West Rowan Home and Garden recognizes real-life Wonder Woman during Mother’s Day Festival – Salisbury Post

MOUNT ULLA — As an only child, Brandy Smith usually dreamed of possessing a dwelling whole of young ones when she grew up.

“I bought it,” Smith reported.

Smith is the biological mother of 1 son and is at present fostering three other youngsters, with programs to undertake the oldest. Her passion for elevating little ones and capacity to “thrive in chaos” is why Smith was acknowledged on Saturday as Surprise Lady of the Yr by West Rowan Property and Backyard garden.

The Mount Ulla shop and community hub hosted a Mother’s Working day Pageant complete with a bouncy home, distributors and a functionality by the West Rowan Elementary College Ukulele Club. A costumed Wonder Girl snapped photographs with young children.

“It’s our way to give back to the community,” claimed Elsie Bennett, operator of West Rowan House and Backyard garden.

Bennett solicited nominations for the Surprise Girl of the 12 months on the store’s Facebook web site and plenty arrived in. What divided Smith from other great nominees, Bennett explained, was the truth that she was nominated by numerous people independently of each and every other.

“(Smith) was nominated by two different folks who did not know the other experienced nominated her,” Bennett explained.

Smith was set up for the award by both her childhood mate and her mom, Linda Layok. Layok is a very pleased mom.

“The thing about Brandy is, I raised her as a one mother and now listed here she is with all of these little ones carrying out so excellent,” Layok said. “I search at her and she just amazes me. She just proves it can be completed. She’s obtained so much persistence and enjoy for these children it is wonderful. And they like her far too.”

Smith and her husband, Evan, begun fostering young children in excess of a yr back just after the preliminary wave of the pandemic. She claimed the course of action of staying a foster mother or father was not as grueling as some declare it to be.

“If you open up up to them, it is a really simple method,” Smith stated.

The household enjoys excursions, together with picnics at area parks and camping visits. Smith and her loved ones stopped by West Rowan Dwelling and Yard right before heading to the mountains for the day.

Previously mentioned all else, Smith mentioned the young ones just want to be treated like youngsters.

For successful the Speculate Girl of the 12 months title, Smith will obtain a $50 buying spree at the keep.

There ended up a great deal of other festivities getting spot at the retailer. Inside the antique barn, about two dozen students from West Rowan Elementary School done a variety of music using their ukuleles and voices. Alex Working day, the audio teacher who runs the ukulele club, stated his pupils have been practicing together considering that the commence of the 12 months. In front of their families, like a lot of mothers, college students performed music such as “Can’t Enable Slipping in Love” and “Don’t Worry Be Satisfied.”

The club will perform collectively once more at Earth Day Jam at Bell Tower Environmentally friendly on Saturday.

Also in the antique barn, showcased artisan Joe Owen showed off his handcrafted household furniture. The retired woodworking instructor specializes in practical reproductions of furnishings that would have been usually made use of in the 1800s and 1700s. Owen’s cabinets, benches and a lot more can be identified at any time at the keep.

Inside the store, Linda Holshouser and Darcy Ward battled for the title of best baker with two scrumptious cakes. Beneath a gentle rain outside the house, suppliers sold meals and items and a bouncy home gave youngsters a place to play.

West Rowan Home and Yard will host a related pageant for Father’s Working day on June 11.