Life is rich,
Every personal connection has meaning
And laughter is life's sweetest creation.
A moving handwritten poem on this year's invite to an annual wreath
making party hosted by a wonderful couple who are near and dear to me...
as they are to so many others in the community.
The Sunday following each Thanksgiving is set aside for a lovely group
of ladies to gather together for a delightful afternoon of
assembling wreaths in the warmth and beauty of this Lancaster
County home. This is but a sampling of how the creativity unfolds.
Strolling up the walkway, the leftover pumpkins on my
front porch are quickly forgotten as the spirit of the
season captures my every thought.
front porch are quickly forgotten as the spirit of the
season captures my every thought.
Our hostess makes her wreath in advance;
a heartwarming welcome that leaves her free to
enjoy (and assist!) her guests with their wreaths.
Once inside, my camera begs to roam
as we wait for everyone to arrive.
The formal tree upstairs with over
200 glass icicles!
Lovely hand-made bows nestled
around the base of the tree.
Greens & berries align the formal mantle.
Nature's beauty in it's simplicity
Delightful carolers glow in the
warmth of candle-light
warmth of candle-light
Downstairs, naked wreaths await creative minds!
Each guest brings a variety of decorations
to adorn her wreath.
The first step is to lay out the design...
Once satisfied, floral wire & glue guns help
with the rest!
Side note: see the "Country Home" in the
above picture? This annual wreath party
was once a featured centerfold in the magazine!
A basket of greens & berries are provided
to add panache to the wreaths...
A project this stressful makes one thirsty,
but this host takes good care of the ladies...
Very good care! We love the bubbly!
The real reason our hostess (on right) makes
her wreath in advance...too many bow-making
requests! She is the PRO!
Here she is making mine (for the 3rd year)!
And some ladies are so talented they
not only make a wreath, but decorate
gorgeous containers as well!
I love the variety of greens and textures
tucked in perfectly. Is it wrong to covet a
friend's Christmas arrangement???
A few of the finished, festive wreaths!
Unfortunately my camera caught a lot of glare
from lighting & bulbs, so not all of the
gorgeous wreaths could be
pictured individually.
And now for the post wreath making party...
Festive hors d' ouevres
Nothing beats life-long friendships!
Sharing the holiday spirit! (Or spirits?!)
While this was going on, I snuck over by the fireplace
to investigate the kid-friendly tree! And these
adorable ornaments are what I discovered:
The perfect ending of a lovely day.
