Asheville, North Carolina is home of the Biltmore estate, one of the largest historical homes in America and home to 53 decorated Christmas trees this time of year.
My season of decorating culminated with being able to see some of the decorations in this still privately held castle. Friends and I traveled to view it taking in the candlelight tour in the evening, a great meal and then viewing the castle again in the morning. The grounds around it are as stunning as the interior surroundings. http://www.biltmore.com/ If you haven’t been….try to make it part of your next season’s activities.
Only 10 minutes away is another landmark hotel, the Grove Park Inn. I’d heard about it but never been before. Their slogan for Christmas is “Bring us your tired, your hum and your drum….” Not only was it brimming with Christmas trees and festivities, but it was also hosted to the National Gingerbread Contest, and I was astounded at the creativity of the top National winners. 
I can not even come close to making a gingerbread house like some that I saw. Imagine my surprise to be in North Carolina and find that a local Austell, Georgia girl actually placed in the top10! Kudos to Heather Lewis! http://www.groveparkinn.com/Leisure/ 
Seeing all the gingerbread houses reminded me of a time when my kids were little and we had about 20 of their friends over to the basement and tried our hand at gingerbread houses. 
My mom worked for weeks actually making the gingerbread and icing, the kids all brought in different candies…shredded wheat for the roof, licorice for the gutters, M&M’s for stones walkways…we spread it all over the ping-pong table and spent the evening making memories. I don’t have pictures to show…but those pictures will always be in my memories.
I have a friend who mak
es the gingerbread homes with her girls every year, for the last 20 years. She keeps them in the attic wrapped up and then brings them out every year showcasing the village that her children have made for her. They are always unique and made with extreme love.
The houses we put in our homes, whether made of gingerbread or ceramic, symbolize the camaraderie we have in our neighborhoods and extended villages. We craft our homes, the ones we live in and the ones we make with our kids with the frosting of our life. We don’t all live in castles, but we feel like we do at Christmas time. My castle is my home I share with my kids, my dog, and my friends who come to visit. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.