One of the highlights of the Glove and Trowel Garden Club each year is our Annual Christmas Social and Dinner Party which was held on Tuesday, December 8, 2015, at 7:00 p.m. at the St. Barnabas Episcopal Church Parish House. It is special because each year we invite our husbands or a guest to enjoy this festive event with us. There were 21 members and 15 spouses present to enjoy this holiday season together.
Julie Sawyer, President, welcomed everyone and thanked our Co-Chairmen, Jamie Sue Stephens and Natalie Wallace, and their committee. Serving on the steering committee with them were: Julie Hatcher, Ditto Jenkins, Julie LeChette, Becky Lyell, Jeanne McLaurin, Patricia Page, Molly Pittman, Debbie Rogers, Amy McColl, and Julie Sawyer. Our club then had a short business meeting for special reports to close out our year. A thank you note was read from Bobby McIntrye thanking our club for a recent gift presented to him honoring our Veterans. Several members attended the Arbor Day Program given by the Dillon Garden Club. Having birthdays this month are members Amy McColl (December 28) and Debbie Rogers (December 29).
After our meeting, we were joined by our husbands for dinner. President Sawyer called on the Reverend Dr. John O. Bumgardner, Jr. for our blessing. A bountiful covered dish dinner prepared by our members with an assortment of desserts was enjoyed by all!
The Parish House was decorated with seasonal decorations to give our members ideas to use in their own homes. Individual tables were beautifully decorated with red table cloths, centered with arrangements of fresh greenery with red berries and candy canes. The center piece on the food table was a wreath of fresh greenery with roses and poinsettias around a large glass cylinder filled with cranberries and Saran Wrap which made it look like ice. Three candles filled the top.
On behalf of the Garden Club, Jeanne McLaurin presented a gift to our President in appreciation of her service to our Club this year. Afterwards, Owen Wallace, our garden club “Santa” led us in our usual “Chinese Gift Swap”.
Each member was given a red and white striped “Christmas Tree” ornament as a favor. This year, our members brought gifts for Foster children. The gifts were wrapped and tagged with the child’s name they had been assigned.
The Glove and Trowel Garden Club is a member of the National Council of Garden Clubs, Inc., the South Atlantic Region of National Council, the Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc., and the Coastal District, GCSC.