What's In a Name????

People in my family should know how I came up with the name "Fields in Bloom", but for those of you who don't here is the explanation. I dedicate this post to the woman that started it all, Willie Mae Joy Algood Fields.

Willie Mae was my Great-grandmother, a.k.a "Grandma". She was born September 12, 1901 in Italy, Texas. The county of her birth, Ellis county Texas, was named for her mothers family. She married Jule Fields in 1919 and had nine children (two of which died young): Marvin Fields, Joe Fields, William Fields, Bob Fields, Mary Lou Levan, Dorothy Colson and Laura McDougal (my Nanny).

She began working at the Benton Florist, which was new, in 1954 or 1955 and bought it from the previous owners within a year or two. She owned it until her husband became really sick in the mid to late 60's. She sold it, but continued to manage it for some years. After she finally "retired" IGA asked her to come run a small florist section in the store. She did and worked there until she finally retired when she was 85. She died on February 19, 1997.

The picture above is of me and Grandma Fields in 1993- I was six. Thanks Nanny for the extra information!

I come from a long line of entrepreneurs and I hope that it will work in my favor. After my grandma and Benton Florist, my Nanny owned her own catering business- she makes such great food!!! My great-aunt Dorothy also had a small business in Benton where she sold floral arrangements and other crafty things. From the Henson side of my family, I come from a line of broom makers. My uncle Richard owns "Henson Broom Shop and General Store"- regular brooms don't hold a candle to his handmade brooms. Check out his Web site here:


http://www.hensonbrooms.com/