Fall, Family, Food, Friends = Asheville Part II

Beautiful Asheville

Always encouraging

Can never get enough of you!

But we sure tried in just a few short days..

Cramming so much in...in a relaxing sort of way!

The perfect combination.

and speaking of combination...

These two guys ruled the table 

at 

but this girl

spent some time

also.

(P.S. the green heart on her wrist is Jayce's!)

In keeping with the relaxing mode,

there was food, food, and more food

with long meals spent around the table; no agenda

except to spend time together.

Fortunately,

after the pasta, barbecue, salads/hoagies, pastries, artisan donuts,

cat head biscuits, and let's not forget the sangria,

 my Timberlands 

did get some action.

And let's not forget

the rainy day

meetup with friends

(oops...I missed out on the handhold in the last pic :)

where leisure once again ruled...

(notice incognito Joseph in the background :)

Rachel and Joseph,

it was so great spending time in your world

 and we can't wait to

head to your mountain home again!

P.S.

I would be negligent

 if I didn't highlight the

next photographer of the family...

and to take the time to give a shout out

to the 

DellaVecchia's

who needed to stay home and take care of 

sick wee ones.

We missed you guys!!!!

But now that everyone is healthy...

when's our next road trip?!?!

Healing Powers, Asheville Part I

I am a city girl by birth, but, most fortunately, I've had mountains in my life from the beginning... the Watchung Reservation and Poconos in my childhood...oh yes, Harvey's Lake! thank you for such wonderful memories!..., the Catskills, Delaware Water Gap and Voorhees State Park in my teenage years where a lot of exploring took place and Roundabout by YES ("mountains come out of the sky and they stand there"!) would be blasting on the cassette as the they came into view on the road trip out of the city. And, of course, the beautiful Smokey Mountains in my adulthood.  As Christa put it quite eloquently this past week, "A part of my heart belongs here!"  I so agree!

Recently I read a study that showed pain medication was reduced by 30% for hospital patients who were exposed to nature.  I so believe that.  Such powers are held by grandiose mountain ranges to tiny berries growing on a tree.  Again a Christa quote, "Healing happens here!"  Christa, all that money that was spent on the study... they could have just asked you...lol!  There is truth in those words.

Off to experience the power of nature...

Always the gentleman...

 My Timberlands were jealous...

And the challenge of rock-skipping

 caused Robert to risk his Jordans...

   

If nature reduces the need for pain meds by 30%,

what percentage would you guess that family/friends

further reduces the need....

And I don't think a study is needed

 to prove that fact!

Now, enjoy a great song...

Feel the Earth. Touch the Sky.

Asheville...



 

 



And that is exactly what I did for a few days this past week! 

 

 



 Because....



In my opinion, Asheville and St. Augustine are sister-cities, fraternal twins.  One touching the sky, the other touching the sea.  Which is better?  Neither, of course.  They are both magical in their own right. But let's focus on A-ville for the moment. Old architecture, streets and alleys lined with art galleries and shops...you do not want to pass up one!  This town is filled with locals and tourists mingling together with "hellos" and a "how ya doing?" (sound familiar...twins!), and one particular sentence that I heard over and over in this little city surrounded by mountains..."I LOVE your daughter!"

 I agree...

 

 

This girl may be Florida-born, but she has found her roots in the mountains

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and the Blue Ridge surrounds her and hugs her as do the people in her town!

 



 

 

But I can hear Rachel now...

"Mom, enough about me!"

 

OK, so I'll expand...

to the man that she loves

 

 

and the pets she adores...

 

 

 

 

 

and the food that we ate...

and ate...and ate...

 

 

 

 

 

 

This town is accommodating...

 

 

 

and it's always hard to leave...

 



But,

I know there will always be a seat waiting for me upon my return!

 

Rachel,

 

I hope your wish is the same as mine...

 

that these two 

 

just get to spend more and more time

 

 together!

 

P.S.
A big thank you to Susan for letting me hop in her car! (and a BIG congratulations  to you on CONQUERING a MOUNTAIN!)














P.P.S.S.
This poor hummingbird kept trying to get necter our of a seed feeder...(thus the pic above of Rachel hanging out a hummingbird feeder...a task added to our list of things to do...don't trick the hummingbirds!!!!)