Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Monday, December 17, 2018

A Biltmore Christmas 2018

Walking around OUTSIDE in the SNOW --enjoying the HUGE 55 foot Norway Spruce Tree surrounded by smaller trees;  There are usually luminaries all along the big driveway --but they couldn't put them out due to the snow.
Dear Friends,  I hope you are enjoying the Christmas Season so far...  George took me to the BILTMORE HOUSE and GARDENS,  Asheville,  North Carolina,  on 12/13/18 to see "A Biltmore Christmas"...The theme this year is:  "The Art of Christmas"...The first word that comes to mind when talking about that fabulous evening is  "WOW"....

Since we have season's passes to Biltmore,  we try to go there every 3-4 months.  Usually though,  we only visit the GARDENS,  and seldom go into the big house...  This year we have visited the house/mansion twice.  Once was in September --during the Chihuly Exhibit.  AND --the other was now to see all of the Christmas lights and decorations...

I HIGHLY recommend a visit to Biltmore during the Christmas season.  This year we even drove around to the Antler Village and Winery area and enjoyed all of the gorgeous lights there also... As many times as I have been to Biltmore,  I truly think that this latest visit was one of my favorites.  Thanks, George, for taking me there.  Being there truly 'made' Christmas for me this year.

Here are some interesting facts about the Biltmore Christmas for you to think about:
-There are 113 decorated Christmas trees,  with 55 of them inside the house.
-The largest tree inside is a 35'  Fraser Fir (in the Banquet Room).
-There are 45,000 lights inside the house,  and another 135,000 lights around the estate.
-There are 13,000 Ornaments.
-There are 1000 Poinsettias inside the house.
-There is  10,227 feet of Garland.
-There is LIVE music. (We enjoyed hearing a boys' choir sing,  a harpest,  a pianist,  and a guitarist. AWESOME.)
-There are 150 candles  lit inside the house.
-There are 1000 handmade bows.

Biltmore Estate is the largest private home in America.   Total floor space amounts to 4 acres.  That includes 35 bedrooms and 43 bathrooms.

I took 200 pictures that night...  Today I will share just a few of my photos....In future blog posts,  I'll share more pictures of some of the amazing Christmas Trees in the rooms,   the decorated hearths/mantels,  and more from our walk around the Antler Village area...

Hope you enjoy today's pictures ---showing just a tiny piece of what we saw that evening!!!


Inside the Winter Garden where we enjoyed the entertainment;



The HUGE 35 foot Fraser Fir Tree in the Banquet Room;



The other end of the large Banquet Room;



Love this large Cresche --showing the true meaning of Christmas;



There are 65 fireplaces in Biltmore.   This picture was taken in the Tapestry Gallery. People love this room since there are tapestries on all of the walls..



You have to see this huge wreath inside the house in order to realize how very large it is... There are 490 wreaths around the entire estate.



Beautiful decorations in the Library;  The decorations in this room followed a Travel Theme--filled with ships, stars,  and rope knots.



The Grand Staircase is always a highlight ---since,  as you walk up and around--you get different views of the tree below.  This gorgeous tree is decorated with stars  and cherubs.  



Special decorations for children in this room;   I didn't realize when I took this picture that Humpty Dumpty was there!!!!



Many people would miss seeing some of the little extra decorations ---but this one caught my attention.   I love decorating with holly....  Neat!!



Decorations EVERYWHERE --even in the halls;   There were 1000 Poinsettias in the house!!!



Do you like to make Gingerbread Houses???  Here's one for you,  a Biltmore Gingerbread House!!!!  Wow!



This is a picture of the Gatehouse ---as were leaving Biltmore... I was unable to get a picture here when we entered --because of all of the cars in front of us...



I'll close with a picture that the folks at Biltmore took of George and me.

Hope you enjoyed a little from our wonderful Christmas Trip to the Biltmore Estate..  It was an amazing evening!!!   Here is another interesting link about Christmas at Biltmore.  Click HERE.

Hugs,

28 comments:

Linda P said...

Thank you for a glimpse around Biltmore at Christmas. It must have been a magical experience.
I love the Winter Room and the gatehouse, but no wonder you took many photos. Everywhere is decorated so beautifully. How nice that you got a photo taken of you and George. A lovely reminder of your visit.

Ann said...

Wow, the decorations are truly amazing. Walking through there would be a magical experience.

Deb J. in Utah said...

Hi Betsy - wow - amazing and beautiful! I wish I lived close enough to Biltmore to go see it! What a place! Merry Christmas to you both!

Liene said...

Living here so long, and we've never been during Christmas! Thank you for the tour! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

George said...

You did a great job capturing the beauty of Biltmore at Christmas. I'm glad you enjoyed our visit there.

Big Dude said...

Thanks for sharing your gorgeous shots. We must go for Christmas some day.

David said...

Hi Betsy, Back to Biltmore again...with a season pass that makes sense. Not an inexpensive place to visit but it is beautiful. We've never been there for Christmas but from your photos, it looks like I should add it to our bucket list! Merry Christmas! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Lady Fi said...

Wow -- so very festive!

thewriterslife said...

Oh man would love to see this in person!
Boomer Chick
http://www.overthehillchick.blogspot.com

Ginny Hartzler said...

What an awesome Christmas treat! I think my favorite is the huge chandelier and the Banquet room!

Ruth Hiebert said...

WOW! It is beautiful in pictures, but I'm sure even so much better in person.Awesome pictures, Betsy.

Fun60 said...

Oh Wow! Now that is impressive.

Judy said...

Beautiful. Thank you for sharing your pictures.

Chatty Crone said...

Betsy - you have made me want to go - I love all those facts. When do they start to decorate? It must takes months and then to store it - and how many people work on it? It was just beautiful! Awesome!

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

Wow! I can't even imagine 55 Christmas trees in the house! Your pictures are wonderful. It must be breathtaking to see it in person.

Betsy said...

Every year I say I am going to Biltmore for Christmas and still yet to go. I love how you captured the gate house at night with the lights.
So beautiful and such a staircase, I bet the children in the day who were invited and lived there had fun running up and down them, if they were allowed to anyway. I can't imagine living in a place this grande. Love it.
I do want to see more pictures of the Biltmore at Christmas, so I hope you share them soon. I enjoyed these. You and George look Marvelous in the red you both are wearing. Great Picture!
Happy Christmas Holidays
Betsy

Linda said...

Wow, looks fantastic!

Jeevan said...

It was marvellous decorations and turning the house little more elegant! Lovely capture on décor and I loved all the trees.

My advance Christmas greeting to you and George

Arkansas Patti said...

You certainly take advantage of your season pass. A great investment for you.
I think I loved the natural nativity scene the most.
Hope you and George have a wonderful, healthy and happy Christmas and New Year.

Marcia said...

Just gorgeous! we are off on a short vacation tomorrow to Cambridge MD staying at the Hyatt Resort there. I 'm looking forward to sitting by a fireplace.

Dee said...

Dear Betsy, thanks so much for sharing the Biltmore visit you and George took. It truly is lovely. A wonderful of lights and garlands, trees and poinsettias, ornaments and crystals. And the creche truly draws the viewer into the meaning of Christmas. Thank you. Peace.

Roberta said...

Dear Betsy,
thank you for sharing your nice photos!
Merry Christmas to you and your dears!!
Roberta

Connie said...

Such lovely Christmas displays, Betsy. I bet it was wonderful to see them all. Great pictures!

Shug said...

I love the last picture of you and George. You both look great. and....I also love the view through your back door, of your gorgeous tree. I have been so close to Biltmore so many times and yet never stopped. I need to add this to the bucket list. Love all the photos....

Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMotte said...

I know you frequent the estate regularly and I lovedyour photo tour. Keep enjoying your holidays. I have my grand kids and family here from UK. Lots of goodwished to you and George.

Beatriz said...

Simply amazing Betsy!
I loved every picture, so well done each place, each piece of decoration... Happy Chrristmas for you and your family and a New year full of new plans!!!

Bia :)

Lowcarb team member said...

Oh Betsy,
What a wonderful post, I loved seeing all of your photographs.
I love the colour schemes of red and green.
The rooms look wonderful.
What a great photograph of you and George too.

Merry Christmas to you :)

All the best Jan

Rajiv Sankarapillai said...

Wonderful post and beautiful pictures!
I wish you and George a very merry Christmas and an awesome new year!