Fernwood House

02/22/2026

12/25/2025

‘‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

07/21/2025

Remembering Nan Smythe

The annual Christmas Party began in 2014, and by 2015, I was telling Nan about my plans to make it even better. Her response was, “I’m coming to help.” And she did—almost every year after that. Even though she lived in Lake Charles, making it a seven-hour round trip, she still showed up.

I met Nan when I was in seventh grade at Saint Martin’s School. She was one of the “cool kids”—smart, pretty, a cheerleader. I was more of a nerd, but that didn’t matter to Nan. Social status and appearances never influenced her. She was kind and welcoming to everyone, and that remained true throughout her life. Of the hundreds of comments on her obituary, many mention the same qualities: warmth, kindness, and grace.

We had been planning this year’s Christmas Party and she intended to come in October to help with the organizing—just like always. Her death on July 13 was unexpected and a shock to all of us at Fernwood. We will remember her at the party this Christmas and Christmases to come.

01/07/2025

Tonight on Fox. You saw her at the Christmas party, now watch her make her national debut as the bartender in tonight’s Kitchen Nightmares.

Gordon Ramsay prepares for Super Bowl LIX

01/01/2025

A great Christmas gift for Fernwood from my friend Smythe. Cuddling ghosts.

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas