Christmastime Along the Hudson
December 2015
It began with Marjorie’s viewing of
PBS show “Craft in America” that highlighted Christmas decorations at the
Vanderbilt Biltmore estate outside Asheville NC. The largest privately-owned
house in the US: 252 rooms, Christmas decorating includes dozens of trees, more
than 1000 poinsettias, miles of garlands & lights. “We should go there some
time!,” M exclaims. Russ thinks we have plenty of mansions closer by, googles
places in the Hudson River Valley south of us. And so our Christmas outings
came to be. It’s been hard to get fully into the Christmas spirit ̶ no
snow yet, temps in the 50s ̶ so maybe this will perk us up.
Sunday, 12/13, begins with Marjorie as
lector at 8am Mass, Russ later sings w/ the choir at 10, all wearing some pink
for Gaudete Sunday. Fr. Walsh called beforehand to ask R to take photos for the
church bulletin & website: it’s also Bambinelli Sunday, so children bring
figures of Baby Jesus to the altar at the end of Mass to be blessed,
and the
hospitality gathering in the parish hall includes caroling & a birthday
cake (along w/ the usual donuts, cookies, etc.). Russ is always happy to oblige
photographically, and takes some other photos around the church. Back home for
a quick change, then off at noon for the 1½-hour drive to Rhinebeck, an area
we’d enjoyed during the fall colors.
