Life Lately

 

Life lately has been a whole lot of physical therapy over the past two weeks since I was given the ok by my doctor to start walking again.  I have a new brace that locks to allow more range of motion with my knee each week.  I can now sit in a chair with my knee bent which is a big improvement.  I have also progressed from using a walker to using crutches.  Next will be one crutch.  And I have been given the ok to drive when ready.

I am so much more mobile and we have been to two dinners out.  It has been a long two months of staying at home except for doctor’s appointments and I was more than ready to see the gulf again.  I am not ready to walk in the sand, but soon.  We are planning a trip to Michigan to see our new granddaughter, Kennedy and to celebrate Audrey’s 2nd birthday.  We are driving, since sitting in a plane would not be comfortable and I can stretch out as needed in the back seat.  We can’t stay too long, since I need to be back for PT, but will help as much as we can with my limited mobility.  And sit and hold the baby of course.

It has been a hard few months, but there is finally progress being made and will continue to be made.  There are two little girls (and one more on the way) that need me to play, chase and run around with them.

Granddaughter #2

 

This little girl made her entrance into the world three weeks early.  A sweet pea for sure at 5 lbs and 14 ounces.  But, baby, mom and dad are all doing well and getting used to the newborn phase of life at home. Kennedy Josephine is loved already.

Because of my knee injury  and my limited mobility for a few more weeks, I am not able to travel there to help, but my motivation will be high, once my physical therapy begins.  Holding her and helping her mama by mid October will be goal number one.

I will face time, look forward to photos and be as much encouragement as I can be on the phone.  I love living in Florida, but the distance to Michigan at times like these, for someone who jumps on a flight often, is sobering.  But, I will get there very soon.  Sweet little Kennedy needs to meet her Nana.

Mediterranean Spring - Final Stop Rome

Rome - amazing, beautiful and surreal, where you are literally walking amongst ancient Roman history.  It was so fascinating to walk down the actual Roman Road with visible chariot marks, seen when we visited the Roman Forum.  It was moving to see St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s and look up at the Sistine Chapel ceiling.  To enter the colosseum and feel the history of gladiators and emperors all around.  And finally, to have a magical moment one night on the Bridge of Angels with a violinist playing while surrounded by votive candles.

A highlight was a nighttime golf cart tour that took us to virtually all the sights in just over 2 hours.  The driver took us down back alleys, around Borghese Park and through streets cars could not navigate.  If you go, I highly recommend.

We ate so much good food and all the dishes suggested for Rome; Cacio e Pepe, zucchini blossoms, Margherita Pizza and of course gelato.  Many Aperol Spritzs and bottles of good red wine were enjoyed. There were so many interesting restaurants that two days was not enough.  

It is hot, crowded and really kind of dirty like any big city.  I missed the abundance of flowers that we saw in other parts of Italy too.  But, it is a once in a lifetime experience that will stay with me forever.

A Slip and Fall

 

 A brief story of a slip and fall that has me laid up for longer than I would like.  I was carrying water in my garage, it spilled over the side and I slipped and fell directly on my kneecap.  The fracture was in five pieces, but surgery on Thursday gave me a plate and several screws to put everything back together.  Since surgery, I have been icing, elevating and trying to deal with the pain (and the grogginess of the pain meds).  The pain is improving, but I am confined to a walker since no weight bearing for at least 2 weeks, maybe 6 weeks. There is a lot of physical therapy in my future.  

Timing is a funny thing.  Thank goodness we got our European trip in and the baby shower, but my daughter’s due date (in Michigan) is in 6 weeks. It breaks my heart that I may not get there for the birth or to help her, but my motivation is high to get there as soon as I can.  Sometimes, life really throws you a curveball out of the blue.

Co-ed Baby Shower

 

Once I wrapped my mind around the idea of a co-ed baby shower, the planning became easy and fun.  We had the location; patio overlooking the golf course at my daughter and son in laws country club, so the theme naturally became girly golf related.  I found the perfect pink golf cart welcome sign, made pink striped table toppers and ordered hundreds of pink golf tees.  

Set up was a bit crazy, because it was seriously windy, but we persevered and my helpers literally taped things down while I arranged brightly colored flowers in pink vases.  The menu consisted of sandwiches, salads and fruit, perfect summer food on a warm day.  An added touch to the sandwiches were cute pink golf cart toppers I found on Etsy. We served wine, beer and seltzers, plus iced tea and lemonade.

Unfortunately, our beautiful summer day, turned stormy and about halfway through, we all scrambled to move inside, just before the rain hit.  The staff was so great and the party did not miss a beat.  Our guests had a great time, including the men probably attending a baby shower for the first time. But, more importantly, the parents to be were happy to be surrounded by family and friends showing how much baby girl is already loved.

Life Lately - In Photos

 

After our European  trip, that was followed by another trip to Michigan to babysit, June has been a catch up month.  Catching up with friends, catching up on playing golf and catching up on so much trimming.  Florida is getting a typical rainy season after a few years of drought like summers and you are reminded it is the tropics after all; where a plant grows so fast it needs weekly trimming.

This weekend I will be back in Michigan for Melissa’s baby shower.  Everything I shipped arrived safely and all I need to do is pick up flowers at Trader Joe’s.  Lots of pink flowers I hope.  I will post photos next week, but our theme is a girly pink golf par-tee at their country club.  It is a couples shower, so I had to wrap my mind around pulling that off for a bit, but it should be a lot of fun celebrating granddaughter number two.  

Lastly, we had a great 4th of July weekend, starting with my birthday at a Mexican restaurant and also fireworks on the beach.  I always pinch myself watching the fireworks burst over the gulf.  So lucky to live where I do.  Also, adding a photo of a cute 4th of July girly that I get to see very soon.

Mediterranean Spring - Portofino and Tuscany

 

The 2 days that we spent in the Italian Riviera and in Tuscany were my favorite of the trip.  We explored Portofino after docking in the harbor and taking a tender that gave a magnificent view of the colorful buildings. Our guide shared how Portofino remains quiet and controlled by its oldest families despite the glamour of Madonna and various Kardashians renting villas in the summer.  We also took a short boat trip to Santa Margarita and had time for lunch and a delicious aperol spritz sitting at a lovely umbrella table on the cobblestone street. 

Tuscany was everything I dreamed it would be and I kept reminding myself to soak in every second.  From San Gimignano to the 18th century winery where we had a wine tasting and lunch, the views, the flowers and the food were beyond amazing to this small town American girl.  A future dream would be to stay in a villa in Tuscany and just soak it all in for an extended time period.  Cook good food, drink good wine, eat gelato daily and just stop and smell the flowers as the saying goes.  

Next and final chapter in this trip series is Rome.  

Mediterranean Spring - French Riviera and Provence

 

The south of France, specifically Provence and the French Riviera, totally surprised me.  I was sure Italy would be the most beautiful part of the trip, but because I love flowers, these two regions became a favorite. So many beautiful flowers and gardens everywhere, with the blue sea as a backdrop.  

From our first stop at a 17th century castle turned winery, to the Princess Grace Garden of Monaco and the famous flower market in Nice, I was in my element.  There was also a medieval basilica high on a mountain in Marseille as well as Eze, a medieval village with hundreds of narrow stone steps to explore.  

I was amazed by the long and lovely promenade in Nice where we strolled and people watched.  I discovered that I may be a bit of a snob when it comes to beaches, since I live in Florida with our white sand beaches. But, even though the beaches were rocks, the beauty of that blue, blue Mediterranean Sea was hard to beat.

This region is on my list to visit again and spend more time amongst the flowers.