Amelie's

Twice this week we've had to take the trip to Charlotte.  First was Saturday evening for Bob's office party at his boss's house.  My anniversary gift to Bob was going to the party (I really  didn't want to go) and letting him take a photo, which is another thing I'm not fond of.  Ends up the party was dinner with only the office staff and was an enjoyable evening. 

Next was Tuesday for our loan closing on the house refinancing.  A friend said the only reason to go to Charlotte was to go to Amelie's a French bakery and cafe, so we did!

A cafe creme and sandwich, then pastries to take home.

A fun quirky atmosphere.

We took home a Napoleon and Galetaux to split.

Had to show off the bling!

Anniversary Number 32

Came out the front door day of our anniversary and this is what I found.

Love the tag, but no big deal, just the pair of loppers I asked for so I could trim bushes, right?

WRONG!  Ended up being a telephoto lens for my camera the size of a bazooka!  How will I hike and carry this thing?  The small box is my engagement ring that needed to be re-sized.  Yes, as we hit 60 our fingers swell and knuckles get arthritis.  Haven't worn my ring in years, it's like getting brand new bling!

We went to Asheville to eat at the Taco Temple, which did not disappoint.

I have finally found a decent margarita, it only took three years!  Yummy, interesting tacos.

Bob's plate.  Designated driver.

We walked around Biltmore Village to finish up the last of the Christmas gifts.  This church was so beautiful I took many photos.

I wanted a bag of these pinecones off this tree, huge!

Bob tipped the girl playing Christmas songs on her flute for shoppers.

Today is the coldest day yet, won't get out of the 30s tomorrow, but back to the 60s on Saturday, so I'm doing my lizards a favor and brought them in for the night.  They are enjoying being inside.

This is the latest ever for getting tree and decorations up because of rescue.  This is Czar from an NC shelter.  My friend Debra (you would remember her holding the snake as big as her) helped get him out of the shelter and I set up a volunteer transport to get him to Michigan, no easy chore.

The following weekend my friend Cathy in Arkansas asked for help finding a rescue and setting up a transport for a 7 month old husky pup named Waha (Indian meaning little wolf).  My friend Kathy at Free Spirit Husky Rescue took him in as long as I could get him to Harvard, Illinois.  That was tricky.  Run started at 8 am and ended 10 pm because of a major snow storm.  Everyone was safe and Waha is now with his rescue.  He is the black husky looking freaked out lol!

I get to meet many new friends through rescue.  Amy and Frank may come to Asheville this summer to stay at the boathouse and bring their own huskies!

Patty wanted to keep Waha, she fell in love.

Bob and Ashley had a good time, too, but looks like Waha is worn out!  Arkansas to Illinois is a long trip.  Working this week on an NC blind senior chow, trying to get him to my friend Marcia in PA, but shelter is giving us trouble.  May have to pull a PETA on xmas eve when no one is around and spring him.  I already have a handful of people wanting to help.  Mom, get the bail money ready!!

Thanksgiving and Beyond

Thanksgiving has come and gone and Christmas is approaching too quickly.  With all that has been going on with the house construction and rescue, I have yet to get my tree up.  This was the Thanksgiving mantle.

The Japanese maple has now lost its leaves with the rain that has finally come our way, but it was beautiful while it lasted.

I actually cooked a Trader Joe's organic brined turkey this year, and I have to say it was worth the $$!

Pumpkin flan with whipped cream and Kahlua for dessert.

The workers did take off for Thanksgiving, but they were here the rest of the holiday weekend putting up the sheetrock. 

Purple would not be a color choice for a room!

I do love the old brick foundation taking the place of wood baseboard . . . 

. . . and the old beam that goes across the wall is a favorite detail.

The old primitive mantle will hold the Dusenbury art piece.

The man cave is not even finished, and Roman is in there smoking a cigar!

So since this is Bob's room, he got to choose the color.  Of course, it is the same color he had in his last library, Dash of Curry by Benjamin Moore.  I wanted to go very neutral with a dark khaki color, but he wasn't having it.

I have to say this color looks great with the wood and the Dusenbury painting.

One wall finished, three more to go.

Another tag sale put on by the Frog & Swan.  I didn't even know what the big glass "thing" was, but bought it any way because it was so pretty and definitely old.

Found out it is a Deco period floor lamp shade.  It is 16 inches across, and they sell for quite a bit of money on Ebay.  I didn't like spending $10 on something I didn't know what it was or if I could sell, but I will list it today and see what happens!

Also slipped away for a visit to see Linda's tree, a cedar she got in KY.  Cedars are so light and airy and very pretty with just lights and icicles.

Linda is way ahead of me!  Her place looked fabulous, as always, and ready for the holidays.

She named her cat Annabelle Fern.  I told her with that name, she could have named my brother's girls!

Time to get home and put up that tree!  I have not been excited about my everlastings this year.  I am definitely going to have a live tree next year, and will make a day's outing out of it, travel to the mountains and cut it at a tree farm.  Maybe the town of Boone!