The Mountains of Boone, NC

It's only a few hrs. from our house to Boone, NC. The elevation is so high it's sometimes 20 to 30 degrees colder than at our house. Many Floridians have summer homes there. The scenery is beautiful and shopping is great in-between here and there.

We try to go there a couple of times a year. This is a quaint Bed and Breakfast that we stayed in once. The owner lives next door in a little log house.

Let's take a walk up the drive, shall we.

It's an old farm house converted into a B&B.

There were lots of pretty flowers on the property.

This is the little house the owner lived in across the parking area.

Some of the beautiful Daisies.

Are you still with me? I've got a lot of pictures in this post. Let's take a peek inside.

It was a lovely place to stay and Hubby and I had it all to our selves. Others had just checked out and we had just arrived. You can't beat that!

This next two pics are part of the LR and DR where we ate breakfast.

There were some antiques and some updated pieces. Very nicely decorated and clean.

We had the run of the house and could use the kitchen at will and help ourselves to a stocked frig.
We went shopping at the oldest operating Country Store in America. The original Mast General Store, located in Valles Cruies, NC in the Blue Ridge Mtns. It is extremely old, and looks it, yet it's open everyday. It started operating in 1883.

There is an operating post office inside.

The boards on the bldg. are waving and the building is resting on cinder blocks. You would think it's going to fall looking at it.lol

We shopped at a local antique store where the clerk had on a outfit from Lily's and I just had to take a picture for Miss Janice.

The views of the mtns. are incredible and very evident of God's handiwork. This is a view from my friend's deck and the valley below.

We stopped in Blowing Rock for lunch and the town's flowers were in abundant.

We found an old Mission that was turned into a restaurant and had lunch there. It was down a long path from the street, which hubby is standing on below.

It was gated and such a neat place off the trodden path. Very good food.

The side of the bldg. showing some of the foliage surrounding it.

A quaint little sitting area.

And if you're still with me here's one of the rooms inside.

There is more than 20 miles of furniture outlets on the way up to Boone in Hickory, Granite Falls, Hudson and more towns. There is Broyhill, LazyBoy, Bassett and many more companies represented there at prices that can't be touched in local stores. You pay no sales tax but you have shipping charges unless you can take the item with you.

I'll post real soon and show you some of the deals we walked away with.

Enjoy the rest of your week and I hope to see you soon.

Faux Tin Ceiling

Nancy of ~Southern Lady~ is hosting Flaunt your Red today. Please take a look at all the wonderful posts.
I have something red in every room of my house but one. Love, love, love red. Don't worry, I'll only show you one room today. lol

I convinced Hubby to help me put a tin ceiling look in the tray ceiling of our bedroom. I had no idea what I was in for! WE had an 11 inch wide board balancing on the top rung of two ladders that was placed on either side of our bed. He being 6' 1" and I being 5' 1", made for a Lucy episode for sure. He had to stay in a bending position so I would be able to reach the ceiling on my side. He weighing 190 lbs. and I--well--weighing considerably less, caused a boucing effect as he was rubbing the wallpaper to adhere to the ceiling and nearly boucing me off the board. He said never again ! It turned out so good though that I've already started wooing him to do the dining room ceiling. I'll post it if it becomes a reality.

With the uplight on you can see more of the detail.
The finished product
The sitting room.

Have fun blogging and a safe weekend.

Hubby's Birthday

He's always been extra attentive to the ladies in his life. We've been blessed to have such a caring man in our lives.

This was a few years ago when it was me, the two girls and two granddaughters. No boys for him to pal around with, yet.

Then came Jonas.They pal around all the time. Papa plays, sings and teaches him all kinds of things.

They had a fun time in the yard a couple of days ago.

Then Ivy arrived a few months ago and stole a piece of his heart, too.

She loves Papa to bounce her on this ottoman. (She's got 4 teeth already. Yikes!)

He's always ready to take me on little day outings or wherever I want to go. He'll find someone to talk to or go in shops with me or just hang around a town clock. lol

He longs to see the two granddaughters in CA and makes an effort to call them often. They love his story telling. He makes up some great adventures.

He never ceases to amaze me with his romantic notes on whatever venue he can find. lol

Just wanted him to know how appreciated he is. Happy Birthday, Honey!

I hope you all had a restful weekend with the father's in your life.

It's Foodie Friday over at Designs by Gollum There a couple of salads that are easy to make and yet so, so good. I wanted to share them with you today.

The first is a spinach, apple salad. Here's some of the ingredients you will need for the dressing.

You'll need golden raisins and cashews, as well.

The finished product with the dressing. I would let the individual put the amount they want on each serving.

Recipe as follows:

10 oz. bag of spinach

1/2 cup cashews (salted)

1/2 cup golden raisins

2 apples diced (granny smith is best but I use gala, too)

Dressing:

1/4 cup apple cider

1/4 sugar

1/4 extra virgin olive oil

1/4 tsp. garlic salt

1/4 tsp. crazy mix-up salt

shake well

This one is a great summer salad with Romaine lettuce and fresh fruit. The dressing on this salad makes the salad.
6 cups chopped romaine lettuce

3 cups sliced fresh strawberries

2 cups cubed fresh pineapple

1 banana sliced

Dressing:

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup cream of coconut

2 Tbsp. lemon juice

1 Tbsp. yellow mustard

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted (optional) Mix well and chill in frig. Pour on salad as desired

Note: Look for cream of coconut with drink mixers in supermarkets, under brands such as Coco Lopez. They are just outside the liquor section at my grocery store. It is non-alcoholic.

Enjoy!!

Please visit others Foodie Fridays and I always appreciate your comments.

Miscellaneous Weekend

We had an uneventful weekend and a bit of a bug at our house. An upper respiratory thingy had been trying to get me. I hope I'm getting the better of it now.
We had started a couple of tomato plants a few weeks back and we did reap some benefits this weekend. We got our first and second ripe tomato.
This is right after planting. We did them in planters to see if we liked growing them. Maybe next year we will do more veggies in the ground. I'm ready to pick the ripe one.

They are good size and I'm pleased they have done so well. We have 20 more blooms or tomatoes getting ready for the harvest. ( I know I sound like a farmer, don't I) lol

Sitting on the window sill waiting to be sliced. Yum!

Another project hubby undertook was to pressure wash the side walk and driveway. The sidewalk is a bit low and with the amount of rain we've had it had some mildew on it.

He didn't even know I snapped this pic. The machine is so LOUD!

I takes awhile to blast that stuff off. He is always looking for the fun in things. He brought me out to see his latest art work. lol

That middle area is the black part and around it is the clean.

Looks so much better now. He is proud of his handy work. His shoulder is feeling it today. He says it's like operating a jack hammer.

That's all for today, guys. I hope to post again in a couple of days. Enjoy your week! I hope it's a sunny one for you. More rain in our forecast this afternoon.