Santa’s Sleigh at the Biltmore Estate
Here we are another year older and hopefully wiser…
Happy Holiday to all our friends and family. Jan and I love this time of year. We love to celebrate the Reason for the Season. This has been a great year for us. A milestone year for Larry as he passed another decade birthday. Where did the last 80 years go! Jan is close behind, always a year and a month. Both of us have enjoyed a full year of good health with no visits to the emergency room for a change. Our life seems to be on fast forward as we take on too many hobbies, an overly compulsively nature trying to keep our yard up to our expectations, plus there are those never-ending house projects (both mandatory and self-inflicted) that all demanding. Jan is into her tapestry big time and you seldom see Larry without a camera in hand. Who knew retirement was more than a full-time job. Most weeks we look for an adventure or two. The abundance of waterfalls and hiking trails alure us away from the routine day to day way too often. Poking around the charming and diverse small southern towns gives us something curious to check out. Southern history is so different than what we grew up with in the Midwest. Larry has been charged by his family to write about growing up in Michigan in the 50s and sharing life experiences along the way to 80. It has been a fun project which is close to be completed.
The new summer home, ready to roll!
The call of the road is still front and center in our lives. This year we upgraded our summer home from 23 feet to 27 feet. We loved our old RV but it was getting smaller, at least it seem like it was. Lots more room and supports a grander life-style while on the road.
Smoky Mountain National Park at Clingman’s Dome
Our travels this summer took us to the northeast as far north as Maine with stops in Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and West Virigina. Jan and I never tire of adventures in the mountains. This year it was the Green Mountains of Vermont and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Check out the travel blog that follows or link below.
Check out the blog for the Snyder summer gathering
The family gathered in the New York Catskill Mountains in August. We all hung out at a favored State Park. It was great to catchup with each other lives one on one and enjoy a hiking trail or two along the way. This worked so well we are planning to do it again next summer. Plans are already falling into place. There is a blog post from that adventure following the Christmas letter or link below.
One of our holiday traditions is to check out the Biltmore House and grounds. The holiday decorations are outstanding creating a truly festive mood. The estate was hit hard with the hurricane Helene in the fall. They are on the road to recovery. Here are some pictures from last week in an effort to share our day…
Christmas at the Biltmore estate, where is the snow?
The Biltmore Conservatory, fun to check out at the holidays or anytime of the year
The entrance at the Biltmore House all decked out for the holidays.
Great shot in the Biltmore dining room, can you see yourself here!
The Biltmore Library is both Jan and my favorite room. Well maybe a bit garish for our taste.
There were poinsettias and amaryllis everywhere
Caught my eye, more poinsettia
Jan stopping to pose for the photographer
I think Jan was telling me to smile for a change…
Great place for a photo, Mr. Lion never changes.
It has been a long day, getting ready to take on the Asheville traffic…
Hardly ever a blog post without a sunset picture from the deck!
We miss seeing everyone especially at Christmas. If you get the chance please stop and see us.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
God Bless,
Larry and Jan