Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems. ~Rainer Maria Rilke

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Christmas Delight

I kept the Prospector up past his bedtime this weekend.
We went to town... AFTER DARK. Unheard of.
I made him take a shower so he would stay awake. We met our neighbors at their gate and , together, we drove down to MEL & FAY'S restaurant and found a parking space... one of the last.
It was one of those wonderful California winter nights... not too cold, not too windy... a perfect night to walk up and down the main street of Jackson. A perfect evening to join Amador County for the annual CHRISTMAS DELIGHTS festival on Main Street.
All the stores were open for business. This is a town that usually (except for the bars) rolls up the sidewalks after dark. But this night, once a year, they open their doors and give out goodies and hospitality for everyone. All the stores were lit up with Christmas lights and decorations.
The tree in front of the fire station was lit,
 and SANTA arrived...  in an old fire truck covered with Christmas lights.
 Last year we brought our oldest grandson down here. How fast the year has gone.
This year our neighbors had their granddaughter with them. She is eight years old.
It made me really wish that The Bean and Little Bean (our grandchildren) were there too. Maybe we can plan better next year so Mommy and Daddy can come up with them for the weekend.

So.... We met a horse while we were walking around. This was a most beautiful horse.
 I can't remember the horse's name, but the lady who was driving the carriage said that this was a Percheron, from Canada. It's a draft horse breed. This gentle horse was so big and tall that my neighbor's granddaughter was afraid to go up and pet him. With our help, she finally touched his nose. Everyone was gathering around the horse and he was acting like "business as usual" because the driver said he has been doing this all of this life.
He was pulling this carriage.
Last year they were giving rides in this buggy but I didn't see anyone getting rides this year. I did see it later going down the street with some pretty elves in it.
We walked into stores that were so beautifully lit up and even our HOMETOWN RADIO station was open. They recently moved down to Main Street. And there was a wood stove in one store to warm yourself before moving on.

Just a quick note: The photo on the bottom left (above) was a wonderful store window depicting some the towns in Amador Co. There was Plymouth, Amador City, Ione, Sutter Creek, all with a name sign and a lovely old building... and Jackson, on the left with the balcony.
 Now, it's been a long time since Jackson was famous for.... How do I put this carefully, without putting my adopted town in a bad light. Jackson was famous for its LADIES OF THE NIGHT.... and guess who was sitting up there in that little balcony, in all their splendor? Yes... two lovely ladies of ill repute.
 It's blurry and not a very good picture but there they are. Two redheaded hussies waiting for a gentleman's favor.
That's our reputation here.
Not the gold,
or the wonderful weather...
or the quaintness of small town America.
Or the fact that Jackson produced more than half the gold mined in the Mother Lode.
 Oh no!  It's all about the ladies of the night.
I think it's time to take the redheads off of the balcony.

So...
The shops were looking their very best.
The National Hotel is being completely renovated and it's looking very nice.
It's has a new front door that's really beautiful.
The owner has bought quite a few buildings on Main Street. He has a vested interest in making Jackson a destination and attracting tourists again. I hope it works. We need a bright future, like the beautiful leaded windows and doors.
It's fun to say that we have a rip roaring reputation, but we also want folks to be comfortable here. Maybe all of this remodeling and a community effort will revitalize our town.  When we join our neighbors and spend an evening like this, together, we are reminded that this town is a wonderful place... to live in , to shop in and to celebrate in.
We left Main Street and walked back across the highway to our cars. This is a wonderful little town where it's safe to walk around at night. We were on our way to eat Chinese food at one of our local restaurants.
Up on the hill above the parking lot is a house that says it all, year after year.
HO,HO,HO!! 
Christmas is coming.
Santa's on his way.
Life is good
We are so fortunate to be living where we live. 
I make no excuses. 
I'm blessed
Thank God
Amen.

8 comments:

  1. What a wonderful evening!
    I hope very much that next year your two little beans can see all this with you.
    And Percherons...oooooh...they are SO incredibly beautiful!

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  2. so cool...thank you for taking us with you...either tonight or tomorrow we are doing the same in a little town just south of here...i love to stroll around and the lights are so cool...i like that car done up too...

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  3. I really did like this post. Your photos are great. I had a good laugh about the ladies of the night. That horse sure was a beauty. I loved all the decorated carriages and buildings. Maybe next year you can have your grandsons with you when you visit this beautiful town of Jackson at Christmas time. Have a blessed day. Madeline

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  4. What a lovely night to get out and see the sights. Your little town looks so inviting. I will come and be a tourist there one day. These kinds of towns are so important in keeping history alive, baudy girls and all! Sadly our village used to have some great old buildings but someone decided in the '60s that modern was better and there's only 2 heritage buildings left, one of which is the flower shop where I work. Thanks for the stroll.

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  5. It is usually the small towns that have the most to offer when its residents come together for an event like this~ How fun to see it all. I'm sure the grand kids would have loved it. Maybe next year.... :-)

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  6. This is amazing I felt I was there too.

    Nice post .

    Follow each other blog!

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  7. Such a lovely long post. Your scarf looks great, nice design. And I enjoyed your night out celebrating your small town. Love the doors of the bank, they look like they could have been chosen for just this occasion.

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  8. This is my first visit here and I see we live in the same area..I just went to Sutter Creek open house tonight..it's so great to meet someone form the same area..I live in beautiful Pioneer..and also am older than dirt girl..Come by and visit me some time..Hugs and smiles Gloria
    added you to my follow list..

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