A Look at our Christmas House

Okay, I admit it.  I've had a surfeit of 

Christmas decorations, Christmas tablescapes, 

Christmas trees, etc. etc. etc. 

I can pin no more.  

Actually, I did pin a bunch yesterday. 

But... I keep digressing. 

I never showed you our Christmas house. 

Santas marched across our Christmas mantel. 

And across the top of the hutch. 

And rocked by the tree. 

We had a smallish tree this year, that was fine for the old house, but too small here.  We're going to try to rectify that in after-Christmas sales. 

I never found our angel.  I know she's here somewhere. 

The theme this year was "nature"... but don't worry, I still have all our regular 

decorations, too. 

The tree is full of God's creatures and pinecones. 

God created glitter, too, you know. 

I love the pinecone ribbon.  I bought it years ago, and finally used it.  It looks 

better in person. 

Look!  The Baby Jesus is back in his manger, in the stable! 

There are our beautiful greens from our friends Georgie and Paulette and Tweedles, that 

bring the mountains of Oregon to the plains of Kansas.  (Actually we're in the hilly part of Kansas, but you get the idea).  They smell so good! 

Yes, there are more Santas on this table. 

This snowman picture greets everyone coming in, with the small Nativity scene underneath it. 

I have a tree, a prim tree, in the master bedroom, that I will take pictures of tomorrow. 

It is decorated with weeds from the old place... and a few little animals.  It's actually 

my favorite tree. 

There is an additional tree downstairs, that the kids have enjoyed at the three different parties we had. 

The best part for moms is that... we get to take it all down! 

Our Nativity scene will stay up until Pentecost, though. 

Tomorrow morning I'll go to church, and then come home and we will leave to 

go see son Jeff in Independence (MO.) and take his gifts to him. 

Clothes, chili, stew, chips, and three kinds of cookies. 

(his favorites!) 

Then it's all over but a quiet meal at home tomorrow night. 

Friday... we rest!!!!

Merry Christmas, everyone! 

A Little More Christmas

I had to laugh at this: 

This may look like everyone is watching Baby Jesus.  If you notice, though, there 

are three little deer in the middle. 

Baby Jesus was way over on the side, with a little black lab watching him... and a part of the stable laying near him. 

Everyone surrounded Him in the entrance way nativity scene. 

Jester is always with me, and wondered why I was laughing. 

I'll fix the big Nativity tomorrow so Baby Jesus has a chance to 

lay in the manger a few nights. 

I took some things from my friend Valerie's house to the transfer station today (dump) and 

found this on top of the "office" for the two guys who do the dumping and gathering. 

Here was their other decoration.  Even the dump workers have the Christmas spirit. 

I unplugged the new water fountain when I got to the old place today... it has to be filled daily, and I don't think we are going to make it out there tomorrow.  I did fill it full... but did not leave the heater on.  It is supposed to rain tomorrow, and be 40 degrees, so the birds will be fine. 

The dogs were so glad to get out for a while. 

We had a clear night... I could see the beautiful stars for once... and 

then about 2 hours of sunlight this morning...

and then gloom again.  

So tired of it! 

I saw this blue jay at the old house, but not the hundreds of birds that used to hang around there. 

Here IS a hawk... I have come to learn where they are likely to be "hiding" now... 

I was quite a way from him... and was only able to get him as he took off, 

by craning myself in the front seat of the car. 

He looked like a Coopers... but he was pretty far away. 

I can't get the color any better with the weather like it is. 

The horse herd I keep showing you was taking a siesta when we went by.  They are actually looking pretty decent. 

This guy was closer to home... and I was only able to pause for a minute.  I'm going to be so glad to 

have some sun again... but... we are now expecting rain for the next two days. 

I have been looking at so much Christmas on Pinterest that I am almost Christmas'd out... so next year, I won't do that so much.  

We're on the downhill run! 

More Christmas Cheer

Today was the second Christmas party we had scheduled... 

my side of the family. 

Chris and Nathan came up from Garnett, and Chris helped me get ready by running the vacuum while I decorated (more) cookies.

We did a lot of visiting... Amy, Paiton and Madison... 

the cream cheese - and pepper jelly did not last long. 

Paiton rearranged the Nativity Scene some more. 

Leaving Baby Jesus alone with the Angel. 

I made two big pots of chili... and the boys came up from the Kids Cave to get some. 

Within about five minutes, one pot was gone. 

(Jim and Amy) 

Our little slugger Jaxton got his Boston hat he wanted... and... 

His name is on the back... and yes, he was upset when I took this. 

Jacob and Nathan had their pictures taken with Grandma, and yes, Nathan was cutting up... he's 15. 

Jester and Lilly were in on the festivities. 

We even got our pictures taken... with Jim photo-bombing us. 

Chris was Grandchild number One ... born long before Keith and I were married... 

and when he was little... I had him pose with Moosletoe and Little Toe in his 

little rocker, every Christmas.  I asked him to do it again today. 

You see, Chris was nine years old before Nathan was born... so he was the Only for a long time.  I had very good memories of Chris rocking Moosletoe. 

And it has come down to his little sister Paiton, too! 

We had such a good time... and I had enough chili to save for 

my younger son this week... it's in the freezer. 

The kids, minus big sister Madison, are all here for the night, down in the Kids Cave. 

Keith is about to fall to a cold, the one I had 3 weeks ago, I'm sure... and 

he has dialysis tomorrow on top of it, on the holiday schedule, instead of 

Monday. 

The kids all leave early in the morning, and then I'm going to rest for a while!  

That's what Christmas is all about! 

Christmas Mansion Tour Part Two

A bench on either side of the door greeted me at the Bingham-Waggoner house in 

Independence, Missouri, the Queen City of the Trails, as it is called. 

I love how the benches were decorated this year.  I could not stop at the bottom of the stairs to take a picture, as it was raining.  I had the camera safely protected. 

The theme this year was "All Wrapped Up". 

A vignette from one of the two front parlors of the house... this one was used as an 

office by the Waggoners.  

The painter George Caleb Bingham owned this house before the Waggoners, at the time of the Civil War. 

The front hallway, the two parlors are to the left... the stairs lead to the second and third floors... and that's the dining room to the right... and the east entrance of the house. 

That's the original wood-burning stove in the kitchen... the Waggoner's cook and her daughter 

inherited this beautiful house after the last Waggoner son died.  They subsequently sold it 

to the Historical Society, thank heavens, so we can all enjoy it. 

The butler's pantry just outside of the kitchen. 

The dining room was awash in a sea of red and gold. 

The table is massive. 

There are 8 bedrooms on the second floor, and this, the Bingham room, was one of the 

originals, built when the house was orignally constructed.  The Waggoners added onto it. 

I loved the simple tartan theme. 

It is set up right now as an office.  

Those are Bingham lithos on the walls and over the fireplace.  

That looks like "Order Number 11" on the wall, that incited this area of 

Missouri to riot during the war. 

Next bedroom over, a man's bedroom... you see the frieze on the wall... there is a different one in 

each bedroom. 

This bedroom is set up as a nursery. 

I was told by a tour guide a long, long time ago that the last Waggoner son, (I believe Harry) used 

this small bedroom, because he could let his dogs out on the balcony through this door. 

A detail of a frieze.  

One of the bedrooms is used as an office, and I have been privileged to see that bedroom in it's un-restored state... the paint rather faded but the frieze still in great shape. 

Looking down the hallway from north to south... see the clothes press in the wall?  On the 

left you can also see the call box, for the owners to call downstairs to the kitchen or housekeeper as they needed.  The restored frieze goes clear around the house in the hallways. 

This is one of the servants rooms on the third floor.  The person using this room had a reading niche there in the window... and a dresser just out of sight to the right. 

There were four servant's rooms on this floor, and a capacious bathroom for them to use, 

as well as a large day room, that is set up for hot chocolate and cookies during the Christmas season. 

I think those who worked in the Waggoner's household were probably pretty happy with their jobs.  

I enjoyed my trip back through time to Christmas past... but I think I am going to skip next year's visit... and go in a couple of years.  It's a long, tiring drive for me... 

and I'd like for Keith to see the houses, too. 

I was able to see my son Jeff for a bit after I finished, and take him home from work.  It was nice to visit and catch up with him, and we'll be seeing him again at Christmas time in a few weeks.  He has lived in Independence for many years,but does not drive and does not have a phone. 

Who doesn't have a phone?????  

I accept it, though, for what it is!  

It was a good day, but I am still tuckered out from this cold, I admit it.  

Still trying to finish our decorating here, as well!  

How are you all coming along?