Confessions of a Grandma

 Slowly, slowly, we are getting settled in our new home in Florida. We are getting rid of some of the old furniture that I had down here and replacing with new. Don is still trying to find homes for all his stuff -- tools and collectibles and books galore so the boxes are not disappearing as quickly as I would like, but progress is being made. There is yard work to do and a few fix-ups to take care of and many new neighbors to meet. Large screened lanai. Shady corner lot. Somewhat out of control shrubs The front door. *** Levi is very happy. He runs around in the yard and I take him for walks at least twice a day. He has met many dog friends. Everyone seems to know Levi. As my grandson Dane once said, "If you want to be in a celebrity entourage, take Levi for a walk."

 On September 29, I had the closing on my condo. Everything that was not going to the buyers was out and packed in the ABF moving truck which had by the been taken over to the storage units. Don thought it would take him until Wednesday to finish packing the truck with the help of his son. It took him until late Thursday with Chris' help and mine. Kevin was supposed to help load as well but he was in a mountain bike accident and wrecked his shoulder the week before. That added driving him to doctor appointments to my to do list and dong some shopping for him plus jobs around the house that might need two functioning upper limbs.  We stayed with Kevin on Friday night after the closing and then had a suite in an extended stay place for the coming week. This was the worst possible time to have to get a room because the prices balloon during leaf peeping season if you can even find a room at all. But it was close to the storage units where we were working and it was dog friendly. We ju

https://www.agdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/bg-honeybees_pollinator-003.jpg  I am just a busy bee these days.The ABF (load it yourself and they drive) arrived and we are loading it up over the weekend. Then it will go to Don's storage unit and be loaded some more. I had already packed quite a bit but there is still what we need to carry on a bit of normal life -- cooking, cleaning, laundry, bathing, dressing, all that kind of stuff. And the dog still insists on attention and exercise. Then Kevin was in a mountain biking accident and wrecked his right shoulder. I did a cooking marathon to take him homemade comfort foods. I took care of his shopping list and did some cleaning for him. He hurt his left arm as well so it's hard for him to do things around the house and he can't drive so I will be taking him doctor appointments on Monday and Tuesday. Don's son is helping with the heavy lifting. Don has doctor appointments on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. His kidney

 My brother holds a gathering at his home every year about this time. It was yesterday and it was a great time with family -- even a cousin who drove all the way from Rochester, NY -- but that's not what this post is about. My brother's place is at the edge of a National Forest area which includes Texas Falls. Dane said he had never been there before. Amy said she had never been there either although I am pretty certain we took her there when she was a kid. We left the party for a little while and made the half mile trip to see it. We viewed from above. There is a walking trail but we were making a brief visit.  Some inviting pools but seimming is not allowed. Dane (unguarded moment) We remarked about how late the fall leaves show seems to be this year. Usually there are way more signs that color will erupt in all kinds of fall glory, but it's still pretty green here.

  Saturday morning I woke up unable to settle into the idea of packing/cleaning. I decided to take a trip to "surprise" my daughter and grandkids. Levi and I packed up some travel supplies and headed out in the car. They live about 70 miles south of us, takes about 90 minutes. Everyone was still asleep when we got there! They are all night owls/second shift workers. Dane, of course, is a typical teen-ager with hormone disrupted circadian rhythm and a back-at-school social life to adjust to. Levi and I went for a walk. They were up and moving around when we got back. Their little town is already starting to decorate for Halloween! I am a total minimalist when it comes to holiday decorations so this seemed completely over the top to me. Levi either didn't notice or didn't have an opinion one way or the other. Dane and I went into Rutland to do some shopping for school supplies. We took a walk around the downtown area -- so changed in some ways since I lived there but un

 I have just in the past week or so started seeing those first tinges of changing leaves. It seems late because I used to be aware of the beginning changes in early to mid August -- a sure sign of a new school year beginning. Maybe I am finally just not that tuned in to the school calendars anymore. Other fun is ahead, though.  My condo is under contract and if all goes well, we will be heading south the first of October. So let the fun begin of all the paperwork involved in selling. Let the fun begin of checking off items from my to-do list -- one added for everyone checked seems to be the trend right now. Let the fun of social events begin since my family and friends seem to believe I am planning to fall off the face of the earth. Or perhaps be blown out to sea in a hurricane.  Don't forget the great fun of packing and the knowledge that unpacking awaits. It's funny that friends in Florida say won't you be glad to only have a hurricane to worry about instead of those terr