I was anxious to get started fixing the bugs that were identified last week in panelP. But when I started looking at it I found that it is getting errors on the server that were not there before. I’m pretty sure nothing significant has changed. The only thing that I can guess might have caused this is that one of the other servers is down and the web server I’m testing panelP on might be depending on that in some way I’m not aware of. In any case I’m not going to be lured into a wild goose chase and will wait until the server that is down is fixed to test panelP again.
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I’ve begun reading the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. I bought the boxed set of the first three books in paperback. I have finished the second book. The first book, Wizard’s First Rule, was interesting enough to keep me reading, although it’s not hard to keep me interested in fantasy. At first I was afraid that the series might be targeted to the younger audience, but by the middle of the book that fear was washed away by some serious conflict and plot complexity. While explicit violence isn’t a prerequisite for adult fantasy, conflicted complex characters are. I was very surprised by the number of typos in this book. I counted eight in the first half of the book and then stopped counting. I think there were probably at least 4 in the second half. That would seem to me to be an unacceptable number of typos in any book, even one that is 1000 pages long. A couple of them were not the simple misspelled word, but two similar words being reversed, e.g. ‘from’ and ‘for’ in two consecutive sentences. I’m a slow reader and as a consequence I seem to catch these kinds of things more often than others. I was less annoyed, but annoyed nonetheless, with a couple of weak plot points. I won’t put a spoiler here, but it seems to me a major section of the book would have been extremely unlikely if the characters had actually acted in concert with their … well, their character. It isn’t sufficient to say that these complex characters might not act predictably. In this case they weren’t THAT complex. The second book, Stone of Tears, is much better in many respects. More and more interesting plot lines are revealed, and I only caught two typos in the whole book. If I found a reason to be disappointed (not that I’m looking for reasons to be critical) it would be the similarity between some of the types of characters in these books and characters in other fantasies, particularly Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series. Also, a character introduced in Wizard’s First Rule is very similar to a main character in Tolkien’s masterwork. The end if Stone of Tears is such that you could stop reading the series here. It ends on a note of sweetness and light that Jordan would not be likely to use. Since I have purchased the three books I will finish them all. It remains to be seen whether I will continue with the series. For those of you who have been following our blog of our trip to Asheville I have actually gone back to earlier posts and added pictures. I haven’t done them all, yet, but will when I get time. I finally finished (ready to be finished, that is) the removable shelf for the entertainment center. I am disappointed that there is so much chipping of the face veneer on the side edges, but there wasn’t much I could do about that. October 31, 2009 Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, KY The simple beauty of this place speaks to us in a way that the opulence of Biltmore could only hope to do. Our stay here at the Shaker Village was meant to break up the monotony of the long trip home. It has become by far the most favorite part of our trip!  Walking to breakfast  Breakfast room It rained most of the night and was drizzling as we headed down the paved path to the Trustees Office for breakfast. They seated us in a cozy corner and we made use of the Shaker pegs that lined the wall for our coats, umbrellas and Steve’s hat. Those Shaker pegs are handy—at most restaurants there is no room for Steve’s hat unless we have an extra chair. We browsed the Craft Store housed in the former post office and then headed to the Meeting House for a tour. The interpreter first gave us a fascinating lecture about Shaker history and theology. Their actual name was “Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing.” Others called them “Shakers” because of their animated religious services where they “shook out” their sins with song & dance. They believed that work was worship and worship was work, saying “Hands to work, hearts to God.” Shakers owned everything in common, believed in simplicity, so as not to distract your mind from God, and strived to make wise use of their resources. The designs of their buildings and furnishings are simple, elegant testimonies to their beliefs. One thing I did not realize was that the Shakers were not isolated from the world, but rather engaged in it. They sold the products from their farm, and offered hospitality to anyone who stopped by. It is believed they were the first to market seeds in small paper envelopes. They embraced innovation if it would make the work more productive.  The main room of the meeting house  Meeting house trusses The Meeting House is a very impressive building. The acoustics are beautiful (more on that later) and the truss system allowed for the second floor to carry its weight without pillars dividing up the large meeting area on the first floor. Before restoration of this village the Meeting House was once used for an auto repair business. They claim the structure could support a tank driving through it! We remained in the Meeting House for the next demonstration – Shaker music. A woman dressed in 18th century Shaker garb talked & demonstrated to us about the use of song in worship. Her single voice rang out in the room as she sang, spoke, danced and twirled. We could only imagine the effect if the room were filled with Shakers joining in with her. It is said that the community could be heard three to five miles away on a day when the windows were open and the wind was right. I believe it. The rain let up and we were able to enjoy walking the grounds to the other buildings open for touring and demonstrations. We have always admired Shaker style furnishings and seeing actual pieces displayed in Shaker buildings, as they were used originally adds to our appreciation.  One of the Sister's sleeping rooms  An occasional table.  Another room with furniture on display. I could go on and on about what we learned about Shaker life and times. The best thing would be for you to visit and see for yourself. One aside… “Pop” goes the Weasel” possibly a spinning song…  The spinner  Other spinning and sewing equipment including a weasel. We visited the “East Family Sisters Shop” and spoke with a demonstrator who was spinning wool. She showed us each step. After the wool has been carded, spun and twisted into plies, it is wound on a measuring device called a “weasel” Each time the yarn has been wound around the weasel 40 times a counter mechanism goes “pop” so all the spinner had to do was count the number of pops and multiply to find out how much yarn was wound. You can to the following site for a more full explanation. http://www.rhymes.org.uk/a116b-pop-goes-the-weasel-meaning.htm For many more pictures of the Shaker Village see: We headed home at 5:30 after the village buildings and craft shop had closed. We definitely want to return and explore the village more in depth, as well as hike some of the trails. The preservation group owns 3,000 of the original 5,000 acres that was once Shaker Village. It’s 266 miles from Pleasant Hill, KY to our home—an easy drive mostly on interstate. We arrived home about 10:45 PM having gone a total of 1,381 miles. It is nice to be home! Tomorrow we will see our munchkins. I need some hugs and kisses from the Grandkids. October 29, 2009
Guess who.
We left Asheville, NC this morning planning to stop in Kentucky for the night. A detour is in effect for I40 West due to a massive rock slide. We were re-routed on an interstate highway, but it added another hour to the trip. Oh well. It is a beautiful day, and no matter which way one drives through the mountains, they are lovely.
We had our own personal detour first…
I have been craving a good iced tea in the morning and yesterday had noticed on one of our maps that a Panera was down the road from our hotel just south of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Steve, being the agreeable guy that he is, said he didn’t mind if we went South first to get me a good, large glass of tea. Well, we could NOT find the Panera anywhere. Ended up stopping at a place called Austin Bread that looked very similar to Panera (maybe a southern cousin) and I got my tea. This was just a block south of our hotel. Sooo…10 miles and 1/2 hour later we got on the road.
Our destination tonight was Shaker Village in Pleasant Hill, KY. We arrived in late afternoon and it was love at first site…
If you want to see some pictures of this lovely place, head to the Shaker site
http://www.shakervillageky.org .
This national historic site is unusual in that all guest services are housed in the original buildings. Guest rooms are simple, but have modern amenities – private bath with shower, electricity, a TV hidden in a lovely cabinet hanging on shaker pegs and, in some locations, wireless internet. We registered at what was once the Trustees Office, and is now used for room check in and a restaurant. Our accomodations are in the Old Stone Shop, which is a short walk down a lovely tree lined path.
Our second floor room is a simple, lightfilled space, with Shaker furnishings and a closet lined with Shaker pegs. The views out our windows are of pasture and trees in brilliant fall hues. We had dinner reservations for 6pm and so after settling in, we walked back to the Trustees Office. Seated by a window we watched the light fade and dined by candlelight.
The menu draws heavily from Shaker recipes – I’m hoping to get their cookbook tomorrow. The scalloped tomato casserole (a side dish) was especially yummy. And I sampled their chess pie, similar to what Hoosiers call Sugar Cream Pie.
The week has gone by quickly and we have had a wonderful time. The rest and relaxation was greatly needed by both of us. We anticipate that we will enjoy the tour of Shaker Village tomorrow (despite rain in the forecast), but surprisingly we are happy to be heading back home. I miss my three little munchkins and Steve has another week of vacation and woodworking to look forward to. He hopes to make significant progress on the entertainment center for Byron and Jenelle. The main body of the piece is ready for finish (my job) and I enjoy this task. So it is good to be heading home – and that is a great frame of mind in which to be because home we must go!
October 29, 2009 Guess who. We left Asheville, NC this morning planning to stop in Kentucky for the night. A detour is in effect for I40 West due to a massive rock slide. We were re-routed on an interstate highway, but it added another hour to the trip. Oh well. It is a beautiful day, and no matter which way one drives through the mountains, they are lovely. We had our own personal detour first… I have been craving a good iced tea in the morning and yesterday had noticed on one of our maps that a Panera was down the road from our hotel just south of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Steve, being the agreeable guy that he is, said he didn’t mind if we went South first to get me a good, large glass of tea. Well, we could NOT find the Panera anywhere. Ended up stopping at a place called Austin Bread that looked very similar to Panera (maybe a southern cousin) and I got my tea. This was just a block south of our hotel. Sooo…10 miles and 1/2 hour later we got on the road. Our destination tonight was Shaker Village in Pleasant Hill, KY. We arrived in late afternoon and it was love at first site… If you want to see some pictures of this lovely place, head to the Shaker site http://www.shakervillageky.org. This national historic site is unusual in that all guest services are housed in the original buildings. Guest rooms are simple, but have modern amenities – private bath with shower, electricity, a TV hidden in a lovely cabinet hanging on shaker pegs and, in some locations, wireless internet. We registered at what was once the Trustees Office, and is now used for room check in and a restaurant. Our accomodations are in the Old Stone Shop, which is a short walk down a lovely tree lined path.  The Stone Shop  The path from the Stone Shop to the dining hall. Our second floor room is a simple, lightfilled space, with Shaker furnishings and a closet lined with Shaker pegs.  One corner of our room at Shaker Village The views out our windows are of pasture and trees in brilliant fall hues. We had dinner reservations for 6pm and so after settling in, we walked back to the Trustees Office. Seated by a window we watched the light fade and dined by candlelight. The menu draws heavily from Shaker recipes – I’m hoping to get their cookbook tomorrow. The scalloped tomato casserole (a side dish) was especially yummy. And I sampled their chess pie, similar to what Hoosiers call Sugar Cream Pie. The week has gone by quickly and we have had a wonderful time. The rest and relaxation was greatly needed by both of us. We anticipate that we will enjoy the tour of Shaker Village tomorrow (despite rain in the forecast), but surprisingly we are happy to be heading back home. I miss my three little munchkins and Steve has another week of vacation and woodworking to look forward to. He hopes to make significant progress on the entertainment center for Byron and Jenelle. The main body of the piece is ready for finish (my job) and I enjoy this task. So it is good to be heading home – and that is a great frame of mind in which to be because home we must go! October 29, 2009
The forecast promised another warm, sunny day–perfect for a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway. This road follows mountain ridges and valleys, winding for 469 miles from Virginia to Tennessee in the Blue Ridge Mountains. There are no commercial signs, no gas stations, limited access to major roads. It is a linear park, administered by the National Park Service.
Today was a perfect day to be on the Parkway. The fall colors were at their peak at the lower elevations and the views, although hazy, were well worth the drive.
We stopped at Craggy Gardens Visitor Center and got our National Park Passport stamp–on a scrap of paper because the passport was back at the hotel
 The ranger recommended a hike up Craggy Pinnacle Trail. It is a moderate hike of .7 miles to the peak where you have a 360 degree view of the area, including Mount Mitchell which is the highest peak east of the Mississippi. We decided to try it–well worth the effort. There were quite a few others up there so we were able to ask someone to take our picture together.
We continued to Mount Mitchell State Park and had lunch at the restaurant, which is reasonably priced and has nice mountain views. This is one of the last days of the season for them–the restaurant closes at the end of October.
It was a short drive to the trail at the summit of Mount Mitchell 6,684 feet. The trail is paved and steep, but an easy walk. There is an observation tower at the peak with 360 degree views. On a clear day–if ever the haze lifts–you can see all the way to Smoky Mountain National Park.
We headed back South in order to reach the Folk Arts Center in plenty of time to see their exhibits and shop. This is the oldest craft guild in the nation. They have Appalacian craft demonstrations and all the items they sell are hand made by local craftsmen. I was hoping to find some souvenir gifts, but the prices were beyond our budget. Today, there was a gentleman displaying psalterys he had made and demonstrating how to play. Steve, I could tell, would really love a psaltery. The least expensive soprano psaltery was over $250. The tenor ones were in the $500 plus range. The instruments are lovely and the ones the craftsman demonstrated had beautiful tone. Steve asked a lot of questions about the construction and tried his hand at playing. I think he’d like to try making one. This craftsman has a web page
www.ringingstrings.com
where you can see and hear the instruments.
We did plenty of hiking today and so decided we could “afford” a nice dinner (as in calories LOL).
Ended up at Rezaz Enoteca in Biltomre Village–wonderful Italian food and wine! We shared an antipasti plate (antiipasti means before the meal and is usually meats and cheeses and vegetables) and we each had a glass of wine. Then we shared a pasta with Italian sausage and spinach in a garlic oil sauce. Yummy!
It’s hard to believe that our vacation is almost at an end. Tomorrow we head to Harrodsburg, KY to Pleasantview Shaker Village then home on Saturday.
October 29, 2009 Jomamma again. The forecast promised another warm, sunny day–perfect for a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway. This road follows mountain ridges and valleys, winding for 469 miles from Virginia to Tennessee in the Blue Ridge Mountains. There are no commercial signs, no gas stations, limited access to major roads. It is a linear park, administered by the National Park Service. Today was a perfect day to be on the Parkway. The fall colors were at their peak at the lower elevations and the views, although hazy, were well worth the drive. We stopped at Craggy Gardens Visitor Center and got our National Park Passport stamp–on a scrap of paper because the passport was back at the hotel The ranger recommended a hike up Craggy Pinnacle Trail. It is a moderate hike of 0.7 miles to the peak where you have a 360 degree view of the area, including Mount Mitchell which is the highest peak east of the Mississippi. We decided to try it–well worth the effort. There were quite a few others up there so we were able to ask someone to take our picture together.
We continued to Mount Mitchell State Park and had lunch at the restaurant, which is reasonably priced and has nice mountain views. This is one of the last days of the season for them–the restaurant closes at the end of October.
It was a short drive to the trail at the summit of Mount Mitchell 6,684 feet. The trail is paved and steep, but an easy walk. There is an observation tower at the peak with 360 degree views. On a clear day–if ever the haze lifts–you can see all the way to Smoky Mountain National Park.  Looking back down the trail to the summit.  Looking ahead to the summit from the trail  One view from the summit We headed back South in order to reach the Folk Arts Center in plenty of time to see their exhibits and shop. This is the oldest craft guild in the nation. They have Appalacian craft demonstrations and all the items they sell are hand made by local craftsmen. I was hoping to find some souvenir gifts, but the prices were beyond our budget. Today, there was a gentleman displaying psalterys he had made and demonstrating how to play. Steve, I could tell, would really love a psaltery. The least expensive soprano psaltery was over $250. The tenor ones were in the $500 plus range. The instruments are lovely and the ones the craftsman demonstrated had beautiful tone. Steve asked a lot of questions about the construction and tried his hand at playing. I think he’d like to try making one. This craftsman has a web page where you can see and hear the instruments. We did plenty of hiking today and so decided we could “afford” a nice dinner (as in calories LOL). Ended up at Rezaz Enoteca in Biltomre Village–wonderful Italian food and wine! We shared an antipasti plate (antiipasti means before the meal and is usually meats and cheeses and vegetables) and we each had a glass of wine. Then we shared a pasta with Italian sausage and spinach in a garlic oil sauce. Yummy! It’s hard to believe that our vacation is almost at an end. Tomorrow we head to Harrodsburg, KY to Pleasantview Shaker Village then home on Saturday. October 28, 2009
Still Jomamma posting here.
As much as we would have liked to spend another day at the Biltmore Estate, we hadn’t done much exploring in Asheville itself, so we decided to do the Urban Trail today.
Asheville is in a mountain valley and is an interesting town. There is definitely a strong influence from the University of North Carolina here–lots of art and music and books. Street musicians play for tips. Today it was sunny and warm so some establishments still had alfresco dining. The town seems somewhat “unkept” in that there are vacant storefronts and parking lots amidst artsy shops and urban trail sculptures. It is a pity that little thought was put into urban planning. Views are obstructed by tall buildings, many historic structures are only a memory, having been replaced by more “modern” buildings (read ugly). However, Asheville does still have some lovely architecture and walking the Urban Trail was fun and lead us to some gems in the city that we would not have discovered by driving through or taking the trolley tour.
We especially liked Wall Street–a collection of shops that originally were on the second floor and could be accessed from the alley by using a cat walk. Then the alleyway was filled in and now these establishments open onto a narrow, winding street.
We had lunch at one–a wonderful vegetarian restaurant called The Laughing Seed.
We also enjoyed our tour of the Thomas Wolfe Memorial (basically the home where the author grew up). I’ve not read any of his novels [nor I – Steve], but had always intended to do so. Now I am anxious to pick up a copy of “Look Homeward Angel” and start reading. Even though it is a novel, it is very much autobiographical. So much so that friends and neighbors of Thomas Wolfe recognized themselves all too well in the stories and the novel was banned from Asheville’s library for 7 years while remaining a best seller throughout the rest of the world. The tour did have a few “spoilers” but I still think the books will be good reads.
Steve has been anxious to try the music scene in Asheville. Jack In The Woods Pub (downstairs from The Laughing Seed) had a band playing tonight, but the show didn’t start until 9:30pm. Steve decided that was too late for him. So we took a suggestion from a local and went to The Fiddlin’ Pig for “bluegrass and barbeque”. They have entertainment nightly from 6:30 to 8:30pm. We enjoyed the special, pulled pork, and the music–”Bobby and Blue Ridge Tradition”–was good. The Fiddlin’Pig books groups from within 60 miles of Asheville on a rotating schedule. See www.thefiddlinpig.com
There is a dance floor and a few people got up and did some clogging. There was also a woman who joined the band a time or two and sang gospel. On Sunday they have what they call their “Gospel Sunday Buffet”. It’s a fun place to see some local talent and sample local flavor.
The weather promises to be lovely again tomorrow. What luck!
October 28, 2009 Still Jomamma posting here. As much as we would have liked to spend another day at the Biltmore Estate, we hadn’t done much exploring in Asheville itself, so we decided to do the Urban Trail today. Asheville is in a mountain valley and is an interesting town. There is definitely a strong influence from the University of North Carolina here–lots of art and music and books. Street musicians play for tips. Today it was sunny and warm so some establishments still had alfresco dining. The town seems somewhat “unkept” in that there are vacant storefronts and parking lots amidst artsy shops and urban trail sculptures. It is a pity that little thought was put into urban planning. Views are obstructed by tall buildings, many historic structures are only a memory, having been replaced by more “modern” buildings (read ugly). However, Asheville does still have some lovely architecture and walking the Urban Trail was fun and lead us to some gems in the city that we would not have discovered by driving through or taking the trolley tour. We especially liked Wall Street–a collection of shops that originally were on the second floor and could be accessed from the alley by using a cat walk. Then the alleyway was filled in and now these establishments open onto a narrow, winding street.  Fiddler by the iron works sculpture on Wall Street  Looking down Wall Street  Part of the cat sculpture at the wall on Wall Street We had lunch at one–a wonderful vegetarian restaurant called The Laughing Seed. We also enjoyed our tour of the Thomas Wolfe Memorial (basically the home where the author grew up). I’ve not read any of his novels [nor I – Steve], but had always intended to do so. Now I am anxious to pick up a copy of “Look Homeward Angel” and start reading. Even though it is a novel, it is very much autobiographical. So much so that friends and neighbors of Thomas Wolfe recognized themselves all too well in the stories and the novel was banned from Asheville’s library for 7 years while remaining a best seller throughout the rest of the world. The tour did have a few “spoilers” but I still think the books will be good reads.  Front of the Thomas Wolfe house  The dining room in the Wolfe House Steve has been anxious to try the music scene in Asheville. Jack In The Woods Pub (downstairs from The Laughing Seed) had a band playing tonight, but the show didn’t start until 9:30pm.  Jack of the Wood Steve decided that was too late for him. So we took a suggestion from a local and went to The Fiddlin’ Pig for “bluegrass and barbeque”. They have entertainment nightly from 6:30 to 8:30pm. We enjoyed the special, pulled pork, and the music–”Bobby and Blue Ridge Tradition”–was good. The Fiddlin’Pig books groups from within 60 miles of Asheville on a rotating schedule. See http://www.thefiddlinpig.com.  The Fiddlin' Pig There is a dance floor and a few people got up and did some clogging. There was also a woman who joined the band a time or two and sang gospel. On Sunday they have what they call their “Gospel Sunday Buffet”. It’s a fun place to see some local talent and sample local flavor. The weather promises to be lovely again tomorrow. What luck! October 27, 2009
Jomamma posting again.
The day dawned grey with forecast of heavy rain. By the time we left the hotel, the rain had started. It would continue all day. Story of our travels–the rain follows us wherever we go.
Despite the weather we decided to continue with our plan to return to the Biltmore Estate because of the price break–we could get in for free today by showing our previous day’s tickets and purchasing a specialty tour. We had wanted to see the “Behind the Scenes” tour, which is mostly inside the “castle” so it worked out well (no roof top tour today).
We noted as we approached the great house that the 50 foot Christmas tree had just been raised in the middle of the Esplanade. I don’t think they will be decorating it today, though.
On the tour we saw the workings behind the pipe organ in the great hall, the bachelor’s quarters and Mrs. Vanderbilt’s maid’s quarters. The most fascinating part of the tour, however, was about the inner workings of the technology of the house. The Biltmore was finished in 1895 and had state of the art central heat, indoor plumbing for 43 bathrooms on 4 floors, a sophisticated refrigeration system, and an in-house communication system to summon servants. The home was wired for electric lights and had its own generator since there was no power plant in the North Carolina mountains at that time. A very interesting tour!
For lunch we went to the highly rated and recommended Deer Park Restaurant, housed in the former calving barn on the estate. It seems that everything at The Biltmore is housed in historic structures.
The restaurant was a lot more pricey than we expected, and we couldn’t share a meal because it was a buffet. This is a lot more food than we have been used to eating the last couple of years. In fact, I think it is the first buffet we’ve done in a long, long time. It was delicious, though. And the ambiance was nice–windows on all sides– so we could look at the forested area as well as an inner courtyard. Out in front of the restaurant are rolling fields where cattle were grazing. All the meat and most of the vegetables and many of the fruits used at the restaurants are raised on the estate, just as was done during the Vanderbilt’s time here.
Hardy souls that we are, we continued a few miles up the road to what they call River Bend Farm–where the horses were kept and where the blacksmith and woodworker worked. The path winds from the parking lot through the kitchen garden and then up the hill to the large, restored barn and work area. Notice the large rain drops in our pictures as well as a glimpse of Steve’s umbrella every now and then.
We returned to the winery and shopped a little, then on “home” for the night. no need for a restaurant dinner after our huge lunch–it’s a microwave popcorn night.
Tomorrow should be sunny and warm–a great day to explore downtown Asheville and to do the Urban Trail.
Note about I40…
Sunday there was a huge rock slide on I40 at mile 3 just inside the North Carolina border. The slide debris is 150 feet high and at a point on the road that is very steep. They estimate it will take a month to clear the debris and stabilize the area. One of the boulders is so big they are going to have to blast it into smaller pieces. Meanwhile the interstate is closed in both directions and we will have a long detour on our way home!
October 27, 2009 Jomamma posting again. The day dawned grey with forecast of heavy rain. By the time we left the hotel, the rain had started. It would continue all day. Story of our travels — the rain follows us wherever we go. Despite the weather we decided to continue with our plan to return to the Biltmore Estate because of the price break — we could get in for free today by showing our previous day’s tickets and purchasing a specialty tour. We had wanted to see the “Behind the Scenes” tour, which is mostly inside the “castle” so it worked out well (no roof top tour today). We noted as we approached the great house that the 50 foot Christmas tree had just been raised in the middle of the Esplanade. I don’t think they will be decorating it today, though. On the tour we saw the workings behind the pipe organ in the great hall, the bachelor’s quarters and Mrs. Vanderbilt’s maid’s quarters. The most fascinating part of the tour, however, was about the inner workings of the technology of the house. The Biltmore was finished in 1895 and had state of the art central heat, indoor plumbing for 43 bathrooms on 4 floors, a sophisticated refrigeration system, and an in-house communication system to summon servants. The home was wired for electric lights and had its own generator since there was no power plant in the North Carolina mountains at that time. A very interesting tour! For lunch we went to the highly rated and recommended Deer Park Restaurant, housed in the former calving barn on the estate. It seems that everything at The Biltmore is housed in historic structures. The restaurant was a lot more pricey than we expected, and we couldn’t share a meal because it was a buffet. This is a lot more food than we have been used to eating the last couple of years. In fact, I think it is the first buffet we’ve done in a long, long time. It was delicious, though. And the ambiance was nice — windows on all sides — so we could look at the forested area as well as an inner courtyard. Out in front of the restaurant are rolling fields where cattle were grazing. All the meat and most of the vegetables and many of the fruits used at the restaurants are raised on the estate, just as was done during the Vanderbilt’s time here. Hardy souls that we are, we continued a few miles up the road to what they call River Bend Farm — where the horses were kept and where the blacksmith and woodworker worked. The path winds from the parking lot through the kitchen garden and then up the hill to the large, restored barn and work area. Notice the large rain drops in our pictures as well as a glimpse of Steve’s umbrella every now and then. We returned to the winery and shopped a little, then on “home” for the night. No need for a restaurant dinner after our huge lunch it’s a microwave popcorn night. Tomorrow should be sunny and warm — a great day to explore downtown Asheville and to do the Urban Trail. Note about I40… Sunday there was a huge rock slide on I40 at mile 3 just inside the North Carolina border. The slide debris is 150 feet high and at a point on the road that is very steep. They estimate it will take a month to clear the debris and stabilize the area. One of the boulders is so big they are going to have to blast it into smaller pieces. Meanwhile the interstate is closed in both directions and we will have a long detour on our way home!  Jo admiring the mountains in Cades Cove This tree is just off to the left of the picnic spot.
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