Fountain of Youth – Mon. Oct. 30

I knew this would happen sooner or later.  I woke up Thursday morning with a very sore neck and heat and cold packs have not been able to make it much better so today I found a massage therapist.  All I had was the yellow pages and several were not open on Monday.  I got lucky and found someone really good.  His name is Steve and he is at The Fountain of Youth Spa.   I usually prefer female therapist but he was the one that was the most skilled in deep muscle work.  He is from Poland and has been in Hendersonville for 8 years.  The spa also has many other services like manacure, pedicure, facial and I hope to try those before I leave.   I have another appointment on Wed.  Neck feels somewhat better today.  I may need a chiropractor.

Tanya enjoying herself

Tanya’s favorite spot is on the corner of our bed.  Bob’s also working in this room so she loves to hang out with him all day.

 

Here other favorite spot is watching the faucet in the bathtub.  I bet she is in there at least 20 times a day.  Once in a while we let the water collect in the tub and she loves waiting for the faucet to drip.  Yes, her water dish is full of fresh water.  Whatever makes her happy!

Pictures and maybe videos coming on Monday

I got all the actvities updated and will add photos of waterfalls, yurts, Indians, scenery on Monday.  If I can figure out how to get the movies off the video camera, I will add those also.

Thank you Tyler!

Bob and I must mention our neighbor across the street, 16 year old Tyler A.,  who back in Minnesota is keeping an eye on our house.  It is such a relief to know that he is looking after the house, bringing in the mail that is not forwarded, taking care of the lawn and doing other little things for us.  THANK YOU!

Medieval Lunch – Sun. Oct. 29

The photo is a water fall we saw in Pisgah Forest our first week. 

We had a wonderful Medieval Lunch  at Highland Lake Inn in Flatrock.- In addition to live music, a costumed medieval court jester, Richard Cuyler, will perform magic tricks, deceptions and juggling acts from table to table. He will also perform with flaming torches outside, easily viewed from the dining porch windows.  The food was very good, especially the smoked pork and the whiskey bread pudding!  

The buffet will feature Henderson County cider, whole suckling pig, applesauce, seafood, sausage, baby octopus, prime rib of beef, cured meat display, and assorted vegetables, mushrooms and herbs. A variety of vegetables, soups, salads, fresh-baked breads and pastries and desserts will also be available on the buffet.

It has been interesting to learn the liquor laws here.  Wine and beer is sold in grocery stores and hard liquor only is sold in the liquor stores.  The only liquor store in Hendersonville, a town of 11,000 is simply called ABC.  If you don’t know what you are looking for you will never find it.  On Sundays alcohol is not sold in restaurants before noon but you can buy the wine in grocery stores after noon on Sunday.

After lunch since it was another gorgeous day we went driving around Flatrock.  I am continually amazed at the heavily wooded lots and homes that are tucked away in quiet streets.  I don’t think I have ever seen anything like this in MN. 

As I read all the activities going on within 30 miles of here I am impressed with all the music and arts programs and fall festivals.  It is easy to see why people love living in these mountains.

Trains and Indians – Sat. Oct. 28

We woke up in our yurt and it was still cloudy but the forecast says it will get better and after breakfast we could see the clouds break up.  We went to Bryson to see the model train collection and exhibit.  WOW!  I didn’t think I would be very interested in it but it is hard not to be impressed by a collection of 6000 train engines and cars worth over 1.5 million dollars and a train a huge train track that runs 6 engines and 350 cars and cost $500,000!  Incredible. The train track has mountains, tunnels, dozens of exhibits like towns, schools, campers, etc.  There is also a real train that makes 4 hour trips through the mountains and we hope to get back there to do that trip but don’t have enough time today. 

The day is turning out beautiful  Sunny and 60.  Bryson is a delightful small town, 1100, with many cute little shops, the trains and a big local industry in white water rafting.  After Bob’s climbing mishap, we both bought walking sticks.  Mine looks like it was carved from redwood and Bob’s is high tech, of course, and folds apart, has adjustable height, etc.  Will let you know how they work.

Our next stop was in Cherokee which is on the Cherokee Indian Reservation.  We saw Indian dancers and many shops.  We are getting too tired to do the Indian Museum but it does look very interesting and will put it on our list for another time.

The drive home throught the mountains, especially Maggie Valley, is nothing short of spectacular.  We have had two weekends of peak fall color and what is different here is that it goes on for hundreds of miles over the mountains.  I think the range of colors is more then in Mn.  I thought the mountains would have many pine trees but it has many, many hardwood trees.  I wish all of you could see it!

Yurts and a new KFC menu item – Fri. Oct. 27

On the way to Bryson we stoped at Sylva at a Kentucky Fried Chicken for lunch.  Nothing unusual about that except on the menu they had deep fried liver nuggets!   I’ve never seen that in Minnesota.  No, we did  not try them.

The weather is rainy and cool, not a good day for camping but that is what we are going to do, sort of.  We spent the evening in a yurt near Bryson NC, about 80 miles from Hendersonville in western NC.  The place was everything we expected.  Up in the mountains, deep in the woods and quiet are 8 little round tents but nothing like any tent you ever camped in.  If there is only one link you click on in this blog, click on the one above to see what a yurt is like.  Comfortable queen size bed, hardwood floor, decorated, clean, electric heater, refrig., coffee maker.  There is even a hot tub.  Nice clean heated bathrooms and showers, behind locked doors are about 20 feet away.  It rained and was windy and the sound kept us awake some but it was so nice to be warm and dry and comfortable.  I remember camping in a regular tent under similar circumstances and that was not much fun. 

We had dinner and breakfast at a very nice resort about 2 miles away.  Homemade rolls and biscuits that melted in your mouth and fresh rainbow trout.

Broken Finger and Music – Thurs. Oct. 26

Bob finally went to the doctor and they did an xray of his finger and he did break it. The break is below his fingernail on the finger next to his little finger on his right had.  They put a splint on it and that is about all they can do.  Most of the purple color and swelling is gone now and he says it does not hurt much.  Poor guy.

We went to a guitar concert at the Brevard Porter Center. John Williams, widely acknowledged as the world’s greatest living classical guitarist, and John Etheridge, one of the top jazz guitarists, offer solo sets, then seek common ground in duets.  We had great seats, the concert was sold out and it was a wonderful evening.

Brevard is another town we would seriously consider. Its Brevard College, which Outside Magazine just ranked as one of the best Colleges and College towns in America. They take pride in offering a broad liberal arts program that includes some very unique majors such as wilderness leadership, environmental studies and organizational leadership.  Also, if you have an interest in the fine arts, Brevard has had a long history as being a top educational, cultural arts center for the southeast. 
Brevard also has the Brevard Music Center – Brevard Music Center’s program goes beyond lessons and rehearsals; students perform many different programs for a paying audience, expanding their confidence as well as their resumés. The Brevard Music Center’s three orchestras, wind ensemble, piano, composition, and chamber music programs offer varied performance opportunities. A 6:1 student to faculty ratio provides a nurturing environment within the extensive performance season. Brevard students will go on to be leading performers and teachers; they are quite simply, a part of the future of music in America.

Arts and music are a big part of the community in many of the towns in this area.

Ordinary day – Tue. Oct. 24

Just working on my U of MN project.  Bob and I are settled into the work day routine now.  He will be working Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday while we are here and take Thursday and Friday off.

Getting caught up – Mon. Oct. 23

I can’t believe this is the start of our second week already.  Where did the time go?  Now that I have my computer and internet connection I have much email and work to get caught up on.  Somehow I have to keep sight of the fact that I still want to paint.  Bob’s finger still looks bad.  He is talking about going to the doctor now.