Victorian Front Porch Christmas

Have you ever been to Opelika, Alabama?  I'd love to share with you a special event that is held there each year at Christmas.  It's called the Victorian Front Porch Christmas and it takes place in the historic neighborhoods of Opelika.  For just a few days (and nights), you can visit the area and view the beautifully decorated porches.  There are about sixty homes that are decorated for the event.  You can read more about the event here : Victorian Front Porch Christmas .

There is a cheerful sign that welcomes visitors

 to the Victorian Front Porch Christmas.

Then as you drive down the street, you begin to see the lovely displays on the porches and in the yards.  There are Santas, angels, pretty ladies and even a carriage or two.

With a nod to Gone with the Wind, here is Rhett, Scarlett and little Bonnie Blue.

The decorations are on display for a few days every year.  The event starts today and ends on Saturday this year.  If you're in the area, be sure to attend.  If you are in the area at night--well, you're really in luck!  The displays are lighted and are just beautiful at night.  If you attend on Saturday, the streets will be closed and there will be a walking tour for you to enjoy the homes and their decorations.

This reindeer pulling the carriage is one of my favorite displays.

The colors of the displays coordinate with the colors of the homes. 

 Isn't this a pretty blue Santa?

Joining the Party:

Christmas Magic

On the first Saturday in December, I like to go to a special place. I like to go behind this door. It's not a very fancy door, but I can't wait to walk inside.



When I go behind this door, it's like magic.

I think that this place is magical because you can see and feel the Spirit of Christmas behind this door.

This door opens up to an old curb market.

I like to go on a cold and crisp Saturday morning. I love the smell of evergreen as I walk through the door. As soon as you open the door, you are greeted with the site of dozens of poinsettias, the smell of evergreen and the warm air.

The flowers come in a wonderful variety of size and color.

There are giant heaters mounted to the ceiling

and they blow out waves of warm air.

Monkey Pine, cedar and Fraser fur boughs have been skillfully made into beautiful wreaths or garlands. They are so fresh and they smell like Christmas.

The people who sell at the Montgomery Curb Market have been here for years. They have the same booths and you can return year after year and see the same people selling their greenery, vegetables, baked goods and canned items.

Busy shoppers make their way up and down the isles as they make their holiday purchases. Some shoppers hurry from booth to booth while others move more slowly. I am one of the slower shoppers. I move from booth to booth and isle to isle as I savor the atmosphere. Over the years I have taken many friends to the curb market at Christmas and each one of them has left saying that the experience is just as I have promised,"Magic."





Come Over for a SPELL

I have been decorating my home for Halloween for years.  I love to entertain, but our Halloween parties have been outdoor events over the last twelve years.  Last year, I decided to have a coffee and invite friends over to see my decorations, visit and enjoy refreshments.   It was fun, so I decided to do it again this year. Since I'm blogging now, I decided to take pictures to share the party with you.

Come Over for a SPELL.....(that's what the invitation says)

Here is my front door-decorated and ready for guests.

I've already shared many of my Halloween decorations

so I thought I would share with you

 the food I served today at my Creepy Coffee.

I came up with funny Halloween-sounding names for the refreshments I served.

I invited adults and teens to the party.  I thought all the kids would love these Wizard Wands.  I think everyone has heard of Harry Potter and I thought they would like these pretzels with candy coating and sprinkles.  The wands were popular with the kids and the adults, too.

I served a sour cream cinnamon coffee cake but called it a Cinnamon Coffin Cake.

I made these marshmallows dipped in royal icing last year and wanted to make them again this year.  I called them Eye of Newt.  They are fun and easy to make.  You put the marshmallow on a sucker stick (Wilton makes them) and coat with thinned royal icing.  The best part is decorating the icing-coated marshmallow with sprinkles and putting the eye in place.  It doesn't take much to make me happy!

I had so much fun making these Melting Monsters.  They are brownies with marshmallows covered with royal icing and decorated with sprinkles and eyes.  I don't think I have ever used so many sprinkles since I was a kid decorating my Christmas cookies with my friends.

I made a cheese Eye Ball that I served with crackers. 

Here are some delicious toasted pecans that I called Owl Toes.

We had a fun morning and it was a perfect day for the party.  Everyone enjoyed the decorations, food and fellowship.  I'm glad I could share my party with you.

Joining the party at: