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Mud, in terms of summarizing the 400 series, I would also note:

(1) awww, look again at post 484, lodwick's teddy bear with a rolling pin and a bowl of flour in the background!! That's got to improve lodwick's chances . . .

(2) Kayak has confirmed that her white house gingerbread is Bush-era White house and has given us a close-up that shows marzipan versions of the Bush's pets. That's very cute.

Mudboy -- I have to say, the more I think about Flyer's posts, and how Flyer played on others, like what Flyer did with humblegunner's and with aquamarines, how Gilligan was just everywhere, it was very funny and amusing and gingerbreadhouse-y. Flyer was very witty and posted in real time, often coming up with cheerful and silly and very holiday-ish posts rapidly so that they integrated well into the narrative of the thread. (Hee hee, you can see I went to college where I took myself some of those English courses.)

The more I think about it, Mud, the more I really like Flyer's and GailA's the most. It's *so* hard. Maybe Diver Dave's too and Sweetliberty's family roots house. Dave did at least *try* to bribe us . . . .

I really love *all* of our finalists. But Flyer's almost golden-retriever-like personality, bouncing through the thread and giving good cheer everywhere, and GailA's wonderfully focussed, beautifully detailed gingerbread house with the American flag . . . . The more I reflect, the more I find myself focussing on those two. Tgsltakoma's second photograph is very very good, but is it better than GailA's?

We can have Honorable mentions etc. In a pinch, I have enough gifts for a tie for first place and another tie for second, with additional honorable mentions which wouldn't have gifts.

But in the real world, if we're not to be wimps, someone should come in officially first.

I think and I think and I still am thinking that Flyer and GailA are near the top. BUT it's very hard and they're all close. Mudboy, if you told me that any on my finalist list was THEE one and you were sure about it, I'd follow you off that cliff. 'Cause it really is close. So I'm open to persuasion.