Hurricane watch #2

Greetings from wet south Florida.

First of all, let me say that I've been praying for everyone who suffered such devastation from Hurricane Helene. The videos that have been coming out have been heart breaking. I am thankful for all of the all American grass roots help that people have been receiving. Kindness and generosity from so many around the country.

I had some rain but mostly wind from Helene as I am on the southeast coast of Florida. Now, we are dealing with the threat of Hurricane Milton to make landfall on the west coast of FL. My heart aches for all of those on the west coast and across the state as it makes it's way to the ocean off the east coast.

Where I am, so far we are predicted to get LOTS of rain, which has already been happening since Thursday. Possible flooding, and then of course wind predicted for Thursday and Friday.

This all brings back to mind, Hurricane Wilma which passed right over us in 2005, 19 years ago on the 25th of this month. The scariest thing I've ever been through. So far, we are not in the path of Milton.

I have a sister who lives in Steinhatchee, FL, which was devastated by Helene. She lives a few miles inland and her place was spared. She had gone to stay with her oldest daughter who lived 40 miles east. My sister was without power for about 5 days finally able to go home. She's now clearing fallen limbs, etc.

Please pray for our safety from this new storm. 

I feel thankful I was spared Helene and have felt guilty because I can go about my life, while so many have lost so much. Lives, homes, businesses. I just heard about a man who had suffered 2 devastating hurricanes and had to rebuild twice from scratch and he just couldn't do it again, so took his own life. 

Dear Jesus have mercy on despairing souls, bring peace, meet needs. Thank you. Amen.

Thank you all for love and prayers.

FlowerLady

 

Forward Progress

Hello Friends, sorry I've not been around much.  Time is zipping right along, faster than ever it seems. We've had heat advisories almost every day for a month, maybe two months. Over the past couple of days I have 'felt' 'hints' of fall 'coming'. When my dear hubby was here I would say to him when I felt these hints, "Fall is coming." He would laugh every time, because it is the middle of August and we still have September to get through and heat and humidity can still be brutal.

I try to get out early to work from 1-3 hours depending on how hot and humid it is. My body lets me know when it's time to quit. I drink lots of water and also electrolytes. Then I hibernate. My mind still wants to work but my 75 year old body says differently. ;-)

I've been working on moving potted plants away from around my little cottage as I'm going to have the place tented for termites. This is taking time. I've also been working on extending my 'secret garden' behind the cottage to accommodate these plants.

On June 1st, my friend Sean came over and we worked for three hours. He cut down 2-3 small trees, pulled up some huge weeds. 

This photo below is how it looked before he got started. I have to say that since covid lock down in 2020,  I've been somewhat depressed and overwhelmed. Being quarantined made me just want to give up and hide.  Being alone trying to take care of this 1/4 acre gets me down at times. Things just keep growing and growing. ;-) I do mow and take care of shrubs, etc. but some stuff is just too much for me at this age. Hubby used to handle the things I couldn't. Now I seek help from others.

This is the south side of the pole barn

After ~ we started making forward progress. Miserably hot and humid. It doesn't bother Sean, he loves the heat, but it bothers me and I would have to take breaks.

 

This is the west side of the pole barn that used to have two small, and one larger, trees.

 

Neighbor's avocado tree over the back fence.

This photo is looking east toward caravan. Workshop to the very right of picture. 

It was all embarrassing to say the least. 

 

I had a fun group of young people here from my church, on the 8th of June. They worked hard on overgrowth in the miserable heat. Only 1 1/2 hours, but we were all sweating buckets and they really had accomplished lots, so I told them to quit. 

It doesn't look like this now, it looks better, although still more work to do.
 

 I am so thankful for their help, a huge blessing to me and it was fun working with them and hearing their laughter really blessed my heart. When I would thank them they would say 'It's my/our pleasure.' How kind is that?

Their work really sparked me with gumption to keep working on this new resting space.

In this area, was a shell rock base, awful to walk on.

I was sitting back there thinking before I covered up the shell rock. I looked down at it all and this will sound crazy to some of you, but I asked Jesus, my Creator, Savior and Friend, to help me find a heart. He DID!!! He shows me His love in so many ways, and this was just one more. My physical heart was made glad and I said 'Thank you!'
 

Now, to the start of this 'resting space' project. I thought I had a piece of carpet in the back small shed, looked and I did.  I bought bought 2 6x8 pieces of indoor/outdoor carpet to fill in the sides of this space.  Much better.  This is all on a very small budget and working with things I have and it felt good. This little project was started before work started on clearing the overgrowth, which you can see to the left in the photo below.

Ok, that's it for now. This is a long post, hopefully making sense, which has taken hours to edit photos and write. 

Here's a photo taken from my comfy chair the 20th of last month. Still a work in progress.

And, here is the outdoor girl I've been feeding for months now. I call her Cammie because of her camouflage coloring. She's been hanging out here for at least a couple of years. Don't know where she came from. Her cohort, Tabster, who was born on the property, disappeared a few months ago, here one day and gone the next. He was friendly, she's more timid, can't pet her yet. Hopefully one day. ;-) She gets fed twice a day.

More pics to come at a later date, of the extended 'secret garden'.

 ******

Count your blessings and may God bless you all.

FlowerLady