We have been home for weeks, but still I want to get some of this goodness and a small bit of not so good, down in my little space on the world wide web. Think about that...world wide! It's really so remarkable isn't it? We take it for granted now, just as we do, say electricity, but gosh we have lots to be grateful for! I was telling Matt the other day, that I rarely look at the statistics for my blog powered by Google, that are available. I happened to recently check and what I see are posts that have been read in the last week. Usually a list of about eight or so. Because my posts go back to 2007, and cover such a range of topics people, whoever they are, still read some old ones.
With that in mind, I saw that one post had been read 1,700 times in one week. Puzzled about what could generate such interest, I clicked on a post from June 29, 2016 which should it interest you can be read through this link. The subject? The Pulse nightclub shooting. It must be because it is the 10 year anniversary? While that interested me, it also included the fact that I was just returning from California after being there to help Carol post Whipple surgery and if you don't know what that is, pray that you never have any reason to learn about it!!
My blog has been helpful to me in keeping track of my various health challenges as well, something I have written about more often than I would have liked!! One memory from another time I suffered from a colitis attack was the drug that is prescribed for that, Flagyl. I was reminded how HORRIBLE the taste of the pill was, so much so we did everything we could to get me through 10 days of it, including putting it in applesauce for one thing. So, when the emergency room doctor said he was prescribing that, I was crestfallen. Well friends, I don't know what has changed but I had not the slightest problem taking it three times a day! I don't know what has changed, but I'm all for it!! Of course, I'd rather never have to take it again, but with my history, it is probably wise to never say never!
So, all that aside, let's get back to the Biltmore!
Good grief it was hot as it has been here the last few days. I am more than ready for some cooler weather!
Our appointed time to enter the house came and from the very first glimpse I knew I was going to love it all!! The Winter Garden room greeted us and what a lovely space it is.
During a dark and cold winter I imagine this room was a breath of fresh air!
So many rooms, all beautiful or interesting, so I will only show a few. It took us a long time to go through the rooms we saw out of the 250, can you imagine how long it would take to go through all 775 of the rooms at Buckingham Palace??? Yup, you read that right!
I think one of the things, of countless, that is so interesting, is how every surface is decorative. No plain walls, or floors. Ornate light fixtures such as this one that is three stories and hangs beside the grand staircase. I especially loved how the windows followed the line of the staircase.
Try as I migh, I could only include two of the tree levels ot the chandelier. Can you imagine how heavy that is???
Fireplaces??? They needed them back then!
The room is so large that there are two identical fireplaces flanked by tapestries from the 1500s.
We would have been lost without the audio tour! Not just how to get around, but we learned quite a bit.
The life-sized paintings at the end of the room are of the architect and Fredrick Law Olmsted who designed the landscaping and so much more.
A bowling alley, several kitchens, an exercise room complete with all manner of equipment that is still used today, just somewhat updated. The swimming pool!! Fantastic. Let's put it this way, I cannot think of a thing that was not fantastic aside from it being hot as blue blazes! I so wanted to jump in the fountain!
The following day we went to the North Carolina Arboretum that sits adjacent to an entry to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Who does not like a garden, right? Their bonsai collection is remarkable.
The stone walls are marvelous, as were the plantings in spite of the summer heat, or maybe because of it?
It's a lovely place to roam, probably in any season.
One would think that one would see plenty of birds but for this enthusiast that was not the case aside from this little Song Sparrow.
Watching a bonsai being trimmed was fascinating.
Aren't these just charming?
Another day we went to the Southern Highland Craft Guild Folk Art Center located on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Walking in the first space I saw this woman sewing, so naturally I had to have a chat. What an interesting woman, who is not only is she wildly accomplished herself, she also judges quilts at places like the
National Quilt Museum, the very one we visited in Paducah, KY. Really, the holy grail for quilters!
Her work is impeccable! Plus she gave me some helpful tips which I hope to incorporate soon. Lots of quilts there,
as well as all manner of very high level crafts, including amazing furniture and so much more.
The above items are part of their permanent collection but most things were for sale; I bought a clay clock with birds on it. Super cute and what could be better, combining two of my favorite things? Were you aware of my love of timepieces? For years and years I had a collection of watches that I rotated like other people do jewelry.
We drove a bit on the BRP until we came to a wonderful overlook.
And then I think we went back to the condo to watch a World Cup match.
Later on Bruce and I walked across the street from the condo, discovering a mid-week market.
Some delicious looking pastries at one booth.
The afternoon was still crazy hot so we went into the brewery for a nice cold drink! Lots of folks watching yet another match on the big screen.
While some folks watched a little screen.
The next night we had a meet up with John and Laura who had just come to their condo after we moved to a hotel in downtown.
Tom explaining something or other, charming all with his British accent.
Following dinner we walked back to the hotel, admiring some of the buildings and art.
Following our return to Murphy we happened upon a video story about how Asheville had somewhat of a boom/bust economy in the past and when it was booming beautiful buildings were the result.
We learned that no new public buildings were built for 50 years as they paid off their debt! We also learned about how the presence of the Biltmore shaped the history and future of Asheville.
West Asheville is full of street art, however, the above is the only thing I saw downtown, admittedly a limited sample size as we did not go far on foot because it was so darn hot!!
The next morning the London lads flew to Orlando to spend the next week at our place, visiting family in town, Tom's brother and his wife flew in from Manchester, UK, and a glorious time was had by all. The baby car, AKA my MINI Cooper parked in Orlando, had quite the workout during their stay!
We stopped for breakfast at this cafe with an amazing blue banquette.
Our drive home took us through Sylva, a town all dressed up for America 250.
Saturday morning, July 4, we got situated after being gone for nearly a week, getting all of our chores done in time to walk to town, me in a red striped top, red skort and blue Keds, and Bruce wearing his patriotic pickleball shirt. Walking into town, heading towards the new bandstand where the festivities were to begin, it was then that everything went to hell in a hand basket.
All of a sudden, my abdomen began hurting and I needed to find a restroom. Handing Bruce my camera bag, that contained my phone btw, I went into Fairy Cross, our local wine hangout. I was a complete mess, hurting like crazy, covered with sweat and pretty much frantic. I don't really know how long it was before I heard Bruce's voice outside the door. I stumbled to the door and went just outside the door. The patrons took one look at me and began asking me, " are you okay?" No, I am not. The good news is there was a tourist in town from Florida who was an EMT. She took control, seeing my sad state of affairs, yelling out, someone call an ambulance, I can't find her pulse! Good grief!!
Thanks be to God, an ambulance was already standing nearby due to the fireworks etc. so, in not time at all, Jacob was moving furniture out of the way, your friend was put on the stretcher and before we even got moving the excellent Murphy EMT started an IV on his first try, a big deal because the older I get, the harder it is to find my veins. That's all for the messy details, but I will tell you that when we returned to Fairy Cross, after a few weeks absence, I had a bit of PTSD, as did Jacob (he runs the place), saying to me, "don't go trying to die on me again!"
I will do my best!!
As is always the case, multiple people helped us, brought flowers and Bruce lived up to the nickname given to him by my Mom, "a prince among men", doing what he could to hold up the fort as I recovered for days. I am still undergoing some tests, but more than twenty years ago I had a similar episode of Ischemic Colitis, so I'm sure that is what this will prove to be.
I really missed my camera, but eventually I got to put it to use, first when my honey took me to see Freddy's huge stand of sunflowers.
He encouraged me to take all that I wanted and I obliged!
Potato crop is in, hundreds of photos taken for VBS, new coffee shop Bruce has been dying to see opened and lots more.
Next post maybe I can get to the present? I'll do my best!
Oh and I am feeling much better.
your friend,
Gail
These are dahlias, both pink and yellow in the background. I, little ol' me, started them from seeds!!! 
