School is back in session, days are shorter and cooler and the Alliance ladies have dipped the last caramel apple. Being new to Conner Prairie, I thought that the days of kids running about and the balloon flying high were finished for 2009. Imagine my surprise this morning when around 10am that I heard high pitched joyful voices and then at lunch saw the balloon soaring above the welcome center. Little did I know that Conner Prairie remains vibrant and active during the fall months.
Later in the day I received an e-mail (what timing!) telling me all about what is going on at Conner Prairie this fall. Follow the North Star, Conner Prairie by Candlelight and the Gingerbread Village and just a few of the things happening. Knowing that the Gingerbread Village was soon to appear in the welcome center took me back to my childhood and seeing the Gingerbread Village for the first time with my mother and brother.
At the ripe ago of 10 I had never seen such a display of confectionary wonderment and whimsy. I was rendered speechless at the sight of houses, and big houses at that, made entirely out of candy, cookies and other sugary delights. I studied the details and remember asking my mother many questions ‘Is the door made out of candy too? What about the sidewalk? What about the trees?’ She was very patient and her answer was the same to every question, ‘Yes, that is made of candy too.’ Going to see the Gingerbread Village became a great tradition for mother, brother and I. We always came to see it early in the season and it felt like to the kick off to Christmas preparation. Our visits to see the Gingerbread Village each year usually kicked off cookie baking time at my house… my mom was smart to sub cookie baking for what I really wanted to do, build a three foot tall Victorian gingerbread house with gables galore and an Oreo slate roof.
I am delighted to know that this tradition lives on at Conner Prairie, that children still walk though and are amazed at structures made entirely out of sweets and things you can eat. I am excited to visit the exhibit often this December, after all it will be right downstairs, and hopefully someone will ask me if the windows are made out of candy.
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