So sad! What do you think happened? All that work... ugh! |
| Seil Posted on Monday, May 12, 2008 - 07:33 pm: |   
 |
I haven't felt much like writing lately. My dear friend Trisha passed away last week Wednesday. What with having a house guest that came in for the funeral and the funeral itself, well, I just haven't even thought about the garden let alone worked in it.
Trisha was one of the originals from out little group of good friends. We call ourselves the Group W after a scene from the old Arlo Guthrie movie "Alice's Restaurant" There were 6 of us back then and we met through a community theatre group we were all in during the summer of 1970. Our numbers have gone up and down over the years with boyfriends, girlfriends and spouses coming and going but this is our first death in the group and it hit us all very hard. It just doesn't seem real, or fair. She was only 58. Trisha was a wonderful woman, friend, wife and mother. Her only child, Genna has epilepsy and severe learning disabilities which prompted Trish to work with the disabled. She was manager of a group home system for mentally handicapped adults. She always had a smile and a hug for everyone. You knew no matter what the circumstances were if you needed help you could count on Trish to be there for you. She took many of us in at one time or another when we were out of work and didn't have the means to support ourselves. Usually she would connect you up somehow with a new job and get you back on your feet. If you were cold and hungry she always had a place in her home and at her table for someone in need.
Trisha had a rapier wit, was loads of fun and full of life. She was quite the siren too. Her size never stopped her from doing anything and she always had tons of boyfriends. She just had so much personality that you figured she needed to be big to contain it all!
Trish was always obese but in fairly good health, never smoked a day in her life and rarely drank. About 15 years ago she decided to have gastric bypass surgery to lose weight. She did well for a while and lost over a 100lbs. but it didn't last and soon she began to put the weight back on. She also developed several hernias from the surgery and scare tissue. Eventually one of these began to press on her intestines and blocked it. The doctors decided to go in and remove the hernias and any scare tissue they could to relieve the blockage. Once inside they discovered she had a cancerous mass as well. They took out what they could and corrected the blockage and hoped they had gotten all of the mass. That was in October. Trish never really recovered from the surgery though. She was so weak she couldn't stand up and walking was out of the question. She rallied somewhat in November and they sent her to a nursing care facility for therapy to get her walking. But soon after Christmas she was back in the hospital again because her incisions weren't healing and had become infected. In that weakened state her body couldn't fight off the infection and other systems began to shut down as well. A week or so ago her kidneys shut down completely and she was having so much trouble breathing that they put her on a ventilator. We all knew it wouldn't be long then but no one is ever really prepared for a loved one to die even in these cases.
This photo was taken at our 36th Annual Christmas Party. We didn't have one this past Christmas because Trish was so ill. Trish is the beautiful blond, second from the left in purple.
We Miss You Dear Friend. |
   | | Seil... I am so terribly sorry to hear about your friend, Trisha. | | She sounds like such a lovely and caring person and you wrote | | such a wonderful tribute for her. I wish you peace and good | | memories. Take some private time for yourself... your garden | | will wait for you. ...((HUGS)) |
| | |
|
| Valia Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 08:39 am: |
|
 A wish that the good memories will swallow up the sadness in good time.
((((Sharon)))) |
| Stormdancer Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 11:51 am: |
|
((((Sharon))))So sorry to hear about your friend...
  The memories will keep her alive in your heart forever and she will always be with you |
| Seil Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 11:30 pm: |
|
Thank you all for your kindness and concern. I really appreciate it. I knew my garden friends would understand. |
Thinking of you.   |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 08:19 am: |
|
((Seil))
I am so sorry to hear about your friend. Yes, like DJ mentioned, take some time for yourself. Your garden will still be there waiting for you. I hope you are doing well. |
| Jak3 Posted on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 - 07:37 am: |
|
I'm sorry for your sad time, Seil. When the grief passes, you will have her pop into your mind in the Spring.... |
| Valia Posted on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 - 08:23 am: |
|
Seil, sometimes it helps to devote a corner in your garden to the memory of someone so special. It sounds like Trish had personality to spare, and would be a good source of inspiration for the design of such a memorial. |
| Seil Posted on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 - 03:05 pm: |
|
Thanks everyone. I've been slowly getting things going around here.
It hasn't helped that I recently got diagnosed with type 2 diabetes either and I'm really struggling with that one. It's very depressing to think I'll never be able to eat what I want when I a want ever again. You don't realize how important food is to most everything you do until you can't have it anymore. It's a very integral part of the American culture. It's not just eating for survival on a daily basis but a part of the whole social network too. Oh well, I guess I'll deal. What choice do I have.
The roses are looking very good. I did a head count yesterday and I have buds on 61 of the 85 roses. Some of them are just waiting for a little sunshine and warmth to bust open. I think the race for first bloom will be between Garden Party and Baby Blanket. Both have sepals down already. Double Delight, Just Joey, Little Sir Echo and Cinderella also have buds showing color on them. I'm really getting excited now. I also found two buds on one of my seedlings from last year. I hope the others get with the program and bloom this year too. This years seedlings haven't grown much at all with this cold weather so I don't expect to see buds for quite a while on those. Ruffled Cloud is still green but hasn't broken dormancy yet and the first Canadian White Star I got from Hortico died so they sent me a replacement. It wasn't any bigger and I don't know if it will survive either. I've tented both of these and I'm hoping that will give them the warmth they need to sprout out.
The rest of the garden is looking good. With the cold temps most things haven't grown much but they're all surviving. I got all the veggie plants in and all the pots done. I took a count and almost fainted. There are 54 pots of flowers and/or veggies and 74 pots of roses (including my seedlings). Egad! I thought I was cutting down from last year but I think I've actually got more. What was I thinking? |
| Growit Posted on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 - 05:31 pm: |
|
((((Seil))))
Just caught up on your journal and read about your friend Trisha. She sounded like such a lovely person, so caring and loving. I am so sorry for your loss. Sending heaps of sympathy and cuddles across the pond.
Look after yourself now you have the diabetes. If you feel hungry....go garden. Thats what I do to take my mind off food.
Just a few then. I wouldn't like to be around when you have to water that lot!! |
Oh, dear. I am sorry to hear about the diabetes, Seil. I will have to read up on that. I'm not familiar with the different types. I hope that you will be careful to not hurt yourself... no accidentally poking yourself with sharp garden tools and the like. I also hope that your brother will be helpful in keeping you out of the snicky-snacks. I know how hard it can be to stay out of things when they are right under your nose. I don't want you getting sick!
That sounds like fewer roses. Is it? Do you grow anything in the pots with your roses? Maybe you could put some of the 54 pots of flowers in them. LOL.
(((( Seil )))) |
| Seil Posted on Thursday, May 22, 2008 - 06:48 pm: |
|
Thanks Moira, I can always use the hugs. I think they are the best think ever for the soul.
DJ, I went to see a dietician today and it was better than I expected. It's not as much about what you eat as it is about how much and when. It's going to take some trial and error and figuring out but I'll get there.
As for the pots...I do have more roses this year. I had 75 last year plus 12 seedlings and I swore I wasn't going to buy more. But you know how that goes. I lost 5 over the winter and 2 seedlings but I bought 15 roses and grew 18 new seedlings so the count is now 85 and 28 seedlings. I have to stop but it's an addiction you know.
I have grown some annuals in the pot that the tree rose is in to fill it in but they compete for the water and nutrients with the rose and since tree roses aren't notoriously hardy I don't want to deprive it of anything it needs to survive the winter. I did cut back on some of the annual pots but then his nibbs added more veggie pots and we put the 3 window boxes up so some how I still ended up with more pots than last year. I think I had like 48 last year now I have 54. I don't mind really because it always fills out and looks lovely but it is a big investment in time to keep it all watered and fed and tidied up. Good thing I'm retired now!
The last of the roses I ordered for this year came today and I'm thrilled! Red Intuition is a very rare and hard to find florist rose that's a red on red striped HT. GORGEOUS! I found it through another rose forum that I'm on at Wisconsin Roses. Steve Singer is the owner and he does what are called "budded maidens". Which is the root stock bare root rose with the grafted rose only budded on. You plant the rose and when the root stock begins to send out leaves you cut that all off and the budded rose will take off and start to grow. This was what I was expecting to get. Instead I got an already growing Red Intuition! It has several canes with leaf buds started. I'm just tickled and can hardly wait for it to bloom. Although that's still probably a good 6 to 8 weeks away. But at least I'm not starting from scratch. Don't get me wrong, maidens do very well and are usually vigorous growers but they still would take more time before you'd get any blooms simply because they have further to grow. |
| Valia Posted on Thursday, May 22, 2008 - 07:37 pm: |
|
That's good news, Seil. I know people with diabetes who hardly seem to let it bother them at all. I think the trick is focusing on what you CAN do rather than on what you can't do. |
That's good. It sounds like you might not have to miss some of your favorite foods after all.  |
Hi Seil, glad to see you are doing a bit better. Sorry to hear about the diagnosis of diabetes...in my family it is every other generation...my son is the one who was recently diagnosed as diabetic, although for him, it was a double whammy, his father's side also has diabetes every other generation and of course it fell on him...
Are you having to deal with the injections of insulin? Or do they have you on the pill form?
Most important as your medical people will tell you is to make sure you eat when you take the insulin. If you are having any severe cravings for certain things...sugar especially, make sure to talk to your doctor about this...my sister inlaw had this issue and her dr ok'd her to eat small amounts of the item she was craving...just have to be very careful about over doing with it. Hopefully, your diabetes will be able to be controlled by the treatment prescribed. It does take some getting used to not being able to eat like you have all your life.
Glad to see you back and also glad to know we're "racing" together...little Sunsprite is growing like a weed right now...lol
See you on the "track"... |
| Seil Posted on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 - 07:26 pm: |
|
Well I see it's been a long while since I've been back here. Lots of things have been going on.
I had my sister and nephew staying over for the week up to Memorial Day and hosted a parade party for the rest of the family. The garden looked really nice even though the roses weren't quite blooming yet. Every one had a good time and the food was terrific.
The first week of June brought 2 more funerals. Two of my friend's mothers died. We are all in that group who are caring for their parents who are all in their 80s and 90s. Two more friend's moms are in the hospital too. Sad times.
My rose shows were on the 13th and 14th and I did very well at my Grosse Pte. show and so so at the Metro show. My climber, Dublin Bay, took best of class and made the head table and I won the silver medal for my mini arrangement of Sequoia Gold. (Can't post pics right now, I'll explain later in this post). I also got several blue ribbons for others I entered. It was a lot of fun but also a lot of work. I worked set up, clerked for the judges, hosted 2 different times and did tear down at my club's show. Plus entering the other show and man what a long exhausting weekend that made. I wish they weren't all on the same weekend but that's the way it always seems to work out.
The roses put on a fabulous show for their spring flush. The blooms were huge and plentiful. They seemed to like the long cool wet spell we had in the weather after our short heat wave in the end of May. It's still rather on the cool and wet side but the roses are responding by putting on new growth and buds in record time. Many of them are already going to rebloom within the week. I did have an outbreak of black spot due to all the wet weather. I've cleaned them up and have to get out and spray again.
The rest of the garden is also coming along great. The corn is 5 feet high already! I have lots of tomatoes coming and I've picked peas, beans, radish and lettuce already. The flower pots are looking lush with the exception of my lovely pink dahlia that I bought. For some reason it's just shriveled up. Oh well. The delphs are spectacular this year since I moved them out from under the iris and hibiscus. Both kinds of daisies are blooming too. And two of my volunteer sunflowers have opened already!?! Way too early I would think but what do I know. Oh and several of the seeds I planted that DJ sent me are opening. Petunias, nasturtiums, and one I don't remember the name of but it looks like some kind of pale yellow osteopernum. The petunias are giants! They all grew like weeds once I put them in pots and some of them are 2 feet tall and starting to bloom. Hmmm... maybe I was supposed to pinch them? Oh what the heck, I like them tall. Other seeds are coming up all over the place too and I can't wait to see what they are. You see the problem is I put seeds all over the garden and in all these pots but didn't record what I put where! DUH! But it's kind of fun because every new one to bloom is a surprise. Oh yeah, and the convulvulous bloomed! So pretty! That deep blue with the white and yellow center. If it does OK and doesn't want to spread everywhere I'm going to have to add more next year.
So now to the picture problem. Well really the computer problem. After the terrible storms we've had we were having a lot of trouble with the internet. I could get online or Al could but if we both tried to get on it would crash. We called WOW and they came out and put a filter on the line and a new cable somewhere and it seemed OK for a day or two. Then right back to square one. So they suggested it was our router. So Al starts looking for a new router and instead finds this really good deal on a computer....for me! (He just replaced his last fall.) I've been thinking about replacing mine for some time now because it was 8 years old and I was still using Windows 2000 Pro and I could no longer download things or buy new software that was compatible. I didn't want to go to Vista because of all the bad things I've heard about it so that meant Windows XP. Well XP is going off the market soon (but will still be supported) so that meant I needed to act now. I'm terrible at this stuff. I hate making decisions and even more so when they involve spending money. So Al sort of took the bull by the horns and lead me there. I ended up getting a new Dell Inspirion 530 with XP with my very own printer/copier/scanner (I have been burning things to disk to print on Al's computer)and Al got the new router. After some trials and tribulations and a couple of more trips for parts (these things are never as easy as they think they'll be) he and my cousin Mike got it hooked up and online. Now the only problem is that all of my pictures and files are still in my old hard drive and that one can't be plugged into this new computer because the darn plugs are different. So I'm stuck and frustrated at the moment waiting for another friend who has an external drive that he can plug my old one into and then plug into the new one so we can transfer my stuff over. And he's one of my friends whose mom is in the hospital. So I can't bug him to come over and fix my computer. In the big picture it's not very important and he has better things to do with his time. But eventually I'll get my pictures back and I'll be able to post them and share. |
If they are the petunias that I sent to you, they are "Old Fashioned Vining Petunia", so they will be a little tall for a petunia. |
