80-100 red and white striped mint candies (starlites/the ones Pizza Hut gives out)
3 1/2 ft of 2 inch-2 1/2 inch wide red velveteen or satin ribbon
Several yards of white string
Red electrical tape
2 ft of silver ribbon or string
6 inch piece of thin wire
1 wire coat hanger
Wire cutters
Children's scissors
1. Remove the hook from the coat hanger and form the hanger into a circle of
6 inches. Bind the ends together, cutting of any excess wire. Wrap the
entire hanger in the red tape.
2. Tie 2 pieces of string together to any point in the hanger
3. Near the knot, form a loop from one of the pieces of string; slip in one
end of a candy wrapper and tighten the knot.
4. Wrap the second piece of string around the other side of the candy
wrapper, and partially around the wire as well, holding it tight.
5. Continuing in the direction of the second piece of string, alternately
repeat steps 3 and 4 until all but 2 inches of the wire rind is covered with
the candies. Crowd the candies as close together as possible.
6. Knot the string.
Make a large bow with the velveteen ribbon, add it to the empty place on the
wreath. Add a suspending wired loop for hanging.
It comes every year and will go on forever. And along with Christmas belong the keepsakes and the customs. Those humble, everyday things a mother clings to, and ponders, like Mary in the secret spaces of her heart.
--Marjorie Holmes
