What kind of florist doesn't have pompons, daisies, and roses...

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

Today I am preparing for a small luncheon tomorrow to celebrate a friend's birthday.

 

A couple weeks ago I posted my preparation for a luncheon where I used tulips as the centerpiece for my dining table sharing how the tulips bend and bow and flip and flop, etc. 

 

This time I decided I'd order flowers and have them delivered.  Then I'd give the centerpiece to my guest of honor.  Yes, that would be perfect.  Even better, I'd order the flower cake like the one a friend sent me last month for my birthday.  Afterall, it was just fantastic.  I loved it and thought it was just the neatest thing. 

 

So, my decision is made and my centerpiece - the flower cake - is ordered to be delivered today, Thursday, August 29th! 

 

Here is a picture of what I ordered...

The description of what I ordered: 

Our beautiful cake-shaped arrangement is hand crafted by floral artists from the freshest hot pink miniature carnations, white pompon daisies, green pompons, orange spray roses and more. Topped with festive candles, this unique floral cake makes the ultimate birthday gift! Measures approximately 8"H x 10"W x 10"D.

Includes:
• Unique Flower Cake Arrangement
• Pink Carnations
• White Daisies
• Green Pompons
• Orange Spray Roses


Here is what was delivered...

Orange flowers - Ugh!

Keep in mind, my table runner is the green one with green pedals and my chargers are black with pink dishes.  So, what do I do with orange and white flowers as my centerpiece?  Ugh!  Ugh! Ugh!  I am so frustrated and disappointed.  My birthday guest of honor doesn't like the color orange!!!  I know her that well!  She will wonder why on earth I used orange!  I personally love the color orange but I don't love this arrangement at all.

The flower cake delivered was approximately 5"H x 7"W  and the one I ordered was supposed to be 8"H x 10"W x 10"D.  I order green pompons, white carnations, white daisies with green center, and pink and orange roses.  I got white and orange carnations and one orange rose in the center. 

Piece of crap florist!  I decide to give them a call.  They might be surprised to find out that the person who ordered the arrangement is also the person who received it.  They probably thought I'd never see it.  I am told that when you order online the florist has the right to substitute flower, and color if they don't have the ones ordered.  That was the case here. 

Really, what kind of florist doesn't have pompons, carnations, daisies, and roses.  Pompons, carnations, and daisies are about as basic and cheap as you get.  What the heck DO you have?  That's what happens when I order online. 

 

Why, Why, Why!  Ugh, Ugh, Ugh.  I am so disappointed - I don't know what to do.  If you know me very well at all, you know this will not do.  And, I've spent my money ordering the dang arrangement and having it delivered.  I could have spent half the amount and just done my signature centerpiece of all one flower but a lot of them.  It's simple, elegant, and always right!!!   Well, to me they're usually always right.

 

Why didn't I just stick with what I know.  I always just buy two or three - sometimes four - bunches of the same flower - cut them short - put them in a simple vase.  It's been my signature arrangement for years. 

 

Oh well, time to regroup, ponder what to do and figure out how I can make it work.  I don't know how to make it right - but, one thing I know for sure - this isn't right, I know that for darn sure!

 

I suppose I can change the dishes and not use pink.  I can use white or green - I have both colors.  That would at least correct the color issue.  Other than that - I'm pretty much at a loss how to fix it.  Well, I'm off now to talk myself out of this funk of a mood.  Then I'll figure out something.

 

Hope tomorrow is better than today,

 

 

  



Every day I need a MOMENT!

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

Every day I need a moment.

 

What am I talking about, you wonder?   For me, a moment can be one of many little things that gives me pleasure throughout the day such as... 

 

A bite of chocolate,

A spoonful of peanut butter;

 

A tight squeeze of a hug,

A little kiss on the cheek;

 

A brownie,

A piece of lemon pie;

 

A great big smile,

A touch on my shoulder;

 

A card in the mail,

A call from a friend;

 

An unexpected email,

A kind comment on facebook;

 

A glass of wine,

  cosmo, or martini,

 Even better, a glass of champagne;

 

It's the little things in life I love

 and / or makes me feel good.

 

Every day, I need a moment!
Sometimes more than one,
Don't You?

??? Baby Heirlooms ???

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~

An heirloom?  Yes, we know it is an object or possession passed down from generation to generation.  Do you have family heirlooms? 

 

I have a few items which are, by my definition, heirlooms.  They are objects passed down from another generation.  I think mine could be described as possessions passed down from the heart.  I also have a few items I have purchased that I hope will be passed down to future generations, therefore, becoming heirlooms. 

 

You can tell from this post I have been spending quite a bit of time in my daughter's room.  The objects are near and dear to my heart.  I'd like to be able to tell you that I've been cleaning out the room - but that's not true.  I have no plans to remove these "heirlooms" from her room any time soon. 

 

First, two framed nursery wall hanging / pictures.   These were passed down from another generation to me for use in the baby nursery.     

I do not know specific details of them - I think they are fantastic.  The prints are still in their original frames.  The little girl, on the left, with her foot in her hands as if she is about to put her toes in her mouth - one sock missing - is just too cute for words!  The little boy, on the right, with one shoe missing and his bottle tucked under his arm while he is sleeping is absolutely adorable.  Just doesn't get any cuter than these! 

Pictures hung above the baby bed - 1989

My dear friend, Virginia, who is now 85, gave me these pictures. Virginia is not family by birth - but she is definitely family by love. The prints might be classified as antiques instead of heirlooms - but in my heart they are heirlooms. These darling prints hung in Virginia's nursery when she was a baby. How neat is that? Pretty darn neat, I think. Do the math and they are at least 85 years old.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Future Heirlooms...

 

 Rocking Horse

White wooden rocking horse - a future heirloom

Santa brought this precious white wooden rocking horse to my daughter for Christmas in 1990.  She was 15 months old and she immediately knew how to ride it. 

Blair - age 15 months

 She rocked and rocked with feet high and feet low -- a big smile across her face with belly laughs that would follow.

Blair on Christmas morning 1990- age 15 months

"What is it, she wonders!" 

It didn't take her long to figure out how to make him go.

This may not technically be considered an heirloom right now, but I hope one day it will be passed down to a future generation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 Rocking Chair

Baby Blair's white wicker rocking chair - another future heirloom

The white wicker rocking chair was a birthday gift to my baby girl on her first birthday (September 1990.) 

Blair sitting in her new white wicker rocking chair during her 1st birthday party.

Yes, it's sitting up on top of the dining table next to her cake :)

A fantastic number ONE birthday gift.  It looks like an heirloom to me, don't you agree?  Again, hopefully one day it will be passed on to a future generation.

 

Heirloom or no heirloom - these are just a few items that are near and dear to me and I can't part with them.  I think that means they must become heirlooms some day, don't you agree?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 









 





Lunch full of laughter, stories and all smiles...Alice-Ouida-Gayla

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

A fantastic lunch today! 

My Luncheon ladies today-Aug. 9, 2013

Alice, 66 and Ouida, 90 yrs old

They both look so young for their age!

 

Alice and I worked together when I was 22 years old at Arkansas Electric Cooperatives.  It was my first job when I moved to Little Rock.  Ouida hired me to work with her for the cooperatives' monthly magazine called Rural Arkansas. They both look so good (above photo) - we didn't have anyone to take a photo of the three of us today.

Me in 1977 - Rural Arkansas Magazine

Look at the "computer"  LOL - typewriter!

Sitting at my desk in 1977

Rural Arkansas Magazine, Arkansas Electric Cooperatives

I still have the name plate! 1977

I thought it was so fancy having my name on my desk.

Last month Ouida sent me a birthday card because she found an old address book and my birthday - July 17th - was listed in it.  It was such a surprise as I hadn't been in touch with Ouida for 35 plus years.  She retired in January after working there 63 years - can you imagine? 

Alice retired last week -- I finally confirmed a day for us to have lunch together. I decided to invite Ouida to join us because I knew Ouida and Alice were good friends.

The three of us enjoyed lunch today at my house. It was a wonderful time chatting, laughing, telling stories and we had a few bites of good food too. 

Alice at my wedding - 1981

 Alice was one of the reception attendants at my wedding in 1981. I somewhat kept in touch with her through the years. We have mutual friends and would email now and then. We'd catch up on each other and our daughters, etc.   Months - maybe even years - would go by and we'd touch base again, etc.  Alice also attended high school where my mother taught music many years ago!    I immediately bonded with Alice because she knew my Mother, etc. 

Alice with her daughter - 2013

 I admire Alice and when I was young often wished I was 'just like her' because she was tiny and cute.  I've never been described as tiny and cute!  She also is loved by everyone - she was the 'go to' person.  Anytime you needed help you'd go to Alice.

Ouida was my boss.  She is admired by many and most everyone loves her southern old fashion charm.  She introduced me to LR - showed me the ropes/city - I thought she lived a fun life.   I took my first airplane trip with O u i d a. We traveled to San Francisco and she showed me the city! I loved the week we spent in San Francisco. I was in my early twenties and it was definitely a little country girl goes to the big city trip. 

I was so impressed with Ouida and her 'big city' life.  I smile as I say that because, at the time, I thought Little Rock was a big city.  She was a country girl too and identified with me.  I'm pretty sure that's why she hired me.  Ouida grew up about 20 miles north of where I grew up.  Small world, huh! 

Ouida when she was the Editor of the Rural Arkansas Magazine

This photo of Ouida is exactly as I remember her...I can still hear her heavy southern accent.  She would say "yea-ah" and she knew everyone. 
I told her I'd never eaten an artichoke, so she brought one to the office and cooked it for my lunch.  Yuck - it was awful.  I love artichokes today, but I still don't care for them steamed. 

Ouida always wore her readers down low on her nose.  She drove her car with her glasses sitting exactly as in the photo.  I would be sitting in the front passenger seat - look over at her - she would be driving way too fast and her eyes peering over the top of her glasses.  I'd think, oh my lord, we are going to hit that car!  :)

Ouida wore her hair long and pulled back.  She wore lipstick and always a smile!  She must surely have had an impact on me because, you know what, I think I just described myself -- that sounds much like me today - hair long and pulled back - lipstick and readers!  OH MY!! And, I try to always have a smile.  I certainly had one today! 

A lunch full of laughter, stories and smiles indeed.

Gayla

Tulips Dance in the Vase

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

As I start to type this blog about my tulips - I automatically, in my head, start singing "Tip toe through the tulips."  But, singing that cute little song has nothing to do with this blog post.

Tulips dancing in their vase

It doesn't matter how much you tip toe around tulips when using them as a cut flower, it doesn't do any good.  

Tulips used as a cut flower in water flip and flop as they wish!

I am preparing for a luncheon tomorrow with friends I haven't seen in a very long time.  I am very excited to get together, but starting to notice I'm obsessing a little bit over the details -- it's not really like me.  Don't get me wrong - I always pay attention to the details, but I don't usually fret over them.

Tulips Bow and Bend



I bought tulips to use as the centerpiece. I knew tulips, as a cut flower, have a mind of their own. I'm not second guessing my decision to use them - well, maybe I am - but it's a little too late now. Tulips when cut and put in water bend and bow, twist and turn, and flip and flop, as they want. Doesn't really matter how you arrange them in the vase - they behave totally opposite of most cut flowers. Actually, it's the beauty of tulips as a cut flower...often floral designers say they dance in the vase. But, will my guests / friends know this about tulips or will they be thinking my centerpiece is odd looking? Then again, does it really matter? 

Tulips as a cut flower in water have a mind of their own.

What matters is that I put forth the effort to make the table pretty and for their enjoyment.

 

Oh well, they're very pretty, to me anyway - I love them - so, I can stop worrying - relax, let the tulips do their thing!  The pink dishes with black chargers and the green runner made of pedals are nice.  I think my friends will love them too!  I'll just let my freshly cut tulips dance around in their vase and enjoy their unique personality.

 

Tip-toeing,

Gayla 

 

p.s. - In case you're wondering what that thing is in the middle of the two vases of tulips....it's a ball covered with moss and if you look closely at the picture below - it's sitting on top of - yes, three of my bangle braclets.  Who would have guessed???  I only thought of the bangles because they were on my arm at the time I was pondering.  The tulips were a tad bit too tall for conversation, so two vases were used and placed where no one would be sitting directly in front of them. Something was then needed to go between the tulips.  Pretty clever, I think! 

Moss covered ball sits between the vases of tulips

 

### 

 

 



 

 



Christopher Paul and Mary Helen -- Lee Middleton Babies

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

Are you familiar with Lee Middleton dolls? 

 

These life like dolls are remarkable, to say the least.  They feel like a real life baby.  If you have a Lee Middleton baby doll you know exactly what I mean. 

Christopher Paul and Mary Helen

My daughter was in elementary school and while we were shopping in Memphis, she just happen to pick up this doll in a store.  Oh My Goodness!  It was love at first touch.  She just had to have a baby that felt like that - like a real baby - she had to have a Lee Middleton doll.  I did not buy the doll for her.  But, as you can imagine, she talked about that doll for months. 

Christopher Paul

We discovered where in LR the dolls were sold. Her first Lee Middleton baby doll was a boy and she named him Christopher Paul! 

Christopher Paul in his antique doll size crib

He is adorable and today still sleeps in her room in my home. The doll size crib was purchased by my grandmother and given to my niece.  It was then passed down to my daughter.  The crib is probably from the 1950's - just a guess.

Mary Helen sucking her thumb.  Too Cute!

The next one was a little girl doll dressed in pink and sucks her thumb.  Her name is Mary Helen! 

Mary Helen in her wicker bed

Mary Helen also still sleeps in her very own wicker bed in my daughter's room.  We didn't expand the number of children (dolls) - a little boy and a little girl were perfect.  They're basically twins - they both have blond hair, both have a pacifier and sometimes suck their thumb. 

 

If you have a little girl in your family - just wait til she picks up and hugs a Lee Middleton baby!  You'll be hooked too! 

Mary Helen and Christopher Paul - They're precious!

My daughter is now 23 years old.  I can't part with the dolls.  I'll save the dolls forever, I suppose.  Do I dare admit sometimes I go in there and pick up these precious life like baby dolls to hug and feel their softness!  HahahaHehehe - oh, who cares!  Sometimes you just need a moment of softness.  I know they are dolls and I love them!  

Polishing Silver

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

Today was polishing silver day at my house. 

 

Normally this would be on my "to do" list for November getting ready for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Silver Service Before Polished

However, I find myself doing it in August!  Why?  A couple of reasons . . . my silver tea / coffee service which sits on the sideboard in my dining room looked awful.  I suppose I haven't glanced over at it in a while and lordy when I looked at it last week - while a friend was over for coffee - I thought "gosh, Gayla, that is bad, you need to polish that--and soon."

Tray being polished - Pretty Yucky

Much easier to rinse a tray this large in the bath tub.

 Tray after polished

I can remember a time in my life when I would roll my eyes at someone who said they had to polish their silver. But, I am older now and quite confident in who I am; therefore, I am not relucant to admit that I absolutely love silver, cyrstal, china, etc.   

 

Back to polishing...not a fun thing to do, you think? As I ponder -- it may not be the most fun thing, but frankly I don't mind doing it because I know the end result will make me smile. It's kind of like exercising or running for me too - I don't necessarily love doing it, but I love having done it.  

After polished - It's beautiful!

I love seeing the silver service after it's polished shining brightly back at me.  I enjoy glancing over at it as I walk through the dining room daily - which I do quite a few times a day to get from my bedroom to the kitchen. 

 

Oh, and the other reason for polishing it in August ?   Yes, I have a couple of friends, Alice and Ouida, coming over this week for lunch.  I haven't seen them in many many moons - like 30 plus years.  Alice served as one of the wedding reception attendants at my wedding in 1981.  I haven't seen Ouida since I was 25 years old.  That's 33 years ago! 

Silver coffee urn polished and looking good.

I like it when people make an effort to put their best foot forward, so to speak.  I am glad for my friends/guests to know that I cleaned the house (well Tish cleaned, LOL)  - polished the silver - and put some thought into our menu. 

So, the silver service needs to be shining - don't you agree!  :)