BILTMORE CHRISTMAS TREE-RAISING 'PARADE' 11/1/19

A very cold but excited woman standing in front of the big Christmas Tree in the parking lot BEFORE the parade; That tree is a 35 foot Fraser Fir tree grown in Newland, North Carolina.  Some facts:  the tree weighs 3500 pounds and it takes a team of 40-50 workers to maneuver and raise that tree into the Banquet Hall inside the Biltmore House.

Dear Friends,   George and I did something on November 1st that we've never done before....  We went to the Biltmore Estate early in the morning to see the Biltmore staff/workers bring in the huge 35 foot Fraser Fir tree through the grounds and into the house,  to begin the official start of Christmas Season.

We have been Season's Ticket-holders for many years --but have never been to see this special presentation.  Needless to say,  we loved it (even though it was VERY cold that morning) and I'm sure we will do it again in upcoming years!!!!

Today I'll share some of the pictures we took from that amazing morning....    I will divide the group into three parts...  Hope you enjoy the 'parade'!!!!


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Part I was almost my favorite because we somehow got into a different Parking Area than we usually do... This ended up being the parking area where the parade set-up was taking place.  SO --we got to see everything up close and personal... SO NEAT....

It was such a JOY to see Santa up close and personal before the parade --in the parking lot... The kids  (along with the big kid, ME) enjoyed talking to Santa.... He assured me that I have been a very good girl this year!!!!!  Yeah.

The horses and cart/carriage arrived with their driver,  the coachman,  in the parking lot.... 

The horses were asking Santa for a Christmas Present just for them.

These hard-working young ladies were waiting to hook the tree up to the horse-driven cart... It was interesting to listen to the coachman telling the horses to back-up (which they did).... Neat!

More workers were busy making the cart neat and clean for the upcoming parade.

Santa and the Coachman in a nice conversation before the parade

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Part II is the Parade!!!!!  George and I (along with about 1000 of our friends) were now in the Biltmore House Grounds --waiting for the parade to begin!!!! On the dot of 10 a.m.---a trumpeter stepped outside on the high balcony at the Biltmore House and played his trumpet signaling the beginning of the parade.  That sent chills up my spine!!!!!  AMAZING.

We walked from the Parking Lot to the Biltmore House Grounds.... MANY people were there WAITING and listening to choral music presented by some local choirs...

We found a place to stand --and wait for the parade to pass by!!!!  

The parade is coming!!!!  I'm so excited!!!!   (You can see the band in the middle right side of the picture, and the  big tree on the middle left side.)

The Asheville High School Band is passing by us now..........They were playing some beautiful Christmas music.  

Here they come!!!!!  I loved hearing the 'clip clopping' of the horses hooves.  

I hollered:   "Hi Santa"  as they passed us....

If that big tree could talk,   it would probably say that it would rather be in the forest instead of all wrapped up on a wagon!!!!!! ha

We walked closer to the house and got a picture of the big tree as they began the process of taking it inside...

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Part III contain pictures we took after walking toward the house ---and watching the huge video presentation showing the remainder of the celebration.... My photos are actually photos from the big screen.

This is a great picture from above showing the tree being taken off of the big wagon. 

The tree is almost inside!!!!!!

The band continues to play--and believe it or not,  but George and I are IN that photo...  Can you see us???? ha ha... We are on the left side about an inch and a half from the bottom of the picture.. We both have our black hoods on, standing behind a lady with a light blue coat on and some children (one of them with a red hat on)...See us now?????? 

The sun was hitting the video screen so these last two pictures are not very clear.   This shows them lifting that enormous tree in the Banquet Hall.  There will be 62 decorated trees in the Biltmore House along with over 13,000 ornaments plus tons of garlands and wreaths...  It's an amazing place to be during Christmas. 

It is UP.......  Let Christmas Begin at Biltmore....

Sorry for such a long post... I should have split it into two posts --but thought it would lose some of the meaning of our special morning/day at Biltmore.    I hope you enjoyed being a small part of our wonderful day!!!!!

Have a great week.

Hugs,

Emoticons

Just a Hike near Home with our fabulous FAMILY

At the Overlook in Fairfield Glade in late afternoon, 11/3/19,  we did see a little Fall Color when the sun was shining on it.   This is Mark and Robin!!!

Dear Friends/Family,   George and I have been busy the past several days --so my Blog Post this week is a 'tad' late!!!!!  Sorry.....  Anyhow --I will share with you some pictures from a 1.6 mile hike we took yesterday at the Overlook Trail,  right here in Fairfield Glade...

Mark and Robin came to visit --which always brings JOY to this Mom!!!!  We had some dinner here at home,  sat and talked/talked/talked,  and then after eating that Lemon Bundt Cake,  we just HAD to take an 'adventure'..... However,  since the time changed yesterday,  it now gets dark an hour earlier (which for us is about 4:30 pm now).. Yuck!!!!    SO--we knew we didn't have much time before dark....  BUT--we did it anyhow!!!!!

Hope you enjoy some pictures of FOUR people having a great time --and getting some exercise --as we enjoyed rustling through the leaves...  (Does anyone besides me love walking and hearing --and smelling --the leaves crunching under our feet in the Fall?)

Our little hike took us in and around several beautiful caves and rock formations.  In this picture of  Mark, Robin and George,  the guys are bending down to Robin's level since she is a tiny one!

The hike was a 1.6 mile loop --and the trail was in really good shape.

The trail led us down to Daddy's Creek where we enjoyed seeing some Fall Color --and reflections in the water.

Peak-A-Boo!!!!!!!   I see you two in there!!!!!!

Another neat picture of the clear water --and reflections

Mark, George and me --having a great day.

I love this picture of Mark next to the creek.  The sun was setting --and the reflections in the water were so neat!  Hope you notice all of the HUGE dried leaves on the ground  (brown on one side and a grayish white on the other side)... See next picture!!!!

Mark and Robin said while having that 'puzzled' look on their faces:  "Look at this HUGE leaf"...   (I had the 'job' of finding out what tree all of these leaves were from.) 

Here is a picture of some of the huge leaves....  I did some research and found out that  the trees are called BIG LEAF MAGNOLIAS  (also called The Toilet Paper Tree or the Umbrella tree).   I want to come back in spring to see the huge blooms which can be a foot wide...I've seen lots of Magnolias in my life --but never this one.  

The Big Leaf Magnolia Trees are only found in certain areas along the Cumberland Plateau in the state of TN.  I can see why some call this tree the Umbrella Tree....  WOW!

As we walked along the creek,  I looked up to see the sun shining on the tops of all of the trees.  It was shady where we were --and the sun was beginning to go down.

Here's what we saw from the edge of the creek...  The sun's reflections on the water made it look like the water was on FIRE!!!!

There were lots of beautiful Rhododendrons and Mountain Laurel around this area --along with more little caves and amazing rock formations.  Mark and Robin posed for me to get their picture.

Mark and Robin love being out in nature --and have so much fun together.. In this picture,  Robin was pointing as she said:  "Look at this crazy guy climbing a tree"...   ha ha

Mark (like George) loves to climb out on the rocks and get lots of pictures....

Robin and I were having FUN  wondering what was going to climb out of that little cave toward us....

Let's get moving!!!!!  It will be dark soon....  (Loved the trail --which was in great shape.)

Beautiful sunset --once we got back up that mountain to where we started... This picture was taken at the same place that the very top picture of this blog post was taken (of Mark and Robin).  

WELL---for awhile,  I was wondering if we'd make it back before darkness totally took over.   BUT--we did!!!!!   It was a great hike and we love hiking with Mark and Robin since they also enjoy stopping along the way checking things out --and learning more about being out in nature.... Seeing  the huge Big Leaf Magnolia leaves was just AWESOME.

The hike was SO NEAT;  having Mark and Robin here was even better;  AND --it was a GREAT DAY!!!!!!   We drove back to our home --and of course,  we just HAD to have another piece of Lemon Bundt Cake!!!!!!! ha

Have an awesome week...

Hugs,

Emoticons