Aunt Lottie and Uncle Walter eventually moved to Florida but still visited for Thanksgiving. They stayed until the Christmas rush at 62-15 was under control. Why did it need to be under control? Well, to replace the flowers that soon died with the cold weather our “customers” required the winter to be brightened up with a holiday wreath.
As soon as the “Thanksgiving table” ware was put away, out came an oil cloth (that was the name given to what we would now use as plastic) to cover the dining room table.
We set to work creating the decorative pieces that brightened up the evergreen wreaths. Some materials were natural plants like statis and ruscus. They came in bundles of branches and the first thing to be done was to cut the branches into small pieces. Little bunches of the small pieces were attached by wire to small, pointed sticks that could be stuck into the wreath frame. The wreaths were made by covering a frame with greenery and then attaching the colorful statis and ruscus in artful arrangements along with bows and Christmas balls.
We also made blankets as grave decorations. A wooden plank was covered with greenery and decorated in the same manner as the wreaths. If you visit a loved one’s grave at Christmas, you can see all these items at the florist shops near the cemetery. All the items to make wreaths can also be found at your favorite craft shop.
By the time all the orders were filled no member of the family escaped swollen and reddened fingers. Mom barely had time for Christmas prep, but somehow, she managed. One year she waited so long to buy a tree that all she could find had branches on only one side. When I trimmed the tree, the uneven weight of the decorations caused the tree to fall over, decorations flying everywhere. It’s kind of funny now, but I cried in frustration then.
I still love Christmas and in the next story you’ll see why.
