Retirement. . . Who, Me?

It's hard to believe I've been a social worker at our  state hospital for the last 25 years.   My co-workers threw a BiG potluck and said so many nice things to me.  In my wildest dreams, I never could have imagined having such a good job,  such good people to work alongside in such meaningful work. 

 Jefferson Hall had a beautiful custom sculpture made for me--I absolutely love it.  The inscription, "You made a difference" tells me they were listening to my mantra all these years--that our work is important both to our patients and to our fellow staff, that what we do matters.  Yes, it is  difficult and frustrating but it still matters and sometimes, when you least expect it, you get these glorious glimpses of the magic that is really happening while you are leading groups, writing social assessments and making call after call for discharge plans.   Thank you Sara, Janelle, Cary, Kim, and Kamaria. 

 Tami sent me a beautiful edible bouquet from Flowers by Mary Lou.  One of the lasting gifts I gained from my years  at the hospital has been Tami.  She was a social worker on Jefferson when I started work on Douglas all those years ago.  We became friends, we went to Chicago for DBT training together, to Alton for family training, I got to wear a pretty purple dress (it really was pretty!) in her wedding, we went into private practice together, she's been my confidant and cheerleader and she always makes me laugh. 

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Amy and Val gave me a sweet plaque validating all the ups and downs of being a social worker. . . and movie money!   Thank you both--and yes, our hospital needs rebels  and I do love you :)

Sweet e-mails like this one: 

Kynda

The day is almost here – I am so excited for you. It has been great working with you over the years. All I can say is Enjoy, enjoy, take the time to enjoy each day…

Maureen 

Sweet cards. . . I have been so blessed to have been with the people I have worked with over the last 25 years.  

 

 Cards  from the patients were especially touching.  Their bravery is amazing.  I got into this field to help other people, but they've helped me so much more. 

I know I've left out so many people  here.  As I'm going through this my advice to you:  make sure you take lots of pictures and make sure you put them somewhere all together where you will know where they are when the time comes.  Do this, otherwise you won't have a picture to go with your thank you to Natalie, Fran, Karen, Greg, Kash, Rachel, Sarah, Don, Carol, Jo-An . . . well, you get the idea. . .

There's Greg. . .

And there's Natalie. . . But wait, where's Fran?!?

To everyone who stopped by to say goodbye, who gave money for that whopping gift certificate (this will be the nicest purse I've ever owned!), who brought food, who sent cards and e-mails, and to those of you I missed because you were busy taking care of our patients--thank you from the bottom of my heart.  

And to Mark, who is always militantly on my side, who got me this job in the first place, who was with me every step of the way, I love you most. 

Zinnias With Basil

Farmer's Market Find

Indigo Blue Tomato

BK Visit

July Lilies

 PJ gave me this  pin cup with the sweet little turtle. So cute!

The lilies have been very happy with all the rain this year. 

Vertical parallel designs are my favorite. . . here with another lily and cone flowers.

Garden cascade.  

Now where's that bulb catalog??

June Report

 My mama had a big birthday last month and we went to the peony garden to celebrate!

 Flowers from mama's back yard.

PJ's awesome white velvet cake.  And Joy.  She had to settle for dog food instead of cake :/

May Garden

Happy Mother's Day

Spring at The Farm

 This weekend is The Farm's Spring Open House!  Love these pictures of my mama's work.  

She says The Farm is the best venue ever.  I agree :)

Daffs

 I always call it warp speed this time of year.  Every day it's greener and taller and more beautiful.  

Mark's mowing is always makes it look even better.  This was taken yesterday. 

 And this vase was made this morning.  There's been a daffodil explosion!

Sister Vase

Sweet little bunny vase from PJ.  I'm guessing she found  it when she was with Lori that year they went to the Cincinnati flower show.  I've never been to that one.  Maybe we can all go together some year? 

Easter

Betsy & Kyle, on Easter morning:)

We weren't with them today, but facebook kept us updated. . . 

 Beautiful day, a little chilly but sunny and just right for Easter.  

 Mark has the garden worked up and all ready for us.  We put the peas in today.

V is always talking about her mom's coconut cream pie, so I thought I'd take a stab at it.  It turned out pretty!  Easter makes me remember good times when we were growing up.  Mama made sure we had new clothes for church and an easter basket and grandma would make the best dinners.  I think grandma  might have laughed at my spiralized sweet potatoes and at the canned green beans from the grocery. 

Hope your Easter was happy too!

Thank You Amy!

I love tulips in the vase all the way down to falling off the stems.  These were from my friend and mentor Amy. 

I have pea seeds soaking to plant tomorrow.  And it's time to get some pansies :)

Book Report

Did I tell you that I forgot to take my Kindle to Tucson?  I put it in the car with my purse on the way to the airport at 4:30 am.  We parked.  We checked our bags.  I went through the joys of a personal pat-down with airport security.  Uh, oh. . .  My Kindle is still in the car!  So close and yet so far.  No way was I going through security again.  Mark offered, but I didn't want him to go through it either.  Even though he gets to breeze through the metal detector without searches.  Anyway, I still got to read a good book.

Orphan Train by Cristina Baker Kline.  I'm thankful there are still real live books made of paper that feel so good in hand and for bookstores at the airports.  Loved this survival story of two women both left as orphans and how they connected with each other. 

Tucson Botanical Gardens

 Even though it's February, gardeners in Tucson are already planting their container gardens.  The weather was perfect in the upper 70s low 80s.  Thank you to Mrs. Porter who started a beautiful back yard garden that evolved into the Tucson Botanical Garden.  I loved all the benches, so many that were in memory of gardeners.

The iris were blooming and there were lots of violets.  It's always so surprising  to see such familiar plants in far-away  locations that are so different from our own.    I love irises and theirs looked so happy.  Some were blooming already!  I suppose they have the best of both worlds in this garden--irrigation to quench their thirst but also the dry conditions of the desert so they don't rot.  Not one damaged corm in the bunch.  Was that because iris borers don't like the desert?  Or because the caretakers take such good care?  And the violets--well, I have a love-hate relationship with them.  They always look so much prettier in someone else's garden :)