A collection of tree trunk carvings

We've added a couple of new carvings to our picture collection.  I have to include them all in this post in case I have any new readers and may not have seen these posted before.

This carving is of a giant bunny on Royal Avenue not 3 blocks from our house.

Here's a nice pair of Iguanas, located in the Highlands off Bardstown Road not far from Douglas Blvd.

This is a new addition.  The 'Big Bear' is located on Brownsboro Road at Rudy Lane.

Another new addition....The 'Fish' is on Watterson Trail in Middleton.  This one, sitting out in front of a Church, has the message on the backside "Come and I'll make you Fisher's of Men".

And last, but not least....this one had to be listed even though it's not a tree carving.  It's still a very popular stop on the "Bob and Mary Lynn's Pretty Good Derby Tour".  This Mask is located on Norris Place just after rounding the turn by Bellarmine University headed towards Bardstown Road.

Round 16 FTY on a Sloppy Course

Well, it wasn't as wet at Iroquois GC as at Shawnee GC, shown on the right, but it sure was a sloppy course.  It was impossible to move out of casual water because it was casual water everywhere.  So, we played lift-clean-place.
I shot a 44 - 42 = 86.  We won low team today so I got $7.  When I got there today I found out we won low team last Thursday and I got $11.  Not a bad haul for one day.
I forgot to mention on my last golf blog that I split 3 ways low back nine from two weeks ago and got $4 for that.  I've got money coming in hand over fist.  I'm thinking about quitting my day job.
Man that course was sloppy!  Hitting from marshy fairways is like hitting out of sand.  If you don't hit it perfectly clean it won't go anywhere.  Just like hitting from a sand trap.  If it's a little fat, it goes nowhere, plus you get a face full of mud!
I wish I'd brought my camera with me today.  I'd love to have had pictures of several of the guys the way they dressed to play.  One had Bib Overalls and a belt.  One had on boots with his pant legs tucked in, and one had his pant legs rolled up almost to his knees.  They would have made a good post!
The picture of Shawnee GC above is of #9 green.  The water is just on the front of the green.

Tied to the old hitching post......

I went to Lime Kiln Lane again today to check on the water levels by Chance School.  I noticed the horse, which I found out was named "Hands", was tied to the fence.  Just in case he starts to float away, he's tied to the 'hitching post'.  Zoom in and take a look.

There's also a little roofed area at the bottom of the step for the children to wait for their rides.  The wooden benches there were stacked and tied together with a rope also tied to a rail to keep them from floating away.  I was told during the '97 flood they lost all but one bench, which was grabbed by someone in a boat and brought back.

More Flood Pictures....Chance School

I picked Erin and Jill up at School today and thought I'd take some pictures of the fields below Chance School and how flooded they were.

This is the garden between the two lower parking lots.  The little house is the tool shed and the garden is this side of the house.

This is the field across the street. Note the soccer goal in the distance.  This is also the overflow parking lot when they have events at the school.

The road is flooded.  The van you see is a WHAS news vehicle who had just interviewed the Chance people to be on the News this evening.  When they left they said "We're going through that road but we're going to go slow and keep the door open to make sure it's OK." I guesss they've been telling people all day not to drive through flooded roads and then they go and do it.  But, it did look like it wasn't very deep...you could still see the middle road line.

Also, notice the boat on the bank tied up to the post?  That belonged to a neighbor on the other side of the water.  They used it to get out, parking their car on this side of the water but using the boat to get to get back and forth from house to car.

Watch for Chance School on WHAS News tonight!

Shawnee GC with the River Up

I stopped by Shawnee GC on the way back from Indiana today.  I think it will be a while before it's playable!  When looking at these pictures remember that the river is to rise 4 more feet not counting any more rain we may get.

This is looking down #1 fairway from the tee.  Dogleg right.

Looking towards #10 tee box from the #1 tee.

#9 green.  Hard to get a good lie in this fairway!

#18 green looking towards #10 tee box.

The 'First Tee' putting green and the driving range.

I may get down there again this Wednesday and get some comparison pictures.

Well Julie, Jit, does Homestead have THIS much water?

A windy round 15 for the year.

We played Iroquois GC today.  Our normal Thursday golf.  I think it will be a few weeks before we can get back to Shawnee GC on a Tuesday.  The river is on the rise right now and we are supposed to have 5 inches of rain before the weekend is over.
I didn't play well on the front nine.  Plus, I had 3 penalty strokes, and lipped out 4 putts.  I shot a 48 - 39 = 87.  When I lip out putts I can't feel like I'm putting bad. I really felt good about the putts and hit them right where I wanted...but I think I was a little to firm with them.
I didn't hang around for all the groups to get in but I'm pretty sure our team wasn't the low team today.  It seems it's been very windy this Spring.  Every day I play seems to be a Windy day.  I remember last Spring it was windy all Spring and I wondered if we would ever have a calm day on the course. I'm sure it won't be long before it's 95-100 degrees and I'll be wishing there would be a little breeze.

Spring has Sprung!

The Red Azalea bushes I have around the back walkway are in full bloom. They really look pretty this time of year.

 



I wish the White Azalea bushes would bloom at the same time.  They always bloom as soon as the flowers start falling off the Red Azaleas.  I'll post a picture of these tardy bushes when they are in full bloom.

I also noticed the rose bushes have buds that are just getting ready to open.  There should be a few flowers on them on Easter.

Round 14 for the Year

We played our Tuesday golf at Iroquois GC today because of flooding at Shawnee GC.  I shot a 44- 39 = 83.  Didn't hit the ball well on the front nine and couldn't make any putts.  The back nine I hit better shots and few putts fell for me.
I've really been having trouble hitting my irons.  It seems almost everyone of them I hit fat.  Sometimes REAL fat, and sometimes a little fat.  But always fat.  Today after several holes, and hitting fat shots, I tried moving my right hand a little more over the top of the club, a weaker grip, and it really seemed to help.  I hit much better iron shots after that.  I don't think my 39 on the back will get me any money. I'll find out Thursday. I rode a cart today instead of walking.  I just didn't feel real well and couldn't decide on the way if I was going to walk or ride.  I even hooked up my clubs to my walking cart in the parking lot, then changed my mind and decided to ride.  I sure does make a big difference when I get done at Iroquois GC if I walked or rode!

Metal Detecting Finds in J. R.'s Yard

I metal detected J. R.'s yard today.  His house was built in 1955, so there was a chance some older objects could be unearthed.  But all I found was what you see below

A grand total of 86 cents, a Chuck E. Cheese Token, a broken earring, a piece of a toy car, and a hose nozzle.  The nozzle still works OK, I tried it out.....part of cleaning all the dirt out of it.  Actually, 2 cents I found at his next door neighbors house.  There was a clothes line in each yard and I really thought I'd find an abundance of coins under them.  But, alas......only a few cents.  It was fun detecting, and I'm always looking for a new place to check.

BOB WINS!

I played Quail Chase GC today. I was to play Greg Lynn and J. R. Harris, as stated in my previous golf post.  However, Mr. Harris didn't show up.  As yet I have no idea why.  He hasn't called so I would assume he just forgot about it.  But Greg made it so we played a twosome.  It was a beautiful day, however it was pretty windy.  I never play well in the wind.  Greg and I tied the front nine, after giving him two strokes, but then the wheels came off Greg's game on the back nine.  I think with the constant pressure I applied on the front, then ripping a drive on #10 tee, his knees kinda buckled.  I shot a 46 - 44 = 90 to Greg's 48 - 53 = 101.  I'm now $2 richer.....thanks Greg! 

I know it's early in the year, but the fairways at Quail Chase really suck!  There's hardly any grass at all in the fairways.  It's even hard to find a little clump of grass to set your ball on in a lot of places.  On #2, South Course, we had to move our ball over to the rough to find any grass.  It was very wet and sloppy out there today, too, and on  many of the fairways it was hard to find grass and not be in casual water.  I haven't played Quail Chase for awhile, and with the condition it was in, I don't plan on playing it any time soon.

J. R......WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU?

*Late note:  I called J. R. around 7 pm to find out what happened.  He forgot.

Hard to believe these coins are already 70 years old!

One of the guys I play golf with, Bruce Richards, knows I save pennies pre-1983.  He's the one that loaned me that bucket of pennies to check through I blogged about late last summer.  So when he comes across an older coin he gives them to me.  Yesterday he had a couple of nickels he'd found.  He says all he'd do was spend them, anyway. 

I know these aren't ancient coins, but they're already 65 and 71 years old, and in pretty good shape.  So, I'll save them with my bucket'O' pennies and eventually give them to Mark.
Anyone else who reads this blog and comes across pre-1983 pennies or pre-1960 nickels, if you're going to spend them anyway, I'll buy them off you at face value. Just one more thing I'm saving.

Iroquois GC on a Thursday

My 79 net 65 last Thursday was the low round of the day, so I got $16 today. Pretty good pay. However, I didn't quiet play that well today.  I shot a 43 - 46 = 89.  It's strange how shooting a 79 drops your handicap 2 strokes but shooting that 89 today won't raise it a bit.  My handicap is now a 12.  I play a lot better with a 14 handicap.....I think that's my comfort zone.
I've also noticed that when I talk to my friends that I play golf with they always say "I see you've been shooting 79's....I think you need to give me more strokes."  They never seem to mention that they saw I shot an 89 and that they'll start to give me some strokes.  For some strange reason they seem to remember the low rounds and forget the high rounds.  Yep,  Greg Lynn and Bobby Flood, I'm talking about you! 
I'm going to play Quail Chase GC this Sunday with Greg and J. R..  I'll give them each two strokes a side and we play a $1 Nassau.  If I can't beat them by 2 strokes a side I ought to give them each $3.
I didn't play well at all today.  I even messed up a couple of tee shots, which I'd been hitting well.  I guess the worst part of my game was my short irons.  I think I hit every one of them fat.  My putting wasn't terrible, but I just couldn't make anything.  A couple of lip outs and scorching the edges, but they wouldn't fall.  I felt good over the putts, they just didn't go in the cup.

Derby Season gets off to a bad start

I went to Keeneland today.  Never Cashed a Ticket.  It was a beautiful day, nice crowd, had one of their really good pretzels....but couldn't pull a winner through.  All my exacta bets only one of the horses finished in the top two...often they would be one -three or two-four.  Just couldn't get them to come in one-two.  Close all day but no cigar.  I sure hope things improve for Derby Day!

The New Hallway Table

After my last post the switchboard lit up and hundreds of emails poured in.  Everyone wanted to see a picture of the new hallway table.  Yep, my mistake.  I should have posted a picture.

HELP! HELP! HELP!

We bought another table at a yard sale this past Saturday.  It's a nice table just made to fit in our hallway.  So, the table/cabinet that was in the hallway was moved to the basement. Another piece of furniture in the already crowded basement.  I think I need to seriously consider downsizing. 

Two nice pieces of furniture need a good home.  If you'd like to adopt one, or all three, please notify the lady at the front desk.

This is the piece just moved to the basement from the hallway.  Nice little cabinet.  Needs a nice home.

Now this piece is a very pretty little writing desk.  Mary Lynn has done some nice artwork and would look nice in a number of places in the home.  The writing top lifts up for storage. The writing surface isn't perfectly smooth due to poor sanding before painting.  But a very nice piece.

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Either one of these items can be yours.......If the "Price is Right".  Just kidding, Bob Barker.  Any of these items are FREE to a good home.

How the heck does it move so fast?

I have a chair mat at my desk, which doubles for use with the computer.  I'm constantly pulling it out away from the desk, and a few days later, it's right up against the desk leg again

I know the grain of the carpet causes things to move, but how does it move so fast?  And, this mat has 'spikes' on the bottom to keep this from happening.  So how does it happen?  And so fast?  I mean, within 5 days it goes from the picture on the left to the picture on the right.  Does it have something to do with the earth techtonic plates moving and causing earthquakes?  It's got me puzzled.

44th Wedding Anniversary - What a great way to spend it!

Mary Lynn and I celebrated our 44th Wedding Anniversary today. We went out to Breakfast and got out to Mark and Kim's house about 9:00 am.  We then loaded up the van and headed to the Kentucky Horse Park for the day.  Great weather and lots of fun.

This really nice looking family posed for me by the front gate.

Erin and Jill really liked the foal statues out front.

Erin rode the mechanical horse on the 'fast' speed, then posed like a jockey would ride.

Jillian rode, too.  But, the slower speed was fast enough for  her. 

They have a lot of nice horse statues around the Park.  Jill liked finding the 'shady' spots.

O yea, they had lot's of real horses, too.  Erin and Jill liked to pet them and feed them dandelion flowers, which the horses loved eating. The 'Hall of Champions' had 4 horses. Cigar, Funny Cide, Da Hoss, and a Quarter Horse Champion.  I can't remember his name. It was nice to see such great horses up close and be able to pet.

A nice day with plenty of time to relax with Daddy in the grass.

Erin and Jill got to ride the ponies.  The same two they rode last year but traded ponies this year.  Erin remembered their names.  Jill, ever the horsewoman, pets her noble steed during the dressage competition.

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Then one final stop at the gift shop before heading home.
Erin has her purse under her arm.  She lost it earlier but we got it back at the lost and found before leaving.







It was a perfect day and everybody had a great time.  Dinner at Fazoli's on the way home.

Thursdays at Iroquois GC

I played Iroquois GC today for round 11 this year. I shot a 39 - 40 = 79.........not bad. I double bogied the last hole. 
We played the back nine first because they were doing something with the greens on the front.  The greens had a lot of sand on them, so what ever they did they put sand on the greens when they were finished and drug the greens.  They rolled pretty good, even with the sand on them.
I hit the ball pretty good today but my putting was what made my score.  Only one green I three putted for a bogey, and that was a long putt over a very rough green, and I left my first putt way short.  I birdied two holes, #4, which I think is a pretty hard hole, and #16.  My putt on #4, about a 20 foot left break putt, lipped out and the ball stopped behind the hole, on the high side, then fell in. My putt on #16 was from the front fringe below the hole about 15 feet. We had 5 groups today and our group didn't win low team.  I don't know if I was low man or not because I had to leave before everybody got in.  I had a net 65.  I'll find out Tuesday.

Another Days Work.........

I had another job to do today.  I went to the KFC Center on Gardner Lane to do another Taste Test.  I ate 2 different Chicken Sandwiches and gave  my opinion of them.  They were both good, even though I didn't like the sauce on them .  Not to say it tasted bad, but I thought the sandwich would have been better without the sauce.
After eating the sandwiches and giving my opinion the gave me $20 and I left. 
Some of these part-time retirement jobs are really hard!

Spring 'BubbaLou' Golf Scramble at Shawnee GC

Gene McDonald has two scrambles a year called the 'BubbaLou'.  In the Spring, it's smaller, less teams, no food.
Today there were 9 teams.  When you turn your scorecard in he tears them in half, front nine, back nine.  Then he draws two teams front nine and adds their score together, low score wins.  Then he draws two teams back nines, adds the scores and low score wins. My team tied for back nine.  We drew high card, I drew for my team.  Norman MacNally drew a jack, I drew a king.  My best shot of the day.  So we won $15 each. 
We played bad.  Our team wasn't very good.  I wasn't the 'A' Player, but I'd have played anybody on my team for money with no strokes given either way.  That was the talent level of our team.  We finished one under, 2 birdies and 1 bogey.  Not very good on Shawnee GC.  I didn't play well and nobody on my team played well.  We were lucky to finish one under.
One reason I don't play well this time of year is that there is very little grass in the fairways.  I like my ball sitting up where I can sweep it off the grass. This time of year it's like playing off hardpan.  If you hit down on the ball, like you should, it doesn't matter.  But, like I say, I like to sweep my ball of the grass and this thin Spring grass fairways just ain't to my liking.

Taking a beating at Weissinger Hills GC

J. R. is always my partner when we play Barry Rhan and Harold Goad.  They give us 3 strokes a side, we play from the white tees, they play from the blue.
Today we played 'Mystery Golf'.  It's Match Play, one point a hole.  Each tee box we draw to see how the hole will be played.  We have Chips numbered 1-4, and draw a chip before teeing off.
#1 - We play our own ball, add both team members score, lowest teams score wins the hole.
#2 - We play alternate shot.  Both members tee off, choose the best tee shot, and whoever hit that tee shot, the other person hits, and rotate until the ball is holed out.  Low score wins the hole.
#3 - Scramble.  Low team score wins the hole.
#4 - You get to choose which format you want of the three.
We take turns drawing on each tee box.
Well, the Dynamic Duo went down today

Instead of the Dynamic Duo, we played more like the Mario Brothers!
We finished the front nine tied.  The managed to Halve, lose, then win on the next 3 holes to reach the 13th tee tied.  We then proceeded to loose the next 4 holes, losing the match  4 and 2.  We did manage to halve 17 and win 18 to lose by 3, but the four holes lost in a row killed us!  One big problem we have is that on the back nine, 2 of the holes we get a stroke on is 17 and 18.  If we're still in the game when we get there it's great, but we were closed out before we could use our strokes.
It was a nice day for golf, even though it was a little windy.  And, the losers had to buy at White Castle....so even losing you still get to eat White Castles. It's always fun, and usually a little closer than we made it today.  Wait'll next time!

Metal Detecting at the old Homestead

Mark and I went metal detecting for awhile today.  I stopped by the house where I grew up and knocked on the door.  I told the lady I'd grown up in that house and would she mind if I metal detected the yard.  She had no problem with it, so I took the back yard and Mark took the front.
This is a picture of what I found. I don't have a picture of what Mark found, but it wasn't much, either.  He did find most of an old toy car, plus about 40 cents.  The oldest coin I found was a 1969.
The house was in pretty bad shape. Windows broken out, trash in the yard, the fence falling down. I would bet the inside looked pretty bad, too.
Anybody have any idea what that triangle thing is in the picture that I found? I don't recognize it. Next to it is a handle from a little cap gun.
All in all, I was pretty disappointed with the find.