This morning Dana and I took AG for a long walk/stroll around Oakland and let her run loose along the West Orange Trail, play in the dirt, etc.  By the time we got home I had sweat running down my back and was feeling like I needed to take another shower.  It is tremendously humid and in the high 70’s to low 80’s. Odd thing is that there’s a cold front en route and so we’ll likely have a freeze warning for Thursday night to Friday morning.  So… today I sweat but soon I’ll have to cover the plants to protect them and I’ll be complaining that I’m freezing to death.  Welcome to Florida!

In addition, there’s actually a tropical storm floating around in the Atlantic. Tropical Storm Zeta.  Thankfully it is way too far away to cause much trouble and is expected to die in the next day or so.  Again…Ms. Nature… let’s be checkin’ that calendar, shall we?  Somebody get that chic some xanax and an anger management class!

Some of the flowers have already started blooming around here.  Azaleas are already peeking out and the camelias are beginning to bloom.  Camelias are probably my  favorite flower.  I hope I can grow them in Washington but I have doubts. It may be too cold.  We’ll see.  Another favorite of mine are hydrangeas which are a bit hard to grow this far into central Florida.  Some folks succeed. I do occasionally but they take a lot of pampering around here.  I think they’ll be easier to grow in Washington.  But… around here, camelias take no work and provide lots of beautiful flower.

Here’s the first Camelia to make it to full bloom this year.  It’s a Marie Bracy

My favorite Camelia is a Pink Perfection.  We have a small one out front and it’s loaded with tons of buds.  I hope they start popping up soon.  Usually I wouldn’t cover the camelias if we had a freeze warning but if they freeze now they’ll drop their buds.  It doesn’t kill the plant but it does mean a season with no blooms. So… the pink perfection will be covered.  The Marie Bracy is getting a bit tall so it may have to fend for itself.

I’m still working on the sleeve for Dana’s sweater and it is cruising along.  The sleeve works increases every 6 rows for a total of 20 times.  I’m halfway through this portion.  I’m hoping I can finish those next 10 repeats during the second half.

The game is great. FSU is down by one point… a point they don’t have due to a missed kick (history repeats itself!!!!) but the game is a perfect match up and is in no way a disappointment.

Well, half time is almost over so I must go.
Toodles.