Pinch more than a penny!

Day 163, "Every picture has a story"

We were visiting sister Helen in Holiday Island, Arkansas and I needed something to do.  I put my 300M lens on my Canon SLR and set up shop on her south deck.  She had a humming bird feeder on the deck railing and I had seen birds  there from time to time.  However most of the time they hung out in the bushes and trees near her deck.  I took the feeder and set it on the railing as far from the door as possible and then settled in  on the opposite side of the deck.  I mounted my camera on the trip pod to steady it and waited.  An hour or more went by and I could see the humming birds at times and hear their wings flat at 200 times per second (I googled it so no lie!) but there was only one bird that approached the feeder that first hour.  Then they must have gotten used to me sitting 15 feet away and decided that I was no harm to them.  In that second hour I snapped MANY pictures and after monitoring about 30 of them this is my best!  Pretty fun I would say.  

The business that fixed our pool came yesterday and put salt in it and said it would be ready immediately.  The young man who came was great and we think we may hire him to clean the pool weekly.  The people we have now are either a bit under/over just OK.  The guy yesterday noted that our filter was cracked on top and said that may be the reason we were not getting a good cleaning of the surface water.  Terry and I went out and purchased a new filter (I promise you it cost more than an oil filter for the car), a new "O" ring for the case, a new surround for the under water light and then a new hand held net to clean up surface dirt when needed.

As we walked out Terry suggested we take a picture because we now think the name should be "Pinch-A-Dollar or more".  Anyway when we arrived home I shut the pool off and installed the filter and "O" ring.  After starting it up again and priming it we were good to go.  The surround for the light will be put in today.  So, finally, after four days of "no swimming" I jumped in about 4:00.  I should not admit this but we usually have the temp of the water at 92 or so (I know that is certainly admitting that I am a wimp but...)  and because the heater had not been on for very long the water was at 83.  After getting in it was actually refreshing BUT it wil be warmer today.

We have our last play tomorrow.  That means that I should be ALL cultured for the season.

I received an e-mail from Charles Jensvold as I had sent a note to him the day before.  He said he had been to Veblen as Frank Gustafson had died.  He went to the memorial service in Veblen and not to the funeral which was held the next day in Sisseton.  I guess Frank and finished his career in education in Sisseton.  I think he was the older brother of Jim who was Dave's age.  I THINK but am not sure.  He also mentioned the softball games we played in the week long Bible School we would have in the school house across the road from Bergen Church.  

That darn rash that I have been dealing with is being cared for by the pills and cream that I got.  The itchy feeling is pretty much gone and the rash is looking more and more normal--not sure there is a normal rash but.  As I sat reading the WSJ this morning and eating left over dressing and a pork chop (there is nothing wrong with that for breakfast, right?)  the bottom of my right foot started bothering me and when I looked at it I could see that it is a bit swollen.  Not sure what that is but I need it to go away as I am playing tennis today.  Usually Saturday is a day off but for some reason I was put in for a court at 9:00.  

I came across a great vacation idea in the WSJ this morning if anyone is interested.  It is put on by National Geographic.  It is 24 days and takes you to places like Japan, South Korea, China, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Estonia, Finland, Iceland and back to the United States.  Airfare to Seattle, where you start and from Boston, where you finish is not included.  Oh, by the way it is $92,795 and just $9,250 more if you want a single room!  Nice idea but one may have to be more than a "penny pincher" to afford that.  I think I will settle for a trip to Minnesota in May.

The FP is gone and it is on to another day.