I’m extremely busy working on a huge client order that requires all kinds of preparation and compilation. In the meantime I just learned about a benefit dinner and silent auction for my neighbour and I’d love your help with something. My neighbour and her family moved ‘next door’ (the quarter section beside us) two years ago — a very bold move from Germany. They’re a delightful and hard working family. Last year while out for a bike ride after dinner, the husband was killed by a hit and run driver. His wife was injured but survived the crash. She had a badly broken arm requiring surgery to insert pins. This spring the pins were removed. She had been trying very hard to find work and had finally found a job with the local home care. Today I learned her arm has re-broken requiring the pins to be put back. She will be unable to work for 5-6 months. Fortunately co-workers have planned the benefit dinner & silent auction to help out her and her children.
I have this beautiful hand crafted, glazed, clay platter we bought from an artisan in Montana. I thought it would be a lovely item to donate towards the silent auction. I’d like to include something more and this is where you come in. I’d love to know what you would include inside this platter to make it even more enticing for the silent auction. Please leave your suggestions in the comments. In fact, I may even come up with a little something that I could send to the person with a ‘winning’ suggestion. So, please give it some thought and share your suggestions with me. I can hardly wait to see what you come up with. Bear in mind this is a rural community and not the usual urban-minded folks. The silent auction is Saturday, Nov. 28th and I’ll need to make a decision by Wednesday, Nov. 25th since I may need to go out and purchase the items to place in the platter.
Here are a couple shots of the hand crafted platter I’ll be using.
I know I am pas the date, but I hope this went well and that you were successful. What did you end up filling the bowl with?
Oh, Diane, I’ve only just read this. What a tragedy for this couple. I am so sorry to hear of it. I hope the benefit today was successful. Oh, my, I’m just speechless.
I’m kind of late getting here, Diane, but I like all of the ideas presented. The ornaments (maybe a Hummel?), the gift certificate for a session (could also result in additional sales of prints), the yummy chocolates…maybe even that Christmas cactus that I spy in the background. That is one nice thing about living in a small town – the absolute and unquestioning willingness to dig deep and help out a neighbor.
I think the gift certificate idea is really special. I’d bury it somewhere in the bowl filled with dark chocolate kisses.
That just breaks my heart. Ah life! It can be so cruel. The first thing I thought of was your photography too, but I like the ornament idea too. Or some kind of food/dessert items.
That is so sad. How wonderful that her co-workers are doing this. I think Jen’s idea is a great one!
Such a terrible thing to happen to that family. But what a wonderful community gathering together and helping out.
My suggestion might sound odd at first, but how about a coupon for a mini photo session framed in a mini photo frame, in the bowl. I am sure many of the people at the auction know your reputation as a amazing photographer.
I could see them taking their photo and framing it, to sit near the bowl. Imagine, that gorgeous bowl, and a photo from a accomplished photographer. Quite the prize.
Jen
The bowl is beautiful, and how generous and thoughtful of you to donate it to the auction to help out your neighbour. And of course, how thoughtful of her co-workers to organize the benefit for her.
I’m going to give some thought to what could go into the bowl, but the first thing that popped into my head as soon as I saw it is to fill it with beautiful Christmas ornaments. If you could get some that represent Christmas in Germany, that would be even better 🙂
I’ll let you know what else I come up with… Kelly