Merry Christmas!
A fair amount of white crunch ice around on this brisk morn!
We had a delightful Christmas Surprise from the
Bairds - Christmas Breakfast at Chowning Tavern!
Yummy menu - can't say as I've had Southern-fried Chicken
for breakfast before!
Which to have....
A Mimosa for a special day!
A wonderful fruit ambrosia...
Virginia Ham, Egg Casserole, Southern-fried Chicken
Spiced Apples and a bottomless basket of muffins...
we were too busy indulging in them to get a picture!
and wonderful entertainment!
and decorations - downstairs ...
and upstairs!
Thank you Jill, Dave, Ryan and Colin!
That was a truly special and memorable treat!
Not a lot of folks out early today but this
guy was back with his pet goat.
Quite the conversation piece!
We wandered a few of the Village Shops and then headed back to
Tucker House again...this time for a Visit with Thomas Jefferson.
Very eloquent, amusing and interesting.
"In 1842 a new feature centering on young members of the family was introduced at the Tucker House, then occupied by Judge Nathaniel Beverley Tucker. Charles Minnegerode, a young German refugee and professor of ancient and modern languages at the College of William and Mary, asked permission of his friend Judge Tucker to set up a Christmas tree for the Tucker children, a tree such as his family would have had in Germany. The shining glass globes and tinseled ornaments of the German trees were not available. Minnegerode and the children improvised using colored paper, popcorn garlands, gilded nuts, and a gold star. Many candles wired to the branches illuminated the tree. Children of friends were invited to the first Christmas tree party at the Tucker House. Neighbors and friends asked to see the strange and beautiful creation, which had been so joyfully received by the children. Each year the excitement grew as the children marched in, the youngest first, singing carols. Judge Tucker continued the custom until his death. Dr. Janet Kimbrough, the last Tucker descendant to live in the house, continued the event until her death in 1992. And so a new tradition was born--the first Christmas tree in Williamsburg, and probably in Virginia. German immigrants to America brought with them the tradition of the Christmas tree, but the date of the first tree in America remains unclear. In England, Prince Albert introduced the Christmas tree to Queen Victoria and their children in 1841.
A chilly day with ice on the bucket!!
We wandered a little after our Visit with Jefferson and then did a little Christmas Sale Shopping at the Craft House and the Visitor's Center and then parted ways and headed to our homes. It was a very special Christmas...very glad we decided to do this! Check out the blog for Dec 22 - it only has the decorated wreaths. We didn't want it to be the first one you encountered...so it's the last for this wonderful holiday trip! Merry Christmas to you all. May 2014 be a year filled with blessings and God's Peace.
