Awl In

I did mention a few days ago that Buck graced me with a Christmas tool kit full of tools I had never heard of-just last year. I have had occasion this week to make use of one of his choices- a small blue tool called an awl. It makes holes.  Much of what I do at the holiday involves fastening; the ability to make holes can make ther process of attaching one element to another go fast.  My faux fruit is heavy; a solid core has a skin of some rubbery material.  How to fasten it to a banister garland or wreath involved some trial and error.  Awl in hand, I went to work.   

No florist’s pick is strong enough to penetrate the skin of this fruit.  My awl, armed with its long sharpened steel shaft pierced that skin without a problem.  Visualizing where that hole should be punched is not that tough.  I placed the fruit in the position I needed.  Any heavy hard cored, soft shelled thing that needs a hole and a slot substantial enough to attach it to a garland-it made sense to run the awl up the side of the fruit.  I hope I am explaining this clearly.  

I buy 18″ florist’s picks by the bale.  I have no idea what they are made of, but they have the strength of a kitchen skewer.  I was able to insert a length of pick just about the length of the fruit.  This apple is at least as heavy as the real fruit. As my holiday garland will be displayed in the air, I wanted to be sure that faux apples would not be raining down from above. A skewer every bit the length of the heavy fruit-I have leverage. 

A faux white pine garland wired with large cones is the base of this holiday garland.  The garland is not going on the mantle, or above the front door.  The plan is to hang the garland in the kitchen.  I have made a note to think about this for home.  Buck and I spend a lot of time in the kitchen-on our own or with guests.  Why not decorate it for the holidays?  Hmm.  My florist’s pick-I have a fruit at each end, threaded through the wire of the base garland. A lighter fruit at the top, the heavier apple at the bottom.  Naturally.     

This pick with a fruit at each end still needs to be wired into position.  If you have a place that needs faux garland, pass over the flat plastic cedar fronds.  Faux white pine needles provide great volume up front.  Those bristly needles are sticky happy to capture whatever you might add.  The green floral wire needed to attach ornament to to the garland-a dead ringer for the white pine needles.  I like a construction that isn’t fussy, but looks effortless.  

Once my fruit is secured, picked, and wired in, I need to add a distinctly holiday element.  I am a fan of plain holiday ornaments.  I can be a little more fancy-let’s have those plain holiday balls in a number of different sizes. As in berry clusters.  The matte red surface of these small ornaments makes my picked fruits shine.

The stainless steel lights over the sink take well to a little holiday garland.  Why not?  I have ideas, rules, and much to say about garden and landscape  design-all season long.  Frankly, sometimes I make myself weary.  At the holidays, I like to be less concerned about fine design, and more concerned about the simple pleasure of the season.  My distinct pleasure today-my awl. 

A kitchen ready for the holidays-so swell.