Almost the end of the year for this meeting, when the clocks “fall” back. I always thought that’s a great way to remember what to do; most people remember that we are going to get back the hour we lost in the spring, but it reminds me that we are nearing my favorite time of the year – the holidays!
Thanksgiving, favored by my Dad, must be misting rain and cold enough for a fire to sit down at table with a huge golden brown turkey, surrounded by all those delicious sides of sweet potatoes covered with marshmallows, rice and gravy, and the oyster dressing he and Mom made together. Grace was said, usually all together.
Always so thankful for all of our blessings. With a beautiful Thanksgiving Day shared with all the family, there’s so much to be thankful for – the wonderful country we live in, to worship in whatever church we wish, to vote for whomever we want to or none of the above if we choose.
As youngsters I’m sure we didn’t know how truly blessed we were. I do hope you and yours had a wonderful blessed Thanksgiving!
As President Jennifer Allen stood and opened the Hammond Garden Club’s meeting she called on Chaplain Mary Thornhill to bless us and those unable to attend that day and asked everyone to remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Jennifer then introduced our speaker for the day who was Donna Wolf, floral designer. She said that if we hadn’t attended the Arts and Bloom show earlier in the year that Donna had fabricated – from chicken wire, leaves and flowers – a lady standing with a poodle sitting by her side and that we had really missed one of her magical pieces.
Jennifer said Donna had worked in retail previously and decided that she finally wanted to open her own shop, which she did, in Mandeville, called Flowerworks!
Donna then showed the members of the garden club things for making her display, including some old garland and wreaths from her attic. She brought from her garden pine boughs, holly and ligustrum branches, all to reattach through the old garland wiring and to wrap with little white lights or add ornaments if we desired. But just greenery made it look spectacular.
When she held it around the door frame at the entrance of the room it looked brand new, so colorful and graceful.
She then took a large old outside pot from her garden, painted it gold, sat an upside-down tomato cage inside the pot and again added pine, holly and ligustrum which made it look like a small outdoor tree to decorate in any fashion you desired.
She did approximately the same with an old wreath anyone else would probably have thrown away, but with her additions – wow! – a brand-new decoration for the front door.
The most important thing she reminded us was it cost nothing unless you wanted lights or new ornaments to embellish the items even further.
When her display was finished she opened the presentation to the crowd for questions, but there was only applause since the instructions were so great. Jennifer handed her a gift card from Hobby Lobby from the club in appreciation for her presentation.
Jennifer said that lunch was being served or if we wanted to get our lunch from the buffet that Mary Monteleone and her wait staff were ready to serve. As always the dining room was dressed for Thanksgiving and her waitresses were right at hand at our beck and call.
When lunch was complete Jennifer reconvened the meeting by announcing that the minutes of the previous meeting had been emailed and approved before the meeting and asked Juanita Pearson if she would read the treasurer’s report in Treasurer Phillis diBeneditto’s absence. Juanita did so and said a complete copy was attached to the minutes. Motion was called for approval; all were in favor.
Jennifer then called on Carolyn Todd for her report on Garden of the Month. Carolyn reported that the award had been given to Cub and Robert Lanaux. Carolyn also said that they told her they had been given this award 10 years ago and were so pleased to win again.
She then called on Linda Ross for the winner of the Link Award. Linda said that the award was going to the Sonic Drive-In on Railroad Avenue and was to be awarded that week.
Jennifer then called on Glenda Nelson for information on the next meeting for Keep Hammond Beautiful.
Jennifer said new business was that we were set to decorate Christmas trees at North Oaks, the same ones we have decorated each year, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, and at the Gazebo in Cate Square Park on Monday, Dec. 11, at 10 a.m.
Please come lend a hand for both community projects.
She then reminded us to bring food staples to give to Kiwanis for their Christmas baskets as another community donation for the Christmas season given to those less fortunate than we are.
Door prizes were awarded, and she adjourned the meeting as there was nothing further to discuss.
The Hammond Garden Club is a proud member of the District VI, Louisiana Garden Club Federation Inc. and the Deep South Garden Clubs Inc., doing our best to unify and beautify our homes, gardens, our city and our nation every day to the best of our ability. God bless America, and God bless the City of Hammond!
by Linda Broussard
She is a member of the Hammond Garden
Thanksgiving, favored by my Dad, must be misting rain and cold enough for a fire to sit down at table with a huge golden brown turkey, surrounded by all those delicious sides of sweet potatoes covered with marshmallows, rice and gravy, and the oyster dressing he and Mom made together. Grace was said, usually all together.
Always so thankful for all of our blessings. With a beautiful Thanksgiving Day shared with all the family, there’s so much to be thankful for – the wonderful country we live in, to worship in whatever church we wish, to vote for whomever we want to or none of the above if we choose.
As youngsters I’m sure we didn’t know how truly blessed we were. I do hope you and yours had a wonderful blessed Thanksgiving!
As President Jennifer Allen stood and opened the Hammond Garden Club’s meeting she called on Chaplain Mary Thornhill to bless us and those unable to attend that day and asked everyone to remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Jennifer then introduced our speaker for the day who was Donna Wolf, floral designer. She said that if we hadn’t attended the Arts and Bloom show earlier in the year that Donna had fabricated – from chicken wire, leaves and flowers – a lady standing with a poodle sitting by her side and that we had really missed one of her magical pieces.
Jennifer said Donna had worked in retail previously and decided that she finally wanted to open her own shop, which she did, in Mandeville, called Flowerworks!
Donna then showed the members of the garden club things for making her display, including some old garland and wreaths from her attic. She brought from her garden pine boughs, holly and ligustrum branches, all to reattach through the old garland wiring and to wrap with little white lights or add ornaments if we desired. But just greenery made it look spectacular.
When she held it around the door frame at the entrance of the room it looked brand new, so colorful and graceful.
She then took a large old outside pot from her garden, painted it gold, sat an upside-down tomato cage inside the pot and again added pine, holly and ligustrum which made it look like a small outdoor tree to decorate in any fashion you desired.
She did approximately the same with an old wreath anyone else would probably have thrown away, but with her additions – wow! – a brand-new decoration for the front door.
The most important thing she reminded us was it cost nothing unless you wanted lights or new ornaments to embellish the items even further.
When her display was finished she opened the presentation to the crowd for questions, but there was only applause since the instructions were so great. Jennifer handed her a gift card from Hobby Lobby from the club in appreciation for her presentation.
Jennifer said that lunch was being served or if we wanted to get our lunch from the buffet that Mary Monteleone and her wait staff were ready to serve. As always the dining room was dressed for Thanksgiving and her waitresses were right at hand at our beck and call.
When lunch was complete Jennifer reconvened the meeting by announcing that the minutes of the previous meeting had been emailed and approved before the meeting and asked Juanita Pearson if she would read the treasurer’s report in Treasurer Phillis diBeneditto’s absence. Juanita did so and said a complete copy was attached to the minutes. Motion was called for approval; all were in favor.
Jennifer then called on Carolyn Todd for her report on Garden of the Month. Carolyn reported that the award had been given to Cub and Robert Lanaux. Carolyn also said that they told her they had been given this award 10 years ago and were so pleased to win again.
She then called on Linda Ross for the winner of the Link Award. Linda said that the award was going to the Sonic Drive-In on Railroad Avenue and was to be awarded that week.
Jennifer then called on Glenda Nelson for information on the next meeting for Keep Hammond Beautiful.
Jennifer said new business was that we were set to decorate Christmas trees at North Oaks, the same ones we have decorated each year, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, and at the Gazebo in Cate Square Park on Monday, Dec. 11, at 10 a.m.
Please come lend a hand for both community projects.
She then reminded us to bring food staples to give to Kiwanis for their Christmas baskets as another community donation for the Christmas season given to those less fortunate than we are.
Door prizes were awarded, and she adjourned the meeting as there was nothing further to discuss.
The Hammond Garden Club is a proud member of the District VI, Louisiana Garden Club Federation Inc. and the Deep South Garden Clubs Inc., doing our best to unify and beautify our homes, gardens, our city and our nation every day to the best of our ability. God bless America, and God bless the City of Hammond!
by Linda Broussard
She is a member of the Hammond Garden