If you know my husband Dennis, you know that he’s just like Mary Poppins, “practically perfect in very day.” Even right this minute, as I sit here writing this, he’s out mowing, weed whacking, and getting ready to fill the driveway holes with new gravel. He is constantly cleaning something (which makes me, a cleaning slacker, feel guilty). People have asked if I’d consider renting him out–he’s that good.
Today, however, will go down in history as the day Dennis almost died. You see, it’s summer, and in summer, I prepare for Christmas. Yes, I said Christmas. This morning we hit Toys R Us for probably the last time and picked up a few Christmas gifts for the grandbabies. I try to have all my gifts purchased by October 31 and wrapped by Thanksgiving. Why? Because my parents own a Christmas tree farm (Storeyland in Burghill, Ohio) and our lives are crazy from about November 10th until December 20th). I make a lot of wreaths for the farm and decorate them. You know, in my spare time–weekends and evenings, that is. Anytime I’m not teaching.
Anyway, back to Dennis’s near brush with death. In the summer, I make bows. Why? Because I have carpal tunnel and refuse to have surgery for something that really only bothers me for six weeks each year. Making wreaths and cutting pine is hard on your hands, believe it or not. And bow making aggravates them even more. So, I try to make the bows ahead of time. My goal is to make three bows each day while I’m off school for summer. It’s not a lot, but it adds up.
I ran out of wire, so I went to the basement to find some more. While there, I decided to pick up the colors of ribbon that I plan on using this week. That’s when I discovered it. Dennis, in a cleaning frenzy, last winter, had crushed an entire box of bows in his quest to organize the basement. Hopefully, I can salvage them. Luckily, I use wired ribbon. We’ll have to see.
Don’t worry, Dennis fans. He’ll be okay. He may have to cut more branches this winter while I make extra bows, but we will all survive. He is, after all, perfect for me. Plus, my mother loves him (perhaps even more than she loves me). I don’t really know how I deserve such a hard-working, wonderful guy, but I am grateful for him every single day.
I got a great laugh out of this story, Tracy! I think I would contemplate killing my husband for squishing something I worked very hard on as well. There are days we celebrate and joke that he is still alive too. But then I would miss him, as I’m quite sure you would miss Dennis as well. So they get to live another day. Lol. Awesome story!
Stunning wreaths, but isn’t it a little soon for Christmans spirit? haha
Your Dennis sounds a lot like my Ron, they are one of kind for sure. I am pretty sure in my neighborhood all the ladies want to steal him and all the husband hate him, LOL I imagine it’s probably the same for Dennis too. They are keepers 😉
Awww that wreath is so beautiful. Good to see you getting into the holiday spirit already ♥️
Those wreaths are absolutely stunning! And I hope you manage to fix the bows! 🙈
I did! They fluffed up nicely. I love wired ribbon. It’s so much easier to work with than velvet.
I love your wreaths! And having all your Christmas done by October is an awesome idea! Thanks for sharing!