"What we Saw" at the Biltmore Estate on May 17-18, 2023

 Dear Blog Friends,   George and I finally got to Biltmore  (first time since Christmas)  on May 17-18, 2023...  As most of you know,  we have season's passes and love to go several times during the year to see all of the different events and blooms... On this little trip,  these are some of the things which we saw!!!! Biltmore was beautiful---and was a little trip we both desperately needed (after our rough 3 months dealing with son Bert's cancer and death)...

SO today,  I have chosen to share with you several things which we saw during this visit!!!  Hope you enjoy my post and hope you can get to Biltmore sometime to enjoy it for yourselves!!!  (By the way,  these pictures are only a SMALL portion of what we saw and did... I took about 200 pictures!!!! ha)

Beautiful Biltmore ---'MY' Home (of course!!!!!!! ha)

George and I --taken at the Lagoon at Biltmore --across the water looking up toward the back of the BIG house!!!

The Kousa Dogwoods  are in full bloom and are all over the grounds at Biltmore.  Gorgeous!!

I loved seeing all of the Rhododendrons in bloom while we were there.

AND the Mountain Laurels were showing off all of their beauty!

Looking across the lake not far from the waterfall;  I loved the reflections in the water.

This is something I have never seen at Biltmore!!!  Be sure and read the sign!!!

See the Rhododendrons in bloom across the lake?

Beautiful flowers inside the Conservatory

It was interesting to watch the Biltmore Black-Smith.  He was so personable and fun to listen to and watch.

And my favorite thing to show you:  a beautiful Chandelier hanging in the Winery by none other than CHIHULY.   Isn't it awesome????

Hope you enjoyed seeing my photos... As you can tell,  we had a great time!!!! Several of you have asked how we are doing.  We are OKAY....  I miss Bert TERRIBLY and think about him constantly.  BUT--he would not want me to sit around and mope and be sad.   SO---we are keeping on living the best life we can!!!! It's all about ATTITUDE!!!! 

Bert's 60th Birthday will be on July 18.   The family will scatter his ashes in the Smoky Mountains sometime that week...

Hope you are doing well.   I'll try to do a better job of blogging and staying in touch. 

Much Love,

BETSY and GEORGE

Anniversary Trip to Pisgah Inn, North Carolina 2021

Dear Blog Friends,   On June 21-24, 2021,  George and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary at Pisgah Inn,  along the Blue Ridge Parkway west of Asheville,  North Carolina.  The picture above was taken at the Craggy Pinnacle on our Anniversary, June 23, 2021.  We invite you to sit back today, relax with a coffee (or something of your choice),  and come with us on our Journey!

On the 21st,  our first stop was at BILTMORE HOUSE and GARDENS (Asheville, NC).  Of course,  we love seeing all of the seasonal flowers and plants outdoors.  BUT--what we loved the most this time was visiting the Model Railroad Display in the Conservatory.   Not only do they have model trains running throughout the Conservatory --but amongst all of these trains,  they also added miniature displays of the Biltmore Estate buildings surrounded by the Conservatory flowers and plants.. We were SO amazed to see all of this fantastic work.  Above is a "HUGE" replica of the Biltmore House that they built in the Conservatory.  Wish you could see the detail in this display in person.  AMAZING.

Look what they had on display in the Conservatory at Biltmore---  A WATERFALL just for US of course!!!!ha.... Can you see the railroad bridge above it?  Like I said,  this entire display is AWESOME.

OKAY---now we are on the road,  heading along the Blue Ridge Parkway toward Pisgah Inn.  We (of course) had to stop at some of the overlooks to get some pictures...One can never have enough pictures of the mountains!!!!!

We are HERE... So--why don't you sit awhile with us,  have some hot tea,  and just enjoy the view... Since we are above 5000 feet up here,  it is always MUCH cooler!!!!

OR --if there's not enough room on our balcony,  we can sit here and still enjoy the view of the valley and mountains!!!

Here's a Panorama I did of the beautiful view we had from Pisgah Inn... Just breath-taking!!!!

Did you sleep well?  We certainly did!!!!  This is our view the next morning. (June 22)...  We woke up to FOG all around us!!!!! After it began to clear a little,  I got this shot from our balcony to share with you...  

We relaxed in the room most of the morning --but when the fog lifted,  we took off heading south on the Blue Ridge Parkway --driving to the highest point (about 6000 feet)... Of course we stopped and checked out the views (and that amazing SKY).  

We headed back to Pisgah Inn and had some dinner there.  We enjoyed seeing the sunset --and that beautiful pink sky... BUT--we had an extra treat, and that was seeing an 'almost' full moon that night!!!

The next morning (June 23--and our Anniversary Day) --- we enjoyed seeing a beautiful sunrise from our Balcony... What a great way to begin a special day!

Okay --I'll stop this trip for today!!!!   BUT--I just HAVE  to show you one more pretty view of the early morning sun --and some fog in the valley below!!!

Hope you are enjoying our trip so far!!!!!! I still have two more days to share --but that will come in a Part II Blog post...

Thanks to so many of you who have asked about my health... I am doing really good right now!!!!  The new heart medication is working like a charm,  but there are some side effects I am dealing with (mostly neuropathy problems with my feet/legs)....   That problem is MINOR compared to what I go through when I am in A Fib....SO---I'm doing good!!!!!  

Continue your thoughts and prayers for my George --as he continues to deal with a disc problem in his back which affects his leg...   Unlike me,  he seldom complains,  but there are times when he has A LOT of pain....

BUT--life goes on for two 79 year olders!!!!   We are still kicking and HAPPY.

Hugs,

Betsy💝💛💚💕

 

Join us for a Little Walk Around DRY FALLS

One of George's fancy, neat pictures of DRY FALLS, taken on 6/15/20

Dear Friends,   Tomorrow  (6/23/20) is George's and my 19th Wedding Anniversary.  We are starting 20 years --which have been some of the best years of my life...

Due to Covid-19,  we haven't traveled much this year YET---- until last week.  Since Pisgah Inn (along the Blue Ridge Parkway west of Asheville, North Carolina) was opened with very strict Social Distancing rules,  we decided to celebrate our anniversary a week early.  

We spent  Monday,  6/15,  through Thursday,  6/18,   at one of our all-time favorite inns,  Pisgah Inn...  AND--of course,  we enjoyed visiting some waterfalls we hadn't seen in awhile,  plus we got to take some great hikes...  It was wonderful to get out in nature and enjoy God's beautiful world.

Today I'll take you on a little WALK --as we visited DRY FALLS  near Highlands, North Carolina along the Cullasaja Gorge area on 6/15/20.  Put on your hiking shoes and come with me!!!   WARNING:   Prepare to get a little wet as you walk behind the Falls!!!!   BUT --on a hot summer day,  that water felt good!!!!!!

Here we are---beginning our walk around the beautiful waterfall!!!

Getting a little closer!!!!   Are you getting excited????   (There are a few people around --but not too many.)

Here's a very happy woman ---getting closer to Dry Falls (which incidentally is NOT dry).... ha

WOW---what a big waterfall!!!! We are getting closer and closer!!!!!  Don't be scared!!!!!

Now we are starting to walk behind the waterfall... Prepare to get wet!!!!

A picture taken as we begin to walk under the falls!!!

Whew---that felt good!!!! Now --we're coming out on the OTHER side!

Here comes George!!!   He stopped to take more pictures.

We made it to the other side!!!!  Do you like it????

George got some GREAT pictures of this amazing waterfall!!!!

A 'damp' but happy woman on the 'other' side of the waterfall!!!

Another of George's amazing pictures of Dry Falls!

Well---except for getting quite damp,  I hope you enjoyed taking the walk with us around that beautiful waterfall.... If you ever get to western North Carolina,  be sure and visit the Cullasaja Gorge area between Franklin and Highlands....  It's an amazing journey!!!!!

Have a great week ---and stay happy and healthy.... And --a Happy Belated Father's Day to all of the fathers out there!!!!   Much Love!!!

Hugs,

A Biltmore Christmas 2018

Walking around OUTSIDE in the SNOW --enjoying the HUGE 55 foot Norway Spruce Tree surrounded by smaller trees;  There are usually luminaries all along the big driveway --but they couldn't put them out due to the snow.

Dear Friends,  I hope you are enjoying the Christmas Season so far...  George took me to the BILTMORE HOUSE and GARDENS,  Asheville,  North Carolina,  on 12/13/18 to see "A Biltmore Christmas"...The theme this year is:  "The Art of Christmas"...The first word that comes to mind when talking about that fabulous evening is  "WOW"....

Since we have season's passes to Biltmore,  we try to go there every 3-4 months.  Usually though,  we only visit the GARDENS,  and seldom go into the big house...  This year we have visited the house/mansion twice.  Once was in September --during the Chihuly Exhibit.  AND --the other was now to see all of the Christmas lights and decorations...

I HIGHLY recommend a visit to Biltmore during the Christmas season.  This year we even drove around to the Antler Village and Winery area and enjoyed all of the gorgeous lights there also... As many times as I have been to Biltmore,  I truly think that this latest visit was one of my favorites.  Thanks, George, for taking me there.  Being there truly 'made' Christmas for me this year.

Here are some interesting facts about the Biltmore Christmas for you to think about:
-There are 113 decorated Christmas trees,  with 55 of them inside the house.
-The largest tree inside is a 35'  Fraser Fir (in the Banquet Room).
-There are 45,000 lights inside the house,  and another 135,000 lights around the estate.
-There are 13,000 Ornaments.
-There are 1000 Poinsettias inside the house.
-There is  10,227 feet of Garland.
-There is LIVE music. (We enjoyed hearing a boys' choir sing,  a harpest,  a pianist,  and a guitarist. AWESOME.)
-There are 150 candles  lit inside the house.
-There are 1000 handmade bows.

Biltmore Estate is the largest private home in America.   Total floor space amounts to 4 acres.  That includes 35 bedrooms and 43 bathrooms.

I took 200 pictures that night...  Today I will share just a few of my photos....In future blog posts,  I'll share more pictures of some of the amazing Christmas Trees in the rooms,   the decorated hearths/mantels,  and more from our walk around the Antler Village area...

Hope you enjoy today's pictures ---showing just a tiny piece of what we saw that evening!!!

Inside the Winter Garden where we enjoyed the entertainment;

The HUGE 35 foot Fraser Fir Tree in the Banquet Room;

The other end of the large Banquet Room;

Love this large Cresche --showing the true meaning of Christmas;

There are 65 fireplaces in Biltmore.   This picture was taken in the Tapestry Gallery. People love this room since there are tapestries on all of the walls..

You have to see this huge wreath inside the house in order to realize how very large it is... There are 490 wreaths around the entire estate.

Beautiful decorations in the Library;  The decorations in this room followed a Travel Theme--filled with ships, stars,  and rope knots.

The Grand Staircase is always a highlight ---since,  as you walk up and around--you get different views of the tree below.  This gorgeous tree is decorated with stars  and cherubs.  

Special decorations for children in this room;   I didn't realize when I took this picture that Humpty Dumpty was there!!!!

Many people would miss seeing some of the little extra decorations ---but this one caught my attention.   I love decorating with holly....  Neat!!

Decorations EVERYWHERE --even in the halls;   There were 1000 Poinsettias in the house!!!

Do you like to make Gingerbread Houses???  Here's one for you,  a Biltmore Gingerbread House!!!!  Wow!

This is a picture of the Gatehouse ---as were leaving Biltmore... I was unable to get a picture here when we entered --because of all of the cars in front of us...

I'll close with a picture that the folks at Biltmore took of George and me.

Hope you enjoyed a little from our wonderful Christmas Trip to the Biltmore Estate..  It was an amazing evening!!!   Here is another interesting link about Christmas at Biltmore.  Click HERE.

Hugs,

Emoticons