It's Just Life

  • Home
  • About
  • Comments for a Cause
  • Tea and Teapots
  • Books
  • Travel
  • Writing
  • Recipes
  • Products
December 11, 2014

Now That’s Whimsical

41 Comments/ 4681/ 0

Some of my fun North Iowa Bloggers and I attempted to be crafty the other night.  Some of us succeeded perhaps a little bit better than others but we all had fun and that was what the whole evening was about.

You might remember me writing about visiting the Carlson Christmas Tree Farm back when I was posting about our Franklin County Harvest Bloggers Tour in the fall this year.  It was one place that we stopped on our first night to enjoy some fabulous food and conversation.  Oh yes–the wiggle cars and meal worms were also a hit that night. Our return trip this week was specifically to make beautiful evergreen wreaths.

Several of us were able to make the trip to go be creative and like I said—some did better than others.  I decided that I am much better at paper crafting than I am at wreath making.

Amy and Alicia look for just the right size bundle!

Amy and Alicia look for just the right size bundle!

Amy is just not quite sure about this bundle!

Amy is just not quite sure about this bundle!

Val was an old pro at wreath making --can you tell?

Val was an old pro at wreath making –can you tell? Donna was just trying to create one handed.

Jeni and I teamed up to do our wreaths together but we were just not getting it right.  Jeni kept taking breaks and going over to snuggle Sophie who has to be the absolute best dog in the whole wide world.  I couldn’t’ blame Jeni at all.

Jeni and Sophie

Jeni and Sophie

The process included making 10 bundles of 3 different types of evergreen and then using the cool wreath crimping apparatus to clamp the greens into the wire frame.  Sounds easy but our first wreath was a bit……grandiose.  Or as Michelle (wreath elf and maker extraordinaire) said “it is certainly whimsical”.   I think that was code for crazy, ridiculous looking, horrible really not good. She is so kind.

The good thing is we had all this great help to make our “creation” look fabulous.

Beth makes pretty bows.

Beth makes pretty bows. Must be because of her name.

Jeni said she would take the first wreath we made and it actually turned out looking really nice when it was all done. jeni

I continued to work on mine and with the right bow and embellishments I was really happy with my not so whimsical wreath. Never mind the bubbly door (you can read that post here—yes–I write about everything here on It’s Just Life).IMG_4046 2

We all had so much fun and laughter filled the barn.  I would do this again in a heartbeat because the folks at Carlson’s are real nice people.  Genuine and good people who have a wonderful family business that they obviously love running. The local paper ran a front page story on them this week and you can click here to go to read more about their operation.  It is really quite interesting. bloggers2 Collage

We really did have a great night and topped it off with dinner at West Fork Wharf in Sheffield.  I was feeling a bit cranky with no nap, a late night and late dinner so I was craving comfort food and West Fork Wharf provided that in a wonderful way.  We shared some appetizers of batter fried handcut whole mushrooms which were recommended to us by several folks ahead of time and along with the delectably crisp cheese curds our dining experience started out superbly. Just look at these mushrooms!IMG_4036

I decided to go with one of the specials that was a lovely entree of sliced beef over mashed potatoes and Texas Toast.  Like I said—I was craving comfort food and wow—was this an awesome choice.IMG_4037

The portion was huge and after chowing down on appetizers I ate about 1/3 rd of my entree and packed the rest up for leftovers. I was thrilled with my choice and would definitely return to this place again. The food was excellent and our service was prompt with attention to drink refills and to go boxes offered at just the right time.  My crankiness disappeared.

As Jeni and I drove back to Mason City we realized that we are both definitely not used to being “out in the country” as much as we were.  It was dark.  Really dark.  While I don’t claim to be a big city girl at all I guess I am used to having a few more lights around me at night than there are in the country.

Would I do it again?  Without a doubt.  Would I go with these gals anywhere?  YES!  We have such a great time and I am building up memories in my memory bank for that time when I am no longer a North Iowa Blogger. These friendships are lifetime friendships and I am blessed.

What has blessed you this week?  Have you ever made a “whimsical” craft that didn’t turn out quite as expected?  I would love to hear all about it.  Thanks for stopping by today.

 

Share:
Tags:
bloggers Carlson Tree Farm evergreen wreaths Hampton IA Sheffield West Fork Wharf
← Previous Pleased to Announce—“Chasing Jenna” by Micki Fredericks
Next → Claudia Must Die—-or Must She? It’s Up to YOU to Find Out.

Related Articles

  • A Perfectly Curated Library

  • Stuck and Irritated

  • On the Street NYC Style

  • “Talk Less. Smile More.”

  • Things to Love About New York City

41 Comments

Leave a comment
  1. Dawn
    December 11, 2014 at 06:08 am

    Looks like so much fun!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 11, 2014 at 06:50 am

      Thanks!!! We have had such a great time lately!

      Reply
  2. Lisa A. Kramer
    December 11, 2014 at 06:11 am

    This looks so fun. How did you get a blogging group started? One that actually meets and does fun things together? Also, just curious, how far are you from Okoboji? Finally I love both wreaths.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 11, 2014 at 06:50 am

      Lisa—-thanks! We actually got started getting together after one of our bloggers, Sara Broers, got a Social Media Breakfast group started. There were enough of us to try to meet on our own and now we keep finding more bloggers to add which is pretty neat. We have been very active in the past 3 months –have a Facebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/NorthIowaBloggers and a website in the works. We do fun things but also some things for the community like ringing bells, collecting food for the food bank and volunteering at local events. Not everyone can do every single event but you do what you can when you can. We are about 2 12 hours to Okoboji. Thanks again so very much!

      Reply
      1. Lisa A. Kramer
        December 11, 2014 at 07:14 am

        I spend part of every summer in Okoboji. Maybe I can join you all on a blogging event.

        Reply
        1. Beth Ann
          December 11, 2014 at 07:21 am

          That would be wonderful!!!!! 🙂

          Reply
          1. Lisa A. Kramer
            December 11, 2014 at 07:38 am

            Or maybe one of your events could be to see a show at Okoboji Summer Theatre where I work each summer. 😉

          2. Beth Ann
            December 11, 2014 at 07:41 am

            That sounds AMAZING! I am sure the gals would be up for it!!! Let’s talk later!

  3. Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos
    December 11, 2014 at 06:11 am

    Soooo pretty! I love how it turned out!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 11, 2014 at 06:44 am

      It turned out nicely thanks to the elf helpers at the tree farm!!! You can hid a lot of sins with ribbon and pine cones. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Dianna
    December 11, 2014 at 06:29 am

    I love, love, love those wreaths!! They look wonderful, and make my frasier fir (with a little added boxwood and holly) look wimpy!
    That is neat that you and other bloggers get together and have so much fun!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 11, 2014 at 06:46 am

      Dianna—it is all great fun, let me tell you. We are definitely making a splash locally and people are getting what we do a little bit more. We have two more “adventures coming up this week so stay tuned!

      Reply
  5. jenieats
    December 11, 2014 at 06:47 am

    I had so much fun at wreath class. Yours looks perfect on your door. Thanks for being my partner. Those Carlson’s are pro’s. I really didn’t think the whimsical wreath could look fine, but they knew how to place that bow.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 11, 2014 at 07:12 am

      I had so much fun as well and you were the perfect partner! I love how we could work together but not take it too seriously. As if I am ever too serious, right? I think the pros at Carlson are well trained in fixing problem areas—-like our first wreath that took on a life of its own!

      Reply
  6. lclalor
    December 11, 2014 at 06:48 am

    Fresh wreaths are best and one you make yourself in the company of friends is better yet. The red checked bow doesn’t hurt either.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 11, 2014 at 07:10 am

      Laura –you and I have the same love of red, I think! It did not take me long at all to pick the ribbon—I saw it and knew it was the right choice for me.

      Reply
  7. georgettesullins
    December 11, 2014 at 06:56 am

    You have really put blogging on the map in North Iowa. If you start a group in Dallas, I would have two reasons to visit daughter, SIL and grandson.
    You DO make beautiful bows!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 11, 2014 at 07:10 am

      Oh it was the OTHER Beth who made the bows—definitely not me!!! 🙂 I just picked out the ribbon. I was happy to hand that job off! It was so much fun and yes—the North Iowa Bloggers are definitely getting around and making a name! We rang bells last night for Salvation Army again which was a lot of fun!

      Reply
  8. Marla aka Crazy Mom
    December 11, 2014 at 07:24 am

    All my crafting experiences end up “whimsical” … !

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 11, 2014 at 07:32 am

      It turned out a lot better than it could have—-Michelle reigned in the wildness. 🙂

      Reply
  9. Minnesota Prairie Roots
    December 11, 2014 at 07:49 am

    I love your wreath, Beth Ann. It has that country, homey, rustic look that is simply my style. Can you believe I’ve never had a real wreath? The husband promised we will get our tree this weekend instead of days before Christmas. I want to have it up before the son arrives home from Boston ONE WEEK FROM TODAY.

    What a great group of blogger friends you have there in Iowa.

    I enjoyed this post so much and laughed at how you noticed the darkness of the country.

    What has blessed me this week? Working with a great group of friends on a soup supper fundraiser for a dear friend battling ovarian cancer. The supper was a great success.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 11, 2014 at 07:53 am

      Glad to hear that the event was a huge success. That is a great thing you did for a friend and I am sure she appreciated it more than words could say. The wreath making was a lot of fun. Last night we rang bells again, Saturday Webster City is sponsoring us for the day and Sunday we are helping at Music Man Square so to say we have had a lot of opportunities to be out and about lately is an understatement. I will definitely miss this group when I move away from North Iowa but they will always be a huge part of me and with social media we will always be close. 🙂 And yes—-it was REALLY dark. Gravel roads driving where we had no clue where we were going—no phone service—it was a bit wild for a bit.

      Reply
  10. Pix Under the Oaks
    December 11, 2014 at 08:06 am

    Looks like you all were having a great time and your wreath looks super.. I am not crafty one teeny bit. The country is dark and makes for interesting driving. CH and I are oldsters and we don’t drive around at night if we don’t have to during winter.. mainly because deer, dark, and country roads don’t work well together. That sliced beef over mashed potatoes with gravy.. I could hoover that down right now!!!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 11, 2014 at 08:53 am

      We did have a great time! Sounds like you are like me—I just am not good at night driving anymore especially when I have no clue where I am going! And yes–that meal was fabulous. I finished the leftovers last night and it was every bit as good as the first time!

      Reply
  11. Mama's Empty Nest
    December 11, 2014 at 08:31 am

    Looks like you had a festive and fun time! I think your wreath turned out beautifully!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 11, 2014 at 08:52 am

      Thanks so much. It was such a fun night!

      Reply
  12. Val - Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids
    December 11, 2014 at 09:32 am

    What a great time! I can’t wait for our next #NorthIowaBlogger experience.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 11, 2014 at 07:22 pm

      I agree! This group has been the best thing about living here!

      Reply
  13. donnahup
    December 11, 2014 at 09:42 am

    I had so much fun with you all and I absolutely love your wreath, Beth Ann!! I love you all so much and I’m so honored to be a part of the #NorthIowaBloggers

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 11, 2014 at 07:22 pm

      Back at ya, Donna. We are so blessed to have found each other. 🙂

      Reply
  14. Darlene
    December 11, 2014 at 10:01 am

    What fun!! These are the things that make Christmas special.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 11, 2014 at 07:21 pm

      I agree. Time with friends. Making memories. All good.

      Reply
  15. Rorybore
    December 11, 2014 at 01:59 pm

    I gathered some grapevine over the summer to try my hand at a holiday wreath. I finally got it wrangled into a circle (sorta) and now I just have to decorate it. I love doing creative stuff like this. And it may even make a nice gift for someone if I do a decent job. Our local tree farm has a lady that makes wreaths from the tree trimmings and they are gorgeous!!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 11, 2014 at 07:21 pm

      It really is not that hard to make the wreaths if you have an expert bow maker helping. 🙂 I stink at bows.

      Reply
  16. Gibber
    December 11, 2014 at 10:54 pm

    You all have such fun! I like your wreath. 🙂

    Reply
  17. Put A Bird On It: Wreath-Making Class & Fried Mushrooms At West Fork Wharf | Jeni Eats
    December 12, 2014 at 07:56 pm

    […] so it’s fitting we were paired as wreath-making partners (you can read about her experience here). Tree farm owner Michelle provided a wreath tutorial. She showed us how to arrange three types […]

    Reply
  18. My Odd Family
    December 14, 2014 at 01:29 am

    What a fun post. The food look yummy. The wreaths had that wonderful handmade loo – and adorns your door with aplomb!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 14, 2014 at 07:17 am

      Thanks, Katybeth. It was a really fun evening!!!

      Reply
  19. Lunar Euphoria
    December 17, 2014 at 07:03 pm

    Every craft I attempt could be described (kindly) as whimsical. I like the wreath. Now you have me craving fried mushrooms…

    Reply
  20. pattisj
    December 23, 2014 at 12:19 am

    The wreaths look pretty good to me, and you had a ton of fun on top of that!

    Reply
  21. It's Been A Fun Gig - #NIBloggers - It's Just Life
    August 24, 2015 at 06:35 am

    […] Created a lot of memories. (And one whimsical wreath.) […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

  • Subscribe To Rss Feed
  • 2,256 Followers
  • 2,272 Fans
  • Followers
  • Subscribers
  • Subscribers
  • Follow It's Just Life

Comments For A Cause

  • Comments for a Cause – Finding Balance

  • Comments for a Cause Keeps on Booking

  • Comments for a Cause – Reaching Out through El Centro

  • Comments for a Cause – It’s All About Women

  • Comments for a Cause – Weirdo Style

  • Ringing in 2023 with Comments for a Cause

  • Comments for a Cause – Conservation at Work

  • Comments for a Cause – A Hand Up. Not a Hand Out

  • Comments for a Cause- Operation KeepSafe® 

  • Comments for a Cause – September 2022

  • Comments for a Cause – More Literacy, Please!

  • Comments for a Cause – July 2022 Edition

  • Comments for a Cause- Giving to Uvalde

  • It’s May – Time for Comments for a Cause

  • Comments for a Cause – Reece’s Rainbow

Check Out My Past Posts

June 2023
S M T W T F S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930  
« May    

Text

Follow

Pinterest

Visit Beth Ann's profile on Pinterest.

Beth's bookshelf: read

The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users
5 of 5 stars
The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users
by Guy Kawasaki
As always Guy Kawasaki has a great book with great information about all things social media. I highlighted tons of places in this book and it is definitely one that I will come back to time and time again to help me in all of the socia...
Old Girls in Low Cotton
3 of 5 stars
Old Girls in Low Cotton
by Helen Childress
This short book was one that looked like it would be a fun read. I honestly did not enjoy it all that much---it was a lot of characters bickering and while some of the writing was witty and funny it was not that kind of book that made m...
The Good Girl
5 of 5 stars
The Good Girl
by Mary Kubica
I loved this book! It had my interest from the very first page and was my "airplane" book on a recent trip. Author Mary Kubica created believable and interesting characters that the reader learned to identify with and care about. Mi...
All the Light We Cannot See
4 of 5 stars
All the Light We Cannot See
by Anthony Doerr
This is quite a book! I had it recommended to me by several people and while I thought it might be a little dark and depressing it made me have a better understanding of what life in this time period was like. The strength of the huma...
An Abundance of Katherines
5 of 5 stars
An Abundance of Katherines
by John Green
Another great book by John Green. I have become a huge fan of John Green since my reading of A Fault in our Stars and this book was another that did not disappoint me at all. It was a story of a child prodigy, a lot of anagrams, and a b...

goodreads.com

Professional Reader
Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Copyright © 2015 It's Just Life, All Rights Reserved.

  • Media Kit, Advertising and Disclosure
 

Loading Comments...