Most people love to be surprised – if it’s in a good way. I am one of those people. You can only imagine my delight this morning when I happened to glance towards my window and notice that one of my Crocus was blooming! For Christmas this year, my boss, Beth, gave me the gift of Crocus bulbs that were placed in a bird’s nest wreath. It lit the smile on my face bright enough to be seen from the stars. I quickly placed it in a sink of water (following the directions), then placed it on my windowsill. For the past week, I have been watching green shoots emerge. Each morning I gently turn it ¼ turn, so that the leaves wouldn’t all grow to one side. This morning, I noticed that a purple bloom has begun to open! I am sure the rest aren’t far behind, and I will eagerly await each one’s arrival.
And then…
I’ve been a good Farm Wife. I have responsibly been doing all my chores this morning. Chickens fed and watered – check. Cats fed – check. Dogs fed and allowed to run in the pasture – check. Hay rings full; cows are happy – check. Done. I have a couple of throws that I need to make, so I wandered into the craft room to get started. The Country Boy was good-natured enough to help me find some fabric last night, so I was ready to start cutting.
I have to admit. When I am involved in a project, my mind automatically shifts to the job at hand, and I can get quite absorbed. Although I always have a subconscious ear out for problems, I pretty much focus on what I am doing. Which means I am not always real observant to non-issues. As I was cutting squares from the first fabric, I heard the dogs at the door. I stopped what I was doing and went to let them in. That’s when I got blasted with a bright pink glare.
Ugh! I have been flocked! (Even if it is only two of them, it still counts!)
Some wizard has decided that it would be fun to place two bright pink plastic flamingos in the yard next to my car. It is in a strategic location; consequently, I cannot see them from the barn and back pasture, where I did the early morning chores. These two ‘things’ have been hiding from me all morning, and from all I know, they suffered through the frigid night, as well.
A little background:
Years ago, I made an off the cuff comment about how tacky I thought plastic pink flamingoes were. The ones I was actually referring to were some that had obviously been in this person’s yard for decades, and were faded, cracked, and leaning drunkenly to one side, or had completely fallen down in a party stupor. I mean – come on. If you are going to have these in your yard, at least stand them back up on their spindly legs! Well, that comment caused an avalanche.
I came home from a Writer’s Conference one day, and as I entered the house, I noticed a flash of pink in my carefully laid out flowerbed. A closer inspection saw that it was one of those blasted pink plastic nightmares. It took all I could muster to keep from grinning, as I heard eight and ten year old giggles coming from the direction of the hallway. I just shook my head, played my part and asked ‘Who on earth would do such a horrid thing to a flowerbed?!?!” For Christmas that year, James bought me a metal formed art piece of four flamingoes that I could stick in my garden. Although the plastic ones have long since met their demise, I still have the garden stake – and always will.
Oh. Another thought. Yikes! I wonder….no. It couldn’t be. You see, my friend Rebecca and I were well known as to our practical jokes. Need a house wrapped up like a Christmas present? Did it. Complete with a big red bow on the top. Want a Welcome Home banner stretched across a bridge that covered a major highway? Didn’t even drop her. So…but no. She isn’t even home right now, as she is traveling for the holidays. Whew! Going up against the Master Mind of Pranks would be a tough one.
Present day:
Very few people around here know of my thoughts on flamingoes. I really have no idea who this Wizard is, but you can bet I will be getting to the bottom of it. My only prayer is that this isn’t an omen. I pray that no one in their right mind is planning on buying me real flamingoes to put in my pond!
Oh, wait. No. Mark, Stacey and Peri gave me chick starter for Christmas. They also ‘claim’ to have purchased 15 baby chicks that will be arriving between January 4th and 6th…
MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
