8/18 Tracy

We finally broke the barrier for the century mark - it is only 90 today.  It was overcast this morning and now the wind has kicked up to cool things down even more.  Looks like we will hold this cool down period for the next week and beyond - that would be a good thing.  It is time to start thinking about Fall.

This was a busy week for yard work - more trimming on the trees and bushes.  The yard waste cans are full so had to quit - could have filled up two more easily this week.  The big trees in the front still need to be cut back even more - seems that each year I have to trim higher and higher - one of these years I will not be able to reach the branches even with my extension telescoping tree trimmer.  I have a large 12 foot ladder -  A frame and work off the top as far as I can go.  The branches on that tree are so brittle I don't trust standing on them - I did try once many years ago and after I slid down a branch with chain saw in my hand I said enough of that!!  These two big trees take up much of my retirement life if you can imagine that - - retire to work on your trees in the front yard, something wrong with that.  The neighbors drive past and shake their head with amazement.  Something definitely wrong with this picture.

Played golf 3 times this week (it keeps him sane), I was not able to play as much as usual only averaged 25 holes or so.  Seemed that lots of folks wanted to play and they were very slow.  One of the nice things about being out early - you don't have to wait on anyone so my first 18 holes are a snap.  Kathy got me a new driver this week, this was one of the gifts that they offered for 20 years of service - she did not see anything else for herself?!!  The driver is a duplicate for one that I just bought recently and was curious how they would compare.  The new one is a newer model - I played 18 holes with it and did not see much difference.  The older one might be a little better - - if only for the fast that it has a white head instead of black.  I have noted that the white head does seem to give me a little extra mental boost, not sure if that is possible but they definitley feel different?!!  It was very nice of her to bestow that upon me.  I did get a new pair of golf shoes this week, this is my 4 pair sence retirement.  I changed this time to Nike - before I used Foot Joy - for some reason the top of the toes on those shoes crack and tear.  I think that might be from the water - one of the downsides of being early on the course is that you have to deal with all the extra water - puddle everywhere and the grass is very wet so the shoes definitley get soaked.  To prevent that from happening I put some waterproofing on the new shoes and will so that a couple of times to help keep them in better shape. 

Kathy is yet again working on a new artsy project.  She is now locked in drawing and mixed media collage.  This combines the two into some very creative stuff - not sure what functional  things will come of them?  (It keeps me sane) People generally channel their energy into form or function.  Kathy definitely takes the form avenue (It keeps me sane) and I head down the functional side of things.  From a creative perspective the form takes the lead in the art world at large.  How boring our environment would be if all we had was funcationality? (how sweet!)

Mixed Media Collage - The Queen who rocked Versailles, Marie Antoinette

The evolving sketch...added mouth and face shape.

We are looking foward to trip to Anderson next week (!!!) - have lots of projects and maybe - just maybe we will be able to get on the lake.  We are not doing very good with that - - - find too many excuses not to go.  For me the extra distance and time to get there is definitley a factor.  As we get out routine down to something more manageable we will certianly spend more time of the water.  We are entering a period when the lakes are less crowed and the days are much cooler - perfect for our type of outing/  We also have lots of chores in Anderson but that is another story as well!!??
Enough babble - hope you all have a great week.

More later. . .
Ron, Kathy, Tessie and Sammie