What’s it like in Florida? you may ask. How’s it different than California? Have I made a few new friends? Is it nice being around my grandkids (of course)? How do I like the weather?

Yes, there are many questions. In this blog this week I will attempt to answer the questions I think you may want to ask. Now that I’m getting in the rhythm of Florida, I am able to answer the questions more astutely. First, I am getting used to the weather changes. In a day the weather changes quite a bit more than I was used to in California. It’s still hot for the most part. But there is often a rain sometime during the day. The thermostat is kept on cool (where in Chico I had it off most of the time). There is more moisture in the air over here. LaVonne says I will be changing it to warm pretty soon.

I like to work outside in the morning, as I did in Chico. The morning is nice for outside work. It is a little warm in the afternoon. I spent quite a bit of time setting up my house. It took some ingenuity but I got it done. Thankfully, my stroke hasn’t left me with any significant changes, so I am able to get most things done on my own, and that is a blessing! Getting my buffet set up meant a good deal to me. Once it was in place I could get to work in other areas. It’s feeling more like my place every day.

LaVonne has her children take turns coming over; one per day. They come for about 15 minutes. Each one has a specific afternoon they come over. Today my granddaughter, Hannah, was here. We looked at pictures of the kids from back when my mother was alive and they lived in Colorado. Those were fun days. I’d go to Colorado for visits and to be of service to them. It amazes me how fast the time changes.

I eat one meal a week with LaVonne’s family. She always surprises me. She is quite a cook! Her meals are quite different than mine. She makes something unusual every time. They’re delicious, nutritious, and spectacular. I never know what she will make that is different. It is really and truly delectable!

Best of all, though, is the time we spend together. They are willing, able, and considerate. When the kids come over, the first thing they say, all of them, is how can I help you? And they mean it too. I am not used to having help…and it has taken me awhile to come up with things. But they’re willing and I appreciate it. Shane is also a super guy. He makes their family complete. It is wonderful to see such wisdom and grace in a father.

Now, about you. You have grandchildren, children, friends, and acquaintances. Make your day count by doing things to please them. It may be big or it may be small. You are communicating I care to them. We don’t have to do much either. It’s the thought that truly counts. And, if you really want to, you can write me back in the comments section.

I want to say I am sorry my blog took so long. We were without electricity for quite some time. We are back in business now and I am grateful. Today we worked on a broken tree (it knocked down parts of three fences) and a leaning palm tree. Almost done! I’ll write more next time.