Oh those Gorgeous ELK

SO --this is my big surprise...  When we left Biltmore on Oct. 4,   we decided to drive to Cataloochie Valley to see the ELK.... (You know how much I loved that!!!!)  Since it was late afternoon,  we thought we'd see some ---and hopefully hear them BUGLE....  It is rutting season ---so we got lucky!!!!!!!   Not only did we see some elk --but we also heard them bugling...  That was SO awesome... Today,  I share some pictures with you from Cataloochie.  Be sure to enlarge them for larger shots.

This  looks like a fairly young one...  Looks like she is taking a nap!

Can you see the one on the right looking at me?????  Being at Cataloochie at sunset was neat... The sun was going down behind the mountains---causing shadows in some spots.

This male looks like he is getting ready to bugle!!!!!  I'm sure he's saying:  "I want me a woman... Anyone out there for me?????" ha..  I love the sun's rays in this photo.

The last time we were in Cataloochie (October of 2010),  we saw most all of the elk in one place.  This time,  they were spread out all over the valley..  This guy is looking at me also!!!!!!

All of the elk are tagged...  The people in charge keep track of them here in Cataloochie.   On the link I provide below,  they even have an update as to the ones who have died --and the new births this year.  Elk were brought into Cataloochie several years ago---and what a great home for them...

We saw quite a few males ---and they had some BIG racks!!!!!!

If you ever get to North Carolina this time of year,  check out the elk at Cataloochie.   BUT--either go early in the morning or late in the afternoon...   To read more about the elk in Cataloochie,  click HERE.    AND to see my photos from last year's trip to Cataloochie,  click HERE.  Besides this post,  there are six more posts.

This was the end of a marvelous trip ---both Biltmore and Cataloochie in the same day!!!!  Nothing but AWESOME!!!!

Hugs,
Betsy

Antler Hill Village at Biltmore, NC

Today,  I'll show you more pictures from our visit to the Biltmore House and Gardens in Asheville,  NC on October 4.   If you have not ever been to Biltmore --you may not know that this is a HUGE estate... Not only can you visit that gorgeous home,  or all of the many gardens,  but there's also a winery, several nice restaurants,  a huge inn,  many shops for 'shop-til-you-drop' shopping,  and an entire area called the Antler Hill Village which includes a farm.   There is just ALOT to see there!!!  It's impossible to see everything in one day...

SO--on the day we were there,  we chose to visit the Antler Hill Village (or at least part of it).. On this day,  we visited the old barn (built about 1902),  the woodworker shop,  the smithy shop,  etc.   It turned out to be a GREAT day at Biltmore...

The picture above was taken BEFORE we got to Antler Hill Village.  We were still at the lagoon area.  George took this great Autumn photo of the French Broad River --which runs through the Biltmore grounds.  Isn't it pretty?????

AND---this is where George stood to take that previous picture.  They say that photographers will do most anything to get a good picture.  Ya think?????? ha

Now we are at the Antler Village.   This is a picture of what used to be the old barn on the working estate... As I said above,  this barn was built in 1902.  They showed an awesome video inside the barn about life for the family in the early 1900's   If you ever get to the Antler Village,  be sure and watch the video. 

Look at Farmer Adams on that wagon...  All he needs is a corncob pipe and a straw hat,  don't you think?????  OH---I guess he will need a horse to take him on his way!!!! ha ha

I liked this 'grass' horse...  Neat, huh?

Now---George switched  over to the tractor...  That is an old Ford tractor---and he thinks that his Dad's neighbor may have had an old one similar to that one once...

I am standing behind a sculpture of Cornelia Vanderbilt (the only daughter of Edith and George Vanderbilt) with her 'best friend'--Cedric, a 200 pound  St. Bernard dog.

We enjoyed our visit to the Antler Hill Village at Biltmore...  BUT---there's more to come about our experiences that day!!!!  Just wait until tomorrow to see what else we did on this day!!!!!

Have a wonderful day.
Hugs,
Betsy