The Progressive Dinner

The 38th annual Progressive Dinner was held in Jonesborough on Saturday evening. We have attended this event for several years and always enjoy seeing the unique old homes and having one course of our meal in each of them. We register at the Chester Inn Museum, where we are treated to warm cider.

The toast was presented by one of our favorite young men, Kelly Wolfe. He is the mayor of Jonesborough, and we just love him! He always makes us laugh.

There is live music at each location. Here at the Historic Eureka Inn, the music was provided by Eileen Collie. She is a student who will soon be leaving for college, where she will be studying engineering.

I am wearing a red turtleneck knit top with faux leather and Ponte pants from Chico's. The jacket is by French Connection via Saks Off 5th. The red leather gloves are from S.M. Bradford Co. on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. I think I found the red scarf at Target. None of the items are new, but you can likely find something similar in your own closet or wherever you shop since most of my choices are fairly basic.

The music at the Panhorst/Floyd home was provided by Joseph Sobol.

Jonesborough is the oldest town in the state of Tennessee.

Students of the Harrington Music Studio provided the music for the main course at The McKinney Center at Booker T. Washington School.

We enjoyed dessert at the Oak Hill School, which is a one-room schoolhouse with a pot-bellied stove. The schoolhouse was still in use as recently as the 1950s. Wonderful holiday music was provided by The Jonesborough Novelty Band.

Mr. Mickey is back to looking like the dapper gent that he is. He enjoys this sing-along with bells more than anyone.

Thank you so much for your kind comments this week. We love sharing our lives with you, and we hope to do so for many years to come.

The Progressive Dinner

One of our favorite holiday traditions is attending the Progressive Dinner in Tennessee's oldest town, Jonesborough. This event is sponsored by the Heritage Alliance of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

This year we visited five different historic locations while having one course in each location.

Each of the buildings has been lovingly restored and decorated beautifully for the holidays.

Musicians performed at each location.

At least one beautifully decorated tree was always part of the decor.

The main course was served at the McKinney Center at Booker T. Washington School.

Mr. Mickey and I always request a vegetarian entree.

The students are so talented!

We shared our table with a lovely family from Knoxville. Both parents are physicians, and the daughters were so delightful.

Some of the homes we visited were built in the late 1800s.

We adore the Jonesborough Novelty Band!

For an exceptional treat this year, we heard Jonesborough Mayor Kelly Wolfe perform "I'll Have A Blue Christmas." Elvis would have been proud of him!

More holiday events to follow!

This evening I wore a black jacket by French Connection from Saks Off 5th. The leggings are by Fabrizio Gianni. The boots are by Nine West via Saks Off 5th. I also wore a long-sleeve red tee from Kohl's with a red scarf from Target.

Annual Progressive Dinner

Our holiday season always begins with the annual Progressive Dinner in Jonesborough, Tennessee's oldest town.

Temperatures dipped into the twenties last evening, so I wore red and black layers, knowing that we would be spending a bit of time outside as we visited each house on the tour.

The tour begins at the Chester Inn Museum.

At each stop along the guided bus tour, there is live music, one course of the meal, and a self-guided tour of each historic home.

This reclaimed barn wood table in a foyer was a work of art.

Old houses often have original hardware that proves hazardous for my high heels, such as this grate with huge holes. I experienced free-falling for a moment in this 1920's house before I realized where I was standing!

The main course was served at Jonesborough’s new McKinney Cultural Arts Center at the historic Booker T. Washington School.

The highlight of the evening is always singing along with The Jonesborough Novelty Band.

A train traveled under this tree!

I am wearing a Geiger boiled wool jacket, a Talbot's long sleeve tee, a necklace from Coldwater Creek, a red scarf, and black wide-leg pants from Stein Mart, with black short boots from Belk. All the items are a couple of years old... (the beauty of basics!)