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I don't know who enjoys nursing-home visits more -- visitors or visitees. But I do know that there's an easy way to keep the memories you're making alive until you return. And that's bringing flower arrangements that you've custom-made for each resident you visit – silk flower arrangements, to be precise, since they look as lovely on Day Seven as they did on Day One.
I get most of my containers at Good Will stores, usually for $3 or less apiece, and often find bunches of unused silk flowers there, too. Great buys can also be had at the end-of-the-season sales at local garden centers and craft stores.
But there's nothing better than amassing donations from friends. A few cases in point: the wonderful vintage planters above and to the left, recently contributed to the cause by Tess; the beautiful basket shown below left, handcrafted by Brenda; and the blooms in the four-legged bowl on the right, contributed by Linda.
I get most of my containers at Good Will stores, usually for $3 or less apiece, and often find bunches of unused silk flowers there, too. Great buys can also be had at the end-of-the-season sales at local garden centers and craft stores.
But there's nothing better than amassing donations from friends. A few cases in point: the wonderful vintage planters above and to the left, recently contributed to the cause by Tess; the beautiful basket shown below left, handcrafted by Brenda; and the blooms in the four-legged bowl on the right, contributed by Linda.
Of course, if you want to do this in any volume, it takes quite a collection of both containers and silk flowers. To accommodate mine, my husband was kind enough to build me a wall of shelves in the garage. And he usually manages to bite his tongue as the scene gets more and more chaotic between spring cleanings, spilling over into the basement -- not to mention the kitchen, which becomes my washing-and-arranging workroom on the weekend.
But I guarantee that it's worth it. My elderly friends look forward to their new arrangements each week, as you can see from this photo of my late friend Leona, holding a copper-clad tub that arrived on our doorstep one Christmas stuffed with Honeybell oranges.
Just as important: Between visits, they're reminded that someone is not only thinking about them, but is making something special just for them.
Adapted from a 10/20/14 post
But I guarantee that it's worth it. My elderly friends look forward to their new arrangements each week, as you can see from this photo of my late friend Leona, holding a copper-clad tub that arrived on our doorstep one Christmas stuffed with Honeybell oranges.
Just as important: Between visits, they're reminded that someone is not only thinking about them, but is making something special just for them.
Adapted from a 10/20/14 post
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