Exactly nine years ago, on 26th January 2015, I posted this picture
It was the day the vans left Kirby Muxloe, after nearly twenty years, to take all our stuff to Dorset. Exactly one year later, a couple of the deacons arrived on the doorstep with a card, a box of chocs, and a small orchid in a pot.
"We don't make a big thing of The Minister's Anniversary" they said "but we wanted to say thank you for the past year, it has been good having you both here"
I did not like to say "I am no good with houseplants, my silk ones die" - so we simply thanked them for their kindness - and all the support they had given over the previous twelve months.
I asked Jenny for advice, and now I have three healthy orchid plants [the other two were gifts from Dorset schools where I made play costumes]
Yesterday evening, when I came in, I saw the Church Anniversary Orchid has some blossoms on it [and more buds getting ready to burst into bloom] Happy Eighth Birthday, beautiful flower!
It is a lovely reminder of my good friends back in Ferndown. But now we are happily settled in retirement at Cornerstones- we don't plan to move anywhere else. The flowers are a reminder of God's faithfulness, and of dear friends who continue to keep in touch.
We have so much to be grateful for.
How alike we are! I can kill houseplants with a single glance, I don't even need to do a basilisk stare. However, three years agoJack's daughter gave me an orchid when she and her husband reaffirmed their wedding vows and it has flowered for about the fourth time this last couple of weeks. Mine's only about four years old, though
ReplyDeleteFriday is orchid day - the pots stand in water for half an hour. That seems to be all the watering they need.
DeleteSeee, you CAN look after Houseplants! You must have been a blessing to so many people in your lives! So many friends over the years. Xx
ReplyDeleteIt was vaguely terrifying, and rather humbling, when our pastor pointed out on Sunday that if I've helped run Holiday Clubs for over fifty years, that represents THOUSANDS of children.
DeleteLooks like you've a green thumb when it comes to orchids!
ReplyDeleteI think Jenny's advice about not over watering, and finding the right location have been the key to success.
DeleteBeautiful orchid and such a lovely reminder of your previous pre retirement life. Catriona
ReplyDeleteI am reminde dof so many good friends and good moments when I look at it
DeleteWell done - you’ve proved yourself wrong! I’ve never had an orchid but I remember the colourful orchids in the old original greenhouses at Wisley flowering in the depths of winter and being cheered by them. My joy today is my little potted calamondin tree (a cross between a kumquat and a mandarin) now smothered in white blossom and pea-sized green fruits which will develop into plum-sized oranges - 15 tiny oranges make one jar of delicious marmalade. I water my calamondin tree every six weeks and in the summer I feed it with homemade comfrey and nettle tea. You do a great job with the children. Our church is always talking about what we should do when the children become teenagers. Do you have the same gap with a congregation mostly composed of young families and older folk? But then we organise a harvest supper and 100 people of all ages come (from a village of 1100 souls) so we must be doing something right! Sarah in Sussex
ReplyDeleteNever heard of calamondin - I bet the marmalade tastes glorious.Yes, I agree about youth work in churches - we have preschool & primary children, and one just gone to secondary school. Then a gap till parents in their mid thirties thru to Very Elderly. [and a few newly retired in between] You are obviously making a good link in your community though. Have you ever thought of doing a pancake party? It fits well in the gap between Xmas and Easter
DeleteIndeed, what a lovely reminder ... and one that lasted and taught you orchid care. I'm sure it's very grateful. :-)
ReplyDelete😊
DeleteGreat job! Orchids can be difficult. I used to kill everything, but over time I've definitely improved in keeping my houseplants not just alive, but thriving. Your orchid is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Terri. Gardening is definitely a skill I have learned in retirement
DeleteWhat a lovely orchid, and it is obviously happy. I give mine about an eggcup of water once a week and it seems enough, as it has been flowering for weeks!
ReplyDeleteI suspect many orchids are killed with kindness and overwatering
DeleteMy five stemmed 'non vegetable', good to last, potted orchid got a long overdue dust and clean yesterday and I put some little lights on it to brighten up the corner at the top of the stairs where it will shine 6 out of 24 hours a day. I bought it some 20 years ago and it's much travelled. Lesley
ReplyDeleteI have a similar vase of 'everlasting' lilies!
DeleteI've always loved orchids but I didn't think one would survive in the winter in our house as the temperature can fluctuate a lot between too hot and too cold, depending on how we manage the wood furnace. I was given a white one two years ago and it survived with careful pampering, and it even produced two new flower stalks after the original was cut back. The biggest surprise was that the new flowers are pink!
ReplyDeleteHow strange that the colour has changed
DeleteBeautiful and heartwarming! Well done in keeping it alive, too!
ReplyDeleteHugs!
🙂
DeleteVery lovely orchid! My house, according to my sister, is Guantanamo for houseplants.
ReplyDelete🤣🤣🤣
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