12 Oakdale

 Welcome, 2025 Another year to pare down our belongings, either by not buying something or by moving things along. In another post, I’ll list our 1/week cleaning of drawers, shelves, or box. In: 01/03: 2 copper mule mugs. (Also 1 mini vase & 2 tea candle holders used as vases for hospice flowers, a Windermere Garden Club project.) All from Central Hope Thrift Shop. $6.66  01/06: Watercolor brush: #2 round, kolinsky sable, from Amazon. $29.82 01/07: SD card reader for trail camera, from Amazon. $10.64 01/08: Watercolor brushes: flat, mop, rigger, & filbert, from Amazon. $46.51 02/23: 3 shelves to display my paintings, from Wayfair. $44.72 03/ 03/25: 2 tshirts for HGB from RSMAS grad student sale. $42.80 + $14.88 UPS shipping 03/29: Grab bars for the shower and next to toilets, anti-slip mat for rug, plus shower mat returned, from Amazon and installed by Patten and Ryan. $99.88 05/24: Hose for pool, to replace old one Bath mat Stihl 3” chainsaw Pole for Stihl chainsaw...

 Yes, I’m in good shape, for my age, as the doctors always have to add. However, 10 pounds less makes my pants fit better. Back on the eat less, exercise more plan. January 6th: 170.0#  I’ve begun my arm exercises again and am trying a NYT’s stretching program for lower backs. Mine is fine, and I plan to keep it that way. January 13th: 172.0# Sigh, definitely not the right direction. At least I’ve started walking daily and added my shoulder exercises back to my routines. February 3rd: 172.5# Double sigh, but no surprise. I have reestablished my morning exercises, varying from shoulders to stretching to some more core. We moved the stationary bike to the lanai. I ride every few days. February 24th: 172# Up and down, wavering around 172. We have walked every day this past week, except Wednesday, when it rained all day. March 10th: 177# Ouch. I knew our low-impact birding trip definitely would impact my weight. Too much enjoying eating casado (beans, rice, protein, plantains, a...

Monday, after taking Peg’s truck to not 1, but 2 mechanics to find out why the check engine light kept coming on, she and Betsy arrived in time for dinner, still not sure what the problem was. I had made the lentil salad we’ve enjoyed, this time with the suggested radicchio, and a lemon pie using the can of cocoanut cream left in the fridge when Spaulding came and made piña coladas. Both delicious, although I’m unlikely to recycle the pie recipe. Key lime is still our favorite. They had been up in Gainesville, organizing more of Jen’s things, so Barton can decide what to do with them when he is ready. The other project was building a cat-proof fence in the backyard so his kitties can spend outdoor time. I’m sure the cats are grateful.  Tuesday, we dropped Betsy at the airport for her many-hour trip home, via Atlanta and LAX. So glad to have so much time with her, so very sad to say goodbye. Visiting next year is on my agenda, even as I keep looking at a Nile River cruise. That even...

Obsessing, rather than tackling the projects and decisions I must make has not helped with my tiredness. I decided to ignore the yard for a couple of days and work with my mind. First up was the plaques I must give out for the Town of Windermere Centennial Trees. Saturday morning, I downloaded the spreadsheet Vicki sent listing all the recipients. I added the others our Public Works director sent. I spent the next hour or so texting/emailing the 30 families, letting them know when I was available next week to present their plaque and take their picture. By the end of the day, I’d scheduled 9 families on Sunday, 2 more on Wednesday, heard from 2 people who had not received their trees (one lady thought a tree was being delivered!), learned 1 woman who moved and was selling her house, and arranged for several others who are now traveling to contact me when they get back.  Getting that process started is 1 thing off my mind. It will just keep rolling, although I am skeptical we will h...

Monday night, Grant’s right calf and shin were red and swollen. I made him an 8:20 AM Tuesday appointment at our nearby Advent walk-in clinic in Ocoee, the same one he went to last December, when he had dropped our heavy suitcase on his foot. Like last time, the staff was very competent and helpful. The physician assistant drew a black line around the redness so we could track changes and prescribed an antibiotic. (He used a 1-use, medical grade felt tipped permanent marker. I took it home rather than having a perfectly good marker thrown away. I appreciate the need for medical safety, however, I can’t stand all the waste.) He also suggested an X-ray of Grant’s ankle because Grant had twisted it while I was gone to Gainesville. Probably nothing, but it was so sore, prudence was the right path. The only hitch was that location did not have an X-ray technician there right then. We could go to the Daniel Street branch. Trundled over there. Again, good staff, quick service. We would hear w...

Wednesday, we got up at relatively o’dark hundred to go to Orlando Wetlands with the goal of Betsy seeing roseate spoonbills. Mission definitely accomplished. As we walked along the boardwalk, we saw newly hatched common gallinules, tiny, tiny, being fed by parents. So cute, flapping their minuscule wings and begging. Further along, slightly older ones were still begging, but walking on the water lilies within ridiculously big feet, also finding their own food. At the far end of the boardwalk, much larger wood stork babies clamored. We didn’t see any parents around, but did see an anhinga feeding her 3 babies, which were as big as she was. Time for those to start fishing for themselves, in my opinion. As we turned back, a fledged spoonbill and parent flew over and landed in a tree right next to us. Much clacking of bills, the mom coughed up a treat for her offspring. I think I’d rather be that species, than an anhinga, having my babies poke their sharp beaks down my throat. But the bes...