Posted in Homeschooling
Now for some pictures of my favorite sites while we were gone. I won't load too many pictures, just my most favorite 1 or 2, well ok I'm going to post 4 pictures in a slide show. You can click stop and then click through the pictures to get a better view since the slide show runs way too fast for my taste.  We were blessed to be able to go to Biltmore Estate in Ashveille, NC again. That is one of my favorite places to go. The home is phenominal, and I'm always amazed at the painstaking detail with which it was designed and built. The history of the people that lived there...the Vanderbilt's - George Washington Vanderbilt, his wife Edith S. D. Vanderbilt, and their daughter Cornelia Vanderbilt.... is fascinating as well. The history of the home, the time period, how they lived in contrast with how the rest of the population of that area lived...it is all so fascinating to me. The gilded age is definitely a time period that we will never duplicate.
I learn something new each time I go and with each book I read. The Christmas decorations were exquisite this year. The only things missing were snow, the key to the house, the deed, the money to keep the place up in all it's splendor, and my suite case so I could move in. In addition to touring the home and the grounds they also have a farm area. We saw chickens and baby chicks, sheep, angora goats, some short haired goats (sorry I don't know what kind they are), beautiful horses, and donkeys. (The image of the horses in my blog header is an picture I took of their carriage horses when we were there in the spring.) They have a display of antique farm implements, demonstrations from the blacksmith, carpenter, butter churning, quilting, and also live music. We didn't go to the Winery this time. It used to be their diary barn, but was converted to a Winery some years ago. When Mr. Vanderbilt had this palacial home built (completed in 1895) he wanted the extensive grounds to become a self sustaining estate, and that it did. He and his wife were both actively involved in promoting forestry, job training, and agriculture, and they worked closely with the surrounding community. They were very generous with those around them, and their staff of servants as well, and they believed in educating people so that they could provide for their families and prosper. This is a most fascinating family to study if you have the time, and you will be in awe if you have the opportunity to visit the estate. Sitting on the loggia I felt such a sense of peace and tranquility. The view was breath-taking, and you could see for miles the mountains that God spoke into existence so many years ago. I would love to work on the estate and be able to live in one of the houses that was built for the families that farmed the estate for the Vanderbilt's. The approach road itself is more beautiful than words can describe. What a wonderful feeling that must be to wake every morning surrounded by the beauty of God's creation and the beauty of man's dreams in a place where neither impedes the other. At Biltmore Estate they have a homeschool festival every year that I would love to attend. The festival us usually held in the Fall, but for 2008 they are having their first ever spring Homeschool Festival, June 5th and 6th - Digging for History: A Day of Archeology and Anthropology. They also have lots of educational opportunities in the farm area - Riverbend Farm. Check out their website (Biltmore Estate Education) for more information. They have several PDF files that you can download for different level elementary grades that you may find helpful. I'll close for now since it is so late. I hope you find some good information on the Biltmore Estate website. Blessings, Missy |
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