December 10, - Must start that Christmas shopping!

I went down to Greenwich supposedly to start my Christmas shopping but spent most of the day relaxing and enjoying the snow covered nature. I took this photo of the cardinal and his friend at Colleen's bird feeder.

Later we went down to Cos Cob and had high tea at a new place in the center of town...and I just love this photo I took of a patriotic snowman.

December 4, - The Deer Hill Avenue Christmas Party

Another light snow fall created a festive atmosphere and the holiday season is officially launched with the neighborhood Christmas Party. Each year we have dinner at one house and desserts at another. The houses are mainly Victorians and always enchantingly decorated. It's the only time we get together with our neighbors so we always have lots to catch up on.

Our privet hedge looks like it's been dusted with powdered sugar...

The first house, where a buffet dinner was served had recently been restored maintaining the character of the house but updating and brightening it. It was elegant and charming...

...and this was the mantle in the pretty front parlor. For dessert we moved on to the next house...

The second house was equally lovely... beautifully restored and elegantly decorated. I counted four Christmas trees, but there may have been more.

Yes, this house was a Victorian marvel with lots of rich dark wood detail. Everyone loved the atmosphere.

...and we were all very impressed with their beautiful Victorian doll house. Its tiny halls were decked with wreaths and garlands and there was an illuminated Christmas tree and crystal chandelier.

...here it is from the inside. This party was definitely an ultra festive way to launch the holiday season on Deer Hill Avenue.

November 30, - In NYC to film for Inside Edition

Cat and I went into New York to film a segment on identical twins for the news show Inside Edition. They shot us shopping in midtown and interviewed us about dressing alike. The episode is going to air sometime in early January 2006. Anyway, it was lots of fun and we spent a great (ultra warm for November) day in the city.

The holiday window displays were already up...and they were amazing. This one at Lord & Taylor had an exotic Middle Eastern Theme...

...this one was more traditional.

After the filming, Cat and I stopped at the Madison Club Lounge in the Roosevelt Hotel for drinks.

This pretty Christmas tree was in the lobby. Yes the holidays are magic in NYC.

November 24, - 27, Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving morning there was a dusting of snow in Danbury. Just enough to look pretty. We had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner at the Hilltop...

On Friday (perhaps motivated by the previous day's snow), I decided to begin decorating my Christmas tree. Each year I manage to break a couple of glass balls and this time it was my favorite antique ornament that fell crashing to the ground...

...luckily it was only broken on one side and the damage was not so extensive that I couldn't use it...and still looks cute!

...a bunch of my many other old ornaments, just waiting be hung on the tree.

This is another of my favorite ornaments. Yes, I like the quirky ones. It's old and a bit worse for the wear...all scraped up and covered with broken wires and tinsel. Anyway, I didn't get too far with the tree today...I'll have to finish it later.