I had a leadership group in and a meeting at the State Park in Cordele this week so I came up Saturday night and hosted farmers from Texas, Alabama, and Florida at the lake for a cookout Sunday and then we had the classes and the meeting. I finished Wednesday afternoon with perhaps the best round off Golf I have ever had. I shot 102, only lost one ball, had a birdie, three pars, five bogies in the process. Bart taught me to just play my slice and it is working.
I wish Bart and I had more time to play golf together. He has a natural talent and if he played more often he would be an awesome golfer. He is already more than 20 strokes better than me and our last outing he broke 80.
I decided after the chaos of the past couple of months I needed a break so I took yesterday and today off and did some things I needed to here at the lake.
I haven't worked that hard and really not that steady but have finished my tasks. Installed a new drain in the shower, cleaned out and sealed a crack where some roof debris from the new roof had sifted through and have done a better cleaning than I have in a while. I also am taking home mostly clean clothes.
I was sitting outside just a few minutes ago and it was entertaining to listen to the owls talking to each other. I was watching the squirrels today and they are so cute here. I hate them at home because city squirrels are so destructive but these just scavenge and sit there and mind their own business. Everything is so much more laid back at the lake.
I can't wait for Summer to get here so I can bring Conner and Cole and have some guy time with my grandsons.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Snapshots of My Life as of Recent
Has my life ever been hard lately.
January 9th I received a call from the Georgia Department of Agriculture warning me that the Minnesota Department of Health would be holding a press conference an hour later tying peanut butter produced in a factory in Georgia to a nationwide outbreak.
Since then this has been a never ending story. It has pretty much been 24/7 on call and 15 to 19 hour days.
I finally got to take a bit of time off this weekend and though I have been working in the yard and at the lake house it has been good therapy to work my body more and my mind less.
I got a bonus in all of this. While at the lake I heard a noise and looked over to the bottom limb on a tree. What I saw was most exciting for a guy who loves the quiet splendor of nature. A pair of hawks was mating there just about a hundred feet away. If I had only had a camera but it is a memory which I will have for a lifetime. Hawks are not terribly social animals and for me to see this was a once in a lifetime experience for most of us.
In the evening, I was outside as the wind calmed and I could hear the owls talking to one another around the lake. It is amazing how in the hustle and bustle of all that was going on God still reminded me of his greatness.
January 9th I received a call from the Georgia Department of Agriculture warning me that the Minnesota Department of Health would be holding a press conference an hour later tying peanut butter produced in a factory in Georgia to a nationwide outbreak.
Since then this has been a never ending story. It has pretty much been 24/7 on call and 15 to 19 hour days.
I finally got to take a bit of time off this weekend and though I have been working in the yard and at the lake house it has been good therapy to work my body more and my mind less.
I got a bonus in all of this. While at the lake I heard a noise and looked over to the bottom limb on a tree. What I saw was most exciting for a guy who loves the quiet splendor of nature. A pair of hawks was mating there just about a hundred feet away. If I had only had a camera but it is a memory which I will have for a lifetime. Hawks are not terribly social animals and for me to see this was a once in a lifetime experience for most of us.
In the evening, I was outside as the wind calmed and I could hear the owls talking to one another around the lake. It is amazing how in the hustle and bustle of all that was going on God still reminded me of his greatness.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Geese Flying North
Cheryl and I went for a walk this afternoon after work and what a sight...the geese are headed north.
I was told today that we are in a La Nina weather pattern and so that means a warmer and dryer than normal Spring. Do the geese know this? Who told them?
It is amazing seeing them work in harmony. The lead goose drops back to let another take the lead, all in the name of aerodynamics.
We could take a lesson from the geese.
I was told today that we are in a La Nina weather pattern and so that means a warmer and dryer than normal Spring. Do the geese know this? Who told them?
It is amazing seeing them work in harmony. The lead goose drops back to let another take the lead, all in the name of aerodynamics.
We could take a lesson from the geese.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Good News
In the face of all that has been happening in my life in the peanut industry I have a bit of really good news to report in our personal lives.
My Mother-in-law had surgery yesterday to fix a paralyzed vocal cord. It was such a pleasure to hear her cough. For three years she has not had that ability which is a natural mechanism to help keep us from breathing in germs which can rob us of our health. Even better was to hear her speak and it to be more than the air-ish whisper she has had for three years.
For so long she was told there was nothing which could be done for her and now all of a sudden a voice doctor at Emory University Hospital has restored her voice box to a working organ. What a great happening.
My Mother-in-law had surgery yesterday to fix a paralyzed vocal cord. It was such a pleasure to hear her cough. For three years she has not had that ability which is a natural mechanism to help keep us from breathing in germs which can rob us of our health. Even better was to hear her speak and it to be more than the air-ish whisper she has had for three years.
For so long she was told there was nothing which could be done for her and now all of a sudden a voice doctor at Emory University Hospital has restored her voice box to a working organ. What a great happening.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
A Busy Saturday
Today was really a busy Saturday. We moved Erika and Jason's things from the house she is selling to the storage facility. In May we will get to do it all over again.
She took us on a tour of her new house which is basically floors and walls at this juncture. It is really going to be very nice. Very open and in a nice subdivision that is out of town just a little bit.
I know this is all hard for her but she seems so stoic.
She and Brad started their life together in the house she is moving out of so it has a lot of memories. Brad always told me that was not where they would stay. He would love the location of the new house. I am so proud for Erika and Jason.
Speaking of Jason he is so cute and gave me a hug, high five and let em push him around on the hand truck.
She took us on a tour of her new house which is basically floors and walls at this juncture. It is really going to be very nice. Very open and in a nice subdivision that is out of town just a little bit.
I know this is all hard for her but she seems so stoic.
She and Brad started their life together in the house she is moving out of so it has a lot of memories. Brad always told me that was not where they would stay. He would love the location of the new house. I am so proud for Erika and Jason.
Speaking of Jason he is so cute and gave me a hug, high five and let em push him around on the hand truck.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Washington This Week
It has been a busy and interesting week. My normal schedule is to be in bed by 10 and up about 5 but not this week. Late nights and don't set an alarm.
We attended the Georgia Society Ball on Monday night and the Agricultural Gala on Tuesday night. Tuesday during the day we hosted (with rice and cotton) a parade viewing room with a great view of the parade route from the JW Marriott. It was a great event but a lot of folks in a hotel room. There was a lot of togetherness.
Crowds have been everywhere but we have managed very well. The subway was packed the other day...wall to wall people.
Last night we had dinner with Congressman Bishop's staff and today we do lunch with Congressman Kingston and his staff.
Tomorrow we head home. I am ready.
It has been cold but the new coat Cheryl bought me for Christmas has been so toast
y.
The Subway Cheryl on the Subway
We attended the Georgia Society Ball on Monday night and the Agricultural Gala on Tuesday night. Tuesday during the day we hosted (with rice and cotton) a parade viewing room with a great view of the parade route from the JW Marriott. It was a great event but a lot of folks in a hotel room. There was a lot of togetherness.
Crowds have been everywhere but we have managed very well. The subway was packed the other day...wall to wall people.
Last night we had dinner with Congressman Bishop's staff and today we do lunch with Congressman Kingston and his staff.
Tomorrow we head home. I am ready.
It has been cold but the new coat Cheryl bought me for Christmas has been so toast
y.
The Subway Cheryl on the Subway
The President in his Limo
Friday, January 16, 2009
Wow I Am Sure Tired
Home at last, I would love to get some rest but that is not in the works it doesn't seem.
Today made twelve days in a row without a day off. They were hard days, too. Tuesday week I had a meeting out of town and that Wednesday I had to go out of town to do a TV Show. Then that Thursday after lunch Mark that works with me and I struck out for San Antonio with an exhibit and peanuts for American Farm Bureau. San Antonio is a long way from Tifton GA. Monday we exhibited until 3:00 PM and broke things down and headed east. At 3:3o am Tuesday we stopped on the edge of Pensacola Bay to get a few hours sleep. At 8 we headed out for the rest of our trip back so we could unload the truck and then re-load for our board meeting and setup for the 33rd annual GA Peanut Farm Show in Albany on Wednesday morning. I got back from Albany today about 4 PM.
I have always heard no rest for the weary but next week Cheryl and I accompany my Chairman and his wife to Washington for the Inauguration and meetings with some of our Congressmen and folks at USDA who deal with food aid.
Remember to give peanut butter to your local food bank.
Today made twelve days in a row without a day off. They were hard days, too. Tuesday week I had a meeting out of town and that Wednesday I had to go out of town to do a TV Show. Then that Thursday after lunch Mark that works with me and I struck out for San Antonio with an exhibit and peanuts for American Farm Bureau. San Antonio is a long way from Tifton GA. Monday we exhibited until 3:00 PM and broke things down and headed east. At 3:3o am Tuesday we stopped on the edge of Pensacola Bay to get a few hours sleep. At 8 we headed out for the rest of our trip back so we could unload the truck and then re-load for our board meeting and setup for the 33rd annual GA Peanut Farm Show in Albany on Wednesday morning. I got back from Albany today about 4 PM.
I have always heard no rest for the weary but next week Cheryl and I accompany my Chairman and his wife to Washington for the Inauguration and meetings with some of our Congressmen and folks at USDA who deal with food aid.
Remember to give peanut butter to your local food bank.
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Conner's Trophy and Medal
We were league co-champions and the medal was for his first ever home run. It was a three run homer. I helped coach.
Cole's First Graduation
Jason's First Birthday
He already likes horses.
