Reuse, Recylced Wreath

I love to decorate for the holidays and quite honestly I always check out the newest and latest decorations for each at every store I visit.  I always want to see what they've come up with that might be new compared to last seasons decorations.  Sometimes I find nothing that catches my attention and other times it's as if that new item just jumps off the shelf and says look at me.  One of the new items I noticed this year was a wreath with antlers and feathers on it.  I love nature and being outdoors and so it really caught my attention, so I checked the price tag.  I've become a  little more discerning in what I purchase these days for many reasons.  One I want to make sure I really like what I'm purchasing and that I will use it for a long period of time.  Two I am really trying to be conscientious about purchasing items made in the USA and it is shocking to discover how many things out there are NOT made in the USA.  Third, I am creative and I really enjoy making crafty items such as floral arrangements, wreaths, my own greeting cards, to name a few.  I really believe my creativity is a gift from God and I try to use it to bring happiness and joy to others.  So I decided I could make a wreath that was very similar to what I found and it would be mostly natural from things made in the USA and it would be cheaper.  So I began to gather all the items I knew I had on hand.  Wreath - check, red berry sprigs - check, frosted greenery and pinecones - check, floral wire and wire cutters - check, feathers - check, deer antlers - check.  You may be thinking to yourself - seriously she had feathers and deer antlers already.  (chuckle)  Yes I did, every year early in the spring my husband and I visit my mom's ranch that has a creek running through it.  We scour her acreage looking for deer sheds, especially on the meadow where we hay, so that the antlers don't puncture tractor or equipment tires.  We also have turkey, pheasant, owls, and hawks that consistently drop their feathers and we pick them up.  (We also make our own fishing flies.)  I've heard many times about reduce, reuse, recycle and my husband and I are very diligent in our effort to follow those principles.  So this year I put it to good use making a wreath out of items I already had that adorns the front of our home to welcome guests.  We've received a multitude of compliments on how cool it is and it did turn out very nice, it looks very woodsy and yet festive at the same time.  My mom recently saw it and she was talking about how unique it is and when I told her that the antlers and feathers on it came from her place, she smiled and said "that's a neat way to use all those things we find, good idea!"  She is also very creative and so then she started thinking about ways she could use the things she finds on the ranch to make gifts or decorate with.  Oh the inspiration that came from the most ordinary things - Made both of us realise that one may never know how God will inspire you to do something, but we need to be prepared for his prompting.