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,

Emoticons

Why we LOVE the BEACH (Beach Trip-2018)

Islander Inn,  Ocean Isle Beach,  North Carolina (A view from our room)

Dear Friends,   Sorry I wasn't around last week.... My intentions were to do 'this' post LAST week while we were at the beach..  BUT---those best laid plans didn't work!!!   I just couldn't find time to blog.  Oh WELL---we are now home,  and I'll share some posts from our latest trip to Ocean Isle Beach in North Carolina  from Dec. 2-7, 2018.

Many of you know that we have taken this trip most every year since we got married in 2001. We first stayed at Cherry Grove Inn in North Myrtle Beach, and when they tore that gorgeous little inn down in order to build another huge high-rise in that area,  we then moved to Ocean Isle and have been coming ever since.

Some years we came in May,  other years in December,  and other years,  both times!!!  I personally prefer December  since May has gotten so crowded.  Last year was the first time I think we didn't get to come at all (due to my hospitalization plus deaths and other illness in our family).It was great to get back this year!

My Theme for these upcoming posts this year  is  "What we Love about the Beach"...  Hope you enjoy today's post  (with at least 2 more to come on other dates)...  Note picture above...   One thing we LOVE about being here is the Islander Inn where we stayed...  Having an Ocean-Front room is so awesome.   It is a TRUE vacation for us!

From inside our room ---looking out at our balcony ---and the Atlantic Ocean! Another thing we loved was sitting outside on our balcony, drinking some Hot Tea and doing our Devotions from there!!!

Another of my favorite things to do this time of the year is waking up each morning to see a gorgeous SUNRISE from our balcony..  WOW!

Another thing we enjoy is walking on the beach!  George is 'patiently'???  (ha) waiting for me to join him!!!!!!!

Love the Palm Trees  and the dunes!!!!

Looking back from the beach at the Islander Inn;  Our building is the one to the left of the Gazebo, and our room was the top left!!!

Walking on the beach is WONDERFUL --especially this time of year when there are NOT many people around!!!!  LOVE it....

What do we do while on the beach???   We get a great walk in,  and we take lots of pictures.

We also love watching and HEARING the waves!!!

This old woman  absolutely loves  walking on the beach!  (It was a cold, windy day --but still, so much fun!)

We enjoy walking down to the Fishing Pier ---and I always love the REFLECTIONS.

IF you have followed my blog for many years,   you will remember  "MY" home... I have had my picture made in front of this HUGE beachfront home since 2012 (when they were building that home).   For some reason though,  the owners won't give me their home!!!!!  Dang!   ha ha ha

After our walk on the beach,  we enjoyed some REST time in the Gazebo.

Finally,  after a wonderful day,  we enjoyed seeing the gorgeous skies  --after SUNSET.

There are many other things we LOVE about being at the beach...  You will have to stay tuned to see more from Ocean Isle Beach,   December 2018...

Have a blessed week, my Friends.

Hugs,

Emoticons