Tuesday - November 25

Saw Philip first thing this morning....glad to have him back after lots of work time!    He and Mark went to the lumber yard with plans for him to make a table for Flo between our recliners.

I did 2 loads of laundry, wrapped 3 more gifts. and worked on some Christmas cards.   The rain started at 10 and just a wet chilly dreary Tuesday!

Michael picked Brady up at the Charlotte airport. 

  Philip and Annette's friend Randy came for more euchre - this time 5-handed which Annette and Mark tied for. 

Maeve had her fiddle lesson after school.

Luke came over to our carriage house and made Rollo/pretzel/M 'n M treats)

A favorite holiday treat for our family

We played euchre with Philip and Annette - Mark and I won 2 of 3 games.    Enjoyed some yummy eggnog with nutmeg!😋

Monday - November 24

 I'm back from Asheville with beautiful memories of the "Biltmore by Candlelight"!    

Mark took me to Black Mountain yesterday and we met Karen and friend Kathi at Starbucks at 3.    Mark went back to the lake and K, K and I drove to Asheville.   They are staying at the Biltmore Hotel - VERY nice and so convenient with shuttle service to wherever!   Dropped off my stuff and then a late lunch at the hotel restaurant which was excellent (crab cakes for Karen; chicken panini for Kathi and fried green tomato BLT for me - all excellent).  We walked around the Antler Winery which had a long line for complimentary wine tasting, so no wine but a nice gift shop to browse and then waited for the shuttle to take us to the big house for our candlelight tour.  

Kathi and Karen outside the Antler Winery

Gorgeous tree on the lawn in front of the Biltmore

The Biltmore at night

 Our reservation was for 6:45.   LOTS and LOTS of people but oh my.......so magical and just in awe of so much beauty.    A middle school choir from Asheville sang Christmas carols in the garden room - very entertaining.    I've been to the Biltmore 2x previous at Christmas time, but never at night........whoaaa....very awesome!

Just a few of the incredible trees which were everywhere throughout the home.

Auntie Karen and Pat

 

 Took the 8:00 shuttle back to the hotel - we were all tired, got into our jammies and by 9, or soon after, nighty night time

Mark had dinner with Michael, Brooke and Blair (beef stew) and then zoom with just a few siblings tonight.

Monday - Karen and I went down to the lobby for lattes - all complimentary for guests!    We were in touch with Mark who was coming to Asheville to pick me up.   Karen needed a few things at Target so shopped there and met Mark at 10.   Said good bye to the K's - they were sooo accommodating and hospitable - I'm so thankful they asked me to share last night.   Kathi's sister was planning to be on this trip but had to cancel, so that's how my ticket came to be.   Lucky me and then to get to stay at the beautiful Biltmore Hotel.

Mark and I stopped at Dollar Tree and then to Black Mountain.   We had an 11:00 meeting with Carla, Marketing Director at Givens Highland Farms where we plan to live one day.   It was a great visit and learned more about which kind of housing we might want - just no idea "when" we'll be ready for this.    Left there with our heads spinning 😕

Drove downtown to meet Buddy and JoAnn at "My Father's Pizza" (favorite of Michael's).    We had never been but Buddy and JoAnn like it, too.   GREAT food (no one had pizza)😂  Buddy and JoAnn live across the street from us at CT but won't be arriving till late December.   Their home here is in Candler (Asheville suburb).    Really enjoyed our visit - great friends and neighbors!!!

Buddy, JoAnn, Pat, Mark

Next stop was Ingles to buy all the ingredients/groceries I need for the next several days...

Then finally back to the lake, unloaded our stuff and just chilled a bit.    Philip is back from Florida but was with Annette to pick up the kiddos.

Michael picked us up at 4:30 and off to Morganton - stopped at Lowe's for a few things and then to the 1st basketball game of the season for Blair's school (Liberty Middle).    The 7th and 8th grade boys won 42-18 but we were there to watch Blair cheer - she loves it and does great!    They have 20 cheerleaders!!!    Bob and Judy (Brooke's parents) were there and afterwards we all went to the Town Tavern for supper.   Good food and visiting!!!

Our favorite cheerleader

Cheering on the Knights

Blair, Michael, Mark, Judy (photographer was Brooke)

Bob and Pat

Sunday - November 23

 We went to 9:00 Mass at St. Charles Borromeo in Morganton with Michael, Annette, Luke and Maeve.    Luke and Blair are in confirmation class so had that session between masses (Brooke and Blair went to noon mass).    Michael, Mark and I went to Waterbean for coffee/breakfast, quick stop at Food Lion and on home.

  Last night Auntie Karen called and asked if I would like to go the "Biltmore Light" display tonight.   I knew she and her friend Kathy were visiting the Biltmore this weekend and somehow had an extra ticket for tonight.    "YES".....so Mark will take me to meet them later this afternoon, I'm spending the night with them at the Biltmore Village and Mark will pick me up tomorrow.   Two years ago when this had been the plan with 4 of my Monday Night Friends and then........the BAD fall, I've not seen the nighttime lights, so very excited.

Another gorgeous day at Lake James.    The deer were out big time last night - these guys were in Philip's backyard...

Friendly deer

View from our deck of the lake and mountains!

I will post this blog update early and follow up after my trip to Asheville.

Saturday - November 22

 More rain overnight and the air is so fresh and love that piney scent.

After breakfast, Mark and I went for a walk - been sitting too much the past few days!   

The mailbox gets some seasonal beauty

Woke up to this scenery today

The carriage house (our home during our Thanksgiving stay)!

Annette invited their friend Randy to come over for soup/salad and play some euchre.    Mark and I won 4 of 5 games!!!    And the soup/broccoli salad were sooo yummy.

Then we left for Michael's and saw his new dock (damaged from Helene) and newly finished room above garage - very nice.    Big football Saturday and they had some friends come in to watch the game - we visited with Keith and Kathryn.    Blair showed us her new room and and then we were on our way back home.    Brooke and Blair were going to see the movie "Wicked For Good" this afternoon.

Grandpa, Grandma, Blair

Wrapped some gifts and watched football...  HUGE win for Notre Dame against Syracuse and then Iowa eked out a win over Michigan State - exciting Saturday college football!

The plan tonight was for Erin, Annette, Luke, Maeve, Mark and I to have dinner at Bones Jones which is a very popular place here at the lake but we've never been.    We got there at 5:20 and it was going to be a 1-1.5 hour wait!   😞 So we went to the camp and enjoyed our meals and the seasonal ambiance.  Fun time with family - missing Philip and Ryan.

Erin, Annette, Mark

Maeve, Luke, Pat

 

Friday - November 21

 It rained during the night and was a cool, drizzly dreary day.    Davis and his mashed potatoes were out the door before 7:30 and off to work.    Mark and I got our stuff together and left the house at 8:40 heading to Marcella's Sweetery - delicious scones, danish and coffee.   Today we met Marcella and on the 28th they'll celebrate their 1st anniversary.    There are about 15 homes in Davis's subdivision (first ones were finished in August) but it will be huge when totally completed.  The lots are nice 'n big, too.   We sure enjoyed our visit (those 1-on-1 times are so special), seeing his new home and the warm hospitality.

After breakfast, we were on our way - instead of I40, Mark took some rural roads - we passed many many churches out in the country!   Had some fog here and there. We arrived at the lake around 11:30, unpacked and delivered Annette's items from Costco.   A good day for naps and that's what we did.   

Annette invited us for the tree trimming and I was very happy to help with that as I haven't decorated a big tree in 10 years.    Mark came over and we had delicious sausage/vegetable soup and then he came back to the carriage house and I went to the basement with Annette and the kiddos to start the decorating.    Thankfully, they have pre-lit trees as lights used to drive Mark and I CRAZY......string them on the tree and then they didn't all light up!    Arghhhh!    Sure don't miss those days or all that frustration!

So many laughs and memories from past Christmases

 

Tah day....beautifully decorated tree

Along with the Christmas tunes, Maeve entertained us with Jingle Bells on the fiddle - taking lessons!    Good job!

Mark joined us for some 3-handed euchre with Annette and me each winning a game.

Enjoy your weekend!