Another Kind of Pin

Mama can probably tell us whose pin this is.  I'm thinking it belonged to Mama King. 

Table Flowers

 

As my mom says, it's good to feel happy again.  Jeff was discharged from the hospital today and they stopped off at Potbelly's on the way home.  He has some work ahead to build up his strength and to give his lungs time to heal.  We are so thankful thankful.  For those of you who have been praying for us, we appreciate it so much. 

Here are pictures from the tablescape competition at the conference last weekend.  The designs were awesome.  Loved the roping of hyacinth florets in the shot above. 

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So many pretty ones.  There was a three way tie for first place.  Has that ever happened before?

Beautiful design by Amy, who was my first flower school teacher and  now my friend and mentor.  Mark went to the banquet with me and it was a lovely dinner sitting at such a beautiful table with the good company of Amy and her husband Jeff.  

These two tied for first place, along with this design over on the Petals & Co blog. 

So after a flower-filled weekend at the ISFA conference and a week in Michigan with Jeff & PJ & my mom, tomorrow is back to a regular routine at work.  Of course, I'm going to take some flowers :)

Ready for Spring

Thank you to everybody who prayed with us.  We are so thankful that Jeff is getting better.  He should be home by Monday.  Whew. . . that was  rough  there for a while. 

When I left for Michigan, just one little clump of daffodils was in bloom in the back yard.  When I got home yesterday, there was a daffodil explosion happening!     PJ and Jeff will be enjoying their back yard next week too. 

Sunday Report

Hitomi closed the show this afternoon, and her designs were fabulous.  Afterwards, they were sold as a fundraiser for the association.  I almost got into a fight with a woman over another design.  Me, ready to fight. . .   I did not want to give that little guy up!  But in the end, I let her have it.  Only because she said she had already paid for it and because I figured if I did have to hit her, I probably wouldn't get to enjoy the design anyway.

And then I found this one.  I love it.  And I didn't have to fight anyone for it :)

Jeff is better!  Off the vent today.  We are so thankful.    Tomorrow I'm on the train to spend a few days with him and my mom and my sister.  It's been a good day.

Hitomi Class

Hitomi showed me how to do this!  It was a really good class with such an inspiring woman.  My friend and mentor Amy said the only down side to the class was it didn't last long enough.

 

Our Jeff Powers has made some progress over the last couple of days.  It is very slow going and he is still very sick, but we are so so so thankful.      Please keep praying with us for his recovery. 

ICPF Collection

Our Jeff Powers is still in the hospital tonight.  We're waiting for the results of a lung biospy, which we hope will give some answers as to what is making him so sick and what he needs to get better.  Please pray with us.  He will be 50 exactly one month from today and he needs to get well in time to have lots of CaKe for his birthday.  We're all looking forward to celebrating with him.

While we're waiting, I've been working on this collection for the flower show this weekend.    I am nervous about showing these pieces to so many professional florists, but  having someone you love get sick is one way to remember what's really important in life.  I feel like saying--okay,  yes, I remember that life lesson--now can we just have Jeff back to his healthy he-man self??

When I was asked to design a collection for the show, I immediately knew that I wanted to include   this  beautiful pottery made by local artist Rich Zimmerman.    Yes, the artificial stems are made in China, but the pottery is made  right here in Springfield. 

Centerpiece  paved with orange and yellow ranunculus and surrounded by a swirling vine.

Orange poppies, green anthurium and hydrangea, with yellow orchids.  The branches are bound with decorative wire, inspired by the Branching Out class with James Lutcke and Bob Friese in Michigan last spring.

The wall hanging was definitely the biggest challenge.  Maybe because I didn't have any of Rich's pottery to go in it :)  Oversized orange gerbera, green anthurium, and hanging datura  accented with lighter green & violet gerbs, fruit, and orange callas.  Curls of copper mega wire for line and fun.

It's been good to have this project going over the last week.  It gave me something to do other than just worry and wait.  Be watching for lots of flower pictures from the show.  Springfield will be full of flowers from all over the world and florists from all over the state.

Next week, I'm heading to Michigan on the train.  Love love to my mom and my sis and to Jeff.

A Primitive Plot at The Farm

 

Mama's beautiful prims at The Farm. They look right at home :)

56 Years & Counting

sweet card from my mama

It was a beautiful day in many ways.  Mark and I went to breakfast--it's a weekly routine that I love on Saturdays, having breakfast at Bob Evans or the Crack or Charlie Parker's with the best husband in the whole wide world and my best friend.  V and I went to The Farm and that's always good for the soul. 

As I've gotten older, I've gotten happier, so 56 is okay with me.   I am thankful for so many blessings. I loved these cards that came in the mail.  And so many birthday wishes on facebook--some from really close friends who just made my heart sing. . . and some from online friends whom I've never met but I visit with everyday. 

another sweet card from my dear friend Gail

But I really want for my birthday this year is for our Jeff Powers to get well and strong again.  He's in the hospital where the doctors haven't yet figured out what's going on with his breathing.  Please pray with us. Love love to him and my sis and my mom.

February 29th Garden Tour

 Yesterday's leap year extra day was beautiful, but really windy.  Southern Illinois and Kentucky had bad storms and tornadoes that killed several people and demolished many towns.  I am thankful our loved ones are safe.

The garden is waking up.  It's beautiful, but a really messy beautiful.

 As I've shared with you before, I love that feeling that comes when a flower returns and it's like seeing a really good friend you haven't seen in a long time.    Hello, friend :)

Hens & chicks from mama's garden.  This mild Illinois winter was probably pretty boring for them.   So now we're on to March.  The Farm opens today and I wish I could run away from home (i.e.work) and tour the garden there.  That will have to wait a few days, but soon, I promise.

Running Party

The Springfield birthday party was really a fun run 

with lots of cousins and friends!

And after all that running, there was cake!

It's All Right

The first daffodils of the season always make me think of the Beatles' song "Here Comes the Sun".   Was  George Harrison seeing the first daffodil of the season when he wrote that song to "little darling"?

The morning walks of the garden with a cup of coffee are back.  It feels like years :)

And here's a WoNdErFuL version of Here Comes the Sun sung by Nina Simone.  I think it will make you smile.  Good Wednesday.

Thank You

Gorgeous bouquet from my friends Michelle,  Des, & Abby at Petals & Co.   The card that came with them was so sweet:  "Today, think of smiling faces and warm places."  Thank you thank you for thinking of me and sending  the be-u-ti-ful flowers.  I love you!

A Rant of My Own

 I love Garden Rant.  I check them out every day.  They've made me laugh, they've made me think.   But today's GR post featuring a creative butcher's  meat-roses included a diss on cut flowers that has me ranting too.  Don't get me wrong.   That bouquet of meat is very clever.  It's just not necessary to disrespect a gift of fresh blooms.

There might be some who would like a bouquet of meat better than a classic dozen roses.  Even so, Mark would probably prefer his steak wrapped in the butcher's paper and ready for the grill. 

Here's my point:  There's nothing like fresh flowers to make my heart sing.  Yes, I know they are flown in from all over the world.  And during the summer, my very favorite blooms are ones growing in my very own back yard.   And I know there's flower abuse that is just plain wrong.  Like the roses that sit for weeks on end at the gas station.  Or the ones delivered in a box and left on a porch to freeze or fry depending on the weather.

But flowers well-tended by growers and wholesalers and florists who know what they are doing?  They make the world a better place. 

Flowers don't last?  That's why they're so special.  They're transient, fleeting.  The  feeling that I got  the moment they arrived?  That feeling lasts.  I'll remember exactly how that gift of flowers made me feel.  Another reason I'm glad they don't last?    I've accumulated enough stuff.    I don't need more stuff.  The beauty of a fresh flower--that I can use in my life.

You know what else won't last?  Those damn meat-roses.

Okay, end of rant.  Look what I got today!

Tulips in the Kitchen

 

Another picture of my fab new cab from my mom.  It's perfect for a February pot of tulips.

'Course, the window sill is also a perfect spot.  Mark's surgery went well yesterday.  We're hanging out watching Chicago on the new tv.  Today is V's birthday.  She's 74 years young.  To celebrate, we'll have more flowers and lemon cake :)

February Hyacinth

This little pot of hyacinths has been growing and blooming by the back door over the last couple of weeks.  They had been intended for the kitchen window sill, but the scent was so strong  they had to move outside.  Turns out this is a great place for them.  Every time I go in and out, I get to see them up close with just enough of their sweet smell.  Thank you to my mom and sis for bringing the cool plant stand from Michigan :)

 

If you get your hyacinths from the grocery store, take off that cheap plastic cover (the florists call them speed covers) and set them in a flower pot that has been sitting around with nothing to do since fall.  Or stop by your local florist and they'll have a great dressed up bulb garden just waiting for your back porch.

The window sill?  A pot of tulips :)  I'll show those to you next.

Kyle is Two!

Our little Kyle-boy is two today:)  We can't wait to see him in a couple of weeks.  That reminds me, we gotta order cake!

Love this picture with JD & Rach & Betsy in the background.  Neither Betsy nor Kyle  seem too confident of this whole idea of a haircut. . . .

So fun to celebrate a second birthday!  The mailman delivered a big mater truck from papa and the flower shop will be ringing the doorbell today with flowers and balloons :) 

And even though we're not there to celebrate with them, the forecast here is sunny & 58 degrees.  And I get to go to the bakery to order cake for the birthday party.  Now that's a good day.

Four ! ! !

Betsy is 4 today!  Four whole years.  Four wonderful years :)  You've probably seen this design before.  I found the container back when I was going to school at Richland.  We were expecting Betsy back then, and I knew it was for her the minute I laid eyes on it. 

I haven't been posting much lately.  Too busy at work, no time to blog.  Which is an excuse, like being too busy to exercise.  .  .  There have been some flowers around the house lately.  Mostly tulips.  And now there's a little pot of hyacinths--the fragrance  so strong I had to put them out on the porch tonight--and a new orchid.

 It's Friday night and the fireplace is going and it's Say Yes to the Dress night.  The mail lady has brought  a new Flowers & and Florists Review.  Life is good.

Happy Birthday to our Betsy girl.  

She makes our world go round :) 

Won't Be Long :)