Thursday, December 25, 2014

Christmas Eve at the Grove Park Inn

I love this place.  Wish I could live here!  Being here on Christmas Eve with all the guests arriving in the big lobby with the fires going and all the decorations takes you back in time to when it was a great lodge of the 1800s.





















We also came to see the National Gingerbread contest.  I am partial to the houses, but some of the characters were pretty neat, too.  This is the one aired each year on Good Morning America.








Then home for some cake and a fire.

Monday, December 15, 2014

A trip to Atlanta this past weekend to look at all the imaginative decorations at some of my favorite stores and to see Jacqui and her new home.  







A house I have always loved will soon be a thing of the past, the bulldozers are salivating, and the condos will go up.  For decades I have passed this house and renovated it in my mind.  A twist of fate had me pass it this weekend and finally get photos because on my next visit it will no longer be there.





Daddy Pops is gearing up for the holidays donning his glittered antlers.  Fur is coming in thick and Dr. Fitch says his bloodwork was fantastic, so many more Christmases for Daddy in the future!

A reality check to Atlanta every eight months is a good thing! Was missing some things I don't have here, but the traffic and crowds made me happy to be back to this quiet town of Tryon and Morris the horse!  Christmas Eve will be spent at the Grove Park Inn looking at Gingerbread houses, then Christmas day we will be hiking to one of many waterfalls in the area, just haven't decided which one yet.  

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Christmas Trees are Up!

The traditional tree with glass woodland ornaments and flickering candle lights




A vintage hooked rug with deer was used as a tree skirt for the traditional tree



A video of the traditional tree in the daylight


 A video of the traditional tree at night (Please ignore Daddy's snoring!)  His doggy pen is right next to the tree and he had a busy day!



My lunar tree complete with moon tree topper and shooting stars.  The Ikea lights were perfect for the "lunar" feel, icy and gray.  The shooting stars happened by chance when looking for the Ikea lights!



 The moon is actually a kid's nightlight and does the phases of the moon, but for the tree the moon will be full the whole month of December.




A video of the lunar tree at night so you can enjoy the shooting stars!  More decorating to do, baking, gift wrapping, cards, a shopping trip in Atlanta with the girls, eggnog for the neighbors, homemade lasagne for xmas dinner, all fresh, even the noodles.  Always so much to do!