Here and there

Life is good in Ozarkland. Jan has wanted another raised bed and we started it on Saturday.

Dirt soon to come

With the serious threat of snow/ice now past, the commute occurs more often.  On the way home one day last week, I saw my bud Chris.

Jan and I got out Sunday afternoon found this tree all abloom.

Two beauties

Our street was repaired in sections.  The city did a fine job of it.  However, I ran across this section of the city wide Bike Path that had been patched up.

The cure was worse than the disease

Stay happy,

Facing Forward

I give a belated New Year’s greeting to my good readers.

Before turning to 2014 I take a short look back on 2013.

*******

With my dear Jan’s help and encouragement I was able to do a respectable 2700+ miles on the bike, most of them on the Steed, my city/trail bike.  I had no accidents this year for which I am thankful.

Last fall I had a bike fit with my road bike.  I had purchased a new saddle and thought it best to follow up with a professional fit.  Both the fit and saddle have worked out great.

Friends in England and elsewhere will be pleased to learn that I kept the Sock Drawer neat and tidy ALL YEAR.  My dear Jan might contest this interpretation, but I consider any pair of socks that has been rolled together as shipshape.

Other goals such as not stepping in dog poop or expanding the garden were met with ease.

2013 ended with a bang as our third grandchild, Cora Jayne Hoover, was born December 27.  She is adorable and we plan on seeing her and her siblings, Evie and Max, soon.

*******

2014 has brought plenty of snow which limits the commute, but snow melts after a time and cycling resumes.

I would like to get more road miles in this year and also more rail/trail miles.  Perhaps this will be the year Jan and I do [part of] the KATY.

For my birthday I asked for and received a pair of running shoes.  Cross training looms but I am not the long distance type when it comes to slapping the tarmac.  Two or three miles is reasonable.  Any advice from cycling/running friends is welcome.

The year still feels new to me.  I pray the best for all of you.

Stay happy,

Wonderful news

Cora Jayne was born yesterday at 3:19, Mountain Standard Time.  At 7 pounds and 6 ounces, she is 19½ inches long and lovely.  Congrats to Katie and Sam who are both doing fine.  Meme and Papa are not doing too badly either!

Cora Jayne Hoover

Stay Happy,

 

Back to First Grade

We have had what can be mildly termed Bad Weather for the past dozen days or so.

Snow scrapers seem few and far between around here sometimes.

Friends and others who live in Colorado or Canada scoff at such comments and I understand that.

I don’t have a fat tire bike or snowshoes, so I take to the truck when the snow flies.  The Steed stands in the garage all forlorn as though champing at the bit to get out.

Melting started this week and here comes the commute, albeit the a.m. segment had its share of rutted roads and small sections of ice to deal with.

Roads clearing as we write!

I discovered a need to relearn Clothing Rules To Follow In Cold Temps.  Such as

• Windchill
• Remember Windchill

Class will resume session tomorrow.

Stay happy,

Thanksgiving 2013

Sam and Fam came to the Ozarks for the recent holiday.  We did many things and had a good time.  A few pictures will suffice.

We all got to join in putting the Christmas Tree up.

Jan and the children planted miniature hollyhocks in the back yard.

The garden, as such, was gone, but the children loved planting the flowers and wondered if they would sprout before they left for home.

I was able to sag one of Sam’s runs.  This was a first for me and I gave my effort a B-.

Sam ran while I rode my bike along with him. We went to a local park where we met up with the rest of the family.

Sam’s running has been good for him.  He has already done a half marathon and a Spartan Run in Colorado Springs.  He plans on doing both again next year.

The Dan Kinney Park on Blackman Road is a favorite place for us.

I did some reflection on this holiday and came up with a couple of thoughts.

The act of thanksgiving has two inherent ideas.  I am thankful [1] to someone or [2] for something.

Therefore, I end by saying I am thankful to God [and being Christian I further refine this thought by being thankful to Jesus Christ] for the blessings and good people and things in my life.

As for the bad, I will read Job.

Stay happy,

Rain, lots o’ rain

Lots o’ rain here.

Do I ride in rain?

Yes.

Do I like to start out in rain?

No.

Jan told me today that she thought she had seen everything.

Hardly.

The report is that she saw some old boy riding in the rain with his kickstand down.

Stay happy,

A good Saturday

I got up early Saturday morning and rode a bit in the neighborhood.  Following that, Jan and I went to the Farmer’s Market for apples and then went looking for Christmas presents for the grandson.

We found what we wanted

Every fall for the past five years or so, Jan and I visit the local church bazaars.  Wesley UMC was the first one of the season where Jan found a nice gift for someone.

They had a good piano player providing elevator music.

I got a pair of socks for a good buddy of mine.

By the end of the day we were ready to sit and enjoy a fire in the pit.

Stay happy,