A Reading Nook for Nora

She was read to in her crib

when only a few days old.

Taken to Story Hour at the library,

when a few months old.

Bedtime reading has always been a

part of her routine.

But sometimes a girl just needs a nook,

a small reading nook of her own.

Family--Just What the Doctor Ordered

Thank you so much, dear friends, for all of your comments on my last post.

I believe they were the most heartfelt and thoughtful comments I've ever received and I have read them over and over, trying to fully absorb all the wisdom in them. 

Last weekend R.H. and I had just what the doctor ordered -- visits from dear family. 

Two of my sisters and their husbands, Floridians themselves, came to spend the weekend with us and with our daughter and son-in-law. 

My sister Deb and her husband were our house guests, along with their darling Carly, a beautiful Havanese.

She and Don and R.H. and I met the rest of the party at Aqua Grill, Christy and Bryan's favorite where-everyone-knows-your-name place.

I wasn't able to capture the water coming down like rain in this large wall inside but it was lovely.

Here's Deb and Don.....

We four had good late night talks before bed.

Sometimes a heart-to-heart talk with a sister does wonders.

Here's my sister Jenn with my brother-in-law Jeff, who were house guests of Christy and Bryan for the weekend......

That's our son-in-law Bryan across the table from them, and these two men--Bryan and Jeff--flew to Nashville when we moved, helped load the trucks and drove them to Florida for us--my knights in shining armor, along with Zack who drove me and Otis and Milo, our dachshunds, in my car. 

I never told you about our convoy, did I? We could not have made it safely here without their help.

Back to the Aqua Grill, Christy was hidden behind Bryan in the above picture so I got her to pose for the camera, which left Bryan in one of those weird poses. (He doesn't read my blog anyway so will never see this!)

Here's a few of our dinner plates....

Boneless short ribs for a few of the men.

Scallops and crab for Deb.

Wild sockeye salmon and orzo for me.

And I guess I have to include a picture of me and R.H. even though I definitely look like I imbibed too much of the champagne that Zack and Courtney had there as a surprise for all of us.

On to Saturday...there were bike rides for some of the men early and the ladies, minus me, did two miles on the beach early.

Then there was a pool party at Christy and Bryan's...

Recognize any of us? I think that's R.H. in the blue one-piece suit.

Christy grilled filets out that evening and a simple but delicious meal was had by all, including Bryan's mother and father, Barbara and Don, who joined us.

They're the couple squeezed in on the patio sofa at Christy and Bryan's, between R.H. and Don, and they are two fascinating people. And Don, Bryan's father, carved the large tenderloin into the filets for Christy to grill. That impressed me as I'd never seen anyone do it.

That's all the pictures I have even though the whole gang gathered at our house the next morning for a waffle, bacon, pork chops, eggs and fruit salad breakfast.

We ladies went shopping afterwards and came home to a clean kitchen, courtesy of R.H.

And then it was time for our weekend to end, our house guests went home, carrying big pots of lavender with them from the Ace Hardware here, which is one cool store.

A generous dose of family--just what the doctor ordered. 

Another World

"I go to Florida sometimes for vacation.

I actually really like Florida.

It's a weird place, it's surreal.

It's so close, but you feel like you're

in another world or on an island."

Jemima Kirke

I've been hiding out from you, my blog friends...

From myself too.

The reality set in. 

I'm in another world--Florida.

I like it, guess I'll love it, with time.

But it's not home yet. 

I'm working on it.

Away

My apologies,

I'll be away from Dewena's Window for a while.

Let's Visit Christy & Bryan

Would you like a peek into our daughter

and son-in-law's new house?

Christy and Zoe will welcome you at the door.

Hope you brought your swimsuit with you.

Have you met our grandson Luke?
Here he is with his mom,
and he'll put some red snapper and flounder
he caught on the grill for supper.

I haven't taken pictures of the guest room yet,

but the master bedroom is a dreamy retreat.

Barn wood from our old home in TN

will become a part of this bedroom 

when Bryan has it made into a barn slider door

leading into the bathroom.

I'll show you that when it's finished

but here's another piece from Valley View

that Christy asked for when her father and I moved to Florida.

It's a 12 foot bench R.H. and I bought decades ago

that we used by our dining table for a long time

and now will be used for Christy and Bryan's.

It was made by a Mennonite carpenter and had been

in our barn for over 10 years after we stopped using it.

The small entrance courtyard outside the window above

will soon become a small garden full of herbs.

Before we step further into the house we should pop

back outside for a moment and let R.H. show 

you a date palm tree that is in bloom.

Back inside, just a quick look at one wall of the kitchen.

The kitchen will be remodeled in Phase II;

meanwhile we'll just look at this piece

that holds her Fiesta collection.

Time to go to the pool party but you might want 

to stop by the dramatic new powder room first.

I couldn't resist getting a closeup shot for you.

Ready for a swim now?

Bryan, Christy, and R.H. have been so busy landscaping

the area around the terrace that I need to get a new 

picture out here as it has changed dramatically
since I took this picture.

Next time I go visit, I'll do just that

and will keep you updated as they move into

Phase II and III, and beyond.

An outdoor kitchen is next on the list as

Christy is one of the best grill cooks ever,

but here's how we'll end our visit.

Let's gather around the new linear fire pit between

the pool and the lake beyond.

Magical!

So glad you came along with us on a visit to our

daughter and son-in-law's new house.

Y'all drive home safely now!

They're Engaged!

R.H. and I were so happy to get a phone call recently

announcing that Zack had proposed to Courtney.

And even happier to know that she said yes!

Guess what Courtney's dream car was?

Yes, an El Camino and this 1977 beauty was

waiting for her in the driveway one day.

Inside was a beautiful ring hanging from the rearview mirror.

R.H. and I are thrilled that Courtney is joining our family,

and I'll let you in on a little secret--

the first time Zack brought Courtney home to meet us

I started praying for this day to come.

As you can see, Zack is very happy.

And you must also meet Courtney's sweet baby--

True is a gentle greyhound that Courtney

adopted through a rescue group.

Welcome to the family,

Courtney and True!

And congratulations, Zack!

"Fragmentary Blue"

I'm yearning for a blue dress,
      blue room,
             blue dish.

But a blue dress, for sure.

When I was fourteen, Mama made me a dress
      of white polished cotton
             swirled with sky blue, 
                   the skirt cut on the bias.

I loved how it swirled about my legs.

I loved Sunday dresses
       on little sisters
            and cousins gathered to visit
                  at our grandparents' farm.

I'm yearning for a blue dress, for sure.

"Why make so much of fragmentary blue

In here and there a bird, or butterfly,   

Or flower, or wearing-stone, or open eye,

When heaven presents in sheets the solid hue?

Since earth is earth, perhaps, not heaven (not yet)--

Though some savants make earth include the sky;

And blue so far above us comes so high,    

It only gives our wish for blue a whet."

Robert Frost

"Fragmentary Blue"

[Photo by R.H., late one day before sunset.

Blue dress at top from Bergdorf Goodman

in May 1931 Woman's Home Companion.]