Adventures in Nurseries

 After a huge shrub was removed from my front yard, I needed to find something to fill up the space. My lawn person said he was also a landscaper and could take care of doing the work. On Sunday he came and cleaned up the area, laid down some rock, put some sod in and let me know that once I decided what I wanted to plant, he would pick up the items and plant them.

Yesterday I clocked over one mile walking around looking in the different nurseries near me. Previously I had checked online and fell in love with the "soft touch holly" that loved the sun! In talking to different nursery workers, I was told it was not a great bush for Colorado. So began my search by going to Lowes and Home Depot where I liked the Box Wood Green Mountain shrub. When I saw huge planters with blooming flowers, I began to think that I might just put planters in the space instead of planting shrubs. In speaking to a friend, who is a gardener, she mentioned that planters have to be watered daily and are more work than evergreen shrubs. She and I kept texting back and forth about pros and cons and it gave me lots to think about! Before buying I decided to drive to Echter's (a gigantic nursery) and talk to someone since they seem more professional than Home Depot! A knowledgeable young man showed me the best shrubs for Colorado. I needed five small shrubs and they did not have anything equaling five! I did see a shrub I liked but I knew I could not afford it!

This morning I drove to O'Toole's Garden Center and looked at Junipers because that is what I originally had in that area. Once I saw five evergreen shrubs all looking alike, I purchased them. I called my yardman, and he informed me he could not pick them up until the weekend. I told him that the shrubs would only be held for twenty-four hours and then they would be put back into their stock. When he insisted he could not pick up the shrubs I told him I would go pick them up but I would subtract an amount from his quote. I checked with the nursery and they thought they would fit in my car.

Before I could leave to get my shrubs, my yardman called to tell me he would pick the shrubs up the following day. I was delighted because I wondered how I would handle the shrubs once I got them home in case they were heavy. Now the yardman would do it!

This morning the shrubs are on my porch and I became a gardener without planning it. Since sod was put down, every morning I get up to water it. I believe that's what gardeners do, right?  Without knowing it, I am spending more time outdoors and "working" in my yard!

I know that if the small shrubs I purchased grow like the ones I took out, I will not be around to see them, but someone else will enjoy them!

Little did I know that every morning I will need to get up and water the little bushes and the sod. Three times a day is what I was told, so I really do feel like a gardener!

"All gardening is landscape painting."

William Kent

Into The Kitchen Again

 Cooking is not a favorite of mine but in the last three weeks I have found myself chopping, stirring, and measuring again. A friend of mine came home from the hospital and is struggling to gain back the thirty pounds he lost due to a stomach problem. I thought that a chicken soup would be good for getting his strength back. I followed that with a vegetable-lentil soup loaded with onion, broccoli, celery, carrots, tomatoes, beans, and noodles! On the third day I prepared calabacitas (squash dish) with garlic, onions, roasted corn, zucchini, and tomatoes. I did not use any cheese because he is allergic to dairy products. I baked a zucchini bread with zucchini from his garden, and a banana bread. I made Jello with bananas and took him some apple sauce with cinnamon. Hopefully this will spike his appetite so he can begin gaining some of his weight back! For the first time in a long time my house smelled like a restaurant!

I have taken him a roast chicken and ribs from Costco, Clementines because they are easy to peel, individual high protein trail mix packets, and small chocolate bars. The reports I get is that he has no appetite yet the day he ate the chicken soup he even tipped the bowl to get all the liquid.

Since cooking is not something I enjoy doing, this is very unusual for me to be preparing food from scratch! There must be a saying about if you want to help someone, you will do your best to help!

"There ain't no point in making soup

unless others it eat. 

Soup needs

another mouth to taste it,

another heart to be warmed by it."

Kate DiCamillo

An Adventure

 Hoping to find a cooler place than in Arvada, some friends and I drove to Evergreen, Colorado for lunch. Someone had seen a write up on a restaurant called Murphy's and located about 30 some miles away from Arvada. On Tuesday, August 22, 2023, five of us went on our adventure!

Sitting in the air-conditioned vehicle we were comfortable as we saw many green pine trees, some wildflowers along the side of the road, blue skies, white clouds, a lake, the waterfall and one elk. I did not see the elk, but I knew something had been seen by all the yelling coming from the backseat.

The restaurant is on the main road in Evergreen and since we were sitting outside we could hear all the vehicles rumbling and reving along the road. The noise did not distract from the attentive waitresses and bar tender. Three in our group had Margaritas and they said they were excellent and one had a beer. I had water. After waiting for about half an hour we were situated outside under two large umbrellas and we found it to be pleasant with a slight breeze.

I enjoyed my veggie sandwich on a special seeded bread and a salad with Dijon mustard dressing, one person had a delicious looking hamburger, two had salmon with a beautiful mixed salad and one had a beet salad. The food was presented in a more upscale way, fancier than I have ever eaten in the mountains. The steady line of people coming in kept all the seats filled until about 2:30 p.m. It is a popular place and has been in existence since 2016. The owners said in an article about the food they serve; cuisine as fresh and natural as the scenery around them.

Lots of laughter, serious discussions, and a wonderful time hanging with friends in a beautiful place!

"The mountains are calling

and I must go."

John Muir

Celebrating 100 Years

 

Today, at our Young at Heart annual picnic, we celebrated a friend's 100th birthday! She is healthy and other than using a walker and not being able to drive, she is as normal as the rest of us! Thank God for her super genes!

A large cake, huge golden numbers representing 1-0-0, a large plant with many cards filled with good wishes, an 8x11 framed photo, and a decorated box for birthday cards were placed on a special table. Someone brought her a pink Happy Birthday crown to wear!

There were about 80 to 90 persons enjoying Kentucky Fried Chicken, many side dishes and lots of desserts. When I spoke with the birthday lady, she told me that she enjoyed the many hugs she got from the many friends at the picnic!

Happy Birthday was sung and the large cake was cut for everyone to enjoy! Games of Bingo were played and winners won prizes of $5.00.

The plant of good wishes was given to the Birthday lady along with many cards placed in a decorated box. The box for the cards was recycled because it had been given to me five years prior when I reached 80 years! I just changed the wording from 80 to 100!

FYI: Ollie is one of the originators of the Young at Heart group at Spirit of Christ Catholic Community. She told me that there were eight members who showed up to start the group of seniors! The Young at Heart Ministry began on October 27, 1978. Before adopting the name of Young at Heart the group was known as the Spirited Seniors. Around the mid 1980's a contest was held, and Young at Heart was picked as the name for the senior group. Ollie Graczyk volunteered to write the monthly newsletter and the first issue was sent out in October of 1994 and her last newsletter was on November 2013. She was a core member of the executive committee.  In 1998 Ollie's dream of Caring Hearts came into being by starting a home visiting program to visit YAH shut ins. She has been active in the group and continues joining different groups to this day! She is active in the Crafts group helping to make creative items that will then be taken to the shut-ins visited by Caring Hearts! She has a "job" working on her computer for one of the groups. She was the head of WINGS (Widow's Group) and planned and got speakers or entertainment for the group. There are plenty other things she has been involved with but too many to mention in this blog.

She told me that she was married for fifty-three years and had two children. Her husband and son are now in heaven and her daughter continues being her friend! One thing she remembers is that a priest told her once, a long time ago, and she never forgot was, "We are put on earth to serve others." She mentioned that she tries to spend her life serving and loving everyone she knows!

Happy 100th Birthday

to a lady who continues

bringing joy and happiness

to the Young at Heart group!

Stalking in the Grocery Store

 Lately when I go grocery shopping, I look around for a young, slender, healthy looking man shopping. I follow him around to see what he buys. Surely, to look as good as he looks, he has got to know what to eat! I especially like when I see the young man reading the labels. I will pick up the same item and also check out the label. It's important to know what is going into our body! I follow him and many times I end up buying some of the items he purchases.

If I am lucky, he will glance over at me and make a comment, like "everything is loaded with carbs!" And then we have a conversation regarding diets, diabetes, what's good and what isn't, etc. One conversation was about our favorite kind of cheese. We mentioned different kinds of cheese and we both decided we liked sharp cheddar cheese!

I look into everybody's buggies to see what they have purchased. If the person pushing the buggy is on the heavy side, I make sure not to buy anything I see in the cart or if a person gives the impression of being healthy, I am tempted to buy something in their cart to try it.

"Never thought that 

grocery shopping would 

be the highlight of my week,

but here we are!"

Internet Quote

A Good Retort

 

Yesterday at a class of Beatitudes, during discussion time, I found myself quoting my father. The subject was about what to say when someone says they don't believe in heaven or God. I remembered what my Dad told me once when I said I was not sure if I believed in heaven. I told my classmates about something my father said to me when I wanted proof that there was a heaven. I remember his response and it has stayed with me through many years.  

"Live your life the best possible way you can because if there is a God, you will go straight to heaven. But, if there is no God, you lived a good life here on earth." One of the students wrote it down and said, "That's why I like these classes, this is a great retort to tell my non-believing friends!"

I felt a sense of pride that my father's quote was written down and that it would be repeated among other persons. I do not know if that was an original quote of his or if he had read it somewhere, but it makes sense!

"For the Christian, heaven is where Jesus is.

We do not need to speculate on what heaven will be like.

It is enough to know that we will be forever with Him."

William Barclay

One In A Million

 Visiting a friend at St. Joseph's Hospital I was surprised when a young nurse walked in and asked, "Where is this patient from?" Not knowing what she meant, I answered, "Arvada." She smiled and said, "I meant what country is he from because I have the same last name and I am from Ecuador." My response was, "He is from Peru." That was amazing that patient and nurse had the same last name because Moscoso is not a common name!

By then he joined in the conversation and mentioned that a great-grandfather was from Ecuador. She mentioned that she came from a large family, and maybe they could be related. She had come to the United States as a young girl and spoke perfect English, without a trace of an accent. He had come to the states at nineteen and never lost his accent.

He gave us a short history of Peru and Ecuador and mentioned that in the mountains the boundaries overlap. When I got home I looked it up on the Internet and found out that Peru and Ecuador have fought over boundaries for centuries. 

"Who would have thought

that two people with an unusual

 last name would

meet as patient and nurse!"

E. Moscoso

Eyes in My Heart

 I've had it all wrong when I try to picture Christ in the Eucharist. It is one of the most difficult things for me to believe in my faith. My constant prayer is for God to make me believe 100% instead of the 80%, that it is Christ in the Eucharist. Today at mass I heard a hymn about letting my heart have eyes to see the Lord. Could I have had it all wrong? Instead of trying to see Christ with my eyes, I should try to see Him with my heart. 

How many times have I felt emotional with something I have heard or seen. That is my heart reacting and it has nothing to do with what is happening around me. Many times, before receiving communion I get emotional as I think about what I am doing, seeing or hearing. Surely, I am seeing with my heart at that moment! 

John Piper wrote, "No one merely decides to experience the Christian Scriptures as the all-compelling, all-satisfying truth of one’s life. Seeing is a gift. And so, the free embrace of God’s word is a gift. God’s Spirit opens the eyes of our heart, and what was once boring, or absurd, or foolish, or mythical is now self-evidently real."  

I am so happy that the choir at Spirit of Christ Catholic Community sang this hymn this morning. I don't believe I have ever heard it but maybe God opened my heart so I could hear it. It's as if when I look through my heart I feel God touching me.

 "Open the eyes of my heart, Lord,

Open the eyes of my heart,

I want to see you,

I want to see you."

Paul Baloche

Inspired by 

Ephesians 1:18

A Drive Through Memory Lane

 
A friend was at St. Joseph Hospital, and I decided to go visit him. It had been a few years since I had been to the downtown area and my phone GPS took me down Lowell, I-70, 38th avenue, Curtis Street, Park place and 19th Street.  As I passed Regis University I recalled how I worked during the day and attended college in the evening. Passing Berkley and Rocky Mountain lakes reminded me of meeting my father and walking around the lakes. We had many conversations and one conversation was his story about how he believed his father did not love him. Since I never heard my father tell me he loved me, I wanted to hear his story.

I was outside playing ball with my cousins and my Dad arrived home. He was friendly with my cousins and asked for the ball. He then threw the ball as hard as he could to me and knocked me down. If he cared he never would have done that. Another time I had a pony that was so black it looked blue. I loved my pony but one day I got home and the pony was gone. My father had sold it. I was sad and cried for my pony. He should have told me so it would not been such a shock to me! Another time, we were traveling by a wagon pulled by horses and my dog jumped out and when I asked my father to wait to see if my dog would come back, he wouldn't. I never saw my dog again!

I remember telling him to tell me how he felt when those things happened that made him think his father did not love him. He said his heart hurt and it made him sad. I then said, "That's how I feel because I do not think you love me." He said I was silly to think like that because he did care for me." I wasn't convinced but I did feel a bit better!  I understand that in the era of my father, it was not proper to hug or say I love you. But I did wonder if he loved me!

As I continued on my way to St. Joseph's hospital I recalled when I worked and I had to drive downtown. In those days, I never thought I would get old. Reaching 38th Avenue I knew if I turned right I would end up at Chubby's with delicious burritos. Near Curtis I remembered visiting my Uncle Tony and my two aunts, Lupe and Aurelia, who lived somewhere in the area. My mother, their sister, would visit them often and I would go with her. One evening I went to pick up her up from a visit and as I ran to their front door because the neighborhood was not the best, I did not see a wire encircling a small plot of grass. I hit my shin and down I went. The pain was unbearable and when they opened the door, after my frantic knocking, they saw me crying and blood covering my foot and thought I had been attacked by some evil person. I still have a scar where the wire cut me.

Park Place was completely changed with new buildings and the only thing I recognized was a baseball field. I remembered seeing baseball being played in that field. Nineteenth street was a place where I had worked at one time. A couple I knew lived in the building before it was converted to a business along with an attorney friend who had an apartment in the building. I remembered fun parties in the building! 

When I got to St. Joseph's it was a different building of when my son was born in 1963. Yet, the name was still the same. There is a beautiful statue of St. Joseph with baby Jesus in the reception area! I recalled my son and how he loved to hear Puff, The Magic Dragon Who Lived by the Sea, and how I would sit in a rocking chair and sing to him.

I found my friend's room, and we had conversation which was me asking questions and he answering me. He is slowly getting better though he may be in the hospital a few more days. I may visit him again before he is discharged and maybe I will recall many other memories!

Sometimes you will never know

the value of a moment

until it becomes a memory."

Dr. Seuss