Thanksgiving (pt 2)

The weekend after Thanksgiving was spent in the [cold] mountains of Asheville. We decided to stay somewhere different and choose the Bent Creek Lodge. It is listed as a "Bed & Breakfast" but it is a wonderful, semi-rustic, cozy mountain lodge just south of Asheville (address is Arden). If the weather had been warmer/dryer and Paul's bike wasn't broken, it would have been the perfect place for us to mountain bike. We stayed in the "tree room" and enjoyed sitting by the fire, watching birds and eating the amazing breakfast. If you're looking for an alternative to the overpriced, under impressive hotels in Asheville, check out the Bent Creek Lodge.

Paul enjoying the fire & reading materials in the common room


While in Asheville, we did the usual things - eat at Apollo Flame, Tupelo Honey (buy honey to take home), walk around the Grove Arcade, visit UNCA, pay $6 to park/visit the NC Arboretum, you know the usual things we do. It's more fun to say it with pictures:



Interior of the Arcade


Exterior of the Arcade


Paul at the riveting NC Arboretum exhibit (the history of flowerpots, seriously)


Mom & Dad at the quilt garden


Yews are serious plants (ha!)


Bonsai Garden (the cold wind was sucking the life out of us, but it was an awesome garden)


Gates at the Bonsai garden


Size perspective


Can you tell we liked the Bonsai?


Visiting the Alma Mater (it has been 5 years since we graduated!) - check out the new science building being built next to the library - it is a MONSTER!






The University Seal - me squinty

Our different meal was SUSHI! with mom & dad. We ate the Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse in Biltmore Village. Their sushi was ok, nothing like our neighborhood sushi joint, but it sorta hit the spot. Mom, Paul and I split "sushi for 3" which means it comes out on a BIG BOAT (dad stuck with hibachi shrimp).






And our trip to Asheville wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Grove Park Inn. This time of year they host the "National Gingerbread House Competition" and it is one of my favorite things to go and see. This year did not disappoint. They only had the "top winners" on display at the Inn (other entries were around town, like at the Grove Arcade). I'm testing the slide show for these photos (let me know if it works for you and if you like it/not).

Gingerbread Houses at the Grove Park Inn (and other superfluous photos of us and the parents)


Want to see more pictures of the gingerbread houses? Go here (they aren't mine and show a little more detail)

Thanksgiving in the NC Mountains (pt 1)

Sunrise on Thanksgiving morning

This year we hit the road, with the other 11 million Americans, for Thanksgiving. We headed west on interstate 40 in the early morning hours of Thanksgiving morning. We were rewarded for waiting to travel - traffic was light!



We spent Thanksgiving Day in Marion with Paul's family. I had the honor of cooking with Margie - mixing/making the stuffing, chopping lots of fruit and roasting asparagus. Thanksgiving dinner was SO GOOD. After our meal, Paul and I took a walk around the property where he showed me all the old trails he and his brothers had made.


"The trail goes this way - no wait - that way - or over there..."

Quick picture taken before heading back up the house - an odd howling in the woods kept getting closer and closer...

Cool green stuff that covered the ground

We took a quick ride out around town and Paul showed me something new; the 1-lane Vein Mountain tunnel. We don't have such nostalgia in the big city.


Going in - waiting for the light to change


Coming back - a little like the twilight zone.


Sunset in Marion

On Friday morning we headed up to Asheville - once again traffic was fairly light and we saw some snow on the mountains.


Going up Old Fort Mountain - some color left on the trees


River Ridge exit of I-240

More to come! Christmas decorations and spring bulb planting calls!

Weekend picture update

Ok, so time has passed and thus I need to do a quick update with our recent weekend trips. I wanted to get these up sooner, but life has been crazy and well, that's enough reason for the delay! I've also got more photos and videos that need to be downloaded, so you may see another update with a similar topic :)

First - the Joint Services Open House Air Show (Andrews AFB, May 19th)

The Memphis Belle was on static display, we were amazed at the 'rustic' interior (I would be terrified to be in it!)




Check it out - the "flying lawn mower" We didn't see it fly, but hey, it was cool!


USAF Heritage Flight (A-10, Mustang, F-15, ?)


The amazing F-22 Raptor after its demonstration (video to be posted)


Thunderbirds in flight (more photos later...)



Memorial Day weekend in the NC Mountains
A morning spent on the Blue Ridge Parkway is always a great morning.

Blooming mountain laurel

More blooms


Parkway tunnel - north of Mt. Mitchell


Ahhh, the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains


Mountain stream below Craggy (US Forest Service Road)


Wild flame azalea and butterfly


Quick self portrait at an overlook


After dinner we ate at the great Barley's Taproom we took the Old US 70 down Old Fort Mountain (replaced by I-40) where we watched the train wind its way through the mountains. Yes, we followed a train for at least 10 miles... it was great, simple fun! (we have video... but I'll spare you!) Hopefully, one day there will be passenger service to Western NC and we can take this route!


Looks like the locals have fun watching the train too (these were ALL OVER the ground near the tracks above - shotgun shells for those who ain't from the country)

(I felt a little nervous being out in the woods with these all over the ground and no one (?) around for miles...)

Miniature horses near the train tracks


After dinner yummy treats in Marion - Paul had a chocolate shake and I had a chocolate malt. Very yummy! And apparently very popular (Paul's first visit although he lived within a few miles of this place growing up)




The next day we took another "quick trip" on the Parkway from Marion to Asheville.
We love the Parkway!


Paul with the truck and his bikes (got a few double takes from passing cyclists on the Parkway - he had been there the day before, crazy man!)


Rhododendron blooming (although not yet at Craggy Gardens - one thing I've always wanted to see)


Wild strawberries (just before we ate them! so sweeeeeeet)




Visiting the Alma Mater - recent class gifts were installed. The clock (2000) and seal (1999).