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| Saturday night the house was warm and welcoming. A great sign of good things to come! |
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| Our Welcoming Committee! Volunteering for the VNACJ begins with our own kids. |
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| The kitchen has already been gutted which added to the fun. |
Last Wednesday was my first visit to Holly Hill - the site of the latest Stately Homes by the Sea Showhouse benefitting VNA of Central Jersey. Address in hand I realized with a start as I pulled up the drive that this was the home of a dear childhood friend. I had spent many nights here, played touch football on the expansive lawns and walked through the woods to The Hunt. I was excited to see it all again. It is a true family home with welcoming rooms, fabulous woodwork and excellent bones.. A happy home! The current owner, Elaine Chevalier, is as gracious as can be and noted to the designers and the committee chairs gathered that "my home is your home". I could tell right away that this was the perfect choice for this year's Show House. We were all here to meet the Designers and the Designers to meet us. Show House Chairs Mindy Minerva, Liz Thees and Nancy Mulheren were on hand to introduce the chairs of some of the many committees who will work directly with the designers. The 15 Landscape Designers were already hard at work creating their outdoor rooms that will be enjoyed all month long. Salt Creek Grille in Rumson provided a wonderful lunch for everyone after the meeting was over. Everyone was thrilled to hear that they would be running the Cafe for the Show House.
On Saturday night the house was once again open for a Sneak Peek at the house before the transformation begins this week. Over 100 past and present sponsors wandered through the rooms - enjoying Wine, Beer and soft drinks provided by Rumson Wine and Spirits and delicious cheeses and fruit compliments of Sickles Market in Little Silver. Kessler, who is catering the Show House Gala, provided fabulous food to sample. Kudos on the Scallops! We were treated to a warm hearted talk by one of the many happy clients of the VNACJ. Mr Kitson from Colts Neck arrived with his wonderful nurse and talked so fondly of the care he and his wife have been given which has allowed them to live independently at home. It made a real difference to me to hear first hand what the VNACJ is here for. For everyone who needs care regardless of income. This is what the Show House benefits - and it makes it so much more special to hear such a personal story.
I was thrilled to be asked to write the first "blog" relating to the Show House.. I'll be writing 2 or three times a week. My hope is to provide everyone with a behind the scenes look at what it takes to put on a Show House. I can tell you right now that the work has been going on many months already. Well over 1000 volunteers give many hours to make sure this month long event goes off looking effortless. The Designers are absolutely the Stars of the Show - but without the plumbers, painters, electricians, all of the committee members and Elaine Chevalier this anticipated event would not happen. When all is said and done - I hope we can all have an idea of what happens before we can open the doors to the public. Questions? Comments? Memories on the Home? What would you like to know? My email is statelyhollyhill@gmail.com. You can call me Holly. And follow the blog to get the latest updates. We're on Facebook too!
