Where to Begin . . .
- posted by: Cheryl
- posted in: Uncategorized, My Life
- on: May 28, 2008
There is so much taking place all around. So much going on in my ‘day job’, with the Fiskateers, my family. It’s been wild but fun. I am gearing up for the “From the Heart crop” that will be held at the Red Bee in Tustin on Saturday. It’s a special crop and I’ll share more about it at a later date. I’ve also been working on some projects, gearing up for Madison, WI . . . Fiskars Headquarters next month and spending some time with family and friends (a great b-b-q yesterday).
We celebrated Memorial Day on Monday and I have to say that “I’m proud to be an American” and so grateful for those who have sacrificied the ultimate price for this country’s freedom. If you are a family member of one of those individuals . . . I want to say thank you and that my thoughts and prayers are with you. Last week I also attended the Peace Officer’s Memorial Ceremony/Service. What a moving experience. Having attended this event and Memorial Day this past Monday . . . those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice and their families have been on my mind. One of the traditions at the Peace Officer’s Memorial was that of the ‘riderless horse’ . . . if you had a dry eye before this . . . no more.
The Riderless Horse or caparisoned horse which refers to the ornamental coverings, is a single riderless horse with boots that have been reversed in the stirrups that follows the caisson carrying the casket in a funeral procession. The custom is believed to date back to the time of Genghis Khan. The caparisoned horse later became a symbolization of a warrior who would ride no more. If a horse follows bearing the dead warrior’s boots, these are placed facing the rear in the stirrups. This custom of reversing things is very ancient and carried out by the Greeks in civil funerals as well as military.
You could have heard a pin drop as the horse walked by. Then the bagpipes . . . an incredible ceremony saluting those that protect, serve and pay the ultimate price. To law enforcement, fire, emergency personnel, military . . . thank you for all you do and especially for those that have paid the ultimate price so we can have ‘freedom’.
I have the blessing each day of working with men and women that put their lives on the line . . . heroes.
On a lighter note, I must say that I was excited to see that Brent from Fiskars Garden shared with us. It was the wildest thing . . . I had just been to a garden center and was looking at some Fiskars gardening tools thinking that I’d contact Fiskars about ’sharing some love’ in the garden dept. and wow! You see my hubby and I have been caring for a garden . . . a special garden grown with love by a wonderful 85 year old special lady from Oklahoma and her daughter Trena. They are out of town visiting family so we are tending to the garden of which there is corn, radishes, onions, tomatoes, strawberries, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, peanuts, swiss chard, squash, cabbage and the sweetest black berries! I was consumed by blackberries last night and there are more on the way. Incredible. Berry smoothies, berry crumble and berry pie. Mmmmmm. I frozen several of them.
So those gardening tools . . . I could have used some today in the garden. The guys at work are always talking about their gardening tools and many have their favorite Fiskars tool. It’s fun to hear about . . . I work with about 80% men. They love their handyman tools. So check it out here . . . don’t forget to post a comment for your chance to win.
And as May shared . . . what an opportunity to share as a Fiskateer what the Fiskateers have meant to you . . . your on-line community. I have had the blessing of hearing meany of these stories and have been touched. I would love for others to have that same blessing. I’m off to email a few folks about doing just that . . . sharing.
Have a ‘berry’ good day!
Michelle #3624 says:
May 28th, 2008 at 12:46 pmIsn’t it great fun to watch over a garden! I am so missing blackberries now. . . use to have them when I was growing up and the ones in the store never taste as good!
Diana Orlando says:
May 28th, 2008 at 12:52 pmyou always say such touching things…
Karen #3441 says:
May 28th, 2008 at 12:57 pmIt’s funny about the gardening tools, because my hubby and I were in Home Depot on Sat, and bought a Fiskars pruner.
Paula #2796 says:
May 28th, 2008 at 1:44 pmWhat a very moving experience Cheryl - TFS with all of us. I can’t wait until we move and can plant a garden. Hopefully next year!
Patty # 2832 says:
May 28th, 2008 at 2:13 pmYou are such a sweetie pie Cheryl! I know how those Memorial services can be. My Dad was a city policeman for over 30 years. And, when those bagpipes start.. it makes me cry every time!
We have quite a few gardening tools and they are great. A fave of hubbys is a hand saw we have..cuts like buttah!
Fresh garden goodies!! NOt much better than that, enjoy!
Jane Hasty says:
May 28th, 2008 at 2:21 pmLOL! Tim and I just finished trimming our small tree in the back yard. We used our favorite pruners from Fiskars!
Cheryl says:
May 28th, 2008 at 2:34 pmWow Cheryl! I got weepy eyed just reading about your wonderful experience.
We just recently got our garden in the ground as hubby starts the plants from seeds in the garage under a speical light.
It will be great to watch them grow into healthy plants and food.
Every year after the garden is ready for picking we take a day each week to “go shopping” in our garden. It is a great feeling.
Have fun in O.C. this weekend. I am in San Diego so hoping sometime to come to one of your crops.
Any Chance you willb e coming my way anytime soon?
Cheryl
connie #2909 says:
May 28th, 2008 at 3:45 pmTFS cheryl. The story brought tears to my eyes. As for the fiskars garden tools I love mine. Will be kinda embarassed to post before pictures! Flower beds look horrible.
Naomi says:
May 28th, 2008 at 4:45 pmI love working in my gardens. I bought some new Fiskars trimmers the other week as mine were so old. And they were Fiskars too! Our apple tree has tiny apples on it. Yummm. we always make an apple pie.
I’ll be at the crop at the Bee on Saturday.
See you there.
Alyson says:
May 28th, 2008 at 5:19 pmWe love our Fiskars pruners!
Tona says:
May 28th, 2008 at 5:43 pmCheryl, you can come up here to WA to work in my garden any time. I have about 12 flower gardens, a berry garden, a vegi garden, a pumpkin patch, & a small fruit tree orchard. I’ll even send you home with some homemade jams, & jellies.
krafty wahine #395 says:
May 28th, 2008 at 8:03 pmi have a fiskars garden cutter and i love it!!! thanx for sharing!
debby 2852 says:
May 28th, 2008 at 9:00 pmI’m doing the gardening thing. My hubby and I are going to work on a few photos this weekend along with our challenges.
I’m also working on “my story” with Fiskateers also.
Amy says:
May 28th, 2008 at 9:18 pmI didnt realize they had gardening tools too - Ill have to get my man some. lol
Amy G. #1803 says:
May 29th, 2008 at 6:25 amMan, what an awesome story. I’ve heard about the riderless horse before. What a way to be remembered. As far as the tools and the garden, that was so sweet of them. I bet they were super yummy!
Kim #669 says:
May 29th, 2008 at 8:16 amWhat a great tribute to the brave men and woman who keep us all safe!!
Thanks for explaining all about the riderless horse. I learned something today. TFS and for the terrific job you do for all of us Fiskateers!!
Doreen Nunez says:
May 29th, 2008 at 9:56 amCheryl I love that you always share. ..love the story….keep sharing.
Ann says:
May 29th, 2008 at 10:11 amI know what you mean about those moving Memorial Day ceremonies. It’s nice that you were able to attend & honor those heroes.
I’m excited about the garden tools. I have lots of different pruners & cutters for our garden that I couldn’t live without.
Jen B #258 says:
May 29th, 2008 at 1:31 pmThank you so much Cheryl for sharing your stories of the Peace Officer’s Memorial Ceremony. It sounds so touching to see.
I WISH I had a garden to tend. I’m hoping we can move to a house rather than an apartment so I can have a garden again. It sounds like you are having so much fun tending your friend’s garden. Enjoy the berries!
Jenna - 2250 says:
May 29th, 2008 at 4:53 pmI love my fiskars gardening tools! Now it just needs to warm up here, and I can get using them!
Niecia #3006 says:
May 29th, 2008 at 5:11 pmSounds pretty moving Cheryl…
My husband is in Law Enforcement and we sure know how little they are compensated for the type of work they do, but my husband loves the job.
I have some garden tools and just love to work in my garden and flowerbeds, if it would quit raining here.
Kathleen says:
May 30th, 2008 at 1:11 amI used to love to garden. Now I have to enjoy what my husband does in that department.He has worked to make us a beautiful yard with a pond and fountains and bird feeders and so much color!! My Uncle said we have the greenest yard for Arizona.My husband has a very green thumb. I enjoyed your gardening story so very much.