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WHITE HOUSE VISIT
December 1, 2004

The event was a reception for all the folks from our Decorative Painting Society whose painted ornament was chosen by the White House to adorn the "official" Christmas Tree which is displayed in the Blue Room. There were 350 ornaments chosen (the theme was musical instruments) and there were probably 400-500 folks (painters and their guests) attending the reception from all around the country. The decorations and food were spectacular! The theme for Christmas 2004  was "A Season of Merriment and Melody".  Below are some favorite photos. Click on each one to enlarge.

Invitation
Invitation from first lady, Laura Bush
Entrance hall downstairs
Waiting in line with beautiful decorations
Vermeil Room
The Vermeil Room with  Lady Bird Johnson over the decorated fireplace.
Mrs. Barbara Bush
Downstairs hallway portrait of Barbara Bush and "Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"!
White tree
40 beautiful white "snowy" trees decorated many of the entrance areas.
Music
Music in the Grand Foyer  with a snowy forest of trees.
East Room
The East Room where the buffet was hosted.
Buffet Table
Beautiful white tulips and roses in large arrangements on the buffet table.
Dessert table
Jack at the dessert table. So many wonderful desserts to try!
Dessert
Having dessert with fresh white roses decorating the table. "Frosty the Snowman" is on the mantle.
Creche
The Crèche display has been a tradition since 1967. Made of carved wood and terra cotta.
Rudolph
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" decorates another mantle in the East Room.
Marshmellow World
It's a "Marshmallow World" vignette on a third mantle in the East Room.
Toyland
The fourth mantle holds "Toyland". All are beautiful handmade displays.
White Christmas
"White Christmas" vignette on a table in the Grand Foyer.
Green Room
Relaxing in the Green Room by the beautiful fireplace.
Scottie, Laura Bush and Jack
Photo taken with Mrs. Bush in the Blue Room  by the official tree.
Red Room
After meeting Mrs. Bush, on through the Red Room and back around to view the tree up close.
Official tree
 "In keeping with tradition, the official White House Christmas tree adorns the Blue Room... "
Official tree top
"(It)  is decorated with 350 musical instrument ornaments painted by the members of the Society of Decorative Painters. "
Tree close
"Every state has a painter represented on the tree. " Quotes from Mrs. Bush during a press conference.
Tree close
Close-up showing one of the several painted baby grand pianos (not Scottie's).
Tree close
Beautiful painted ornaments!
Tree close
More beautiful ornaments.

"And so to carry out our theme of merriment and music, melody, we covered the tree with ornaments that are musical instruments -- the bells and the maracas and the tambourines and the -- even little piano. I don't know if you see the little piano, the drums, the guitar. And they're all painted by decorative artists from the Decorative Artists Society of America. And they came in yesterday from every state, all around the country, to see their ornaments on the tree. And I think it makes a really beautiful, vibrant, deep color tree. I think it's so pretty. Did you all see any of these up close?" Mrs. Bush talking at a press conference.


Piano
Scottie's piano which she couldn't find on the tree! The tree was too big and there were so many decorations! Scottie's piano was in a photo in the Decorative Painter which showed the many different types of ornaments on the tree.
Piano
Front view of Scottie's piano. It was requested that it be left black lacquer background and painted only with gold metallic strokework; no flowers, scenes or birds or anything other than strokework!
Standing by tree
Scottie standing by the official tree. It was so big and with many folks around there was no chance to photo the entire tree from top to bottom.
Karen, Barbara and Scottie
A friend from Oregon, Karen Schappacher (with Barbara Bush in the background!).
Judith Rickett
ToleFriends board member, Judith Rickett. A big hello to Annie Strebe in Venezuela from both of us!
Sandy Scales and sister
Sandy Scales (middle, a local friend from The Apple Tree) and her sister visiting from Florida.
Doorway
Even the doorways were decorated (East Room)!
Window
Beautiful drapery detail in the Blue Room.
window
More beautiful drapery detail in the Grand Foyer.
Forest
A forest of "snowy" trees line the long Cross Hall.
Jack and Scottie
Scottie and Jack on their way out of the Winter Wonderland that was the White House this Christmas season.
Outside four
Donna Gensler from Florida with friend, Karen Schappacher from Oregon,  Scottie and Jack heading for dinner at the Willard Hotel!
Scottie's BOOK STORE  Scottie's BOUTIQUE Scottie's DOLL HAUS Book
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