With the generous help of friends and family, we managed to pack all of our worldly possessions into small-ish shipping containers for transport. Now we prep ourselves for the cross country trek to Michigan.
Sunset in my family’s garden.
My family’s bromeliads are blooming like crazy right now. I’ll miss their lush colors.
Chilling in the afternoon glow.
Summer sunrise through the live oaks.
I guess Paramount wasn’t so particular about their TV swag in 1992. 😂 Everyone is assembled but they’re all in half poses, looking in different directions. A perfect metaphor for my family’s current state. Today kicks off a long, multi-month, voyage towards our new home in Michigan. We packed our suitcases and left our house to begin the first leg of our voyage; two weeks with my family.
“Helping”
This is my cat beautifully expressing my family’s exhaustion. We are in the nasty bit of moving where, no matter how many things we box, it feels like we haven’t made a dent. We know it will eventually end but the only way out is through.
One of the crazy things I’ll miss about Florida: A small cloud raining into another cloud that is raining on probably one city block of space.
Here comes the sun
It has done nothing but rain for the past two weeks and my tiny yard is now a tiny lake.
Downstairs, my wife is listening to a Motown playlist while making dinner. It’s the music of her home and a celebratory fist pump in knowing she’s returning to it. After many weeks of searching, and being outbid several times, we’ve finally secured a house in Michigan and our relief is palpable.
A bit of sadness accompanies that relief. Moving means leaving and we will greatly miss our life here and the people that filled it. We must also say goodbye to the backyard birds who helped us survive the 2020 lockdown. We leave them the tropical flowers they are so fond of dancing through and feel assured that their cycle never required us in the first place.
Downstairs, the next track begins and The Temptations appropriately croon about wherever you lay your hat being your home. I remind myself to keep looking ahead and, as L. M. Sacasas so eloquently states, ”attend lovingly to the world on the assumption that it has something of value to disclose to us and a reservoir of beauty to enrich our lives.”
Sleeping is her superpower. Related: I guess I’m not moving for a good while.
Our garden is now being visited by a beautiful hummingbird moth. At first glance, we thought it was a baby hummingbird but then we spotted it’s clear wings and antenna.
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a working person in possession of a laptop, must be in want of a cat.
Hurricane Elsa blustered in around 10pm EST throwing heavy rains that shook the trees and drowned the yard until about 2am. Thankfully the trees in our area held, we kept power, and our extremely sandy soil will be quick to drain.
This morning the air is calmer and a tiny bit of blue peeks through every so often. We will refill the bird feeders, pick up twigs, and count our blessings.
The young cardinals and titmice are about to experience their first hurricane winds tonight. I keep looking at them hoping they’ll be ok.
Celebrating Independance Day indoors with lots of rain storms and hurricane Elsa on the way.
House Finch dad keeping watch on his mate and her nest.
My wonderful wife surprised me with the watch I’ve been drooling for over for the past several years.
A super tiny storefront display of flowers were in bloom so I had to pause and appreciate their little color explosions.
A beautiful end to a great day with friends.
We call it “The Sunshine State” but it started raining as soon as we passed the border and continued the entire length of our drive. Still, it’s good to be home.
Being in the Detroit area for fathers day meant we were able to attend the 2021 Henry Ford Motor Muster.
This glass eagle hood ornament by the French sculptor, René Lalique really blew me away.
Tons of unique cars from the 30’s through the 70’s we’re on display but this dayglow 1954 Nash Metropolitan stole the show.
Watching the technicians that are keeping vinyl record pressing alive at Third Man Records, Canfield. Nobody cares more for art than other artists.
