I guess I didn't check to be notified of posts. I didn't know there were any responses until solstice98 on another forum gave me the link. Thanks SO MUCH for all the comments and especially bihai's detailed response to Gainesville (thank you!) since at least we have spent a few days there looking around. It's definitely easier on me to take the heat than the cold. It took me too many years in VA to admit it but all the structural damage seems to occur in winter, so it's best to make the move. We moved here to VA after 18 years in AL (15 of which I had the rheumatoid issue with no damage). I wanted to get away from the heat and humidity of central AL. Oh well .... I enjoy change and I've lived in a variety of states, but always wanting the woods since I can't be in the sun. Sure does make it difficult with conflicting health issues [grin]. Solstice98: Does Lakeland have a lot of forests? When I look on the map, I see lakes and those are generally sunny areas, other than maybe some riparian buffer around the lakes. We're not water folks. Haven't done the beach since the mid-70's since I can't be in the sun. That kinda tosses the coast ideas out doesn't it? Or is the "nature coast" I see pop up on searches a different story? I love the sounds of tropical fruit trees! Would the Ocala area fit more? Or Dunnellon? As far as the "catching the breeze" areas mentioned because Gainesville was so far north. We like the theater and places to volunteer (nature centers, botanical gardens gift shop, etc.) University towns are great for this, although the medical emphasis of Gainesville isn't an attraction. We've used "alternative" choices since the late 70's so have been out of that industry for quite some time, other than bloodwork now and then for thyroid. To answer juniperplants, I had family in Hollywood when I was a teenager and young girl and I remember it as being really sunny. I love the outdoors and like to spend a lot of time walking in forests, so that's where I got the idea it wouldn't be an option. I'm also not a city gal, so I like walking out of my backdoor into the woods - not having to drive to them. With rheumatoid stuff going on, the woods out back are what entice me outdoors for the exercise I need ... but the thought of driving a car would not get me there - mornings are a bit overwhelming at times. We even order our food (other than produce) every 5 months so I don't have to do grocery shopping. I was talking about temperate trees. Neither my husband or I like palms, although mixed into the rainforests of Costa Rica they are lovely. And as far as humidity in Costa Rica ... it depends on the area you're in. It can be in the 70's year round with a cool breeze other than mid-day and early afternoon. International living might appeal to me if we didn't have an FIV kitty that would never be allowed in. And it does seem "odd" not to live in the USA. :-) I love most plants, so I don't mind growing flowers I don't know. It's not that I'm looking for a place to have all my "old friends" and I did see some of them during our visit to Gainesville ... and also some things we had in AL, so that won't be a problem. I did like the mix of trees in the forests there with some saw palmettos on the ground. The list of things grown in Gainesville is a nice blend. Sounds like May through Sept. are the hottest times?? We were down there in June with unusual cool weather in the mornings till about 10:30 and then it cooled off after the rains at 5. That was lovely, but I understand not typical. The student population is something that came up all the time while we were there. Fortunately we work in-house with our own online business, so the traffic problem would not be a day-to-day issue, but it sounds like you don't want to be anywhere near the university or mall area, eh? We also were informed of the high taxes since Alachua Cty is so much Univ. and Hospital that don't pay them. Do you live in Alachua County, Bihai? Familiar with HOA - ended up in a community here because we were going to find land and build, so it would be temporary and fast resale. Oh well ... you know how life takes it's turns. One thing we know is that we don't want HOA again. Gardening choices hasn't been a problem, but brush piles and a few other issues have been. Live and learn :-) The list of wildlife possibilities is very cool. We so enjoy the entertainment that it provides outside our windows and that's where I work, by a window, unless it's nice enough to be outside like now, I'm on the porch. The pools have been an issue when looking online for a home. We don't want one because neither of us enjoy pools anyway. Haven't been in one since a hotel back in the early 80's. Sure is a lot to think about and digest. I want to come back down there end of September to look around more but I know FL is a huge state, so will need to choose a few cities and make a decision. Thanks again ...

Every spring I have to trim my Firestick. No matter how much I cover it to protect it from the cold nights it will still get frost damage. I still cover it no matter what tho. I like to keep the damage at bay. The pic below is what happens after the black dries up. They become dry little pieces. The two little pieces below will just dry up and fall off. Usually doesn’t spread to the bigger trunk for some reason. I don’t prune yet because I think if I cut the old than the new fresh pieces will get frost damage too. Idk if that’s the right thought process, but it’s just what I do. Some years my plant will get tons of frost damage and others not too much. That’s why unfortunately I don’t think my plant could ever get ginormous because the cold is always cutting it back every year. Big trunk pieces get affected too. Sometimes rot will just stop when it hits new side growth. See how it’s stopped, but this I will cut today because I don’t want it to spread down the trunk just in case, but when it’s the little pieces like in the top two pics I leave those till it warms up.

I should have done some shopping yesterday and never got around to it. I know this morning I'll have to finish my online purchases so there's a chance they'll arrive in time. Instead I spent the day putting up the tree and spreading holiday decor around the home. DH can't handle large live trees anymore so last year I purchased an artificial one and I do like not having to deal with stringing lights and dropping needles. But I bought a fairly slim one last year because it needed to fit in the corner between the fireplace and the French doors. Now that we've re-arranged the furniture it can go between the windows in the family room where it's visible from the kitchen and the hallway - except now my skinny tree looks a little puny. We elevated it 15" by putting it on a wooden crate and that made a huge difference - except it meant going up and down the stepladder a zillion times. But it's done and I'm pleased (although I'd still prefer a larger, wider tree). Dinner was salad with the last of our garden tomatoes and leftover chili from the night before. Then we both collapsed. Here's a photo of one of my favorite ornaments made by BIL over 40 years ago.

Had a great day, but it doesn't feel like Christmas Eve. Maybe it's the weather. My sweet M & M gave me some new garden shoes and a pair of those sleeves from Farmers Defense. I've been wanting some of those. I wear a denim shirt outside even when it's 100 degrees. I'm hoping these will be cooler than the denim shirt, but still protect my arms from the sun. Makes me feel like gardening again, except walking outside is depressing. It's so dry and gross. On Sunday, I'm hoping to take the hose and give everything a good watering. I'm sorta feeling ya, Nancy. This gardening year was rough. The pests were awful and, yes, Bermuda is so, so, SO annoying. The YouTuber that a few of us follow--Roots and Refuge, is trying gardening a different way (than she did at her old place in Arkansas) and it involves killing huge patches of Bermuda. I'm interested to see how it works for her. I have a bad feeling she's going to be frustrated. Another YouTuber I enjoy, built a new and wonderful in ground garden this year using no till, but the thing is...she's in Washington state. Not SC like R & R (and us too). For my mental health, I need to keep a better journal and list of things-to-do...and just be more organized in general. Baby chicks are OFF the list for this year, but that's going to be an issue because of the broodies. Starting way too many seeds is also off the list. Dealing with so many extras--their care and finding homes for them. I've let herbs and flowers and other things fall by the wayside. And keeping up with kombucha and ciders and many other things. Grasshoppers and aphids were just out of control this year. And I have ladybugs. I grew way too many melons and I'm the only one who ate them. Frustrating. Waste of time. So...yes. Need to be more mindful this year. I'm sure there will be a future year when I'll want to be willy nilly, but this isn't the year. Hoping for a GREAT bean year. 2021 was rough and had its challenges, but it wasn't horrible. We got plenty of tomatoes, okra, peppers, melons. We had some nice onions, potatoes, and tomatillos. Rick built the hoop house. Tried sweet potatoes and got a few good ones. So good things too. Over the next couple of weeks, I'll clean up my light shelf and go through seeds and start placing orders. Amy, thanks for sharing your list! Oh, I'll share another recipe. It's another good one where you can use your garden veggies. I used broccoli, spinach and onions from the garden. But you can use any veggies. I also used store bought carrots (my fall carrots didn't work out) and mushrooms. I always make this casserole for Christmas Eve brunch. (Along with a delightful blueberry pancake casserole). Veggie casserole Merry Christmas, Friends. <3