susannefortune

You are looking at my street this week a couple houses down from my home.  This is not an isolated site, more the norm for Tallahassee, Florida since this past Thursday’s Hurricane.  Over 80% homes in the city lost power and this morning the count was down to 27k.  Cityoftallahassee.com is doing a great job trying to restore power as their first priority.  

You can’t please everyone in a crisis such as this, but the mayor communicates at least twice a day through social media FB.  You can like his FB page and get updates. Andrew Gillum is his name, I’m impressed.

For now I have power restored, Jamie does too, I have my own crisis in the backyard.  #1 my neighbor’s huge pine tree landed on my Outdoor Room.  It’s a crush, but it not my house.  We can assume 80% of front and/or backyards in Tallahassee have some kind of tree crisis like mine.  It will take major time and effort to get this place clean up.  I’m the mayor of my property, I think I can do this (again).

Adelle is four years old, almost five.  She lights up a room, has a wit about her that comes so natural.  She is a beauty, with a smile that stays in one’s heart.  Adelle has some awesome hobbies like a master on a scooter.  She loves stuffed animals, peanut butter and honey sandwiches, jewelry, likes to play dress up and sing songs that she makes up while singing. Her brothers don’t have an appreciation for her creative songs but that doesn’t stop her.  Adelle is a swimmer and has an incredible freestyle stroke, she passes the lifeguard test to swim in the lap lanes like a pro. She’s a pro at hugging also, I miss those hugs.

This is  P.J., he is nine going in the fourth grade.  What a big heart he has.  He is so patient and so responsible, he stands out in the crowd.  P.J. loves basketball, a big fan of Stephen Curry who plays basketball for the Golden State Warriors. He is a serious swimmer and says his favorite stroke is the butterfly.  The picture is P.J. at Wakulla Springs State Park,  he is not fussy about finding algae here.  I guess there is no algae in California.  I love how smart P.J. is and that he loves to read.  He’s a great badminton player too.  How many kids do you know that plays badminton?  P.J is very special to me, I could go on and on.

This is Frankie, he is seven.  Frankie is a serious swimmer, his favorite strokes are butterfly and back stroke.  He likes to read action packed books.  He likes riding his bike and a big wheel too especially making it spin to a halt.  He’s clever, has a certain charm and likes to ask how much longer to get to our destination.  Sometimes he gets impatient with his little sister’s singing especially when she makes up songs. He’s curious about bugs, worms, catching minnows and touching crabs, he has a big heart for nature.  Frankie is very special to me.

This week we have made a trip to NYC to visit Laura,  Fortune’s from California and Florida.  Laura planned each day around playgrounds with sprinklers.  You heard that right.  NYC has awesome playgrounds in Manhattan and Brooklyn was our focus, visiting museums of course, uptown and downtown, walking over the Brooklyn Bridge,  taking a ferry to Governor’s Island, but water features every day.  One afternoon we went to the ocean, to an awesome beach. It’s hot in August and playing in the water and watching too added to this sweet NYC family trip.  Thanks Laura, I’m feeling thankful. 

Mexico Beach, Florida, a step back in time.  No fancy chain resturants, no chain resturants period, no traffic jams, easy breezy.  I’m here this morning on the beach, I slipped out not to wake up the family, but now I wish they could see this view.  I’m so glad I didn’t miss this.

Gobbler’s Knob Black Raspberry Jam.  Lanny made 4 batches.  Best jam ever.

This wild cherry tree had fallen in a storm from up top of a ridge on his property.  We had just finished cutting and was loading it up.  Now we are on our way to the sawmill.  Lanny wants

to make a table for his home.  What a day!

A small variety called #queenlemon.  The bloom last forever even in this heat, so earns its name.

Can there be too much green, too many fragrances, too many textures?  Even with an entire garden of different colors of salvia, one still sees mostly green. This is an incredible evening of sights,  sounds and smells.  I’m so glad I didn’t miss it even though this is pretty much the same picture year after year.