Happy Holidays from My Home to Yours!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa, and Happy New Year to All from Fred Gonsowski Garden Home.com..I hope your holidays are Happy and Bright.

The Holiday period has always been a Fun and Busy period for me. It starts the weekend before Thanksgiving with the putting up of the Christmas wreaths on the outside of the house, and the stringing of the outdoor lights. The Christmas tree is next, put up after Thanksgiving Dinner, or at least the weekend right after Thanksgiving.

Our area has  lots of Holiday activities. There are 2 Victorian Strolls, a Festival of Trees, and Holiday decorated House Tours, put on by historical societies and chambers of commerce. Also on the calendar are Carol singalongs with Christmas Tree lightings and the arrival of Santa Claus. There is something every weekend to go to, if the weather is nice and you are not worn out by the previous activities. There are also private house parties, a Christmas fund-raising gala for the hospital and Birthday parties.

I have always loved the Christmas tree. Some years I go overboard and have two trees, and decorated just about every room in Whimsey Hill House. Other years it is just a small tree with just touches of Christmas, put here and there to make the house look and feel festive.

Years ago we traveled to Charleston, South Carolina, where I fell in love with Southern food. Christmas dinner, or if I’m hosting a sit down holiday party is a Southern meets Polish feast. Baked Ham with raisin gravy, Collard greens, Hoppin John (beans and rice), Jiffy Corn bread, a turkey breast from a Martha Stewart recipe, and Kielbasa (the Polish part). Not to mention a table covered with desserts made by me, and added to by my sister.

After eating we have a Singalong of Christmas Carols, and my friend Jeff brings his violin and entertains us with a few classical pieces.

Most times I ask people to wear Festive Holiday Attire, but sometimes I say “come comfortable“. They all still come looking Great.

My friend Marguerite is a Nationally Known Equine / Horse Racing World photographer. She seems to go here and there throughout my house taking group pictures, and close-ups of my decorations (some of them shown later in this post).

Finally a Christmas Poem, written by me in the 6th or 7th grade…

Christmas presents under the tree, One for you and one for me. Gaily wrapped in ribbons and bows, Santa left them I supposed…. There are walking dolls and talking dolls, wagons, trains and drums. This is the time for dreams to come true, the night that Santa comes.

From My home, Whimsey Hill House, to Yours…Happy Holidays!

Christmas Inside and Out

Some Details taken by Marguerite

A Holiday Fire, Santa and a Christmas Dinner

Companion Post ..Putting Lights on a Christmas Tree…The Easy Way 11-3-2011, Christmas Tree Decorating..Step by Step, like a Pro 11-13-2011