Life's Laundry

Meet My Friends & Family

This was one before I groomed her.  The reason she needed to be groomed is because her stalk was crooked and the leaves on the outer rings are fading.  They needed to go, along with the blooms, so that the energy and focus can be put into the healthy leaves and root system. I had to get down to the first 2 or 3 rows to restore the symmetry of the plant.  She is already thanking me for helping her.  I've had her for several years (perhaps more than 7) and she doesn't have an ID because she came from Home Depot violet stand and they don't name their Optimaras.

This is her once I finished: (it's ok, she will recover and grow to be more beautiful than ever.)

 

See the one on the right that looks like she is growing sideways?  She was.  I trimmed her root ball and then did surgery on her stalk and put the stalk back in the dirt straight.  She will turn to the light within a few more days (this was taken on the 15th and she is already almost there) and her stalk will be completely straight in the soil.

The one in the solo cup directly behind her is called Irish Flirt - her leaves are crinkly on the edge and she has a beautiful miniature white bloom that looks like a tissue paper flower that we made in grade school.

Happy Sunday - I wonder how my real life, human children will behave in church today?  I'll be worshiping with a congregation saying goodbye to their pastor upon her retirement.  That church has been an active congregation since 1736.  That's a LOT of people that have come and go.

The Weekend Break

My apologies to those who came here today expecting the next installment of The Bouncer.

I am training new consultants this weekend in Athens on Saturday and spending the weekend with Biggest Sister.  I wrote this post on Thursday evening. Once I complete the training, we plan to journey together to south Georgia for a former Pastor's last Sunday before her retirement.  I feel like I really need to be careful with myself for the next few days.  I'm going back to a place that holds a tremendous amount of emotional value and history where I lived and worshiped for over 10 years.  It's where everything was wonderful....and then everything turned sour and went to hell in a hand basket. I can't manage any more emotional journeys for a few days so I ask you to be patient with me. I need to say goodbye to a woman who helped me heal so much within myself and was by far, the best pastor that I've ever experienced.  Not only was she called but she was chosen....and she answered. She officiated at the wedding of MusicMan and I and I want to be part of that last Sunday and celebration of her ministry.  One simply can't be in the midst of all that emotion and activity and not be changed somehow.  I hope to keep the good times of the past as the focus and try to keep the bad times where they belong - in the past.

Biggest Sister will be there and perhaps more importantly - Big Sister will be with me too.

My biggest heart's desire - to be with the two people who are the most wonderful result of what The Bouncer and I shared.  All the love and goodness rolled and packed into two people that I adore beyond words.  I will probably see The Bouncer too.  I wonder how that will be with me having spent so much time this past week or so thinking and writing of such loving and memorable times that we shared.  I'll try not to think of pink lacy garters when I see him....and I'll ask you to keep your fingers crossed that he will be civil so I don't have to be disturbed when I return and try to write more chapters of the first year of our marriage.

This is going to be what I hope will be a fabulous and memorable weekend for many people....especially me and my two oldest daughters.

As a teaser, and perhaps a way to brag a bit, I'll share my violets with you.  Really, I'm just sharing a few - I have over 70 now.

This is Mrs. Charita. She reminds me of an elegant lady. She's a gift from a very dear friend who shares the same passion for this hobby obsession.  My violets bring me so much pleasure - and they have nothing to do with being a wife, a mother or a business owner.  They just have to do with me being me and loving the pleasure and joy I get from tending to them each day or week and watching them bloom and grow.

The above photo is of one of the tables in my den.  I have about 4 times this amount in violets. Some are Standards that have just been re-potted and groomed and many are minis and semi minis.  All of my babies love this window.  I am working to save enough money to purchase a multiple shelf unit where I can hang a special light so that I can prep some to enter in the fair this fall. By having a multiple shelf unit, they can all stay in this window that they love.

Have a GREAT weekend and do something that brings you lots of pleasure.