I’ve been blogging about how I’m preparing for the upcoming visitor season, and the crown at the top is always Christmas At The Cottage. I love to share my home with the community, as I feel as a member of one of this area’s oldest families, I have an obligation to give back, to contribute and to share, especially our history and our heritage. I have dedicated my life to this area’s history, especially our buildings, traditions and culture.
I started decorating in themes way back in the early 2000s, first with one little table top tree, and this has manifested itself into several table top theme trees throughout The Cottage. Planning for Christmas At The Cottage starts in March, and earlier this week I chose the theme and what will be in each room. This allows me time to gather ornaments, decorations, trees, etc. throughout the summer and autumn months. Decorating always starts Thanksgiving weekend (which is why I will never have any activities that weekend, I’m too busy decorating and won’t be reading in time for the tree lighting in Town Square). Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and I never sully it by putting up Christmas decorations beforehand, and never will.
I also will not compete with the Chouteau County Country Christmas. It’s a popular event, and one of the highlights is the antiques sale at the Virgelle Country Mercantile. I love going down to Virgelle, even if I don’t find something to add to my collections. I enjoy seeing people I don’t see at any other time of the year, and Virgelle is just plain magical.
Christmas At The Cottage is always the second full weekend in December, so this year it will be December 8 and 9, provided I can get the time off work. You see, I’ve been hired to serve again as the Clack Museum Manager and I start on Tuesday. It’s only part-time, but that’s enough for me. This allows me a regular paycheck and time to work on my tours, my business ventures and I couldn’t be more excited.