Retirement for a special lady!!

One of my oldest, best est friends is retiring from her job. She has been an administrative secretary for East High School for 16 years. I had the pleasure of being invited to her retirement breakfast today. It was so nice. Those present were her Mom and Brother along with a family friend....and ME!! What a wonderful moment for her. Surrounded by family, and friends, celebrating one of the most important times in her life. There is a basket on the table, it was full of cards of well wishes, a piece of the old gym floor (that's a WOW), and other wonderful remembrances. A scrapbook was made of loads of memories of her years there. She had to give a little speech, and I found my self tearing up. She was introduced by one of her former bosses, and he did a great job, of telling us just who she was in her job, and what she has meant to all that have crossed her path. Congratulations SHARON!!!

It's the beginning.....not the end. Enjoy your time, you have earned it.

My Special Gardens

Everything is so green and pretty. I guess the rain is good for something. The pictures are of my attempt to have a green thumb. First is my very first peonies. I am thrilled.

Gramcracker Four Garden is a whimsical garden. There are gnomes, and flower pots made by Valleri and Emily several years ago. They are painted with flowers and butterflies. There is a stepping stone that frames four little tiny hands. This is a prized possession of mine. I have a planter pick with a flower and hummingbird that sways in the wind. It's glass so it catches the light; its from Shelbie and Landon. The garden is a fun place to look at. The plants are all in pots. The tree roots don't allow planting in the ground. This is also the place that a pogoda sits. It is the only thing I have from our gardens in Newton. Gary gave it to his sister, but when she moved from her home, she gave it back to me.

As you can tell, this memory garden I call Gramcracker Four is a symbol of love and memories. I also have a red headed woodpecker on the tree, a memory of a garden past.

This garden I call my Aunt Celinda garden. My aunt loved flowers and her yard was always full of all kinds. There is a rose, peonies and petunias. My aunt was a very special person in my life. The first plant to go into that garden was a yellow rose. It was planted shortly after she went to heaven.

A pretty statue of a little girl is nestled in the garden, along with a lazy gnome in a hammock. A gnome that lights up at dark is welcoming all who want to visit. Two items in this garden are Mother's day gifts from my boys. The petunias and in the upper right corner is a planter full of

moss. It is a girl holding the pot. She has a purple ribbon in her hair. Special things in a very special garden.

A view from a distance. Hope you enjoyed your tour today.