Featuring:
Bull Run Festival of Lights
Ball’s Bluff National Cemetery wreath-laying
IKEA
Mount Vernon by Candlelight

A substantial, sustained chill in the air has produced a wintertime ambiance for my activities of late. Historically speaking, it’s unlikely that snow will be in the Northern Virginia forecast for another few weeks, but last Saturday’s activity required a modest jacket and scarf, and Sunday evening brought an opportunity to wear my puffy coat and gloves for the first time this season. I can’t get carried away, though. This is not white Christmas weather; just the kind of weather that makes one acknowledge seasonal change.

Activities unique to this time of year are always appreciated by my winter-born heart. For example, two weekends ago the child in me monitored a tracking app for Santa’s progress through the local neighborhoods; I ran outside to wave to him when his fire truck “sleigh” approached my street. Always good to confirm my place on his Nice List. Then, one day last week I was returning up the highway from my after-work hair appointment in Prince William County and found myself pleasantly distracted by the Bull Run Festival of Lights, visible beyond the tree line bordering I-66. I did not divert my course to drive through the park, but it brought back fun memories of prior visits.

On Saturday, I joined a few members from my Daughters of the American Revolution chapter in attending the Wreaths Across America wreath-laying event at Ball’s Bluff National Cemetery. There were also Girl Scouts, veterans and others in attendance, but two of our chapter members were given the honor of laying the wreaths for the Air Force and Army; one of their husbands laid the wreath for the new Space Force. (Pretty sure those attending the ceremony from six feet under scratched their heads about that last one!) Due to the modestly sized group, our host, Patriot Riders, was able to offer attendees a substantial portion of time to verbally honor the veterans in our lives, and I spoke about my father’s service in the US Navy. It was an overcast, cool day, which lent atmosphere to the reverence and remembrance of those we were honoring, but also provided a fitting backdrop for the vibrancy of the green wreaths and red bows.

Being partly of Swedish descent, once in a while IKEA calls to me for a visit. Actually, the store is not very conveniently located near me, but I had a ticket for Mount Vernon by Candlelight on Sunday night, so I decided to hit the IKEA in Woodbridge prior. It had been a few years since I’d stepped into an IKEA and I was naturally mesmerized by the sales floor and spent a good amount of time traversing its convoluted floor plan. I managed to keep my purchases within a personal cost threshold for the day, though definitely got caught up in the God Jul of it all, and emerged from the store with holiday-scented tea lights and other Christmastime treats. I departed the parking lot before dusk and while on the road to George Washington’s Mount Vernon I was treated to a spectacular Virginia sunset and waning gibbous moon rise.

Mount Vernon by Candlelight was as magical as expected. I found a most excellent parking spot, bundled up in my puffy coat and gloves, and headed toward the gift shop. I purchased two commemorative ornaments for my Christmas tree and then headed into the adjacent Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant for dinner. I ordered the cornbread (which came in a miniature cast iron skillet), a garden salad (sans crumbled egg), and the fried eggplant (which doesn’t accurately describe that dish’s delicious, Christmas-colored flavor pairing of “red pepper coulis and mixed herb pesto”). I had no room for dessert.

My grounds entry ticket was timestamped for 8:00 pm, but I was allowed to enter the estate a bit earlier since I was on my own; thank you to the staff for favoring me! In the visitor center, there was a duo performing period music in costume. My tour group was assigned to Charles Lee, and we were instructed to await the town crier’s announcement for “guests of Charles Lee” to signal commencement of the tour. In the meantime, I purchased hot chocolate and walked around admiring several tall, decorated trees–each with a different theme, such as “children”. Moments later, my group was called and we proceeded outdoors to join a non-costumed guide who carried a lantern and warned us to watch our step on the gravel since the grounds were primarily only candlelit. (Tell that to the just-past-full moon in an almost cloudless sky!)

At each stop on the mansion tour, there was a costumed character posted who would recite a little holiday spiel related to the room and then hurry us on our way to the next room. (Meaning, don’t make this event your only mansion tour opportunity because you’ll barely see it while you’re trying to focus your eyes in the dark and rushing along.) Each of the characters reminded us that Aladdin the Christmas Camel was visiting the estate and could be found in the outdoor vendor area. By the time we reached Martha Washington in the dining room (George was from home that evening), her mention of Aladdin being a must-see produced a few chuckles as we were shewed away.

The outbuildings made publicly available that evening were charming in half-light, and the candlelit walk (actual candles in lanterns) along the path toward Aladdin, the vendors, and the exit, was very enjoyable in the brisk air. Of course, I stopped and had a little chat with regally-resting Aladdin once I located his expansive, double-fenced pen. After leaving him with a hand-blown Christmas kiss on the cheek, I visited several artisan vendor tents: handmade soap, blown-glass, and Crown Point Bread Co where I purchased a half-dozen gingerbread cookies and a nut tartlet (“George Washington’s favorite”) to take home with me.

Along these journeys I have employed the Santa Claus voice on the Waze app to provide driving directions. He says fun things like, “Turn left. Happy holidays! Ho! Ho! Ho!” … “Exit right. And away we go!” … and “You made it, now go inside and make me some cookies!” If there’s anyone who would know how to guide me safely away from driving on I-95, I figure it’s Santa Claus.

I hope you are enjoying the seasonal “feels” of the season as I am, no matter how you celebrate the year-end. Merry Christmas and happy holidays, one and all!