You know you've achieved perfection in design,
not when you have nothing more to add,
but when you have nothing more to take away.
  --Antoine de Saint-Exupery 

No one is safe!-but we can do something about it!

~Susan M. Rambo

I was scolding our friend Jeff one day last summer.  He and my Husband, Ron, enjoy wood-working, construction projects, building stuff, you know; guy things.  We were all talking about Tetanus Shots and Jeff remarked that he hadn’t had a Tetanus shot in ages.  I pointed my finger at him and in my sternest voice reminded him that folks who work with tools, nails, treated wood products and the like, should get a Tetanus shot, followed by booster shots on a regular basis.   Well, he sternly pointed a finger right back at me and said “You are the one who should be getting your booster shots on a regular basis.”   The old farmer caught me off guard when he reminded me that even the nicest garden dirt is full of bacteria, germs and more often than not, man-made hazards.  The more we talked, the more I recalled broken glass, rusty nails, brittle pieces of wire, and a partially decayed toy or two that I had unearthed in my gardening days.   Worse yet were the filthy gashes that I acquired from digging in the dirt while never being able to find the culprit.  There was a time, just last year, when something laid my hand open and I didn’t know if I would need a tetanus shot or rabies shot!

I figure I’m not going stop digging in the dirt anytime soon so I had better protect myself.  Heaven forbid I keep my gloves on when I’m working, although I really do try. I went right to the Doctor and ordered a Tetanus shot.  It ended up having multiple benefits as I needed one for Scout Camp anyway.

 I encourage all my fellow gardeners to keep up on your Tetanus shots.  It should cover you for five or ten years, depending on which Doctor you ask. We’re so lucky to live in an age when (and a country where) we can be protected by a shot. Don’t worry; it’s given in the arm and really didn’t hurt at all-especially if you consider the alternative.

 Home-made Holiday Centerpiece

It's wonderful to have the money to be able to purchase a ready-made floral arrangement, or the supplies to make your own floral arrangement, but sometimes it's just not feasible. Don't ever let that hold you back though.  There are elements for arrangements everywhere around us but we just have to think outside of the box.  One good place to start is your kitchen.  You will need a container but it doesn't have to be a fancy vase or a special florists' dish with floral foam.  You can use a Mason jar, a drinking glass, a pretty coffee mug or a tea cup for a container. I've used a plastic bucket for larger arrangements that really needed the water.  I just wrapped the bucket in some calico fabric when I was done.

Let's say you have a Mason jar or an old jelly jar.  You can start by tying a nice ribbon around the top.  The neck of the jar is perfect for holding the ribbon in place.  The ribbon can be a recycled piece from another year, a scrap of twine, or even a piece of fabric fashioned into a long strip. Any frayed ends will give your fabric bow some character.  The bow doesn't have to be fancy or huge. Just tie a nice "shoelace" bow.

Next you'll want some greens.  If you already have your Christmas tree you can take any extra trimmings and place them into the jar full of water.  They'll look and smell wonderful! If you don't have a real tree or trimmings, a few branches from outside will do just fine.  (Wear a bit of red or blaze orange if you're going near any woods.  It's usually hunting season for something somewhere!)  Keep in mind that most arrangements look better with more than one type of greenery.  Cut boughs from two different pine trees or use other evergreens such as Rhododendron or Azalea.  (If the leaves are curled, don't worry.  It's just the cold.  They'll open up when they get into the warmth of your home.) If you have Holly and/or Ivy, they add a classic touch to any Christmas arrangement.  If you don't have any of these plants but your nice neighbor does, ask for a few sprigs.  Remind them that one of the best times to trim these plants is in this dormant season! 

Place your greenery in your jar (or bucket), re-cutting the stems at an angle as you place them in the water.  This provides better water uptake which will make your arrangement last longer. Arrange your pine boughs so that they look natural, just like God designed them out in the woods.  Leave any pine cones on the branches and keep any dried grasses that might be entwined in the boughs.  Add any other branches that you may have to work with but don't  overfill it!  Simplicity is a beautiful thing.

  If you wanted to provide a little color you could add some rose hips from your garden or the roadside. You could also use artificial berries or fruits if you have some on hand.  If you have more ribbon you could tie some bright little bows here and there throughout your arrangement.  A few Christmas (or Valentine's Day) ornaments or candy could even be attached throughout.

  If you have another container and find yourself with some leftover greenery, make a second arrangement and take it to that nice neighbor!

Happy Holidays!