Holiday Decorating at Smithville Mansion '09

The Moorestown Garden Club Holiday Decorating Committee, chaired by Jean Allen and Monica Moeller, did a wonderful job preparing the Smithville Mansion for a Christmas visit by Teddy Roosevelt. The double parlor was decked out in Victorian holiday finery that would have made the Smith's proud! The many workshops held at Mary Ann and Paul Alberti's home paid off with lovely, elegant, decorations that fit right in with the 2009 Smithville theme. Highlights in the room were the beautiful tree hung with red and gold balls, hand-made pince-nez glasses, and pictures of Teddy and his daughter, along with four elaborate double topiaries which flanked the two fireplaces.
Our thanks go out not only to Jean and Monica, but also their committee: Mary Ann, Linda Szumowski, Jackie Walton, and JoAnn Folz. A special thanks to Paul Alberti for his carpenter skills and patience with the weeks long take-over of his dining room!

Holiday Decorating at Smithville Mansion '09

Drumthwacket Holiday Decorating '09

Lee, Lisa, Clorinda, and I were invited back up to Drumthwacket to meet the Governor elect, Chris Christie, so we took a few more pictures. Unfortunately Lee and Lisa couldn't make it, so Mary Jane went in their stead.

Mr. Christie and his wife requested to meet the decorators which was very gracious of them. They were very warm and appreciative of all the work that the clubs did. Clorinda, Mary Jane and I had our picture taken with the Christies and their children by a professional photographer. We should be sent copies and then I'll post them.

Holiday Decorating at Drumthwacket "09

Lee R., Clorinda, Lisa M., and I arrived bright and early (9am) at Drumthwacket to begin decorating. We were greeted by Justine Kovacs the Garden Club of NJ coordinator. The first couple of hours were great, loads of excitement, and fun! Then it started to rain...and we were there until 3:30.

We still had a good time and we were very proud of the job we did. I can't thank these dedicated women enough for their hard work, creativity, generosity, and lively spirits. It was a long, wet, wonderful, day!

It was a wet (but luckily not too cold) day. Lee and Lisa worked under the covered porch all day, and did an amazing job embellishing the garland and swags, and managed to stay dry. I got a little wet, but poor Clorinda was soaked to the bone! She filled the window boxes on each side of the porch and did a spectacular job! After 6 hours in the rain we're lucky she didn't get pneumonia. What a trooper!

Setting up at Drumthwacket '09

The Governor's staff provided the trees for the urns, we decorated under them. If you click on the photos of the window swags, and enlarge them, you can see the plastic flowers (that the kids made from bottles) encircling the balls. These flowers were all around the door garland too. Just click the back arrow to return to the blog.

Bundles, Wreaths and Swags

The following pictures are of a few children making the bundles for the front door wreath and the under-the-window swags that will be placed at Drumthwacket. On the Friday after Thanksgiving the children, Mary Jane, Lee S., and I met at Lisa M's house to work with the greens. Lisa and Lee S. did a great job instructing the kids in the art of bundle making and Mary Jane did an outstanding job of attaching them to the forms. Everyone was proud of the end products!

Juniors Making Drumthwacket Wreath '09

Juniors Workshop in the woods 11-09

Several Juniors generously took time out of one of their half days in November to meet at Jean P's home to make some of the outdoor decorations for Drumthwacket. As you can see, they helped construct the two large flower boxes for the porch and then primed and spray painted them black. They also primed and sprayed branches and pine cones a bright chartreuse.
The children were dedicated little workers and gave it their best for a couple of hours before the call of Jean's extensive play areas became too much for them!
Many thanks to Debbie H., Joyce C., Carole W., and of course Lisa M., Lee R., and Jean P. for guiding and inspiring our Juniors!

Juniors Drumthwacket Workshop '09

A merry band of club women having fun in the woods!