More Dates of Christmas...

Friday, December 1st, we traveled to Millersburg, Kentucky to Mustard Seed Hill. This would be our fourth time to visit this site. That means we REALLY like this place. 

Our first stop was The McIntyre House. This is where most of the Gingerbread Houses are set for viewing. The detail on some of these houses is unbelievable. They must plot for a year to be ready to make their house. It is a competition. Places are awarded and, I believe, cash prizes are given to winners. There are categories for ages and ability. This first picture is not a homemade gingerbread house. It is a decoration as you enter the McIntyre House. 

Now we start the Gingerbread Houses. Some of these pictures are different view of the same house. This year I tried to get the card with the name of the gingerbread house and who made it. It often tells the category they were competing in. 

This is a front view and side view of this little house. There are items in the house. That is always the case. 

This is a front view and a back view of the house.

The clock has a front view and a back view.

This is The Castle in Lexington, Kentucky, a front and back view. 

This front and back view are one of Claude's favorites. I'm thinking we might need a cabin somewhere. We have often thought we wanted one like the movie On Golden Pond. 

This house has a front, side and back view. Look at the detail of this building. 

This has a front and side view. 

This South of the Border style has a side and front view. 

Please note the pond in this one has goldfish in it!

Barbie, the movie, inspired this gingerbread house. It is fully furnished. There is a front and back view.

We marveled at the glasswork on this one. There is a front and inside view of this house. Claude and I couldn't even imagine bringing this without breaking it and setting it up for judging. 

There would be more gingerbread houses, but we visited the outside lights before going to the Allen House. 

This particular features has lights the move to make it look like these are strands of water falling. So pretty.

I truly love this tree. 

Even the people in the homes across the street decorate for this occasion. 

This is the Allen House. There were more gingerbread houses inside here. 

Inside the Allen House.

There is a front and an overhead view of this stadium. Please note the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville are the teams playing. 

Across the sidewalk from the Allen House is the Food Tent. They have the best hot chocolate. Claude had a cinnamon roll with his and I tried the chocolate babka. 

Back outside to our car. 

As we walked back to the car, we both commented on how nice this light visit is each year. There is a peace here in this little community that is palpable. Getting to see lights and gingerbread houses is a big plus. And, finishing our visit with hot chocolate and a treat is heaven. We will return. 

Saturday, December 2nd, I finished decorating the Christmas tree. I had a bad strand of lights and had to purchase more. This made finishing the tree decorating a little longer. 

First picture is the new ornaments collected in 2023. 

• 3 guitars top left from the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix. A great visit for everyone.
• The wooden gazebo contains petrified wood from around the Petrified Forest in Arizona.
• Kokopelli from Arizona.
• Take it Easy from the corner store in Winslow, Arizona. If you are an Eagles fan, you'll understand.
• The pink butterfly from Dollywood.
• The red cable car from Wellington, New Zealand.
• The kiwi from the Glowworm Cave in New Zealand.
• The round white is the Hatfield-McCoy Tour.
• And the wood outline if Iceland.

Such a good year experiencing life.

In the evening, we went to downtown Georgetown for the Christmas parade and lighting of the Christmas tree. We had never done this before. It turned out to be great fun. The rain was threatening. It held off until the parade was finished and Santa lit the Christmas tree. 

Okay, this is the front and first of several big trucks decorated and driven in the parade. Look closely at the second picture. The trailer on the back is hauling a toy John Deere tractor! So cute.

Santa signals the end of the parade. After Santa passed, we walked down to the Courthouse to see the lighting of the Christmas tree by Santa. 

The firetruck takes him over to the top of the tree. He has a microphone and he tells everyone to help him count backwards from 10. At one, he drops dust over the top of the tree and the lights come on. 

Now the rain started to come. We quickly made our way back to where we parked the Jeep and headed home. Such and nice parade and lighting of the tree.

Sunday, December 3rd, we attended church and choir practice. Then we quickly put up the outside lights except the Nativity. You see, we realized our grass was too deep for winter. Even though Claude cut it in November! The grass would need to be cut before we placed the Nativity. Normally we would not do this on a Sunday. But, we planned a trip to Michigan and it had to be done before we left. 

In the evening we curled up in front of the TV with our Christmas tree lights glowing and watched the 1st Presidency Christmas Devotional from Salt Lake City. A great way to start December each year. 

Monday, December 4rd, Claude cut the grass and put up the Nativity. I search through the shed several times while texting with Jake. He wanted some books and a cabinet for his apartment. When we finished these chores, Claude looked at me and said, "I think it is time for a biscuit run." I totally agreed. It is so nice having Bojangles in Georgetown. You can get a good biscuit any time of the day.

 

We packed our bags for a Michigan run. Loaded the car in the evening and tried going to be a little early.

Tuesday, December 5th through Thursday, December 7th, we are counting as one long date of Christmas. We left Georgetown about 8am. We stopped in Sadieville for a biscuit breakfast and to top of the gas tank. Then we drove on the Muskegon, Michigan. The weather was okay. We had some rain but not torrential downpours. 

When we got to Muskegon, we went straight to the Ropers home. We dropped off presents and jelly. This day, Nikki, their exchange student moved to another home. We took the Ropers to Pizza Ranch for dinner after Nikki left. It was a fun dinner with this little family.

Then we drove out to Nissa and Todd's. We would spent two nights with them.

Wednesday, December 6th, we were able to sleep in a bit. This is nice for old people. We got up and showered and drove in to Muskegon again. We would meet Paul at The Pita Place for a nice lunch and visit. We delivered Christmas presents for him and Rachel and a baby gift for the sixth great grandmonster which Rachel is carrying and will have in April. We forgot to get Paul's jelly from Nissa's home. He will get it from her later. Rachel did not join us for lunch.

After lunch, Paul rode with us to Nissa and Todd's work. Claude orders Omaha steaks for the guys. He had Paul's sent to Nissa's work. She texted us that she received it. Paul was able to get his Omaha steaks from Nissa's work. Todd also helped me get new windshield wiper blades for my car. 

We took Paul back to The Pita Place to get his truck. Then we went back to Lee's Chicken and bought dinner for the Tyler's and us. We went through the drive-thru at the Pita Place to pick up four slices of Baklava Cheesecake for dessert. Had to give that one a try. Then out to Holton to the Tyler home for Claude to get a little nap before the Tyler's got home from work. On the way to Holton, we stopped at the Amish store to get cookies, cheese, bread and Farmer's Dust. 

When Nissa and Todd got home we heated up the chicken and had a nice meal together. We all pronounced the Baklava Cheesecake delicious. A quiet evening with them.

Thursday, December 7th, we started our journey home. The first leg of it took us to Chelsea. We unloaded the furniture, books, Christmas gifts, and jelly at Jake's apartment. Then we all went to the Mexican restaurant for a nice warm meal. We sat in my car and visited for a good while. Watched the ambulance come and go to Max's apartment. Then leave without her. That was a good sign. Such a nice visit with our son. 

We would then drive on back home to Georgetown. This was such a nice visit. My only regret was not getting to see Aubrey and Nelson. Aubrey has moved to Grand Rapids. Thought we might visit her going through to Jake's. But her work schedule was not conducive to that. My other regret, but not really, was that I didn't take one picture during this quick trip. This is very unlike me. But it did not diminish one bit the goodness of this visit with family in Michigan.

Friday, December 8th, was to be another Date of Christmas. The plan was to go to the First Methodist Church. Every year they have a City of Bethlehem event. We have never been and were looking forward to it. It started at 6pm. We left our home at 6pm and drove over to the church. Their parking lot was full. The front lawn of the church was full. They were directing traffic to make the loop and then drive over to Harmony Christian Church and use their parking lot. We opted out. Instead, this Christmas Date took us to Dairy Queen for ice cream. Then back home to watch some more documentaries with Kelsey Grammer narrating. Claude is really enjoying these about battles in America's history.

There you have it through Friday. Tonight we are off to do our next Christmas Date. Will post about it later.