christmas day with family pictures

Christmas day was spent with my son and daughter in law and granddaughter  Adalyn who was born on the 8th  of December.   Two grandsons who live in Hawaii are missed along with one grandson in Arizona.
I am sure hoping next year we will see each other.
Mom was here and we had dinner , opened gifts and listened to Christmas music in the background.

very serious sleeper

 love the roses on her dress that her grandma got her

 waking up to eat

great grandma holding her

Christmas decor to reflect the year 1861 at the Va. Governors Mansion

Since 1813 this federal style structure is the oldest occupied governors residence in the United States.   Steve and I toured the Mansion set in the year 1861.    Simple but elegant decorations.   Greenery over the doorways.   Mistle toe hanging from the chandelier as we walked in.  Here are a few pictures.

upstair windows had the wreaths

Steve waiting at the entrance,  we didn't realize we could have just walked in.  
Notice the simple green wreaths,  elegant all by themself with out a bow.

Mistletoe hanging from chandelier

Looking ahead as we enter is the tree on a table with all hand made decorations

fabric folded stars, cloth angels.

I understand that the handkercheifs the soldiers left behind while they went off to war were fashioned into

ornaments for the tree like this angel

paper chains, little crotchet doilies. 

greenery collected from surrounding counties above door ways

 table set for guests.    Above the table - Virgin Queen Elizabeth 1- whom Virginia is named for

 decorated trees in niches

I liked the way the chandelier was picking up light in here.

George Washington statue in background and live green wreaths on gate

Steve in front of mansion and where he works in the bldg on right

had to get a pix as we were leaving

I am linking to Common Ground which has beautiful images along with others to check out

Christmas pictures at home

Finally got a few  pictures of around my house and decorating.    Here are a few of my tree in the living room.

top of my tree,  you can see a paper doll I made last year.

I found this picture and copied it to reg. printing paper.   Used water color pencils , then framed.

I recycled a Christmas card box,   cut an opening, sprayed then glittered gold and added a Christmas card I rec'd from my niece last year.

this Santa Steve bought me last night from the nearby berry farm Christmas house

I made this one several weeks ago ,  it's explained in a previous post

My television cabinet with an angel

a country mouse holding her candle in my den window

my den tree

I am linking to No Minimalist here

Til next time - Betsy

Hotel Jefferson

Steve and I rode downtown this past Friday to see the tree at the Hotel Jefferson.   It was rainy and chilly,  a good day for being inside and taking in the Christmas decorations.  The hotel was to open on November 1, 1895,  it did not as it was realized at the last minute that it is considered bad luck to start anything on a Friday,  was opened Halloween instead.    Hotel Jefferson is recognized as Richmond's grandest hotel and one of the finest in America.  Building of the hotel began in 1892 Lewis Ginter who made millions by marketing the pre rolled cigarette commissioned  Carrere and Hastings to create his wishes.
The Rolling Stones, Dolly Parton ,  Elvis Presley and Henry James stayed here.

Beautiful architecture
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At the entrance is an alligator with a Christmas ball in his mouth. Here is an explanation of the alligator posted at entrance.

I like to decorate with nutcrackers .  The red , gold and silver is so pretty.

a glimpse of statue of Jefferson through door

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The Lobby

The Reason for the season in the lobby

My picture does not do the Nativity justice,   very nicely displayed.

The grand staircase

Intricate ceilings

underneath tree

I could smell the sugar

stained glass ceiling medallion

we sat up stairs with our coffee looking down on the decorations below

 upper level decorations.