Two Fabulous Asheville Experiences

 Two Fabulous Asheville Experiences, Nos. 77 and 97 Embellished

No. 77: Continuing Education: Take a class.  I did! Online for the first time and I loved it.

No. 97: Go to a Historical House or Two.  I think the Biltmore Estate qualifies.

First for No. 77, Libby and I signed up for a "Painting with Scissors" class online for Saturday afternoon. A one hour class that followed Henri Matisse's method for cutting and pasting and creating. He did marvelous collages with painted papers. Here's the link for the class if you are interested.

We had our computers out, papers on the table and followed instructions. At the end I thought it most interesting to see our different approaches to the same class. I was so inspired and could imagine the hills around Asheville being rendered in painted paper. Gouache paints were ordered so I could paint my own papers and I've signed up for Skillshare so I can take some Gouache painting classes. I had never done an online class before but now I'm hooked. 

iPad signed in to the class and I am 

totally engrossed.

Part of the process involved copying the inspiration for Matisse's works.

My aerial artist came out Blue!

In the end, the circus performers became Basketball players.

Poor Libby. We made a mess on the floor.

Sometimes the creative process requires a lot of space... and a broom.

It was so interesting to see how we each interpreted the same instructions. 

My flora and fauna became an aquarium....

While Libby's flora became FLOWERS!

One of the mountain pics I took became the inspiration for a parting collage gift.

Reality....

...Versus "artistic license"

I think this will be my new art project, once I tidy up a few other aspects of my life. 

Then on Monday, for No. 97,  I spent a half day at the Biltmore Estate which is a HUGE property amazingly tucked right inside Asheville. (At least that's how it seemed to me although I'm not 100% sure of my geography. )

Just a tiny little country home....

The property is fabulous. The landscape was done by Frederick Law Olmstead and while the approach to the main house is only 3 miles it takes about 20 minutes to make the drive. He purposely limited views and made you wind through the scenery to build your anticipation of this amazing house.  And house is such a insufficient word. Mansion? That's closer. Estate. That's it.

It was a drizzle-y day, overcast with intermittent rains when I went. Never the less, the grounds were stellar.  After a quick walk from the parking lot, a  double stairway appears that gives you the grand view of the house along with a grand approach. Timed tickets were required and of course I was running behind. (Google maps sent me into a lovely neighborhood and a kind gentleman gave me instructions on how to actually get to the Biltmore...says he redirects people almost daily. No matter. The drive through the neighborhood was worth it.) 

Anyway, the house. A brief history and if you want to learn more, click here.  Started in 1889, the house was built by George Washington Vanderbilt III as his "country home". A 250 room country home with indoor pool, gym, library, and 35 bedrooms. An entire town of craftsmen were hired to create the gorgeous woodwork and exquisite details throughout the house.  It took 6 years to complete and hosted its first guests on Christmas Eve 1895.  George was a bachelor when he built the house but eventually married and raised his only daughter there.  The largest house built in the United States is now run by heirs of George Vanderbilt III and run quite well. There are restaurants, a hotel, many gift shops and a winery all bringing in money to support the preservation of this grand home.

This (empty) pool. Sigh. 

Wooden rails and steps. 

And bless the pandemic. Visitors were strictly limited in each room so as I walked through the house there were never more than 6-8 people in one space. We could linger as long as we wanted and it was delightful to be able to admire the rooms without having to look over someone's shoulder. 

The oak sitting room 

(As opposed to the gazillion other sitting rooms) 

My favorite part of viewing old houses is seeing the servant's areas. Unfortunately, the servant bedrooms were blocked off because of too tight quarters but it always amazes me to see the huge kitchens, laundries, and back stairways that kept life as they (the Vanderbilts) knew it going along smoothly.

Someone in the kitchen had to polish all that copper...

The Albrecht Dürer woodblock prints over the fireplace were my favorites. One hundred ninety two separate  printed blocks.

The Triumphal Arch of Maximillian by Albrecht Dürer

After an hour or so in the house I wandered out to the gardens. Since it was sprinkling, I headed straight to the conservatory.  Add "conservatory" to my goals list. O.M.G.  That place was amazing. And the orchids!! Plants and flowers and orchids, oh my!  

                     

Look at this begonia...

...and these orchids!

From inside the conservatory.

It was all amazing. A step back in time. If you go to Asheville, the Biltmore Estate is a must see. 

The surprising part? My flight was in the afternoon and I left about 30 minutes to exit the property from the parking lot. After all, that's how long it took me to get from the main road to the house. Ha! That Olmstead. It took me all of 10 minutes to leave. 

And there's the complete Asheville report from me. 

Every one stay safe, wash your hands, wear your masks and VOTE!

Another New State, No. 65

No. 65: Travel to States I've Never Been to Before

North Carolina.
O, this is a state I have really been wanting to do for a while. That desire intensified when my friend, Libby, moved there 18 months ago.  But. But. But.  Airline tickets weren't cheap and it was a long flight requiring connections and THEN we had a pandemic.  

Growing up in Texas of course we get a taste of "The South". But Texas isn't really the old South in many ways- it's its own entity. We have, unfortunately, our share of Confederate flags and statues and an abundance of high schools named Robert E Lee, but in many ways it doesn't seem like the South to me. Like a foot in the South and a foot in the West. but not one or the other. 

I blame my subscription to Garden and Gun magazine. It makes that part of the country seem so inviting. 

I have been to Virginia (definitely considered the South) and Mississippi (also VERY definitely the South) so I've had my intro to Southern ways (the good and the bad) but this trip was to Asheville, North Carolina.  A random check online and I discovered air tickets had dropped to under $300. I'm still unemployed, and while looking for work online, I have found that I have very few job options. Somehow no degree, the inability to type faster than 40 WPM, and few obvious qualifications makes me a hard sell on line. So why not travel??

I have flown quite a bit this summer and have felt relatively comfortable doing so even with this pandemic. Most of my flights have been on Southwest and they have been very good about leaving the middle seats open. Pretty much I've been able to find an empty row on every flight. This trip was on United and I did get a notice that the flight was over 70% full. Yes, that made me a little nervous but I kept checking the seat map and moving my seat further and further back so that I would have an empty row. Arriving at the Denver airport, I discovered long lines, wayyy too many people for my comfort and no empty rows to move to.  Thankfully I was given the option to upgrade at check in which I did immediately. I'm a big believer in enjoying the journey and my choice was in the back with zillions of people or up front with one other person. I took my chances and was delighted with my seat mate who had been camping in Wyoming for the last week with 6 other people. Figured she was most likely "Covid-free" and we had a great chat on the flight. O, we also drank our upgrade fee in Gin and Tonics and Bloody Marys. 


Libby picked me up at the Asheville airport on Friday evening after traveling most of the day. Whenever I mentioned going to Asheville, everyone said "you must go to Tupelo Honey for dinner". So we did.  Grits. Fried Chicken. A flight of desserts (Peanut butter mousse, banana pudding and brown butter pecan pie- doesn't get any more Southern than that.)

Well, if you insist!

My faithful tour guide and friend, Libby

Cheers!

Afterwards we wandered the downtown area where we saw a shrouded Confederate monument and Black Lives Matter painted on the street. The old South is having to confront their past, finally.  We also drove through the arts district and were disappointed that the Friday night drum circle did not happen.

I'm assuming that's a Confederate statue, shrouded in black plastic and protected with a plywood base.

Black Lives Matter paintings all around the roundabout.

Saturday we had biscuits for breakfast from Biscuitheads. Libby scored a free t-shirt with breakfast... so I consider that a good morning!

A free Tee! She asked to buy one but they only had them for employees, so they gave her one.

I'll let you figure out what it says.

 And then we went back to her place to do an online class in cutting and pasting. (I'll post on that soon.) 

First time I've done an online class like this and it was sooo inspiring. 

Afterwards we drove to Sliding Rock- another highly recommended destination.  In the forest, surrounded by trees are some perfect flat rocks in the river made for sliding down. I was super excited about this adventure. Sadly, the river was too high from all of the rain they have had so we did not get to slide or even play in the water. After being in dry dry Colorado it was still lovely to experience all the green of a state that gets summer rains.

Sliding Rock which actually looked more like Gushing Waters Rock

Our day ended driving around looking at houses as Libby would like to get out of her darling apartment at some point and really settle in.  It was a great way to get the feel of the city and there were so many fun cottages. Also,  some of those streets were really narrow so I was grateful I wasn't the one driving.

Sunday was a hiking day and we went to Pisgah Forest (which I want to call Pig-sa because that sounds like more fun) to hike to a water fall. It was another overcast day and the hike was pleasant although truthfully I would have been happier with less people on the trail. I'm delighted people are outdoors during the pandemic, I just don't want them all outdoors at the same time that I am. Ha! O well, the waterfall was gorgeous and it was so nice to be outside. 

Only a 3 mile hike so we were smiling at the outset and on the return.

The sign says "Catawba Falls"

We made it!

And Monday- Monday is another post. I went to the Biltmore and o! it was beautiful. I'll tell you all about it next week.

Anyway, I'm putting North Carolina in the books.

No. 4: Performance at Red Rocks

No.4: Performance at Red Rocks

Imagine. In spite of the pandemic, I managed to make it to Red Rocks Amphitheatre for a performance.

For those not in Colorado, maybe Red Rocks needs an introduction. It is a natural open air amphitheater outside of Denver. An amazing setting tucked amongst some enormous red rocks (hence the name)  with naturally occurring perfect acoustics. Many artists consider it their favorite place to perform.  If you want to know more, click here. The theater seats almost 10,000 people.

The view from the top entrance to the theater.

The Colorado Symphony has been experimenting with small sections of the symphony playing to a limited number of performers. Tickets were procured for the weekday performance of the brass and percussion sections. Maximum number of tickets sold: 175.  Which means we pretty much had the place to ourselves. I counted. Somewhere between 150 and 170 people were there the same night we were. 

From the top, looking down on the seating and stage. 

Pretty amazing set up.

Of course, we needed refreshments and I had my first White Claw which I suspect pretty much makes me a 20something, doesn't it?  Only one concession stand was open and our choices were limited- beer, wine, coolers, soft drinks, pretzels and chips. So much for dinner.

My first foray into the land of hard seltzers. 

Turns out it was pretty yummy.

Here was the set up for the symphony sections:

17 performers more or less and one conductor

The music obviously could not be full on classical with such a limited orchestra so there was an assortment. Some classical, some Star Wars, a march, it was a nice combination. And the best part? It was all acoustic, NO amplifiers. (Well, the conductor had his amp so we could hear his voice. The instruments needed no amplification.) 

The conductor, Christopher Dragon (what a GREAT name) made the evening. There is a reason he is so thin. He never stopped moving, dancing, jumping the entire performance.  He even played the drums at one point. 

 Goodness, he was having fun.

While I don't feel I got the full experience...parking was convenient and just a few steps from the entrance, no crowds hence no combined anticipation of a large group waiting for something to begin...it was very special. And now, I've been.

Me and Friend, appropriately masked, at the end of the night. 

And just in case the musical aspect of a Red Rocks performance did not qualify, a second trip to Red Rocks that same week cemented my completion of No.4.

We went to the Drive-In! Film on the Rocks, presented by the Denver Film group, has movies in the parking lot of the amphitheater.  Admission is one set price per car and includes two Coke products, popcorn, and two boxes of candy. (Twizzlers and M&Ms!) Every show day except Sunday they also offer the pre-purchase of a ChickFilA sandwich and waffle chips. We saw Clueless. It was perfect except we needed to do a little better planning. Cars are too smart these days. The sound comes through your radio but few cars allow you to turn the car off and leave the radio on. At least not long enough for a two hour movie. Once the radio cut off, the car had to be restarted which meant the lights came on and then the parking lot attendants came over to tell us to turn the lights off. And so went the night. A portable FM radio solved that problem when we went again last night to see Field of Dreams.

While waiting for the movie to start they have entertainment.

So, No. 4 is done. I followed up with adding to No. 65: Travel to new states and repeating No.77: Continuing Education: Take a class.  Technically I completed No. 77 last year with my silver working class but more education is ALWAYS a good thing.

Stay tuned.

Also, wash your hands, wear your mask and VOTE. (Register, request your mail in ballot, whatever you need to do.)