Flowers, Heart, and Family

Part of my arrangement...

Today has been an enjoyable day. Mom invited Leslie and me to join her at the Home and Garden Show at the South Towne Expo Center. She really wanted to look at all the gardening ideas and flowers. She is a Green Thumb - unfortunately it's not hereditary. I can kill a silk plant with both hands tied behind my back.

We wandered around from booth to booth for a little while, but the major motivation to be there was an auction sponsored by the floral shop Every Bloomin' Thing. The owner, Pam, hosted the auction -- along with Necia Degering (host of the channel 4 TV show, "The Daily Dish,") -- while five of the shop's designers stood on a high platform behind her creating beautiful arrangements... everything from simple and classic to very contemporary.

Necia Degering and her daughter, Kathy, Pam, Leslie, and Mom

More of my arrangement...

Leslie and I had planned to visit Gayle Higgins afterwards on our way home so we were keeping our eye out for something cheerful and bright. People were bidding up to $200 and $300 sometimes. Most went for between $40 and $80. Every penny raised was to be donated to Primary Children's Medical Center.

Leslie and I bought a bright cheerful arrangement for Gayle. Mom brought an arrangement for her home, and I bought one for mine. We had a great time. We were there the whole time from 2:30 until 5:30 until the auction ended. They raised over $12,000 for Primary Children's in three hours! The flowers had been donated by the wholesalers, and the designers donated their time and AMAZING talents. They were whipping up those arrangements in minutes. It was so much fun to watch them.

After we dropped mom off at home, we drove to Gayle's to surprise her with her arrangement. It was a beautiful spring assortment - happy and bright. We were so happy to find Barb and Jess there visiting her, and Pete came out too. Leslie and I were in such a goofy mood by then... we started sharing crazy stories from when we were growing up and before we knew it we were all laughing ourselves silly! It was great to see Gayle and spend time with her family for a little while. We had a great time. (I wish I had taken pictures of her flowers... these pictures are all of mine. I loved all the colors.)