12 Oakdale

Kicked off with a group bus trip by Windermere Garden Club to Art in Bloom at the Orlando Museum of Art. An annual fundraiser, local floral designers interpreted pieces of art in flowers. Some seemed to take it literally, others more relaxed. Lovely day, lunch (chicken salad either on mixed greens or a croissant), then bus trip home. Of course a bag of snacks on the bus to tide us over. Then 2 days of Spring Fever in the Garden, Bloom and Grow Garden Society’s major fundraiser: $140k this year. I got up at 4:00 AM Saturday to be at my zone leader post by 5:30. This year, an easy zone with only 6 vendors, 1 of which didn’t show and 1 was 8 Waves, an after school group that only had a tent and 2 tables for their information. Co-zone leader Lavina and I were done by 8:30, which meant we could scout the show before the crowds. We headed to Andy’s space where she bought a duck (old outboard motor cover) and a rooster (garden rakes). I loved his owl with feathers made of table knives, but ...

I was a zone leader again this year for Spring Fever, Bloom and Grow Garden Society’s huge fund raiser. My cohorts and I arrive at 5:45 AM, so vendors can begin offloading and setting up from 6:00-7:00. Last year, we were freezing. This year it was 76° to start and got hotter. My SF t-shirt and high-viz vest were more than enough. Technically opening at 9:00, by 8:00 a lot of the vendors were ready to sell, and customers were there to buy. I cruised all the booths along Plant Street, talking to the several native plant sellers, a vendor with carnivorous plants, and the artist from whom I’d bought a piece last year. I liked the ceramic orchid pots at one booth. Nothing for me today, although the $85 cat sculpture did call to me. Perhaps I’ll grab something when I come back Sunday when I oversee my zone’s closing. Other people were filling their carts, wagons, and pet strollers with plants, mostly the pretty flowering ones. The last 17 days, since Grant’s fall, have stressed me...

We flew the red eye home Thursday morning, landing just a few hours after Spaulding and Molly arrived with Teddy. They were in town for the weekend to celebrate Randy’s wedding. Stephanie picked them up at the airport, and they were all asleep when we got home. With our colds, we were reluctant to hug when they woke up and had to avoid cuddling with Teddy, just admiring the cutie from afar. Grant took Spaulding to pick up a rental car while I slept, then Molly shopped for food to cook. Teddy’s gut is extremely sensitive. Since he is only breastfed, she is on a non-dairy, non-gluten, non- processed foods, non-some other stuff diet to help soothe his tummy. Brava Molly, and it seemed like the regime would be a good one for most all of us to follow. Very healthy. However, it means she really cannot eat out, hence she cooked all her meals for the weekend at our house before they moved to the B&B in Howey in the Hills with the rest of the wedding party. She planned to carry little conta...

I went out to get the paper this morning, and when I turned to go back to the house, Gracie was standing on the front porch. I scooped her up and tossed her inside. Wait, Gracie was inside. This is another cat, obviously from the same litter. A little bigger, perhaps because he’s a male, but just as friendly as Gracie. Is someone throwing  them out one at a time? Annie is disgusted. We are absolutely not keeping 2 new cats. The no-kill shelters aren’t taking new cats, so I guess he’s going to the Orange County Animal Shelter. Why won’t people take care of their pets? In the meantime, all three cats are roaming the house having trouble getting settled. First it was the lawn guys with their mowers and leaf blowers. Now it’s Terry replacing the 5, yes, 5 panels of screens that blew in during a windstorm a couple of weeks ago. He also reattached a piece of frame that had come unscrewed which he hopes will keep the whole huge screen house from being so wobbly. Dang, I hope so. I shudder...