Beauty at Biltmore, December 2022

 Dear Friends,  Hope you had a blessed Christmas this year.   Although the weather kept us from seeing the family on Christmas,  George and I had a very nice Christmas here at home, in front of the fireplace...

The Arctic Cold Front which hit most of the country is finally winding down.  BUT--since Thursday, Dec. 22,   the ice/snow/high winds shut our area down for several days.  They were telling people to stay home and not try to drive.  They didn't scrape the roads for several days --and since we are on a big hill,  there was no way we could go anywhere...Today will be the first day that our temperature will go above freezing.  Hopefully things are beginning to get back to normal for us now!!!

The best news to come out of that 'winter blast' was the fact that we had snow on the ground on Christmas Day!!!!   That doesn't happen very often here...    You know that I loved that!!!!

BUT---today,  I'm going back to Dec. 14 when George and I attended "Christmas at Biltmore" to show you more beauty in the big house (mansion).   The house is always gorgeous especially this time of year.  But--this year they outdid themselves with the decorations.   I showed you the Hearth Decorations --and now I'll show you some of the beautiful Christmas trees in the house.  Hope you enjoy them!!

The LARGEST Tree at Biltmore--over 30 feet tall

A Mama Tree and her children!!!! ha

I love the top of this tree.

This was one of my favorite trees since I love the reds and greens together.

This was a smaller tree---but I love the decorations and the top of the tree.

I love this tree since it reminds me of my childhood --when we used to cover our tree with  ICICLES!!!!! ha ha

I love the big ornaments and that star on top!

Just another gorgeous large tree

Aren't these pretty????  I like the emphasis on WHITE.

This is one of my favorite trees this year since it is all about BIRDS!!!

After leaving the big house,  I captured this picture of the big trees in the front of the home.

I have MORE ---but these are some of my favorite trees.   Do you have a favorite?

Hope all of you are doing well ---and I wish for you HAPPINESS,  JOY,  LOVE,  GOOD HEALTH,  and PEACE in 2023.

Hugs,

BETSY and GEORGE

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2022

 MERRY CHRISTMAS from our home to yours  12/25/22

Much Love, Joy, Happiness, Good Health, and Peace!

BETSY and GEORGE

Picture taken,  12/25/21

Christmas at Biltmore 2022, Fireplace Hearth Decorations

 Dear Friends,  As most of you know,  one of George's and my traditions each year is to attend Christmas at Biltmore every December.   This year,  due to horrible weather,  we almost didn't go.  But--we finally decided we would go and see what we could.  What a fantastic decision!!   This year's decorations in the 'big house' were some of the best we've ever seen.... We were there on December 14, 2022.  

As you can imagine,  we took many pictures...  It's hard to know what to share because it is all so gorgeous.  But some of my favorites each year are the decorations on the HEARTHS above the fireplaces in many of the rooms.   SO--since this year's hearths are some of the best ever,  I decided to share a few with you today.  You'll have to pick a favorite --but I guarantee,  that may be hard.  They are all beautiful in their own way.

Hope you enjoy seeing them!!!!

SO---what do you think????  "Christmas at Biltmore" always MAKE Christmas more special for us and I'm so glad we went.  Even standing in the rain didn't seem too bad once we got inside.  

Hope you are having a wonderful Christmas season..   Remember the reason we are celebrating.  Jesus was born.   Hallelujah ...

Love to all and MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Betsy and George

Christmas Letter 2022

 Merry Christmas 2022

Dear Friends,   This is my first Christmas letter in many years…  When George and I first got married,  I wrote Christmas letters  for several years…  I don’t know why I stopped —but in lieu of Christmas cards this year,  I decided to send our Christmas Greetings to you via Facebook and my Blog.   

Overall,  2022 has been good to us.   Healthwise we both struggle (not because we are old or anything!!!! Ha ha)—but I’m happy to say that we have had no MAJOR problems.  George still has his Degenerative Disc Disease and suffers with pain in his back and right leg..  My heart has been behaving nicely this year (which is a good thing).  BUT—my neuropathy problems in my legs and back keep me in pain a lot these days making it hard for me to walk…. Right now,  both George and I are ‘enduring’ that pain —and keep putting one foot in front of the other each day.  We neither one are willing to ‘give up’….  SO—overall we feel blessed, even if we both use canes continuously now!!!! 

The highlight for both of us this year was celebrating our 80th birthdays!!!!  George turned 80 in March and we took a trip to Florida to visit his son and family.  What a marvelous visit!!!!   Then for my 80th Birthday in August,  George took me to one of my very favorite places:  Cass Railroad in West Virginia  where we rode the old steam engine train to the top of the mountain and back… I was in 7th Heaven!!!!!  (My Dad worked for the railroad —so I have always loved trains.)

Our kids are all doing well—and both George and I are so proud of all of them.. George’s son/family lives in Florida;  His daughter lives in Nashville, Tennessee   and recently took a fantastic trip to Ireland;  My eldest son lives in Knoxville, Tennessee;  My middle son and his wife live in Maryville, Tennessee  (and are hosting the family on Christmas Day);  and my youngest son and his wife live in Dalton, GA (and they hosted the family at their home on Thanksgiving Day).  Between George and me, there are 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren… Two of these Great Grands were born in 2022 —so our family continues to grow. 

We had two sad events this year.  One was the death of my daughter-in-law’s father in Georgia,  and the other was the death of my son’s father (my ex-husband) in North Carolina.  Two births and Two deaths in 2022!!!  That is LIFE!!!

George and I have taken several short trips this year (family trips/events, to Biltmore, Fall Creek Falls, etc.)..  We took three longer trips (but not as long as the trips we used to take).  Our three major trips taken annually are:  Mt. Nebo State Park in Arkansas in February,   Pisgah Inn in North Carolina in June (to celebrate our Anniversary),  and Ocean Isle Beach in North Carolina in December.  

One more highlight of 2022 was another tradition that George and I celebrate.  That is attending “Christmas at Biltmore” in December.  This event  ‘makes’ Christmas so very special for us each year.

Merry Christmas to ALL and God’s Blessings on each of you for an awesome 2023!

Betsy and George