Friends & Flowers Garden Club News
by Dixie Taylor

The Garden Club ladies celebrated an early CHRISTmas on December 5th, visiting in various member's homes for a progressive luncheon.

The first home visited was Carol Blakely's where the group enjoyed breakfast appetizers. Carol's southern hospitality, the sweet smells of Christmas, and the beautiful decorations throughout her home certainly put everyone in the Christmas spirit.

Leaving Carol's, the ladies headed for Martha Hardwick's home. Martha, who is always the perfect hostess and whose home looks like pages from a magazine, had prepared salads for everyone.

Next on the agenda was a ride over to Jean Dean's home where an old-fashioned Christmas dinner (with all the trimmings) was waiting for all to enjoy. Jean had her home decorated in the traditional reds and greens, a decor one never gets tired of.

Lou Gossett's home was waiting with more sweet smells of Christmas as this was the place for "desserts." Murlene Wommack and Bobbie Sparks brought a decorated cake with a message on top wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. A "yummy" chocolate cake and a cherry dessert was baked by Lou.

The ladies were asked to make a "handmade" Christmas card for the December meeting. A contest for the best cards was held and a first, second and third place prize was given to the winners. First place winner was Iva Williams; second place went to Lou Gossett; and Joyce Jordan's card took third place.

A meeting was called to order to discuss who would become the recipient of the club's yearly gift, a cash donation to an individual or a charity organization in the Brownsboro/ Edom area. This year the "gardeners " chose to give cash to a widowed senior citizen, a family with four small children, and a donation to the East Texas Arboretum and Botanical Society in Athens, Texas.

Gifts were exchanged among the ladies and the "Friends and Flowers" ended another year with treasured memories and the desire that everyone of you out there have a very Merry CHRISTmas and a healthy and Happy New Year!