Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Friday, July 5, 2013

North Carolina Visit to See Family

After our trip to Kentucky,  we made another short trip---this time to visit George's son and family from Florida,  who were vacationing at the Mountain Air Resort near Burnsville,  North Carolina.  Melissa's parents own this condo --so it's a great place to meet  up with them when they vacation here.

I call your attention to two other blog posts (which I wrote on another visit --in 2009).  This first one  (click HERE) shows you some family pictures taken when we were there four years ago... This next one  (click HERE) shows more pictures from this ritzy resort (where the wealthy people fly their private planes in and vacation at their million dollar homes)!!!!  There are four other blog posts from that trip --if you want to see more.  Just go to my sidebar and click on Mountain Air Resort.  Much has changed in these four years... Zack and Sean have grown-up,  and even the trees which allowed a great view from the deck at the condo have grown up and are obscuring the view... Shame on them!!!!! ha ha

Today,  I will share with you photos from this year's trip... Above is a picture of George's son and family (Zack-age 13;  Melissa,  Sean-age 9 in front of Melissa, and Bob/Robert).  Robert is Bob to us, and Robert or Rob to others!  Below are more photos from the Mountain Air area.




Here is a view of the mountains from the deck of the condo.  It was so nice just to sit out on the deck (even though it had rained some, and was only about 66 degrees that afternoon) and enjoy nature all around us.




This photo shows one of those beautiful homes at Mountain Air.   Bob did say that many homes up here are for sale now --due to the economy.  SO--even the wealthy may be struggling some!!!!!  ha   (That is one HUGE rock in front of this home.  You can only see a small part of it...




Here  is a view of the mountains.  The homes in Mountain Air are all built on the sides of the mountains --and all have a tremendous view of the mountains....All I can say is WOW.




This  is another of those tiny (NOT) homes in Mountain Air.... Mercy Me!!!!!  Wouldn't you love a 2nd home (or 3rd or 4th)---to visit on occasion in the mountains, LIKE THIS ONE????  I'd have to bring a full staff of maids with me!!!!!! ha ha   (Think I'll stick to a tiny little mountain cabin--which I would love!!! ha)




Here is another view of the mountains around that area --and the valleys below... I would love to have a view like this --but not sure I'd ever get anything else done.  I'd be staring outside all day long!!!! ha




There is a fancy golf course winding its way through these huge hills.  Here is a photo we took looking down on the golf course.   They certainly do a great job on keeping everything in good condition in this entire area--especially considering how very very steep and hilly it is!!!!  But --the owners pay steep fees in order to keep things in tip-top shape....




Here is a picture of the Master Chef at work.  Both Bob and Melissa are FABULOUS cooks ---and they served us a delicious dinner and breakfast  while we were there....  WOW---I could get spoiled by this special treatment.  Bob had made some fantastic BBQ (pulled pork) ---and we were lucky enough to get to bring some home with us.   YUM... SO delicious!!!!!!




Here are four photos showing the NIGHT SKY as it was getting dark... I love how it changes so quickly.... I couldn't quit taking pictures of that beautiful pink and purple sky.







Finally,  I'll close with one more picture of Bob and Melissa....  They are both such wonderful young adults and we enjoyed our time with them so very much... (They reminded me of my son, Jeff, and his wife, Dawn.)

Hope you had a great July 4th celebration.   AND--I hope you have a fabulous summer weekend... I'll see you on Monday!

Hugs,

50 comments:

Sr Crystal Mary Lindsey said...

Betsy, all of the photos are special. I loved the timber and rock homes that are up so high and have beautiful mountain views. How restful just to sit and look out on that. Your visit sounded a retiree's dream, being waited on and served wonderful meals. Jeff and Dawn gave you both a welcome that showed great respect for you both. God Bless you all. xx

Twilight Man said...

The homes and view are beautiful and fantastic! Only the privileged few could own such luxury havens.
George's son and his family looks lovely and happy!

In my country, we do have many wealthy people who are struggling to stay afloat. They look like tall beautiful swans on the lake moving gracefully. Unknown to others, their tiny feet are struggling and paddling so hard beneath in the waters just to stay afloat & look nice. Soon they will have no more energy and fall like drowned swans.

Happy weekend everyone!

Ms. A said...

Gorgeous homes! I can't imagine having one of those whopper homes, much less the breathtaking views!

eileeninmd said...

Betsy, love the views of the mountains. And the homes are gorgeous. It is nice that you all got to visit with George's son and family. Have a great day!

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Hi Betsy Many thanks for sharing your visit with us to the family. You obviously enjoyed the scenery, food, company and peace. Wonderful shots of the scenery and it must have been wonderful to just sit there and photograph the sunset. Margaret

Ann said...

what a beautiful area. I wouldn't mind living in one of thos tiny homes :)

RoeH said...

Wow! Those beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. I rode the Blue Ridge Parkway once about 20 years ago. It was amazing. So glad you got to spend time with your family.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

a few of those shots almost looks like the sky is on fire ... that is wild. so gorgeous.

looks like you had a great time. love the mountain shots too. ( :

Unknown said...

Beautiful pictures, and how nice to meet some of the family too. Enjoy your weekend!

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Sounds like a fun visit. Beautiful sky pics!

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

What a happy and loving family you have. You are all blessed.

What beautiful scenery. Those homes are lovely but the views are spectacular and more lovely.

Have a great weekend ~ FlowerLady

Snap said...

Beautiful family. gorgeous scenery. beautiful homes but you'd have to have full time staff, caretaker etc ... but the view!!! :D :D

Anonymous said...

How wonderful to share time with family in such a beautiful setting. Love those mountain views!

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CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Hello Betsy, What a very lovely and happy family and I am sure it was so wonderful to visit with them. Gorgeous area.. Thanks for sharing all those fantastic photo with us. Hugs Judy

MadSnapper said...

you got me with the 66 degrees, i would certainly like a home any home where i could leave FL this month and cool off. the sky looks like fire in some of the photos. and Georges son and his wife are like my son and his wife.. they both only come up to their hubby's shoulder.

Connie said...

Wow, those homes are beautiful, and what a view! Glad you got to spend some time with family.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

What a perfect place to meet with Robert and Melissa and the boys. The views are spectacular. Nothing like family, a beautiful condo, great views, and delicious food all in one package. :) But...what?...no waterfall?

Sharon said...

Sometimes it seems we just shadow each other around East TN and Western NC to our favorite places. We love this area and visit it frequently. Do you know if Melissa's parents have their condo in a rental program? I'd love to have it in my travel files if they do so we could support someone we know when visiting that area. Our next visit is likely to be over Bill's fall break. (Email me if you know anything about it)

Lynda said...

Oh, Betsy - - - Like you, I could sit and stare at the mountains all day long. They are so gorgeous. Your pictures capture them well. I love your header shot on your blog - - but love the ones in this post, too - - especially the sunset!!!!! Praise God for the wonderful times we get to spend with our families and that we LIKE to be with them. God has certainly blessed us in that area.

Joy said...

Wow and Wow and Wow. I wished I could be there to see those sunset in different colors. By the way, I can buy one of the house for sale. Hi hi . Just joking:)

Lady Di Tn said...

Nice looking family. Bob is really tall or Melissa is really short. I would be out there on deck taking "mountains" of photos because the view is breathtaking. Those houses remind me of some of the ones built up at Center Hill Lake in the last few years. I too will stick with our little 4 room cabin on the lake. Hope your weekend is a good one even in the rain. Peace

From the Kitchen said...

Family visits are the best, especially in beautiful settings!!

Best,
Bonnie

Arkansas Patti said...

Such a handsome family and how nice that they vacation so close to you so you can visit.
Loved those mountain views. Those houses were awesome but I would rather someone else owned them and I had visiting privileges.

Chatty Crone said...

Those homes are knockdown gorgeous! I love them. He is a professional chef? I would love a home there. Looks like y'all had a great time there - I am so glad. sandie

Small City Scenes said...

Wow what a fabulous place but I am with you Betsy, I'd take a tiny mountain cabin to a huge house----besides who would clean it--haha!!
The views are fantastic and that red sunset--excellent.
It is funny how kids change in just a few years. I guess we all have to grow up sometime. MB

Sylvia K said...

What a beautiful place and your captures are terrific as always! What a wonderful family and how wonderful to be able to spend time with them!! Love you captures as always, Betsy! Have a great weekend!!

Jeevan said...

Wow! I could say as well. This is a wonderful place to stay, relax and enjoy vacation. Quite loved the pink and purple sky! Yes, I too thought seeing bob first, that it was your son Jeff (I have seen him in his wedding post u posed here).

Happy weekend Betsy! Have a great time :)

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

What a nice time you had with family, Betsy and George. The views of the mountains were gorgeous from their location. Those hilltop houses reminded me of the ones we see here when we travel into the Rocky Mountains. What a dream it would eb to own one!

Hope you had a happy 4th of July! We had a wonderful family BBQ!

Ginny Hartzler said...

That resort is amazing!!! And I just love your sky pictures! So glad you were all able to get together and meet here! I wish I could taste some of his cooking...

happyone said...

Beautiful photos as usual! : ) Wow that is some house!!
Happy 4th to you too.

Big Dude said...

Those sure are some nice little homes.

Nellie said...

This sounds like a great family time!
The Blue Ridge Mountains are just beautiful!

Donna said...

They look like a lovely family. Glad to hear that you had such a great visit. Sure can't beat the location!

Janice K said...

Such a beautiful part of our world, and to be able to visit family there is certainly awesome!

Miss Debbie said...

Lovely scenery and homes. Glad you had a nice visit.Always nice when someone else does the cooking! :-)

Ruth Hiebert said...

YOu and George deserve to be spoiled once in a while. The views from there are spectacular.Oh my,those houses are for the rich and famous,definitely not a group I am even close to.A cabin would be more to my liking.

KathyA said...

Oh Betsy, how perfect was THAT?!!! What a gorgeous vacation spot and what a beautiful family!!

Don't you just love those sunsets and sunrises with their peachy colors?

And yes, shame on those darn trees for thriving!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, Cool looking place. The mountains are a great place to vacation with your family! Have a wonderful weekend.

Shug said...

Beautiful family....beautiful mountain homes and oh my...the country side is absolutely gorgeous...

Great post!
Shug

Dr. Kathy McCoy said...

What a perfect place for a family vacation -- and how nice you have such lovely connections to that special place via those two wonderful young adults and their blended family! I loved the pictures -- and those houses, my goodness! Great to see -- but wouldn't want to have to clean them -- or pay the price!

Marie said...

Looks like a beautiful area! Sounds like a great visit!
Do they live near Orlando?
Have a great weekend!

Grandma Bonnie said...

I just love the mountain view. I sure would love to see those homes but you are right I would not like to clean one. Nice photos of Georges and your family. How sweet of them to cook for you. Happy weekend to you and George.

~mel said...

Beautiful views ~ mountains and family. Doesn't get much better than that :)

Catherine said...

I hope you and your sweetie are having a terrific weekend Betsy. We are having some lovely weather and I am trying to enjoy every second of it. :)
xo Catherine

Setyo-Utomo Said said...

Love your lovely blog

DeniseinVA said...

A fine looking family Betsy, and sounds like you had a wonderful 4th of July. Those homes are really something but I'm with you, give me a small log cabin any day, especially if they have views like that. That being said I do love the architecture on such places. Always interesting to look at. Awesome shots of the scenery.

Thank you for your sweet comments about my birthday and Gregg's retirement. You and George have been an inspiration to us :) Have a wonderful week!
Denise
An English Girl Rambles

diane b said...

What a fabulous place to live and to vacation. I might be a bit scared of forest fires though. The views are magic as is your header. Great to have good cooks in the family.They look like a fun couple.

Rose said...

What a nice place to go visit family! Such a nice looking family. Beautiful views...I would have been content to sit and just drink in that view.

Busy Bee Suz said...

What a lovely family. I'm sure you both loved seeing those boys....they are a'growin'!
The resort looks just lovely. If I ever get my plane fixed, I'm heading right there. :)
XO