FESIVAL OF TREES

Lynda arrjived on Tuesday afternoon. She has had a cold so we hung around the house on Wednesday and by Thursday she was feeling well enough to go with me to Days for Girls and out to lunch with some friends. Friday we adventured into Orlando to the Art Museum to go to the Festival of Trees.

Each tree had a theme and was for sale. This is a fund raiser for the museum. Sunday is the last day and most of the trees were marked sold.  Lynda standing by the Florida tree.

There were pretty glass fish on the tree.

This tree was dedicated to the Health Heroes.

 

The nutcrackers on the tree were doctors and nurses.
 

Of course there were Santa theme trees.

This tree was full of bright color glasses and signs that told about famous people that have/had vision problems.

It was very "in sightful"

This tree's theme was birds. Notice the bird house on the top. 

This tree was entitled Joy to the World.

It had ornaments on it that represented countries all around the world.

After the rooms of large trees there was a hall and room of small trees and wreaths.

These too were for sale for about $300.

A butterfly tree. That could be used for many seasons of the year.

This tree had little snowmen on it.

A pretty tree.

This tree hung on the wall.

A cork wreath.

More wreaths.

Could I do that with my grapevine wreath?

Lots of balls and decorations on these wreaths.

 After Thanksgiving I will put up my tree and decorate. Not quite this fancy but the way I like it. 

Merry Christmas

FORT DE SOTO

We took a four day camping get away to Fort De Soto Park. We went on Sunday and came home Thursday. 

It is  hard to get a reservation at this campground.  Larry was lucky to get one when he called.  This part of the park is for campers with pets, of course Godiva was with us. We wanted the car with us, so I drove it over. It is about 100 miles from our house.  We also took our bikes and enjoyed  biking to the Fort.

Larry enjoyed several days of fishing. Once from the pier and rest at the campground. He did catch one fish but too small to keep. He had a lot advice on what bait to use, what hook and what to do. He needs a mentor. I enjoyed sitting on the beach, reading and looking for pretty shells. 

Beautiful sunsets in the evening. This was right in front of where we were camped. It was nice to get away for a few days and relax.

BLACK AND WHITE GALA

Larry and I both volunteer for an organization called Harbour Hope International. It mentors women who have been rescued from sex trafficking. It also educates and increases the awareness of sex trafficking at churches and schools. They train hotel workers and hospital workers to be aware of the signs that someone is being trafficked and how to help.  Orlando area has high sex trafficking. Larry has been on the education and awareness team and I am on the prayer and care team.

Last Saturday there was a black and white gala to help raise funds for Harbour Hope.

It felt like we were going to a prom. We haven't dressed up like this for a long time.

It was held at the Canvas Event Center in Orlando. It was a very nice affair, but not many wore tux or white dresses.  It was a much younger crowd. There was an informative program. They are trying to buy some property to provide housing for the women, so I hope it was a successful fund raiser. 
 

BUTTON TREES

I saw a post on Facebook how someone had made button trees. I had a large bag of buttons I had baought at the NOMADS auction a few years ago and decided to try to make one. I think there are about 300 buttons on this tree.

I had alot of white, black and silver buttons left over so I started another tree. I didn't have enough  black buttons so with some donations from members in my circle I had plenty.

The finished tree.

Along with the black buttons I was given were lots of gold, so I made this tree also.
 

The trees were put in the Made with Love area.  They sold for $15 each.  

Our United Methodist Women  have lots of talent. 

Lots of handbags and jewelry was donated.

The canned goods sell out fast. We had a successful bazaar raising about $9,000. The money helps to support local organizations that work with women, children and youth. Glad I could do a small part.

LAST OF THE NEW APPLIANCES

Sherry came over to my house and we canned some tomato base and chili base for our church bazaar. She mentioned how shoe loves her induction stove. I was wanting to get a new stove but wasn't sure what kind. I have experience cooking on induction and pots and pans for it, so I decided that was the new stove for me. We went to Lowe's and ordered one that was on sale. It would come in a week.

Larry thought before the stove was installed we should also replace this microwave. 

He took it out and carefully measured and took his time to put in the new one.

The new microwave was installed with no problem. 

My stove installed, now I have to read the manual and learn how to use it. The oven is convection and an air fryer.