Going Native

So here I am at a hotel in Boca Raton in Florida, stealing a few moments on Howard's laptop.

Only a few moments -- the last time I used his laptop, last summer, he had to go thru all sorts of new security clearances afterward. I'm not sure how that could have been my fault, but. . . .


We left New Jersey on Monday morning amidst a terrible wind and rain storm, on just about the last on-time flight out before the 5-hour delays and cancellations began at Newark Airport.


Yesterday, we visited my friend Mardi -- who sometimes visits my blog (Hello Mardi!) -- at the house she shares with her husband Joe in Parkland. And now I understand why Mardi and Joe happily ditch New Jersey for Florida for half the year. The half with the snow and the ice and the 17 degree high temperatures. Their house, and its setting, are just beautiful.

We had lunch by their pool. Gorgeous view; they overlook a little lake and Joe has done fabulous landscaping. I will have to put a big paper bag over the yard at That Old House when they visit in the summer, after seeing their beautiful plantings.

Howard took a phone picture from where we sat for lunch:

And another pic of one of the many cactii Joe has nurtured in the screened pool area.

Although he says his nurturing consisted of planting them, and then standing back.

This one is so big, you can stand in its shade.
I have some cactii at home. They can fit in a tea cup.

We'll be back on a plane for New Jersey at 3 tomorrow afternoon. Today, Howard is replacing his Dad's computer printer, and then we're taking the folks out to lunch along the beach.

And I am going native: It's January, and I am not wearing socks!

Have a lovely Wednesday. I know we will! -- Cass