November 5, 2018 – President Trump  and “Where have you been?” 

         Yes, I am back.  I have literally taken it to heart that in order to be a better writer, I am embracing the mantra: You must read.  So, I’ve been reading, and reading, and reading. And, then I run out of time to write.

         I have to schedule my time better.

         And – drum roll please – I attended the Trump Rally in Charlotte, North Carolina on 10/26/18.  Yes, I got to see President Trump with my own eyes – at a distance of about five car lengths.  He sure can work a crowd.

         Yes – that was certainly a big check mark beside a bucket list item for me.  Years ago I went to a Train-stop rally in South Carolina for President George H. W. Bush- 41 – which was also awesome. 

         I survived the 45-degree drenching rain in a poncho waiting in line from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. for a 7:00 p.m. rally. [They felt bad for us and let us in early.] The rain splashed the hems of my pants and I was sopping wet up to my knee caps.  [No I didn’t melt or dissolve . . .]

         The people in line in front of me and behind me were educated – not a bunch of rednecks as the liberal news media wants to portray. Everyone was polite and everyone wanted to talk Trump politics. The 5 women nearest me were college graduate, white women from the suburbs – also not what the “fake news” is dishing out. We also had young business millennials and retired veterans  -  all types of people – except I didn’t see any crazy people.

         We had the added bonus of college students coming along with their video smartphones interviewing us waiting in line for their class projects.  We sure told them what we thought.  The more questions we answered, the more they asked.  We covered every aspect of the platform for them and then some.

         Inside it was truly a Red-White-Blue Rally.  By the time President Trump arrived, all the seats were full.   Security was more than ample and they were circling like sharks among the people.

         One thing you can say about President Trump – he knows how to give a crowd a compliment.  He tossed out about 5 compliments making us happy we had braved the lousy weather. And a 8,600 person crowd is rather awesome to see and hear.

         And, here is a picture of me in my red/white/blue scarf.  It was a long day, but it was worth it to be among people that think and vote like I do. 

         Not only did I have to weather the rain, I had to weather the following snarky comments from so-called friends who are on the other side of the political aisle when I mentioned the rally to them:

         “I am going to the Trump Rally in Charlotte tomorrow!”

         “Why would you want to?” she answered.

         “I am at the Trump Rally in Charlotte – got  a few hours to kill waiting on his arrival,” I texted to a friend.

         He texted back:    “You are an educated woman, did someone hog tie you or kidnap you and force you to go?”

         So, you can see how divided the country is – even among the people I know.  

         If I have the chance to go again – I will go.   President Trump calls it like he sees it.  So what if he isn’t a wordsmith and doesn’t talk elegant.  He uses street language, the language of the common man.  I have just as many flaws as he has – which makes him REAL – not like the FAKE NEWS.

November 4, 2018 – Tiger Lilies revisited

         See my October 15, 2016, blog for the origin of my Tiger Lily bulbs.  It is a cute story of how I obtained such fine bulbs and a review of how I replanted them in 2016. Two years ago I planted 40 bulbs and now that amount has more than doubled.

         Yesterday I dug up the tiger lilies –they were overcrowded as well as infested with wiregrass.  It was one of those “cussing projects” and I had the strength to tackle it. It was a take-no-prisoners skirmish on the wiregrass at the same time saving the plump, quality lily bulbs.  I took my time digging the bulbs by hand – that is really the best way so that you don’t chop them up with a shovel blade.

         This 4^th of July they bloomed spectacularly and when I cut the stems down in late August I counted the stems as I tossed handfuls on the wheelbarrow.  I cut 100 stems not including the half-dozen stems I brought in the house for display the week of the fourth.  100 stems – which was easily 500 to 600 blooms.  Now that is a display!!  So, lifting, dividing and refurbishing this garden is well worth it in my opinion.

         Every few years you need to lift and divide Lillium lancifolium, also known as Lillium tigrinum.  Last spring the plants looked crowded and I put lift and divide on my TO-LIST for this fall. 

         When I lifted the bulbs yesterday, many had multiplied into a clump of 3 or 4 bulbs. I ended up with 109 medium and large bulbs and couple dozen smaller bulbs [still blooming size]. One clump had seven bulbs, picture below: 

         It is always a delight when you more than double your bulbs in only a few years.  It sure made me feel very “green-thumb-ish!”

         I set the lifted bulbs aside [covered in the shade] and tackled the entire flowerbed by digging through the soil and lifting the 20-year old landscape fabric that was buried 8 to 10 inches deep.  I tore that out as well as I pulled out all the underground wiregrass runners and roots I could find. 

         I will be honest – it was a two-day job.  I finished the removal of the old landscape fabric today. Then I sifted the soil and searched for more wiregrass root bits.  I re-shaped the flowerbed making it taller and tighter to the well house.  

         Lastly, I replanted with the largest 25 lily bulbs divided into 5 each on the four sides of the well house and then I set a ring of 30 large and medium bulbs in a circle around the square.  I have the rest of the bulbs earmarked as gifts to friends or for another garden.

         I dug the bulbs in, tamped it down and in a few days – it will rain.  Once it rains, I will sprinkle some weed inhibitor on the bare soil and then mulch it down and trim up the lawn edge.

         Hopefully I can keep the wiregrass out of it this next coming year – starting early and being vigilant. Maybe I can get three years out of this next go round as I planted the bulbs further apart.

         Please check my blog in the spring – I’ll take pictures of the fresh growth when it is up a few inches.  That always looks so rewarding to know I’ll have a stand of orange tiger lilies to celebrate “ . . . the rocket’s red glare . . . " the week of the 4^th of July.

        

October 21, 2018 – Spotlight on Jasmine, my cat

         Many of you have noticed I mention my cat, Jasmine, often.  She is such a delight in my life.  In fact, I have decided to re-start my “Joy Journaling” where I write down at least one thing a day that is delightful or I give thanks.  Others may consider it a ‘gratitude’ journal.  If you need inspiration to start a joy or gratitude journal, a simple search on the internet for either will net you many articles.  Often they have questions that will prompt you to think about what you are thankful for or what brings you joy.

         This is a great time of year to process your joy or gratitude and be thankful for where you are in life. 

         We have Thanksgiving coming towards us fast and we need to be prepared for when a friend or guest asks that proverbial question at the Thanksgiving feast table, “What are you thankful for?”

         I am thankful for my cat, Jasmine.  She is a daily delight.  She sleeps down at the foot of my bed.  I don’t need an alarm clock, she wakes me every morning in one delightful way or another.

         I can’t tell you how many times she jumps into my lap for her loving pats.  She trots through the house with me from kitchen to bedroom and back again.  And, I feel that she understands everything I say to her.  If she has slipped off to one of her hiding places to sleep – does she ever get enough – I guess not; we wonder where she is and my husband will ask “Where is the cat?”  She magically shows up.  She knows we are looking for her.

         Her hearing is so keen that she can be sitting looking out the front window through the lace curtains and then suddenly will turn and pounce on a ‘stink bug’ that is walking across the hardwood floor. Amazes me every time.

         For those who haven’t been properly introduced to her – here are a few photos.  

Box kitty - when I am organizing or sorting  - she is right in the middle of it.

  

Her kitten portrait: 

More recent snap.  And, yes, her fur is as soft as flour. 

“A home without a cat – and a well-fed, well-petted and properly revered cat – may be a perfect home, perhaps, but how can it prove title?”  - Mark Twain

        

October 20, 2018 – Kudzu eradication – update

         The weather has turned cool, I harvested my first broccoli head for supper last night and I have about 6 more to harvest in the next few weeks.  I planted winter lettuces the other day now that the nights and days are cool.

         And, I took some pictures of the Kudzu patch that has been brought under control – not 100% complete – but “it is looking good!”

         Before picture:

         After picture:

         I’ve a bit more to do at the property line and then I have to go back over the area that I got cleaned up and be vigilant when the missed ‘knobs’ start to re-grow. I missed the below knob and you can see a 2-foot raised stem coming up to latch onto something and lower, splayed out growth.  I have to go back with a pickax to dig down to get the "Knob" in order for this to stop growing.

         Then, I will turn my attention to the opposite end of the property line – the furthest section away from the house and work back to the middle where I have it  under control.

         It will be a long process, but it is fulfilling to re-gain my acreage and I like the look of a clean property line view from my various patios.

         Remember: What we do in the fall months in the garden helps out tremendously next spring.

        

         A reminder – now is the time to take up your caladium bulbs to let them air dry in the shade, then cut off the stems and roots and box them up and keep them in a warm place over the winter.

         It is pansy planting time here in North Carolina and now is the time to purchase your daffodil and tulip bulbs.  When it comes to bulbs – the bigger,  the better.   Then, get them in the ground before November 15^th for the best spring display.

        

         Now that the cool weather has arrived, good gardening to everyone 

October 19, 2018 – The first anniversary of my Mom’s death.

         Half of the year I have been in denial – is she actually gone?  Denial was easy to fall into as I live here in North Carolina and she lived in Massachusetts.  But, I was jolted back to reality when some important thing in my life happened and I’d reached for the telephone and would suddenly pause – realizing she’s gone. I can no longer phone her – I can no longer share ‘whatever’ with my Mom. Then as I set the receiver back on its cradle, I experience the most overwhelming feeling of sadness.

         Or, I’d go to the mailbox, barefoot crossing the cool green lawn, then a few steps on the too-hot pavement with the sun warming my back as I open the latch and pull out a stack of mail.  Flipping through it I’d occasionally come upon the back of a number 10 envelope. As I turn it over a flicker of anticipation flashes through me expecting to see her handwriting - then the realization – I’ll never find another letter addressed to me in my Mom’s handwriting in the mailbox, ever.

         I am still coming to grips with her death.  I try my best to “check” the grief – but then – why should I?  Her presence is everywhere – in my home among the photos and dishes and trinkets.  In my closet among the scarfs or matching “mother\daughter” clothes, I bought for “us” over the years. Her books that line my bookshelves beg me to re-read them. Or, how I often pause when I make Mom’s recipes that I know from heart.

         And, part of my denial process was dragging my feet on getting the date of death on the family headstone.  It took me almost nine months before I telephoned the stonemason to do the work.   

         What prompted me?  I would wake up with dreams.  I’d see Mom shaking her head with a soundless soft smile of disapproval.  I’d be silently shrugging my shoulders back at her and mentally making excuses, ‘been so busy’, ‘it’s winter – needs to be done in the summer’, or ‘I forgot – yes it is on my to-do list’, ‘I’ll get right on it’.

         Finally, I got off my duff and dug through the notes I took at the law office when we opened my Mom’s estate.  I found the name and telephone number of the stonemason and made the call.

         After the initial contact, it took me dragging my feet a few weeks to sign the contract and send it on.  It took longer than I expected from the first contact to the contract coming in for the work to be done.  Then we had a little hurdle with the shrubs that had overgrown the headstone again.  The stonemason suggested they be removed as they would interfere with his work and at some point shrubs get big enough to topple head stones. We wouldn’t want that.

         So, my brother Ken, rectified that situation. One day he chopped the shrubs down and then he went back, got the roots out, and put in some spring flowering bulbs.

         Then in September, my dreams went into “panic mode”.  I admitted to my brother I was having dreams that if the stonework wasn’t done by the anniversary of her death I expected to be rudely woken with a ghostly visit from Mom with her saying:

         “What’s up with my headstone?”

         A few days later the stonework done, my brother snapped a picture to send it to me showing the work had been done.

         Now I don’t fear her coming to me in a dream as I am certain she would say,

         “Well done kids – Dad and I are happy up here.  Even Dad thought the shrubs needed to go.  And, we like you putting in spring bulbs for us. . .”

        

October 18, 2018 – “I did a Barbara!”

         Yes, Barbara is the name of my deceased Mom.  The first anniversary of her death is tomorrow.  And, when it comes to being her only daughter – I didn’t “fall far from the tree” as some may say.

         When I had problems of any nature that I couldn’t solve because I needed an address or something back in New England and I was elsewhere in the country [this was before the internet] – I’d call my Mom.  She was my own personal secretary.  Nowadays they would call her my own “Personal Assistant.”

         Once I needed a fresh copy of my birth certificate to travel to Nassau. The one I had, the seal wasn’t raised enough. Mom took care of it and called announcing:

         “I did a Barbara!”  It was her way of saying, she took care of it or fixed the problem.  It arrived in the mail a few days later.

         Over the years, she would announce “I did a Barbara!” on the phone or in her letters to me when she jumped a difficult hurdle – doctors – complaint letters – those pesky life instances that require some tenacity or diligence to get to the bottom of it or get to the top-dog of the entity in order to get the problem fixed.

         Over the years when she wrote complaint letters, she’d send me a copy so that I could have a smile at her diplomacy.  Then, when I started to write complaint letters, I’d send her a copy and she’d admire how well I had learned from her.  It was a thing between us – we brought the complaint letter to a high art.

         We brought the compliment letter or letter of appreciation to a high art, as well.  One day during these retirement years I shall cull all my papers and pull out the copies of complaint letters I have sent and their responses – the best one was from Horticulture Magazine.  The Editor told me he would take up all the issues I had listed with his staff at the next staff meeting. That gave me a big head for a few hours. Of course I kept that letter – it was personally signed – not a stamped form letter.

         Also, I will cull out the responses to appreciation letters.  One of my most memorable ones is when I sent a letter to Cathy Guisewite, author of the Cathy comic strip and she sent back the nicest letter.

         When Cathy Guisewite’s letter arrived, I called my Mom and said, “I’ve done a Barbara!”

         Today, I worked on an issue with my husband’s pacemaker. I turned over one rock, then another, trying to find a solution and eventually I got to the right person in the right department to solve our dilemma.

         And – when I had persevered and accomplished the goal I went to call my Mom to say, “I’ve done a Barbara!” and I was reduced to tears.

         I remember not long after my Mom’s Mum died – Madeline – that she admitted to me both in person and again by letter,  “I just want to call Mum and tell her and I can’t.”

         I did the next best thing – I called my brother and gave him the situation and the outcome.

         He knew exactly why I called and was familiar with her phrase.

         Barbara may be gone, but her exclamatory phrase will live on as long as I still have a breath and a voice.

         “I’ve done a Barbara!”  Can you hear me up there Mom?

October 17, 2018 – Bait and switch?

         Years ago in business class in high school, we were taught that merchandisers often advertise something [not available] to get customers into the stores.  When the customers found that the item or items were not available – they were ‘switched’ to a higher priced item.  That was the classic illegal “bait and switch” tactic.  [I wonder if anyone even teaches these principals anymore.]

         I am a catalog shopper and today I am CALLING OUT one entity whose catalog arrived yesterday.  I am sick of something on the front cover and inside not being available to the customer.

         A perfect example is the Fall/Winter 2018 catalog from Création L my boutique.  There is a stylish model on the cover and on page 62 wearing a boucle cardigan and a cream or white scarf that has a leaf trim.

         I searched the catalog for the scarf – no find.  I then went on line and searched their website.  Next, I jumped on the Chat contact and asked about it.

         First, the representative advised me to search on a link of all the scarves they currently have.  I did so and again – no find.

         Then I asked the most impertinent question:  How can you show something on a model twice in your catalog without offering it for sale?

         The answer from Création L my boutique was: We used it as a prop.

         Prop? Those are puppies, or backdrop locations, or a fresh flower in a model's hand – which their catalog has none of these.  They do have scarves that they sell that could have been used.  But, to use an item of clothing that is not available to the public – “BIG, BIG, MISTAKE.”  [I take that  line out of the movie Pretty Women- you movie buffs will recognize it.]

         One nice thing about their chat on line – it is printable – so I have proof of their mediocrity, ineptitude, and their bait and switch tactic.

         OHHHHH – you are wondering why I am so “hot” about this. 

         I see this just about every day.  Our local paper has reams of wasted paper filled with advertisements for chain stores – yet the chain stores in this area are so small and so – out in no-where’s-ville – that they seldom stock what is on sale.  It is a joke – I see something – I take the advertising flyer with me and I am told either: 1) Our store is so small, we don’t get all the sale items in, or 2) We only had a few and they are already gone.

         This reminds me of my personal Coup d’état against a women’s clothing store in Myrtle Beach, North Carolina – several years ago.

         I window shop and when I see something I like in the window, it lures me in.  I saw a fall sweater tunic of muted browns and cinnamon.  It reminded me of the color of the fallen pine needles on the ground beneath a forest of tall pines. 

        

         Always when I am on vacation, I have a “Benny” tucked back for some exquisite item to celebrate I am on vacation. [A Benny is a $100 Benjamin Franklin bill – just in case you don’t know what I am alluding to.  Very powerful in your wallet for those surprise items that you simply MUST HAVE.]

         I was with other wives of the golf vacation group and they prowled through the store with me.  I did not find any sweaters that matched the one in the window.  I assumed they had all been sold except the sweater in the window. 

         I then proceeded to the front window display and climbed into it – OH yes, I am that type of brazen hussy, on occasion. I fished for the tag and noted the price – within my means – and was even more delighted that the size was the correct size for me – win-win, good luck for me.

         Of course, my climbing into the window display was noticed by the store personnel. A sales person came to chastise me or was it “rescue” me from the fate of being in a sales window without permission.

         I stated flatly, “I want that sweater.”

         “AHHHH,” was her answer.

         After a hesitant moment she said, “It is our display.”

         “I didn’t find a sweater like it in the store – it must be the last one – so I wish to buy it,”  was my straight forward request.

         The two other women with me paused in their shopping and watched the situation unfold. Their interest was piqued because they’d never seen anyone climb into a display window to see the price and size of a garment.

         “It is our display . . .”

         “So, just undress the mannequin and put something else on it to sell. It has a sales tag and it is my size and I want it.  What is the problem?”

         “AHHHH,”  the sales person was almost in a state of apoplexy.

         “Where is your manager?”  I was heels-dug-in determined to get that sweater.  I was sick of things in the windows that were not for sale.  I was making my own personal stand.  Besides, I adored that sweater.  It was gorgeous – perfect for my coloring and my wardrobe.  I wasn’t going to be easily put off.

         The sales person scuttled away in haste to find the manager. The manager arrived, a more polished professional than her subordinate and asked, “May I help?”

         “I wish to buy the sweater on this mannequin.  It is tagged for sale, it is my size and I believe it is the only one left of its kind in the store.”

         “We don’t undress mannequins during the day . . .”

         “I am here on vacation and this is the only time I will be at your store.  This is a vacation capital of the world.  You do realize that?”

         I stared her down.  The manager was waffling.  It was early in the day, we were the first customers, few people were out in the mall.

         After a lengthy silence, I offered an olive branch in the form of,

         “If it is an issue of modesty or propriety and you don’t want the public to see a naked mannequin, I can assist you in carrying it to the back, out of view, so you can disrobe it.”

         That comment clinched it.  The manager turned to the sales person and sent her into to the display window to undress the mannequin – funny right there in front of the public for all to see.

         VICTORY!

         Side note:  When we came back by the store a few hours later, we noticed the mannequin was still naked.

         I still own that sweater.  It is scrumptious and gorgeous and I always, always get a compliment when I wear it.

         The morale of that story? 

         Any time I went back to Myrtle Beach, NC on my husband's annual golf outing, I specifically shopped at that ladies’ store. I became famous among the golf outing ladies on my shopping prowess – “She even forces store personnel to take items off the mannequins . . .” [I heard them whispering a few times.]

         The weather forecast calls for cool weather this weekend.  Good – I’ll pull that sweater out and wear it to the Writer’s workshop on Saturday.