Wreath Double-Whammy

UPDATE: the kids figured out that Peacock Lane is, in fact, unclaimed territory. They wasted no time in claiming it as their personal wreath-selling domain. In previous years, a Boy Scout would serve the street's greenery needs; he apparently moved on. Nobody else has supplied the street for a few years, leaving the residents on their own to buy at retail. So when M and R walked the street, and identified themselves as "the house on the end, behind the tree," most of the houses ordered.

 

Of course, it probably helped that I was putting up our holiday lights this weekend, signaling to the rest of the Peacock Lane residents that our house will, for the first time in anyone's memory, participate in their show. 

Because of this, we've been invited to the Peacock Lane planning meeting.... looks like we're now running with the IN crowd. Thanks, kids!!

 

Add another case-in-point to my earlier blog about the small-town community feeling.

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M dances ballet. This year, her ballet school is doing a holiday wreath fundraiser. There's a ten wreath minimum. There is one wreath to choose from. Ballet wreaths are 'local delivery' only. Basic 20-inch wreath: $20.

R is in Boy Scouts. This year, his troop is doing a holiday wreath fundraiser. There is no explicit minimum, but the scouts have a whole bunch of wreath and swag choices. Boy Scouts can ship an order anywhere in the continental US. Basic 20-inch wreath: $20. Shipped anywhere: $38. I'll post pictures of the Boy Scout offerings shortly.

Oh, the dilemma! **

I get the strong sense that both programs are using the very same wreath manufacturer right here in Portland; the end product should be identical in both cases. And, because both programs are going direct to the manufacturer, they're selling at the wholesale price.

Here's the description that seems to be accurate for both programs:

Hand tied northwest greenery using Oregon Juniper, Incense Cedar and Noble Fir. Adorned with Ponderosa pine cones. Inner diameter: 12 inches; outer diameter: 20 inches. 

These same wreaths, at the local store or corner tree stand, will cost around $30 this year. So you get a discount over retail, and help fund a developmental program.

So here's the general call out for wreath orders. If you're local to the Portland area and would like to support either program, we'll happily take your order for a wreath and deliver it directly to you. You can specifically state your preference for one charity or another. Otherwise, we plan to fill the ballet minimum requirement ahead of the Boy Scout program.

Boy Scouts have another fund raiser they do as well, so Scouting isn't really missing out if we err toward ballet.

Gotta love the conflicting family obligations, yeah?

 

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** One program (ballet) uses the stick (minimum sales) to complete the program; the other program (Boy Scouts) uses a carrot (more options, shipping).