4:51 p.m. Today's project was to meet my friend Sharon Schutte at the Heritage House in the Arlington area of Riverside. After church, I drove Steve home, fixed him two grilled cheese and taco meat sandwiches, and was on my way. It felt good to have some time to myself to do something fun with an old friend, to have some "girlfriend time!" (While he napped in the family room).
Sharon and I go way back to the 1980's when we were new believers and in women's Bible study together at Harvest Christian Fellowship. We lost touch when Steve and I felt led to change to Calvary Chapel Moreno Valley 8 years ago. We caught back up with one another on Facebook last year, got together in a weight loss challenge class, and share our walks with the Lord on our blogs. She has an intimate walk with the Lord, is a student of the Word, and is supportive in every way to her pastor husband Rick. Sharon has always blessed me with tons of encouragement in writing Bible studies. And we both love antiques and home decorating, creating beautiful surroundings inside and outside our own homes. I think our friendship exemplifies Philippians 2:2, where the Apostle Paul says, "Fulfill my joy, that you be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."
The Heritage House is across from the YWCA on Magnolia Avenue. Today's Christmas open house was free to the public, and parking was available at the Y. There was even a crossing guard for the guests' safety in crossing the four lane street. The Riverside Museum Association really knows how to treat its patrons right! We were greeted on the front porch by costumed docents and "Father Christmas." After we heard a complete history of the home, we were treated to a wonderful performance by harpist and singer shown above. She "just so happened" to be singing my favorite carol, "What Child is This?" in a deep, clear alto.
I think what I enjoyed so much was the fact that the event was titled "A Victorian Christmas," not "A Victorian Holiday," and "Merry Christmas" was heard throughout the home and in the bazaar in the back part of the property. Praise You, Lord Jesus!
I cannot begin to describe all of the lovely furnishings, original paintings and antique art pieces, even the original owner's clothes in the walk-in closet. Books, china, original chandeliers, incredible wallpapers and six hand-tiled fireplaces grace the 1891 home. One of the City's first indoor bathrooms is still in place, apparently making a splash in the newspapers of the day! The home was wired for electricity, because the owner had had electricity back in New York where she came from. So by the time power was available in California, all was ready.
Of course the kitchen was our favorite, with a very low iron stove--my back hurts just to imagine the cooks bending so low! I cooked and canned for four years on a wood stove in Colorado, but it was at normal people's height at least! A real novelty was the Enumerator, a bell system that not only rang the kitchen, but showed the room number the person was ringing from! Yes, each room was numbered. The Victorians, on the cusp of the modern era, thought of everything, it seems!
Sharon and I completed our leisurely tour in the back yard, where we were served hot cider and cookies, in front of the carriage house. Decoupage ornament crafting for the kids was being taught at a long table. It was time to hug goodbye and return to our hubbies at home.
Steve and I had another very special event to attend and a few preparations to make.
Our weekly Home Fellowship is a precious part of our lives, where we worship, eat fine meals weekly, pray and study God's Word. This week, we had a Christmas potluck, more food than even 25 people could consume. And desserts? Please--you name it, it was on the table. Our contribution was a spinach dip in a bread bowl, which I had prepared ahead of time. We also took two wrapped White Elephant gifts: a make-it-yourself sock kitty kit, and an exercise journal for LA Fitness members that Steven had buried in a box in the bottom of the "Christmas closet" in my office. From the Cal State San Marcos materials I found, it must have been left over from when he was a trainer in Escondido.
We had a blast as one ridiculous gift was revealed after another, from a Tiger Woods 2006 golf DVD, MREs from an Iraq vet in the group, a pickle-shaped smelly candle, and talking Micky Mouse doll, to a massive collection of flat-out junk that I ended up with, from a brother (Ron) who had obviously been cleaning out his closet too! I was on the floor in the middle of the group sorting through the nutty mess, laughing so hard I was crying. At the bottom of the sack of junk was a framed picture, very apropros, because its outrage-diffusing caption was Proverbs 17:17, "A FRIEND LOVETH AT ALL TIMES." (and forgiveth a bag full of junk to drag home!)
Whether my experiences today were delightfully sublime or utterly absurd, as a believer I can truly say, "A friend loves at all times!"
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