All Eyes On Alden Lane Nursery in 2021 says (me!) sandra, tvgp
i love this picture! it captures the beautiful smiles of two community icons: Charlotte Severin & Jacquie Williams Courtright -plus captures the spectacular painting of ravenswood in fall by Charlotte.
-i asked a silly question when i saw the painting "are those fall colors just your favorite to work with?"
"i love all the colors" Charlotte said with a smile of her own..
/of course, -write. can i take my question back please...
***
and regarding alden lane nursery -during my last shift, i was asked numerous times whether or not the nursery would be shutting down again with the new covid spike and regulations
each time i answered the same way -explaining how we are an essential business, and how we are so outdoors; pointing to the acres of open land; trees, flowers, plants... and talking about how we are finally open 7 days a week again, and!
i can't count the amount of people who share with me, that they come to alden lane to have their spirits lifted; especially during this time
and we are an essential business primarily because we sell food; vegetables; herbs, fruit trees..
but i want you to know, alden lane nursery is an essential business because we offer fresh air, nature, beauty, colorful flowers, a beautiful fountain, gorgeous statuary, an open landscape, and all of our 400+ year old stunning valley oak trees [CH!]
being outdoors and in beautiful landscapes is essential to our over all well being whether our government officials realize it or not
and! especially if you have been 'sheltered in place' in your home, working from home; schooling from home
you need to get out!
and what i have mentioned many times, in different ways is this: nature is the most generous, and the easiest way back to health and happiness
what i mean by easiest, is this: many people put a lot of effort into trying to relax.. taking yoga classes, would be a great example
and yoga is wonderful no doubt, but..
i would argue, you can land in the same place, spiritually/mentally/emotionally (perhaps not physically) by just walking slowly through alden lane nursery and letting your eyes land on all the flowers, trees, plants.. breathing the fresh air, noticing the sky, the clouds.. the birds, the squirrels, the butterflies, the hummingbirds
you dont have to TRY to make anything happen; you just walk and stroll...
next thing you know, you feel better. it is so easy people!
***
and, but then i realize.. this is true for customers, for guests of alden lane nursery, for some of its employees
if you own, or operate..
oh goodness! the weight of the responsibilities... and with the pandemic, and all the safety precautions, the ever changing mandated guidelines; codes..
but it is my understanding that our owner, and operators
they go to other beautiful landscapes around the world for their own spiritual nourishment
beauty without the responsibilities; AKA vacation. ~aloha~
***
"we were just in a funk... and so i said, let's go to alden lane...."
i hear it over and over..
and the other thing i hear over and over
"this is my first time here.. i had no idea how beautiful!"
-and we give a lavender sachet to each new customer.. and we cannot keep up with the making of these sachets lately..
when i encounter new customers, i've been saying the same thing too
"keep your eyes on alden lane in 2021! we've had to postpone some events due to covid
i don't think of them as canceled, just postponed, and we have live music here... wine tasting... artists everywhere for art under the oaks.. we have a fairy festival... quilt show... classes -art classes and taking care of your plants classes.."
really,
every single cashier at alden lane is quality.. but you're going to get a little extra if you are in my line
and my most recent value added service was when one of my customers was wearing a t-shirt with shakespeare on it..
husband and wife; husband was wearing the t- shirt
"you like shakespeare?"
and they both told me about how, BC (before covid), they used to drive to oregon for the shakespeare festival..
"have you ever been to moss landing?"
and they had not.
do you know how exciting it is when you know of a place, and they've never been there or heard of it, even..
and so i shared about how i had just been there... and, "you have to go! it's got everything shakespeare.. books, portraits, costumes, souvenirs, memorabilia - a library like you've never seen! pins, postcards.. statues.. it's going to blow your mind"
and,
i really enjoy cashiering for that reason.. little mini conversations, all day long
a sport logo on a hat; a word or design on a t-shirt; a question about a product they purchased;
their dog; their children.. earrings, -and as of late, the design of their face mask
any little tiny passing thing, and a mini conversation is born.
except!
except during 'blackout'
BLACKOUT is march 15th - June 15th, and it is all hands on deck, and very little talking..
our busiest time of every year. all registers ringing, and we all work very hard to keep any waiting in line to an absolute minimum
"good to see you!" "thank you" "next customer" is the extent of our blackout conversations.
no one takes it personal though, everyone just understands.
In Jesus Name.. amen.
#charlotteseverin #aldenlane
posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 9:50 AM
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