I have worked really hard this year. And I’ve been a very good girl (vbg)!  But this past Saturday I needed a little break. So I did one of my very favorite things. I gifted myself with the afternoon and evening off and headed out for the Decatur and Huntsville Historic Homes Christmas Tours! Here in Huntsville I think it’s actually called the Spirits of Christmas Past Tour. Doesn’t really matter what it’s called, it was awesome! My partners in crime were my wonderful sister-in-law Sadie and niece Paula.

First we stopped by Cracker Barrel for a wonderful lunch. Since Decatur’s tour started at two, we headed that way. Decatur is called the River City and is one of Alabama’s loveliest old towns perched on the banks of Wheeler Lake along the Tennessee River. There are two historic sections of town, Old Decatur and Albany. The people who welcomed us into their homes were so kind and generous and I have to tell you, Decatur has it all over Huntsville this year. The houses were decorated beautifully. I mean, breathtakingly beautiful. Such creative minds and hands!

After touring for hours in Decatur, we crossed the bridge and returned to Huntsville’s Twickenham, Five Points and Old Town historic districts. The grand old homes were just gorgeous (couldn’t hold a candle to the decorations in Decatur though). We stopped in a couple of antique stores. I discovered a couple I had never been to before (Like Bank’s Street Antique Mall in Decatur) and I will be back. We stopped in at Jack’s for burgers and sodas.

Later in the evening we strolled the historic streets in Huntsville (the Rocket City!) and listened to the bag pipes and enjoyed hot cider. It really was a wonderful evening.

I wish I had more and better photos to share. It was just so beautiful I barely remembered to take pictures and most of those didn’t turn out very well. But something I realized during this wondrous night related to my work as an author. The most beautifully decorated homes were layered with details. Greenery and flowers and pine cones and Santa boots or foxes or sleds or whatever. The designs were carefully layered with all sorts of pretty and interesting elements. None of the elements were particularly exciting on their own. It was the way they were tied together with all the other elements that made the difference. The best stories are layered with detail and interesting elements and characters. No single aspect makes the story the great work it is. Rather it’s the combination–the careful layering–of all those amazing elements. Isn’t that true in everything we do? The passion and excitement we have for what we do shows in the final result.

Have you been checking out holiday decorations? I’d love to hear about it. I’d like to wish all of you a wonderful and safe holiday! Merry Christmas, yall!