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 31, 2018

Christmas is Over and the New Year Begins!!!!

Decorations at Antler Hill Village, Biltmore Estate,  Asheville, NC --12/13/18
Happy New Year, my Friends.... Hope all of you have had a wonderful holiday season ---and are anxiously waiting 2019.    For me,  after a year learning to live with A Fib (and the side effects) --I hope that 2019 will be a BETTER year....  It hasn't been easy (as most of you know) for an energetic, busy person like me  having to learn that life can be just as exciting and joyful  even if I have had to slow down considerably!!!!

I have decided to show more pictures from our Christmas Trip to BILTMORE on Dec. 13, 2018.   That was such an amazing evening  ---and definitely a highlight of Christmas for us.   I have two sets to share.  One is from our magical walk around the Antler Village Area,  which is something we have never done during Christmas before...  We both were SO impressed --and since it was a cold evening and since there was still snow on the ground,  that made it even more magical....

The other set features my pictures of  some of the Hearth and Fireplace Decorations in the house... I don't have a mantel now --but I've always loved mantel decorations...  I remember my mother's pretty mantel decorations when I was young.  

Hope you  enjoy one last post from our wonderful Christmas At Biltmore experience...








This entire fireplace is so gorgeous.






Called the Chimney Room at Biltmore;   Isn't it unique???




This was a very interesting mantel,  don't you think?



Walking around the Grounds at the Antler Hill Village was so special!












I think this was my favorite mantel/fireplace display.






Happy New Year!!!



This picture of us was taken on 12/24/18 in our Living Room.   We are here to say to each of you:   HAPPY NEW YEAR.   May 2019 bring you lots of happiness and good health!!!!

Hugs,

25 comments:

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Well what a wonderful selection of colourful Christmas decorations and lights Betsy. The two f you in the last image look to me younger and still as happy and I am glad you had a fabulous Christmas. Thanks for comments you have left over the past year on my blog and I would like to wish you and your family a very happy new Year for 2019

Ann said...

The mantels are all beautiful and all those white lights outside look magical. I can only imagine what it was like to walk through there.
Wishing you and George a happy and healthy New Year

eileeninmd said...

Hello, the outside lights at night are beautiful. Love the decorated mantels.
The photo of you and George is awesome, you should frame that one. I wish you and your family all the best in 2019. Happy New Year!

George said...

You captured our visit to Biltmore beautifully. Let's do it again!

linda m said...

Love all the pictures. Happy New Year to you both. May God continue to Bless you in 2019.

Marcia said...

A very Happy New Year!

Linda G. said...

Happy New Year Betsy and George!

Arkansas Patti said...

Happy New Year Betsy and George. May 2019 bring you some ease and joy.
Love your haircut.

Rohrerbot said...

Happy New Year Betsy and George!

Dee said...

Thanks for sharing the pictures at Biltmore. Makes me want to visit it one day. But, I think the most beautiful picture is you and George in front of your own Christmas Tree!!! You both look so happy. I think I told you before my husband has A-fib too along with other conditions so he has had to slow down. Not easy for him either but God is good he can walk and talk. Wishing you and George a Happy New Year and a healthy year ahead with a lot of the trips you love to take sprinkled in the months ahead. God Bless!

David said...

Hi Betsy, Great photos from Biltmore! Love your portrait photo of you and George...especially those matching Christmas sweaters! Have a Happy and Healthy New Year... Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Connie said...

The decorations there are beautiful, Betsy. What a wonderful place to visit for the holidays. Happy New Year to you and George! Wishing you all the best.

Ginny Hartzler said...

Betsy, you are looking SO good, one would never know you have been sick. I am not able to go many places at all now, my mobility is extremely limited. So I have to stay pretty local. We got a new car that is easier for me to get in and out of, and to sit in. And we have a wheelchair in the back, for times I may need it. I have never seen a fireplace with pink flowers on tiles!!! It is a really stunning and unusual surprise! And the many long strings of lights, are they wrapped around thin tree trunks, or just hung loosely down? All of them behind the log cabin are beautiful! It is quite an effect! I think my favorites are the pink tiled fireplace, and the simple lighted tree with the beautiful street light beside it.

Ruth Hiebert said...

Beautiful pictures.I wanted to pick a favourite, but find that hard to do. I love the one with you and George,so, I'll stick with that as my favourite. Happy New Year.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

The fireplace mantels are gorgeous, and the one that you mentioned as your favorite is like none I've ever seen before. Your shirts in the last shot reminded me of a Facebook post I'd seen recently. It was a YouTube video of a bull elk whose antlers had become entangled with Christmas lights. Here's the link if you missed that one: https://youtu.be/wtZw0tlJzH0

Betsy said...

And a very Happy New Year to you and George dear Betsy. Thank you for sharing the gorgeous photos of the Biltmore with us. You and George look so happy. I’m wishing you a much healthier new year my friend.
Blessings,
Betsy

Chatty Crone said...

I think about you every time I see the commercial for a drug for AFIB. I have to say that I think you do more than I do. I wish you a wonderful new year.
I love the Biltmore Estate. Especially the trees - I want those here at my house - but that is a lot of work!
Happy New Year! sandie

Lady Fi said...

Lovely shots! Here's to a year of good health and laughter!

Linda P said...

Happy New Year Betsy and George! Thank you for sharing your life with us through your beautiful photos during 2018. Your thoughtful words are always an encouragement too. May 2019 be a good one for you both, Linda xx

Big Dude said...

Great shots Betsy and here's wishing you and George a fabulous 2019.

Rajiv Sankarapillai said...

Great photos! Beautiful mantels.
I wish you and George a very happy and prosperous New Year :)

Susie Swanson said...

Beautiful pics and post. Love that place and I wish you both a Happy New year and let's pray this year is a better one for us all. Blessings and Love.

Shug said...

So much beauty in this post. I love lights and this place looks like it does not disappoint in the number of lights it displays. Always enjoy the beautiful pictures of my friends. You two are very photogenic. Wishing you both the BEST of 2019. Prayers for you to enjoy the many Blessings that are yours.

Lowcarb team member said...

Hello Betsy,
What a lovely selection of photographs you've shared.
The lights and the decorated mantels look very nice indeed.

That photograph of you and George is brilliant, what lovely smiles.
Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year,
My good wishes.

All the best Jan

Linda said...

Spectacular scenes! Happy New Year to you and George!