I've tried keeping up, I really have, but there have been life changes of late which have been both biggish and ouchish. Not being melodramatic, but they require adjusting to and it's become rather imperative that I find a job. So, I'll not be here nor on Facebook nearly so much.
First, the Sebring Diner, where Mom and I had lunch today:
Good diner food, great service and reasonable prices. Can't beat that.
Last weekend we took a short drive to the town of Lake Placid, (not the one located in New York state) which has the nickname of Town of Murals.
This tidy little cathouse was up for sale... Still working on my little tale; it suddenly struck me that I'd begun the story in the middle and needed to rectify the situation. It may, in fact, end up not being as short a tale as I'd originally intended. Ah well, at least I'm back in the swing of things.
I committed one yesterday, when I spotted this little guy/gal *ahem* hotfooting it across the tarmac and pavement. A mission of mercy that is.
It was 90+ F. here yesterday; close enough to 33 C. as to make no nevermind, as the saying goes, and this tortoise (a gopher tortoise I think) was racing across the road and drive, but not quite making it to the grass. I, being of the fools rush in breed, hurried over to help. Shoes? Forgot all about 'em, hence the crispy feet. Still, I'm sure his gratitude more than made up for my discomfort . . .
Doesn't that wee face just radiate good will, gratitude and stick a body part close enough and I'll bite it off for ya! (No, I didn't just take photographs, I nudged him gently into the grass whilst staying clear of the bitey end.)
Remember my pet cherry tomato plant? If you look closely at this photo, you'll see it has tripled in size. Little blooms are forming as well. This makes me happy. Obviously, it doesn't take a lot to make me happy.
The tomato plant is second to the right of the steps, it started out like this:
In other news, I definitely have a primary care doctor now, huzzah! And today, I'm putting in job applications. Wish me luck.
It's not even close to finished, but the important thing is that I'm writing again. Nothing is going to stop me; I may be slow, but I'm still going!
Mother
of Myhha
She
sprawled over her tatty old armchair; one leg stretched out before
her whilst the other dangled, jangled, and flopped over a ragged arm.
A softly chubby hand, complete with dimpled knuckles, restlessly
stroked the disintegrating cover of her ancient copy of Rudyard
Kipling's Just So Stories.
“
But
the wildest of all the wild animals was the Cat. He walked by
himself, and all places were alike to him.”
It
was a good thing she'd long ago memorized those lines written by Mr.
Kipling, as her eyes were too blurred to read them from aught but
memory just now. They had always resonated with her but never more
than at present, when her heart ached and quivered within her chest
and her stomach threatened to batter it's way through her
clenched teeth.
There will be more, when it's ready... hope your weekend is a good one!
Just a very few weeks ago, less than three, I posted a video HeRe to show how severe my tremors were becoming. A few days later and my short and shakiness had landed in, of all places, Florida, where I'm spending some quality time with my mother. I need to do another video soon, to demonstrate how lovely and calm it is when the tremors are at their minimum. Which they are. My blood pressure has dropped and my heart isn't galloping or giving out with odd, extra beats either.
Bliss.
The weather is practically perfect just now. Mid 80's F. (29.4 +/- C.) and mildly breezy; mostly clear skies with occasional showers. Suitable weather for a residence slightly south of a town named Frostproof.
Is it possible, do you think, to fall in love with a place? This isn't coastal Florida, not Miami nor the Keys... not even Disney. We're in the middle of the state, where oranges, cattle and old people are the main industries. You can drive for miles on two lane roads and see scarcely another vehicle and the 'old' architecture looks like this:
There are lovely little towns, like the one called Labelle, where much of the population is Hispanic. There are old-style tacquerias whose like I haven't seen since I was last in California and on a quiet Sunday afternoon you'll see soccer teams made up of every age playing in the local church yards. Dotted around the streets are vendors, with lines stretching along the streets, waiting to buy handmade tamales, carnitas, Mexican street corn and sinfully sweet empanadas.
Here, where Mom lives, it's quiet: small town - almost country - quiet. I think I've heard one siren in all the time I've been here; a body can relax into the sussuration of wind playing amongst the palm fronds. A rather pleasant melody to accompany gardening, which I did a bit of yesterday, potting up a few things for Mom.
A 'black' cherry tomato.
Must have lavender, of course, and a butterfly bush for Mom's beloved butterflies.
Mom and I spent Sunday, last, with a family friend and her daughter; Mom and Judy have been friends for years, as have Melody and I.
Mom is in the lighter blouse.
And I have had my hair chopped off again.
It struck me, as we were returning from our day out, just how relaxed and happy I felt.
Oh, and if any of you are Shania Twain fans, here is a part of her McCompound on Marco Island, Florida.
Oh, and just because I can (and because he's a friend and extremely prolific writer) I'm including this blurb today:
May I introduce George... first, perched on the back of the bench, then admiring the larger than life size statue of himself.
Today, George brought along a little friend. Being the original sort, I named her Georgiana.
Not quite as cuddly as the pooches.
Since they were relaxing on Mom's very colourful little porch, I'd guess they were ... wait for it ... lounge lizards.
Mom seems to prefer the company of seahorses. And bluebirds.
I rather like Mom's very brightly coloured plants.
Here, we are surrounded by orange groves and cattle... not too terribly far away is the Cosa Nostra cattle ranch; I do believe I shall keep a healthy distance from it. Still, how many towns can boast a HUGE lake like Lake Jackson in the centre?
