Christmas Lights in Forest City, NC

Main Street Decorated for Christmas in Forest City, NC

Jen had never heard of Forest City. but when we visited it in our way to Asheville, she fell in love with it.  We had lunch on the way up at Smith's Drug Store that is known for its pimento cheese.  It was fun sitting at the counter, and we each enjoyed a toasted pimento cheese sandwich.

The counter at Smith's Drug Store. 

A lovely mural painted on the wall of one of the buildings. 

After we returned from Asheville, we went back to Forest City from Shelby with a couple of friends in tow just to see the beautiful Christmas lights on Main Street there.

The snowman. 

A decorated door with  reflections of the street lights. 

We ate dinner there.  DeDe had jambalaya.  

Jen waiting on her order. 

Main Street.

Decorated window. 

All the tree trunks are decorated with little white lights.  Beautiful. 

For a small town the Christmas decorations are extraordinary.

Gadding About at IKEA During the Holidays

Whenever I make a trip to Shelby, I pass by the Swedish store, IKEA.  Although IKEA is known mainly for its modern and reasonably priced home furnishings it has a cafeteria with an interesting assortment of Swedish dishes.  Recently I was there near lunchtime, and I stopped to have a bite to eat. I had a smoked salmon burger, my favorite drink, lingonberry juice, and a chocolate pastry or candy.  All were quite good.

After lunch I thought I would have a quick trip around the store, but I had forgotten that there's nothing quick about getting through the store even at a fast pace.  I wasn't looking for anything, just looking which I rarely do. If I go shopping it is to look for something in particular.  I'm actually not fond of shopping for the sake of shopping.

There were lots of decorations for the Christmas season.  Pretty red and white tins, Christmas balls in silver and gold, and wrapping paper.

I did find a pretty pillow with cats in black on white.  I bought two---one for the Chatfield house and the other as a gift for a friend who really loves anything feline and who has two black and white cats.  They had quite an assortment of stuffed animals, and I've always wanted a Husky so I put one in the cart and brought it home.  It can be a buddy for Maggie.

One of the drawbacks of shopping at IKEA is the long line at checkout, and this was especially true for the holiday shopping.

Casey's Christmas-Themed Bridal Shower (Part One)

Gifts for the bridal shower under the tree.

When I was planning a bridal shower for Casey who is marrying my grandnephew Adam, I decided to use a "Christmas in October" theme.  I think it was fun for everyone---especially the bride-to-be.

The invitation specified the Christmas theme and asked guests to bring a gift that could be used at Christmas.  Well that could be almost anything actually.  But many did bring Christmas y things.

The Shower Invitation. 

Christmas decorations were used throughout our Chatfield house including a decorated aluminum 1950s Christmas tree.

1950s aluminum Christmas tree.

When the bride-to-be arrived, I presented her with a corsage that was pinned on by her grandmother, Margaret.  The corsage included a crocheted Santa ornament that had been crocheted by my mother.  Casey never knew my mother who would have been her great grandmother (by marriage), but she will have an ornament made by her. 

The corsage adorned with a Santa ornament made by Granny Greene.

Casey's grandmother pins on the corsage. (Photo by Peggy Rhyne)

At our house on Christmas eve, we always play what we call "Dirty Santa" also called "The White Elephant Game".  As an ice breaker, we played this game at the shower.  I  bought and wrapped the gifts---Christmas ornaments.   For picking numbers to decide the order of play, I had each guest choose a small box that contained a numbered Westmoore Pottery ornament that could be taken home as a party favor.

Each box contained a tiny pottery ornament with a number to determine the order of play.

Westmoore Pottery ornaments. (www.westmoorepottery.com)

 In turn each guest opened a "Dirty Santa" gift based on her number, and ornaments could be taken away from someone rather than choosing an unopened gift.  Several of the ornaments did change hands.

Wooden birdhouse ornament. (Photo by Peggy Rhyne)

More Christmas ornament gifts.

Everyone had a lot of fun with this game. 

Refreshments followed the Christmas theme:  Lottie Lane Fruitcake (homemade), spiced pecans (homemade), fruit kabobs, cheese florets (Southern Supreme) and hot spiced apple cider to drink.

The food. (Photo by Kelly Cabaniss Snellings)

Lottie Lane Fruitcake.

Table set up on screen porch.  (Photo by Peggy Rhyne)

After refreshments, Casey opened her gifts.  (To be continued.)