Internet Photo

This morning I went to Esbenshade’s Garden Center (Lititz) to get a few things I wanted for our flowerbeds.

I started at the west end of the building where I got four geraniums. They are about the only annual flowers I buy for our flower beds.

After browsing a few areas of interest in the center section, without purchasing anything, I went to the perennial area where I planned to buy a few things for three flower beds. I hadn’t planned on buying lavender, but it captured my attention and I knew I could find a place for it.

I wanted a few low, creeping plants for ground cover.

I also have an area where I wanted to plant some pretty lilies.

Then I went to the eastern end of the building to see if they had any small pieces of slate. The employee took to the far end of the lot where there was a lot of slate – tiny, thin pieces which I needed, to very large pieces. I chose about eight pieces and asked if they sell these by weight. He said “Oh, no, the tiny pieces are free.” They are 2-3 inches in size and very thin. I needed them to put under these steps which seem to always get a bit wobbly over winter as ground settles because of snow and rain.

By then I was finished shopping and went to the check-out in the stone and mulch area of the building. After paying, I left my cart of flowers there and walked to the other end where my car was parked. Cerwin called me as I was making that walk, so I answered his question and continued on to the car.

When I reached into my purse for the car key, all I found was the yellow tag that identifies my key from others in the house. I looked through my purse and NO FOB or KEY. (:

I knew I originally had the fob/key because I remembered locking the car with it.

My first thought was that the key dropped when I was where Cerwin called and I pulled my phone from my purse. So, I went to that area of the walkway, but nothing. I walked the whole way back to my cart. No key there or at that check out.

From there I retraced my steps back to the car and double checked the walkway and around the car. Next, I went to the main check out. No key turned in. Then I retraced my entire shopping pathway back to the checkout. Nothing. Along the way several employees helped look for the key. When I got to the checkout area where my cart was parked, the man who helped me find slate and another employee retraced our steps on that pathway. Nothing.

We got back to my cart full of flowers and looked in the flowerpots to see if it fell in one of them. Nothing.

By now we did a serious search of the pathway from the cart to my car, where I thought it had to be – because I was sure it was in my zippered purse during my shopping excursion. They only place it could have fallen out, according to my thoughts, was at the checkout or the place where I was when Cerwin called. We walked slowly when we approached that area – looking a bit farther than the walkway.

I FOUND IT at the area where Cerwin called me – in the mulch on the greenhouse side of the walking area!

The rest of the day went smother and all plants are in a flowerbed and watered generously.