Trying to be creative in sunny Florida: I am soooo tired.

Thank goodness I made it through the holidays!

What?! The holidays aren't over yet?!

All I can say to that is: omg.

Thankfully, I haven't packed on any holiday pounds yet. Remember that motivational intestinal virus for Thanksgiving? And maybe I don't partake in any regular exercise but that doesn't mean I'm not constantly moving like a hamster on a wheel.

Last week, I got off the hamster wheel and took a walk in my neighborhood.

This is something I almost NEVER do. I spend a lot of time outside so when it's time to "exercise" I prefer to do it in the AC while watching a movie on Netflix. I didn't see much in my neighborhood and for that, I'm am somewhat grateful. You just never know, these days.

Neighborhood loquat.

I wanted my own loquat tree as soon as I moved to Florida. They produce a fruit the size of a small plum that has that tangy tropical taste and, as you can see, the compact tree sports attractive leaves and flowers. Then I found out that the seeds are poisonous which doesn't concern me for my own safety, nor that of my chickens because the seed would pass right through them, but for my crazy, perpetually starved (in their own minds) dachshunds, who would crunch the poisonous nuggets up any chance they got. Scratch the loquat.

Something with pretty leaves.

What a gorgeous shrub with leaves that are green on the top and purple underneath.

Just sayin'.

Pine needles.

I love the smell and texture of the long needles from slash pines. You can buy these in bales to use as mulch. Yes, you could also rake them up from a willing neighbor's yard for free.

My question is, how do I turn these pine needles into...

A fabulous pine needle basket.

My answer is, I don't.

This is a craft better left to learn and master in my dotage, assuming I'm not already in my dotage.

Thankfully, my walk terminated in my yard after an exhausting 10 minutes.

Why even wander?

Beautiful, beautiful mimosa tree.

Brought to the US in the 18th century, probably considered an invasive exotic,

but beloved none the less. I appreciate that this plant looks pretty even when it's not blooming due to the feathery leaves.

Soon to be the world's oldest snake plant.

Not really, but this snake plant is still in the original plastic tub that it was in when I bought it at a grocery store in Missouri approx. 15 years ago. I got tired of dusting it about 3 years ago and set it outside under the angel trumpet tree. Happy as a clam (whatever that means).

Any day now...