Sometimes, I even surprise myself !
If you are a gardener and a reader, you might find this interesting.
(worldartsme.com)
Sometimes, even for me, or especially for me, creative ideas do not come often or easily. However, yesterday afternoon, something incredible happened. At least I thought it was incredible - a really good idea came to me in the most unexpected way. If you are a gardener and an avid reader, I hope you will appreciate this idea. Yes, the two are related.
Here is how a very creative idea was born...again, creative to me. It may be old hat to you, but I was proud. Sandra was in the sun room and she asked me to retrieve a book too high on the shelf for her to reach. She just had to have that book at the very minute I sat down and opened my lap top in another room. Please understand the magnitude of her request. Our sun room doubles as her library. On one wall, she has floor- to- ceiling book shelves and of course, the book she needed was on the top shelf. With her seated behind me, as I was staring at the shelves she said," I need that one, right up there." "Sandra, can you narrow the location just a little?" I asked. This is standard procedure for us. She did give me which shelf, right- left, hot -cold, color directions until I found the right book and handed it to her. As I was about to leave, she asked, "Uh, could you get me a book mark? There's some on that shelf over there."
Cringing, I started to turn around to get a bookmark, when my eyes focused on the small table between our wing back chairs. Strewn about the table were objects obviously important to Sandra: note pad, pen(s), Kleenex, highlighter(s), pads of colored stickies, scissors, recipe cards, eyeglass cloth and cleaner, French design and cooking magazines, her cell phone, and some objects I cannot identify...or do not want to identify.
Then I saw them! The light became brighter.There were several neatly stacked beside her magazines. My focus became intense.Then I saw them. The perfect book marks - for a gardener and avid reader. 
I picked up the petunia plant marker and asked, "What about this? This is the perfect book mark...at least perfect for you." To my surprise, she smiled and agreed. I was so proud. I had to write about it right away. You see, ideas like this are few and far between in my small world. I grabbed all the markers and headed for the kitchen to photograph my idea. On my way out of the room, there was a loud and firm voice, "BRING THOSE BACK RIGHT AWAY! You know I save my markers and file them in my garden journal for next year's planting." Funny as it may seem, I did know that. Which goes to prove the old adage , "Old dogs and old husbands can still learn" - with patience and persistence from their handlers.
When I returned with her markers, she looked at them and said (sternly), "Where is the clematis marker?" I looked at her and started to ask, "How did you know...?" Then I stopped, turned around and there it was on the floor. Years ago, I learned that there are some questions a man does not need to know the answers. It is easier to just accept.
Nonetheless, I walked out of the room with a feeling of accomplishment. I even surprised myself with such a practical idea - Use your old plant markers as colorful and inexpensive book marks. Please, if you have been doing this for years, break it to me gently. I can be very fragile at times. I was just so proud that this idea came to me like a flash of light from a rotating lighthouse beacon.
Now, I have a creative way to mark MY place in the latest issue of Golf Digest - with my Buht Jolokia hot pepper marker.
And that's the way I see it on this humid July morning. .
Until next time, save those markers.
Michael