FLOWER MAGIC

I walked into the house and saw my son Alex sitting on the couch. “Hey!” I called as I headed right to the kitchen. I grabbed a glass and filled it with water before heading back out the front door. “Did you see my Gerber daisy?” I said as I passed him again.

“No.”

“Look out the front window.” I said as I went out and began slowly pouring the water on it. When my glass was empty I came back in. “When I left an hour ago that poor little flower was fine.” I went into the kitchen to put the glass in the dishwasher. I walked back in the living room where Alex was looking out the window. “I think you're too late.” he said, then turned around and put his feet up on the coffee table. “It sure looks dead to me.”

“Nope, it's this heat wave. In about twenty minutes you'll see it pop right back up.” I sat down putting my feet up on the coffee table too. “I want you to remember that when I go to visit Aunt Lizzy.”

Alex looked confused. “Why do I need to remember that?”

“Because I'm putting you in charge of watering the plants.” I looked over and smiled at him. “I'm going to be gone for a week so I'd like you to feed the fish and water my plants please.”

Alex sighed. “Okay, how often do I water them?”

“Well, that depends on the weather. If it's a heat wave like this it could be twice a day.”

“Wait, what?” Alex shook his head. “I'm never going to remember that!”

“That's why I'm showing you the Gerber daisy now.” I turned around to peek out the window. “Nope, still a little droopy.” I turned back to face him. “I don't want you to make the mistake of thinking they're too far gone and throw them away.”

Alex smiled. “Yeah, but at least it would have been one less plant to water.”

“Hey!” I tossed a pillow over at him. “That's not funny.” I laughed. “I've been checking on the geraniums on the back porch but they're a little more forgiving. Just check the dirt and make sure it's moist.” I got up. “Here let me show you.” I walked back to the kitchen and Alex followed me. I stood at the window. “See the Peace plant on the table?”

“That table?” He was pointing to the bistro table.

“No, that's a Hens & Chicks, it's a succulent. You're not going to have to worry about that one. It gets watered maybe once a week.”

Alex nodded his head. “Okay, so I'm ignoring that one, got it.”

I pointed to the table next to my rocking chair. “That's the Peace plant. That's going to droop just like the Gerber daisy in front. As soon as you see that you water it immediately.” I looked back at him. “And don't forget my basil and mint plants.”

Alex looked at me. “You do know the only plant I've ever owned was a succulent and it died.”

I stared at him, until he shrugged his shoulders and said. “I'm just letting you know.”

SNITCHES

I'd been away for a few days and when I returned I was thrilled that I came back to a clean kitchen.

“Thanks guys!” I said to my husband Steven and son Alex. “I was afraid I'd come back to a sink full of dishes!”

“Hey, we clean up after ourselves!” Steven said as he kissed me on the cheek and headed to his office.

Alex went to lay on the couch while I put the kettle on to make a cup of tea. I was getting a cup out of the cabinet when I happened to notice my dual soap dispenser, next to the sink, was missing one of the bottles.

“Hey, what happened to the soap dispenser?” I called out. No one answered. I looked around the corner where Alex was laying on the couch. “Do you know where the other soap dispenser went?”

Alex had his eyes closed.

“Oh, come on! You're not asleep!”

Alex laughed. “Okay, fine. I'm awake.”

I looked at him for a moment, but he still didn't answer me. So I asked again. “Do you know where the other soap dispenser went?”

Alex shook is head. “I'm no snitch.”

I burst out laughing. “Are you kidding me?” I cried.

“Snitches get stitches.”

Just then Steven came back into the room. “Alex won't give up what happened to the other soap dispenser. He just informed me that snitches get stitches.”

Steven looked over at him and smiled. “I broke it the other day. I was cleaning out a pot and it slipped out of my hand and broke in the sink.”

“Why'd you take it out of the caddy?” I asked. “I just squeeze some into my hand than hold my hand over the pot and run the warm water over that.”

“Clearly we wash dishes differently.”

“I guess.” I sighed. “But I really liked that setup.” I pulled out my phone and went to the Amazon link. “I'll just go on our recent orders list and get another one.” After a few clicks I was disappointed again. “Oh, man. It's out of stock and they don't know if they'll be getting it again.” I looked at Steven. “I just got that one two months ago! I can't believe it's already discontinued!”

“Maybe you should find one made out of plastic instead.” Steven suggested.

I crinkled my nose. “The plastic one's are so ugly.” I began scrolling through the site looking for something similar. “Besides, it's not like we have small children around and can't have something made of glass.”

“Suit yourself.” Steven said. “But you saw how long that one lasted. What do you think the chances are for another glass one?”

I looked over at Alex who shrugged his shoulders. “He's right. I think we need to stay away from the new one, you know just to be safe.”

DIPPING DILEMMA

It was early Sunday morning when I got a text from my sister Liz. She'd sent a screen shot of a question I'd posted on the Netherlands Facebook group saying:

'Vacationed in the Netherlands last year and loved it!!! Was wondering exactly what was in the Mayo you dip your fries in? I can't find anything like it in the States.'

My sister texted: “Here's a screen shot of the post (says it was posted 5 hours ago, which would be 3:00 AM!) You didn't post this did you?”

My answer was “I did!!!” Than I called her.

When she picked up she didn't even say hello but went right into, “You were up at 3 o'clock in the morning thinking about mayonnaise?”

I had to laugh. “No, I posted it around 7 last night, I guess the moderator didn't approve it until then.”

“Okay, that makes me feel better.” I could hear the relief in her voice. “What made you think about their mayonnaise?”

“I was out with Alex yesterday and we stopped at McDonald's to grab a quick snack and he was dipping his fries in ketchup.” I shook my head in disgust just thinking about it. “I was telling him about how good the mayo was on our trip and that he'd never want to dip his fries in anything else once he tried it!”

“It was good.” Liz admitted.

“It was better than good!” I cried. “It was awesome!”

Liz laughed. “Okay. I haven't checked your post, did you get any responses?”

“Oh my gosh, yes!” I put my earpiece in so I could go to Facebook and read her the replies. “Everyone was so nice. I got dozens of replies! It's called fritessaus which means fries sauce! So many of responses were links to places I could order some!”

Just then my son Alex came into the room. “Are you still talking about mayonnaise on french fries?” He couldn't help but laugh.

“It's not mayonnaise!” I called over my shoulder. “It's called fritessaus and it's going to change your life!”

My sister Liz couldn't help but laugh on the other end of my phone. “It's going to change his life?”

I shrugged my shoulder. “Okay maybe that's going too far. But I ordered some and its coming in the mail tomorrow!”

Liz laughed again. “You paid for next day delivery?”

“They offered it for free! I sure wasn't going to turn that down!”

Alex came back into the room shaking his head. “You get excited about the weirdest stuff.”

Just then the doorbell rang. I looked out the window and saw the UPS truck at the curb. “Oh my gosh!” I looked over at Alex. “Could you go get the package he just left? I wonder if it's my fritessaus?”

My sister Liz was still on the phone. “Didn't you just order it a few hours ago?”

“Yeah.” I sighed.

MINI GOLF TRADITION

My husband Steven and son Alex and I were headed back to the car after a fabulous round of mini golf.

“I can't believe you got two hole-in-ones!” Alex said as he climbed in the back seat.

I couldn't hide my smile, I was grinning from ear to ear. “I can't believe it either! That was so much fun!”

Steven had walked the clubs back to the golf shop and was headed back to the car. “You know, traditionally when you get a hole in one you buy everyone in the clubhouse a drink!” he said as he opened the car door.

I looked over at the snack bar attached to golf shop and gave a sigh of relief when I saw the closed sign. “Lucky for me it's closed.” I said, pointing my thumb in the direction of the sign. “And we were playing mini golf. I'm pretty sure that doesn't count.”

Steven nodded his head in agreement as he got in the car. “You're right. In mini golf you have to buy ice cream for everyone in your group.”

Alex looked over at me and smiled. “Sounds good to me! Seeing that you got two, I'm thinking you should buy us each two ice creams!”

“Oh, come on!” I laughed. “There's no way you could eat two!”

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “I'm just saying.”

As I pulled out of the parking lot I looked up and down the street. “Where's the closest ice cream store from here?”

Steven held up his phone. “I've already Googled it! Make a right at the light and it's about two miles down the road.”

While we were driving a smile crept over my face again. Alex tipped his head from the back seat. “Still loving the fact that you got two?” he asked.

“It was pretty cool.” I said.

“We should play again next week.” Alex tapped Steven on the shoulder. “What do you think? Again next week?”

“NO!” I cried. “I'm never going to play again!”

Steven looked over at me a confused looked on his face. “What? Why?”

“Because I'll never get two hole in ones again! The pressure's too much. I'm quitting while I'm ahead!” I put my blinker on when I saw the ice cream shop coming up.

“Are you serious?” Alex laughed from the back seat.

“Completely!” I said as I parked the car. “What if I play again and I don't get any hole-in-ones? You two will think today was just luck. This way I'm leaving the game as a pro.” I looked back at Alex as he opened his car door. “You know I'm at the Top of My Game.” I added.

Steven started to laugh. “At the Top of Your Game.”

“I really think she's serious.” Alex said.