Dave's New Store is Open

   Our son Dave opened his new store yesterday. There is still lots of work to do before the grand opening in October but it was a very successful day. We are so proud of him; this is his long time dream.

Sign at the entrance to the shopping center

Kid's book corner with video and Thomas table

Lounge and reading area

Check-out counter. G-daughter Brittany on the left; Dave and I on the right.

Here I'm talking to a lady who was waiting in line. 98 cent greeting cards on the right.

   Dave worked so hard with his crew this week to open on time. He pulled several all-nighters. In fact, Rita stayed for an all-nighter Friday night!

Medical update

   After 5 months of the chemo, my marker test moved up just a little...chemo was no longer effective, so we moved on to next phase. Last Wednesday I started daily radiation and I am wearing a fanny pack with an infusion pump that pumps a different chemo into my IV port 24/7.  This will be a 6 week treatment course. Side effects are mainly fatigue and nausea. After the first few days, I feel pretty good. I know that the effects are cumulative, so please pray that I will be able to tolerate it.

A New Toy

  So we went shopping for a lawn mower and came home with this beauty. Decided to go for the 6o inch heavy duty model and use it to keep the front pastures trimmed which means we'll go ahead and sell the John Deere tractor and bush hog. They delivered it this morning and I took a few trial runs around the pasture. Learned right away that the zero turn will take some getting used to. And the top speed of 8 mph is way too fast for a slightly bumpy field!! But it is a grass gobbling monster.
  The garden is definitely in late summer mode. Still getting sweet corn, Fortex green beans, sweet peppers, cucumbers and some tomatoes. The butternut squash is about ready to harvest and store. The watermelons and pumpkins are a bust. Won't plant those again; what little we eat annually of those 2 things can come from Kroger or Wal-Mart. I still have a lot of cornstalks to cut and compost, then start preparing the garden beds for a winter rest.
  We need rain badly....very dry. Storms the past few days were supposed to bring 1-1.5 inches but we only received .3".
  Our son Dave is about ready to open his new store in Murfreesboro. Called Christian Publishers Outlet, he will offer over 25,000 new discounted Bibles and books. I'll make another post when he is open in about 10 days.
  This is the second week of school and Wendy is again teaching 3rd grade at Blackman, Katie is a freshman at Eagleville, Jackson has started 5th grade home schooling and Brittany starts at Middle Tennessee State U.
  I saw the cardiologist yesterday for a follow-up and will see the oncologist tomorrow. 6 weeks of radiation treatment will start very soon. I'm feeling better after 4 weeks post chemo, but my feet are still bothering me a lot and making it difficult to walk.
  Until next time, stay well!

Summer ebbing away

  With today being the first full day of school and the garden harvest dwindling, summer is seemingly drawing to a close. It seems way too early.
   We have been giving away produce by the sacks full, but harvest is rapidly dwindling. We still have green tomatoes, but the plants are showing stress and not ripening as fast. I have been eating tomatoes once or twice a day for several weeks. The melons all came on at once as you can see in this picture.

   I am harvesting the last of the Cloud Nine sweet corn. All the corn that is later than this is Kandy Korn. Next year, we'll plant only Cloud Nine. It is a tall, strong stalk that doesn't bend in the storms. A sweet, white corn on a large ear,the husks are tight and it is not bothered by bugs or worms.

   The Summer Dance cucumbers are another keeper. Healthy vines and generous production of thin, long fruit that is tasty whether peeled or not. 

   We are still picking green beans from the Fortex and Annihilator plants. The yellow squash is about finished but a 3rd late planting is still to come. The Yukon Gold spuds and Walla Walla sweet onions are all dug and in storage and being enjoyed. Soon we will pick and store the Waltham Butternut squash. We planted some Jimmy Nardello long sweet peppers very late from seed, but we have 12" long fruit on the plants....waiting for it to turn red and try these for the first time. 

   I still have some blackberry pruning to do and lots of corn stalks to cut and compost, so there is no lack of work.

   Here is a shot of me returning from some bush hogging. 

   Quick medical update: I am feeling pretty good, starting the 3rd week off chemo. We see the radiologist for an initial screening next Monday and likely start radiation soon after. I still have the "concrete shoes" syndrome from the chemo, but my appetite is good and I'm maintainimg weight. The last CT was unchanged to improved, so that is positive. We just move ahead trusting God for whatever He has for us.