Quick Trip to Florida

Two weeks ago I made a quick trip to Florida to surprise my mom for her 79th birthday.  She was SOOOO surprised and excited!

My mom and dad are just so cute. I'm incredibly thankful that they are both still so healthy and enjoying life.

We spent a good chunk of Sunday holding an open house to sell this view from their house.  I still can't believe they've had this house for 20 years.  It will be awesome to have them back in Michigan more but I know selling this place is hard on them.

I love these Bird of Paradise flowers - just so cool!

While I was visiting south Florida, Madison was up in Gainesville visiting her hold childhood friend, Rosalee.  Rose has been living in Florida for over 10 years now when her family moved to south Florida after her Dad had a heart attack.

On my last evening in Florida, I headed down to Naples where I spent some time enjoying an ocean view.

Then this beautiful woman came to hang out with me!  My sister-in-law, Lettie is my Latino sister in so many ways!

She is sassier and saucier than me but we adore each other.

And as a special treat, she brought along her daughter, Grace.  I haven't seen Gracie in soooooo long. She's Madison's sister-cousin. They share a birthday.  She has grown into such a special woman.

And this is why I adore my Latino sister - we are always laughing together!

Random thoughts...

April Showers...and I turn into a Smurf.

I'm such a dork sometimes.  I wanted to check out my new sleeping bag purchased for my Iceland trip this summer.  So I slept in it on my bed one night.

April Showers also sometimes turn into a blowing wet snow...

...covering up my newly sprouted daffodils!

This cracked me up.  I'm not a Rose fan but Madison loves it.  LOL!

I'm slowly making progress on the kitchen cabinets and finished two more.

My Beautiful Horse World

Boarding your horse isn't cheap.  And it isn't a huge money maker for those who board horses either.  But I do feel very lucky to have my horse at Valboa Farm.  The beauty of this traditional red sided farm with white fences is beautiful from every angle and at all times of the day.  

 Having time to watch Madison teach Vince to jump is beautiful.

Forgot to crop this one but watching Madison teach this same silly gelding that the road isn't going to eat him alive is also beautiful.

 Okay, shedding season isn't so beautiful but finding that sleek horse beneath all that winter fur is pretty awesome.

Sweeping up a couple of small dogs worth of fur isn't so great either but it comes with the territory!!

And all of it is worth it because every view through the ears of a horse is beautiful!