Last Wednesday, a day where it poured rain all day, we went to the beautiful historic Poinsett Club for a Newcomers Holiday Luncheon. The club, originally a home built around 1925, is stunning. It is about 40,000 sq. ft, including two newer additions, a ballroom where we had our luncheon and three floors of beautiful decorated small and medium sized dining rooms. What a mansion it must have been when it was built. We visitied with our new friends and at our table had a lively discussion about all kinds of local issues. The facilities definitely were 5 star. The food was just average.
Monday night we went with our neighbors Vickie and Ed to the annual Greenville Woodworking Guild Holiday party. There were a couple hundred guests there. We had turkey dinner with all the fixings and then wonderful entertainment provided by the head of the John Campbell Folk School. The school has 850 craft, art, writing classes every year. Some for a week and some a weekend. You can stay on site. A very well educated historian, musician, storyteller and craftsman who told folk stories and played old folk ballad music. Very Upcountry SC and charming.
For me the biggest part of the evening was to see the 1500 wooden toys that the members have made to donate to 14 children’s groups here in the Greenville area. Is this impressive?
It was pretty emotional to see all these toys and realize the 4000 hours of work that went into making them and think about how many happy children will receive them.
There were many door prizes for the guests (wives). Below are a couple examples. I got a door prize but not one of theses, darn. The man who made these helped Bob sharpen his new tools and taught me a little about wood turning. He and his wife are so nice.
The bowls and ornaments are about 6″. Guess what some of you will get for gifts next year?
On Friday we go to a special Cocktails R Us Newcomers party at a clubhouse in one of the developments and will have a band! We each bring whatever we want to drink and a snack or dessert. I’m actually getting some use out of the three dressy items in my wardrobe!
Saturday morning I have a neighborhood coffee party to attend and weather permitting I think Saturday afternoon we will go to see Travelers Rest Christmas Parade. Sunday we will go to Easley (30 minutes) to see an ice carving exhibit (100 sculptures including an 8000 lb sleigh – that’s not a typo it is 8000 not 800) and then to Pendelton (another 30 minutes) to see Christmas in a historic plantation home, complete with Christmas little skits written from the information in old letters and diaries. Sounds like pretty simple Upcountry holiday events. Hope I can get some good photos to share with you.
My birthday is Tuesday and we might go to Asheville to see the Gingerbread Houses but more likely to downtown Greenville for dinner (have a discount coupon for restaurants there) and to see the Christmas Trees that light up downtown. Supposed to be pretty. Maybe a trip to a museum or art gallery in the afternoon.
Wednesday night we go to Roper Mt. with friends from Newcomers to see the Light Show there and after Christmas we go to see Hollywild Zoo 100 acre light display. I guess we take a trolly through that area.
As you can tell there is lots going on and all of it is quite inexpensive plus we don’t have 3 feet of snow and sub zero temperatures to dress for.
Bob and I have been assembling 8 pens and pencils so as soon as he gets home with a part for the lathe we will start turning. Wish us luck! We have had a few mishaps already.
Life Part Two 
December 9, 2009 at 10:25 am
I ran across this blog because you mentioned “Easley” and I have a google alert set up on Easley. I grew up in this area (went all the way to Clemson for college ;), and it’s neat to see the area through a newcomer’s eyes. I’ll have to check back periodically, and use your fresh view of the things to do as a guide for what my children have not yet seen, that I take for granted. Thanks for sharing!