What to Write About

      I'm still doing my Friday Fiscal Wellness Checks but have been slacking in other blogging. I'm trying to figure out if there's anything to actually blog about without me going down either politically driven frustration path or bits of whininess about widowhood and feeling left behind in life path. So, on those days, which has been most, I've just not been blogging at all. 

     I thought I'd try and breath a little life into this space and at least maybe share some things we might chat about in the comments or share snippets of outings. I'm also trying to come up with lists of topics I want to research or explore and use the blog to capture. I don't know how well this will go, but if you're of a mind to, feel free to hang out with me.

     My wander around a garden center in January was a tiny bit of a morning brightener after the doctor. I thought the inside would be much bigger than it was, but there was still a good assortment of houseplants and little sections of "shopping" if I was in the mood to spend crazy money. Gerten's is a Minnesota nursery, so at least anything spent stays in our states economy, but wow are prices eye watering $20 hand towels and $16.99 hand soap, but gorgeous. There's a Minnesota section that would make some good gifts for out of town guests or hosts, lots of Paul Bunyan lore, lake, river, and camping inspired pieces. They do good stuff in our communities like sponsoring fundraiser sales like for poinsettias and wreaths in late fall and potted plants in the spring. The quality is very good.  Here's my wander with bad pictures as I was trying to be discreet and I'm terrible with a camera in general. 

I was tempted buy the bulb planters and the vibrant colors of whatever those were. I do not know plant names well, just enjoy the beauty. 

     

Now this caught my eye
and might be on my gift card list. 

If you like beautiful but
expensive hand soaps, they
have you covered. 

If Gnome's are your thing,
you'll be in luck! My sister
M would be a fan. 


Adorable garden knickknacks 
and pretty planters everywhere.

     I'll come back in the spring when there's blocks and blocks of plants, shrubs, trees, and vegetable starts. I've got a nice balance still on a gift card and will put towards my back yard and gardens. 

Comments

  1. Cheryl KimbleyFebruary 1, 2026 at 11:16 AM

    Garden centers get us to dreaming of warmer days and all the pretty colors of flowers. I am so ready. I went to get feed the other day, and had to walk around and look - just to get out of the winter mode!

    ReplyDelete
  2. BelindaFebruary 1, 2026 at 11:49 AM

    I love walking around the garden centers looking at plants and such, It's very therapeutic.

    ReplyDelete
  3. GinaFebruary 1, 2026 at 12:23 PM

    I think its really cool to get to hang out on other blogs and meet people. Hearing about daily life for others does not bore me. Its like having coffee with a neighbor. You aren't whining about widowhood to state the facts...just sayin'. Its valuable to me to hear how other widows are going about their lives. And garden centers - I love visiting them. Always reminds me of my mother. Such cute things, too!

    ReplyDelete
  4. LoriFebruary 1, 2026 at 12:42 PM

    I love garden centers and luckily, we have a quite a few nice one like yours. It is always so relaxing to walk around them.

    ReplyDelete
  5. MaggieFebruary 1, 2026 at 1:13 PM

    "There are no uninterested things, only uninterested people." - G. K. Chesterton

    ReplyDelete
  6. KirstenMFebruary 1, 2026 at 1:22 PM

    Looking at pretty things, without necessarily buying them, has always been a way of cheering myself up. At university I used to go to a frighteningly expensive china shop to gaze at dinner plates... at £20 each back in the 1970s there was no temptation to buy !

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousFebruary 1, 2026 at 2:29 PM

    Oh dear…my daughter works in a nursery over the summer and I get a discount. Even before she worked there I frequented it far too much. I can wander for hours there, picking, and putting back, then picking up again more flowering perennials. It soothes my soul!
    And your pictures are perfectly fine!
    -Meg B.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Back2OurSmallCornerFebruary 1, 2026 at 3:23 PM

    I do enjoy wandering around a garden centre, not only for the plants but all the other things to attract my attention. Hubby and I also go there for a mid morning coffee and cake.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousFebruary 1, 2026 at 5:13 PM

    I do not consider your telling about the difficulties of widowhood and the huge horrible shift you have had to make in your life path to be whiny. I say it is similar to being divorced bc we are older and alone. Financially, emotionally, physically, mentally, it sucks. It is ok to talk about it. It is not something you “get over” although you adjust bc you have to. Virtual hugs. Cindy in the South

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousFebruary 1, 2026 at 5:28 PM

    When I was little ( quite a few decades ago ) the garden centre sold only plants , seeds and gardening tools - they have transformed over intervening years . One of my local ones has gifts , a pottery painting shop and a children's party room . And coffee and cake in the restaurant of course
    The colours look lovely - it can be relaxing thinking of planting your garden whilst waiting for Spring
    Siobhan x

    ReplyDelete

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