.
She loved her gardening boots. Had them for years. ‘I don’t need new ones’ she’d say. ‘I just patch them up to keep them going’.
She even gave them names! Jim and Jan. She’d talk to them, consult them on what to plant here, what to dig up there.
She recently went to the glorious garden in the sky. We were clearing her cottage. The boots were sitting on a wall. I’d swear they were watching us.
We couldn’t throw them out. Instead, we planted geraniums in them. Apparently, they were her favourite flowers. We didn’t know that. Something must have told us.
.
.
Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle. Thank you.
Would have fitted right in your Rosey series, Keith. Nicely done.
Roseys Nan maybe! Thanks Varad
Nicely done, Keith. It’s amazing the value we put on some pretty worn out, past it relics
Shabby chic it’s known as in furnishing circles I believe! Cheers Michael
A lovely centrepiece to the garden, and a literal talking point it seems.
It does seem that wa!y Cheers Iain
The old lady is a wonderful character. And I loved planting geraniums in the boots 🙂
A fitting tribute I thought, bless their soles!
Cute, Keith 🙂
Dear Keith,
What a sweet tribute to the old lady and her boots. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you so much, Rochelle.
I’ve thrown out many pairs of boots over the years and really need to get rid of an old leaky pair of Wellintons. My boys would never think of planting flowers in them, 😁
Drop a few hints! Cheers Denise
Psychic boots, love it!
Indeed they are! Thanks so much.
Great bit of storytelling, Keith, turning those sloppy old boots into such a neat tale!
There’s a story to be found in everything I always feel. Thanks Christine
Great story, Keith. I like the fact that her boots would continue to adorn the garden. Nicely done.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
They will certainly be a talking point! Cheers Susan.
Touching tale. Boots put to good use.
I have seen people employing such old shoes for plantation purpose.
The Geraniums must look lovely and she’ll love to see them from her garden in the sky…
And why not! I’ can almost see them smiling at one another.
Environmental friendly write. Great read.
Doing my bit, even if it is only fiction! Cheers YS
I love the gentle humour of this story. The lady was obviously from the ‘Make do and mend’ generation.
So different from today’s throwaway society. Cheers Penny
Great story, Keith and quite a launching pad for philosophical insights as well. There are pople with those favourite pair or shoes, jeans, tshirts where they keep wearing them well past their use-by-dates. Sometimes, it’s a matter of finding something that suits you so well, that nothing could ever come close enough to replace it, but then there’s also the economical side of things and people mending to make ends meet.
Well done.
Best wishes,
Rowena
I am with you on every count, even if n old t-shirt just becomes a dishcloth! I could learn a lot from my own story! Thanks, Rowena.
Me too, Keith. Never thought of re-using an old t-shirt like that, although we used to do that sort of thing. Need to shift the brain back into gear.
Best wishes,
Rowena
A fitting tribute to a green fingered lady – you can imagine her smiling as her boots were used as flower pots! Nice tale Keith
And I’m sure the boots smiled back! Thanks Lynn
My pleasure
A very sweet story of the gardener who lives on through her shoes. =)
I’ll probably live on through my favourite beer glass! Cheers Brenda
Love it! Cheers! =)
Great use for the boots and a great story to boot.
Wellie said! Thanks Mike
Very sweet story!
Pleased you liked it Mimi
I’m glad they put the boots to good use. She would have approved!
I’m sure she would. Cheers
Beautiful tale. Guess they did speak to you!
Of course they did! Thanks for dropping by.
Words to be felt more than spoken.
I like that! Thank you, Alice.
So sweet! People sometimes get so attached to things that even after they are gone, those things act as their reminders.
They do, they become part of them. Thanks so much.
You oaint a lovely story, Keith, full of gentleness and soul. 🙂
I’m delighted it came across that way Kelvin, thank you so much..
Oaint should of course be paint 🎨
These boots held a lot of mystery and power this week. Good tale Keith. I like your new blog. I’m sorry I didn’t follow the bread crumbs sooner.
I’ve always like your writing,
Tracey
I love the telepathic boots, the geraniums, the old lady. It’s a lovely story.
Thanks so much for reading and leaving your thoughts
Oh that was lovely Keith
I’m really pleased you enjoyed it Laurie
Sweet story. I’d be honored to have a memorial like that.
I think I would too. I’ll leave my flipflops on the wall when I shuffle off!
A really lovely story.
That’s so kind of you, thank you.
This was nice, a sort of remembrance for a lovely person.
That’s what I thought! Thanks, James.
Lovely story, Keith – and you’ve made that photo sparkle!
Well, thank you!
Jim and Jan! The personification is touching!
I’m glad they got repurposed as planters. I think she would have liked that.
I’m sure she would have. The boots liked it too! Cheers Russell
Wow, nice tribute to the boots and the gardener. Lovely piece, as usual.
https://trailbrooklane.blogspot.com/2018/05/the-boots.html?_sm_au_=iVV1qsjVFVnfnJDq
That’s so kind of you, thanks.
I never would have thought to name my old boots but we did have some vehicles we named over the years. This is a great story.
I just call mine left and right! Thanks so much.
Goodness, this is charming and sad and . . . one of your best stories. It made me smile.
Thank you so much! That very kind of you.
What a beautiful story, Keith. Right up my alley…
I’m pleased! Thanks, Dale.
Lovely story. That’s life for you.
Indeed it is! Thanks so much.
Haunted Boots! YES! I love it!
Hehe! They are indeed. Cheers Nan.
What a wonderful symbol of a continued connection!
A poignant read. We always leave something behind 😊
I wonder what you’ll leave! Thanks so much, Vivian
🙂
Wow ….loved it 🙂
http://drsushreedash.blogspot.in/2018/05/ballerinas.html
I’m delighted! Thanks so much for reading and leaving a comment.
Awwww, so sweet! I love geraniums, too. LOL!
So do I! Thanks so much Donna
I’ve heard of naming your car or boat or plant… but boots? Then again, it makes sense in the context of the story. Well done.
I thought so! Thanks so much.
A well crafted tale, Keith. I found it tender and imaginable – sure the boot ‘planters’ looked just right.
I’m sure they did. Thanks so much for your generous words.
Love the tale… what a wonderful legacy to her.
Thanks so much Bjorn
This is a delightful tale! We’ve all had clothes or other keepsakes that are way past their best but we wont let go of.
I certainly have – too many! Cheers.
A lovely story. Geraniums the perfect choice. Now the boots are beautiful!
Geraniums are good hardy plants and they’ll be there for years. Bootiful indeed!
Awww!! Lovely but sad tale
Thank you so much, Bettina.
Jim and Jan deserve to stay in the garden until they rot into compost. Lovely.
I’m sure they will! Cheers Sarah.
Very nice! I like the nicknames and I like the spirituality within this fic. It makes passing more bearable, even hopeful I’d say.
Thank you so much for your generous words.
I know Jim and Jan. They are gardeners, but I’m not sure what their favorite flower is. Jan is a great person to consult on gardening.
Fun story. Phyllis
I dedicate my piece to them! Thanks for dropping by Phyllis
I’ll have to let them know. ;0)