Yesterday I attended a "historical Christmas" event at a nearby fort that dates back to the 1820's. There were volunteers dressed up in 19th century clothing that were singing traditional Christmas songs, cooking a meal in the kitchen-house, and working as blacksmiths. It was quite a fun event, though very crowded (which tends to make me a bit claustrophobic.) After that we visited a row of Victorian-era homes that stands near the fort. Some of them are now offices and could not be entered, but one is a restaurant and the other is open for visitors. They were all beautiful, and the interior of the one we visited was truly breathtaking, with its carved wooden staircases and gorgeous stained glass.
A few days ago we visited a local tree farm and chopped down our own
Christmas tree. I don't think we have any big Christmas plans, but I do
plan on cooking a nice meal of shepherd's pie, brussels sprouts, and a
chocolate bread pudding for dessert. This is my first Christmas ever
spent away from my old hometown, so it's bound to feel a bit "off," but I
am SO in love with my new home state that just being here feels like
the best Christmas present ever.
Not much new to report on the magic front. Personally, I always find it a bit harder to work Witchcraft in the winter. So much of what I do involves plants and the outdoors, and when it's cold and rainy out there's not much to work with. On the other hand, the "dark half" of the year is the perfect time for working with spirits and the shades of the Dead, which is an area I would like to practice on anyway. At one time it was popular to tell ghost stories during the Christmas season, and in fact I've been reading up on haunted places and legends of the Pacific Northwest. As it happens, I've discovered that the cemetery I like to visit in my new hometown has quite the reputation for being haunted. I haven't encountered anything paranormal there myself, but I have had a bit of an uneasy feeling there at times and plan on investigating further.
Please enjoy some pictures of the historical Christmas event and the beautiful Victorian homes!
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| The huge fireplace in the kitchen (which was built as a separate structure) at the fort. |
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| The main house, decorated with greenery |
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| The fort |
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| A Victorian home. This one was open to visitors. |
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| The beautiful carved staircase of the above home |
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| The parlour |
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| Victorian Christmas tree |
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| Another Victorian home. This one is now a restaurant. |
How beautiful. Thanks for taking us on your tour. Happy Yule!
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it! As you can see, I am in love with my new home.
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