THIS IS THE WEEK THAT WAS

Our orchid society is hosting a national show in late April, 2011. Note that I voted against doing this, but being the stalwart democratic person that I am I have done what I could to support the society's decision. Consequently, I am on the show committee and in charge of clerks for ribbon judging and AOS judging for the show. I know that means nothing to most of you, but it's a big enough chunk of work for one person. Also I have done what I, in conscience, could do to raise money to cover our costs. Let me explain that. We were asked to take orders for candles at outrageous prices for what the buyer would get and to do the same for cookie dough---the same thing elementary school kids are sent out to do. Nope, couldn't bring myself to do that.

However, we finagled a booth at Les Boutiques de Noel, a high end shopping extravaganza, this year held at the Bossier City Civic Center where people have to pay to get into shop, to sell live plant arrangements. I launched into that whole heartedly, and by the time we were ready to do it I had collected 36 containers/baskets and lots of decorative items to decorate them including ribbons and bows---probably $150 worth, all from estate and garage sales. Of course, others had collected as well; some people spent $10 each on their containers; I had a $3 limit on what I purchased. But my point is that everybody contributed a lot. We bought the plants as none of us would have had enough plants in bloom to do this.

On this past Tues. we began putting them together. Approximately four of us had experience in doing this and were good and fast; the remainder of us (that includes me) were novices. But we had a lot of fun putting them together and learning. My pictures are not very good as I really didn't have time to set them up. But here's a sample.

(Remember you click on the pictures to enlarge.)

Oh, yeah, this container was one I got for $1 at an estate sale; originally a holder for a votive candle. I didn't do the arrangement.

Sorry the red bow is behind this because it doesn't show as well.

This container is another I purchased for $1 and is actually a cup; isn't it a great arrangement? I didn't do that one either.

On that Tues. we put together 49 arrangements. We should have stopped there; however we had high hopes and met again the next day to put together more (?). The preview party was on Wed. night, and the actual sale was Thurs., Fri., and Sat. I worked 1 - 6 on Thurs., on Fri. I had to take the cash box to the person opening on Fri., then came back later with material to pack around sold items to stabilize the containers in boxes. Sat. was orchid judging day and the other volunteer who usually works with me for that agreed to do the sales, and I would handle judging responsibilities alone. We were worlds apart, but really in distance it was probably only about 2-3 miles.

Our table on the first day of the sale.

Don't know the outcome of our efforts yet, but I know we were getting only about half the sales we expected. Definite downer! But if anybody is really curious I will let you know. I will say that some of us acquired new skills, even the two men in our society who showed up to help. (We have more men, but only two ventured into this activity. They had a great time and learned how to "glam" up an arrangement.)

So, what's next? Operation on the left eye will be this Monday morning. I am to report at the surgery center at seven a.m. (ouch), but Jaz has graciously accepted the responsibility of getting me there and back once again. The doctor says she will do something a little different this time and, God willing, the sight improvement will be much more immediate without change. The first time it was great 24 hrs. post surgery then went downhill. Who knew about my loose epithelial? BTW the left eye bag is different from the right eye bag. I know you are tracking that information. Here's the left eye bag:

Don't ask me about the cheesy shades in this one; I'm taking my big boxy shades from the first go round. Keep your fingers crossed and say your prayers for me, please. The right eye is still improving, but I don't think it's as good as it will be yet. I just really want everything to be done before the Tea Partyers/ Republicans rip Medicare into oblivion.

So this week is done, and it's on to a new one. Surgery, big holiday, family coming, ---Wow! So much to look forward to! Best wishes to all of you!

TODAY'S ADVENTURES

Well, it really all started a few weeks ago when I received a notice in the mail that my car registration was due in Oct. In order to do that online I needed to get the annual car inspection. That was due in May, so I coasted into the local garage to get that done---only four months late. Pretty good, and no policeman had stopped me for a warning on that. So the registration was taken care of. (O.K. Sentences shouldn't end with a preposition; however, we are friends here and just chatting. Don't be so critical!)

My driver's license was also due to expire in Oct. It's tied to one's birthday in this state (Hint.) However, no notice had come in the mail as it did last time, four years ago. I called the DMV in Baton Rouge and asked about it because I couldn't renew online as I had done before without their special invitation. Rita said those are sent out randomly (I doubt that), and I would have to go to the local DMV to renew. That makes sense in that eye sight and appearance both change over a period of eight years, but "random" ?---I think not.

After careful wardrobe choice, applying makeup, and doing whatever else it took to make me look like a rational human being I sallied forth to the dreaded DMV in Shreveport. I say "dreaded" because it is (1) way far away from where I live, (2) it's tucked into so many street curves with so many obstructive signs/trees that to get there or away from there without an accident is a test of one's driving skills that far supersedes whatever test they might administer. The other scary thing is that the parking lot which probably holds about 250 parking slots has so many cars on it with crunched fenders, major dents, and taped in windows that it frightens one even to park there. You know what I mean?

But arrive I did. After telling the receptionist why I was there I received my ticket.




Note that it says "Express". That apparently means that it only takes one hour because that is how long it took me. Fortunately, I remembered to take a book (and it's great, but that's another blog). There were at least 100 people waiting to be served, and probably 175 chairs. All the vacant ones were well into the middle of the rows. I finally decided where I wanted to climb over and sit elbow to elbow with my neighbors. Actually it all went pretty well, and here's the grand prize part of the story. Baton Rouge had told me the fee would be $24.50 for the license. Apparently there is a senior discount because I was only charged $12.50. Of course, I did not question that---just took the money and ran. Also the new picture on the DL is a little better than the last one, so that was a plus as well.

Since I was suddenly a little wealthier than I expected to be with my $12 saving I decided to treat myself to lunch (I rarely eat out) and started looking for the Chinese restaurant where Goo and I have eaten a few times in the past and always enjoyed it immensely. I knew if I could find the SAS store the restaurant would be across the street. It took one wrong turn and then a correct turn to get there. I had a wonderful lunch of hot & spicy chicken & shrimp which didn't seem that hot & spicy until my nose started to run. Decided not to complain. Also I brought home 1/2 to 2/3 of it to have tomorrow. YEA! (I love twofers.)

While at the restaurant I mapped out the route I would follow to hit the three estate sales I wanted to see. The first one turned out to be a real boon. I have been buying items to help the orchid society with its fund raiser at the Boutique de Noel in November. We will be selling arrangements which contain live blooming plants (not cut flowers) at big $ prices. At least, that's our goal. Our last direction from the chairman was that our table had to be "Christmasy." At the first sale I attended I found this terrific deer (I just need to give him new eyes). He takes up much less space than an Xmas tree and doesn't obstruct views of arrangements. What do you think?





Well, there's more to this story of the sale, but I can't go on forever---or can I?

Stopped at one of the other sales on the way home and spent a dollar for some trims for the arrangements we are planning, and blew off the third sale.

Put my feet up and called Goo. We only chatted a few minutes when she had to get back to work. I sometimes forget about how that work ethic works. However, there was one more sale to go to that comes each year.

MY CITY LOVES TO READ

The Centenary Book Sale comes the weekend after Labor Day each year and benefits Centenary College student projects. (Centenary's campus is a mile or less from my house.) The books are donated by the community, and this year over 70,000 books were donated. People line up before the opening of the sale on late Friday afternoon. It continues on Saturday, and throughout the sale more books are brought in; so you never have the feeling you missed the best stuff because more stuff arrives every few minutes. There is so much that they can't divide the wheat from the chaff, so one has a fairly good shot whenever you go. And Saturday afternoon everything goes to half price.

The sale is held in the Gold Dome.



I didn't meander over there until about an hour after it had opened, but people were parked for blocks in all directions. I began to think that I should have just walked there.





After making my purchases (10 books for $9.25) I managed to find a way to show you some of the crowd that shows up for this event, and many of them may show up again on Sat. to buy more. I might too, in the afternoon.



Sorry, that's blurry.










Even at the dirt low prices Centenary alums raise a lot of money. It's a win-win situation. And that's a good way to end this post---a day full of adventures.

THIS HAS GOT TO BE A FIRST ! ! !

You know my passion for estate sales. Well, last weekend one of the estate sale entrepreneurs had a second sale at a house where they had previously held one a month before. I labeled the first one as the home of our city's most creative/productive citizen(s). One whole wall had been constructed to show off rooms and homes done as miniatures (just like a miniature museum). It even included a miniature greenhouse. Each was sold separately, but I didn't buy one. There were other miniature rooms done in large wooden cubes, half-clay pots, small boxes, including an Egyptian one in other rooms. They were wonderful. There was decoupaged furniture---chairs, tables, and a piano. I know this may sound really yukky, but I promise you they were really beautiful. (Ask Jaz.) There was a room of tools that had so many built in shelving units one had to move sideways through it. Every inch in that house was used/decorated including the bathrooms. There was also a lean-to greenhouse at the back with a fireplace. Did I love that? You betcha. I didn't buy anything at the first sale.

Usually this dealer has a half-of-half sale on Sun. afternoon if they have too much stuff left on Sat. afternoon. However, at the first sale none of the bedrooms was included in the sale. Therefore, they had a second sale one month later. The "museum wall" had been removed; the shelving units were gone from the tool room, and this time the bedrooms and bathrooms were included. One of the bathrooms which had probably been added on was the size of my two bedrooms and bath, though with turns and curves. Very impressive.

At the second sale I fell in love with a frame I wanted to use for a poster (?) I bought in Toledo, Spain, five yrs. ago. I had to come home and get the poster to take it back to see if it would fit. Well, of course, it didn't exactly, but I figured I could make it work. And here's the big surprise---the first! I have completed this project in three days.
This photo doesn't do it justice because the poster has glimmers of gold which don't show up, but it's the best I could do with my camera. Anyway, I love it!