Somewhere, over the rainbow…

What can I possibly say about why I haven’t written for so long?  Let’s see:

1.  I was doing homework.

I’ve been taking on-line courses since January in Horticulture from the U of MN in order to become a master gardener.  It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.  I didn’t realize it was going to be SO MUCH-this picture is just the book.  The real work is done on-line.

My favorite section:

My least favorite section:

I confided to another master gardener that I was very nervous about answering questions because, well, I won’t know the answer.  He told me that I only need to know one answer – “I don’t know the answer to that but I’ll look it up and get back to you”.  Good advice I think.

 

2.  My dog ate my homework.

OK, that is old news – it happened a long time ago and I’m sure Baxter didn’t mean to eat my newly finished pillow.  He’s almost perfect now……

3.  I was busy babysitting.

What can I say?  Wouldn’t you?

4.  I was involved with Garden Day.

I’m still a master gardener “intern”, but I have to help with the annual Garden Day.  It’s a big deal here.  42 speakers, 90+ class offerings.  Trying to pick the 5 classes you want the most is a challenge.  We served lunch to somewhere between 600 to 700 that day.  Flower pots held Honey popovers filled with chicken salad – they were so good.  And the cake pops for dessert were equally yummy.  These are just a few of the lunches being prepared.

 

5.  I was on a Tour --- of Tables as a fundraiser for an organization that provides services to people that help them stay in their own homes.  Our theme this year was the Wizard of Oz:

I designed the booklet as well as the tickets which were also bookmarks -

Each table was decorated with a kid’s book as it’s theme.  Our menu included:

Auntie Em’s famous Chicken Salad with Kansas Croissants, Emerald City Salad and over the rainbow fruit.   Each table hostess provided their dessert to match her theme.

Some events might have a kids menu that would include a corn dog, chips, fruit, knox blocks and a drink.  At our event, kids’ meals were:  Toto on a Stick, Munchkin Munchies, Rainbow Fruit, Wicked Witch Wigglers and Lollipop Punch.  They also got a bottle of Glinda the Witch’s bubbles.

There were 14 tables.  I took pictures of 13 tables – say what?  And guess whose table was the one I didn’t get a picture of?  Yuppers – Jean & I did a Wizard of Oz table but I have no picture to prove it.  Jean dressed her American Girl doll as Dorothy – even had the ruby slippers and Toto in a little basket.  Our dessert was cupcakes:

I made the raffle quilt:

Our waiters were The Scarecrow, The Tin Man, The Lion, Glinda the Witch and of course Dorothy. 

Dorothy had to work extra hard because of course she had to sing her trademark song – Somewhere Over etc, etc.

Let’s say that you were just now arriving.  You’d have to start on the Lollipop Lane:

Then follow the Yellow Brick Road:

then under the Rainbow on your way to see the Wizard in the Land of Oz.

The little sign on his arm says:  “well what would you do with a brain if you had one?”  Gosh, that is so profound.  Don’t you think?