Floral Design Class a Success!! Pomegrantes Ripe; Chicken Eggs Are Happening

Frank had pneumonia last year and was very sick.  So this year, I insisted that he get a pneumonia shot and a flu shot and so should I get one.  I called our doctor's office to ask them if the shots were OK to get at our local Rite Aid, as they were advertising and could we get both of them at the same time; AND would our insurance/Medicare pay for them. Yes, yes and Yes.  We both went into Rite Aid and the new pharmacist gave us our shots and said our arms would be a little stiff for a few days but should not have any other symptoms.
Bammm, the next day we were both sicker than dogs and were in bed until today.  Fevers, aches, pains, chills, headaches.  Only time we felt better was when we first took Tylenol, but that lasted only a short time.  Today we are both up AND dressed but moving slow.

About my Floral Design Class, what a success it was, great number attended and Lisa Hunter did a non stop, 2 1/2 hour fabulous demonstration, making 5 arrangements.  The flowers and greenery were cut right here at our farm. 

Lisa gave so many hints and tips about making arrangements "move"; about "bunching"; and to not be afraid to use natural elements from nature in the arrangements. 

She told us what is happening in the trends of her wedding floral design business; told us how to keep flowers fresh; how to use different types of vases.

At the end of our class, I had the attendees put their name in a jar, I drew names and the winners got to choose one of the arrangements she made or a gift facial package given to me by my friend, Kathleen Turner, who is a local licensed esthetician. And each person got to take home a pumpkin I made which I showed you in the previous blog.  Lisa had suggested that we have another class at the beginning of December on making holiday wreaths which we all loved that idea.  The photos aren't the best, I was trying to get everything Lisa needed to make the arrangements and was moving around the room trying to get good pictures with my phone and see they didn't turn out as great as they were in person.

Our pomegranates are ripe and we picked our first picking of the largest ones.  If anyone is interested, just email, call or Facebook me and I will be glad to get you some.  Our prices are fabulous and when you go to the grocery stores and see they are selling them for 2-$5 it just makes sick that we sell ours so cheap. 

 Opening up pomegranates is not that difficult.  I cut them in half and place them in water and pull out the seeds which go to the bottom and the membrane goes to the top.  There are several tutorials on the Internet that show you how to pop open the seeds using a wooden spoon and another one that cuts off the top; slices the bottom flat; slightly cut top to bottom where the pom has ridges and pull apart.  All these methods get you to the inside, beautiful and very healthy pomegranate seeds.  You can use the juice; make jelly; or just eat them.  I also have small pomegranates I sell very cheap, cheap if anyone wants them to add to holiday decorations or making of wreaths for the holidays.

Our chickens are laying like crazy, finally!!!  The ones we purchased that were originally 4 months old are now laying smaller sized eggs but each day they are getting bigger.  A few haven't figured out they need to plan ahead and find a box to lay.  I have been finding eggs in the outside pen or on the inside on the floor.  One is really enjoying her cackling voice when she lays a egg, she just cackles and cackles for about 5 minutes.  She should be proud of her accomplishment.  The other batch that I got when they were only a few days old are now almost grown and should start laying at the end of November.  Thank goodness I will finally be able to keep up with my egg orders of my customers.  They are so patient, kind and understanding of the ways of chickens!!!

Until next time from our Windmill Farm

Painted Pumpkins and Great Floral Design Class

I wanted to have something special to have as door prizes for my very SPECIAL Floral Design Class that we had last week.  I normally try and have something that goes along with my event.  Example: like bag full of apples, jams and canning labels for my applesauce canning class.

I grew some pumpkins in the back, not that many plants but some that weren't quite turning orange.  I think the seeds were for the white pumpkins but may have teamed up pollination with a squash plant.  I took out my clippers and filled up my cart with them, gave them a good washing and set them all up in my garage to paint.

Out came my blue Annie Sloan paint and thought that would take about an hour to do them all, but the paint wasn't covering well.  Needed two coats and then the finish was that "chalk" flat color.  I went to my spray can stash and decided to try painting a few in silver, gold and bronze.  Spray painting took only seconds and covered so well AND I thought made the pumpkins look

fabulous.  I did about half of them in the metallic, then I spattered some of the silver/gold paint over the top of the Annie Sloan pumpkins and rubbed them while it was wet.  That did the trick.  Then my mind went to the REAL chalk paint, the blackboard paint and thought how cute it would be to have black pumpkins that you could write on with chalk.  I have painted chalk paint many times using a brush, but couldn't find any left over paint. 

 

So I ran down to Mac's and looked around and saw they had Rust-O-Ileum Chalk Board spray paint-terrific.  And boy was it easy, I held a rag in my left hand to cover the pumpkin stems while spray painting them with my right hand. 

After they dried, I tied raffia, burlap and took some strips from canvas drop cloth and made bows to finish them off.  I think the people who attended the class loved them and I believe I have started a new trend to Halloween decorating!

I will share with you later about what a fabulous class we had learning how to make flower bouquets.  I have so many pictures, it will make this post way too long.  Talk to you in a couple days!!!  Have fun spray painting pumpkins or gourds or even plastic pumpkins.