Rudy Day for April - #2

Today is April 25, and that means it's time for another Rudy Day!

The theme for April's Rudy Day is "Christmas Dishes."

So, here are photos of my Williamsburg Christmas. It's really not complete without the apple cone decoration as the centerpiece. You can check my post from yesterday, April 24, to see my apple cone project. Yes, it can be done even in April! Williamsburg is one of hubby's and my favorite places, anytime of year, but especially at Christmastime! I think the glasses I purchased from CW set the tone, along with the "woodland" placemats. The pottery dishes I'm sure some of you recognized as Longaberger pottery. I love love love my Longaberger.

The silver is actually called Deepsilver...the pattern is called Laurel Mist, it's by Oneida, and I purchased it about 45 years ago for my hope chest. We have used it for every holiday.

And a little more Christmas spirit is provided by the Byers Carolers, Colonial Williamsburg collection. The woman 2nd from the left in the green toile dress--can you see what she is holding? An apple cone! The 2 little boys represent our two sons, who are now all grown up! And the dishes in the background are from my Liberty Blue collection. And yes, I have used them at Christmastime also.

 This is our breakfast eating area, from December 2010. I used my Pfaltzgraff Christmas pottery, and the full set of Byers Carolers along with the Williamsburg houses backboard.

And here we are ready for a Christmas Tea with the girls, all set up with my "Old Country Roses" by Royal Albert china. I'd love to have you join us!

Until then, keep stitchin, and happy Rudy Day!
To join the fun, check out http://www.magicalholidayhome.com/ and my post from yesterday.

Mary

Rudy Day April 2012

I saw Santa today! I was sitting at the doctor's office in front of a roaring fireplace (it's 59 degrees here today in Richmond, Virginia), reading my December 2011 copy of Christmas Cottage, waiting for hubby, when in walks Santa! He was wearing dark denim blue jeans, a light denim t-shirt and had that unmistakable white/gray long hair and beautiful full white beard! And of course, I did not have my camera with me, or I would have asked him to come sit on the hearth, hold my magazine, and let me snap a photo! The hubs says, never mind, we'll go pose the photo and he'll play with Photoshop and come up with a similar facsimile!

You'll be relieved to know Santa is not sick, because he wasn't there long enough to see a doctor.

Then we went to breakfast and in the parking lot of the IHOP was a trailer with several large for-sale cast aluminum figurines--including a REINDEER! How do you like that! A Santa sighting and a reindeer sighting all in the same day (and NO camera...grrrrr)!

We stopped at the grocery store to buy some beautiful red delicious apples, and a pineapple so I could make my Williamsburg apple cone. These are the pieces you need to assemble the cone:  A pineapple (real or faux--mine is real), apples--nice shiney red ones, magnolia leaves (mine are faux), greenery for filler (I used pine needles from my backyard, but boxweed is the traditional choice), and a wood apple cone form. I purchased my wood form eons ago from http://www.williamsburgmarketplace.com/.

 

And, here is the finished product: 

Come back tomorrow for more of Rudy Day, on the actual day it's celebrated! We celebrate Rudy Day on the 25th of each month. Now go check out http://www.magicalholidayhome.com/ and join in the fun! The theme for April Rudy Day is "Christmas Dishes" so tomorrow I'll be posting some table settings for you to see.

Till next time, keep stitchin'

Mary

Colonial Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg is like my "happy place." Hubby and I first stayed overnight here on our honeymoon in December 1968. We were on our way between northern Illinois and his duty station at Ft. Hancock, New Jersey. Over the next several years, we visited Williamsburg more than 8 times. Our love of Williamsburg was part of the reason we moved to Virginia--well, that and a new grandbaby!  Now that we live only a short drive from there, we try to get down for a visit at least once each season. Christmas of course, is my favorite, followed by springtime. Here are photos of our most recent visit in March. We had a very warm spring here in Virginia, and everything bloomed earlier than normal--by at least 2 or 3 weeks.

The last photo above is of a magnificent Magnolia tree. The magnolia leaf is featured in many floral arrangements throughout the area. I remember buying fake Magnolia leaves in Illinois to make my apple cone decoration. We don't have to buy fake anymore! Virginia is where they keep them for real ;-)

In addition to the wonderful plants and gardens, are the animals. Here are two of them you see frequently in the historic district:

You can't go to Williamsburg and not eat at the Kings Arms. It's our all-time favorite restaurant there. They have a delicious chicken pot-pie only on the lunch menu. And then there are the fabulous peiod interpreters you meet along the way. We had an absolutely delightful conversation with this couple over lunch. Would it spoil the image if I told you they drove down from Maryland in their RV for the weekend?

And last but not least, a few additional photos.  Colonial Williamsburg, one of my favorite places on earth!

Until next time, keep stitchin!
Mary