Sending Love, Blooms & Good Wishes

The new norm

I trust and pray that all of you are staying in good health and getting adjusted to spending more time at home. Some of you are working from home, taking care of children; others are alone, isolated from family and friends. Either way, I hope that you are able to connect with family and friends online or at a distance. I have to admit that I’m having a tough time, but it helps to remember that we are all in the same boat, juggling this new norm.

PHOTO CREDIT: Vivi et Margot

Enjoy the little things

When we look back on this chaotic time in the world, we will remember how we felt, whom we helped and how it changed all of our lives. I know, for sure, that I have a completely new perspective on life. Things that were once so important to me seem kind of trivial now. The tiny acts of kindness and generosity I have witnessed have warmed my heart to the core. Maybe we all needed this is in some weird sort of way, to slow down and enjoy the little things in life.  I hope you will agree?

PHOTO CREDIT: Sharon Santoni

My routine

It hasn’t been easy to have a routine during this ordeal. One thing I’ve been doing is going to the shop to look on things and take care of our beautiful plants.  It would break my heart to see them neglected, therefore I use them as my excuse to get dressed, show up and find a purpose through this uncertain time. 

Video streaming with France

Live streaming videos on Instagram with a few of my fellow creative friends has been a fun way to spend some free time. Charlotte Reiss of the French homeware brand Vivi et Margot has been interviewing a new guest each day on how they are coping and staying busy.
My friend Sharon Santoni and I did a live stream of us creating floral arrangements from our respective gardens. I do say, she had a lot more going on in her garden in Normandy, France than I did here in Massachusetts. Nonetheless, we kept it simple and informative, chatting about flowers and our trips to France. If you have a little downtime, check out Sharon and Charlotte’s Instagram live videos at 10:00 EDT daily. They both have been amazing at keeping us all cheery.

PHOTO CREDIT: Kindra Clineff

What brightened my day

When a pre-ordered shipment of flowers from Holland arrived a few days ago, I had to come up with a plan. I decided to make up little bouquets and bring them to a few community care centers. I’ve always felt that a flower arrangement could be just the thing to brighten someone’s day and was happily reminded of this in one of the e-mails I received…

PHOTO CREDIT: Sharon Santoni

A message of thanks…

This e-mail from Mary Mazza of Atria Marland Place brought tears to my eyes and confirmed that flowers do bring happiness!

“Hello. We were the recipients of one of your elegant floral arrangements, card signed ‘with love from your Andover Community.’ I would appreciate if you could contact the person that arranged for this to happen. Atria Marland Place is an Assisted Living Community. I cannot thank you enough and with my grateful appreciation, let you know how much this meant to staff, families and residents. You could see people gazing at the flowers and just stopping to catch their breath in this very uncertain time. The arrangement made people aware of the beauty life holds. So please know your very thoughtful gesture surely made a difference for so many people. ”

— Mary Mazza, Engage Life Director, Atria Marland Place

Mary also included a beautiful quote from one of their residents:

“Where flowers bloom so does hope”

— Lady Bird Johnson

Such a good reminder in these uncertain times to smile when you see a flower blooming on your next walk outside. I know I will look around, take a deep breath and know everything is going to be okay.

Stay healthy and safe. Love to you all.  Can’t wait to see you around the shop soon.

XOXO,
Sandra

PHOTO CREDIT: Vivi et Margot