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The snow started falling in the morning [Christmas Day] and didn’t stop all day. It was like living in one of those snow [globes] that you shake, and inside the glass the snow swirls around. With the Christmas lights on the homes, Alderbrook was magical … Then yesterday [12/27] we again had a beautiful day of falling snow. The amazing thing is that we have all this beautiful snow here, but you go a mile or so outside of Alderbrook and the roads are clear.

Sounds like something out of a fairy tale, doesn’t it? All the beauty and wonder of a Christmas snowfall, and clear roads to boot!  I mean, if you’re going to have snow, isn’t Christmas Day the perfect time for it?

When do you “un-decorate” for Christmas? Are you a pre-New-Year’s-Day un-decorator, or a post-New-Year’s-Day un-decorator?

At our house, we’ve decided to leave our Christmas decorations in place until December 31st, but on that day we’re going to take down all our Christmas decorations and pack them away, so that we can start the New Year with a clean slate (and a clean house)!

I confess that I’m ambivalent about the whole un-decorating process. I love the festive Christmas decorations, and the house always seems so bare, and well … boring … after Christmas. No more lights on trees, reflecting on the shiny ornaments. No more evergreen garlands dressing up mantels, banisters, and doorways. No more Christmas wreaths welcoming visitors to our doors, or peeking through our windows. It’s a little bit depressing. But this year I’m planning to combat those post-Christmas un-decorating blues with a little perspective called “margins.”

Richard A. Swenson, M.D., has written some books on this concept of margins, which simply means making room in your life for pauses and empty spaces, and not cramming so much into your life that you end up constantly feeling out of time, out of energy, out of space, and out of money.

I’m going to think of my Christmas “un-decorating” as a way of creating “margins” in my home … after all, less glitter and more empty space in a room might just lead to an increased sense of peace and serenity. And that’s a very good thing to have!

Well, I don’t know if anyone at Alderbrook happens to be roasting chestnuts on an open fire, but rumor has it that the Annas Bay Choir will be singing yuletide carols in the Alderbrook community tonight. They’ll start at the golf club, and then make their way around the community, caroling as they go. Chances are pretty good that they’ll be dressed up like Eskimos, given the seasonally-appropriate temperatures we’ve been having all over western Washington as of late. 

Hopefully, you’ve already completed your Christmas decorating, shopping, gift wrapping, and baking, and can spend the next 5 days enjoying the company of family and friends with parties involving lots of good food and conversation. But if not, don’t stress! You have five whole days left! Well, actually I guess it’s more like four now … (grin)

So hurry up and get your turkey and mistletoe (you know, it helps to make the season bright, or so I’ve been told). And let me offer this simple phrase, for those of you from one to ninety-two (or ninety-three, or ninety-four, and so on…)

Merry Christmas to You!

Have you planned your Christmas Dinner menu? What will it be? Turkey? Prime Rib? Ham? I don’t know about you, but by the time Christmas Day rolls around, I’m usually too tired to be ambitious with my holiday menus. All of the decorating, shopping, wrapping, and partying has taken its toll, and I want nothing more than to sleep late, enjoy lazy family games, do a little reading by the fire, and maybe watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” for the umpteenth time. Unfortunately, the family gets hungry, then they get crabby, and you realize SOMEONE has to make SOMETHING for them to eat.

Here’s an idea: did you know that the restaurant at the Alderbrook Resort serves Christmas Dinner? Yes, they do, and if you don’t feel like cooking on Christmas Day, you should make your reservations right away (they’re required). Listen to this lineup of courses: Penn Cove Mussel Chowder or Cider Poached Honey Crisp Apple; Warm Goat Cheese and Duck Confit Tart or Crispy Pacific Oyster Salad; Whole Roasted Black Bass or Crisp Muscovy Duck Breast or Red Wine Braised Venison Shank; and for dessert, Eggnog Brulee or Brandied Gingerbread Cake or Persimmon Charlotte. YUM!

A friend of mine recently had dinner with her husband at the Alderbrook Resort Restaurant, and gave it rave reviews! “The Resort is beautifully decorated for Christmas with lights on the docks and the mood is very festive. As we were leaving, we walked through the main Lobby and saw the display of gingerbread houses made by local school children in Mason and Kitsap Counties. They were amazingly intricate with all the frosting and candies. People can vote for their favorite, and the school winning 1st prize wins $500, 2nd place wins $300 and 3rd place wins $100. The children that worked on these must have had a great time, because they were all just darling … all in all, it was a special evening …”

So if you want someone else do the cooking this Christmas, check out the restaurant at the Alderbrook Resort. Just don’t wait too long to make your reservations …

 PS — They have a New Year’s Eve party, too!

  Just down the road from Alderbrook Properties and the Alderbrook Golf & Yacht Club community is a little jewel of a place that you may not know much about. It’s called Harmony Hill Retreat Center, and it’s a great asset to the residents of Hood Canal, and for that matter, the residents of the entire Pacific Northwest.

Harmony Hills began in 1986 as a small retreat center where people could come to focus on wellness. Over the years, it has become a resource for local communities here on the Kitsap Peninsula, with group facilities for rent, weekly yoga lessons, workshops on various topics like sustainable gardening, retreat space for those looking to quiet their hearts and minds, as well as regularly scheduled retreat weekends.

All of that is pretty interesting, but one of the most impressive things about Harmony Hill Retreat Center is their focus on caring for cancer patients through no-cost cancer retreats and weekends designed to help cancer patients and their caregivers cope with the “physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges of cancer.” You can learn more about Harmony Hills and all its programs at the Harmony Hills website.

And don’t forget about the Harmony Hills Gala Holiday Benefit Dinner on Friday, December 14th (see the “All Dressed Up …” post on December 11th, or visit the Harmony Hills website for more information.) All proceeds from the dinner go to benefit the Harmony Hills no-cost cancer programs … a worthy cause, indeed!

… with nowhere to go? There’s no need to wait for the weekend to enjoy some holiday cheer. Check out these musical offerings sponsored by the Annas Bay Music Festival:

On Wednesday, December 12th at 7 pm, The Annas Bay Choir Octet and the Harstine Island Octet will be singing at the North Mason Library in Belfair. Each choir will perform some numbers, and there will also be a community sing-along.

On Thursday, December 13th at 7:30 pm, there will a fireside caroling party at the Nordstrom Great Hall at Harmony Hill Retreat Center in Union, WA. The choir will sing, and there will be a community sing-along as well.

Of course, the weekend brings with it more chances for fun, starting with the Harmony Hills Gala Holiday Benefit Dinner on Friday, December 14th from 6-8 pm. Enjoy a traditional holiday meal while being entertained by comedian Debbie Wooten, speaker Brian Hudak, and pianist-vocalist Larry Hill. Tickets are $35 and all proceeds go to benefit Harmony Hill’s cancer programs. You can learn more at the Harmony Hills website.

On Sunday, December 16th at 3 pm, the Annas Bay Community Choir and the Harstine Island Community Choir will join together in a Celebration of Christmas at the Shelton High School Auditorium. A $5 donation is requested.

So, for less than the price of a movie ticket, you can enjoy some holiday music; for a bit more, you can include dinner and a chance to help a worthy cause. Who knew there was so much going on in this little corner of the world?

Have some holiday shopping to do? Why not check out the Shelton Downtown Merchants First Friday, happening this Friday, December 7th, and Saturday, December 8th. On Friday night, downtown Shelton merchants will stay open until 8 pm, and you can shop, enjoy dinner out, and even enter to win prizes for doing so!

On Saturday, the shopping fun will continue during normal business hours.

The Kiwanis Christmas Tree Lighting and Food Bank Drive will also be part of this First Friday celebration, and provide a convenient way to celebrate Christmas and help the less fortunate among us at the same time.

If you’ve never visited Shelton, you’re in for a treat. If shopping is not your passion, enjoy dinner and take an art walk instead; there are many interesting sculptures and outdoor murals to enjoy. You can find more information about these works of art and where to find them in the Mason County Visitor’s Guide for 2007.

Thanksgiving’s over, the leftovers have all been eaten (or tossed!) and it’s time to fill the air with holiday music and deck our halls with decorations marking the season! Wreaths for the doors and windows, evergreen centerpieces for our holiday tables, candles everywhere, and – for those celebrating Christmas – the quintessential Christmas decoration: the Christmas tree.

Many people have moved away from real Christmas trees in their homes, preferring instead the pre-lit, artificial variety. And there’s no denying that artificial trees have improved greatly since their early days; however, if you’re a purist, there’s just no substitute for the real thing.

If you happen to be one of those “give-me-a-real-tree-or-give-me-nothing” types, you’ll be glad to know that besides all the regular pre-cut Christmas tree stands, the Kitsap Peninsula boasts many Christmas tree farms where you can cut down your own Christmas tree. In fact, there’s a Christmas tree farm just down the road from Alderbrook Properties and the Alderbrook Golf & Yacht Club community, in Union. Hunter Farms offers both the pre-cut and u-cut options for Christmas trees, and you can also watch them making their wreaths, swags, and garlands right there.

The Kitsap Sun has more information on Christmas Tree farms throughout the Kitsap peninsula (Hat tip: soundbiteblog.com). Many of these farms offer warm beverages and other amenities that make for a nice family outing. Call ahead and make sure you go prepared for some mud!

So what are you waiting for? Come on and deck those halls!