The past few days here have been like early spring. The temperature has fluctuated between 55 and 60 during the day time. I have already begun what my husband calls “toting season.” I do it every year and have no idea why. Maybe as I get older I just hate to watch something die — namely one of my ferns. Sure, I could put it in the greenhouse and let it go, but that would be like putting a child up for adoption. Well, not quite, but you get the idea.
Anyway, I have one fern that I was particularly proud of last summer. I adopted it from a local garden shop, more or less. I think they had left it out one night in the early spring of 2009. When I arrived at the garden store the owner was about to toss it into the garbage bin. He caught me looking at it — and him — as he was walking the plant to the dumpster.
I offered him $5.00 for it. He took me up on the deal and I came home with a frost burned fern. I wish I could say that I really worked it back to beauty but I didn’t. I put some new soil around the outer edge of the root ball and repotted it. Of course, I watered it from time to time but for the most part I left it alone except to pass by it and admire it as it grew into a beautiful and big fern.
When winter and the first frost approached I decided to bring it into the house. I was going to “keep” it throughout the winter. By December it was shedding all over the floor. But, I didn’t give up. Now, the basket is filled with new life. With the warm afternoons we have experienced this past weeked I have begun toting the fern into the sun for a few hours a day. It is responding nicely, although it isn’t worthy of a front porch spot quite yet.
So, here’s the point. When I put on my overalls — something I always do when I am messing with the plants — my mother-in-law usually makes a comment, and not always a pleasant one. She has a pair of overalls, so why is she so critical of mine?
Well, according to her, she is tired of seeing me in denim everyday. Guess she needs something to complain about. The truth is she is tired of seeing me in overalls. She claims they are worn out and “ragged.” Well, excuse me! The hem may be a little frayed but the knees are not torn. I don’t know about everyone else but I don’t consider my bibs broken in good until I have at least one knee with a hole!
But, being the nice person that I am from time to time and to end the continuing monologue about my worn out denim I have decided to go shopping. Now, I know the issue isn’t denim. It is the overalls. But, the mother-in-law doesn’t want to raise the issue quite yet. We have had the discussion too many days already and I have now gone deaf to the sound of denim and overalls.
I started looking online for overalls. I thought about the white painters pants. But I found an overall sister’s website. It is called Painter Girl. How have I missed it? It is marvelous. Well, anyway as I was going through the site I found this wonderful pair of overalls. I love the color. So, today I’m going out to look for a pair locally.
Well, in my world I’m not so good at innuendo and inference. If you have something to say, it is better to just say it. That way there will be no misunderstanding. And, since my mother-in-law has been constantly complaining that I only wear denim these days, I’m going to purchase my new spring wardrobe. 
Today, I am thankful for new overalls in a variety of colors — and not the typical blue denim, although that will always be my favorite. And, I am really thankful for Painter Girl. Nice site with lots of good information and a sister.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Maya, well, yes, I suppose sometimes one needs peace around oneself ! painter girl/Carol is fantastic and the funny thing is that she also prefers her old denim overalls ! besides being overalls sister she is doing very beautiful surroundings for people !
)) and I must admit that there is nothing better than worn out denim overalls, no matter how less proper they are considered !:) but of course sometimes we should be nice to our nearest ! overall love greetings from Niels in Copenhagen, sitting in jeans due to problems of overalls in flight security control ! but it is only one day before I’m back in overalls !:)
and talking about overalls in different colors, what about these http://www.overallwarehouse.com/davis/dept.asp?s_id=2&dept_id=4943 and if you one day should feel being too nice, you may choose the revolt overalls brand
Oh, for heaven’s sake, Niels! When did anyone ever see a security threat in overalls? Oh, well. I have to admit that I dressed today for a board meeting. I wore jeans instead of my overalls. I could see the sigh of relief from the director… until he noticed the ripped knee.
When he introduced me to the guest speaker I could see that he wanted to apologize for my attire, but before he could the speaker said, “I wish I had known someone else came here to work. I would have kept my overalls on.”
Thanks for the website. Now I am faced with too many choices! What a selection. Maybe it is time to Revolt!
Be safe on the way back to Norway from Copenhagen. I will email you later about an article I want to submit for the overalls book…. if I’m not too late.
Maya
Maya, no rush on the book, so far no contributions yet, but a number of people are working on it ! and talking about painter girl talking about her overalls, it is the buckles and all the other metal buttons, which make it problematic to have it on when I’m going by plane !