As happy as I am to be back in Berlin, I wish I could have spent just a few more days at home, loafing around in my pjs, watching
old home videos with my family, and eating way too many Candle79 frozen dinners (despite my general anti-microwave policy), ordering American Chinese food on multiple occasions, and stuffing my face with all the Mexican food I could get my hands on. The other major highlight of my trip home was, of course, being able to spend quality time with family.
During part of my visit, my mom and I planned some extra mother-daughter time together at a hotel in the Virginia countryside. Escaping for mini-holidays when I am home to visit has sort of become a tradition for us. We arrived the day after Christmas – which is where I found this little gingerbread village created by a local elementary school, still on display in the library. The Tolbert elementary school teachers should definitely be winning teacher-of-the-year awards, because this thing was pretty damn impressive.
I’ve kind of always had a soft spot in my sentimental heart for gingerbread houses. It must be the combination of their amazing aroma and charm. I mean, have you ever seen a gingerbread home that wasn’t charming in some way or another? I’m willing to bet it has a lot to do with them being hand crafted and full of little home-made imperfections. The whole activity of crafting everything together also really appeals to me.
I can already feel myself getting all excited about having a family of my own one day and sitting around the kitchen table building gingerbread houses in the winter with the fire burning and Kenny G’s christmas album obviously playing in the background. Which has got me thinking of an even more immediate plan of action. And this one which doesn’t involve having to get pregnant, experience labor, and raise a my child until he or she is old enough to know not to stick gum drops up his or her nose. A gingerbread bake-off in 2015. Here’s hoping that my friends will be just as enthusiastic about food in the shape of houses as I am.
Photography: Rae Tashman
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