Family room garage and fun-two: The holiday season of 2020

Christmas 2020 outdoors included open-air garage family room and front court yard

The holidays were spent a little differently in 2020.  Celebrations were carried out with social distancing parameters which meant gathering with only those in one's "bubble" or some type of outdoor meet-up. The later poses particular challenges for those of us in northern states where typical temperatures for December range in the high 20's to the low 40's.  But, we all got a little creative and for BTS and extended family, we decided to bring the indoors out.  

Inspiration for our Winter Wonderland Garage came from White Christmas and the Vermont inn.

Inspired by the movie White Christmas, where during the grand finale performance of Wallace and Davis and the Hayne sisters, the back door of the charming Vermont inn opens up to show a Currier and Ives  idyllic  wintery scene behind the red-velvet draped performers. 

Close to our inspiration?

Like an entry on Pinterest, we took that movie image and used that as our goal for our Winter Wonderland garage. I ordered six pairs of cranberry-colored sheer drapes, and pulled out a dozen white and red tablecloths from the linen closet to be hung up on the walls and thrown over tool benches, golf clubs, recycling bins and assorted garage clutter.

Husband, Chris, took out his staple gun and attached the drapes to walls and ceilings and we strung one set of very tangled fairy lights along one wall. We had a few heaters going, but the garage door was opened as well as the entry to our front courtyard, so hats, coats and gloves were kept on throughout.

After we set up the "Winter Wonderland" in the garage, one thought came immediately to mind:  #epicfail.  But all who attended were wearing courteous rose colored glasses - they said it looked pretty good. We were all grateful to be together, so those good feelings, along with down jackets, well-insulated hats and hot chocolate kept us warm.

Gulley elves paint birdhouses in the lower level workshop

We used the Winter Wonderland for Christmas Eve and New Year's Day with our immediate family and extended bubble, respectively. We also entertained in our adjacent front courtyard where Chris put up a real Christmas tree with a toy train running at the base through a village of birdhouses we had hand painted the week before.  If  the mother of invention is necessity, my husband is the patriarch of creativity in quarantine. The Christmas tree train vignette was part of his outdoor décor vision and he enlisted the Gulley elves to help assemble in our basement "Santa's workshop"  before the parties.

But the holiday most turned upside down in 2020 was our annual fun-do. Any given year, for the past thirty years we have hosted nine to twelve guests for fondue at an ever-expanding table filled with pots of oil and an assortment of seafood, vegies steak. However, quarantine times trimmed attendees drastically to just Chris and me. Our only bubble was in the toasting glasses and thus, we renamed  our NYE event to  "fun-two".   And, it was (!). . . but different.

More Zoom and Re-Zoom to include NYC son

We also tapped into Zoom  and Facetime which was essential in connecting with New York, son, Matt. He was in virtual attendance for our Christmas Eve in the garage and a family game night between the holidays.  One bonus for Matt of the former event, he was inside his Brooklyn apartment, toasty warm!

Hats were required attire for 2020 Christmas

If any holiday season in recent times required out-of-the-gift-box thinking, it certainly was 2020. While we truly affirmed the spirit of the season - the gift of gathering with family for a few hours of cheer - I will look forward to a time where, on cold winter day, we can invite everyone inside and leave the hats in the closet. 

Just like in the movies, snow made everything more festive!

But, it must be noted, Christmas-in-the-garage couldn't have succeeded without the help of all who came to marvel at the winter wonderland and dressed in hats and gloves (although, clearly not the formal kind). Thanks to my bro and sister-in-law for providing the savories, my children for providing the sweets, other bro for providing the annual Christmas  trivia (some things must go on!) for entertainment and other, other  bro for "Santa's workshop duty".  Also, a nod to mother nature who on cue, just like in the movie, brought us a dusting of snow to make everything a little more festive.

We hope to return to fun-do for 2022!!

Looking forward to resuming holidays indoor this year, including many guests at our fun-do and hats in glove indoors, but for formal occasions only!