I took this picture from Norma Jean's backyard this morning. Notice the trees, a kind we just don't see much of in Washington state. We haven't seen this much blue sky lately, either. It was very cold last night, for Florida at least (41 deg F), but when the sun came up, it warmed up quickly and is now in the mid-70s, just about perfect.
Norma Jean used her recently purchased Vitamix to make a wonderful smoothie for our lunch today. She uses raw kale, acai juice, flax seed, frozen mixed fruit, and yogurt; it was absolutely delicious and incredibly nutritious. We'll be having this often, since it's her usual lunch fare. We walked somewhere between five and six miles this morning on the streets near her home in
Betmar Acres, a 55-and-over mobile home retirement community. She walked more slowly than she usually does, to allow her elder sister to keep up.
We went to the health food store and then to the liquor store to stock up on red wine. We saw this bottle and couldn't resist buying it, since Norma Jean is the middle sister of our original three siblings. (When I was sixteen our parents decided to have another three children in quick succession. The last two were born after I left home.)
I'm a little tired from the travel and the three-hour time difference between Pacific and Eastern Standard Time. I used that as an excuse to keep Norma Jean from going even farther this morning. Tomorrow we'll go a shorter distance but at HER pace. I'll get a good night's sleep so I'll be ready.
:-)
ha pretty cool find on the wine...florida...soak it up...i miss living in florida....
ReplyDeletelove that wine label. :) i cannot believe you can't keep up w/ n.j. i think it was purely jet lag and lack of elevation. :)
ReplyDeleteYou have said before that Norma Jean walks fast..must be that lunch she has everyday! So glad you are there safely and it sounds delightfully warm..I would even take the 41 degrees! Good thing you stocked up on wine..have fun:)
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Florida!
ReplyDeleteWe love it and hope that you enjoy your stay.
So glad that you arrived safely, have had a good time with your sister and that you will be resting to make up for the time difference.
Enjoy all that sunshine. Loved that bottle of wine. Let's hope the taste is as good as the label.
ReplyDeleteSo jealous of that 70 degrees! It never got out of the 30's here today. Have a wonderful time!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you're about to have a good time. It always seems unreal for a day or two when you go from say Alberta to Florida but it doesn't take long to get used to it.
ReplyDeleteThis is the best time to visit Florida – when it is cold in your state. I know how much fun it is for you to visit your sister. Have a great stay.
ReplyDeleteI think you are going to love this visit for so many reasons. Enjoy it all. The sun, the blue sky, the great smoothies, the walks, and most of all time with that great younger sister.
ReplyDeleteLet the sun shine!
ReplyDeleteGood gracious! That photo of palm trees surprised me since it's so different from your usual gorgeous Northwest photos. The smoothie sounds very interesting. I've never put kale in a smoothie. Hmmmm... And you say it's delicious? Hmmmm...
ReplyDeleteHave a terrific time, DJan!
Middle Sister wine....I like that concept. Neat label too. I bet you're enjoying the state...AND being with a sibling of course. Your family sounds a bit like mine...I was 'the mistake' after parents had four children...by the time I was born, my oldest brother had left home. I was a niece by 8 years of age, and I remember saying to my mom when she told me my brother and his wife had a baby...I said "How can I be an aunt when I am not even married yet?"
ReplyDeleteBetween Middle Sister Wine and delicious smoothies, I think you will have a wonderfully relaxin' holiday. Soak up some of that nice sunshine - Its warmed up to a nice -17 today, which is much warmer that the whole past week or mostly -30 to -21. YEAH :)
ReplyDeleteI love your pics. I know you will have a great time with your middle sister in Florida. Tell her I said, "Aloha!"
ReplyDeleteIt was colder on the west coast than the east! Glad you're in Florida. And that middle sister wine, BTW, is good!
ReplyDeleteA nice break for you from all the rain you've been having. Have a great time. Your lunch sounds powerful! what on earth is acai juice?
ReplyDeleteSounds about the same temperature as here in Alicante! Today's hike was gloriously sunny and only chilly when the wind blew. Definitely doesn't feel like winter! ;o)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your visit with Norma Jean!
Welcome to Florida...have a wonderful visit with Norma Jean...how are the puppies she adopted? Have a GREAT time!
ReplyDeleteGlad to read your weather report. We've got an ugly ice storm here today and assuming we can make it to the airport tomorrow we heading off to Tampa on Tuesday....:)
ReplyDeleteFlorida! How nice you get to spend time with your Sis. Have a wonderful visit.
ReplyDeletexo jj
That smoothie sounds delicious. Maybe you can bring us back some of that Florida sunshine.
ReplyDeleteHealth and exercise must run in the family. We're visiting my inlaws in Naples, FLA this Winter as well. I love walking outside and hearing the birds and the bugs again. And then there's the sunshine. Have a great trip DJan!
ReplyDeleteWell, D-Jan, it seems you have survived your west-to- east transplantation. This is wonderful. Hope you and Norma Jean keep having a wonderful time together.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and Bear hugs.
I suspect that most of of the world would have trouble keeping up with YOUR pace. I can only images NJ's pace. How was the wine? :)
ReplyDeletecommenting here as I read through the posts backwards in time :)
ReplyDeleteI purchase the Middle Sister wine for my GF last wknd for the very same reason. She's in the middle of 6 siblings, all girls.
You mention going to St. Pete so Zephyrills must be close? We always go to Ann Maria Is, an hour south of Tampa. Love St. pete. It's so pretty. My good friend lives in Palm Harbor, north of Tampa. I like it down there but the summers would kill me.
You are keeping up well. Smoothie seems like a great booster lunch.
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