Spring is here - so it was time for spring cleaning and pictures

Hmm, this blog thing is more about pictures these days... but in so many ways, they are much more fun than most anything I could write (esp. without coffee). Spring has been around this week (temps near 80!) with the Daylight Savings Time, the sea of yellow pollen and once again everything is growing and greening up, you've gotta love NC spring (usually lasts about 1-2 weeks before winter returns and then the summer bullies its way in and humidity takes over).

Paul is in Florida this week and I have had some time to take some pictures (after my spring cleaning kick!).

Kitchen to dining room (a little dark, but you can see the magnetic board Paul made me on left)


Full kitchen, we love all the counter space and the light, we soon will replace the light over the island with something much prettier. (my pitcher collection on the cabinet tops !)


Kitchen Curtains! Yes, the ones I was *so* excited about earlier! There will be more curtains hung in the near future... just gotta wait on Paul, he's handy with hanging things.


The monster goldfish - he's 5 years old, he's survived MANY moves and now he's out growing his 10 gallon tank. ACK! We think his name is Milo. Long story, you can call him, "Fishie" (that's what my mom does).


1/2 bath - mirror and fixtures. You can sorta see some paint chips on the sink - we're thinking about orange/gold. That sounds very 70s like... may rethink that.


The happy tuilips - although bent from the wind - they are beautiful and fragant!


The backyard - Paul's handiwork around the birdfeeder, a redbud tree and 3 hydrengea bushes along the fence (probably can't see those).


The Tuscan print over the piano in the dining room.


Detail of dining room (and other Tuscan print).

March morning storm!

SPRING Storm on Monday, March 28th.

7:15am, I was about to leave for work and BAM! The sky starts falling, literally, with 1-3 inch hail stones/rocks

A melted piece Paul retrieved after the raining stopped:



The backyard - and if you look real close, you might see some of the CHUNKS of ice (thankfully, the hail was short lived)



The waterfall at the side of the house, with pond. Yay..., not really.



The mailbox rapids... and the destroyed newspaper. At least the tuplips were happy.

Easter in Asheville (continued)

Grove Park Inn, Easter Sunday

Since it was a rainy and chilly day, we headed over to the Grove Park for brunch and walking around. We ate at the Grovewood Cafe, thankfully someone had JUST cancelled their party of 5, so we got a table right away ("we don't have a reservation!)

Outside the Cafe - interesting metalworks that danced in the breeze.



On the terrace of the Inn, looking towards downtown Asheville



Looking towards the campus of UNCA - you can just see the rooftops



The old Inn



Mom and Dad



Paul and Julie



Justin, Paul and Julie (in the shadows!)

Easter trip to Asheville, NC

Easter in Asheville, NC with Julie's parents and brother

Making the trek west on I-40 - the wall of mnts!



A quick visit to UNCA, where spring is nearly sprung (at least the early stuff).

Looking from the Ramsey Library steps and out to Mt. Pisgah.



Pretty, fragant flowers at the library



Flowers along the walkway leading up to the quad.



The new Highsmith University Union



Saturday morning walking tour of downtown. My parents had never had a chance to walk around downtown Asheville. Thankfully, it is much more welcoming than it was even 3 years ago. We had a great time. here's what we saw:
The great S & W Cafeteria, now for sale. One of the great examples of Art Deco in Asheville.



Detail



Urban trail marker for S & W



Corner of Patton & College St. at Pritchard Park, looking towards Pack Place



Mom on Wall St. at the "Catwalk" Urban Trail art marker.



Justin checking out the cats



The recently restored Grove Arcade.



Inside the Grove Arcarde. Awesome antique/mission style furniture store on right.



Julie outside the Grove Arcarde



Exterior detail



Faces of Grove's indebtors



Mom & Justin on Urban Trail art piece, Patton Ave.
"On the side of the Wachovia Bank Building on Patton Avenue is a metal bower of medicinal herbs that surrounds a bust of Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell. "Dr. Blackwell is known worldwide as the first woman in America to receive her degree as a Doctor of Medicine, Elizabeth Blackwell
represents a historic moment in modern medicine and women's liberation."



The Central United Methodist Church tower (1837) on Church Street. Sang at it for several UNCA Chorus productions.



The Vance Monument on Pack Square.



Paul and Julie at its base



Mom & Dad at the base



Justin, not to be left out, at the base with the Urban Trail marker, "Crossroads" I don't think
he cares much for the turkeys...



But Julie likes the pig...the artwork is described as the follwing, "a curving path between metal
rails, which bears footprints of the people and animals that once walked this way. This site represents the crossing of the ancient Native American trade routes and what later became the
Buncombe Turnpike. Farmers from Tennessee herded their turkeys, hogs and cattle along this
route through the public square to southern markets. The rails outlining the path symbolize
the "iron horse" which streamed into Asheville in 1880 and the streetcars, which were important to Asheville's economy. Asheville had the second electric streetcar system in the United States"



Basilica of Saint Lawrence - Spanish Renaissance architectiture (1909). The only Basilica in the southeast (and only one of 33 in the US)



Packing the car and getting ready to head up to the Elk Mnt Scenic Hwy.



Looking across I-240 towards the Grove Park Inn



At the scenic stop on Elk Mnt. Quite popular.



Mom & the bubbles - quite fun on a windy day



For old times sake, the "self portrait"



Looking down into the Valley and Asheville below (with rain clouds on their way)



More pictures to come... having internet issues!