DUTCH-BROTHERS-AND-A-NURSERY DATE

As the years keep ticking by, neither Debra nor I seem to have the energy anymore to go out on a Friday night date after a long week at work. We're just too tired. So, lately, we have been spending Friday nights at home watching television programs or rented movies. Just like old people do.

But we still date regularly. These days, however, our dates usually involve a Saturday or Sunday afternoon at a coffee shop. Sometimes we stop at a Dutch Brothers drive-through, purchase some fancy caffeinated beverage, and then run errands or go shopping together.

Today we decided to visit a local nursery and fill some empty flower beds with some bright, spring colors. We left the house at about 9:00 a.m. and enjoyed a warm, sunny Dutch-Brothers-and-a-nursery date together.

This flower bed beside the back patio and beneath the blue spruce tree needed some help.

A different angle verifies the need for some life and color in this dirt-filled box.

Part of the same flower box, and another flower box beyond the lounges, both need flowers.

A closer view of the empty box beyond the lounges.

The grass is nice and green, but the flower box needs color.

As we get ready to leave the house, I open the door for my date.

Just a few blocks from our home, we pass the first Dutch Brothers on the way to the nursery. We decided to wait for awhile and drive through another Dutch Brothers further down the road, because neither Debra nor I really care much for the taste of coffee mixed with fresh, minty toothpaste.

So we drive on by this one and head for the nursery.

Nearing the nursery, we pass our second Dutch Brothers of the morning and decide this is the one we will drive through after we pick up some shrubs and flowers.

We arrive at Flowerland Nursery and park the pickup.

We browse through the nursery, ready to invest some money in life and color.

Debra investigates the possibilities.

The options are endless.

We eventually decide which plants we will place in the flower beds at home.

I pull our wagon toward the checkout booth.

After completing the transaction, I load the plants into the pickup, secure them with bungee cords, then we return home.

On the way home, we spot that second Dutch Brothers we saw on the way to the nursery.

Our palates begin to yearn for something cold, something blended, something with a straw in the lid.

Finally, equipped with my 24-ounce Dutch Freeze, and Debra with her 16-ounce Dutch Mocha, we return to our empty flower beds with the stash in the back of our pickup.

Not too colorful yet, this flower bed will soon erupt into shades of yellow and purple.

And the flower box beside the lounges will burst forth with bright reds and purples.

REMEMBERING, RELAXING AND REPLENISHING LOST CALORIES

Today we celebrated Memorial Day. The weekend began by perching the American flag on a prominent part of our house. As the morning turned to afternoon, we ended up with sixteen people enjoying beautiful weather in our backyard.

The stars and stripes hung from our house in commemoration of those who have fallen in giving the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Inspired by my visit to the Philippines last month, I built a "Washer Toss" game yesterday for recreation today. The lower photo is for Josh. The 4-inch PVC coupler is attached to the plywood base with L-brackets, screws, washers, lock washers, and nuts. I don't think the washers will be knocking the PVC off the base any time soon.

Debra's interior decorating skills work for exterior decorating needs as well. Here, she prepares the tables for our Memorial Day barbecue.

Jill and Debra relax in the sunshine.

Ashley and Gwen relax in the shade while competing in a game of "Hi Ho Cherry-O".

Gordon and Skeeter also relax and visit under the shade structure.

Relaxing gives way to recreation as Gwen serves the ping pong ball to Ashley.

With Gordon's camera facing us, I encourage Makiah to wave at Daddy.

Rylie, Gwen, Anelise and Baylee cool their feet in 72-degree water.

Fred and Skeeter visit.

Gordon shoots a photo.

Gordon still tries to capture a shot of Tom and Makiah. Rylie assists while Debra and Becky look on in the background and Anelise looks on in the foreground.

Baylee airborne.

Skeeter and Tom.

Debra, Ruth and Jill.

Josie and Ashley.

Ashley and Tom team up in a game of Washer Toss. The washer is seen flying through the air toward the target.

In another game, Fred and Tom combine forces as a team, each taking their turn at tossing the washers. The washer can be seen in the air in each photo.

Sisters.

Here, I am grilling burgers, but mostly I am sucking smoke.

Anelise, Rylie and Baylee smiling in the kind of water that turns lips blue and makes bodies shiver.

Jill and Josie soaking up the sun.

Becky hanging out with Makiah.

Anelise, Baylee, Rylie and Gwen take a quick break from tossing washers to pose for a picture.

Ruth, Makiah and Tom playing with big foam noodles.

Fred, Jill, Josie, Ashley and Debra circle together in the sun.

Poolside loungers.

Pool time ends in exchange for coloring books and crayons indoors.

After adequate time for relaxation and recreation, it's time to replenish lost calories.

Baylee replenishes lost calories.

Anelise replenishes lost calories.

Rylie replenishes lost calories.

Gwen replenishes lost calories.

Ashley replenishes lost calories.

Fred replenishes lost calories.

Ruth replenishes lost calories.

Josie and Becky replenish lost calories.

Skeeter replenishes lost calories.

Everyone replenishes lost calories.

Makiah digs deep to find some source of replenishing lost calories.

Eventually, she finds that source and eats it.

THE END.