Christmas Getaway Weekend, part 1

This bit of magic that happens once a year is my favorite part of Christmas.  I explained more about the 'why' behind the Christmas Getaway Weekend back {here}.  And also how it all started.

It's been many many years we've done this.  Almost all twenty one of our Christmases.

Each Christmas Getaway Weekend is different.  The tradition is that we do it.

This one was one of my favorites.  And I'll tell you why.  Here goes....

This year we stayed at the Lord Jeffery Inn in Massachusetts.  Built in 1926 it is a very elegant hotel/inn with the charm that only an old New England Christmas Inn can give.  Right out of a movie set this inn was.  And set on a beautiful college campus and a cute little town with many many restaurants and independent bookstores (my favorite kind)

Christmas Getaway weekend stops time for our family.  The to do's stay home.  They don't go away of course but for one whole weekend we forget and don't even talk about gifts not yet bought, wrapping, the Christmas card, menu planning.  We just stop and ENJOY the season.

It would be wonderful to have that feeling of stop in our own home at Christmastime.  And that does happen (here and there in little mini pockets of time) but I find at home that we go go go all season.  There are extra viola and chorus concerts.  And so much to do around the house.  Leaving and literally 'checking in' to this in was like 'checking in' to Christmas.  It is our gift to each other each and every year. And it takes the pressure off of finding that just right gift for each other.  Because THIS is it!

We drove up on Saturday afternoon to this beautiful sight.



We were already dressed up for our first reservation. Tea.

The lobby was beautiful



and we entered the tea room which was actually a library/parlor with a huge old fireplace. Tea was set on glass and brass coffee tables and we sat on in this elegant setting for a few hours enjoying the peacefulness.





Roses in the tea cups and attention (Christmas attention) to every last detail.





One of the main worries of eating out (which we hardly ever/never do... not since Hawaii in July) is Abigail. How can they accommodate our allergy girl? The Lord Jefferey inn worked with me and through some calls were able to create that amazing tea service for our sweet 9 year old.



My deepest gratitude always goes to the chief for making eating out feel 'normal' for my girl. Isn't it beautiful?



Abigail ate these beautiful tea sandwiches prepared allergy free just for her.



And chocolate covered strawberries.



Along with homemade raspberry sorbet. Isn't that glass so pretty?





We enjoyed ourselves oh so much





and lingered lingered lingered.



over the most delicious scones I've ever had at any tea ever. (yes, better than the 4 seasons in Boston, The Plaza in NYC or Monoa on Waikiki)







All the while sitting in front of a crackling fire and listening to live harp music. (best Christmas present we buy each other)



Small, quaint, elegant described the lobby with a sweet gingerbread house.









It was decorated so beautifully even the back stairs were lovely.





Each room was a suite and our windows overlooked the town.





When it got dark we spent the evening walking around the town and enjoying the bookstores.



Please forgive me for not taking any of the town. All of that good tea good had me sleepy and I think I had forgotten all about my camera. There were a few lovely old churches and a beautiful clock tower. And that's the inn all lit up there in the back.





and a toy shop too! (a pom pom on top of her hat and walking into a toy shop, she's still little)



After we got back Abigail noticed (how did we not before) that there was a fireplace in our room!!!



And after some exploring we found one outside too.





But we were all sleepy by then. Time to cuddle up for a story.







or a few books she found at the bookstore.



more to come tomorrow... good night, sweet dreams