Another Year Already

The dawn chorus of sandhill cranes clattering, competing with my bedmates’ snoring (Grant), purring (Annie), and chirping (Gracie), plus a couple of wrens and cardinals singing woke me on the last day of our second year here in Central Florida. It is still cool enough at night for us to keep the bedroom patio door open to let in the fresh air and the bird calls. 

It’s also Mother’s Day, so Grant will be up soon to start the charcoal to bbq ribs, which Stephanie requested. She, Clara, and Kyle are coming for lunch, bringing ice cream and cake. Grant also made salt potatoes and his green beans. I did nothing other than putting the tablecloth on the lanai table. Perfect.

(The picture was taken at Clara’s softball game. Even though Steph and I talked about taking pictures on Mother’s Day when we were all gussied up, we didn’t. Sigh.)

Even though I miss my Fort Lauderdale family and friends, I think we are adjusting to this new area.We still haven’t joined a UU congregation, made any deep friends, or learned much of the local history and politics. All that takes time and energy. However, the pandemic has eased, or at least been moved off the newspaper’s front page by the war in Ukraine. We are becoming comfortable with going out in public, perhaps even attending movies or live performances.

I am learning the growing seasons, planting warm weather vegetables now including my first attempt with Seminole pumpkins, using seeds given me by Kathy, a friend who moved up here 30 years ago. I’ve also learned to go ahead and order my seeds for the cool weather garden because they won’t be available when I need them in the fall. I am not as far along in my converting all the grass to either planting beds or wood chip pathways as I had hoped. However, I am making progress. By next year for sure.

In any case, we continue enjoying each other’s company and are healthy enough to do most of what we want to do. Life is good.