Wreath season.
It’s true that if the timing is right, wind storms and wreath season go together like marzipan and dark chocolate. ( I’m quoting myself here)….but, as my mother would say:
Everything in moderation.
Not that we have any control whatsoever about the wind. Especially with what we woke up to last week – an anxiety producing wind storm of the type I had never heard of before– named because of the sudden drop in air pressure: a “bomb cyclone” was off the coast and ready to hit land in the evening.
People were warned to prepare for power outages, downed trees and all-the-things.
It was the first of four Tuesdays that I am teaching wreath making out at Bilston Creek Farm. For years, they have had someone else doing it, but she was not available this year so they offered that if they collected all the greens and did all the set up and registration, could I simply come and teach four times to a different group of 20 people each time. I agreed with excitement!
I love introducing people to the wonderful world of wreath making!
I must say that I was full of trepidation for this evening because of the wind storm. Depending on traffic it is about an hour from my house.
The event manager and the owner were very organized and prepared in case the power went out. They had tested the systems and the generator. We could only plug two things into the generator; we decided on the tree (so much light and even more atmosphere) and the music. We had two very bright lights on a stand at head level, and some battery operated candles.
The lights were flickering as we were preparing, and then just ahead of every one arriving. Darkness.
The “hot” apple cider was warm- because the stove in the other building no longer worked. (It was still delicious- it is my favourite beverage there- the apples grew in the orchard just outside the barn).
The heat in the barn was off ( I was moving around so much, I was hot).
But the lovely owner raided every blanket from her home across the orchard and brought them for people who were sitting on the metal chairs.
One group of five had a delivery from a sweet husband who brought them each lumber jackets and headlamps! The headlamps were very effective for the wreath making. To me they were reminiscent of many girl guide camps where they ask you a question, look directly at you- blinding you— it’s a certain kind of light for those not wearing it, I must say.
Here’s where it gets all British Comedy. With the wind howling outside and everyone making their wreaths and me going around answering questions, and cheerleading…. the event manager went off to get a box for someone…she didn’t return for quite a while, but I carried on going from one wreath to another holding my flashlight so the guest could see to fasten the wire or I could show them something…
It was easy to cheerlead such wonderful wreath makers- it was difficult to see and not what they had expected with the temperature….but they made beautiful wreaths and all so unique to one another. It was so cosy with the music and the tree lights one almost forgot about the wind roaring through the tall Douglas Firs outside.
I asked each table at the beginning ( because they were organized into friend groups for seating – if they signed up together or requested, then they sat together) if they had made a wreath before– most people had not- but you wouldn’t know it by this final picture.
The event manager returned towards the end- “Did you notice I was gone for a while?”
“Yes as a matter of fact I did…”
She had left the barn to go to the other building and the 100+ km wind blew the door handle out of her hand, and ripped the door off its hinges. She managed to hold it in place by leaning her whole body against the door and with her other hand she texted the owner for help! Like in any comedy, the contrast between the chaos and force of the wind, the difficulty of holding on and then looking through the glass window in the upper half of the door to the wreath makers and I – COMPLETELY unaware of the struggle- with the Christmas music on, the concentration of trying a new thing, the chatter and laughter among friends and families— well I must say, knowing she’s alright, it’s hilarious! It kind of tops off a CRAZY all-hands-on-deck behind the scenes workshop. Both women managed to fix the door in place unbeknownst to the rest of us.
As people were going out, I received so many compliments: “thank you for giving me the confidence to be creative”; “thank you for helping me, I’m glad you stopped me from doing it the way I was, your way was easier”; and “We’ll see you next year!”.
Team effort I would say.
It was noisy and also difficult because it was hard to see— but perhaps my years at Science World where I started their pre-school program for them, and taught Curiosity Club for years- a series of workshops where 15 people who were aged 3-5 would bring their special grown ups and siblings for a class. The classroom door was a North American style garage door that closed from the ceiling to the floor and opened at the end of an hour into the chaos of a wonderfully interactive children’s science museum… I can keep talking on the subject at hand no matter what!
Either way, my enthusiasm and excitement to see how people can make, create, discover and be their own unique selves learning new things will never get old. It is a thrill for me. And quite an honour to witness…whether in a Vancouver landmark or in a barn in Metchosin.
It’s magic.
What resulted from the magic…memories and making wreaths
I introduced myself with my first name is Lise-Lotte, it’s a Danish name, and then talked about hygge- what it means and how this place tonight is SOOOO hygge |