Putting it all together
Level One: The first floor is installed in nearly three full batches of fudge, and the dollar sign outline of the tower is already visible. Now might be an appropriate time to pause and consider the true meaning of the season by reciting a time-honored parable:
"He who rejects religion and celebrates Capitalism will be like the wise man who built his house on fudge; the sugar rained down upon it, the guests came, and their children picked at the gumdrop ornaments, but it did not fall before its time, because it was founded on rich, creamy fudge...mmmm....fudge!"
...or something like that.
Level Two: Once level two started to hold its position, Mosa stopped holding her breath. Notice the sunlight shining through the stained "glass" windows. This year, two types of sugar-glass were used: homemade candy glass (Mosa has been practicing achieving hard crack with mild success), and Jolly Rachers melted in various molds in the oven.
Level Three: One. Two. Three strikes you're out (of gingerbread). Once floor three was ready and sturdy, the tedious task of decorating the interior could begin. Just think--if only the Romans had used royal icing in the construction of the Colosseum, it might still be in use today...
Over the years we have posted plenty o' photos of us adhearing various candies to gingerbread. This year, we instead decided to spare viewers the mundane details and provide a Cliff Notes version (collage above), so that we can skip straight to the delicious finished product.