Dear Friends,

 Have you noticed the lovely flowers & flowering trees this spring?  They are the most beautiful I can ever recall.  Tulips are exceptional, standing so straight & tall like brightly colored soldiers.  Gerald & I went to Pella last weekend to view their display of tulips.  It was great, only was raining so didn't get a chance to walk the gardens.  Their town looks so festive with all the groupings of same colored tulips near the curbs.  They certainly have a knack for landscaping and curb appeal.

 Our hanging garden baskets have arrived as well as the patio pots. I just love to see our shop at this time of the spring when we have so many baskets hanging around the porch and the building.  They bring such bright color to any area where they are placed.  People tell us our baskets are the nicest in Atlantic which is always good to hear.

Stepping Stones, Angels, Little Garden Children and other outdoor ornaments have arrived just in time for Mother's Day.  We have a great assortment of these garden & lawn decorations that anyone would love.  Come see them while there is a good selection. 

Beautiful & cute describe the specials from Teleflora this year.  "Mom's the Word"  is a ceramic vase that is also a chalkboard complete with chalk and filled with lovely pink, white and red flowers.  Another colorful exclusive is called "Pour on Love" and is a rainbow pitcher of bright colors, reds, purples, lime green designed with gerbra daisies, roses & carnations.  Call us with your order early so you are assured of getting one of these for your Mom. You can view these on our Teleflora website at  brinkflowerandgift.com.

Tips for Better Gelatin Salads

 *  Always use canned or cooked pineapple in gelatin salads.  Fresh pineapple & kiwi fruit will prevent the salad from setting.

 *  For easy removal of gelatin salads from mold, moisten the interior of the mold with cold water, rub vegetable oil inside or coat with nonstick cooking spray before filling.

Spinach Dip

1 (10 oz) pkg frozen chopped spinach, thawed & drained

1 (16 oz) container sour cream

1 C. mayonnaise

1 envelope dry vegetable soup mix

1 (8 oz) can water chestnuts, drained & chopped

3 green onions, chopped

 In a medium bowl, mix together spinach, sour cream, mayonnaise, dry vegetable soup mix, water chestnuts & green onions.  Cover & chill in refrigerator approximately 2 hours before serving. 

"They say that age is all in your mind.  The trick is keeping it from creeping down into your body! "

Our floral artists have made a number of Small Silk Designer Arrangements that are so popular now.   The area where you want to add color or texture is the perfect spot for these new Small Silks or our Nature's Accents.  When you stop in or call ask to see what's new in our shop and we will be happy to showcase them for you.

                The Oak Versus the Willow 

                         (by David Okerlund)

In over twenty years of working with troubled young people all across America I have heard one comment echoed more often than any other.  They wished that their parents had been a little stronger, more firm in where they would draw the line.  As one young person stated, "I needed an oak tree to lean against but unfortunately grew up with the willows."

When parents are strong, when the line is either black or white & not filled with a waffling grey zone, young people know where their parents stand.  They may not always agree with the stand, but there is that residual comfort of knowing where the wall is.  When the line continually shifts, when the stand is susceptible to the pressure that many children have learned to expertly apply, then few values are learned.  That's when many kids slowly begin to drift into the fog of indecision where peer pressure can become the sextant by which they chart their way.

"Yard by yard life is hard, but inch by inch, life's a cinch! "  I have this little saying posted at my desk and when I am doing an exceptionally difficult or lengthy task this comes to my memory.  Interesting how it puts things into proper prospective.