Autumn blooms; new beginnings

One of the hardest things about living in Florida is missing the chance to experience all four seasons. Though I don't miss the cold, snowy winters, I do often lament the lack of the spring fragrances and the cool, crisp, fall evenings that I grew up with in the northeast.

But as I've been driving to work the past few days, I've noticed something interesting. The trees may not be changing colors in the traditional deciduous way, but there is a definite transformation happening. New blooms are coming out. Plants that lay dormant under the hot, humid sun have found themselves seeking some fresh air in the cooler mornings.
The result is a new color palette under a bluer sky, with wispy white clouds dotting the atmosphere, instead of the heavy storm clouds that we've become so familiar with all summer.
This change in nature is a good reminder for me that life's rhythms aren't always planned either, and sometimes, there are good things just waiting around the corner if we alter our expectations.
After this summer of loss, the blooming plumeria tree in our front yard seems like hope and new beginnings, and a reminder that adventures are just around the corner.

Our very own palms

After nearly two years of living in Florida, this summer, we decided it was time to set down some roots. We were both settled into our jobs and decided we really did like the area.

But every now and then, it still hits us: “Wow. We live in Florida.” 

Sometimes this feeling comes when we’re riding down the highway in November with the windows down listening to reports of feet of snow falling up north.

The other day, it happened when I walked into the Buccaneers’ stadium, and the palm trees were sprouting up. Football and palm trees don’t go together in most places.

And upon returning home, there were our very own palm trees on our property. It’s so surreal that we live in this mid-century modern ranch home, which is SO Florida on its own. (It’s apparently also very hip, which is not why we bought it, but hey, whatever.)

Now that the house has settled in as well, after some major initial repairs, we’re looking forward to  putting our stamp on the home.

We’re still working on putting pictures up on the walls and deciding where some of the furniture is going.

Adding to the moving in delays were the wonderful addition of two kittens – so kitten proofing the house has delayed things like putting up new curtains (perfect for sharpening little claws eager to climb.)

Now that they’re starting to mellow out, and driving into our own driveway (palms and all) feels more natural, we hope that this Florida thing starts to feel more natural.

Until then, I’ll still be a little homesick for the fall foliage. 

The end is nigh, er, near

No, nothing to worry about. In fact, this is good news.
For the first time in this crazy roller coaster of a ride that has been house shopping, I THINK we are getting closer to the finish line in getting into our new home. We've crossed almost all of the hurdles now. Offer, negotiations, counter offier, contract, inspection, appraisal, addendums, and now we're just waiting for final insurance approval and then those three little words that we so long to hear: "Clear to Close." Oh, and we still need to write another big-@$$ check.
When I look at the calendar, I realize I only have three weekends to pack the house, because I'm occupied for one of them.
So that means that I'm gearing up for a weekend full of purging, packing and general organizing. We can't wait for our new start in our new home in a city that we have really come to love. There's so much to do and still so much we have to explore.
And now we have space for folks to come visit!