Weekly News, 10.26.21
Hello,
Things don’t always go as we planned, do they? My personality is such that I need to have a plan, a vision, a north star. As much as I plan though, I am learning to let go, move on, and make the most of it when my plans fall through.
I wanted last weekend to be perfect. I stressed all week about what the perfect plan would be. I wanted our family to be outside somewhere, immersed in nature’s beauty. We only had time for a day trip, so our options were limited. I searched scenic train rides in PA and WV. They were either too far away or sold out. A couple of suggestions from others were Hocking Hills or Holden Arboretum, and both look amazing but they were too far away for this trip. The botanic garden, Phipp’s, and the lantern show at the zoo were all options.
Saturday morning was here and our final decision was Phipp’s in the afternoon, dinner, then the zoo. “Did you buy tickets?”, Russ asked me. Oh yeah, you need advanced tickets and reservations for just about everything these days, that’s right, (we don’t get out much). To my disappointment, both Phipp’s and the zoo were sold out. Disappointment set in and I felt like surrendering to it, but I dug deep for the drive to pivot our plan. This day wouldn’t be ruined. We went to Kennywood instead. We made the most of it, laughed hard, and enjoyed every moment through our 8-year-old and 4-year-old’s eyes.
So Kennywood saved the day, and we celebrated our daughter in heaven’s 2nd birthday, not in the “home” of the scenic mountains or surrounded by a gorgeous garden like I had hoped, but that’s okay. The smiling faces of our girls having fun were even more beautiful.
Here are a few notes and tips this week:
- Over the next eight weeks look for the Houseplant of the Week. We’ll highlight a few features about the plant and it will be 25% off all that week.
- It’s time to plant your fall bulbs! Over the few weeks is prime time to plant daffodils, allium, tulips, crocus and more. We still have some available if you need them. Here’s a quick how-to video if you’ve never planted them. https://youtu.be/yWsjbzW6I7s
- Fresh produce available this week includes—red potatoes, white potatoes, candy onions, shallots, kale, spinach, arugula, beet greens, microgreens, zucchini, cucumber, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, winter squash, apples, and pears.
- A delivery of amaryllis just arrived last week, and we expect more to come over the next couple of weeks.
- We’ve been planning our Christmas Angel Tree 2021. We’ll be collecting gifts for the same senior building as last year, as well as adding on a local family to support. Stay tuned for more details.
- Speaking of Christmas and the holiday gift-giving season, keep our local vendors in mind for your gift needs. EVERY Saturday from 10-2pm is our Community Market Day, where the best of our local talent sets up table displays with the goods and products that they created, right here in our hometown. We hope that you will make our Community Market your go-to every Saturday. It’s like your weekly farmer’s market, but so much better!
- Take advantage of our Buy 1, Get 1 Free clearance sale on all perennials and roses. It’s a great time to plant and you’ll be so glad you did next spring when you admire your new plantings.
I often wonder if I’m over-sharing in my notes, but can’t help to just be myself. Life isn’t always rosey and perfect, and that’s ok. If things have gone as we had planned, we’d have a 15-year old right now. But after infertility, four pregnancies and now two living, amazing daughters, we have been blessed through it all. I mention all of this because it’s important to share our stories. Because it’s important to remember and honor those we love that are not here anymore. Because it helped me when I was in the midst of it that other’s shared their stories with me.
October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month. Here are a few resources in case you or someone you know may need them.
The Still Remembered Project: https://stillremembered.org/
Count the Kicks: https://countthekicks.org/
Wishing you many moments to take in the beauty this week,,
