Wreath Making Classes A Wonderful Experience With Friends

Our farm's annual events, Wreath Making Classes were so much darn fun.  This is year 4 that we have done this and I think next year I will open up another day, possibly a Saturday because there is so much interest and it isn't always easy for people to come in the middle of the week, in the evening.  Interestingly, I did notice other businesses and groups were putting on wreath making this year, so maybe all the fun we have been having filtered out to inspire others to do the same.

Wednesday and Thursday, Dec 7th & 8th were our class dates.  I can't believe the good fortune that Frank and I had a couple days of great weather to go foraging all over the place to get the freshest greens, berries, pine cones.  We got a little pruning done at the same time to our high magnolia tree; I even cut some of my lavender bushes as I thought that silver and soft foliage would look great against the dark greens of pines.  

About an hour before the first class, it started to rain and hasn't stopped raining since!!

We purchased a couple of Christmas trees from our local Wheeler Feed Store who sells some Christmas trees and Frank cut them all up.  And there is the cleaning of Frank's shop!!!  He is such a great sport to allow us to invade upon his "MAN" space, he even moved out about 1/4 of his tools and machinery to make room for all our foraged greens, tables, food section.  He helped string all the Christmas lights and hung these huge cardboard snow flake cut outs from the ceiling.  I keep saying, if I had a big barn on the property, it would be perfect!!!  Who wouldn't want a big old wooden barn to use for classes, events, get togethers?

Here are some photos of day 1 class.

A short and fun people story about how classes and our produce farm connects us with people.  I wanted to try and get some different kinds of pines, so I sent a Windmill Farm post card to some people who owned these trees I had seen that I thought would be great to use in wreaths. Turns out they are mutual friends with my friend Sarah who happened to be visiting them and they talked about who these people are from Windmill Farm!!  The tree owner called me, saying yes, yes, trim them back, but can I come with my friend to your wreath class too!!!

Here she is, Jeannie who allows us to cut her tree.

While cutting the pine trees, which turned out to be called Australian Pines, we had a great chance to chat with the tree owner and found out we have lots in common.  They did end up coming to the class and Frank and I hope we become good friends in the future. 

 At one night's class we had a family group of 6, their 3rd year coming.  They are so sweet, sisters, Mother, Mother's sister, friends of sisters. The laughing and chatter is infectious!!! 

 Then on the 2nd night, I had several groups of Moms and daughter, this one group had Mom, daughter and daughter's good friend.  I had another lovely family who comes to many of our classes, the Mom-Liz and she invites her daughters and daughter-in-law.  Crafting, learning things together as a family.

 I love these people, they are like our family now too.  Most people come with a good friend, a relative, a neighbor. I think that is so inspiring and emotional to me that they want to share what they learn, to have fun together-here at our farm.

Lori & Joann are friends and have come since our first class together.

 More pictures of people having fun.

 A special friend, Kelly who came all the way from Paradise, she brought her friend to  have a festive evening together.

I want to give a special thank you to my friend Sarah.  She came both days to give me a helping hand and she sure did, thank you Sarah for all your support and help here I really, really appreciate it.

Sarah even drew these designs on our tables.  Enjoy the photos of our evenings.  Hopefully, I will have time to write another blog before Christmas.  But if not- 

From Frank and I from Windmill Farm.