Check this out, possibly the first post in the history of my blog that will be under one million words and 800 pictures. Why, you ask? Because today I have company coming from three different directions at once and somebody (wait, that would be me) has to get out there and tidy up the gardens again. And bake something. And oh, horrors, look at this house!?? CLEAN.
The Red Hat ladies from last week Monday have been bringing friends and family out here for over a week now and they have been a lot of fun to meet and greet. Some of them have taken me at my word and just dropped in unannounced which is fine. I don't mind if they don't mind if the place is a wreck with shovels and weed pails strewn around. And then there's me, decked out in my finest garden apparel of old jeans, ratty shirt, requisite knee pads, holster with Felco on my hip, a trowel hanging out of my back pocket and an old straw hat and sweat band on my head. Heck, I go to the grocery store like that. (I do, it's sad. I used to have pride.) Some women won't leave the house without their makeup. I haven't left the house without my knee pads in a decade now. Hey, a girl's gotta protect them knees. Besides, I feel naked without them. And naked is a whole 'nother topic. We won't go there.
But, when guests call ahead and make an appointment to come out, THEN I feel like I'd better have something for them to see. Like today. Right after lunch I have a group from up north coming again. The lady who called me yesterday was so excited...she was here before and is bringing her husband (and I think she said her friends) here on a 'blind date'. This sounds like fun, doesn't it? Unless the husband and her friends would much rather be at the dentist having a root canal done or something. Sometimes we've had that happen; the husband (or wife) is thrilled to see the garden and the significant other is bored out of their gourd. I always feel for the bored ones, I really do. They stand there looking like a glazed doughnut in the headlights and try not to doze off. And the ones I really feel badly for are the husbands whose wives say, "Look, Herb, this is what we need to do." The aforementioned husbands usually glare at my husband (if Carl is home) and say, "Gee. Thanks."
I am also going to be hosting Toni from Texas this afternoon. We were going back and forth between today or Saturday, but today is IT. I didn't know for certain beforehand when Toni would arrive since we're all playing this by ear, so I said it was ok for the group from up north to come today, too, so now they might all be here at the same time. And then, I had a phone call from another dear friend of ours from Michigan who is in the area today and wants to bring some of her friends here. Well, I couldn't say no to her, either, it's been years since she was here.
Oh, heck the more the merrier, right? Carl always says we should have Guest Trowels set out for them. I think he's right. We could get the weeding done in record time. I could have Mom paint some flowers on the weed pails to dress the place up a little, too. We could do like some of those bed and breakfast places, have people stay in my garden cottage (that's not done yet) and then, for an extra fee, they could weed and deadhead if they wanted. Or clean the pond. Or move some rocks.
I see a future in this.
Quarry Garden B&B. A Full-Service Gardening Experience.
Now, how many of you would like knee pads?
The Red Hat ladies from last week Monday have been bringing friends and family out here for over a week now and they have been a lot of fun to meet and greet. Some of them have taken me at my word and just dropped in unannounced which is fine. I don't mind if they don't mind if the place is a wreck with shovels and weed pails strewn around. And then there's me, decked out in my finest garden apparel of old jeans, ratty shirt, requisite knee pads, holster with Felco on my hip, a trowel hanging out of my back pocket and an old straw hat and sweat band on my head. Heck, I go to the grocery store like that. (I do, it's sad. I used to have pride.) Some women won't leave the house without their makeup. I haven't left the house without my knee pads in a decade now. Hey, a girl's gotta protect them knees. Besides, I feel naked without them. And naked is a whole 'nother topic. We won't go there.
But, when guests call ahead and make an appointment to come out, THEN I feel like I'd better have something for them to see. Like today. Right after lunch I have a group from up north coming again. The lady who called me yesterday was so excited...she was here before and is bringing her husband (and I think she said her friends) here on a 'blind date'. This sounds like fun, doesn't it? Unless the husband and her friends would much rather be at the dentist having a root canal done or something. Sometimes we've had that happen; the husband (or wife) is thrilled to see the garden and the significant other is bored out of their gourd. I always feel for the bored ones, I really do. They stand there looking like a glazed doughnut in the headlights and try not to doze off. And the ones I really feel badly for are the husbands whose wives say, "Look, Herb, this is what we need to do." The aforementioned husbands usually glare at my husband (if Carl is home) and say, "Gee. Thanks."
I am also going to be hosting Toni from Texas this afternoon. We were going back and forth between today or Saturday, but today is IT. I didn't know for certain beforehand when Toni would arrive since we're all playing this by ear, so I said it was ok for the group from up north to come today, too, so now they might all be here at the same time. And then, I had a phone call from another dear friend of ours from Michigan who is in the area today and wants to bring some of her friends here. Well, I couldn't say no to her, either, it's been years since she was here.
Oh, heck the more the merrier, right? Carl always says we should have Guest Trowels set out for them. I think he's right. We could get the weeding done in record time. I could have Mom paint some flowers on the weed pails to dress the place up a little, too. We could do like some of those bed and breakfast places, have people stay in my garden cottage (that's not done yet) and then, for an extra fee, they could weed and deadhead if they wanted. Or clean the pond. Or move some rocks.
I see a future in this.
Quarry Garden B&B. A Full-Service Gardening Experience.
Now, how many of you would like knee pads?
11 comments:
Have a great day Karen. I would be in a real tizzy if I had that many people coming.
Hugs ~ FlowerLady
OH MY! Busy indeed :)
I'm chuckling as I read this post. All I can say is good luck with all your guest! I like the idea of B&B!
OMG! I would need a boatload of Valium to survive that many guests at once! It sounds like you like people, which is good, cause your garden attracts them like mosquitoes! I hope you have fun!
And Carl may be onto something with those Guest Trowels.
Well it sounds like a plan to me girl. LOL! You might want to tell them to bring their own gloves though. I have big hands. LOL!
I would totally do some weeding in the garden. It would be like getting to dust some off the famous pictures, like the Mona Lisa, at the Louvre. It would be taking a little piece of a special place if people could pull some weeds at your garden, then they could always look at your blog and say proudly to their friends "Look at that, I helped pull weeds THERE".
You are one busy lady... After reading your last post about the nasty speaking mean woman saying all that stuff about you and your garden,,, I just don't know how you did not say or do something to her!!! Your A lady for sure!
Enjoy all your guests.
Sandy
El Gaucho is on the right track you could turn all these vistors into weed pullers. Never mind the guest photographers. Guest weed pullers with apropos photo showing them weeding or dead heading the daylilies or hosta clipping, whatever and then snap a photo for them to take home.. If not a photo , a button saying I pulled weeds at Quarry Garden.
Ponder this over the winter!
Impressed as usual at the warmth you and Carl show all your visitors even the complainers.....
You're the best-hosting all these people. I'm sure they are thrilled to see your beautiful garden and it must be nice to meet so many people with an interest in gardening. No one in my neighborhood likes gardening. I'd be thrilled to meet some folks who do. Good for you!
I think the unique, elite garden bed and breakfast would be incredible!
I would definitely sign up for the "bed and weeding" experience in your gardens. Hey, I am handy with tools, I can help finish the cottage and I am used to living in a renovation project.
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