Succulent Pumpkins With New Friends

     My sweet daughter Lauren helped me set up & name a blog! Thank you sweet girl! So my first picture on here HAS to be of her (ok AND Jamie ;) 

     I've been waiting for an occasion worthy of my first official blog post & today was just that! My sweet new friend Donalyn Dow (my fellow Succulent Fanatics Facebook group member) who I met at the Succulent Extravaganza last month invited me to attend a workshop with her. In an effort to get out & do new things & because it was being held at our Facebook group leader Laura Balaoro's home making succulent topped pumpkins: I couldn't resist! Boy am I glad I went ~ what a wonderful day it was! 

     I headed out early for my trip to San Jose. Luckily Katie (my jeep) & her trusty GPS took me straight there! What a wonderful hostess Laura was! I was the first to arrive & she had a lovely display set out for us of tea, coffee & an array of breads & cookies. I don't think it was a coincidence that the mug I randomly reached for turned out to be my birthday flower "Lilly of the Valley." Do you?

     Nope. I don't believe in coincidences. I KNEW it was going to be a great day from that moment on. Oh & look at the cute cookies:

     Laura was so organized & had everything all displayed for us outside on tables in her beautiful garden. 

      Just look at this beautiful setting we had to work in:

     The trickling of the water in the pond complete with Koi serenaded us & everywhere you looked there was beauty to behold: 

     Complete with redwoods 

     "Mirror mirror on the garden wall"

     I was very pleased to see that our fearless leader Laura shared my affection for St. Frances

     & head planters ;) 

     Ok enough garden gawking! We each chose our pumpkin & got to work! 

 

   Ok the moss is glued on & it's time to start glueing all the succulent cuttings on. 

     It was fun to see everyone's different creations. 

     The beautiful Donalyn & Laura working on a beauty of a creation:

     Laura was taking some photos too & I can't wait to see hers. 

     TA-DA! Here are mine & Donalyn's masterpieces! Mines on the left & Donalyn chose the beautiful white variegated one on the right. Aren't they awesome (if I do say so myself)!? 

     Looking proud!

     I feel so blessed to have met these lovely ladies.

     As if the beautiful pumpkin wasn't enough, Laura sent me away with a bag full of clippings, 2 pretty plants, persimmons from her tree AND cookies & pumpkin bread to take home to my kids. What a loving & generous spirit! 

     Afterwards, Donalyn treated me to lunch at a historic downtown landmark restaurant "Original Joes." It's a 56 year old Italian restaurant with a rich history, wonderful oldschool ambiance & absolutely delicious food. It was so nice to get to know her better & we decided we were kindred spirits & have much in common. She's awesome & I'm blessed to have her as a friend. 

     I will enjoy my beautiful pumpkin for months to come & every time I look at it I will be reminded of this awesome day of creating & friendship!