Oatlands Plantation

On Saturday I drove to meet a couple of friends at Oatlands Plantation in Leesburg which every year decorates the mansion for Christmas. It was a freezing cold day and as I drove there snow started falling and I desperately hoped that it wouldn't be so bad at Marshall that I wouldn't be able to get back up the hill later. But I was in Leesburg now and resolved to put it out of my mind.
The mansion is a magnificent building made of brick with huge poplar wood columns, the details on which are repeated throughout the house on the door frames and fireplaces. Built in 1804 by George Carter, who owned a fifth of the arable land in Virginia and grew primarily wheat, using slaves as labor and increasing their number to 128 just before the Civil War, the largest slave population in Loudoun County. After the war, the family fell out of prosperity and had to eventually sell the house. It was vacant for 6 years then purchased by William Eustis. He and his wife were new wealth socialites. William had a love of horses and also collected anything owned by George Washington, while his wife, Edith, concentrated on restoring the gardens. The property was donated to The National Trust in 1964 by her children after she passed away.

There were only a few people around so we were fortunate to have our tour guide all to ourselves, making it feel like a private event.

The snow was falling fast when I peered out of the window...

We weren't allowed to photograph inside the house for obvious reasons but he did let us grab a couple of shots of the Christmas decorations downstairs. The house was beautiful inside with ornate ceilings and doorways. It was nice to see the original furniture, many historical houses I've visited have had to acquire furnishings that would have been fitting for the time period but most of them here actually belonged to the house. There was also a fine art collection including a painting in the hallway of a standing William with one of his shoes facing out, the tip of which always pointed towards you wherever you stood in the room. Our guide took us around downstairs then let us explore upstairs on our own. The rooms were cordoned off but we could see inside all of them easily.For photos of inside the mansion, click here.
Then we went outside to roam around the grounds.

The gardens were very pretty, little terraces with secluded patios and grassy corners tucked behind hedges, small benches and statues surprising us around corners. Christmas decorations and ribbons adorned small trees and ornaments. But we didn't stay out here too long. Only a few of the paths had been cleared of snow and there was still plenty of ice to slip on, which we all did at some point.

Behind this wooden door was a wonderfully warm little greenhouse, an oasis in the winter landscape. We walked about relaxing in the warmth and letting fingers and faces thaw out.
A return trip in the spring will be a must to see the gardens in full bloom but for now we scurried back to the gift shop where I purchased a couple of tree ornaments and then dashed to my car. The snow was still falling and by the time I got back to Marshall it was turning to an icy mix. I quickly grabbed my mail, too quickly as I slipped and fell hard on my behind. But I was OK and gratefully climbed back into a warm Stuart, but then had to make 4 attempts to get up the hill, pushing recyclable grocery bags under the front wheels to get a grip. I was very glad to get indoors where I watched the hill become shrouded in a heavy thick fog as more snow and ice fell.

Celebrated 3 friend's birthdays at a bar in DC where drinks were all served in mason jars, even the shots in cute little jars.

Snow and Ice at Meadow House

Sunday evening was very very cold, a dusting of snow carpeted the ground, and we went to bed knowing that there would an ice storm overnight. Sure enough as the morning dawned it was obvious everything had frozen solid. I had planned ahead, got plenty of groceries and stacked firewood indoors, so there was no need to venture out except to scatter seed and put a dish of water out for the birds and squirrels. I worked from home but in the early afternoon I had to go out and take photos, wrapping up warm and stuffing hand warmers in my pockets.

It was beautifully peaceful outside, the only sounds were of branches tinkling and shards of icy glass shattering as they slid off the trees. I occasionally heard what I thought were gunshots but then stopped in my tracks as in front of me a large branch was wrenched from its trunk by its heavy load of snow and ice, an earsplitting crack echoed through the wood as it hit the ground.
The cats made the most of the winter weather by practicing their hibernation skills, snuggling up in the fleece and sleeping nearly every minute of the day.

Then the snow came again overnight, and the ice was completely covered by four inches of white fluffy powder. Another day of working from home, and none of my neighbors were leaving their homes either. Again, I stayed indoors until mid afternoon when once more I had to grab my camera and venture outdoors. This time it was warmer and the snow along with the ice was dripping, or dropping long slivers of ice to the ground, the sun glittering and glistening like diamonds.

It was a beautiful wonderland but even though the road was beginning to thaw, there wasn't enough daylight left or enough heat from the sun to disperse the water and I knew it would be solid ice again in the morning.The temperatures never really rose above freezing all week and it wasn't until Thursday, with the snow and ice still clinging to the ground, when I was able to get off the hill. Freedom!

Brookside Gardens Christmas Lights 2013

On Saturday afternoon, I met with friends to go to Brookside Gardens, MD, for the Christmas Lights. I'd been here a few years ago to see a butterfly exhibition and the lights display has always had rave reviews. It's different from Bull Run as those lights are geared for drivers, lots of space in between the displays so the show isn't over too fast. Here, the display is to be walked around so the lights are much closer together. 

It's extremely well planned. We walked into the visitors' center first where you could buy hot drinks with snacks to enjoy there or to take with you as you wandered about the gardens. I had brought hand warmers stuffed into my pockets so I was ready. It was a cold night but thankfully there was no wind to bring the temperatures down even further.

A caterpillar tunnel was the entrance to the display.

A rainbow arched over the path with rain clouds, lightning and snow flakes. Dragonflies flitted above us.

The display was not made up of the usual drummers, reindeer, snowmen or other traditional Christmas ornaments but instead was made up of creatures and plants, fitting for a garden environment. Butterflies and bees flew in the branches of the brightly lit trees.

A wolf howling at the moon. Some of the displays were close to the path and could be inspected close up. I was very impressed with the details and at how many lights were used. This wolf looked so realistic as did many of the other light displays.

A giraffe with a tree monster, a lion and some fire ants.

Inside a large green house was one of the best model railways I've ever seen. Built in  a 50's theme, it was made up of kit and custom made buildings, some were made to look like local establishments. There were 50's cars parked and steam trains chugging around the tracks.,

There was also a Glen Echo display, very well made, with a working carousel and the entrance to the park accompanied with moving trams, as it had been many years ago.

This was one of my favorite scenes. I have no idea if it had some deep hidden meaning but just seeing Yoda looking down on a picnicking 50's family made me chuckle.

The Loch Ness Monster, and an elephant ear plant. Many of the animals also had sound accompanying them.

All too soon we were back at the visitors' center. This was easily the best display of holiday lights I've seen in a long time, and I would probably say they were the best in the area. Obviously a lot of thought and preparation had gone into these creations.

We even chosen the best day to come as just for tonight a renaissance choir were singing carols and we were encouraged to join in. Drinking hot chocolate with a slice of homemade chocolate cake while enjoying the beautiful songs really put us all in a festive mood. The wonderful gift shop also had some fabulous crafts made from local artisans so I managed to purchase a couple of Christmas presents. I think this may become a tradition for me, I'll certainly be back again.