Old Sweetwater

Old Sweetwater

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Gingerbread

Gingerbread is a term for a type of ornate architectural design which adorns houses. It became popular in the mid-1800's when the steam-powered scroll saw and lathe became available and could reproduce the look faster and cheaper. The name is said to have come from the Grimm's fairytale, Hansel and Gretel. I've never lived in a *Gingerbread* house, but I adore cottages that are set apart by their curly-cue, fancy, bric-a-brac, ornate latticework. And, oh how I enjoy a warm gingerbread cake with lemon curd! Anyone live in a *gingerbread house?*






43 comments:

It's me said...

Hi !! nice to read your post........beautiful houses!! and wowwww..that last pictures is very Yammie yammmie..........have a nice sunday.......things are going well with you???....love Ria.....

All things nice... said...

Janean,

Oh we don't have gingerbread houses here in Ireland, they are cute! They are very decorative, I like the traditional ones but any pastiche I wouldn't like. Hope you are enjoying the weekend

All things nice...

Kom Achterom said...

What a dream!!!!!
love the wooden veranda
i wish you a verry nice sunday
Yolanda

Robin@DecoratingTennisGirl said...

Janean,
I'll take that little place with the picket fence! The first picture is adorable, too!
xo
Robin

FairfieldHouse said...

Janean,

My 1880s home features Gingerbread trim. My last post features a pictorial of The Painted Ladies along my shore which ooze with Gingerbread Trim.

http://fairfieldhousenj.com/2010/07/19/time-traveler/

Your Friend,
Deborah

Julie said...

Love your post. I have always liked the Gingerbread look. Whether it is on the Victorian beauties, or the Woodsy cottages, it is one of my favorites. thanks for sharing!

NanaDiana said...

Just found you by "blogging along"- ;>) I love the post and your blog (as far as I've gotten into it, that is). For years I have kept a folder & a few books on gingerbread style houses. They are so fascinating and we have quite a few of them in the immediate area. What fun to see the ones that you posted. Signing up as a follower now- Diana

Rita said...

I don't live in one, but have always admired them. I always wanted a house with a wrap-around porch on it. Lovely homes you posted. That cake looks scrumptious! Enjoy eating it!

CHERI said...

I'm drooling...both over the houses and the yummy concoction! I love gingerbread! Several years ago we looked into adding gingerbread trim to our farmhouse style home. It was just too expensive for us at the time so my wonderful husband (who's not all that handy with carpenter skills) bought one piece and used it for a template, then cut out 18 pieces for our big wrap-around porch. I love them and it added so much charm to our home. I also have fond memories of smelling gingerbread cooking in my grandmother's kitchen. Thanks for a lovely post!

Unknown said...

Being a retired painting contractor, I have painted a few of these....very labor intensive but I loved doing the Painted Ladies!

Pondside said...

That little green house would be just right for me!
Gingerbread with lemon curd - yummy! I've got a lovely white cake in the oven right now, thinking of strawberries and whipped cream on top of it after supper this evening. Gingerbread will wait for a cooler evening - it just says 'cosy' to me.

Farm Girl said...

Hi Janean, I hope you are doing good.
I love gingerbread on houses. I have never lived in a house like that but I think it would be fun to make a tiny cottage like in Hansel and Gretel and live way back in the woods. But of course be nice to children and not try and eat them. :)
I think I would enjoy fattening them up. Small problem I have, No I have never had gingerbread with lemon curd but it sounds divine.
Have a great day!

Susan Freeman said...

Lovely pics! My little cottage has some gingerbread trim. Your own gingerbread looks yummy and I do love lemon curd.

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

Donna said...

They are fun to look at and photograph, but I would never own one! I would imagine that the upkeep would do me under, LOL!

Debby@Just Breathe said...

They are charming. I love the little green house. (just a little gingerbread for me)

Barb said...

Gingerbread - is it already time for thinking about Christmas?!?! I love the Gingerbread houses, and, I think they would be adorable all decorated with lights and Christmas trees! I love gingerbread and lemon curd also, although I love lemon curd on almost anything! My favorite is the third picture down, the "green" house - I'm still thinking summer! Fun post!

Hugs,
Barb

Donna said...

I love gingerbread houses too, your photos are wonderful! I think it would be fun to live in a big two story gingerbread house by the beach.

Gingerbread with lemon curd ~ yum!

Donna

Karen said...

No, but I'll take some of that gingerbread cake, please!

Becky Garrison said...

I love gingerbread - both kinds! And those pics, the 3rd one down . . . the green one? Be still my beating heart!!! Love it!!!

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Janean,
I have always been fascinated by gingerbread houses. They are mysterious and gothic.

I wouldn't mind a piece of that delicious looking cake too.

hugs
Sissie

Susan B said...

Some sweet photos. I don't live in a house with gingerbread trim, but I do love gingerbread! I've never tried it with lemon curd...though that sounds quite yummy! :)

Anonymous said...

I LOVE old architecture! Thanks for sharing these beautiful homes with us!
Are you sharing that cake, too (lol)? Looks DElicious!
Hugs ~ Jo

Bernie said...

No but I would love too, they are so cozy looking. I love warm ginger bread with whipped cream. What is lemon curd?....:-)Hugs

Cindy said...

i just can't resist a gingerbread house, especially around the holidays with candles in the windows. it sucks me right in every time.....

hugs :)

Lisa said...

Oh yummy and the cake looks good too! ;) I love the 3rd cottage I could move right in!
Hugs, Lisa

Suz said...

looking at gingerbread always
invites my mind into fantasy
about who lives inside
and the feeling of home
as sanctuary arises
and I can smell warm bread
I'm certain..as i pass by
another good post my dear Janean

1 Funky Woman said...

Very Handsel and Gretel indeed! I've missed stopping by, summer has been crazy! After my trip to California I hope to get back to blogging and checking in with my favorite gals!

Technodoll said...

I'll take the cake please (all of it, LOL) but not the houses... for some reason they all seem haunted to me, even if beautiful by daylight.... Maybe because most of them are old?

I'm a wuss.

*hides*

Dianna said...

Love the gingerbread look! I know of several houses in a 30 minute drive from here that are beautiful examples of the gingerbread look.

And I love warm gingerbread with lemon curd!

Good to see a post up from you, Janean.

Shay said...

Gingerbread houses are very uncommon here in Australia. In the city I live in with 1.2 million people, I;ve only ever seen two and a friend of mine lived in one of them. I would adore living in a gingerbread house. Great post Janean. Loved the pics...I'm seriously drooling.

Solange said...

I have never seen such houses here, in Europe, really special and the colours are nice.
have a great week!

Anonymous said...

could I live in the house of number 3.. O what a dream all of them.. I could eat that cake too in one setting - wink!

Anne Lorys said...

Me! I'm about to move into a hundred year old Victorian with gingerbread trim.

Such pretty images! :-)

Sylvia said...

Those houses look fairy-like, Janean !
And that cake looks delicious !
Nice week,
Sylvia

Dolores said...

I love the cottage with the little white fence and the flowers.... So pretty!!!

Linz said...

love love love love love gingerbread houses. isn't it funny how something so sweet can look so gothic? love 'em!

annell4 said...

I've always loved the gingerbread. A reminder of days gone bye. And of old friends who lived in gingerbread houses--they were as sweet as their houses. I enjoyed your site and I will come again.

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Janean,

Love all these beautiful houses. They
all really look like out of a Fairy tale book.
My kids and I often use to make gingerbread Men and I enjoy a steam ginger pudding.

Happy week
Hugs
Carolyn

Maura @ Kisiwa Creek Photography said...

Hello Janean! I love gingerbread on an old home but have never lived in one. Our old home in the city had a bit of 'fancy' on it but nothing as ornate as these homes. I love the little mint green home and that cake too. I need to head to bed and steer clear of the fridge! I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday....Maura :)

KTW said...

Love me some gingerbread! :) I couldn't get the husband on board to attempt any on the outside of the house, so I decided that the inside would work just as well! My foyer is painted a sage green and I wanted gingerbread trim up at the top of the walls, long spindled rails meeting fancy corner pieces. I'll post pics on my blog sometime. :)

kimsound studios said...

My fav would be the last two houses... not because I've had gingerbread on any level ~ but for the old weathered brick leading to the entrances & steps of these homes designed to stand-out. Send me some gingerbread :) I'll try almost anything once.... love ya!!!

Marie said...

I sooo adore gingerbread houses too Janean! You don't see that kind of architecture too often anymore. Everything nowadays is so cookie cutter.
-marie

Cindy said...

Gingerbread on a house isn't my style but I do enjoy looking at it on other people's homes. And I do enjoy literal gingerbread!