingham WA we drove down the west coast to Ventura CA where we took in Channel Island National Park and from there we headed home taking in several more parks.  Quite the trip for sure.

Yesterday was a good day with some things that were accomplished and then we took in a one person play of The Iliad.  The guy who did it was absolutely brilliant.  A friend of Terry's, Heidi, went with us and afterward I told her that I really enjoyed it.  I am so uncultured but I actually understood the play and liked it a lot!

Well today is Sunday and there are some Sundays that I just kind of sit back and remember.  Today is one of those days"

• I remember the pogo stick that I got for Christmas.  Before it broke I could hop from the house to the barn and then turn around and hop back.  I most likely looked like a goofball but it was a lot of fun.
• I remember the plastic guns that would shoot ping pong balls!
• I remember walking to and from Wood Lake School.  Don't know what we talked about but we became experts at kicking stones and hitting fence posts with stones as we pasted them.
• I remember walking south in the pasture to get the cows for evening milking.  I always waked past snake rock which was along the creek on the north bank.  More often than not there would be a snake sunning on the rock.
• I remember the little dam in the creek just below the outhouse.  For the first part of the summer we could often catch suckers in the rocks.
• I remember when the siblings would come home it was FUN.  Ronald and Glorine or Janet and John.  It meant that, for sure, Dad would be happy and maybe we would be able to water ski up at the lake.
• I remember Dave and I playing cops and robbers (maybe good guys and Indians too) and running all over the yard with our home made wooden guns.
• I remember playing ball with Dave and Ricky with the corn crib as a back stop.
• I remember biking up to the lake after a day in the field.  Dave on the big bike, I on the little bike and both of us would have a washcloth and soap as it was our bath!
• I remember the shower that Ronald made the summer he and Glorine lived with us.
• I remember the blackbirds that I would shoot with my 22 and then feed them to the cats.
• I remember shimming up the electrical pole by the barn and then lying on the west roof of the barn and dreaming of what life may be after I became an adult.
• I remember raking the barn yard south of the barn and then throwing the ball against the barn to pretend I was in the major leagues!  
• I remember taking the little calves out of the barn and making a pen for them.  I always felt that they should not have to be in the barn all the time!

So it goes.  Life seems to last for so long and then in the blink of an eye life seems so very fragile.  One year it seems as if Christmas will never come and then in a short time Christmas comes with a rush and you ask how did that happen?  Is it really a matter of age?  Life can seem so carefree and then in the blink of an eye it can seem so incredibly cruel.  BUT for sure one needs to keep focused on what is ahead, remember what WAS and live life to the fullest.

As seems to happen way too often, I was up too early, by 4:10 I think.  I have read about the World Series game last night, about the Minnesota Wild win and now am winding up my morning blog.  I have a tiny sip left of FP to enjoy as I make an omelet for breakfast and read the sports section of the paper.

It has been 21 days in Naples now.

Day 21, "Every picture has a story"

I am sure this picture was taken in the winter of 51 or 52.  At that time there were no hay stack movers so in the winter we would take the hay rack south and then turn right towards Rollof's farm.  Our alfalfa field was across the road from their farm.  With pitch forks in hand we would load the hay rack with hay and then drive home.  Our barn was all on one level with the "hay barn' on the north end.  Up high on the north wall were two doors that opened up so that a person could throw the hay into the barn.  I do not remember how often we had to get hay but we had to put some in the barn for the calfs and then also open the gate and drive into the barn yard to feed the cattle that were outside.  When it was milking time we would put the cows, (usually 5 or 6) into the stanchions and then give them some hay.  The barn was almost a magical place in the winter.  As one entered from the frigid cold you could feel the warmth from the cattle and the aroma was one of sweet hay and cows which I liked.  Before we had electricity the glow from the kerosene lantern would cast a glow from side to side and up and down as one walked towards the milk cows.  I am kind of amazed that with hay all over the place and kerosene lanterns carried and hung there never was a fire.  All it would have taken is a slip and the lantern could have fallen on the hay and presto--up goes the barn.  I could write about the sparrows that would line the beams of the barn at night in the winter but maybe that is another story!

The work on the windows and french doors was finished mid afternoon yesterday.  The windows are cleaned but the company supervisor who came on Thursday cautioned us that men do not do the same window cleaning job as women!  There are stickers on the windows that MUST stay on until the inspection takes place.  That will happen next week.  I guess the county needs to come and make sure the windows are installed properly and also that they are hurricane safe.  The law now states that ALL new windows must meet hurricane safety standards.  The supervisor warned us that the stickers MUST stay on until after the inspection.  IF they are taken off he has to order new stickers and then put them on and have the inspector come again and I am guessing the cost of that would fall on the home owner!

Terry and I are going to go to a play this afternoon.  I am so Uncultured that it is awful so I will try to improve myself a bit this afternoon.

I will not play tennis this weekend.  I think my body needs to take a rest.  Actually it is more sore from my ridiculous bike fall than tennis.  But still it will be good to have a couple of days off and let some of those muscles (I still have some!) get unsore!!!

No, the FP is finished and it is on to the business of the day.

Day 20, "Every picture has a story"

Here we are at the age of 13, 7 and 10.  Dad did like to take pictures for Christmas with those home made signs and lettering.  As I think about it I suspect Mom made the signs.  I would say those ties that Dave and I have are pretty fancy!  What the heck, I think Mom and Dad could have become rich if they would have promoted Helen with some advertising firm!!!  I do think they could have placed the plastic tree to the side of Helen.

Yesterday the company came that is putting in new hurricane windows.  We are  having 8 windows and the french doors replaced with hurricane strength glass.  The two guys who were here worked like a well oiled machine and they finished ALL 8 windows.  They will come again this morning and work on the new sliding french doors and then clean up the window glass so by the time they finish, (maybe 3) they will have put in about about 26 man hours and finished the entire job.  It seems like they are doing a very good job.  The current french doors swing open but the new ones will slide.  It will be a wait and see if we open them up as we never did with the old ones.

For some reason I was in a vanilla mood yesterday for tennis.  I think I was still tired from the match on Wednesday.  Seems kind of strange but I think that was the case.   It lingered all day but today is a new day and I feel more alive!

Tennis at 10:30 today so time this morning to do some things.  When I walked out at 6 to get the paper the water fountain was completely out of water.  I don't know how that happened as it should have been 3/4 full.  Maybe an alligator was thirsty!  No no no.  

My FP is already cool and I still have about 3 1/2 sips left so need to head to the kitchen and heat it up as one should not waste good coffee.  

Day 19, "Every picture has a story"

In the spring of 1962 our HS got new band uniforms.  Brother Dave was graduating and his story is he got to take his home and try it on but he never wore it as he graduated that spring.  These uniforms were the "wow" of any parade we were in.  With snappy music, legs kicking high at times we wowed many a parade watcher.  Trips to Fargo, Ellendale, Winnipeg were among the MANY but the trip of all trips was at the end of the 1963/64 school year.  We rented travel buses and traveled to Indianapolis to march in the 500 car race.  During the race we got to watch from the infield.  A.J. Foyt won but that race is remembered for a fiery 7 car crash where Sachs and MacDonald died.  

Our band in HS was twice the North Dakota Governor's Band.  One trip related to that was to the ND state fair in Fargo.  I have often said that sports was my life blood in HS but band was right up there in terms of fun.  I am sad to say that I was NOT the best sousaphone player.  Well, not to make excuses but who would have lugged that home to practice?  I did sometimes but they were far and few between.  Pretty much EVERY school night from the start of school in the fall until March there was either football or basketball practice.  My excuse but really it is pretty accurate.  I would add that I did great in our marching band.  

Well in tennis yesterday we had fun.  My team took all 3 courts with court 2 winning in a 10 point match tie breaker.  Court 3 won 6-4 and 7-5 while I and Karl, on court 1, played vanilla tennis against an opponent that was not court 1 talent.  We won 6-3 and 6-2.  I would say the level of tennis was perhaps not up to a high level 3.0 but it was a win and it certainly was fun.  We will see what happens next week as we play the same community, Belle Lago, but a different team.  I will not have one of my best players back until our 4th match.  One guy, who played court 3, is listed as a 2.5 player and really wants only to be a sub.  He said he does not play in the afternoons but will play if it means forfeiting a court without him.  

I actually got some work done yesterday.  I took the fountain apart, cleaned it up and put in a new pump.  It worked perfectly when I plugged it in for the first time.  I am not sure how I should feel as that is one of several times in the last months that I did a project and there were no hangups!  I am either getting smarter or more lucky!!!

Enough for this morning.  I was up at 4:20, brought the paper in and read it, had breakfast and now blogging is finished.  The only thing left is to finish off my FP which is so so so good this morning!

Post time for fall tennis!!!

Day 18, "Every picture has a story"

A gift the tennis team gave to Bill at our end of the season party last spring.  Bill will not be here this year.  He and his long time friend will be spending some winter time from Michigan in the Florida Pan Handle at Gulf Shores.  For Bill it is a shorter drive and I think there are other reasons as well.  Bill has always rented rather than have his own place.  The picture is used today because:

We have our first match of the fall today.  I have the balls, the snacks and the drinks in the car.  I drove over to the courts at 5 this morning to get ice for the drinks.  A person could look at what I write about and say that Carmen's most important thing in Florida is tennis BUT that is not true.  However, I have found in tennis, an activity and an outlet that I had not enjoyed since high school.  Sports is what made HS worth while.  Getting married after my junior year of college, starting a family after I graduated and then raising a family on one income did not leave any spare time for much sporting activity.  Would I do it again, for sure but now that I am retired and have the time biking and tennis give me much enjoyment.  I so like the challenge of trying to assess my opponent and then seeing if I can take advantage of their weakness.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it does not but it is fun.  Today we play a team, Belle Lago, that we have not played in the past.  That means we will be playing against guys we have never seen before.  That will be challenging and fun. It is fun in that we do play mostly the same teams year after year and so a person gets to kind of know some of the players.  From a social stand point that is fun but as I said playing against players one had not played against before is also a lot of fun.  As one plays morning after morning it usually is against the same people which, at times, get a bit old.  I did put myself on court #1, a place I would rather not be at this time, but we are short of a couple of our best players.  We will see.  With nerves VERY real I will drive over to the courts at 12:50 for our 1:30 match.  Win or lose it should be fun.  My hope and prayer is NO injuries on either side of the net.  

I thought I would finish my book yesterday but I did not.  Terry is almost finished with the book that will be first on the agenda in the "Critics Choice" series that we start next week.  

Our pump in the fountain  went south so I ordered a new one and it came yesterday.  Maybe I can get it in today.  It would be nice to have the fountain going again.  Not a big deal but it does add to the whole lawn and greenery around the home.

Enough for now.  I had my breakfast of hash brown, an egg and sausage and now the FP is almost gone so will sign off and get some things done.

Day 17, "Every picture has a story"

This is happy birthday Grandma Sampson.  I do not know most of these women BUT I do know the lady holding the cake is Grandma (Julia) Sampson.  Mom being the youngest of many and I was the 5th of 6 so one can understand why I never knew Grandma Sampson.  I do not know the year she died but I do, of course, remember Grandpa Sampson.  The lady in the dark dress second from the left is Nina who was George Lee's mother.  Mom is between Nina and Grandma.  I think Aunt Mulla (sp) is behind Mom's right.  Mulla was married to Mom's brother Arnold.  They farmed near Veblen.  One of their sons, Dean, is still living and is in Sioux Falls SD.  Bertie should be in the picture and I think she is on Grandma's left.  I get the biggest kick out of the lady second from the right.  I have NO idea who she is but my guess would be she is kind of old!

An uneventful Sunday.  We enjoyed a bit of a cool down in the weather.  It should stay below 90 for the rest of the week.  On match day, Wednesday, it is supposed to be 88 as we start at 1:30.  After talking to a guy on the team I put myself on court #1.  I do not feel that I am playing at a court 1 level but it seemed like the best and most honest way to line up the match.  I am short several of my best players that I will have in the winter but then I guess other teams are in the same situation.  We will "hit off" at 1:30 and have fun.  BUT I do like to win!!!  My expectations for the fall are not high as I hope everyone stays healthy and has fun.  Also I hope that each and every players improves in some aspect of their game.  I have been working on my serve and I feel it is coming around to not be a liability.  I do not think it is a strength at this point either.  

Enough for today.  I do have enough FP left for a cup of java after my 7:30 match.  

A cooler day

Day 16, "Every picture has a story"

Mom with her sister Bertie.  As I have said before Mom was the youngest, by 10 years, in a family of double digit kids.  Bertie was older than Mom.  They both married farmers and lived a mile and a half apart.  Mom did not have a phone for a long time and when she got a phone she was on a different network than Bertie so if they wanted to talk it was long distance!  After the farm burned and Mom and Dad moved to Veblen Mom was 10 miles from her sister BUT the phone call was no longer long distance.  I think they talked often.  

Another tennis day this morning.  I spent much of the day reading and perhaps Terry and I will watch a movie tonight. 

My bike tires are still holding air so I pronounce them both good to go and I should not have to deal with the tires the rest of the season.  GOOD.

John, who used to live next door, called yesterday to see if he could come over and use our internet.  The place he is renting is still not UP in terms of TV or internet.  Afterwards we chatted for some time.  He belongs to Audubon Club just north of here and invited us to brunch next Sunday.  YES, we said as they have an awesome brunch.  That will be fun.  John, at 80 and widowed, is often looking for company.

It is late in the day and I am finished.  My FP, I finished it after tennis as I slept until 6:15 and did not finishe before I headed to the courts.

The 21st, the start of the last full week of October

Day 15, "Every picture has a story"

This does not look like an unusual picture.  I do not know the year but I would guess around 1959 or so.  For sure it is a Christmas picture.  The story behind it is what the words are made of.  Those are used flash bulbs!  Dad must have saved all the flash bulbs for that reason.  The story behind it is how much Dad used his camera.  Back then, it was film and flash bulbs for every time you took a picture.  NO taking half a dozen pictures and then deleting all but the best.  What you snapped is what you got and what you paid for!  I do not recall when Dad purchased a flash and could stop buying the flash bulbs but am guessing maybe in the 60s sometime.  There are times I wonder where did he get the money for film and bulbs as it seemed that most of the time or I should say ALL the time money was VERY tight and hard to come by.  In this picture I think there was a disagreement as to where one should look for the picture!  Straight ahead, to your right or to your left???

I have checked my bike this morning and the back tire still has air so I assume my new tube did not get pinched when I put it in.  Good news and now I am guessing that both front and back tires are good to go for the season.  There is a big difference in riding with road tires instead of dirt tires.

Sundays are often a day to sit back and reflect.  This morning I was thinking about the changes that I have seen here where we live in Naples over the last 5 years.  The villas were built in the mid 90s so they are approaching 25 years.  I am guessing that they sold fairly quickly after they were built.  That means that maybe many of the units are in for new owners and for sure that is true.  Here are some of the changes:

• Frank, the lawyers who worked internationally, died this past year and I do not know if his place has sold
• Terry and Diane, who were original owners, moved about 2 years ago.  Terry is dealing with major health issues.
• Jim and Mary, from Michigan, sold their unit this last year.
• Frankie and Stan, from Missouri, sold their unit last winter.
• Bill, the fisherman, was forced to move after health issues.  He died a short time later.
• The Dr., was forced to move because of health and he died a short time later.
• Our neighbor John, sold his home and is now renting across the road.  His wife Diane, died in January of 2017.
• Becky and Pete, who lived on the other side, moved last winter.
• Greg and Robie, from the Twin Cities, moved into a new home on the back waters last year.
• That is NOT the entire list so one can see that again, "The only constant is change"!
• Also Jim and his wife moved in about 18 months ago.  They are from the Twin Cities.

We do start our league tennis this week.  I do have enough players to have 3 courts but will call the visiting team today to see if they have enough players.  This fall league is kind of a warm up leading to the winter so it will be interesting to see what the play is like.

I am out of memories for the morning.  My FP is pretty much depleted so it is time to get on with Sunday, October 21, 2018.

A nice postal package from Erlene

Day 14, "Every picture has a story"

I received an envelope from Erlene who lives in CA.  Her mom Ruth, is the daughter of the oldest Sampson clan Ansel.  I believe Ansel was maybe 20+ years older than Mom.  Terry and I visited Ruth, who lived with Erlene, in CA several years ago.  Ruth was in Mom and Dad's wedding.  This postcard was among several pictures Erlene sent.  It is in Mom's handwriting and it is hilarious to note the address sent to, the postage and the way Mom signed it!  It appears that Mom and Dad spent their honeymoon in the Twin Cities as it is postmarked July 1st 1935 and they were married June 25th.  I wonder what Mom meant by "I spend evenings making whoopee???  Also I think she was talking about Dad when she marked that she did not fish much but she landed a dandy!  A side note about when Terry and I visited.  Ruth, at the time was in her early 90s, asked if we would like something to drink.  Terry said a glass of wine would be great.  Ruth said something like this: Great, I enjoy a glass of wine unlike most of the Sampsons!"  She then went into the kitchen and poured the wine.  She came out empty handed.  We asked about the wine and she said, "Oh, I forgot!"  Maybe a couple of years ago Erlene moved Ruth into a home where she would get good care.  I am guessing she is pretty near 100 now.  

Yesterday was one of those days when at days end you say, "I accomplished almost nothing!"  I did get a new tube for the rear wheel of my bike and I picked up 3 books at the library.  Finally at about 6:45 I went into the garage and put the new tube in and the tire back on.  Funny how when you do something for the second time it is so much easier!  Other than the tire NO work was accomplished by me yesterday.  I did get in a couple of swims but that is not classified as work.

Age continues to show it's way of being.  Kent Carpenter, who was in my HS class, died last Sunday.  He was only 70 and had farmed near Cogswell all his life.  I was not a close friend but of course in a class of 65 you pretty much knew everyone.  Kent was not in sports so that is why I did not hang around with him.  His obituary was in the paper and it sounded like he was into cars etc.  Also ended up as a great neighbor and friend of many.  It always hits home to some degree when I find out someone I knew and about my age dies.  It sounded like he suffered from cancer and was in some kind of care unit when he died.  I am not sure how many of our classmates have pasted away but I think several.

The pictures that arrived yesterday of course bring back many memories and often provide insights into family.  

I had breakfast and then finished my FP coffee this morning.  I did bike over to the courts and hit about 50 serves.  I will return to the courts in about a half hour as court times are 7:30, 9:00 and 10:30.  I would like to pick up a game with some of the better players but I guess one has to bide their time and hope that someone else does not show up.  I have been playing with guys that I would say are a bit less skilled.  Yesterday we changed partners every set and I was on the good side of 6-2, 6-1 and 5-3.  I need to be on the end of something like 4-6 or 5-7 or 3-6 but against better players.  That is about the only way to improve.  At my age and having started playing not that long ago I think my game still has an up side, at least for a few years.  I know, age has a way of telling you that the UP side is now pointing DOWN!!!

Enough for this Saturday.

Cynthia/Mike happy 12th!

Twelve years ago today this special young couple celebrated their wedding with about 600 family and friends.  Each year their anniversary comes around I think of Gail as she was so so so excited that her little and only girl was getting married.  The day only was second to the day Cynthia was born.  Cynthia and Michael, we wish you the best of everything and keep being the great couple and great parents that you are.  Love, Dad and Terry

Day 13, "Every picture has a story"

That was then, this is now

The top picture is how we drank at Wood Lake School back in the 50s.  Line up and put your cup under the pump OR just use your hand to cup the water and drink.  I think it worked fine as we never became sick and it certainly quenched our thirst!  Now one has to be sure to get that water out of the fridge and put it in your backpack as it is dangerous to become dehydrated!  By the way IF you purchased that bottled water at a convenience store maybe it was on sale for 99 cents or maybe the regular price is $1.49.  As I sit back and think I know the "well water" was a good deal and if I remember correctly it was cold too.  Wish I had a  picture of the water jug in the school room with it's spigot  (it's my lucky day as I spelled that word right!).  You can see the girl's outhouse in the back.  The girl's was on the south and the boy's on the north.  If I remember right I always made sure I used the toilet in school because we had toilet paper there!  No catalogs or peach coverings for paper.  I am sure we were in need of a drink before we went back to class as the play ground had high swings, a merry-go-round and a couple of teter-totters that certainly would wear you out during a LONG recess!

We are having maybe our last of the days in the 90s for a while.  Normal temps this time of the year are mid 80s and we may be there through much of the coming week.  Today during tennis the temp was maybe in the high 80s but the humidity was HIGH.

I need to tackle that tire on the bike that went flat.  Need to see what I did wrong and then maybe get by with a patch on the tube rather than buy a new tube.  What the heck, I thought I did a good job but guess not.

I felt like I got a kick in the stomach yesterday.  One of the best players on my team from last year is now dealing with dementia.  There was a lot of concern last year but really never anything defiant.  He is such a skilled tennis player and nice guy but there were always issues on the court.  Things like not knowing the score, not knowing what side he served from last and the list could go on.  Terry had a phone conversation with his wife yesterday and she said it has been confirmed that he has the early onset of dementia.  I am guessing he is mid 60s.  He is excited to play when they arrive after Thanksgiving so we will keep his wife in the loop and try to make things work.  For some reason it really hit me emotionally.  Darn it, life is just so fragile in so many ways.  I am convinced that one needs to go with the flow and enjoy each day to the fullest.

Our neighbor from last year, John, stopped over for a short visit yesterday afternoon.  He sold his place next to ours last summer.  He and Diane really had the place looking nice as they had upgraded several things in the villa.  Well what happened?  The new owners are completely gutting it and will redo EVERYTHING.  All because they can and it was not up to their tastes.  I am not saying it is wrong, it just seems like such a waste in so many ways.  I would guess their redo will cost in the neighborhood of $100,000+.  I guess if you have the means you can!!!

Terry and I accomplished much yesterday in terms of order, throwing and straightening.  I have more to do but at least the couch in the den is now clear of papers and papers and papers.

I finished my FP before I headed to the courts this morning so nothing to stimulate my thinking now!

Good news

Day 12, "Every picture has a story"

This looks like any ordinary tool AND perhaps it is BUT to me it is NOT.  Maybe 10 years ago or so Henry and Liam gave this to me as a gift.  What has it become?  Well it has become my MOSTEST "go to tool" ever.  I have gotten to the point that I do not bring much in the line of tools back and forth from St. Paul and Naples BUT this always comes where ever I am.  I actually do not know why but it seems I always need it.  A couple of days ago I was putting new hardware on the kitchen cabinets.  I had to take the door off of the spice drawer to get at the handle.  To line the door up straight the builders had put 4 small tack like wires in, 2 in top and 2 in the bottom.  As I was putting the door back on one of the wires bend into the wood so what did I do?  I went to the garage and got my "go to tool" and presto the wire was out.  Perhaps a bonus is often when I use it I think of Liam and Henry.

Dang, I got on my bike yesterday afternoon and the back tire was flat.  Wonder IF I could have done something wrong when I installed it???  I will have to take it off and see if there is a leak in the NEW tube.  Maybe it will be a "learning moment" to see if I can remember how I did it the first time!  All I remember now is the first time I used YouTube several times and then had to scrub the grease off my hands for about half an hour--well not quit that long BUT a long time for sure!

I did a "no no"and a "yes yes" in tennis yesterday.  After our 7:30 match I decided to watch a bit of a lesson that one of the guys was having.  Karl, a good player on the team, then asked if I wanted to play 45 minutes again with a group that is a notch better than most of the guys I play with.  Now I am taking it easy last week and this week BUT I really could not pass up the chance to play with better guys so I did play another 45 minutes.  I would say, being perfectly honest and none bias, that I at least held my own.  It may be a tiny crack in the armor of the click of better guys.  I really should not say that as many of them are more than happy to play with guys who are at a lower level.  The problem I have is I was hurt all last year and there is another problem that I will not put down on paper.  I should say that I felt the newly strung racquet was a help and I need to pick up the second one today.  As everyone knows "any" good tennis player needs 2 racquets!!!  AND I do too!

Terry and I had appointments with our orthopedic surgeon yesterday.  Dr. Joyner spent about 2 minutes with me and said I was good to "go" meaning he gave his blessings for me to do anything I want in terms of activity.  Of course I told him I had been doing that for several months.  Terry had X-rays on both knees and on her left foot.  The over all prognosis was she is pretty good.  Some issues with both knees, her left more than her right but overall it was geat news.  She did get a shot in her left knee so we will see how helpful that is.  She needs to go back in 6 weeks and I need not!

No it is time to sip the last drop of FP, shave and then dress for the court.  

Day 11, "Every picture has a story"

From top to bottom

Two years ago I decided it was time to STOP bringing bikes back and forth from St. Paul to Naples.  We never used them on our trip and they took up a lot of space.  SO in the fall of 2016 I went on Craig's List and purchased a used bike.  It is a crossover bike and it had dirt tires on it.  A bit over the top for street riding.  Aaron purchased new tires for me this fall and so my task was to get them on.  Now I consider myself kind of handy but these tires, the back one for sure, tested me.  The front went on first and with a bit of effort it was fine.  The back was a different story.  Getting it on and the chain in the correct place was a bit frustrating.  Thanks to YouTube and about 4 trips from the garage to the computer I was successful.  Finally in the last YouTube it said to tip the bike upside down and then just place the wheel back.  It seemed so easy but I am not sure HOW it happened!!!  Regardless I now have NEW wheels to get me back and forth from tennis.  My only request is DO NOT ask me to help with your bike!  Soon we will have a bike for Terry.  Of course we left her favorite bike in St. Paul but I know she is about ready to get on a bike again so we will find one for her here.  We do have some places to ride where the drivers are not a problem.  Around here, oh my I do think many of the older people either can not see very well OR they just do not LIKE bikers.  Enough said.

Some things were accomplished yesterday as I finished the job of putting new hardware on cabinets in the kitchen and bedroom.  Also the pool area and lani areas were finished drying so things got put back there.  I also got one of my tennis racquets back and the second will be done today.  It will be interesting to see if my game is different with the tension that I like on the strings.  IF I have a bad day on the courts I, for sure, will blame the new strings.  OR I may just say that left leg is hurting!

Today, not much planned except I will be on the courts at 7:30.  Yes, there are still papers scattered on the couch in the den so a good idea would be to clean those up.  Not sure I will as this retirment is so so busy!!!

No enough is enough as the FP is already on the last cup and it is down to the top of the sign that says "Delta Junction, Alaska".

Day ten, "Every picture has a story"

Know what that is?  It is called a dome and it fits on the end of the tube of my hearing aid.  It is what fits in the middle ear.  Well the story to this picture is a bit "WHAT"!  For the last couple of weeks I have had noise feedback in my left ear with my aid on.  Finally I decided that I needed to go to Costco and get them looked at.  I called yesterday and because it is NOT  season yet the lady said I could get in at 12:15.  I called at 11:30.  As I arrived the gal said she wanted to look in my ears before we checked out the aids.  Right one looks good-----There is a dome in your left one!!!  I have NO idea when it happened.  I should have known as it came off as I was taking the aid out but NO.  She said she could not get it out as it looked to be in, way inside the ear near the drum.  SO I drove to Urgent Care to get it out.  After a very short wait I got in.  The lady commented that it was WAY deep and she was not sure she could get it out.  After about 3 or 4 tries she said she did not think she could get it.  I commented that I knew she could do it and presto, on the last try out it came.  Coated in wax for sure.  I was REALLY happy that I avoided a long Dr. appt today.  End of story, end of "picture of the day"!

Well I a think I am on the way to my tennis game again.  Yesterday, for the first time, I thought I played kind of OK and actually got to some balls that even surprised my opponent!  I would say that after playing 4 times I am back, well that is a stretch but it is a beginning.  I should add that I played at 7:30 and the temp was 80 about and humidity was about 95.  After an hour and with 30 minutes left I was done in terms of playing well.  I did finish the match but the last 30 minutets was not pretty but then maybe the first hour was not really pretty either!

From this on top to that on bottom

There is a hardware store going out of business which enabled Terry to purchase these new handles for a very reasonable price so out with the old and in with the new.  I think the new look is great.  I got a start yesterday on the change out and will try to finish today.

I actually got some work done yesterday.  I had Aaron purchase new tires for my bike as the used bike I purchased on Craig's list 2 years ago had dirt tires.  I forgot to ask him to get tubes so yesterday I got them, stopped at the library to get an item for Terry, drove to Costco to pick up some meds and then stopped at the Pro Am tennis place to have them check out my racquet.  I had my racquets restrung last January and found out 2 days later that I would have surgery and not play for a long time.  SO after 10 months a NEW string job was in order and the bank account was out of luck!  I like the tension at 45 and it was down to 21!  I still will play with a racquet that is in need of help as getting the restrung done the same day means an up charge of $5. and I said NO.  So I left one there and took one home for this morning.  Will do the exchange this afternoon.

Also got the pool area and lani power washed before the pool people came in the morning which meant that the dirt that went into the pool was cleaned up right away.  This morning the furniture will be put back in place.  So little by little things are getting right.

I was so busy yesterday I did not even start a new book, how about that.  I think I will today.

No my french toast with maple syrup and a side of ham are long gone and my FP is nearly the same so will sign off for today.  It will be onto the courts in a short while and I can ride my bike with a new front tire!  Maybe a new rear one this afternoon.

Week 2 here we come with tennis, work and fun!

Day 9, "Every picture has a story"

This is the 3rd and 4th grade in the school year of 1956/57.  It was the first year that Wood Lake School was closed so we were bused to Cayuga.  As I look at it I see one person who I am surprised  is in the picture because he was a freshman in HS when I was a senior!!!  I am on the far right in the first row and my best friend through college, Larry, is in the front row 4th from the right.  I could go on and on and on about that school year.  The boy in the front row, third from the right left Cayuga after that school year as the Cayuga bank closed!  Hard to believe there was a bank up until 1958.  I can also promise you that I had socks on that needed the toes turned under because they were too big!!!  The stories, memories, go kind of like:

• the story of two guys who jumped me as I was getting on the bus.  I got back at them over the next few days, one at a time!  It never happened again.
• Being the first student to hit a home run towards the school house, oops I broke a window!  The 3-6 graders had home plate to the north of the school so the hitters always were hitting towards the school.  The 7 & 8 were on the other side of the school and they hit away from the school.
• Finishing my 100 math facts while Joe was still on his second row of 10!
• Running off papers with the ???? machine for the teacher as I was done with my work and most everyone was still working.
• The memories of walking into the basement classroom of 24 after I had just finished grade 3 in Wood Lake where we had 12 students in 8 grades! Oh my!!!
• Standing my ground when I was accused of being the teacher's pet just because I finished my work and was asked to correct others.
• Trying to cheat on the spelling test as I could NOT sound out anything.  I had memorized the spelling words in first grade and had the same book the next 2 years in Wood Lake!
• Getting in the bus to go home while all the Cayuga boys were getting ready to play ball after school.
• Finding out that "teasing" the boys about certain girls was the norm although that mostly happened in 5th and 6th grade.
• Going along (I did nothing but watch) with some boys who put a mouse and some ink in the teacher's purse. YIKS!!!

Another hot day yesterday.  So what is new?  We had a lot of rain last night around 9.  I am thinking the courts will be fine today but will find out in about 40 minutes.  Was planning to get on the bike and ride over to the courts just to make sure BUT the front tire is flat.  A lot of work was done around here on the roofs and I am guessing I picked up a nail.  I have found several in the driveway.  Not a big deal as I had Aaron purchase 2 new tires and I need to put them on.  IF one goes to the bike store to buy tires here you may as well use the same amount of money to put a new set of tires on your car!!!

Finished my second book so one can assume that it too was a NO THINKER kind of book.  I am going to start another book today but of a different kind.  Really, I think I need to get a bit more choosey about what I read sometimes.

My FP looks a bit odd on the surface as I am using heavy cream that I froze by mistake.  It still is good but looks a bit different.  AND there still is enough left of that heavenly drink that I can sip as I dress for the court.

Into week 2

Day 8, Every picture has a story"

This picture was taken in the winter of 1957.  Dad had taken Dave and I to Lidgerwood to take boxing lessons from George Bracken who was the "Golden Glove Boxing" guy in ND.  He had the GM dealership in Lidgerwood but I think his real love was boxing.  Dad never said but I believe he wanted us to take boxing lessons as he had boxed in his youth.  Anyway in January he told Dave and I that we would be going to Lidgerwood weekly to take lessons.  I can still remember every detail of the first night.  We walked into the high school auditorium where Ronald and Janet had gone to school.  I thought back to the night there was a play and Ronald had played the part of a lawyer who argued his case and then the audience was the jury.  Ronald won his case and Mom and Dad were so proud.  After entering we were told to go up on the stage and get naked!!!  I was petrified as that was not my MOA for sure.  Well we had to weigh in to see what weight we would box.  I was big for my age so as a fourth grader I would be boxing guys who were mostly in 5th and 6th grade.  After the "naked" part we got dressed and for sure I was VERY conscious of my trunks and shoes.  I felt they were not as nice as other guys trunks and shoes.  I am in the front row second from the right and you can make your own judgment!  I do not know how many weeks we went but the last night we had bouts to see who would win their weigh class.  This is the picture Dad took of the winners.  I got a gold boxing glove about the size of a penny.  For some time it was one of my most prized possessions!  I won but I remember the gloves we wore were about as big as pillows!  I took my pin to school the next day and asked Mrs. Askeruth (my teacher) if she would keep it so I would not lose it.  What do you think my motive was for that???  It was not too long and the pin went missing never to be found but as one can see the memories never left.

We are now into our second week here and MAYBE we are kind of settled in.  I continue to get my two swims in everyday which is nice.  Not long swims but still nice and relaxing.  Terry did a lot of work yesterday in getting things ready to put some flowers in.  She did get the basil etc. in but the flowers are waiting until today.  She has them in place and now it is just a matter of digging and putting them in the ground.  

We have a couple of electric ??? that we need help on.  I can NOT figure out why the dining light does not go on and the outside fountain will not go on.  We may get help this week.

Our fall tennis league schedule came out yesterday.  There are 2 teams from Tarpon Cove that make up the total of 8 teams.  With one match that has Tarpon Cove vs Tarpon Cove we have 5 matches on our home courts and 3 away.  Starts on October 24th and concludes December 12th.  At this time I have NO idea about a couple of my players if they will be down here for the fall but I still have HIGH hopes that we can finish above 500.  IF we do it will not be a "mountain top" experience but it would be nice as last year, well we won't talk about last year!

The heat continues as if it is mid summer.  I looked at the 10 day forecast and it looks like the highs are mostly 90/91/92 so I guess it is "just get used to it for a while".  I would prefer highs in the mid 80s but what can I do?  I see where many places in ND and MN have had snow and in some cases a lot so I will not complain.  

It is Sunday morning so I took the opportunity to have a small pour of Baileys in my FP but it is all gone so time to sign off.

10---Double digit Audrey!

Happy birthday Audrey.  She is 10 today and a very special 10 for sure.  Audrey is quiet, smart, loving, athletic and much much more.  I should say she is a cutie too.  Happy birthday Audrey and we hope this day will be super special for you.  Love, Grandpa and Grandma Terry

Day 7, "Every picture has a story"

The creek that meandered through our pasture from the south and then exited on the NE was a place of FUN.  Here Helen and I are playing in the water which was just down the hill from our three-hole!  There was the spring run off which brought the creek up maybe 5 feet over night.  Then there was the mid summer flow which made for wading and looking for creatures.  And lastly there was the late summer stand still when there was no flow but still tiny puddles to dug and play in.  It provided water so that I could drown out gophers and it provided fish in the spring so that Mom could can those awful awful suckers.  The creek, it kind of defined our farm more than anything else.  It provided hours of fun and excitement and NO work, can't get much better than that!!!

Well I am over half finished with my first "no brainer" book and will finish it today.  So much for the unfinished work!  

I am really taking this approach to tennis slowly so I rode over to the courts this morning to watch the group that plays Saturday mornings in a round robin thing.  I was hoping for an invite to play next week but no such thing.  Getting in to play may be as challenging as getting fit to play!  As I rode home I thought this is almost like deer hunting.  Do not ask but wait to be invited.  I am not sure I can wait that long but will see.  Perhaps the secret is to practice in solo for some time and then when the chance comes smash them off the court.  Well maybe I am a bit of a dreamer.

No with the FP gone and most of the day ahead of me I am on to more clean up and to that book for sure.

Day 6, "Every picture has a story"

As we drove in the country side I observed the Amish clothes dryer!  You pretty much saw this where ever you drove.  In this case it looked like there was some kind of line that went in a complete oval.  They could put wet clothes on the line and then pull it so the clothes went up and then put more clothes on.  One can see that on the end of the line the clothes are high on the line.  One thing that was noted was every farm looked well kept and neat.  Grass was mowed and the buildings were all in good shape.  Somewhere I heard that the men care for their horses on about the same level as they care for their children.  I am not saying that is bad.  The horses we saw in town all looked to be very nice and well behaved.  Perhaps the same as the Amish children!!!

It is now Friday PM and I was able to get on the court at 10:30, not 7:30 as scheduled.  By 11:30 (quit time was 12:00) my body told me that I am not used to the heat and humity!  Still playing at a level that is not 100% but that is OK.  There is a week and a half before our first league match.

Oh my goodness I need to get ALL things in their place as there still are many things begging to be put away.  Maybe some more things this afternoon.

Terry and I went to the library yesterday and came home with about 8 books.  NO books for me that will test the brain but maybe next time.  This time only books that are the kind that you read if you just want to relax and not think much!

A nice nice rain last night and that is the reason tennis was not at 7:30.  I biked over to the courts about 5 this morning and they were pretty much covered with water but were playable by 8:30 or so.  Clay is like that.  My leg is not giving me any problems BUT the wind is just not there yet!

Terry went shopping yesterday and brought home a bunch of plants so they need to go in today or tomorrow.  There actually is a bit of work to do around here I guess.  I have been in the pool twice a day and that is a good way to forget the work!!!

The FP was great this morning as it complimented my ham and french toast.  Done for now.

Day 5, "Every picture has a story"

A week ago Tuesday I walked with Ruby to her bus stop.  We arrived early and there were 3 of her friends.  They insisted on playing tag as they waited for the bus.  I said I would just watch but Ruby said Grandpa has to play!  The guy in the colored shirt said, "Mr. Grandpa is NOT playing!"  Well I could not resist so join I did.  They cheated as they ran onto the lawns of the houses and I refused to do that😇.  In the 10 minute time frame it was a workout!!!  A FUN time for Grandpa!  I am guessing Ruby has about a quarter mile walk to the bus stop.  As we started from her house on our walk I could hardly keep up.  Oh my she walked fast.  When I asked her why she walked so fast she said she walks with her mom.  I will never get into a walking contest with Amy.

Big time thunder and lighting last night as well as rain.  My 7:30 tennis was rained out but I think people will be able to play as early as 9:00.  Those clay courts dry fast.  It will not hurt me to sit out a day after playing for 3 strait days.

Not much new today.  A bit more of unpacking and that may be it.  Perhaps I will wander over to the courts later to practice my serve.  They say practice makes perfect but I wonder!  It is already past 9:00 so the FP has been history for a few hours.

On to a new day and new adventures. 

Day 4, "Every picture has a story"

Liam is helping sister Audrey with her new camera.  I do think we have a budding camera person, one that may rival, in this case, great grandpa Lee.  Audrey must have taken at least a hundred pictures last Thursday with her new camea.  It was so so fun to see.  As one can see, she is pretty darn serious about it!  Those darn grand kids, I do not know why they insist on growing up so fast and then be so good looking and smart!!!  I often look at ALL the grand kids and think how, oh so far ahead, they are.  At ages when I was still only thinking about snakes on snake rock and how to drown gophers in the pasture they are talking about advanced topics!  Don't know if it is just a matter of culture, or parent upbringing, or maybe, just maybe they are just so so darn smart today AND maybe they need to be for living in our world today!

Day 3 of tennis and things are looking OK.  We stopped a bit early today as one of the guys felt dizzy and needed to go home.  Maybe it was that killer shot that I put past him!!!

As I climbed out of bed this morning it was 81 and that was at 6 AM.  Hot and windy is the word for today.  No effects from the huricane but it looks like the Pan Handle will get hit very hard.

I drove Terry to an appt this morning and then we stopped to pick up some groceries on the way home.  I think I need to get busy and get more things done around here as I have slacked off the last 2 days.  More things to put away and more things to get rid of.  So, what is new?

The FP is long gone and once again it was great!

I survived to play another day

Welcome October

We were on the road so I was not able to welcome October with my calendar picture.  The pictures are of myself in the corn wagon, myself by the watering tank and Dad pulling Esthers tooth.  Esther looks pretty brave!

Day 3, "Every picture has a story"

I HAD to take a picture of this.  At the Amish gathering in Indiana a person was selling home make ice cream.  It was churned with this motor.  The sound was just like the sound I remember on the farm of our little motor on the grain elevator.  Perfect putt putt with a rhythm that could put a person to sleep or into memories of another time.   I am pretty sure ours on the farm was not as big but it sat on the platform of the elevator that was used to put grain up and into the top of our Butler steel bin.  The sound, almost a bit of heaven.  I did not buy any ice cream but it looked good!

Well I did get on the tennis court yesterday.  How did I play?  I played like I had not been on the court in 10 months!  I expected nothing more BUT I had hoped for more😕.  In all honesty I played at about 75% and was OK with that.  It was so so so fun to get on the court and pretend to be a player again.  I will take a half hour lesson this morning just to have Phil set me straight on some things and then play at 10:30.  I did get my fall team registered for the league which begins October 24th.  I am short of players but will use some 2.5 guys from our other team.  The fall is kind of a  low key warm up for the winter but it is always fun.  I think/hope I can have my tennis legs back by that time and remain injury free for the season.  I will "for sure" (Elspeth's) if I can keep in mind that those balls that I have to run full tilt to get, they can be what they will be without me chasing!

The heat and humidity here is what one would expect.  A high of 89 today but with no rain.  The hurricane that is in the gulf is NOT headed our way so that is good.  I had lunch with a guy from the team yesterday and he said that the heat was more and the rain was less this summer than normal.  He also said the Red Tide was NOT good.  

The unpacking of the packed is going slowly but it is going.  Usually after a week or so things look normal.  

We did turn on our pool heater so I have been in the pool a couple of times each day.  It is refreshing to jump in for about 10 minutes or so after tennis. Last winter I could say it was good for my hamstring but now I will just say it is a luxury that I enjoy a lot.

My FP is now enjoyed from a different cup.  It is a cup Terry purchased for me when we got to the end of the Alaska Highway in 2014.  As I write the last of the FP is down to the top of the sign and that means  the FP (sometimes is means Fantastic Pleasure) is about done for the day.

First Monday of the season

Day 2, "Every picture has a story"

On the farm I think we could have made a LOT of money!!!  As we visited Amish country last Thursday with John/Mary and kids we came across this sign.  I just had to take a picture.  I am guessing, as we drove across the countryside, we saw at least 30 horses every mile as the Amish use them for work, play and transportation.  This sign was on the side of a parking lot of a large hardware store/mall kind of place.  By the looks of the shovels some people take advantage of FREE stuff!  A person could also stop along the road any place and help themselves to FREE manure but I am guessing this would be more handy.

We had kind of a relaxing Sunday and now we are ready for our first week of the season.  I have a court time of 10:30 today but there is rain off and on so not sure what will happen.  I have already told myself, many times, that these first 2 weeks take it easy and don't worry about winning.  THAT IS HARD TO DO OF COURSE.  

Terry is gone for some of the morning as she had a 9:00 appointment.  I may be gone to the courts before she returns.  I have to be sure to remember that I hold my racquet in my right hand!

I was up by 6:20 this morning so my FP is long gone.  I actually made the coffee at the pro shop as the pro was grooming the courts but it was a difficult task as they use Folgers👎 but I kind of closed my eyes and did the deed.  I did take the liberty  to put an extra scope of grounds in and maybe that helped a bit.

Enough for this morning.