Friday, October 19, 2007

Passing It On and Reaching Out

Recently, I posted about continuing to make my rounds in my goal to visit each home in our neighborhood with a small treat and poem.

I continued this week when we had an unexpected abundance of flowers! Our neighbor has a friend who works in the floral section of a local grocery store. Often, she gets flowers that are a little past and cannot be sold. This usually means that the roses are opening or have a brown petal or something. They still are beautiful and we enjoy them!

This neighbor came over Wednesday and brought two dozen roses saying they had been given FIVE dozen and wanted to share some with us! How sweet! I saved one dozen for us and put them in a family pitcher on our table - beautiful!

All this was going on during the great cupcake fiasco and I was frazzled to say the very least. So, while figuring out the next cake I was thinking of the bounty of the roses. I decided to take the second dozen (it wasn't a full dozen though) and divide them up and visit the next set of neighbors.

But, the very next question was what to put the flowers in? I have lots of canning jars - but I use these. And, while I don't want to sound selfish or greedy - I was having a hard time parting with these since I knew I would use them and lots of other people just toss them out! As I was stirring, I was praying for an idea and it came to me to go through my recycling bin. I came up with four glass bottles left from this, a clear plastic soda bottle and four aluminum cans.

I removed labels, plastic rims, can tabs and set to work. The soda cans were taken out on the porch and spray painted with paint left from this and this. I taped a strip of paper around each item and tied a bow with twine. Time spent: 30 minutes total. Amount spent: ZERO

Here is the outcome:

Aluminum soda cans

Plastic soda bottle

Glass bottles

Didn't they turn out nice?! It felt so nice to be resourceful and thrifty! And, it seemed like a great opportunity to reach out to more neighbors when a simple option presented itself.

I got up early and went out while it was still dark the next morning and delivered all the flowers before David left for work. I realized that part of my stress last time was trying to keep the flowers in one piece, the water in the containers and the little ladies happy and sitting down in the wagon. So, this time I did it alone.

I still two or three more batches of houses to go - but progress is being made! Doesn't this sound just like something that would happen in Mitford?

28 comments:

Wendi said...

The aluminum cans turned out very nice. Very resourceful!

Mary Ann said...

These are beautiful, Monica. You are so resourceful! This post was really inspiring!

Anonymous said...

You are amazing!

*carrie* said...

Great idea, Monica! These turned out so pretty--what a thoughtful idea.

Christi said...

What a beautiful idea - and so very thoughtful!

Anonymous said...

Way to use your resources to bless others -- your neighbors who received the flowers and those of us reading your blog about it! Very Mitford-like! :)
Love you, Mom

Katy said...

Those are awesome!!! I love your ideas!!! :)

Anonymous said...

Monica, they're beautiful! What unique roses. Looks like "Mitford Moment" trips to your unkown neighbors is bringing happy returns.

God bless you,

Andrea L.

Anonymous said...

Monica,

They're all so beautiful! And obviously divinely-inspired! I love the can idea. My husband is a Diet Dr. Pepper-aholic, and we have cans coming out of our ears! What a great idea for reusing them! And what a God-send those lovely roses were! Thank you for sharing!

Christine said...

I love how the aluminum cans look; you are so creative. I love how you spent zilch to make so much loveliness. Blessings!

kimi said...

can you come be my neighbor? I think you've inspired me to do this for my brand new neighbors in my building. thanks for the push!

Dana a/k/a Sunshine said...

You really are a beautiful person, inside and out. Really amazing. Your honest gestures are so thoughtful and I hope they are appreciated by your neighbors. Very, very nice. I love reading your blog. It warms my heart :)

Anonymous said...

I love the idea of reaching out to our neighbours and this is such a lovely inexpensive way to bless others. Thank you for sharing! It is something I can see them doing in Mitford!

Blessings,
Liisa

Anonymous said...

Wow, you amaze me and whats great you teach us through your talent! I'm so blessed by this blog, I can't even tell you!

Angela

Anonymous said...

You have a surprise waiting for you on my blog :)

Anonymous said...

Monica, I visit your site each day and appreciate your notes, photos, ideas, and recipes. What a great ministry to your neighbors! My brain is beginning to "hum" with ways that I might reach out in my neighborhood. Blessings. Sharon, the Desert Lady

Anonymous said...

Monica I wish I were your neighbor! We could have so much fun together!
Did you just put the flowers at the door unaware or deliver them and actually see the neighbors? A little confused because if it was dark I would not answer my door.
Oh, very good idea with the bottles and cans!
Elise

Monica Wilkinson said...

I just delivered the cans with the poem, I did not ring the bell or knock, just left a surprise at each door! Wouldn't it be fun if all of us could be neighbors? But, I guess we are in a way via our blogs! :)

Charlotte Cushman said...

Love it Monica!

Susan P. said...

Monica, I think you truly are such a precious person with such a sweet and caring heart. Your neighbors are so blessed to have you!

Anonymous said...

You never cease to inspire me, Monica!

Jenn said...

WOW, I like your idea, very inventive and practical! Those roses are sooo very pretty!!

I blogged about our harvest party this past weekend here: http://jennsnook.blogspot.com/2007/10/harvest-gathering-note-since-blogger.html

Unknown said...

Wow, I have just come across your blog and I love it. You have some wonderful and thoughtful idea. My dream is to move out Phila to a place where people do what you are doing just because. I wish you where my neighbor.

Unknown said...

Wow, I have just come across your blog and I love it. You have some wonderful and thoughtful idea. My dream is to move out Phila to a place where people do what you are doing just because. I wish you where my neighbor.

Anonymous said...

I will never look at aluminum soda cans and bottles the same anymore. What a beautiful and clever idea. Thanks for sharing.

Melissa G said...

You are so incredibly creative! I love how the "vases" turned out.
I just came by you blog on my wander though blogland and i'm so glad i found it! It's beautiful.
I think i want to join in you Commitment to Loveliness.
Thanks for the encouragement.

Angel said...

You introduced me to Mitford with this blog series all those years ago. 💓 I read whatever book was current and didn’t love it. Well this year I decided to try again, and started with book 1 and read through the whole series and enjoyed it, and it made me look up your blog again. 💕 So glad you are still posting ❣️ Also, I made these jars too, when you posted this post. Thank you for your lovely influence on my life!

Monica Wilkinson said...

That's sweet Angel! Thanks so much for popping back in and saying Hi! Have a wonderful day!