I met Santa!

Today Santa made a special visit to our local pet supply store, Wags n Whiskers, to meet and greet the local canine population. (Yes, cats were welcome too but I really don't like to give them attention.) I was one of the first through the door to have my picture taken with the big guy!

Christmas Decorating - It's Finally Done!

I didn't think Amy and Mark would ever get done with all the Christmas decorating this year. Yes, they started earlier than in years past but it took them until today to finally be finished. Although the wait is worth it - the B&B looks great! Lots of lights and greenery both inside and outside to welcome guests. There are 9 trees downstairs and each of the common rooms' tree has a theme. The parlor is all done in white and silver with a little blue in some of the ornaments.

The dining room with its deep cranberry walls looks stunning all done up in gold and green. The gathering room and library are a bit more informal with a Santa tree

and a grouping of three snow trees. Little touches abound with Amy using some of her antique serving dishes to hold shiny ornaments or an old pottery bowl with red and gold marbles adorning the coffee table. They even put three smaller trees in the kitchen bay window so I can enjoy them while I have my breakfast in the morning. Now if we would only get a little snow the season would be complete.
If you want to see more pictues, go to our Facebook page and look at our Christmas 2011 album.

Family Traditions

Mark, Amy and I are far away from family (it is a 11 hour drive) but they like to keep the family traditions alive especially at the holidays. Just the other night they went into downtown Bath for open house night and looked at all the wonderful lights and decorated shop windows then out for pizza at The Cabin. When Amy was a little girl, her whole family would go look at the store windows in downtown Erie, PA and then for pizza at Luigi's. This year they created a Maine version of that family tradition. Another yearly event is how Amy, Mark and I spend Christmas Day. Even when we lived in PA, Christmas Day was for the 3 of us. We stay in our pajamas all day (if guests are here they do dress to serve breakfast and then get back in the pj's for the rest of the day) and watch old holiday movies. Christmas dinner is always special (lamb this year!) and they always make sure I get a little. The one big tradition that Amy learned when she was just a little tyke is giving back during the holiday season. Whether it is sponsoring a family in need with gifts for Christmas morning (something her family back in PA still does every year), dropping toys in Santa's bag in Bath or, this year, baking cookies to bag up and distribute at a local food pantry, it brings them such joy to give to others. Now I just need to think of another way to give back besides barking a Merry Christmas at everyone who walks by the house!

Christmas Decorating

The Christmas decorating is all done. Amy put the finishing touches on it this morning and from my perspective it looks great. We have 4 trees downstairs, one in each of the common rooms and each have their own theme; green and gold in the dining room, silver and white in the parlor, Santa in the gathering room and snowmen in the library. There are lots of little touches too, things Amy and Mark have collected over the years - it definitely is very festive. Add the warm, crackling fire in the fireplace, some Christmas carols and settle in for the season. Now Amy is working on decorations for Sagadahoc Preservations Solstice Celebration on the 18th. In keeping with Solstice traditions, she is doing a very natural theme in silver and white to reflect the colors of winter. There will be white lights and silver stars in the "sky", swags with "snowballs", large displays of greens and birds nest symbolizing new life as the centerpieces on the cocktail tables. From what I hear, this is always a fun party and gives people a break from all the holiday rush. Unfortunately, no dogs allowed but maybe someday that will change. Until then, I will enjoy the decorations at home while I curl up in front of this fire.