Didn't go outside at all today. Maybe I can get rid of this sinus drainage before it brings on bronchitis.

Anna brought Leah, as usual. Leah was subdued, by her standards. Totally ignored my headphones, cameras, etc.

Salmon for lunch, with stewed butternut squash, steamed okra, and tomato. Apple and pear appetizers.

Deborah called: David has worked himself up to a 1,000-piece puzzle.

Andrea came with Harrison for a visit.

Soon after she left, Denise popped by for Leah, who was working on a three-hour nap.

I listened to rainstorms on my new iPhone app.

74.8 °F, clear.

The current regulars showed for this week's "Mother's Day": Deborah brought Mother. Delores brought Marion. Andrea came with little Harrison.

Mary made good use of the two eggplants Deborah brought us from the farmers market last week. Made a mouth-watering casserole for our lunch. Also worked her magic on some Walmart stew meat. Turned it into some divine beef smothered in onions. Yum. As if that wasn't enough, she cooked up some rice and angel's hair with peas from George's garden, seared potato slices the way Mother likes, and filled out the plate with some of George's red ripe tomatoes. Kowabunga!

Anna is off for a weekend trip, so brought over Leah for Andrea to mind. Andrea had to leave with Leah and Harrison. Otherwise cards would be impossible. That left only four for rummy.

Hate to admit it. But, truth be told, these Friday card games are getting to be almost depressing for me. Weigh on my mind. Marion is obviously uncomfortable in his own skin. Can hardly make it to his 2:00 o'clock medication. Mother sucks on one sucker after another, like a baby with its pacifier, fairly oblivious to all else. I suppose I should be comforted by the thought that there are others worse off than I am. But, I'm not.

Mary and I dropped off Mother and Marion at their respective houses. Back home, I got some fresh air.

Checked out the mail. A check from Cosmolab for both months. All caught up. Woo Hoo! Mary and I rushed it to First Farmers.

The outpost welcomed me upon my return.

118 lbs.

72.1 °F, partly cloudy.

Got up worrying about that lump.

George came by with a check to deposit in Mother's account.

Towards midday, Mary and I headed into town. First, was Bank of America on the square. Mary deposited birthday money for Lina Margarita. Leaving there, we saw Marcelino whiz by on East Church. Off to see about someone's clogged toilet, no doubt.

After depositing two checks at First Farmers, we lunched at Walmart's Subway. Shared a foot-long club sandwich. Beginning to be a habit.

Mary was haled by Dora, a Mexican lady recently from Chicago. She gave Mary some Jehovah's Witness literature. Her good deed for the day.

In Walmart's sauce aisle, we ran into Linda Cox. Odd. It has been no time since we met her in Kroger.

But, strangeness didn't end there. Later, shopping, we ran into Dora again. Then, as Mary was checking out, Dora walked up behind her. A little embarrassed, evidently, she quietly sneaked over to the next lane before Mary noticed.

Back home, I enjoyed the warm, sunny autumn day at outpost two. Two tractors were busy baling hay in Mother's field creek side. A breeze set my mind to drifting lazily. Something approaching joy.

After the baling ended, I watched thirteen turkey meander across that field. I could barely make them out. Then, a group half the size passed through the field. Ah, Nature.

Cantaloupe and tangerine slices for supper.

George dropped off more okra from his garden.

73.1 °F, partly cloudy.

Cheerios with blueberries for breakfast. The regular Town House Mediterranean Herb Pita Crackers with my morning coffee.

Mary mowed grass.

Chicken gizzards for lunch, with a spicy chicken tamale, steamed okra and tomato. Guava juice and avocado on the side. Apple and pear appetizers.

A Gansito with my afternoon coffee.

Watched Wadjda (2012) from Netflix. Arabic with English subtitles. A schoolgirl's quest for a bicycle sheds a light on Saudi society. We liked it.

Deborah dropped off a bill for cleaning Mother's carpet.

Cantaloupe for supper.

Night fell at the outpost.

70.1 °F, clear.

Went to bed early last night. A little Rumpole and Mozart and I began to feel better.

Leah's day today. Mary brought out the puzzle we bought for her. She identified and placed to pieces without a problem. But, I sensed she had no clue why she was supposed to do it.

We played one of her favorite games, in which she imitates a puppy. We scratch her belly and she is happy. We throw a stick and she fetches it, etc.

Tilapia for lunch, with green beans, carrots, tomato and re-heated butternut squash. Avocado on the side.

After niece Denise picked up Leah, I went out to chase the sun. Too chilly to remain in the shade. But, I was light-hearted.

George was just here with maybe the last okra and tomatoes from his garden.

70.4 °F, clear.

Mother wouldn't get out from Deborah's car today. Deborah took her back home. Later, Andrea left Harrison with us and fetched Mother.

Marion arrived. Pork chops for lunch, with green beans and tomato from George's garden, sweet potato and cornbread. Cantaloupe appetizer.

By the time Mother arrived, she seemed alright, just in one of her slower modes. We got through cards fairly well.

At one point, Marion broke out in a rare fit of laughter. Laughed until, for a moment, he forgot all his pain and suffering. He had misunderstood a misunderstanding on my part. I didn't have the heart to correct him. Take laughs wherever you can find them.

We played till after three o'clock. Andrea took Mother and Marion home.

I had my little supper of cantaloupe and mixed nuts on the garage patio.

Enjoyed the splendid weather at the outpost.

118 lbs.

70.4 °F, clear.

Waking up in the morning, without a worry on your mind. Priceless.

For a late lunch, we took advantage of Shoney's Thursday Senior special: $4.99 for the buffet. I had cabbage and meatloaf, two things I'm not likely to get at home. We sat next to Jose and wife. He's Mary's friend from church.

In the Walmart parking lot, Maricruz and son Jorge came up to us. Maricruz sells us tamales. Quite a talker.

Back home for a cup of coffee and a slice of cherry pie.

74.2 °F, partly cloudy.

We breakfasted at McDonald's. Inside. Sausage egg McMuffins. I spotted Morris Shirley, or someone who could be his double.

We went to the water department, electric company and the at&t store to make changes to Mother's automatic billing. Then, to Goody's. Never dreamed my Jockey underwear would cost that much. Ouch. Then, to Goodwill nearby. Got off scott free.

Back home, we lunched on chicken, butternut squash and butter bean leftovers, with the addition of carrots and tomato. Avocado on the side.

While Mary was weeding outside, niece Andrea drove up with Harrison. She came for some papers.

At the outpost, an autumn chill. Decided to wear a sweater next evening.

Marcelino came. Put a hand hold bar next to the toilet in the back bathroom. fixed the loud buzzing from the office light. $170 for yesterday's repairs and today's. Materials included. Ouch. Pretty good wages for maybe an hour and a half. It won't do much good, but I'll strongly encourage Mary to price repairs first next time.

68.8 °F, partly cloudy.

Got up calm and confident this morning. I fully expected that neither the Durango, nor the Pacesaver, would leave me stranded today. And, so it turned out.

Just before Mary's 1:30 pm appointment with her endocrinologist, Dr. Ch'ng, at Saint Thomas, we lunched in the hospital cafeteria. Pasta with bolognese sauce and grilled vegetables for me. Pasta alfredo with shrimp for her. $17+. Ouch! And, we were left hungry.

The consultation was short and sweet. Arrived back home about half past three.

Time at the outpost. I watched brother George finish plowing in Mother's field. He went home, but returned in the golf cart with Leah.

A thought crossed my mind while driving to Nashville this morning. George came up with the same idea. Why not a pickup? Those still have gear shifts in the steering column, and bench seats. I could manage one very well. But, would Mary go along with it...?

79.6 °F, partly cloudy.

Mary took Leah with her to the mailbox this morning. Leah found three sticks she imagined into swords. We played pirate.

Cod fish for lunch, with acorn squash, yellow squash, carrots and tomato. Avocado on the side. Some sad day soon, there won't be any more fresh from the garden eats.

Leah had Mary's soup.

77.3 °F, clear.