Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Keeping Tradition, If Not Plants, Alive

Yesterday I woke up with a sore throat and a head that feels like it belongs to someone else. It's hard to describe but it just feels dozy and sluggish. And I feel tired. Very, very tired. An un-normal tired. Which tells me my body is fighting something off that is trying it's best to make a home in my system. I didn't blog and, horrors, I didn't go to my ladies study group. I just figured after the busy, busy weekend, that I should just stay home and try to give myself a fighting chance at getting rid of whatever is trying to creep up on me. And seeing this other head is not giving me anything award winning to write I have Mother's Day randomness. Sometimes random is good.

This was my first Mother's Day without my whole little brood around me. I didn't anticipate how hard that would be. I really, really missed Kay. But in spite of her not being able to be here it was a wonderful, wonderful Mother's Day. Church in the morning, Moms over for take out Chinese for lunch, traditional trip to buy bedding out plants in the afternoon. And the finale of the Amazing Race in the evening.

In spite of Kay not being here, we did get to talk to her, and talk to her for free, thanks to Skype. Too funny though watching her grandmothers, getting on headsets and getting used to talking into the mike. We have headsets that only have one ear piece and it was hilarious watching them keep trying to stretch the head band and try to stick the other side over their ears. Technology and grandmothers, too fun.


Kay totally surprised me by having this lovely plant delivered for Mother's Day. A surprise because I wasn't expecting it all and because I wondered how she was able to do it not owning a credit and all. Well, thank you boyfriend's mother's credit card. Love my african violets! I hope you got your cash. LOL. And be still my heart, there was even an adorable little bird stuck in the pot. We all know I love my birds.

It has become tradition that we head off to a greenhouse or somewhere that sells bedding out plants after lunch on Mother's Day. I love this little Mother's Day outing my kids have started. I get to pick out any plant I'd like and that is their gift to me. And they buy their grandmothers each one also. This year I picked this lovely colored plant. With it's red/bronze leaves, it will stand out nicely against some of the greener plants I have in the front and it's supposed to get little pink to white flowers on it during the summer. I'm so hoping it survivies my black thumb. I really like it and would hate to see it's demise at my hands.

What is it about greenhouses that possess a person me when I walk in the door. Note the above comment about having a black thumb? That totally seems to escape me when I walk in there and see all the beautiful flowers and colors and choices. I'm horrible at making up my mind to begin with and then I see all this gorgeous stuff and visions of what my paltry little flower beds and pots could look like overtake my brain and I end up walking out with more stuff than I ever know what to do with. So now I have this to find a home for. And because I bought it at Costco I had to buy a package three. LOL. What am I thinking?

But seriously who could resist these leaves?


And as if my mind was not in limbo enough, I walked out with these at another greenhouse:

As soon as I got home, my mind returned and now I'm staring at these gorgeous plants thinking "huh?". How did those get here and what am I going to do with them and exactly how much of my bank account was diminished? LOL.

So now I have to keep these poor babies alive until I can plant them out, which around here is not until the last week of May. The days are getting nicer, but our nights can still get down to freezing, so it's not worth the risk. So you all, might want to say a little prayer for my little bedding out plants. Coming home to live with me, they're going to need all the help they can get.

15 comments:

Faith said...

These plants are gorgeous!
I am praying you feel better very soon!
Spring colds are icky.
Our lilacs are in full bloom and even my impatien seeds that I planted last week are up...unfortunately I will need to brin them in tonite as frost is predicted! but today is perfect for working in the yard: 60's, blue sky and sun. TOo bad I am stuck inside getting stuff done before the carpet cleaner guys are here! ah well..spring cleaning is almost done!!

ellen b. said...

Sounds like your Mother's Day was nice. So were you pleased with the Amazing Race winner. After the drama in the last 3 episodes and with the final 3 that made it..I was happy with the result.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great Mother's Day...Love the pictures..Escpecially the one with Grandmother :)

Laura said...

Happy belated Mother's Day!! I do the exact same thing with flowers, can't keep em alive but boy something comes over me that says that this will be the year that I can. Never happens though LOL.

Michelle said...

How lovely your plants are ,I'm sure you were surprised to receive the violets from Kay.

Mountain Mama said...

I'm just getting over something like what you described. My head definitely felt as if it belonged to someone else!
I had the other symptoms you mentioned too as well as an irritating tickle in my throat.I hope your's doesn't last long.

Your new plants are very pretty. I'm glad you had a nice Mother's day.

Brenda said...

Those are beautiful plants. Sounds like you still had a nice mothers day.

Hen Jen said...

Happy Belated Mother's day! Thanks for sharing it with us. Hope you are feeling better soon!

Jamie said...

So sorry you didn't get to have your girl around on Mother's Day. I love all those plants...beautiful! Keep us posted on their progress. Hope you can keep them looking good.

Grace said...

The Coleus (sp?) are my favorites. I would have brought them home, too. What vibrant colors in the leaves. Just love 'em. May your plants be blessed with long, long life.

Karen said...

I'm the same way when I walk into a greenhouse. I come out with way more than I planned, my budget shot, and vowing that, this time, I'll keep it all alive. I'll help you pray your plants stay well through May until they can find a spot in the ground!

Barbara H. said...

I hope you're feeling better by now, Susanne.

I don't know if I have ever visited a greenhouse. Since I can't get on my knees, myself, I don't do much in the plant-buying department, but I used to drool all over catalogs I used to get with gorgeous spring flowers in them. I hope all your pants survive and thrive.

Grandmas and technology can make for some fun encounters. Jim was showing his mom Google Earth one afternoon while I was making dinner, and she was just fascinated: looked up her old house and several other places. She commented that if she had one of those things (a computer) she'd never get anything done, LOL.

How did you like the Amazing Race finale? I was pleased with the winners. I thought Luke had it for sure til he got flustered at the one task. I didn't like that they had to wear skimpy swimsuits for the pig task. With that and the running in underwear earlier in the season it seems there was much more "skin" this year. I hope that's not becoming a trend.

We haven't had one away for Mother's Day yet. This last Christmas was our first time to have one away for that day, and that was really hard. Then Jason has been away on his birthday for several summers while at camp. I know these things are part of their "leaving and cleaving" process -- but it sure isn't easy!!

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

Girlfriend, you don't want my help! But I get how you feel in the greenhouses. It starts a reverie of what could be!

GiBee said...

I'm probably late, as usual (I've been so slammed at work and with life) -- anyway -- use Miracle Grow Shake 'n Feed when you plant them.

It is in a little jug, and looks like little nerds candies -- round little balls. They are extended release and fertilize for three months. It works so well!!!

http://www.scotts.com/smg/catalog/productTemplate.jsp?tabs=general&proId=prod70290&itemId=cat50106&id=cat50106

Shawna said...

What pretty plants. That is a great tradition.

The pic of the Grandmother is funny, but what a great way to keep in touch! How do you like Skype?