12/7/2014

weekly update 12/7/2014

This was a week to decorate for Christmas. Monday morning, I dragged the boxes from the bedroom to the living room. I put the things that I already had around the condo - a few things here and there. Then, in the afternoon, I went to the clubhouse to help put up some festive decorations there and also around the grounds of the development. Tuesday, believing that I needed a few more lights for my ficus tree, I went to walmart to get some more stuff. I had thought about stringing the lights on Audrey, but she's got such big leaves, I didn't know if they would be hidden, and I ended up with the lights on the fake ficus again this year. Not to have Audrey feel ignored, however, I did put some red balls on her.

Audrey dressed in her holiday finery

the dining room table with the ficus tree all lit up nearby

 

Monday was also the December Book club meeting at the Library. This month we were supposed to “report” on our favorite read from last year. Actually, I think my favorite was Boys in the Boat, but I'd read that long ago, so I took the book I'd just finished, The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. Although this book has won a Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2014 and was a best seller the year before, I didn't like it. I really can't read anything deep or meaningful because it all goes right over my head; I have to have a story! I got some good ideas for reading from some of the others in the group, however.

Holiday parties began on Wednesday when the Victorian Society hosted their party at the Visitor Center Museum. It was nice and they had several hot punches - wassail, mulled wine, hot toddies, and a cold Chatham Artillery Punch (always good).

There was a Thursday evening lecture on the history of the Port of Savannah that Donna and I attended. It was followed by a reception, so we had some things to eat before going to the Design District. The boutiques and upscale shops there hold a holiday open house where they offer drinks and munchies in order to get shoppers in to look at what they have to offer. Since I will not be doing any shopping for gift giving this year, it was quite pointless, but, hey, it was a nice evening to walk around and visit some shops that I never go into. 

the Victorian Society gathering inside the Visitor Center

Friday I had to get up early because it was the day that Donna and I were going to Madison, Georgia (about an hour east of Atlanta) for the holiday open house tour. Because Madison (pop. 3,636) has nearly 100 antebellum homes that have been carefully restored, it has been called “The Prettiest Small Town in America”. On the drive across Georgia, we stopped at a Tea Room in Greensboro, the Potted Geranium. That was wonderful - just the way a nice English Tea should be. We each had a pot of the tea of our choice, then quiche with a fresh salad. After that, we had the tray service with the finger sandwiches, scones and tiny pastries.

Donna and me at high tea

We arrived in Madison in the late afternoon, and picked up our tickets. We had purchased passes for the evening candlelight tour and the daytime tour on Saturday. Both days, all the houses were decorated for the holidays by designers and all the homes were lovely! The last house we saw Friday night was 7,500 sq ft (HUGE), and was recently built. And, it had THREE KITCHENS. That's gotta be my idea of hell - three kitchens to have to cook in and then clean (although I liked the idea a small one, rather like a Butler's Pantry, near the master suite for morning coffee). There was a house on Saturday that was a historic home, but has been updated. To say the least. The shower in the master suite was so big that they had actually hung a big wreath in the SHOWER! Isn't that a little over the top? There was another that is a huge Victorian mansion that is currently being renovated by the granddaughters of the original owners. Where they can see possibilities, I saw Too Much Work. I'm sure it will be amazing when they are finished (and have spend a fortune on it), but now it lacks a certain appeal. Many of the other houses were more sensible and homey. But all were perfectly accented with antiques or family heirlooms or collections (many nutcrackers). After two days, I'm suffering for overload. Getting back to my comfy condo on Saturday was so nice. 

one of the small houses on the candle light tour

the parlour in one of the older historic homes

a wreath in the walk in shower. I've got a santa nightlight, and I think my bath room is festive!

 

Sunday, I was again treated to having frineds with me as the Bills lose to the Broncos. Lisa and Dave joined me at Coach's. I pretty much knew it wasn't going to be pretty, but the defeat was more easily accepted when I had my good friends there to share it with me.

How cool is this? I've made it clear that there will be no gifts from me this Christmas, and that I don't want any gifts from friends. Friendship is the gift I want, and a bottle of wine or some bath soaps aren't going to get the job done. Donna understands this, but still wanted to do something. So she made me a nutcracker! Is this the best? And Donna doesn't know football, and actually had to do research for the jersey number (she said it would be either Jim Kelly or OJ Simpson - good choice!), so it really is a gift from the heart. This is wonderful! 

isn't this great!