Power Shopping

There's nothing more exhilarating than getting a really good deal. I like to call it Power Shopping. Girl Power to be exact. Papa wanted a new mower and he had been researching one for some time. He fell in love with a Toro that had a variable speed system like no others. $359. at the Main Street Mowers and $349. at Home Depot. Now, the girl thinking comes in. We just got a $25. gift card incentive from Lowe's if we used a certain credit card. So, I say, let's see if HD will honor it. They say yes, no problem. Then, we find out from their very helpful lawn mower dept. head, that they are sold out of our model, but do have one on the floor. Well, says I, then we'll have to get 10% off. He says, can't do that, but how about $20. off. Wonderful, I think, knowing I still have my $25. gift card. Well, at the register, Problem. The "register" won't allow double discounts. There's no way to over-ride the system. Ask for a manager, I'm talking to her. I stand there looking sad and perplexed. "This is why I came to this store". ( Didn't say Lowe's doesn't sell Toro). Just standing there wondering how to make the most of the situation when David, the helpful dept head comes to the rescue. Just give them $50. off and press the customer satisfaction key! Whooppeee! Who says there's no way to over-ride the system. Happy Birthday, Papa

More projects

Seems like I'm always adding more projects to my life. Hope I live long. I've got an active mind. Recently, a beach trip inspired me to make a beaded  necklace featuring a little conch shell I found. It's almost done. Half of the flip flops I'm crocheting for a fund-raiser are finished. I just made two pillows for a friend who had the material for a year and then remembered that I sew. And, then, there's the book I'm writing based on and including the letters my parents wrote to each other during WWII and shortly afterwards. As I stated, there is no end to the projects I can think up. I hope I live long enough to finish them.

connecting

This Monday, we had a visit from my High School friend whom I haven't seen in nineteen years. We had a great gab fest about all the places we have traveled since we last saw each other. Some things have changed, and some have stayed the same. It's good to reconnect and renew old friendships. And, the bonus is some new place to visit.

Orchid bonanza

Upon returning from a short vacation at the beach, I found an orchid bonanza! My birthday gift from Rae had seven more blossoms on it and two more buds about to open. That makes a dozen orchids on one plant. It has produced five before but this is outstanding. We've had recording breaking consecutive days of ninety degrees heat or more, so maybe it likes the extreme heat. Or, maybe it is Rae's special gift from the  heavens above. Maybe.

Ideas

I was a very active baby. I'm just learning about it now in the fabulous letters that my Mother wrote to my Dad while he was stationed in England during the war. A wonderful box of memories came into my possession and tells the story of my first eighteen months. I feel so excited about combining this personal history with her description of World War II events into a book for my family, if not for publication. All this leads to my very active mind. I hope I live long enough to complete just half of the projects I have in it.

Long time, no hear

Well, here I am again, trying to get with it. A long hot summer has transpired, (and perspired) and I'm going to try to blog more faithfully. Not that anybody reads them, but I'm at the computer fooling around with games and why not be creative?

Here is a photo of the beautiful orchid that my best friend, Rae, gave me for my birthday eleven years ago. It never fails to give me a gift or two in September. This year it was a day early. I notice that there are more buds forming. And how sweet the smell. The gift that keeps on giving and blooming memories of fond times with Rae.