Saying goodbye to our grown kids after Christmas vacation

Today we wrapped up our family Christmas by driving SWAC Daughter to Blacksburg to meet up with SWAC Son-in-Law after he spent the weekend visiting former work friends in the land of Virginia Tech. Our 10 days of family time together ended all too soon as SWAC Husband and I hugged them goodbye and watched as they drove away toward their Tennessee home. Christmas 2013 is now in the memory books.

Sigh. I miss them already.

We raise our children to be independent but sometimes the memories flood back of my shy little girl who wouldn't let go of me, hiding behind my legs when we were in unfamiliar places, remembering her satisfaction of retiring to the safety of her room in the evenings where there would be cuddles and mooches. The nostalgia also includes the memory of a little blond curly-haired boy who enunciated his words, looked out for his younger sister, and was quick to give hugs and kisses, and who now owns a home not far from us. The weekend with both our children, now grown, was priceless, a time of board games and HGTV marathons and movies and grilling out and just lounging together.

And so today I had to smile as we watched SWAC Daughter and Son-in-Law leave. We had squeezed every ounce of fun that was possible out of our time together -- along with my parents, sister, brother-in-law, and niece -- who had all joined us for a Shenandoah Valley Christmas at our house. Those memories will forever be cherished....

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell
December 2013

The 12 Days of Christmas ... Day 10: 'A Christmas Carol' at Staunton's Blackfriars Playhouse

Only three days until Christmas and it's rainy outside so why not take in a Shakespeare play at Staunton's Blackfriars Playhouse? This identical replica of its namesake in England, known as Shakespeare's American home, presents all kinds of entertainment throughout the year, pulling the audiences into the story lines in the up-close-and-personal setting.

With a reputation that has grown every year, "The American Shakespeare Center hosts an internationally acclaimed theatre company that performs Shakespeare's works under their original staging conditions -- on a simple stage, without elaborate sets, and with the audience sharing the same light as the actors. Home to the ASC's resident troupe and the ASC on Tour, the Blackfriars Playhouse has been established as one of America's premier Shakespeare destinations."

Today Blackfriars is featuring three plays, two presentations of the traditional Charles Dickens classic "A Christmas Carol," and one of the boisterous, adults-oriented "The 12 Dates of Christmas."

While in town, there's restaurants for lunch and dinner, and coffee houses to sit and chat with friends. It's Staunton ... there's lots to love.

Fa la la la la!

Blackfriars Theater events for Dec 22, 2013

A Christmas Carol

December 22 2013, 2:00 pm | Blackfriars Playhouse The 2013/14 25th Anniversary World’s Mine Oyster Tour takes a break from touring the country to give you some ghostly season’s greetings. Marley, the three Christmas ghosts, the Cratchits, and Tiny Tim are all back to take Scrooge on the ride of his money-grubbing life. Expect to be right in the middle of this beloved tale with new twists, surprises, and a production filled with music and cheer for the whole family. Note: Children 3 and older are welcome to attend. But remember that some kids need coaching about rattling chains, spooky noises, and creepy faces!

The 12 Dates of Christmas

December 22 2013, 5:00 pm | Blackfriars Playhouse What happens when Mary sees her fiancé making out with his co-worker on national TV at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? She dumps him and drops her engagement ring into a Salvation Army kettle. She then spends the next year being set up, hooked up, strung up, and fed up as she navigates her life “alone” as a New York actor in her thirties—”Sex and the City” for real people, with no Mr. Big in sight. Allison Glenzer returns to perform Mary in this delicious one-woman show about how much the holidays suck after your heart’s been crushed. RECOMMENDED FOR MATURE AUDIENCES.

A Christmas Carol

December 22 2013, 7:30 pm | Blackfriars Playhouse The 2013/14 25th Anniversary World’s Mine Oyster Tour takes a break from touring the country to give you some ghostly season’s greetings. Marley, the three Christmas ghosts, the Cratchits, and Tiny Tim are all back to take Scrooge on the ride of his money-grubbing life. Expect to be right in the middle of this beloved tale with new twists, surprises, and a production filled with music and cheer for the whole family. Note: Children 3 and older are welcome to attend. But remember that some kids need coaching about rattling chains, spooky noises, and creepy faces!

The 12 Days of Christmas ... Day 5: Celebration of Holiday Lights in Staunton's Gypsy Hill Park

Everyone loves the lights of the season so pile the kids in the car and head to Staunton's Gypsy Hill Park "Celebration of Holiday Lights." Drive around the two-mile loop and gaze, ooh, and ahh over the dozens of Christmas displays set up by area organizations. Each year tens of thousands of vehicles take part in this holiday treat. Open daily now through January 5, the lights will be on from 5-11 p.m. offering a delightful treat for young and old.

Better still, park the car and walk around the duck pond in the cold night air and give the kids a chance to stretch their legs.

In what has become an annual tradition for many, 2013 represents the ninth year for the ever-popular displays with the magical glow of thousands of twinkly lights that can be seen around the Gazebo, duck pond, playground, ball fields, and open spaces. Particularly touching is the herd of deer on the grounds of the Gypsy Hill pool, lighted in memory of loved ones.

This year the Celebration of Holiday Lights will stay up through January 5, 2014, from 5-11:00 each evening. This event is free and presented to the community with help from the Staunton Parks and Recreation Department. See you at the park!

Photos from past years:  Christmas in the Valley ... Gypsy Hill light display

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell

The 12 Days of Christmas ... Day 4: Lantern Tours at Staunton's Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia

The quiet of a cold December night in the Shenandoah Valley offers a reminder of Christmases past for those who came before us. The Frontier Culture Museum's Lantern Tours offer a unique holiday experience that has become an annual event for many, a guided walk by lantern light of the Irish, German, and English farms. It was a simpler time with simpler, natural decor, and many traditions from those countries became our own as we settled in America.

The 2013 Lantern Tours have already begun and will continue nightly from 6-8:00 p.m. December 19-23. Each tour lasts two hours. To make reservations, call the Museum Visitor Center at (540) 332-7850.

Dress warmly and be prepared for a unique holiday experience. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

If you're going:
Frontier Culture Museum Lantern Tours
December 19-23, 2013
6-8:00 p.m.
Cost: Adults $15 / children $8
Reservations (required): (540) 332-7850

'Tis the season for Christmas tree farms

Linda Jones and Joe Freeman of Mistletoe Meadows Tree Farm deliver Christmas tree to Virginia Executive Mansion in 2010. With First Lady Maureen McDonnell.

So you may not be ready to pick out a Christmas tree today but it's not too late to be thinking about this year's purchase. After all, there's only 35 days until Christmas as the countdown clock shows.

Here's a list of Virginia Christmas tree retailers: Virginia Grown Christmas Trees.

Here's a list of Christmas tree farms in the Staunton area: Staunton Christmas Tree Farms.

Gather the family and have fun! 'Tis the season....