Spring is on its way

The snow has melted.  At least the snow that had accumulated on lawns.  There are still piles of snow in parking lots, and it will probably be there a while.  The photos in this post are from years past.  Looking at them has made me want to get my camera out and start taking photos.  Nothing is budding yet, but it will come!

 In my old age, I'm experiencing some things I haven't before.  Someone asked me in church yesterday how long it had been since I had seen snow, or if I had ever seen it.  When I lived in Cincinnati back in the late 60's, there was some snow, although it wasn't the norm.  I've been here in Virginia a few times in the last few years when there has been some, but I haven't lived here during the winter.

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 I did have a frosty welcome.  Friends in Florida had asked me if I was sure I wanted to come when I did.  My response was "If winter come, can spring be far behind."  In Florida one of the signs of spring is spring training for baseball, and I must say I am enjoying the posts on Facebook that show the Pirates and the Rays getting ready for opening day

 I am quickly becoming a fan of UVA sports.  The basketball team has been ranked #2 for most of the season, having lost only 2 games.  It will be fun to see what they do in the post-season.  The baseball team does well too...if they can just get the football team up there, we'll be all set.

 

 Back to the snow...the other evening I made the mistake of getting a caramel mocha about 9 o'clock and found myself awake most of the night.  As I was lying in bed, the light was so bright outside, and as I looked out, I was in awe of the light of the full moon on the snow.  That was a first, and one that I hope I will see again, just not this year.  In the morning when I got up and looked out, I saw the hoof prints of deer in the snow, some large and some small...perhaps a mother and her fawn.

David said, "Mom, you might see some on your street at night. Be careful when you're driving home."  Sure enough, last evening when I came near my house, there was a large deer in the middle of the street, and when I turned to go into the driveway, I saw a small one run toward the back of the house.

Now back to unpacking....stay tuned.

Changes

Over the last year, I pondered making a move to Virginia to be near my children.  All my life, except for college years and ten years after that, were spent in Florida.  I'm one of those rare Florida natives that one runs into occasionally, and I've always been very proud of that fact.  I love looking at sites, like Old Florida on Facebo*k and seeing photos of cracker houses and sugar cane mills that remind me so much of my grandparents' home in north Florida.

Whenever I'm out with friends, I invariably run into someone I've known, either from high school, from church, from work, from Sweet Adelines.  I've always loved that...that feeling of familiarity with everything around me.

Well, at my ripe old age, I've moved from Florida to Virginia, to the Shenandoah Valley, to new surroundings, where I will find I have to find my new normal.  I've been coming to Virginia for the last eight years, spending lots of time here with my granddaughter and my son.  Five years ago, my daughter moved here so that she could be closer to Ella and David.  The only time she would see Ella was when they might come to Florida, and she said to me, "Mom, I want to see Ella grow up." So she moved.

So I've moved.  They are the only family I have.  I've bought a home here, and I am in the middle of boxes being unpacked and things put away.  I'm waiting for the delivery of bedroom furniture tomorrow...hopefully, but it is supposed to snow, so I don't imagine it will make it tomorrow.  It will be over a week before I get internet and TV, so I'm spending time during the day at David's using his internet.   It's amazing how unnecessary TV becomes when you don't have it.

I hope to blog more.  I'm looking forward to a trip out west in May, and then I hope to get really settled in and get to know this area more.

So...while they're singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in Florida, folks here are singing "Let it Snow" or, maybe I should say, "Snow, Snow, Go Away.  Come again another day."

I Can See Clearly Now

A few weeks ago, I posted on Facebook, asking friends to tell me their experience with cataract surgery and which doctor had done their surgery and the results.  I got many responses and recommendations

This photo has nothing whatsoever to do with this post.  I just like it.

In 1999, I had a hemorrhage in my right eye which took my central vision.  Most of you will recognize it as "wet macular degeneration."  That was quite a blow to me, but I carried on.  It was obvious that I could still see well with my left eye and had good peripheral vision in the right eye.  Doctors did tell me that when I developed cataracts, they would be very hesitant to do surgery on them, for fear of something going wrong.  Listening to the folks who posted on Facebook, there were some who did experience difficulties.

I had consulted with a doctor about six months ago, asking about cataract surgery, and he assured me that if I had the surgery, I should not expect great results because of my problems.  I drove to Virginia in August, and when I got on the road, I realized I was not seeing nearly as well as I should.  When I got home, I began pursuing surgery.

To make a long story short, I had both eyes done.  The doctor assured me that in my good eye, where the cataract had really taken over, he could bring the vision back to 98% of what it should be.  I had that eye done first, and, oh my, the difference the next day was just incredible.  I had heard people talk about the brightness of colors.  They were right.  I found myself just looking and looking and soaking in the wonderful colors and sharpness of vision.  My right eye was done the next week, and while the central vision was not improved, the peripheral vision is good.

I just read a post on Facebook from Humans of New York.  He interviewed a young woman who is losing her eyesight due to retinosa pigmentosa.  That is a condition where the peripheral vision narrows until the vision is totally diminished.  She said that she is looking at everything...the clouds, the sky, the green grass, knowing that one day she will not be seeing them at all.

That's a bit how I feel.  I'm loving every day of seeing well.  And if the day comes, or when the day comes that my vision is diminished because of dry macular degeneration, I will have had this gift for this time.

Don and I used to sing a song in church that had the words "Heav'n above is softer blue, earth below is sweeter green."  It's true.

And I guess the moral of the story is...if you are 50 or over, have a thorough eye exam by an ophthalmologist, not an optometrist.  An optometrist is great for prescribing glasses and should be able to catch problems, but they don't always.  Mine didn't.  I am thankful, however, for the technology and knowledge that is available today at our disposal!

Past Halloweens with Ella

Looking back through my files, I decided to post some photos of Ella in past Hallowe'ens.  She was just three months old when her first Hallowe'en came around.

 By the time the next year came, she was ready for trick or treating, pretty little flower.

 Then along came Little Red Riding Hood, her basket all ready to receive treats.

By the time she was three, her love for elephants began to develop.  Here she was a Heffalump.  I'm waiting to see what she will be this year.

Along the Way

I've recently returned from a trip to Virginia.  One of the pluses of driving is being able to stop along the way to visit friends.  On my way home this time, I went by Raleigh and visited with Mr. and Mrs. Kenju, from Just Ask Judy.  this is the fourth or fifth time that we have gotten together for lunch and lots of talk.  This time was no different.  Mr. and Mrs. Kenju just celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary yesterday, so that occupied some of our conversation.

After I left their house, I drove to a friend's house to visit and spend the night.  It's always a delight to stop there. Even though she lives close to the interstate, when I am at her house, I feel like I am in the country.  As I drove to her house, I saw fields of tobacco growing.  It really is a beautiful crop.  The leaves are full and green, with blossoms at the top.  On either side of her house were fields of soybeans.

Her home is the house that she grew up in.  Her parents have been gone for some time now, and she has remodeled the house to her fancy.  Her dad's old barn is still there, as well as his old pick-up truck.  Beside the house is the old tobacco barn that was used in years past.

One of my favorite things, besides visiting with my friend, is her cat, Fred.  Fred came to live with her after she retired from her main job.  They are quite the pair, and I love petting her.  Fred is being pestered by a mockingbird who has made it his object to pester the life out of her.  

After a good dinner, sitting out on her new patio and a good night's rest, I was on my way home to Florida the next day.  Because I travel a road where there are not a lot of good places to stay, I stop in Kingsland, Georgia for the night instead of driving all the way home.  The last two times I've stopped there, the desk clerks have said to me, "You have stayed here before, haven't you."  I like that.

By the time I got home, I really wasn't all that tired.  I hadn't driven a whole lot any one day, and traffic was light on the interstate coming home this time.  That was a good thing.

Lacoochee Then and Now

I'm going to try really hard to blog more.  When I'm away from home, there seems to be more time. When I'm home sitting with my computer, I see all the things that I should be doing.  When I'm away, I don't see it, so....

I changed my header photo yesterday.  The name of my blog is "Lacoochee Kid."  Lacoochee is a little town in Pasco County in the state of Florida.  I was born there way back when there was lots of activity.  Lacoochee was a "company town."  The Cummer company operated a cypress lumber mill there, and my father was a foreman for the company.  We moved away when I was just turning four, so my memories are a bit dim.  However, I did go back and spend time with my aunt and cousin at various times.

The photos in the collage are some of the remains of Lacoochee.  I do remember my parents saying, "When the war (WWII) is over, we're leaving Lacoochee," and they did.  They moved to Bradenton, and that is where I grew up and where I live today.  The lumber mill closed in the 50's.  Another company came in, but there is nothing there now.  The old mill is there, but the hotel, the commissary, and all the houses are gone.  Lacoochee does have an elementary school, but I have never ventured far enough to find it.

The street markers in the photo are reminders of the past.  Lewis Abraham's father owned and operated a drug store on the main business street (the only business street) of the town.  I think if Lacoochee had had a mayor, Abe would have been it.  His drug store was a favorite meeting place.  I have a picture on my wall at home of him and his wife in the drug store.  I'll post that another day.  Abe came to the States from Syria, established himself, and then went back for his bride, and brought her to begin their lives together in America.  His son, Lewis, is well-remembered in Pasco County for his business acumen.  Abe had a daughter, Lorise, who has written much of the history of Lacoochee.  Someone named her the "Lacoochee Lady."  My first cousin was first cousin with Lewis and Lorise, so I feel connected to them as though they were family.

The last photo of the old house isn't actually in Lacoochee.  It is in the little town of Trilby, just a mile or two away on the other side of Highway 301.  That house belonged to my daddy's parents.  Before my parents were married, he lived there and rode his bike to work at the mill each day.  The house was close to the railroad tracks.  My granddaddy worked for at the train depot there.  Between the house and train depot was a field of phlox.  I loved seeing those flowers, and they always remind me of my grandparents.  I don't know who owns the house now.  The last time I went by, it looked as though someone is using it to store junk in.


Not much remains of Lacoochee now, but much of the town can be seen in the Pioneer Florida Museum in Dade City.  I love to visit there and remember.

Catching up

 It has been a while since I have updated this blog.  I used to write a lot, particularly a lot about Ella.  Time has flown by, and Ella has finished second grade. The photo at the top was taken after her seventh birthday last August.  The day after her party she quickly sat down and wrote thank you notes for all the gifts that she received.  Her parents have taught her well the importance of being grateful and expressing her thanks in a tangible way.

One of Ella's favorite ways to pass her time is to read.  She has a book in her hand almost wherever she goes.  Right now she is reading the series of books, The Diary of a Wimpy Kid and A Series of Unfortunate Events.  She recently read Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. After reading the book, she watched the movie, then at the dinner table discussed the similarities and differences between the movie and the book.

I was sick during March and into April.  David asked me if I could come up and be with Ella during her spring break.  I told him I wasn't sure at all if I  would feel up to it, but I went.  One day, I told Ella that I needed to lie down on the sofa.  She got right up with me and began reading to me.  The tables had turned.

 In Ella's after school program, the opportunity to take violin lessons was given to the children, and so that has been added to her activities.  The Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra has provided the instruments, the teachers, and the lessons without charge to the students.  What a wonderful opportunity is theirs to learn to play.  I'm going to polish my violin, get a new bow and string's and see if I can keep up with her.

This photo was taken by Ginny, one of Ella's former caregivers at a recent program at Ella's school.  I have spent this past week being taxi driver for Ella and her different activities.   I'm spending this next week with Sarah in Charlottesville, and then going home for a little while, and then returning for birthday number 8.

Happy Birthday, Sarah

Happy Birthday, Sarah

The winter of 1977 was a cold one in Florida, and when I mention it to folks from the north, they seem to remember it well too. On the way to the hospital on the morning of January 20, the bank thermometer registered 26 degrees. It was cold. Jimmy Carter was inaugurated that day, and Sarah was born.

The years have gone by quickly. Sarah has grown in to a lovely, young woman. I am so glad that I got to be her mother.

Happy birthday, Aunt Sarah.

The day after

It's the day after Christmas.  Sarah and I enjoyed a quiet day together, waiting for Ella to return with her family from Sabrina's parents' house.  We'll celebrate together in the next day or two.  I hope you all had a good time together with family wherever you found yourselves.

I've neglected this blog for so long, and I sometimes think of taking it down, but I do treasure the friends made through this medium, and I do like to stay connected.

Steve Goodier of Life Support System posted this a few days ago, and it is so fitting for every day, not just Christmas.  You can find Steve's postings here.

An Incredible Feeling

Newscaster Paul Harvey once told about a woman who called the Butterball Turkey Company and said that she had a turkey that had been in her freezer for 23 years. She asked if it was still any good. She was told that if her freezer was at least zero degrees Fahrenheit, then the turkey was probably safe enough to eat. But they wouldn’t recommend that she eat it. The flavor would have deteriorated considerably. She said, “That’s what we thought. I guess we’ll just give it to the church.”
   
I suppose there are many reasons we choose to give. But people who enjoy sharing with others the most do not share simply because they have a need to get rid of something. Those who find the greatest joy from giving have learned to give from a deeper place; they give from their hearts.
   
Santa Claus is becoming a universal symbol of giving. Millions of children write letters to Santa each year in hopes that they won’t be forgotten during his annual giving spree. Did you know that the US Post Office actually found ways to answer those letters to Santa Claus? They used to just stick them in the so-called dead letter box. But now some cities have programs that allow people to sort through these hand-written pleas, hopes and wishes and become “Santas” to others in need. They choose a letter and respond however they can. Most anyone can play Santa.
   
One letter that might have been discarded a few years ago, but was picked up by a volunteer Santa Claus, came from a boy named Donny. He wrote that he wanted a bike for Christmas and “some food and what I really need is love.”
   
Another volunteer Santa latched onto a letter from a young mother who wrote, “I lost my job...and I cannot afford to give my two children the things they need for the winter months.” That generous spirit helped with some necessities for the children.
   
“I like to go to their home on Christmas Eve,” one joyful Santa said. One year he bought presents for four children and a ham for their mother. Then he added this poignant observation: “The feeling you get is just incredible.”
   
I admit it – I don't always get that feeling when I give. But then I don't always give out of untainted motivations. Sometimes I give from other places. Sometimes I give out of social obligation or out of guilt. Or I give with an expectation for receiving back. But I give best when I give from that deeper place; when I give simply, freely and generously, and sometimes for no particular reason. I give best when I give from my heart.

At the orchard

During my visit to California, we visited the Otow Orchard.  This sign greeted us as we drove down the driveway to the house and barn of the orchard.

The orchard has several varieties of fruit, but our attention that day was drawn to the persimmons and the preservation of the fruit.

The following is a quote from the orchard's website.  Please be sure to click on the link to read further about the hosigaki method of treating the fruit. There is a slideshow there that shows step by step the process. The following is a quote from the website.

"Otow Orchard is renowned for preserving the Japanese art of hoshigaki -- hoshi means dried and gaki is from kaki, the Japanese word for persimmon.

Our fresh persimmons are dried each fall in a slow, patient, hands-on process that usually takes three to six weeks...per persimmon. Each persimmon is hand-peeled, strung onto a rack, and massaged every 3 to 5 days for several weeks. Weather conditions are watched carefully. The result is a transformation into a sugary delicacy that is tender and moist with concentrated persimmon flavor.

Harvest season begins in October and the process is completed by January. "

After the fruit is picked, each persimmon is peeled and a string is tied around the stem.  It is then tied to another persimmon and hung on a rack to begin the drying process.  During the drying period, the fruit is massaged to bring out the sweetness."

This photo shows the final product.  It looks moldy, doesn't it.  It isn't mold; it's sugar.  My question was, "What do you do with it?"  The young man said that it can be cut up and put in salads much like dried cranberries or other dried fruits.  One of the ladies at the farm gave us a sample of the confection.  It was very good.

The thing that impressed me most about this orchard and its owners is that they give regularly to the local food bank.  Angela, the lady who was talking to us, said that they don't give seconds, they give the best that they have.  They truly are giving of the firstfruits of their labor.  Angela also told us that they make sure some of the fruit is soft, so that those who come for food and have few teeth or none at all can enjoy the fruit.
I thought of my giving.  Do I give my best, my firstfruits?  Proverbs 3:9 tells us to honor the Lord with our wealth, with the firstfruits of all our crops.  The Message puts it like this: Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best.                                                                                                                  
  I believe the folks at the Otow Orchard are truly doing that, and they are blessed.  I'm so glad I was able to visit their farm and see their faith and good works in action.

Pumpkins, Pomegranates, and Persimmons

Having finally accumulated enough air miles, I flew to California last week for a visit with my "axe-murder" friends, friends I met a few years ago through blogging.  When I first went to California to meet them, I had some friends here in Florida who wondered about my sanity.  It all turned out for the good.  We have become the best of friends.

Three years ago, when I first met  them, they showed me San Francisco and Lake Tahoe.  It was a wonderful week of seeing things I had only read about or seen pictures of.  This time the trip was much more low key.  When my friends moved to the Sacramento area, they bought a home that had several fruit trees in the back yard, one of which was a pomegranate tree.  The only other time I had seen such a tree was in my grandpa's back yard in north Florida.  I remember eating the fruit and liking it very much.  I came home with some of them in my suitcase.

On Sunday afternoon we visited the Otow Orchard, where we saw lots of persimmon trees.  Again, I knew of persimmons, mainly my mother having said that if you ate one before it was ripe, it would make your mouth pucker.  I remember one time being in line at the grocery store, and someone had one with his groceries.  He must not have known what it was, and the cashier didn't know either.  They asked me if I knew what it was, and I said I think it is a persimmon.  The cashier looked up the code for it, and it went through, so I guess I was right.  I will write more about this orchard in another blog post, because there is so much to tell about these fine folks.  Be sure to click the link and read about their farm.

And what would a fall day be without pumpkins.  On the day before I left we visited Apple Hill, an area with many apple orchards...lots to write about there too.  Being fall, there were pumpkins, and that is where I will leave you today.

While I was away

While I was not blogging actively, many things happened.  I hadn't stopped reading blogs.  I just had not been active in commenting or posting.  One day, I read Granny Annie's post.  In that post she mentioned how much she had missed her blogging friends during her absence.  I was sorry to learn that her husband had passed away.  And then, a longtime blogging friend was losing her dear feline friend, Abby.  I realized how much I was missing these virtual friends by not being around.

In June I took a trip to Europe.  I'll post about that trip from time to time.  After the tour that I was on, I traveled on to Estonia.  I had been there in 2003 with a group from my church.  Since then our church and the church in Allika have been in close contact, and from time to time, members of their church have come to Florida to visit us.  One of those ladies has become a good friend.  She has stayed with me both times she has been here.  So, after the tour I was on finished, I traveled on to Estonia to visit Tiina and her family and the church family there.

The header photo on my blog is at Tiina's house.  While I was there, the sun was bright at 4 in the morning, and there was still bright sunlight at 10:30 at night.  Their gardens flourish during these times and everyone loves being outdoors, soaking up the sun, having picnics, and all the things we associate with summer.

Tiina's yard

 

Tiina's yard and garden

 

Tiina in the center, with her sister and mother

Yummy strawberries, fresh from the garden

Then and Now

It wasn't so long ago that Ella could be seen with Hector, the neighbor's cat.  She followed him around and really imitated his every move.  When he licked his paw, she would lick her hand.  When he stretched out in a comfortable position, Ella did too.
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When I was in Virginia  this month, I saw Hector again.  Actually, I see him every time ago.  He's such a good old boy.  He lets the children stroke him and pet him all they want.  There is a new cat in the family now.  And he is friendly like Hector.  I asked Ella's mom if the family had gotten the cat to be there for whenever they didn't have Hector any more.

She said, "No."  They had seen the cat, and her daughter, Ella's friend, begged her mother for the cat.  Mom said that they couldn't get the cat because it would cost too much to feed and take care of two.  The daughter went and got fifteen dollars that she had received for her birthday and said, "Here, Mom."  What could Mom say then?  So they ended up with another cat.

Here are Ella and Hector today.  If you look closely at Hector's right ear, you can see that some of it is missing.  He apparently was a loser in a fight.  He's still the mellow cat, and Ella still loves him.

Back Home in Florida

I thought I might try to post each day in August, but I failed miserably.  I didn't have my computer with me, although I did have a tablet.  I tried a few posts.  They worked, but not as easily as they would have if I had had my laptop with me.

I spent August in Virginia with my daughter and my son and his family.  August is a special month because it is Ella's birth month.  We celebrated her seventh birthday on the fourth.  Actually she had a party with her friends on Saturday, then on Sunday we celebrated as a family.  We had dinner together at a restaurant and then went back to Aunt Sarah's condo for cake and presents.

The last week and a half I spent at David's with Ella.  The summer program that she was in ended before school started, so they asked me if I would mind staying with her.  Well, do you think I minded?  Not one bit.

I'm impressed

Ella's birthday was August 4. She turned seven. This week, since her summer program is over, I'm staying with her during the week while her parents work.

On Monday morning, when she had finished breakfast and done her treatment, she sat right down to write thank you notes. I was not surprised. Rather, i was impressed. How many times have you received a thank you note lately?

Well, I tried to upload a photo, but mobile Blogger says the format isn't supported.  Jpg.....hmmm. oh well, most of you have seen it on Facebook.

A test

I just installed Blogger on my phone and did a quick post. However, it did not publish. Now I'm trying my tablet to see if it does any better.

Just a teaser

 Ella, on Saturday, before her guests arrived for her "My Little Pony" birthday party.

Ella, on Sunday, after a trip to Build * Bear to build this pony.  Yes, there are other items besides bears.  She also has Rudolph the Red Nos*d Reindeer and his girlfriend.  She had a very happy birthday.

The Bella

Well, I was going to try to post a photo of Ella from Facebook, but the link didn't work. (I know why now. On FB I limit who can see my photos to my FB friends.)  When I get home and have access to my own computer, I'll work on getting some photos up.  Ella had a great party on Saturday with five friends who magically turned into "My Little Ponies."  With fancy hair barrettes and "tails" made with flowing ribbons, they pranced around and enjoyed themselves immensely.  Ella's mom made all of the decorations, and is her style, everything was elegantly made.

The center of the table had bowls of daisies because that is what the one particular pony eats.  Everything was fitting with "My Little Pony."

After the girls went home, one little friend remained and spent the night with Ella.  She is her friend from pre-K. Since they don't go to the same elementary school, they don't see each other as often as they would like, so having her spend the night was extra special for both girls.  David said they were out like lights as soon as their heads hit the pillows.

On Sunday, they came to Charlottesville to get a present for Ella fro Build * Bear.  Of course, it was one of the ponies.  We had a good lunch together at Ruby T*esday and then came back to her aunt Sarah's apartment for cake and ice cream and more presents.

She had a wonderful two days of celebrating her seventh year.  In the meantime, I'm enjoying the cooler temperatures here in Charlottesville!

Happy Birthday, Ella

Since Ella's birthday is tomorrow, Sunday, the fourth, we celebrated today with five of her friends.  The theme this year was "My Little Pony."  The decorations were very tastefully done by Ella's mom.  Pink and purple were the main colors.  Each girl had a hair barrette that Sabrina had made, along with tails which they wore all afternoon. 

After playing outside for a while, they came in and did some crafts around a table, then on to the cake and presents.  It was really a lovely afternoon.  I posted pictures on Facebook, and when I have my own computer back and can upload the pictures, I will post them here.

Tomorrow, after church, we are meeting for lunch and then coming back to Sarah's for cake and celebrate some more.

An August Challenge

I saw on Facebook the other day a challenge to blog every day in August.  Well, I'm already a day late in starting.  I have been remiss in posting and visiting friends' blogs.  And I realize I've missed a lot.

My computer is on the DL right now.  I drove up to Virginia over the last three days, stopping the first night in Savannah, and then spent a night with a good friend in North Carolina before coming on to Virginia today. 

I haven't been up since March.  It seems so long ago.  I'm here for Ella's seventh birthday on Sunday.  Can you believe it?  She is growing up so fast...too fast.  Hopefully, I'll get some pictures up so that you can see how tall she is, how pretty she is, and I know you can tell by looking at her how smart she is.

I've had a busy summer, and I'll share some of that in subsequent posts, but for now, good night.  I'll be back soon.