Out and About - December 2014

♫Christmas Music♫

December is always filled with anticipation!  I love Christmas!  Even though I feel like the Grinch or Scrooge sometimes because I'm overly tired, overly busy, or overly anxious about what I hope to have happen I can't imagine a year without Christmas!  

This little bundle of joy has made leaps and bounds in her means of getting around.  She was rolling to a sit-up at the beginning of the month.  By the end she was crawling and able to push herself along on a little push car and wave goodbye!  This is a new feature I've discovered:  GIFs!  It stitches pictures together into an animation. . . .

We went on the annual Holiday House Tour in Frederick.  Because they would not let us take photos I'm showing you instead the oldest and, in 1983, the largest Gingko Tree in America!  It has since been topped and can no longer lay claim to being the largest.  Still, it is too large to get all of it in my photo. . . .

Then on the 19th my youngest son treated me to a candlelight dinner at the historic Reynolds Tavern in Annapolis, followed by a walking tour of the town.  Our costumed guide was fabulous--complete with British accent.  She told us about Christmas 1783 when George Washington came to Annapolis to resign his military commission. . . . 

 . . . .as she led us past the town's tree and other landmarks.  She told us about the Christmas traditions of the period and other fascinating tidbits.  It was a most enjoyable time. . . .

Our last stop was the Hammond-Harwood House.  You can see a gingerbread rendition of it.  The portrait is of a former occupant of the house with her doll.  The doll is still in residence.  The portrait was featured in the American Girls Felicity book #3, A Christmas Story. . . .

My son brought me home and stayed the night so he could join us in getting our tree the next day and to help me make the decorations and hang the lights. . . .

On the 23rd we went to a potluck just a short walk through our woods. . . .

Our cutie-patootie arrived later in the evening.  Here she is the next morning exploring the bottom drawer in the kitchen just like her Daddy did when we moved here when he was 2.  Dressed for Christmas Eve festivities she fell asleep mid-morning in her Daddy's lap. . . .

Because we were going to the 6:00 church service I put out a selection of finger foods at 4:30 to keep everybody satisfied until we could have our traditional Christmas Eve fondue later in the evening.  I had tea sandwiches of cucumber and cream cheese, chicken salad sandwiches, the vegetable dip leftover from my neighbor's potluck, mini-quiches, scones, and smoked salmon and cookies were brought to add to my feast.  We had sparkling juices, egg nog, and hot tea.  I can't believe they all were ready to eat at 8:30 again. . . .

On Christmas Day we often go to the Bavarian Inn.  The restaurant is gaily decorated and the staff is dressed up in German costumes.  This photo is off their web page.  I've only ever been there on Christmas Day so did not realize how green and lush it looks. . . .

Here is a collection of what we had to eat (minus the salad which I forgot to photograph). . . .

We ended our holiday celebration by going to our oldest son's house on Sunday.  Here is Olivia June on her push car waving goodbye. . . .

. . . . and her First Christmas ornament. . . .

Before I say goodbye to 2014 I want to invite you to check out my newest Blog for 2015:  Another Perfect Day 365

If you decide to follow it, you can sign up via e-mail in the place indicated.

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Take Joy!