What to Wear?

 I braved the ominous halls of the hospital today. 

I felt the unwelcome kinship of being one patient among hundreds—

maybe even thousands—of other medically unskilled souls 

seeking expert guidance and merciful assistance.

So of course, what to wear occupied my thoughts at bedtime yesterday.

I even pondered it during those wide-awake night moments.

*

My folks taught me to dress up to go to any medical appointment. 

Actually, I don't remember anyone actually saying, 

"Suzy, wear your best dress and shiniest shoes..."

But, even as a little girl, I noticed the details in the preparations my elders made 

when an appointment with a doctor loomed. 

It was an occasion to which you might wear your (fake) pearls. 

Have you noticed ... it's not that way anymore—not at all.

Today I learned that pajama pants pair nicely with any color tube top for a hospital visit. 

And that makes getting ready SO much easier, doesn't it?

*SIDE NOTE: 

These Stella de Oro daylilies are fabulous in container gardens. Blooming year after year, they return even in my metal washtub planters, surviving overwintering in near- and below-zero temperatures. The clumps of lilies multiply more slowly in containers, but still give enough increase to share with friends. While I haven't had much luck with the beautiful red cultivar, the yellow-gold standard type are a sure bet for any gardener.

Everyday Celebrations

I know some of you would be horrified at the carbon "footprint" my household 

stomps into the earth. Especially during large family gatherings.

When we host the entire tribe of extended family, I break out the paper 

plates, plastic forks and styrofoam cups. 

(sigh) I'm not proud of it, but there it is. I'd like to list all my excuses, but I'll spare you.

But look what I scored at a recent yard sale:

Vintage "pressed glass" goblets in all colors of the rainbow!

The home owner was selling the contents of her mother-in-law's

 home to pay for her stay in an assisted living facility.
"We have to pay a little extra, doncha know, because Mama needs her hair done every Friday."

Her mother-in-law is 103 years old.

My husband and I admired the collection, but drove away, only to return an hour later to 

scoop up what was left. We purchased nineteen goblets and contributed a 

little extra for Mamma's hair needs.

It seemed appropriate to store them in our Hoosier cabinet. 

When I open the doors, it just looks like a party in there. 

I've resolved to use these every time we host a family gathering. My younger self 

would have kept these only for good, only for the very best occasions. 

But now that I'm (ahem) older, wisdom urges me forward with the earned understanding

that every gathering qualifies as the very best occasion, and

every single family dinner is an occasion to celebrate with 

fancy, rainbow-colored, antique goblets.

Garden Bangles

Last year's Mother's Day gifts included these cool garden markers.

The black resin stakes came with a white grease pen to label ... anything! 

(... why not keep a pie bird in the greenhouse?)

Garden markers are the bangle bracelets of the flower bed, 

the bejeweled pinky rings of the veggie patch. 

Not at all necessary, but an oh-so-cool addition.

The sort you have speaks to what kind of gardener you are.

Some of us (ahem ... me) go with utilitarian methods 

of labeling in the garden: this, those, and (ugh) these.

I've even just re-used plant inserts, marking over the print with a fat Sharpie.

But ... with any Pinterest-y craft ability or Etsy cash flow, 

you could have this, those, or (ah!)these.