NOVEMBER WEDDING FLOWERS; WHAT HAPPENED TO 2017?

Wedding Flowers From Our Farm

November Wedding Flowers

I remember in January thinking how many months I had until I needed to worry about weeding and watering. Then February with all the rains and the evacuation of Oroville, Gridley, Live Oak due to the erosion of Oroville Dam and the terror we all felt for weeks and weeks of not knowing; the flooding; checking each day the level of the dam.

Then I remember thinking I better get those seeds in the ground before it is too late.  The heat of most of the summer.

And occasionally I was thinking that the holiday season was so far off.  If I was smart, now would be a good time, middle of summer, to buy the gifts so I didn't have the last minute worry and rush to get everything done.

Did I do it?  I think I bought one gift.

Wedding Flowers

 I actually remember saying more than once, that I would really, really look forward to rain, cooler temperatures after such a hot year.  It was in the 80 degree weather when I was picking pumpkins to sell in October.

Now we have rain.  The leaves all around our house are beautiful gold and about half on the ground.  Not as much red in the trees as we used to see when we lived in Nevada County.  But you definitely know it is fall.

But what happened, I lost the year and it is officially, the Holiday Season because today is Thanksgiving.

I am such a planner, a list maker, a future thinker that sometimes, I think, misses enjoying the moments.  I work so hard to get each crop in and to be the best that it can be.  I work so hard to plant my flowers so that when they bloom, they will be so beautiful, nobody can resist them.  I plan all my farm classes in such detail, in hopes that not one of the participants thinks it was a disappointment or that they wasted their money to attend.  That they learned a lot; had a great time; took home with them a finished product and will want to come back to Windmill Farm again and again.

Do they?  I am not the best judge, but everything we do here, we work the hardest we can to make them a success and that our produce, our craft classes and our flowers are the most beautiful, the most delicious.  Our standards are high, on ourselves.

But maybe, in 2018, I need to appreciate what we have already done to our property.  To see the beauty that so many people say is here when they come to attend a class or stay for a visit.

At my last class, the Indigo Dyeing class, a wonderful lady (who brought their daughter and grand daughter) sent me a message on Facebook "it was a fun day for all..!!! It was so lovely to be out in your yard...the fall leaves, crisp air, and sunshine are good for the Soul. My kids both enjoyed their day with you and everyone. I think the class was a huge success..!!! Looking forward to attending some more classes in the future."

For 2 days before the Indigo Dyeing class, I was fretting about where to have it because the uncertainty of the weather. Whether inside Frank's shop, inside my shop or outside at my Sorting/Design Studio where I have a sink, running water, outside to make messes. I kept looking at the weather, should I or not. The day turned out actually beautiful, a little cool but crisp, clear, lovely. More than once, a person mentioned how beautiful it was out back; how the flowers still looked wonderful; how quiet and peaceful it was; what a lovely spot to work during the year. All compliments that I almost missed because I was too busy trying to make everything perfect. Too absorbed in the "doing" instead of the "enjoying".

Now that 2017 is almost done, I plan on changing my ways, to re-think the moments. To try and enjoy the few days left of the year and to really, really change my perspective for next year.

I can, at least try! I still have 3 classes left before Christmas to try and practice on.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. What a great title for a holiday, Thanksgiving. Perfect.