Your way or mine
There are many ways to celebrate this holiday season. I am not one to say this celebrating needs to be done in a specific manner. Variety is my motto – the spice of life; go for it. Enjoy as much as possible.
Traditional celebrating is comforting and loving, your traditions or mine. Spontaneous merry making, your style or mine.
So many of us and so many ways and means to celebrate. I hope we all take the time to make someone happy. A smile, a hug, a little gift, a plate of cookies – spread some cheer in your way and know you did well.
This holiday list I use to remind me to stay stress-free this month:
1. Thou shall not spend every cent in the checking account.
2. Thou shall not overly spend and spoil the precious grandkids.
3. Thou shall not appear at every single holiday gathering, no one is counting but you.
4. Thou shall not forget to take a gift tag or donate a toy or put money in the red kettle.
5. Thou shall not stress out standing in lines at the market, Post Office or bank.
6. Thou shall not cruise through yellow traffic lights, bounce over curbs or race pedestrians in crosswalks.
7. Thou shall not stress out over the disappearance of freshly baked cookies, they were meant to be eaten.
8. Thou shall not forget the special presents in the guest room closet, under the blanket.
9. Thou shall not cry Christmas Eve over things you did not get done.
10. Thou shall not cry, only smile Christmas morning as you realize time is up and you have done all you could to make others happy, loved, fed or warm.
At risk of annoying someone by praising one lovely holiday tradition I especially love, I would like to remind everyone about the beautiful poinsettia plant. This is a good year for this showy plant. The prices are good and the selections range from tiny to small trees with braided trunks.
These plants are great for a hostess gift, and do not require a lot of care. They like bright, indirect light; do not need feeding and minimal watering as the soil at the top of the pot feels dry. They do not like cold drafts or setting under the heating vent. I keep one on the lanai and as long as the temperatures stay 50 or above, it does well.
They really do not like wet feet. Remove plants from foil wrappers to water, drain and then place back in the foil.
You can purchase a small soil growing set of plants. No, they do not have to be in a pot. I have often found a broken stem or plant and I just clip it off and sear it with a flame and it will be just fine sitting in a small glass vase. The stems are hollow. There will be a white sap at the tip of a stem or a broken leaf. Do not rub that in your eyes. I have been searing for years and have never had a problem. If sap does bother your skin, just wash with soap and water. Poinsettias are NOT poisonous. Well, maybe if you ate 30 or 40, you might be in trouble. If you do not like searing with matches, light a candle and use the candle flame to sear with. If the bloom droops immediately, you know you did not get it correct. Try again. You can put a little water in the vase, or not.
The true flower part of this plant is the tiny yellow buds in the very center of the colorful bracts. Those colorful bracts come in a bunch of colors: ice punch and winter rose are a couple. The leaves will be rounded, jagged or soft and almost velvety. They also come in white and cream colors. In a small vase with some holly and some evergreen, they make a nice dinner table centerpiece.
More about poinsettias later.
Happy holidays until we meet again.
H.I. Jean Shields is past president of the Cape Coral Garden Club.