There was once a house made of ginger and cardboard flavored flour. The builders of this house were firm believers in prefab construction and so they picked up a complete kit for their dream home at their local food warehouse. They would build a house that could withstand storms and winds and trees that swayed. They would build a house that could shine even without power, gleam even without electricity. It would be hard work, but they could do it, together.
Eagerly they tore open the countless bags of candy. Ok, the six bags of candy; dumping the contents into mismatched bowls. At first, the builders took great care to make sure their structure could withstand the perils of their land. A little bit glue here would make sure the chimney withstood any howling winds and a little bit more glue there kept the door from blowing in. . . if it could blow in. One could never be too careful, what with nibbling cats in the region and a naughty terrier roaming the land. Carefully, and with oh-so-much precision, they assembled their new abode, taking great pains to secure their roof. Recent history had taught them that Winter storms were never polite, preferring to steal lids and hats and roof shingles.
But soon, instructions and thoughtfully photographed suggestions were tossed aside.
“I bet I can put more candy on the my side of the house,” proclaimed the younger builder.
“I doubt it!” challenged the other builder. And so they set to work, plastering candy to the sides of their new home. And when they were finished, they stood back to admire their work.
“YOU! You took all the candy for your side!” wailed the younger builder.
“I did not, you had plenty of candy. I just work faster than you.”
“But! But, that’s not FAIR. My side is hardly covered!” the young builder gasped.
“Yes, but you will get to eat my side as well as yours.” the older builder replied.
“Well, then, in that case, you win,” smiled the young builder.
The older builder swallowed her “I told you so” and smiled. Normalcy is not reconstructed overnight. But ginger houses built with love and laughter and lots of sugar certainly make an excellent foundation.
Sounds like fun. I agree that love and laughter (and lots of sugar) makes for a fantastic foundation. One can survive almost anything with that combination. What a great memory!
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I have Mary Poppins in my head, now. 😀 ~W
I love your idea and hope our building goes as well, love and laughter are the same in Spanish as in English and fun is fun. I really enjoy having all the candy near, I know well why my parents called me Candy Connie and I have the hips that live up to my name. Thanks for sharing the photos I will share them with my group.
Love Mom
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Oh, have fun. I’m afraid we went for the “as much candy as we can glue on” approach. 😀 ~W
Gorgeous! 🙂
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That makes me giggle… because BW and I have been calling it the “ugly” house. 😀 ~W
You’re amazing Wende! What a great diversion for you and the younger builder. Well written.
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Thank you… we had fun. Of course, I am appalled that I loaded so much candy on that house, because now the child will be eating it! ~W
What a cute story! But tell me, you still eat the candy when there’s glue involved? Or I guess the glue is just for the gingerbread parts and not the candy?
~Angela 🙂
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Um, yes… icing “glue”. 😀 ~W
That looks like exactly what we need around here for some holiday spirit. Except, I’m not sure how the icing will hold up in the heat. 🙁 (ha ha)
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Oh, I know! It’s hard to think of Christmas when it’s 75 degrees outside. You’ll get used to it! 😀 ~W
Love it! And that’s all there is to that 😉
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And that’s that! 😀 *snort* ~W
They are beautiful. Back in the “old” days we made some scratch gingerbread houses. It was hard to cut out the gingerbread in the shapes without it cracking. Then the walls didn’t want to stand up with just frosting. Did you say that you used glue? You got a lot of candy in those packages too.
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Yeah, we used icing as glue… and with this kit it works wonderfully. BW is angling to build from scratch next year–but honestly, that seems like more effort than it’s worth. We’ve used this kit for several years now… but IZ is bored with the candy selection. Between the two of them, there are rumblings that we need to be more “creative” next year. And in a very non-Martha sort of way, I totally disagree! ~W
wow! the colours are amazing! This is so cute 🙂 We have an ikea gingerbread house to assemble soon. I don’t think husband and I will outshine this one though 🙂
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Well, after the roof, we kinda tossed any designs we had and went for just slathering candy on the thing. It was fun. 😀 ~W
Less is more except where children and gingerbread house candy are concerned.
I’m just catching up here. You walked through the storm with your head held high, indeed! I love all the shows of thanks below! Take care, dear Wende!
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Thanks Bonnie, it’s been a week! 😀 ~W
And…the house is indeed perfect! I think it could withstand almost anything…well, maybe not the hands and mouth of the young builder…
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Oh, don’t you know it. He’s already itching to chow down. I keep saying, “Can’t we just enjoy LOOKING at it for a few days???” 😀 ~W
OOOooooooo!! Love it!!!! Can you make me one too?? he eheeeeeeee
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It’s too bad we couldn’t ship these… that would be kinda fun to do. 😀 ~W
I love the way you wrote this post & I’m getting a vicarious sugar high just from LOOKING at boy wonder’s side! 😉
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If you’re referring to the last photo… that would be MY SIDE. 😀 ~W
um…
we’d like to order one of those with a side of hot chocolate over here, please…
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Uh, swinging for the rafters with a sugar high, eh? 😀 ~W
We have been told recently, through radio broadcasts and newspaper reports, to trust only our local builders and contractors for the much needed repairs. Your local and trustworthy ~ (well, except when you get that certain gleam in your eye!). Do you and the young one hire out?? I want my next house to look just like that one.
Glad you all are safe and sound. Is the house okay, roof still on and such?? My only complaint is this nasty cold I’m nursing. Now where did I put that box of Kleenex?
Hugs, my friend!
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Our roof is “on” but unattached on the south side. It literally lifts off the structure with a good gust. Needless to say, it will need to be replaced ASAP. Good thing I asked Santa for a new roof for Christmas! 😀 ~W
What a beautiful recovery post, and post-hurricane building project.
I hope this means things are getting better…
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Thank you. We’re working on it! 😀 ~W
Yummy.
when can I move in???!!!
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Uh, yeah. . . I wouldn’t recommend that as I hear it’s slated for demolition soon. 😀 ~W
HA! You’re so funny! 😀
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Not everyone would agree with you, today. 😀 ~W
Absolutely awesome. Those houses are definitely dressed in their glad rags, baby. So glad to hear and see that things are feeling better. Thinking of you oxox a
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Heh, you feel like you might have stumbled into the white trash neighborhood of Gingerbread?? 😀 ~W