Making Lists

 My days left in Florida this year are in the single digits now.  Our little neighborhood group is doing what we can to make the rounds of our favorite places before I leave.  Three of us walked to Spring Lake Park yesterday— a spot I bike through regularly but don’t often walk to.  Except for the stretch along busy, noisy Edgewater Drive, it’s a very nice walk.  The sea grapes are bearing fruit there, the first I have seen this season.

Earlier four of us visited our favorite gelato place, it’s under new ownership, and currently just serves ice cream. no photos..

The rainy season is beginning with showers becoming more frequent and the sunsets being blocked by clouds fairly often.  Last night was a nice one though.

I got a FaceTime call from the grands before it got dark and then one of my neighbors stopped over to say goodbye.  Her Dad had  told her I was leaving today.  I have a few more days, but it was nice to talk to her.I’m sorting through things, packing up and such, trying to leave things clean and pretty.  

Whole again, better than before.

 This morning my (highly entertaining) hurricane reconstruction crew arrived on scene to finish the electrical outlets, install a ceiling fan and smoke detectors and rehang blinds.  So all of the interior work is done, and I am quite pleased with the outcome.  A few photos.

There’s a final inspection of the air conditioner installation on Wednesday.  My plan is to be back in Michigan before Tulip Time begins.  It feels amazing to have the house back to normal.

A Week in Florida

 Without photos there would be no blog.  Here’s a picture of 3 popovers — I went to supper at a steakhouse called Prime with my next door neighbors earlier this week.  I don’t eat much red meat any more but this place was pretty good.  And I like popovers.

This is Jake, a small blue heron that visits my back yard on a regular basis.

I took a bike ride today, looking for wild sea grape trees.  I found several near the boat launch park down the street.  

I’m still waiting for electrical outlets to be finished, and it’s not looking promising at this point.  I shall return to the tundra in about a week, regardless of the outcome.

Green Peas and Mixed Vegetables

 I’ve iced my knee and my IT band a few times now, after bike rides and once after a walk with my next door neighbors.  I also raised my seat height a little, but it’s still lower than it was originally.  It’s definitely no worse, maybe even better. Peas on the knee, mixed veggies on my IT band. Maybe that last bit isn’t relevant.

It’s very summer like here right now, never my favorite season  Muggy, too hot.  Mad dogs and Englishmen weather.  Thunderstorms in the evening on occasion.  We were in a drought, so rain is welcome.  We didn’t get the 25 inches in 24 hours that fell on the other coast, fortunately.

More later.

Florida — one more time.

 I blame the hurricane and it’s messy aftermath for upending  my usual winter schedule.  I plan to close up shop for the season this trip, about a month later than has been typical. I arrived yesterday in a rainstorm, Allegiant makes it easy to get here, but the terminal is small with no air bridges.  Exit the plane, walk through the rain.

 The last two photos are from a bike ride this morning.  I lowered the saddle a bit, per recommendations on the internet, and iced my knee and IT band when I returned.  I had no heating pad here either, so a trip to Walmart fixed that.  We’ll see how this goes.

Iliotibial Band Syndrome

 This post is somewhat related to my last one.  Long version:  I met with my doctor yesterday for my standard semiannual checkup.  Mostly good news — heart, lungs, blood pressure all good. I’ve been struggling with knee pain, which seemed like it was probably a progression of my arthritis in my hip.  She didn’t find any problems with my knee, but diagnosed an inflammation of my IT band, an injury she said is common in runners and bikers. Hmmmm.  (See previous post.). I’ve been referred to the physical therapy people at Holland Hospital for further evaluation and whatever else is appropriate.  Meanwhile, ice after exercise for 20 minutes then heat for 20 minutes.  Ibuprofen.  I bought a heating pad.  I swear I used to have one.

Getting old is not for sissies.

Biking Has Broken Out

 The title reference is to biking in Michigan, lots of miles have been logged in Florida this year.  The temperature was 45 when I left the house, 51 when I returned. It was sunny for a change.  

Note the heavy winter gloves and the helmet cover, both signs of a cool spring day.  Still, I felt better for it.  As usual.

More Beach

 I walked down our stairs to the beach about a half hour or less before sunset last night.  It’s always interesting to see how it’s changed after a big wind (and rain).  We are near the low point of the year for water levels — usually late February, I believe.  

It was chilly, about 40 degrees.  Spring is always late arriving at the lakeshore.

Mom and Daughter

 Photos from Tuesday.

Taking a Break from the Salt Mines

 Just so you know, SALT is an acronym for state and local taxes.  I’ve completed my first run through of my tax returns, and while they are still a work in progress, I can see a light at the end of the tunnel.  I took a break and walked down our stairs to the beach a bit ago, and was pleased to see quite a bit of beach.  And beach access for the first time in years. Also, today is my favorite granddaughter’s birthday—she thinks she’s old, which amuses me.  She and I plan to go out for a perch taco dinner tonight, her family’s party was Saturday, before I got back to the tundra.   April birthdays are plentiful in our family, so there will be a lot of leveling up going on soon.  Happy birthday to all.

Time to Start on the Taxes

 “In this world, the only things that are certain are death and taxes.”  Ben Franklin, according to Google.

Travel is hard.  So is most everything at this point in my life, so I got on a plane yesterday and flew north. It was a busy travel day with lots of crying babies on my plane.  My beloved granddaughter picked me up at the airport.  So many role reversals accompany moving through life.  Odd symmetry.

Here’s a sunset photo from the drive back to Holland.  West, obviously.

More later.