Christmastime at the Georgia Governor’s Mansion

Welcome to the 99th Metamorphosis Monday!

Hi Everyone! It’s been snowing off and on all day here in Georgia. Nothing serious, though…just a few flurries. It’s really pretty to watch…from inside!

I don’t have a “metamorphosis” to share today in my own home, so I’m taking you into the heart of Buckhead for a little tour of some of the rooms in the Georgia Governor’s Mansion all decked out for Christmas. Each year at Christmastime, the Governor’s Mansion is opened up for tours.

During the year, here’s the way the dining room normally looks.

But at Christmastime…it looks very different. There were six trees in this room alone! Beautiful amaryllis were spread out down the center of the table this day.

The mantel over the fireplace in the dining room was decorated with lots of fresh greenery.  I see some good ole Georgia Pine…

The sideboard was decorated with magnolia and amaryllis…

Governor Perdue and his family do not normally eat in the large dining room. Instead, there’s a smaller dining room for the family that’s right off the kitchen. Here’s how it normally looks…

And here it is decorated for Christmas…

Every room had at least one tree.

Executive Chef, Holly Chute, was in the kitchen and she came out and talked with us for a little while. It was great getting to meet her. She was super nice and friendly.

She’s been the Chef at the Georgia Governor’s Mansion for 29 years! In fact, she’s been the Chef for 5 Governors! Here’s a better photo of her from the online site for the Governor’s Mansion.

I tried to get a closer shot down into the kitchen. This was the best I could do since there were ropes keeping us from getting too close.

Now you may be wondering who arranged this little blogger get-together. Joyce, who used to blog at Flour Power before she went into blogger retirement, set up this heist…uhhh, I mean trip. She was the ringleader and here she is being handcuffed by the Georgia State Patrol. Joyce found out the hard way that State Troopers don’t especially like being referred to as “security guards!” 😉 Right, Joyce?

AND, it seems Joyce was also caught red-handed trying to make off with the Governor’s Cookie Recipes. Joyce, Joyce, Joyce…what will we ever do with you?! Just ask Sue at Rue Mouffetard about the trouble Joyce gets into…she can fill you in with lots of good stories from their past excursions. In fact, there are more pics of this “incident” posted at Sue’s blog.

We were just barely able to talk the State Trooper out of hauling Joyce off to jail. I think she’s officially used up all her “Get-Out-of Jail Free” cards now.

So…what have you been metamorphosing around your house? Can’t wait to see your “Before and Afters!”

Metamorphosis Monday:
If you are participating in Metamorphosis Monday: Please be sure to add your permalink below, and not your general blog address. To get your permalink, click on your post name, then just copy and paste the address that shows up in the address bar at the top, into the “url” box for the picture linky. You’ll also need to put your e-mail address in, but don’t worry, it will not be visible to anyone.

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Please include a link in your MM post back to the host blog, Between Naps on the Porch. Why is this important? When you include a link back to BNOTP, it ensures your regular readers/visitors will find the other awesome “Before and Afters” linked for this Metamorphosis Monday. If everyone links back, this maximizes the visits for all participants.

Please DO NOT type in all CAPS…it spreads the links waaaay out. Thanks!


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Comments

  1. Loved the tour and so sorry to have missed it! It's especially fun to see the photos of Joyce!!!

  2. Hi Susan! What a beautiful tour and how nice you could take pictures! Love all those trees and the kitchen looks wonderful – look at those pretty copper pots!!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia 😉

  3. Karen- The Graphics Fairy says

    What a gorgeous house and so fun to peek inside of!! Lucky you for getting to visit it!
    Thanks for hosting another lovely party, I'm sorry about the photo I picked. I meant to pick one that looked more like an actual project and less like an image, but I got excited and grabbed the wrong one!

  4. Gracious Susan…can you imagine getting to live in a place like that? Do you have a tip for how to keep the greenery so nice? Do they change it out often? It is SOOO dry here, I have a cedar garland outside soaking in a bucket that I won't bring in for days so that it will be nice for Christmas..Thanks as always for sharing!
    Lisa P.s. Sending you pics soon about my garland and my houses, wish I had better pics of them lit!
    Hugs…

  5. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    What a gorgeous home and such beautiful decor. Sounds like a really fun day. Thanks for the tour. Hugs, Marty

  6. Wow! 6 trees in a dining room? It sure looks magnificent and festive. Beautiful house!…Christine

  7. Linda (More Fun Less Laundry) says

    Hi Susan, I love your Governor's Mansion! So southern and classy. And the transformation with the trees is beautiful. Christmas decor always brings life to rooms. Thank for another interesting tour. Linda

  8. Thanks for sharing the Governor's Mansion. I was underwhelmed with it. Your own house is much prettier!

  9. Glenda/MidSouth says

    Awww! But she is smiling in the last picture, so guess everything turned out ok. 😀
    Thanks for sharing your pictures. Very pretty and glad to see that everything is not so "over done".
    Have a great week.

  10. Beautiful! What a neat tour. Thanks.
    Sherry

  11. Confessions of a Plate Addict says

    Hi Susan! What a fun post! I've never toured our governor's mansion! And what a hoot about Joyce! Funny! Happy week!…hugs…Debbie

  12. Susan, this looks like a fun tour. I'm glad you shared the photos with us. Enjoy the holidays in your beautiful home. ~ Sarah

  13. Looks like y'all had lots of fun. The home is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

  14. Just gorgeous! Thanks for the tour

  15. Linda @ A La Carte says

    It was a lot of fun and I'm so glad we were able to 'rescue' Joyce. I really enjoyed lunch and getting to chat with you! It was a fun outing!

  16. Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy says

    Susan,

    OMG … to have a mansion big enough to hold all those Christmas trees. I loved the trooper photos … my husband is retired from the WA State Patrol.

    I really enjoyed this post! Thank you once again for hostessing MM.

    Kathy

  17. Brambleberry Cottage says

    Everything looks even more beautiful when decorated for the holidays. Thanks for the tour, Susan.

    Please be sure to come by and enter my fantastic year-end giveaway. Click the picture in my sidebar for details.

    Blessings,
    Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
    http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

  18. Great tour and it is so great that you get together with other bloggers! It sounds like fun!

    Mary
    From Virginia

  19. Susan , Thank you for the tour of your states Governor Mansion!! All the decorations were gorgeous!!

  20. Susan (My Place to Yours) says

    Such beautiful tradition architecture! Thanks for the peek — and for hosting yet another Met Monday.

  21. Hi Susan,

    Thanks for sharing this tour with us. I would love to have 6 trees in one room, how awesome. I also wish I could grow those beautiful bulbs. Happy Holidays,
    Carey

  22. the cape on the corner says

    99th met monday? that's crazy! thanks so much for hosting them all, and have a great week!

  23. Handy Man, Crafty Woman says

    WOW, what a house! thanks for hosting this blog party.

  24. The mansion is beautiful! It sure looks like you had fun touring it with your friends.
    I'm not doing Metamorphisis Monday this time, but wanted to let you know that I did link my last post back to your Home Alone movie post. It really inspired me!

  25. Diann @ The Thrifty Groove says

    What an amazing tour that must have been. everything looks beautiful.

  26. Blue Creek Home says

    The mansion is truly merry and bright…and shiny (you can tell someone polishes all the furniture and the silver!) Everything is done on a grand scale but it's lovely.
    Thanks,
    Rhonda

  27. Honey at 2805 says

    Thanks for giving us a tour of the lovely mansion. Thanks for the party and being a gracious hostess! Happy Holidays!

  28. Cindy (Applestone Cottage) says

    What a great tour Susan! Many moons ago my ex-hubby and I got to take the Christmas tree to the Govenors Mansion in Madison, Wisc.
    It was quite the honor and so much fun!
    Thanks for sharing this tour!
    Cindy

  29. Thank you for the tour, Susan. All of those trees must look so pretty setting this special home aglow.

  30. Thanks for beautiful tour:))
    Hugs, Biljana

  31. So nice to see a government house with crosses at the top of the trees! Yeah for Georgia.

  32. I would like to be George Governor…and I'd spend all my time in that beautiful kitchen!!!:D have a nice day, ciao Flavia…

    You can see on my blog…my decorations and nativities….

  33. Who was the dog relaxing in the smaller dining room photo? You and I have emailed before when you suggested a nice place in Atlanta for my daughter and me to eat after we purchased her wedding dress. I have started a new blog and invite you to check it out. http://www.down-sizingboomer.blogspot.com

  34. Great tour……I could swear (but, I won't)that I went to that school. It looks like Fairfield Public School in Burlington, Ontario Canada. The school no longer stands. I wonder if it is the school? Thanks for sharing.

  35. On Crooked Creek says

    Susan,
    Lovely tour, dear. With a bit of humor, I might add. I'll be checking in again soon to see more photos of your lovely home!
    Fondly,
    Pat

  36. Enjoyed the tour and now the party! Thanks, Susan.

  37. What a beautiful house! Loved the tour. Thanks for the link party. I'm a new follower 🙂

  38. Susan (Between Naps on the Porch) says

    Hi Dacia…welcome! Glad your here!

  39. Cass @ That Old House says

    Oh my goodness what a great tour — beautiful shots of the Christmas dining rooms, and hilarious shots of Joyce!
    I'm going to have to buzz over to Sue's to check out her version of Bloggers Gone Wild!
    Cass

  40. You should stop by my blog and see my photos of the NC Governor's Mansion, which I have helped decorate for the past 8 years. There is also a private home in one of the posts that you might enjoy.

    (Scroll back over the last week or so)

  41. Sorry I missed out on all the fun the other day…Always love when Joyce behaves herself in a crowd..I wish I had known you were going on the Marietta house tour…I have been wanting to go for years but never have anyone to go with….Have a wonderful CHristmas…

  42. Chatty Crone says

    I have to tell you – that your pictures came out so very nice. (The camera and the photographer I know.)
    sandie

  43. What a great post. I LOVE all of the pics … the Christmas decor is breathtaking! And, how great that you found a trooper willing to join the fun! I'm sure he appreciated it! Happy Holidays and thanks for hosting, Becca

  44. Liz@http://infusewithliz.blogspot.com/ says

    Nice tour! Thanks for sharing! Good thing the trooper was so kind and didn't really take her away!! LOL
    I noticed in the kitchen that the man had quite a stack of trays he's working with, I wonder what they are for? Lots and lots of cookies?

  45. Linda (Nina's Nest) says

    Hi Susan, what a great tour – especially since that's our home town! Love the mansion, and I love that they eat in the informal dining room. Linda

  46. Bella Michelle says

    What a great trip! The mansion is gorgeous as usual…makes me miss all the fun things we used to do in GA during the holidays!!! Merry Christmas to you and thanks for another great Met Monday!

  47. It sure is a gorgeous mansion … how lucky to see the chef personally. Gorgeous decor …

    Christmas hugs & wishes ~
    TTFN ~ Marydon

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