Unique Serving Platter

There are many things in life that are met with celebration. There are some that most people celebrate such as a birthday or a wedding. There are others though, that don’t come around for just anyone. Today it seems like a huge feat to come up upon your 50th wedding anniversary. There don’t seem to be many who make it this far, and that can be because of death or divorce. This is actually something that is coming up for my grandparents and I am in awe of the lifetime they have built together.

Though my grandmother had a stroke many years ago, she is still with us. She doesn’t remember a lot of things, but she does remember us. She gets our names wrong, but she is usually pretty close. She calls me by my mom’s name, and that tells me that she knows who I am, but somewhere in there the wires are crossed. I’m not sure if she will realize what a milestone her 50th wedding anniversary will be, but I do know that she still loves my grandfather very much. You can often catch her looking at him in a way that says nothing other than love. I think the fact that they have been through so much and will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary says a lot about that look.

They have been through a lot. I remember when I was young I heard something that might have stopped their marriage from going any further and there would have never been able to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. My grandmother suspected my grandfather had cheated on her. In the end it came out that he and this woman were just friends, but I can understand why the friendship made my grandmother uncomfortable. That woman is still around, though my grandfather doesn’t see her anywhere. I don’t suspect she’ll be invited to the 50th wedding anniversary celebration.

I know this woman and my grandfather had feelings deeper than friendship, though apparently they never acted on them. The sad thing is that she still works right next door to where my grandparents live. She was a friend to my grandmother, which makes me very angry. I am almost tempted to send her some favors from the upcoming 50th wedding anniversary celebration, just to show her that she cannot hurt my grandmother again. That would be childish of me and I should let sleeping dogs lie, but that doesn’t mean it’s not tempted. Despite everything, I think the 50th wedding anniversary is going to be about more than grandparents. It’s going to be a reminder to us all that it is possible to stay together, you just have to be willing to work on it.

My grandmother always had a large collection of African violets. As a child, I saw these cheerful plants nestling on windowsills and dressers, on lace doilies, always in small groups. Grandma also had a large backyard garden, including her prized rose garden. During the winter months, when the weather was gray and gloomy, those little African violets were still going strong, pampered inside the house. Grandma had flowers year around!

I often wondered why these cute little plants were favored at so many of my relatives’ homes. Now I know. African violets are almost indestructible, given proper care. If you think you don’t have a green thumb, give them a try! Yes, you can have living houseplants!

There are thousands of varieties, sporting many different flower shapes and colors, including multi-colored selections. There are also tiny miniature African Violets. They are among the easiest house plants to grow. Just a few simple rules keeps them hale and hearty for years! Let’s look at the five points of African violet care.

1.This one’s easy. African Violets thrive in about the same temperature range as people. They enjoy daytime warmth, up to about 85º, but like cooler nights, only to about 65°.

2.African violets like good plentiful light, but not direct sunlight. North and east-facing windowsills provide enough light without danger of scorched leaves. In southern facing rooms, they’ll do well placed on a corner table away from the window. When you choose a location, monitor the plants for a while. With inadequate light, leaves darken in color and become thinner. With too much light, leaves yellow or become pale. In either case, poor flowering results.

3. African violets do not like to be drowned! Over watering ultimately rots their roots. Water only when the top soil is dry to the touch. If watering from the top, use a small watering can with a thin spout and avoid wetting leaves. Better yet, water from below. Fill your saucer with tepid water.

4. You must fertilize regularly. There are commercially available fertilizers especially formulated for African violets. You can also use a 20-20-20 mix at half strength. Mix your fertilizer the day before watering. This method allows chlorine to evaporate, which is harmful to your plants and reach room temperature by the time you water.

5.Potting mediums are important. With their dislike of wet feet, African violets need excellent drainage. You can use premixed potting soils developed just for African violets, which is probably the easiest solution, considering the small amount of soil required for each plant. When choosing a pot, a good rule of thumb is smaller is better! Measure across the plant and divide by three for the proper size pot. African violets bloom more profusely when confined.

If you follow these five rules of African violet care, I guarantee you’ll have a blooming indoor garden. Your most difficult decision is which variety to buy. African violets can be addictive!