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 

Pink Scarf Project Updates - (new information-- and a surprise NEST photo for you!)

This was never really my project. 

I only thought it was~
and then it took off like a wildfire being fed by a lofty 
summer wind~~ 

 

Only God
 could touch so many hearts

and bring you to give so generously.

~~

In my heart of hearts, 

I had hoped that we might collect

50 scarves.
(fingers crossed, I held my breath~) 

~

To date 
there have been

276 scarves collected for

this amazing project. 

~

Based on emails from those of you who say

that you want to send, plan to send, are sending now,

your scarves---

we will exceed well over 300 

gifts of love from your 

hearts and hands. 

~

Only God 
could do
 this.

This project 
has crossed continents and oceans.
It has circled the world and come back around
again.
~~
Your contributions have come from
all across the United States, Canada, and Europe.  
They have come from Australia, South America, and Africa.
~
Sweet Bernadette
 has written 
that she is sending a scarf all the way
from Serbia.

   

Some statistics for you relating to this project~
~~
276 scarves collected from all over the world.
(68 of those scarves have been donated by
anonymous donors who have requested to remain private but wish to give all the same.)
(per their request, those scarves have not been photographed- but will be included in the donations to the Breast Cancer Centers).
~~
I have received over 400 hundred emails
 in 5 different languages
relating to this project.  
(and I treasure every one)
xoxo
~~
Over 1200 photographs to date~
For every photo collage
of each scarf that is pictured on my blog postings,
at least 5 or 6 pictures are taken of each donor contribution.
From those photos, they are each edited and a collage is made
to showcase each person's gifts. 
~~
5000 miles
These scarves have traveled with me to Florida, 
the Blue Ridge Mountains,
and are soon headed to 2 other amazing locations.
All totaled, I will have traveled over 5000 miles
to photograph your scarves against 
beautiful natural backdrops.
~~ 

114 thank you notes
Those of you who have blogs or email addresses 
were contacted by me when your donations arrived.
Those of you who did not include a blog address or email
recieved a handwritten thank you note 
for your contribution.
Over 50 thank you notes
were simply sent to
"Occupant"
as those persons
did not include their name 
along with their generous donation. 

Many of you have written to me in these last few days
to say that the summer is passing way too quickly!
(YES it is!!)
~ 
Your requests to extend the deadline
 for this project
have been heard!
~
So -- please note
that the deadline to send your scarf donations
has been extended to October 5.
~
If you wish for me to photograph your scarf-- 
it must be to me no later than October 5.  
~In actuality, I can accept
donations until the end of October.
But if you want your gift to be photographed
it needs to be here by the 5th,
please.

Regarding the contests~
everyone who contributes a 
scarf donation,
either handmade or purchased
will be entered to win
this Breast Cancer Awareness wrap
that I knitted
(and embellished with beads)

~my way of thanking you
 for your generous and heartfelt donations~
xoxo

I've followed the path of this Pink Scarf Project badge all over blogland!  What an amazing journey this little badge has had! From one blog to another-to another-to another,...  

So many of you have graciously helped to spread the word about this little project ~ gathering support amongst your blog friends. There is NO way this project would have grown as it has if not for your support. There is only one human reason why this has been so very successful -- YOU!  

To thank you for sharing this project

and helping to encourage such amazing

support--

This OOAK inspirational mini-album

will be given away to one of you

who shared this Project badge on your personal blog.

Everyone who shared the badge and left me a comment

HERE telling me that you have done so--

will be entered to win this beautiful

mini album created by my (super talented!!)friend

Sue Kosec

(kosec@sbcglobal.net)

Sue created this gorgeous inspirational album

especially for this giveaway
~.

I am so very excited to be able

to share her beautiful creation 

with all of you.

The winners of both 

the mini album and my knitted wrap

will be announced on my posting

on October 12.

To summarize the new information~

1. scarf donations need to be to my by October 5 if you wish to have me photograph them.

2. I will be collecting scarf donations throughout the month of October -- last date will be October 31.

3. The Breast Cancer Awareness nests will make their debut on October 12.

4. Those of you who are on the waiting list for the nests

will find them RESERVED for you in my ETSY shop

on that date.

This has been an amazing year.  

As this project draws ever closer to it's completion,

I want you all to know that your spirit of giving 

will continue on~

Your scarves will find new homes 

where they will be loved and treasured.  

The concern and prayers that you sent

along with your donations 

will surround those who need it most.  

They will feel your

 love.

~~~~~

For those of you patiently waiting for your very first

little peek at the new

Breast Cancer Awareness

 nests~

your first look at this gorgeous nest!

(I can hardly wait to debut this amazing creation to you all!)
~
(I'm busy with the last of the details on the nests.  
I think I have finally seen the last of my 2am bedtimes!!)
~~~

Coming up next~

My friend Marsha and I traveled to the Blue Ridge mountains on a sentimental journey~ retracing footsteps that were taken there over 60 years ago.  Following the path of memories past~~

xoxo,

Vicki 

Ombre Knitted Skirt

Muted hues of orange and blue and yellow,

                colors of the evening sky at sunset~

I've had this yarn and this crazy idea

for a while~

my stash overflows you know-

and these skeins were calling my name.

~

Ombre Knitted Skirt

Pattern details~

Fiesta yarns - La Boheme (2 skeins)

Pattern -- well, I made it up!

(a circle skirt, knitted in the round, gathered into an elastic waist at the top)

Honestly,

I did not enjoy knitting with this yarn.

But - I do love the way the colors blended together

so beautifully. 

After the skirt was finished~

each side was ruched and gathered

(kind of off center)

at the bottom.

~

I also ruched one area in the back of the skirt 

on the right side. 

The flower embellishments

were crafted from my never ending supply

 of yarn scraps.

~

The ribbons were from my

"catch all" 

ribbon basket.

(and you thought I had a fancy pattern!!)

As knitted,

the skirt has a loose open weave pattern-

(so I wear a beige skirt slip underneath)

(skirt back)
~~

Mindless knitting~

easy, no pattern,

letting the yarn dictate the direction.

This skirt hangs beautifully~

the weight of the yarns helping to shape the lines

 perfectly.

I'm thinking this skirt screams

"Caribbean cruise"!!

don't you?

~~~~~~

coming up next (in just a few days)-- a short update on the Pink Scarf Project.  If you are involved or want to be involved with this amazing project -- please be sure to watch for this update!

AND-- if you are following my "2 Bags Full" Facebook page - the Breast Cancer Awareness nest preview photo will be posted later today !  For those of you who do not have Facebook -- a little preview for you will be posted here soon:)

I'm crazy busy right now -- totally consumed with finishing those gorgeous nests -- late, LATE nights.  

xoxo,

Vicki 

ps -- you still have until the 15th to enter my "Sweet Summer" giveaway -- go here for the details.

Sweet Summer Recipes (and a sweet giveaway for YOU!)

Summertime is more than just fun and sun -- it's also about enjoying some of our favorite summertime treats.  I'm sharing with you a couple of our all time most loved recipes (and at the end of this post there is a sweet treat giveaway for you!)

Summer Fruit Cobbler

~

4-5 cups of your favorite fruit (sweetened to taste)

(we like to use peaches, berries, and sometimes we even mix it up and make multi-fruit cobblers)

~~

lightly grease pan with cooking spray

add fruit

~~

make the batter--

1 stick margarine

1/2 cup milk

1/4 tsp salt

1 T vanilla extract

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

~~

**(if I use a large pan like the one pictured above - I always double the batter recipe.  But if you are using a 9 inch pan, a single batch is fine.)**

~~

Pour batter over sweetened fruit mixture.

~~

Mix one cup sugar and 1/2 cup water. Heat in microwave until the sugar is dissolved. 

~~

Lightly pour the syrup over the batter -- trust me on this!

~~

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

~~

**not all ovens are equal - so check at about an hour - you want your cobbler to be light brown and crusty.

~~

as soon as I take the cobbler out of the oven, I dust the top with vanilla sugar, bourbon sugar, or raw granulated sugar. 

~~

OF COURSE you will want to eat this with ice cream -- but our favorite is to buy vanilla yogurt from McDonald's and pile it on the cobbler while it is hot.  

"First Prize at the Fair"

Zucchini Bread

(you know this is a beloved recipe when it looks as worn as this!)

~(this recipe was taken from a 1990 Better Homes and Gardens magazine -- and I have added my own additions.)

~

(I really did win first prize at the county fair with this recipe -- but I can't find my ribbon to prove it to you -- LOL!) 

~~

3 cups all purpose flour

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

(honestly -- I do not measure this -- I just dump in a mixture of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg)

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups chopped pears - I use a 16 oz can (drained) and put it in the food processor

1 cup sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 cups finely shredded zucchini

1 cup cooking oil

3 eggs

1 T vanilla

1 cup raisins**

**(before you begin the recipe - soak the raisins in a strong tea mixture)** 

~~

Spray 2 (8x4x2 inch) baking pans with non stick coating. 

~~

Mix together the flours, spices, baking soda, baking powder,

 and salt. Set aside.

~~

Mix the sugars, oil, eggs, and vanilla.  

Mix in the pears.

~~

Add the flour mixture and mix well.

~~

With a spoon mix in the zucchini and raisins (drained).

~~

Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

~~

Remove from oven --

while the bread is still hot and BEFORE removing from the pans~~

I make a glaze of xxx sugar and almond flavoring

and pour this over the breads, allowing it to soak into the bread and down the sides of the pan. 

~~

 Allow to cool completely before removing from pan.

~~ 

**Accept all compliments graciously - your friends and family will think you are a rock star when they taste this bread!**

Do you remember these cookies from this post earlier this spring?

~~~

My Sweet Summer giveaway

~~

A lucky winner will receive a miniature

version of these cookies.

Baked fresh and delivered to you!

~~

(this time -- the winner will need to live in the US-- but don't worry, another giveaway will be here soon and that one will be open to everyone!)

~~

To enter -- just leave a comment here. That's it.  Make sure that your contact info is connected with your comment.  If  you are registered as anonymous - then you will need to leave your email in the comment.

~~

 The winner will be announced RIGHT HERE 

on August 15. 

UPDATE -- the winner of the cookie giveaway is 
Missio Terra Blog
~
Congrats!!
~~
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED

~~~~~~~

A little news-- my world is a total explosion of PINK right now! If you visited my Sacred Yarn room in the "Where Blogger's Create" post-- well, it does not look like that now!  The Breast Cancer Awareness nests are well underway and this craft room is a total disaster!  I'm running around in PINK circles right now! Look for a tiny little preview of the nests on my community facebook page next week. 

~~

Those of you who pre-ordered some of my knitted wraps will be very happy soon!! They are knitted and I will be adding the beads and fringe soon (as soon as the nests are done.)  You will most certainly have them before the first fall winds blow!  (Seriously -- I can't even think about fall yet!)

~~

Coming up next -- a little something I knitted -- just wanted to share it with you all~

xoxo,

Vicki

The Pink Scarf Project -- (Early Summer Edition)

This little project has a become a testament to the caring spirit of so many wonderful and generous people.  Most of you are perfect strangers and yet we are all connected, like family, in this single heartfelt cause. Your beautiful donations have continued to come, every week, sometimes every day~~

                     

 

Set against a landscape portrait
 so magnificent 
that only 

Mother Nature could paint it~
~~

Your beautiful gifts of love

were photographed 

at the seashore.

donated by Marrianna Daughtery
"Red Dancer Studio"

 donated by Alicia Hignite

donated by Rhona Norrie

donated by Marrianna Daughtery
"Red Dancer Studio"

donated by Cory Moore
"Pink Dogwood Blossoms" 

donated by Francis Young

donated by Denise Perkins

donated by Beverly Waltman

donated by Sue Greengard

donated by Dawn Kaufman

donated by Michelle Ferullo
"Petite Michelle Louise" 

donated by Gabrielle Gaudet

donated by Elaine Dale
"A Scattering" 

donated by Judy Lagaman

donated by Jackie Degeauvera
"One Creative Cat" 

~~~

We are winding down to the last few weeks of this incredible project.  Who would have ever thought that so many people would give so much to support this little cause? Your hearts are deeper and more generous than the depths of the oceans~~
~~
The photos shown here will be added to my
Pink Scarf Project  Pinterest board in just a few days.  Watch for them there, along with all of the other beautiful donations to date.

~~

 Some last minute info~
Your scarves need to be here by September 15 in order for me to photograph them-- I am saving a very special location for those last groupings of scarves-- the Fall edition. 
~
Your most recent collection of donations (late Summer edition) are traveling with me in just a few days, to another wonderful location -- stay tuned.  More beautiful photos to come in a few weeks.  If you wish to read about the Pink Scarf Project -- you can find the info here.  

Now -- for the rest of the story~

You probably already know this -- but it is a LOT of trouble to take all of these photos!  The staging, editing, even the gathering of supplies ,... takes hours.  (and I love doing it!!) But~~

~So the pink scarves travel with us on our recent trip to Florida -- along with ALL the props that I used in the photos. On the perfect day -- at the perfect appointed time in the late afternoon -- I gather up all the "stuff" and walk up the beach to the perfect location.

~I am carrying a large black garbage bag that contains all of the scarves to be photographed, my beautiful shabby chair, 2 wire baskets, a large bag of seashells, I'm wearing the beach hat, have the beach basket tote on my shoulder, and also have my camera supplies in tow.  If there is such a thing as a "beach gypsy" -- I am surely it!  Just try to imagine that picture if you will~~ LOL!!

  

~Do you see that beautiful dark cloud in the photo? Isn't it lovely? Did it not just make for the most gorgeous background?  I thought so too. 

~I'm happily just taking all of my photos -- attracting quite a crowd at the beach (I always seem to do to that!!)  All is just going so well - until the first raindrop falls --before I can even say "what the??" -- the downpour begins.  Everyone scatters, no one offers to help me --- I gather up everything as best I can -- ALL THAT STUFF-- and run back up the beach.  Just try to picture that -- now I am a drowned "beach gypsy." 

~I get back to our condo -- dry off -- dry off all of the stuff -- and look out the sliding door towards the beach---the sun is shining. (#!%*&#!!)!!

NOT to be outdone -- I gather everything back up AGAIN and head up the beach AGAIN to finish taking the photos.

~While I am doing all of this, my husband is out and about running errands.(we are going out to dinner afterwards)
He has no idea that I have been caught in the rain.  When I return to the condo - the second time --- he is sitting in the living room with a nice cold drink.

Him --- "Hi Honey, how did it go?  Did you finish taking all of your pictures?  I bet they will be beautiful." 

ME-- "Sure, I'm done.  No problems."  

He has no idea. He will read this post and learn the "rest of the story" just as you are!
~~

The things I do to take a great photo~~!!

xoxo,

Vicki

ps -- Coming up next~

Some of our favorite summertime recipes--and a little something special for you. My sweet summer giveaway~~  
~~
and one more thing~~ for those of you who follow my "2 Bags Full" community facebook page- you can watch for a sneak peek preview of the long awaited Breast Cancer Awareness nests. I'm spending lots of long days and nights here in the Sacred Yarn room -- these nests - omgosh -- just you wait! (If you want to follow my Facebook page -- the link is at the top of my sidebar:)