Happy Monday!
I once again have broken my own promise to be consistent with my blog. Some weeks, even with all the good intentions I have, It just does not happen. Last week, yet again was one of those weeks.
I have a busy week coming up bartending everyday but Thursday at the sports bar so I have made it my goal to get my blog written before the week started so that I don’t have yet another week pass me by with no blog! Bartending at the sports bar is really starting to mess with my livelihood and social life! I have been examining and scrutinizing just how profitable it has been for me to bartend and to continue to do so. That however is going to be another blog.
Since moving to North Carolina in March 4014, Ken and I have not taken a vacation nor have we done or gone anywhere significant. Sure, we have had the occasional friends or family members come visit, but with all the moving, buying, selling and building a new home all our time, money and thoughts were on that. We are finally settled (for the most part) in our new home. It is due time to explore this beautiful state we now call home.
To celebrate our 28th anniversary we decided to do just that by taking a little weekend getaway to the Asheville area. Our first stop the Catawba Falls.
Catawba Falls
I know. I was just there a couple weeks prior when my mom and friend came to visit but I wanted to go again with Ken and to make it to the top of the falls. We went. But didn’t make it to the top of the falls! In Ken’s words, “why? We can see the falls.” He was right. After reading the sign and chatting with a young chap less than half my age I decided seeing the falls from the bottom of the falls was just fine!
danger Catawba Falls
Today was not the day for serious injury and certainly not death! It was the perfect day. Not too hot! We enjoyed the hike and got some great pictures.
Us at Catawba Falls
Me at Catawba Falls
Us at Catawba Falls
doggies playing Catawba Falls
After seeing the falls we stopped at a beautiful garden of sculptures. We didn’t actually visit his studio but rather explored his garden of sculptures and enjoyed his beautiful works. The studio is Dragonfly Studio, Old Fort, NC. The artist is Henry Harvey. I grabbed a brochure of his. Not only is he a sculptor, www.harveygallery.com but has also written a number of books. www.henryharveybooks.com
Me and the Tin Man at Dragonfly Sculpture Gardens
time machine at sculpture gardens
sculptures
We continued into Ashville, checked into our hotel, tidied up and visited Sierra Nevada Brewery. Beautiful place. We did a self-guided tour of the brewery while enjoying one of their beers.
on tap Sierra Nevada Brewery
What I’m drinking – Sierra Nevada Brewery
Next stop Wicked Weed Brewery. Well not the actual brewery but the “Funkatorium” which after visiting their website I discovered is the East Coast’s first sour and funky beer dedicated taproom. It features over a dozen varieties of these styles on draught against the backdrop of Wicked Weed’s entire sour and funky barrel-aging program. I don’t know when or exactly how I discovered sour beers, but I like them!
The next day we headed to Elijah Mountain Gem Mine. It was listed as one of the top things to do in North Carolina. It was also in nearby Hendersonville and well I do like my gems. I was curious if this was a go to place to buy rocks. It was a nice visit. They did have some nice gems but not this place to go if you’re a jewelry artist, which I am, looking to buy gemstones. It is geared towards tourists and more specifically tourists with children. As you can “mine” and keep the gemstones you find mining. Still a great little place for a visit.
Gem mine
Hendersonville was an adorable little town.
Hendersonville
While there we came upon a great little winery, Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards. www.saintpaulmountainvineyards.com I just now discovered that it is actually on the top 10 wineries of North Carolina. My bucket list includes visiting all the North Carolina wineries. To date, according to my Google search there are about 133 wineries. I think I have maybe visited about 10 since we have lived here. I have some touring to do! We spent the early afternoon doing a wine tasting of all 15 of their wines. Rather I did the wine tasting. Ken is not a wine drinker or for that matter really not a drinker at all anymore! lucky me! I always have a designated driver. There was only one wine that I dumped, and that was partly due to the fact that I had a lot of wines to taste! The wines were delish!
St Paul Mountain Vineyards
St Paul Mountain Vineyards
I ended up buying a case and joining their wine club. See what happens when you start drinking! When I got it all home I thought to myself gosh I hope I really do like it and that it wasn’t just the alcohol talking. I had a glass of one of the bottles last night YUM!!! Good decision after all!
St Paul Mountain Vineyards wine YUMMY!
We had lunch there from a food truck on site along with another glass of wine. It was a perfect way to end our little get-away before heading back home.
I would like our next get-away to be east to the outer banks.
Ta ta ‘til later
Cheryl