Tragically, JOANN Fabric and Craft Stores are closing, that distant monolith of my childhood doomed to date me like memories of Blockbuster and PanAm date my elders. As the closing sales grow steeper, however, I have been introduced to things I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise, like the plastic flowers and birds I’ve used to decorate curtain rods and light fixtures, at least one pack of stickers, and a good solid container for our cat toys to be stored in! So thank you to JOANN for that. I’ll remember it fondly… and keep the garlands out of cat-batting distance.
A little while ago now, we found ourselves in Freeport, Grand Bahama, with one day to spend, a high-wind warning, and, consequently, a cancelled kayaking excursion. What to do?
It was not a particularly difficult decision to go to the local botanic gardens, as one does, and spend our day there. And it was a day well-spent! The gardens were gorgeous, naturally, bright and colorful in a way that Illinois in mid-early March was not. They had multiple water features, which ducks and turtles took full advantage of, and a couple of garden cats, lounging in the sun. And parrots! One of the parrots said “Hello!!” and bobbed along to music.
Mostly, what we found was it was quiet. Some of that was circumstance – the same wind advisory that nixed our kayaking cut garden-and-something excursions, leaving it super empty – and part of that was the space. With several, meandering paths that all loop back towards the central space eventually, and bushes and tall flowers obscuring the rest of the paths from view, it managed to both be relatively compact – we saw everything – and private. And there are swings, which was a nice bit of nostalgia.
Of course, I can’t talk about Garden of the Groves without mentioning the shops there. Local artists have vendor space, in a row over by one of the ponds, selling magnets, jewelry, etc. Not all of the shops were open – again, cancelled excursions, and consequent shortage of customers – but the ones that were open all had something we wanted, at reasonable enough prices that we got something from each! They took an already lovely, peaceful day, and made it just that bit better. And it was my perception that the shopkeepers were attentive without pressuring, which I definitely appreciated.
Because what everyone has been desperately waiting for the opportunity to do is rifle through the trash and eat it, right? No? Ah, well, it makes more sense for a raccoon. In Trash Pandas, you have two objectives: succeed in the press-your-luck dice part of the game, which earns you the right to gain and stash cards, and then play and stash cards to have the most points at the end of the game. The card and dice mechanics dance together well!
In a lot of ways, the card mechanics are also a press-your-luck vibe, because cards you stash are scored by who has the most of a kind, and stashed cards are usually secret! Do you use the card for its ability or its point value? Can you afford to expend it? Is it worth the risk?
Of course, some cards have no point value. You’re unlikely to stash/eat the Kittehs and Doggos, because their only purpose is to block attempts to steal from you! And Blammos are a flat one point each, but they also let you re-roll your last die. Decisions, decisions.
Mechanics aside, this one really leans into the garbage theme! Ew, you say. Hilarious, I’d contend. The Nanners have mushrooms growing on them. The “Mmm Pie!” has a D6. All of it looks like a biohazard and a half. The artist(s) must’ve had a blast!
Friends, I am, truth be told, beyond exhausted at the moment, so I’m just going to drop a couple of pretty plant photos this week and wish you all well. Happy Sunday!
