Life in the Garden

Matters of Life and Death

Confessions

Stump Protector

christmas postcard

Random Garden Report:

We saw a stump protector up close this am. Ronnie is checking out and going to Iowa to stay with his sister and wait for his leg. He’s got a wheelchair, walker, but no jazzy chair. He’s been in the hospital over a month and he’s ready to break out.

We’ve studied WCCS this week, also known as World Class Customer Service. The video had a Big Brother feel to it. We passed the test.

Everyday is a test.

Small Pleasures: Like it or not, Imus is back, with black ambassadors, and this morning’s interview with Mike Huckabee was fun when Imus asked the burning question: “Can Jews get to heaven?”

The discovery of June Cut-off Cash’s blog. A delightful read with a Green Acres feel to it. LA transplants move to small town in North Carolina where June and Mr. Marvin Gardens vow not to spend for a year, and chronicle the culture shock.

She’s counting down the days to the New Year so she can start spending. And replace her worn out silver ballet flats.

We’ll look forward to her 2008 fitness journey.

amy winehouse

Speaking of ballet flats, I’m not one to follow celebrity trends, but I’m captivated by the talented tragic Amy Winehouse.

Christmas Miracles: We survived an ice storm…..without an ice scraper!

Common Thread in widows this past year, whose relatively fit husbands cardiac arrested in their late 50’s or early 60’s. I always ask, “Did your husband snore?”

Always. Heavy. Snorers.

We’re stalling a trip to the gym. Have a great week!

Can’t Get NO Krampus Action!

Krampus

Merry Krampus!

I’ve been saving this postcard because I’d never seen a devil featured on a Christmas greeting. Recently, while perusing some vintage cards, I ran across a series of variations on this creepy character known as Krampus. Evidently, in Eastern European folklore he’s the Enforcer for St. Nick and handles all disciplinary actions for the NAUGHTY KIDS.

krampus

He’s often seen with a switch or broom which he’ll use to whip the kids. Images of crying children are often included. And he’s the one who leaves you a sack of coal or a bundle of twigs if you’ve been bad.

krampus

As a kid, in our politically correct society, and especially here in the Bible Belt, we were never scared into going to sleep on Christmas eve, by thinking that the horned devil known as Krampus would think we were bad, and take us away in his sack!

Although, that does remind me of a girl I worked with whose grandmother would keep her in bed at night by telling her that if she got up “the Bloody Skull and Cross Bones will git ya!”

Night, night Grandma!

Merry Krampus!

Crash and Burn

dirt bike
Motorcycles are a passion in the garden. And we’ve been thinking about the riders in our lives that have went down this past year.

Evel. Candace has a great perspective on this.

Sweet James who recently died from injuries sustained in a crash.

Dan Feather who died on his dream bike two weeks after he got it.

Keane Moss,17 and James De Anda, 19 on their dirt bikes. The helmet pictured below was used at the memorial.

Kevin Umlauf, trials and enduro rider. I remember when we were kids, Kevin was doing a wheelie on asphalt, lost control and completely scrapped the hide off his back and legs.

And then a guy I met a couple of weeks ago, Ronnie, who was hit on his bike in Branson on his way home from work on a Monday night during the first week in November. Driver was on her cell phone. Ronnie was invisible. He lost his leg, but not his life.

He looks pretty good, but is pretty pissed off. He worked a server in a Branson restaurant. His insurance has already dropped him and he’s trying to secure disability. And build his upper body so he can learn to walk.

motorcycle memorial

Have a great week!