A good week, all in all! Larry and I were able to make a small trip to get some shrubs and trees for Mom’s Garden, and Ef’s Restaurant, and a couple of other places this week. It was nice to get out of Alamosa, if even for only 12 hours. Larry is donating a tree and a rose bush to honor and remember his Mom, Charlotte Armstrong Brown, who passed away the beginning of February. I am personally donating a couple of trees to honor my entire family. To honor those living life to the fullest and to remember those I miss everyday—Mom and Dad, and my brother Howie, and my sister Sharon. As I get older, I seem to talk to them more and more, and now I will be able to talk to them while I am weeding. A thank you to SK who donated 4 bales of Foxfarm Soil Conditioner—so appreciated—I will think of you and your family as I work in the garden this week.

If you have any interest in helping in Mom’s Garden for an hour a week, I am dividing the bed into little rock clusters. It would be simple maintenance, as the hard work has been done. Let me know.

What I noticed most as we traveled through Monte Vista, and Del Norte and South Fork to get to Pagosa Springs was how many of the businesses, offices and shops put out benches/chairs, flower planters and banners. Nothing really matched. Every location was different, and they were all beautiful. Whether it was a log with a geranium in it or a more expensive commercial type planter, everyone’s efforts joined in, to make each town warm and inviting. 

How do we get that same pride in Alamosa? How do we get everyone to join in to make Alamosa a more attractive city? If you are someone who needs a little help with ‘what if we did this, or what if we did that’ give me a call at 580-7838 and I will give you my ideas—for FREE! I won’t even care if you buy items from me, as long as you do your part to make Alamosa more inviting.

Let’s start right now on what you/we can do for fall or winter or spring. I’m game, if you are!

Meanwhile, as I drive by the new court house—or Justice Center, my blood boils a little bit! I know I am not the only one who has this problem. Hindsight is such a great thing. In hindsight, why did this building have to be SO-O-O fancy? How much extra money did all this fanciness cost us? Enough so that the community is being asked to help pay for the landscaping—REALLY????!! I just don’t get it!

This is a building where folks go to court after committing a crime. They will get sentenced here. Did this building have to be so fancy? I’m hearing that there are two full sets of showers in this building—one for the prisoners and one for the judges—that’s what I am hearing. Trying to wrap my brain around what I have heard from construction workers. Sad!

I am cutting my hollyhocks down this weekend. They reached heights of almost 8’ which is amazing—with only being watered once. They are not quite done blooming, but I don’t want them going to seed. I have enough hollyhocks right now.

If you have walked in front of the store and been attacked by the blooms, please let me explain that I have left them hanging out so that bike riders might get slapped around. It is a life saving measure, for sure. That is also why I keep a gate 3’ from the curb by my front entrance. And sometimes I keep the freight on the sidewalk longer than I want—but it helps curb the bikes—just a little bit. I just might be saving your life! You’re welcome.

Did you hear about the grant that LODA received? That’s Lower Downtown Alamosa, if you didn’t know.  We received a grant to install trash cans, or should they be called receptacles? Actually…that’s all a lie, or maybe an exaggeration. I begged Glen Bunch, years ago, for some old trash can lids and cans he had stashed. I cried and begged. He relented and gave them to me. And finally, I have had a few minutes and 6-8 cans of spray paint and they are now almost ready to put in our district.

If you hadn’t noticed, we have a small sign on my blue planters on the north corner of my business. It says ‘Welcome to LODA’, with thanks going to Matt Beckner, owner of Ion Graphics for painting the starburst sign, that was rescued from a dumpster about four years ago. That’s how we do it in LODA!

And thank you again to Tharin Mortensen for spraying his BioBlend on Mom’s Garden. I am anxious to start planting there! YAHOO!!