Visit of the Granddaughers.

Cullman,    AL

When last I blogged the granddaughters had just arrived from their home in Maryland for their summer visit .    On that first day it was discovered that our Female Muscovey had just given birth to 4 cute as can be ducklings.    Amazing that they were swimming on their second day of life.

Each morning we would go out to the pond area and check on them.   We were aware that the Red Tailed Hawk that lives on premises must be watching them.   We had lost 3 ducks to hawks in the past.   When they were about 2 weeks old I went to check.   Only one duckling left.   He is the yellow one of the left in this picture.

He is still here and has grown at an unbelievable rate.   He keeps up well with Mama and Papa.  But each day I hold my breath as I check on him.

As we no longer have our Thousand Trails membership, day trips to Hidden Cove RV Park is out of the question.   In years past we would take the girls there several times a week to use the pool.   They did get to go swimming a few times.    Once DIL Lois took them with her to Smith Lake for a picnic and swim.    A few times they got to visit with the young boy up the road whose family has an in-ground pool.

One Friday we decided to take a nice ride.   I had heard about Little River Canyon over near Ft Payne, about an hour from here.     On the way we passed a large flea market.   We decided to stop.
After about an hour of walking around in the heat we decided to head on.   Oops.

When we got to the car Len realized he did not have the keys to the car on his belt clip.  He thought he must have left them in the ignition.   I called AAA and gave them the address.  They said it would be about an hour.   By that time it was in the 90s and no shade.

We were near a vendor who was under a tent.   I walked over and explained the situation with Leonard and being on oxygen.   They got out another chair and invited him to sit there with two large fans near him.

Charlotte and Abby found a seat on the ground.

We waited and waited.  The serviceman called a few times as he was having difficulty finding us. I kept telling him the cross street numbers and that we were at the huge flea market.   In took one hour longer than first promised for him to find us.    It took 3 minutes for him to get the door unlocked.  No keys in the ignition.   I looked down.   There were the keys on the floor between the drivers seat and the door.    Could have been much worse if the keys had dropped off the clip while we were walking around.

So off we go.   Then it hit me.   There were flea markets and yard sales EVERYWHERRE.  This was the weekend of the 690 mile yard sale that starts in that area of Alabama, goes up to Michigan.  This was part of the reason the driver couldn't find us.  He kept stopping at other flea markets.

We took the 11 mile drive around the canyon.  But couldn't see much.   It will better in the fall and when leaves are off the trees.   There were no pull offs to look down.    We will try again.   By that time were were hungry.    The ranger at the gate referred us to a restaurant nearby.

It sits over looking a marina and has great outside seating.  The food was terrific.  We did have one issue, Charlotte is allergic to eggs.   She ordered a chicken taco.   It was served with a dressing that contained eggs.   She sent it back  and asked for no dressing.   It came back and after a few bites realized there was slaw.   With dressing containing eggs.   She took some meds and was fine.  So we ordered wings for her.  She took them home and devoured them all.

A few weeks later we searched for something else to do.   We found info on Cooks Nature Museum near Decatur.   They girls would rather go to a nature museum then an amusement park.  They were so excited.

Here they are working in some type of sand that forms volcanos, rivers, etc.

Checking out the snakes.

Abby inside an actual beaver lodge

The admission was $70.   We were informed that cost could be put toward a years membership for one person.    So I got a years membership at no additional cost.    That means I get in free, all folks with me get a 25% discount and there is a 10% discount at the gift store and restaurant.   We will make plans for our Alabama family to visit the center.

As usual there is work to be done in the yard.   We had a huge prickly rose-type bush.  It became hard to get under it to contain the weeds.   Plus when I mowed around it I got scratched from the thorns.  I told Len to get it out of here.   Only to happy to oblige.

Abby on the tractor

The girls went home last weekend.   We met their Mom and Dad half way which is where my nephew and family live in Virginia.   Len and I stayed there Saturday night and got home Sunday about 2.  It is so quiet here.

Len was scheduled to have left shoulder replacement two days ago.   Last week he had to go to UAB in Birmingham for pre-admission testing.   It took about 2 hours.  Then of Friday back for COVID test.   It is done in a parking garage and very organized.  The only time you open a window is when the actual test is performed.    Otherwise communications are by phone.   We got in line, gave the attendant his name.  They came back that he was not on the schedule.   WHAT?   I had the form with me listing all his appointments.  He went through the test.

The hospital was supposed to call him on Friday before 3 to tell him what time to be there.  No call.  At 9 at night he called them.  The surgeon on call checked the records and told Len the surgery had
 been cancelled.    WHAT? 

On Monday Len talked to orthopedist staff and said the cardiologist cancelled it.  He talked to the cardiologist office and they told him the doctor would not release him for surgery due to his severe pulmonary hypertension until he gets another heart catherization.   They said they will call when that is scheduled.   He has an appointment for check ups with cardiologist and neurologist  on September 8.   Hopefully it will be done then.    No excuse.  Someone should have called.

Until next time.