I have to give Jason Davis from “On The Road” the credit for this post. We always watch this show. I’ve told you before, he travels and just shows what he sees and the odd or unusual ways people work or do things. It’s usually a pretty neat show.
This one about Amazing Gardeners was on. It had the Bachman family on. I’m not sure if they’re available from coast to coast but everyone in MN knows or has heard about them. Todd Bachman, one of the owners was killed in China during the Olympics. His wife was also critically injured but survived. Jason taped this show before he left for China so it was sadly his last public appearance for the company.
Bachman’s is a nursery and florist. It opened 123 years ago and is still maintained by family members. It’s a neat little clip if you have time to watch.
It brought up a question in my head though. They were talking about how people seem to always buy flowers on and for certain occasions and even when times are tough and sales are low, they always seem to do okay and some of the bigger occasions still bring a lot of business.
Okay, I’ll admit it, I love to get flowers delivered to me at home. There’s just something so “rich” about it. I can’t even explain it but it’s almost like I go back in time. First of all, someone brings them right to your door and it’s a surprise. Then you get to unwrap and “fix” them all in the vase or whatever they came in and just envelope yourself in that “there is nothing like fresh cut flowers smell.” Then you look at them over and over.
I will tell you that I enjoy flowers very much. Whether they are in my garden, a ditch or vase. My dad used to always send flowers for special occasions. Maybe I just feel that “used to be” feeling when I get them. All my life he sent them to me so maybe when I get them I get that “young” feeling. My husband sends them once in a while. Not enough so that it gets old but often enough that I enjoy to no end to get them.
I think I could go without something else but would still like to get flowers from time to time even if I couldn’t afford it.
What about you? What is that one little thing that even if it made you strapped, you’d still be willing to splurge on it?
Us Girls..Our Views 
I love getting the flowers too, but always feel guilty. But I have to admit I buy them alot and arrange them myself. I really love flowers in the house.
I don’t quite like flowers. As I don’t have much time to decorate my house. It’s always my wife who does it.
I dunno, I’m such a cheap person. I really don’t splurge on myself, and nobody else does either. OK, maybe a nice latte on a trip to the bookstore. Or, maybe a couple hours in a spa (that hasn’t happened since I became a mom, though).
I understand the flowers thing. It’s something homey, something sweet, a classic gesture that just makes us feel giddy inside.
I think something I would splurge on even if times were tough would be books. In Israel there are no free public libraries and the libraries we have aren’t all that good. So I buy books. I could NEVER do without books.
I love getting flowers, too. 🙂
My splurge…hmmm. I need internet for work. I splurge on hi-speed internet because dial up makes me crazy. Does that count?
As much as I love flowers, my kitty loves them more. Any time I bring fresh flowers into the place, he’s weaving around my legs, meowing and salivating. The vase never makes it through the day without being dumped across the floor… causing the dog to run for cover, because he figures HE’S gonna get blamed because the cat rockets to the couch, curls up, and begins snoring… “wasn’t me!! pay no attention to those baby’s breath stuck to my ears…”
So, yeah… not many flowers in this house. Lots of fake ones, though. Apparently, they don’t taste nearly as good.
What I WILL splurge on, is Oregon Chai Concentrate. We don’t have any fancy coffee places around here, and I discovered this stuff a couple years ago. It gives me a wonderful start to my day. Yeah, it’s pricey at around $3 a quart, but that beats $3-4 per CUP.
My husband and I will always splurge on fondue – either the ingredients to make it at home, or the trip to the Melting Pot. It’s something special for us, we even have fondue for Thanksgiving (no turkey here!). And I’m not talking about just cheese or chocolate, but full meals with good beef, shrimp, maybe a lobster tail, made with a good shiraz.
I love getting flowers, but they never live very long in my house. I tend to have a black thumb, and if it’s green, it dies.
I’ll go out to eat, even if all I can afford is fast food on a credit card (and now that we are a family of six, that’s about all we can ever afford!) and I’ll call it a necessary expenditure for our mental health (everything is justifiable if you know how to spin it!)
Joy, that is so sweet your dad did that! What an awesome dad. Getting flowers is the best to a girl. Well, I would still splurge on….journals- even when we are broke-which is all the time- I buy myself a really nice journal from time to time. Eric makes a face, but knows it’s important to me! Writing down my life and emotions is a must have to me! I’d drive Eric even crazier if I didn’t!
People should splurge on flowers more! I got to say when Eric got flowers in the hospital, it brightened the white room up and it brightens your mood up to see the flowers. People would be happier with flowers around them!! I know I would! Fruit baskets brighten your mood too 🙂
Does a day off for Jason count? Jason never takes a day off work (thanks to his Dad:) but absolutely deserves one. Today he surprised me with a day off. He’d known for a week at least and he didn’t tell me until last night. I was so excited!!! Even if we couldn’t afford it I wouldn’t want to give that up. He does get paid off time thank goodness, but if he didn’t I wouldn’t care, and that’s a lot of money to give up for one day.
My dad sent me flowers the week before Christmas every year. The year after he died my daughter sent them to me. I love having a bouquet of flowers in the house.
But my downfall is books. I do go to the library but I like owning my books not borrowing them. I have 2 big bookcases in my room filled plus piles on the floor. I know I also have some in the attic. My brother used to own a used book store. My sister writes books though she has yet to be published. We are a bookish family. My daughter never watches TV. She reads. I always carry a book and a water bottle wherever I go.
that’s sweet Nikki, I love when Eric’s got a Friday off too! We never give up spoiling each other every now and then too- like he’s gotten me my favorite, chai tea, when we are out. Or I’ll take us out to eat (it’s his money, but really it is my money LoL)
I like the multi-colored Michael Jordan briefs. Snug, yet comfy. 😉
And the sweetie bought me a bottle of wine the other night after hearing me rave about how thirsty I was for booze!! (I just had a baby 4 weeks ago! Long 8 months with none!)
hola, want to see my pic sorry
Tess… your baby is beautiful and you look worn out! Don’t worry it will all get better in about twenty years. lol
I’ll admit it. I’m a daily coffee-holic….dunkin donuts to be exact…hazelnut. I know it’s full of sugar and syrup and all sorts of nasty things…but I love it….
I used to consider it a luxury and brew my own at home, but in the past 6 months my job has become busy enough that I don’t take lunch any more more. I figure if I’m not buying a lunch than I can splurge on $3 in the am if it counts for two meals…it’s not terribly healthy I know…but it IS habit forming and I feel lost without it…
The other as someone else mentioned is high speed internet…we’ve gotten rid of our cable tv over a year ago, but to remove decent internet and sever ties with my only form of entertainment seems cruel…. 😉
I love flowers as well, unfortunately my husband has the belief that they are already dead by the time they are purchased. He prefers if he’s going to purchase anything of that nature to purchase a live plant…which of course I promptly kill making the whole argument moot…
Hmmm, I’m not sure. I wouldn’t die without the internet, but I like having it! I would still splurge on a new shirt every now and then. It’s always fun to get something new.