This is finally beginning to feel like home.
Finding Peace In Difficult Times
I started writing this post a couple of weeks ago, and then it fell by the wayside when the war in the Ukraine broke out. Given the latest tragedy, my plan of posting photos of dogs in pirate costumes seemed frivolous. But in the midst of careening from one disaster to another, we all need respite and joy to shore up our spirits.
I grew up in the 1960s in Miami, with Cuba only 90 miles away. Crouching beneath our little wooden desks during air raid drills while sirens shrieked was terrifying. I remember begging my dad to build us an air raid shelter. His answer? “Sweetheart, if a nuclear bomb drops here, we won’t have a world fit to live in. But we can enjoy life right now.” He told me not to worry. I still worried. But I also trusted my dad, and found some ease in learning to embrace this moment, even in the face of uncertainty.
Second grade in Miami in 1961. I’m on the far right, probably worrying about a bomb dropping on the school.
It is both sad and scary to witness what a mess the world is in, and to feel like we have made no progress at all in learning how to live peacefully on this Earth. But I don’t want to sit around feeling hopeless and fearful.
We fear the future because we are wasting today. ~ Mother Teresa
Taking Small Actions
With that in mind, I choose to focus on what is good and beautiful in our troubled world. And I choose to put my energy into things that are within the realm of my control. I have to remind myself of this every day.
We can do no great things, only small things with great love. ~ Mother Teresa
Banding together with people and organizations who are taking positive actions makes me feel hopeful. One of our favorite charities is the World Central Kitchen, started by chef and humanitarian José Andrés. They’ve already delivered hundreds of thousands of meals to Ukrainians caught in this tragic war. It brings me some small measure of comfort to know that we’ve helped provide a hot meal, the most basic of human needs, to someone who is in need.
Patrolling Phipps Preserve, a Nature Conservancy site
At home, in this tiny town in the Florida Panhandle, we’re volunteering time for the birds. Eric has been a dedicated volunteer for Audubon for almost two years, and I’ve joined him in his efforts.
Click on photos for captions
Every time we spend a day helping put up signage to protect nesting sites, or cleaning up trash, or walking the beach and acting as stewards for the birds, I realize that it helps me at least as much as it helps the birds.
Speaking of volunteering, former full-time travelers and now local buddies Shannon and Ken volunteered for turtle patrol on St. George Island last summer (you can read about their experience here). From May through October, they rose before dawn to walk two miles of beach, acting as stewards for the sea turtles that nest on the beaches here. In January, they told us about a sea turtle that had been rehabilitated and was being returned home. It was a heartwarming event. As long as we have good people doing good things, there is hope for our world.
Time With Friends
We love hanging out with our local friends, and we’ve been delighted by the friends who have come to visit us here on the Forgotten Coast. Good friends make all the difference in life. (We’ve made many friends in our travels, and some are fellow bloggers, including Larry & Susie, Shannon & Ken, and Laura & Kevin.)
Click on photos for captions
Local Festivities
There is never a lack of activities in this area, and many of the festivities support local causes. The 11th Annual Apalachicola Mardi Gras Barkus Parade was a colorful, fun-loving benefit for critters on the Forgotten Coast. The theme this year was “Pirates of Oyster City.” It was a blast.
Projects At Home
Our projects at home continue. Lots of landscaping, installing new irrigation, and fixing up the lanai have been the focus the last couple of months. I also got inspired to chalk paint two of the only pieces of furniture that we kept from my folks. I’m trying to muster up the fortitude to paint the oak kitchen cabinets and all of the interior doors. I’m having trouble deciding on the color—I’m leaning toward some shade of gray for the cabinets since the walls and floors are in gray tones, but I don’t want the inside of the house to look like a battleship. I welcome your suggestions, LOL.
Planning Our Summer Adventure
As much as we’re enjoying life here, we know we do not want to be here in the summer. I’ve been busily planning our summer travels and so far, have made 33 reservations for the four months we’ll be away. It was an enormous jigsaw puzzle to get it figured out. Magnolia decided to bite a hole in the middle of Michigan just as I was trying to plan our route. I hope that’s not her commentary on our travel plans.
Glad you are settling in and it’s feeling like home. We too are beginning to feel settled. The house projects seem never ending at the moment, but I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Hmm, paint color for cabinets? I’m in the midst of that dilemma as well. I’m thinking white uppers and navy-blue lowers, but I’ll save that project for down the road. Have a great summer!
Hi Ingrid, I know exactly what you mean about house projects seeming never ending. I’m glad you’re seeing a light at the end of the tunnel for your projects…we still have some big ones left, but it’s good for me to also acknowledge how far we’ve come. I hope you’ll post photos of what you’ve been doing! Like you, I’ve been considering using a different color for the upper and the lower cabinets…I’ve been going back and forth on this for months, LOL! I hope you have a great summer, too!
Thanks for the soulful reflection. I remember those air raid drills. I must have thought it was a game because I don’t remember being afraid. And I like your dad’s wise advise.
I will be forwarding this post to friends from Eastern Canada who come here to winter in the desert. They are thinking Florida but what they know about is Miami Beach and Key West and that doesn’t appeal. I’m glad they are here. We like the company of our Canadian snowbirds.
Nancy, so many people only think of Florida in terms of Miami, or Key West (which I admit, we do enjoy :-)), or the theme parks in Orlando. The Forgotten Coast is a unique area and the people who love it, love it.
I’m glad you weren’t traumatized by the air raid drills. I will never forget the tension in Miami during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Putin’s insanity right now brings back my fear of nuclear war. :-( I hope all is well in Ashland.
Love your reflections and your philosophy. It’s all we can do right now.
I remember the air raid desk dives also, but more with annoyance than fear! My parents said the same things as yours did – what would we come out of our shelters to find? Better live our best lives and not worry about what we can’t control they said. I guess I still live by that. Change the things you can and don’t worry about the rest.
Painting cupboards will probably be on our plate next year. This 20 year old lacquer just can’t be matched and we have lots of dripping wet hand marks on some of the doors. The granite counter top colors will dictate the paint choices below but most likely shade of grey also.
We wish we could be some of the friends that come for a visit….sigh
Sue, we wish you and Dave could be some of the friends who come for a visit! (A long visit!) I wish we weren’t so darned far away from you guys. At least we can keep in touch via our blogs and emails until we get to see you in person.
We were fortunate to have parents who helped us figure out how to live in an uncertain world. Even though it’s challenging, I agree with what you said about changing what we can and trying to not worry about the rest. Although I do still worry, I feel better when I take action.
I’m thinking gray, too, for the cabinets…but maybe a dark charcoal? Our counters are a light gray, so I don’t want light gray. Or white. At least, that’s what I’m thinking this morning, LOL!
We appear in your photos about as often as you appear in ours….it’s almost eerie! :-) Actually, it’s a perfect illustration of your point that good friends make all the difference in making a place feel like home. I’m so glad that you two are building a new life here, with fabulous upgrades to your home, satisfying volunteer activities, and participation in the local festivities. These are the little things that help everyone deal with a world gone crazy.
Yes, you are in many of our photos, Shannon! Seeing as how you and Ken have become an integral part of our new tribe here on the Forgotten Coast, you will make frequent guest appearances on the blog. :-) Now that the initial shock of being stranded here has abated, we’re finding that this is a good place to call home. It helps to have good friends and so many opportunities to be involved in the community. We’re just getting started!
I also grew up in Kendall -went to Vineland Elementary, not far from Kenwood! Did you go to Killian High School, which is where I went? I was probably a year ahead of you. Funny!
Great job on the furniture painting by the way!
Alison, it’s just wild to think that we both grew up in Kendall in the same era, and both went to Killian. Thanks so much for commenting so that we have the opportunity to share stories! And thanks for your nice comment on my furniture painting. Now if I can just motivate myself to tackle the cabinets (and decide on a color, 😳).
Your dad’s point, and your overall philosophy, is right on. We can only control what we can control, and too much worry about the future will only rob us of our time here today. So, get out there and grab life by the horns, chase your dreams, or chew up a map….whatever your goals, go get em!!
We had so much fun with you guys and really wish we could have stayed even longer. You live in such a gorgeous and fun area and have done a wonderful job finding community and purpose. And I can’t wait to follow your Michigan adventures this summer! It’ll be here before you know it!
Laura, we can learn a lot from our critters, can’t we? Magnolia is always present in the moment and doesn’t worry one bit about the future, even though she has little control over her life, haha. She’s going to Michigan, even though she did take a chunk out of the map.
We loved having you guys come visit and are so happy that we got to share so many different adventures with you. We just wish we could convince you to move here, LOL. I know that isn’t going to happen, but I can always hope, right? Keep on following your dreams, and we’ll catch up with you, wherever you land!
So enjoying your blog, Laurel. Can’t believe it took me this long to register!
Per your kitchen cabinets, I agree with you – enough with the battleship grays. Go for color! Remember you can always paint over it (love the blue cabinet btw…). Written by the woman whose house is teal, rust, raspberry, copper and butter – on the outside. So consider the source.
Can’t wait to see you and Eric in April. Yay!
Judi, I’m so glad you’re following along with our blog! And we can’t wait to see you and Kevin in April. :-) Birding adventures and fun times ahead!
I love all of the colors of your beautiful home, so I may just wait for your artistic advice on the cabinets when you get here! I know for sure I don’t want to paint them light gray, because the countertops and the floor and the walls are all in shades of light gray. It would definitely look like a battleship if I went with gray cabinets! But charcoal, maybe….with lots of other colors in the furnishings…
I’m not surprised to see you settling into your community with gusto. I need to do more of that when we get back next winter. I’m confident there are some more like-minded peeps nearby. Your amazing seasonal views of the water would be a big part of making the lovely space all your own. How fun to have so many visitors!!! I have most of our reservations completed through August, but have to be realistic that the world’s events could change that. Nothing compared to what the Ukraine is facing so we will flex as needed. Holding on to hope for humanity and our planet is a daily struggle but we too manage to find good continues.
Jodee, it’s helping me in so many ways to become more involved with the community. It takes a while to get settled into a new home (as you know) and the stupid pandemic was a big stumbling block (as you know). I look forward to hearing about what you get involved in when you return from your summer adventure!
I’m trusting that we will all be able to continue with our travel plans. Even more, I’m fervently hoping that things will calm down in our troubled world. Make sure to plan to come visit us, maybe in 2023??
I love that header photo of the sun over the water! Such a peaceful and serene setting.
Isn’t it amazing how the years fly by? You’ve been in Florida for 2 years and we’re coming up on 5 in Oregon. Unbelievable.
I agree with you about Ukraine and how blogging and sharing photos feels frivolous, but we do what we can to keep our sanity. As I mentioned on my previous blog post, World Central Kitchen is currently doing great things for Ukraine. I happily donated and am glad I stumbled upon it via SmittenKitchen’s IG post. BTW, that’s a great school photo!
One of my dearest friends here is involved with helping to protect the Oyster Catcher nests and has shared some great video of the babies as they hatch.
How lovely that your mother’s camellia is still blooming. They have such beautiful blossoms.
We’ve been busy making reservations for a couple of trips, as well. It’s always a challenge to get everything coordinated and I’m so thankful for RV Trip Wizard. What a headache it would be without that resource. Now to figure out how to get into a full campground. Ugh. Summer travel is always such a challenge. Good luck with your travel plans and your house projects. Life is good, right?
Lesley, we have such a beautiful and serene backyard view, and I’m very grateful for it! As you said, I can’t quite believe that we’ve been here for two years. I feel like I’ve spent most of the time just trying to adjust to one big life change after another. Crazy!! It’s good that I have a peaceful view to bring me back to center. And it makes me very happy to have flowers blooming in the yard that my parents planted so many years ago.
I’m looking forward to following along with your travels this summer. I haven’t used Trip Wizard, but I need to consider it for future trip planning. You should have seen me surrounded by calendars, notebooks, old trip plans from 2020, maps…it was daunting. Getting into a full campground is NOT fun. Good luck! I only have one reservation left to make, but I definitely need your good luck wishes for all of our house projects, LOL. Life truly is good. :-)
Laurel, to this day I don’t know the purpose of hiding under our desks, but it was a regular drill during that time. It seems so bizarre that we are watching this play out in real-time. Heartbreaking. The only thing we can do is offer support. Your local volunteer efforts are admirable and necessary. Every little thing….
If you two guys keep bringing friends around the Forgotten coast won’t stay forgotten for long :-) Shhhhh…
If you go with gray for the cabinets, go dark. love the pieces you did in blue.
Suzanne, those air raid drills were the very definition of futile, weren’t they? It’s tragic that yet another madman is trying to force his will and political agenda on innocent people. I’m praying that somehow peace will prevail.
I think the word is out about the Forgotten Coast. :-) I’m just hoping we can help to protect this fragile and beautiful ecosystem—we’re pitching in to help as best we can.
I’m thinking exactly what you said about the cabinets! I brought home a can of charcoal chalk paint to try (maybe on a piece of cardboard first??). I’m glad you like the blue pieces! One is called Coastal Blue and the other is Navy, but it looks like teal, which suits me fine.
I think it should also be noted for posterity that in the school photo, there is one teacher to 24 students, and the principal was a woman. 1961. It is sort of funny to think anyone thought those tables were going to be much protection in the event of an air raid. I think the tornado drills we used to do were about as effective! We’ve always said what your Dad said, you have to prepare for whatever disaster you won’t mind surviving. We also agree with not ruining a life unruined because others’ have been while also being good citizens and helpers!
I’d need to see a better pic of the kitchen and cabinets from the living/dining area and the proximity to the other two painted pieces to say for sure, but I’d consider doing those in blue as well.
Maggie must have gotten word of the tasty pasties in Michigan!
Joodie, I noticed exactly the same things about that photo that I dug out of the family archives! Twenty-four students and one teacher, and I don’t recall any behavioral problems ever in the classroom. And we all seemed to get plenty of attention. And yes, we had a woman principal. Pretty cool, huh?
I know we feel the same about living life fully, and trying to help those less fortunate as best we can. These are hard times on the planet, but life is still so beautiful, and we need to make the most of every day.
I thought about doing the cabinets in blue but I think it may end up being too much blue. I will text you some photos for your consultation. :-)
Like I said today when we talked, your posts are food for thought as well as for the eyes. Clearly all your commenters agree with me. I share your dismay that it seems we cannot get over having war in our world.
Life looks great there on the forgotten coast where you clearly are not forgotten by the number of visitors wanting to spend time with you. I agree with Suzanne, you’d better stop making it look so marvelous or it won’t be forgotten any more. I once lived in a little forgotten college town and then it wasn’t any more and has never been the same sadly.
Love that the pictures have captions when I hover over them. How do you do that? Some program I don’t own probably.
Sherry, we definitely share the same philosophy about the state of our world and how to try to be in it in these challenging times. I know you’ve talked about how much your little hometown has changed over the years. I’m hoping that any changes here will be for the better. I’m doubtful that there will ever be a huge increase in the population, given that we’re in such a remote area. But who knows?
The captions on the photos are part of the WordPress options on my site, so I don’t know how you would enable that on Blogger. You can see the full caption if you click on the photo—it enlarges the photo, and the caption appears beneath it.
Boy, what a great life you have. Lucky you.
And more great stuff this summer.
Lucky you
K~
Kathryn, we feel so fortunate to be here in this beautiful, peaceful place. I hope that you’re doing well. Would love to hear what your plans are—I know you’ve been considering a life change. Wishing you peace.
Laurel, whether intentionally or not, your post provides a roadmap to contentment – throughout life, yes, but perhaps especially so in our retirement years. Generosity of time, spirit and/or resources, friends (and family), meaningful projects and adventures large and small – all simple things when viewed individually but, together, a recipe for a life full of purpose and joy. As another commenter mentioned, much food for thought here.
I think I’ve mentioned Smudge in past comments. He’s my son and future daughter-in-law’s cat. When I recently commented to Ryan that our new kitchen stove was “Smudge-proof,” he replied, “Nothing is Smudge-proof. ” Apparently, nothing is “Magnolia-proof” either!
Mary, this is such a lovely comment! I like your thoughts about a “Roadmap to Contentment.” I’ve found that the balance of creative projects/friendships/and community involvement seems to work well for me in nourishing contentment. With travel adventures in the mix, too, of course! Your comment is very insightful.
And you are right, nothing seems to be Magnolia-proof! She is so BUSY, haha!! Sounds like Smudge is a kindred spirit. :-)
It is so important to enjoy the company of friends. We’ve struggled to make those friendships in this community since moving here 5 years ago. We have a core group but just can’t seem to branch out–hopefully it will come. Covid hasn’t done anything to help form friendships for sure. Wishing you good luck choosing that cabinet color and with painting them–that’s a chore! I so enjoy reading your positive attitude blogs–you always give me hope.
Janna, thank you for your kind comment. We’re incredibly grateful that we’ve made like-minded friends here. Honestly, had we not made several friends in the first year we were stranded here, I doubt that we would have stayed. As you said, Covid has definitely made it more challenging to meet people, but as the pandemic is easing up and we’re getting out and doing more in the community, we’re meeting many people that we feel an immediate camaraderie with. This is a very friendly, active small town.
I’ve been waffling not only about the color for the cabinets, but I also know what a job it’s going to be, LOL.
Our world is quite a mess, for sure. Who would have ever thought that after two years of pandemic confusion and shut downs there would be yet another crisis. Our hearts are breaking for Ukraine. I feel like we are watching a WWII movie. How can this be real in today’s world. My parents lived in Ukraine off and on for several years when they worked with USAID. A friend and his wife still live there. We were able to contact him and he and his wife were able to leave and get to their daughter’s in Sweden. He is in his 70’s so he didn’t stay to fight. It’s makes the whole situation so close to home. We, too, support the World Central Kitchen. Such a wonderful organization.
On a happier note…I’m glad you are finding your comfort zone with your new home and finding many activities that you both enjoy. I love the new cabinets. Chalk paint leaves such a neat finish. Glad your summer plans are coming together. Your travel to a great area.
Pam, I’m so glad your friends in the Ukraine made it safely out of the country. As you said, seeing scenes from the war is like watching a WWII movie. I don’t think any of us ever thought this could happen again. I hope the sanctions against Russia will put a stop to Putin’s insane agenda. Our world seems to be spinning from one catastrophic event to another…we just have to keep finding ways to try to help as best we can.
I’m finally beginning to feel more at home here. I know you understand, and that you experienced similar feelings when you and John settled down and stopped traveling full-time. It helps to get more involved in the community and to keep doing projects to make this house our home. We’re excited about our summer plans!
What a mess our world has become. Friends who lived in Kyiv managed to get out about 10 days after the invasion … their departure from Poland expedited by the Philippines Embassy because he is Philipino and his wife and young son are Ukranian. It’s such a relief to that they are out, yet our hearts break knowing things are getting worse by the hour in Ukraine.
It’s nice to hear that you have settled into life in Florida. We feel the same way about Colorado even though we continue to spend so much of our time still traveling around the world and the US … making the most of our “able years.”
Oh Erin, I’m so glad your friends managed to escape the devastation in the Ukraine. It’s still hard to believe that this is happening. I know you’re relieved that they’re safe…so many people are not.
I’m glad you’re feeling ‘at home’ in beautiful Colorado, just as we are in Florida. We’re planning on lots more travel, as well. I look forward to your next adventure!
Oh my, somehow this post got away from me, and yet I loved it so much. I have a problem just popping some quickie comment to a post that is so meaningful. I keep waiting for the right moment to sit quietly and say something actually relevant, that shows all the feelings I had while I was reading…so I wait…and then all of a sudden it has been a week, and now anything I say is basically redundant. Doesn’t that ever happen to you, Laurel? All your comments on my blog and on others I see, and those of your friends here on your blog are always so thoughtful and well put. I think what amazes me most of all about you and Eric is something that I learned very early on when you were still pretty close to Ashland. You two are such amazing people that you draw truly amazing friends into your circle, and you keep those friends and you treat them right. You are a model for me of what it is to be a real friend and a fascinating and thoughtful person. I love your new life in Florida…even a tiny bit envious. Geez…that doesn’t sound like a decent friend in the least bit. I am so happy about the life you have found.
Sue, I always appreciate your thoughtful, loving comments. I know exactly what you mean about needing time to respond thoughtfully to blog posts. And time goes by so quickly, and suddenly, another week has passed. I’m trying to get our blog caught up from our 2019 travels before we leave in June and hoped to post once a week, but I don’t think that’s realistic for my pace of writing, LOL.
We feel so fortunate to meet wonderful people wherever we go. Our friendships are dear to us, and although our friends are now scattered far and wide, I love staying in touch. And we always hope that good friends will come to visit us. I hope a return trip to Florida is in your plans at some point. Hugs to you!
“As long as we have good people doing good things, there is hope for our world.” I say Amen, sister. And thanks for going ahead with the dogs in pirate costumes. We need ALL of that.
Thanks, Gretchen. :-) I know how much good you do in your corner of the world.
Once again im late to the party 😌 pardon me 😢.
Life in Florida has sort of back to normal now with friends visiting, town activities, house projects and volunteering! And you are enjoying the moment as we have no control of what is happening in the world as what you have eloquently expressed in your reflections.
As for the color of your cabinet, i suggest pick up a shade or tone from your stone wall. Doing so the cabinet and door color will bring it all together. Or you can make your kitchen light and lively with hue that complements with gray very well (which is most color). Or you can check out pinterest for ideas.
Oh, MonaLiza, I am ALWAYS happy to hear from you! I know you understand about settling in to a new place. Even though you and Steve were ready to settle down, it still takes time to make it “home,” doesn’t it? You two did such a gorgeous job on all of your projects and accomplished so much in your first year there.
I like your idea about picking up a shade from the stone wall for the cabinets. I’m currently leaning toward a dark gray with blue undertones. I’m going to try to get this project done sometime in April. Wish me luck! :-)