My Big Risotto Balls

I slept well and woke Sunday morning near 8am feeling somewhat refreshed. Moreover, there were no carryover aches or pains from Saturday's fairly long bike ride. That made me happy. The sun was shining, too. I started coffee then headed to the PC. It was sunny & 68 but with humidity levels near 90%.

I headed out for a run around 9am running the usual three miles. It was an easy run. Mindy had designs on grocery shopping that afternoon and Lindsey and the boys were coming over to do laundry. According to Mindy, we'd have a break midafternoon while Lindsey took the boys to their baseball games in between loads of laundry. I Googled Strader's Garden Center for their mower repair shop hours and was surprised to discover that they were actually open on Sunday's. I called and was pleased to learn that they had the mower wheels I needed in stock. I planned to make a quick run up Riverside Dr to buy two. I'm thinking that it was near 11am when I headed there.

There was a much larger crowd at Strader's than I expected to encounter this late in the summer. I'll bet there were 30 cars in their front lot. I didn't bother walking through the nursery. Instead, I headed directly to the mower shop.
There I picked up two new rear mower wheels and two wheel covers. All totaled it was close to $60, but that's better than buying a new mower.

As soon as I was home I installed the two new wheels. Not much to it. Just bolt them on. I cleaned the mount first, though. Much better! Judging by how stiff the wheels were, I'm guessing the tow old wheels had been broken for some time before the one finally fell off Saturday. I cut the only piece of the lawn I wasn't able to reach with the tractor. That took no more than 5 minutes. By then Mindy had left for the grocery store. I spent the next 30 minutes weeding the front flower beds. For some reason the one on the east half of the yard gets lots of clover and other weeds. I filled a five gallon pail with weeds.

Lindsey and the boys showed while I was working in the beds. I was taken back when Lindsey opened the passenger side rear door and then walked away leaving Landon to get out all on his own in the middle of the street. This is something we've instructed her never to do several times. I gave her an earful for doing so. One of the boys could get hurt. She was in no mood for a lecture and let me know it. I turned my attention to Landon instructing him on why he shouldn't get out of the car street side. He promised he wouldn't any more.

Tossed baseball with Rocky for about 30 minutes. He's doing surprisingly well.

Kids and Lindsey left for ball game

Mindy home from grocery. Heads to pool with sister Jodi (hilltop).

With a couple hours to myself, I whipped up my first batch of risotto balls. The Digorgio rice swells 10 times its size. Tastes great fresh out of the pan. Spread on a cookie sheet the refrigerate for an hour or more. Prepare for deep frying: bowl of egg, bread crumbs, flour. All we have is vegetable oil that expired in 2008. I go ahead and use it. old oil smell. overwhelms the balls. Turn out just OK

Kids home from Jimaken weekend around 330pm. Bella can't believe her mom's at the pool.

Lindsey and the boys back after baseball games around 340pm

Mindy home around 420pm.

Lindsey & Landon head home with laundry around 5pm. Rocky elect to stay for dinner. Mindy arranges to drop him off sometime after dinner.

We grilled burgers

After dinner went on a bike ride. Mindy, Rocky & Bella take off without me. I found my Accord dripping oil after the oil change Friday. Found the oil pan nut loose.

Met up with the family gathered at the McVey's. Mindy and the kids inside. I talked with Lane and friend AJ (Pat McMasters son). Mindy and kids come out. Darwin soon follows. Shares news about losing another friend early Sunday am. The guy was 45 and died of a heart attack. Darwin was shaken to his core. One of his older son, Jordan's friends father.

We finish a short bike ride around the neighborhood but not before a brief stop to play in the neighborhood park.
Back at home, Mindy texts Lindsey then visits with neighbor Trena next door. I took a nap. Woke and played on PC. Learned that Mindy left to take Rocky home around 730-8pm. We stayed up until 10-1015pm. Off to bed.