Memoirs Of A Special Woman Take Two

There are man important people in ones life, those who make a lasting impression, whether its one you choose to remeber or one you choose to forget. For me I choose to rember one very special, extradinary, exampluary woman; who I am proud to say I am like her in many ways.

Growing up in Middltown there was an icon not only in the town but in my life, my grandmother. From as early as I can rember she was a the center of everything. Our family nucleous, she was the pillar to all in good times and bad. Her strength; inuition and raw waitress demeanor allowed her to handle many situation with fluidity.

These traits were never more prevelant to me than the winter of 1972 when a sever storm hit our town, forcing my family out of our home and into a small efficentcy apartment in town to weather the storm. I being just eight years old worried how Santa would find us if we were not home for Christmas.  My grandmother assured me that all would be okay and that Santa would find us no matter where we were staying.  Most children at that young tender age would be skeptical of anyone stating that Santa would find you no matter what, I was not for I had come to have great faith in what ever my grandmother said. She had never said anyting that I did not find to be true or directional.

It was Christmas eve; I rember my granmother picking us up and on the car ride told us we were on our way home. She had held true to her word; tucking us in that night assured me that in the morning Santa would have had no problems finding me. I awoke the next morning to find a tree that was not there the night before; presents piled high and breakfast on the table.  I found out many years later as a teen the true story.

My grandmother had pulled her resources and my family together; aunts, uncles, extended family and friends to make sure that I and my sister would have the best Christmas ever.  She was Santa; putting gifts together, finding the largest tree ever, decorating, cooking and managing to get it all done in the few hours as Sugar Plums danced in my head.  I know it sounds like the pages of a Christmas Carol, but honestly true and very real.

As I started to write this essay I tried to find a moment; a story, a phrase, a blink in time to descrie this woman and there were dozens and dozens to choose from. I did however, keep coming to this memory or the woman I am so proud to say has made a lasting inpression forever in my life. Now I only hope to inspire my own daughter to have those memories of me or a special person that makes such an impression it leaves a permanent mark in her life and my grandmother did mine.

A Work In Progress

I have always been interested in turning the simple into the outstanding.  This is certainly prevalent in my desire to have a wonderful yard without the high cost and effort of a professional landscaping company. I always have had a vision or an eye for the inner beauty. I see the potential of even a tree branch that has fallen in the yard, this desire is what prompted me to research and discover the use for many things left behind, thrown away or in need of recycling.

So where do I begin, not being an avid recycler or a landscaper/ yard smith by trade, I decided to begin my work in progress. I am somewhat computer knowledgable and because of the convenience, I jumped on the Internet and began to google away. Home Made Simple is a site that I have been using very regularly and have even subscribed to get regular updates and a newsletter,  http://www.homemadesimple.com/en-US/Garden/Pages/Home.aspx  Then one day last week while at my most favorite store in the world, The Dollar Tree, I cam across a do it yourself book, containing many ideas and suggestions on turning the every day item into something to enhance your garden, yard or outdoor living.

I moved into an apartment; second floor, with a simple 6x6 landing or deck, if you can call it that, which overlooks my small but interesting yard. Under the porch was a collection of what most would think of as trash, yes there certainly were items that I decided to through away, however; I set aside a handful of items that I felt I could reuse. There was parts of a crib; old planters, a wire bakers rack, several spiral metal posts and two bamboo tiki torches. What to do? I began simple creating a work in progress.

The crib pieces appeared to be the sides of the crib that slide up and down. I set the against the side of the house and stepped back a bit and gazed and began to wonder.  Then a thought came to mind and I jetted in the house to grab the lap top and started googling " how to use crib sides in landscaping" sure enough up pop the top five or so.  I begin to click and then find the perfect use, I turned the crib sides to a standing up right position and used them as a lattous in two different flower bed:). One this year will support my Morning Glory's that are located in the front yard, on each side there now are two rose bushes that will be supported by the metal twisted pieces.

Now I wondered what kind of suggestions could I research or find to utilize the wire bakers rack?  When in conversation with a neighbor she suggested I use it outside as well for a plant display. That is exactly what I did, it now is sitting in the side yard. I spray painted it purple to add color and make it stick out against the cedar siding.

I was amazed at how just taking some time and researching or surfing the net, how many solutions, suggestions, ideas flood the pathways.  I now wonder how come more people do not utilize researching or surfing the net to recycle and reuse. In today's world of the advacates of  'Go Green' why do they not use this thought process and make old new or purposeful.

So much like like this essay my yard has become a process, I have stepped back; looked, readjusted, moved, re-thought, researched, redesigned and with review have made changes and altered the out come or the look.  I continue now for my yard is still "a work in progress"