Bob had planned on a tour of an old church in Asheville, but we got a late start and it started raining, so we changed plans. Being a Monday, there was not a restaurant open anywhere, so we decided to go to one of our favorite places, the river in Greenville where the Grand Bohemian Lodge is.
Beautifully decorated for Christmas.
I love everything about this place and can spend hours just looking around.
Huge fireplaces throughout.
Bob heads straight to the vintage books which you are allowed to take off the shelves and read.
The staircase garlands were beautiful. We had not been down to the bar in this part of the hotel before.
And then there's the artwork!
Those tiny lights on each table were so cool. Closeup in the video below.
The cocktails were soooo good! I had two called "Sweater Weather" and Bob had the "Upstate Elixir".
I had flatbread with burrata, baby arugula and fig jam. It was delicious. Bob had sliders. Highly recommend the bar. Very relaxing.
Plans for our 40th was a weekend getaway to Charleston to stay at the Post House Inn, go to Sullivan's Island to sit on the beach, eat at some good restaurants and see the camelias on the Battery in Charleston, but that was only if we no longer had our senior dogs. At one point I thought of hiring Catrina to take care of them, but Geisha has cancer, Timber falls a lot and they both require detailed care, so I would not have enjoyed a trip worrying about them. I really didn't think they would be here this winter, but both are going pretty strong, and that's okay, we can always go on our trip when the time is right.
Instead of our trip, Bob planned a weekend of activities that I would enjoy, first an historic cemetery in Hendersonville to look for a famous angel.
Here she is!
There were other angels, too. I particularly liked this one.
Love her wings from behind.
This angel was carrying an adult! to heaven!
I always look for the faux bois.
Faux bois with ferns, better yet!
It wasn't the prettiest cemetery I've been to, but it was a nice day for a stroll through looking for interesting markers. On the way home got a huge Pumpkin Cold Brew from Starbucks and Sunday Bob is going to help me at the farmhouse. Need to hang my light fixture in the corner that was just sheetrocked. Photos to come.
The anniversary selfie! I did get a new camera, too!
Last two Eden roses before the cold snap; camelias are blooming!
Right before leaving for our Thanksgiving Hike, a winter hummingbird appeared and is still here. I believe he is a Rufous hummingbird.
Thanksgiving week a new trail close to home opened up through Conserving Carolina. Walked the original bridge which is now just foot traffic.
This area has such a great history.
Fresh, new trail. Sweet!!
Lots of downed trees everywhere from the hurricane.
This area is covered in old rhodies. We will be back in spring to see them blooming.
They built various lookout decks over the waterfall, which was really nice.
I try to imagine what this area must have been like back when Frank Bell was a whitewater guide. They were pioneers in a rugged area.
The road we would have taken one road over from our place is still closed, the bridge is out and the bridge on the other side of us is out, both roads on either side of us closed. We went up as far as we could and saw the Caro-Mi restaurant that is no longer. It was sad to see this beautiful road where "my" old house where I gather plants is. My house is still there even though there is a waterfall behind it, but so many other places are devastated.
Last spring I walked this place over the covered bridge and took photos of all the azaleas . . . all gone.
The little nature library was flooded, I'm sure all gone.
Cranes were in the river moving debris and rock.
Cars buried in mud. We are lucky we happen to be on a hill in just the right place. Seeing this one road over shows how bad the storm was.
Some of the Japanese maples were still standing, but so many trees lost everywhere we go. Thankful to still have our home.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
