Could it possibly be the end of 2025 already? We’ve put all the presents under the tree and milk and cookies out for Santa, and we’ve sung “Auld Lang Syne” for old times’ sake to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one!
We entered the Oak Knoll Country Club to a beautifully decorated Christmas tree and the mantel embellished with everything Christmas, little white lights around the windows and around the ceiling. The tables were as usual linens to the floor with decorations on each one. Mary Monteleone always does a beautiful job with the decorations and the delicious aromas coming from the buffet for our luncheon letting us know it was also going to be as wonderful as the decorations.
President Pat Graves welcomed everyone and wished all a merry Christmas. She said there was not going to be a lot of business, but we would get right to it. She asked Chaplain Jennifer Allen to offer an opening prayer and asked all to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
She called on Garden of the Month Chair Dona Calcote who said that Andrew Brooks of Phoenix Square had gotten the award and he was so proud and flattered to receive it. She asked that we all take time to drive by to see his beautiful gardens.
Pat then called on Link Award Committee Chair Linda Broussard who said that the award had gone to Tommy’s Lock and Alarm at 511 W. Thomas St. I said I was sure everyone had driven by and seen the fountain and beautiful flowers. Pat also said both of the awards had been in the newspaper for all to see.
Pat then called on Books and Library Chair Joan Davis who said they had bought six gardening themed books and 350 vegetable and flower packets with the club’s donation of $100 to present to Hammond Branch Library.
Pat said that Tangipahoa is not an affluent parish, however it is a special place with a number of very accomplished people including Emmy, Dove and Heisman Award winners. She also mentioned James and Lacy Liipfert whose house was on the Holiday Tour of Homes; James is the assistant general manager of the Houston Texans. They could have chosen to live anywhere but decided that Hammond was the place they wanted to live and raise their family.
Canned goods and donations were brought to the meeting to give to Kiwanis Club for their Holiday Food Giveaway, and after the donations were counted Juanita Pearson announced we had collected $405 and many containers of canned food.
The last part of any business was a sheet passed around for everyone to sign up for available shifts to sit for the Tour of Homes. Pat announced the Presbyterian Church was to host the event. They sold $10 jambalaya plates with salad and dessert. Guests could also stroll through the art expo and Christmas bazaar where there were 12 vendors.
Hammond Garden Club’s IT person Richard Graves was to be there to use the credit card machine, and there were two buses for transportation to the homes included with the ticket.
After business was over, lunch was served and so was the delicious buffet. Pat announced that Linda Broussard would provide Christmas entertainment after lunch.
I announced she had taken some excerpts from a book by Max Lucado titled “Because of Bethlehem” and put them together in three acts with music in between. I narrated what a 7- or 8-year-old boy thought about Christmas in his boyhood – the decorations, the carols, the crowds, (“I Love Christmas”) – and eventually how he felt as a grown man at the birth of Jesus, ending with the ultimate focus on the Child, Mary and the miracle of the birth.
Between each narration Phyllis Mire sang “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Mary Did You Know” and “Silent Night.” She was accompanied by Gayle Bornholdt on the keyboard.
After the narration the members joined in singing “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Jingle Bells” and “Joy To The World.”
Winners of door prizes were Janet Futrell, Phyllis DiBenedetto, Jennifer Sharp, Joan Davis and Kathleen Bohlinger.
Pat closed by saying the next meeting will be at Oak Knoll Country Club on Jan. 14.
Happy new year to everyone!
Linda Broussard lives in Hammond, America.
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