Posted in Musings, tagged BFF, Laughter, Merry Heart, Mirth on June 14, 2010| Leave a Comment »
The Word of the Week is mirth.
–noun
Posted in Entertaining at Home, Home and Garden, Musings, tagged dracula lily, voodoo lily, weird plants on June 10, 2010| 1 Comment »
Dracula Lily - a plague in my backyard bliss.
When we moved into our current home, it came with an assortment of beautiful flowers and plants. I enjoyed the rose bushes, the mums, and hydrangea. Because we moved in during the summer, I had no idea what interesting plants would bloom in the spring.
I was in for a great surprise.
One warm and lovely spring day, right around this time of year, I was enjoying the breeze blowing in the window from the back yard when the most atrocious smell came floating in. Whoa, Nelly! It smelled exactly like something dead and decaying. I hurried to look outside and see if someone had drug the rotting carcass of a large animal into our backyard. The smell was that bad. I couldn’t see anything from the window, so I went outside to investigate. What I found was the oddest plant with the most horrendous smell issuing forth from its blooms.
According to the information I found, the plant is called Dracunculus Vulgaris, also known as the Voodoo Lily or Dracula Lily. I can see how it acquired those names. I think it is a great insult to the beautiful lilies that grace formal bouquets at special celebrations to even be in the same family as this blight on the plant world.
Honest to goodness, the plant smells like death and decay. If you’ve never smelled that rotting decayed smell count yourself fortunate. Growing up on a farm, I’m unfortunately well acquainted with that particular odor.
Because I hate the two plants that burst forth in prolific and horrific bloom each year, Hubby absolutely loves them. I’ve threatened to dig them up, spray them, mow them over and do anything I can to destroy them. He won’t have any of it. So the deal is I put up with the awful lilies and he leaves my roses alone.
Wish me luck, it looks like the plant is heading into full bloom!
Shanna
Posted in Musings, Referrals, tagged customer service tips, Les Schawb on June 9, 2010| Leave a Comment »
My Wednesday Shout-Out this week goes not to an individual, but to a business.
It became quite apparent during the weekend that my car brakes needed some work. The horrendous noise it was making was screaming out “fix me now!” Someone who drives the car a lot evidently is a little hard on the brakes. I’m really going to have to talk to Hubby about that…
Yesterday, Hubby took pity on me and took the car to Les Schwab Tires to see if they could get it in. He arrived at about 3 p.m. and they told him if he’d leave the car they would probably have it ready the next morning.
If you’ve never been to a Les Schwab service center, let me tell you, these guys know how to hustle. They don’t walk, they move and they get things done. In a hurry. Like, right now.
Even knowing that, we were surprised when we received a call just before 5 p.m. that the car was ready to pick up. Not only did they do the job quickly and well, they under-promised and over-delivered.
Anyone who is in business could take a lesson from their work ethics.
• Hustle to get the customer what they need
• Offer courteous, professional and friendly service
• Do the job well
• Give more than the customer expects
So thank you to everyone at Les Schwab for getting my car back on the road and taking away the awful, awful noise! I promise to be kinder to my brakes!
Shanna
Posted in Entertaining at Home, Fashion, Musings, tagged Fashion, feather dresses, flamingos on June 7, 2010| Leave a Comment »
The word of the week is intervention:
–noun
I was flipping through a magazine this weekend and one page had photos of celebrities attending a snazzy New York event. The photos showed lots of smiling faces in beautiful cocktail dresses and evening gowns. Except for one.
This one particular celeb looked like she had been attacked by a flock of crazed flamingos. I kid you not. Really, I could not make this up. Her long flowing gown was covered in what looked like pink feathers. Nevermind that the dress was clearly designed for someone much, much smaller. Nevermind that the pink feather trail looked like she was about to be swallowed by a punch-doused Big Bird. Nevermind that the whole thing was a hideous spectacle.
The thought I couldn’t get out of my head was “Who let her go out on stage dressed like that?” Seriously, there had to be someone there who considered staging an intervention, burying the flamingo frock and finding something much better suited to the celeb and the event. Where was that person?
I know there are times I could use a little intervention.
Honest.
Like when it comes to chocolate, shoes, party planning, chocolate, shopping in general, chocolate, cleaning and chocolate, I’m pretty sure I could occasionally use an intervention.
And I am begging and pleading with my friends to please intervene if I ever put on something that looks like it has been mauled by a large pink bird. Please don’t let me out the door. Please.
Thanks forever!
Shanna
Savvy Entertaining 