Christmas at Ca D’Zan December 28, 2013
Posted by nrhatch in Art & Photography, Poetry.trackback
In contrast to the simple Cracker Christmas at Historic Manatee Village, the decor at Ca D’Zan deigned to dazzle.
Red, Green, and Gold sparkled throughout the Ringling Mansion.
An enormous tree reached to the mezzanine.
Greenery brightened with holiday lights splayed across the portico.
Fireplaces bore festoons of festive greenery.
Even the scullery and butler’s pantry bore evidence of Holly and Jolly.
Giant poinsettias acted as understudy for flickering flames.
The massive tree stood tall, overseer of all things Christmas.
One last look as we close the door on this opulent display.
* * * * *
The theme for Haiku Monday this week is RELAXATION.
Peace is one breath, one
thought away. Relax. Let the
past go. Just for NOW.
To play along ~> swing by Amanda’s blog (Funky Frugal Mommy) ~ Haiku Monday Theme and post your Haiku in the comments section.
Then relax and breathe.
Aah . . . that’s better!
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Spirit Lights The Way 
love all the antique furniture and the wrought iron is a thing of beauty, always. Gotta admit the reds of Christmas give it all a beautiful glow.
John & Mabel Ringling created an opulent estate for their winter “cottage.” Like the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina or Breakers, the Vanderbilt’s Summer Cottage in Newport, Rhode Island, Ca D’Zan was designed to impress upon visitors that the Ringlings “had it all.”
imagine that being the focus on one’s life!
How empty and vacuous an existence when one’s attention is focused on STUFF . . . rather than on the interwoven threads of the tapestry. It reminds me of The Queen of Versailles:
https://nrhatch.wordpress.com/2012/11/21/want-to-feel-good-about-your-life/
Wonderful images Nancy.
We enjoyed wandering the grounds for Holiday Splendor ~ the Ringling Museum had musicians (mostly school aged) stationed throughout the grounds and buildings to carol the night away.
I never said you could take pictures in my house! What’s going on here?
Sorry, that’s the best I got. The title of your post doesn’t lend itself to intentional misinterpretation. I guess I could go the conventional comment route and talk about how gorgeous that place is and what a great job the decorators did not just with the holiday display but with the lighting, furniture, etc. Very festive and tasteful.
Haha! That’s funny . . . as we wandered its bedecked and bejeweled rooms, one thought kept surfacing:
“I wonder if Eric does this in HIS house?” 😛
Absolutely gorgeous Christmas decor! 🙂
Glad you enjoyed. The Ringling Museum is worth a visit ~ beautiful grounds right along Sarasota Bay. The Circus Museums (on the grounds) are tons of fun too.
Lovely decor! I enjoyed your peaceful haiku, too. You’re getting quite good at them 🙂
Thanks, Janna. Several years ago, I joined a Haiku-A-Day project on WEbook. It was great fun encapsulating each day in the 17-syllable format.
Wow, beautiful decorations. My granddaughters decorated my tree and the ornaments are concentrated in the lower part of the tree. As they grow taller each year, I expect the ornaments to climb higher up the tree.
That’s so sweet, NC. Will you take a photo each year to share with them down the road?
It’s very festive and colorful and certain to put you in the holiday mood. I don’t think I’d like the taking down part.. 😀
I know, right! I’ve watched specials on decorating the White House for the Holidays ~ the man hours involved are MASSIVE!
In contrast, I packed up the Santas and put away everything but our tree yesterday afternoon. By myself. In about 2 hours.
I left the dust in situ for BFF!
I love the use of greenery.
I loved the greenery outside ~ big red bows and tiny white lights ~ and also the runner in the Butler’s Pantry.
I guess I really just enjoy Christmas decorations. I enjoy it all…the homespun and the opulent! I love it all until Christmas, and then I want the little fairies to come in and pack it all up and away! They haven’t come by the house yet. I think tomorrow! 🙂
Yes! Thank you for sharing that, Debra. I packed our Santas and Reindeer away on the 28th (but felt a bit Grinchy about not wanting them around to ring in the New Year).
When “cheery” turns “dreary,” it’s time to part company until next December.
The name is ringling some Circus bells! I like it. It is beautiful, tasteful, and not nearly as ‘over-the-(Big)-top as I would have expected.
Understated elegance seemed to be the theme ~ especially outdoors. No tacky lawn ornaments on display. 😉