Now the Hard Work Begins!

The party's over--and a great success, too. For those on the internet, the photos were sent under "Snapfish." Pictures are also posted in the Mail Room Bulletin Board. At the next meeting of FOG (no date set as yet), the funds collected and spent will be reviewed.

Plans for next Spring & Summer need to be made--a Gardener's work is never done! Instead of committees for the Auction, Music & Refreshments--we will need planters, weeders, & waterers. Are you out there?

So give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back--take a deep breath--and get ready to get to work!
And of course -- always take time to smell the roses!

Gale's Day - At Last! September 24, 2005

If you haven't been out to the Sundial area in the far right corner of the garden, here are some photos of Gale's bench - "He Gave Us Back Our Garden"

Gale's Day--A Celebration Worthy of the Honoree!

WOW---Months of planning, and yesterday it all came together. It was the kind of party Gale would have enjoyed--beautifully decorated, excellent musicians, delicious and bountiful food, and good friends. The only thing we could not provide was someone to give a tour of the sunny beds and shady nooks of the garden--only Gale could have done that with knowledge and style.

This is a "Thank You" to all the FOGS and FROGS--YOU DID IT!



(Photos & a financial report will follow in a later posting).

The Daffodils

The Daffodils
by William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay.
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee.
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company.
I gazed - and gazed - but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought.

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

Gale's Day -- Almost Here!

Things are beginning to fall into place--with one exception....

WHO'S COMING? Invitations went out on September 7th, Notices are posted on the Bulletin Boards, the BLOG site address is posted...is there anyone out there?

With only 2 days to go, the FOG committee had to make some decisions so,

1. A notice rescinding the $10 charge for non-resident guests will be distributed throughout the building today, September 22nd.

2. Refreshments will be based on approximately 100-125 guests. After all, as Carole said, this is a cocktail hour, not Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner! June will order 4 platters of sandwiches & cookies, Ralph will make his delicious dip, Kevin is providing the wine, Irene will make a fruit juice punch, June bringing grapes and nuts. This is not a complete list. Sally is handling the refreshments and if 200 people show up, we'll just share. June will pick up an additional 5 packages of the cocktail napkins in the Fall colors. She will also get 600 plastic cups, small plates, and forks in case non-finger food is donated. Carole has a Tablecloth in Fall colors that will be used.

3. A schedule for covering the receipt of Silent Auction items in the Board Room was done. Copies of the forms to go with each item were run off. Table cloths & other items to decorate the Auction Room as suggested by Yvonne will be looked into, once we know how many items are being contributed.

4. Location -- Refreshment tables - Front Lobby
Silent Auction - Board Room
Food Drop-off, etc. - Community Room

5. Seating - All the Commuity Room chairs will be put in the Lobby. Together with the sofas, chairs, terrace chairs, etc., there should be sufficient seating for those who require it.

6. Program - Gerry made all the arrangements for the musicians and prepared the draft program. It was approved as read. Irene will prepare the Program that will be handed out on Saturday. Fran will present a short history of the Garden, written by Irene. Due to lack of time, no "story board" will be created. We will ask Becky if she will put out the book of Garden photos that Gale collected. Irene will photograph the Bench & surrounding flowers, and print an 8x10 photo for display.

Have I left anything important out? Let me know...I can always add another BLOG!

LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE COMING!!

Silent Auction Submissions

Only a couple of more days to go! Don't forget to bring your Silent Auction items to the Board Room on Thursday, September 22nd.

Had a chance to preview some items that "T" is contributing. Two beautifully framed limited edition prints of drawings by her professional artist niece. And if that isn't enough--a champagne cooler, 2 beautiful Mikasa champagne flutes, and a bottle of champagne. Sounds like a romantic celebration for two!

ART and CHAMPAGNE....Yours for the right bid!

Meeting, Silent Auction Items & RSVP - PLEASE!

Wednesday September 21 7:00 pm Community Room - FOG Meeting

Thursday September 22 ALL DAY (to 9:00 pm) - Board Room - Bring your Silent Auction items so they can be set up for Saturday.

Saturday September 24 3:00 pm Rear Lobby, Garden & Board Room - Gale's Day!

RSVP - Not many responses received. Does that mean you're not coming? It's hard to plan a party (with refreshments) when you haven't a clue how many people will be there! You may call, send an e-mail or leave a note in the box at the Front Desk or Mail Room. So how easy is that!

Telephone number & e-mail addresses are on the invitation!

FOG Meeting Reminder

The next two meetings will be held in the Community Room
7:00 P.M.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Wednesday, September 21, 2005

All residents are welcome to help finalize the plans for "Gale's Day."

I said Meeting! Not Eating!

For All the Empty Spaces.....

The Color Purple

THREE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS!

1 - Will you join us on September 24th?

2 - Will you contribute refreshments?

or just contribute?

3 - Will you donate a treasure to the silent auction?

What a deal!

Let us know by telephone, e-mail, or put a note (or check) in the box in the Mail Room or at the Front Desk.

Invitations Delivered - Please RSVP!

The invitations to Gale's Day - September 24th - were delivered throughout the building today. More information about refreshments, the silent auction, etc., will follow in the next few days.

OK -- so it's an old-fashioned idea--but please let us know if you will be there on the 24th! We need to know if we need wine & cheese, etc. for 30 or 300!

Well, actually this was wine & quiche for one!

But lots of company for dessert!

And then they hung around for croissants and hot chocolate for breakfast...what kind of party was this...only in Paris!

Costco's & TraderJoe's ain't bad either!

Don't forget to let us know if you are coming on the 24th.

September Song

Yesterday was a beautiful day in the garden. I sat on the back terrace enjoying the sweep of green lawn and soft breezes. Watched as Pablo & Julio got the fountain sprinklers working again..listened to the sound of a cardinal somewhere off in the trees. Later that evening my digital & I took a stroll around. Autumn is coming...the last few roses of summer, the brown hydrangea flowers. It's that in-between time...most of the flowers are gone and the trees are not yet showing the reds and golds of fall. Here are a few of the end-of-summer pictures:
Summer's Last Rose


Hydrangea in Brown

HPT Website is Back!

Since there won't be anything new regarding "Gale's Day" until next week, I thought I'd bring you up to date on "old" news. Back in 2001 a resident, Marcella, and her techie students created a web site for us as an assignment. They did a great job...but I don't know how many residents even knew it was out there. Then something happened to all the photos and they were gone for about two years. Marcella had moved away, and no one knew how to fix the website and get back our pictures.

I recently contacted Marcella and she did a lot of work for us and voila! the website is back, with pictures. One of the sad things in the site is the apartment with a view of the Twin Towers. The devastation caused to New Orleans and other areas of the south by Hurricane Katrina brings back the horrors of September 2001.

Of course, we keep on, keepin' on...so I'll work with Marcella so the website can be updated to 2005-6.

Until then, check it out on: www.harrisonparktowers.com

Have a fun Labor Day weekend...so what if you are retired...act like you've been given a 3-day holiday!