Chores Over, Time to Play

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday was THE DAY.  I needed to get my packages together so I could get them sealed up and to the post office.  I had 4 to do, and had only started on 2 of them.  It always seems like the universe is conspiring against me on days like yesterday.  Amazingly, I didn't run out of packing tape, which normally happens, but as it was, I had to run out twice for different things that I had forgotten.

I kept telling myself that I would just do 2 of them, and put off the other 2 until Wednesday.  But, as things went, I found myself getting the other two ready, as well.  Finally, I was ready to head out just after lunch.  I considered my post office choices and went with one that I thought was less "off the beaten track."  In case you didn't hear, yesterday was the biggest mailing day of the year.  

Each year, I promise myself that I will be more "on the ball" but it never seems to work out. Anyway, I got to the post office and the line was out the door!  When I finally got to the door, I saw this posted:

In case you can't read it, it offers two important tips to avoid the seasonal rush.  1.  Arrive early in the morning  2.  Avoid Mondays.

I suppose I should have realized that since I wasn't taking their advice, I probably deserved to stand in line, however, once I got close enough to see things going on at the counter, I was amazed that they only had one clerk working!  And they wonder why everyone has switched to UPS or Fedex?

Anyway, after a good 45 minutes or so, I was done!!!!  Yeah!!  I also purchased my Christmas stamps for the cards and when I got home, I got busy writing the letter.  This is something else I always promise myself to do early, and yet it never happens.  Of course, I was stymied again when I wanted to print them and discovered that I didn't have any Christmas paper.  I considered for a minute just using regular paper, but in the end, we went out after supper and got some.  We got home, I printed, my husband signed, I addressed the envelopes (ok, I confess, I affixed labels), he folded the letters, I stuffed the envelopes, and they were done!  I only put the stamp on the wrong corner of 5 of them.  How in the heck can I possibly not remember which corner the stamp goes?  Good grief!  I guess I need the little square printed on the envelope to guide me.  What's worse is that it wasn't the first of the envelopes, either.  I'd gotten at least 15 stamped correctly before I switched sides.

Anyway, they are done and mailed now, too!  I feel so good.  I'm really glad that I didn't procrastinate with the other 2 packages.

Today I'm having a fun, fun day which I will write about tomorrow and then tomorrow is my quilt bee's Christmas party, so it will be even more fun!  I hope you are all out from under the crush now, too, and can just enjoy the season!

Have a great day!
JoAnne

Christmas in Williamsburg

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday was the first non-rainy weekend day that we've had this holiday season.  To celebrate, we went to Colonial Williamsburg to see the fabulous Christmas decorations.  Have you ever heard of them?  We took a guided walking tour and so we learned a lot about them.  Back in the 30s when the Revolutionary City first opened, tourists began to ask how Christmas would have been celebrated.  This happened during a "Colonial Revival" period and so while this isn't the way actual 17th and 18th Century people decorated, it was the way that was determined that they could have.  Wreaths and sprays and other decorations are constructed out of natural materials or any other available resources in Colonial times.  Thus magnolia leaves join pomegranates, apples, pineapples, etc. in fabulous decorations for the exterior of the buildings.  (Our tour guide said that if the Colonists had these materials, they would have displayed them INSIDE their houses and probably the fruit would have been eaten, not displayed.)

Above you can see an example of one of the famous crescents.  

The next several photos were at the same house.  They decided to go with a Cavalry theme and used many horse-related items.

This arrangement decorated the transom above the door

See the swords and stirrups?

I love this arrangement sitting up high on a gable.

I personally like the traditional fruit wreaths the best, but many places are embracing their original use and using themes of "kitchen," "tavern," "stable," etc.  This one features cut up playing cards and dice.  

There were even some gentlemen meeting on the street to discuss politics.  Can you beleive that they were actually talking about going against the King?  

In Virginia, in the 17th and 18th centuries, the Christmas season did not begin until December 25th.  It ran until Jan. 6--for twelve days.  These 12 days were filled with celebrations, feast nights, parties, drinking, and other revelry.  

The idea behind the decorations is that they have to look just as good and fresh on December 31 as they did on Dec. 1.  Many homes and buildings that get the sun shining on them most of the day go with dried arrangements.  You find the fresh fruit on the shady side of the streets.

The garden had many wreaths for sale, as well as all the fruites, and dried materials for making your own.  I was tempted!

Just a simple wreath with holly and greenery is pretty!

I hope you enjoyed this taste of Colonial decorating!

Have a great day,
JoAnne