3.11.2009

Mr. Tuttle Goes On Tour: A Red Clover Birthday


Yesterday I was banned from the house by Kip, who had taken the day off work.  "Do not even drive by the apartment until I tell you."  I followed instructions.  After work and a few errands I cat napped on my parent's sun spilled couch until he called and said the coast was clear, I could come home. 
 
The first thing that greeted me when I walked into the door was a bouquet of six bright balloons what were anchored to a safari/garden hat, filled with blue confetti and a scrolled piece of paper.  Kip was in the kitchen making dinner.  He told me to go ahead and open it up, that it was my birthday present.  

One important item of note: Mr. Tuttle is a brass toad who sits atop our blue bookshelf, right next to the cinnamon poinsettia.  I purchased him a week or so before our wedding, and he is a dear family friend.

The Honorable Mr. Tuttle

I opened the scroll and this is what it said,

"I didn't know if you knew this; but Mr. Tuttle, when no one is here, takes the liberty of gallivanting about the apartment, exploring.  When I came home early on Saturday I caught him in the act!  He mentioned that he was experiencing the "flora and fauna" of the apartment.  I asked him, rather dubiously, "Besides the obvious, what else have you found?"  He then, in a matter-of-fact manner stated them:
1. A rare red version of Pedicus Oderiferus that thrives in darkness.
2. A variant of the Rabbitus Coelhinus in orange, that strives in the desert.
3. Tempus Palmus, a small plant that grows in shady places.
4. Discus Labyrinthum, a thorny plant that grows in shady places. 
5. One he called Cremus Foil, and stated that it was found wherever peanuts are grown.  I didn't buy this at all.  I think he was just hungry.  
6. A common thing he called Relaxius Monimentus.  It sounded nice to me. 
7. Lucem Globus, it apparently thrives in moist-to-tropical climates, and is always white. 
8. Maitrecus Buddhus.
9. Familia Professo, a squar-ish sort of plant with cream and dark red foliage. 
10. Arborum Paludosus, a tree that grows in clumps of three with red leaves, usually in swampy areas. 
11. An interesting black and white variant of Sinus Tergus, or "Leather Pocket" that only buds in the winter, and for the rest of the year lies dormant, clung to a vine in dark places. 

I asked him to show me these things, wondering what he was up to.  He hesitantly showed me what they were, but begged me to not handle them as they  need a more delicate hand to care for them (he doesn't think much of my dexterity, apparently).  I mentioned that you have an increasing appreciation for plants.  He nodded politely and them muttered something under this breath.  Then he stated that you would appreciate his findings and his unique perspective.  He's a sneaky one, if you ask me!

Happy Birthday!!  

Love, Kip"

I was a little baffled as to what these 11 plants were.  ?  Had Kip gone wild at the local nursery and purchased a number of different plants for presents?  No, they were all clues.  All clues.  To what?  I couldn't stop laughing and then began with number one.  

"1. A rare red version of Pedicus Oderiferus that thrives in darkness."   Alright, it was something red, that was in a dark place...ped, latin for foot, odour...hmmm, I thought I knew what that it was referring to...
...my red shoes.  I went to the closet and there was a dollar in each one.  The Hunt was on!
Here are what the rest of the clues led me to find, all stuffed with dollar bills...

#2 Rabitus Coelhinus in orange, that strives in the desert was O Alquimista, a book by Paulo Coelho.  Coelho means Rabbit in Portuguese.  A few more dollars. 


#3, Tempo Palmus, was my favorite clock.  

#4, Discus Labyrinthym, plant from north of England, was my Sting CD "Songs from the Labyrinth."  He plays Lute music by John Dowland on that Album.  


#5, Cremus Foil, was a jar of Peanut Butter...I must have lost that picture

# 6, Relaxius Movimentus was the old rocking chair in the bedroom...

# 7, the Lucem Globus that thrives in moist-to-tropical climates, was the pile of light bulbs in the bathroom, which I turn into a tropical climate everyday with a warm bath. 

#8, the Maitrecus Buddhus was the Maitrea Buddha that sits above our CD rack.  (Several years ago Kip was in Seattle visiting his parents and he saw this happy Buddha at a shop and liked his smile so much he brought him home.)  

#9, the Familia Professo, was a Family Proclamation we have hanging on our wall that talks about the vital importance of families.  



#10, the Arborum Paludosus, was a big painting we have in our living room!  Here is a snapshot of  part of it.  

And last, but not least... 


#11, the Sinus Tergus or "Leather Pocket", was Kip's leather jacket in the coat closet.  It was stuffed with about thirty additional one dollar bills.  

All in all it was a very fun "plant & flower" hunt!  Some clues I got quickly, others took me a while, though they are now very obvious.  I ended up with a lot of birthday money that Kip said to spend on whatever I wanted, though he did mention Red Clover as an option of money well spent.  He's learning...ha ha.  I loved it and had such a great time!  Thanks, Kip, for being such a wonderful husband!  Dinner was great, so was the present (The plant theme was the way into my heart), and spending the evening with you was the sweetest part!  I love you.   


3 comments:

Zachary and Jennifer said...

Awww... what a sweetie!
What a fun adventure for your birthday!

Jennifer

Anonymous said...

Loved this! Good goin' Kipper.

LHall said...

Pretty brilliant I'd say. Those are some good looking pictures of your beau. Happy Birthday!