The Devil Wore Flip Flops...

Jul 14, 2006 13:20

Or at least I did. Neil's real estate agent, Rhonda, lives in Georgia. She is the kind soul that gave up her six tomato plants to me, not knowing what would ever become of them. Thankfully, they are thriving and the natural process of home grown tomatoes is imminent.

Rhonda called yesterday morning to let me know that she was taking a well deserved day off. She offered me more plants and said that she would be spending the day out in her back garden and by the pool, and if I wanted more plants, that I was more than welcome to come on by and get some. A very kind and generous offer. However, here is my small dilemma. I am a woman that needs to think twice before pulling out of her own steenking driveway. I decide to come clean and tell her of my slight handicap. She just laughed. She advised me that yes, she's in another state, but that her home is very easy to find. She also offered to come meet me in the event that I became irreparably lost.

I relented. I figured there is always Google Maps or MapQuest. (Those that know me will still laugh uncontrollably at this mock self assuredness!) She kept reinforcing the fact that this was, "out in the country" and I couldn't figure out why. She gave me proper street names as well as landmarks. (Thank goodness). I Googled and printed up my directions. Honestly sounded very easy.


I take the 151 S exit, and it immediately dawns on me why she emphasized the "out in the country." There are no street signs. So, thankfully she prepared me with the landmarks I was to look for. She was correct. Finding her home was a piece of cake. I pulled into her driveway and was greeted by her two sentries, Lady (golden retriever) and Maggie (terrier mix), as well as by Rhonda in her bathing suit and snazzy sarong.

I spent an enjoyable few hours there with her, talking and with her walking me around her garden (three and a half acres of land!) The decision was made that for right now, the easier a plant was to maintain, the better for me. I need to get a bit better acquainted with my gardening self, before I tackle plants that are too delicate and fragile to care for. She does have a beautiful home, with a huge plot of land, and it also gave me a chance to get to know her a little better. I was right about her. She is a very kind, generous and giving person.

She made me aware of a particular organization that her and her husband support. For the past several years, they have been working very closely with a group of others that travel to the orphanages in Romania. They go several times a year and spend a period of two to three weeks at a time there, rebuilding, refinishing, and restoring the facilities (they are horrendous) as well as spending time with the orphans. They are trying to develop ways to educate the children with a trade to become productive citizens, rather than just house them until they are eighteen, then kick them out onto the streets with no apparent way to support themselves. They are also hoping to provide them with the medical care and attention they so desperately need. Many children go their whole lives without receiving proper medical attention, much of it, routine. Her whole theory was that once you are there, once you see the need with your own eyes, it makes it much easier to give of your time and devote your efforts, and money to a worthy cause. I applaud her for that. She is giving back.

I asked her at one point how she deals with the humidity. I've been told by a number of people so far that you "just get used to it" after a while. But, I don't know that I'll ever be able to get used to being perpetually DAMP. Her advice, although it struck me as funny at times, was WATER. She said to always have a bottle of water with you, always be near or in air conditioning, and if you have a pool at your home, come home after work, strip off all your clothes, throw on your bathing suit, and jump in the pool before attempting to do anything else! She then told me that she doesn't even think about dinner until after she's jumped in her pool! Sounds like good advice, if you ask me. ;-)

After a few hours of garden viewing and idle chitchat and a bit of girl talk mixed in, I decided I should get home. It appeared it might rain, and the plants needed to be dug up. I drove away with some fennel and a bunch of perennials (flowers) to plant out front, not to mention three beautifully red, ripe tomatoes from her garden. According to Rhonda, all the flowers she gave me are very low maintenance. They spread quickly, easily , and come back every year. Just exactly what I need - easy! Hopefully, I will not kill them.

It was an uneventful drive home, and I didn't lose my bearings once. I made it there and back safely, in one piece and without tragic repercussions. I set the plants out on the back deck to acclimate them for a few days before planting, and it rained. It rained most of last night, and the thunder and lightening was awesome. After the second time of my computer shutting down and rebooting, I gave up. Turned it all off, and walked away.

But, as I promised earlier this week, more garden photos.

Chile Pepper Plants:







Basil:



Rosemary:



Oh, and because it's Friday, and I can, I will add:

Life is too short to drink cheap beer.

Add your own. I dare you.

Have a great Friday all, and a fabulous weekend.

garden, life is too short, photo posts

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