Bellefonte Victorian Christmas 2011 {Local Life}

This has become our family tradition. (You can see 2010 here) Every second weekend in the month of December, my little hometown of Bellefonte, PA sponsors an event known as "Victorian Christmas." There are horse-drawn carriage rides, community Christmas concerts, special home tours and tea parties.

"Someday," I say, "Someday, I will go and do and see EVERYTHING!"

But in the meantime, I enjoy some happy-Christmasy-time with my girls.

My mom, my sis and her 3 little girlies comprise the group..

We start here.

At a children's Christmas party.

My favorite part was watching their silly little faces when a local artist was drawing their caricatures. They hardly knew whether to look at him or the ceiling, whether to smile or smirk, whether to be shy or silly.

Then we go browsing.
It could be called shopping. Except I didn't buy anything.

Therefore, I call it "browsing."

A myriad of sights, sounds, smells and (yes!!) tastes!

And we end with a brisk stroll around town.

With cute winter hats.

 

Chilly air. Kettle corn.

Ringing bells by the Salvation Army.


 
Sparkley things.



Christmas decorations.

And trains. Because my husband loves them. ;)

What Christmas events are you taking part in this year?

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{Local Life} Victorian Christmas

The Victorian era is near & dear to my heart... no particular reason, I suppose, except that I seem to like books written in that time period. And the fashions of that day. And the quirks of humanity. So it's no surprise that when my little historical hometown of Bellefonte hosts a Victorian Christmas weekend every year, I must go. :) It's been somewhat of a tradition. The ladies of my family try to go every year. It seems to kick-off the Christmas season (as it falls on the 2nd weekend of December, right when I'm starting to hum Christmas carols non-stop).

This year was by far the BEST Victorian Christmas celebration... I regret that I could only spare a few hours on a Saturday morning to experience it. There was so much more! Historical house tours, carriage rides, Dickens' Christmas Carol performances, a "Gaslight Gala" and dinner theatre. *Sigh* Someday. Someday, I will see it all. :)

And... gingerbread house contests!


Victorian Children's Party!
With stickers & Santa for little people's joy...



Costumed actors roaming about, talking in English accents...
Christmasy musicians roaming, too. LOVE!


Craft & miscelleneous shows.
I confess, I tend towards anything scented, silver or sparkly.


Cashmere.. I (heart) you.


Sharing & caring... the Christmas spirit.


Perfect end of the day. Calm classical piano, Christmas medleys. :)


Victorian Christmas is an absolutely lovely event.. I hope it goes on and on and on..
I hope this blog entry inspired some overdue Christmas spirit in you.. or at least, stirred some happy Christmas memories. :)

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{Local Life} Grange Fair

Ahhh, yes. Grange Fair.
And what is this Grange Fair, you ask?

Let me enlighten you... Grange Fair is a county fair. Sort of. It's like a county-fair-on-steroids. It's bigger and better and crazier and more unique than *your* county fair, I can guarantee. Grange Fair is a local --- maybe even a statewide-- phenomenon. It's famous for many things, but mostly for its unique tented encampments. These army-green tents are passed down through generations and the waiting list to get a tent is YEARS long.

The fact is: I'm not *really* from around here (born in Texas, y'all)... so I've never stayed in a Grange-Fair tent. Not sure I'd want to, actually... I have limited tolerance for large crowds + loud noises. And I have this strange idea that camping should be done somewhere that funnel cakes are not readily available. lol! But I usually visit the fair for one night. For a couple reasons!

#1 - Support my local 4-H friends!

Abbie is my good friend + also my second-shooter for weddings.. AND she really rocks out at raising sheep. Reserve Grand Champion 2010!

Aren't sheep a little weird-looking?

#2 Other cute animals. Cows + bunnies + kids in cages (goat kids, that is!). :)


#3 The fair exhibits & contests!

Some exhibits are kinda disturbing... take this one, for example.

And you know me, always checking out the photography contests. Interesting.


#4 Fair FOOD! Delicious & calorific food.. Mmmmmmmmm yummy!


#5. The evening lights & sights!


Finally and most importantly, I like Grange Fair because I like my friends... everything is more fun with a group of people I care about. So whether we're munching on deep-fried food together, and critiquing an amateur singing competition, or petting animals, or watching tractor pulls, or whatever-we-do... it's always fun with friends. :)

Until 2011...
See you at the Grange!

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