A Freshly Cut Lawn

I was up 705am. I felt great and was eager to get downstairs and make some coffee. Unfortunately, it was cloudy and raining, albeit only lightly.

Downstairs I started a pot of starbucks then headed to the PC. I didn’t plan to do any calisthenics until Monday. Hadn’t done a single sit-up or push-up since last Friday. I enjoyed coffee and internet for the next 45 minutes. Around 8am I went to check on Eiknarf who was bedding with Jacob. She was awake and wanted to head downstairs with me.

She was more than eager to head out on our walk. It was sprinkling but not enough to justify an umbrella. According to the radar, it looked the rain would be ending soon. As soon as we were back in the house, Eiknarf headed upstairs again.

I enjoyed more coffee and then walked the entire yard. I readied and left for a run at 9am. I ran without the benefit of a ball cap for the first time in months. Not a big deal, but worthy of a mention. After running on the beach for seven straight days, the run on the concrete and pavement was almost effortless. I love running on the beach, and would choose it over concrete/pavement anytime, but that extra little give works muscles not usually used.

I was back at home near 940am. Everyone remained sleeping until approximately 10am when Mindy joined me downstairs. We spent the next hour doing more unpacking/organizing. I made myself, Mindy & Jacob egg sandwiches. Bella wanted a chipped beef sandwich. Mindy agreed to make Bella’s. It was after 11am in a hurry.

I planned to cut the lawn while Mindy planned to go grocery shopping. Parts of our lawn were as long as 10-12”. Then again, some parts (mostly in the far back) looked as if they hadn’t grown at all. Most of those areas are due to the Canada geese. I did all the push mowing first. Some areas were so long and thick that they really needed cut a second time, but that would have to wait. I did adjust the blade height up a notch in a few areas.

I did the whacking and edging last. Plus, I had to put fresh line in the weed whacker head. The lawn looked good, but there were clumps of grass clippings scattered about the front yard. I made sure to scatter them with the blower.

Just before Mindy left for the grocery, I had her help me get the golf clubs from the Thule. I took Kenny his as soon as I unloaded them. On Saturday, Ashley shared that she would be stopping by to bring me a Father’s Day gift. I called her around 3-330p to see if she was still coming. Said she was heading our way. Mindy was still at the grocery when Ashley & Olivia arrived. They gifted me right away – Minnesota Vikings chef hat and apron. Nice! I put it on. Olivia insisted on playing on the tree swing. We headed out to play for a while. We fed the ducks some moldy bread too. She loves feeding the ducks. She asked if I had any of that cracked corn. Nope!

Mindy was home around 330pm. We spent time visiting with Ashley & Olivia. Ashley finally agreed to make a return visit to see Dr Monfort, our orthodontist. Her lower bite is all out of whack and apparently causing her jaw pain. Despite having a glued on retainer, her teeth have moved a great deal.

Later, when Mindy got home from the grocery and Ashley and Olivia had heft, Mindy helped me remove the Thule then I carried it to the shed and stowed it in its saddle.

It was about 4pm. Before taking a shower, I confirmed the time Mindy wanted to leave for Joe’s b-day dinner party at the Pinnacle golf club. Started at 5pm. We’d be leaving around 430pm. Jacob wouldn’t be joining us. Instead, he was going to meet his new soccer team with his daddy. It would be just me, Mindy, & Bella.

I double-checked the required attire with Mindy. Nothing special. Good. I wore shorts and a Hawaiian shirt. We left the house around 445p. Bella wasn’t happy. Wanted to stay home and play with her friends. Mindy and I both insisted she put on a happy face at the dinner event. She did.

We arrived at the Pinnacle clubhouse around 510pm. Impressive place. Lovely structure and lovely landscaping. The weather was ideal for dinner on the patio, about 73 degrees and sunny. I’m quite sure that we were the last family members to arrive. We met everyone else already socializing on the patio. I talked with Larry first. Told me a story about their Comfest visit, which incidentally culminated on Sunday.

It appeared that most were having drinks from the bar. I, however, went only with iced tea. Mindy ordered a glass of wine, and Bella lemonade. I walked around the clubhouse peering out onto the course up both the 9^th and 18^th fairways watching several groups make their approach shots. The course looks awesome. Never played there, though would like to.

We ordered food after about 30-40 minutes, but the service was fairly slow. Our food didn’t arrive until 7pm or so. I had their club sandwich and spinach. It was just OK. Mindy had their salmon, and Bella had a cheeseburger but ate next to none of it. Still complaining that it hurt her ear to chew. Dr Craig said she needed antibiotic drops for her swimmer’s ear. Also said we're beyond the alcohol drops we bought over the counter.

Jodi & Larry brought iced chocolate chip cookie cakes to celebrate Joe’s b-day.  I enjoyed a slice of that too. Mindy picked up our check. We put Gloria’s on ours too. We left for home around 8pm. It was an awfully nice drive home. Couldn’t ask for nicer weather. Mindy shared that Jacob and Jimaken were waiting at our house after doing soccer and dinner.

Jimaken didn’t hand around too long after we returned. We all walked down to the neighbors to fetch Eiknarf, who was down having a play date with Woody. The O’Connell’s were at Chrissy & Kenny’s having a cookout. We laughed at a few vacation stories. Mike shared that he got a speeding ticket before they even made it out of South Carolina on one of those short 25mph stretches. Also got caught in the same traffic jams that we did only about 90 minutes later.

At 915pm Mindy walked home with Eiknarf. Asked that I bring the kids home at 930pm. I think it was actually 925pm when we left Chrissy & Kenny’s. I checked my email and poured a glass of ice water then tucked the kids into bed. Both Mindy and I were in bed before 10pm. Good night vacation!