It's been an odd.

It all began in God's garden;

called this Earth we all live on.

I went to work as usual today, seems I always know when something is about to happen, good or bad, I just get this overwhelming feeling. Which came to me last Friday, Something BIG, no clue what, but big.

I have tried with much effort to tidy the Garden Center, where I work for the last 6 weeks but something told me to get it DONE.

The cashier, one is a real Gem, she helps me as much as possible with sorting and shifting and has a second job to help her grandma she lives with.

Another cashier sits on her phone texting all day. She was on the phone today, I'll get to that in a minute.

Saturday, I had the pleasure of God's blessing, a man, I didn't know praying with me at work, right out in the open, asking God to bless me and ease my pain. I was overwhelmed with emotion that anyone would see my love for God and know it when they would look at me. I cried.

Sunday, another day of sorting, clipping, watering and getting things in order.

Monday, finally getting things in the places they belong, mulch, soil, rock.

Tuesday, today, On the time clock is a note, "Department Head Opening-Children's" can't apply while on the clock. I know, I have to apply because the garden center is closing soon and unemployment wouldn't like the idea of offered work being ignored. Went to the garden center got all the patio pot in their place, trimmed, raking the left overs, tossing for compost.

They send me the texter as a cashier, man I thought they knew, I am done with her, guess they don't read minds.

Well, she got tired of the watching and wanted to go inside.

I noticed a lady coming into the garden center, I can spot a secret shopper a mile away, so I did my best to accommodate her and let her know I was here to help her.

Well, the texting cashier was on the phone, texting, when the lady (secret shopper) went to ask about the price of a hanging basket, great!

The texting cashier came to the cart where I was trimming hanging baskets and rolled her eyes,

I said, "Hope she wasn't our secret shopper."

 Texting cashier said, "They usually come at the beginning of the month."

I said, "I can spot a secret shopper a mile away, this isn't my first retail job, I've had hundreds of secret shoppers."

Texting cashier, made her phone calls inside, to alert everyone.

That sucked she was on the phone, TEXTING.

Went to lunch, came back and all the "ups" (managers) were scrambling like the place was on fire. Looked around for a bit and saw a new guy, uh oh, he has a clip board, (District Manager, evaluation time) came into the garden center and I ask him if he would step outside with me, I told him; "I'm not trying to be fresh, but you have something on your beard." So I, Mom-ed it off. I wasn't sure what it was but didn't want him to find it later and feel humiliated.

We spoke for a minute and he complemented me on how good the garden center look, "Great job! A plus!"

My manager, I had asked about the position of Dept head in children's,

I ask, "Who makes the decision?"

"The guy doing the evaluation, and the Store Manager."

Good deal, I just saved the district manager serious humiliation, maybe he'll like the way I, Mom-ed that thing off his chin and I'll get the job.

My manager even complemented me on what a good job I've done in the garden center.

I've been asked if I wanted the job, it doesn't really matter if you want the job, you take what is given to you, and you do your best to make it happen.

After my shift I stood at the company computer and answered the questions the store manager asked to be best of my ability.

Interview on Friday.

I leave you with this:

                 Remember, it's not about you, but what you have within you, and what you do with it.

As always.

`til next time

*

What a wonderful gift for Mom

A local florist,"Secret Garden", in Decatur, Illinois, holds name contests for arrangements they make.
                                                 I WON!
They ask you to comment on the photo with a name and how many likes you get is whether you win.

"Mother's Cup"

 With heart of a child, I look forward to setting this at Mom's grave,

                                         Mother's Day.

No, it wasn't her style, but she would cherish the thought, it was picked just for her, then, place the cup and saucer in her china cabinet as a loved reminder.

Missing Mom, so much.

til next time.

~ ~

 *

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The winds of change.

Red head house finch couple

in from the April rain,

outside my dining room window,

looking onto the front porch.

It's been a strange winter and early spring,
now the winds of March, have come to April.
Many, of the flowers of May, have shown their colors and withered.
The flowering tree's have lost their bloom.
The fragrance of spring is no longer filtering through the air.
Rain's that should have come for spring planting have arrived late, farmers losing already planted crops.

Roses planted at fences to keep predators at bay.
Anything to keep the family and homestead safe.
Garden planting has begun.
Tomatoes, onions, potatoes, green peppers,
                                             along with favorite turnips.


The days seem to pass without notice,
                    as if, drifting away with time, not much time.
God, has allowed me, the pleasures of these things, in what is left,
                    as time on this earth.


I stay steady at a craft, as to, not grow old to quickly,
                                                                   some days, I forget.
I do not know, if I forget, due to the fact that I have been reminded,
much,
I do not know everything and lost my willingness to remember
or
if time is beginning to take it's toll
and what,
I once knew is so far behind me,
I choose not to remember.

I have learned to not keep score, when you do,
                                           you lose the effort to remember.
I forget.
               I have lost myself?

It is not tragic,
               I do not wish to live another life.
    
The continued thought of being underminded,
       kept in a place, that, you forget,
              other's relish with delight,
                      you have come to this place.

I forget.


`til next time


...

Been a while, how about an update???

The winter here is not what is has been in the past years, hardly any snow for summer crops, the rains of the spring, seem to have missed the area I live in.

Last fall, a sibling purchased Cranberry Cotoneaster bushes, for all of the kids to plant in memory of Mom, guess this was about Mom's birthday, October 11, I hestatied, and wanted to plant in the spring, to be sure I wasn't digging frozen ground. I was concerned about the poor thing dying, but it made it and has new growth. I planted it in a sunny area in the yard just off the corner of the garage.

Not a very good picture, but will post better ones as the summer comes along.

We all love Mom's cranberry relish, guess the reason. No, she didn't use the berries from this kind of bush, she used actual cranberries.

til next time.


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