Wednesday
May292013
Garden Green
Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at 10:06 PM 
The First Lady hosted students from Ship Bottom and Union Beach, New Jersey on Tuesday to harvest the summer crop from the White House kitchen garden. On the style front, Mrs. O kept things fresh, pairing a lime green gingham shirt with navy pants.
Reader Comments (10)
My favorite movie, a little British gem from 1945 called "I Know Where I'm Going!" includes one war-weary character confiding in another how she craves the opportunity to discuss "intelligent female nonsense." In the best possible way, your website fulfills that role - a welcome palate-cleanser amid the endless diet of drama and gloom out of the nation's capital. Thank you for regularly delivering this gift to me and so many others aware of a singular moment in American history.
It's simply amazing how she can so effortlessly go from kneeling in the garden, planting, digging in the dirt, nurturing and being playful with school kids one minute, and the very next, headlining a super glam fundraiser in New York for the Dems-- With each encompassing a diverse and varied demographic--
She's so comfortable, sincere, selfless and genuine in every one of these roles and pulls it all off with elan.
Mother, nurturer, sincere, principled and fearless cheerleader, truth-teller, honest broker--
She's such a great mother figure and a terrific role model. America is extremely fortunate that this spectacular, all around amazing woman agreed to marry Barack Obama.
Couldn't have asked for a better wife, mother, exquisite role model and First Lady!
Cheryl, what a lovely sentiment! It is truly appreciated, more than you can imagine. Thank you for following the blog.
Mrs.T, I totally echo Cheryl's sentiments! This is an oasis of sorts, a much needed lifeline for me (especially now when things are heavy) that I appreciate more than words can say. Sorry that I've been remiss with posting, I am attending to a very sick mom that at times is all consuming.
As for FLOTUS, she remains an inspiration on several fronts. This shirt reminds me of the one that Gap has re-issued from two years ago. Now they have it in several new colors, Oprah is wearing one in yellow on her latest cover.
Perfect for gardening!
I really love this shirt. I have seen it in various colors. I like this green and the yellow better. I also echo the sentiments. This is one of my pleasures during a busy and hectic day.
I agree with my fellow Mrs. O lovers, this is a wonderful color and style. And add my thanks too, Mrs. T! It is always great to see what is new and see what my favorite people are posting (CID!).
<I>It's simply amazing how she can so effortlessly go from kneeling in the garden, planting, digging in the dirt, nurturing and being playful with school kids one minute, and the very next, headlining a super glam fundraiser in New York for the Dems</I>
She did a great job meeting with the Chinese First Lady, too!
Since you mentioned it "fluffy";
Per Seattle Times:
"--A White House official said the Chinese government asked about Mrs. Obama’s plans when the trip was scheduled several weeks ago and was told she was not able to make it. The official, speaking on a condition of anonymity without authorization to discuss trip negotiations on the record, said the Chinese never complained or raised the question again.--"
In other words, the Chinese government was advised well in advance that Mrs Obama would not be part of this quickly thrown together and last minute unofficial visit set up at the request of the Chinese government and their new president to coincide with the end of his 3 nation Latin America tour. This meeting was in lieu of one that would have occurred on the sidelines at the G20 summit in Moscow this September. The new Chinese president didn't think he'd have enough time to chat with President Obama then, and asked to swing by to meet with him on their way back from his Latin America tour. The White House obliged and since President Obama was already scheduled to be in California at that same time, it was agreed that they meet there.
This was not an official visit. And if your intention was to get the truth, you'd have all of the very same information I'm sharing with you here---It's all there in plain sight; Only a google search away---
The Chinese government was well aware that Mrs Obama would not be at the Summit and yet still opted to bring their first lady along and in what was a rather unfortunate show of bad faith, in the last hours before the summit, attempted to change the already agreed upon terms and ground rules of the meeting. Planting propaganda "news" story items in our papers and other foreign news outlets, in their bid to influence and/or strong-arm Mrs Obama into indulging their fancies for a trip out to California for a photo-op with their new first lady.
President and Mrs Obama have already hosted the just retired Chinese President - predecessor to President Xi - to a State Visit and State dinner. The now former Chinese president and his country by extension, was the third president and country honored in this way by our President and First Lady. India and Mexico were honored before--
This was also the State dinner that elicited a huge faux outcry from people like "Fluffy" who along with Oscar de la Renta, were mad that Mrs Obama wore a "foreign designer"! Remember?
Incidentally, the wife of that Chinese president was a no-show for this incredible honor and gesture of goodwill from the President and First Lady to the people of China, their president and his wife.
And this was an official State Visit no less - with all the pomp and circumstance that people like "Fluffy" complained about at the time as an unnecessary waste and far too costly to the American taxpayer!
Mrs Obama was nevertheless as always, the gracious hostess to President Hu Jintao and his delegation - even sans wife/first lady-- This was barely a year and a half ago. This new president took over just a few months ago in March (2013)--
Mrs Obama as fantastic and impeccable as she's been in her role as this nation's First Lady, has from the very beginning always prioritized her two daughters who are also minors --Malia at just 14 and Sasha who incidentally turned 12 the same weekend as the informal Summit in California.. For Mrs Obama, the girls and their well-being will always come first - as it should be. She has always maintained that these young girls should not have to pay for the choices made by the adults in their life. And every wise and sane person in the world resoundingly agrees!
If Mrs Obama had abandoned her daughters on their important last week of school with all the attendant parent-involved activities that entails, just to junket out to Palm Springs for a few photo-op's at an unofficial visit, and only to satisfy the whims of some segment of the Chinese citizenry who are desperate to see their new first lady validated and elevated on the world stage, you "Fluffy" would be among the first to scream bloody murder!
You'd have accused Mrs Obama of neglecting her young daughters while slating her for not only being unelected and having no business being at the Summit in the first place except to "intrude" and "show off"; you'd also accuse her of burdening you and other tax payers with yet another "luxury vacation"; Because every single time Mrs Obama steps beyond those White House gates, it's automatically considered a "luxury vacation" by people like you. Even a drive up the street is a drive too many - and too expensive --as long as it's the Obamas. She steps out of the White House and you guys attack and hurl insults; She stays in the White House being the fantastic mother the entire world knows she is, and you guys pounce still.
All this while you proceed to dissect and question her every move and all associated costs --including the costs of the clothes she'd have probably pulled out of her closet - and paid for with her own hard-earned money. That is when you guys aren't too busy denigrating, maligning and dehumanizing and calling her every name under the sun you can think up --and you think will hurt and kill her spirit--
If Mrs Obama had travelled to California for this informal summit, it's safe to say that you'd still show up here spewing and attacking her for "kissing up to America's enemies" and you and your ilk would have bombarded every local Palm Springs newspaper and other online news outlets, making up stories about how Mrs Obama's very presence in Palm Springs has negatively-impacted you and a bunch of other imaginary residents.
But for all the attacks and insults you and your ilk heap upon Mrs Obama, it's actually something of a thrill to see you guys even remotely acknowledge that she does wield influence and that her presence does matter--
Like it or not, Mrs Obama is beloved and extremely important in the scheme of things. She just won't sacrifice her young daughters, their precious and fleeting childhoods and general well-being; and she certainly isn't going to be your beck, call and whipping girl when and as you so desire---
Mrs Obama continues to go above and beyond her call to serve alongside her husband---and she continues to far exceed her obligations in this thankless and unpaid role as America's First Lady; And even in the face of such unprovoked and unprecedented attack, hostility and hate, she persists ---with grace, dignity and good cheer;
And to your chagrin and that of like-minded, angry, hateful people, she looks absolutely stunning doing it too even as the whole world cheers for her ---and clamors for their own versions of "Michelle Obama" and for their first ladies to be seen with our magnificent First Lady--
Since you mentioned it "fluffy";
Per Seattle Times:
"--A White House official said the Chinese government asked about Mrs. Obama’s plans when the trip was scheduled several weeks ago and was told she was not able to make it. The official, speaking on a condition of anonymity without authorization to discuss trip negotiations on the record, said the Chinese never complained or raised the question again.--"
In other words, the Chinese government was advised well in advance that Mrs Obama would not be part of this quickly thrown together and last minute unofficial visit set up at the request of the Chinese government and their new president to coincide with the end of his 3 nation Latin America tour. This meeting was in lieu of one that would have occurred on the sidelines at the G20 summit in Moscow this September. The new Chinese president didn't think he'd have enough time to chat with President Obama then, and asked to swing by to meet with him on their way back from his Latin America tour. The White House obliged and since President Obama was already scheduled to be in California at that same time, it was agreed that they meet there.
This was not an official visit. And if your intention was to get the truth, you'd have all of the very same information I'm sharing with you here---It's all there in plain sight; Only a google search away---
The Chinese government was well aware that Mrs Obama would not be at the Summit and yet still opted to bring their first lady along and in what was a rather unfortunate show of bad faith, in the last hours before the summit, attempted to change the already agreed upon terms and ground rules of the meeting. Planting propaganda "news" story items in our papers and other foreign news outlets, in their bid to influence and/or strong-arm Mrs Obama into indulging their fancies for a trip out to California for a photo-op with their new first lady.
President and Mrs Obama have already hosted the just retired Chinese President - predecessor to President Xi - to a State Visit and State dinner. The now former Chinese president and his country by extension, was the third president and country honored in this way by our President and First Lady. India and Mexico were honored before--
This was also the State dinner that elicited a huge faux outcry from people like "Fluffy" who along with Oscar de la Renta, were mad that Mrs Obama wore a "foreign designer"! Remember?
Incidentally, the wife of that Chinese president was a no-show for this incredible honor and gesture of goodwill from the President and First Lady to the people of China, their president and his wife.
And this was an official State Visit no less - with all the pomp and circumstance that people like "Fluffy" complained about at the time as an unnecessary waste and far too costly to the American taxpayer!
Mrs Obama was nevertheless as always, the gracious hostess to President Hu Jintao and his delegation - even sans wife/first lady-- This was barely a year and a half ago. This new president took over just a few months ago in March (2013)--
Mrs Obama as fantastic and impeccable as she's been in her role as this nation's First Lady, has from the very beginning always prioritized her two daughters who are also minors --Malia at just 14 and Sasha who incidentally turned 12 the same weekend as the informal Summit in California.. For Mrs Obama, the girls and their well-being will always come first - as it should be. She has always maintained that these young girls should not have to pay for the choices made by the adults in their life. And every wise and sane person in the world resoundingly agrees!
If Mrs Obama had abandoned her daughters on their important last week of school with all the attendant parent-involved activities that entails, just to junket out to Palm Springs for a few photo-op's at an unofficial visit, and only to satisfy the whims of some segment of the Chinese citizenry who are desperate to see their new first lady validated and elevated on the world stage, you "Fluffy" would be among the first to scream bloody murder!
You'd have accused Mrs Obama of neglecting her young daughters while slating her for not only being unelected and having no business being at the Summit in the first place except to "intrude" and "show off"; you'd also accuse her of burdening you and other tax payers with yet another "luxury vacation"; Because every single time Mrs Obama steps beyond those White House gates, it's automatically considered a "luxury vacation" by people like you. Even a drive up the street is a drive too many - and too expensive --as long as it's the Obamas. She steps out of the White House and you guys attack and hurl insults; She stays in the White House being the fantastic mother the entire world knows she is, and you guys pounce still.
All this while you proceed to dissect and question her every move and all associated costs --including the costs of the clothes she'd have probably pulled out of her closet - and paid for with her own hard-earned money. That is when you guys aren't too busy denigrating, maligning and dehumanizing and calling her every name under the sun you can think up --especially ones you think will demoralize and kill her spirit--
If Mrs Obama had travelled to California for this informal summit, it's safe to say that you'd still show up here spewing and attacking her for "kissing up to America's enemies" and you and your ilk would have bombarded every local Palm Springs newspaper and other online news outlets, making up stories about how Mrs Obama's very presence in Palm Springs has negatively-impacted you and a bunch of other imaginary residents.
But for all the attacks and insults you and your ilk heap upon Mrs Obama, it's actually something of a thrill to see you guys even remotely acknowledge that she does wield influence and that her presence does matter--
Like it or not, Mrs Obama is beloved and extremely important in the scheme of things. She just won't sacrifice her young daughters, their precious and fleeting childhoods and general well-being; and she certainly isn't going to be your beck, call and whipping girl when and as you so desire---
Mrs Obama continues to go above and beyond her call to serve alongside her husband---and she continues to far exceed her obligations in this thankless and unpaid role as America's First Lady; And even in the face of such unprovoked and unprecedented attack, hostility and hate, she persists ---with grace, dignity and good cheer;
And to your chagrin and that of like-minded, angry, hateful people, she looks absolutely stunning doing it too even as the whole world cheers for her ---and countries clamor for their very own versions of "Michelle Obama" - and for their first ladies to be seen with our magnificent First Lady--
Come on "Fluffy", even you have to admit that's pretty neat---
Sorry didn't mean to double post ---was in the process of correcting typos when for some weird reason the original post and corrected post both showed up--
Sorry Mrs T. Could you please delete the first post--the one that appears first?
Thank you--