It seems about every afternoon my hubby and I have a discussion about working in the yard. By mid-afternoon it's pretty warm. However the mornings are beautiful. Usually in the 70's with a breeze. So I always want him to work in the mornings, or late afternoons. He thinks because he plays golf he's in "good shape". I'm thinking, it has nothing to do with the shape he is in, but how hot and humid it is outside.
Many afternoons I have gone outside and begged him to please stop. I take glasses of water for him to drink, and wet towels for his neck.
Today is no different, a beautiful morning. I headed outside to plant three new flowers.
The last words my husband said to me this morning as he was backing out the driveway on his way to the golf course were this:
"Promise me you will not plant that tree until I get home." I raised my hand and told him I would not plant the tree.
As soon as he left, I dug three holes for day lilies. After I watered them, I realized how much there is to do before we can actually plant "the tree."
There is about three inches of river rock that needed to be moved, and then of course the hole needed to be dug. We live in Florida, the "dirt" is sand. So I can almost move the "dirt" with a hose and water.
I filled six five gallon buckets with the river rock. It was still early and cool, in the mid 70's. So I thought why not? I dug the hole.
Now I know how my kids used to feel. If I had asked them not to plant the tree.
I didn't plant the tree, but all he has to do when he comes home is slide it into the hole and dump the river rock around it.
I think he'll be happy!
My sister could be dropped out of a plane and she would know which direction we should walk. She would pick herself up and say, "yup, that's North. We need to walk that way two miles, turn left and we'll be where we need to be."
I have no sense of direction. Turn me around twice and I'm lost. My husband loves telling this story about me.
Many years ago after I had dropped him off at the golf course I decided to go for a little ride. It was also during the time we were going through radiation, and I say "we" because I was there with him, five days a week for five weeks. He was too weak to do much. However I felt it was vital for him to continue to play golf, if he could. Not only would he be with his comrades who loved him and also encouraged him, but he would be playing his favorite pass time.
Bailey, our little Westie, was perched in the front seat watching out the window for a while, then slumped down to take a nap.
Someone once told me to keep turning left until you knew where you were. I went from a four lane highway, to two lane and finally we were driving on a dirt-sand road. In fact, I believe we were in an orange grove. The further I drove the most lost I felt. Finally, I swallowed my pride and called my husband. His first question to me was, "where are you?" I remember thinking, 'if I knew were I was, I wouldn't be calling you.'
I tried to hide the tears and finally blurted out, "I'm in an orange grove."
I heard his laughter and he said, "I guess we do live in Florida."
I picked him up from the golf course a few hours later and he made me stop at the store to buy a GPS.
Just ask me now for directions. I can do it!
We'll be spending a couple days in Ohio and Kentucky, so I've been checking the weather there recently. The weather there looks great, the 50's at night and low 80's during the day, if we were used to it. People always ask me, "how can you live in Florida, it's so hot there?" Let me tell you. I love it in Florida. I love the palm trees and the flowers. And the blue sky. I love walking outside at night and looking up at that gray sky and feeling like I can almost touch the stars that are twinkling back at me. I love the smell of orange blossoms and looking across the street at Crepe Myrtle lining the driveway. I love walking outside and being able to work in my flower bed in December while wearing shorts. That is the trade off. In the summer it is a little warmer here, but I don't have to shovel snow. I don't have to prepare the house for winter. Wash all the screens and replace them with storm windows every fall. I don't have to clean the lawn mower and have it serviced to "put away for the season". I don't have to stay inside because it's just too cold, or no one has plowed the driveway yet, so we couldn't get the car out of the garage if we wanted to.
This summer has been wonderful. There have only been a couple days that my husband couldn't play golf. That's the way I rate the weather here in Florida. If it's too hot he only plays 9 holes.
I have clothes stacked on the bed in the guest room and my husband walked past the door, checking on me. "What's all that?" he pointed.
"Let me tell you." I said proudly pointing. "These are the clothes I'm wearing on the way, and this pile is the one to wear after we arrive."
He shook his head. "Honey, it's still September."
I nodded, "I know that."
He scratched his head as he walked out of the room. "Do you really think you need gloves, tennis shoes, socks and a coat?"
