Taking A Break

Today we made a trip to Punta Gorda crossing the Peace River to the south of where we live.  After an errand was completed, we took the opportunity to explore the waterfront starting at a place called Fisherman's Village.  It has an interesting history, and if you are a history buff like me, you can follow this link to a quick read about the location's origins.  Today, it is a shopping venue, with lodging and restaurants on the waterfront of the Peace River that flows into Charlotte Harbor and ultimately the Gulf of America (see a photo below of a map onsite which was painted prior to the renaming of the Gulf.)  Our condo is north of the Peace River in Port Charlotte, but the zip code for our address is affiliated with Punta Gorda on the south side of the Peace River.

We had lunch at The Islands Kitchen and Cocktail House overlooking the river.  Sweet tea and a Cuban sandwich on Ciabatta bread with fried plantains was the choice we both made.  It was a very southern lunch, but not my favorite rendition of these foods as both the bread and the plantains were dry and overcooked.  Luckily the filling of the sandwich was delicious.  The view of pelicans diving for food, boats passing by, and the sun sparkling on the choppy water made up for the food.  The stroll through the covered wharf past shops that offered clothing, chocolate, ice cream, t-shirts, and other tourist trinkets was pleasant in the shade the roof offered.  Next time we'll try a hamburger at the "Village Brewhouse" instead and save room for ice cream!

  

 

Following lunch, we drove westerly through Punta Gorda Isles.  This is a residential area of homes all situated on waterways leading to the Peace River, each with their individual docks harboring boats of all descriptions.  

Beyond the homes, the road led to Ponce de Leon Park overlooking Charlotte Harbor from a white sand beach bordered by a seawall.  Here, a historical marker notes the location of the death of the first white man in America on May 24, 1513, during a confrontation with the indigenous people of this area, while ships were seeking a mainland colony site.  

  

   

 

Royal Poinciana trees are in bloom here now with beautiful scarlet blossoms.  Below is a photo of one in the Park and another in Punta Gorda Isles.  

That is the journey for today.  See you again soon with details of our next adventure.

Ordinary Moments - Sacred Memories

 

As Jimmy sleeps later into this morning, I am beginning the day leisurely with a cup of jasmine tea I brought with me from Willowbrook Manor in Sedro Woolley, Washington.  Writing is a luxury I can afford myself now with all of the boxes emptied in my "office/hobby room/bedroom" as I call it.  Clothes are hung, my computer desk has open spaces, some cloth storage boxes in my closet are even sorted, and I can literally walk about my room on an empty floor.  That is a relief when order versus chaos starts to fill what must be my "need for order" psyche.  I am truly amazed I managed to fit the contents of two former large rooms into one small bedroom, but it is working!  With the sound of the birds singing outside my window, and quiet instrumental music playing, this is a long awaited, very pleasant start to the day.

Snoopy has made a great recovery with the anti-inflammatory medication combined with a glucosamine chondroitin supplement recommended by the veterinarian.  He's back to all of his usual behaviors and routines that endear him to us, and that is a huge relief.  It's almost like he's smiling about his recovery.

 

On the other hand, it has been a stressful week as my brother had heart surgery Tuesday, and I just learned on Wednesday another friend (who has been like a brother to me for most of my adult life) was diagnosed with cancer.  I measure the meaning of life in being surrounded by those I love for eternity.  I know that's not realistic, but I don't like change nor loss.  These two circumstances are a challenge for both of the patients, as well as  myself.  Praying and emotional support with lots of cards, texts, and perhaps phone calls are my planned response for both of them.  When you love someone deeply, their presence via any of the forms above is a blessing beyond description.  I don't want to waste even a moment of potential interaction time.  As Deacon Brian from my church wrote to me in an email today, "None of us knows when ordinary moments will suddenly become sacred memories."  I choose to make ordinary special for every moment that I am given with those I love.

Jimmy is awake, and now it is our coffee time.

 

Gains and Losses

It's been quite the week, as you'll read below.  Finally, I can write our update.

We are still digging out from under boxes of "stuff" daily that we thought we could not live without.  Frankly, we could have managed with a third of what we brought from Washington to Florida.  Goodwill here is benefiting greatly as we sort through our stash.  But we are making progress, as one area of the condo after another reveals itself.  The kitchen and dining room floors are now visible.  Hurray!

On  Tuesday, we replaced our air conditioning system.  Both the air handler (26 years old) and the condenser (29 years old) met their demise.  While they still worked mostly, there were "noises" coming from both of them that did not bode well.  We decided that now, before a 10% increase in price due to increased Florida standards for the gases used in the system occurred, was the better part of prudence.  Mechanical issues also were looming.  The new system took only a day to install, and it is working well after a few tweaks of adjusting the vents, and the smart thermostat.  Everything is computerized these days, and the new thermostat is wifi smart and "talks" to our cell phones and Alexa, so it is a breeze to operate anytime, and anywhere.

Wednesday, Jim had his routine eye injection.  The doctor that first started management of his macular degeneration has an office in Port Charlotte where we physically live (despite the zip code of Punta Gorda in our mailing address), so it is an easy drive for Jim's treatments.  

Thursday, we visited J.C. Penney, where another optometrist will care for Jim's glaucoma.  While Jim saw her, I got my hair cut across the aisle at the J.C. Penney hair salon.  Perhaps a bit shorter than I'd like, but it takes time to find a hairdresser who "gets it right" immediately.  The Port Charlotte Mall is like most older malls these days.  Nice anchor stores, like Dillards and J.C. Penney, but vacant spaces periodically where some smaller vendors have left.  There was a lovely fountain to enjoy along the corridor.

With a glasses prescription in hand, we then went to Costco to order Jim's new sunglasses and computer glasses.  A trip to Costco here requires a mandatory hotdog and soda, so we had a $3 lunch.  Last, but not least, we had to replace my printer.  The old one was on a Hewlett Packard "instant ink" program.  For about $10 a month, the old printer got 100 printed sheets per month.  Hewlett Packard would also send ink whenever it sensed the printer's ink supply was getting low.  I decided that I wanted to get out of the "instant ink" program.  The downside was that on the day the ink subscription ran out, my printer stopped working.  Using wifi, HP can actually shut down your printer until you replace their program's ink cartridges.  The price of ink cartridges was more than buying a new printer, so while we were at Costco, we bought an Epson EcoTank printer that comes with full bottles of ink, enough to print 8,500 pages!  That may be more than I'll use in my remaining life time!  I'll never use Hewlett Packard again after experiencing their "instant ink" program.

Friday we had the scare of Snoopy's recent lifetime.  He awoke with a limp, sort of dragging a hind leg.  We panicked thinking he'd had a stroke or blood clot occur.  Rushing to a vet recommended by our air conditioning technician, we were relieved to learn he was suffering from arthritis in his hind legs, and not a fatal side effect of his heart murmur.  The vet sent us home with an anti-inflammatory medication.  A day later and Snoopy is eating this morning, and then enjoyed "coffee time" with us on the couch thereafter.  He's still spending a great deal of time in a spot in Jim's closet where he hides out to sleep.  What a relief though that our boy is almost back to being himself.  I have almost recovered from the emotional roller coaster yesterday provided, thinking that something terrible had happened to one of my boys.

Life is precious.  Every moment we have together is a gift.  Hold the ones you love.

Keurig to Ninja

At first I was skeptical of using a Keurig.  Then we got one and it was so easy to use, I often skipped making a full pot of coffee.  Previously, I preferred my Martha Stewart recommended, made in the Netherlands, "perfect-cup-of-coffee" Moccamaster coffee maker I'd used since owning my B&B in early 2000.  In twenty-six years I'd replaced it only once with a new one.  That's a better track record than most coffee makers provide.

 

However, the prior owners of our condominium left us a Ninja DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System.  It is absolutely amazing.  It can brew either a full pot of coffee, or with an easy drop-in attachment-a travel mug size or a Keurig style one cup brew.  Plus a frother whisk is part of the machine if you wish to froth up some warmed milk for a latte.  It has a warming plate that shuts off automatically after 2-hours.  Last but not least, attached to the coffee maker is a handy Ninja Smart Scoop to measure your coffee grounds.  All of this, and only taking up the space of one machine, instead of the two I'd previously used.  

If that wasn't enough, the prior owners also left a "motion sensor trash can" I have never before experienced.  Maybe you're thinking:  "Do I really have to be that lazy?!"  Well, perhaps yes!  It is the most handy thing you can imagine when you have full hands, or hands sticky with something you'd rather not have on the lid or handle of the trash can.  I may never be able to go back to the normal trash can.  With the motion of your hand, this trash can opens.  Deposit your trash, and it closes automatically.

There have been several reasons to appreciate our new condominium.   These two items are the unexpected frosting on top.

Serenity to Chaos

A turnkey purchase means you have everything necessary to move in and live in a property.  Think dishes, pots and pans, bathroom towels, furnishings, and even a very nice TV.  We could have gone on with our lives without adding another thing, other than the clothes we brought with us and our laptops.  A quick stop at Walmart around the corner for groceries, and we were quite comfortable.  The prospect of adding the contents of three moving pods to our attractive and comfortable new home felt like the looming clouds of a south Florida, afternoon thunderstorm.

 

Then, the U-Pack pods arrived.  With the help of three men and their supervisor, over the course of several hours, our entire condominium was filled with boxes everywhere from front to back, and side to side.  We clearly realized we could have, and should have, brought even as little as half of what we had packed.  The task before us would become what things to absolutely keep, and what more we could part with.  Suddenly, all that seemed so essential to retain had perhaps been overkill.

The idea was to first clear enough area that we could sleep and eat.  That would not be an easy task, but the earlier days of removing a significant part of the decor the sellers had endowed us with proved to be great preparation for this task.  After accomplishing enough to make paths through the condo, we waved our white flag, and went out for pizza and a beer.  New York style pizza, a dark beer, and a very accommodating waitress made our earlier nightmare recede.  Returning home, we ended the day with TV-time, sitting on the only furniture still available in the living room-our sofa!

Thursday came too early for aching bodies, but we continued.  Slowly over the remainder of the week, the floor in the kitchen became visible again.  The dining room has reappeared partially, and we can see through to the lanai.  Our bedrooms are another matter, but we've managed to keep the beds clear at night.  Snoopy has worn himself out trying to make sense of all of the boxes, and items moving around from place to place.  Mostly though, he's sleeping through the chaos.

Jim is settling into the larger bedroom with its walk-in closet.  He has more to put away, hide, or ultimately dispose of, with things from his former hobby room, a hall closet, his bedroom, and the garage to mull over.  My battle is figuring out which kitchen items are going to be sacrificed, and how to fit my hobby items into a bedroom-only space with half the closet I previously enjoyed.  Luckily, I already parted with half of my clothes before moving, but I still have a large suitcase that came in the pods to sort through.

Moving is not for the weak or elderly.  It is a sport for young people.  Jim joked that "maybe this would be an interim spot, and we'd look for something bigger with our Realtor.  Something with another bedroom, and perhaps a garage?"  I think not.  When we are finally done with this task, I'm going to put my feet up and rest.  Or maybe go to the beach and stare at the water.  Or maybe go have another New York pizza and two beers!!!  I think Jim already agrees.  Divesting ourselves of "stuff" has been a curse, and a blessing.  I realize succinctly, it's not the things you possess, but the living of life that matters at our age.  

Now, back to unpacking and getting rid of more...

Flora and Fauna

The sight of a bird can literally stop me in my tracks to observe, and usually photograph (if I'm lucky) the creature.  All birds, all sizes, all locations are like a magnet to me.  Today, I photographed this immature Red-shouldered Hawk as I was heading out to Walmart.  He was using a light pole as his landing point, high above my car at the entrance to our condominium complex.  To my advantage, no one was leaving our parking lot behind me, so I stopped for a quick photograph. 

We have a Culver's Restaurant near the Walmart located close to our condo.  Today, we stopped by after Jim's eye doctor appointment and had ice cream.  Flavor of the day: cookie dough and caramel (on the left), and a chocolate Oreo mixer were a delicious pre-lunch treat.

The birds pictured above come to visit the yard below our lanai every morning.  They are called Cattle Egrets.  When I first moved to Florida in the 70's, I thought they were called "Egg-erts" until someone corrected my pronunciation.  The correct term sounds like "E-grits."  

"Improvise and overcome" is my motto while we wait for our moving pods to arrive with all of my kitchenware.  I have learned that you can make perfect scrambled eggs in a Teflon-coated saucepan!  They come out fluffy and delicious with a few turns of a spatula.  Jimmy Dean sausage patties cook well in a saucepan, too!  Yummy breakfast and easy cleanup.  I may keep doing the scrambled eggs this way!

Tropical plants are so different from the plants of the Northwest we've been accustomed to.  This tree is growing in front of one of our condo buildings.  Called a "Frangipani" tree, it will bloom from spring until fall with fragrant, colorful flowers that are white with yellow centers.  Its sweet-smelling flowers grow in clusters and are often used in leis (think Hawaiian flower necklaces). The tree's sap can be an irritant, but it is not considered poisonous.  It loses its leaves in the winter.  

On Sunday, we drove north for twenty minutes to find the closest Costco near Venice.  It was similar in most ways to what we were used to, and the gas there is the cheapest in the area at $3.79 per gallon.  We will be using them for gas the next time we need a fill-up.  A hot dog for the usual $1.50 with a soft drink completed our tour of the venue.  

Tomorrow our moving pods will be delivered.  There are positive and negative aspects to that.  I dread the confusion of boxes all over the house, but we're looking forward to unpacking and getting fully settled in here.  I suspect we've brought too much, but hopefully the most important things will fit into the available space.  More on that later...

Sunday Serenity

There’s something about a water view early in the morning, combined with an array of different bird sounds, that creates the perfect start to a day.  Early in Florida, as the sun rises, you can enjoy the porch with a first cup of coffee and listen to a symphony of bird sounds before the heat of the day is upon you.  The water is like a mirror reflecting the foliage beyond, broken only by tiny circles created by fish rising to feed on tempting insects at the water's surface.  

We have black Ibis birds who walk the condominium grounds searching for food with their curved beaks.  Seemingly oblivious to cars or people passing by the manicured lawns, they wander, reminding me of traveling in Egypt and its hieroglyphics.  

To Egyptian farmers, the Ibis was a familiar sight, but to the priests of Egypt, the bird was a sign from their gods. Watching the birds rise into the sky over the fields, circle, and then descend back to earth, the priests imagined the Ibis were carrying hidden messages between heaven and earth.  

To the Egyptians, the simple rhythm of flight and return to the earth was the descent of wisdom from the divine world into the human one.  Thoth, their god of writing, law, and the secret order of creation, was revealed by the Ibis, which was not only a bird in the landscape, but a living example that knowledge itself was sacred.