The Biltmore

This week the girls are out of school. I decided we would take a little trip to Asheville NC, about 1 1/2 hours east of us. Asheville, as I am sure everyone knows but me, is the home of the Vanderbilts. A few years back RaChael, Leslie visited the Vanderbilt's summer home in Newport, Rhode Island which was stunning.

The main home is nothing short of breath taking. It is the largest home built in the United States and is so large, you have to drive around the property just to get to the barn and winery. We started out with the main house. The whole house is not on the tour but you can tour about 67 of the rooms, each uniquely appointed not to mention the indoor swimming pool, bowling alley and observation room and a library that would make Belle shiver (Disney reference). After the tour we went to the "stables" which are now converted to a restaurant, creamery, doll shop, merchantile and book store. We went around the house and found the gardens.

They were beautiful and I am sure in later in spring are stunning. The conservatory was about the size of our home and house all kinds of plants from around the world. (once again, thinking of Bill Greer).
We tracked back to the car and made our way to the "barn". There, guides explained the daily procedures and we visited the wood carver on sight as well as the residential smithy who comes from four hundred years of iron work. He was fascinating; he even played the anvil as an instrument. The barn area also housed another creamery and merchantile. We then went to the winery that housed the wines the Biltmore produces from their own vinyard and other southern food stuffs along with a bistro. After that we kind drove around Asheville (not necessarily on purpose). The same planner that built the house also built the Biltmore Village; very quaint. It was a great trip.

Hope: Reflections Winner

During the Reflections Program, a PTA sponsored event that encourages expression through the arts, Hope submitted a photograph. She has won this event in CA for the district (Red Bluff, Redding and Chico) two years. This year she won again for Knox County. We were invited to a dinner to honor all the winners in Knox County; about 500 people attended which was staggering; so much bigger than even the district awards for the aforementioned area in CA. Hope recieved a medal along with a certificate. Hope's achievement was announced by the principal the following day. The PTA seems to be very active here. We have not yet joined yet which is really weird, but plan to soon. We have met the president but that's about it.

Oh, and it snowed today. It was beautiful to wake up to a flocked yard but not enough to stick to the road. Playing with snowballs in March? Beautiful.

Where are you Crazy Bill?!

Grace and I spent this last weekend in Atlanta, GA. which is about 3 hours from us. We drove down and spent the day at Six Flags over Georgia and had a blast. I hadn't been to Atlanta since the early 90's and remembered visiting a old fast food joint called the Varsity. We found our way over to the 800 seat,eighty-year old fast food joint and ordered the greasiest hot dogs and onion rings ever made. All I could think of is 'where is Bill Greer when you need him'. He would be in hot dog heaven.

The next day we went to the IKEA store I had been dying to visit. It was so big we got lost and wandered around trying to find which level we had parked and where was the exit. It was about the size of the mall in Redding. Oh, if I had money and moving van. Next, we went to the Coke cola factory. After watching the bottling demo and a few soda-driven movies, we where able to sample about 70 different coke products from around the world. Very interesting flavors. Of course, we found ourselves once again, close to the Varsity, so went back. On the upper parking deck there was about 100 ninja motorcycles; very cool. It was a great little trip and Atlantica (that what Grace called it) was great.

-Tina