Its' Summer at Trish's Garden Center and Shop

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It's a Summer morning at Trish's Garden Center and Shop...and she is busy watering the plants!

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Trish: Hi, it's early morning here, and all the plants and pots need some serious watering. This Chicagoland heat wave is such a change from our cold late Spring.

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We finally got the roof frame up on the shop---though all the roofing hasn't arrived, but at least we are dry inside the shop now and open for business.

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El stopped in on her way to Vickie's for work. 

El: Trish, could you pot up a rose bush like this in a white pot for my mom. This is exactly what she needs on her apartment patio and her birthday is Sunday.

Trish: Sure, how about for tomorrow, I'll call the farm and Ben can bring it in on the truck tomorrow with the weekend's supplies.

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El: Wonderful...so much to look at...

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...and you still have seeds. You have something for everyone.

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Trish: You know how eclectic the neighborhood is...I just bring in a little bit of everything and what I really like.

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Zoe: Well I love all the blues...what an assortment, and that cute little gnome.

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The girls continue to browse as they wait for Vickie to show up and open the door to Vickie's Vintage.

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Lots of supplies and cute garden accessories. 

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The Green house is full of heat loving plants and flowers.

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Carly: You have so many different green plants this year.

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Carly: I've always wanted a greenhouse.

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Carly: So many ideas! I love the donkey pot---!

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El: I love the natural vibe inside the store!

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El: I think you everything a city dweller would want for their home and garden. 

There's Vickie, we have to go.

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Carly: Trish, is mid-July too late to book our wedding flowers?

Trish: Since your wedding is in October, that would be no problem. Just start clipping ideas from the internet and magazines, so I can get an idea of your taste, and we will start from there. How about the week of the 15th?

Carly: Great I will get Jeffrey to get an afternoon off---so we can really concentrate and I'll let you know.

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That was fun...I love when the girl's stop and chat, now to get ALL these flowers watered. It's supposed to be in the 90's again today.

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Always good Planting at Trish's --

Please Come Again!

Author Note:

My own garden, yard, and Father's Day swallowed up my time last week. I hope you all had a lovely week. I'm also working on a huge project for the NBDCC (National Barbie Doll Collector's Convention) to be held right here in Chicagoland in Rosemont. The Theme is 'Decade of Destiny' which is the 1920's. 

I'll be traveling back and forth for the 5 days of the convention + some volunteer time as our local doll club is host this year. I can't share much on this until after the convention. But, I'm so excited and the workroom is a certified disaster.

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Here's a sneak peek....

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The garden will have to wait, I'm back to my dungeon workshop, tons of paint, Modge-Podge and itsy-bits and pieces.

Do You have any HUGE projects going on?

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Trish's New Flower Shop Part 3: Lighting, Fixtures and Cooler

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We finally have some crappy rainy weather, so I'm back in the craft room to finish up the flower shop. On the agenda yesterday was to finish lighting, fixtures and mounting and lighting the cooler.

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Still on the work table, the flower shop is roofless, but I cut down the walls and then mounted some electrical 'ball' lights around the outside and in side. 

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The lighting system is pretty straight forward. As I try to wean myself off battery systems, I pick up electrical strings of lights on sale, that might be used for fixtures. These 'ball lights' were discounted and have been in my stash for awhile. The roof piece is simple foam core, with an eave extension on the front and sides of the building. In the foreground you are looking at the back corner.

I measured and decided where the fixtures might look best. Then I had to layout the wires, zig-zagging between the lights. I cut holes the size of the top of the ball fixture, unscrewed the 'balls' and then inserted the cap through the ceiling. the ball was then screwed back on flush with the ceiling. The tops were then super taped to the foam core to hold them in place straight. Pretty simple and quick and not high-tech at all. I look at the dollhouse lighting systems and shudder.

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This is the cooler mounted on its stand, and all the 'pots' are made from electrical conduit.

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After trimming off the glued felt bottoms, I added a rock or two to each pot to make them stable.

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The cooler was Super Duck taped to the back wall. Three holes were drilled in the top of each section for the same ball lights.  I unscrewed the 'ball shades' and taped the light bases and let the bulbs through the holes drilled into the plastic case. The light is soft and diffused, actually quite nice.

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Trish: Hi, I'm really trying to finish the layout in here. The new shelving fixtures were all made from I-Phone boxes. Super nice finish and very crisp surfaces with some covered in white contact paper. We have faced some of the shelves with left-over flooring (paper). I'm loving my work/service counter, (also a cut-down phone box) which is waiting for it's custom top. My electronic register will be mounted on the wall, to save space. Most of my customers use cards...so no need for a huge register.

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Trish: I love the shelving, I'm not sure exactly where everything will go, yet.

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Trish: The cooler is up and running and will be filled with fresh flowers and arrangements. I have a monster cooler in the back room, as well as a large work area. 

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Trish: Tomorrow will be a very big day of moving in and getting the entire shop up and in place, so we can finally open.

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Trish: I'm very happy to have the huge windows which will be great for displays.

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Trish: Taking photos will be interesting as there is a bit of reflection and bounce back. While the shop is small, we will be able to service customers all year-round now, instead of commuting from St. Charles which is over 50 miles away.

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Trish: I've taken a studio at the GrandView (Lara's old place) which is only a block away. The garden center will be managed by my brother, while I  concentrate on our corporate clients and neighborhood customers. The business grows in leaps and bounds, much like the revitalization of this neighborhood 

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Trish: Outside we will have room for floral containers for fresh flowers as well as plants. This will nicely connect with the Blue Sprinkling Can Garden Center, which will be right outside the door.

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Trish: Well it's getting late, and tomorrow is a big day! Signing off from Trish from Trish's Flowers and the Blue Sprinkling Can Garden Center. I'm loving the outside lights, they will really give the shop a presence. 

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Psssst, don't tell Trish what a disaster the garden center is in---while we've been waiting for the finished building to be slipped into its location! 

Yes, I have a really busy day or two---yet...hope it keeps raining!!

Does the weather affect your DOLL PLAY?

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I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions or products shown, or from where I shop. 

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Trish's Tree Time Lot is HOPPING!

Trish's Tree Time Garden Center has been pretty busy!

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Trish: I'm sure glad Ted came this afternoon with more stock. The trees and wreaths are thinning out. I bet we will be busy tonight!

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(Later after 5 pm the lot is packed)

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Lena (L) and Mari (R) have been shopping for hours.

Mari: Oh, that wreath, that one..up there!

Ted: I'll be right there to reach that, for you!

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Ted: Anything else if you still have room in the car?

Mari: This sprinkling can for my Grammy and this snowman for Mom. Thanks, you have been a big help, Ted. Trish is lucky to have such a great brother!

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Rosemarie: Daddy, we found the perfect tree...it's PINK! Look at these great decorations!

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Vince (Daddy): Cool, which tree, Honey?

Connie (Mom): That one back there!

Vince: We'll need help with that, man that is really pink?

Courtney (pink hoodie): Oh, Daddy can I help?

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Ted: Great choice sir...for the girls! Lift on three; one, two, and three!

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Vince: Glad it's only two blocks away! 

Ted: Do you have this, Sir?

Courtney: Sure, we're the Marinos, we got it! 

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Courtney: You're the best Daddy ever! 

Vince: Sure honey, anything for my girls!

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Melanie: Maybe we should get this live tree, and put it in the yard after Christmas?

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Lucas: Say, if we take this live tree, can you plant it later for us. 

Ted: Sure we have full landscaping services, we can do it after Christmas, or you can mulch a mound around the pot and we will do it later! 

Lucas: How about delivery with the mulch then. 

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Melissa: My mom picked this out too...I love the Nutcracker!

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Melanie: We've only been in Chicago for a month, this is a great neighborhood. Thanks, for all your help!

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Peder is shopping for gifts for his family! 

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Dee Dee: My aunt Jacquie will love that wreath, can you bundle it up for me, she's still shopping!

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Trish: Hi, Dee Dee! 

Dee Dee: Ted got this down for me, now I have to run to the car before Jacquie sees it! 

Trish: Better hurry, thanks for shopping here!

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Trish: Peder, what kind of wreath are you looking for?

Peder: Something with sports, my dad is a Chicago Team guy.

Trish: I'm sure we have one here somewhere.

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Trish: That's a lot of empty wreaths? Are you going to put me out of business!

Vanny: Hi, Trish. We are going to make some for the church virtual bazaar, can we get a break on the price, if you can.

Trish: How about half price, and you can put Trish's Garden Center down as donating, also. Happy to help!

Jacquie: Thanks Trish, there are so many in need, all the proceeds will go for the food bank! 

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Jacquie: You sure have been busy---we are just hanging on at the salon.

Trish: Soon as we close up for the winter, I'll be in for a trim and my nails are a fright. Have a Merry Christmas if I don't see you again.

Jacquie: Don't miss the Tree Lighting in the Park on Friday. You two are part of our community now.

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Jacquie: See you Friday! Don't forget to bring something for the food bank...we have to help those in need! 

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Trish: Sure we will. Tree lighting...wow...can't wait...!

Ted: Yep, it will be fun, well let's get all these tree lights off, Sis...or the un-tree lighting, 

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...and lock the gates...tomorrow is another day!

Trish: Ted, we need more wreaths, some trees, and more bags...and....

Ted: I know.....

HAVE YOUR DOLLS PURCHASED THEIR TREES YET?

Sandi's note: I have to confess this is the most fun I have had in a long time...setting up this tree/garden center...and dressing all the dolls to do their shopping. I will be sorry to see it close for the winter. Upside next is Vickie's and then the Tree Lighting! Hope you are managing some doll time, since we are locked up!

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