Last day of May and it is a beautiful one. It is sunny and 77 degrees. I've been out a couple of time this morning to take the mail to the box and to talk to the neighbor behind us who was out walking a dog. We are hearing that the city will be tearing up part of the neighborhood to repair/replace part of the sewer that runs behind my fenceline. We are concerned that they will be wanting to tear up our fence to do the work. But, talking to him I find that they have gotten letters from the city about it and they will be compensated for tearing up their yard. But --- we've heard nothing and I think the work is all going to be over there. So, it sounds as though we are safe.

The robins are using my patio for a splash park this morning as they take their baths in the bird baths. There is water going everywhere. I needed to clean them out because of the leaves and flower blossoms that are in them but the robins don't seem to mind at all. The fly in and sit for a moment and then get busy splashing. Then they sit some more and start again. Then they fly up into the pussy willow tree and sit and prune and shake the water off; then they start all over again. I expect that when the robins are done the blackbirds and starlings will be taking their turn. They all seem to be lined up out there to do so. When they all finish I guess I'll go out and refill and clean out the bird baths out. I also have a few feeders to fill and a couple of other to top off.

Stubby and BT were both here this morning and brought friends but they have since moved on. I have one young squirrel coming down the tulip poplar tree part way the it goes back up. It has done this about six times so far. I don't now what it sees that makes it hesitant about going on over to the feeder but it can stay on the tree as far as I'm concerned.

I think I'll mow at least the back yard today. It looks a little shaggy and we are supposed to have showers on and off for the last half of the week. I also need to get in the black raspberry patch and attack the mulberry bush that has grown up in it. I've been fighting that bush for several years now. I don't know how to get rid of it. I've chopped, dug, cut back and used a gallon of round up on it but it defies all odds and comes back every year. Ahab had his white whale, I've got my mulberry bush. LOL

As is usual, I have my Gaither Gospel playing this morning as I sit here and write. It makes a great part of my morning thoughts and meditation and prayer. It's like worshipping with old friends. I just bought their two latest albums here on my IPad and have a great Bose Bluetooth speaker next to my chair. It fills the room with joy and song.

But ----- it is time to quit sitting and is time to get busy. We need to go up and see Bob today. I haven't seen him since Georgia Ann was buried. This would be a good day to do so. He should be ready for some company by now. It won't be an easy first visit but these are things that should not be put off. That is what friends do for each other; share the hard times.

I hope you have a great day and then start the month of June off with a heart full of God's glory. I give you my prayer that you have a blessed day.

May 30th, 2017; one more day and another month will be gone. Before long 2017 will be half over. Time does continue to march on doesn't it. It brings to mind Stephen King's novel "The Langoliers".

We had an enjoyable Memorial Day weekend. Julie and Jim came down with the dogs. They (the dogs) are always a constant source of entertainment. They are either wanting on your lap or barking to go out, or barking to come in, or begging for treats. Fenway, their bigger but much younger dog is just constant movement. I get tickled at it in the morning when I come out of the bedroom. That dog can't get close enough to you. It just climbs and leans and sniffs and tries to lick. It is just so happy to see you up and moving around. It is just a big hunk of love puppy. Their other dog, Auggie, used to be that way but Auggie is getting old and mild unless you ask him if he wants to go for a ride. Then he talk loud to you. He is so funny. But Fenway seems to think she can't go or do anything without Auggie. She gets separation anxiety if she can't visibly see Auggie.

I only have scavenger guests at the buffet this morning so far. BT is here hogging up one feeder and the blackbirds are here . So far not much else has come around. I think I will take the Red Ryder to BT and run him off for awhile. He's been out there long enough. Stubby came through but didn't stop.  I cleaned out the hummingbird feeder yesterday and it wasn't five minutes and here come one for a snack. My daughter Heather, out in CA has had several hummingbirds build nests in their bushes. While we were put there a couple of weeks ago, there was a hummingbird trying to hallow out a place on a palm tree to create a nest. I wonder how that turned out for it. I need to look for my hummingbird bar feeder and put it back out. I'm not sure where I put it at the end of the season last fall.

We broke out the ice cream freezer this weekend and Ms. Kate mixed up some delicious chocolate mocha ice cream. I think it may be the best we have made in years. Of course, I guess that isn't saying much since we maybe only one gallon every two years. I certainly haven't gotten my money's worth out of what I paid for that White Mountain electric ice cream freezer. I need to remedy that. We intend to take it to TN when we have the family reunion at the end of June.

Today Ms. Kate and I have optometry appointments. It is an annual thing. I think my glasses are still okay. Those darn things are so expensive. I think though I'm having a problem with dry eyes and will most likely need a prescription for that. I'm not sure why they call it dry eyes because the symptom is constant weeping and I have to dry my eyes constantly. But, we'll see what the doctor says.

I need to sign off. Ms. Kate has the laundry going and needs me to switch it over to the dryer. She can't reach the bottom of the tub so I do that part. Have a great day. God has once again provided us an opportunity to be of service to our fellowman so let's get busy doing it. Peace.

Memorial Day 2017. It is a beautiful day out there; 73 degrees, sunny, relatively low humidity (for here at least). So, BBQ grills will be firing up around the area, beer tabs will be pulled, sweet tea, unsweetened tea, and lemonade will all be made to go with the chicken, briskets, ribs, potato salad and other goodies at picnics and family gatherings. Older folks will visit cemeteries and the generation of today won't have an idea why.

This is Memorial Day, not to be confused with Veteraan's Day. This is the day that we honor those who have died fighting for the freedoms we enjoy today in this country. I served for 32 years as a member of the United States Air Force. I know a lot of Veteran's who have served and some who continue to serve. However, I personally know of a very small number of my former friends who actually died fighting during the war; and they were killed during the Vietnam War. In the past three decades our nation has been fighting in the Middle East. We have twenty five year old people in this country that have never known us not to be fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan. As of October of 2016 we had lost 2400 military men and women in just Afghanistan and we had also lost another 1200 American contractors; ---- and yet --- who knows. Since this military issue is not "an American Effort" like the world wars were were in, it seems to be lost in the minutia that is daily life. Reports come in sporadically and a local soldier is honored as his or her body is layed to rest but there is no national recognition or mourning. My point, which out rambling even more is that Memorial Day is not just about "those old guys" from WWII or Korea or Vietnam. We have a whole generation of newly mourning parents and wives and children and other loved ones that will be at a cemetery today laying flowers on graves. So, today, I offer up prayers for those for comfort for those loved ones and I offer up thanks for your sacrifice to those who gave their lives. I also send up prayers for safe conduct for all of our military men and women and civilians who are in harm's way today and tomorrow and in the future. I ask that they be allowed to come home safely. And I offer my thanks to them for their service to an ungrateful nation.

 Walk in peace today. The ability to do so, was paid for a a very height price.

Saturday morning, Memorial Day Weekend. Jim and Julie and the pups are here for the weekend. Our plans are to basically just chill for the weekend. Ms. Kate got up this morning first thing and made a banana sheet cake. It is Jim's favorite. The recipe came from my sister.  And it goes quickly. It's kind of a magnet; ya' can't walk through the kitchen without cutting off a little slice.

I have to fill feeders again today. It looks like the sunflower feeders are all empty and they are shaving down the suet cakes pretty quickly this morning, especially the blackbirds and starlings. The bark butter feeders are empty too. I found one on the ground which tells me the raccoons got to it. Stubby and BT are here but the dogs are keeping them off of the feeders. The squirrels get on the feeders and the dogs start whining to be let out. We open the doors and they go streaking out the door and just run in circles around the yard like they know they are supposed to be doing something but forgot what it is.   Yeah, it's funny to watch but a pain in the butt letting them in and out. I leave that to Jim and Julie mostly.

We are expecting a round over severe storms this evening with a lot of rain, possibly large hail, and even the possibility of a tornado or two. I've checked the radar and see no clouds coming this way but that really doesn't mean anything. The storms can pop up anytime, anywhere. Hopefully by the time they get here, they will have weakened greatly.

This is Memorial Day weekend. It is a time when we remember those that have served in our armed forces and have given their lives to maintain our freedom. Unfortunately, we are developing a young liberal society that wants to erase history rather than remember it or learn from it. They could care less about the sacrifices that people have made to keep this a free country. They could care even less about serving their country. If it sounds unpleasant or disagrees with their perspective on the world, they get up and walk out and refuse to listen to it. Their perception and view of the world is nine inches long which is the distance from the eyes to their cell phone. Unfortunately, I'm guilty of being quasi-addicted to my cell phone and social media too. But, this is a weekend to hold our heads up and recognize the beauty of seeing the American flag flying in the breeze and being humbled b the amount of people who have sacrificed and risked their lives to insure that flag will always fly. This morning I'm going out to the cemetery and put out a couple of American Flags on graves of veterans in honor of their service. They are my comrades in arms and deserves the recognition for that.

I won't wish you a happy Memorial Day --- there  isn't a lot of happiness involved with the loss of life. I will however pray that this country will always remain a free country in order that you and I can enjoy the freedom their sacrifice has paid for. Peace.

Gloomy and cool --- that's the rule; well at least for this morning. It is cloudy and 56 degrees with a breeze to knock the real feel temp down to about 53. But, it isn't raining so far, however the sidewalks are wet yet from overnight rain. I took my garbage can down to the street last night around 2200 and there was a light mist in the air. Had it actually been colder, that would have been snow. But the only place that got snow yesterday was Colorado high country; which given that they have legalized marijuana in that state --- "high country" has taken on a whole new meaning. LOL

So, --- yesterday I laid out a whole list of things that I could involve myself in on a rainy Wednesday. In actuality, what I accomplished was baking a loaf of bread; (it was a Krusteze box mix), with Ms. Kate's direction, I made a pot of vegetable soup, I answered email and played my Bingo and Criminal Case computer games, and I watched Survivor last night with Ms. Kate. The bread turned out well, and the soup was delicious. It will be lunch again today. I've had that box of Krusteze bread mix for some time and had not used it because it takes basically four hours from start to finish and I just never set aside the time to do it. This was an artisan loaf. Maybe I'll check the grocery shelves for another kind and do it again.

"Stubby" is here this morning. Stubby is a young squirrel that visits the buffet and his tail is only about an inch and a half long. I've seen gophers with longer tails. It is funny to watch him because you know how squirrels are always shaking their tail for what ever reason --- well Stubby shakes his tail and he looks like he's shaking a finger at you. On the other hand, I also have "BT". BT is an old squirrel that has an overly long tail and it appears to be broken in half because half of it droops down at about a 75 degree angle. So, I call it BT for Broken Tail. BT also seems to be the boss among the squirrel clan. Not many will challenge him or her (whatever it is) for a feeder.

I have several visitors at the buffet this morning, many of which are downy woodpeckers. I also have a pair of cardinals and he is feeding her. I don't know if they are a new mating pair or what. I also have a pair of Bluejays. So, the animals and birds are coming two by two. That's an ominous sign for a weekend predicted to have some sever weather. I see my one sunflower feeder is on the ground again this morning. I suppose I had a raccoon last night.

The sun is coming out from behind the clouds so hopefully the grass will dry out and I can mow today. With crappy weather predicted for the weekend and it being Memorial Day weekend, I want the place to look nice so I better get on it today. I also need to go to the cemetery's and put out a couple of flags. I need to see how wet the garden is because I need to replant my beans. Only about half of them came up.

That's about it for this morning. Know you were in my thoughts this morning and I have said a prayer for you, wherever and whoever you are. I pray your day will will be filled with sunshine and that you will feel the warmth of the love of God. Surround yourself with that love and then share it because it was given to you in abundance. Peace

Welcome to Wednesday once again. The rain that was promised has indeed arrived and I know my garden is soaking it up, We were in need of some rain. My tomatoes are growing well but they could sure use the moisture. My squash have blossoms on them too so this is all welcome as long as it doesn't keep raining for days. Beyond that, I didn't plant anything except a few green beans. They are up but I should plant some more I think. These only produced about half of what I planted.

So what should I do with this rainy day that makes me want to just doze back off as I sit here listening to it on the roof? I could do some reading. I have three Stephen King novels sitting on the end table right here beside me that I keep putting off. I could go down and do some work on the book that I have started writing; at least that would be productive. I could pull the car out of the garage and pull out my little table saw and do a little woodworking. (I've promised my self I would rebuild the garden bench and even bought the lumber.) All of my woodworking tools are so buried under other stuff that it become a real effort just to get it out. Or, I could go into my living room and sit down at my keyboard and play for awhile. So many possibilities for productiveness---- but the thing blocking all of these great options is a cup of coffee and my Bose speaker here beside me putting out some great Gaither Gospel music as I sit and watch all of my critters at the feeders.

Ms. Kate has a pinched nerve in her lower back and is hurting. I don't know for sure how she did it but I suspect she did it a couple of days ago out in the flower garden while we were deadheading some of the flowers. It doesn't take but a wrong move to do that; I've had that so many times and know exactly what pain she's going through. I went out yesterday and finished up the flower beds. She's taking pain reliever like Tylenol or something, plus we have been putting Activon on the area. But, frankly, the best thing she can do is just take it easy. We are in danger of me actually fixing a meal or two around here. Luckily we have enough leftover around here that we shouldn't get to anything that I actually "cook" for awhile.

So, --- speaking of Ms. Kate, I guess I better sign this off and go check on her. She is bound to be ready for another cup of coffee by now. She's in her office at her computer playing Klondike or Bingo  or Criminal case I reckon. But, she's my gal and I need to take care of her. I hope your day goes well and I hope you remember to give thanks for the world of blessing that God lays at your feet every day. How joyful it is that the Creator of the Universe, God of everything that exists should know each and everyone of us by name and care for us individually. Shalomn.

It is another beautiful morning albeit not quite as nice as yesterday. But, ---- as they say, I got up on the right side of the dirt again this morning so it ain't all bad. It is currently 65 degrees so it will be comfortable when I go out to the yard to work. Yesterday Ms. kate and I went out and did some deadheading of the peonies and the iris. The daffodils are also starting to die off so I'm clearing those out too where they have turned brown. If you trim them back too soon, they won't bloom next year. We have several more beds to do that to and it is supposed to start raining some time today or this evening so I'd like to get it done. Ms. kate will be busy getting a permanent this morning so I'll get it done by myself. It's an easy job, just a little time consuming. And if there is one thing I have plenty of --- it's time.

I have a hummingbird out here this morning at is a different color that I have seen before. We generally have the ruby throated variety but this one was a very light colored bird. I don't know exactly what color it was because I have a green deficiency in my color vision and it skews the whole color chart for me. I've always said I was color blind but that is not the true case. I can se some colors just fine. But a lot of my color world is grey or brown or as I say, light or dark. Maybe that is why I have so many cardinals and Goldfinches; God knows those are colors that I can see just fine.

Today is my youngest daughter Lisa and her hubby Gary's twenty fifth wedding anniversary. Where has the time gone. I remember our 25th and it doesn't seem that long ago. I was a Major in the Air Force and we were stationed at Pope, AFB I was the commander of the Security Forces Unit, and we were about ready to transfer to March AFB in CA. But --- that has been twenty six years ago for us. Wow! When he kids got married, we were living in CA, she was stationed at Seymour Johnson AFB in NC, and her fiance was stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC. Julie was living in MA and Heather was living in IL, her Maid of honor was living in Texas, and she wanted to get married here in Evansville at the church where Ms. Kate and I got married. Thank God for Ms. Kate's mom who did a Herculean job of running and arranging stuff since she was living here. I still don't know how we pulled it all off. But, in the twenty -five years, they have both served their country honorably and gotten out of the military. They have raised to great kids, They own their home and they own a business and she has a Master's Degree and a great job with the state of North Carolina. God has blessed them and they have done well. So I wish them many more years of God's grace and love.

Time for me to drink the last sip of my coffee and get ready to meet the day. I hope your day is filled with love and joy. Don't forget to stop and have a conversation or two with God.