Mountain Memories~

What started out as a simple "girl trip,"

       turned out to be something so much more~

Our plan~

spend 3 nights at the Biltmore in Asheville,NC

taking photos for the 

"Pink Scarf Project"

and attend the "HEART" concert

there on the grounds of the

estate.

~and then Marsha found this photo of her Mom

taken almost 60 years ago.

~~

Marsha--

"you know Vicki, I think Mt. Mitchell is someplace close to Asheville.

My Mom visited that area for all those years that my

Dad was in the VA Hospital there."

~~

Margaret (Marsha's Mom)--

"I remember when that picture was taken, I was really sad that day." 

~~

(this picture is truly worth a "thousand words")

follow our journey here

for the story~

so we made a plan~

a new plan.

one that included a trek to the top of Mt. Mitchell,

so that we could recreate the picture of Marsha

standing as her Mother had done

all those years ago.

Mt. Mitchell State Park

is about 40 minutes from Asheville.

~

Heading down Route 23-

take a right at the Mars Hill exit

and keep on driving, and driving, and driving.

~

then you come to "the middle of nowhere"

and start to climb the hill~~ 

As many times as the Gardener and I have visited Asheville,

we had no idea that this beautiful park existed. 

~

All along the drive into the park are these magnificent

overlooks~

the vistas that look out over the 

Blue Ridge Mountains

left us breathless.

~it was late in the afternoon when we arrived
at the Visitor Center.
Not wanting to waste time, I took the photo of 
Marsha's Mother inside.
After briefly recanting the story and our mission, 
the ranger told me where to find the exact place where
her Mother had stood.
~
"it's easy, just start on that trail beside the Visitor Center and
climb the hill to the top." 

"goofing off" at the Visitor Center

~

I'm trying to get Marsha in a good mood

about the climb UP the hill to the

observation tower!

once you park in the Visitor Center area 

the climb to the top is really not that far -

just about a quarter mile.

BUT -- its all uphill!

the walk to the top is so beautiful and scenic

~ come on UP with us!
I'll meet you at the top!
(you can lag along with Marsha!!)

of course we stopped to take photos along the way~

(doesn't Marsha's pretty blouse match that beautiful blue sky?)

we are almost there!

OH. MY. GOSH!
It is beautiful up here!

Now for the rest of the story~

That day -- almost 60 years ago -- really was a sad
day for Marsha's Mom~
~~
Marsha's parents
Margaret and Charles, were married in 1945,
shortly after he was discharged from the Navy.
Charles had contacted TB while in the service.
Shortly after he and Margaret married,
 he became ill and was admitted to the VA Hospital
 in Asheville.
~~
Charles spent the next 12 years of his life
living in VA hospitals in both Asheville and Swananoa.
Recieving experimental treatments and surgeries,
he was isolated from his wife and family.
~
Margaret visited him when she could, 
but times were different and more difficult back then.
A trip to Asheville was a major
undertaking.
~
She did not have a car, so Margaret would ride the bus
 from West Virginia to
Asheville 2-3 times a year
to visit her husband.
Sometimes her brother in law was able to drive her
to the visit.

On occasion,
his health permitting,
Charles was granted a day or brief weekend pass
in which he could leave the hospital
and travel short distances.
He would ride the train to West Virginia for 
these brief visits.
~~
Marsha says that her Father sometimes
came home for special occasions,
like Christmas and 
the birth of his children.
 ~~
During times when his health was not so good,
he would be allowed a brief
one day visit with his wife
when she was able to visit him in Asheville.

Their trip to Mt. Mitchell 
was one of those visits.
~~
Marsha's Mom says that she remembers 
posing for that photo, feeling so sad 
because her visit with her husband
was almost over and she knew that it would
be a long time before she could see him again. 

Marsha has 2 older brothers, and 1 younger brother.
Her family is a testament
to the power of love and commitment
in the face of adversity. 

After 12 long years,
Marsha's Dad was finally allowed
to come home for good in
1958.

After her husband came home to live,
Margaret went to Nursing school
in Charleston, West Virginia.
(she was the first married nursing student at her school)
~~
They had a wonderful life together,
raising their family,
traveling,
and later spending winters with friends
 in Florida 
and summers 
with friends in Nova Scotia.
~
Margaret and Charles were happily married
for 64 years until his passing
in 2009.

Every family has a story.
Old photos, memories, fragments of the past. 
These stories are the legacy that our parents give to us.
Stories that we should pass on to our children.
Stories that make us
 who we are 
today.

Marsha and I spent a wonderful afternoon 
on top of Mt. Mitchell.
~
Taking in the amazing views,
trying to imagine how it must have looked
almost 60 years ago. 
Trying to imagine how Margaret
must have felt that day.

We talked about the trees ~~
and wondered if any of these trees might have been
here at that time~

I can't tell you how precious
it was to be able to help Marsha
recreate that special moment
 in time.

After leaving the summit,
we started our drive down the mountain
stopping at the beautiful restaurant
just below the Visitor Center.

Just behind the restaurant
 is this gorgeous
 back porch observation area.

The Blue Ridge Mountains
are truly
breathtaking.

Right now I'm thinking~~
I want to bring the Gardener here.
(he would love this place!)
xoxo

the views from inside the restaurant 
are simply stunning~
(I don"t know why I did not think to take photos inside!!) 
OK -- now I have an excuse to go back for sure!

How long could you sit here?

I had no idea that our day at Mt. Mitchell
would be so meaningful
and special~

~~~

The day threatened rain -- but it never rained a drop until we were back off the mountain later that evening.  The next day we headed to the Biltmore Estate for a day of picture taking for the

"Pink Scarf Project".

I'm sharing just a few photos
of the places we visited
with YOUR scarves~

~the reflecting pond~

~the bass pond~

 we're smiling because we've been taking
pictures ALL day and we have
just finished!!

The Inn on Biltmore
(headed to dinner on the Library balcony)

Our view from the Library balcony

the next evening~

getting settled in our seats

waiting on the HEART concert

(which was fabulous, by the way!)

~~~~

It was an incredible trip, priceless in some respects~ 

we took photos of your pink scarf donations everywhere we went. Along the winding road (in the middle of nowhere) leading to Mt. Mitchell, in the fields beside the Visitor Center, on that beautiful porch at the restaurant on the mountain, and at the Biltmore Estate.  I can hardly wait to share these beautiful photos with you all.  

(donated by Jim and Ron and Sophie)

~~~
Summer is rapidly turning into fall.  Brisk nights are upon us, the air is starting to smell like autumn, even the mornings are crisp and cool-- up next I want to share with you my beautiful back deck flowers (before the cool nights start to take their toll!)  (the Gardener is in charge of all the flowers in our yard, but the back deck belongs to ME!!)
~~~~~

~~ the day after we returned home from our  "girl"trip, Marsha's Mom became ill and was admitted to the hospital where Marsha and I both work,~ she has been there almost 3 weeks now -- please keep her in your prayers.

Treasure those you love,
xoxo
Vicki 

Biltmore at Christmas Time

The historic estate built by George Vanderbilt was first introduced to family and friends on Christmas Eve in 1895~~

The Biltmore Mansion is the largest privately owned home in the United States.  The house is 135,000 square feet and contains 250 rooms.  Christmas at the Biltmore is an amazing spectacle of light and Christmas decor.  

America's largest home is decorated with dozens of Christmas trees, hundreds of wreaths, bows, and poinsettias, miles of evergreen garland, and thousands of beautiful Christmas ornaments.  From the moment you enter the grounds, driving through the gingerbread style gate house - you know this is going to be a truly unforgettable experience.  

The Biltmore lions have been greeting guests to this magnificent estate for over a century. 

The arrival of the Christmas tree at the estate is the beginning of a Christmas celebration that will last well into the coming New Year. 

With hundreds of people involved in the decorating of the estate grounds, inside the mansion, and the surrounding areas that are also part of the estate - the Winery, Antler Hill Village, the farm, and the beautiful shops inside the gate house and garden center. 

 Weeks of preparation will finally culminate when the house is aglow with the twinkle of thousands and thousands of lights~~ 

Inside the home - hundreds of poinsettias fill the winter garden while musicians, dancers, and carolers fill the great halls with music and the sounds of Christmas. 

From the last of November through the first weeks of the New Year - the house is open in the evenings for the Christmas Candlelight tour. There is something magical about seeing this opulent mansion through the flickering glow of Christmas trees and fireplaces.

(the following candlelight photos are courtesy of the Biltmore estate.)

Outside - all around the estate - Christmas decorations are found everywhere you look.  Here a beautiful wreath adorns the door to the Conservatory. 

And at the farm - a regal Christmas tree is part of the decorations in the courtyard.  

The shop at the Winery is splendid with lights and festive displays.  

 The Biltmore winery produces a special Christmas wine every year.

  Visiting the Biltmore at Christmas time has become a tradition for us.  We love the atmosphere, the beautiful decorations and the shopping.

 This year we had a candle light dinner in the Stable cafe.  You can click the photo for a closer look at the incredible menu.  

 The shops in the Stable House are beautifully decorated for the season.  This photo was taken at the Candy shop :)

The Christmas shop was filled with toys and decorations - these Nutcrackers were especially tempting to me~~

The entrance to the wine cellars at the beautiful Antler Hill village.  

Night time sparkles at the village~

The entrance to the ice cream and pastry shop in the village is adorned with this gingerbread tree.  

Baby - it was cold outside!

The lights from the trees made the whole village sparkle.

A visit to the Biltmore at Christmas is an experience to be treasured forever.  

Do you have visits to special places at Christmas time that have become a part of your holiday tradition?  If you would like to learn more about the Biltmore Christmas experience, you can click here. 

~~~

The Christmas rush has taken over everything at our house.  We just returned from a visit to Atlanta where we visited with our adorable 3 year old grandson Mason.  (I will have some new photos soon.)  Right now, the Gardener is putting the Christmas tree up and we will decorate it later tonight.   We still have Christmas shopping to do, and wrapping, and baking.  Is your life as crazy as mine right now?

I'm sending you holiday wishes - hoping that the magic of Christmas fills your hearts and that you have enough hours in your day to finish your "to do" lists!!

xoxo,

Vicki