Posts Tagged ‘Christmas’

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas

December 16, 2025

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Actually this picture was taken a couple of nights before Christmas, but our living room is ready for a visit from St. Nick.  We have so many ornaments that hold special memories that we have two trees instead of only one.

Betsy has so man fireplace babies that I’m a little concerned that Santa won’t be able to get down the chimney and out of the fireplace, but I’m hopeful he’ll find a way around that problem.

From our house to your’s — Merry Christmas!

Christmas at Biltmore

December 24, 2024

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Betsy and I consider “Christmas at Biltmore” to be our main gift to each other.  We’ve been attending their Candlelight Christmas for nine years now, and always find it to be delightful.  We were not sure what to expect this year because of all the damage caused by hurricane Helene, but everyone at Biltmore did a superb job of cleaning up and repairing the damage and getting the decorations in place for Christmas.

All of the rooms in Biltmore House are decorated for Christmas, with each room having one or more decorated Christmas tree.  (The were 69 decorated trees in the house all together.)  This is the Breakfast room on the main floor, pictured in a photo taken two years ago,

Palm Court at Biltmore

December 10, 2024

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Christmas at Biltmore is always amazing.We’ve been going for several years, and we always enjoy it.  The house is always beautifully decorated with one (or more) Christmas trees in each room.  Even the Palm Court just inside the entrance to the house gets made into a winter garden for the season.  There are often musical attractions (you can almost see a choir through the palm fronds) which just adds to the beauty of the setting.

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire?

December 15, 2020

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We really didn’t have chestnuts roasting on this fire, but we did still have a wood-burning fireplace when this picture was taken. (We switched to propane when the Old Man got too old to keep cutting and splitting the firewood).

But even if these weren’t any chestnuts, I like the peaceful setting of this scene in our home on a cold December night.

Shooting in the Dark

February 19, 2019

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I realize that the holiday season is long gone, but I was so happy with these photos that I just had to share them with you.

Betsy and I went to the Candlelight Christmas event at Biltmore last December. We didn’t take our big cameras, but I used my iPhone to take pictures as we approached and then toured the house. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the outdoor night photos, but I think they came out pretty well. The picture above is of the big lighted tree on the lawn in from of the Biltmore house.

We were early for our entrance to the house, so when we got off the bus from the parking area we walked away from the house so we could see both the tree and the house. The lights gave a nice, warm glow to the scene.

There was some snow on the ground, but there had been a couple of days of warm weather so there was not much left. We walked on the lawn to get closer to the tree, but were happy to get back to the walkway as we got closer to the house.

We got a good look at the front of the house as we approached the line to get in. Our candlelight visit to Biltmore had gotten off to a very good start.

Our World: Opryland’s Nativity Scene

January 6, 2014

Scripture at the Opryland's Nativity Scene.  December 19, 2013.

Scripture at the Opryland’s Nativity Scene. December 19, 2013.

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This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by five wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

Yesterday was the last of the twelve days of Christmas, but today is the Day of Epiphany, commemorating the visit of the Wise Men to the Baby Jesus in Bethlehem.  So I think one more Christmas-themed  post is appropriate.

Mary and Joseph on the way to Bethlehem.  Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee.  December 19, 2013.

Mary and Joseph on the way to Bethlehem. Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee. December 19, 2013.

On December 19 Betsy and I visited the Opryland Hotel in Nashville with my daughter Kelly and her husband Chuck.  One of the attractions at the hotel this time of year is a Nativity Scene with life-sized figurines.

Wise men, angels and shepherds gathered around the manger.  Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee.  December 19, 2013.

Wise men, angels and shepherds gathered around the manger. Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee. December 19, 2013.

When we first saw this display many years ago, it was set up in a courtyard between two wings of the hotel.  Now it’s set up in front of the hotel.  While that gave more room for a large stable and manger, it definitely tied up traffic.  Fortunately there were officers to direct traffic.

Another look at the manger.  Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee.  December 19, 2013.

Another look at the manger. Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee. December 19, 2013.

If you’re ever in Nashville during the holiday season, I think you’ll enjoy seeing the Opryland Hotel, especially at night.

There are many other beautiful decorations at the hotel, but I’ll probably save those for another holiday season.

Silly Time is Here

January 9, 2013

ChristmasCollagesIII

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On our first Christmas after we got married, Betsy and I took some pictures which we used in Christmas cards the following Christmas.  That led to our habit of taking ‘formal’ pictures each Christmas morning.

Our routine is to set up the tripod, get dressed in nice clothes, and take many pictures, hoping that at least one is a ‘keeper’.

The whole process can take a fair amount of time, which can lead to some silly pictures as well as good ones.

Santa gave me a post-Christmas present of a neat collage maker.  The collage in this post is my first attempt to make a collage from scratch.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

December 21, 2012

2012 -- Christmas Outside

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We’ve tried to be good all year,
and have decorated the outside of the house with symbols of Christmas cheer.

2012 -- Christmas Indoors

Inside the fire in the fireplace casts a warm glow.
The tree is up with room for presents below.

There’s only one thing for my Beautiful Bride and I to do —
That’s to wish a Merry Christmas to each and every one of you.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

December 23, 2011

Our Christmas Tree, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. December 25, 2009.

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Betsy and I would like to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Blessed New Year.  We hope that Santa is good to you, and all of your memories are happy ones.  We’ll see you in 2012.

My World: We Had a White Christmas

December 28, 2010

Our deck and back yard, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. December 25, 2010.

This is my post for the My World meme.  It is hosted by Klaus, Ivar, Sandy, Wren, and Fishing Guy.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

White Christmases are rare here in Tennessee, but this is what our deck and back yard looked like on Christmas Day.  We actually got much more snow Christmas Night and Sunday morning, but we were glad to see white on the ground Christmas Day.

Our Christmas Tree and Fireplace. December 25, 2010.

We were cozy and warm in the house, with a fire in the fireplace to take out the chill.  Of course, those goodies under the tree helped us feel good as well.