Last week’s post centered on how a log cabin in rural Northern Florida became my primary home and haven nearly two years after the passing of my husband. I became an official Florida resident earlier this year and recently transferred my homestead exemption to my most recent residence. 

With four dogs now, and an acre to maintain, it’s been a very good way for me to literally build back a new life, one so different from the last. Next month will mark the 4th anniversary of Rich’s passing. Since then, I’ve lost three more close family members so with those losses and two moves in five years I think I’ve checked the boxes of some of the most stressful and life-altering events one can endure. I find keeping meaningfully occupied is a good long-term coping strategy.  

In the past two weeks several very old trees were removed from the property. This is a region that is filled with live oaks that are one-hundred years old and up. I love the character of these majestic oaks, but after a time, they get to the end of their lives and several dying limbs had become dangerously covered with Spanish moss. It is a major all-day operation to take down these big trees involving a crew of four and several trucks carefully maneuvering. 

I miss those magnificent specimens, but we also managed to install new trees imported from a local family-owned farm specializing in native Florida plantings. I fell in love with some D. D. Blanchard Magnolias and Japanese Blueberry topiaries. The Magnolias were pruned when they arrived and are now showing new growth. Their blooms are large and said to be fragrant. I love learning about the native species. I’ve read they can reach a mature height of 80 feet and when they widen will form a beautiful natural privacy feature. Slowly, but surely.

Last month pavers were installed which really makes the front so appealing and diverts water from the foundation. This week brought two pallets of sod.

And there was another milestone. A year ago this week also marks the day I “met” another property for sale in a town just 20 minutes from here. It wasn’t love at first sight because it was a hot mess. Nothing had been updated since the early 1980s. But its location on a canal leading to the St. John’s River and ample dockage was appealing. A year later it has been totally revamped and that was also a rewarding endeavor.

I thank my mom for her influence when it came to realizing the value of real estate. I think she’d be proud of me as I follow in her footsteps. Rich and I also made some good choices and because of that, I am grateful and try to pay it forward when I can. 

The cooler temps we’ve been experiencing down here in Central Florida have been energizing. I find working on this place so rewarding and I’m learning more about home improvement and landscaping with each step of the way. It occurred to me the other day that I’d done something similar with Rich with another log home in a waterfront community back in 1998, our first home together. It’s important to understand that we can’t recreate what we had, but we can do everything in our power to establish the future we deserve. 

That is a strong recollection and realization and it makes me feel invigorated that I have the energy and focus to do it all over again nearly 30 years later in such a unique natural setting under such unexpected circumstances.

Rebuilding lives, and planting roots, takes many forms and ongoing paths. I hope you all find yours, no movement is too small.