Flower Shops Browning MT

Browning MT Press

That Was Us: An Expat's Search for Home

I’d look around and think, this is okay, this is really a fine life, we really have managed, and that’s when it would come up. So. The couple looking at each other across the wreckage. So. Soon we will be those people: too busy to get together for goodbye picnics and spontaneous trips to the Spielplatz because all our time is spent sorting through bags of baby clothes — onesies I stuffed into a drawer when the snaps refused to close — or researching daycares, buying plane tickets, combing Craig’s List for affordable apartments. A life of half-packed bags and endless regenerating lists and piles of mismatched crap you think you’ll sort through but will eventually end up in the trash with the rest; a life of pulling your heart slowly out of a place before knowing exactly where you’ll set it down next. I thought leaving this apartment, at least, would be easy — we’ve spent much of the last two years cursing it, dreaming about moving: its tiny kitchen for one, the too-thin wall that separates our room from the baby’s — she’ll be so close, it’ll be cozy, our stupidly childless selves thought — the total lack of sunlight in the living room, the many flights of stairs the baby all too often refuses to climb (“Mama, carry you!”). We fell in love with it when we first saw it: the impossibly high ceilings, the neighborhood that could trick you into thinking you were in Berlin or Brooklyn. The spare furniture: enough to keep us from eating off paper plates on the floor but not too overwhelming to have stepped into someone else’s taste. It was a place — our first — that we could really make our own. Now neither of us knows why we fell so hard — most of the flat is dark and the furniture looks, if this is possible, both ancient and like it’s from the ’80s, heavy wooden cabinets equipped with rusted keys, consoles with diagonal designs and rounded edges and shiny gold knobs. The gauzy white curtains are splattered with yellow flowers. My husband didn’t want to risk our deposit by making holes in the plaster, so the walls are still mostly white and bare, save an 8×10 sketch of a tree that wasn’t offensive enough to take down. (Save, too, the inadvertent crayon murals in the kid’s room.) “This isn’t our stuff!” is the first thing I say to anyone who walks in. This isn’t us! has been my perpetual refrain. One day, so... http://www.themillions.com/2015/12/that-was-us-an-expats-search-for-home.html

Fragrant and evergreen rosemary is a winter favorite

Signs of problems are yellowing leaves at the base of the plant, indicating a root-bound plant, and browning leaves, usually an indication of overwatering or poor drainage. There are wonderful quotes and traditions surrounding rosemary: •The blue flowers were created when Mary draped her blue cloak over the rosemary bush during the flight to Egypt. •Scholars used rosemary in wreaths or in their hair to help retain knowledge as they studied. •Another ancient belief was that rosemary grew only in the gardens of the righteous and served as protection from evil. •Rosemary in bridal wreaths and bouquets makes the couple remember their vows and protects against infidelity. •A sprig given to a man by a maiden will make it impossible for him to forget her. •Rosemary strewn on the floor on Christmas Eve will give good health to all who step on it. Literary references are also fairly frequent. Here are two of the most frequently cited: •Sir Thomas More: "As for rosemary, I let it run all over my garden walls, not only because my bees love it but because it is the herb sacred to remembrance and to friendship." •William Shakespeare: "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray you, love, remember." (Hamlet, Act 4 Scene 5) My own experience with rosemary is quite checkered. It does well for me in a pot outside. Our soil is too moist and rich, our yard too shady to grow it in the garden. Indoors, it lasts a few months until it gets moved to some out-of-the way corner where it succumbs to neglect in about February. I do not kill with overwatering; my plants die from thirst. Our wood stove takes most of the humidity out of the air and I forget to water them. So, those great wreaths and trees are seasonal treats for me. If they survive the winter, great, I'll give them a sunny spot on the deck for the summer. But if they die, I can always get a new plant or two this spring. Sue Kittek is a freelance garden columnist, writer, and lecturer. Send questions to Garden Keeper at grdnkpr@gmail.com or mail: Garden Keeper, The Morning Call, P.O. Box 1260, Allentown, PA 18105. This Week in the Garden •Planting: •Pot up any leftover spring-flowering bulbs and store them in a cool area with temperatures around 40°F or cooler for 8 to 12 weeks, then bring in for forcing. •Seasonal: •Purchase gifts and gift cards for gardeners on your Christmas list •Unpack and check Christmas lights and displays. Repair or replace damaged items before installation. •Keep pathways clear of dead plants and leaves. •If you are purchasing a live potted/burlapped Christmas tree, find an appropriate planting spot, dig it out and store the soil, covered or in a container in the garage. •Start amaryllis bulbs now. They need to grow for 8 to 10 weeks before they bloom. •Lawns: ••Rake, blow or mulch fallen leaves off the lawn. Keep newly seeded or sodded lawns watered until the ground freezes. •Chores: •Mark off beds, new plantings, plants that are late to break dormancy in the spring and delicate plants. Stay off them when decorating or dealing with snow removal. •Bring in or wrap large statuary to avoid winter damage. •Order or buy winter mulch but do not apply it until the ground freezes. •Use a humidifier, humidity trays or misting to increase the humidity around your houseplants. •Drain and store hoses. Shut off, drain and freeze-proof outdoor faucets. •Check caulking around doors and windows. •Check, repair and replace gutters, down spouting, storm windows and doors. •Provide deer, rabbit and groundhog protection for vulnerable plants. Reapply taste or scent deterrents. •Clean and fill bird feeders regular... http://www.mcall.com/features/home/mc-garden-rosemary-winter-care-20151127-story.html

For seniors, flowers inspire smiles and laughs

Solutions gives flowers to Elmcroft residents "Our elderly communities are the heart and soul of the cities that they live in," said Leticia Browning, community relations director at Senior Solutions Home Care. "A lot of them were business owners or worked in the area and were a prevalent part of the community and helped build their communities." Browning said that gifting flowers would not be possible without the support of local sponsors. "There is no money involved, all we ask is that they volunteer their time," she said. "They come in and help cut all the carnations and arrange them into bunches of three and then we all go deliver them as one group." For Shea Thweatt, community relations director at Elmcroft Assisted Living, the flower gifting was the perfect way to kick off Thanksgiving. "Our seniors loved the interaction with people, and they love the flowers," she said. "Flowers are a sign of friendship — they let everybody know that somebody cares." But along with the flowers also came an unexpected interruption. "We had a fire drill right in the middle of everything," Browning said, "but we escorted everyone out orderly and carefully and they all got a giggle out of it ... it was a good time." These laughs are the reactions Senior Flower Partners hopes to inspire in seniors. "We want the flowers to warm their hearts," Browning said. "It brings a smile to their face and puts a light in their eye." Read or Share this story: http://www.jacksonsun.com/story/news/local/2015/11/26/seniors-flowers-inspire-smiles-laughs/76437224/ ... http://www.jacksonsun.com/story/news/local/2015/11/26/seniors-flowers-inspire-smiles-laughs/76437224/