Christmas is one of our favorite times of the year at Blessings on State Bed & Breakfast! First and foremost, it offers the opportunity to celebrate our Savior’s birth. I love nativities, and have added at least one set a year since we’ve opened the Bed & Breakfast, so that every room has at least one. In addition to the traditional nativities, nearly every room also has a Christmas tree – or at least a clear view of one. Over the years I’ve gathered many decorations and it takes a lot of time and effort to decorate our whole house. (It’s a pretty big house!) How do we get it done? We have Elves!
Every year at around this time I watch the program that details all the work that goes into decorating the White House. Now THAT’s a big house! Each year volunteers from around the nation gather to assist in the work there. This year I was able to hear a presentation by Nancy Clarke at the Southern Lady Celebration. In 1979, the year I graduated from college, Nancy began as a White House volunteer, and worked her way up to the position of Chief Floral Designer. She showed us terrific photographs documenting her thirty years of service as she worked closely with many First Ladies. I’m always amazed at the work that goes into preparing the White House for Christmas, and as an innkeeper I can relate! I can’t say that florists travel in from around the nation, but… we have Elves!
People often ask how we get the work done here at Blessings on State Bed & Breakfast. I am blessed to say that I have good help! It all begins each year on a weekend in early November, when a team of my pals descends on Blessings to spend the weekend decorating for Christmas. We traditionally begin with a nice dinner at Lonzerotti’s Italian Restaurant, then we get busy setting up the nativities, arranging mantel and tabletop displays, and decorating trees. It’s a time of sharing, laughter and hard work. I have no idea how I’d ever get finished without the help of these beautiful “elves” that give of their time and talent. Please take a moment to watch the Christmas videos to the right and you’ll see some of the results of their hard work!
