| Elsie had long been retired and frankly, bored. Her | | | | passed on playing golf and instead helped Elsie out in |
| husband, Frank, played golf most days or spent the | | | | her mini-greenhouse. They'd work diligently while |
| time in his garage working on his old car. What was | | | | making each other laugh and smile. Elsie felt in the best |
| she supposed to do? Climbing into her 70s, she was | | | | health of her life, getting all that exercise while being |
| getting tired of reading, and television had lost its charm | | | | outside and enjoying the fresh air. |
| a long time ago. If only there was something simple | | | | Eventually the herbs were grown and the ones she |
| and fun she could do that would get her off the couch | | | | and Frank weren't going to use were ready to be sold. |
| and get her outside. And you know, maybe she could | | | | They put up flyers around the neighborhood and soon |
| make some money at it. She had never lost her | | | | the customers were stopping by, and leaving with a |
| entrepreneurial spirit. | | | | plant or two. |
| It was one day sitting on the back porch looking at the | | | | People were coming from the nearby streets to see |
| vast backyard that she got an idea. Frank frequently | | | | the herbs Elsie and Frank had grown. After all, Elsie |
| complained about having to mow the whole thing in the | | | | was feeling revitalized by these new herbs and what |
| hot sun. Maybe she could do something with it. She | | | | they did for her health, both physical and mental. |
| decided to grow an herb garden. It'd not only get her | | | | Maybe they could get these benefits too! Spouses or |
| out of the house and put her skills to work, but also, | | | | family members less interested in herbs could spend |
| herbs could help Frank and her live a more natural and | | | | time in Frank's corner, swinging a few golf clubs or |
| healthier lifestyle. Plus she knew her neighbors would | | | | checking out his 1958 Corvette. It became the center |
| want to buy some too! Before she knew it, she'd be in | | | | of the whole block. |
| the herb business. | | | | That winter Elsie and Frank were relaxing in their living |
| After paying Tommy and Timmy Fitzgerald from | | | | room. Frank brought Elsie a cool glass of lemonade, |
| down the street to help her build a mini-greenhouse | | | | and they smiled and shared stories of the previous |
| raised bed, she got to work planting the herbs. She | | | | growing season, of their successes in the herbal |
| decided to do a few culinary herbs and then a few | | | | business. After a moment Frank's eyes grew serious. |
| medicinal ones as well. She wanted to grow basil, | | | | "I think I'm going to give up golf," he said, furrowing his |
| chives, chamomile, and St John's Wort. | | | | brow. Elsie was alarmed. "Why?" she asked. "Well, |
| Everyday she'd work out in her mini-greenhouse while | | | | maybe I'll play once a month. Frankly, my joints aren't |
| Frank labored over his car or practiced his golf swing | | | | what they used to be. But really, I want to spend more |
| in the backyard. Some days Frank would get a little | | | | time with you. Next year's herb garden is going to be |
| jealous and come over and help her work, watering | | | | twice as big and four times as successful, and I want |
| the plants and applying the liquid seaweed to help give | | | | to help." Elsie smiled and so did Frank. They had found |
| them the nutrients they needed. Eventually, Frank's | | | | a new passion they could share together. |
| friends started to get jealous too as Frank occasionally | | | | |