Hello Friday, you beautiful end of the work week day. My Friday starts with a Backyard Buffet full of guests this morning as we sit down and have our coffee for me and bird food and a bath for them. I have lots of sparrows, house finches and gold finches, cardinals, starlings, a couple of wrens, a couple of woodpeckers, a dove or two and a hummingbird out there plus a fat squirrel It looks like a busy airport with all of the flying in and out. I think I will have to refill feeders today at some point.

The President of the United States was inour city last night. He was here to promote and support a republican candidate for senate. I’ve seen presidents and been involved in presidential arrivals and departures for years as a member of the USAF, including every president from President Lyndon Johnson thru President Geaorge W. Bush. But it is a big deal when the leader of the entire free world comes to your town, The event center where he spoke was packed with about 11,000 supporters. There were also several hundred protesters outside the venue. That was fine because it is our American right for them to be there and protest. The great news is that the protesters were peaceful with their marching and shouting  and it didn’t disrupt anything that was going on inside the building. People from Indiana know how to conduct themselves in a civil manner. I was very proud of our city.

It is a “schrooms and beer” day today with Bob and Brenda. Ms, Kate and I look forward to these days. We’ll meet out at St. Joe Inn as always and the waitress, Linda, will begin pouring the pitcher of Yengleng as soon as the first of us walks in  and she’ll place two orders of deep fried mushrooms right away. It has become that routine for us. And since it is Friday, we all know the special of the day will be fried cod with backed beans and slaw which is probably what Bob and I wil have. Brenda wil have a bowl of chili and Ms. Kate will have to think about it first as she has her diet Ski. Don’t you just love traditions? We’ll talk about family, we’ll talk about church, and we’ll talk about gardening. We are an exciting foursome. Sometimes though Brenda also brings her hubby, Andy —— but Andy doesn’t ever say much, and sometimes we invite my sister-in-law Karen to come along too.

It is Labor Day weekend, the official end of summer. Camp grounds will be packed this weekend and churches will have a few less people in them as folks try to crowd in that “last weekend of fun” before the grind of school starting and all kinds of other events over take their lives. I know at least ten of our church folks are going to be gone camping. Jules and the pups are coming over on Monday and heading back on Tuesday. I suspect tat Jim will not come because he’ll have to work on Tuesday.

Time for me to get cleaned up and ready to head out for some schrooms. Have a blessed Friday. Drive careful if you are heading out on a quick trip. Shalomn.