A CHRISTMAS STORY IN ICE - PART 1

 This is the Parker House where Ralphie lives with his family.  Everything is made of ice, apart from a few props.  The porch was busy, and people were taking turns looking inside the windows.  A few people asked me if I could take their photo which I happily did. One funny man asked me if I worked there as he had seen at least three people hand their cameras to me.  He had that twinkle in his eye, made me laugh, and I kept moving.  It was very chilly inside.  We were given parkas as it was about -2 degrees F.

The Parker's 'car' was right there at the side of the house.

Truth be told I have never been to an ice sculpture exhibit before, and certainly not one like this.  I think I once saw a large piece at a hotel years ago as a buffet centerpiece at some kind of reception, but that's been so long ago the memory is foggy.  William comes to mind, who hosts Ottawa's Daily Photo.  He has shared the ice exhibit that occurs in his city ever since I have been a visitor and longer than that maybe. I have always been fascinated by his posts.  Those ice exhibits, the word elegant comes to mind.  These are excellent but in a kitschy way, and fun as you are taken back to funny or cringy moments in the movie.  There are also some very poignant scenes but the leg lamp, well I really felt for his wife, let's just leave it at that.

Ralphie's Dad won it in a competition.  I won't give the whole story away in case you haven't seen the movie before.  They actually sold these in the gift shop.  In fact, I saw one last December, in the window of a house in a neighborhood that goes all out for decorating.  The street is a show piece for the holidays and attracts long lines of cars. I'm wondering if it will be there again this year.  I must check it out.  Should I have bought one?  Nahhh!  Not this year anyhow.

This takes place every year at the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center in National City.  The themes change and this year there were scenes from the movie that I recognized immediately.  I have seen it many times.  It was made in 1983.  It makes me laugh and there are some 'awwww' moments, and it makes me cringe sometimes, but I will probably watch it again with Gregg before Christmas.  It gives you the feel of what it must have been like in 1940.  The acting is great and the Dad is Darren McGavin whom I have enjoyed in other movies/TV show from way back when.  Here's a description I borrowed from Wikipedia and more can be read if you click the link. It reads:

"Set in December 1940, the film is presented in a series of vignettes, with narration provided by the adult Ralphie Parker reminiscing on one particular Christmas when he was nine years old, in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana. Ralphie wanted only one thing that Christmas, a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle.  Ralphie's desire is rejected by his mother, his teacher Miss Shields, and even a Santa Claus at Higbee's department store..."

No more telling about the movie, I'll just let the photos speak for themselves.  Gregg checked out the window too and there he is waving at us.  A touch of nostalgia for him?  He remembers a Roy Rogers bicycle given one year.

 

All for now.  There will be another batch in my next blog post.

IT WOULD BE REALLY HARD TO CUT INTO THIS...

 and take a slice.  I would not want to spoil perfection.  They are just too perfectly beautiful!  Another form of great art!  Such talented people out there aren't there? 

I found them at the Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center at National Harbor in Maryland, in the windows of a bakery inside the hotel.  Gregg and I decided to treat ourselves to a mini road trip before the holidays, our gift to each other for Christmas.  Only 24 miles away and we reveled in the fact that it only took us a short time to drive home.  We have dipped our toes into the waters friends.  It's our first getaway in yonks!

Word of the day: Yonks

Noun: informal - British slang

It means a very long time.

I used to use that expression all the time but it's been years.  It just popped into my head right now.  Next I'll be saying this is the first trip away in a donkey's age (also British slang, and another expression that means the same, and another one I have not used in a very long time) until now.

Anyhow, I would love to look at the names of the customers who order these.  Maybe for a company's party just before everyone breaks up for the Holidays, or who knows?  There wasn't a price showing and I wasn't going to ask.  This old kitty-kat was just a little curious.

Well, my friends, the season is fast moving along.  I took loads of photos to share in future posts, no surprise there.  I will start sharing them the day after Monday's recipe.  Happy Sunday!