Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village
I like to plan special holiday outings for my parents, since I think they enjoy fun with family more than actual presents. This year, Mike, myself, mom, dad, Megan and Scotty decided to go to dinner at the Eagle Tavern, and then enjoy the Holiday Nights activities at Greenfield Village. Dinner is served family style, at tables for ten. We sat with three lovely ladies who were also at the Eagle Tavern for the first time. The waiters and waitresses were in period costume, and Scott said the man playing the proprietor was a member of his church. Carolers strolled about while people were being seated.
Dinner was quite good. The menu was as follows:
Hot cider (with or without whiskey, mine was without)
Cranberry Relish
Pickles
Sally Lunn, Apple Cinnamon, Pumpkin, or Corn Muffins
Butternut squash soup
Pork Pie
Chicken with Tawny Pears
Beef roast with boiled onion gravy
carrots and brussel sprouts
roast potatoes
Dried fruit bread pudding with Apple butter custard sauce
By common consensus, the Butternut Squash Soup, and Pork Pie were the table favorites. Scott especially enjoyed the pork pie, and actually finished it off and licked the bowl clean, I do believe. The bread pudding was also to die for. However, by that time, I was positively stuffed. Had I known, I would have smuggled in some ziploc plastic containers to bring it home and enjoy later, when I could savor it and do it justice. Dinner was wrapped up by a room wide rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas. Our table was ten lords a leaping. That was amusing. Then we filed out to walk the village.
All the walks were lined by kerosene lanterns. We went to a few of the decorated homes. Most were decorated with greens and fruit. Several were busy baking-gingerbread men, a Christmas goose, and various treats. The Webster home was decorated for a New Years feast, the Susquehanah Plantation was readied for a Christmas wedding. We saw two of Santa's reindeer. They were smaller than I thought they'd be, with beautifully graceful, smooth antlers.
There was plenty of fun music throughout the village. I especially enjoyed the band, Picks & Sticks - fiddle, bass, and dulcimer. I love dulcimer and country type music. Megan and I swear we saw Scott Londsdale playing with a revolutionary fife and drum ensemble. By that time, mom and dad were cold and decided to call it a day. We walked them to their car, and then went back to the village.
We decided to try some fun activities. Scott, Megan, and Mike went ice skating (they were out of skates in my size or I would have gone too), then they took a ride on the carousel. We rode around the block in the model T cars, looked in the shops, listened to the sing a long and ended the evening watching fire works. I think a good time was had by all. I haven't talked to my parents yet, but I hope they enjoyed it. At least it wasn't windy last night, so it wasn't as cold as it could have been. We enjoyed it, and it was gratifying to see Megan and Scott being so enthusiastic about everything we did. Scott was like a little kid. I'm happy it was such a nice evening.
Dinner was quite good. The menu was as follows:
Hot cider (with or without whiskey, mine was without)
Cranberry Relish
Pickles
Sally Lunn, Apple Cinnamon, Pumpkin, or Corn Muffins
Butternut squash soup
Pork Pie
Chicken with Tawny Pears
Beef roast with boiled onion gravy
carrots and brussel sprouts
roast potatoes
Dried fruit bread pudding with Apple butter custard sauce
By common consensus, the Butternut Squash Soup, and Pork Pie were the table favorites. Scott especially enjoyed the pork pie, and actually finished it off and licked the bowl clean, I do believe. The bread pudding was also to die for. However, by that time, I was positively stuffed. Had I known, I would have smuggled in some ziploc plastic containers to bring it home and enjoy later, when I could savor it and do it justice. Dinner was wrapped up by a room wide rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas. Our table was ten lords a leaping. That was amusing. Then we filed out to walk the village.
All the walks were lined by kerosene lanterns. We went to a few of the decorated homes. Most were decorated with greens and fruit. Several were busy baking-gingerbread men, a Christmas goose, and various treats. The Webster home was decorated for a New Years feast, the Susquehanah Plantation was readied for a Christmas wedding. We saw two of Santa's reindeer. They were smaller than I thought they'd be, with beautifully graceful, smooth antlers.
There was plenty of fun music throughout the village. I especially enjoyed the band, Picks & Sticks - fiddle, bass, and dulcimer. I love dulcimer and country type music. Megan and I swear we saw Scott Londsdale playing with a revolutionary fife and drum ensemble. By that time, mom and dad were cold and decided to call it a day. We walked them to their car, and then went back to the village.
We decided to try some fun activities. Scott, Megan, and Mike went ice skating (they were out of skates in my size or I would have gone too), then they took a ride on the carousel. We rode around the block in the model T cars, looked in the shops, listened to the sing a long and ended the evening watching fire works. I think a good time was had by all. I haven't talked to my parents yet, but I hope they enjoyed it. At least it wasn't windy last night, so it wasn't as cold as it could have been. We enjoyed it, and it was gratifying to see Megan and Scott being so enthusiastic about everything we did. Scott was like a little kid. I'm happy it was such a nice evening.