Highly Poisonous...Grreeaatt

My adorable mom came over yesterday for an afternoon of arts and crafts, lunch, and peppermint ice-cream. What more could a girl ask for, right?! My mom is what I would like to call curious and adventurous. She and my dad just moved in to a new house a few months back and their neighbor had this 'really cool looking' tree. She being the curious person she is, asked if she could take some of the pods from the tree just to see whats inside. Turns out there are these adorable little red/orange nut like things inside. She immediately thought they would be great to use in a craft, so she went to town cracking these pods to get the 'nut' like things out. She did this with no gloves...

Fast forward to yesterday, and again her curiosity got the best of her, so before coming over she stopped by a local nursery and asked a worker what these pods and tree were called. Turns out the tree is called a Texas Mountain Laurel. Also turns out the the pods are "highly poisonous alkaloid cytisine (or sophorine), a substance related to nicotine and widely cited as a narcotic and hallucinogen" {via}


Umm, what?! The guy said she was fine as long as she was not actually eating the pods {who the heck would?!} but to wear gloves next time while working with them. Apparently the cute little fall wreaths we were about to make had a whole new level of excitement!


Here were our supplies {that my amazing mom brought over, what gets better than doing a craft and not having to get the supplies?}

notice the gloves on the left hand side- OH they were worn!

 These are the pods, and the cute red things that are in the pods:

We casually put together our wreaths, talking about about the future and all that it holds, and just enjoying having a relaxing afternoon together. Moms are totally the best for that!


Here are our end results, my moms:

And mine:

While those pods may be highly poisonous, they sure do make for a great..and free... wreath ornament. Thanks for coming over and crafting with me mom! And friends- if your mom lives close to you, I highly suggest doing a fun fall craft together..without the poison;)


PS- If you haven't entered to win the Home Depot $25 gift card giveaway, do it now!! Giveaway closes this Friday!

<3,

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