Ninja Marigolds

Okay back to the mother note in the previous post about the window box planter without drainage holes. I didn't even know you could buy new flower pots without drainage holes already in them. I didn't plant this particular pot of marigolds - I would have noticed the lack of run-off system! I'm going to have to investigate just who the genius was that filled a 18 by 10 planter with dirt without a care as to how the water would escape. It's hot in Iowa with enough humidity that it couldn't possible absorb all the excess water from this baby. This lovely planter holds 10 or 12 marigold plants. I hope they are some freakish hydroponic hybrid because when I was last over at the mother's house - the fledgling plants were FLOATING in a flotsam mix of organic materials with a NASTY composty smell.

I believe the reason these yellow button top blossoms were experiencing a near-drowning is because it is my husband's DAILY duty to drive across town to water the now infamous (and ridiculous) upside-down-hanging-tomato-plant-bag. (Yes, it's true - I mean the singular - plant - one of the two fruit bearing sprigs met with an untimely demise.) Anyway - he waters every flora containing vessel in sight. Much to the dismay of these lowly marigolds.

The question of the day was: Could the marigold's be saved?! (To be honest - I would have preferred to dump the entire glob of fermenting goo and gone to the store for another flat of flowers but where is the adventure in that?) Well, mother thought I should try poking an ice pick through the dirt and out the bottom. REALLY???? An ice pick through PVC? What do I look like? Wonder Woman? (hmmm...can you even BUY ice picks anymore?) Not to mention I was not about to slam my hand down into that pile of putrefaction.

The solution I told her, as I'm saying to myself, "Nancy - just dump it ALL and go to the farm implement store and buy new dirt and marigolds", was to drill holes in the bottom. (And tell John to STOP watering everything within reach of the hose!) She starts to shuffle towards the top of the stairs leading to the basement. I tell her, "Stop! I'll go get the drill just tell me where it is." She tells me - in exacting detail - "in the box, on the left, on top of the dresser, across from the refrigerator..." I'm halfway down the stairs and I hear, no - it's more like I FEEL a presence - very near to me... invading my personal space. I turn - it's HER! She is a ninja old woman...wonder if a Black Ops Team could use her. SERIOUSLY!!!! I inform her that she can just stay upstairs - that I am perfectly capable of finding and carrying a drill. I turn the corner at the bottom of the stairs. I hear, "Nancy". I walk back to the bottom of the stairs. Ninja woman says, "don't forget the drill bits". REALLY ??????

I return from the basement victorious! Drill, drill bits, and extension cord in hand! We make our way back to the front porch. I slide the container to the edge of the porch stair and proceed to create drainage holes. Of course the sewage water runs down my hand and arm...but this is after all an important salvage attempt of three dollars worth of marigolds! AND of course THE SHADOW (aka mother) is hovering CLOSE at hand.

I'll let you know if the marigolds make it. I know it took several hand washings and a spritz of lemon juice to rid myself of their decay!

I may have to look for a marigold stamp or digital image just to commemorate the day but for now here is a look at the recent 'produce' from the Bubble.



FTD Greeting
~Base card PaperTrey Ink Berry Sorbet
~Coordinating design paper: SEI Winnie's Walls
~Sentiment: Stampin' Up Warm Words and Stampin' Up Word Window Punch
~Flower made using the organza fabric that comes in the FTD box of long stem roses, I used the fringe from some raveling I did and attached it along with a 'ribbon' of the same fabric under the flower - white brad center (No I did NOT receive flowers from my husband - one of 'my' students got long stem roses from her boyfriend she gave me the fabric...OMG...now I have to include getting ToC from students not just family members!) (If this is your first time to my blog ToC is what is affectionately referred to in my family as "transfer of crap" from one to another...for some reason I'm usually on the receiving end!)
Challenge:
Crazy for Challenges: Use paper flowers - okay so I know organza is not paper - but paper is a fiber...organza is a fiber...
Whimsical Wednesday - color/design inspiration



Flippin' Easy~Base card Paper Trey Ink Raspberry Fizz
~Coordinating design papers - The Paper Studio Surfer Girl~Flip flops were on the same stamp as the sentiment - ( I cut all the pieces apart) from the dollar bin at Michael's
~Hawaiian shirt rubber stamp from the Dollar Tree - colored with Copics and Sharpies
~Three black brads for the shirt buttons
~Stickles embellish the flip flop flowers
~Sentiment (from the flip flop stamp) smudge with Stampabilities Lime Green
~Challenge Stampin' B's
Swirls and Stars~Base card Paper Trey Ink Vintage Cream edges smudged using Distress Ink Faded Jeans and Fired Brick
~Blue design paper: Paper Pizazz Watercolor Stars, I stamped stars in the corner using Stampin' Up Stars and Swirls and Versamark with navy embossing powder, then over-stamped with Stampin' Up Weathered and more navy embossing powder
~Freebie digital image from Meljen's Designs - colored with Copics and Sharpies, distressed with blue ink
~Swirl and zig zag brads
Challenges:
Little Red Wagon: Canada Day or 4th of July

This next card is shown in three photographs - 'it's sort of a some assembly required' type of thing... It's not a traditional folded card.




Interdepartmental Greetings
~Base card is some generic turquoise cardstock
~Striped design cardstock - K & Co Happy Birthday 2 U
~'Interdepartmental envelope' flap - Bazill Basics Berry Sensation
~Large colorful button
~Orange ribbon (as the envelope string)
~Sentiment from the dollar bin at Michael's - colored with Sharpies, topped with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects and Stickles Diamonds~Eyelet with more ribbons
Challenge:
2S4Y - sketch (My first time at this challenge site - yippee another challenge!)

I have one more card but my eyelids are getting VERY heavy so will hold off on uploading it until a later date.

Thank you for clicking by and even more for leaving a comment.
All good wishes,
Nancy