yet more povey prattle

  https://www.snntv.com/news/annual-amish-softball-tournament-set-for-wednesday/ I see them near my home on their bikes, trikes, scooters  and all manner of vehicles (but none are the traditional Horse and Buggy)  as they make their way from  their winter quarters in Pinecraft to the tournament site on 17th St, ( right next to Cooper's.17th Street dog Park) Scores and scores of the Amish on the way Plus their ball field opponents which they call  **  "the English"     If all this confuses you, please call me  and I will assert that I know  "didly-squat) about softball and just a bit more a bit more about the Amish. It tickles me pink that the separatist Amish forsake their strict traditions and play ball with the English. **    The Amish speak an older form of German. Some can comprehend modern German.   They refer to all other peoples as "the English"   - better than saying "the Others" Photo posted i...

  Clever name for Yoder's new Pie and Coffee Joint in Pinecraft Pinecraft is an area in Sarasota County/Verging on the edge of the City of Sarasota. It's been a historic home for Mennonites (of which there are many stripes) . It seems as though every third Mennonite is surnamed YODER So there is no surprise  that there is a Yoder's restaurant in Pinecraft.  It specializes in what we might call Farm Food. That means for clients (Mennonite  or not) "the more on the plate the better the food" At one time the Yoders also owned a fruit and vegetables store.  It was the only place where I could buy Fava beans. That space has been converted into a cool Coffee House.   It attracts a youngish clientele. Not only the young.    I am sometimes there for their "Pies for One"   I like their Apple Pies; and (my favourite) Key Lime Pie.                                 ...

 

  Cooper on his very own sofa keeping an eye on me.

Spend a weekend Camping with Jesus.  Bread and Fish are free.

 

  Chilly here because of the strong winds.    (But nothing like the disastrous weather in the north East) But I was shivering at the park with Cooper. It's   Hot Chocolate Weather. This is an excellent brand.   It tastes of chocolate, unlike the famous U.K. brand which starts with a C. It tastes of Chocolate  ( Unlike the famous U.K. brand  which starts with a "C"

  Corn.  Tiny Taters.  Lentils.  Heated in a saucepan with a bit of Cardamon ( just because it was the first spice which caught my eye.)  It needed a bit of Hot Sauce, HP Sauce. or the like. LEFTOVERS    In honour of my mother who made a lot out of a little to feed her nine children.

  As we set out on Saturday morning for our first park (Arlington) visit we discovered that my car wouldn't start.   You know those sounds of false hope when you think the engine might just burst  into life. Mine didn't.   Yours rarely does.  DEAD BATTERY   No crank handles these days! The venerable Cooper Povey and I got out of the car. I called triple A to report battery problems at six-ish.  They promised service by 7:00.  Fat chance. Back in the house my beloved Cooper had his anxiety switched on. His dependable routine had been interrupted.   He couldn't settle.  He wandered around, coming to me over and over again, sometimes bringing his soft plushy toy as an offering.  Once he placed his forelegs into my chair and reached his head to mine for a reassuring cuddle.  Nothing I said could comfort him. He wanted deeds not word. The AAA service man arrived.  Forty minutes (and $249 less later) we turn...

  Facebook went into my stash and found this photo' of my very first dog -  Her name was Penny  (Sometimes spelled Penne) Penne was my great walking dog - three or four long walks each day. She was skittish around other dogs.  But a friend who was nervy around all dogs found that he could pet Penne without fear. Sadly we had to allow Penne to die because of extreme pain in her spine. The flower?    It attached itself to Penny  when she put her nose into a Plumbago shrub   Cute eh?

THE BEAUTIFUL WOMAN AND THE TEENAGER   THE BEAUTIFUL WOMAN                                I had Mohs (Moehs?) Surgery  yet again on Wednesday.  It's all but painless and I respect the skills of Dr. Bogart and her staff.  All went well as it always does. As I checked out I looked at the staff member at the desk to my right. She had a most beautiful face, more  lovely than I could ever imagine. I stepped over to her desk.  After introducing and excusing myself I ventured to say " You have such a beautiful face"   She smiled and thanked me.  My words had been well received. And yes.  No bull.  Many of the other front desk staff showed their delight in my observation. ============================================ THE TEENAGER A bit later I was at the Dog Park with Mr C.  I looked at the parking space only to note that another dog owner had parked so clo...

  MY HEART BURNS Monday   President's Day He tall and bearded came into the Dog Park.  He was carrying a child.  A young child. They went on their way, and the dad set the son down. The boy ran, and did he run.  A wee child in his Roger Bannister mode.  He fell, no tears, He stood up and ran again -  and so it went on. My eyes were wide open.  I could never have imagined that such a youngster could run with such aplomb, and such speed. He was very fast. Dad and son returned - the boy back in his papa's arms. I called out to the dad and expressed my joy and wonder at the lad's performance. Dad came over and extended his hand.  It turns out that his son is just short of two years of age.  It pleased him greatly (Dad) that a stranger had noticed and enjoyed the young one's skill. Tomorrow. The beautiful woman.      A most helpful businesswoman.    The teenager who saved my bacon.

  I'd enjoyed light meals yesterday, eating only at 7:30 a.m. (Sardines on Toast); and at 6:30 p.m. ( Steamed Fish and Potatoes) By about 10:30 p.m. I was peckish. ready for a snack. But how to snack No peanuts in the house; no potato chips; no smelly breath Doritos. Nowt (as they say in Yorkshire) nowt to snack on. If necessity is the mother of invention.  Of course a  snack is no necessity. Nevertheless I invented.  Granola can be munched as is, but if bathed in milk or half and half it slides down with ease. Trouble is that I had only enough half and half for my morning coffee. Here comes the weird bit.  I drenched the Granola with Gatorade; let it rest and then enjoyed it. I doubt if Granola with Gatorade will appear on the menu at your local diner.  But yes, I ENJOYED IT!

  A wolf?   No, it's COOPER walking ever so slowly towards me.

  She thinks that my nose should be shaded and protected. It could be called an anti-Mohs hat.

 

  When you buy a pack containing two rolls of paper towels----- then get home to discover that you have a pack of six rolls of toilet paper. Perhaps enough for a lifetime. You'll be labelled as a hoarder they clear out your house You'll be branded as a hoarder when you die,

I recently mislaid some  very new and expensive  spectacles.   I turned the house upside down in my search for them: every nook and cranny.  It was an extensive but fruitless search; (including visits to the stores I had recently patronized) They, all but brand new, were AWOL  for about seven days . I gave up hope. Where could they be?  Better believe this.   After giving up for a week I found them.  Whoop de doo! See below! Above is an old beach towel which I keep on my bathroom floor.  It's there to soak up any splashes of water after I've had a lick and a promise. I picked it up yesterday in the cause of tidiness. Underneath the towel were (hold your breath) the missing specs. I'll never know how they'd made their way under that old towel.  There is a wee chance that Cooper having seen them on the floor had "nose moved" them there   (Dogs sometime hide things with the help of their schnozzles).  HOW IS IT tha...

 

  I was probably about six years of age.  My two older sisters and my twin sister formed an alliance to tease me I said "I wish, I wish, I wish I had a brother." A brother I got. He is 76 years old today.   Hurrahs. His name is Andrew.  He is of the "don't photograph me" fraternity.

  Cooper savors his morning bone ( 6th Feb). He is building a boundary wall with his exhausted bones.

  Yesterday afternoon (3rd Feb) it had warmed enough to take a turn with Coooper at the nearby 17th St. Dog Park. Cooper ran and romped.    Then he romped and ran. THEN knowing that life has more to offer than fun and games Coop decided to sit in front of me to take his rest, and stare. 'Twas a peaceful time.   I took this photo' which shows Cooper's trunk and head and his shadow.   Of course my shadow crept into the photo'

    When the perversity of the potato masher causes it to jam "that drawer" store it (and other long-stemmed kitchen implements) it the ugly vase which Uncle Harry and Aunt Gloria gave you many years ago.