The first gift comes from friends. Joe and Vicki are well into their 90s with lots of age-related infirmities and health problems. They rarely let these slow them down and joke that between them, they add up to one person that is able to both see and hear but still not get around very well. Vicki was having sewing machine issues so after a bunch of mishaps and some help from me, we finally got it working.
Vicki wanted to pay me, but when I refused, she went to her window sill and gave me this lovely hibiscus. Her brother came to the United States from Poland about 90 years ago, and brought the original plant with him. Vicki inherited the original when her brother passed away and has been starting new plants from cuttings for the last 20 years. I'm proud and honored to have this gift from a dear friend, especially because it's also a descendant of an immigrant. No immigration ban here!
The next gift was from the universe. During my walk, I spied something interesting on trash day. When I took a closer look, it turned out to be a discarded Norfolk Island pine. I didn't think it would survive freezing temperatures that night, so I heeded its quiet calls for help and carried it home. Many curled and brown branch tips showed that it had been deprived of water for quite a while, so I repotted it, cut off all the dead, dried parts, watered it well, and am now hoping it makes a recovery. So far, so good! It was sprayed with glitter (glitter on living plants is a terrible idea in my opinion), but I'll take care of that with a good shower when I can move it outside in warmer weather.
The universe presented me with another nice gift on a walk a few weeks ago. In our neighborhood, people often put unsold items out on the curb after they have a garage sale. Many times, one man's junk also looks like junk to me, but I found some treasure in the form of four pink pressed glass plates.
I've been using them as plant saucers, but they also work well as doughnut plates.
Thanks to friends and the universe for some lovely gifts!
Those are great plates! And those plants...I can't imagine they could have ever landed in a better place. xo
ReplyDeleteWhat nice plants and plates! I especially like the story that came along with the hibiscus plant, what a treasure!
ReplyDeletePink Depression Glass! Block Optic, if I'm not mistaken. ;) I was a fairly rabid collector of Green back in the day, and still have quite a bit, though have begun to discard some of the lesser loved/joyous pieces.
ReplyDeleteThose plants are lovely!! I'm sure they both will thrive in your care. ;)
My mom had a few pieces of pink depression glass in her collection -- and now I have them. Candlestick holders, a cake plate, and cream-and-sugar set. I think the pink glass is lovely -- and perfect for doughnuts! And I LOVE your new plants. (I'm going to think of them as The Immigrant and The Refugee.)
ReplyDeleteYour gifts are well deserved! My mother received a Norwegian pine in a gift planter when my younger sister was born. It was 5" tall. It grew under her care for 20 years and when she died it was 6' tall! Your gift from the universe brought back many lovely memories, Bonny. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou've got some good trash in your neighborhood! And I love that you have a hibiscus with such a legacy.
ReplyDeleteThe plants are lovely, and I'm glad you rescued one!
ReplyDeleteWe have those same plates - when my mother-in-law died, my husband brought them from her house to ours.
Immigrant hibiscus and a matched set of pink plates ... what a wonderful world!
ReplyDeleteLove the immigration hibiscus. I have a spider plant from my father and it gives off many generations of plants to give away, nature can shared so easily.
ReplyDeleteThe pink plates are so pretty, especially when adorned with a donut!
Immigrant plants are awesome! And, the universe is smiling on your - Norfolk Pines and Pink Pressed Glass plates are treasures! I am glad to see that Karma is smiling on you!
ReplyDeleteI have a pine like that one....so maybe I need to re pot it?? I sort of hate it but it was a gift and I keep it alive.
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