Our home is located three miles down this road. After crossing a creek, we are the little yellow house on the right nestled in the midst of a million trees. The closest 'big' town is twenty five miles in the opposite direction. I like that thought and I need the distance.
Along the way, there is often at least one or two cows out of the fence and in the road. Usually they will move...not always, but usually. If blowing the horn doesn't work, getting out of our vehicle and waving our hands, making as much noise as possible may spur one of the cows to move. If not, sooner or later the cows will move...but not one minute before they think it is their idea. Wild flowers blooming everywhere make the pit stop worth the wait.
As we travel down our road turkeys, deer, foxes and coyotes can be seen. A lone bobcat can often be spotted anywhere there is something to eat. At certain times of the year we see eagles soaring in the air close to Auxvasse Creek. Hummingbirds arrive in early April and begin to leave in late September, by mid October they will be gone.
Six guineas were dropped off at our home last week. One spent the night in our garage and the rest made it to the woods. However, we heard them early in the morning for two days...then nothing. They either moved on or became prey for another animal.
One of the little girls who is staying with us, came running into the house yelling, "There is a turkey in your garage!! There is a turkey in there! I saw it!!" We ran outside to see this turkey!! I thought it would be one of Tommy's decoys because Sabella, our dog, attacks most small animals and the occasional bird that enters our yard unless they are extremely fast and can fly higher than she can jump.
Turkeys wander in and out of our yard all the time. Sabella has yet to catch one although she tries her best, if she spies them. Turns out, 'our turkey' was a guinea. That bird became the center of our entertainment all night. The kids and I sat up chairs about ten feet from the guinea and watched it. It sat frozen for at least two hours. The kids had their pictures made with the guinea, in all sorts of crazy posses and even named the bird "Knothead" because of the knot it has on its crown. We made up stories about this unusual visitor and how he or she came to visit our house. It was an amusing night. Children have great imaginations and untapped story telling abilities. Like I have said many times, "It doesn't take much to make us happy and a visiting guinea will do it every time."
On any given day turkey and deer can be seen on the road or in the fields. We never, ever get tired of seeing these sights of fantasy. They are beautiful, graceful creatures and they also taste delicious. On this day we saw both in the same field. They aren't much for posing for a photograph.
We noticed yesterday, our first "Fall" tree has started to change colors...subtle but sure. Since I began this blog many more trees are starting the slow dance leading to the changing of their clothes. The orange and yellow leaves can now be seen peeking through the woods everywhere.
Our tree stands at the far edge of our yard. The first of many color changes to come within the next few months.
The temperature dropped due to several lengthy cool spells. A space heater was needed to knock off the chill. Yesterday we had a hot afternoon, turning the air conditioner on until early evening. It is a mixed bag of surprises in Missouri when it comes to the weather in the Fall or any other time of the year. However, we are enjoying the cool spell; as well as the blotches of yellow and orange leaves as a west wind blows the leaves off the tree leaving red berries and thorns to stand alone. Soon the hard maple trees will dole out their precious red colors to add accent to the mixture. Then the competition is on for the prettiest tree in the county.
Tommy and I think it is an enjoyable ride to our home; sometimes we ride in complete silence. For us it is one of our therapeutic anxiety release sessions. We let nature do her magic on our mental health. Our President has had us worried for about six years. We are glad he finally figured out we are at War, even though radical Islamic terrorists declared war on the United States at least thirteen years ago. I was getting worried because he seemed not to know and at times appeared to be on the wrong side.
In a world in a hurry to die, with pressures mounting daily from all sides of the globe. We find comfort, as often as possible, in a simple, quiet, nothing fancy, thoughtful kind of life. It gives us time to remember and enjoy the world before technology took place of talking and gadgets became the new norm. We need the simple, beautiful pleasures in nature and in life; often seen as dull and boring to younger people...and to children in particular. However, to us this kind of life is as necessary as the very air we breathe. There are times I wish we could 'unplug' from the very contraptions we seem chained to and just enjoy life for what it is...a once in a lifetime adventure.
From July 19th until September 6th I finally lived in Florida for a consecutive, extended period of time. We have vacationed there yearly since Lisa and Lisle moved, about eight years ago, to Naples. However, vacationing and living in a place are two different experiences.
Living close to the ocean for several months a year captured my imagination when I was a little girl. It was a life totally different from my life in Kentucky. I vowed I would have a home on the coast when I grew up. Each adventure book I read made Florida and tropical islands appear dangerous and enchanting. All the places were filled with a mixture of unusual people (mostly pirates) from all over the world. The aroma of foreign foods, I could barely pronounce, filled my inquisitive mind, teasing my palate.
Fruity drinks, alligators, monkeys and sharks painted a picture I would see in my dreams and later in the movie, "Jaws". That movie will forever be etched in my mind. I never enter the ocean without thinking about sharks! I also wanted to meet and know exotic foreign people, taste bananas and coconuts picked from trees in my backyard. I wanted to fish the surf and swim at dawn. The sand and surf, accompanied with breath taking sunrises and sunsets were the backdrop for my fantasy. I placed living in Florida, in the top ten slot on my 'Wish List' when I was barely fourteen.
In hindsight, I should have made that delightful statement a smidge more explicit when I wrote it down on paper.
I wanted to live there under happy, healthy conditions and not because my daughter had brain cancer. That idea never entered my mind when I wrote my wish many years ago, in big red letters and placed it on my 'Dream List' in the number 10 spot followed my multiple exclamation marks.
When Lisa called and told us she was sick and needed brain surgery, it was like being slapped in the face with a hot brick. We never saw it coming. For a while everything inside Tommy and me shut down. We could not think. We hurt in a way we had never hurt before. Going to be with Lisa during this time was never in question. It was just a matter of when I would be needed. It was the last thing I expected when I wrote my request years ago.
It became a wonderful blessing for me personally, to be able to stay with Lisa and Lisle during the crisis. There was no other place I wanted to be than with them after Lisa told us the news. I would have worried myself crazy if I had stayed in Missouri.
We laughed more than we cried...much more. Our emotions were all over the place. However, our off beat sense of humor kicked in and thrived in the chaos. It was a surreal time in our lives. We didn't know what to expect and the facts we did know were horrible and frightening. Everything turned out much better than we expected. Lisa will have a long and happy life full of love and adventure. That my friends is the understatement of the year!
It turned out to be a million little things that made our time together endearing. Three of those things concerned my neurotic, frantic driving in a big city again. The loss of my ability to cook and a wonderful little dog in heat!! Also throw in our nightly mix of "The Big Bang Theory" and " Criminal Minds," coffee ice cream for dessert and you get the idea of our days and nights. Add to the mix that we were surrounded by alligators and southern Florida is the lightning capitol of the U.S. We had some dandy storms almost daily anywhere from 3p.m. to 5p.m. Many storms lasted into the night. It was all part of the package deal.
When I departed the plane in Ft. Meyers, I lost my ability to cook!! I don't know where it went but it did not arrive in Florida with me. I think it took the next plane to Jamaica. It is still AWOL.
I used to be a good cook however since retirement Tommy does the cooking and I clean. I cook only when I want to (I seldom have the urge) and when I do-- I cook on a gas stove. Lisa has an electric stove and I burned everything the first two weeks I was there. Apparently electric stoves cook much faster than gas stoves. It took awhile for me to get used to this fact. I fixed chicken and dumplings that were too salty and stuck to the pan. The fresh green beans and fried squash were a hit, however I burned the fried corn bread. I also burned the first batch of squash but I like mine crispy and almost burnt so I ate that batch and cooked Lisa and Lisle more squash, turning the burner down two more notches.
When Lisle came home hot, sweaty and tired and grabbed a bowl of cereal...I knew it was time to hit the deli. And I did. Truthfully we were all glad. After a couple of days of deli food it was my turn to try again. It was an adventure to say the least. When Lisa was operated on they cut the major muscle to her right jaw and then sewed it back together. There were certain foods she could not eat. Chewing meat was a problem for awhile but soon she was doing great and could eat without too much pain. We worked it out and never missed a meal. Sometimes the meal was cereal or ice cream and that was fine with all of us.
All the kinks worked themselves out. My cooking got better...sort of. I was back to city driving in record time. When I was flipped off for some driving invention I created, I returned the favor and even learned a little Spanish to drive the point home. And as for "Foxy" being in heat, well that worked out too. She will not be having puppies with her brother!! Thank you Jesus!!
I have learned a few things over the years. I still have what I refer to now as my "Bucket List". I have been very blessed to be able to live a life where I have checked off most of my yearnings and desires. I add new ideas to the list from time to time. One never wants to run out of items on their "Bucket List". I have also found that everything I have seen, heard and experienced on my list had a story attached. A story I never imagined and one that was full of laughter, at times tears and always a heaping dose of adventure. I can honestly say I never wanted a predictable life and I sure as heck did not get one. Once again...Thank you Jesus!!!
Did I ever tell you about the time we rode horses in the Colorado mountains and my horse almost fell off the mountain???? No, well I will later....
A month ago today Lisa had brain surgery; so much has happened in this short amount of time. I am very thankful to report that not one fear I imagined before surgery occurred. Thank you all for your prayers and support. Your thoughtfulness has made all the difference in our situation.
This isn't a vacation. We stay very close to home. Time is needed for emotional and physical healing. We are all blessed with a good sense of humor. It has made all the difference in the atmosphere of their home. We laugh a lot...daily. Laughter is one of the best medicines. Thankfully the three of us are readers. Many books have been read this month. None of us care much for television but we all enjoy watching back to back episodes of "The Big Bang Theory" during dinner. I love that show!
In the above photo, Lisa opened a box of "Sunshine" from Melodi and Lacey. Watching her ramble through the box was hilarious. Lisa was laughing and squealing like a little girl at Christmas. Melodi and Lacey your box of "sunshine" is still talked about...and Foxy thinks you sent the yellow blanket to her. She is delighted.
Speaking of Foxy, their four legged human, and Mooch their cat ... my new best friend, are a road show forever in the making.
Foxy
Mooch
I love Foxy. However, I adore Mooch. I can not have a cat at home anymore since Sabella has joined our clan. Sabella is a large German Shepherd and kills any animal the size of a cat or anything smaller. It is just her nature for some unknown reason. Several years ago Sabella was dropped at our home,( probably because she ate their cat!) She was about 6 months old and I instantly fell in love with her. Someone else dropped a mother cat and kittens off close to the same time; none of them lived. I am enjoying my time with Mooch. She is old, fat and it doesn't take much to make her happy. I totally understand.
The sunrises, sunsets and thunderstorms are amazing. I have about a hundred photos of mirror images of the sky's image in the canal.
a view from the backyard
When I was in Missouri I walked outside each morning checking on the hummingbirds, my flowers and the yard in general. When I wake up here, I grab my camera and a cup of coffee and head to the back yard to check on the alligators in the canal.
This has been a month to remember...for many, many reasons. Emotions have been all over the place. I am very thankful for Mother Nature's soothing touch. She can calm a restless soul and scare the crap out of you...almost within seconds of each emotion...
and they call this 'normal' in southwestern Florida.
I am enjoying my stay in Naples. It is an unusual beautiful tropical place to live. I wish the circumstances for me being here were different. However, I am glad to report that Lisa is making a remarkable recovery. She still has headaches, at times, and gets very tired but all in all she is a walking miracle to me. We are anxious for the oncologist appointment in Tampa.
I have been here for a little over a month and I have yet to meet anyone born in Naples. I know they are here...just don't know where they are. However, New York is strongly represented and they are everywhere.
I was at an upscale market the other day talking to a lady who worked there. We were laughing about something when she remarked on my southern drawl. I laughed and said, "Well, I am from Missouri." She looked at me and said, "No that is not it." For some reason I felt obliged to explain; I was born and raised in Kentucky but Missouri has been my home for the past 34 years.
That pleased her. She nodded and stated "I knew you weren't from Missouri". I asked her how she could tell and she said and I quote, "'It's Missoura not Missouri". My face became flushed as I explained to her that "we" call it Missouri. She shook her head no and I asked her where on earth she was born. She said New York. I was a tad bit shocked. I asked her if she had ever been to Missouri. The answer was "No". Why would anyone from New York correct how I say Missouri ...if they did not live in Missouri or had never been there???
Lisa nudged me and said, "Mama it is time to go." So we left. I was beginning to get 'warm' under my tank top. Lisa started laughing, as we walked out the door and toward the restaurant where we planned to eat lunch.
"Congratulations, Mama you have met part of the 'entitled' who live in Naples." Lisa said smiling. All I could think of to say was "Well, bless her heart!" Then we laughed because we both know what 'bless your heart' can mean if you are a Southerner.
Today was a big day at the Lewis home in Florida. Lisa returned to work at Physicians Regional Center. She will work half a day until her stamina increases. For our family this is almost unbelievable. Lisa had brain surgery July 22 of this year. Her operation was on Tuesday, lasting a little over five hours. She was released to go home on Friday. Her recovery has been amazing...simply amazing. If I had not witnessed all of this with my own eyes, I think I would have trouble believing this story.
I often get frustrated with modern technology and all the trappings that accommodate and at times aggravate my daily life. I usually long for a simpler time. A slower pace with less intrusion from gadgets and gizmo's. And then I am faced with the fact that Lisa's life was saved by technology I will never understand. I stand amazed, humbled and forever grateful to a God who instills dreams, wisdom, what ifs and knowledge into each generation to create and do the impossible.
Fifty years ago, Lisa's operation would not have been possible. The technology used to save her life had not been invented. In fact neither her doctor or his surgical team were born fifty years ago. The medical facility where the operation occurred, had not been built. And Lisa's future mother and father were fifteen and sixteen years old!
Lisa still has several battles to fight. We are more confident now than we were on July 21, 2014, the night before the operation. I believe Lisa will continue to improve and receive good results...God's got this...
I love to drive by myself. I will go anywhere, anytime as long as I am alone. Add other people to the equation and I get nervous. Add my grown daughter, who has just had brain surgery, throw in several left lane U turns and I become slightly insane...add a rain storm, Saturday traffic in down town Naples and there isn't enough Xanax in the WORLD to calm my crazy ass down!!
This was the exact situation we found ourselves in this weekend. Lisa needed a hair cut since her surgery had left her hair chopped up and badly in need of a good style. Her appointment was at 1:30, we left in plenty of time to allow for the rain and the traffic.
We hadn't driven five miles when one of those left hand U-Turners came racing toward my side of the car and into my lane. I was yelling and clenching the steering wheel with a death grip. Lisa screamed," Mama what the Hell is wrong with you??" I slowed down and asked her how she felt about "getting in a car seat and riding the rest of the way wrapped in bubble wrap... in the back seat???? " Let's just say she declined the offer but did suggest that I get in the trunk and let her drive!!! Not a chance, she is restricted on driving for now. End of Round 1.
We made it to the stylist with time to spare. I did scare her two more times but considering where we were...that wasn't bad. After the hair cut we found ourselves back on the interstate and in rare form. However, the sun was shining making our trip home faster and saner...by far. Lisa asked what on earth I was thinking about to make me so nervous? So I told her.
It is hard to put these feelings into words...however I tried. When someone I love has had a traumatic, emotional event in his or her life...like brain surgery for Lisa or heart failure for Tommy, I get protective. I get scared and I want to keep my family safe at all costs. I do not want to take chances with their lives, nor do I want other people to take chances with their lives.
Drivers rarely, if ever, think about things like this. I didn't either until our lives changed. As a rule, we are all too busy with our own lives to worry or care about the drivers in other cars. However, I am carrying very special cargo. Lisa can not be in a wreck!! Sooo to all you drivers who are Hell bent on driving like idiots, I have this bit of information for all of you. I can NOT afford to worry about your deadline, your party or your date. Leave earlier, drive like someone's life depends on it and do not scare me and I will not scare Lisa. Round 2... hmmmmm
There are drunks on the road, dope heads, and idiots who should have never gotten their drivers license because they lack common sense. And while I am at it, let's not leave out the people who feel "entitled" and the rules do not apply to them. Naples is full of "entitled" people. So I drive a little slower, brake for idiots, and try to get my loved ones home in one piece. I don't think that is asking too much. Round 3...we arrived home safely...I won.
Yesterday for me was just this side of crazy. I had one panic attack, one episode of my hands holding the steering wheel with a death grip so hard the jaws of life would have been called to get me out of the car, if the Xanax hadn't kicked in. All of this was followed later that night by the mother of all lightening storms! Hello August, you do know how to make an entrance!
Last night a loud, sizzling lightening bolt the size of Texas, struck our home taking out our air conditioner for awhile. This occurred as Foxy and I walked into the lanai and ran for the back door. We had been on Foxy's nightly walk, around 9 p.m., while she did her business, I took photos of the impending storm. One storm had already passed and another was on the way. I had forgotten Southern Florida is the lightening capital of the world, so I was fiddling around trying to capture some of the great lightening scenes playing out in the sky. A gigantic white light struck the air conditioner, the sound was deafening. I nearly swallowed my tongue!! Foxy and I were running over each other trying to get in the back door. We made it but both of us wanted to jump in Lisa's lap. Note to self...' Lightning capitol of the world is a fact I will not forget again...ever!! Nor will I try and sit in Lisa's lap'...just kidding:)
Since we live about six miles from the ocean, we hear thunder off and on all day as storms pass the coast and hit other areas. We can hear thunder from fifty miles away. It may be possible to do the same thing back home...I don't know... it seems different here...louder and more constant. I love it...usually. This was the conclusion of chaos for the day. However...
My panic attack occurred before 9 a.m. It was intensely hot, deadly still, causing sweat to bead up on people's bodies running in rivets of salty water down their backs and faces, after five minutes outside. Everyone was waiting for the storms to find us; hoping the storm would cool the atmosphere down to bearable.
Lisa and Lisle's neighbors do not speak English. However, they are very good people, neighbors, providing the best protection service in the neighbor hood. They have an enormous Rottweiler.
The entire neighbor hood calls him Blitz, we have no clue what his Spanish name is but Blitz works for them. Me??? I am never speaking to the dog AGAIN...I do not care if his is name is 'Vicky, Raoul or Demon' and he wears a gold crown... we are done...finished...ca put!! He scares the crap our of me!!
Lisle was helping the neighbors with the roofing job. They were trying to finish before the next storm hit. The oppressive heat was about to make Lisle sick. I remembered I had two 'special' towels that are supposed to make the body temperature lower. Heavy on the word 'supposed'. They do help that is for sure. I ran out the back door with the towels and yelled for Lisle. Out comes Blitz... the biggest dog I have ever seen, from out of nowhere, straight to the fence and barking his ass off at me. I am spellbound.
I was leaning on the fence when he charged, reared up and looked me in the eye. Barking, slobbering and mad as hell. I don't know what I did because I was scared beyond words. He would have had no trouble jumping the fence and truthfully I think it crossed his mind. The lady of the house, all five feet of her, came running out talking Spanish to 'Blitz' and trying to save my scared yazoo! I tried to hand her the towels and 'Blitz' lunged again. Finally, I threw the towels over the fence and ran for the house. I have never, ever once in my life been afraid of a dog. Not once, but I was yesterday...and I still am today and will be tomorrow.
As the afternoon progressed, my panic attack had subsided, life as I know it returned to 'normal'. Lisa and I went for her first ride to pick up some medicine she needed. She misses driving. I know the feeling. It is still too early for her to drive. It felt good to get out of the house for a little while. The whole time I was driving, I was mentally frantic. I was so worried about the fact that I was driving my daughter, who has just had brain surgery, on an interstate where there were so many idiots driving 80 miles an hour...going to Walmart!! Heaven forbid they get there late.
I was wishing she had sat in the back seat in case we had a car wreck and the air bags had to be inflated. Years ago I was in a head on collision when the air bags hit my face I thought my nose had been broken. It saved my life and for that I am thankful however, Lisa has 30 staples at her scalp...imagine how that would have felt?? Even though Lisa is 43, I still worry about her, especially now. We did have a good time together. We made it home safely. I had worried for nothing...I can live with that.
Today is Sunday and I am ready for a mellow day. I see no eminent problems in the future. However, sooner or later I will have to get out of bed and then it is on once again:)
