|
Dear Friend,
Amazingly it's that time of year again. Time to reflect on those things we are thankful for. Every year I say how quickly the time has passed by and ask myself where it went. This year has been a bit difficult for me personally. I have spent much of it caring for my dad, Norman, (the young fella that paints my birdhouses for me). The summer was spent taking him to cancer treatments that were successful.....and I am thankful for that! He also just finished a week's stay in the hospital for hand surgery relating to a bite he got in the garden that looked very "brown recluse-like" (and again, is doing well!). This among a few other things have kept me from writing to you as I have had to prioritize my life and not do many of the things I love, such as writing this newsletter. I know you understand.
For those of you who have sent your wonderful pictures and messages, I am thankful. They will show up in future newsletters and in the photo gallery. Keep watching and reading.
And many thanks for my very special family who jumps in when and where needed in those times of crisis. I have the greatest husband and kids anyone could hope for! And for the many prayers and encouragements from friends and family. We are truly blessed.
But I certainly didn't want my most favorite of all seasons to go by without staying in touch! So, here's a few goodies for the season that I know you will love! |
|
|
Time to Get Together! |
 This is the time of year we spend together with friends and family.....and there's always food and fun involved. Here's a unique way to decorate your buffet table and save space at the same time! This chip and dip server is constructed on the Incredible Patio Stand. While I used painted pots, don't leave out the many wonderful choices of baskets that are available.
For my server, I painted the pots in fall colors and glued on some really great fall felt decorations that I purchased from my local craft store. The pots are sealed with a clear acrylic sealer before the decorations were added. I lined the bottom of the base pot with foil, put my stand into the base pot and added 1/2 pot rock for weight. I lined the base and middle pots with napkins to hold the chips. In the top pot I used a quart sized freezer baggie that I lined with lettuce leaves to hide the baggie, and filled it with salsa.....being careful as the pot sits at an angle. What a colorful, space saving presentation for my buffet table. For easy clean-up....just remove the baggie of salsa. Pull out the lettuce leaves and seal the baggies with the leftovers if you like, or simply discard. If you plan to use the "chip and dip" display in the future for gardening, be careful not to get the decorations wet. They usually aren't colorfast and may not stay attached to the pot if wet. For full instructions, members may visit the decorating ideas section of Friendship's Garden. To join the membership, please click here.
|
|
Fall Candle Holder |
The sparkle and aroma of a fall candle are always welcome at this time of year. I especially love the spicey fragrance of cinnamon coupled with orange. It just puts me in that fall mood! Here's a little candleholder made from the TableTop Plant Stand that's easy to make. If you don't have a TableTop Stand you may order one here. Decorate your pots however you wish. I wouldn't use baskets or boxes here as they aren't fireproof. After painting, I glued on neat little stickers that are usually used in scrapbooking, easier for me since my sister, Diane, inherited our mom's painting skills! Line the bottom of your base pot with heavy paper or foil so that the rocks and sand you put in won't come out the drain hole. Place your TableTop Stand into the 6" base pot and fill the pot 1/2 full with gravel for added weight. Fill the rest of the pot with sand giving it a little shake so that the sand falls down into the rocks. Insert a tea light candle into two of the three sections between the wings of the base of the TableTop Stand, pushing them down into the sand so that they are at the same height as the lip of the pot. Be careful that your candle flame is not directly below your glued on decorations. Add your top two pots. Line the bottom of the 4" top pots with foil to cover the drain holes and fill each pot with sufficient sand to hold a votive holder, but not so much to spill out. Be sure the votice holder is level. I used a clear glass one so it wouldn't show too much. I also added pebbles in each pot for added decoration. Insert a tea light candle into each of the votive holders. Here's a top view.
Remember to never leave lit candles unattended and place this display safely out of the reach of children and in a location where it cannot be knocked over. This is such a simple idea that will add beauty to any Thanksgiving decor! Full instructions for this project along with pictures can be found through the membership section. Become a friend of Friendship's Garden. |
|
|
Jerry and I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving! We hope you have wonderful memories from this special time of year. We have a special surprise sale for our Christmas Newsletter, so be watching for it!
Sincerely,
Nancy Shelton
Friendship's Garden, Inc.
|
|
|
 |
|
Twig Pumpkins Here's a great decoration on a Large Incredible Plant Stand. Very simple to do, there are three twig pumpkins and two styrofoam pumpkins impaled on this stand. Lights were stuffed into the largest twig pumpkin at the bottom to add some holiday sparkle. Wrap with a garland of fall leaves and you're done! Don't forget to weight the 12" base pot with rocks especially if you put this outdoors. Thanks to Margie F. of Rosenberg, TX for this pic! Great job, Margie!
Order your Large Incredible Plant Stand here!
Hanging Gourds!
Another quick
and simple fall decoration is this Porch/Tree Hanger loaded with colorful styrofoam gourds. A few fall bows and you have a great porch decoration to greet your guests. Nothing is glued here, so just remove the gourds and re-use the hanger for the next holiday, or put your pots on it and have fun gardening with it. Order here.
Fall Boots!
Remember the boots we did earlier this year? Visit the Photo Gallery to see the picture. It only takes a moment to change a spring/summer look to a fall look. Just change the flowers to what the current season offers and you're up to date with very little effort.
These are on a Patio Plant Stand!
You may order your Incredible Patio Plant Stand here.
|
|
|
|
|
