The Twelve Days of Christmas - Day 4 of 13 /  by Dave Hileman

I have a couple of my nativities set up here and they have been added to some of Jill’s. Here are two of hers the first is from Peru when the Cedar Springs Choir toured there a few years ago, the second is from her childhood. Both Jill’s and mine originated in Germany and have been displayed each year at Christmas. Mine is the last photo.

The Twelve Days of Christmas - Day 3 of 13 /  by Dave Hileman

In the portico of the mansion, Winterthur, is a tree decorated with dried and preserved flowers from the surrounding gardens. This is near to the spot we were engaged in May. We were here last week for a dramatic presentation of a Christmas Carol that was expressively read by the great, great, grandson of Charles Dickens. I was ill and unable to attend but Jill, after being convinced I was going to survive, attended and she said the reading was marvelous. She said he represented all the characters well, used distinct voices and body language to convey a unique aspect of each one. He usually does a tour in the US each year, if you read about him coming near to where you might attend, I would encourage you to book a ticket. He does a variety of readings not just this one. You can find some of his work on YouTube.

The Twelve Days of Christmas - Day 2 of 13 /  by Dave Hileman

Baking - lots of baking. This is like stage one with several more to come. The house is filled with aromas most delightful and tastes that are even better. Scores of dinner rolls, perfect cinnamon buns and, at last count, 130 GingerBears. Each one watched carefully by the master baker. Most of these are for gifts but, well, a few escaped bagging. Ahem, delicious! Shhhhhh, our secret.

Theme Week: Water @Longwood Gardens /  by Dave Hileman

I still do not have glasses and so am limiting myself to how much time I spend on the computer. MAYBE this week. But if not by Tuesday, I will be out of town for a few days so arrival on Wednesday will not help immediately. But still welcome!

Longwood is known for the flowers and plants, however, plants need water and Longwood has lots of water.

National Park Unit #364, Reconstruction Era National Historic Park /  by Dave Hileman

Unexpectedly, I now have 364 parks completed. I did not realize that the Reconstruction Era park was open on the Sea Islands near Beaufort, SC. The park has three components, a downtown visitor center in an old fire station, the heart of the park, an educational facility in a complex called Penn School and a church built by enslaved people and after 1861 it is where they worshiped and learned. Reconstruction was an uneven process at best but here it worked as well as anywhere. The area was captured by the North early in the war and all the plantation owners had fled leaving the enslaved population and many more who fled to this community. .The north paid wages to them and eventually sold the land for back taxes to those who were now earning funds. Three women came from the north to set up schools and the building that we toured was a part of that school. Lots of current skills as we as academic classes were conducted. Many of the families that bought land in the mid-1860’s are still owned by their descendants. The small house in the photos was built as a retreat for Martin Luther King, Jr but he was killed before he could use it. It is now an artist and writers retreat house. More info here: https://www.nps.gov/reer/index.htm

Food - Holiday - Thanksgiving - Home /  by Dave Hileman

We had a small gathering for Thanksgiving dinner in Knoxville. Jill and I, her daughter, Carin and son-in-law, Evan (also the chef) and two friends, Rebecca and Paul. While the gathering was small the food was extensive and delicious. Turkey, naturally, brined and well-roasted with a pecan/honey sauce, sweet potatoes with cranberry, mashed potatoes, cranberry relish, gravy, oysters, honey glazed brussel sprouts, stuffing and home made rolls. All this was proceded by a wonderful squash soup and followed by raspberry cheesecake and pumpkin pie. Burp!

My restrained plate number one!