Small Pursuits of Happiness #8: Make Something Pretty with Your Own Hands
On March 16th, I decided to attend a fundraiser sponsored by Altrusa International Capital City of Richmond, Va. I joined my fellow Altrusa members, our family and friends, and we met at Beulah United Methodist Church for our first floral design workshop. One of our new members, Stephen Gardner, had come up with this great new idea for a fundraiser. We could make money for our operating account, and at the same time learn how to design a centerpiece we could use in our home. Fun!
Stephen’s friend David Pippin, http://www.davidpippin.biz, is a well-known floral designer in the Richmond area, responsible for all the floral designs at the Governor’s Mansion. David is an educator with a wide range of horticultural knowledge and experience, and on this day, he taught 18 eager attendees how to build our own spring floral centerpiece. All floral materials were provided, and each participant had to bring clippers and gloves.
First, we were instructed to pay close attention while David started from scratch, building a beautiful live floral arrangement, flower by flower. We all wondered how in the world we could create anything like this masterpiece. But believe it or not, by the time we all finished, everyone left with a smile and a beautiful arrangement to take home.
This is a picture of my arrangement.
This is a picture of my arrangement one week later.
Not bad for a first timer. 😊
By Rita McCulloch
Rita McCulloch is a mid generation Boomer who saw change and turmoil happen all around her from a vantage point as a young African American woman growing up in Huntsville, Alabama. Yet her focus was on family, community, church and helping others. She began helping seniors with their personal and financial needs as a volunteer while raising her family. She then founded a business, Boomer3Solutions, through which she helps educate, organize, and prepare families for their golden age years and minimize the stress that can be related to caregiving. Rita brings to Boomer Connections a strong background in elder care concerns and the many decisions facing their Boomer family members.