Asheville and The Biltmore, 1, By Guest Blogger Penelope

On November 26-28, my grandmother, my mom, and I went to Asheville and the Biltmore. The Biltmore is a 19th century home that belonged to the Vanderbilt family before being turned into a museum by descendants. Biltmore is famous for its beautiful Christmas decor during the holiday season, and we came for the nighttime Candlelight Tour, when the house is lit only by hundreds of Christmas lights and candles. 

Having an old-fashioned strawberry soda with Grandma

 Grandma, my mom, and I on the terrace overlooking Biltmore

Inside the expansive greenhouse in the gardens

Inside one of Biltmore's hotels, a gingerbread, chocolate, and candy
replica of the Great Hall's dining table

Another view of the gingerbread dining table

My favorite room in the whole house, the Great Hall

A gingerbread replica of Biltmore inside the kitchens

Another view of my favorite room, the Great Hall

A sitting room for guests

Grandma, my mom, and I having lunch at the Stables restaurant, which is actually in the stables!

Looking up at the roof of Stables

Beautiful flowers inside one of the greenhouses

  My mom and I in front of a poinsettia Christmas tree.

On the gingerbread table, everything is edible, even the rice paper
replica menus! 

Cedric, the much-loved mansion's former resident dog, represented
in cake form below the gingerbread table

Preview Of Coming Attractions

The Season is upon us, and blogging will slow for the holidays. There is much yet in store for the days following, however. It's been a busy fall...stay tuned.

Asheville and the Biltmore, by guest blogger Penelope

Colonial Williamsburg, with pix by Ken and Susan;
and others

The hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced
with Danny...Kaye....

And much else

A Day In Greensboro

November 21st was another outing, Rebecca driving us and Penelope to nearby Greensboro for shopping in antiques and books and records, downtown lunch at Crafted taco restaurant, and a visit to the Replacements, Ltd. complex. Vicki has been a Replacements customer for many years, Rebecca has become one, and I was curious enough to go along. Replacements, Ltd., for those not in the know, collects and sells fine housewares...dishes, crystal, silverware, figurines, artsy things...it is the place to go (Replacements.com) if your Royal Doulton setting for twelve is missing an espresso cup. Or a teapot. It's also said to be the world's largest collection of said stuff. The complex is beyond stupendously large and interesting; so large as to have its own museum and guided tours. And the company is very employee-, community-, and environment-oriented, very high tech, and very proud of its relatively unique history. We spent a couple hours there and certainly would go back. 

Most of us, there

Moi, doing my thing

In the showroom, a display of the 500 most popular patterns...

And there's our Royal Doulton "Canton," as seen with the late
Queen Elizabeth and Paddington Bear during the Platinum Jubilee
(be very impressed)

Some corporate history

The "new" warehouse is large enough to hold six football fields

And there's Rebecca's Denby...part of the reason for the visit... not
our first Denby experience

Shipping department

More of the expanse...

Stemware

Displays like this all over the complex, for both visitors
and employees 

Display on fine china in movies, TV shows, etc.

They also do restoration and repair

Flatware

More corporate history, in the museum and on the tour

Among the curiosities...

Among the bargain bins...not pictured: the huge Xmas store, the
fine jewelry department, etc. 

Many displays on how the stuff is/was made...

Ditto

And, of course, you can buy the complete set if you're so inclined

Moving right along, we are now in downtown Greensboro,
looking at all the art deco

And historic stuff...the Woolworth building, site of some of the earliest
and most effective sit-ins...now home of the International Civil Rights
Center and Museum

Alas, it was a cold, wet, blustery day, and we didn't
get to see much; have to go back...

At McKay's used books in Greensboro (a game aisle); among the 
reasons for the trip was selling some of our unwanted books and LPs
here...the death cleaning continues

Lastly, at the Antique Marketplace, viewing the scores of shops 
and booths; great trip! thanks, Rebecca!