What's After Work?

 Today is World Tai Chi and Qigong Day or WTCQD. Jan has been learning about Tai Chi for several years now and enjoys both the exercise and the comradery she has with the other practitioners in her group. Patty and I came with her today to Eagle Lake Park . Jan did 24 and 64 forms of Tai Chi and then some of the group also did Tai Chi with fans.  Jan is in the back in pink Hearing the fans snap is fun.

 Out riding my bike today and stopped at one of my favorite spots out on the Causeway. It is usually shady and has some nice rocks to sit on. The view is nice with a kinda tropical island feel. If you ignore the cars racing by behind you.

 Okay I missed a few days but still found joy in those days.  On Monday we were still in Tallahassee keeping an eye on Noah while his parents had some time together. I made Noah oatmeal for breakfast and must have done a good job cause yesterday I got a text from Jessica saying that Noah wanted oatmeal like Papa made. That made me smile. On monday after school I took Noah to swim practice. He loves swimming and is good at it. He swam hard for an hour and a half. I would be done for after half that time.  Tuesday we headed back to Safety Harbor. Jan and I have started getting audiobooks from the library to listen to on these trips. It always amazes me how well Jan can listen with her eyes closed. This trip we listened to a book by Tony Hillerman called the Shape Shifter .  On Wednesday I found this chandelier while taking Jan for a procedure on her hand. It was quite impressive for a waiting room. The light fixture was about 6 feet tall. I thought it was a little much...

  For about 45 minutes after dinner Noah and I went out back to play. He brought out his soccer ball and we kicked it around the yard. Apparently Noah and some of his friends at school kick the ball around during recess. He had much to discuss about whether or not it is a "hands" call if the ball touched your arm. I suspect that this is an area of conversation on the playground. You know where does the hand start? And if you accidentally use your hand is that a penalty. I'm sure that if they had them yellow cards would be flying like leaves out on the elementary soccer field.

 One of the joys of being a grandparent is spoiling your grandchildren. We are staying with Noah while his parents take a trip to Atlanta.   Today we went to the Chain of Parks Art Festival . This was after sleeping in and having a breakfast of donuts. Yumm so nutritious.  After walking around awhile Jan got hungry and figured Noah needed something to eat. So stopping at the FIRST food truck we see. Noah decides on fries. I'm thinking like a serving of fries, you know with a side of catsup. Jan leaves me with Noah to go and get her a corndog. I finally get to the front of the line and Noah orders his fries with all the fixings. The guy behind the counter says $15... I miss heard him and thought he said $8 and handed him a ten dollar bill. He kept his hand out, Noah looked at me waiting.... And then I realized it was $15.  For fries.  Ok, Noah is my grandson and I get to spoil him. Digging back into my wallet I pull out a $20 and take back the ten....smiling...

 Of course these two day's joy is about riding my bike. Yesterday while riding in the morning I saw a mama duck and her ducklings out for a walk. The last one seems to have had enough. After the bike ride Jan and I went for a long car ride to Tallahassee. There we are visiting with Noah while Jessica and Jared take a little vacation from parenting.  After Jan dropped Noah off for school we went on a bike ride around Killearn Acres. It is a little hillier here than in Safety Harbor so it was more of a workout.

 Sometimes I see things that just make me smile. This was one of those cases. 

 Last Christmas Jessica and Jared gave me a coffee roaster. After that I have been roasting my own coffee. It is a lot of fun. I started with the starter kits that came with the roaster. Then I bought a bag of green beans off of Amazon. Then I found a supplier on-line. Now much to my joy I found a local importer with beans from around the world. Blazing Bean Roasters . I bought 5 lbs of coffee from Brazil. I've already roasted a batch and brewed up a cup. It's really good. 

  I have been retired for 833 days and I still feel like I'm adjusting to not working. Today Jan and I had a few errands to do and decided to have a nice late lunch at one of our favorite restaurants.  Miguel's Mexican on Kennedy Blvd in Tampa.   It was great we left the house about 10:30 did a few things and then went to have lunch out on a Monday. After lunch and then drove home to have a nap. On a Monday.  Retirement, I highly recommend it!

I spent this past Easter week doing something I had never done. Attending every Easter week service.  Jan and I ended this Holy Week with Easter dinner at Patty's house. Patty pulled out all the stops with a table set with fine china, crystal and full settings of silverware. It was a very beautiful table and a delicious dinner. Oh and great company too!

 I found them! I had been looking high and low for African Violets to give to Jan for Easter. I had gone to at least 5 different nurseries and garden centers in search of the elusive flower.  I could not find any anywhere. I had all but given up and had bought Jan a triplet of cactuses.  Then while out on another errand I found some at Home Depot! I had already looked at this store for African Violets, even asking a salesperson at the store. So I knew they had just arrived.  I was so excited I bought two! 

 Sometimes I find a little joy stepping outside my comfort zone. Today I did one of the readings for our church's morning Good Friday service "Stations of the Cross." We were out at Indian Rocks Beach so my "teacher voice" came in handy talking over the wind and the gulls. 

Out to dinner with three sisters. We had a great time with lots of laughs.   

 As I have said previously on Wednesday I volunteer at the Feast Food Pantry. I enjoy working there for 3 hours each week.  It is nice to be able to help people in need. Today we had about 50 families come by to pick up food. We try and work fast to load up their cars with food for their home. Today we ran out of produce after only an hour and meat after two hours. The last hour we had canned food, milk and eggs.  I feel badly for the clients that come later and miss out on getting all that we would like to give them. But the day brightened right before noon when we close. Three cars drove up and I was worried that we would have to disappoint them with only a partial load of food and supplies. But much to my surprise and delight they were bringing donations of food and other needed items. It was a great way to end my day. 

 Just a few words for this joy. Another evening ride. This could become a habit. 

 Today I went out for an evening bike ride. It's always a little more peaceful just before sunset out on the causeway. All the jet skiers have gone home so the water is quiet. I stopped my ride for a moment to study the shadows cast by a row of palm trees across the trail when I turned to the bay. There I saw an osprey enjoying a little dinner. It looked like a little catfish. He seemed to accept me watching him for quite a while. It is amazing how much wildlife I see with all those cars whizzing past only a few feet away. 

  Just down the street from our home in Safety Harbor is a piece of public art. A mosaic dedicated to biking in our city. It was created several years ago during an art festival in downtown Safety Harbor. The fun thing is that Jan and I got to help place some of the pieces.  I liked that some of the tiles used are mirrors. You can see the reflection of them on the ground in front of the artwork. 

Going out for lunch with friends and family. Something I have missed doing for the past several years. Now with the pandemic seemingly under control we all can start getting back to normal. Today we visited Hellas Greek restaurant and bakery. We started with Saganaki . I had one of my favorites, grilled octopus. For dessert it was chocolate covered baklava. Overall a great way to spend lunch.

I was out today on the Courtney Campbell Causeway for a ride today and noticed something new. Just past the beach on the Clearwater side I found a big planting of mangroves down near the beach. There must have been a hundred little mangroves planted in neat rows.  Some of them had washed out of where they had been planted with the time. Next time I ride I'll bring a small shovel to replant them.

 On Wednesday i do my volunteer work at the Feast Food Pantry . I work outside there delivering food and other necessities to our customers cars. We serve a large number of families in need in our area. This week I was a little sad when I got there because the amount of food we had to offer was lower than I had seen. Not as many donations lately and the cost of food reduced the amount of food we were able to buy. There is a food drive coming up that I hope will replenish some of our stocks. A bright spot happened last week when about 45 minutes before closing a generous lady brought to us a donation of a trunk load of fresh vegetables which are always welcome.  If you are able there are many ways to help hunger risk people in our communities.  Money or gift card are always welcome at food banks.  Bring in non-perishable food to the food bank or food drive. Donate using the Feast Amazon link . We are grateful for any donation large or small.

For the last 8 years I have been riding in the Great Cycle Challenge to raise money for children's cancer research. I started soon after my heart surgery.  I was already riding my bike for the exercise and I figured this was a way to help others while helping myself. This year I am trying to raise $1000 for cancer research and today with the very generous help of my friends I am halfway there.  It does make me happy to have such caring friends. 

  Walter! This is one of my favorite commercials recently.  Ya just don't see cats in this way. Well today I saw a cat at the beach on a leash. Did not expect that!  Seeing this just made me smile😃

 I was out on the causeway today and saw a guy fishing near the bridge. He had a set up in his bike to carry all his fishing stuff on the back. But looking offshore from him I saw some dolphins that were by all looks doing much better fishing than him. Lots of splashing and fin kicks. Dolphins are much harder to photograph than it would seem.

 I missed yesterday so today there will be two in one post.  4/1/22 You know I ride my bike a lot now that I'm retired and have the time to do it. Yesterday like most days out riding I noticed the little lizards standing guard along my route. Most of the time I notice them where the trail is paved with asphalt. Today was no exception. I'm not sure why that is but I counted over 30 lizards on this part of the trail while on the concrete parts I only saw 4. I guess there are more bugs on the darker surfaces.  Today 4/2/22 I was again out riding, this time with Jan. We stopped at Coopers Bayou Park and saw a Pileated Woodpecker flying through the trees. At first I only saw the white flash of his wings as he flew from branch to branch in the oak trees in the park. But then he landed in a branch near where we had stopped. It was quite pretty.  

 Noah always makes me smile. I guess that is a grandparent thing. Today I got a text from Jessica. Noah and his parents were traveling to Disney World to celebrate his birthday. While on the drive there Noah got to open a birthday present from Jan and I. He sent a thank you.