Holiday Events at the Gardens
Table Whimsy Workshop with Nancy Miller
Nancy Miller, an incredible artist and Friend of Robinson Gardens for many years, led a great workshop on making festive napkin rings for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other occasions last November before the holidays. Armed with glue guns, the participants first glued fabric on strips of cardboard. They then attached the ends of the fabric together to make a ring. Explaining that “sometimes the cheapest materials are the best,” Nancy brought raffia, ribbons, fabric, acorns, and silk orchids among other items for the group to use. Besides saving wrapping papers and bows from gifts, Nancy recommended finding items from Michaels, Moskatels, and 99 cent stores. She also demonstrated how to make little gifts boxes to attach to the rings. Some made festive Christmas napkin rings using miniature nutcrackers and sparkling snowmen while others made fun birthday rings with tiny pinwheels attached. “These last for years,” Nancy said. After an enjoyable morning, the group was treated to a delicious lunch of Tuscan roasted chicken, ravioli, salad, and dessert.
Annual Cookie Exchange at Robinson Gardens
The annual cookie exchange in December was held in the loggia of Mrs. Robinson’s home, making it a very special, magical event. The loggia overlooks the King Palm Forest; it was a gorgeous day and the home, decorated for Christmas, was open to the members. A Christmas tree stood in the entryway where Mrs. Robinson would always place it. Among the holiday-inspired cookies that members brought were pumpkin cookies, melt in your mouth butter cookies, Krista’s mom’s meringues, Martha Stewart’s flourless double chocolate pecan cookies, and Payard’s chocolate, flourless walnut cookies along with other delicious treats. The home-baked cookies were also used for the staff holiday party the next day. Thank you to Marcella Ruble, who was instrumental in arranging this fun event. She is continuing to collect recipes to revise and improve a previous edition of The Cookie Book, created by the Friends of Robinson Gardens. If anyone would like to contribute a recipe, please e-mail it to the Friends of Robinson Gardens at [email protected].
Posts by Marian Power and Linda Meadows
Friends of Robinson Gardens
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