12 Dates of Christmas Begin...

Wednesday, December 4th, by this day we had all the decorations up inside and outside our home. Rain was one the way. We treated ourselves to tacos from Taco Bell and a relaxing evening in our living room. 

Thursday, December 5th, I had a bit of restless night with concerns of the rain freezing on the roads. I have NO desire to drive on ice. I had an office PT appointment in the morning. Ugh! After several very interesting dreams, I woke to find no ice on the roads viewed from our front windows. Yeah!! As I drove to PT, there ruts on the sides of the roads were full of water that had frozen. 

I came home grateful for a DVR. I iced my shoulder, filled my glass with Mello Yello and curled up to watch some of my television programs. Sometimes, technology is a blessing.

Friday, December 6th, I spent my morning purchasing online the final Christmas gifts for Kentucky family. All Christmas shopping is done. Yeah!! I will have to wrap when it arrives but it feels good to know I have done all I can do this year for gifting. 

In the evening, we left to go do Cincinnati with a stop in Florence at Smoky Bones for dinner. We left Smokey Bones to go to Heritage Bank Center. As we drove, Claude started to try to check his wallet. It seems he left the credit card at Smoky Bones. Ugh. I quickly found a route to get back to Smokey Bones. They had the credit card in their safe. We once again headed to downtown Cincinnati. 

By now the traffic was AWFUL. We had tickets to see Trans Siberian Orchestra at 7:30. We got into the traffic at and worked our way by inches to the parking lot. We parked on the 5th level of the parking lot and made our way across to the door of the center. We were now 30 minutes late for the performance. Ugh!!

We found our way down the steps with NO handrail to the first row of seats in this raised area. Great seats. We once again totally enjoyed this performance. So many lights. Laser lights. Fire bursting forth. The musicians running around and through the audience. Amazing. I love watching Claude as his hand picks the imaginary guitar he is holding. 

All of my video clips are too long for Blogger to let me post. I do have this one of the drummer near the end of the program. They had laser lights bursting each time he struck a drum. Amazing. 

This is an annual event for us. Claude loves this very much. Very talented young people. Amazing show.

Saturday, December 7th, we were up at 8:30am to get on the road by 9am. Our destination this day was Lebanon, Ohio. We learned they were having their 35th Annual Lebanon Horse-Drawn Carriage Parade and Festival. It is a two hour drive from Georgetown. We wanted to see the 1pm parade. They hold two parades. The second is in the evening. 

The streets were lined with vendors of all kinds, food, crafts, clothes, etc. All the merchants were also open. We walked the streets and found hot chocolate first. Then enjoyed seeing what the vendors were selling. I found a red plaid top. 

We walked back to the petting zoo. It consisted of three Highland Cows. Each had their hair fixed. The kids were buying food to feed them. 

One of the shops in town was the Serenity Salon. Claude suggested he go and get me a double order of 'Serenity'!!

We found great seats for waiting for the parade. It was a concrete porch on a business. We could sit to wait. Then I climbed on top to take pictures. It was the quietest parade I have ever been too. You could heal clomping of the horses feet, bells jingling on the carriages and around the horses. No bands or dance groups. So no music. Hence, it seemed very quiet for a parade. Lots of little horses. Some big draft horses. A few horses the looked and pranced like show horses. The carriages were little to very big and full of people. Great parade. 

There were six horses pulling this carriage. They were perfectly matched and gorgeous.

They were followed by four black horses that were perfectly matched. 

We knew the parade was over, just like Festival of the Horse in Georgetown, when the street cleaner comes along!

Back to our car for the two hour drive to Millersburg, Kentucky to see the lights at Mustard Seed Hill. We drove for one hour to Dryridge, Kentucky where Claude stopped at LaRosa's for something to eat. We had never eaten at a LaRosa's and we both enjoyed that stop very much. While we ate, we plotted our Christmas meals with family. 

Then we were off to Millersburg. One little problem. When we got to Cynthiana, they were having their Christmas parade. The streets we wanted to use were all blocked off. We went way down to the far end and still couldn't cross. Back out the way we came and found Highway 68 toward Paris. From there we could take another back country road to Millersburg. We thought we would be there at 5pm. We got there at 6pm. Not an issue at all. 

Upon arriving, we couldn't park where we usually do. We were directed to City Hall across the highway from Mustard Seed Hill. We have been going to see Mustard Seed Hill every year since they started their light show. Each year they add a few more lights. I took this panoramic video starting with the home by City Hall that really decorates and going across the highway to see Mustard Seed Hill.

This is the home across the street and beside where we parked. That blue is a pond full of Christmas lights. So pretty.

We crossed the highway to visit Mustard Seed Hill.

This is the entry to the fire pit area. You may rent fire pits for your groups. 

Allen House is where the first place winners of the Gingerbread House competition are staged.

Looking from the back of Allen House where the food trucks are located. The lighted area at the back is where the fire pits are located.

Inside the Allen House and the first place winners of the Gingerbread House competition. 

View of the lawn from the back porch of the Allen House.

I love this Christmas tree. 

Sandi and Claude in the carriage.

The doorway into McIntyre Hall where all the other entries to the Gingerbread House competition are located.

Back outside and the walk to the tent with the hot chocolate and treats and live entertainment.

We always end our visit with hot chocolate and a treat while we listen to the music. The music is always old bluegrass or country music. I love this stuff so relaxing and enjoying is great fun for me.

They added horse-drawn carriage rides and little bubble tents on the lawn area that you could rent. We did not do either of these. We really love Mustard Seed Hill at Christmas. It is a classy show for sure.

Sunday, December 8th, I was so exhausted I went to be at 9:30pm Saturday night. This allowed me to wake early Sunday and get my home PT in before going to church.

We enjoyed church and then lunch from Jimmy John's as the line for the drive-thru at Panera was ridiculous!! Claude got a nap. I watch Josh Gates in Expedition Unknown episodes. 

In the evening, we went to the Lexington Kentucky North Stake Center. At 7pm the Stake Presidency did their Christmas Devotional. Some beautiful music was performed and two talks by Pres. Blakemore and President Holt were given. Then the big screen was used to show the 1st Presidency Christmas Devotional with the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra. The talks were excellent as was the music. With left with our spiritual cups full. 

Monday, December 9th, Hallelujah! A day at home. I washed my red winter coat and sat at my laptop all day getting things done. This Blog caught up for one. I would get the Relief Society birthday cards for January in order. Very productive day doing home things. 

We are enjoying December so far. We are again trying to get our 12 Dates of Christmas in. Claude keeps the count on that. We have our home in order so we can go and do. It is nice to be at this stage of our lives.