Ho Ho Ho from Paradise by Lea Ann Robson

 

Oh what fun it was to be on St. Croix this weekend!  Our little berg was holiday hoppin’ on all four burners & we were repaid in breezy, lovely days for all the great rain we’ve had lately.  The Coquito (homemade rum cream—think eggnog with a St. Croix twist!) was flowing, & though it’s not snowing, everyone was showing up for events far & wide (OK, enough rhyming!). 

Saturday was the Governor’s Christmas Fair at Government House & the First Lady’s Children’s Party on the lawn at Fort Christavaern.  The beautifully manicured lawn around the Fort was the perfect setting for the kids & parents, & crafts (some sponsored by Home Depot), games & book giveaways were in stations all around. Of course Santa showed up, & fun was had by all.

As night fell & everyone flowed (& glowed!  Glow-in-the-dark hoops were everywhere!) toward the wharf to get front row seats to the Boat Parade.  Spectacular entries floated by to cheering crowds.  Some of the ‘boat floats’ used laser light shows, fire twirlers (Kiki & the gang really outdid themselves), & live bands to thrill onlookers. 

 

My friends & I slipped out after the first boat lap, before the second & third & the fireworks finale.  We had been at the Governor’s Fair since morning & despite the wonderful local Pate’s, tarts, fermented Sorrel (sort of a spicy, Port-tasting delight from Grizelle Davila), ginger beer & other local delicacies we’d been sampling while I sold ornaments & jewelry there, we had managed to work up yet another appetite.  So while everybody on the waterfront ‘re-oohed’ & ‘re-ahhhhed’ to the boats again, we slipped up the street to Kendrick’s for a wonderful meal (between the four of us, we taste-tested  & revelled in the chipotle onion garlic soup, the spinach salad, fillet mignon kebabs (why didn’t I think of that!?), & what were pronounced the best patty melts EVER. 

 

On Sunday morning, we decided to milk a good thing by driving out to the worst kept, best secret for brunch—Blue Water Terrace.  I had the epic Quesadilla & my friend had the ‘Double Love’ which can only be described as one chotamama plate full o’ fantastic breakfast food!  Shops were open in town, so on the way back we hit our favorite décor store—Sampson House--& had a great time looking through all the gorgeous items there. 

 

Despite being dangerously close to post-brunch comas, we stopped by the annually held local Woodworker’s Expo at the UVI campus to see evidence of the talented artists & craftspeople we have in the VI, yet again.  I am a self-professed & unashamed woodworker groupie (my Dad was a talented woodworker, so I can’t help myself), so I enjoy seeing what’s new & catching up with the people who work their magic on local materials.  This year’s crop was as inspiring as ever, with some new twists on this venerable art form. 

 

Last night we finally hauled my little live tree out of the bucket behind my house where it has been soaking for almost two weeks, like some forgotten pedicure client & brought it inside.  I’m happy to say (& obviously someone else is PROUD to say) that despite its shortcomings (I usually buy a much taller tree), umpteen tubs of décor made it a cheerful little addition to my living room.  My pup Mu was a Christmas gift many years ago, & she loves a Christmas tree more than most kids you’ll meet. 

 

Next weekend is a ‘three-shipper,’ as in we have a cruise ship in port Saturday, one Sunday & one Monday.  I'll spend evenings this week knuckling down & trying to refute grade school teachers' prophesies that I'd never apply myself & live up to my potential.  I'll create as many new sea glass designs as I can (& yeah, I probably should have been doing that this weekend).  But I can't bring myself to regret one second of this delightful weekend of friends & festivities & now I get to work next to my cute little tree, in my happy little house with my blissed out little dog.  Could be worse!

So we’re here, full of cheer, & hope you’re having as much fun, wherever you are!