A Rare & Beautiful Thing

I had learned that the number one best houseplant for improving air quality was a Sansevieria (in a NASA experiment!), nicknamed the Snake Plant and Mother-in-law's Tongue (because they're sharp).  So, when I saw one for sale I picked it up.  The poor thing was in a tiny pot and terribly root-bound, so I repotted it last summer.  Not long ago I was amazed to see a flower spike shooting up. I'd *never* seen a Sans in flower!  I did some research and found out it's pretty rare to have them flower and that they have an amazing fragrance when in bloom.

I'd been keeping an eye on the flower spike.. and last evening I saw they'd bloomed out.  They were so pretty!  A yellow green bloom. 

I must tell you, I am so very glad that I snapped these photos in the dark last night before I went to bed, because already this morning they are droopy and closing.   

And after I photographed them I scooted between our 2 chairs and bent wayyyy over into the bay window and put my nose right next to the flowers and inhaled... O.M.G.!!  The aroma is amazing and intense and exotic.. just blew me away!!   

I wanted to share this with you as for one.. you should get one of these to improve the air quality in your home and secondly.. if you repot them into a bigger pot, you might be rewarded with some amazing flowers! :-) 

And my Christmas Cactus is in bloom!!   

If you don't have one of these, you should try them.  Wonderful, hardy plants, they are. 

I'm so enjoying my 3 varieties.. the white from my Aunt, the fuchsia rimmed one from my Mom and this dark pink solid.. from the grocery store! LOL!

Santa arrived at my house a few days ago.. I had fallen in love with a Jim Shore Santa in a sleigh last year, that the lights REALLY work and there is a wind-up music box in it also that plays "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".  So, I've been looking for one ever since last year when I saw one in the Hallmark store and did not buy it.  Come to find out no one has them this year as they were only made last year!  So, I found one on eBay at a much reduced price from the store price. :-)  I love him... he's got REAL fake fur on his hat and coat.. the Jack-in-the-box is on a spring and wobbles around and the reindeer is up in the air.. magical!

Santa is smoking a pipe, too.

Hubby took the sleigh in by the tree (which will be decorated today) and turned on the lights and got this photo to show you how it looked lighted.

And today as hubby was reading the newspaper - lo and behold! there was a photo of our youngest son Travis -- who was honored as the "Employee of the Month" for The Oregonian newspaper.  He is a supervisor in the press room, in charge of a crew running a huge printing press!  We couldn't be more proud of our son.  He was also on TV recently as the local news was showing the presses which were producing huge ad sections for the Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving) holiday sales.

Well, I'd better get busy around here.. the "magic" of Christmas doesn't happen by itself! :-)  My holiday love to you all.. 

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 *H*A*P*P*Y* * *H*O*L*I*D*A*Y*S*!*!*!*
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((hugs)), Teresa :-)